cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Practice and Motivational Factors in Meaningful Learning and Retention

The significance of practice and drill in meaningful learning and retention has, in my opinion, been unwarrantedly ignored or downgraded (Gagne, 1962). In many educational circles drill is viewed pejoratively as the hallmark of rote learning. Practice is obviously less important, relatively speaking, in meaningful than in rote learning, because in the latter variety of learning, what is learned cannot be related nonarbitrarily to any ideas in the learner’s cognitive structure, and, thus, can only be retained beyond short periods of time by dint of much effortful repetition. Nevertheless, repetition is still a very significant variable that must be reckoned with if we are concerned with long-term meaningful learning and retention, and with transfer to related, sequentially dependent aspects of subject matter.
Identifying Family and Classroom Practices Associated With Stability and Change of Social-Emotional Readiness for a National Sample of Low-Income Children

Among a nationally representative sample of 2,529 Head Start children, patterns of social-emotional readiness were identified at the beginning and end of children's first preschool year. This study documented that although the majority of children remain in a qualitatively similar social-emotional readiness profile across the year, 34% of children move to a qualitatively different profile reflecting improvements and declines in social-emotional functioning. Child and family attributes (e.g., child age, disability status, and maternal education), as well as contextual factors (e.g., weekly parent home involvement) were significant predictors of these classification patterns, and parents' involvement in educational activities at home significantly moderated transitions among the profiles.
Direct use geothermal resources

Direct use geothermal is usually defined to include resources in the temperature range of approximately 20/spl deg/C to 150+/spl deg/C (68 to 302/spl deg/F). At the lower end of the range the resource generally requires the use of a heat pump for spare or process heating but some applications including aquaculture or fish farming are possible even at these low temperatures. Geothermal resources above 150/spl deg/C (320/spl deg/F) are generally used for the generation of electricity, but some high temperature direct use applications including industrial process and dehydration can be economically viable. Increasingly, many of these high temperature, direct use applications are being teamed with moderate temperature (110-150/spl deg/C, 122-302/spl deg/F) small-scale electrical generation projects. Direct uses of geothermal include but of course are not limited to aquaculture, greenhouses, space heating and/or cooling (including direct energy systems) agriculture product dehydration and industrial processes.
U-REST: an unsupervised record extraction system

In this paper, we describe a system that can extract recordstructures from web pages with no direct human supervision.Records are commonly occurring HTML-embedded data tuples that describe people, offered courses, products,company profiles, etc. We present a simplified frameworkfor studying the problem of unsupervised record extraction. one which separates the algorithms from the feature engineering.Our system, U-REST formalizes an approach tothe problem of unsupervised record extraction using a simple two-stage machine learning framework. The first stage involves clustering, where structurally similar regions are discovered, and the second stage involves classification, where discovered groupings (clusters of regions) are ranked by their likelihood of being records. In our work, we describe, and summarize the results of an extensive survey of features for both stages. We conclude by comparing U-REST to related systems. The results of our empirical evaluation show encouraging improvements in extraction accuracy.
MEMBRANE DIFFERENTIATIONS IN FREEZE-FRACTURED MAMMALIAN SPERM

A correlated thin-sectioning and freeze-fracturing study has been made of guinea pig and rat spermatozoa. In sections, the cell membrane over the acrosome has a concanavalin A and ruthenium red reactive glycocalyx which exhibits an ordered pattern related to the lattice of crystalline domains within the plane of the membrane revealed by freeze-fracturing. The cleaved acrosomal membrane also shows a finer linear periodicity in some areas. The membrane over the equatorial segment of the guinea pig acrosome is marked by a palisade of oblique ridges not observed in the rat. The plasmalemma of the postacrosomal region is rich in membrane intercalated particles, many randomly dispersed, others clustered in rectilinear arrays. A particle-poor zone is found just anterior to the posterior ring. The fold of redundant nuclear envelope posterior to the ring has many nuclear pores in close hexagonal array. The nuclear envelope lining the implantation fossa is devoid of pores. When cleaved it has a particle-free central area surrounded by a broad zone of large, closely packed, hollow particles. The membrane of the mid-piece in the guinea pig (but not the rat) contains linear strands of 6-8-nm particles oriented circumferentially. The membrane investing the principal piece exhibits the usual randomly distributed particles but in addition, a double row of larger (9 nm) particles runs longitudinally within the membrane over outer dense fiber 1. In the corresponding position in thin sections a local thickening of the membrane is discernible. These observations form a basis for further studies on the functional correlates of these regional specializations of the sperm membrane.
Ultimate scalability of TaN metal floating gate with incorporation of high-K blocking dielectrics for Flash memory applications

We have investigated ultrathin TaN metal floating gate (FG) with Hf based high-K interpoly dielectrics (IPD) for NAND Flash applications. In an attempt to investigate the memory behavior as the FG thickness is reduced, scalability of TaN FG down to 1 nm thickness has been explored. We have demonstrated excellent memory performance with program-erase (P-E) window as large as 16V. Our results indicate that high-K based IPD in conjunction with ultra-thin TaN metal FG can enable further scaling of NAND Flash memory beyond conventional oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) based IPD technology.
Arenavirus Stable Signal Peptide Is the Keystone Subunit for Glycoprotein Complex Organization

The rodent arenavirus glycoprotein complex encodes a stable signal peptide (SSP) that is an essential structural com- ponent of mature virions. The SSP, GP1, and GP2 subunits of the trimeric glycoprotein complex noncovalently interact to stud the surface of virions and initiate arenavirus infectivity. Nascent glycoprotein production undergoes two proteolytic cleavage events:first within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to cleave SSP from the remaining precursor GP1/2 (glycoprotein complex (GPC)) glycoprotein and second within the Golgi stacks by the cellular SKI-1/S1P for GP1/2 processing to yield GP1 and GP2 subunits. Cleaved SSP is not degraded but retained as an essential glycoprotein subunit. Here, we defined functions of the 58- amino-acid lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) SSP in regard to glycoprotein complex processing and maturation. Us- ing molecular biology techniques, confocal microscopy, andflow cytometry, we detected SSP at the plasma membrane of trans- fected cells. Further, we identified a sorting signal (FLLL) near the carboxyl terminus of SSP that is required for glycoprotein maturation and trafficking. In the absence of SSP, the glycoprotein accumulated within the ER and was unable to undergo pro- cessing by SKI-1/S1P. Mutation of this highly conserved FLLL motif showed impaired glycoprotein processing and secretory pathway trafficking, as well as defective surface expression and pH-dependent membrane fusion. Immunoprecipitation of SSP confirmed an interaction between the signal peptide and the GP2 subunit; however, mutations within this FLLL motif disrupted the association of the GP1 subunit with the remaining glycoprotein complex. IMPORTANCE Several members of the Arenaviridae family are neglected human pathogens capable of causing illness ranging from a nondescriptflu-like syndrome to fulminant hemorrhagic fever. Infections by arenaviruses are mediated by attachment of the virus glycoprotein to receptors on host cells and virion internalization by fusion within an acidified endosome. SSP plays a critical role in the fusion of the virus with the host cell membrane. Within infected cells, the retained glycoprotein SSP plays a neglected yet essential role in glycoprotein biosynthesis. Without this 6-kDa polypeptide, the glycoprotein precursor is retained within the endoplasmic reticulum, and trafficking to the plasma membrane where SSP, GP1, and GP2 localize for glycoprotein assembly into infectious virions is inhibited. To investigate SSP contributions to glycoprotein maturation and function, we cre- ated an SSP-tagged glycoprotein to directly detect and manipulate this subunit. This resource will aid future studies to identify host factors that mediate glycoprotein maturation.
Comfort Levels of Active Duty Gay/Bisexual Male Service Members in the Military Healthcare System

Before a revision of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in 2010, sexual behaviors that lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members disclosed to military healthcare providers (MHCPs) were grounds for discharge. However, after the revision, service members either did not know about the revision, or were still uncomfortable approaching MHCPs. This study examined the comfort levels of active duty gay/bisexual males approaching MHCPs about sexuality/sexual health concerns. Using a quantitative descriptive approach, the 31-item survey developed for this study provided initial research data to inform future studies on this topic. The survey was available to participants from March 2 to April 3, 2012. Analyzing responses from 30 participants, the data revealed a strong correlation between service members' comfort disclosing their sexual orientation to a MHCP and their perception of how the military cares about them as a sexual minority. The data suggested differences in comfort levels among age cohorts disclosing their sexual orientation, in addition to differences between officers and enlisted men concerning the cost of seeing a nonmilitary healthcare provider. MHCPs should understand that establishing a relationship with service members that encourages disclosure can improve their view of the military healthcare system and help address sexual health concerns.
Precipitate Drifting and Coarsening Caused by Interface Electromigration

A mechanism is proposed to explain electromigration-enhanced precipitate coarsening in Al-Cu alloy interconnects. The interface between the a-phase matrix and a θ-phase Al2C11 precipitate is incoherent, along which both Al and Cu atoms diffuse under an applied electric field. Depending on the relative mobility of Al and Cu, the diffusion causes the precipitate to migrate towards either the positive or the negative electrode. The velocity of a spherical precipitate is proportional to the electric field and the mobilities and inversely proportional to its radius. A critical electric field or precipitate radius exists, above which the precipitate can penetrate a grain boundary. Consequently, the precipitates agglomerate by the synergism between the surface tension-induced ripening and the current-induced migration. The resulting particles are distantly separated, depleting Cu atoms from the rest of the interconnect. The mechanism appears to limit the lifetime of interconnects having bamboo-like grains, tested below 300°C, less than half of the melting temperature of Al.
Studies of functionalized polystyrene–poly(2, 6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) blends

Immiscible blends composed of poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) with unfunctionalized polystyrene and polystyrene containing a relatively broad range of ionic content, i.e., sodium sulfonate units were studied. Extensive glass transition (T g ) measurements show that these blends are immiscible over a broad ionic content and molecular weight range. This phenomenon, however, does not inhibit these blends from possessing improved mechanical properties since the associating-type ionic interactions can effectively bridge the two phases.
Forces on a finite-sized particle located close to a wall in a linear shear flow

To understand and better model the hydrodynamic force acting on a finite-sized particle moving in a wall-bounded linear shear flow, here we consider the two limiting cases of (a) a rigid stationary spherical particle in a linear wall-bounded shear flow and (b) a rigid spherical particle in rectilinear motion parallel to a wall in a quiescent ambient flow. In the present computations, the particle Reynolds number ranges from 2 to 250 at separation distances to the wall from nearly sitting on the wall to far away from the wall. First we characterize the structure of the wake for a stationary particle in a linear shear flow and compare with those for a particle moving parallel to a wall in a quiescent ambient [see L. Zeng, S. Balachandar, and P. Fischer, J. Fluid Mech. 536, 1 (2005)]. For both these cases we present drag and lift results and obtain composite drag and lift correlations that are valid for a wide range of Re and distance from the wall. These correlations have been developed to be consistent with all available low Reynolds number theories and approach the appropriate uniform flow results at large distance from the wall. Particular attention is paid to the case of particle in contact with the wall and the computational results are compared with those from experiments.
Cooperative Control of Dynamical Systems: Applications to Autonomous Vehicles

In this paper, a new framework based on matrix theory is proposed to analyze and design cooperative controls for a group of individual dynamical systems whose outputs are sensed by or communicated to others in an intermittent, dynamically changing, and local manner. In the framework, sensing/communication is described mathematically by a time-varying matrix whose dimension is equal to the number of dynamical systems in the group and whose elements assume piecewise-constant and binary values. Dynamical systems are generally heterogeneous and can be transformed into a canonical form of different, arbitrary, but finite relative degrees. Utilizing a set of new results on augmentation of irreducible matrices and on lower triangulation of reducible matrices, the framework allows a designer to study how a general local-and-output-feedback cooperative control can determine group behaviors of the dynamical systems and to see how changes of sensing/communication would impact the group behaviors over time. A necessary and sufficient condition on convergence of a multiplicative sequence of reducible row-stochastic (diagonally positive) matrices is explicitly derived, and through simple choices of a gain matrix in the cooperative control law, the overall closed-loop system is shown to exhibit cooperative behaviors (such as single group behavior, multiple group behaviors, adaptive cooperative behavior for the group, and cooperative formation including individual behaviors). Examples, including formation control of nonholonomic systems in the chained form, are used to illustrate the proposed framework.
A digital audio signal processor for sound field controls

A new digital audio signal processor (DASP) that is suitable for sound field control applications has been developed. An adaptable external memory configuration method is introduced. The device includes a 32-bit arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) and a 32* 24 bit multiplier/accumulator. The processor is designed to optimize sound field controls such as sound field reproduction of concert halls in a listening room or sound position selection to create natural stereo sounds in an automobile. The programmable external memory interface allows various configurations of DRAM to be selected. The DASP with the external memory interface allows implementation of sound field control, equalization, and filtering applications on a single chip. This reduces overall system costs and periods of system development. >
Going to College: The Experiences of a Young Woman With Down Syndrome

Abstract In this qualitative study the college experience of an individual with Down syndrome was examined. The student audited two academic courses and participated in various nonacademic campus a...
Novel adaptive probing for wafer level chip scale package

To be “More than Moore's law”, Integrated Fan-Out Wafer-Level Chip-Scale Packaging (InFO WLCSP) is more cost-effective than other 3D-integrated-circuit (3DIC) technologies for consumer mobile, wearable, and “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) markets. To further improve the test quality, yield, and cost of InFO WLCSP by probing copper-pillars without solder-caps, adaptive probing is developed to improve traditional fixed probing recipes. Therefore, variations of copper-pillars, wafer warping, and un-coplanarity of high-pin-count probes can be tolerated. According to the characterizations and experimental results, the analyses, strategies, algorithm, and test programs can improve yield, test time, and probe-card lifetime dramatically. The proposed adaptive probing methods can handle not only the worst varied probing case on copper-pillars but also other critical probing cases.
Work In Progress - CE Curriculum Development Based on IEEE-CS/ACM Body of Knowledge Recommendations

Computer Engineering programs typically choose a curriculum based upon a blending of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science courses. Given the paradigm shift that finds accreditation bodies looking for formal process in program specification, what is needed is a systematic approach to developing CE curriculum. Described within is a CE curriculum development process based upon the IEEE-CS/ACM CE Body of Knowledge Recommendations found in the report "Computer Engineering 2005 Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Degree Programs in Computer Engineering." The curriculum revision process is divided into several steps: 1) Review of the Body of Knowledge in order to further partition the Recommendations into Required and Elective categories; 2) Determination of coverage level of the Body of Knowledge areas as provided by the current program; 3) Identification of inadequacies or holes in coverage of the current program; 4) Proposal of modifications to eliminate coverage holes in Required areas; 5) Implementation of proposed curriculum changes; 6) Assessment and revision of curriculum changes. Currently, our CE program revision is at step 4, with the curriculum changes of step 5 expected to begin within the coming year. Step 6 Assessment will follow using several in-place evaluation methods described within this paper.
Targeting of Adenosine Receptors in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Importance of the field: Ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury is a common problem after transplantation as well as myocardial infarction and stroke. IR initiates an inflammatory response leading to rapid tissue damage. Adenosine, produced in response to IR, is generally considered a protective signaling molecule and elicits its physiological responses through four distinct adenosine receptors. The short half-life, lack of specificity and rapid metabolism limits the use of adenosine as a therapeutic agent. Thus, intense research efforts have focused on the synthesis and implementation of specific adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists as potential therapeutic agents for a variety of inflammatory conditions including IR injury. Areas covered in this review: Current knowledge on IR injury with a focus on lung, heart and kidney and studies that have advanced our understanding of the role of adenosine receptors and the therapeutic potential of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists for the prevention of ...
The role of infection in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.

Atherosclerosis is a complex, multifactorial disease. Recently, research has intensified to identify the role of various infections in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Specific agents have been proposed as direct initiators or accelerators of atherosclerosis, while other infectious agents have been proposed as accelerators of atherosclerosis through nonspecific stimulation of the inflammatory cascade. Recently, the total pathogen burden concept has suggested that while each specific infection contributes only slightly to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the cumulative effects of infectious agents contribute greatly. Several randomized trials evaluating antibiotic therapy in the prevention of cardiovascular events have now been completed, although results have been conflicting. This manuscript summarizes current understanding of the role of infectious agents as a trigger of inflammation, as a contributor to atherosclerosis, and the potential role of antibiotic therapy in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
European Agency Leader Urges Long‐Term Environmental Policy

A 23 October agreement by European Union (EU) leaders to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions is a good example of developing and implementing a needed long-term, sustainable environmental policy agenda for Europe. So says Hans Bruyninckx, executive director of the European Environment Agency (EEA), an EU agency.
Light adaptation and photopigment bleaching in cone photoreceptors in situ in the retina of the turtle

Light adaptation and photopigment bleaching in cone photoreceptors were studied in the intact, superfused retina of the turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans). A new method for measuring changes in the photopigment of cones is described. Action spectrum measurements indicate that the signals arise from the red-sensitive cones. Measurements of steady-state bleaching are well described by the monomolecular bleaching equation with a half-bleaching constant of about 5.5 log photons sec-1 microns-2. Quantitative data on light adaptation were obtained by intracellular recording from 15 red- sensitive cones over nearly 8 decades of background illumination obtained from a helium-neon laser (632.8 nm). The steady-state membrane potential, Rs, and the rate of photoisomerization of the photopigment, Pi, rose in parallel with background illumination and then stabilized over the upper 4 decades of illumination. These results are described by the relation Rs = k Pi0.27, and suggest that about 5 x 10(6) photoisomerizations sec-1 lead to the closure of half the cone's light- sensitive channels in the steady state. A full range of decremental and incremental flashes was used to investigate stimulus-response relations. Cones tended to generate responses of approximately constant amplitude to flashes of constant contrast over a substantial range of contrast (< or = 3 x) and background illumination (approximately 3–4 decades). This suggests that a substantial component of contrast constancy in vertebrate vision may originate in cones. Over nearly 7 decades, the small-signal step sensitivity was found to conform closely to Weber's law (sensitivity is inversely proportional to background illumination). Thus, Weber's law extends into the ultra-high-intensity realm, some 3 decades higher than previously known for vertebrate cones. Over the upper 3–4 decades of illumination, Weber's law behavior can be explained by the depletion of photopigment (reduced probability of the photon catch). There remains a substantial low-intensity domain for which light adaptation and Weber's law behavior are presumably mediated by other mechanisms within the cone. These might be the calcium- and/or cGMP-dependent mechanisms recently suggested by others.
Exploring the impact of franchise support on franchisee acceptance of intranet in quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise system

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold: to investigate the impact of franchisor support on quick service restaurant (QSR) users’ intranet acceptance; and to examine the technology acceptance model (TAM) to explain QSR users’ attitude toward the franchise intranet usage. Franchisors are building intranet systems as a communication tool to assist their franchisees in performing their jobs better. However, there is a little available literature that discusses in detail the use of the intranet by franchise systems. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopted the TAM to investigate the acceptance of the intranet in the context of QSR franchise systems. The original TAM was modified to include an external variable, franchise support. A total of 161 returned and completed responses were examined. Descriptive analysis, validity, principal component factor analysis and regression analysis were used to estimate the relationships between constructs. Findings – The key finding of this study is that franc...
The Vice Presidency: Its Institutional Evolution and Contemporary Status

T HIS ESSAY SEEKS to trace the recent evolution and changing status of the Vice Presidency as an office in the American scheme of government. Special attention will be given to the experience since 1952. Taken as a whole, the experience suggests that the following propositions are a reasonable summary of the situation for the time being: 1. The Vice Presidency is in transition to a new institutional status in which it will be recognized as an office established predominantly in the Executive Branch, while retaining its constitutional prerogatives in the Legislative Branch. 2. Future Vice Presidents can be expected to serve routinely as deputy chiefs of state and deputy leaders of their national political party; to be available for service at any time as deputy to the President in the field of foreign affairs; to receive many ad hoc administrative and legislative assignments; to continue to accumulate a set of continuing functions in the Executive Branch; and to serve from time to time as Acting President under the Twenty-fifth Amendment. 3. The increasing recognition of the Vice Presidency reflects the hazards of the present world situation, in which the Vice President may be called upon at any time to take over as commander-in-chief, as well as the growing burdens on the time and strength of the President as chief executive, leader of his political party, and chief of state. 4. The functions, duties, and prerogatives of the Vice President as a member of the Executive Branch are not likely to be expanded except with the formal or informal concurrence of the President; but once such functions, duties., and prerogatives are in place, withdrawal through action by the President becomes more difficult than their initial establishment. 5. The Vice Presidency is rapidly achieving a status in which a typical incumbent will be the most likely next presidential
RADAR - reconfigurable analog and digital array for radiation-hardened circuits

Because of their flexibility and reprogrammability, FPGAs have been proposed for many uses in avionics. Existing commercial FPGAs, being finegrained, are programmable at the bit level, allowing them to be used across a wide range of applications. Compared to an ASIC developed for a specific application, however, such a fine-grained FPGA consumes more power and exhibits higher latency and/or lower throughput. In this paper, we describe RADAR - a coarse-grained, programmable, radiation-hardened array that exhibits power and throughput similar to ASICs, yet contains a high degree of programmability. Containing multipliers, adders, SRAMs and a programmable interconnect, RADAR is customized to the DSP domain and targets applications that require low power and high throughput. The degree of radiation hardening in RADAR is a programmable feature, allowing a tradeoff between radiation hardness, throughput, and power.
Voices from the Post-Katrina Ninth Ward: An Examination of Social Justice, Privilege, and Personal Growth

We—five graduate-student counselors and one professor—provided social support to AfricanAmerican residents in New Orleans’ post-Katrina Ninth Ward. We describe residents’ narratives, our reactions to our own privileges made salient, our personal growth, and post-Katrina social injustice. We then suggest ways for individuals to contribute to disaster relief/social justice.
SHALL WE PROFANE THE SERVICE OF THE DEAD? BURIAL DIVINATIONS, UNTIMELY BURIALS, AND REMEMBRANCE IN TANG MUZHIMING

AbstractThough various divinatory practices were central to all burial arrangements in Tang China, scholars have paid scant attention to these practices and their social context and effects. This article reconstructs burial divination practices, discusses their ritual and social functions, and examines the social attitudes that influenced and were in turn influenced by them. Focus is on the following questions: why and how did families perform burial divinations? How were the divinatory oracles interpreted, and by whom? Why and to what extent did families subject themselves to these oracles? And what does the practice of burial divinations tell us about the culture of remembrance in Tang China? The article proposes answers to these questions through reading muzhiming (entombed epitaphs) against other transmitted and excavated sources and examining one common, but rarely studied, effect of divination practices on burials: their being rushed or much-delayed. Finally, the article examines a case involving bo...
Flow Cytometry on a Chip

Flow cytometers are indispensable tools in medical research and clinical diagnostics for medical treatment, such as in diagnosing cancer, AIDS, and infectious diseases. The cost, complexity, and size of existing flow cytometers preclude their use in point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, doctor’s offices, small clinics, on-site water monitoring, agriculture/veterinary diagnostics, and rapidly deployable bio-threat detection. Here, we present a fundamentally new design for a flow cytometer for the POC that delivers high effective sensitivity without complex optics or bulky, expensive light sources. The enabling technology is spatially modulated emission, which utilizes the relative motion between fluorescing bioparticles and a selectively patterned environment to produce time-modulated signals that can be analyzed with real-time correlation techniques.
Intra-Aggregate Pore Structures and Escherichia coli Distribution by Water Flow within and Movement Out of Soil Macroaggregates

Soil aggregates are an important structural component of the soil matrix that could harbor Escherichia coli and provide an environment for its survival and water flow reentering. Knowledge of the exact pore locations within soil aggregates obtained using X-ray computed microtomography opens new opportunities for understanding microorganism movement within the soil matrix. The first objective of this study was to assess E. coli spatial distribution within soil macroaggregates and its potential for leaving the aggregates with the saturated water flow. The second objective was to study the relationships between the distribution and movement of E. coli within soil aggregates and the aggregates’ internal pore structures. We studied aggregates from the top (A) horizon of conventionally tilled (CT) and no-till (NT) corn–soybean–wheat rotations and native succession vegetation (NS) treatments at NSF Long-Term Ecological Research site, southwest Michigan. The results confirmed that E. coli movement in soil aggregates was mainly driven by water flow via capillary forces. E. coli r edistribution was most pronounced in CT aggregates, followed by NT, and was almost negligible in NS aggregates. Pore characteristics that positively contributed to E. coli redistribution through the aggregates were the maximum flow in the aggregate centers and the ratio of the maximum flow and pore tortuosity. The E. coli retention in the aggregate’s centers was positively related to porosity, percent of medium and large pores, and pore tortuosity.
Masterclass series in peripheral arterial disease. Antiplatelet therapy for peripheral arterial disease and claudication.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower extremities is a common and potentially life-threatening manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. Significant PAD is identified by an ankle brachial...
A Complement-fixing Antibody in Sera of Rabbits Bearing Brown-Pearce Carcinoma

SummaryIn confirmation of Kidd's work it has been demonstrated that a substance associated with the Brown-Pearce carcinoma fixes complement in the presence of serum of some rabbits bearing the specific tumor. But an incidence of positive reactors considerably lower than that reported by Kidd was observed. Several possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed.
Shin‐Guard Dermatitis—Detection and Protection

With the popularity of soccer among American youth and the associated use of protective shin guards, dermatitis from the guard components has emerged. Awareness and protective measures may help prevent irritation and the development of contact sensitization from the guards.
TMIC-16NOX GENERATED REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES PROMOTES GLIOBLASTOMA GROWTH AND SURVIVAL THROUGH INACTIVATION OF PTEN

TMIC-16. NOX GENERATED REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES PROMOTES GLIOBLASTOMA GROWTH AND SURVIVAL THROUGH INACTIVATION OF PTEN Kirsten Ludwig and Harley Kornblum; University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA PTEN is inactivated in 40% of glioblastoma (GBM), however almost all GBM’s have increased Akt activity, regardless of PTEN status. Treatment with exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) inactivates PTEN through oxidation, suggesting that a similar event may occur in the hypoxic tumor environment. Recent data indicate that low levels of ROS are required for cell maintenance and stem cell renewal while moderate increases may promote tumorigenesis. Much of the endogenous ROS is produced by NADPH oxidase (NOX), amembraneboundcomplexofproteins,activatedunderhypoxic conditions. This raises the possibility that the tumor microenvironment may inactivate PTEN through means other than mutation or deletion. We investigated the role of NOX generated ROS in primary cultures of patient-derived GBM cells across the spectrum of GBM subtypes. Endogenous ROS levels correlated with proliferation; those with higher ROS had higher proliferation rates. Placement of cells in low oxygen levels (1%) enhanced proliferation, an effect that was reversed by treatment with antioxidants and the NOX inhibitor Apocynin, supporting the hypothesis that NOX-induced ROS promotes GBM growth. The effects of hypoxia-induced NOX activation were dependent upon PTEN, as PTEN knockdown or PTEN null cells exhibited no enhanced growthwhenplaced inhypoxicconditions.Furthermore,pharmacologicblockade of AKT prevented enhanced growth in hypoxia. A role for PTEN was further demonstrated by the finding that it was oxidatively inactivated in GBM cells grown under hypoxic conditions. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of NOX rescued radiation-induced activation of Akt resulting in increased radio-sensitivity. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that the relativelyhypoxic tumorenvironment activatesNOX, resulting in functional inactivation of PTEN andenhanced GBMproliferation andsurvival. Thesefindings represent a novel opportunity for therapeutic intervention in a subset of GBM. Neuro-Oncology 17:v221–v225, 2015. doi:10.1093/neuonc/nov236.16 Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology 2015.
Norovirus in Transplantation

Noroviruses are among the most common cause of diarrhea in transplant recipients. The clinical spectrum of norovirus infection after transplant is increasingly being recognized. As substantial morbidity is now associated with norovirus infections in this population; the quest for rapid diagnostic modalities and newer therapies has expanded. Transplant recipients with norovirus infection are at risk for several complications, including protracted illness with malnutrition, organ failure, and chronic viral shedding. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the epidemiology, complications, diagnosis, and treatment of norovirus infection in the transplant setting.
Study on Regional Disparity of Land Finance and Its Substituting Financing Mechanism

In difference region, land finance scale and its contribution to local finance showed the same trend with economic level. The essence of land finance is local government using future land revenue in advance. This is the basis to establish new financing mechanism to subsitute land finance. Using local expenditure and land finance data from 2002 to2012, combining with cluster method and qualitative method, this paper classified the 31 provinces in China into four financing categories: fake out, high, moderate and low. Public finance theory, regional non- balanced coordinative development theory and Marxist land rent theory are the guiding to establish land finance substitute mechanism in this paper. At national level, the contermeasures are establishing new financial mechanism to balancing local government's responsibilities and revenue, improving land acquisition system and local governemnt performance evaluation system,establishing unified market for rural- urban construction land and levying property tax. At regional level, the contermeasures are exerting the financing effect of land consolidation, altering the fiscal driving urbanization, issuing local infrastructure bond combine with encouraging private investment in infrastructure and increasing tax revenue sources by developing high-end service and strategic emerging industries.
Abstract B36: NF-kappaB-dependent and -independent roles for NIK in regulating GBM cell invasion

The aggressive invasion of GBM cells into healthy brain tissue is a major factor contributing to the therapy resistance and poor prognosis of this malignancy. Our recent results demonstrated that the alternative, or noncanonical, NF-kappaB signaling pathway, predominates in the aggressive mesenchymal subtype of GBM. Additionally, NF-kappaB-inducing kinase (NIK), a key upstream activator of noncanonical NF-kappaB signaling, robustly promotes GBM cell invasion and pathogenesis. We demonstrate that expression of NIK is increased in response to exposure to collagen, a major extracellular matrix (ECM) protein present in GBM tumors, with NIK protein levels continuing to increase during invasion in 3D collagen matrices. Interestingly, NIK expression levels correlates with induction of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), a critical enzyme in many invasive tumors, functioning to degrade the basement membrane and ECM during cell migration and invasion. We provide evidence that NIK promotes MT1-MMP activation through increased phosphorylation at membrane protrusions and elevated enzymatic activity. Notably, the activation of MT1-MMP and the pro-invasive effects of NIK persist in the absence of the downstream NF-kappaB transcription factors RelA/p65 and RelB. Together, these data demonstrate a novel ability of NIK to promote GBM cell migration and invasion that is independent of NF-kappaB transcriptional activation functions. The results underscore the therapeutic potential of targeting noncanonical NF-kappaB signaling in these highly invasive tumors. Citation Format: Camille L. Duran, Linda Herrera de Lechuga, Dong W. Lee, Kayla J. Bayless, Raquel Sitcheran. NF-kappaB-dependent and -independent roles for NIK in regulating GBM cell invasion. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Brain Cancer Research; May 27-30, 2015; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(23 Suppl):Abstract nr B36.
Emergency department visits in Wisconsin 1998-2002: trends in usage and accuracy of reported data.

Introduction There is a paucity of data regarding the utilization of emergency departments (EDs) across Wisconsin. It is unknown if national trends in increased utilization are consistent within our state. Several years ago, mandatory reporting of ED visits to the Department of Health and Family Services was instituted and, if accurate, may provide a method for tracking ED usage. Methods We conducted a survey of existing EDs to study the trend in patient visits for the 5-year time period 1998-2003. Data reported in the surveyed departments were compared to those reported to the state database. Results On average, all EDs reported a consistent yearly increase in patient visits over the time period (an average overall increase of 10%). On average, this increase was larger for smaller hospitals. Growth was consistent over the time period, but the yearly rate steadily slowed down. Data reported to the state consistently underreported the actual census. Conclusion All sizes of EDs across Wisconsin continue to show increases in ED utilization. The growth rate is consistent but may be slowing. This has implications for planning for ED resources. Reported data have many discrepancies and need to be independently checked before they can be utilized in any research or planning.
Reducing Heterosexism in African American Christian Students: Effects of Multicultural Education Courses.

ABSTRACTSexual-minority college students continue to experience heterosexism in the form of heterosexist and biased language from peers. Religion has been identified as a predictor of sexual prejudice among college students. Yet there is limited research on the intersection of race, religion, and heterosexism, and on interventions designed to address this prejudice. This study examined the effectiveness of multicultural education courses at a large public university on reducing heterosexism in Christian students. Analysis of pre- and post- data using repeated measures ANCOVA indicated African American Christian students had significantly higher heterosexism scores than White Christian students, and African American Christian students had a significant decrease in heterosexism as compared to White Christian students after taking a service learning course. These results have implications for future research and education on prejudice reduction.
Visual Journalism: An Integrated Conception of Visual Communication in Journalism Education

AbstractNew media technology provides the visual communication academy the opportunity to distance itself from the fractured, ancillary, and skills connotation associated with the field in the past. The concept of “visual journalism” in its integrative sense aimed at training the “complete visual journalist,” provides an opportunity for visual communication to develop an integrated and unified identity, reinvigorate itself, and locate its study at the center of journalism education. It allows the visual academy to create a more integrated conception of the field that is also made more germane to contemporary enterprise of journalism. If cashed-in, the concept should help visual communication overcome its supporting role to take a more central position in journalism education.
Phytochemical Inhibition of Multidrug Resistance Protein-1 as a Therapeutic Strategy for Hemangioendothelioma

Abstract Aims: Hemangiomas are endothelial cell tumors and the most common soft tissue tumors in infants. They frequently cause deformity and can cause death. Current pharmacologic therapies have high-risk side-effect profiles, which limit the number of children who receive treatment. The objectives of this work were to identify the mechanisms through which standardized berry extracts can inhibit endothelial cell tumor growth and test these findings in vivo. Results: EOMA cells are a validated model that generates endothelial cell tumors when injected subcutaneously into syngeneic (129P/3) mice. EOMA cells treated with a blend of powdered natural berry extracts (NBE) significantly inhibited activity of multidrug resistance protein-1 (MRP-1) compared to vehicle controls. This resulted in nuclear accumulation of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and apoptotic EOMA cell death. When NBE-treated EOMA cells were injected into mice, they generated smaller tumors and had a higher incidence of apoptotic cell death compa...
Crystallization, Microstructure, and Viscosity Evolutions in Lithium Aluminosilicate Glass-Ceramics

Lithium aluminosilicate glass-ceramics have found widespread commercial success in areas such as consumer products, telescope mirrors, fireplace windows, etc. However, there is still much to learn regarding the fundamental mechanisms of crystallization, especially related to the evolution of viscosity as a function of the crystallization (ceramming) process. In this study, the impact of phase assemblage and microstructure on the viscosity was investigated using high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD), beam bending viscometry (BBV), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results from this study provide a first direct observation of viscosity evolution as a function of ceramming time and temperature. Sharp viscosity increases due to phase separation, nucleation and phase transformation are noticed through BBV measurement. A near-net shape ceramming can be achieved in TiO2-containing compositions by keeping the glass at a high viscosity (> 109 Pa.s) throughout the whole thermal treatment.
Land Reform in Ireland

In June, 1923, it was stated by the Irish Minister of Agriculture that up to that time "400,000 former Irish tenants have become owners, while the 70,000 remaining tenants will become owners during the next seven years under the provisions of the new Irish Land Act." At the time of the passage of the Ashbourne Act in 1885 practically every Irish holder was a tenant, yet it is planned that by 1930 every Irish holder will own his own land. The above change will thus have come about during a period of forty-five years and largely since 1903. Probably no other country has ever witnessed such a change by peaceable means. There are approximately four and one-half million people living in Ireland of whom two-thirds are engaged in agriculture. Ireland is therefore predominately an agricultural country. Of the twenty million acres in the island some fourteen millions are in farms, and of this fourteen million acres, approximately ten million are in permanent pasture and another two million in grass, one million is in small grain, 600 thousand in potatoes, 200 thousand in turnips and 400 thousand in other crops. Eighty-five per cent of the farm land is not tilled and two-thirds is never touched with the plow or spade. Ireland is a pasture country and predominately a cattle rearing country, in spite of the fact that if the land in farms were equally divided between all farm families there would be only about twenty-eight acres to a holding. Thus Ireland is a country of extensive farming and at the same time of small holdings. In 1902 there were approximately 500,000 farms on the island and of these, 50 per cent were less than 15 acres; 70 per cent less than 30 acres and only 6 per cent above 100 acres in size. In 1902, 70 per cent of the holdings had products of an annual value of less than $150, while 27 per cent had products of a value of $20 or less. In the main, land reform in Ireland may be discussed under three heads, (1) fixing judicial rents, (2) converting tenants to owners, and (3) the enlarging of small holdings. Early Irish history which includes no less than four seizures
Susceptibility of Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to Field Rates of Selected Cotton Insecticides

The parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) was treated topically with minimum recommended field rates of formulated insecticides commonly used in cotton insect control. The 14 insecticides were acephate, azinphosmethyl, bifenthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, endosulfan, esfenvalerate, fipronil, methomyl, methyl parathion, oxamyl, profenofos, thiodicarb, and AC 303,630. Eleven of the 14 insecticides were extremely toxic to C. marginiventris, causing 80 to 100% mortality of adult wasps, whereas treatment with thiodicarb, oxamyl, and acephate resulted in lower mortality of C. marginiventris males and females. For both male and female C. marginiventris, thiodicarb and oxamyl were less toxic than acephate. Esfenvalerate was the least toxic pyrethroid for C. marginiventris females. Of the three insecticides used in boll weevil control (oxamyl, azinphosmethyl, and methyl parathion), oxamyl was the least toxic to C. marginiventris. Selective use of the insecticides which result in higher survival could facil...