cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human leukemia cell lines bind basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) on FGF receptors and heparan sulfates: downmodulation of FGF receptors by phorbol ester

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been identified as an important cytokine for blood cells. To determine whether hematopoietic cells have receptors that recognize bFGF, the ability of human leukemia cell lines to bind 125I-bFGF was investigated. Specific bFGF-binding sites were identified on K562 and HL60 cells, but not on U937 cells. DAMI cells bound low amounts of 125I-bFGF specifically. Binding of 125I- bFGF to K562 cell surfaces was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by unlabeled bFGF or by heparin. Scatchard analysis of binding to K562 cells revealed two classes of binding sites: 1,650 high affinity binding sites per cell with a dissociation constant (kd) of 192 pmol/L, and 36,600 low affinity sites per cell with a kd of 9.3 nmol/L. Chemical crosslinking experiments with K562, HL60, and DAMI cells revealed receptor-growth factor complexes with molecular masses of 140 to 160 kD, similar in size to complexes formed by known receptor species. Binding of 125I-bFGF to K562 cells was sensitive to heparinase treatment but not to chondroitinase treatment, suggesting that heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) may be responsible for the low affinity binding sites. To further investigate whether K562 cells make HSPG, the incorporation of 35SO4 into proteoglycans was assessed. Metabolically labeled cell-surface proteoglycans with molecular masses of 180 to 300 kD were identified in K562 cells. These proteoglycans were sensitive to heparinase, demonstrating that K562 cells synthesize bFGF-binding HSPG. Treatment of K562 cells with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) caused a loss of bFGF-binding capacity. This decreased binding capacity reflected a rapid loss of high affinity receptors. The ability to form bFGF-receptor complexes decreased by 65% to 70% within 1 hour and declined continuously thereafter. The decrease in binding of bFGF was not due to an autocrine downregulation of bFGF receptors, because there was no increase in bFGF after PMA treatment as detected by Western blotting, and suramin, which blocks bFGF binding to receptors, did not prevent the loss of receptors after exposure to PMA. In addition, inhibitors of either protein synthesis or protease activity did not prevent the loss of bFGF receptors in PMA-treated cells. In summary, this work demonstrates that leukemia cell lines have receptors that specifically bind bFGF and supports the hypothesis that bFGF acts directly on certain blood cells to stimulate their proliferation.
WE-G-BRC-02: Risk Assessment for HDR Brachytherapy

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) originated as an industrial engineering technique used for risk management and safety improvement of complex processes. In the context of radiotherapy, the AAPM Task Group 100 advocates FMEA as the framework of choice for establishing clinical quality management protocols. However, there is concern that widespread adoption of FMEA in radiation oncology will be hampered by the perception that implementation of the tool will have a steep learning curve, be extremely time consuming and labor intensive, and require additional resources. To overcome these preconceptions and facilitate the introduction of the tool into clinical practice, the medical physics community must be educated in the use of this tool and the ease in which it can be implemented. Organizations with experience in FMEA should share their knowledge with others in order to increase the implementation, effectiveness and productivity of the tool. This session will include a brief, general introduction to FMEA followed by a focus on practical aspects of implementing FMEA for specific clinical procedures including HDR brachytherapy, physics plan review and radiosurgery. A description of common equipment and devices used in these procedures and how to characterize new devices for safe use in patient treatments will be presented. This will be followed by a discussion of how to customize FMEA techniques and templates to one's own clinic. Finally, cases of common failure modes for specific procedures (described previously) will be shown and recommended intervention methodologies and outcomes reviewed. Learning Objectives: 1.Understand the general concept of failure mode and effect analysis 2.Learn how to characterize new equipment for safety 3.Be able to identify potential failure modes for specific procedures and learn mitigation techniques 4.Be able to customize FMEA examples and templates for use in any clinic
Telework effectiveness: task, technology and communication fit perspective

We are witnessing rapid growth of inter and intra-organizational telework in many different forms: distributive project teams, telecommuting, mobile work, business to-employee, employee e-business, and virtual corporations. Despite the increasing prevalence of distributive work and its importance in creating business value, our understanding of its success factors is limited. Among many prospective factors, task characteristics, communication quality, and technology support have been mentioned frequently as key components for successfully running telework. Communications quality and technology support seem the direct result of operational design in managing the virtual process; while task characteristics of workers are typically pre-determined, unless they are modified for telework. This paper discusses the implications of chosen variables on telework success from a fit theory perspective. It focuses on examining the implications of two- and three-way alignments among task characteristics, communications quality, and technology support on in a distributive work setting.
Host–Symbiont Relationships: Understanding the Change from Guest to Pest

The several meanings for the term “symbiosis” create confusion, which can be avoided when the author provides details of the interrelationships between the symbiotic organism and the “host” so that a reader can clearly understand what definition is implied in each case. For example, we, as opposed to many other mentioned readers, consider a symbiont as an organism living in an association with another regardless of whether it causes a pathologic response or not, but from our title, the reader may incorrectly infer that we consider a parasite to be different from a symbiont. A symbiont is an organism that uses another organism as a habitat. This chapter discusses the primary associations and associated conflicts involving the terminology. It also provides both differentiation between and conflicting views regarding the interpretation of the terms “infect” and “infest,” “infection” and “disease,” and other terms. Many seemingly harmless symbionts of a wide array of taxonomic groups are triggered to become pathogenic or virulent, and we provide several examples of the provoking (stimulating) triggers, with the understanding that in most cases, the conditions for the triggered activities are much more complex and complicated than presented. Examples of triggers follow: environmental ones like temperature, toxic chemicals (dose), chemotherapeutics, dietary changes, and geographic habits; internal ones like host site, host resistance or susceptibility, and host modifications; and combinations of these and other conditions. We provide examples involving multiple triggers for organisms associated with termites, for an endemic virus being affected by multiple factors and having multiple effects on its commercial penaeid shrimp hosts, and for contrasting variables associated with two exotic viruses in wild and cultured commercial penaeid shrimps with an emphasis on hypothesizing how the pathogenicity developed in these two viruses. The chapter ends by trying to answer the question of why would a symbiont become pathogenic in some hosts and not in others from an evolutionary perspective. It uses two hypotheses to explain the increased virulence.
Stem Cell-Derived RPE Transplantation for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Experimental Studies to Improve Transplant Survival and Differentiation

Suspensions of human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (hES-RPE) and human fetal RPE (fRPE) resurface aged and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) Bruch’s membrane (BM) to a limited degree at day 21 in organ culture. The presence of AMD-related changes, such as basal linear deposit, is associated with worse BM resurfacing. Survival and differentiation of hES-RPE and fRPE on aged or AMD BM is enhanced greatly (200 %) if a biologically synthesized extracellular matrix (ECM) (bovine corneal endothelial cell (BCEC) ECM) is laid down on BM prior to transplantation. Transplanted RPE survival is enhanced even more (400–1,000 %) if BM is treated with BCEC conditioned medium during organ culture of hES-RPE or fRPE on aged or AMD BM. Cells so treated also produce a variety of neurotrophic factors (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor, pigment epithelium-derived factor, nerve growth factor) while on BM even if they do not exhibit highly differentiated morphology. This neurotrophic factor production may contribute to improved vision that has been observed in some patients who have received allogeneic hES-RPE transplants. Future efforts are focused on identifying the bioactive components of BCEC-CM so that this material can be reconstituted for clinical use as an adjunct to improve RPE transplant survival and differentiation in AMD eyes.
Global Newsworthiness and Reversed Domestication

This study examines whether news broadcasts across nations are more cosmopolitan or parochial in their essence. To answer this question, the article proposes two unique theoretical concepts: “global newsworthiness” and “reversed domestication.” Global newsworthiness refers to news broadcasts that include ranges of countries, selected by several different reporting criteria. Reversed domestication refers to the connection made between the country of origin of the broadcasting media and the news content. Four television news networks were compared—CNN International, BBC World News, Al Jazeera English and France 24. The findings point to different levels of global newsworthiness and reversed domestication.
Balancing Power Absorption and Structural Loading for an Asymmetric Heave Wave-Energy Converter in Regular Waves

The aim of this paper is to maximize the power-to-load ratio of the Berkeley Wedge: a one-degree-of-freedom, asymmetrical, energy-capturing, floating breakwater of high performance that is relatively free of viscosity effects. Linear hydrodynamic theory was used to calculate bounds on the expected time-averaged power (TAP) and corresponding surge restraining force, pitch restraining torque, and power take-off (PTO) control force when assuming that the heave motion of the wave energy converter remains sinusoidal. This particular device was documented to be an almost-perfect absorber if one-degree-of-freedom motion is maintained. The success of such or similar future wave energy converter technologies would require the development of control strategies that can adapt device performance to maximize energy generation in operational conditions while mitigating hydrodynamic loads in extreme waves to reduce the structural mass and overall cost. This paper formulates the optimal control problem to incorporate metrics that provide a measure of the surge restraining force, pitch restraining torque, and PTO control force. The optimizer must now handle an objective function with competing terms in an attempt to maximize power capture while minimizing structural and actuator loads. A penalty weight is placed on the surge restraining force, pitch restraining torque, and PTO actuation force, therebymore » allowing the control focus to be placed either on power absorption or load mitigation. Thus, in achieving these goals, a per-unit gain in TAP would not lead to a greater per-unit demand in structural strength, hence yielding a favorable benefit-to-cost ratio. Demonstrative results in the form of TAP, reactive TAP, and the amplitudes of the surge restraining force, pitch restraining torque, and PTO control force are shown for the Berkeley Wedge example.« less
γδ T Cells Coexpressing Gut Homing α4β7 and αE Integrins Define a Novel Subset Promoting Intestinal Inflammation

γδ T lymphocytes, dominant T cell subsets in the intestine, mediate both regulatory and pathogenic roles, yet the mechanisms underlying such opposing effects remain unclear. In this study, we identified a unique γδ T cell subset that coexpresses high levels of gut-homing integrins, CD103 and α4β7. They were exclusively found in the mesenteric lymph node after T cell-mediated colitis induction, and their appearance preceded the inflammation. Adoptive transfer of the CD103+α4β7high subsets enhanced Th1/Th17 T cell generation and accumulation in the intestine, and the disease severity. The level of generation correlated with the disease severity. Moreover, these cells were also found to be elevated in a spontaneous mouse model of ileitis. Based on the procolitogenic function, we referred to this subset as "inflammatory" γδ T cells. Targeting inflammatory γδ T cells may open a novel strategy to treat inflammatory diseases where γδ T cells play a pathogenic role including inflammatory bowel disease.
Final Conclusions and Future Work

This book presented a process of analysis, design and prototype implementation of RECTIN recommender system, as a solution to the problem of supporting tinnitus treatment based on Tinnitus Retraining Therapy in a medical facility. Proposed approach in supporting physicians’ diagnosis and treatment decisions addresses scarcity of expert knowledge, time restrictions in today’s medical practice and the need for more efficient evaluation of different treatment methods. Such system can provide accurate support at any time, with full consideration of individual patient profiles, including: demographics, medical history, and tinnitus background.
Implementation of a School Nurse-led Intervention for Children With Severe Obesity in New York City Schools

Abstract Purpose The Healthy Options and Physical Activity Program (HOP) is a school nurse-led intervention for children with severe obesity. HOP was developed by experts at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and implemented in New York City schools beginning in 2012. The purpose of this study was to evaluate HOP implementation with the goal of informing HOP refinement and potential future HOP dissemination. Design and Methods This study entailed a retrospective analysis of secondary data. Analytic methods included descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon rank sum and Chi square tests, and multivariate logistic regression. Results During the 2012–2013 school year, 20,518 children were eligible for HOP. Of these, 1054 (5.1%) were enrolled in the program. On average, enrolled children attended one HOP session during the school year. Parent participation was low (3.2% of HOP sessions). Low nurse workload, low school poverty, higher grade level, higher BMI percentile, and chronic illness diagnosis were associated with student enrollment in HOP. Conclusions As currently delivered, HOP is not likely to be efficacious. Lessons learned from this evaluation are applicable to future nurse-led obesity interventions. Practice Implications Prior to implementing a school nurse-led obesity intervention, nursing workload and available support must be carefully considered. Interventions should be designed to facilitate (and possibly require) parent involvement. Nurses who deliver obesity interventions may require additional training in obesity treatment. With attention to these lessons learned, evidence-based school nurse-led obesity interventions can be developed.
Femoral artery embolization of a thoracic stray bullet

Abstract Arterial bullet embolization after a thoracic gunshot wound represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The absence of an apparent exit wound should alert the clinician. Cardiac bullet injuries are mostly fatal. However, in some cases, patients may remain stable, and conservative management can be an acceptable strategy. We present a case report of a 7.62- × 39-mm thoracic stray bullet that embolized to the femoral artery.
Quality-aware UAV coverage and path planning in geometrically complex environments

Networks of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), capable of providing flexible aerial views over large areas, are playing important roles in todays distributed sensing systems. Since camera sensors are sensitive to occlusions, it is more challenging for UAVs to provide satisfactory sensing quality in geometrically complex environments, such as dense urban areas and mountainous terrains. This paper proposes a new quality-aware and energy-efficient UAV coverage and path planning scheme with the objective of sensing a geometrically complex target area with satisfactory spatial and temporal resolutions. An occlusion-aware waypoint generation algorithm is first designed to find the best set of waypoints for taking pictures in a target area to satisfy the spatial resolution requirement. The selected waypoints are then assigned to multiple UAVs by solving a vehicle routing problem (VRP) such that all the waypoints are visited within a global deadline to satisfy the temporal resolution requirement. The vehicle routing problem is formulated to minimize the maximum energy for the UAVs to travel through the waypoints within the deadline. A Min-Max energy path planning algorithm is designed to solve this problem in two steps: first, a mixed integer linear programming problem (MILP) is solved to calculate the minimum energy for a UAV to go from one waypoint to other; then, a genetic algorithm is devised to plan the paths for all the UAVs. Evaluation results show that the proposed coverage and path planning scheme results in better coverage and energy consumption than traditional coverage and path planning techniques for UAVs.
Predicting seizure outcome of vagus nerve stimulation using MEG-based network topology.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a low-risk surgical option for patients with drug resistant epilepsy, although it is impossible to predict which patients may respond to VNS treatment. Resting-state magnetoencephalography (rs-MEG) connectivity analysis has been increasingly utilized to investigate the impact of epilepsy on brain networks and identify alteration of these networks after different treatments; however, there is no study to date utilizing this modality to predict the efficacy of VNS treatment. We investigated whether the rs-MEG network topology before VNS implantation can be used to predict efficacy of VNS treatment. Twenty-three patients with epilepsy who had MEG before VNS implantation were included in this study. We also included 89 healthy control subjects from the Human Connectome Project. Using the phase-locking value in the theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands as a measure of rs-MEG functional connectivity, we calculated three global graph measures: modularity, transitivity, and characteristic path length (CPL). Our results revealed that the rs-MEG graph measures were significantly heritable and had an overall good test-retest reliability, and thus these measures may be used as potential biomarkers of the network topology. We found that the modularity and transitivity in VNS responders were significantly larger and smaller, respectively, than those observed in VNS non-responders. We also observed that the modularity and transitivity in three frequency bands and CPL in delta and beta bands were significantly different in controls than those found in responders or non-responders, although the values of the graph measures in controls were closer to those of responders than non-responders. We used the modularity and transitivity as input features of a naive Bayes classifier, and achieved an accuracy of 87% in classification of non-responders, responders, and controls. The results of this study revealed that MEG-based graph measures are reliable biomarkers, and that these measures may be used to predict seizure outcome of VNS treatment.
Dokumentation in der Herzchirurgie — Defizite der Primärdaten

Wissenschaft, Qualitatsmanagement und klinische Verwaltung greifen in zunehmendem Mase auf grose Datenbanken zuruck, weil die technische — sprich EDV-Geratschaftsentwicklung — so weit forgeschritten ist, das man sich ihrer nicht entziehen kann. Die auf dieser Basis getroffenen Aussagen konnen so weitreichend sein, das Wohl und Wehe einer medizinischen Therapiekonzeption, die Prognose eines einzelnen Patienten, wissenschaftliche Planungen und fachliche Beurteilungen von Institutionen oder Einzelpersonen davon abhangen bzw. bestimmt werden. Diese gleichermasen segensreiche wie gefahrliche Konsequenz aus der Bearbeitung differenzierter Daten mus notwendigerweise die Frage auslosen: Halten die Entwicklung der Methoden in der Datenerhebung mit derjenigen in der EDV-Methodik Schritt, d.h. sind es die Primardaten wert, mit hochentwickelten kapriziosen EDV-Systemen weiter verarbeitet zu werden? Der Alltag in der Klinik last gewisse Zweifel an der Datenqualitat aufkommen und gibt zu Verbesserungsinitiativen Anlas. Dieses soll anhand eigener Untersuchungen dargestellt werden.
Benin's Ongoing Struggle For Democracy

Depuis 1989, le Bin sest embarqusur la voie de la docratisation en modifiant sa constitution pour instaurer le multipartisme et consacrer les droits civiques: libertde presse et dassociation, libertde religion. Toutefois, Le Bin sest heurtde nombreux obstacles tant dans la mise en place concre de la docratie que dans ladaptation de ce syste essentiellement ranger aux pratiques sociales en vigueur dans sa soci Dans ce contexte difficile, le Bin se bat, en partenariat roit avec les organisations de la socicivile, les mias et les syndicats, pour la promotion et l'enracinement de la docratie, et la consolidation de l'at de droit. Les Binois se rendent compte que la docratie nest pas une guarantie de meilleur niveau de vie et quelle nest pas une fin en soi, mais plut un processus qui saffe continuellement.
Is Crowdcharging Possible

Limited battery capacity has been the main bottleneck for smartphones. Users are required to charge their smartphones frequently to keep them alive. Access to a charging facility, however, may not be possible especially when users are outside. This has caused users to charge their devices at every opportunity with as much power as possible. While this results in overcharging of devices unnecessarily, it might have brought an opportunity for the realization of power sharing among mobile devices. In this paper, we introduce the concept of crowdcharging which aims to provide mobile users with ubiquitous power access through crowdsourcing. We first discuss the feasibility of crowdcharging from users' perspective and present some analysis and survey results showing the interest and need. We then look at the software and hardware challenges to build such a system. To this end, we have developed a mobile app that builds a mobile social network environment among the users and manages the entire process of power sharing between the mobile devices. We present the software implementation details using P2P wireless energy sharing and provide initial lab results with actual wireless charging hardware.
Cognitive clustering—How general?

Abstract Do “cognitive types”—groups of individuals with distinctive patterns of cognitive strengths and weaknesses—exist? The Texas Adoption Project (Horn & Loehlin, 2010) included 965 individuals with intelligence test subtest scores. Clusters formed from these individuals were compared with clusters found by others using the same intelligence test, and between subsamples in the present study—two random subsamples, two methods of clustering, two intelligence tests, the two sexes, and two generations. Moderate consistencies were found for the majority of the comparisons within the present sample. There was less cross-study agreement.
31P NMR study of the activated radioprotection mechanism of octylphenyl-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethyl phosphine oxide (CMPO) and analogues

We report a 31P NMR investigation into the activated radioprotection mechanism of octylphenyl-N,N-diisobutyl-carbamoylmethyl phosphine oxide (CMPO) and analogues in the presence of a gamma radiation field. CMPO exhibits significantly enhanced radiation resistance in the presence of high nitric acid concentrations, compared to other ligands proposed for recovery of the trivalent actinides from spent nuclear fuel. The fundamental mechanism behind this activated radioprotection has been investigated using 31P NMR and other supporting analytical techniques (GCMS and LCMS) in conjunction with systematic gamma irradiation studies, covering solvent system formulation and structural effects through the use of the CMPO analogues, dioctylphenylphospine oxide (DOPPO) and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO). These experiments have demonstrated that the acid-dependent, radioprotection mechanism requires a protonated phenyl-phosphine oxide motif to activate. Further, contacting these three ligand loaded organic phases with a range of mineral acids (nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric, and perchloric acids) shows specificity for nitric acid (HNO3), and the formation of a distinct [ligand·HNO3] complex for CMPO and DOPPO, as identified by 31P NMR, and predicted by DFT calculations. We propose that this complex is capable of sequential n-dodecane excited state quenching through the conjugated aromatic functionalities on the constituent CMPO and DOPPO molecules.
Waking Up Blind in the ICU: A Case Report of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in a Burn Patient.

The objective of this report is to analyze and summarize the current literature of ischemic optic neuropathy (ION), a rare complication in severe burn and trauma victims, while presenting an urban burn center's experience with the condition. This is an unfortunate condition and this report will raise awareness to a potential complication in the burn patient population as well as in critically ill patients in other settings. We present the case of a 27-year-old healthy male patient admitted to our Burn Center with 85% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness burns sustained in a house fire. The patient had a complicated hospital course but improved over time and was weaned off of prolonged ventilation and sedation. Subsequently, he complained of bilateral blindness. A fundoscopic examination demonstrated bilateral pale optic nerves with sparing of the remaining peripheral retina consistent with ION. The patient suffered complete bilateral vision loss. He had multiple factors that could have instigated the development of ION, including several episodes of septicemia, hypovolemic shock and severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with refractory hypoxemia requiring a prolong ventilation support and vasopressor therapy. Due to the advancement of the treatment of acute burns, the survival rate of patients that once would have succumbed to their burn injury, is increasing. With these new achievements, we are facing new challenges and complications. ION has a significant impact on the quality of the patient's life. The early diagnosis will not necessarily translate into a benefit for these patients as no treatment has been proven successful. Extensive retrospective and prospective studies are necessary to identify and treat this patient population.
Original Parents’ Stories: From “Something Not Right Here” to “She’s Wonderful”

This chapter foregrounds the voices of ten families whose children were enrolled in Immortelle Children’s Centre in the decade of the 1980s. These parent narratives highlight their initial shock and confusion in a context of minimal medical support and no educational opportunities for children who would not be accepted into the public school system. Some of the narratives describe life or death crises at the birth of the children, while others detail a more gradual realization of the children’s difficulties. The theme of personal resilience supported by religious faith is central to the narratives. The parents detail their search for educational services for their children and describe what it meant to them to find Immortelle. The central image used by the parents to describe Immortelle was of a family environment in which all children were equally valued and families and school personnel formed a strong sense of community.
Electromagnetic Structures and Particle Acceleration in Earth's Radiation Belts

Observations from NASA's Van Allen Probes have revealed the persistence of highly structured electromagnetic fields in the inner magnetosphere during geomagnetically active periods. In this presentation we decompose these structures into the fundamental low frequency plasma modes and show how these modes are modified by the large-scale inhomogeneity of the geomagnetic field and plasma through this region of space. This analysis identifies eigen-modes of the geomagnetic field that are extremely extended along the field but have transverse scales comparable to average ion-gyro radii. These features appear as part of a spectrum of filamentary currents and vortical flow structures generated through this region of space in association with plasma injections from the outer magnetosphere.
ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION EXPOSURES AND ASSOCIATED RISKS FROM FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS

Radionuclide source and effluent amounts and associated population radiation exposure are reviewed for commercial plants reprocessing nuclear fuel from light water reactors in the United States. Radionuclide data and doses computed from effluent and environmental radionuclide measurements are available for the Nuclear Fuel Services reprocessing plant. Also presented are effluent and dose predictions for the Barnwell Nuclear Fuel Plant, and for model plants considered by the AEC and EPA in their analyses of the environmental impact of the nuclear fuel cycle. The radionuclides in airborne effluents that are predicted to cause maximum exposures of persons are I-129 and I-131 to thyroids, Kr-85 to skin, and Ru-106 to the gastrointestinal tract. The highest population dose is predicted from C-14, Kr-85, and H-3 distributed worldwide. Although detailed calculational evaluations have been undertaken of the in-plant process, waste treatment, environmental transfers, and uptake of radionuclides as they affect radiation doses to the population, direct observations of these factors at operating plants are needed to confirm these results.
Using Concept Cartoons to investigate future primary school teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge on addition

This paper introduces an exploratory empirical qualitative study that has been carried out with two diverse groups of future primary school teachers (before vs after the attendance of a course on didactics of mathematics). The study uses an educational tool called Concept Cartoons accompanied by a set of six indicative questions as a means of collecting data on pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in mathematics. In particular, the study focuses on future teachers’ written responses to virtual pupils’ opinions in a virtual classroom situation related to the algorithm of written addition of natural numbers. The findings reveal ten different code categories of displays of PCK related to knowledge of pupils (three categories), knowledge of tasks (one category) and knowledge of instruction (six categories), some of them related to strong PCK, others to weak PCK. According to the findings, all the categories related to knowledge of pupils occurred in the post-didactic group only, all the categories that appeared only in the pre-didactic group are connected to weak PCK, and all the categories that occurred only in the post-didactic group are connected to strong PCK.
Transcription factor GLIS3: Critical roles in thyroid hormone biosynthesis, hypothyroidism, pancreatic beta cells and diabetes

GLI-Similar 3 (GLIS3) is a member of the GLIS subfamily of Kruppel-like zinc finger transcription factors that functions as an activator or repressor of gene expression. Study of GLIS3-deficiency in mice and humans revealed that GLIS3 plays a critical role in the regulation of several biological processes and is implicated in the development of various diseases, including hypothyroidism and diabetes. This was supported by genome-wide association studies that identified significant associations of common variants in GLIS3 with increased risk of these pathologies. To obtain insights into the causal mechanisms underlying these diseases, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms by which this protein regulates the development of these pathologies. Recent studies of genes regulated by GLIS3 led to the identification of a number of target genes and have provided important molecular insights by which GLIS3 controls cellular processes. These studies revealed that GLIS3 is essential for thyroid hormone biosynthesis and identified a critical function for GLIS3 in the generation of pancreatic β cells and insulin gene transcription. These observations raised the possibility that the GLIS3 signaling pathway might provide a potential therapeutic target in the management of diabetes, hypothyroidism, and other diseases. To develop such strategies, it will be critical to understand the upstream signaling pathways that regulate the activity, expression and function of GLIS3. Here, we review the recent progress on the molecular mechanisms by which GLIS3 controls key functions in thyroid follicular and pancreatic β cells and how this causally relates to the development of hypothyroidism and diabetes.
Role of high aspect-ratio thin-film metal deposition in Cu back-end-of-line technology

The transition in manufacturing from Al(Cu)/W to Cu multilevel on-chip line/via ULSI wiring for high-performance CMOS logic chips was initiated in late 1997 and has since become the exclusive industry-standard. The authors provide a comprehensive review of metal thin-film deposition methods and techniques as they apply to the ULSI of Cu interconnects in advanced logic technology. The authors discuss the basic features of Cu dual-damascene processing with a focus on physical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition techniques, which have enabled the continued scaling of Cu interconnects over many generations of technology. In addition, the authors discuss recent experimental and simulation data on the extendibility of Cu interconnects to future technology nodes.
Referent group specificity: Optimizing normative feedback to increase residential recycling

Abstract Research has shown that messages containing descriptive normative feedback can induce behavior change in the direction of the norm. However, the literature is mixed regarding the relative influence of more specific referent groups. This study compared the effectiveness of social normative feedback at increasing waste diversion, across four referent groups varying in their degree of specificity. A sample of 1560 single-family households in California were randomly assigned to one of six possible conditions: specific normative feedback about their immediate neighbors, exemplary normative feedback about the best recyclers in their city, generic normative feedback about the other residents in their neighborhood, normative feedback about a statewide waste diversion target, information-only, or no-contact control. Households in the feedback conditions received a mailed personalized Home Waste and Recycling report comparing their diversion rate to an assigned referent group. Results showed that normative feedback increased diversion rates compared to the control conditions, but results did not show significant differences between the feedback conditions. Additional results showed that the treatment effects were driven primarily by changes among households that were below the norm in baseline diversion rates. Findings are discussed within the framework of the Focus Theory of Normative Conduct, and the implications for large-scale applications.
Burdock leaf and B&W ointment: A natural and suitable alternative to negative pressure wound therapy and skin grafting in the treatment of traumatic crush injury post surgical debridement

Abstract Alternative therapies to current medicinal practices are becoming increasingly popular in today's culture. We explored the efficacy of using burdock leaves and Burn and Wound (B&W) ointment as an alternative to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and skin grafting in a Mennonite pediatric patient post traumatic crush injury and surgical debridement. Although burdock leaves and B&W have been used for decades in treating minor burns and wounds, there is little literature describing their use in the treatment of traumatic injury that would otherwise require full thickness skin grafting. This case demonstrated a collaborative approach between physicians and a Mennonite healer to treat a complex traumatic wound. This unique approach was effective in healing the wound, albeit slightly slower than conventional therapy, and resulted in less pain due to dressing changes. Here, we describe an effective and safe alternative therapy for select patients who desire avoidance of numerous operations and prefer to attempt a more natural healing process. Additional information is included to educate providers on a therapy that significantly reduces the pain and trauma associated with dressing changes and decreases hospital time and costs.
Imaging of Intramural Hematoma and Penetrating Atherosclerotic Ulcer by CT and MRI

Acute aortic Intramural hematomas (IMH) and penetrating atherosclerotic (or aortic) ulcers (PAU) are potentially life-threatening lesions that demand timely diagnosis for appropriate triage and management. Diagnosis in turn relies heavily on imaging, with computed tomography (CT) serving as the standard first-line diagnostic imaging modality and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography commonly invoked for problem solving or follow-up. This chapter focuses on CT and MRI protocols, lesion characteristics, and diagnostic challenges for both IMH and PAU.
Recent Development in Polymer Membrane-Based Potentiometric Polyion Sensors

Many biologically significant macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, highly charged proteins (e.g., protamine), polysaccharides (e.g., heparin) and other species (e.g., polyphosphate) are polyions.1-4 Quantitative measurement of such polyionic species in complex sample matrices (e.g., whole blood) is important and challenging. For example, heparin, a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan, is the anticoagulant of choice for numerous clinical procedures, especially those involving extracorporeal blood circulation such as open heart surgery and kidney dialysis.4,5 It is critical to monitor and adjust the blood heparin levels since an excess of heparin can lead to potentially fatal bleeding complications.5,6 Currently, blood heparin levels are estimated indirectly by measuring clotting times such as, e.g., activated clotting time (ACT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT).5,6 However, as clotting times can be influenced by a wide range of additional physiological processes,5,6 direct measurement of heparin via a sensor may provide a more precise as well as a complementary tool to aid clinicians in monitoring heparin therapy. Development of simple, convenient sensors for other biologically important polyionic species such as DNA, RNA, and polyphosphate is also of considerable interest. For example, a chemical sensing device that can accurately determine the concentration of free, uncomplexed DNA in the solution phase could provide a convenient means of following DNA binding reactions via simple titration of DNA with other binding species.
Designing a first-year composition class for engineering students

Developing a first-year composition course for engineering students, in light of calls for engineers to learn to communicate more effectively with the public and to play a central role in solving the Grand Challenges, leads to questions of what should the class entail? Having students analyze the rhetorical aspects of solving the Grand Challenges ties in with the public turn in rhetoric and composition. Research on cognition would help students this analysis. However, studies indicate that transfer from general FYC to other classes is often weak. When strong transfer between FYC and subsequent engineering classes is the goal, teaching students to communicate with non-engineers is likely a secondary concern. Because a FYC class cannot cover all aspects of a students' rhetorical education, and because students may develop a subject matter mentality, writing faculty will likely want to encourage students to see FYC classes as the starting point of their rhetorical education. To do so, network pedagogy is a possible solution.
An Empirical Analysis of the Role of Residential Real Estate Investment in the Economic Development of the Northeast Region of the United States

Spatial dependence is an important factor in regional economic growth analysis, especially in terms of population, employment, and per capita income. This paper employs spatial econometric techniques and U.S. Census Bureau county-level data for the period of 1980-2010 to identify and estimate the impacts of residential real estate investment on the economic development of the Northeast region. A spatial panel method is used to analyze the spillover effect of county level economic development on neighboring counties
The power of decision tables

We evaluate the power of decision tables as a hypothesis space for supervised learning algorithms. Decision tables are one of the simplest hypothesis spaces possible, and usually they are easy to understand. Experimental results show that on artificial and real-world domains containing only discrete features, IDTM, an algorithm inducing decision tables, can sometimes outperform state-of-the-art algorithms such as C4.5. Surprisingly, performance is quite good on some datasets with continuous features, indicating that many datasets used in machine learning either do not require these features, or that these features have few values. We also describe an incremental method for performing cross-validation that is applicable to incremental learning algorithms including IDTM. Using incremental cross-validation, it is possible to cross-validate a given dataset and IDTM in time that is linear in the number of instances, the number of features, and the number of label values. The time for incremental cross-validation is independent of the number of folds chosen, hence leave-one-out cross-validation and ten-fold cross-validation take the same time.
Activity Theory and Analyzing Learning in Simulations

Purpose. The purpose of this theoretical article is to demonstrate how activity theory, a neo-Vygotskian sociocultural theory, can be used to analyze learning during simulation-based activities. Background. Simulations are complex, dynamic environments that evolve and change throughout implementation. Moreover, simulations simultaneously support multiple participants' assigned different roles. This means that the learning within them is often co-constructed, rather than individually derived. These characteristics complicate understanding the learning within them. Method. This article presents a summary of the basic tenants of activity theory AT, followed by a worked example to demonstrate how AT can be used as an analytic lens to generate rich description and analysis of participant activities as embedded in a complex dynamic simulation. Conclusions. Activity theory can be used as a theoretical lens in order to account for how participants partake in simulation-based learning contexts, which supports the rich description and analysis of how participants accomplish their goals.
Normativity and Normalization

This article illustrates ways in which the concepts of the norm and normativity are implicated in relations of power. Specifically, I argue that these concepts have come to function in a normalizing manner. I outline Michel Foucault’s thinking on the norm and normalization and then provide an overview of Jurgen Habermas’s thinking on the norm and normativity in order to show that Habermas’s conceptualizations of the norm and normativity are not, as he posits, necessary foundations for ethics and politics, but in fact simply one philosophical approach among many. Uncritically accepting a Habermasian framework therefore produces normalizing effects and inhibits alternative and potentially emancipatory thinking about ethics and politics. Having problematized the requirement of normative foundations as it is currently articulated, I conclude by examining the emancipatory potential of a particular aspect of Foucault’s work for the practice of philosophy.
Anagram solution as a function of pronounceability and difficulty

The present study investigates the effect of pronounceability (P), as rated by Ss, on anagram solution probability under two levels of difficulty (D), or number of letters moved. From 60 five-letter anagrams rated for P, four lists of 10 anagrams each were constructed to represent both easy-to-pronounce and hard-to-pronounce anagrams in both levels of D (one vs. two letters moved). The results indicate that P is inversely related to solution probability, and that D is not an effective variable with hard-to-pronounce anagrams.
Dimensionality reduction on multi-dimensional transfer functions for multi-channel volume data sets

The design of transfer functions for volume rendering is a nontrivial task. This is particularly true for multi-channel data sets, where multiple data values exist for each voxel, which require multi-dimensional transfer functions. In this article, we propose a new method for multi-dimensional transfer function design. Our new method provides a framework to combine multiple computational approaches and pushes the boundary of gradient-based multidimensional transfer functions to multiple channels, while keeping the dimensionality of transfer functions at a manageable level, that is, a maximum of three dimensions, which can be displayed visually in a straightforward way. Our approach utilizes channel intensity, gradient, curvature and texture properties of each voxel. Applying recently developed nonlinear dimensionality reduction algorithms reduce the high-dimensional data of the domain. In this article, we use Isomap and Locally Linear Embedding as well as a traditional algorithm, Principle Component Analysis. Our results show that these dimensionality reduction algorithms significantly improve the transfer function design process without compromising visualization accuracy. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our new dimensionality reduction algorithms with two volumetric confocal microscopy data sets.
Surface Films of Soybean Lecithin I: Development of a Recording Film Balance

In the course of a study of the surface properties of soybean lecithin, a modification of the Wilhelmy or vertical-type film balance was developed which is believed to offer certain advantages over other standard film balances. The apparatus, which employed a displacement-type transducer as the sensing device, was found to be a reliable sensitive instrument. Its principal advantage was the fact that a recorder could be operated conveniently off the transducer element.