cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A phosphorylated, carboxy-terminal fragment of β-amyloid precursor protein localizes to the splicing factor compartment

Beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) is implicated in the pathobiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To gain insight into its function, we have investigated the proteolytic processing and post-translational modification of APP in relation to its intracellular traffic and localization. The proteolytic processing that generates the amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) also releases into the cytoplasm the carboxy-terminal fragment of APP, Cgamma. Using the catecholaminergic cell line, CAD, and an antibody to a form of APP that is phosphorylated at Thr668 (pAPP; numbering for APP695), we show that a phosphorylated, carboxy-terminal fragment of APP, probably Cgamma, is present in the nucleus, where it localizes to subnuclear particles. The labeling with anti-pAPP antibody co-localizes with proteins that define the splicing factor compartment (SFC) [e.g. the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP), U2B, and serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins], but is excluded from the coiled bodies and the gems. This distribution of pAPP epitopes was found in CAD cells independent of their state of differentiation, as well as in primary cortical neurons, epithelial cells and fibroblasts. We further show that exogenously expressed Cgamma becomes phosphorylated, and distributes throughout the cell. A fraction of this Cgamma is translocated into the nucleus, where it co-localizes with endogenous pAPP epitopes. Finally, we show that the APP binding, scaffolding protein, Fe65 co-localizes with pAPP epitopes and with expressed Cgamma at intranuclear speckles. These results suggest that phosphorylated Cgamma accumulates at the SFC. Thus, APP may play a role in pre-mRNA splicing, and Fe65 and APP phosphorylation may regulate this function.
Picbreeder: A case study in collaborative evolutionary exploration of design space

For domains in which fitness is subjective or difficult to express formally, interactive evolutionary computation (IEC) is a natural choice. It is possible that a collaborative process combining feedback from multiple users can improve the quality and quantity of generated artifacts. Picbreeder, a large-scale online experiment in collaborative interactive evolution (CIE), explores this potential. Picbreeder is an online community in which users can evolve and share images, and most importantly, continue evolving others' images. Through this process of branching from other images, and through continually increasing image complexity made possible by the underlying neuroevolution of augmenting topologies (NEAT) algorithm, evolved images proliferate unlike in any other current IEC system. This paper discusses not only the strengths of the Picbreeder approach, but its challenges and shortcomings as well, in the hope that lessons learned will inform the design of future CIE systems.
Pyroxenes as tracers of mantle water variations

The concentration and distribution of volatiles in the Earth's mantle influence properties such as melting temperature, conductivity, and viscosity. To constrain upper mantle water content, concentrations of H2O, P, and F were measured in olivine, orthopyroxene, and clinopyroxene in mantle peridotites by secondary ion mass spectrometry. Analyzed peridotites are xenoliths (Pali Aike, Spitsbergen, Samoa), orogenic peridotites (Josephine Peridotite), and abyssal peridotites (Gakkel Ridge, Southwest Indian Ridge, Tonga Trench). The comparison of fresh and altered peridotites demonstrates that low to moderate levels of alteration do not affect H2O concentrations, in agreement with mineral diffusion data. Olivines have diffusively lost water during emplacement, as demonstrated by disequilibrium between olivine and coexisting pyroxenes. In contrast, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene preserve their high-temperature water contents, and their partitioning agrees with published experiments and other xenoliths. Hence, olivine water concentrations can be determined from pyroxene concentrations using mineral-mineral partition coefficients. Clinopyroxenes have 60–670 ppm H2O, while orthopyroxenes have 10–300 ppm, which gives calculated olivine concentrations of 8–34 ppm. The highest olivine water concentration translates to an effective viscosity of 6 × 1019 Pa s at 1250°C and ~15 km depth, compared to a dry effective viscosity of 2.5 × 1021 Pa s. Bulk rock water concentrations, calculated using mineral modes, are 20–220 ppm and correlate with peridotite indices of melt depletion. However, trace element melt modeling indicates that peridotites have too much water relative to their rare earth element concentrations, which may be explained by late-stage melt addition, during which only hydrogen diffuses fast enough for reequilibration.
Optimal-Sustainable Management of Multi-Species Fisheries: Lessons from a Predator-Prey Model

. In this paper we consider the meaning of sustainable resource management in multi-dimensional resources. Based on the principle of intergenerational fairness, we define fisheries management as sustainable if it does not lead to a decline in the net present value of the fishery. If sustainability, or intergenerational fairness, were held as an obligation by fishery managers, then the traditional present-value maximization objective would be constrained. Using numerical solutions to a simple predator-prey model, we explore how the optimal-sustainable management of this fishery would differ from management that seeks to maximize the present value of the benefits. General lessons regarding the meaning of sustainable fishery management are discussed.
Stochastic averaging of oscillators excited by colored Gaussian processes

Abstract The method of stochastic averaging has been developed and applied in the past mainly based on Stratonovich-Khasminskii theorem. We examine in this paper the application of this method in the case of arbitrary colored Gaussian excitations, which can be considered as the output of multidimensional linear filters to white Gaussian noise. The method used is based on a perturbation theoretic approach of the Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equation, which governs the response probability density function. First, for oscillators with linear elastic forces and non-parametric excitation, it is shown that, to leading order of perturbation, the results obtained match those derived by application of Stratonovich-Khasminskii theorem in the case of broad-band excitation. Then, more general results are derived for nearly Hamiltonian systems perturbed by parametric excitations of uncorrelated colored noises. It is shown that the state probability density function is governed by a reduced equation in the “slow” Hamiltonian variable only, which depends on a number of parameters characterizing the colored noise excitations. Several examples are given for illustration. As a preliminary to these theoretical developments, the problem of determining the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the Fokker-Planck operator is addressed for a general class of linear multidimensional systems.
Growth elasticity of poverty: direct estimates from recent data

Using recent poverty data for developing countries, elasticity of $2 poverty headcount with respect to the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is directly calculated for the 1990s and the 2000s. The global estimate is around −0.84, which is much smaller in absolute magnitude than what some highly influential studies have reported or used. For the poverty-dense South Asia region, the elasticity is of the order of −0.22, which is a dramatic contrast from the previous estimates. For India, where the number of poor people is by far the largest of any country, and where the poverty rate is higher than even in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the elasticity is of the order of −0.13, which is an even bigger contrast from earlier studies. Policymakers and researchers are urged to keep these estimates in mind while judging the likely effect of income growth on poverty, and to discount poverty-reduction claims based on higher elasticity estimates that have been reported or used in many influential studies. I...
Effects of uncoupling agents on respiration, cation exchange, and phosphorylative efficiency in mitochondria☆

Abstract Mitochondrial uncoupling agents, (dinitrophenol, calcium, gramicidin, and valinomycin), as well as permeant anions which markedly alter rates of translocation of potassium divalent anionic salts into and out of mitochondria, can either increase or decrease respiration as well as increase or decrease efficiency of phosphorylation.
Influence of Quality of Relationship Between Patient With Melanoma and Partner on Partner-Assisted Skin Examination Education: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Melanoma has a high survival rate if it is detected early. Training patients with early-stage melanoma who are at risk of developing new melanomas to perform skin self-examination (SSE) may improve survival. Objective To examine for whom the intervention works best in a sample composed of dyads of patients with melanoma and skin-check partners who received an SSE intervention vs customary care. Design, Setting, and Participants For 494 patients with stage 0 to IIB melanoma (mean age, 55 years; 253 [51.2%] females) and their skin-check partners (mean age, 55 years; 280 [56.7%] females), a randomized clinical trial was conducted in ambulatory care dermatologic offices from June 6, 2011, to April 14, 2014. Follow-up assessments were performed at 12 months. Analysis was performed between March 23 and June 25, 2015. Methods Dyads of 494 patients and their partners were randomly assigned to receive the intervention (395 patients) or customary care (control) (99 patients). The main outcome was patient SSE self-efficacy. Partner motivation to assist with SSE and relationship quality (eg, agreeability, activities with partner, and happiness) were assessed for moderation of the influence of the intervention’s effect on SSE self-efficacy. Results Relationship quality, defined by activities with the partner (β = –0.892, SE = 0.432, t = –2.066; P = .001) and happiness (β = –4.586, SE = 2.044, t = –2.24; P = .001), significantly moderated the intervention effects on patients’ SSE self-efficacy. In contrast, patient-partner agreeability (β = –0.262, SE = 0.148, t = –1.773; P = .09) and partner motivation (β = –0.328, SE = 1.024, t = –0.320; P = .10) did not significantly moderate the intervention effects on patients’ SSE self-efficacy. Differences between the conditions were highest when activities performed with the partner were below average (mean difference, 6.652; P = .001) and when happiness was below average (mean difference, 7.000; P = .001). Although everyone receiving the intervention experienced some benefit, the findings indicate the greatest increases in self-efficacy were observed for those with below-average activities performed with the partner and happiness. Conclusions and Relevance The training of patients with melanoma and their partners in early-detection SSE benefited some more than others. Pairs who have low relationship quality, as determined by activities performed with the partner and happiness, may have received the greatest benefits from the training intervention because they were given an activity to perform together. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01432860
A Antropologia Redescobre A Sexualidade: Um Comentário Teórico

Apesar da reputacao de ser aberta a pesquisa sobre a sexualidade, a Antropologia como disciplina so relutantemente tem dado apoio a esse trabalho. A pesquisa e a teoria antropologicas desenvolveram-se lentamente, partilhando um paradigma teorico estavel (o modelo de influencia cultural) desde os anos 20 ate os 90. Embora fosse alem das estruturas determinista e essencialista ainda comuns na biomedicina, o trabalho antropologico ainda assim considerava aspectos importantes da sexualidade como universais e transculturais. A teoria da construcao social propos um desafio aos modelos antropologicos tradicionais, e a partir de 1975 tem sido responsavel por uma explosao de trabalhos inovadores sobre a sexualidade, tanto na Antropologia como em outras disciplinas. As origens e implicacoes teoricas da teoria construtivista sao investigadas. A competicao cada vez maior entre a influencia cultural e os paradigmas construtivistas foi alterada pelo surgimento da AIDS e do subsequente apoio mais substancial para a pesquisa sobre a sexualidade. Por bm lado, a expansao do financiamento as pesquisas ameaca fortalecer os modelos essencialistas em contextos biomedicos e os modelos de influencia cultural na Antropologia. Por outro, as complexidades e as ambiguidades inerentes a sexualidade estudada podem revelar a forca das abordagens construtivistas e estimular o desenvolvimento da pesquisa e da teoria na Antropologia.
Impact of homogeneous strain on uranium vacancy diffusion in uranium dioxide

We present a detailed mechanism of, and the effect of homogeneous strains on, the migration of uranium vacancies in ${\mathrm{UO}}_{2}$. Vacancy migration pathways and barriers are identified using density functional theory and the effect of uniform strain fields are accounted for using the dipole tensor approach. We report complex migration pathways and noncubic symmetry associated with the uranium vacancy in ${\mathrm{UO}}_{2}$ and show that these complexities need to be carefully accounted for to predict the correct diffusion behavior of uranium vacancies. We show that under homogeneous strain fields, only the dipole tensor of the saddle with respect to the minimum is required to correctly predict the change in the energy barrier between the strained and the unstrained case. Diffusivities are computed using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations for both neutral and fully charged state of uranium single and divacancies. We calculate the effect of strain on migration barriers in the temperature range 800\char21{}1800 K for both vacancy types. Homogeneous strains as small as $2%$ have a considerable effect on diffusivity of both single and divacancies of uranium, with the effect of strain being more pronounced for single vacancies than divacancies. In contrast, the response of a given defect to strain is less sensitive to changes in the charge state of the defect. Further, strain leads to anisotropies in the mobility of the vacancy and the degree of anisotropy is very sensitive to the nature of the applied strain field for strain of equal magnitude. Our results suggest that the influence of strain on vacancy diffusivity will be significantly greater when single vacancies dominate the defect structure, such as sintering, while the effects will be much less substantial under irradiation conditions where divacancies dominate.
Selectivity of Acaricidal Pyrethroids to Permethrin-Resistant Strains of Amblyseius fallacis12

Varying degrees of cross-resistance in a permethrin-resistant ( R ) strain of Amblyseiusfallacis Garman were found to four pyrethroid compounds which had acaricidal activity to both organophosphate R and S strains of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. Toxicities to T. urticae at the LC50 level were in the range of 0.008 to 0.50% AI; however, all compounds showed a shallow slope in the id-p response curve. LC50 values to permethrin R and S strains of predatory mites showed a greater range of toxicities (0.0001 to 0.03% AI); however, LC response curves showed steeper slopes to all compounds tested as compared to the prey mites. With regard to prey-predator selectivity ratios, SD 57706 was the most selective to the organophosphate-resistant T. urticae strain vs. the resistant A. fallacis strain (0.63 resistance ratio value at the LC50 level), there being a 46-fold cross-resistance difference between the permethrin R and S strain of A. fallacis . The possibilities for developing selective acaricides and Insecticides from this chemical class of compounds are discussed.
Characterization of Dislocations and Interfaces in Semiconductors by High Resolution Electron Microscopy

It is not presently possible to resolve the individual atoms in any semiconductor by high resolution electron microscopy (HREM). However symmetry arguments may be used to allow near-atomic resolution lattice images to be interpreted in rare favorable cases. This method is applied to the problem of distinguishing shuffle and glide set partial dislocations in silicon. It is also proposed that two dimensional characteristic loss energy selected diffraction patterns be used to reveal the local symmetry about selected substitutional species implanted in semiconductor lattices.
Effect of O2 on thickness uniformity of CdTe thin film deposited using CSS

Incorporating O 2 in the closed space sublimation (CSS) of CdTe thin film has resulted in improved cell efficiencies. Many studies have been undertaken to understand this effect on cell efficiency. In this work we study the effect of oxygen on lateral uniformity of the deposited CdTe film. A finite element model has been developed to represent the mass and heat transfers involved in the CSS process. The model takes into consideration the effect of O 2 by modeling its reaction with Cd vapors in the space between the source and the substrates and with the CdTe source. So a gradient of O 2 from the edges to the center of the substrate can result in non-uniform oxidation of the source and subsequently a laterally non-uniform film. A steady state model solved at various temperatures, pressures, and separation distances. O 2 concentration gradient was found to depend on the oxidation rate of Cd vapors and thus on temperature, total pressure, and oxygen partial pressure in the system.
O08.3 Barriers to Bacterial STI Screening of HIV+ Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in HIV Primary Care Settings

Background In the U.S., bacterial STI disproportionately affect HIV+ MSM. Screening for STI in HIV care settings remains suboptimal, but barriers have not been fully elucidated. Methods As part of a CDC initiative to increase STI screening among HIV+ MSM in care, we sought to (1) define current screening coverage, and (2) identify patient and provider related barriers to screening at the largest HIV clinic in the Pacific Northwest. We extracted aggregated testing data from electronic medical records, and created separate anonymous surveys for patients (written) and providers (electronic). All male clinic attendees seen during a 3-week period in 2012 were invited to participate; 110 MSM contributed. Of 33 clinic providers invited, 28 (85%) responded; 82% (23/28) were attending physicians. Results From March 2011-September 2012, among 1,379 HIV+ MSM engaged in care, 38% had extragenital testing, 40% urine testing, and 80% syphilis serology at least once. Of patients surveyed, 71% reported having sex in the last 2 months. 31% described seeking STI screening outside of the HIV clinic; of those, reported reasons included: being “easier” (42%), preferring “anonymity” (21%), wanting “more frequent screening” (16%). Providers reported being unfamiliar with current CDC screening guidelines (32%) and uncomfortable with discussing sexual practises and performing a genital exam (21%). Many (68%) stated time was a major barrier. Eleven (40%) providers cited patients’ reluctance as a barrier, reporting common patient excuses including: being unprepared (55%), testing elsewhere (82%) and preferring same-gender provider (27%). Asked about potential solutions, providers chose easier access to electronic-tracking of testing results (82%), access to results from other clinics (71%) and self-collection of specimens (57%). Conclusion At a large academic HIV primary care clinic, STI screening was substandard, with providers reporting numerous barriers. Interventions to address these obstacles include implementation of an STI self-testing programme, and enhanced education for providers.
A Machine for Playing the Game Nim

(1948). A Machine for Playing the Game Nim. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 55, No. 6, pp. 343-349.
Invited Symposium Long-term memories: How durable, and how enduring?

I am honored to be included in a symposium ex­ ploring the physiology of memory. As the only non­ physiologist in this group, I know that you do not ex­ pect me to contribute data based upon neurological interventions. I won't surprise you. I am not certain I could differentiate between a human brain and a monkey brain, but such discrimination failure does not prevent me from taking part in the dialogue be­ tween cognitive and physiological psychologists. I be­ lieve that this dialogue is important. It seems to me that much of the time our respective explorations are parallel rather than interactive, but I do not find this alarming, and I am confident that in the long run our respective findings will have a profound impact on each other's work. In the meantime, some discussion of why this does not always appear to be the case is appropriate, and I am going to examine the relevant issues historically. It is true that cognitive psychologists frequently cite physiological findings to support their concep­ tualizations of memory, but most of the time this is done post hoc, and I agree with Skinner's (1953) view that such physiologizing improves only the surface credibility without affecting the validity of cognitive models. Physiological psychologists nearly always use behavioral tests to answer their questions about the effect of neurological interventions, but it seems to me that currently these questions relate only tan­ gentially to some of the key questions cognitive psy­ chologists are rnost concerned with, During the 1940s and 1950s, the efforts of physiological and behav­ ioral psychologists were more closely linked. Learn
The hierarchical management of business archives for disease control in Qinghai Province

The hierarchical management principles of business archives for disease control were described,and the archive scope of the center and subordinates was differentiated.The significance of archives management for disease control and prevention at different levels was discussed.Some specific recommendations for implementation were put forward.
CONODONT BIOSTRATIGRAPHY AND PALEOECOLOGY OF MIDDLE ORDOVICIAN ROCKS IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA

r-Conodonts from the upper Burgen, Tyner, and Fite Formations (Middle Ordovician) of eastern Oklahoma include two new species, Phragmodus harrisi and Plectodina tynerensis. The conodont fauna indicates that the upper Burgen through middle Tyner is Whiterockian (pre- to earliest Chazyan) and that the upper Tyner-Fite is probably Kirkfieldian in age. The Whiterockian Burgen-Tyner preserves a regressive succession of shoreface, lagoonal, and intertidal deposits. That change is reflected by the conodont succession, which shows replacement of a fauna dominated by species of Neomultioistodus, Scandodus?, and Paraprioniodus by one dominated by species of Phragmodus, Plectodina, and Erismodus. Carbonate deposits of the Kirkfieldian(?) upper Tyner and Fite Formations follow a major hiatus and reflect shallow, subtidal to intertidal conditions. The conodont fauna is composed of species of Aphelognathus, Plectodina, Curtognathus, Erismodus, and Oulodus, among others.
Using Academia-Industry Partnerships to Enhance Software Verification & Validation Education via Active Learning Tools

Imparting real world experiences in a software verification and validation (SV&V) course is often a challenge due to the lack of effective active learning tools. This pedagogical requirement is important because graduates are expected to develop software that meets rigorous quality standards in functional and application domains. Realizing the necessity the authors designed and developed 42 delivery hours of active learning tools consisting of Case Studies, Class Exercises, and Case Study Videos for use in courses that impart knowledge on SV&V topics viz. requirements engineering, software reviews, configuration management, and software testing. Four key skill areas sought after by employers, namely communication skills, applied knowledge of methods, applied knowledge of tools, and research exposure are used to drive the development funded by a National Science Foundation grant and perfected through an industry-academia partnership.In this paper, we discuss in detail the four project plans the researchers and their industry counterparts followed over the past two years in the development and eventual dissemination of the active learning tools. A course enhancement plan was used to drive activities related to reviewing, enhancing, and modularizing modules, identified by a gap analysis performed by focus groups comprised of industry and academic partners. The course delivery plan was used to drive activities related to developing content delivery strategies. An evaluation and assessment plan was used to drive activities related to periodically evaluating student learning and assessing the project. And finally a course dissemination plan is being used to drive activities related to distributing course modules and assessment reports. The tools have been shared through two workshops and other means with instructors in universities and industry partners.
The future of coal consumption in a carbon constrained world

Publisher Summary Coal accounts for nearly 30% of all global fossil fuel consumption and 37% of fossil fuel emissions of carbon dioxide. In the absence of penalties or restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions, coal use for electricity generation is expected to grow over the course of this century due to its relative abundance. This chapter examines the influence of four factors on future of coal consumption in the electric power sector: (1) the price of carbon emissions, (2) the price of natural gas, (3) costs of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technologies, and (4) the dispatch between coal and natural gas generation technologies. These variables are assessed for their effect on coal consumption using a computable general equilibrium model of the world economy, the MIT Emissions Prediction, and Policy Analysis (EPPA) model. The results illustrate how competing technologies, changing input prices, and general equilibrium effects influence the adoption of CCS technologies. The results for the United States and Europe suggest that carbon price and dispatch have the most significant effect on future coal consumption. Improvements in CCS technology costs make coal consumption less dependent on gas price, but do not mitigate the carbon price effects on consumption through 2050.
Targeting BMI1 + Cancer Stem Cells Overcomes Chemoresistance and Inhibits Metastases in Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck (HNSCC) is a common yet poorly understood cancer, with adverse clinical outcomes due to treatment resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Putative cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in HNSCC, and BMI1 expression has been linked to these phenotypes, but optimal treatment strategies to overcome chemotherapeutic resistance and eliminate metastases have not yet been identified. Here we show through lineage tracing and genetic ablation that BMI1+ CSCs mediate invasive growth and cervical lymph node metastasis in a mouse model of HNSCC. This model and primary human HNSCC samples contain highly tumorigenic, invasive, and cisplatin-resistant BMI1+ CSCs, which exhibit increased AP-1 activity that drives invasive growth and metastasis of HNSCC. Inhibiting AP-1 or BMI1 sensitized tumors to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and it eliminated lymph node metastases by targeting CSCs and the tumor bulk, suggesting potential regimens to overcome resistance to treatments and eradicate HNSCC metastasis.
Impact of Built-up-Litter and Commercial Antimicrobials on Salmonella and Campylobacter Contamination of Broiler Carcasses Processed at a Pilot Mobile Poultry-Processing Unit.

The small scale mobile poultry processing unit (MPPU) produced raw poultry products are of particular food safety concern due to exemption of USDA poultry products inspection act. Limited studies reported the microbial quality and safety of MPPU processed poultry carcasses. This study evaluated the Salmonella and Campylobacter prevalence in broiler ceca and on MPPU processed carcasses and efficacy of commercial antimicrobials against Campylobacter jejuni on broilers. In study I, straight-run Hubbard x Cobb broilers (147) were reared for 38 days on clean-shavings (CS, 75) or built-up-litter (BUL, 72) and processed at a MPPU. Aerobic plate counts, coliforms, Escherichia coli and yeast/molds of carcasses was analyzed on petrifilms. Ceca and carcass samples underwent microbial analyses for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. using the modified USDA method, and confirmed by API-20e test (Salmonella), latex agglutination immunoassay (Campylobacter) and Gram staining (Campylobacter). Quantitative PCR (CadF-gene) identified the prevalence of C. jejuni and C. coli in ceca and on carcasses. In study II, fresh chilled broiler carcasses were spot-inoculated with C. jejuni (4.5 log10CFU/mL) and then undipped, or dipped into peroxyacetic acid (1,000 ppm), lactic acid (5%), lactic and citric acid blend (2.5%), sodium hypochlorite (69 ppm), or a H2O2-PAA mix (SaniDate® 5.0, 0.25%) for 30 s. Surviving C. jejuni were recovered onto Brucella agar. Aerobic plate counts, coliforms, and E. coli populations were similar (P>0.05) on CS and BUL carcasses. Carcasses of broilers raised on BUL contained a greater (P0.05) in CS-treated ceca than BUL samples. Prevalence of Campylobacter spp., C. jejuni and C. coli were not different (P>0.05) on CS- and BUL-treated carcasses. All antimicrobials reduced C. jejuni by 1.2–2.0 log CFU/mL on carcasses compared with controls. Hence, raising broilers on CS and applying post-chilling antimicrobial treatment can reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter on MPPU-processed broiler carcasses.
The Merchant of Venice presented by Shakespeare’s Globe at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Saturday, August 13, 2016

Shakespeare's Globe Company performed The Merchant of Venice at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. They dealt with the problematic nature of the themes by embracing them, making this comedy much darker than usual, while still interacting with the audience for both comic and dramatic effects.
First report of a ‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma palmae’-related subgroup 16SrIV-D phytoplasma on Trachycarpus fortunei

Chinese windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei) exhibiting canopy decline symptoms suspected of being associated with a phytoplasma were observed in a residential landscape in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. Internal stem tissue from diseased palms was tested for the presence of date palm lethal decline and lethal yellowing-related phytoplasmas. A ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmae’-related subgroup 16SrIV-D phytoplasma was detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and confirmed by sequencing. The subgroup 16SrIV-D phytoplasmas have previously been reported on buccaneer palm, cabbage palm, Canary Island date palm, edible date palm, green thatch palm, pigmy date palm, queen palm, Rio Grande palmetto, and silver date palm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a ‘Ca. P. palmae’ -related subgroup 16SrIV-D phytoplasma on T. fortunei.
An improved surveillance measure for adolescent smoking

Objective To assess the possible usefulness and validity of a new measure to identify adolescents at risk of smoking cigarettes. Design The new measure was compared with standard ones with respect to their ability to identify young adolescents at risk of later smoking cigarettes; and the correlation between known risk factors for smoking and both the new and the standard measure of current smoking was assessed. Setting and subjects Cross-sectional, population-based 1992 California Tobacco Survey of 1789 adolescents (12–17 years) and 1667 adults (18-28 years). Main outcome measures Susceptibility to smoke, defined as the absence of a firm resolve not to smoke; current smoking, defined as any smoking in the last month; and daily smoking. Results Less than 2% of 12 to 13 year olds reported current smoking, whereas 27 % were susceptible. None reported daily smoking. Susceptibility rates peaked at around 45% at age 19 years, and peak rates of young adult daily smoking approached 25%. Factors related to current smoking in logistic regression analysis were also related to susceptibility to smoke even among adolescents who had never smoked a whole cigarette, suggesting that susceptibility is indeed the first stage of smoking uptake. Conclusion Although it overestimates eventual adult smoking, the susceptibility measure should capture a greater percentage of young adolescents who eventually smoke than the current smoker measure. Subject to further validation in longitudinal studies, this measure may offer a means of focusing intervention resources on those adolescents at risk of starting to smoke. Also, this measure could be used for surveillance and as an outcome measure to assess the effectiveness of prevention programmes.
Serving Former Foster Youth and Homeless Students in College

Many universities have developed campus support programs for former foster youth and homeless college students; however, there are no studies focusing on long-term programs in the college-setting w...
Knob protein enhances epithelial barrier integrity and attenuates airway inflammation.

Background Altered epithelial physical and functional barrier properties along with TH1/TH2 immune dysregulation are features of allergic asthma. Regulation of junction proteins to improve barrier function of airway epithelial cells has the potential for alleviation of allergic airway inflammation. Objective We sought to determine the immunomodulatory effect of knob protein of the adenoviral capsid on allergic asthma and to investigate its mechanism of action on airway epithelial junction proteins and barrier function. Methods Airway inflammation, including junction protein expression, was evaluated in allergen-challenged mice with and without treatment with knob. Human bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to knob, and its effects on expression of junction proteins and barrier integrity were determined. Results Administration of knob to allergen-challenged mice suppressed airway inflammation (eosinophilia, airway hyperresponsiveness, and IL-5 levels) and prevented allergen-induced loss of airway epithelial occludin and E-cadherin expression. Additionally, knob decreased expression of TH2-promoting inflammatory mediators, specifically IL-33, by murine lung epithelial cells. At a cellular level, treatment of human bronchial epithelial cells with knob activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase, increased expression of occludin and E-cadherin, and enhanced epithelial barrier integrity. Conclusion Increased expression of junction proteins mediated by knob leading to enhanced epithelial barrier function might mitigate the allergen-induced airway inflammatory response, including asthma.
MatchSticks: Woodworking through Improvisational Digital Fabrication

Digital fabrication tools have broadened participation in making and enabled new methods of rapid physical prototyping across diverse materials. We present a novel smart tool designed to complement one of the first materials employed by humans - wood - and celebrate the fabrication practice of joinery. Our tool, MatchSticks, is a digital fabrication system tailored for joinery. Combining a portable CNC machine, touchscreen user interface, and parametric joint library, MatchSticks enables makers of varying skill to rapidly explore and create artifacts from wood. Our system embodies tacit woodworking knowledge and distills the distributed workflow of CNC tools into a hand tool; it operates on materials existing machines find difficult, produces assemblies much larger than its workspace, and supports the parallel creation of geometries. We describe the workflow and technical details of our system, present example artifacts produced by our tool, and report results from our user study.
Parc: A Cytoplasmic Anchor for p53

Nuclear localization of p53 is essential for its tumor suppressor function. Here, we have identified Parc, a Parkin-like ubiquitin ligase, as a cytoplasmic anchor protein in p53-associated protein complexes. Parc directly interacts and forms a ∼1 MDa complex with p53 in the cytoplasm of unstressed cells. In the absence of stress, inactivation of Parc induces nuclear localization of endogenous p53 and activates p53-dependent apoptosis. Overexpression of Parc promotes cytoplasmic sequestration of ectopic p53. Furthermore, abnormal cytoplasmic localization of p53 was observed in a number of neuroblastoma cell lines; RNAi-mediated reduction of endogenous Parc significantly sensitizes these neuroblastoma cells in the DNA damage response. These results reveal that Parc is a critical regulator in controlling p53 subcellular localization and subsequent function.
Maritime Archaeology at Dry Tortugas National Park

The objective of the Dry Tortugas Survey was to produce a model for the National Park Service (NPS) submerged cultural resource survey and refine current techniques and methodologies to adapt them to the NPS mission requiring systematic survey, inventory, registration, evaluation and ultimately, interpretation of the maritime historical sites within its boundaries. A special congressional appropriation became available in 1992 to aid the NPS in surveying lands within its jurisdiction. This project was funded through this initiative, which is known as the Systemwide Archaeological Inventory Program (SAIP).
Decreasing Reading Differences in Children from Disadvantaged Backgrounds: The Effects of an Early Literacy Intervention

Children from low socioeconomic backgrounds (SES) are at increased risk of reading problems. Although phonological awareness consistently emerges as a critical literacy skill for children, little research exists regarding the effects of the acquisition of phonological awareness skills on decreasing the reading achievement gap between children of different SES levels. In this study, 50 first graders from low SES backgrounds were randomly assigned to receivelO weeks of phonological awareness intervention or a control condition. In addition, 25 first graders from middle-high SES backgrounds served as a comparison group. A significant difference in phonological awareness skills was found between children in the low SES intervention group who received the phonological awareness intervention and similar children in the control group who did not receive the intervention. Reading skill differences between the low SES intervention and control groups were found at follow-up 24 weeks later but not immediately following intervention. Although the gap in reading skills of children from the low SES intervention group and the middle-high SES comparison group decreased, reading differences remained. Implications of findings with regard to prevention and identification of children at-risk for reading difficulties, as well as planning and implementing early literacy intervention for children from disadvantaged backgrounds are provided.
Optimization of processor allocation for domain decomposed Monte Carlo calculations

Abstract Load imbalance plagues domain decomposed Monte Carlo calculations when sources are not uniform. Parallel efficiency for domain decomposed Monte Carlo transport calculations improves through a nonuniform allocation of processors over subdomains. We optimize the allocation with runtime diagnostics collected during a calibration step, then complete the full calculation. The diagnostic-based approach is compared to implicit filtering, an optimization algorithm for bound constrained noisy optimization problems. We consider both forward and hybrid radiation transport calculations to measure performance.
Herpes Zoster and the Zoster Eye Disease Study (ZEDS)

Herpes zoster (HZ), including herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), is a very common disease caused by the reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV), with serious, potentially vision- and life-threatening complications. Alarmingly, the incidence of HZ is increasing while age at onset is decreasing, but it is preventable by vaccination. When HZ does occur, current recommended treatment reduces eye disease, but does not prevent chronic and/or recurrent eye disease, nor postherpetic neuralgia. New treatment with prolonged suppressive antiviral treatment for HZO is under investigation in a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial supported by the National Eye Institute to determine whether or not it is effective in reducing complications, including eye disease and/or postherpetic neuralgia.
Evolution of transmitted depolarization in diffusely scattering media.

We performed Mueller matrix Monte Carlo simulations of the propagation of optical radiation in diffusely scattering media for collimated incidence and report the results as a function of thickness and the angle subtended by the detector. For sufficiently small thickness, a fraction of the radiation does not undergo any scattering events and is emitted at zero angle. Thus, for a very small detector angle, the measured signal will indicate mostly the attenuation of the coherent contribution, while for larger angles, the diffuse scattering radiation will contribute significantly more. The degree to which the radiation is depolarized thus depends on the angle subtended by the detector. A three-stream model—where the coherent radiation, the forward diffusely scattered radiation, and the backward scattered radiation are propagated according to the differential Mueller matrix formalism—is introduced and describes the results from the Monte Carlo simulations and the results of measurements well. This scatter-based model for depolarization in diffusely scattering media is an alternative to that based upon elementary fluctuation theory applied to a single propagation stream. Results for average photon path length, determined from the Monte Carlo simulations, suggest that applying fluctuation theory to photon path length may unify the two approaches.
Quantitative Study of Human Scleral Melanocytes and Their Topographical Distribution.

While fibroblasts constitute the main cell component of the sclera, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the cell densities of melanocytes at different regions of the sclera, and to ...
Reflectance Spectroscopy for Non-Destructive Measurement and Genetic Analysis of Amounts and Types of Epicuticular Waxes on Onion Leaves

Epicuticular waxes on the surface of plant leaves are important for the tolerance to abiotic stresses and plant-parasite interactions. In the onion (Allium cepa L.), the variation for the amounts and types of epicuticular waxes is significantly associated with less feeding damage by the insect Thrips tabaci (thrips). Epicuticular wax profiles are measured using used gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS), which is a labor intensive and relatively expensive approach. Biochemical spectroscopy is a non-destructive tool for measurement and analysis of physiological and chemical features of plants. This study used GCMS and full-range biochemical spectroscopy to characterize epicuticular waxes on seven onion accessions with visually glossy (low wax), semi-glossy (intermediate wax), or waxy (copious wax) foliage, as well as a segregating family from the cross of glossy and waxy onions. In agreement with previous studies, GCMS revealed that the three main waxes on the leaves of a wild type waxy onion were the ketone hentriacontanone-16 (H16) and fatty alcohols octacosanol-1 (Oct) and triacontanol-1 (Tri). The glossy cultivar "Odourless Greenleaf" had a unique phenotype with essentially no H16 and Tri and higher amounts of Oct and the fatty alcohol hexacosanol-1 (Hex). Hyperspectral reflectance profiles were measured on leaves of the onion accessions and segregating family, and partial least-squares regression (PLSR) was utilized to generate a spectral coefficient for every wavelength and prediction models for the amounts of the three major wax components. PLSR predictions were robust with independent validation coefficients of determination at 0.72, 0.70, and 0.42 for H16, Oct, and Tri, respectively. The predicted amounts of H16, Oct, and Tri are the result of an additive effect of multiple spectral features of different intensities. The variation of reflectance for H16, Oct, and Tri revealed unique spectral features at 2259 nm, 645 nm, and 730 nm, respectively. Reflectance spectroscopy successfully revealed a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) for amounts of H16, Oct, and Tri in the segregating family, agreeing with previous genetic studies. This study demonstrates that hyperspectral signatures can be used for non-destructive measurement of major waxes on onion leaves as a basis for rapid plant assessment in support of developing thrips-resistant onions.
Evaluating the Benefits of Team-Based Learning in a Systems Programming Class

In this Research-to-Practice Full Paper, we present the results of adopting Team-Based Learning (TBL) for teaching a Sophomore-level Systems Programming course. The goal of TBL is to "provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in the classroom to solve problems rather than just covering content." Based on the performance of the students in the course taught with TBL, we found that TBL had a statistically significant impact on student performance in 2 of the 5 programming assignments. Additionally, the end-of-semester student survey indicated that 88% of the students said that the team-based learning activities helped them understand the material better. Students mentioned that they felt like they belonged in Computer Science (fostering a sense of community in large classrooms) and frequently studied with some of their team members for the course assignments. Compared to a previous offering of the course that was purely lecture-based, the class as a whole received higher final grades and performed better on all of the programming assignments.
How to Spell Health Care Without R-E-F-O-R-M

Federal and state courts share the burden in resolving domestic health care disputes, although the federal system bears the heavier load when it comes to Medicare and the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as “Obamacare.” Still, it is neither plausible nor prudent for less than 0.12 percent of the federal judiciary to effectively “veto” a system so important as health care. In 2017, approximately 294.6 million Americans had health insurance coverage to rest in one of the 894,575 beds in any of the 5,534 United States hospitals, or see one of 953,000 actively licensed allopathic and osteopathic physicians, still leaving room for the other 31 million people in the United States without health insurance. While the ACA qualifies as landmark legislation, historical hindsight may someday place health care reform’s success in its first decade on par with President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.