cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developing Technology Competencies in a College of Education

Colleges of education across the country are implementing initiatives to promote new and more effective teaching methods grounded in information technology and the improvement of teaching skills of graduate and undergraduate students in professional education programs. The goals for participating faculty members are to integrate information technology competencies into not only the content of the courses that they teach, but also into their instructional methods of teaching. An initiative grounded in existing coursework, extant resources, and prior experience is described in this article. Working from a state-accepted list of basic and advanced instructional technology competencies, a course-by-competency matrix was articulated to support the development of instructional technology competencies among faculty and students. Faculty and student development activities to infuse technology into teaching, using existing resources and facilities, were designed, field-tested, and evaluated. The activities were modified for use in subsequent semesters as vehicles for building or extending competencies of undergraduate and graduate students preparing for professional positions as teachers, administrators, and counselors. To support continued implementation and improvement, practical, hands-on experiences were supervised by information technology specialists, knowledgeable faculty members, and graduate students with demonstrated competence. A team of professionals with expertise in instructional technology monitors all faculty and student development activities. The effort provides a comprehensive, practical model for addressing the growing need for altering instructional methods to accommodate technology innovations for school personnel in meaningful ways.
The Inherent Reward of Choice

Research suggests that the exercise of control is desirable and adaptive, but the precise mechanisms underlying the affective value of control are not well understood. The study reported here characterized the affective experience of personal control by examining the neural substrates recruited when individuals anticipate the opportunity to make a choice--in other words, when they anticipate the means for exercising control. We used an experimental paradigm that probed the value of having a choice. Participants reported liking cues that predicted a future opportunity to make a choice more than cues that predicted no choice. The anticipation of choice itself was associated with increased activity in corticostriatal regions, particularly the ventral striatum, involved in affective and motivational processes. This study is the first direct examination of the affective value of having the opportunity to choose. These findings have important implications for understanding the role of perception of control, and choice itself, in self-regulatory processes.
'NPL'-A neural programming language

Summary form only given, as follows. To design large neural networks, a notation suitable for standardization has been developed utilizing the C++ programming language. The primary objective of the notation was to develop a concise and simple syntax to represent large neural networking systems that might utilize a variety of paradigms, and to be portable over a wide range of systems. The C++ programming language was selected since it has the promise of becoming the next de facto standard and has been demonstrated to be available on a wide range of hardware platforms. From a functional point of view, the C++ language has proven to be a suitable platform also for such a syntax. With the ability to overload selected operators, it becomes as simple as 'training>>a0>>a1>>a3>>out' to represent a feedforward perceptron. A training cycle is represented as 'a0 >
Microteaching Revisited: Using Technology to Enhance the Professional Development of Pre-Service Teachers

Abstract This article discusses how integrating technology into microteaching exercises within teacher education programs can help develop reform-oriented and reflective teacher leaders.
Biosphere-atmosphere interactions over West Africa. I: Development and validation of a coupled dynamic model

SUMMARY In this study we develop a zonally symmetric, synchronously coupled biosphere-atmosphere model including ecosystem dynamics, and apply this model to study biosphere-atmosphere interactions in the region of West Africa. The atmospheric model is zonally symmetric, and includes representation of atmospheric dynamics, a radiation scheme, a moist convection scheme, a boundary-layer scheme, and a cloud-parametrization scheme. The biospheric model is the Integrated BIosphere Simulator (IBIS), which includes representation of the water, energy, momentum, and carbon balance, vegetation phenology, and vegetation dynamics. We modified the representation of canopy hydrology in IBIS to account for the impact of rainfall subgrid variability. The biospheric model and atmospheric model are separately tested against observations. The synchronously coupled model is then used to simulate the biosphere-atmosphere system of West Africa. A study on the role of biosphere-atmosphere interactions, including ecosystem dynamics, in the climate variability over West Africa using this model will be presented in a companion paper.
The liquid structure and thermodynamic properties of Lennard-Jones spheres with association sites

The liquid structure and thermodynamic properties are investigated for simple models of associating fluids. All of the fluids considered have a Lennard-Jones (LJ) spherical core with various off-centre association sites. The second virial coefficient and bond length distribution are calculated. Wertheim's theory of associating fluids is extended to molecules with an LJ core by way of a perturbation expansion; the reference fluid potential contains the association sites plus a soft repulsive core. Predictions from the theory are compared with Monte Carlo computer simulation results. The liquid structure of the reference fluid is in good agreement with that of the fluid with the full potential (LJ plus association sites). In addition to the perturbation theory, a pseudomixture theory is developed in which a pure associating fluid is treated as a mixture of bonded and unbonded components. The pseudomixture theory, compared with perturbation theory, requires fewer computer simulation results for its implement...
Campos de Cima da Serra e o turismo no espaço rural

A regiao dos Campos de Cima da Serra esta situada no nordeste do Estado Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Ao longo de decadas, o desenvolvimento do espaco rural pautou-se majoritariamente em atividades agricolas, contudo, tais atividades, com o passar dos anos, nao proporcionavam mais os rendimentos necessarios a sobrevivencia das familias rurais. Atividades nao agricolas, do setor secundario e terciario, foram entao incorporadas a economia do espaco rural. Entre as atividades nao agricolas destaca-se o Turismo. A este estudo, realizado entre 2010 e 2011, cabe identificar a presenca, as particularidades e a importância da atividade turistica para os proprietarios e suas familias, assim como diferenciar as propriedades rurais que praticam agroturismo daquelas que praticam turismo rural na regiao dos Campos de Cima da Serra. Para tanto, foi utilizada a pesquisa quantitativa de natureza exploratoria. A insercao da atividade turistica na economia dos municipios dos Campos de Cima da Serra foi motivada especialmente pela possibilidade de rendimentos complementares. Dentre os resultados apresentados pela pesquisa, sabe-se que atualmente tais rendimentos sobressaem-se em 58,8% das propriedades pesquisadas, se comparados aos rendimentos provenientes das atividades agropecuarias nelas desenvolvidas.Palavras-chave: Turismo no Espaco Rural. Campos de Cima da Serra. Atividades Agricolas e Nao Agricolas.
Plus-Minus-Interesting Exercises To Encourage Student Reflection

In the PMI method, a group is directed to evaluate an idea or a proposal by listing the plus (positive), minus (negative), and interesting (noteworthy, but neither positive nor nega- tive) attributes or consequences of the proposed solution. The PMI activity encourages participants to approach new ideas with an open mind by examining the problem from different viewpoints before forming an opinion. In our rendition of PMI, we use the method to help students see different approaches to solving a problem that they have just attempted themselves. For example, one of us uses this exer- cise during the second week of the semester in an introductory course to help students improve their written problem solutions. Three samples of student work that were submitted for the previous day's assignment are selected and photocopied (with names and scores removed). The samples include one solution each from the excellent, improving, and novice categories of the grading rubric. During class, each team is given the three samples, a copy of the grading rubric for that assignment, and three PMI evaluation worksheets. To guide the team discus- sions, the worksheets contain prompts for each category:
β-Lactamase Inhibitory Proteins

This chapter discusses structure and function studies of β-lactamase inhibitory protein (BLIP) with a focus on the interactions between TEM-1 β-lactamase and BLIP. The first proteinaceous inhibitor of β-lactamases, BLIP, was isolated from Streptomyces clavuligerus by a researcher's group in 1990. A BLIP nonproducer mutant and a BLIP/clavulanic acid nonproducer double mutant were constructed with the aim of elucidating BLIP's physiological function. Two hypotheses have been proposed for the function of BLIP. First, BLIP may be produced in response to the production of β-lactamases by other organisms in the surrounding environment in order to inhibit these β-lactamases and prevent the hydrolysis of antibiotics produced by S. clavuligerus. Alternatively, BLIP may play a role in cell wall growth or morphogenesis. Protein-protein interactions play a significant role in most cellular processes. The importance of such interactions in biology has made protein-protein recognition an area of considerable interest. The two domains join with each other to form an 8-strand antiparallel β-sheet. The study of a series of homologous interfaces provides an opportunity to study specificity as well as overall affinity determinants.
The Financing of the General Social Insurance Program (RGPS) in the Context of the Tax Reform in Progress

The reform of social security systems is an important item in the international agenda. In Brazil, a recent reform adjusted retirement rules and benefits, but was not enough to match expenditures with revenues. In the case of the general regime (RGPS), which financing comes, essentially, from payroll and turnover contributions, the deficit is now around 1.3% of gross domestic product. This article discusses alternatives for the financing of the RGPS in the context of the tax reform process in progress and of the economic conditions presently faced by the country. Specifically, it considers existing proposals concerning social contributions and the probable yield of the non-cumulative social contribution now being implemented, concluding that it would not be able to yield revenue enough to discard the payroll contribution. The final section summarizes the proposal that emanates from the argument presented along the article.
Water Quality Estimation Using Combined Water Chemistry and Field Spectroscopy in the Shenandoah River, Virginia

This study investigated the spatial dynamics of water quality across the Shenandoah River basin using spectroscopy and chemometrics to estimate chlorophyll (Chl), colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and turbidity using three band combinations and nutrients (total nitrogen and total phosphorous) in the Shenandoah River. The mean Chl a concentration for 555 nm, 560 nm and 640 nm were; 0.31 Âµg/l, 0.33 Âµg/l, and 0.51 Âµg/l respectively. Chlorophyll a showed strong correlations at band 640 (r = 0.92). The bands centered at 670/490 were the best in predicting CDOM and turbidity in the Shenandoah River Basin with an r2 = 0.56. Chemometrics analysis show that total phosphorous, nitrogen and turbidity can be predicted between 450 to 555nm and 670 to 710 nm, the range of wavelengths which indicated better predictability for spectroscopic analysis. The resultant concentration is used to develop predictive models to determine sensitive spectral variables for nitrogen, phosphorous, Chl-a, and CDOM.
My Signs that I Have Done Among Them: A D’Var Torah on Parshat Bo

In the Biblical book of Exodus, Pharaoh at first refuses to let the Israelites go because, despite the onslaught of the first five plagues, he hardens his own heart against any concession. But by the second five plagues, even when Pharaoh seems ready to relent, God steps in and hardens his heart for him. In Exodus 10:1-2, God gives Moses two reasons for hardening Pharaoh's heart: First, "in order that I may place these signs of Mine in his midst." And second, "that you should tell in the ears of your son, and your son's son, what I have wrought upon Egypt, and My signs that I have done among them; that you may know that I am Hashem."This talk plays on those two distinct reasons as the launching point for a set of observations that all center on the common theme of divine "signs." Among the arguments in the talk is that (1) although the Passover seder is a telling and re-enacting of the story of the Exodus, it can also be said that the Exodus from Egypt – ten plagues and all – occurred for the sake of the Seder, and in that sense it is the Seder as much as the event that is the center of spiritual and religious action. (2) In interfaith encounters, the important question is not so much whether different religious traditions "worship the same God," but whether each of us can, with humility, charity, and deep wonder, simply look for God's signs in other religions, as we look for God's signs in nature and history and our own scriptures.
The participation of the hemes of flavocytochrome b245 in the electron transfer process in NADPH oxidase.

To the Editor: I would like to make the following response to Dr Babior’s recent review in BLOOD. [1][1] Of course, Dr Babior is fully entitled to his belief that the hemes of flavocytochrome b 245 are not involved in the electron transfer reactions of NADPH oxidase, but I fail to follow either
Phagocytose des liposomes par les macrophages péritonéaux de souris

Uptake of14C-cholesterol or3H-cholesterol labelled liposomes, stimulation of14C-glucose oxidation, as well as ultrastructural and autoradiographical experiments have shown that liposomes are phagocytized by mouse peritoneal macrophages. Further results have shown that degradation of liposomes was not complete 2 h after uptake.
Positioning the cleavage furrow: All you need is Rho

RhoA controls cleavage furrow formation during cell division, but whether RhoA suffices to orchestrate spatiotemporal dynamics of furrow formation is unknown. In this issue, Wagner and Glotzer (2016. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201603025) show that RhoA activity can induce furrow formation in all cell cortex positions and cell cycle phases.
The Effect of Ebola Glycoprotein Evolution on Protein Flexibility

The data gathered during the recent Ebola epidemic is providing a wealth of information that can be used to understand Ebola evolution and how it could modify the efficacy of vaccines The goal of this study is to determine the effects of previous, ongoing, and future viral evolution on the structure and antibody binding properties of GP. We are focusing on the disordered mucin-like domain of the Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP) that is a target of vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics. We performed molecular dynamics simulations of small fragments of the mucin-like domain of GP to understand the biophysical implications of amino acid mutations. We will discuss how mutations change the protein local dynamics and structure in this disordered region of the protein.
John Stuart Mill: Crisis (1826–1830)

I n 1826, Mill experienced the great crisis of his life. This crisis had two interrelated dimensions, a personal-psychological one and an intellectual one. The personal crisis was the need to become independent of his father; the intellectual crisis was the growing awareness of the inadequacies of philosophic radicalism even in its most coherent form, namely that of his father. Needless to say, Mill does not in his Autobiography directly confront the psychological crisis; rather, he discusses at great length his intellectual disenchantment with radicalism. There are two important reasons for this. First, the intellectual crisis, although real enough, became the surrogate forum in which he asserted and achieved independence from his father's thought. Second, the psychological crisis, as we shall see, was never honestly and directly resolved during James Mill's lifetime. Mill chose to live a double life. In all outward respects he was loyal to his father's wishes and views, but he harbored a secret intellectual life in which he asserted his independence. Mill genuinely admired and respected his father more than any other man, appreciated and shared what James Mill was trying to do in the larger cultural arena, and remained grateful for the independence of intellect that his father had cultivated in him. But he inevitably resented the paternal demand that personal loyalty required him to pay lip service to views that he did not really share. Perhaps Mill was ashamed that during his father's lifetime he lacked the courage to confront directly their differences.
Mathematical Model Describing the Relationship of Fat, Protein, and Lactose to the Total Solids—Its Application in Milk Testing

California dairy farmers producing and selling Grade A milk for pasteurization receive payment based on milkfat and solids-not-fat content of raw milk. In 1970, the concept of using electronic methods for testing of milk and its components was accepted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The InfraRed Milk Analyzer (IRMA) with its ability to measure fat, protein, and lactose, using a predetermined factor for the unmeasured solids, appeared to fill the need for a rapid, accurate, and economical method. After comparing IRMA results with chemical tests of known accuracy for several seasons, it appeared the ash factor could vary seasonally and geographically, as well as with individual dairy herds. It was decided to study the accuracy and calibration stability of InfraRed Milk Analyzers (IRMA), as well as the use of a constant value for the ash factor. By applying a multiple regression technique to milk sample data, it was possible to generate a model describing the relationship of fat, prote...
350. Kidney-Directed Gene Therapy for Murine Glycogen Storage Disease Type IA

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia, MIM232200) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiencies in glucose-6-phosphatase-α (G6Pase-α or G6PC) that is expressed primarily in the liver and kidney. GSD-Ia patients manifest impaired glucose homeostasis and a long-term complication of renal disease and there is no existing therapy to address this complication. We have previously shown that systemic administration of rAAV8-G6PC, a rAAV8 vector expressing human G6Pase-α directed by the human G6PC promoter/enhancer, delivers the G6Pase-α transgene to the liver of G6Pase-α-deficient (G6pc-/-) mice and corrects hepatic G6Pase-α deficiency. However, the rAAV8-G6PC vector transduces the kidney poorly and the treated G6pc-/- mice continued manifest renal dysfunction. In this study, we used the rAAV9-G6PC vector in a kidney-targeted gene delivery to improve renal function. The G6pc-/- die early even with glucose therapy. To overcome this, we performed a two-step kidney-directed gene delivery, first neonatally via the temporal vein with rAAV8-G6PC to sustain the survival of the mice, then at 12 weeks of age via retrograde renal vein injection with rAAV9-G6PC. Metabolic profiles and renal function were examined over a 52-week study. The rAAV-treated G6pc-/- mice exhibited normal fasting glucose profiles and could sustain a 24 hour of fast. Moreover, the treated G6pc-/- mice displayed normalized blood urea nitrogen concentrations, indicative of improved renal function. Our results strongly suggest that kidney-directed gene delivery with the rAAV9-G6PC vectors offers a promising and efficacious treatment for renal disease in GSD-Ia.
The 2014 Philip S. Portoghese Medicinal Chemistry Lectureship: The “Phenylalkylaminome” with a Focus on Selected Drugs of Abuse†

The phenylalkylamine, particularly the phenylethylamine, moiety is a common structural feature found embedded in many clinically approved agents. Greater still is its occurrence in drugs of abuse. The simplest phenylethylamine, 2-phenylethylamine itself, is without significant central action when administered at moderate doses, but fairly simple structural modifications profoundly impact its pharmacology and result in large numbers of useful pharmacological tools, agents with therapeutic potential, and in drugs of abuse (e.g., hallucinogens, central stimulants, empathogens), the latter of which are the primary focus here. In vivo drug discrimination techniques and in vitro receptor/transporter methods have been applied to understand the actions of these phenylalkylamines and their mechanisms of action. Thus far, depending upon pendent substituents, certain receptors (e.g., serotonin receptors) and monoamine transporters (i.e., serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine transporters) have been implicated as p...
Thermodynamic properties of solid Ar, Kr and Xe based upon a short range central force and the improved self-consistent phonon scheme

Abstract The thermodynamic properties of solid Ar, Kr and Xe are investigated within the framework of the self-consistent phonon method. We have used a central two-body potential of the MieLennard-Jones type. The lowest order self-consistent scheme, the so-called self-consistent phonon harmonic approximation (SC), is shown to be inadequate. The effect of including, in the Helmholtz free energy, the leading terms omitted by the sca is examined in detail and a comparison is also made with our earlier work based on the Born-von Karman approximation. We find substantial differences between the results based on different approximations to the free energy.
How Do You Increase Students’ Global Learning in the Classroom?

This chapter will discuss global awareness in five distinctive disciplines (Communications, Literature, Mathematics, Social Work, and Sociology). Comparisons between the pedagogies in the disciplines focus on academic settings other than study abroad.
Incorporating high fidelity physics into ADAS and autonomous vehicles simulation

Developing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles is a challenge without precedence. Whole new engineering fields – such as artificial intelligence – need to be developed, yet time-to-market is short with intense competition. Estimates indicate that billions of miles of road testing will be necessary to ensure safety and reliability of ADAS and autonomous vehicles. This seemingly impossible task can only be accomplished with the help of engineering simulation. With simulation thousands of driving scenarios and design parameters can be virtually tested with precision, speed and cost economy. This paper describes six specific areas where simulation is essential in the development of autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. It specifically focuses on high-fidelity simulation methods involving rigorous solutions of underlying physical phenomena.
Designing a new librarianship

This column proposes the idea that the field of librarianship should be reconsidered as a design-based discipline, rather than as a social science.
Partial-wave analyses of γ p → η p and γ n → η n using a multichannel framework

This paper presents results from partial-wave analyses of the photoproduction reactions $\ensuremath{\gamma}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\eta}p$ and $\ensuremath{\gamma}n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\eta}n$. World data for the observables $d\ensuremath{\sigma}/d\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}, \mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}, T, P, F$, and $E$ were analyzed as part of this work. The dominant amplitude in the fitting range from threshold to a c.m. energy of 1900 MeV was found to be ${S}_{11}$ in both reactions, consistent with results of other groups. At c.m. energies above 1600 MeV, our solution deviates from published results, with this work finding higher-order partial waves becoming significant. Data off the proton suggest that the higher-order terms contributing to the reaction include ${P}_{11}, {P}_{13}$, and ${F}_{15}$. The final results also hint that ${F}_{17}$ is needed to fit double-polarization observables above 1900 MeV. Data off the neutron show a contribution from ${P}_{13}$, as well as strong contributions from ${D}_{13}$ and ${D}_{15}$.
Thermosensitive Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimers with Embedded Metal Binding Sites. Synthesis and Self-Assembly

A family of amphiphilic diblock Janus dendrimers were synthesized by chemoselective “click” coupling of poly(benzyl ether) dendrons, PBE, and poly(ether–ester), PEE, dendrons based on three different ethylene glycol spacers. The well-defined defect-free structure of these dendrimers was proven by MALDI-TOF. In aqueous solutions these dendrimers were able to self-assemble into vesicles with diameter ranging from 140 nm to 3.6 μm or solid micelles (10 to 14 nm diameter). The form of these assemblies was affected by the spacer length between branching points and by the generations of both dendrons. The ethylene glycol moieties in the PEE dendrons induced notable thermosensitivity with sharp transitions observed for all members of the series. The presence of two triazole groups at each branching point was further exploited to fabricate palladium bearing nanomaterials with potential application in catalysis.
Exploring the barriers and incentive architecture for modifying smoke exposures among asthmatics

AbstractBackground: The socio-structural barriers for reducing secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) among children with asthma may be insurmountable for low-income caregivers. Health promoting financial incentives (HPFIs) are increasingly being used in the adult population to motivate and sustain tobacco-reduction behaviors. We assessed barriers to SHSe reduction and means to overcome them through the design of an HPFI-based, caregiver-targeted SHSe reduction study. Methods: Using a mixed-methods design, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews among low-income primary caregivers of children with asthma residing in Baltimore City. Quantitative data using an online survey were used to augment interview findings. Results: Home smoking restrictions were a frequently referenced strategy for decreasing SHSe, but interviewees (n = 22) described the complex social pressures that undermine reduction efforts. Caregivers redirected conversations from broadly implemented smoking bans towards targeted reduction s...
Who will use augmented reality? An integrated approach based on text analytics and field survey

Abstract Next-generation technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are fast permeating many industry and society sectors. Their market is projected to reach $95 billion by 2025, representing a large portion of the economy within the next decade. With these technologies gaining wide popularity, it is critical to understand their usage in the context of the various benefits and perils that they offer. Even though top-rated mobile applications face an increasing challenge to retain users, few studies have attempted to decipher the dilemma in their continuance momentum. In this study, we focus on Pokemon GO, a top-rated Augmented Reality app, using it as a special case to investigate factors influencing user continuance and more use intention. We extend expectation confirmation theory by incorporating the effects of subjective norm, perceived risk, technical features and sense of direction. To increase the relevance and richness of our understanding of risks and benefits, we integrate the text analytics and survey-based theory-validating research methodology to build and test our research model. Our findings suggest that rational risk/benefit calculus and satisfaction are two primary inputs for continuance intention. Besides physical health benefits, users also value the benefits in mental health and relationship building. The risks in performance, time and safety are salient risk dimensions that negatively impact satisfaction. Furthermore, we find technical features play a strong role in influencing perceived benefits and user satisfaction. The findings also provide important practical implications for the designers of next-generation mobile apps enabled by Augmented Reality.
Impact of developmental variance on behavior of models for insect populations. II: Models for populations with density dependent restrictions on growth

The impact of variation in developmental times on behavior of models for insect populations is investigated with special reference to models which include various types of intraspecific competition. At low densities, increases in developmental variation led to decreases in reproductive rate. At high densities, increases in developmental variation led to increases in reproductive rate. There was little change in the relationship between developmental variance and generation time as density increased.
240) Estrous Cycle and Sex Differences in Referred and Visceral Sensitivity in Rodents

Women are more sensitive to pain and make up most of the patients suffering from chronic pathological pain conditions, particularly pelvic and gastrointestinal disorders. Despite this prevalence, most preclinical studies in rodents have focused on males due to the potential variability that the estrous cycle stage might add when studying female subjects. The failure to account for sex differences and the estrous cycle effects in pain leaves unanswered important questions regarding mechanisms driving pain-related behaviors and limits our ability to translate preclinical findings to clinical applications. Therefore, a systematic evaluation of potential differences between sexes and/or across the estrous cycle in pain thresholds and in rodent models of visceral pain is warranted. In the present study, we used Von Frey filaments to measure abdominal and paw sensitivity to tactile stimulation and the intracolonic capsaicin model of visceral pain to measure visceral sensitivity. Pain-related behaviors were compared between male and female mice across the different stages of the estrous cycle. Our results demonstrate that abdominal sensitivity to tactile stimulation is strongly dependent on the phase of the estrous cycle, with mice in metestrous/diestrous (M/D) exhibiting significantly greater responses to abdominal stimulation compared to those in proestrous/estrous (P/E). Responses to abdominal stimulation in male mice were similar to females in M/D and were significantly differently from females in P/E. Interestingly, the sex and estrous cycle differences were specific to the abdomen as no significant differences in paw sensitivity were observed between males and females or across the estrous cycle. Quantification of pain-related behaviors following intracolonic injection of capsaicin further revealed that female mice display significantly higher nociceptive responses to intracolonic capsaicin, compared to males. Altogether, our results indicate that sex and the estrous cycle are important biological variables to be considered when studying abdominal and visceral sensitivity in mice.
Tests of disinfection methods for invasive snails and zooplankton: effects of treatment methods and contaminated materials

De Stasio BT, Acy CN, Frankel KE, Fritz GM, Lawhun SD. Tests of disinfection methods for invasive snails and zooplankton: effects of treatment methods and contaminated material. Lake Reserv Manage....
A practical drug allergy update: what you need to know about drug allergies but did not learn in medical school.

Formally, a drug allergy is a clinically significant adverse reaction mediated by IgE that is reproducible on rechallenge. To cause a drug allergy, a drug must be an intact multivalent allergen, such as a protein with a molecular weight greater than 5000, or be able to haptenate an endogenous protein. Functionally, all drugs listed in the “drug allergy” section of a medical record are drugs for which the patient’s physicians believe exposure carries significantly greater risks than benefits, judgments based primarily on what happened the last time the patient took the medication or on some underlying patient-specific condition. The majority of adverse drug reactions and thus reports of drug allergy in the medical record are nonallergic and even not im-munologically mediated. There are other significant, immunologically mediated adverse drug reactions in addition to IgE-mediated drug allergy. Drug-specific IgG can cause nephritis, hemolytic anemia, and reactions similar to serum sickness. Delayed-onset adverse drug reactions mediated by T cells are primarily cutaneous and cannot result in acute anaphylaxis. Individuals with reactions mediated by IgG or T cells cannot be desensitized. T-cell-mediated reactions can be blunted with corticosteroids. Fortunately many such reactions are quite mild. Some can be identified by patch testing.
Microstructure, slip distribution, and strain hardening in aluminum alloys

A microstructural approach has been used to explain the deformation characteristics which influence the formability of aluminum alloy sheet materials. Optical metallography and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the response of various aluminum alloys to uniaxial and biaxial deformation. The predominant strengthening mechanisms for a given alloy had the strongest effect on strain localization and biaxial strain hardening behavior. Dispersion-strengthened alloys displayed a wavy slip mode, and high levels of strain hardening and resistance to strain localization. Precipitation or solid-solution-strengthened alloys exhibited more localized deformation and lower capacities for biaxial strain hardening.
DMRT1 and the road to masculinity

This chapter summarizes the developments leading to our current understanding of the transcription factor doublesex and maleabnormal-3 related transcription factor 1 (DMRT1). This transcription factor is conserved in all vertebrates, and we attempt to capture this feature while emphasizing studies in humans and mice because they comprise the largest proportion of the DMRT1 literature. The conserved, gonad-specific expression profile of DMRT1, which signifies a dominant role in the testis, is conveyed through a detailed description of its profile in mice and the regulatory influences of environmental factors that influence both DMRT1 expression and gonad development in lower vertebrates. We discuss the mechanisms that control DMRT1 expression while highlighting the important attributes and limitations of the gene’s 5'-flanking region for accurate transcription and the potential significance of its highly conserved locus to gene expression and shared regulatory mechanisms. Functional insight on DMRT1 and its specific roles in Sertoli cells and germ cells is conveyed largely by a summary of phenotypic findings in Dmrt1-mutant mouse models and a study of DMRT1 deficiency in spermatogonial stem cells, which is then compared to what is known about DMRT1 in humans.
Change in Treatments and Complications after Regionalizing High-Intensity Induction of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in a Community-Based Population, 2013-2017

Introduction: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may receive more appropriate care when treated regionally instead of locally, but studies have not adequately accounted for baseline differences between regional and local cohorts. In 2015, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated healthcare delivery system, started to shift AML induction from local (N=21) to regional (N=3) centers. We assessed the association of regionalization with the frequency of use of induction therapy and bone marrow transplantation, and with 60-day mortality. Methods: Information for all adult health plan members with ≥1 year of enrollment before receiving a diagnosis of AML during 2013-17 was obtained from the electronic health record. Multivariable methods were used to compare risk of induction, bone marrow transplantation, and death before and after 2015 (i.e., 2013-14 and 2016-17) after adjustment for baseline characteristics. Results: Of 662 patients, 38% were ≥75 years, 30% had an Elixhauser comorbidity index ≥5, and 10% died within the week following diagnosis. Among non-APL patients, we observed increased use of induction therapy (65% vs 49%, p=0.0003) and bone marrow transplantation (23% vs 13%, p=0.007) after 2015, while the 60-day mortality rate did not change (before 2015, 94 of 278 [32.7%]; after 2015, 82 of 249 [32.9%]; p=0.83). Conclusion: In this community-based population that includes advanced elderly patients with substantial comorbidity, regionalization was associated with increased use of induction therapy and bone marrow transplantation but no increase in the risk of 60-day mortality. Older patients can benefit from AML induction therapy at specialized centers. Download : Download high-res image (129KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure . Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Contractual Disputes and the Channels for Inter-firm Communication

Inter-firm information exchange as to the reliability of trade partners supports the development of markets by mitigating information asymmetries and providing the basis for relational contracting. While this general point has been made in a variety of contexts, most of the literature analyzes only a single channel or institutional mechanism that firms in a particular environment have for disseminating relational information. That is, some researchers have focused on the importance of informal communication within a group or network of firms; others have concentrated on the role of a formal organization that helps bring about or mediate these information flows. This paper makes a contribution to this literature by exploring the interaction of formal and informal mechanisms as determinants of relational information flows. Specifically, we explore whether membership in a formal organization, a business association, contributes to inter-firm communication about disputes with trade partners if firms already communicate informally. Based on evidence from five transition countries, we find that business associations' role in this regard is in some circumstances statistically and economically significant even when controlling for the level of pre-existing inter-firm communication. Notably, we find that the marginal value of business associations can be particularly important when the transacting parties are in different cities; in this case, the probability that information of a firm's dispute with a client becomes known to the client's other suppliers increases by eighteen percentage points. In addition, we find that the role of business associations in promoting relational information flows is sensitive to the degree of local competition in their members' markets. We also confirm that firms that already engage in regular informal communication with trade partners are much more likely to have news of their disputes disseminated and we show how the flows of relational information are sensitive to a firm's institutional environment and specific features of a bilateral relationship in which a dispute might arise.
Resting-State Functional Connectivity between Putamen and Salience Network and Childhood Body Mass Index

Introduction: Although the putamen has a significant role in reward-seeking and motivated behaviors, including eating and food-seeking, minorities’ diminished returns (MDRs) suggest that individual-level risk and protective factors have weaker effects for Non-Hispanic Black than Non-Hispanic White individuals. However, limited research is available on the relevance of MDRs in terms of the role of putamen functional connectivity on body mass index (BMI). Purpose: Building on the MDRs framework and conceptualizing race and socioeconomic status (SES) indicators as social constructs, we explored racial and SES differences in the associations between putamen functional connectivity to the salience network and children’s BMI. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of 6473 9–10-year-old Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The primary independent variable was putamen functional connectivity to the salience network, measured by fMRI. The primary outcome was the children’s BMI. Age, sex, neighborhood income, and family structure were the covariates. Race, family structure, parental education, and household income were potential moderators. For data analysis, we used mixed-effect models in the overall sample and by race. Results: Higher right putamen functional connectivity to the salience network was associated with higher BMI in Non-Hispanic White children. The same association was missing for Non-Hispanic Black children. While there was no overall association in the pooled sample, a significant interaction was found, suggesting that the association between right putamen functional connectivity to the salience network and children’s BMI was modified by race. Compared to Non-Hispanic White children, Non-Hispanic Black children showed a weaker association between right putamen functional connectivity to the salience network and BMI. While parental education and household income did not moderate our association of interest, marital status altered the associations between putamen functional connectivity to the salience network and children’s BMI. These patterns were observed for right but not left putamen. Other/Mixed Race children also showed a pattern similar to Non-Hispanic Black children. Conclusions: The association between right putamen functional connectivity to the salience network and children’s BMI may depend on race and marital status but not parental education and household income. While right putamen functional connectivity to the salience network is associated with Non-Hispanic White children’s BMI, Non-Hispanic Black children’ BMI remains high regardless of their putamen functional connectivity to the salience network. This finding is in line with MDRs, which attributes diminished effects of individual-risk and protective factors for Non-Hispanic Black children to racism, stratification, and segregation.
Seventh-Order Polynomial Constituting the Exact Buckling Mode of a Functionally Graded Column

In this paper, a functionally graded material column that is simply supported at one end and clamped at the other is considered. The buckling mode is postulated as a high-order polynomial. Six nove...
Bringing contention in: a critical perspective on political parties as institutions

Scholars working in the analytic traditions of Historical Institutionalism (HI) and American Political Development (APD) have increasingly turned their attention to the role of political parties in...
Management of Patients with Carotid Bifurcation Disease

A 72-year-old white male was referred for evaluation and management following the finding of an asymptomatic carotid bruit, picked up on routine physical examination by his primary-care physician. The patient was asymptomatic with respect to ocular or hemispheric ischaemic events. His risk factors included a 30-year history of smoking one pack of cigarettes a day, which he quit a year ago. He had hypertension that was controlled well by two drugs. He had no history of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, or symptoms of peripheral vascular disease. On physical examination, his temporal pulses were equal. His carotid pulses were full and equal, but there was a loud bruit over the right carotid bifurcation. His femoral, popliteal, dorsalis paedis and posterior tibial pulses were normally palpable bilaterally.
Managerial ownership and firm valuation

Abstract We study the relation between managerial ownership and Tobin's q ( Q ) for 123 Japanese firms from 1987 to 1995. Managers in Japanese firms own a smaller stake in their firms relative to their US counterparts. Our initial analyses using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model show a negative (positive) relation between Q and managerial ownership at low (high) levels of ownership. However, we argue that this finding is most likely a statistical artifact. When we control for firm fixed effects, suggested by recent literature, we reach a different conclusion. Specifically, we find that Q increases monotonically with managerial ownership. Our findings, therefore, suggest that as ownership increases, there is a greater alignment of managerial interests with those of stockholders. This conclusion remains when both managerial ownership and Q are treated as endogenous variables in a simultaneous equation system.
Influence of module requirements on flat plate module design evolution

Photovoltaic module design features and performance characteristics have undergone significant evolutionary changes between pre-1975 First Generation configurations and current Third Generation design technology. A major contributor to this evolution was an iterative process of continuing design guideline and specification development for major module procurements. Module manufacturers have actively responded to these evolving requirements through progressively improving designs. This iterative/feedback process is described. Interim design guidelines and preliminary design options reflecting the LSA 1982 Module Technical Readiness Specification (November 1979) are described with respect to previous design and performance requirements.
Aromatic Polyketide Synthases (Purification, Characterization, and Antibody Development to Benzalacetone Synthase from Raspberry Fruits).

p-Hydroxyphenylbutan-2-one, the characteristic aroma compound of raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.), is synthesized from p-coumaryl-coenzyme A and malonyl-coenzyme A in a two-step reaction sequence that is catalyzed by benzalacetone synthase and benzalacetone reductase (W. Borejsza-Wysocki and G. Hrazdina [1994] Phytochemistry 35: 623–628). Benzalacetone synthase condenses one malonate with p-coumarate to form the pathway intermediate p-hydroxyphenylbut-3-ene-2-one (p-hydroxybenzalacetone) in a reaction that is similar to those catalyzed by chalcone and stilbene synthases. We have obtained an enzyme preparation from ripe raspberries that was preferentially enriched in benzalacetone synthase (approximately 170-fold) over chalcone synthase (approximately 14-fold) activity. This preparation was used to characterize benzalacetone synthase and to develop polyclonal antibodies in rabbits. Benzalacetone synthase showed similarity in its molecular properties to chalcone synthase but differed distinctly in its substrate specificity, response to 2-mercaptoethanol and ethylene glycol, and induction in cell-suspension cultures. The product of the enzyme, p-hydroxybenzalacetone, inhibited mycelial growth of the raspberry pathogen Phytophthora fragariae var rubi at 250 [mu]M. We do not know whether the dual activity in the benzalacetone synthase preparation is the result of a bifunctional enzyme or is caused by contamination with chalcone synthase that was also present. The rapid induction of the enzyme in cell-suspension cultures upon addition of yeast extract and the toxicity of its product, p-hydroxybenzalacetone, to phytopathogenic fungi also suggest that the pathway may be part of a plant defense response.