cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Promotion of RAD51-Mediated Homologous DNA Pairing by the RAD51AP1-UAF1 Complex.

The UAF1-USP1 complex deubiquitinates FANCD2 during execution of the Fanconi anemia DNA damage response pathway. As such, UAF1 depletion results in persistent FANCD2 ubiquitination and DNA damage hypersensitivity. UAF1-deficient cells are also impaired for DNA repair by homologous recombination. Herein, we show that UAF1 binds DNA and forms a dimeric complex with RAD51AP1, an accessory factor of the RAD51 recombinase, and a trimeric complex with RAD51 through RAD51AP1. Two small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-like domains in UAF1 and a SUMO-interacting motif in RAD51AP1 mediate complex formation. Importantly, UAF1 enhances RAD51-mediated homologous DNA pairing in a manner that is dependent on complex formation with RAD51AP1 but independent of USP1. Mechanistically, RAD51AP1-UAF1 co-operates with RAD51 to assemble the synaptic complex, a critical nucleoprotein intermediate in homologous recombination, and cellular studies reveal the biological significance of the RAD51AP1-UAF1 protein complex. Our findings provide insights into an apparently USP1-independent role of UAF1 in genome maintenance.
How data analysis can dominate interpretations of dominant general factors

A dominant general factor (DGF) is present when a single factor accounts for the majority of reliable variance across a set of measures (Ree, Carretta, & Teachout, 2015). In the presence of a DGF, dimension scores necessarily reflect a blend of both general and specific factors. For some constructs, specific factors contain little unique reliable variance after controlling for the general factor (Reise, 2012), whereas for others, specific factors contribute a more substantial proportion of variance (e.g., Kinicki, McKee-Ryan, Schriesheim, & Carson, 2002). We agree with Ree et al. that the presence of a DGF has implications for interpreting scores. However, we argue that the conflation of general and specific factor variances has the strongest implications for understanding how constructs relate to external variables. When dimension scales contain substantial general and specific factor variance, traditional methods of data analysis will produce ambiguous or even misleading results. In this commentary, we show how several common data analytic methods, when used with data sets containing a DGF, will substantively alter conclusions.
High pressure liquid chromatographic determination of toxins associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning

A high pressure liquid chromatographic procedure is described for assay of toxins associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). The method is applicable to saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin, gonyautoxins I through IV, and their sulfocarbamoyl derivatives. Toxins are separated on a bonded phase cyano column and detected by fluorescence following alkaline oxidation (NH+4 and periodic acid). The utility of the HPLC procedure for research and monitoring is discussed.
Geriatric assessment on a subacute hospital ward.

The authors collected data on all patients admitted to the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Geriatric Evaluation Unit (GEU) during its first 6 years of operation. Analysis of these data indicate several beneficial effects associated with this type of specialized geriatric care: improved diagnostic accuracy, reduced use of drugs, improved functional status, and improved placement location. The authors also analyzed additional data from a previously published, randomized controlled trial to compare better process of care between patients randomized to the GEU and those receiving usual services. During their initial hospitalizations, GEU patients received significantly more specialty evaluations than controls (4.9 versus 1.7, p less than .001), had longer lengths of stay (85.1 days versus 44.3 days, p less than .001), had more new diagnoses discovered (2.9 versus 0.6, p less than .001), and had more drugs discontinued from their regimens (4.6 versus 2.3 p less than .001). These process differences were probably related to the previously reported outcome differences: GEU patients were more likely than controls to show improvements in functional status, affect, placement location, use of institutional services, and survival.
Promiscuous mechanisms underlie the antitumor effects of thalidomide analogs.

Two recent studies provide novel insights into the mechanism of action of thalidomide analogs in multiple myeloma and del(5q) myelodysplastic syndrome. They show that the role of the chaperone function of cereblon, and a calcium- and calpain-dependent pathway, are important in anticancer functions.
Tuning Word Retiming of a Digitally-Controlled Oscillator Using RF Built-In Self Test

This paper represents an innovative solution to reduce phase noise present on the GMSK modulated spectrum in an all-digital RF transmitter employing a discrete-time oscillator. The root cause of this issue is the improper timing of oscillator tuning word update with respect to the digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) capacitor state. Using the built-in self test (BIST) circuit in the all-digital PLL (ADPLL), the DCO tuning word update timing is calibrated such that the impact on the phase noise is compensated and desired modulated spectrum margin from the specification is achieved.
Multimorbidity and Functional Limitations Among Adults 65 or Older, NHANES 2005-2012.

Introduction The development of functional limitations among adults aged 65 or older has profound effects on individual and population resources. Improved understanding of the relationship between functional limitations and co-occurring chronic diseases (multimorbidity) is an emerging area of interest. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between multimorbidity and functional limitations among community-dwelling adults 65 or older in the United States and explore factors that modify this association. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of adults aged 65 or older using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 through 2012. We used negative binomial regression to estimate the association between multimorbidity (≥2 concurrent diseases) and functional limitations and to determine whether the association differed by sex or age. Results The prevalence of multimorbidity in this population was 67% (95% confidence interval [CI], 65%-68%). Each additional chronic condition was associated with an increase in the number of functional limitations, and the association was stronger among those aged 75 or older than among those aged 65 to 74. For those aged 65 to 74, each additional chronic condition was associated with 1.35 (95% CI, 1.27-1.43) times the number of functional limitations for men and 1.62 times (95% CI, 1.31-2.02) the number of functional limitations for women. For those 75 or older, the associations increased to 1.71 (95% CI, 1.35-2.16) for men and 2.06 (95% CI, 1.51-2.81) for women for each additional chronic condition. Conclusion Multimorbidity was associated with increases in functional limitations, and the associations were stronger among women than among men and among adults aged 75 or older than among those aged 65 to 74. These findings underscore the importance of addressing age and sex differences when formulating prevention strategies.
D-D nuclear fusion using different size pyroelectric crystals

Theory predicts electrons play a detrimental role in creating the conditions for D-D fusion in pyroelectric crystal accelerators. Three different pyroelectric crystal sizes were paired in six different configurations to determine if experimental results agree with theory. An experimental configuration using a 30 mm diameter tip crystal opposite a 20 mm diameter target crystal yielded better neutron results than a 20 mm diameter tip crystal versus a 30 mm diameter target crystal as predicted by theory. Two 20 mm diameter by 20 mm thick lithium tantalate crystals yielded ~1 × 104 neutrons per thermal cycle.
Transparent reflectarray antenna printed on solar cells

This paper presents an integrating of highly transparent X band reflectarray on the cover glass of solar panels. Two types of element geometries are studied, and optimal unit cell element, effect of the solar cell on the antenna, feed consideration, and final design data are presented. The overall transparency and aperture efficiency of the design are more than 90% and 40% respectively, making it a promising solution as a high gain conformal satellite antenna.
Electrical tuning of the polarization state of light using graphene-integrated anisotropic metasurfaces

Plasmonic metasurfaces have been employed for moulding the flow of transmitted and reflected light, thereby enabling numerous applications that benefit from their ultra-thin sub-wavelength format. Their appeal is further enhanced by the incorporation of active electro-optic elements, paving the way for dynamic control of light9s properties. In this paper, we realize a dynamic polarization state generator using a graphene-integrated anisotropic metasurface (GIAM) that converts the linear polarization of the incident light into an elliptical one. This is accomplished by using an anisotropic metasurface with two principal polarization axes, one of which possesses a Fano-type resonance. A gate-controlled single-layer graphene integrated with the metasurface was employed as an electro-optic element controlling the phase and intensity of light polarized along the resonant axis of the GIAM. When the incident light is polarized at an angle to the resonant axis of the metasurface, the ellipticity of the reflected light can be dynamically controlled by the application of a gate voltage. Thus accomplished dynamic polarization control is experimentally demonstrated and characterized by measuring the Stokes polarization parameters. Large changes of the ellipticity and the tilt angle of the polarization ellipse are observed. Our measurements show that the tilt angle can be changed from positive values through zero to negative values while keeping the ellipticity constant, potentially paving the way to rapid ellipsometry and other characterization techniques requiring fast polarization shifting. This article is part of the themed issue ‘New horizons for nanophotonics’.
Brain-based individual difference measures of reading skill in deaf and hearing adults

Abstract Most deaf children and adults struggle to read, but some deaf individuals do become highly proficient readers. There is disagreement about the specific causes of reading difficulty in the deaf population, and consequently, disagreement about the effectiveness of different strategies for teaching reading to deaf children. Much of the disagreement surrounds the question of whether deaf children read in similar or different ways as hearing children. In this study, we begin to answer this question by using real-time measures of neural language processing to assess if deaf and hearing adults read proficiently in similar or different ways. Hearing and deaf adults read English sentences with semantic, grammatical, and simultaneous semantic/grammatical errors while event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. The magnitude of individuals’ ERP responses was compared to their standardized reading comprehension test scores, and potentially confounding variables like years of education, speechreading skill, and language background of deaf participants were controlled for. The best deaf readers had the largest N400 responses to semantic errors in sentences, while the best hearing readers had the largest P600 responses to grammatical errors in sentences. These results indicate that equally proficient hearing and deaf adults process written language in different ways, suggesting there is little reason to assume that literacy education should necessarily be the same for hearing and deaf children. The results also show that the most successful deaf readers focus on semantic information while reading, which suggests aspects of education that may promote improved literacy in the deaf population.
Education and health services in Uganda : quality of inputs, user satisfaction, and community welfare levels

Good health and quality education are essential for economic growth and poverty reduction. Unfortunately, the quality of the education and health services provided in low-income countries is often low. Improving access and quality of education and health are key policy goals for Uganda. This paper builds on the Service Delivery Indicator study by further exploring issues related to the quality of service delivery in Uganda. The paper analyzes the quality of service from a poverty perspective, to contribute to the ongoing policy debate on the quality of service delivery in Uganda, especially in the education and health sectors. Combining data from the Service Delivery Indicator and the Uganda National Household Survey surveys, the paper shows a strong correlation between welfare and quality of service. The quality of service is lowest for those living in poor areas. This has implications for pupils' learning outcomes. Pupils in poor areas perform poorly on a standardized test covering English, numeracy, and nonverbal reasoning. Increased access to education was not accompanied by improvement in learning outcomes. Results from econometric analysis suggest that improvements in school facilities, improvements in the quality of teaching, and the knowledge base of teachers could bring substantial gains in student performance, particularly in poor communities. Despite the low quality they face, if the poor are more satisfied with the service, this has implications for demand for social accountability, as the poor often are not exposed to or ignore the standard of service to which they should refer.
LATENT CLUSTER ANALYSIS OF INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES REPORTED BY HIGH- AND LOW-PERFORMING MATHEMATICS TEACHERS IN FOUR COUNTRIES

Using Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011 eighth-grade international dataset, this study explored the profiles of instructional practices reported by high- and low-performing mathematics teachers across the US, Finland, Korea, and Russia. Concepts of conceptual teaching and procedural teaching were used to frame the design of the current study. Latent cluster analysis was applied in the investigation of the profiles of mathematics teachersâ€™ instructional practices across the four education systems. It was found that all mathematics teachers in the high- and low-performing groups used procedurally as well as conceptually oriented practices in their teaching. However, one group of high-performing mathematics teachers from the U.S. sample and all the high-performing teachers from Finland, Korea, and Russia showed more frequent use of conceptually oriented practices than their corresponding low-performing teachers. Another group of U.S. high-performing mathematics teachers showed a distinctive procedurally oriented pattern, which presented a rather different picture. Such results provide useful suggestions for practitioners and policy makers in their effort to improve mathematics teaching and learning in the US and in other countries as well. DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.22342/jme.8.2.4066.115-132
Horizon instability of extremal Reissner-Nordström black holes to charged perturbations

We investigate the stability of highly charged Reissner-Nordstr\"om black holes to charged scalar perturbations. We show that the near-horizon region exhibits a transient instability which becomes the Aretakis instability in the extremal limit. The rates we obtain match the enhanced rates for nonaxisymmetric perturbations of the near-extremal and extremal Kerr solutions. The agreement is shown to arise from a shared near-horizon symmetry of the two scenarios.
Dual Sourcing Strategies

Sourcing strategies that employ operational hedging can reduce the risk of operating in low-cost countries. This article examines the sourcing strategy of toy-maker Mattel. Like the high technology industry, toys suffer from many supply chain ailments including short product life, rapid product turnover, and seasonal demand. Coupled with long supply lines and potential political and economic turmoil in Asia, toymakers face an unusually complex set of risks. Managers in many businesses can learn valuable lessons in managing uncertainty from toymakers. Set during the Asian financial crisis, the case describes a facility location decision for Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars. Besides the international location decision, the case illustrates: 1) How toy makers manage demand uncertainty; 2) Mattel’s outsoucing strategy in Asia; 3) How Mattel integrates its marketing and supply chain strategy.
Stress-induced Cdk5 activity enhances cytoprotective basal autophagy in Drosophila melanogaster by phosphorylating acinus at serine437.

Cells have a problem that we recognize from our own homes: if nobody cleans up, garbage accumulates. Unwanted material in cells can include proteins that clump together and can no longer carry out their normal tasks. If left to build up, these protein aggregates can damage the cell and even kill it. Many neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer's disease, arise when such faulty proteins accumulate inside brain cells. Autophagy is a process that can destroy protein aggregates and other defective material to keep cells healthy. Understanding how cells regulate autophagy is thus of great interest to scientists. A protein called Acinus promotes autophagy and is found in many organisms including fruit flies and humans. All Acinus proteins share a common feature; they contain a site called Serine437 that can be modified by the attachment of a phosphate group, in a process known as phosphorylation. However, the significance of this modification was not clear. Nandi et al. have now asked if this phosphorylation event is important for the role of Acinus in autophagy. The experiments were carried out in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Flies were engineered such that the normal Acinus protein was replaced with a mutant version that mimics the phosphorylation at Serine437. These mutant flies had higher levels of Acinus, showed more autophagy, and lived longer when compared to normal flies. Further work identified a protein called Cdk5 as being responsible for attaching phosphate to Acinus at Serine437. Making Cdk5 inactive using experimental tools led to lower levels of autophagy in brain cells and shortened the flies’ life span. Moreover, some aggregation-prone proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases can enhance the activity of Cdk5 towards Acinus, thereby reducing their own accumulation through elevated autophagy. Together these findings show that phosphorylation of Acinus by Cdk5 maintains healthy brain cells and improves life span by enhancing autophagy. The next step is to understand how phosphorylation at Serine437 stabilizes Acinus to boost autophagy. This may lead to new ways to adjust the levels of autophagy to benefit different organisms.
Enabling High-Energy-Density Cathode for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

High-energy lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery is built on high loading and dense sulfur electrodes. Unfortunately, these electrodes usually suffer from a low sulfur utilization rate and limited cycle life due to the gap in scientific knowledge between the fundamental research and the application at relevant scales. In this work, effects of electrode porosity on the electrode energy density, cell cycling stability, Li anode interface, and electrolyte/sulfur ratio were investigated on the basis of high-loading sulfur electrodes. Using electrodes with sulfur loading of 4 mg cm–2 and thickness at ∼60 μm, a high energy density of over 1300 Wh L–1 has been obtained at electrode level, which provides a decent basis for high-energy Li–S cell development. In addition, Li–S cells with the high-loading and dense electrodes demonstrate promising cycling stability (∼80% capacity retention for 200 cycles). These significant improvements are contributed by the synergistic effects of dense sulfur cathode, improved electrode ...
Die Messung der Persönlichkeit

In den vorangegangenen Kapiteln haben wir einige ausgewahlte Personlichkeitstheorien vorgestellt. Naturlich gibt es noch eine Vielzahl anderer Theorien, und jede hat ihre eigenen Aussagen oder Hypothesen, ihre eigenen Begriffe und ihre eigene Sprache. Wie soll jemand nun feststellen, welche Theorie die „richtige“ ist oder am besten geeignet ist, die Menschen zu verstehen? Welche Theorie ist am nutzlichsten, wenn es um praktische Fragestellungen geht, z. B. wie man fehlangepasten Menschen helfen kann, wie man aus vielen Bewerbern den richtigen fur den Beruf der Kindergartnerin auswahlt oder wie man sein eigenes Kind am besten erzieht?
The Evaluation of Thermosetting Polymers by Thermal Analytical Methods

Thermosetting resins are increasing in use in the electronics and other related industries. The useful physical properties of these materials are primarily due to their chemical structure and degree of cross-linking. This paper will describe the use of DSC, TGA and TMA to characterize these materials.
Vaccination Using Radiation- or Genetically Attenuated Live Sporozoites

The attenuation of Plasmodium parasites by either radiation or targeted gene deletion can result in viable sporozoites that invade the liver and subsequently arrest. The death of the growth-arrested liver stage parasite and the ensuing recognition by the immune system of parasite antigens promotes protective immunity in immunized mice and humans. The methods described below will enable researchers to determine the efficacy of radiation-attenuated and genetically attenuated rodent malaria sporozoite immunizations against infectious sporozoite challenge, and study protective immunity in immunized mice. In addition, by determining the time of arrest of genetically attenuated parasite liver stages and the mechanisms of clearance, researchers will be able to correlate biological features of the growth-arrested parasites with their ability to promote protective immunity.
Behavior, energetics and management of refuging waterfowl: a simulation model

A stochastic simulation model, designed to test the effects of alternative management schemes on refuging waterfowl populations, was constructed from data on fall-migrating lesser snow geese (Chen c. caerulescens) at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa. Components of the model include goose population level, food density and distribution, food-searching flight characteristics, feeding rates, activity and energy budgets, migration rates, and the effects of weather, hunting pressure, and land management practices on the system. Independent data were collected to test the model's validity. The model validly describes movement from the refuge core to distant feeding areas, and it provides insight into factors affecting emigration. Refuge population level was not sensitive to shifts (?20%) in the input values of 25 selected parameters, but hunting mortality and daily foraging distances were sensitive to several combinations of parameter perturbations. Model outcome was most sensitive to changes in digestive efficiency, mean food density, and the proportion of refuge fields in which food was available. In other model experiments, increased hunting pressure caused significant (P < 0.05) increases in hunting mortality and a reduction in the refuge population. The direct effect of hunting was less important in reducing waterfowl population size than the associated disturbance of feeding geese by hunters, which reduced energy gains and subsequently hastened emigration. Geese in the vicinity of the DeSoto Refuge feed almost exclusively on waste corn. Simulated hunting mortality increased significantly (P < 0.0001) when waste-corn density was moderately reduced because increased goose movement resulted in more shooting opportunities for hunters, but, at extremely low levels of food density, refuge use by waterfowl declined and hunting mortality was reduced. When superabundant food was provided on the refuge, hunting mortality was reduced and waterfowl use of the refuge increased. An artificial reduction in size of the feeding arena, from a radius of 121 km to 8 km, did not affect waterfowl population levels because food supplies were adequate within 8 km of the refuge core. The model can be used to simulate the effects of other management scenarios and is a valuable tool for identifying and meeting management objectives. WILDL. MONOGR. 96, 1-35 Journal Paper J-11908 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, Project 2427. 2 Present Address: Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475. 3 Supported jointly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Iowa Conservation Commission, Iowa State University, and Wildlife Management Institute. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.35 on Wed, 31 Aug 2016 04:14:15 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
A bulk-mass-modeling-based method for retrieving particulate matter pollution using CALIOP observations

Abstract. In this proof-of-concept paper, we apply a bulk-mass-modeling method using observations from the NASA Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) instrument for retrieving particulate matter (PM) concentration over the contiguous United States (CONUS) over a 2-year period (2008–2009). Different from previous approaches that rely on empirical relationships between aerosol optical depth (AOD) and PM 2.5 (PM with particle diameters less than 2.5 µm ), for the first time, we derive PM 2.5 concentrations, during both daytime and nighttime, from near-surface CALIOP aerosol extinction retrievals using bulk mass extinction coefficients and model-based hygroscopicity. Preliminary results from this 2-year study conducted over the CONUS show a good agreement ( r2∼0.48 ; mean bias of −3.3 µg m−3 ) between the averaged nighttime CALIOP-derived PM 2.5 and ground-based PM 2.5 (with a lower r2 of ∼0.21 for daytime; mean bias of −0.4 µg m−3 ), suggesting that PM concentrations can be obtained from active-based spaceborne observations with reasonable accuracy. Results from sensitivity studies suggest that accurate aerosol typing is needed for applying CALIOP measurements for PM 2.5 studies. Lastly, the e -folding correlation length for surface PM 2.5 is found to be around 600 km for the entire CONUS ( ∼300 km for western CONUS and ∼700 km for eastern CONUS), indicating that CALIOP observations, although sparse in spatial coverage, may still be applicable for PM 2.5 studies.
Exogenous Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Induces Resistance to Citrus Canker in Citrus.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a universal electron carrier that participates in important intracellular metabolic reactions and signaling events. Interestingly, emerging evidence in animals indicates that cellular NAD can be actively or passively released into the extracellular space, where it is processed or perceived by ectoenzymes or cell-surface receptors. We have recently shown in Arabidopsis thaliana that exogenous NAD induces defense responses, that pathogen infection leads to release of NAD into the extracellular space at concentrations sufficient for defense activation, and that depletion of extracellular NAD (eNAD) by transgenic expression of the human NAD-hydrolyzing ectoenzyme CD38 inhibits plant immunity. We therefore hypothesize that, during plant-microbe interactions, NAD is released from dead or dying cells into the extracellular space where it interacts with adjacent naive cells' surface receptors, which in turn activate downstream immune signaling. However, it is currently unknown whether eNAD signaling is unique to Arabidopsis or the Brassicaceae family. In this study, we treated citrus plants with exogenous NAD+ and tested NAD+-induced transcriptional changes and disease resistance. Our results show that NAD+ induces profound transcriptome changes and strong resistance to citrus canker, a serious citrus disease caused by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc). Furthermore, NAD+-induced resistance persists in new flushes emerging after removal of the tissues previously treated with NAD+. Finally, NAD+ treatment primes citrus tissues, resulting in a faster and stronger induction of multiple salicylic acid pathway genes upon subsequent Xcc infection. Taken together, these results indicate that exogenous NAD+ is able to induce immune responses in citrus and suggest that eNAD may also be an elicitor in this woody plant species.
Becoming “Rebels” and “Idolaters” in the Valley of Volcanoes, Southern Peru

In the mid-eighteenth century around the town of Andagua in the high Southern Peruvian Andes, local indigenous residents nearly incited a rebellion rejecting regional authorities from Arequipa with ancestor cults as a locus of resistance. Subsequently, colonial officials burned ancestral mummies, in attempts to eradicate Andean religious beliefs and practices. Through the use of multiple methods and an archaeological perspective, this article examines how residents became “rebels and idolaters.” Challenging the universal subject and recognizing how subjectivities are historical and particular, I review how identities emerge through the production of places, forming relationships with the landscape across time and space.
Current hand hygiene education is suboptimal.

Background To address the low levels of hand hygiene compliance (HHC) at our academic medical centre, we developed an annual patient safety course required for all incoming third-year medical students. Based on previous observations of medical students, it was determined that hand hygiene (HH) would be a central component of the course. Methods Over a 1-year period (2015/16), we observed third- and fourth-year medical students who had participated in the annual patient safety course entering three intensive care units (ICUs) at two teaching hospitals. A total of 150 medical students failed to perform HH on entry and were subsequently asked why they did not comply. Results Of the 150 medical students observed entering an ICU without performing HH, 74.7% were male and 25.3% were female. Males cited inadequate time (21.4%), lack of role models (10.7%) and provided incorrect information regarding HH requirements (58.9%). Females cited concerns about dry or cracked skin (34.2%) and forgetting (23.7%). Discussion Our study demonstrates that even when medical students receive intensive HH education, compliance remains low. Of note, males and females offered different reasons for why they failed to perform HH. To address the suboptimal HHC, we developed an annual patient safety course required for all third-year medical students immediately prior to beginning clinical rotations. In this study, we sought to understand why medical students' HH remains suboptimal even after an intensive course.
Preparing Experienced Elementary Teachers as Mathematics Specialists.

High quality teaching is critical to student learning, yet takes considerable time to develop in particular content areas. Students in high-poverty, urban settings are less likely to encounter expe...
Exposure to arsenic during embryogenesis impairs olfactory sensory neuron differentiation and function into adulthood

Arsenic is a contaminant of food and drinking water. Epidemiological studies have reported correlations between arsenic exposure and neurodevelopmental abnormalities, such as reduced sensory functioning, while in vitro studies have shown that arsenic reduces neurogenesis and alters stem cell differentiation. The goal of this study was assess whether arsenic exposure during embryogenesis reduced olfactory stem cell function and/or numbers, and if so, whether those changes persist into adulthood. Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) embryos were exposed to 0, 10, 50 or 200 ppb arsenite (AsIII) until hatching, and juvenile fish were raised in clean water. At 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 28 and 40 weeks of age, odorant response tests were performed to assess specific olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) function. Olfactory epithelia were then collected for immunohistochemical analysis of stem cell (Sox2) and proliferating cell numbers (PCNA), as well as the number and expression of ciliated (calretinin) and microvillus OSNs (Gαi3) at 0, 4, 16 and 28 weeks. Odorant tests indicated that arsenic exposure during embryogenesis increased the start time of killifish responding to pheromones, and this altered start time persisted to 40 weeks post-exposure. Response to the odorant taurocholic acid (TCA) was also reduced through week 28, while responses to amino acids were not consistently altered. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine whether changes in odorant responses were correlated to altered cell numbers in the olfactory epithelium, using markers of proliferating cells, progenitor cells, and specific OSNs. Comparisons between response to pheromones and PCNA + cells indicated that, at week 0, both parameters in exposed fish were significantly reduced from the control group. At week 28, all exposure are still significantly different than control fish, but now with higher PCNA expression coupled with reduced pheromone responses. A similar trend was seen in the comparisons between Sox2-expressing progenitor cells and response to pheromones, although Sox2 expression in the 28 week-old fish only recovers back to the level of control fish rather than being significantly higher. Comparisons between calretinin expression (ciliated OSNs) and response to TCA demonstrated that both parameters were reduced in the 200 ppb arsenic-exposed fish in at weeks 4, 16, and 28. Correlations between TCA response and the number of PCNA + cells revealed that, at 28 weeks of age, all arsenic exposure groups had reductions in response to TCA, but higher PCNA expression, similar to that seen with the pheromones. Few changes in Gαi3 (microvillus OSNs) were seen. Thus, it appears that embryonic-only exposure to arsenic has long-term reductions in proliferation and differentiation of olfactory sensory neurons, leading to persistent effects in their function.
Guantánamo 2.0: Transforming Gitmo into a Peace Park and Ecological Research Center

Cuba has a long history of environmental protection, with a network of more than 250 national parks and protected areas, and relatively high levels of fish biomass and marine biodiversity in marine parks that are unparalleled in the Caribbean. There is concern that the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba might reverse the country’s advances in ecological conservation. In this chapter, I propose an approach to protect Cuba’s coastal ecosystems and enhance conservation and ecological research throughout the Caribbean. After helping Cuba fight for independence from Spain, the United States occupied the island in 1898. As part of the Cuban-American Treaty, which granted Cuba independence in 1902, the new country was required to rent Guantanamo Bay to the United States as a coaling and naval station, a perpetual lease that could be broken only by mutual consent. The present U.S. policy is that withdrawal from the base is not an option. Cuba insists on an unconditional return of the land as part of normalization. There is a third path that would benefit Cuba, the United States, and the rest of the world. Once the military prison at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay is closed, the entire base should be repurposed into a state-of-the-art research institution and peace park, a conservation zone to help resolve conflicts between the two countries. A first step in returning the land to Cuba, this model could unite both nations in joint management, rather than serve as a wedge between them. By bringing together Cuban, U.S., and international scientists, artists, and scholars, Guantanamo could help all countries meet the challenges of climate change, mass extinction, and declining coral reefs.
The Use of Student Selected Experiences As An Adjunct to Behavioral Science Instruction

The present article describes the use of clinically relevant student selected experiences to further the understanding and mastery of behavioral science course material in medical student education. The purpose of this curricu-lar innovation is to engage student interest and involvement in course material and to help students experience the importance of behavioral science problems and the relevance of behavioral science concepts. The article reports on three years of observation of the use of behavioral science experiences with medical students. The behavioral science experience is offered as an important addition to enhancing the quality of education in behavioral science courses.
Can the Federal Baldrige Survey Measure Workforce Well-being in an Academic Health Center?

Introduction. Experts suggest health care institutions switch focusfrom measuring burnout to measuring positive organizational psychology.Concerns include burnout being a late sign of organizationaldecline. The Baldrige survey is promoted by the U.S. Departmentof Commerce to measure positive worksite conditions (e.g., workforcewellbeing of industries, including health care and education).For years, the survey has been completed by managers within organizations,but now the same survey is promoted for completion byan organization’s workforce. We tested the structure of the Baldrigesurvey when completed by an academic health care workforce. Inaddition, we tested whether the results in an academic worksite correlatewith an example metric of an organizational mission.Methods.xIn 2015, our academic health center surveyed facultyand staff with the Baldrige survey. The validity of the Baldrige wastested with confirmatory factor analyses. Within the School of Medicine,responses for the Baldrige’s concepts were correlated againsta measure of organizational outcome: graduates’ assessments ofDepartmental educational quality.Results. The structure of the Baldrige survey did not validate whenassessed by a workforce (RMSEA = 0.086; CFI = 0.829; TLI = 0.815).None of its concepts correlated with learner reported educationalquality.Conclusions. The Baldrige survey, when administered to a workforcerather than managers, did not appear to measure workforcewell-being within an academic health care center. We discourage useof the current survey for this purpose. Kans J Med 2019;12(1):4-6.
PAR1 Antagonists Development and Clinical Utility

Abstract Thrombin is a potent activator of platelets and other cells. The mechanism by which thrombin, a protease, regulates cellular behaviors like a hormone was revealed by expression cloning of a G protein-coupled receptor now known as protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1). Thrombin activates PAR1 by cleaving its N-terminal ectodomain to reveal a new N-terminus that then serves as a tethered peptide ligand, binding to the heptahelical domain to trigger G protein activation. A synthetic hexapeptide mimicking this new N-terminus activates PAR1 without receptor cleavage. Point mutations that prevent receptor cleavage render PAR1 unactivatable by thrombin without altering activation by exogenous tethered ligand peptide. Replacement of the thrombin cleavage site with sites for other proteases allows PAR1 to signal in response to those other proteases. Removal of sequence N-terminal to the cleavage site and creation of the new protonated amino group at N-terminal of the tethered ligand sequence is necessary for its function, explaining how the tethered ligand is silent in the intact receptor and activated by receptor cleavage. Thus, PARs are, in essence, peptide receptors that carry their own ligands, which can be unmasked by receptor cleavage. Mammalian cells utilize four PARs to respond to coagulation proteases and other proteases with trypsin-like specificity. Three, PAR1, PAR3 and PAR4 can mediate responses to thrombin, with PAR3 and PAR4 mediating platelet activation by thrombin in mice and PAR1 and PAR4 platelet activation in humans. Inhibition of thrombin signaling via PARs in platelets decreases thrombus formation in animal models of platelet-dependent thrombosis. These and other studies led to development of the PAR1 antagonist vorapaxar (Zontivity), a first-in-class antiplatelet agent approved for secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events in selected patients with prior myocardial infarction and peripheral arterial disease. What was and was not learned from animal and human studies and remaining questions related to clinical utility of PAR inhibition will be discussed. The structure-function studies outlined above support the tethered ligand model, but a structure that reveals how the tethered ligand binds and how binding leads to transmembrane signaling and G protein activation is needed. Vorapaxar provided a tool for stabilizing PAR1 protein during solubilization, purification and crystallization. In collaboration with Brian Kobilka and colleagues, we solved a crystal structure of off-state PAR1 in complex with its antagonist vorapaxar, which explains pharmacological properties of vorapaxar and efforts to solve a complementary on-state structure are ongoing. Disclosures Coughlin: Merck: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Portola Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.
Stress corrosion cracking of discontinuously reinforced aluminium (DRA) alloy 2014 during slow strain rate testing

The mechanical behaviour of discontinuously reinforced alnminium (DRAs) alloys has been studied and reviewed in detail by various authors [1-5], while the effects of changes in heat treatment and reinforcement characteristics have similarly been extensively studied [1-9]. Although aluminium alloys have been extensively studied for their corrosion and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behaviours, comparatively very little is known about the corrosion and SCC behaviour of DRA materials based on their matrices. Reinforcements like graphite (Gr) which are conductive, affect the general corrosion of metal matrix composites (MMC) by galvanic coupling and investigations have shown an increase in the corrosion susceptibility in A1-Gr MMCs [10]. Unlike graphite [10], ceramic reinforcement particulates like SiC and A1203 [1] are virtually non-conductive and are not susceptible to corrosion in salt solution at ambient temperature. Thus, there should not be any direct .galvanic effect on the general corrosion and SCC of such composite systems. However, ceramic reinforcements may have a significant indirect effect on the corrosion characteristics of these DRAs in the following ways:
Transmitting volume Bragg grating with longitudinal moiré apodization

The apodized transmitting volume Bragg grating (TVBG) with the amplitude of the refractive index modulation (RIM) dropped to zero at both the surfaces is discussed. The proposed method for apodization is based on the recording of two identical uniform TVBGs with slightly different directions of their Bragg wave vectors in a single wafer. As a result, slow sinusoidal moire modulation occurs in the direction perpendicular to the averaged direction of the two wave vectors of Bragg modulation. The cutting of a specimen at the planes of the two closest zeros of the moire envelope produces the apodized TVBG. The longitudinal sinusoidal semi-period profile of RIM requires its specific maximum value to achieve 100% diffraction efficiency at the exact Bragg condition. Such an apodized TVBG demonstrates a significant suppression of the sidelobes in the diffraction efficiency depending on the angular or the wavelength detuning, in comparison to the diffraction operation of a uniform TVBG.
Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity: Pathophysiology Updates

Doxorubicin has long been known to cause cardiotoxicity, yet our understanding of its pathophysiologic mechanisms remains incomplete. This review aims to update readers on the most recent evidence supporting candidate mechanisms and proposed treatments for doxorubicin cardiotoxicity. Doxorubicin causes cardiotoxicity via traditional mechanisms, such as oxidative stress, DNA and mitochondrial damage, and iron overload, as well as through novel pathways such as autophagy and CYP1 induction. The relative importance of each pathway and how these pathways interact with each other is not well-understood. Novel approaches to cardioprotection are needed. Novel mechanisms of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity represent exciting opportunities for prevention and treatment of this entity. Further studies are needed to translate recent findings into clinical use.
A Queueing-Theoretic Framework for Evaluating Transmission Risks in Service Facilities During a Pandemic

We propose a new modeling framework for evaluating the risk of disease transmission during a pandemic in small-scale settings driven by stochasticity in the arrival and service processes, i.e., congestion-prone confined-space service facilities, such as grocery stores. We propose a novel metric ($R_0^{\mathsf{sys}}$) inspired by $R_0$, the "basic reproduction number" concept from epidemiology, which measures the transmissibility of infectious diseases. We derive the $R_0^{\mathsf{sys}}$ metric for various queueing models of service facilities by leveraging a novel queueing-theoretic notion: sojourn time overlaps. We showcase how our metric can be used to explore the efficacy of a variety of interventions aimed at curbing the spread of disease inside service facilities. Specifically, we focus on some prevalent interventions employed during the COVID-19 pandemic: limiting the occupancy of service facilities, protecting high-risk customers (via prioritization or designated time windows), and increasing the service speed (or limiting patronage duration). We discuss a variety of directions for adapting our transmission model to incorporate some more nuanced features of disease transmission, including heterogeneity in the population immunity level, varying levels of mask usage, and spatial considerations in disease transmission.
Sensational media reporting is common when describing COVID-19 therapies, detection methods, and vaccines.

Word choice is important when describing medical therapies, especially during COVID-19 outbreaks. The public relies on news media for health information and medical misinformation is often spread through news stories.1 Medical misinformation can affect health outcomes and polarize the public’s distrust in medical science.2 During a pandemic, the public’s trust in science and medical professionals is crucial. Thus, one would question the ethical responsibility of journalists, public officials, and others when using exaggerated language like game changers in describing COVID-19 therapies when only preliminary data are available.3 We evaluated the use of 11 prespecified terms used in news stories for exaggeration. We evaluated whether each new outlet was Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode) certified—the oldest and most reliable indicator of credible, trustworthy, online health information. …
Technology as a Source of Sustained Interest and Motivation for Interactive English Classroom

The present day English language learners in the Indian context are techno-savvy. Technology provides several potentials for vibrant English classroom. It can supplement the existing methods of teaching English as a second language. But English teachers do not exhibit sufficient interest and positive attitude toward the integration of technology with teaching. It is due to several factors that are beyond their control and in fact that they are the victims of the circumstances. Though many causes can be attributed for the dismal state of English language output, this paper analyzes the methods employed by teachers at all levels in English education in India and to make an analytic study of English teachers’ views on the integration of technology with English language teaching on the basis of a survey to be administered among them.
Ginger metabolites and metabolite-inspired synthetic products modulate intracellular calcium and relax airway smooth muscle.

Asthma affects millions of people worldwide and its prevalence is increasing. It is characterized by chronic airway inflammation, airway remodeling, and pathologic bronchoconstriction, and it poses...