cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chinese Martial Arts: The Warring States Period

A villager from Daxiang remarked sarcastically, “How great is Confucius! He is so broadly learned, and yet has failed to make a name for himself in any particular endeavor.” When the Master was told of this, he said to his disciples, “What art, then, should I take up? Charioteering? Archery? I think I shall take up charioteering.” The Analects Spring and Autumn period aristocrats were organized into kinship lineages focused on ancestral temples. Warfare was part of the service to these temples, a way in which an individual could win glory for himself and his lineage. Indeed, the jealous and violent defense of one’s honor, and that of one’s lineage, was a cultural tie that bound the aristocracy together and separated them from the commoners. Lineages existed apart from the putative political authorities, and all aristocrats shared a similar status, making the organization of power within the aristocracy flatter culturally than would be found in the more hierarchical political structure. As the Spring and Autumn period wore on, however, the incessant warfare, feuds, and vendettas among the aristocracy began to destroy it. The old political order crumbled to be replaced by a new, more hierarchical system in the Warring States period.
Shifting demand for winter outdoor recreation along the North Shore of Lake Superior under variable rates of climate change: a finite-mixture modeling approach.

Abstract Many communities located in natural resource rich landscapes have transitioned to tourism-based economies. This transition might not be sustainable, as climate and environmental change have unknown effects on the visitation patterns of outdoor recreationists and tourists. We address this uncertainty by estimating shifts in the demand for outdoor recreation destinations along Minnesota's North Shore region of Lake Superior under a range of projected climatic and environmental conditions. We also employ a finite-mixture modeling approach to capture the preference heterogeneity across North Shore visitors. Our findings indicate projected climate and environmental changes are not likely to significantly affect visitation patterns in the next 20 years. However, utilizing a finite-mixture modeling approach enabled us to identify distinct types of visitors with divergent visitation behaviors under altered climate and environmental conditions. Our findings suggest that the demand for outdoor recreation along the North Shore will be relatively stable in the near future, however different types of visitors will respond to warming winter conditions in divergent ways. Shifting visitation patterns under climate and environmental change may have more drastic alterations to the economic well-being of the region under a longer planning horizon.
Foundational Aspects of Family–School Connections: Definitions, Conceptual Frameworks, and Research Needs

Connections between families and schools are viewed as a key element of children’s positive adjustment, and are linked to children’s academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. However, there is great variability in how these connections are defined and conceptualized. This chapter provides a brief description of some of the core features of family–school connections. The key elements of two commonly employed approaches to family–school connections are outlined. Structural approaches are conceptualized as those that focus on activities and behaviors of parents to promote their children’s development and learning. Relational approaches are conceptualized as those that focus on partnerships between families and schools to support children across social, emotional, behavioral, and academic domains. Although these two approaches share some core features of family–school connections, they are often undertaken in isolation. The goal of this chapter is to bring together these two approaches and orient them within the broader context of family–school connections. Building on this metamodel of family–school partnerships, a research agenda focused on a framework of relationally embedded family–school connections is offered.
Resection of large recurrent third ventricular epidermoid tumors through the posterior interhemispheric transcallosal approach

Epidermoid cysts or tumors comprise 1% of intracranial tumors with a predilection for the cerebellopontine angle or parasellar cisterns. These tumors are derived from an ectopic ectodermal implant seeded between fusing ectodermal surfaces. This results in a benign proliferation of stratified squamous epithelium along a cyst wall with a lumen composed of hyperkeratotic material derived from the desquamating cells. Surgical intervention is the treatment of choice for symptomatic patients. There is no role for radiotherapy or chemotherapy in the treatment of these lesions, including for residual or recurrent disease. The inherent adhesion of the proliferating epithelial lining to surrounding neurovascular structures significantly complicates attempts at gross-total resection. Epidermoid tumors or cysts are rarely reported within the third ventricular region. In this video, the authors demonstrate the technique of right-sided posterior interhemispheric transcallosal approach for maximal resection of a complex recurrent third ventricular epidermoid tumor with lateral ventricular extension. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/wbXp7mc0vT4 .
Super-Triple Systems, Normal and Classical Yang-Baxter Equations

The Yang-Baxter as well as classical Yang-Baxter equations have been recast as triple product equations, and some solutions of these equations are obtained.
Symptomatology and pathogenesis of migraine

Migraine is a paroxysmal disorder of which headache is the central symptom. The headache is generally so intense that it is associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, photo- and phonophobia. In so-called classic migraine or migraine with aura, the headache is preceded by transient focal neurological symptoms, generally referred to as aura symptoms. There is clinical experimental evidence for the involvement of at least three mechanisms in the pathogenesis of the migraine headache. These mechanisms are extracranial arterial vasodilation, extracranial neurogenic inflammation, and decreased inhibition of central pain transmission. The associated symptoms are possibly caused by sympathetic activation at a peripheral (nausea and vomiting) and central level (photo- and phonophobia). The aura symptoms are, in the author's opinion, most likely caused by a mechanism similar to spreading excitation and depression. An adaptation of the traditional concept of the pathogenesis of the migraine attack is presented.
Overwintering of Africanized, European, and Hybrid Honey Bees in Germany

The survival of Africanized honey bees, Apis mellifera L., in temperate regions was evaluated in Germany during the 1988–1989 winter. Africanized, local European, and Africanized × European colonies were started by queen introductions on 5 August, and all surviving colonies were depopulated on 21 February. Five of nine Africanized colonies had died by the end of the experiment, whereas all eight European and all five Africanized × European colonies survived. Brood production of the three genotypes declined from 18 August until 13 November with significant differences on two of the seven measurement dates. Brood areas were not different among surviving colonies that had resumed brood production by 21 February. Changes in total colony weights through time were not different. Significant differences were found in the rates of colony weight loss (kilograms total weight/average kilograms of adult bees∗time)and in final adult population size. The higher attrition of worker populations and the higher mortality of Africanized colonies suggest a possible reduction of their adverse effect as their range expands northward to temperate areas in the United States. The intermediate values for all characters in the Africanized × European colonies suggest that genes underlying overwintering characters are additive. This additivity will permit different levels of hybridization for different ecological zones, thus complicating predictions about absolute climatic limits.
The Effect of Foster Care on Social Skills

Almas AN, Degnan KA, Radulescu A, et al. Effects of early intervention and the moderating effect of brain activity on institutionalized children’s social skills at age 8. PNAS. 2012; 10( Suppl 2): 17228- 17231; doi: 10.1073/pnas.1121256109[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2] Investigators from multiple institutions sought to understand the effect of early foster care placement on the social skills of previously institutionalized children when they reached middle childhood. This study was part of the Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEIP) that began in 2001. BEIP is a randomized controlled trial of foster care as an intervention for children abandoned at birth and placed in 1 of 6 institutions for young children in Bucharest, Romania. At the outset of the BEIP, 136 institutionalized children were randomized to either foster care or usual care in the institution in which they currently resided. Children who were randomized to foster care were initially placed at ages 7 to 35 months. A control group of non-institutionalized … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DPNAS%26rft.volume%253D10%26rft.spage%253D17228%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1073%252Fpnas.1121256109%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1073/pnas.1121256109&link_type=DOI
Bipolar Block Analysis and Inhibition of Higher Voltage at Restarting in Reduced Voltage Mode for Longquan-Zhengping DC Transmission System

Through the analysis of bipolar block of Longquan-Zhengping direct current(DC) transmission system at July 30,2011,the block resulting from the restart failure of pole Ⅰ in reduced voltage mode after faults is studied.According to the logic of the actual control protection system,the root cause of this problem is that the ideal no-load DC voltage can not change rapidly.A modification method based on the real-time calculating of the firing angle limit at the rectifier and inverter station with measured data is proposed to optimize the output of voltage and current regulator,and to solve the matter of higher voltage at restarting in reduced voltage mode.Series tests of this new method have been made based on the simulation model which is the same as the actual DC system and prove its feasibility and effectiveness.
Seed Calculi in an Ectopic Ureterocele: A Case Report

We report a case in which the gravitational properties of seed calculi were demonstrated on plain films and excretory urography in an ectopic ureterocele. Upright and supine films are of importance to preclude other etiologies for abdominal calcification.
Contact between psychotherapists and psychiatric residents who provide medication backup.

OBJECTIVE Psychiatric residents frequently prescribe medication for patients who are in psychotherapy with another clinician. This study examined the extent and characteristics of communication between psychiatric residents and psychotherapists who treated patients in a university outpatient clinic. METHODS Thirteen psychiatric residents who prescribed medications for 83 patients seen by other clinicians for therapy were surveyed about whether and how often during a five-month period they had contact with the therapist, who initiated the contact, and whether it took place with the patient's consent. Patients' charts were reviewed to determine if contacts were documented. RESULTS The psychiatric residents indicated they had contact with the therapist in 44 of 83 cases (53 percent). Contact was initiated by the prescribing psychiatrist in 47.7 percent of the cases and by the therapist in 43.2 percent of the cases. The charts of only seven patients (8.4 percent) included written documentation of contact. CONCLUSIONS Several steps are necessary to optimize communication between treating clinicians and documentation of such communication. They include initial contact to discuss the treatment contract and clarify each clinician's responsibilities, formal written consent from the patient, regular contacts between clinicians to discuss the patient's progress, and collaboration between clinicians on the patient's treatment plan.
Trends of tuberculosis researches in Japan and the roles of Kekkaku

Based on a recent bibliometrics report on tuberculosis research, a brief introduction was made on the recent trends of scientific publications in English as well as in Japanese by Japanese researchers. The publication of tuberculosis papers in the Japanese journals and the changes in papers accommodated in Kekkaku, the official organ of the Japanese Society for Tuberculosis, were analysed. Finally, the roles for Kekkaku as a journal in Japanese language to activate the researches in Japan were discussed and some proposals were made.
Microscopic dielectric permittivities of graphene nanoribbons and graphene

We derive a microscopic Poisson equation using the density-density response function. This equation is valid for any realistic potential perturbation and permits the study of dielectric response in nanostructures, especially in one-dimensional nanostructures and quantum dots. We apply this equation to simulate a nanoscale parallel-plate capacitor (nanocapacitor) with graphene as dielectric and two nanocapacitors with a graphene nanoribbon (GNR) as dielectric. The density-density response function is calculated using first-order perturbation theory and empirical pseudopotentials. From the microscopic electric field of the graphene nanocapacitor, we calculate the out-of-plane microscopic dielectric constant of graphene and from the electric field of GNR nanocapacitors, we calculate the full microscopic dielectric tensor of several GNRs with different widths. We find that the out-of-plane microscopic dielectric constants of GNRs and graphene do not depend on their energy band gap. We also study the effect of a surrounding dielectric on the dielectric permittivity of graphene and we conclude that the surrounding dielectric barely affects the dielectric permittivity of graphene.
Late stage drainage of block copolymer stabilized emulsion drops

Polymer covered emulsion droplets have a considerable number of applications ranging from active cosmetics to advance drug delivery systems. In many of these systems the emulsion droplets do not exist in isolation but interact with other drops, surfaces and particles. In a step towards understanding how these complex mechanical interactions take place, we examine the interaction between a block copolymer covered emulsion droplet (polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-PEO) covered toluene) and a flat mica interface. As buoyancy pushes the droplet upwards, it buckles in as it nears the mica and traps a droplet of the surrounding fluid. The trapped outer fluid (water/glycerine in our experiment) drains out through an annular region of PEO brush. This study focuses on the late stage drainage, unique to large molecule surfactants, and examines the effects of the polymer and droplet size on the drainage rate. We introduce a scaling model of the drainage which highlights the importance of three lengthscales in the problem – the brush height, the slip length along the emulsion drop interface and the width of the annular contact region.
Redox-Driven Conformational Dynamics in a Photosystem-II-Inspired β-Hairpin Maquette Determined through Spectroscopy and Simulation.

Tyrosine-based radical transfer plays an important role in photosynthesis, respiration, and DNA synthesis. Radical transfer can occur either by electron transfer (ET) or proton coupled electron transfer (PCET), depending on the pH. Reversible conformational changes in the surrounding protein matrix may control reactivity of radical intermediates. De novo designed Peptide A is a synthetic 18 amino-acid β-hairpin, which contains a single tyrosine (Y5) and carries out a kinetically significant PCET reaction between Y5 and a cross-strand histidine (H14). In Peptide A, amide II′ (CN) changes are observed in the UV resonance Raman (UVRR) spectrum, associated with tyrosine ET and PCET; these bands were attributed previously to a reversible change in secondary structure. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to define this conformational change in Peptide A and its H14-to-cyclohexylalanine variant, Peptide C. Three different Y5 charge states, tyrosine (YH), tyrosinate (Y–), and neutral tyrosyl radical (Y·),...
Growth of human breast cancers in Peromyscus.

ABSTRACT Modeling breast cancer in general and hormone-sensitive breast cancer, in particular in mice, has several limitations. These are related to the inbred nature of laboratory mice, and do not allow adequate appreciation of the contribution of the host9s genetic heterogeneity in tumor growth. In addition, the naturally low estrogen levels of mice makes estradiol supplementation obligatory for tumor growth. Here, we show that Peromyscus californicus , following cyclosporine-mediated immunosuppression, supports the growth of both MDA-MB-231 estrogen-independent and MCF7 estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers without exogenous estradiol supplementation. Tumor growth was inhibited by fulvestrant or letrozole, confirming that MCF7 xenografts remain hormone dependent in vivo and suggesting that P. californicus can be used as an alternative to conventional mice for the study of hormone-sensitive breast cancer. The fact that Peromyscus stocks are outbred also facilitates the study of breast cancer in genetically heterogenous populations.
Inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport by metabolites produced by Phialophora gregata

In soybeans, adzuki beans, and mung beans the disease brown stem rot, which is caused by Phialophora gregata , is characterized by vascular browning of the stem and, in some cases, by chlorosis and necrosis of the leaves. We investigated the effect of compounds produced by P. gregata on light-driven electron transport in thylakoid membranes. The compounds investigated were contained in three different extracts isolated from the fungal culture: crude extract, gregatin A and the mother liquor from the crystallization of gregatin A. Electron transport rates were measured potentiometrically using a Clark-type oxygen electrode and spectrophotometrically by monitoring light-induced absorbancc changes due to cytochrome f . The data show that at least one metabolite produced by P. gregata can completely inhibit photosynthetic electron transport. The most potent inhibitor was the mother liquor which inhibited the reaction from H 2 O to methylviologen by 50% at a concentration of 20 μg ml −1 . Comparison of the efficacy of the different extracts indicates that gregatin A is a less effective inhibitor. The effect of the extracts on electron transport reactions that include limited segments of the photosynthetic apparatus indicates that there are at least two sites of inhibition, the Photosystem II complex and the cytochrome b/f complex. The results raise the possibility that the leaf symptoms observed in brown rot may be due to inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport by a metabolite produced by P. gregata .
Making the Parents as Partners Principle a Reality: The Role of the Alliance

We explore the dimensions of the Parents as Partners principle, the widely touted, but somewhat elusive construct in the literature on treating children with serious mental illness, whose poorly defined boundaries, lack of empirical grounding, and overemphasis on instrumental dimensions attenuates its usefulness as a guide for practice and research. Four major barriers to the realization of this principle are outlined, all of which may impede actualizing partnership in practice and may also inhibit the early formation of a positive clinician/parent alliance, a neglected, though key dimension of true partnership practice. The alliance, which has a long clinical and research history in psychotherapy and behavioral research, and more recently, in a variety of community-based interventions, is a precursor to active client partnership with helpers and to treatment participation, as well as therapeutic in its own right. After reviewing relevant alliance research, we close with a beginning research agenda to incorporate the alliance as an integral component of future conceptualization and research about the Parents as Partners principle.
Focal Status Epilepticus

Focal status epilepticus (FSE) is a condition in which there is an anatomically discrete, continuously discharging epileptic disturbance, lasting more than 1 h (1), that is associated with a definable neurologic behavior. If that discrete and sustained discharge occurs in the temporal lobe or limbic region of the brain, the condition is referred to as nonconvulsive complex partial status epilepticus (discussed in Chapter 10). If the discharge is ongoing in systems that subserve language function, an aphasia may result (see Chapter 11). This chapter will deal with the disorders and conditions associated with FSE arising from other regions of the brain. This condition can be associated with a wide variety of neurologic disorders and have a multitude of signs and symptoms. These signs and symptoms vary according to the function of the brain area engaged by the discharge and can be as simple as a repetitive movement, as seen in epilepsia partialis continua (EPC), or as subtle as an inability to write to command (see case example).
Multiple Extradural Spinal Meningiomas in a Patient with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background Purely extradural spinal meningiomas are uncommon. Due to their typical location in the neural foramen, they are often mistaken for schwannomas, neurofibromas, and epidural metastases. In addition, comorbid conditions such as immunodeficiency may obscure the diagnosis. We present a case of extradural spinal meningiomas in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is the first reported case of multiple extradural spinal meningiomas in 2 separate regions of the spine. Case Description A 40-year-old male with a past medical history of HIV and hepatitis B infection presented with a 2-month history of progressive back pain radiating to the left flank and thigh. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic and lumbar spine with intravenous gadolinium contrast revealed 2 extramedullary masses in the left neural foramina of T6 and L1. The patient underwent laminectomy, which revealed that the 2 lesions were entirely extradural. Both lesions were resected, and the histological diagnosis for both lesions was meningioma, World Health Organization grade I. Conclusions Our experience with this 40-year-old male with AIDS who presented with radicular symptoms due to multiple purely extradural meningiomas underscores the importance of considering meningioma as a possible diagnosis in patients with tumors of the neural foramina. In addition, a wide differential diagnosis should be made for patients with spinal lesions and history of HIV, including illnesses that are related to immunodeficiency and those that are not.
Fuel Efficient Moving Target Tracking Using POMDP with Limited FOV Sensor

The ability to effectively track moving targets is a critical capability for future autonomous aircraft. While many methods have been developed for performing target tracking, minimal work has focused on fuel-efficient options to extend mission duration. The ability to tightly track a target is critical for certain missions; however, increased tracking errors can be accepted in certain scenarios to extend endurance. Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDPs) have been shown to be effective for tracking fixed and moving targets. This paper provides a fuel-efficient option that shows a 10% endurance increase with adequate target tracking. The algorithm provides tracking with a limited field of view fixed sensor that will have limited observations depending on mission requirements. The POMDP formulation proposed in this paper is robust enough to handle observations while also providing options for improved fuel efficiency. We perform 500 Monte Carlo simulations per configuration to provide statistical confidence in the performance of the algorithm.
Assessment of the impact of oxandrolone on outcomes in burn injured patients.

The purpose of this study is to use a retrospective cohort of burn patients to evaluate the contribution of oxandrolone on burn care outcomes. Longitudinal clinical data is used to analyze outcomes from a new perspective. Our random-effects longitudinal regression analysis model used temporal clinical data to evaluate oxandrolone's impact on outcomes (oxandrolone/non-oxandrolone n=50/11, median length of stay [LOS]=42.2/39.3, mean weight (kg)=192.2/207.6, mean initial prealbumin (mg/dL) 10.1/7.5). The resultant predictive models (p 0.05) nor LOS (5.27days shortening, p=0.361). Prealbumin over time was also influenced by initial value (0.293mg/dL, p=0.003), LOS (0.072mg/dL increase per additional day, p<0.001), and the presence of inhalation injury (2.652mg/dL decrease if present, p=0.009). Oxandrolone appears to benefit anabolic protein production. It is difficult to isolate the role of oxandrolone on major outcomes due to the concomitant influence of other variables.
Design and implementation of an Internet-based cancer risk assessment tool: Use over 10 years.

e13075Background: Prevention and early intervention can improve survival and quality of life across all cancers. Patient understanding of risk factors, and associated actionable lifestyle changes a...
High-altitude water ice cloud formation on Mars controlled by interplanetary dust particles

Submicrometre-size meteoric smoke aggregates form when interplanetary dust particles ablate and re-coagulate in the Martian atmosphere. The MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) satellite has detected pervasive ionized metallic layers due to meteor ablation at an 80–90 km altitude, which suggests a continuous supply of meteoric smoke particles that settle to lower altitudes. Until now, meteoric smoke has been neglected in general circulation model studies of the formation of Martian water ice clouds. Here we show that when meteoric smoke is included in simulations of the atmospheric circulation on Mars, mesospheric water ice clouds form at low pressures and in discrete layers, polar hood clouds extend to higher altitudes and the seasonal Hadley cell is weakened. Furthermore, we find that the middle atmosphere water ice clouds respond to and influence the diurnal and semidiurnal migrating thermal tides. We conclude that Mars atmospheric simulations that neglect meteoric smoke do not reproduce the observed spatial distribution of water ice clouds and miss crucial radiative impacts on the overall atmospheric dynamics. Particles from interplanetary dust ablating in Mars’ atmosphere control high-altitude water ice cloud formation, according to numerical simulations of the Martian atmosphere.
Using Cognitive Communications to Increase the Operational Value of Collaborative Networks of Satellites

Distributed satellite constellations utilizing networks of small satellites will be a key enabler of new observing strategies in the next generation of NASA missions. Small satellite instruments are becoming more capable, but are still resource constrained (i.e. power, data, scanning systems, etc.) in many situations. On a system scale, the primary purpose of collaborative communication among small satellites is to achieve system-level adaptivity. Collaborative communications however may also dramatically increase the complexity of the control algorithms for small satellite communication networks. Application of cognitive communication methods is one promising method to address this problem. In this paper, we discuss our recent investigations into how machine learning (ML) algorithms can be utilized in the high-level decision making of a communication system in a distributed satellite mission. We performed simulation studies to explore how the perception-action cycle could be applied to a collaborative small-satellite networks. To support this, we are using a recently developed open-source C++ library for the simulation of autonomous and collaborative networks of adaptive sensors.
Direct and Scalable Electroreduction of Triphenylphosphine Oxide to Triphenylphosphine

The direct and scalable electroreduction of triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO)-the stoichiometric byproduct of some of the most common synthetic organic reactions-to triphenylphosphine (TPP) remains an unmet challenge that would dramatically reduce the cost and waste associated with performing desirable reactions that are mediated by TPP on a large scale. This report details an electrochemical methodology for the single-step reduction of TPPO to TPP using an aluminum anode in combination with a supporting electrolyte that continuously regenerates a Lewis acid from the products of anodic oxidation. The resulting Lewis acid activates TPPO for reduction at mild potentials and promotes P-O over P-C bond cleavage to selectively form TPP over other byproducts. Finally, this robust methodology is applied to (i) the reduction of synthetically useful classes of phosphine oxides, (ii) the one-pot recycling of TPPO generated from a Wittig reaction, and (iii) the gram-scale reduction of TPPO at high concentration (1 M) with continuous product extraction and in flow at high current density.
Intuitive invention by summative imitation in children and adults

Abstract Humanity's ability to conquer every corner of the planet rests on our inventiveness. But is this inventiveness best explained by individual problem-solving skills or by our species' exceptional social learning abilities? Using a tower-building task, we show that, on average, 3% of 4–6 year old children (n = 180) and adults (n = 192) independently combined tower pieces to produce the most optimal tower possible, confirming that preschool age children and adults alike are poor independent inventors. Yet, after observing one or more models generate tower elements separately, both children and adults reproduced the demonstrated elements and spontaneously combined them, producing a novel (unobserved) tower of optimal height, evidence of intuitive invention by summative imitation. These results challenge folk concepts of innovation and corroborate those from mathematical models showing that our species' inventiveness generally arise from social learning rather than individual insights. So, rather than being sui generis, human inventions are, broadly, communis generis.
Academic and Professional Outcomes of Participants in an Emergency Department Research Associate Program.

Objectives Studies have found that participation in emergency department research associate (EDRA) programs is associated with medical school acceptance. However, little is known about the association between EDRA program participation and other academic and professional outcomes. We sought to characterize the academic and professional outcomes of EDRA program participants and their perception of program influence on academic and professional outcomes. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of University of Rochester EDRA program participants who graduated from the program May 2010 to May 2017. EDRAs were sent a secure, deidentified, survey. Standard descriptive statistics were used to characterize participant demographics and outcomes. National acceptance rates were referenced from sources. Results A total of 56 graduates completed the survey (64% response rate). Forty (71%) identified as female, 12 (21%) identified as Asian, one (2%) identified as Black or African American, and three (5%) identified as Hispanic or Latino. Acceptance rates to MD programs, DO programs, PhD programs, and master's programs were 88% (22/25), 92% (12/13), 100% (2/2), and 100% (9/9), respectively. Rates were significantly higher compared to national rates (all p < 0.001). Eighty-three percent (30/36 responses) and 74% (37/50) spoke about the EDRA program during postgraduate program and job interviews, respectively, and 78% (35/45 responses) included the EDRA program in their personal statements. Twenty-five percent (14/55) changed their career goals after participating in the EDRA program, of which 36% (5/14) left medicine and 21% (3/14) were undecided and chose to become a physician. Conclusions An EDRA program can help develop and support a career in medicine and science. EDRA graduates used their experiences directly in their postgraduate program applications and job interviews. Acceptance rates of EDRA program graduates to postgraduate programs were higher than national averages. An EDRA program can help clarify career goals after program participation.
Designing Emergency Response Pipelines : Lessons and Challenges.

Emergency response to incidents such as accidents, crimes, and fires is a major problem faced by communities. Emergency response management comprises of several stages and sub-problems like forecasting, resource allocation, and dispatch. The design of principled approaches to tackle each problem is necessary to create efficient emergency response management (ERM) pipelines. Over the last six years, we have worked with several first responder organizations to design ERM pipelines. In this paper, we highlight some of the challenges that we have identified and lessons that we have learned through our experience in this domain. Such challenges are particularly relevant for practitioners and researchers, and are important considerations even in the design of response strategies to mitigate disasters like floods and earthquakes.
The β-encapsulation cage of rearrangement hotspot (Rhs) effectors is required for type VI secretion

Bacteria deploy rearrangement hotspot (Rhs) proteins as toxic effectors against both prokaryotic and eukaryotic target cells. Rhs proteins are characterized by YD-peptide repeats, which fold into a large β-cage structure that encapsulates the C-terminal toxin domain. Here, we show that Rhs effectors are essential for type VI secretion system (T6SS) activity in Enterobacter cloacae (ECL). ECL rhs− mutants do not kill Escherichia coli target bacteria and are defective for T6SS-dependent export of hemolysin-coregulated protein (Hcp). The RhsA and RhsB effectors of ECL both contain Pro−Ala−Ala−Arg (PAAR) repeat domains, which bind the β-spike of trimeric valine−glycine repeat protein G (VgrG) and are important for T6SS activity in other bacteria. Truncated RhsA that retains the PAAR domain is capable of forming higher-order, thermostable complexes with VgrG, yet these assemblies fail to restore secretion activity to ∆rhsA ∆rhsB mutants. Full T6SS-1 activity requires Rhs that contains N-terminal transmembrane helices, the PAAR domain, and an intact β-cage. Although ∆rhsA ∆rhsB mutants do not kill target bacteria, time-lapse microscopy reveals that they assemble and fire T6SS contractile sheaths at ∼6% of the frequency of rhs+ cells. Therefore, Rhs proteins are not strictly required for T6SS assembly, although they greatly increase secretion efficiency. We propose that PAAR and the β-cage provide distinct structures that promote secretion. PAAR is clearly sufficient to stabilize trimeric VgrG, but efficient assembly of T6SS-1 also depends on an intact β-cage. Together, these domains enforce a quality control checkpoint to ensure that VgrG is loaded with toxic cargo before assembling the secretion apparatus.
Phospholipids Uniquely Modify Secondary Structure of α-Synuclein Oligomers

Parkinson disease (PD) is a severe neurological disorder that affects more than a million people in the U.S. alone. A hallmark of PD is the formation of intracellular α-synuclein (α-Syn) protein aggregates called Lewy bodies (LBs). Although this protein does not have a particular localization in the central neural system, α-Syn aggregates are primarily found in certain areas of midbrain, hypothalamus and thalamus. Microscopic analysis of LBs revealed fragments of lipid-rich membranes, organelles and vesicles. These and other pieces of experimental evidence suggest α-Syn aggregation can be triggered by lipids. In this study, we used atomic force microscope Infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy to investigate structural organization of individual α-Syn oligomers grown in the presence of two different phospholipids vesicles. AFM-IR is a modern optical nanoscopy technique that has single-molecule sensitivity and sub-diffraction spatial resolution. Our results show that α-Syn oligomers grown in the presence of phosphatidylcholine have distinctly different structure than oligomers grown in the presence on phosphatidylserine. We infer that this occurs because of specific charges adopted by lipids, which in turn governs protein aggregation. We also found that protein to phospholipid ratio makes a substantial impact on the structure of α-Syn oligomers. These findings demonstrate that α-Syn is far more complex than expected from the perspective of structural organization of oligomeric species.
A novel gene therapy for neurodegenerative Lafora disease via EPM2A-loaded DLinDMA lipoplexes.

Aim: To develop novel cationic liposomes as a nonviral gene delivery vector for the treatment of rare diseases, such as Lafora disease - a neurodegenerative epilepsy. Materials & methods: DLinDMA and DOTAP liposomes were formulated and characterized for the delivery of gene encoding laforin and expression of functional protein in HEK293 and neuroblastoma cells. Results: Liposomes with cationic lipids DLinDMA and DOTAP showed good physicochemical characteristics. Nanosized DLinDMA liposomes demonstrated desired transfection efficiency, negligible hemolysis and minimal cytotoxicity. Western blotting confirmed successful expression and glucan phosphatase assay demonstrated the biological activity of laforin. Conclusion: Our study is a novel preclinical effort in formulating cationic lipoplexes containing plasmid DNA for the therapy of rare genetic diseases such as Lafora disease.
Optimization to Automated Phonetic Transcription Grading Tool (APTgt) – Automatic Exam Generator

The Automated Phonetic Transcription Grading Tool (APTgt) is an online exam system developed by Auburn University HCI group. This application aims to support faculty in communications disorders to improve their pedagogy and timely feedback for students. This article discusses an attempt to improve teacher’s experience by providing an automated method for exam generation, which can significantly save time while creating exams. The exam entry is created with the AU IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) keyboard and system that grades the exams upon student completion of the exam. The exam is composed of several linguistics words with their pronunciation. Students need to answer the questions by inputting the correct phonetic spells during the exam. The core part in the auto-exam generator is the classification module, which can classify the input words into different difficulty levels. In this paper, we proposed two classification algorithms in the classification module: Rule-based algorithm and Classification and Regression Trees (CART).
Envisioning TESOL through a Translanguaging Lens: Global Perspectives, by Tian, Z., Aghai, L., Sayer, P., & Schissel, J. L. (Eds).

Since Ofelia Garcia’s (2009) popularization and further theorization of translanguaging in bilingual education, the term “translanguaging” has been proliferating in the field of language education,...
Antigone, Pericles, Orestes: Ambivalence and the Democratic Politics of Mourning

In his magisterial book, After Evil, Robert Meister catalogues the “dark side” of the discourse of universal human rights as it has developed over the past several decades. For Meister, human rights discourse resembles little more than a “sentimental humanitarianism” that supplants political struggles with rhetorical bromides about reconciliation and forgiveness. According to Meister, human rights culture’s universalistic claims displace cross-cultural revolutionary struggles for social justice. Specifically, the discourse of human rights culture is “no longer addressed to victims who would become revolutionaries but to beneficiaries who do not identify with perpetrators.” Former beneficiaries of colonial violence become distinct from perpetrators through the exchange of guilt for forgiveness, abetted by a language of confession and conversion by which the present and future of the polity is dissociated from the “now repudiated past.” The transition from apartheid in South Africa is seen as a paradigmatic moment of this emergent discourse. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission explicitly sought to shift South African society from a moral psychology of struggle to one of reconciliation, by recasting “the central dyads of revolutionary political thought — victim/perpetrator and victim/beneficiary — as nondivisive ethical relations among surviving witnesses to human cruelty.”
Suppression of Human Prostate Cancer Cell Growth By α1-Adrenoceptor Antagonists Doxazosin and Terazosin via Induction of Apoptosis

Recent evidence from our laboratory has demonstrated that alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists doxazosin and terazosin induced apoptosis in prostate epithelial and smooth muscle cells in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH; J. Urol., 159: 1810-1815, 1998; J. Urol., 161: 2002-2007, 1999). In this study, we investigated the biological action of three alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists, doxazosin, terazosin, and tamsulosin, against prostate cancer cell growth. The antigrowth effect of the three alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists was examined in two human prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3 and DU-145, and a prostate smooth muscle cell primary culture, SMC-1, on the basis of: (a) cell viability assay; (b) rate of DNA synthesis; and (c) induction of apoptosis. Our results indicate that treatment of prostate cancer cells with doxazosin or terazosin results in a significant loss of cell viability, via induction of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, whereas tamsulosin had no effect on prostate cell growth. Neither doxazosin nor terazosin exerted a significant effect on the rate of cell proliferation in prostate cancer cells. Exposure to phenoxybenzamine, an irreversible inhibitor of alpha1-adrenoceptors, does not abrogate the apoptotic effect of doxazosin or terazosin against human prostate cancer or smooth muscle cells. This suggests that the apoptotic activity of doxazosin and terazosin against prostate cells is independent of their capacity to antagonize alpha1-adrenoceptors. Furthermore, an in vivo efficacy trial demonstrated that doxazosin administration (at tolerated pharmacologically relevant doses) in SCID mice bearing PC-3 prostate cancer xenografts resulted in a significant inhibition of tumor growth. These findings demonstrate the ability of doxazosin and terazosin (but not tamsulosin) to suppress prostate cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo by inducing apoptosis without affecting cell proliferation. This evidence provides the rationale for targeting both drugs, already in clinical use and with established adverse-effect profiles, against prostatic tumors for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
Increasing Diversity and the Future of U.S. Housing Segregation

Previous studies have shown that as the percent Black or percent Hispanic grows, that group's residential segregation from Whites tends to increase as well. Typically, these findings are explained in terms of White discriminatory reaction to the perceived economic and political threats associated with minority population growth. The present analysis examines whether these racial threat effects depend on the extent of racial and ethnic diversity in an area. This possibility is tested by estimating otherwise standard models of Black-White and Hispanic-White segregation, as measured by the isolation index, using metropolitan area data from the 1990 and 2000 U.S. Censuses. Our results strongly support the notion that the racial threat effect is significantly diminished in areas with greater multi-ethnic diversity. These findings provide some reason for optimism with regard to racial and ethnic residential isolation given the trends toward increasing diversity in many metro areas.
Cardiac potentials in pulmonary disease. Overdistension of the lung versus cor pulmonale (right ventricular hypertrophy).

Abstract These studies demonstrated the distribution of cardiac potentials on the body surface in children with clinical evidence of overdistension of the lungs without right ventricular hypertrophy. The effect of the overdistended lung was shown to alter body surface events during ventricular activation by causing an inferior shift of potential maxima and minima during the middle third of the QRS. Roentgenographic studies demonstrated an associated inferior shift of the heart in relation to the anterior chest surface. Further shown was the associated diminished values of potentials over the left lateral chest during this interval in the patients with cystic fibrosis, as compared to normal children. The results of surface-mapping and x-ray studies indicated that leads placed in the fourth interspace monitor different body surface events during the middle of QRS in the cystic fibrosis children as compared to normal children due, in large part, to the inferior shift of potential maxima and minima. In the presence of cor pulmonale with marked right ventricular hypertrophy the potential distribution over the body was quite different in normal subjects and in those with cystic fibrosis. Right ventricular hypertrophy produced a migration of the anterior maximum in a rightward direction during the latter part of the QRS. Its terminal position was located beneath the right clavicle. These events differed from those in normal subjects and those with cystic fibrosis who showed a leftward migration of the maximum with a terminal distribution characterized by anterior minimum and posterior maximum.
A Quality Improvement Initiative Reduces 30-Day Rate of Readmission for Patients With Cirrhosis

Background & Aims Many hospitalized patients with cirrhosis are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, particularly those with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). We performed a prospective study to assess the effects of a quality improvement protocol on readmission to a transplant center's liver unit within 30 days. Methods We studied the effects of a quality improvement program in 824 unique patients with decompensated cirrhosis or receiving liver transplants (mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, 17.7 ± 7.4) admitted to an inpatient hepatology unit from 2010 through 2013. The study had a year-long control period (626 admissions receiving usual care) and 2 intervention phases: a hand-held checklist phase (470 admissions) and an electronic phase that incorporated the checklist items into the electronic provider order entry system (624 admissions). The intervention phases included goal-directed lactulose therapy and rifaximin for overt HE, and prompts for antibiotic prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The primary endpoint was the difference in 30-day readmissions between the control and intervention phases. Trends in 30-day readmissions were compared with those of patients with decompensated cirrhosis admitted at another center. Results During the electronic phase, study subjects had 40% lower adjusted odds of 30-day readmission than during the control period. The slope of the decline in readmissions over time was significantly greater than for patients at the other center (P Conclusions In a prospective study, a quality improvement initiative that included electronic decision support reduced readmissions of patients with cirrhosis to the hospital within 30 days.