cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post-transcriptional regulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 by ethanol induces class I alcohol dehydrogenase in rat liver.

Members of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) family of transcription factors control the synthesis and uptake of cholesterol, fatty acids, triglycerides, and phospholipids. Continuous intragastric infusion of ethanol-containing diets as part of total enteral nutrition generates well defined 6-day cycles (pulses) of urine ethanol concentrations (UECs) in rats. Pulsatile UECs are the result of cyclical expression and activity of the principal alcohol-metabolizing enzyme, hepatic Class I alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and this mechanism involves regulated CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-β expression and binding to the ADH promoter. In this study, we further explore the molecular mechanism for ethanol-induced ADH expression during the UEC pulse in adult male rats fed ethanol by total enteral nutrition for 21–30 days. In hypophysectomized rats, in which the ADH protein increased by ∼6-fold, the nuclear form of SREBP-1 decreased by ∼7-fold. Because the ADH promoter contains two canonical sterol response element (SRE) sites (–63 to –53 and –52 to –40 relative to the transcription start site), electrophoretic mobility shift assays were conducted using an ADH-specific SRE site. Hepatic nuclear protein binding decreased by 2.4-fold on the ascending limbs and by 3.6-fold on the descending limbs of UEC pulses (p
Understanding Society through Popular Music

@contents:Selected Contents: The Sociology of Pop Music 1. The Family 2. Deviance 3. The Economy 4. The Community and the Polity 5. Race, Class, and Gender 6. The Self and the Life Course 7. Globalization Conclusion
The complex binding of PRDM9

A recent study investigates the in vitro DNA binding behavior of PRDM9, a zinc finger protein involved in the localization of recombination hotspots in mammals.
A Single Amino Acid Substitution in Zinc Finger 2 of Adr1p Changes its Binding Specificity at two Positions in UAS1

Abstract The two zinc fingers of the yeast transcription factor Adr1p recognize the 6 bp sequence TTG GAG site in which the first finger, a His-X3-His finger, recognizes the G-rich triplet (GAG) and the second zinc finger, a His-X4-His finger, recognizes the T-rich sequence (TTG). Mutations were introduced into the alpha-helical region of the second finger and the resultant mutant proteins were analyzed for DNA binding affinity and specificityin vitroandin vivo. Substitution His for Leu in the third position (+3) of the helix created a new binding specificity at two positions in the binding site. The mutant with His replacing Leu146(L146H) bound with high affinity to GGG GGG and with low affinity to TTG GGG. The single substitution at position +3 in the helix had the same effect on DNA binding specificity as substitution of the whole helix of the second finger with the helix of finger one. Changing Asp145 to Ala in the presence of His146 changed the apparent binding site of finger 2 to GT/CG. The L416H mutant zinc finger protein had the same binding specificityin vivoasin vitro. Changing the spacing between the His residues that ligand zinc in the second finger from four to three, the spacing found in the first finger of Adr1p and Zif268, did not alter the specificity or affinity of the wild-type or mutant protein. f2
Using Aperiodic Reinforcement for Directed Self-Organization During Development

We present a local learning rule in which Hebbian learning is conditional on an incorrect prediction of a reinforcement signal. We propose a biological interpretation of such a framework and display its utility through examples in which the reinforcement signal is cast as the delivery of a neuromodulator to its target. Three examples are presented which illustrate how this framework can be applied to the development of the oculomotor system.
Imperial Impact on Rajputana: The Case of Alwar, 1775–1850

One of the functions of any imperial system is to stabilize the subordinate political structures over which it exercises suzerainty. Without such a role for the central authority, control of local politics becomes impossible and, without such centralization, the stability of the entire empire is threatened. This policy has often acted to support or maintain local socio-economic relationships which, in the absence of overarching centralization, would show greater instability and flux. The precise nature of these relations can best be seen in an examination of the interregnum period between the decline of one imperial power and the imposition of a new generation of centralized stability.
Modeling and control for smart Mesoflap aeroelastic control

This paper introduces a novel concept termed Smart Mesoflaps for Aeroelastic Recirculation Transpiration (SMART) to render mass and momentum transfer for controlling shock/boundary-layer interactions in supersonic jet inlets. The SMART concept consists of a matrix of small flaps designed to undergo local aeroelastic deflection to achieve proper mass bleed or injection when subjected to shock loads. To optimize the performance of this system, NiTi shape memory alloy is used as an actuator for the flaps to control the amount of recirculation. The focus of this paper will be the subsystem modeling and control of a single flap. After a relatively detailed model is developed, a simpler model is generated, and it is experimentally shown that this approximation is adequate for control purposes. Next, the control strategy for this subsystem, subject to hysteresis and actuator saturation, is presented. A basic proportional integral derivative (PID) controller is enhanced using a hysteresis compensator (HC) and an error governor (EG). A generalized error governing scheme for PID controllers to compensate for actuator saturations is also developed. This EG method is generalizable to any stable process controlled by a PID. Finally, the PID with HC and the error governing method is experimentally applied to a benchtop SMART subsystem.
A Spatial Technique for Estimating Streambank Erosion Based On Watershed Characteristics

A GIS-based technique was developed for estimating streambank erosion rates for more accurately predicting total sediment loads at the watershed scale without the use of detailed field data. This technique relies on the use of data sets that are easily obtained and expressed as GIS data layers. The basis of this technique is statistical relationships between "lateral erosion rates” and watershed characteristics such as curve number, grazing animal density, topographic slope, soil erodibility, and degree of urban development. An algorithm for estimating streambank erosion was incorporated into a GIS-based watershed model. Simulated and observed sediment loads were compared for twenty-eight watersheds in Pennsylvania, and a relatively good model fit was obtained based on a number of statistical measures.
"Undisturbed by colors": photorealism and narrative bioethics in the poetry of William Carlos Williams.

Between 1917 and 1935, William Carlos Williams’ poetic style shifted from a focus on color to a verbal grayscale of photorealism. Considering this shift alongside of the historical connection between photography and eugenics raises questions about Williams’ status as a physician during an era when medical discourse was dominated by theories of scientific racism. While one might conclude that Williams move from color to grayscale represents a capitulation to public health anxieties regarding the pathologized bodies of the immigrant poor, I argue that it is precisely through his adoption of black-and-white photorealism that Williams overturns hereditary notions of degeneracy.
An Experimental Study of the Gas Phase Oxidation of C6H5CI in a Flow Reactor

Abstract The gas-phase, flameless oxidation of chlorobenzene (C6H5, C1) was studied experimentally in a 2·1 cm ID quartz flow-reactor operating at 1 atm pressure. Temperatures investigated were in the range 630–850°C, reaction times in the range 0·4-1·94 s, O, concentrations in the range 1·8-3·3% (fuel rich) at a fixed C6H5Cl concentration of about 0·5% in Ar carrier gas. The absolute concentrations of the reaclants and the products CO, C02, HCl, H20. CH4, C2H2, C2,H4, C2,H4 (vinylacetylene), C6H6 C10H8 (naphthalene) were determined using both gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The roles of these species, in view of our current understanding of the mechanism of oxidation of C6H5C1 are discussed.
Differences in Actual and Perceived Online Skills: The Role of Gender*

Objective. The literature on gender and technology use finds that women and men differ significantly in their attitudes toward their technological abilities. Concurrently, existing work on science and math abilities of students suggests that such perceived differences do not always translate into actual disparities. We examine the yet-neglected area concerning gender differences with respect to Internet-use ability. In particular, we test how self-perceived abilities are related to actual abilities and how these may differ by gender. Methods. We use new data on web-use skill to test empirically whether there are differences in men’s and women’s abilities to navigate online content. We draw on a diverse sample of adult Internet users to investigate the questions raised. Results. Findings suggest that men and women do not differ greatly in their online abilities. However, we find that women’s self-assessed skill is significantly lower than that of men. Conclusions. Women’s lower self-assessment regarding their web-use skills may affect significantly the extent of their online behavior and the types of uses to which they put the medium. We discuss the implications of these findings for social inequality.
Infectivity, growth and distribution of preovigerous adults of Echinostoma caproni in ICR mice

All 23 6–8-week old outbred female ICR mice, each fed 100 metacercarial cysts of Echinostoma caproni, were infected on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 postinfection (PI) with a mean of 45 worms/host. To examine worm distribution in the mouse, the small intestine was divided into five equal sections (segments 1–5 beginning with the pylorus). Worms were found mainly in segments 3 and 4 and were never found in segment 1. Mean body area of worms fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF), hot alcohol-formalin-acetic acid (AFA) and aceto-carmine increased slowly until day 4 and then rapidly until day 8 PI. There was a significant difference in the mean body area of worms fixed in hot AFA, NBF, and aceto-carmine on all days except 4 and 6. Distinction of the ovary and ootype was apparent by day 6 and uterine cooling was observed by day 8 PI. Only 2 of 50 worms showed eggs in the uterus on day 8 PI.
Recurrent Feedback Loops in Associative Learning

In this issue of Neuron, Gao et al. (2016) report on a little-studied feedback pathway from the cerebellar nuclei back to the cerebellar cortex. They find that it contributes to associative conditioning and execution of learned movements, highlighting a role for local feedback loops in the brain.
The Clinical Applicability of Functional Connectivity in Depression: Pathways Toward More Targeted Intervention

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging provides a noninvasive method to rapidly map large-scale brain networks affected in depression and other psychiatric disorders. Dysfunctional connectivity in large-scale brain networks has been consistently implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD). Although advances have been made in identifying neural circuitry implicated in MDD, this information has yet to be translated into improved diagnostic or treatment interventions. In the first section of this review, we discuss dysfunctional connectivity in affective salience, cognitive control, and default mode networks observed in MDD in association with characteristic symptoms of the disorder. In the second section, we address neurostimulation focusing on transcranial magnetic stimulation and evidence that this approach may directly modulate circuit abnormalities. Finally, we discuss possible avenues of future research to develop more precise diagnoses and targeted interventions within the heterogeneous diagnostic category of MDD as well as the methodological limitations to clinical implementation. We conclude by proposing, with cautious optimism, the future incorporation of neuroimaging into clinical practice as a tool to aid in more targeted diagnosis and treatment guided by circuit-level connectivity dysfunction in patients with depression.
Pine needle holders for use in gas exchange measurements

Simple holders for positioning pine needles in a gas exchange cuvette are described. The holders make it easy to enclose a standard length of needles in the cuvette in a single plane without mutual shading. The holders also make it possible, following gas exchange measurements, to harvest for further analysis just those needle portions that were enclosed in the leaf chamber. Field observations, which were made with a gas exchange cuvette incorporating the needle holders, on the relationship between carbon exchange rate and photon flux density in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) needles are reported.
The Concept of “System” in International Relations Theory

Writers attempting to build a theoretical framework for the discipline of international relations often attribute multiple meanings to all-inclusive concepts. "Power" is one such term; "balance of power" is another. In the cases of "power" and "balance of power," however, scholarly efforts have been devoted to making clear the multiple usages of the terms at both the textbook and more advanced levels (Morgenthau, 1960, p. l67f; Haas, 1961; Claude, 1962). One concept which has not received such clarification and which does have more than one usage in the literature is "system."
A High Power Broadband Hybrid Ring and the Analysis of Its Power Capacity

The overlapped coupling section with featuring strong coupling structure is used as phase inverter to enhance the power capacity of the broadband hybrid ring. The design procedure about the phase inverter is described, and the power capacity is analyzed. Finally a high power broadband hybrid ring in 400～450MHz is designed and tested.
Draft evaluation of the frequency for gas sampling for the high burnup confirmatory data project

This report fulfills the M3 milestone M3FT-15SN0802041, “Draft Evaluation of the Frequency for Gas Sampling for the High Burn-up Storage Demonstration Project” under Work Package FT-15SN080204, “ST Field Demonstration Support – SNL”. This report provides a technically based gas sampling frequency strategy for the High Burnup (HBU) Confirmatory Data Project. The evaluation of: 1) the types and magnitudes of gases that could be present in the project cask and, 2) the degradation mechanisms that could change gas compositions culminates in an adaptive gas sampling frequency strategy. This adaptive strategy is compared against the sampling frequency that has been developed based on operational considerations. Gas sampling will provide information on the presence of residual water (and byproducts associated with its reactions and decomposition) and breach of cladding, which could inform the decision of when to open the project cask.
Inter-Operative Time between Neurosurgery and Cardiac Surgery for Native Valve Endocarditis

Introduction: Infective endocarditis is well known to produce neurologic complications from septic emboli, which mandates a multidisciplinary approach between neurosurgery and cardiac surgery. However, literature is not clear as to the optimal interval length between neurosurgery and cardiac surgery.Presentation of Cases: The first case involves a 60-year-old woman with significant past medical history presenting with native valve methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) endocarditis causing cerebral vascular infarcts. The second case involves a 45-year-old man with no significant past medical history presenting with infective endocarditis of the aortic and mitral valve.Discussion: Cardiac surgery was performed 27 and 17 days after neurosurgery intervention for each case, respectively. All operations were successful with few complications. Guidelines suggest waiting at least one week until valvular surgery, but other reports suggest earlier surgery produces preferable outcomes. In the cases presented, both patients experienced no further significant events to date after receiving cardiac surgery >3 weeks after the initial ischemic stroke event. Conclusion: Neurological deficits mandate a collaborative approach between neurosurgery and cardiac surgery. Significance between time of neurosurgical intervention and cardiac surgery remains controversial, but waiting at least one week shows positive results.
Caring for Patients of the Millennial Generation: Considerations for Nurses

Much has been written about teaching students of the Millennial Generation (those born between the years 1980 and 2000) and about intergenerational dynamics in the healthcare workforce. However, little can be found in the literature regarding generation-specific nursing care of Millennial patients. This article presents six categories of considerations for nurses caring for patients of the Millennial Generation based on the characteristics, attitudes, and values that have influenced them as well as the healthcare issues confronting this group of young adults.
Existence of competitive equilibrium in coalition production economies with a continuum of agents

Aumann (Econometrica 34: 1–17, 1966) established the existence of competitive equilibria in exchange economies with a continuum of traders. This result has been extended to special production economies under the condition that the production sets are countably additive or superadditive in the literature. In this paper, we extend Aumann’s result to coalition production economies with a continuum of traders in which each coalition can have a different production set and the production sets need not to be additive or superadditive. Our new existence theorem for competitive equilibrium implies the classical result by Hildenbrand (Econometrica 38: 608–623, 1970), and implies those by Sondermann (J Econ Theory 8: 259–291, 1974) and Greenberg et al. (J Math Econ 6: 31–41, 1979) under the assumption that the production sets are convex.
Higher Doses of Prophylactic Anticoagulation Is More Effective in Preventing Venous Thromboembolism in Morbidly Obese Inpatients.

Abstract Abstract 2268 Background: Obesity increases the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), and the optimal dose of prophylactic anticoagulation to prevent VTE in morbidly obese inpatients is unknown. Objectives: To quantify the efficacy and safety of higher doses of prophylactic heparin or enoxaparin for VTE prevention in morbidly obese inpatients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m2and/or weight >100 kg within the BJC HealthCare system. Patients/Methods: We analyzed 10,239 inpatients with weight > 100 kg and/or morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2) discharged from the three major hospitals in the BJC HealthCare system from January 1st, 2010 through February 29th, 2012. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) and Wald’s chi-square to compare proportions. The primary efficacy outcome was an ICD-9 diagnosis code for VTE. The primary safety outcome was an ICD-9 diagnosis codes for bleeding. Results: On-treatment analysis showed higher doses of prophylactic anticoagulation (heparin 7500 units three times daily instead of 5000 units two or three times daily or enoxaparin 40 mg twice daily instead of 40 mg once daily) halved the risk (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27–1.00; p = 0.05) of symptomatic VTE in the 3928 morbidly obese inpatients (weight > 100kg and BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2). The rate of VTE was 1.48% (35/2369) in these morbidly obese inpatients who received standard prophylactic doses of unfractionated heparin or enoxaparin, compared to 0.77% (12/1559) in those who received higher doses, with an absolute risk reduction of 0.71% and a number needed to treat (NNT) of approximately 140. Intention-to-treat analysis failed to show reduction in VTE rate due to low ( Conclusions: Higher doses of prophylactic anticoagulation nearly halve the rate of VTE in morbidly obese inpatients (with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 and weight > 100 kg), but do not increase bleeding. Given their safety and ease of implementation, higher doses of prophylactic heparin or enoxaparin should be considered in morbidly obese inpatients. Clinicians’ compliance and awareness need to be improved to prevent VTE in this vulnerable population. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Winds and Atmospheres

Essentially, all solid bodies in the solar system, and likely most of those in other planetary systems, have some fine-grained materials on their surface. But few have atmospheres to blow these grains around to make dunes. Entire libraries exist on the subject of meteorology; here, we can only highlight the principal characteristics of these atmospheres and their winds. For further reading, the text on desert meteorology by Warner (2004) is recommended for the Earth, while students of Mars should refer to Read and Lewis (2004).
Use of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Inhibitors for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients with Concurrent Heart Failure.

Prescribing information for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) inhibitors, a mainstay of treatment for moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), instructs cautious use in those with heart failure (HF). However, the limited data behind these warnings are inconclusive and should be weighed against mounting evidence demonstrating worse cardiac outcomes in active IBD. To assess whether TNFα inhibitor use is reduced in patients with IBD and HF by analyzing physician practice and prescription patterns. Using a Stanford University database, we queried TNFα inhibitor prescriptions in 8905 patients with an ICD-9 diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Detailed chart review analysis was done for patients with a concurrent diagnosis of HF who were prescribed anti-TNFα agents. In addition, we collected survey data from 25 gastroenterologists on their usage of these drugs for patients with IBD and HF. TNFα inhibitors were prescribed to 10/455 (2.2%) IBD patients with HF compared to 1265/8450 (15.0%) in IBD patients without HF (p < 0.0001). Of those ten with HF prescribed TNFα inhibitors, only one had it discontinued because of HF exacerbation while on drug. Survey data indicated few (5/25) providers do not actively avoid TNFα inhibitors for those with HF. IBD patients with HF are prescribed significantly less TNFα inhibitors than those without HF. The majority of providers are either uncertain about or actively avoid use of anti-TNFα medications for those with HF. The risks and benefits of anti-TNFα use in HF patients must be investigated further.
The Effect of Treated Overt Hypothyroidism on Outcomes in Twin Pregnancies.

Objective The objective of this study was to determine if treatment of overt hypothyroidism in twin pregnancies reduces adverse outcomes associated with overt hypothyroidism in pregnancy. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of all patients who were presented with twin gestations between 2005 and 2013 to a single obstetrical practice. Patients who were diagnosed with overt hypothyroidism were identified. Patients were followed up with serial thyroid function tests and treated appropriately. Rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes were compared between patients with and without hypothyroidism with p Results In this study, 612 twin pregnancies were included; 85 patients were diagnosed with overt hypothyroidism. Patients with overt hypothyroidism were more likely to have had in vitro fertilization (78 vs. 62%; p Conclusion Our study shows that in twin gestations, there is no increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes between patients with treated overt hypothyroidism and those without overt hypothyroidism.
Sensitivity of simulated convection-driven stratosphere-troposphere exchange in WRF-Chem to the choice of physical and chemical parameterization

Tropopause-penetrating convection is capable of rapidly transporting air from the lower troposphere to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS), where it can have important impacts on chemistry, the radiative budget, and climate. However, obtaining in situ measurements of convection and convective transport is difficult and such observations are historically rare. Modeling studies, on the other hand, offer the advantage of providing output related to the physical, dynamical, and chemical characteristics of storms and their environments at fine spatial and temporal scales. Since these characteristics of simulated convection depend on the chosen model design, we examine the sensitivity of simulated convective transport to the choice of physical (bulk microphysics or BMP and planetary boundary layer or PBL) and chemical parameterizations in the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem). In particular, we simulate multiple cases where in situ observations are available from the recent (2012) Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) experiment. Model output is evaluated using ground-based radar observations of each storm and in situ trace gas observations from two aircraft operated during the DC3 experiment. Model results show measurable sensitivity of the physical characteristics of a storm and the transport of water vapor and additional trace gases into the UTLS to the choice of BMP. The physical characteristics of the storm and transport of insoluble trace gases are largely insensitive to the choice of PBL scheme and chemical mechanism, though several soluble trace gases (e.g., SO2, CH2O, HNO3) exhibit some measurable sensitivity.
A computational model for biosonar echoes from foliage

Since many bat species thrive in densely vegetated habitats, echoes from foliage are likely to be of prime importance to the animals' sensory ecology, be it as clutter that masks prey echoes or as sources of information about the environment. To better understand the characteristics of foliage echoes, a new model for the process that generates these signals has been developed. This model takes leaf size and orientation into account by representing the leaves as circular disks of varying diameter. The two added leaf parameters are of potential importance to the sensory ecology of bats, e.g., with respect to landmark recognition and flight guidance along vegetation contours. The full model is specified by a total of three parameters: leaf density, average leaf size, and average leaf orientation. It assumes that all leaf parameters are independently and identically distributed. Leaf positions were drawn from a uniform probability density function, sizes and orientations each from a Gaussian probability function. The model was found to reproduce the first-order amplitude statistics of measured example echoes and showed time-variant echo properties that depended on foliage parameters. Parameter estimation experiments using lasso regression have demonstrated that a single foliage parameter can be estimated with high accuracy if the other two parameters are known a priori. If only one parameter is known a priori, the other two can still be estimated, but with a reduced accuracy. Lasso regression did not support simultaneous estimation of all three parameters. Nevertheless, these results demonstrate that foliage echoes contain accessible information on foliage type and orientation that could play a role in supporting sensory tasks such as landmark identification and contour following in echolocating bats.
Points of View: Editorial: The Deadly Triangle: Peaking, Climate Change, and International Turmoil

In the annual State-of-the-Union address a President has a chance to lay out new proposals, and on January 31, 2006, President Bush provided a surprise. For the first time, he clearly indicated tha...
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Their Potential Application in Transplantation.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immunosuppressive cells of the myeloid lineage upregulated by mediators of inflammation such as IL-2, GCSF, and S100A8/A9. These cells have been studied extensively by tumor biologists. Because of their robust immunosuppressive potential, MDSCs have stirred recent interest among transplant immunologists as well. MDSCs inhibit T cell responses through, among other mechanisms, the activity of arginase-1 and iNOS, and the expansion of T regulatory (Treg) cells. In the context of transplantation, MDSCs have been studied in several animal models, and to a lesser degree in humans. Here, we will review the immunosuppressive qualities of this important cell type and discuss the relevant studies of MDSCs in transplantation. It may be possible to exploit the immunosuppressive capacity of MDSCs for the benefit of transplant patients.
Sequelae of Index Complications following Inpatient Head and Neck Surgery: Characterizing Secondary Complications.

ObjectiveTo characterize patterns of secondary complications after inpatient head and neck surgery.Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2005-...
Abstract 180: Consultation to a Cardiologist Prior to Low Risk Procedures Generates Excessive Testing and Cost Without Affecting Outcomes in Patients with Stable Ischemic Heart Disease

Background: The healthcare system in the United States is often times costly and inefficient. Some estimates suggest that 20-34% of healthcare dollars are spent ineffectively. Despite efforts such ...
SUPERNATURALISM IN AFRICAN LITERATURE A STUDY OF LAYE’S THE AFRICAN CHILD AND AMADI’S THE CONCUBINE

This article x-rays the existence of the supernatural and their influence on mankind which has become a pre-dominant factor that has gained prominence and importance from time immemorial, and how writers have tried to project this concept in their literary engagements. In an attempt to establish this argument, the researcher explored Elechi Amadi's The Concubine and Camara Laye's The African Child. These novels depict and explore the idea of the supernatural in various manifestations and they are rich in supernatural and are rooted in the mythology and traditional African belief of supernaturalism. Supernaturalism is the belief that there are beings, forces, and phenomena such as God, angels or miracles which interact with the physical universe in remarkable and unique ways. The African man had begun to have some conceptions about the spiritual or mysterious essence of some natural phenomena and had begun to interpret his life in tandem with the "unknown". Opponents of these beliefs seem to pose the question: are there forces beyond the natural forces studied by physics and ways of sensing that go beyond our biological senses and instruments? They recognized that there may always be things outside the realm of human understanding as of yet unconfirmed which the African, not been able to research deeply on it, would term "supernatural". This paper is aimed at re-emphasizing the concept of supernaturalism or the supernatural which has become an inseparable part of most of the works written by Africans, and bring to limelight the relationship it has with the human world and how both have exerted their influence on each other.
Normalized resolved shear stress calculations for single crystals subjected to multiaxial loading

Abstract The propensity for activation of uniaxially loaded slip systems within uniquely oriented crystals can be calculated via Schmid's law. A similar procedure for multiaxial loads is desired. We present a method for bounding tensor-based resolved shear stress calculations by [0, 0.5] using normalized multiaxial stress tensors, allowing interpretation analogous to Schmid factors. We also present a method to visualize orientation dependence of slip system activity resulting from these calculations using pole figures. Variance in this visualization method changes with crystal and slip system symmetries. Demonstrations are shown for hexagonal close-packed, face-centered cubic, and body-centered cubic slip systems under plane stress tension-tension loadings.
Compensation and organizational outcomes: Examining the relationship between teacher salaries and student achievement for school divisions in Virginia

x Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Purpose and Research Question 3 Importance of Study 4 Student Achievement and Public Policy 6 Teacher Compensation and Educational Outcomes 8 Compensation and Organizational Success 10 Theoretical Framework 12 Equity Theory 13 Distributive Justice 16 Research Questions 18 Methodology 19 Definition of Terms 20 Summary and Outline of Study 25 Chapter 2: Literature Review 26 Teacher Inputs and Student Outcomes 28
Introduction to the Power-Divergence Statistic

The definition and testing of models for discrete multivariate data has been the subject of much statistical research over the past twenty years. The widespread tendency to group data and to report group frequencies has led to many diverse applications throughout the sciences: for example, the reporting of survey responses (always, sometimes, never); the accumulation of patient treatment-response records (mild, moderate, severe, remission); the reporting of warranty failures (mechanical, electrical, no trouble found); and the collection of tolerances on a machined part (within specification, out of specification).
From Cardiologist to Patient

I had a partial seizure while riding my bicycle on a trainer one morning. It was 6:10 am. Like an aortic dissection, the time and place of a seizure is easy to remember to the minute. At the time, I was not sure what happened and surprisingly not scared. I felt the need to talk, but could not spit out any words. My wife was exercising at a local gym, and I was by myself in the basement. And before I could get too worried, I was completely fine. Just like that. I didn’t know what happened so I got on the treadmill, ran a mile, and figured all things were a go. I went off to work and, in an offhand remark, told my wife of the incident. With my last patient of the day, however, it happened again. This time there was no denying something was wrong. Although I couldn’t speak, I was able to write so I scribbled to my patient that I could not talk on the back of an EKG. He promptly got my nurse practitioner and my partner. They gave me an aspirin because, well, we are cardiologists. The working diagnosis was a transient ischemic attack, and they performed an EKG right away. (Again, you use the tools available to you.) My symptoms resolved shortly but this time I was going to the hospital. In the emergency department, I was a celebrity. Several cardiologists and nurses were waiting for me as soon as I arrived. In fact, I had an immediate cardiology consult from one of the interventionalists. If this were a STEMI. I was going to have a door to balloon time of 10 minutes. But instead my first test turned out to be a noncontrast head computed tomography. This ruled out …
Distributed Computing Column 71: Recent Algorithmic Advances in Population Protocols

Population protocols have been an active area of distributed computing for over a decade, as they are an abstract model of numerous real-world scenarios from sensor networks to biological computing paradigms. For this column, Dan Alistarh and Rati Gelashvili provide a timely overview of recent results on population protocols, focusing especially on the case when each agent in the system can have more than a constant amount of local memory. Several key building blocks are presented, followed by applications of these primitives, in an accessible way that conveys the excitement of fast-moving developments in the area.
The Rise and Fall of High Temperatures During Ureteroscopic Holmium Laser Lithotripsy.

Abstract Introduction: Temperatures over 43°C—the threshold for cellular injury—may be achieved during ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy. The time to reach and subsequently clear high tempera...
Interprofessional Collaboration and Patient Health Outcomes in Urban Disadvantaged Settings: A Grounded Theory Study

Introduction Interprofessional interventions improve the ability of health professionals to work in teams, communicate effectively, respect and appreciate each other, and develop shared patient-centric values. While these interventions can change attitudes and beliefs about interprofessional collaboration, the relationship between interprofessional collaboration and patient health outcomes remains poorly understood, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. This study sought to explore the relationship between interprofessional collaboration and patient health outcomes in urban disadvantaged settings. Methods Constructivist grounded theory methodology was used to perform 4 focus groups and 19 individual interviews with health professionals working in these settings in the United States. Emergent themes were developed into a conceptual model that captures their views on the link between interprofessional collaboration and patient health outcomes in these settings. Results 114 qualitative themes were identified and collapsed into 10 theoretical categories (interprofessionalism, building trust, coordination, facilitating sharing, patient care, enhancing reciprocity, common goals, effecting change, healthcare system disparities, and patient individual, group or population disparities), all of which were then merged into two theoretical concepts that explain all of the data (social capital and disparities). Conclusion Interprofessional collaboration works via better coordination and optimization of patient care, which explains how better patient health outcomes may be achieved. However, it is social capital and its cognitive elements of trust, sharing and reciprocity that underlie this phenomenon and explain why better health outcomes may be possible via interprofessional collaboration. Additional research studies exploring patient perspectives and the structural elements of social capital in this context are warranted.
Molecular organization of the E. coli cellulose synthase macrocomplex.

Cellulose is frequently found in communities of sessile bacteria called biofilms. Escherichia coli and other enterobacteriaceae modify cellulose with phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) to promote host tissue adhesion. The E. coli pEtN cellulose biosynthesis machinery contains the catalytic BcsA–B complex that synthesizes and secretes cellulose, in addition to five other subunits. The membrane-anchored periplasmic BcsG subunit catalyzes pEtN modification. Here we present the structure of the roughly 1 MDa E. coli Bcs complex, consisting of one BcsA enzyme associated with six copies of BcsB, determined by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. BcsB homo-oligomerizes primarily through interactions between its carbohydrate-binding domains as well as intermolecular beta-sheet formation. The BcsB hexamer creates a half spiral whose open side accommodates two BcsG subunits, directly adjacent to BcsA’s periplasmic channel exit. The cytosolic BcsE and BcsQ subunits associate with BcsA’s regulatory PilZ domain. The macrocomplex is a fascinating example of cellulose synthase specification. A new cryo-EM structure of the ~1 MDa Escherichia coli cellulose synthase macrocomplex reveals how cellulose biosynthesis and phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) modification are coupled to promote host-tissue adhesion.
La Historia Se Repite: Parallels between the Bracero Program and the H-2A Visa Process Highlight the Need for a Decolonial Migrant Labor Policy

Since the 19th Century, the United States and Mexico have engaged in disputes over their border. In the aftermath of the Mexican-American War, formerly Mexican territories now belonged to the United States, resulting in numerous long-term consequences including economic migration. In this paper, I explore key lessons from the first U.S.-Mexico immigration bilateral agreement — the Bracero Program — and the H-2A visa program. Both programs faced backlash from domestic laborers, perpetuated poor work conditions and low wages, and shed light on the circumstances that lead to labor agreements. My research further shows that these same patterns exist with the Trump Administration’s proposals for and changes to the H-2A program. Importantly, my research findings show the need for radical change to United States labor migration policy. While H2-A program enforcement mechanisms should be stronger, I propose an alternative idea: a decolonial labor migration policy. Employing a decolonial lens requires the United States to acknowledge its taking of Mexican land and to allow for easier flow of labor migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border. It is through a decolonial labor migration policy that we destroy a system built on laborer categorization and, instead, begin the work towards true labor reform for all laborers, regardless of immigration status.
Collateral Constraints, Financial Constraints, and Risk Management: Evidence From Anti-Recharacterization Laws

We use the staggered enactment of anti-recharacterization laws as a plausibly exogenous shock to the value of securitizing collateral through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and test how collateral values impact corporate risk management. Following the laws’ enactment, we find increases in commodity, foreign exchange, and interest rate hedging, especially for firms with exposure to these risks and that rely on SPVs. Supporting the collateral constraints literature, the effect is weaker for firms that likely need the collateral for external financing, such as financially constrained firms. Our findings highlight fluctuations in collateral values as an important consideration in risk management decisions.
The Belief in a Favorable Future

People believe that future others’ preferences and beliefs will change to align with their own. People holding a particular view (e.g., support of President Trump) are more likely to believe that future others will share their view than to believe that future others will have an opposing view (e.g., opposition to President Trump). Six studies demonstrated this belief in a favorable future (BFF) for political views, scientific beliefs, and entertainment and product preferences. BFF is greater in magnitude than the tendency to believe that current others share one’s views (false-consensus effect), arises across cultures, is distinct from general optimism, is strongest when people perceive their views as being objective rather than subjective, and can affect (but is distinct from) beliefs about favorable future policy changes. A lab experiment involving monetary bets on the future popularity of politicians and a field experiment involving political donations (N = 660,542) demonstrated that BFF can influence ...
Diagnosing glaucoma from frequency doubling technology perimetry using supervised machine learning classifiers

Purpose: To determine if machine learning classifiers can learn to interpret frequency doubling technology (FDT) perimetry and to compare their performance with the global indices for both FDT II Matrix pattern 24–2 and FDT pattern N30. Methods: Support vector machine with Gaussian kernels (SVMg) and mixture of Gaussian (MoG) classifiers were trained and tested using cross validation on the numerical values of absolute sensitivity plus age from one FDT 24–2 test each from 104 normal and 81 eyes with glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) or one FDT N30 test each from 201 normal and 293 eyes with GON. GON was determined by masked consensus reviews of simultaneous stereophotos. For I± = 0.05, a Bonferroni adjustment for 6 comparisons (P <= 0.008) was used to compare the areas under the ROC curves for the machine classifiers and global indices. Results: For FDT 24–2, the areas under the ROC curves for SVMg, MoG, MD, and PSD were 0.840 Â± 0.029, 0.785 Â± 0.033, 0.703 Â± 0.039, and 0.712 Â± 0.038 (mean Â± SE), respectively. At a specificity of 0.90, SVMg, MoG, MD, and PSD yielded sensitivities of 0.580, 0.457, 0.321, and 0.296. Based on presence of GON vs. healthy, SVMg had a specificity and sensitivity of 82% and 72%, respectively; MoG of 89% and 46%. For FDT N30, the areas under the ROC curves for SVMg, MoG, MD, and PSD were 0.802 Â± 0.019, 0.795 Â± 0.020, 0.727 Â± 0.023, and 0.686 Â± 0.024. At a specificity of 0.90, SVMg, MoG, MD, and PSD yielded sensitivities of 0.529, 0.532, 0.386, and 0.334. SVMg had a specificity and sensitivity of 78% and 68%, respectively; MoG of 67% and 76%. For both FDT 24–2 and N30, the areas under the ROC curves were greater in both SVMg and MoG than in MD or PSD; SVMg and MoG were not significantly different. Conclusions: Supervised machine learning classifiers are capable of discriminating between normal and GON eyes using FDT results as well as, if not better than, the testsâ|*128*|TM global indices. This is consistent with the superior performance of SVMg and MoG for a variety of visual function (SAP, SWAP) and imaging (HRT) data.
Activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway contributes to the behavioral deficit of fragile x-syndrome

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a developmental disorder caused by the loss of Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene function because of a CGG repeat expansion (> 200 repeats) in the gene. The molecular mechanism(s) linking loss of FMR1 function to the molecular pathology and cognitive/behavioral disability remain unclear. Given the critical role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in synaptic plasticity and neurodevelopment, a number of recent studies have investigated ERK phosphorylation under basal conditions or upon mGluR-induction using neuronal and peripheral tissues from Fmr1 knockout mice and peripheral tissues from FXS patients. However, these reports have presented conflicting results. The current study is the first to focus on the levels of ERK phosphorylation in brain tissue from human FXS patients. In both human brain tissue and brain tissue from Fmr1 knockout mice there was significantly increased phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK. Indeed, treating Fmr1 knockout mice with the MEK1/2 inhibitor SL327 abrogated audiogenic seizure activity, a feature of the Fmr1 knockout mice that replicates the symptom in patients with FXS. These findings suggest that activation of the ERK pathway results in some cardinal cognitive and clinical features in FXS patients and likely have profound translational implications.
Problems in Plane Stress

In many problems of practical interest, it is a reasonable approximation to disregard the elastic component of strain in the theoretical analysis, even when the body is only partially plastic. In effect, we are then dealing with a hypothetical material which is rigid when stressed below the elastic limit, the modulus of elasticity being considered as infinitely large. If the plastically stressed material has the freedom to flow in some direction, the distribution of stress in the deforming zone of the assumed rigid/plastic body would approximate that in an elastic/plastic body, except in a transition region near the elastic/plastic interface where the deformation is restricted to elastic order of magnitude. The assumption of rigid/plastic material is generally adequate not only for the analysis of technological forming processes, where the plastic part of the strain dominates over the elastic part, but also for the estimation of the yield point load when the rate of work-hardening is sufficiently small (Section 1.2). In this chapter, we shall be concerned with problems in plane stress involving rigid/plastic bodies which are loaded beyond the range of contained plastic deformation.