cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromatin remodeling is required for gene reactivation after decitabine-mediated DNA hypomethylation

The DNA hypomethylating drug decitabine (DAC) reactivates silenced gene expression in cancer and is approved for the treatment of the myelodysplastic syndrome. Gene reactivation after DAC is variable and incompletely understood. Here, we established a cell line system (YB5) derived from the SW48 colon cancer cell line to study DAC-induced reactivation. YB5 contains a hypermethylated cytomegalovirus promoter driving green fluorescent protein (GFP), and the locus is transcriptionally silent. GFP reexpression can be achieved by DAC treatment, but the expression level of individual cells is heterogeneous. DAC-treated YB5 cells were separated into GFP-positive and GFP-negative subpopulations. By comparing DAC-treated sorted GFP-positive and GFP-negative cells, we found that their methylation levels were similarly decreased but that histone modifications and histone H3 densities were remarkably different. Despite a similar degree of (incomplete) DNA hypomethylation, GFP-positive cells reverted to an active chromatin structure marked by higher H3K9 acetylation, lower H3K27 trimethylation, and lower promoter nucleosome density. GFP-negative cells had histone modifications and promoter nucleosome density, similar to parental cells. On DAC withdrawal, gradual resilencing and remethylation occurred in both GFP-positive and GFP-negative cells, and the resilencing correlated with a gradual increase in nucleosome occupancy in GFP-positive cells. These data show that hypomethylation alone after DAC is insufficient for gene expression induction, and that chromatin resetting to an active state including nucleosome eviction is required for activation of protein expression. Our findings suggest that gene expression is the key in optimizing DAC treatment strategies in the clinic.
Exploring survey participation, data combination, and research validity in a substance use study: an application of hierarchical linear modeling.

A sound decision regarding combination of datasets is critical for research validity. Data were collected between 1996 and 2000 via a 99-item survey of substance use behaviors. Two groups of 7th–12th grade students in predominately White communities are compared: 166,578 students from 193 communities with high survey participation and 41,259 students from 65 communities with lower participation. Hierarchical logistic models are used to explore whether the two datasets may be combined for further study of community-level substance use effects. “Scenario analysis” is introduced. Results suggest the datasets may reasonably be combined. Limitations and further research are discussed.
Exploiting Anti-Imperialism: Popular Forces and Nation-State-Building During China's Northern Expedition, 1926—1927

During the Northern Expedition, Guomindang (GMD) policy makers balanced popular anti-imperialism with measures to improve foreign relations. Military pressures meant that top revolutionary leaders could not afford to engage both the warlords and imperialists at the same time, yet rapid advances excited anti-imperialist forces eager to destroy foreign influence once and for all. Opting for security and control, party chiefs restrained popular anti-imperialism. However, when British/warlord collusion produced signs of a Southern Expedition in late December 1926, top party heads released these restraints, encouraging anti-imperialist groups to assail foreign institutions, including the British concessions in Hankou and Jiujiang. Although a great success, the move also caused Britain to initiate troop buildups. Facing new pressures, revolutionary leaders decided to dismantle revolutionary anti-imperialism. In short, mass anti-imperialist organizations were dissolved in April 1927 for practical political reaso...
Fixed-ratio and fixed-interval schedule control of matching-to-sample errors by children

Nine children, ages 4 through 7 yr, matched-to-sample on fixed-ratio, fixed-interval, variable-ratio, and variable-interval schedules of reinforcement. Simultaneous, zero-delay, and 2-sec delay matching were employed. Distributions of errors, in which the greatest number of errors occurred at the ordinal position immediately after reinforcement with fewer errors occurring at subsequent positions in the ratio, were produced by six of six children on fixed-ratio schedules for zero-delay and both of two children for 2-sec delay matching. Only two children of seven produced similar error distributions on simultaneous matching for fixed-ratio reinforcement. Variable-ratio schedules produced slightly lower accuracy for most subjects and no systematic error patterns for any subject. Error distributions occurred for all of the five children who experienced fixed-interval schedules for zero-delay matching. Peak error production occurred in the second fourth of the interval. Similar patterns were not produced on variable-interval schedules of equal reinforcement density. Schedule control of complex discriminated operants in children resembles control over similar responses of nonhuman animals.
Automated decision support systems for hurricane mitigation planning

The risks posed by hurricanes are significant and rising. Recent advances in computer technology have stimulated interest in the potential applica tion of automated decision support systems to hurricane mitigation planning. This article discusses why computer technology should be used in hurricane mitigation planning. Reviews of the several different, though often interrelated, lines of advance in automated decision support systems and hurricane risk assessment modeling are presented. Recent research on organizational concerns that should be ac counted for in the design of such systems is also reviewed. Guide lines are then provided showing how future research might be directed to effectively design and implement decision support systems.
A transmissible retrovirus expressing human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT): gene transfer into cells obtained from humans deficient in HPRT

A cDNA corresponding to the human gene for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT; IMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8) has been ligated into murine retroviral vectors such that it is under the transcriptional control of viral long terminal repeats. Transfection of HPRT- cells followed by superinfection with various helper viruses has led to the rescue of chimeric virus capable of transmitting the HPRT+ phenotype to HPRT- rodent or human cells. These genetically transformed cells contain authentic human HPRT at levels similar to normal HPRT+ cells.
The Demise of Defined Benefit Plans for Private Employers

This is the third report in a trilogy, which began in 2005, in which the author examines the change in pension rules set forth in both ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, applicable to defined benefit plans maintained by private employers. The original title was in the hope that Congress would revisit ERISA's and the code's pension funding rules in order to restore the viability of single-employer defined benefit pension plans. Unfortunately the new rules promulgated by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA '06) do not foster the growth of existing or new defined benefit pension plans, except for those of small employers. In this third report, the author analyzes the new minimum pension funding rules and the new restricted benefit rules (which also affect a defined benefit plan's qualification status) enacted by PPA '06, effective beginning in 2008. As noted in a recent report by the Government Accountability Office, many employers are responding to these rules by freezing benefit accruals for existing and/or new entrants under the plan. Coupled with these new rules, the Financial Accounting Standards Board has introduced a new accounting reporting requirement that will have important financial effects for plan sponsors of underfunded single-employer defined benefit plans. Attorneys and actuaries alike are responding to these challenges by offering a variety of strategies for plan sponsors. These requirements and the responding strategies have been summarized at the end of this article.
Youth suicidal behavior: Assessment and intervention

In this article, the authors review the research on risk assessment of suicidal adolescents and describe the small body of randomized-clinical-treatment trials for this population. Research has yielded a fairly consistent set of direct and indirect risk factors for suicidal behavior in adolescents. The authors describe a variety of measures commonly used to assess these risk factors. Treatment studies targeting suicide are sparse for all ages. In the adult literature, evidence suggests clozapine, depot flupenthixol, lithium, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are significantly more effective in decreasing suicidal behavior than placebo or Treatment as Usual. For adolescents, it is difficult to draw conclusions about treatment efficacy. In general, control conditions are just as effective at reducing suicidal behavior as experimental conditions. While some novel interventions for suicidal adolescents are described, there is a desperate need for more research to be conducted in order to advance this burgeoning field. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 56: 1131–1152, 2000.
Issues in Education: Epistemology, Phenomenology, and Reflection: A “Stop, Look, and Listen” for Educators

Childhood learning is full of easy-to-remember directions. Recall such advice as “Stop, look, and listen” before you cross the street and “Stop, drop, and roll” if your clothes catch on fire. These...
On the achievable sum rate of multiterminal source coding for a correlated Gaussian vector source

In wireless sensor networks, many monitoring problems can be cast in the form of distributed estimation. If the data links from the sensor nodes to the fusion center have limited capacity, there is a tradeoff between estimation precision and transmission rate. This kind of decentralized estimation system is equivalent to the so-called indirect multiterminal source coding problem, and the Berger-Tung inner bound is the best known achievable rate region boundary. In this paper, we attempt to evaluate the Berger-Tung sum rate for a vector source with correlated components. First we formulate the sum rate as a nonconvex optimization problem with a distortion constraint. Then we propose a method to find an approximate solution. Numerical experiments show the approximate solution is accurate if the required distortion level is relatively small. Its appropriateness is also verified by simulation results based on practical quantizer design.
Selection of converter topologies for distributed energy resources

Distributed energy resources (DER) are becoming increasingly common on the electrical grid. Depending on the operating conditions of the DER, which depend on the application, different topologies need to be selected in order to achieve the maximum efficiency of each DER. Complicating the selection is the fact that operating conditions vary over time. For example, the voltage and current drawn from a PV panel varies over the course of a day. To calculate the overall efficiency, the efficiency of a topology at each operating point and the amount of time spent at that operating point must be considered. This work extends existing analytical methods for loss calculations by taking this into account. The specific DER applications considered are a three-phase ultracapacitor energy storage unit (UC-ESU), battery energy storage unit (B-ESU), and photovoltaic array (PV). This work determines for each application if an inverter-only (single-stage) or an inverter plus boost converter (double-stage) topology is more efficient. The results show that a single-stage topology is better for the B-ESU and PV, while the double-stage topology is better for the UC-ESU. The method is applicable to other DER types, including wind turbines, micro-hydro generators, variable-speed gensets, and microturbines.
Genetic marker of torsades de pointes risk following myocardial infarction.

a L i r i s c e c c c g Q Sudden cardiac death (SCD) secondary to ventricular arrhythmia is a common cause of adult mortality especially in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Epidemiological evidence supports an important contribution of genetic factors to SCD susceptibility as inferred from the robust nature of family history as an independent risk factor for this deadly event. Ventricular fibrillation dominates s the cause for SCD during the acute phase (minutes to ours) following acute MI. Sudden death risk remains subtantially elevated during the subacute (hours to days) and hronic (days to weeks) phases of the recovery period, but he substrate for this predisposition may be different than hat in the acute phase. Infrequently, subjects in the early post-MI period exhibit vidence of abnormal ventricular repolarization, specifically prolonged QT interval, that predisposes to the polymorhic ventricular tachyarrhythmia, torsades de pointes TdP). Although this phenomenon was originally regarded s a form of acquired long-QT syndrome (LQTS), one might have speculated that this idiosyncratic phenotype occurred in genetically predisposed individuals. In this issue of HeartRhythm, Crotti et al report results f a genetic investigation of infarct-related TdP. In this andidate gene, case-control association study, the investiators studied 13 subjects with prolonged QT intervals and dP occurring 2–11 days following acute MI. The subjects ere screened for genetic variants in 5 genes previously inked with congenital LQTS (KCNQ1, KCNH2, SCN5A, CNE1, and KCNE2). Importantly, none of the cases were xposed to QT-prolonging drugs or arrhythmogenic metaolic conditions (eg, hypokalemia). A control group conisting of 133 acute MI survivors without TdP and matched or ethnicity was also genotyped. The investigators discovered 2 types of genetic predisosition. In 2 of the 13 infarct-related TdP cases (15%), utations in either KCNH2 or SCN5A were identified that egregated with prolonged QT intervals in first-degree rel-
Cyclic stretch of airway epithelium inhibits prostanoid synthesis.

Airway epithelial cells (AEC) metabolize arachidonic acid (AA) to biologically active eicosanoids, which contribute to regulation of airway smooth muscle tone and inflammatory responses. Although i...
Object oriented programming in APL2

In both the procedural and the non-procedural cases, the basic unit of execution is the program. The data only provide values that will be used to perform computations or to decide the order of execution. A given application is a hierarchical set of programs (modules) each of which is capable of invoking other programs in the hierarchy. The data may be global (accessible from every program in the hierarchy) or local (accessible by the program where they belong and, sometimes, by those at a lower level in the hierarchy).
Sordera súbita: A la luz de la evidencia

La sordera subita es una condicion de hipoacusia neurosensorial aguda usualmente unilateral, de instalacion en un periodo menor o igual a 72 horas, que en la mayoria de los casos es idiopatica; sin embargo, causas infecciosas, autoinmunes y vasculares, se han propuesto como los principales mecanismos involucrados. La sordera subita es considerada una urgencia otorrinolaringologica, sin embargo el tratamiento de esta continua siendo un tema controvertido.
Homotopy Type of CW Complexes

In this chapter we will study conditions on a space that will cause it to have the homotopy type of a CW complex and prove a theorem of J. H. C. Whitehead which gives a criterion that a map between two such spaces be a homotopy equivalence. We note in passing that there is a method using elaborate algebraic techniques (the analysis of Postnikov systems) for determining, in principle, whether two such spaces have the same homotopy type, but this is beyond the scope of this book.
Treating anaerobic sequencing batch reactor effluent with electrically conducting ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes for fouling control

Abstract The anaerobic treatment of industrial wastewater has attracted a significant amount of interest. However, excessive fouling complicates the treatment of anaerobic reactor effluent with membranes, which limits the application of membranes as a tertiary treatment. Here, we use an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor coupled to electrically conducting ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes to treat high-strength industrial wastewater containing high concentrations of benzyl alcohol, a commercial paint stripper. We demonstrate that an anaerobic process can be used successfully to degrade this contaminant. We also show that the application of negative electrical potential to the ultrafiltration membrane surface prevents membrane fouling and allows for higher operational fluxes during the treatment of complex wastewater streams. The application of positive potential to the membrane surface increases membrane fouling, as well as hindering the cleaning and recovery of the nanofiltration membranes. Overall, our experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of using electrically conducting membranes to prevent membrane fouling during the treatment of anaerobic reactor effluent at high operational fluxes.
Recently discovered meson states

A good summary of the evidence concerning newly discovered meson states has been given by Goldhaber (1965). He goes into considerably more detail than we do, and includes evidence for possible states we do not discuss. He also summarizes evidence on recently discovered baryon states (to be discussed in the next section).
Reframing assessments for the University of the Future

AbstractThis paper proposes the use of visual assessment methods for students in the social sciences at the University of the Future. The current hegemony of the written word does not assist students seeking a degree to further their employment aspirations and the orthodoxy also restricts the development of effective research methods. The incorporation of visual methods such as photography can overcome these problems and provide appropriate learning experiences for the digital world. A new approach to assessments can also reconfigure the student role from a passive consumer into an active producer of knowledge.
Low-Temperature CO2 Hydrogenation to Liquid Products via a Heterogeneous Cascade Catalytic System

Research described in this paper targeted a cascade system for the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol via formic acid and/or formate intermediates, a reaction sequence that has been accomplished previously using homogeneous catalysts. On the basis of results for the hydrogenation of CO2, formic acid, and ethyl formate over a series of Cu- and Mo2C-based catalysts, we selected a Cu chromite catalyst for CO2 hydrogenation to the formate and a Cu/Mo2C catalyst to convert the formate to methanol. These catalysts worked cooperatively in the presence of ethanol, yielding a methanol turnover frequency of 4.7 × 10–4 s–1 at 135 °C, 10 bar of CO2, and 30 bar of H2 in 1,4-dioxane. The performance for this Cu chromite:Cu/Mo2C cascade system surpassed the additive production of the individual catalysts by ∼60%. The results also allowed an investigation of the reaction pathways. The hydrogenation of CO2 to formic acid appeared to be the rate-limiting step for most of the catalysts. This is not surprising given the thermo...
Feasibility of implementing rehabilitation outcomes on a specialist adult critical care unit

There is currently no gold standard rehabilitation outcome measure for Critical Care in the UK. Given the complex nature of these patients, it has been suggested that a 'battery' of outcome measures maybe more appropriate for this setting ([1]). Prior to August 2014 rehabilitation outcome measures were not routinely used on our Adult Liver Intensive Care Unit.
Recycled Rubber in Cement Composites

Disposal of 200 million waste tires in the US each year has become a major problem. An environmentally sound innovative technology of recycling rubber in cement matrix was examined. Using silane coupling agent the rubber was bonded to the hydrating cement making a lighter composite, which absorbed more energy than ordinary Portland cement. The bonding information was obtained by peel strength analysis. SEM was used to understand the mode of fracture in pure cement paste, cement bonded rubber composite and rubber filled cement paste. It was found that cracks propagate through the rubber particle in rubber bonded cement composite while in unbonded rubber cement mix, the cracks propagate around the interface. The density and shrinkage measurements are also discussed.
Tracking of a Plume Source using a priori Models and Nonlinear Filtering

This paper describes a procedure and algorithm for localizing a plume source using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. The procedure first uses a weather station and current ground conditions to develop an initial estimate of the plume source using the Lagrangian Stochastic model and current off-the-shelf WindTrax software. Once the initial estimate is obtained, an Unscented Kalman Filter algorithm using a Gaussian dispersion model and control laws guide the vehicle to the plume source using data measured in-flight to update the model and create a new estimate of the plume source. Tests show favorable plume tracking using field data collected using a ground sensor analyzing CO2 concentration. � Approximation for linear Gaussian dispersion model’s standard deviation function x States of Unscented Kalman Filter a Coordinates position of UAV, m ˆ Predicted plume concentration, PPM c Measured plume concentration, PPM c0 Source dispersion rate, g/s ˆ w i tℎ coordinate of predicted wind direction
Abstract 4931: Inhibitor of DNA binding 4 (Id4) suppresses MMP2 mediated invasion of glioblastoma-derived cells by direct inactivation of twist-1 function.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Invasion of normal tissues by high grade glioma is a key aspect of increased morbidity and mortality associated with these tumors. Malignant glioma comprise over 70% of primary brain tumors with a median survival ranging from 12 to 15 months for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the highest grade of glial tumors. Inhibitor of DNA binding (Id) genes are highly expressed in development and tumorigenesis and some members (Id1, Id2 and Id3) have been linked to increased tumor invasion. In sharp contrast to these members of the Id gene family, we found that Id4 expression in GBM-derived cells decreased invasion in in vitro assays. Results of gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments indicated that Id4 expression decreased GBM invasion and suppressed a gene, matrix metallo-protease 2 (MMP-2), which encodes a proteolytic enzyme key for the destruction of glial tumor extracellular matrix. Western blot and zymography analysis demonstrated that conditioned media from Id4 expressing cells had low levels of pro-MMP2 and cleaved MMP2. An antibody that is known to inactivate MMP-2 was used to demonstrate that MMP2 accumulated in media conditioned by Id4 deficient cells was sufficient to rescue the invasive activity lost in cells expressing high levels of Id4. These findings confirmed that MMP2 suppression by Id4 is responsible for the decrease in invasion observed in Id4 expressing glioma cells. Twist-1 is a well described mediator of invasion. Co-IP and co-localization studies demonstrated an interaction suggesting a direct inhibition of Twist-1 by Id4. Other data indicate that Id4 also blocks Twist-1 induced transcription of MMP2. Importantly, Twist-1 overexpression can rescue the invasion defect induced by Id4 expression, providing further support that the Id4/Twist-1 interaction mediates the function of Id4 in suppressing GBM invasion. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data indicated a significantly better survival and prognosis for GBM patients with high Id4 expression (Z>1) suggesting that Id4 could have an important role in the survival of GBM patients. Our data provide strong evidence demonstrating that Id4 suppresses GBM invasion by inhibiting Twist-1 induced expression of MMP2. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an Id protein acting as an inhibitor of invasion rather than mediating the pro-invasive functions of the other Id-gene family members. Citation Format: Gilbert J. Rahme, Mark A. Israel. Inhibitor of DNA binding 4 (Id4) suppresses MMP2 mediated invasion of glioblastoma-derived cells by direct inactivation of twist-1 function. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4931. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4931
COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS AND HEAT TRANSFER MODELING OF THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE CANISTERS FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS

A computer code has been developed for analyzing the phenomena occurring in cylindrical metal canisters containing a high temperature Phase Change Material (PCM). Such canisters are normally used as thermal storage elements in heat receivers of solar dynamic power systems for low orbit space vehicles. The code will be a useful canister design tool and it is able to predict the temperature distributions and the void behavior in the canisters. These in turn are used for the canister thermal stress analyses. The emphasis in the development of the code has been made on accurate descriptions of the solid-liquid phase change process, void dynamics and heat transfer, convective and radiative heat transfer modes in the PCM. The abilities of the code include computations of three dimensional and axisymmetric heat transfer and fluid mechanics phenomena inside the canisters. The code validation has been made based on the results of ground tests and two Thermal Energy Storage flight experiments, TES-1 and TES-2. The validated code has been used for canister analyses. The following features have been examined: (1) the location of "hot spots" in the canister, especially canister walls; (2) the void location and heat transfer predictions; (3) the importance of radiative and convective heat transfer modes in the void and liquid PCM; (4) influence of threedimensional versus axisymmetric boundary conditions on the canister performance. The code could be also used to analyze canisters of geometries different from cylindrical and other phenomena involving solid-liquid phase change.
How Physicians, Patients, and Observers Compare on the Use of Qualitative and Quantitative Measures of Physician–Patient Communication

The purpose of this study was to compare several different measures of physician-patient communication. We compared data derived from different measures of three communication behaviors, patient participation, physician information giving, and physician participatory decision-making (PDM) style, from 83 outpatient visits to oncology or thoracic surgery clinics for pulmonary nodules or lung cancer. Communication was measured with rating scales completed by patients and physicians after the consultation and by two different groups of external observers who used rating scales or coded the frequency of communication behaviors, respectively, after listening to an audio recording of the consultation. Measures were compared using Pearson's correlations. Correlations of patients' and physicians' ratings of patient participation (r = .04) and physician PDM style (r = .03) were low and not significant (p > .0083, Bonferroni-adjusted). Correlations of observers' ratings with patients' or physicians' ratings for patient participation and physician PDM style were moderate or low (r = .15, .27, .07, and .01, respectively) but were not statistically significant (p > .0083, Bonferroni-adjusted). Correlations between observers' ratings and frequency measures were .31, .52, and .63 and were statistically significant with p values .005, <.0001, and <.0001, respectively, for PDM style, information giving, and patient participation. Our findings highlight the potential for using observers' ratings as an alternate measure of communication to more labor intensive frequency measures.
Reversible control of the chromium valence in chemically reduced Cr-doped SrTiO3 bulk powders

The effect of chemical reduction by NaBH4 on the electronic structure of Cr-doped SrTiO3-δ bulk powders prepared by a solid-state reaction was systematically studied as a function of reduction temperature. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies (DRS) were utilized to monitor changes in the electronic structures of both intrinsic defects (oxygen vacancies and/or Ti(3+)) and extrinsic dopants (Cr(3+)) at different reduction temperatures. We identify the existence of two temperature regimes where changes occur within 30 min. The first temperature regime occurs between 300-375 °C and results in (1) reduction of oxygen-related surface defects, and (2) an increase in the concentration of Cr(3+) by over an order of magnitude, suggesting that EPR-silent Cr(4+) or Cr(6+) is being reduced to Cr(3+) by NaBH4. The second temperature regime occurs between 375-430 °C where we observe clear evidence of Ti(3+) formation by EPR spectroscopy that indicates chemical reduction of the SrTiO3 lattice. In addition, the oxygen-related surface defects observed in regime 1 are not formed in regime 2, but instead lattice oxygen vacancies (VO) are observed by EPR. The changes to the Cr-doped SrTiO3 electronic structure after chemical reduction in regime 1 are quantitatively reversible after aerobic annealing at 400 °C for 30 min. The internal oxygen vacancies formed during the higher temperature reductions in regime 2 require increased temperatures of at least 600 °C to be fully reoxidized in 30 min. The effect of these different oxygen-related defects on the EPR spectrum of substitutional Cr(3+) dopants is discussed. These results allow us to independently tune the dopant and host electronic structures of a technologically-relevant multifunctional material by a simple ex situ chemical perturbation.
Finding the knowledge in information.

1. Burton W Wilcke Jr, PhD 1. is associate professor and chair of the Department of Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences at the University of Vermont, Burlington VT In 1934, when T.S Eliot wrote the following in his poem, “The Rock”, it is doubtful he envisioned his words being applied to the field of clinical laboratory science some 74 years later. > “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? > > Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?” Perhaps more than any other group of healthcare professionals, clinical laboratory scientists can easily become lost in data and information. Indeed, the primary focus of the field of clinical laboratory science is the generation of data for clinical decision making. Through production of this data, laboratorians contribute critical information for use by physicians and others for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of disease. Today, the clinical laboratory depends heavily upon computers for processing and handling the large volumes of data it generates. In fact, in the early stages of their development, computers were referred to as “data processing machines”.1 Having a solid understanding of the function of computers has become an essential part of becoming a clinical laboratory scientist. A working knowledge of the use of computers and common software applications is now an essential prerequisite for students entering into clinical laboratory science programs such as that at the University of Vermont. Accrediting bodies that oversee clinical laboratory science programs now expect and require evidence of this in our curricula. But merely knowing how to use computers and computer software is no longer sufficient in today's world. Throughout its history, the focus of the field of informatics has gradually…
Fathers make a difference: positive relationships with mother and baby in relation to infant colic

SummaryBackground Maternal psychological factors like depression, anxiety and stress have been associated with infant fussiness or colic. However, little research exists on whether positive factors such as social support and the happiness of the mother–partner relationship are associated with lower rates of infant fussiness or colic. Objectives We investigated the association between infant colic and three types of maternal support: general maternal social support (during pregnancy and post partum), the happiness of the mother–partner relationship (during pregnancy and post partum) and partner involvement in caring for the newborn. Methods Participants were 3006 women in the First Baby Study, a prospective study of the effect of mode of first delivery on subsequent childbearing. Women were interviewed by telephone during pregnancy and 1 month after first childbirth and asked about social support and if their baby had a variety of problems since birth, including ‘Colic – crying or fussiness three or more hours a day’. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to model the association between maternal support and infant colic, controlling for confounders, including maternal race or ethnicity, insurance, marital status, smoking, mode of delivery, maternal post-partum depression, breastfeeding, other neonatal illnesses and newborn gestational age. Results Infant colic was reported by 11.6% of new mothers. High general maternal social support (in comparison with low), measured during pregnancy, was associated with lower reported infant colic (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.40–0.75) and measured post partum (AOR, 0.51, 95% CI, 0.39–0.67); high relationship happiness (in comparison with low), measured during pregnancy (AOR, 0.71, 95% CI, 0.54–0.93), and measured post partum (AOR, 0.22, 95% CI, 0.12–0.40); and high partner involvement with newborn care (in comparison with low) (AOR, 0.60, 95% CI, 0.44–0.81). Conclusion Higher levels of maternal social support during pregnancy and post partum are associated with lower rates of maternal reported infant colic.
Implications for Practice and Theory

Teachers, especially those who are in the early stages of their careers, are navigating an increasingly complex and contested political landscape. The US public has always been highly critical of the educational system in ways that places intense scrutiny on the value and work of teachers.
195: Type I interferon signaling distinguishes commensal from virulent Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of pneumonia with much of the disease caused by the host response. We hypothesized the host would differentially respond to a strain of S. aureus that is a well characterized commensal (502A) compared to USA300, a major cause of respiratory, skin and soft tissue infections that is currently epidemic in the United States. As predicted, 502A was less invasive than USA300 in invasion of several skin and airway epithelial cell lines. We observed a significant increase in the type I interferon (IFN) response to 502A compared to USA300 in epithelial (107-fold, P P P P P P P P P Ifnar −/− mice. These results indicate that multiple mechanisms exist to sense bacteria within a given species and highlight a difference in host signaling between virulent and commensal strains.
ADR Configurations and Optimization for Cryocooler-Based Operation

Because of renewed interest in low temperature refrigeration for space missions, there has been considerable developmental work on adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators (ADR) over the last decade or so. As a result, they have expanded from single-stage systems requiring relatively low heat sink temperatures to multi-stage systems capable of rejecting heat to 5 K and higher. This capability enables the use of cryocoolers for heat sinking instead of superfluid helium — a critical step in meeting the space community’s need for long-life, low temperature coolers. Since there is no intrinsic limit to an ADR’s operating range, the interface temperature for a hybrid ADR/cryocooler system can be set to achieve various performance goals, such as maximizing total system efficiency or minimizing mass. In addition, a larger operating range affords greater flexibility in selecting a cryocooler. In this paper we compare the specific power of ADRs and cryocoolers to develop guidelines for optimizing total system performance, and discuss configurations and operating modes for higher temperature ADRs, along with future technology developments needed to implement them.
Project InnoDino: additively innovative dinosaur design and manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a quickly growing field and promises to be revolutionary to the manufacturing industry and to society. One novel application of AM is the ability to recreate history and make the past come alive to present-day audiences. One of the major challenges that must be overcome for AM technologies to become ubiquitous in society is the joining of 3D printed parts. For many applications, parts must be able to move relative to each other which require the use of joints. Another challenger is the limited capacity of most printer beds on the market today. To make large scale, functional parts, 3D printed pieces must be joined or fused to make large, continuous parts. Both of these challenges are explored within the context of recreating a struthiomimus dinosaur by completely 3D printing and assembling the dinosaur. This current paper reports the milestones in making a struthiomimus dinosaur.
Ethnic Conflicts in the Great Lakes Region of East Africa

This chapter probes the roots and dynamics of ethnic conflicts in the Great Lakes Region of East Africa by focusing on three case studies: Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. In the case of Kenya, the chapter argues that the Moi regime was the chief architect of the instrumental use of ethnicity as a strategy for the maintenance of power. Using the 1992 Kenyan Presidential Election as an example, the chapter asserts that President Moi used warriors from his ethnic group (the Kalenji) to target and visit harm on the members of other ethnic groups, who were supportive of democratic reforms. In the case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the chapter blamed the Mobutu regime’s anti-democratic proclivities for laying the foundation for the seemingly unending cycle of civil wars that has engulfed the country since 1997. Similarly, in the case of Rwanda, the chapter posits that the Habyarimana regime, which learned from the “political playbook” of other autocratic regimes in the region, took steps to undermine the democratization process in the country. In turn, this helped set the stage for the genocide that occurred in the country in 1994.
Effect of immobilization site on the orientation and activity of surface-tethered enzymes

Tethering peptides and proteins to abiotic surfaces has the potential to create biomolecule-functionalized surfaces with useful properties. Commonly used methods of immobilization lack control over the orientation in which biological molecules are covalently or physically bound to the surface, leading to sub-optimal materials. Here we use an engineered beta-galactosidase that can be chemically immobilized on a surface with a well-defined orientation through unique surface-accessible cysteine residues. A combined study using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and coarse grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations was performed to determine the effects of enzyme immobilization site and abiotic surface chemistry on enzyme surface orientation, surface coverage, and catalytic activity. Two beta-galactosidase variants that were immobilized through cysteine introduced at positions 227 and 308 were studied. In both cases, when the abiotic surface was made more hydrophilic, the enzyme surface coverage decreased, but the activity increased. MD simulations indicated that this is due to the weakened interactions between the immobilized enzyme and the more hydrophilic surface. These studies provide improved understanding of how enzyme-surface interactions can be optimized to maximize the catalytic activity of surface tethered enzymes.
Real-time stabilization of a falling humanoid robot using hand contact: An optimal control approach

This paper introduces a real-time strategy to stabilize a falling humanoid robot by making hand contact with rails or walls in the environment. It uses an optimal control strategy with a simplified three-link model and finds an optimal hand contact using a direct shooting method. The objective function is designed to maintain stability while minimizing the probability of the contact slipping and minimizing impact that may damage the robot's arm. To achieve real-time performance, the method uses a precomputed database of necessary sticking friction coefficients at the contact points for all possible postimpact states. Validation is performed on a number of simulated falls in several rails and walls.
Showrooming, Webrooming, and User-Generated Content Creation:The Moderating Effect of SoLoMo

In comparison with traditional multichannel shoppers, omnichannel shoppers simultaneously use all channels including brick-and-mortar stores, catalogs, web, mobile, and social media, not just one or two channels (Thoma, 2010). Due to the surge in smartphone and tablet purchases as well as increased engagement with user-generated content on social media platforms, showrooming and webrooming are prominent shopping trends among shoppers in omnichannel retail. Showrooming describes the practice of examining products in a brick-and-mortar store but ultimately making the actual purchase online or on a mobile device (Richter, 2013).
Supra-Threshold Hearing and Fluctuation Profiles: Implications for Sensorineural and Hidden Hearing Loss.

An important topic in contemporary auditory science is supra-threshold hearing. Difficulty hearing at conversational speech levels in background noise has long been recognized as a problem of sensorineural hearing loss, including that associated with aging (presbyacusis). Such difficulty in listeners with normal thresholds has received more attention recently, especially associated with descriptions of synaptopathy, the loss of auditory nerve (AN) fibers as a result of noise exposure or aging. Synaptopathy has been reported to cause a disproportionate loss of low- and medium-spontaneous rate (L/MSR) AN fibers. Several studies of synaptopathy have assumed that the wide dynamic ranges of L/MSR AN fiber rates are critical for coding supra-threshold sounds. First, this review will present data from the literature that argues against a direct role for average discharge rates of L/MSR AN fibers in coding sounds at moderate to high sound levels. Second, the encoding of sounds at supra-threshold levels is examined. A key assumption in many studies is that saturation of AN fiber discharge rates limits neural encoding, even though the majority of AN fibers, high-spontaneous rate (HSR) fibers, have saturated average rates at conversational sound levels. It is argued here that the cross-frequency profile of low-frequency neural fluctuation amplitudes, not average rates, encodes complex sounds. As described below, this fluctuation-profile coding mechanism benefits from both saturation of inner hair cell (IHC) transduction and average rate saturation associated with the IHC-AN synapse. Third, the role of the auditory efferent system, which receives inputs from L/MSR fibers, is revisited in the context of fluctuation-profile coding. The auditory efferent system is hypothesized to maintain and enhance neural fluctuation profiles. Lastly, central mechanisms sensitive to neural fluctuations are reviewed. Low-frequency fluctuations in AN responses are accentuated by cochlear nucleus neurons which, either directly or via other brainstem nuclei, relay fluctuation profiles to the inferior colliculus (IC). IC neurons are sensitive to the frequency and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and convert fluctuation profiles from the periphery into a phase-locked rate profile that is robust across a wide range of sound levels and in background noise. The descending projection from the midbrain (IC) to the efferent system completes a functional loop that, combined with inputs from the L/MSR pathway, is hypothesized to maintain “sharp” supra-threshold hearing, reminiscent of visual mechanisms that regulate optical accommodation. Examples from speech coding and detection in noise are reviewed. Implications for the effects of synaptopathy on control mechanisms hypothesized to influence supra-threshold hearing are discussed. This framework for understanding neural coding and control mechanisms for supra-threshold hearing suggests strategies for the design of novel hearing aid signal-processing and electrical stimulation patterns for cochlear implants.
Initiation of vaporizing cannabis: Individual and social network predictors in a longitudinal study of young adults.

Abstract Background A trend has recently emerged of individuals using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or similar devices to vaporize cannabis, either in the form of high-potency THC concentrates or cannabis plant material. Peer use is central to the adoption of substance use behaviors in young adulthood, but little is known about peer influence for initiating cannabis vaping. Methods A longitudinal investigation of first-year college students (N = 1313) using social network methods was conducted to determine the prevalence of vaping cannabis, differences in networks between individuals who initiate vaping cannabis, and predictors of initiation of vaping cannabis across two time points. The surveys were available for two weeks beginning in the sixth week of each semester. Results We found that 9.4% vaped in their lifetime but not since the first survey, 7.5% vaped in their lifetime and since the first survey, and 5.9% reported vaping cannabis at the second survey. Lifetime cannabis use, lifetime ENDS use, and number of peers who initiated vaping cannabis from Time 1 to Time 2 were significantly associated with increased odds of the initiation of vaping cannabis; the number of any-cannabis-using or any-ENDS-using peers was not associated with increased odds of initiating vaping cannabis. Conclusions Individuals with the greatest risk of initiation of vaping cannabis during the first year of college are those with a prior history of other cannabis use and ENDS use and who have peers in their network who initiate cannabis vaping.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia of Burkitt's type (L-3 ALL) lacking surface immunoglobulin and the 8;14 translocation.

A 25-year-old man developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, morphologically of Burkitt’s type (L3-ALL, F.A.B. classification) but with immunologic and cytogenetic features not previously reported. The leukemic blasts were B1+, CALLA+, OKT3−, and OKT11−. Surface immunoglobulin and cytoplasmic IgM were not detected, but cytoplasmic IgG lambda was present. Karyotypic analysis of 20 metaphases was normal at presentation but abnormal after relapse. At that time, the predominant karyotype was 47XY, 1q−, 7q−, 12p−, M1. This case illustrates the following: (1) Burkitt cell morphology may accompany some uncommon pre-B-cell lymphoblastic leukemias, and (2) rearrangements involving chromosomes 14, 2 or 22 may not be found in all cases of L-3 ALL.
Dynamic characterization of Whisper 500 turbine blade

The aim of this research is to analyze the dynamic behavior of a 2.2 m whisper 500 wind turbine blade. Several roving impact hammer modal tests were carried out in both free-free and fixed-free conditions. A reduced order model to capture the essential dynamics of the blade is also developed to represent the actual blade. This reduced order model can be used in embedded sensors for damage identification. The prediction capability of this reduced model is tested and validated, where “simulated” damage is introduced to the blade in the form of masses loading the blade. After characterizing the blade, a Kalman filter is implemented to estimate the blade t4ip deflection from accelerometer data. First, a simplified two degree of freedom model is developed in Matlab to verify the performance of the filter. The blade model is then combined with accelerometer data from impulse tests to infer tip deflection which is then compared to laser vibrometer data (measuring tip deflection) during the same impulse tests.