cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating population size and drag sampling efficiency for the blacklegged tick (Acari: Ixodidae).

Estimates of absolute density were determined over a 5-yr period (1990—1994) for a population of Ixodes scapularis Say located in Westchester County, NY, by mark-release-recapture (nymphs and adults) and removal (larvae) methods. Density estimates for larvae ranged from 5.2 to 16.5/m 2 and averaged 11.5/m 2 . Values for nymphs varied as much as fourfold among successive years, ranging from 0.5 to 2.3/m 2 and averaging 1.2/m 2 , whereas adult density ranged from 0.3 to 0.4/m 2 , averaging 0.33/m 2 . Natural mortality of nymphs and adults was measured in experimental cages during population estimation periods, and indicated that survival declined linearly over the short-term and did not significantly influence estimates. Drag sampling efficiency, the proportion of the estimated population obtained in a single sample, averaged 6.3% among all stages. Efficiency was not significantly different among stages and was independent of tick density within a given life stage. The population estimation techniques employed in this study are well suited for use with I. scapularis and can provide data that offer insights into mortality patterns in individual populations.
Terrain: Slope Influence on QuikSCAT Backscatter

Soil moisture (SM) is an important variable in determining streamflow, agricultural productivity, weather, and climate. An effective way to map SM over large areas on a regular basis is by using active microwave observations. This paper examines the influence of topography on radar backscatter measurements for a range of vegetation conditions and on the development of a normalization technique for the correction of topography-induced variability. Radar backscatter observations derived from the QuikSCAT sensor were analyzed to investigate the effect of sloping terrain over the North American Monsoon Experiment region that is characterized by heterogeneous surface conditions and complex topographic terrain. A digital elevation model, along with local incidence angle and slope, was used to investigate the backscatter dependence on topography variation for eight main vegetation classes. Pearson product-moment correlation (R) analysis showed strong backscatter dependence on the local incidence angle caused by changes in slope. The overall average reduction in variances after correction for August 2004 depended on vegetation type and ranged between -16% to -42% and -18% to -37% for horizontal and vertical polarizations, respectively. The corrected sigma-0 was also evaluated using in situ SM observations obtained during the Soil Moisture Experiment 2004 field campaign. The computed percent change in R between sigma-0 and SM demonstrated significant improvement after correction when using vertically observed sigma-0. The standard errors of estimate for these two vegetation classes were lowered by about 12% and 5%, respectively, after applying the proposed topographic normalization technique to the QuikSCAT observations.
Methodological and Substantive Issues in Conducting Multinational and Cross-Cultural Research

The rising importance of multinational and cross-cultural research has spurred the development of methodologies to adequately study human phenomena in organizations across culture and place. Disentangling culture and location from potential confounding variables is an underlying issue in conducting comparative studies. Research designs allow comparisons of countries and culture groups, as well as isolate the potential impact of cultural variables. Sampling methods must be chosen to control for differences that confound the cultural variables of interest with other characteristics of samples. Translation and back-translation are necessary when studies cross linguistic boundaries. Measures that compare cultural and national groups should be checked for measurement equivalence/invariance using one or more tools based on confirmatory factor analysis or item response theory. Some sources of invariance can be found in culturally determined response biases. In the same investigation, it is advisable to pair qual...
Plato and the Talmud

Introduction: Athens and Jerusalem 1. Talmudic and Platonic writing 2. Rabbis and holy men 3. Prophets and philosophers 4. Fathers and sons 5. Words and deeds 6. Gods and men 7. Miracles and necessity Epilogue: tests and traditions.
In defense of medical malpractice claims

Claims of medical malpractice are widespread and will likely affect every physician during the course of their professional careers. The causes of these claims and the most effective means defending them should, therefore, be of great interest to the provider. This article deals with some of the more common causes for lawsuits and the ways physicians can attempt to minimize the risks of a lawsuit both before and after it has been filed.
2014 M&A Roundup: What Is the Board's Role?

The authors discuss recent M&A activity and the outlook for 2014. They then take a close look at one critical factor that might still sour many M&A deals in 2014: the lack of involvement of corporate boards of directors. How can directors help to manage the risks of M&A activity? What should they do? © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transatrial Access to the Normal Pericardial Space For Local Cardiac Therapy: Preclinical Safety Testing with Aspirin and Pulmonary Artery Hypertension

The reliability, rapidity, and safety of nonsurgical, transatrial pericardial access for local cardiac therapy have been demonstrated in healthy animals. Since many patients take aspirin or have increased right-sided pressures, we evaluated the procedure's safety under these conditions. Transatrial pericardial access was performed in anesthetized pigs following aspirin administration (162 mg p.o., n = 6) or during experimental pulmonary artery hypertension (n = 4 different animals) and required only 3 minutes following guide catheter positioning. Platelet aggregability testing with arachidonic acid confirmed aspirin effectiveness. Mean pericardial fluid hematocrit was 0.1 +/- 0.1% after 2 days of aspirin therapy and 1.9 +/- 1.1% at sacrifice 24 hours later (NS). Mean pericardial fluid hematocrit was 1.0 +/- 0.5% after 45 minutes of pulmonary artery hypertension and 4.3 +/- 0.8% at sacrifice 30 minutes later (NS). Histologic analysis in both groups revealed a small thrombus and localized inflammation at the site of puncture. Neither aspirin use nor pulmonary artery hypertension causes significant bleeding into the pericardial space following transatrial access and thus does not preclude this route for local cardiac drug delivery.
Sedimentary structure of large sand dunes: examples from Dumont and Eureka dunes, California

The current research presents ground penetrating radar images up to 30 m in depth of two large desert dunes in California, USA— a barchanoid ridge in the Dumont field and a linear dune in the Eureka expanse. The radar images show a complicated structure of internal layering with ascending cross-strata, cross-bedding and bounding surfaces cutting through layers. Additional research using seismic refraction surveys and sand sampling refine the image of the subsurface (<5 m) structure. The sedimentary structure of the dune shows a strong internal layering with a cemented structure that may immobilize and influence migration of dune expanses. The subsurface features of the sand dune fields in the Mojave Desert provide evidence of dune building, wind regime and precipitation history.
A new model for metastability

Metastability has been long documented as a problem in digital systems with asynchronous inputs. This problem has been analyzed in CMOS latches using a 2nd order small signal model. However, uses of a third order model taking into account that the effect of the feedback transistors is necessary for correct modeling of metastability. A new simulator was developed for this study. The results presented here show that when modeling a CMOS latch for metastability purposes, it is not sufficient to use a second order circuit that neglects the effect of the feedback transistor. The simulator can also be used to study the effect of power supply noise and applied to interconnect models to study crosstalk.
A machine learning method for generation of a neural network architecture: a continuous ID3 algorithm

The relation between the decision trees generated by a machine learning algorithm and the hidden layers of a neural network is described. A continuous ID3 algorithm is proposed that converts decision trees into hidden layers. The algorithm allows self-generation of a feedforward neural network architecture. In addition, it allows interpretation of the knowledge embedded in the generated connections and weights. A fast simulated annealing strategy, known as Cauchy training, is incorporated into the algorithm to escape from local minima. The performance of the algorithm is analyzed on spiral data. >
Bubble coalescence and breakup in turbulent bubbly wake of a ventilated hydrofoil

Abstract Auto-venting turbines have been proposed as a promising solution to the problem of low oxygen content in the discharged downstream water of an electric power plant. The current design of these turbines relies primarily on computational simulation. The experimental studies that focus on the physical processes occurring in turbulent bubbly wake are urgently needed to improve the performance of these simulations in predicting the bubble size distribution behind auto-venting turbines. Therefore, in the current study, we conducted detailed experimental investigations into the bubble size distributions in the wake of a ventilated hydrofoil. The mean bubble statistics is measured at different liquid velocities and air entrainment rates, and then the variation in mean bubble statistics is studied at different downstream locations in the wake. The bubble size distributions at different downstream locations have revealed the presence of distinct coalescence-dominant and breakup-dominant regimes. Analytical expressions are derived for the prediction of maximum stable diameter and Sauter mean diameter of bubbles, in the breakup and coalescence regimes, respectively. The observations from high speed imaging provide support for the measurements of bubble statistics, and physical insights into different mechanisms of bubble breakup and coalescence in turbulent wake. It is hoped that these insights will aid in developing generic model of bubble size distribution, and will help researchers improve bubbly flow simulations for auto-venting turbines.
Alum Adjuvant Enhances Protection against Respiratory Syncytial Virus but Exacerbates Pulmonary Inflammation by Modulating Multiple Innate and Adaptive Immune Cells

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is well-known for inducing vaccine-enhanced respiratory disease after vaccination of young children with formalin-inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) in alum formulation. Here, we investigated alum adjuvant effects on protection and disease after FI-RSV immunization with or without alum in comparison with live RSV reinfections. Despite viral clearance, live RSV reinfections caused weight loss and substantial pulmonary inflammation probably due to high levels of RSV specific IFN-γ+IL4-, IFN-γ-TNF-α+, IFN-γ+TNF-α- effector CD4 and CD8 T cells. Alum adjuvant significantly improved protection as evidenced by effective viral clearance compared to unadjuvanted FI-RSV. However, in contrast to unadjuvanted FI-RSV, alum-adjuvanted FI-RSV (FI-RSV-A) induced severe vaccine-enhanced RSV disease including weight loss, eosinophilia, and lung histopathology. Alum adjuvant in the FI-RSV-A was found to be mainly responsible for inducing high levels of RSV-specific IFN-γ-IL4+, IFN-γ-TNF-α+ CD4+ T cells, and proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-4 as well as B220+ plasmacytoid and CD4+ dendritic cells, and inhibiting the induction of IFN-γ+CD8 T cells. This study suggests that alum adjuvant in FI-RSV vaccines increases immunogenicity and viral clearance but also induces atypical T helper CD4+ T cells and multiple inflammatory dendritic cell subsets responsible for vaccine-enhanced severe RSV disease.
Implications of Graphics Enhancements for the Visualization of Scientific Data: Dimensional Integrality, Stereopsis, Motion, and Mesh

This study examines the effectiveness of four techniques to assist scientists in evaluating multidimensional data. Subjects viewed a series of complex 3D data sets, each representing an underlying ...
Role of features and categories in the organization of object knowledge: Evidence from adaptation fMRI

There are two general views regarding the organization of object knowledge. The feature-based view assumes that object knowledge is grounded in a widely distributed neural network in terms of sensory/function features (e.g., Warrington & Shallice, 1984), while the category-based view assumes in addition that object knowledge is organized by taxonomic and thematic categories (e.g., Schwartz et al., 2011). Using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) adaptation paradigm, we compared predictions from the feature- and category-based views by examining the neural substrates recruited as subjects read word pairs that were identical, taxonomically related, thematically related or unrelated while controlling for the function features involved across the two categories. We improved upon previous study designs and employed an fMRI adaptation task, obtaining results overall consistent with both the category-based and feature-based views. Consistent with the category-based view, we observed for both hypothesized regions of interest (ROI) and exploratory (whole-brain analyses) reduced activity in the left anterior temporal lobe (ATL) for taxonomically related versus unrelated word pairs, and for the exploratory analysis only, reduced activity in the right ATL. In addition, the exploratory analyses revealed reduced activity in the left temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) for thematically related versus unrelated word pairs. Consistent with the feature-based view, we found in the exploratory analyses that activity reduced in the bilateral precentral gyri (i.e., function regions) including part of premotor cortex as the function relatedness ratings increased. However, we did not find a relationship between adaptation effects in the bilateral ATLs and left TPJ and corresponding ratings of taxonomic/thematic relationships suggesting that the adaptation effects may potentially not reflect aspects of taxonomy that have been traditionally assumed. Together, our findings indicate that both feature and category information are important for the organization of object knowledge although the exact nature of those organization principles is an important question for future research.
Vitamin D insufficiency in osteoporotic hip fracture patients : Rapid substitution therapy with high dose oral cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)

UNLABELLED: Assessment and treatment of osteoporosis are recommended following hip fracture. Osteoporosis treatment assumes an adequate calcium intake and a normal vitamin D plasma level. The authors conducted a study in three phases. Phase I: circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were retrospectively recorded from in the case records of 381 consecutive patients with 387 hip fractures, between March 2010 and September 2011. Only 27 patients had sufficient (> 75 nmol/L) circulating vitamin D, and of these 22 were taking vitamin D supplements. The remainder, 354 patients, had abnormally low vitamin D levels, with a mean value of 26.4 nmol/L. These findings confirmed literature data, and gave rise to the prospective Phase II (October 2011): 14 consecutive patients with a hip fracture received rapid substitution therapy with 50,000 IU cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) daily for 3 days. Patients with corrected calcium level (calcium level based on the serum albumin level) > 2.60 mmol/L were excluded from phase II (and phase III), in order to avoid hypercalcemia. Substitution resulted in an increase in vitamin D plasma levels from +/- 29.6 nmol/L to +/- 81.4 nmol/L (p < 0.0001), after +/- 14 days. However, vitamin D level remained below the desired threshold of 75 nmol/L in 29%. Therefore it was decided to increase the treatment period from 3 days to 7 days in the next 54 patients with a hip fracture in a prospective phase III (October 2011-January 2012). This time rapid substitution resulted in an increase from +/-31.4 nmol/L to +/-131.1 nmol/L (p < 0.0001), after +/- 16 days, and 100% of treated patients achieved plasma levels above the desired threshold of 75 nmol/L. CONCLUSION: virtually all patients with a hip fracture have low vitamin D plasma levels; substitution with 50,000 IU oral cholecalciferol daily for 7 days increases vitamin D plasma levels rapidly, safely and consistently.
Neural Network Estimator for Low-Dimensional Modeling of a Cylinder Wake

The effectiveness of a non-linear Artificial Neural Network Estimator (ANNE) for feedback flow control on the wake of a circular cylinder is investigated in direct numerical simulation. The research program is aimed at suppressing the von Karman vortex street in the wake of a cylinder at a Reynolds number of 100. Two sensor configurations were studied, namely a 12 sensor configuration and a four sensor configuration. A low-dimensional Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) is applied to the vorticity calculated from the flow field and sensor placement is based on the intensity of the resulting spatial Eigenfunctions. The numerically generated data was comprised of 138 snapshots taken over 11 cycles from the steady state regime. A Linear Stochastic Estimator (LSE) was employed to map the velocity data to the temporal coefficients of the reduced order model and results are compared with those obtained using ANNE. Results show that for the estimation of the first four modes, it is seen that for the design condition (no noise) 4 sensors using ANNE provide significantly better results than 4 sensors using LSE. Furthermore, ANNE, based on 4 sensors, provides the same level of performance, based on RMS of the estimation error as that obtained using LSE with a 12 sensor configuration.
SEXUAL SELECTION IN AMERICAN TOADS: A TEST OF A GOOD-GENES HYPOTHESIS

Adaptive mate choice in species lacking male resource control and/or paternal care might be maintained by selection because preferred males sire genetically superior offspring. For such a process to occur, some male phenotypic trait(s) must both reliably indicate male genetic quality and influence the pattern of mate choice by females. In American toads, Bufo americanus, male body length has been documented to influence female mating patterns: females usually mate with males that are larger than average. However, the relationship between male size and male genetic quality is unknown. We conducted a controlled breeding experiment using 48 sires and 19 dams to determine if larger males sire offspring with superior larval performance characteristics (greater survival to metamorphosis, larger mass at metamorphosis, and earlier metamorphosis). We also aged each sire to test the hypothesis that older males are, on average, genetically superior to younger males. We crossed each female with three sires representing three body size categories (mean and 1 SD ? mean snout-ischium length). Hatchlings (500 from each cross) were reared to metamorphosis in seminatural ponds in the field. Metamorph weight (log transformed) and age at metamorphosis showed significant heritability and were genetically correlated with each other. Hence, sires differed in genetic quality. However, none of the three measures of offspring perfor- mance was correlated with sire body size or age. Thus, we obtained no support for the prediction that sire body size or age is related to genetic quality.
Studies on so-called protective ferments VIII. On the mechanism of anaphylaxis and antianaphylaxis:

As we have reported a little over a year ago,1 the interaction between an immune serum and its corresponding substratum is followed by a formation of toxic split products. We found that the toxic material originated not from the substratum or antigen, but from the serum itself.2 These findings threw light on some of the unsettled questions in the theory of anaphylaxis and antianaphylaxis. Experiments conducted with the view of correlating our findings with the accepted views on this subject, suggested a following hypothesis about the nature and mechanism of anaphylaxis.Blood serum contains normal proteolytic ferments which require special conditions of the medium in order to exhibit their activity. Normally the degree of concentration of colloids in the serum offers an obstacle to the activity of these ferments. In the experiments in vitro it is possible to change the degree of concentration of colloids in the serum, thus diminishing its antitryptic inhibiting power and setting free the ferments.3This act...
Ectopic Pituitary Adenomas

Ectopic pituitary adenomas (EPAs) are rare tumors that develop outside of the usual location in the sella turcica. They may arise in conjunction with, or separate from, congenital and developmental syndromes that involve pituitary agenesis and hypoplasia.
Study on adult mosquito population dynamics by human landing catch in downtown Shanghai,China

Objective To investigate the population dynamics, temporal distribution, and stinging indices of mosquito population in the downtown Shanghai, China. Methods Five mosquito.lmonitoring sites were set up in Shanghai Peoples Square and Peoples Park areas, where mosquitoes were frequently encountered. A 194-day continuous dynamic monitoring of adult mosquitoes was conducted by human landing catch. Results During the 194-day surveillance from late April to late October,2012, a total of 1666 adult mosquitoes of 5 species and 3 genera were collected. The proportions of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens pallens were 71.1% and 27.7%, respectively. The high daily fluctuation of adult mosquitoes was observed. Most of the mosquitoes were captured during July to September, with a peak of 52 mosquitoes per day. Cx. pipiens pallens peaked in early June, and its population density was significantly higher than that of Ae. albopictus in May and June(P0.05). Ae. albopictus peaked in late July, and its population density was significantly higher than that of Cx. pipiens pallens during July to September(P0.05), so it was the predominant species during that period. Conclusion This is the first report on mosquito infestations in downtown area as the results of 194-day continuous surveillance based on human landing catch. The results suggested that routine mosquito monitoring methods have limitations and inaccuracy. Targeted and efficient measures with special focus on the two predominant mosquito species, Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens pallens, should be introduced into the prevention and control of mosquitoes in downtown Shanghai. Furthermore, the study suggested that the increasing suitable sites for overwintering mosquitoes are more likely to cause an earlier arrival of Cx. pipiens pallens peak in the studied areas.
T cell up-regulation of CD127 is associated with reductions in the homeostatic set point of the peripheral T cell pool during malnourishment.

The following study was undertaken to better understand the mechanisms that relate the homeostatic set point of the peripheral T cell population to energy availability in mice. We report that the total number of peripheral naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+T cells notably declined after one week of malnourishment, a time period too short to be entirely due to malnutrition-induced thymic involution. Peripheral malnourished T cells expressed higher levels of the IL-7 receptor component, CD127, and were less sensitive to death-by-neglect as compared to control T cells. Overall levels of IL-7 were similar in malnourished and control mice. Adoptive transfer studies revealed that CD127 expression did not correlate with increased survival in vivo and that all naive CD8+T cells upregulated CD127, regardless of initial expression levels. Corticosterone levels were elevated in malnourished mice and this correlated in time with peripheral T cell up-regulation of CD127 and the diminishment of the peripheral T cell pool. Overall, these data suggest a model in which CD127 levels are up-regulated quickly during malnourishment, thereby increasing the scavenge rate of IL-7, and providing a mechanism to quickly adjust the total number of T cells during malnutrition.
Politics Projected into the Past: What Precipitated the 1936 Campaign Against M.N. Pokrovsky?

One of the earliest professionally-trained Marxist historians to be associated with the Russian revolutionary movement, M.N. Pokrovsky was enormously influential as a teacher, pedagogue and scholar. He was also a prominent administrator, serving as Deputy Commissar of the Enlightenment and head of the Communist Academy and Institute of the Red Professors from 1918 until his career was cut short by cancer in 1932. That said, his reputation outlived him by only four years before coming under a withering official assault in the days and weeks after 27 January, 1936. Much of the literature on the Stalinist state’s suppression of the so-called ‘Pokrovsky school’ contends that this campaign was the inevitable outcome of a ‘Great Retreat’ on the historical front that had been foreshadowed in party and state decrees since the early 1930s.1 Archival evidence, however, indicates that the shift caught many on the ground by surprise. A.V. Shestakov, one of the most prominent court historians of the Stalin period, was bombarded at public lectures during the late 1930s by questions from audience members struggling to understand the regime’s break with the materialist internationalism that Pokrovsky had popularised during the first 15 years of Soviet power.2 Some, recalling Lenin’s endorsement of the academician’s seminal Russian History in its Most Condensed Form.
Making Pottery at Mata Ortiz

The Mexican mestizo community of Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua, has developed a pottery technology over the last 25 years, initiated by a singular individual, Juan Quezada, who was inspired by the pottery of the prehistoric Casas Grandes culture of that area. Mata Ortiz pottery is made of local materials, constructed by coiling and pinching, and fired with dung, bark, or wood. Several aspects of the technology have changed significantly during this short time, particularly the processing of clay and the methods of smoothing and finishing the vessels. The recent techniques and context of pottery-making in Mata Ortiz are described, and the origins of changes in technology are explored.
High voltage coaxial vacuum gap breakdown for pulsed power liners

The dynamics of Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF)1, a new and promising approach to pulsed power fusion, are presently under detailed study at Sandia National Laboratories. Alongside this, a comprehensive analysis of the influence of the specific liner design geometry in the MagLIF system on liner initiation is underway in the academic community.
Halide- and γ-Aminobutyric Acid-Induced Enhancement of Diazepam Receptors in Rat Brain: Reversal by Disulfonic Stilbene Blockers of Anion Channels

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and a few monovalent anions enhance benzodiazepine (BZ) binding to its receptor in rat brain by virtue of an increase in affinity. The effects of 4,49-diisothiocyano-2,29-disulfonic acid stilbene (DIDS) and 4-acetamido-49-isothiocyano-2,29-disulfonic acid stilbene (SITS), which are blockers of the anion channel in eyrthrocyte membranes, have been evaluated in this system. DIDS inhibits the increase in affinity of benzodiazepine receptors that is produced by maximal concentrations of GABA and iodide. DIDS also exerts a slight effect on control binding, due to a decrease in the number of sites without substantial change in apparent affinity. When membranes were pretreated with DIDS and then extensively washed, the effect of DIDS was reversible at 0° but irreversible at 37°. Dose-response studies of GABA and iodide using DIDS-pretreated membranes indicate that DIDS reduces the maximal response for GABA and decreases the sensitivity (increases the ED 50 ) for iodide. DIDS is more potent than SITS, which has weaker chloride channel-blocking properties. Four other amino-reactive reagents without anion channel-blocking properties failed to alter selectively BZ binding. These studies indicate that DIDS and related compounds may serve as useful probes of the interaction between the benzodiazepine receptor and the GABA receptor and further support the concept that these receptors are coupled to a mutually shared chloride channel.
Art teachers' attitudes toward and experiences in the use of computer technology to conform with the teaching strategies stipulated in the 2002 taiwanese first to ninth grade curriculum alignment (china)

This survey study investigated art teachers' experiences with and attitudes toward the use of computer technology to design appropriate in-service and pre-service art education programs to prepare art teachers to comply with the 2002 Taiwanese 1st--9th grade curriculum alignment. Two subscales were designed to construct the questionnaire. The survey was aimed at Taiwanese in-service art teachers. A total of 293 representative sample of data were collected creating a response rate of 58.6%. The analyses of multiple regression supported the hypotheses that art teachers' experiences in the use of computer technology significantly influenced their attitudes toward integrating computer technology into art instruction and toward digital art. Six experience-factors developed show statistical significance in predicting art teachers' two attitude-factors. The general tendency was that the more art teachers had positive experiences in using computer technology, the more they supported the integration of computer technology into 1st--9th grade curriculum alignment. To enhance art teachers' advanced competence in the use computer technology, especially the improvement of the competence in integrating computer technology with art making, was found to benefit their positive attitudes toward the artistic value of digital art. Six descriptors were used to examine whether art teachers' socio-demographic backgrounds influenced their experiences in the use of computer technology. Age, the number of years taught, and size of the teaching school were the significant factors which resulted in art teachers' different responses to their experiences in using computer technology. Among these three variables, the number of years taught demonstrated the most influential effect. When combining six demographic descriptors with six experience factors to predict art teachers' attitudes, demographic backgrounds did not demonstrate important influence, except regarding educational background. Thus specific educational backgrounds increased positive attitudes toward integrating digital technology in art teaching and art making, but did not increase their experiences with computer use in art education. The impact of art teachers' number of years taught indicate that the more experienced art teachers are, the less competent they are in using computers. This suggests the need for in-service education in how to integrate computers in teaching and making art, and to increase art teachers' familiarity with digital art.
The Decolonization of Belief from a Native Perspective: Wak'as and Teología Andina in the Bolivian Highlands

Resumen Este articulo aborda dos aporias en los discursos descolonizadores en Bolivia. La primera se manifiesta en la distancia irreductible entre perspectivas coloniales y descoloniales sobre las creencias y la vivencia de los wak'as deidades, objetos sagrados, santuarios. La segunda reside en las contradicciones la Teologia Andina incurre en sus pretensiones de descolonizar la teologia entanto que llama a un saneamiento de las creencias para que sean aceptables al cristianismo y define practicas para la neutralizacion de la furia de los wak'as. Exploro estas aporias a partir de testimonios y conversaciones con intelectuales de extraccion aymara. La amplia gama de discursos descolonizadores que he tocado en este ensayo (no se pretende hacer una evaluacion exhaustiva) acarrean posiciones contradictorias analogas al llamado al saneamiento y la neutralizacion por la teologia andina.
Switzerland: Budget boost for Swiss science

Swiss scientists are set to benefit from a 10% increase in the country's budget for science education and research over the next four years. But the extra money comes with strings attached – universities and other research organizations will have to collaborate more closely and use resources more efficiently.
Abstract 451: The vigorous immune microenvironment of microsatellite instable colon cancer is balanced by multiple counter-inhibitory checkpoints

We examined the immune microenvironment of primary colorectal cancer (CRC) using immunohistochemistry, laser capture microdissection/qRT-PCR, flow cytometry and functional analysis of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. A subset of CRC displayed high infiltration with activated CD8+ CTL as well as activated Th1 cells characterized by IFN-γ production and the Th1 transcription factor Tbet. Parallel analysis of tumor genotypes revealed that virtually all of the tumors with this active Th1/CTL microenvironment had defects in mismatch repair, as evidenced by microsatellite instability (MSI). Counterbalancing this active Th1/CTL microenvironment, MSI tumors selectively demonstrated highly up-regulated expression of multiple immune checkpoints, including five - PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, LAG-3 and IDO - currently being targeted clinically with inhibitors. These findings link tumor genotype with the immune microenvironment, and explain why MSI tumors are not naturally eliminated despite a hostile Th1/CTL microenvironment. They further suggest that blockade of specific checkpoints may be selectively efficacious in the MSI subset of CRC. Significance. The findings reported in this article are the first to demonstrate a link between a genetically defined subtype of cancer and its corresponding expression of immune checkpoints in the tumor microenvironment. The mismatch repair defective subset of CRC selectively up-regulates at least 5 checkpoint molecules that are targets of inhibitors currently being clinically tested. Citation Format: Nicolas Jose Llosa, Michael Cruise, Ada Tam, Elizabeth Wick, Elizabeth Hechenbleikner, Janis Taube, Lee Blosser, Hongni Fan, Hao Wang, Ming Zhang, Brandon Luber, Nickolas Papadopoulos, Kenneth Kinzler, Bert Vogelstein, Cynthia Sears, Robert Anders, Drew Pardoll, Franck Housseau. The vigorous immune microenvironment of microsatellite instable colon cancer is balanced by multiple counter-inhibitory checkpoints. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 451. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-451
David Shapiro's Adversary Statement on Federalism

Federalism: A Dialogue, written by David L. Shapiro, reflects the extraordinary combined force of scholarship and advocacy by a master of both. Asked to deliver the Julius Rosenthal Lectures at Northwestern University School of Law in 1994, Professor Shapiro saw that the three-lecture series offered the opportunity to structure a treatment of federalism in an adversary format, without losing the balanced and honest presentation of the scholar. In the first lecture, he states the case for the “nationalist,” in the second, for the “federalist,” and in the third he offers a synthesis. The direct draw upon the judiciary’s adversary model allows Shapiro’s hand to move free from the clutter of balancing-as-you-go. This model, as applied in the first two lectures, allows him to present each case in its most powerful form, to state the polarities before turning to the gray areas of current debate. The result is clarity and balance. The debate about federalism is at least as old as the republic, but this work arrives at a particularly propitious time. There is a large discontent with remote governmental decisionmaking. There is a heated debate now in progress about the “best” location of decisionmaking for specific social problems. Professor Shapiro’s dialogue is about the meaning of “best.”The book offers a superb defense of federalism, a lasting contribution. His writing proves the power of Socratic process, so long ago appropriated by the legal profession. Moreover, federalism ultimately wears its strongest armor as a constitutionally required process. Professor Shapiro’s book leaves the reader painfully aware of how often that assertion is undervalued and its wisdom missed.
Ethnic Differences in Risk Factors for Obesity among Adults in California, the United States

Little attention has been given to differences in obesity risk factors by racial/ethnic groups. Using data from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey, we examined differences in risk factors for obesity among Whites, Latinos, Asians, and African Americans among 42,935 adults (24.8% obese). Estimates were weighted to ensure an unbiased representation of the Californian population. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were used to examine the differences in risk factors for obesity. Large ethnic disparities were found in obesity prevalence: Whites (22.0%), Latinos (33.6%), African Americans (36.1%), and Asians (9.8%). Differences in risk factors for obesity were also observed: Whites (gender, age, physical activity, smoking, arthritis, and diabetes medicine intake), Latinos (age, arthritis, and diabetes medicine intake), Asians (age, binge drinking, arthritis, and diabetes medicine intake), and African Americans (gender, physical activity, smoking, binge drinking, and diabetes medicine intake). Females were more likely to be obese among African Americans (odds ratio (OR) = 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05–1.94), but less likely among Whites (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.74–0.87). Race/ethnicity should be considered in developing obesity prevention strategies.
Building China’s 1970s Green Revolution: Responding to Population Growth, Decreasing Arable Land, and Capital Depreciation

This chapter uses national-level data to identify three evolving economic challenges faced by rural communes in China during the 1970s—rising rates of population growth, falling arable land, and high capital depreciation rates—and describes the policies the Chinese Communist Party adopted to alleviate them. The chapter has two primary conclusions: first, the agricultural investments undertaken during the 1970s were an essential driver of productivity increases both before and after decollectivization; second, beginning in 1979, the abandonment of the commune, the lowest level of governance in 1970s rural China, crippled the ability of localities to invest in productive agricultural capital and technology. In the early 1980s, without communes to extract resources and implement agricultural modernization plans, rural investment fell precipitously.
Consumers’ responses to native vs. banner advertising: moderation of persuasion knowledge on interaction effects of ad type and placement type

ABSTRACTApplying advertising contextual theory, we examined the conditions under which native advertising embedded in a news website was more effective. With the use of college students (n = 189), ...
In vivo two-photon calcium imaging of excitatory pyramidal neurons and inhibitory fast-spiking parvalbumin-positive interneurons during temperature-induced seizures in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome (S37.001)

Objective: To investigate, in vivo , the involvement of excitatory pyramidal neurons and inhibitory parvalbumin (PV)-expressing fast-spiking interneurons during temperature-induced seizures in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome. Background: Dravet syndrome (DS) is an early infantile epileptic encephalopathy characterized by medically-intractable epilepsy and prominent temperature-sensitive seizures. DS is caused by dominant loss-of-function mutations in the type I voltage-gated sodium channel (Na V 1.1). In mouse studies, heterozygous deletion of Na V 1.1 in cerebral cortical GABAergic-inhibitory neurons is sufficient to recapitulate the manifestations of DS. To date, no DS studies have investigated, with cellular resolution, the temporal dynamics and cellular architecture of seizures. Design/Methods: We performed in vivo two-photon calcium imaging of fast-spiking, PV interneurons and pyramidal neurons in layer 2/3 sensorimotor cortex expressing the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP6f. Mice, with an implanted cranial window, were head-restrained and free to run or rest on a spherical treadmill. Seizures were induced via elevation of core body temperature and were confirmed with combined video-EEG monitoring. Results: PV cell firing was inversely related to core body temperature while pyramidal cells progressively increased in firing and synchrony at higher temperatures. During the preictal and ictal phases of seizures, pyramidal cells became highly active and hypersynchronous. In the interictal phase, pyramidal cells became silent and PV interneurons became active. Seizures were terminated by a propagating depolarization block that resulted in a prolonged interruption of neuronal firing. Conclusions: We characterize for the first time the structure of seizures using in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, which may lead to a greater understanding of the individual contributions of excitatory and inhibitory neurons towards the initiation, generation, and termination of seizures. Our results support the hypothesis that in DS, PV interneurons are dysfunctional, and in a temperature-dependent manner, which may contribute to disinhibition of the cortical network that underlies the pathophysiology of Dravet syndrome. Study Supported by: This work was supported in part by the 2016 AAN Medical Student Summer Research Scholarship. Disclosure: Dr. Tran has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goldberg has nothing to disclose.
Imaging of Kingella kingae musculoskeletal infections in children: a series of 5 cases

Kingella kingae musculoskeletal infections continue to be under-diagnosed and there remains a paucity of literature on its imaging features. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the imaging, clinical, and laboratory findings of microbiology-proven K. kingae infections. A retrospective review of musculoskeletal infections between January 1, 2013 and Dec 31, 2016 yielded 134 patients from whom 5 patients had confirmed K. kingae infections (3 boys and 2 girls, mean age of 16 months, range 9–38 months). Picture archiving and communication system and electronic medical records were reviewed. At presentation, none of the patients had a fever and not all patients had abnormal inflammatory markers. Three patients had septic arthritis (2 knee and 1 sternomanubrial joints), one had epiphyseal osteomyelitis, and one had lumbar spondylodiscitis. The case of epiphyseal osteomyelitis of the distal humerus also had elbow joint involvement. A combination of radiography (n = 4), ultrasound (n = 2), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (n = 5) were performed. Prominent synovial thickening was observed for both knee and elbow joints and extensive regional myositis for all except for the patient with sternomanubrial joint infection. The diagnosis of K. kingae infection resulted in a change in the antibiotic regimen in 80% of the patients. Disproportionate synovial thickening, prominent peri-articular myositis, and/or characteristic sites of involvement demonstrating imaging features of infection or inflammation in a young child with mild infectious symptoms and elevated inflammatory markers should invoke the possibility of an underlying K. kingae infection.
Multiple Stress Factors: The Potential Role of System Models in Assessing the Impact of Multiple Stresses on Forest Productivity

Groundrules, advantages, and disadvantages to using systems modeling to address stress management questions are discussed. A systems model designed to explore the effects of multiple climatic stresses on potential site productivity is presented as an example of systems modeling applied to stress management research. Predictions from this model are used to examine the effect of multiple versus single climatic stresses on seasonal stand productivity. The model is also used to explore the possible effect of changing climates on future loblolly pine plantation productivity.
Stabilization of Linear Evolutionary Processes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the stabilization of linear evolutionary processes. It describes the connection between the ability to solve the so-called regulator problem over infinite intervals and the existence of feedback controls that stabilize linear evolutionary processes. It presents one slightly simplified problem, where the interconnection between the solution of the regulator problem and the existence of a stabilizing feedback control are considered. It presents a hypothesis that states that for every Φ in H 1 , independently of t 0 , there exists a real number M ( Φ ) such that C ( u, Φ, t 0 ) ( Φ ) for at least one measurable u: (0 , ∞ ) → H 2 . It has been suggested that the hypothesis is a bit strong in that it may be difficult to verify. One answer to this criticism is to indicate the extent to which it is a necessary assumption. The chapter presents two examples that indicate that systems that neither are completely controllable nor have homogeneous parts uniformly asymptotically stable may satisfy the hypothesis.
1.17 Addition of Heteroatom Nucleophiles to C O and C N pi Bonds

This chapter describes the recent contribution in the area of the addition of heteroatoms to C O and C N pi bonds, with emphasis on the asymmetric versions, which have achieved significant outcomes in the past decade. Different types of acetals, which are valuable structural units in biologically active molecules and natural products, were obtained through these transformations. The heteroatoms covered in this chapter include oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and selenium. The C O and C N pi bonds could be generated in situ or used as starting materials directly. This chapter is divided into two major sections, describing C O and C N pi bonds individually. In each section, different heterocycles are described separately. The methodology developments as well as the synthetic applications are presented in each section.
Defending Europe: How Converging Technology Strengthens Small Powers

NATO’s frontline states cannot prevent a Russian invasion using current operational concepts and equipment. Further, there is increasing uncertainty about America’s commitment to defending these states as well as the willingness of European peoples to fight. Fortunately, by applying new operational concepts that combine different training for reservists with emerging small, smart, and inexpensive weapons systems, frontline states can create a porcupine defense to defer and, if necessary, defeat a Russian invasion. Other NATO nations can reinforce the frontline states by purchasing relatively inexpensive, long-range cruise missiles that can provide immediate support to the frontline forces. However, to implement this concept, nations will have to rethink how they train, equip, and employ their military forces.
Message From the Incoming Editor-in-Chief

It is a great honor to follow Dr. Jan Craninckx, the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits (JSSC). I have had the privilege of serving on the JSSC Editorial Board for his entire tenure as the Editor-in-Chief and witnessed firsthand the outstanding job he has done managing the journal. His commitment to excellence, fairness, and efficacy was self-evident and was crucial not only in maintaining the high quality that is expected in the journal but also in taking it to new heights. Dr. Craninckx, like his illustrious predecessors, worked very hard to make sure JSSC not only remained the top journal in its field but also one of the best-managed ones. For that, we owe a great debt of gratitude to Dr. Craninckx and all the other past editors.