cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inactivation of Smad4 leads to impaired ocular development and cataract formation

Abstract Purpose Signaling by members of the TGFβ superfamily of molecules is essential for embryonic development and homeostasis. Smad4, a key intracellular mediator in TGFβ signaling, forms transcriptional activator complexes with Activin-, BMP-, and TGFβ-restricted Smad proteins. However, the functional role of Smad4 in controlling different visual system compartments has not been fully investigated. Methods Using the Pax6 promoter-driven Cre transgenic, smad4 was conditionally inactivated in the lens, cornea and ectoderm of the eyelids. Standard histological and molecular analytical approaches were employed to reveal morphological and cellular changes. Results Inactivation of Smad4 in the lens led to microphthalmia and cataract formation in addition to the persistent adhesion of the retina to the lens and the iris to the cornea. Inactivation of Smad4 from the ectoderm of the eyelid and cornea caused disruption to eyelid fusion and proper development of the corneal epithelium and corneal stroma. Conclusions Smad4 is required for the development and maintenance of the lens in addition to the proper development of the cornea, eyelids, and retina.
Model-Based Methods for Assessment, Learning, and Instruction: Innovative Educational Technology at Florida State University

In this chapter, we describe our research and development efforts relating to eliciting, representing, and analyzing how individuals and small groups conceptualize complex problems. The methods described herein have all been developed and are in various states of being validated. In addition, the methods we describe have been automated and most have been integrated in an online model-based set of tools called HIMATT (Highly Interactive Model-based Assessment Tools and Technologies; available for research purposes at http://himatt.ezw.uni-freiburg.de/cgi-bin/hrun/himatt.pl and soon to be available on a server at Florida State University). HIMATT continues to expand in terms of the tools and technologies included. Our methods and tools represent an approach to learning and instruction that is now embedded in many of the graduate courses at Florida State University and also at the University of Freiburg. We call our approach model-based because it integrates representations of mental models and internal cognitive processes with tools that are used to (a) assess progress of learning, and (b) provide the basis for informative and reflective feedback during instruction.
Classification and description of flood mitigation measures

Classifications of flood mitigation measures are presented from the following standpoints: adjustment to natural hazards, flood damage prevention, flood damage reduction, flood policy making, and as the basic categories with individual measures. Five categories are: prevention, prediction, proofing, physical control (with subcategories of extensive and intensive measures) and insurance. Prevention mainly applies to humans-generated floods. Prediction enables warning, evacuation and meaningful flood defense. Proofing mainly includes zoning and coding regulations. Extensive physical (structural) measures consist of forest, grass and arable land controls, soil conservation, snow management, and urban flood control. Intensive physical (structural) measures include levees, dikes and walls; reservoirs, retention and release basins; increase of channel capacity, parallel and diversion flood channels; and flood plain polders and platforms. Various types of insurances include public, combined public and private, and private insurance programs.
Selective Ether/Ester C–O Cleavage of an Acetylated Lignin Model via Tandem Catalysis

Selective ether/ester C–O bond hydrogenolysis of an acetylated lignin model is achieved using a thermodynamically leveraged tandem catalytic strategy. Acetylation serves to (1) solubilize both lignin and lignin models and to (2) modify the reactivity of pendant hydroxy groups to promote more selective C–O cleavage.
Effect of postnatal malnutrition on plasma corticosteroid levels in male albino rats.

SummaryBasal morning plasma corti-costeroid concentrations were significantly elevated in 11 and 21 day old male albino rats suckled by dams receiving a 12% casein diet when compared to control rat...
Two dimensional thermo-optic beam steering using a silicon photonic optical phased array

Components for free space optical communication terminals such as lasers, amplifiers, and receivers have all seen substantial reduction in both size and power consumption over the past several decades. However, pointing systems, such as fast steering mirrors and gimbals, have remained large, slow and power-hungry. Optical phased arrays provide a possible solution for non-mechanical beam steering devices that can be compact and lower in power. Silicon photonics is a promising technology for phased arrays because it has the potential to scale to many elements and may be compatible with CMOS technology thereby enabling batch fabrication. For most free space optical communication applications, two-dimensional beam steering is needed. To date, silicon photonic phased arrays have achieved two-dimensional steering by combining thermo-optic steering, in-plane, with wavelength tuning by means of an output grating to give angular tuning, out-of-plane. While this architecture might work for certain static communication links, it would be difficult to implement for moving platforms. Other approaches have required N2 controls for an NxN element phased array, which leads to complexity. Hence, in this work we demonstrate steering using the thermo-optic effect for both dimensions with a simplified steering mechanism requiring only two control signals, one for each steering dimension.
Determination of 5-hydroxyindol acetic acid in plasm by ion chromatography

Objective:To establish an ion chromatographic method for the determination of 5-hydroxyindol acetic acid in serum.Methods:The separation was carried on an IonPac AS11 analytical column with a gradient eluent of 0 mmol/L～25 mmol/L KOH and at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and detected by suppressed conductivity detector.Results:The method had a good linear correlation(r≥0.9994) and precision(RSD5.0%).The average recoveries were 87%～99% and the detection limit was 0.063 μg/ml.Conclusion:The method is simple,quick,sensitive and precise,and suitable for the analysis of 5-hydroxyindol acetic acid in the serum.
Generator of GSM Test Clock Based on ADF4360-9

PLL with integrated VCO has been used widely in communication system.The principle of phase locked loop and the performance characterisitics of fully integrated voltage controlled oscillator ADF4360-9 are analyzed.The generator of GSM test clock based on ADF4360-9 designed.The paper elaborates on the structure,performance and application of the chip.The parameters of the circuit,the hardware circuit and software program are provided.Test data shows that the result is correct basically.
Imperfect Corrections or Correct Imperfections? Psychometric Corrections in Meta-Analysis

There is understandable concern by LeBreton, Scherer, and James (2014) that psychometric corrections in organizational research are nothing more than a form of statistical hydraulics. Statistical corrections for measurement error variance and range restriction might inappropriately ratchet observed effects upward into regions of practical significance and publication glory—at the expense of highly questionable results.
Tyrosine Hydroxylase Expression in Type II Cochlear Afferents in Mice

Acoustic information propagates from the ear to the brain via spiral ganglion neurons that innervate hair cells in the cochlea. These afferents include unmyelinated type II fibers that constitute 5 % of the total, the majority being myelinated type I neurons. Lack of specific genetic markers of type II afferents in the cochlea has been a roadblock in studying their functional role. Unexpectedly, type II afferents were visualized by reporter proteins induced by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-driven Cre recombinase. The present study was designed to determine whether TH-driven Cre recombinase (TH-2A-CreER) provides a selective and reliable tool for identification and genetic manipulation of type II rather than type I cochlear afferents. The “TH-2A-CreER neurons” radiated from the spiral lamina, crossed the tunnel of Corti, turned towards the base of the cochlea, and traveled beneath the rows of outer hair cells. Neither the processes nor the somata of TH-2A-CreER neurons were labeled by antibodies that specifically labeled type I afferents and medial efferents. TH-2A-CreER-positive processes partially co-labeled with antibodies to peripherin, a known marker of type II afferents. Individual TH-2A-CreER neurons gave off short branches contacting 7–25 outer hair cells (OHCs). Only a fraction of TH-2A-CreER boutons were associated with CtBP2-immunopositive ribbons. These results show that TH-2A-CreER provides a selective marker for type II versus type I afferents and can be used to describe the morphology and arborization pattern of type II cochlear afferents in the mouse cochlea.
IL-20 promotes epithelial healing of the injured mouse cornea.

After corneal epithelial injury, the ensuing inflammatory response is necessary for efficient wound healing. While beneficial healing effects are attributed to recruited neutrophils and platelets, dysregulated inflammation (too little or too much) is associated with impaired wound healing. The purpose of this study was to use an established C57BL/6J mouse model of corneal injury to evaluate the potential modulatory role of interleukin-20 (IL-20) on the inflammatory and healing responses to epithelial wounding. In the uninjured cornea, immunofluorescence staining for IL-20 and its receptor, IL-20RA, was observed on basal epithelial cells at the limbus. After a 2 mm central epithelial abrasion, IL-20 staining was also observed in stromal keratocytes and ELISA studies showed a significant increase (nearly 3-fold) in IL-20 expression. Injured corneas healed more slowly when treated with a topical application of a neutralizing anti-IL-20 antibody. While corneal epithelial cell division and epithelial nerve recovery measured at 24 h post-injury were reduced compared to controls, neutrophil influx into the cornea was increased. In contrast, topical application of recombinant IL-20 (rIL-20) decreased corneal inflammation as evidenced by reductions in limbal vessel dilatation, platelet extravasation, neutrophil recruitment and CXCL1 expression. In wild type mice, topical rIL-20 had a limited effect on corneal wound healing and resulted in only a slight increase in epithelial cell division and epithelial nerve recovery; the rate of wound closure was unaffected. To clarify the effect of IL-20 on corneal wound healing, rIL-20 was topically applied to neutropenic wild type (WT) mice and mutant mice (ɣδ T cell deficient mice and CD11a deficient mice), all of which have well characterized reductions in neutrophil recruitment and delayed wound healing after corneal injury. In each case, rIL-20 restored corneal wound healing to baseline levels while neutrophil recruitment remained low. Thus, it appears that IL-20 plays a beneficial and direct role in corneal wound healing while negatively regulating neutrophil and platelet infiltration.
Neonatal Amygdala Functional Connectivity at Rest in Healthy and Preterm Infants and Early Internalizing Symptoms.

Objective Alterations in the normal developmental trajectory of amygdala resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) have been associated with atypical emotional processes and psychopathology. Little is known, however, regarding amygdala rs-FC at birth or its relevance to outcomes. This study examined amygdala rs-FC in healthy, full-term (FT) infants and in very preterm (VPT) infants, and tested whether variability of neonatal amygdala rs-FC predicted internalizing symptoms at age 2 years. Method Resting state fMRI data were obtained shortly after birth from 65 FT infants (gestational age [GA] ≥36 weeks) and 57 VPT infants (GA Results In FT and VPT infants, the amygdala demonstrated positive correlations with subcortical and limbic structures and negative correlations with cortical regions, although magnitudes were decreased in VPT infants. Neonatal amygdala rs-FC predicted internalizing symptoms at age 2 years with regional specificity consistent with known pathophysiology in older populations: connectivity with the anterior insula related to depressive symptoms, with the dorsal anterior cingulate related to generalized anxiety, and with the medial prefrontal cortex related to behavioral inhibition. Conclusion Amygdala rs-FC is well established in neonates. Variability in regional neonatal amygdala rs-FC predicted internalizing symptoms at 2 years, suggesting that risk for internalizing symptoms may be established in neonatal amygdala functional connectivity patterns.
Sinusitis in patients on tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors.

Background Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors have revolutionized treatment of many inflammatory diseases. Sinusitis after initiation of TNF-α inhibitors has been observed, but has not been well described in the literature. We aim to characterize the clinical features of sinusitis in patients on anti-TNF-α therapy. Methods This is a retrospective chart review of 28 patients on a TNF-α inhibitor diagnosed with sinusitis by otolaryngologists at Duke University. Patient demographics, sinusitis characteristics, and treatment course were studied by chart review. Results The prevalence of sinusitis diagnosed and treated by an otolaryngologist was less than 1%. Of the 28 patients studied, 12 (42.9%) had a history of preexisting sinusitis and 16 (57.1%) had new-onset sinusitis. 71.4% were diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps (CRSsNP), with disease mainly involving the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses. No patients had major extrasinus complications or required hospital admission or intravenous (IV) antibiotics. 35.7% (n = 10), including 44% (7/16) of new-onset patients required a surgical intervention after initiating anti-TNF therapy. 14.3% (n = 4) of the cohort had improvement in sinonasal symptoms after stopping, changing, or holding doses of the TNF-α inhibitor. Conclusion Anti-TNF-α therapy can be associated with new-onset sinusitis, mainly CRSsNP. Overall, the percentage of patients on a TNF-α inhibitor seeking consultation from an otolaryngologist is low. While some patients with new-onset sinusitis will require surgery, modification of anti-TNF-α therapy should be considered as an option in the medical management of these patients.
Regulatory Aspects of Estrogens and Progestins in Human Food: Past, Present, and Future

Controversy abounds regarding the use of anabolic growth-promoting agents, like estrogens, in food-producing animals and the human health risks associated with exposure to residues of these compounds in edible products from treated animals. The recent publicity on the increased risk of breast cancer in women undergoing postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy and the reproductive abnormalities in alligators in Florida’s Lake Apopka caused by environmental contaminants has heightened consumers’ concerns over exposure to environmental estrogens that are present in the food supply as natural components or as environmental contaminants (Guillette et al, 1994; Hulka et al, 1994). Steroidal sex hormones and synthetic derivatives are used in the United States to enhance production in food-producing animals. More recently, steroidal and other hormonal agents have been used as reproductive aids for the synchronization of the ovarian cycle in certain food-producing species, thus assisting in herd management.
Early Rates of Revision of Knee Cartilage Restoration Surgery and Conversion to Arthroplasty within Five Years

Objectives:To examine the early rates of revision surgery for common knee cartilage restoration procedures performed in the United States, and subsequent conversion to total or unicondylar knee arthroplasty within five years.Methods:Using the MarketScan Research Databases (Truven Health Analytics), we examined all patients who underwent knee microfracture (CPT 29879), autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) (CPT 27412) or osteochondral grafting (CPT 27415, 27416, 29866, 29867), within the encompassed timeframe (2003-2014), and who remained tracked within the system for two contiguous years post-operatively to assess rate of revision surgery for complications and five contiguous years to assess revision to either total or unicondylar knee arthroplasty.Results:Although microfracture remains the most common articular cartilage restorative procedure, its rates have been slowly declining since 2009, where as rates of ACI and osteochondral grafting have remained relatively stable (Image). 76,304 microfracture...
Abstract 5478: The TRPA1 Ca2+-permeable channel mediates a non-canonical redox adaptation in cancer cells

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a natural byproduct of oxygen metabolism, occurs in all aerobic organisms at a controlled rate. Cancer cells are subjected to numerous cellular insults, including dysregulated oncogenes and dissociation from their natural extracellular matrix (ECM) niches, leading to the generation of high levels of ROS. Although cancer cells possess enhanced canonical antioxidant programs that neutralize ROS, they nevertheless exhibit prominent ROS levels in response to these insults, suggesting the existence of additional programs that allow cancer cells to tolerate elevated ROS. In this study, we provide evidence for an unconventional mechanism for redox adaptation involving the ROS-activated, Ca 2+ -permeable TRPA1 channel, which normally functions as an irritant receptor in sensory neurons but is highly upregulated in breast, lung, malignant neural sheath, and other tumors. We found that TRPA1 overexpression enhances survival and proliferation of MCF-10A cells under conditions of matrix-detachment and this effect was dependent on TRPA1 activation by ROS generated as loss of matrix anchorage. In MCF-10A acini, TRPA1 expression induced Ca 2+ entry in ECM-deprived cells in the luminal space and promoted their survival and proliferation. Conversely, TRPA1 knockdown inhibited Ca 2+ responses to ROS generated through ECM detachment and induced clearance of cells from the luminal space in breast cancer spheroids. TRPA1 was also activated by ROS-inducing chemotherapies and drove chemoresistance in breast, lung and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cells, and its downregulation suppressed breast xenograft tumor growth and enhanced chemosensitivity. TRPA1 mediated these effects independent of antioxidant responses, but through activation of cellular survival and anti-apoptotic programs involving the RAS-ERK/AKT/mTOR pathways. Together, our findings describe an unexpected mechanism whereby cancer cells co-opt the neuronal TRPA1 channel in order to adapt to oxidative environments. This TRPA1-induced response is distinct from canonical redox adaptation mechanisms that rely on antioxidant program. As TRPA1 inhibitors are currently in clinical trials for pain and respiratory therapies, these studies raise the possibility of using these inhibitors as therapeutic chemosensitizers in TRPA1-enriched tumors. Citation Format: Nobuaki Takahashi, Hsing-Yu Chen, Isaac Harris, Daniel Stover, Roderick Bronson, Thomas Deraedt, Karen Cichowski, Alana Welm, Gordon Mills, Joan Brugge. The TRPA1 Ca 2+ -permeable channel mediates a non-canonical redox adaptation in cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5478. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5478
X marks the spot

This essay critically assesses the shift from Latina/o to Latinx to articulate new formations of language, history, and cultural politics. Taking cue from Suzanne Oboler’s foundational 1995 book Et...
GaN in AC/DC Power Converters

With low power loss and high switching capability, GaN device technology can benefit power electronics converters in a number of ways. GaN devices can substitute Si devices in a converter for improved efficiency and power density. In addition, GaN devices can simplify the converter topology, leading to lower cost and higher reliability. GaN devices can also introduce system-level benefits as a result of their fast speed and therefore better dynamics. They can also enable new applications. This chapter presents how GaN technology can benefit AC/DC converters, covering both the single-phase and three-phase cases. Associated challenges in using GaN devices and potential solutions are discussed.
Illnesses Associated with Freshwater Recreation During International Travel

International travel, adventure travel, and eco-tourism are increasing over the past few decades. This review aims to summarize the spectrum of infections associated with recreational freshwater activities and international travel. Recreational water activities can be associated with a wide range of infections. Acute febrile illnesses due to leptospirosis and schistosomiasis are not uncommon in travelers following extensive freshwater exposure. Aeromonas and other water-associated pathogens are important to consider in a traveler presenting with a skin and soft tissue infection. Recreational water activities are often associated with diarrheal illnesses, especially in children, and the range of enteric pathogens includes bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Shigella species and the protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia duodenalis. Infections due to free-living amebas though rare can lead to fulminant central nervous system infections. A diverse range of infections may be associated with freshwater exposure, and it is important that these entities are considered in a returning traveler presenting with an acute illness.
Trust of Learning Systems: Considerations for Code, Algorithms, and Affordances for Learning

This chapter provides a synthesis on the literature for Machine Learning (ML), trust in automation, trust in code, and transparency. The chapter introduces the concept of ML and discusses three drivers of trust in ML-based systems: code structure; algorithm performance, transparency, and error management – algorithm factors; and affordances for learning. Code structure offers a static affordance for trustworthiness evaluations that can be both deep and peripheral. The overall performance of the algorithms and the transparency of the inputs, process, and outputs provide an opportunity for dynamic and experiential trustworthiness evaluations. Predictability and understanding are the foundations of trust and must be considered in ML applications. Many ML paradigms neglect the notion of environmental affordances for learning, which from a trust perspective, may in fact be the most important differentiator between ML systems and traditional automation. The learning affordances provide contextualised pedigree for trust considerations. In combination, the trustworthiness aspects of the code, dynamic performance and transparency, and learning affordances offer structural, evidenced performance and understanding, as well as pedigree information from which ML approaches can be evaluated.
Parasitic Attachments by Overwintering Silver Lampreys, Ichthyomyzon unicuspis, and Chestnut Lampreys, Ichthyomyzon castaneus

We present evidence that at least some parasitic-phase silver lampreys, Ichthyomyzon unicuspis, and chestnut lampreys, I. castaneus, remain attached to host fish during the winter. Lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, harvested through the ice by spearfishers in the Lake Winnebago system in Wisconsin may bear silver lampreys or fresh lamprey wounds, and sturgeon with lamprey marks were significantly larger than sturgeon without them. Silver lampreys collected on paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, in the Wisconsin River in March were not significantly longer than silver lampreys collected previously in late October, but they were significantly heavier, an indication that they were feeding to at least some extent during the intervening period. Other large fish species, including northern pike, Esox lucius, and flathead catfish, Pylodictus olivaris, have been collected or observed during the winter with silver or chestnut lampreys attached. Although energy and nutrient intake by parasitic lampreys may be reduced during the winter, lampreys attached to hosts may also benefit from the hosts' mobility and ability to avoid potentially harmful situations.
Cyberbullying Policy in Public Schools

iii List of Tables vi List of Figures vii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2: Review of the Literature 9 Legal Questions Surrounding Cyberbullying 9 Anti-Cyberbullying Policy Guidelines and Recommendations 23 Effectiveness of School Policies 34 Conclusion 36 Purpose of the Study 40 Significance and Potential Contributions 40 Conceptual Framework and General Research Questions 41 Limitations of the Study 41 Chapter 3: Methods 43 Strategy and Rationale 43 Participants 43 Entry Procedure 46 Data Collection Procedure 48 Data Analysis 54 Data Validity and Reliability 55 Chapter 4: Results 56 Thematic Data Analysis 56
The Chemistry of the Fe-M-S Complexes (M = Mo, W)

In nitrogen-fixing organisms, the catalytic reduction of N2 to ammonia is carried out by the molybdoenzymes generally referred to as nitrogenases. These nitrogen-fixing enzymes consist of two protein components, the Mo-Fe protein and the Fe protein. The former contains ~30 iron atoms, roughly equal amounts of acid-labile sulfur and 1–2 molybdenum atoms per 200,000 to 230,000 M.W., while the latter contains approximately 4Fe and 4S2- per 55,000 to 65,000 M.W.1–3 Evidence for the involvement of metals in nitrogen fixation has been provided by the following observations: a) nutritional requirements for additional Fe and Mo for growth on N2 versus fixed N;4,5 b) removal of Fe and Mo results in loss of activity;” and c) alteration of substrate affinities, changes in rates, product mixtures and electron allocation in vanadium-substituted nitrogenase compared with the natural molybdoenzyme.6
Arrays and Strings

Compound data structures consist of a possibly variable number of basic data structures. They are given meaning through code. In this chapter, we begin our study of compound data structures with the simplest and most fundamental of all: the array, which consists of a contiguous range of more basic data structures, all of the same type. An array of int data is a typical example. An array is indexable, allowing reading or writing of each of its elements. Besides reading and writing element-wise, iteration over an array can be seen as a fundamental operation; hence, arrays and loops go hand in hand.
Quantifying and Characterizing Trainee Participation in a Major Academic Radiology Department.

Objective Trainees play an important role in the delivery of medical services in academic medical centers, yet the full extent of their contribution in radiology is unknown. The purpose of this study was to quantify trainee involvement in a single large academic radiology department. Materials and Methods In this Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective study performed in a tertiary care academic medical center, we identified the proportion of radiology reports with trainee involvement (by means of report co-signature) between July 2015 and June 2016. For each exam, we documented the modality, whether a trainee co-signed the report, and the division/subspecialty of the attending radiologist. We computed the overall proportion of radiology reports that involved a trainee and compared this proportion between imaging modalities, type of patient setting (Emergency Department, inpatient, outpatient), and across subspecialty divisions using Chi-square tests. Results Overall, we analyzed 607,074 radiology reports, of which trainees co-signed 239,187 (39.4%) reports. Trainee involvement varied considerably by division, ranging from 7.1% (ultrasound division) to 99.2% (cardiovascular imaging division) of reports, P Conclusions Less than half of the imaging studies performed in an academic radiology department involved radiology trainees. Similar data and studies at other institutions may be useful to help define, monitor and improve optimal trainee education nationally.
B c mesons and their properties on the light front

We investigate the unequal mass relativistic bound state system, the $B_c$ mesons, in a light-front Hamiltonian formalism. We adopt an effective Hamiltonian based on soft-wall light-front holography, together with a longitudinal confinement that was first introduced for heavy quarkonium. We also include the one gluon-exchange interaction with a running coupling, which produces the spin structure. We present the mass spectrum and light-front wave functions. We also use the light-front wave functions to calculate decay constants, charge and momentum densities, as well as distribution amplitudes. The results are compared with experiments and other theoretical approaches, all of which are in reasonable agreement.
Effects of Acute Deltamethrin Exposure in Adult and Developing Sprague Dawley Rats on Acoustic Startle Response in Relation to Deltamethrin Brain and Plasma Concentrations.

Deltamethrin (DLM) is a commonly used pesticide that helps to control crop destruction, disease, and nuisance insects. In rodents DLM can produce choreoathetosis, salivation, and decreased acoustic startle responses (ASR). Herein, adult Sprague Dawley rats were assessed for ASR 2 h after DLM delivered in 5 ml/kg corn oil, however no decrease was observed. Therefore, a test-retest protocol was used to reduce variability, and the effects on ASR on postnatal day 15 (P15) and adult rats were assessed 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after DLM administration (0, 1, 2, or 4 mg/kg for P15 rats and 0, 2, 8, or 25 mg/kg for adults). In a separate set of rats identically treated, DLM levels were determined in blood and brain. DLM (8 or 25 mg/kg) in adult rats decreased ASR up to 4 h, whereas in P15 rats decreases were observed between 2 and 8 h. The adult 25 mg/kg group showed consistent signs of salivation and tremor, whereas in P15 rats salivation was observed in the 2 and 4 mg/kg groups and tremor was observed at all doses over the 8-h period. Mortality was observed in all P15 dose groups but not in adults. Dose-dependent increases of DLM in blood and brain regardless of age were observed. At approximately equivalent whole brain concentrations, effects were more pronounced in P15 rats than in adult rats. Comparable brain levels of DLM do not explain differences in ASR and tremor between the P15 and adult rats. These data indicate age-dependent differences in sensitivity to DLM.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Cesarean Delivery Among Alabama Providers.

OBJECTIVES A multicenter, randomized controlled trial has demonstrated the benefit of adding azithromycin to routine preoperative antibiotics in unscheduled cesarean deliveries (CDs) to prevent surgical site infections. We sought to describe and identify barriers to the implementation of azithromycin prophylaxis for CDs by Alabama healthcare providers. METHODS We conducted an online, self-administered survey of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) providers in Alabama. E-mail addresses were obtained from a publicly available list. We sent an invitation to complete an anonymous online survey to 478 providers after excluding incompatible addresses and providers who previously opted out of the survey platform. After the initial survey, three reminders to complete the survey were sent. Standard questions regarding population and provider demographics were asked. We assessed timing, duration, and type of antibiotic used for scheduled cesareans and unscheduled (labor) cesareans, and the reasons for not using azithromycin for prophylaxis. Results were compared using the Student t test and χ2 test as appropriate. RESULTS Of the 66 OB/GYN providers who responded to the survey, 44 (66.7%) performed CDs. Most providers (59.1%) identified as female, served a mix of urban and rural communities (54.5%), and performed deliveries at a level IV hospital (54.5%) with >2000 deliveries annually (52.3%). Most providers (77.3%) reported that an antibiotic stewardship committee supervised antibiotic use at their hospital. For unscheduled cesareans, 54.5% reported the use of azithromycin and 47.7% for scheduled cesareans. The most common reason for not currently using azithromycin was being unaware of evidence for its use (55.6%). The only factors associated with azithromycin use were the urban/rural mix of the provider's patient population (P = 0.03) and the hospital level (P < 0.01). More providers serving a primarily urban population reported azithromycin use (87.5%) compared with those serving in a rural (33.3%) or mixed (47.6%) population. In addition, 74.2% of the obstetricians who delivered in a level 3 or 4 hospital reported using azithromycin prophylaxis, whereas only 22.2% of level 1 or 2 hospital providers reported this usage. CONCLUSIONS Only 56.8% of Alabama obstetrics providers reported using azithromycin for CD, which is both effective and cost saving for prevention of surgical site infections. More needs to be done to increase awareness of these benefits.
Do Great Minds Think Alike? : Racial/Ethnic and Gender Differences in Mindset of Undergraduate Engineering Students

In this work-in-progress research category paper, we explore diversity and inclusion in undergraduate engineering programs by examining racial/ethnic and gender differences in undergraduate engineering students’ growth and fixed mindsets. We use multiple regression analyses on survey data to examine the main and interaction effects of race/ethnicity and gender on growth and fixed mindset to answer our overarching research questions: “How do fixed and growth mindset differ by race/ethnicity and gender for undergraduate engineering students?” and “To what extent do undergraduate engineering students’ race/ethnicity and gender interact for growth or fixed mindset?” Our results indicate that there are significant racial/ethnic group differences but no gender differences on growth and fixed mindset. Also, we found that gender did not moderate the relationship between race/ethnicity and mindset. Thus, while the men and women in our sample appear to share similar mindsets, most of the participants of different racial/ethnic backgrounds did not share similar mindsets.
Long-term treatment with human immunoglobulin for antisynthetase syndrome-associated interstitial lung disease.

Abstract Background Interstitial lung disease-associated antisynthetase syndrome (AS-ILD) carries significant morbidity and mortality. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs are the mainstay of treatment. Human immunoglobulin (IVIg), an immunomodulator without immunosuppressive properties, is effective in myositis but the evidence supporting its use in ILD is scarce. Objective To describe clinical outcomes of AS-ILD patients receiving IVIg. Methods Retrospective analysis of AS-ILD patients. Linear mixed models using restricted maximum likelihood estimation was used to estimate the change in lung function and corticosteroid dose over time. Results Data from 17 patients was analyzed. Median follow-up was 24.6 months. Fourteen patients had refractory disease. The mean percent-predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%) (p = 0.048) and percent-predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO%) (p = 0.0223) increased over time, while the mean prednisone dose (p 10% increase in FVC%, including two who used IVIg as initial treatment. Five patients showed a >10% increase in DLCO% and TLC%. Nine (53%) patients experienced side effects. Conclusions IVIg may be a useful complementary therapy in active progressive AS-ILD but is associated with potential side effects. Fssssurther investigation is required to determine the value of IVIg as an initial treatment in AS-ILD.
Old Age and Centenarians: The Human ‘Warranty Period’

More humans are surviving to older ages than ever before. The age structure of our species is shifting from young to old, a phenomenon referred to as population aging. It is global in nature, uniquely human, and has become one of the greatest challenges ever encountered by our species. The basis for this assertion is that biological function (homeostasis) declines with advancing age and at the same time pathologies, frailty, and disability increase. Given these biological realities, this article examines whether humans have a warranty period, when do we grow old, and what are the odds of becoming a centenarian.
[An analysis on incidence of HIV-1 epidemics among men who have sex with men in Sichuan Province during 2011-2015].

The assay was used in HIV/AIDS surveillance sentinel sites to identify recent HIV-1 infection, to estimate HIV-1 incidence and understand the epidemic trends among men who have sex with men during 2011-2015. During 2011-2015, the HIV-1 incidence of men who have sex with men was 5.16%(95%CI: 4.65%-5.66%) in Sichuan Province. According to , a total of 9 cities had been divided into two type of regions: the first type(the proportion of live HIV/AIDS accounts for more than 0.1% of the permanent population, and the number of live HIV/AIDS has reached 500 cases and above) and the second type(the proportion of live HIV/AIDS accounts for 0.03% to 0.100% of the permanent population, and the number of live HIV/AIDS has reached 100-500 cases). During 2011-2015, the HIV-1 incidence of the second type was 4.24% (95%CI: 3.72%-4.76%). The HIV-1 incidence of men who have sex with men was at a high level. The spread of HIV-1 to the second region was possible.
Financial Reporting Comparability and Costs of Seasoned Equity Offerings

This study examines the relationship between financial statement comparability and the valuation of seasoned equity offerings (SEOs). We argue that financial statement comparability allows underwriters and investors to better assess the quality of firms that tap into the seasoned equity market through better comparison with peer firms, thus reducing price protection on the part of the underwriter and manipulation of investor perceptions about the true underlying value of the firm’s equity securities on the part of the firm. As a result, we find that SEO firms with better comparability experience less underpricing at the time of seasoned equity offerings. We also find that better financial statement comparability attenuates management’s ability to sell overvalued equity, especially for SEO firms with non-negative earnings surprises and positive real earnings management. Findings in this paper provide empirical evidence to support the decision usefulness of financial statement comparability.
Youth in Motion: Applying Theory and Best Practice to Enhance PETE/HETE Recruitment

Declines in enrollment in teacher education and shortages of K–12 teachers have led to increased focus on recruitment in physical education teacher education and health education teacher education ...
Analysis and experimental comparison of range-based control for dual-stage nanopositioners

Abstract In this paper, a novel range-based control algorithm for dual-stage nanopositioners is studied. Dual-stage nanopositioning systems have the powerful ability to achieve high-speed and long-range positioning by coupling a short-range, high-speed actuator with a long-range, low-speed actuator. One of the drawbacks of currently implemented control algorithms is that they tend to determine control allocation to the individual actuators based on the frequency of the desired motion. This can result in reduced positioning resolution and increased energy use, thus motivating this work on a control algorithm that considers range. The range-based algorithm allows the user to allocate control efforts to the individual actuators based on their range capabilities. This paper discusses the analysis, design, and implementation of the range-based control algorithm and highlights its benefits by experimentally comparing it to four other widely used dual-stage positioner control algorithms. Experimental results show that the method effectively splits control effort between the actuators based on range and results in reduced tracking error.
HiC-ACT: improved detection of chromatin interactions from Hi-C data via aggregated Cauchy test.

Summary Genome-wide chromatin conformation capture technologies such as Hi-C are commonly employed to study chromatin spatial organization. In particular, to identify statistically significant long-range chromatin interactions from Hi-C data, most existing methods such as Fit-Hi-C/FitHiC2 and HiCCUPS assume that all chromatin interactions are statistically independent. Such an independence assumption is reasonable at low resolution (e.g., 40 kb bin) but is invalid at high resolution (e.g., 5 or 10 kb bins) because spatial dependency of neighboring chromatin interactions is non-negligible at high resolution. Our previous hidden Markov random field-based methods accommodate spatial dependency but are computationally intensive. It is urgent to develop approaches that can model spatial dependence in a computationally efficient and scalable manner. Here, we develop HiC-ACT, an aggregated Cauchy test (ACT)-based approach, to improve the detection of chromatin interactions by post-processing results from methods assuming independence. To benchmark the performance of HiC-ACT, we re-analyzed deeply sequenced Hi-C data from a human lymphoblastoid cell line, GM12878, and mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Our results demonstrate advantages of HiC-ACT in improving sensitivity with controlled type I error. By leveraging information from neighboring chromatin interactions, HiC-ACT enhances the power to detect interactions with lower signal-to-noise ratio and similar (if not stronger) epigenetic signatures that suggest regulatory roles. We further demonstrate that HiC-ACT peaks show higher overlap with known enhancers than Fit-Hi-C/FitHiC2 peaks in both GM12878 and mESCs. HiC-ACT, effectively a summary statistics-based approach, is computationally efficient (∼6 min and ∼2 GB memory to process 25,000 pairwise interactions).
Spatiotemporal coordination of transcription preinitiation complex assembly in live cells.

Summary Transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) requires preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly at gene promoters. In the dynamic nucleus, where thousands of promoters are broadly distributed in chromatin, it is unclear how multiple individual components converge on any target to establish the PIC. Here we use live-cell, single-molecule tracking in S. cerevisiae to visualize constrained exploration of the nucleoplasm by PIC components and Mediator’s key role in guiding this process. On chromatin, TFIID/TATA-binding protein (TBP), Mediator, and RNA Pol II instruct assembly of a short-lived PIC, which occurs infrequently but efficiently within a few seconds on average. Moreover, PIC exclusion by nucleosome encroachment underscores regulated promoter accessibility by chromatin remodeling. Thus, coordinated nuclear exploration and recruitment to accessible targets underlies dynamic PIC establishment in yeast. Our study provides a global spatiotemporal model for transcription initiation in live cells.
Why Study Schools

In this chapter, the author emphasizes how a path not taken in the beginning of the sociology of education—as exemplified in the work of John Dewey, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Emile Durkheim—could have taken sociologists of education in another direction in the study of schools, emphasizing schools as sites of moral and political education with goods internal to them (as opposed to goods that are primarily useful in remedying inequality). The author outlines some of the contemporary challenges in the sociology of education, describes the moral and political education outlined by Dewey, Durkheim, and Du Bois, and then stresses how their focus on education allows both scholars and citizens to reconsider the role of internal goods, meritocracy, and a political and economic redistribution no longer rooted in the “merit” of its recipients as determined by school achievement.
SyncAttack: Double-spending in Bitcoin Without Mining Power

The existing Bitcoin security research has mainly followed the security models in [22, 35], which stipulate that an adversary controls some mining power in order to violate the blockchain consistency property (i.e., through a double-spend attack). These models, however, largely overlooked the impact of the realistic network synchronization, which can be manipulated given the permissionless nature of the network. In this paper, we revisit the security of Bitcoin blockchain by incorporating the network synchronization into the security model and evaluating that in practice. Towards this goal, we propose the ideal functionality for the Bitcoin network synchronization and specify bounds on the network outdegree and the block propagation delay in order to preserve the consistency property. By contrasting the ideal functionality against measurements, we find deteriorating network synchronization reported by Bitnodes and a notable churn rate with 10% of the nodes arriving and departing from the network daily. Motivated by these findings, we propose SyncAttack, an attack that allows an adversary to violate the Bitcoin blockchain consistency property and double-spend without using any mining power. Moreover, during our measurements, we discover weaknesses in Bitcoin that can be exploited to reduce the cost of SyncAttack, deanonymize Bitcoin transactions, and reduce the effective network hash rate. We also observe events that suggest malicious nodes are exploiting those weaknesses in the network. Finally, we patch those weaknesses to mitigate SyncAttack and associated risks.
Statius and Virgil: The Thebaid and the Reinterpretation of the Aeneid

At the end of the Thebaid, Statius enjoins his epic 'not to compete with the divine Aeneid but rather to follow at a distance and always revere its footprints'. The nature of the Thebaid's interaction with the Aeneid is, however, a matter of debate. This 2007 book argues that the Thebaid reworks themes, scenes, and ideas from Virgil in order to show that the Aeneid's representation of monarchy is inadequate. It also demonstrates how the Thebaid's fascination with horror, spectacle, and unspeakable violence is tied to Statius' critique of the moral and political virtues at the heart of the Aeneid. Professor Ganiban offers both a way to interpret the Thebaid and a largely sequential reading of the poem.
Co-extinction in a host-parasite network: identifying key hosts for network stability

Parasites comprise a substantial portion of total biodiversity. Ultimately, this means that host extinction could result in many secondary extinctions of obligate parasites and potentially alter host-parasite network structure. Here, we examined a highly resolved fish-parasite network to determine key hosts responsible for maintaining parasite diversity and network structure (quantified here as nestedness and modularity). We evaluated four possible host extinction orders and compared the resulting co-extinction dynamics to random extinction simulations; including host removal based on estimated extinction risk, parasite species richness and host level contributions to nestedness and modularity. We found that all extinction orders, except the one based on realistic extinction risk, resulted in faster declines in parasite diversity and network structure relative to random biodiversity loss. Further, we determined species-level contributions to network structure were best predicted by parasite species richness and host family. Taken together, we demonstrate that a small proportion of hosts contribute substantially to network structure and that removal of these hosts results in rapid declines in parasite diversity and network structure. As network stability can potentially be inferred through measures of network structure, our findings may provide insight into species traits that confer stability.