cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-Dimensional Environment Sustains Morphological Heterogeneity and Promotes Phenotypic Progression During Astrocyte Development

Astrocytes are critical for coordinating normal brain function by regulating brain metabolic homeostasis, synaptogenesis and neurotransmission, and blood–brain barrier permeability and maintenance. Dysregulation of normal astrocyte ontogeny contributes to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, epilepsies, and adverse responses to injury. To achieve these multiple essential roles, astrocyte phenotypes are regionally, morphologically, and functionally heterogeneous. Therefore, the best regenerative medicine strategies may require selective production of distinct astrocyte subpopulations at defined maturation levels. However, little is known about the mechanisms that direct astrocyte diversity or whether heterogeneity is represented in biomaterials. In vitro studies report lack of normal morphologies and overrepresentation of the glial scar type of reactive astrocyte morphology and expression of markers, questioning how well the in vitro astrocytes represent glia in vivo and whether in vitro tis...
Spread spectrum wireless information networks for the small office

Most of the personal computers in the US are in small businesses and are not networked. Small businesses have special needs which haven't been fully addressed by traditional LAN systems. This paper will explore these requirements and show how wireless information network products address some of these needs, with examples based on the OCI LAWN®. In addition, newer wireless network systems which will address the small business are discussed.
The Hinges on the Doors of Marriage: The Body’s Openness to Information in the Art of Stelarc and Blake

When William Blake makes statements regarding the experience of human life, his tone varies between inclusive and exclusive statements. Consider the contrast between two of the instances where Blake compares the experience of humans with those of flies. In Songs of Experience, Blake identified commonalities between flies and men, who are linked by their inability to resist mortal blows dealt by careless hands, whether human or divine in origin. Small or large, bodies need thought and feeling to live. If thought, exemplified by dancing, drinking, and singing, is life then Blake’s poem constructs bodies as closely linked with emotions. In ‘The Fly’ (E23) life is characterized by summer’s play and death by the absence of the same. The simplicity of the poem’s language emphasizes that humanity is a state, freely accessible to all and common across different species.
Oscillatory Shear Flow of Internal Viscosity Dumbbells: a New Analysis Employing an Expansion in Strain

A new formulation is presented for the oscillatory shear flow complex viscosity components η′(ω) and η″(ω) predicted by the dilute-solution internal viscosity model. For IV dumbbells (two beads connected by one submolecule), an expansion of configurational quantities in orders of strain is employed to avoid the pre-averaged angular velocity assumption that has been used in most previous IV model predictions. The new predictions for η′(ω) and η″(ω) retain most of the qualitative features of previous IV model formulations, including a non-zero limiting value for η′(ω) as frequency w becomes infinite. Quantitative features of the complex viscosity components, however, are quite different from those obtained previously. Unlike previous formulations, the model presented here correctly predicts that η′(ω) and η″(ω) for the infinite-IV dumbbell approach the corresponding predictions of the rigid rod model.
Forward modeling of gravity data using geostatistically generated subsurface density variations

ABSTRACTUsing geostatistical models of density variations in the subsurface, constrained by geologic data, forward models of gravity anomalies can be generated by discretizing the subsurface and calculating the cumulative effect of each cell (pixel). The results of such stochastically generated forward gravity anomalies can be compared with the observed gravity anomalies to find density models that match the observed data. These models have an advantage over forward gravity anomalies generated using polygonal bodies of homogeneous density because generating numerous realizations explores a larger region of the solution space. The stochastic modeling can be thought of as dividing the forward model into two components: that due to the shape of each geologic unit and that due to the heterogeneous distribution of density within each geologic unit. The modeling demonstrates that the internally heterogeneous distribution of density within each geologic unit can contribute significantly to the resulting calculat...
New Applications of Bullington's Tropospheric Reflection Model

Analysis of microwave signal propagation over the horizon has been difficult and tedious. The Bullington tropospheric reflection model is shown to have reasonable physical inputs and attractive, compact results. This paper extends these results to include foreground reflections and the benefits of diversity. The extensions do not appear to be explicitly available from other models. The model is translated to FORTRAN programs that predict signal strength versus distance and data rate versus distance. Running time and convenience are notably better than for other models. Examples are provided, and a striking comparison with narrow beam tropo data is shown.
Memorial To Neil Ernest Tibert (1966–2015)

On December 20, 2015, Neil E. Tibert, Ph.D., passed away after a short battle with sarcoma, a soft-tissue cancer; he was 49. We had just visited with Neil at the GSA annual meeting in Baltimore in early November, and he looked fit as a fiddle (photo above right). Life took a cruel turn, and we have lost a good soul and a talented micropaleontologist and educator. Neil grew up on Long Island, Nova Scotia, along the southeastern shores of the Bay of Fundy, where he met and wed his loving wife Lisa. It was in these coastal waters that Neil developed his passion for the sea, but it was working with David Scott and Martin Gibling at Dalhousie University in Halifax where he learned to be a geologist and a micropaleontologist on his way to earning BS (1994) and MS (1996) degrees. Neil published three important papers on Late Paleozoic coal-bearing and marginal marine facies based on ostracods and agglutinated foraminifera. In 1996, Neil moved his family to western Massachusetts so that he could pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, which he completed in 2002. He then moved to a tenure-track position at the University of Mary Washington (UMW) in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 2003, where he was an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the time of his passing. Neil was a field geologist and a darn good one. Whether taking sediment cores, digging in the mud, or chopping through mudrocks and shale, Neil loved being in the field or on the water. His doctoral research focused on Upper Cretaceous marginal marine depositional systems of the Western Interior Seaway. Neil and RML collected many stratigraphic sections across the Colorado Plateau, particularly in southern Utah, with RML serving as Neil’s field assistant. He published …
Advanced geometrical optics, by P. D. Lin

The first truly scientific book on geometrical optics was by Molyneux [1] in 1690, and over 400 years later, geometrical optics remains an active area of investigation. Advanced Geometrical Optics ...
The structure of hobo transposable elements and their insertion sites.

Abstract The hobo transposable elements of Drosophila form a family of 3.0-kb elements and their deletion derivatives. Their distribution is consistent with the model that 3.0-kb elements are functionally complete but that smaller hobos are defective and require complete elements in trans for transposition. The sequence of one 3.0-kb element is presented; it has several interesting features, including a 1.9-kb open reading frame downstream from potential TATA and CAT sequences. Comparison of 11 independent insertion sites shows that in every case the hobo element has integrated at and duplicated either the sequence NNNNNNAC or CTTTNNNN. There is evidence that an eight nucleotide sequence internal to hobo that matches both of these sequences has been used as an insertion site for a second hobo element, as the first step in the creation of an internal deletion derivative. Structural similarities between hobo and the eukaryotic transposable elements P, Ac, 1723, and Tam3, found in widely divergent host organisms, suggest that they all transpose by a common mechanism.
Effects of abscisic acid and calcium on tomato fruit aroma volatiles

ABSTRACTAroma volatiles are derived from precursors, such as amino acids, fatty acids and carotenoids in tomato fruit. Volatiles enhance the main flavor components in the fruit, particularly sugars. Abscisic acid (ABA) is derived from the carotenoid pathway and there may be an indirect connection to this pathway. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the influence of ABA on tomato fruit volatiles. This study identified five flavor volatile compounds that were consistently present in “Mt. Fresh Plus” tomato fruit tissue. They were 2-methyl furan, (E)-2-hexeanl, 1-hexanol, hexenal, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. ABA treatments did not have an effect on volatile concentrations in “Mt. Fresh Plus” tomato fruit. Majority of the volatiles identified did not differ between the ABA treated plants and the ABA control plants. However, ABA treatments did significantly decrease (E)-2-hexenal. These results indicated that ABA treatments did not have a major effect on the aroma volatile profile of the fruit.
The Rapid Assessment for Developmental Disabilities

The Rapid Assessment for Developmental Disabilities (RADD) was developed to address the challenges of measuring cognition in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). As opposed to individuals with ID, commonly used intelligence tests such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) [1], the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales (WAIS) [2], and the Stanford-Binet (SB) [3] were designed for use with the general population [4]. By design on these measures approximately 95% of the population have IQ scores that fall within two standard deviations (SD) from the mean (scores between 70 and 130; Fig. 12.1). Individuals with ID typically have IQ scores more than two SDs from the mean and they represent less than 2.5% of the total population, forming a statistically rare group. Commonly used intelligence tests were not designed to differentiate between the varying levels of ability among individuals at this lowest end of the intelligence spectrum. The RADD was developed to fill the need for measuring the cognitive abilities of individuals with IQ scores more than two standard deviations below the mean (scores below 70).
Anterior Versus Posterior Fundoplication, Are They Equal?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition in western societies with as many 40% experiencing symptoms monthly [1]. It can affect one’s health related quality of life and is associated with a number of complications including an increased risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma [2]. The Nissen fundoplication has been the most widely used procedure for the surgical management of GERD and hiatal hernias for six decades. It was first described by Rudolf Nissen in 1956 for the treatment of GERD [3] and then later in 1961 for hiatal hernias [4]. With the advent of laparoscopic surgery it is primarily performed via a minimally invasive approach as it reduces the morbidity associated with an open procedure [5]. The long-term efficacy of anti-reflux surgery had been validated in numerous studies [6–10]. A prospective, randomized control trial with 10-year follow-up definitively establishes the safety and efficacy of both laparoscopic partial and Nissen fundoplications [9, 10]. After 10 years, a minority of patients had return of reflux symptoms, and when surveyed, nearly all were satisfied with their outcome and decision to have undergone the surgery [9, 10].
Similarity based classification of ADHD using singular value decomposition

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common brain disorders among children. This disorder is considered as a big threat for public health and causes attention, focus and organizing difficulties for children and even adults. Since the cause of ADHD is not known yet, data mining algorithms are being used to help discover patterns which discriminate healthy from ADHD subjects. Numerous efforts are underway with the goal of developing classification tools for ADHD diagnosis based on functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging data of the brain. In this paper, we used Eros, which is a technique for computing similarity between two multivariate time series along with k-Nearest-Neighbor classifier, to classify healthy vs ADHD children. We designed a model selection scheme called J-Eros which is able to pick the optimum value of k for k-Nearest-Neighbor from the training data. We applied this technique to the public data provided by ADHD-200 Consortium competition and our results show that J-Eros is capable of discriminating healthy from ADHD children such that we outperformed the best results reported by ADHD-200 competition about 20 percent for two datasets. The implemented code is available as GPL license on GitHub portal of our lab at https://github.com/pcdslab/J-Eros.
Two Theories of Discrimination

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the two theories of discrimination. Interdependent utilities do not necessarily imply envy and/or malice; benevolence is equally possible. In one formulation of the discrimination problem, if white owners of capital are interested in maximizing the income of the whole white community, as opposed to only the income of white capitalists, the resulting welfare function would be quite similar to Becker's, except that discrimination would be directed at maximizing white real income rather than avoiding the distastefulness of working with black workers. The exploitation of blacks takes place in the sense that the equilibrium wage rate is less than the value of product produced (at the margin). Stated another way, the money value of output (at the margin) is greater than the money cost of black labor input, whereas nondiscriminatory equilibrium would require equality of the two. From the white employer's standpoint, black labor produces both a marketable output and a nonmarketable output. The latter has to be subtracted from the value of the physical output. The discrimination coefficient is then the trade-off between money profit and the presence of an additional black that leaves the employer indifferent to the hiring (firing) of an additional black worker.
Trends in the 10-year history of the vascular integrated residency match: More work, higher cost, same result.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to examine trends in application submission, rank lists, and applicant quality for vascular surgery integrated residency. Methods The National Resident Matching Program Results and Data reports and the Electronic Residency Application Service Statistics from 2007 to 2017 were compiled and mined for trends in terms of application submission and the number of applicants a program needed to rank to fill all residency positions. Applicant pool depth and percentage of programs applied to were calculated. Outcome data from the National Resident Matching Program were reviewed for 2014 and 2016 for United States Medical Licensing Examination Step scores and experiences. Results During the last 10 years, the number of vascular surgery integrated residency spots rose from 9 to 60 per year. Most programs offer one spot per year; none offer more than two. The average number of applications received by programs rose from 17 applications in 2008 to 63.8 in 2017. The average rank list depth needed by programs to fill the spots has not increased (range, 2.5-5.1; standard deviation, 0.73). The proportional depth of the applicant pool decreased from 4.6 U.S. and Canadian applicants for every one residency spot in 2008 to 1.7 applicants for every one residency spot in 2017. Applicant quality metrics were available for 2 years (2014 and 2016). Step 1 scores (237/239), Step 2 scores (250/250), research experiences (3.7/4.2), and volunteer experiences (5.9/5.5) remained nearly unchanged. The number of contiguous ranks for matched applicants remained stable (12.3/12.8). Conclusions The current system promotes multiple inefficiencies, resulting in application glut. Fewer applicants are flooding programs with an increasing number of applications. More money is being spent on Electronic Residency Application Service applications without changes in the number needed to rank by applicants or programs to achieve a match. There is no improvement in the quality of the applicant. Should these trends continue, they represent an unsustainable model for resident selection.
4.3 Structure and Dynamic States of Actin Filaments

Actin can be one of the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic cells, frequently accounting for 10–15% of total cellular protein. Actin specifically interacts with more than 150 other proteins, ranging from myosin motors to enzymes in intermediate metabolism. The sequence divergence of actin over eukaryotic evolution has been anomalous, with no amino acid changes in the skeletal muscle isoform from chickens to humans. An understanding of what has placed such strong selection on every amino acid residue in actin will likely come from studying the structure, dynamics, allostery, and cooperativity of the actin filament.
Evidence-Based Approach to Oncology

In the early years of the 21st century, clinicians and medical researchers often use the term evidence-based medicine. Cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and therapy, we hear, must be based on the best evidence to provide the best care. But is this approach new? And if it is, what have we been doing until now? In this chapter, we hope to provide perspectives on this question, by examining what evidence-based medicine (EBM)—oncology, in particular—is and is not, and by looking at the history of clinical inquiry, up to and including current research. We also hope to provide readers with a theoretical framework that will be useful in placing the results of new research into the context of existing knowledge, with the ultimate goal of improving clinical practice.
Microstructure and microchemistry of silicon particles formed during electrical-discharge machining

The structure and morphology of particles representing the byproduct of electrical-discharge machining (EDM) were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The EDM process involved high-efficiency and high-accuracy fine boring of a single-crystal silicon ingot by high-frequency electrical spark discharges. As the silver electrode advanced, spark-discharge-melted or vaporized small particles of the silicon workpiece were produced and the particles were flushed away and collected in deionized water. Standard TEM and analytical electron microscopy (AEM) observations were carried out. Bright-field (BF) images, diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS) data were obtained to completely characterize the EDM particles. BF images indicated the presence of large silicon particles decorated by smaller silver particles originating from the electrode as the byproducts of the EDM processing. Analysis of the particle-size distribution resulted in an average silicon particle size of about 500 nm decorated by smaller silver particles of an average size of about 65 nm. EDXS spectra depicted individual silicon and silver particles with characteristic peaks that identify the elements present. Selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern confirmed the presence of crystalline silicon. Finally, a set of SAED patterns, EDXS profiles, and TEM images is included that fully describe the particles' chemistry, structure, and morphology, respectively.
Spin Polarized Electron Tunneling and Magnetoresistance in Molecular Junctions

This chapter reviews tunneling of spin-polarized electrons through molecules positioned between ferromagnetic electrodes, which gives rise to tunneling magnetoresistance. Such measurements yield important insight into the factors governing spin-polarized electron injection into organic semiconductors, thereby offering the possibility to manipulate the quantum-mechanical spin degrees of freedom for charge carriers in optical/electrical devices. In the first section of the chapter a brief description of the Julliere model of spin-dependent electron tunneling is reviewed. Next, a brief description of device fabrication and characterization is presented. The bulk of the review highlights experimental studies on spin-polarized electron tunneling and magnetoresistance in molecular junctions. In addition, some experiments describing spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy on single molecules are mentioned. Finally, some general conclusions and prospectus on the impact of spin-polarized tunneling in molecular junctions are offered.
Multivariate Statistics for Blind Image Quality Applications

Many existing no-reference image quality approaches exploit only univariate statistical models of bandpass image coefficients, thereby neglecting the higher-order correlations that occur between adjacent coefficients which may be modified by distortion. We modeled multivariate natural image statistics in the spatial domain as following a Multivariate Generalized Gaussian distribution that provides useful information regarding the type and severity of distortions in image signals. We have also found that gaussianity assumptions when estimating local variances are violated in the presence of distortions, hence we estimate local energies using a generalized Gaussian distribution. To this end, we propose Multivariate-Generalized Contrast Normalization (MV-GCN): a multivariate approach which integrates a generalized contrast normalization step. We demonstrate the potential of our model in various image quality applications.
Tornado-Resolving Ensemble and Probabilistic Predictions of the 20 May 2013 Newcastle–Moore EF5 Tornado

AbstractAn ensemble of 10 forecasts is produced for the 20 May 2013 Newcastle–Moore EF5 tornado and its parent supercell using a horizontal grid spacing of 50 m, nested within ensemble forecasts wi...
An economic framework for analysis of network architectures: SDN and MPLS cases

Abstract As new networking architectures such as 5G start materializing in the next era of communication revolution, economic and operational facets of these future networks drive researchers to rethink about their capabilities of flexibility, agility, programmability, and cost-effectiveness. These are the main features to make networks like 5G (fifth-generation) possible and available for societies shortly because they are the fundamental catalysts to achieve economic success in a network. It is vital for network owners to analyze and understand economic aspects of a network architecture before deciding to invest in it. In this article, we introduce a framework utilizing an activity-based approach for the techno-economic analysis of network architectures. In particular, we perform an economic analysis of SDN (Software Defined Networking) technology and MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) technology in order to understand how programmable networking, i.e., SDN technology, affects the network economics compared to traditional networking, i.e., MPLS technology. To this end, we firstly conduct a quantitative analysis exploiting an activity-based approach for CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) and OPEX (Operational Expenditure) calculations of a network. Secondly, we evaluate the architectures above concerning their economic performances using two metrics: Unit Service Cost Scalability metric and Cost-to-Service metric. Also, we present mathematical models to calculate certain cost parts of a network. Also, we compare different popular SDN control plane models, Centralized Control Plane (CCP), Distributed Control Plane (DCP), and Hierarchical Control Plane (HCP), to understand their economic impact with regards to the defined metrics. We use video as the service with different traffic patterns for the comparison. This work aims at being a useful primer to providing insights regarding which technology and control plane model(s) are appropriate for a specific service, i.e., video, for network owners to plan their investments.
The power of weak ties in preserving cognitive function: a longitudinal study of older Chinese adults.

Objectives: Characterized by infrequent contact, low emotional intensity, and limited intimacy, weak ties are found to be associated with better subjective well-being and other health outcomes. Dra...
Alcohol: Consequences on the Central Nervous System and Behavior

Alcohol is most frequently used and thought of as a drug, and therefore its relevance to the study of nutrition and behavior may seem curious. However, alcohol does have nutritional value and profoundly affects the intake, absorption, digestion, and metabolism of many essential nutrients. These alterations in nutrient intake can have significant effects on behavior. In addition, research conducted over the past 20 years has demonstrated that chronic alcohol consumption during pregnancy can act as a potent teratogen, permanently altering a child’s CNS functioning and behavior.
A Qualitative Focus Group Study to Illuminate the Lived Emotional and Social Impacts of Cancer and Its Treatment on Young Adults.

Purpose: Among the many challenges that exist among young adults with cancer, those that intersect psychosocial domains have only begun to be addressed by medical, research, and advocacy communitie...
Characterizing Search-Engine Traffic to Internet Research Agency Web Properties

The Russia-based Internet Research Agency (IRA) carried out a broad information campaign in the U.S. before and after the 2016 presidential election. The organization created an expansive set of internet properties: web domains, Facebook pages, and Twitter bots, which received traffic via purchased Facebook ads, tweets, and search engines indexing their domains. In this paper, we focus on IRA activities that received exposure through search engines, by joining data from Facebook and Twitter with logs from the Internet Explorer 11 and Edge browsers and the Bing.com search engine. We find that a substantial volume of Russian content was apolitical and emotionally-neutral in nature. Our observations demonstrate that such content gave IRA web-properties considerable exposure through search-engines and brought readers to websites hosting inflammatory content and engagement hooks. Our findings show that, like social media, web search also directed traffic to IRA generated web content, and the resultant traffic patterns are distinct from those of social media.
Analysis of the impact of cash transfer programs on HIV risk behaviors in Kenya

# Background This paper investigates the impact of Kenyan unconditional cash transfer programs on a range of HIV risk indicators, including transactional sex, sexual concurrency, knowledge of HIV, and HIV testing. Previous research on cash transfers in similar contexts suggests that the provision of cash transfers can be a potent method to bolster HIV prevention efforts. We hypothesized that as a result of receiving cash transfers from the government, individuals will have increased contact with social services, which can provide them with critical health education that will motivate them to modify their HIV risk behaviors. # Methods We used data from the latest Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), which contained 12,800 unique responses from individuals between the ages of 15 and 54. We compared the prevalence of various HIV risk indicators and demographic covariates between those who received cash transfers and those who did not using unequal variances t-tests and chi-square tests. We estimated the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) using propensity score matching. # Results Notably, individuals who received any cash transfer were less likely to have paid for sex in the past 12 months (ATT: -0.024, _P_=0.023), more likely to know of a place to get tested for HIV (ATT: 0.022, _P_=0.030), and more likely to have used a condom during sex with their most recent partner (ATT: 0.045, _P_=0.038). However, cash transfer recipients were more likely to have a sexual partner 10 or more years older than themselves (ATT: 0.102, _P_<0.001), less likely to have comprehensive HIV knowledge (ATT: -0.118, _P_<0.001), and more likely to have been tested for HIV two or more years ago (ATT: 0.052, _P_=0.028). # Conclusions Based on our analysis of nationally representative data, we conclude that the receipt of unconditional cash transfers is associated with the reduction of some HIV risk indicators in Kenya.
Glycan cross-feeding supports mutualism between Fusobacterium and the vaginal microbiota

Women with bacterial vaginosis (BV), an imbalance of the vaginal microbiome, are more likely to be colonized by potential pathogens such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, a bacterium linked with intrauterine infection and preterm birth. However, the conditions and mechanisms supporting pathogen colonization during vaginal dysbiosis remain obscure. We demonstrate that sialidase activity, a diagnostic feature of BV, promoted F. nucleatum foraging and growth on mammalian sialoglycans, a nutrient resource that was otherwise inaccessible because of the lack of endogenous F. nucleatum sialidase. In mice with sialidase-producing vaginal microbiotas, mutant F. nucleatum unable to consume sialic acids was impaired in vaginal colonization. These experiments in mice also led to the discovery that F. nucleatum may also "give back" to the community by reinforcing sialidase activity, a biochemical feature of human dysbiosis. Using human vaginal bacterial communities, we show that F. nucleatum supported robust outgrowth of Gardnerella vaginalis, a major sialidase producer and one of the most abundant organisms in BV. These results illustrate that mutually beneficial relationships between vaginal bacteria support pathogen colonization and may help maintain features of dysbiosis. These findings challenge the simplistic dogma that the mere absence of "healthy" lactobacilli is the sole mechanism that creates a permissive environment for pathogens during vaginal dysbiosis. Given the ubiquity of F. nucleatum in the human mouth, these studies also suggest a possible mechanism underlying links between vaginal dysbiosis and oral sex.
The case for an inhabited institutionalism in organizational research: interaction, coupling, and change reconsidered

This paper makes the case for an inhabited institutionalism by pondering questions that continue to vex institutional theory: How can we account for local activity, agency, and change without reverting to a focus on individual actors—the very kinds of actors that institutional theory was designed to critique? How is change possible in an institutional context that constructs interests and sets the very conditions for such action? Efforts to deal with these questions by inserting various forms of individual, purposive actors into institutional frameworks have created inconsistencies that threaten the overall coherence of institutional theory and move it farther from its sociological roots. To provide alternative answers, we turn to the growing line of work on “inhabited” institutions. Our exegesis of this literature has two goals. The first goal is to shift focus away from individuals and nested imagery and towards social interaction and coupling configurations. This move opens new avenues for research and helps to identify the spaces—both conceptual and empirical—and the supra-individual processes that facilitate change. This shift has important theoretical implications: incorporating social interaction alters institutional theory, and our second goal is to specify an analytic framework for this new research, an inhabited institutionalism. Inhabited institutionalism is a meso-approach for examining the recursive relationships among institutions, interactions, and organizations. It provides novel and sociologically consistent means for dealing with issues of agency and change, and a new agenda for research that can reinvigorate and reunite organizational sociology and institutional theory.
Language and cultural practices in communities and schools: Bridging learning for students from non-dominant groups, edited by Inmaculada M. García-Sánchez and Marjorie Faulstich Orellana: New York, Routledge, 2019, 266 pp., $38.86 (paperback), $124.00 (hardcover), ISBN 9781138597884

In this book, editors Garcia-Sanchez and Faulstich Orellana pull together various studies, that connect, focus, and elevate the cultural and linguistic practices of youth from racially, ethnically ...
The “Race” in “R.E.C.E.”: Reconceptualizing Play-Based Learning Through an Anti-racist Lens

The significance of play-based learning has been well-established in the early childhood literature. Yet while much attention has been devoted to exploring the developmental benefits associated with such an approach, few scholars have utilized an anti-racist lens to examine how race and racism shape children’s play encounters, reconceptualize play-based curriculum, and articulate anti-racist learning centers and teacher-guided play activities. In this chapter, I problematize current conceptualizations of play-based learning, highlighting specific areas in which theoretical underpinnings, as well as classroom practices, reify Eurocentric values and perspectives in early childhood settings. Additionally, I discuss the interrelated and defining features of anti-racist play-based learning. I conclude by examining the role of teacher education in cultivating anti-racist pedagogy among teacher candidates.
Early Discharge After Minimally Invasive Aortic and Mitral Valve Surgery

Abstract Background We investigated patient outcomes in relation to their postoperative length of stay after minimally invasive valve surgery. Methods All adults who survived elective, uncomplicated minimally invasive aortic or mitral valve surgery at a single center between 2012 and 2019 were classified by postoperative length of stay: early discharge (≤ 3 days) or late discharge (> 3 days). The trend in early discharge was investigated over the study period, predictors of early discharge were identified using multivariable logistic regression modeling, and one-to-one propensity score matching was used to determine which patients in the late-discharge cohort of similar health to patients discharged early. Adjusted outcomes of 30-day mortality, readmission, and direct costs were analyzed. Results Among 1,262 consecutive minimally invasive valve patients, 618 were elective and uncomplicated, 25% (n=162) of whom were discharged early. The proportion of early-discharge patients increased over time (p for trend Conclusions In well-selected patients, early discharge after minimally invasive valve surgery was associated with lower costs but comparable postoperative outcomes. About one fifth of patients who remain in the hospital beyond postoperative day 3 may be candidates for earlier discharge.
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD'S ROLE IN MARINE SAFETY

The "Transportation Safety Act of 1974" has significantly increased the responsibility of the National Transportation Safety Boards' (NTSB) role in investigation of Marine accidents. Major marine accidents and certain accidents involving public vessels are investigated in accordance with joint responsibility between the U.S.C.G. and NTSB. The Safety Board is required to determine the cause of the accident and make safety recommendations. This paper describes how the NTSB is involved in marine safety, the investigation of marine accidents, and the development of safety recommendations. Some select accidents and safety recommendations are discussed.
Workers 'specialized' on inactivity: Behavioral consistency of inactive workers and their role in task allocation

Social insect colonies are often considered to be highly efficient collective systems, with division of labor at therootoftheirecologicalsuccess.However,inmanyspecies, a large proportion of a colony's workers appear to spend their time completely inactive. The role of this inactivity for colony function remains unclear. Here, we investigate how inactivity is distributed among workers and over time in the ant Temnothorax rugatulus. We show that the level of inactivity is consistent for individual workers, but differs significantly among workers, that is, some workers effectively specialize on 'inactivity'. We also show that workers have circadian rhythms, although intra-nest tasks tend to be performed uni- formly across the whole day. Differences in circadian rhythms, or workers taking turns resting (i.e., working in shifts), cannot explain the observation that some workers are consistently inactive. Using extensive individual-level data to describe the overall structure of division of labor, we show that 'inactive workers' form a group distinct from other task groups. Hierarchical clustering suggests that inactivity is the primaryvariableindifferentiatingbothworkersandtasks.Our results underline the importance of inactivity as a behavioral state and the need for further studies on its evolution.
Hirota Equations of Level > 1

It is well known that the usual form of the Hirota equations are associated with level 1 representations of affine Lie algebras [1]. However there is no problem in obtaining Hirota equations and the associated integrable systems for higher level representations. In this paper we give some of the Hirota equations associated with the level 2 principally twisted representation of a 1 (1), the detailed derivation and the soliton solutions are given in [2], For a given fundamental representation of an affine Lie algebra the theory was extended to highest weight irreducible modules that is standard modules of arbitrary level in [3] by Lepowsky and Wilson. We shall use their level 2 representation for the principally twisted realisation of a 1 (1) to derive the corresponding Hirota equations.
First-order and second-order motion: neurological evidence for neuroanatomically distinct systems.

Abstract An unresolved issue in visual motion perception is how distinct are the processes underlying ‘first-order’ and ‘second-order’ motion. The former is defined by spatio-temporal variations of luminance and the latter by spatio-temporal variations in other image attributes such as contrast or depth, for example. Using neuroimaging and psychophysics we present data from four neurological patients with unilateral and mostly cortical infarcts, which strongly suggest that first- and second-order motion have a different neural substrate. We found that from the early stages of processing, these two types of motions are mediated by two distinct pathways: first-order motion is carried out by mechanisms along the dorsal pathway in the occipital lobe, while the second-order motion by mechanisms mostly along the ventral pathway. The data reported here also suggest that different cortical regions may be in charge of processing direction-discrimination in second-order motion defined by different second-order attributes.
Laboratory Studies of the Impact of Fish School Density and Individual Distribution on Acoustic Propagation and Scattering

Abstract : LONG-TERM GOALS: The long-term scientific objective of this project is to increase our understanding of acoustic propagation and scattering in the presence of schools of fish, the effects of which can potentially overshadow all other acoustic mechanisms in shallow water. This in turn benefits sonar operation and acoustic communication in shallow water, and will increase the accuracy of acoustically-based fisheries surveys. This study will utilize both one- and three-dimensional acoustic resonator techniques, previously developed by the author under ONR [1, 2] and industry [3] sponsorship, and free-field measurement techniques to study the low-frequency (50 10000 Hz) acoustics of collections of model fish, large ( 10 cm diameter) encapsulated bubbles and schools of real fish in the laboratory. OBJECTIVES: In this study, existing apparatus design and techniques are being leveraged to accurately measure and quantify, under well-controlled laboratory conditions, the effect of fish number density and the effect of the distribution of individuals and motion of individuals within an aggregation on sound propagation and attenuation through aggregations, at frequencies spanning swim bladder resonance. We will ultimately interface with the biologists working under this BAA topic to identify the species of fish to be investigated and to specify their arrangement within aggregations used in the proposed experiments. These measurements will be used to verify and guide the development of existing and future models, as well as provide a means to characterize the effective acoustic properties of different species. An example of the former would be to determine the number density of fish of a particular species at which a transition from single- to multiple scattering acoustic behavior is observed, as a function of frequency (spanning the swim bladder resonance) and depth, and to quantify the acoustic effects of this transition.
The Effect of Personal Income Tax Rates on Individual and Business Decisions - A Review of the Evidence

An important goal of a state's economic policy is to create an attractive place to do business and well paying jobs for the future so that Rhode Island 's talented and well educated youth choose to pursue careers at home rather than in neighboring states. As discussed in greater detail, high state PIT rates make it more difficult for a state to achieve this objective. Federal and state governments frequently use progressive personal income tax (PIT) rate structures to address concerns about income inequality. However, the ability of state governments to do so may be limited because high PIT rates may adversely affect business location decisions, work effort, the form of compensation (e.g., fringe benefits, stock options, etc.), capital investment, and economic growth. The purpose of this study is to review the evidence regarding the effect of high state PIT rates on business and individual decisions.
Tweets and retweets: Twitter takes wing in government

Purpose: This study examines why and how U.S. government agencies and officials adopt Twitter to expand organizational boundaries and extend communication reach. Design/methodology approach: The author uses a mixed methods strategy to explain the adoption of Twitter in government. First, diffusion of innovations theory provides a foundation to explain the variables that impact adoption. Then a literature review, an examination of secondary survey data of U. S. governments' use of and attitudes toward Twitter, and a website analysis of Twitter initiatives are used to describe the uptake of Twitter by government and citizens. Findings: Increased use of Twitter by citizens, private sector and nonprofit organizations and an emphasis on providing transparent, participatory, and collaborative government are primary reasons for Twitter adoption. Federal and local governments are adopting Twitter faster than states. Uses vary by government level, but the main use is for extending communication reach. Effective use, as demonstrated by key initiatives, is related to two-way communication and incorporating it within daily workflow. Security, controlling content and developing policies are main challenges for adoption. Practical implications: By examining the deployment of Twitter in government, this study provides a guide for agencies and government officials to explore adopting this new information and communication technology. Originality/value: This paper focuses on the use of Twitter to expand public sector organizational boundaries by extending the communication reach to engage citizens.
Control of blood pressure by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

Modification of the renin-angiotensin system, part of a powerful feedback system for long-term control of arterial pressure and volume homeostasis, through use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, offers a powerful means of reducing blood pressure in many hypertensive patients. There is considerable evidence to suggest that the chronic renal and blood pressure actions of ACE inhibitors are mediated mainly by blockade of angiotensin II formation, rather than by other effects such as increased levels of kinins or prostaglandins. The long-term actions of angiotensin II and aldosterone on blood pressure are closely intertwined with their effects on volume homeostasis and the renal pressure natriuresis mechanism. In most instances, changes in angiotensin II and aldosterone act to amplify the effectiveness of pressure natriuresis and minimize changes in blood pressure needed to maintain sodium balance. When angiotensin II or aldosterone levels are inappropriately elevated, the antinatriuretic effects of these hormones shift pressure natriuresis to higher levels, thereby necessitating increased blood pressure to maintain sodium balance. Control of renal excretory function and modulation of pressure natriuresis by angiotensin II is mediated by intrarenal and extrarenal effects, including stimulation of aldosterone secretion. Current evidence indicates that the intrarenal effects of angiotensin II are quantitatively more important than changes in aldosterone in regulating renal excretion and arterial pressure. The intrarenal actions of angiotensin II include a direct effect on tubular sodium transport as well as a potent constrictor action on efferent arterioles, which increases reabsorption by altering peritubular capillary forces. The constrictor effect of angiotensin II on efferent arterioles also helps to stabilize glomerular filtration rate and therefore excretion of metabolic waste products, an action that may be particularly important when renal perfusion is impaired (e.g., in renal artery stenosis or heart failure).
Comparison of leukocytes obtained from the intestinal lumen of Giardia-infected immunocompetent mice and nude mice

Previous studies have suggested that Giardia infections are cleared immunologically, but have not defined the mechanism of clearance. The aim of the present work was to compare subpopulations of leukocytes harvested from the intestinal lumen of immunocompetent BALB/c mice, which clear Giardia muris infection rapidly, with those of immunodeficient nude mice, which become chronically infected with Giardia muris. Leukocytes were obtained from the intestinal lumen of Giardia-infected mice, and subpopulations of these cells were quantified after immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies. Identical numbers of leukocytes were harvested from the intestinal lumen of Giardia-infected immunocompetent mice and nude mice, but the number of these leukocytes bearing the T-lymphocyte antigen Thy-1.2 was smaller in nude mice than in immunocompetent mice. In contrast, no striking differences were observed between the numbers of luminal cytotoxic/suppressor T lymphocytes or macrophages in Giardia-infected nude versus immunocompetent mice. The findings suggest that clearance of Giardia muris infection is not mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes or macrophages. Subsequently, T lymphocytes and T-lymphocyte subsets were quantified in cell suspensions prepared from Peyer's patches of immunocompetent BALB/c mice and nude mice. It was found that nude mice have a profound deficiency of Peyer's patch helper/inducer T lymphocytes. This deficiency may account for the inability of nude mice to clear Giardia muris infection at a normal rate.