cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accident prediction model for public highway-rail grade crossings

Considerable research has focused on roadway accident frequency analysis, but relatively little research has examined safety evaluation at highway-rail grade crossings. Highway-rail grade crossings are critical spatial locations of utmost importance for transportation safety because traffic crashes at highway-rail grade crossings are often catastrophic with serious consequences. The Poisson regression model has been employed to analyze vehicle accident frequency as a good starting point for many years. The most commonly applied variations of Poisson including negative binomial, and zero-inflated Poisson. These models are used to deal with common crash data issues such as over-dispersion (sample variance is larger than the sample mean) and preponderance of zeros (low sample mean and small sample size). On rare occasions traffic crash data have been shown to be under-dispersed (sample variance is smaller than the sample mean) and traditional distributions such as Poisson or negative binomial cannot handle under-dispersion well. The objective of this study is to investigate and compare various alternate highway-rail grade crossing accident frequency models that can handle the under-dispersion issue. The contributions of the paper are two-fold: (1) application of probability models to deal with under-dispersion issues and (2) obtain insights regarding to vehicle crashes at public highway-rail grade crossings.
First-Job Preferences and Expectations of Pharmacy Students: Intergender and Interethnic Comparisons

Abstract Objectives To identify and measure intergender and interethnic differences in preferences and expectations of pharmacy students. Design Two-part survey. One part addressed systematic variations in work-related expectations and preferences between the sexes and among ethnic minorities that may result from cumulative disadvantage or attitudinal traits; the other part focused on similarities and differences in expected sources of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Setting College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University. Participants 171 students enrolled in their final semester of didactic training (that is, immediately before rotations or internship). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Significance of intergender and interethnic disparities was determined using t tests. Results No significant intergender disparities were detected in income expectations, anticipated level of job satisfaction, estimated time from graduation to passing the Board exam or working, or in preferred or expected sector of first job. African American students expected to earn lower levels of income, experience less satisfaction in their first job as a pharmacist, and work longer hours. Hispanic and Asian American students exhibited less confidence in their ability to pass the Board exam and in the allocative function of the job market. Salary and ability to help patients were the two sources of job satisfaction anticipated most frequently, whereas work overload ranked first among the anticipated sources of job dissatisfaction. Conclusion The rapidly changing gender composition of the profession has altered traditional intergender differences in outlook and attitudinal traits, contributing to the disappearance of intergender disparities identified in previous research. However, significant interethnic differences in preferences and expectations suggest the presence of cumulative disadvantage among minorities.
Attitudes toward Drugs and Drug Education

Citing the need to provide drug education for prospective teachers the authors refer to a study conducted to determine the number of colleges that have implemented such a program. Some attention is given to the characteristics related to attitude formation in childhood and the need to begin drug education early, with emphasis being placed on mental health.Supportive data are presented from a survey of students' drug knowledge and practice at State University College, Stony Brook, N.Y., regarding how drug education programs should be taught. Several relevant factors are listed which should be considered in a drug education program from the viewpoint of the students surveyed. The authors conclude that there is probably no more urgent task facing our colleges than planned programs for training teachers in drug abuse education.
Sunrise, skylight polarization, and the early morning orientation of night-migrating warblers

Field observations reveal that night-migrating passerines sometimes fly during early morning hours. Functional consideration of daytime flights have overshadowed proximate questions regarding the sensory basis of daytime orientation. I conducted a series of early morning cage-orientation experiments in spring with four species of migrating warblers (Parulinae) on the north coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Whereas birds were poorly oriented on overcast mornings, the headings for three species were oriented in a seasonally appropriate direction when individuals were tested on clear mornings with the horizon glow from the rising sun visible. Moreover, the direction of activity was influenced in a predictable way by manipulating the pattern of skylight polarization. Skylight at sunrise appears to function as a source of directional information for morning flights of migrating warblers. This interpretation is consistent with field observations of the orientation behavior of free-flying migrants, and reinforces speculation that solar-related information is involved in the orientation of ongoing migratory flight, or redetermined orientation following nighttime displacements. In any case, the responsiveness of several species in a cage situation may allow controlled experiments on the question of course correction and redetermined
Asherah and Aphrodite: A coincidence?

It has long been known that there is a significant connection between Aphrodite and Semitic goddesses. In Walter Burkert's recent words, ‘Behind the figure of Aphrodite there clearly stands the ancient Semitic goddess of love, Ishtar-Astarte.’ This was already recognized by Herodotus (1.105, 131) and Philo of Byblos (Eus. Prep. evang. 1.812). I want here to note a curious and striking item of connection that has not been noticed.
Incentivizing Students’ Preparation for Class The Hat Trick

It is common in university courses for some students to arrive at their on-campus classes not having completed their homework assignments. This article offers faculty a weekly beginning-of-class pedagogical approach called the “hat trick” that incentivizes students to complete their reading or other homework assignment for each class. Consistent student preparation allows faculty to conduct the class and learning activities at a more advanced, rather than basic, level. The hat trick also promotes a student-driven focus from the beginning of the class, a high level of student engagement, and skill development in presenting to a group.
Making weaning easier. Pathways and protocols that work.

Weaning patients from prolonged ventilation can be difficult, time-consuming, and costly. As a result, institutions, as well as the clinicians who are charged with the care of patients, struggle to determine quality solutions. Increasingly, critical pathways and weaning protocols are being used to accomplish this goal. This article describes the science related to the use of pathways and protocols for longterm mechanically ventilated patients and how they may be applied clinically to attain quality outcomes.
A guide for dermatology nurses to assist in the early detection of skin cancer

Early diagnosis of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, leads to improved morbidity and mortality. While nurses have been leaders in skin cancer awareness and education for decades, the nursing community can take a more active role in the fight against skin cancer. In order to assume this role, nurses must be familiar with diagnostic aids that help in the early recognition of skin cancer. Dermatology nurses facilitate care in the interdisciplinary team by focusing on patient centered outcomes. Nursing roles and responsibilities in the interdisciplinary team are vital to clinic pre-screening, improving public awareness, disseminating patient education, providing guidance regarding sun avoidance and protection, and providing education on the fundamentals of skin self-examinations and total body skin examinations. Nursing skin assessment requires knowledge of skin lesion morphology and biology, and pattern recognition. As the sensitivity and specificity of naked eye examinations are suboptimal, dermoscopy provides a method for improving and streamlining skin lesion triage and assessment. In this review, we discuss a multi-prong approach to the diagnosis of melanoma, including the ABCDE mnemonic, the “ugly duckling” concept, and some newer technologies ( e.g. , dermoscopy and total body photography) that aid in the early detection of skin cancers. Familiarity with these detection aids can provide nurses with a basic framework to aid in diagnosing skin cancer.
Buying Behavior of Children: Differences Related to Traditional, Dual Career and Single Parent Family Structures

The past decade has seer, a dramatic change in the lifestyles enjoyed by most families. Due to a variety of reasons more and more wives are joining the work force. Another major trend involves the increasing number of divorces which leads to more and more single parents. Additionally, the value structure around which most families have been based has changed giving children a stronger position in family decision making. The literature has normally based most of the research on the family buying process around the traditional family structure where the husband is the main provider. There are, however, some notable exceptions where studies have focused on differences in family buying based on family structure (see for example: Anderson, 1972; Hoffman, 1965; Niffenegger, Taylor and Taylor, 1980; and Quails, 1982). Again this literature has focused on determining differences in the influence of the husband and wife in the buying process with little consideration given to the influences of children. The purpose of this study is to examine whether or not differences exist in the influence that children from three different family structures (traditional, dual career and single parent) have in the purchasing prccess of their families.
G-CSF Augments Inotuzamab-Mediated Clearance of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia from the Bone Marrow

Preclinical studies previously reported by our group at ASH suggest that treatment with granulocyte-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may provide a potent and well-tolerated method to disrupt the 9leukemia cell niche9. Specifically, our data show that G-CSF treatment in mice reprograms bone marrow stromal cells, markedly inhibiting their expression of key chemokines/cytokines that support B lymphopoiesis, including stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1/ CXCL12), interleukin-6 (IL-6), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and interleukin-7 (IL-7). These changes in the bone marrow microenvironment result in a more than 10-fold decrease in B cells in the bone marrow, including early B cell precursors. Preliminary studies in humans suggest that G-CSF has a similar effect on the bone marrow microenvironment in healthy subjects. Since these B trophic factors also have been implicated in the maintenance of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells, we hypothesize that G-CSF treatment in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) will generate a 9hostile9 bone marrow microenvironment for ALL cells, depriving them of key support signals and rendering them more sensitive to cytotoxic therapy. Herein, we specifically test whether niche disruption with G-CSF augments inotuzumab-mediated ALL cell clearance. Inotuzumab ozogamicin (Pfizer) is a CD22-calicheamicin antibody-drug conjugate. Initial clinical trials have documented activity of inotuzumab in B-ALL, with an overall response rate of 57% in relapsed or refractory B-ALL. To test this hypothesis, we developed a xenotransplantation model of human ALL using the human B-ALL G2 cell line, which expresses moderate levels of CD22. G2 cells transduced with a GFP-click beetle red luciferase retroviral construct to allow for in vivo bioluminescent imaging were injected intravenously into NOD/SCID/γ c -/- (NSG) mice. The G2 cells preferentially home to the bone marrow but eventually metastasize to other organs, including the brain. Four cohorts of mice were studied (n = 9-21, each), including: 1) G2 ALL cells alone; 2) inotuzumab alone (single injection of 80 µg/kg, IP); 3) G-CSF alone (100 µg/kg/day for 14 days by continuous subcutaneous infusion); or 4) G-CSF plus inotuzumab (G-CSF was started four days prior to inotuzumab). Treatment with inotuzumab increased median survival from 25.5 days to 41 days (P These data are consistent with the possibility that inotuzumab may have limited penetration into the brain. Thus, the positive effect of combination G-CSF plus inotuzumab on survival may be limited by CNS disease in this model. Indeed, the addition of G-CSF to inotuzumab decreased the bioluminescent signal in bone regions on day 21 after inotuzumab by approximately 10-fold (Figure 1, P Disclosures Link: Pfizer: provided Inotuzumab for preclinical studies Other.
A compact current steering DAC with component swapping calibration

A compact current steering DAC with component swapping calibration is proposed. By using different reference currents for the upper and lower bits conversion, the number of current sources can be considerably reduced. Therefore, an 8-bit DAC can be realized using only four binary weighted current sources, which reduces the effect of current source mismatch. Furthermore, the performance degradation due to resistor mismatch between the reference current generator and output network is calibrated by swapping the two resistors, and taking the average to obtain the final output of the DAC. As a result, the proposed scheme enables the DAC design using resistors with even poor matching. Circuit level simulation results show the INL is 0.85 LSB with 10% resistor and 1% capacitor mismatch, respectively.
Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Immune-Related Adverse Events Due to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Objective Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are improving prognoses in advanced stage cancers, but they also lead to immune-related adverse events (IRAEs). IRAEs targeting many organ systems have been reported, but musculoskeletal and rheumatic IRAEs have not been well-characterized. We systematically reviewed published literature on musculoskeletal and rheumatic IRAEs to better understand prevalence and clinical characteristics. Methods Medline and CENTRAL databases were searched for articles reporting rheumatic and musculoskeletal IRAEs secondary to ICI treatment. After screening abstracts and full texts in duplicate, clinical features, prevalence, and treatment data were extracted and summarized. Results A total of 1,725 unique abstracts were screened; 231 contained original data and were about ICIs and went to full-text screening. Fifty-two of these contained information about musculoskeletal or rheumatic IRAEs or about treatment with ICIs in preexisting autoimmune disease. Of these, 33 were clinical trials, 3 were observational studies, and 16 were case reports or series. Arthralgia prevalence in clinical trials ranged 1–43%, and myalgia was reported in 2–20%. Arthritis was reported in 5 of 33 clinical trials, and vasculitis was reported in only 2. One observational study and 3 case reports described patients with preexisting autoimmune disease treated with ICIs. Case reports included development of inflammatory arthritis, vasculitis, myositis, and lupus nephritis. Conclusion Arthralgia and myalgia have been reported commonly in patients treated with ICIs. The prevalence of rheumatic IRAEs such as inflammatory arthritis, vasculitis, and sicca syndrome is less clear from current evidence. There is limited observational and case-level evidence describing ICI use in patients with preexisting autoimmune disease.
Psychometric evaluation of an abbreviated version of the intragroup marginalization inventory

Tobacco and marijuana use among U.S. young adults is a top public health concern, and racial/ethnic minorities may be at particular risk. Past research examining cultural variables has focused on the individual in relation to the mainstream U.S. culture; however, an individual can also experience within-group stress, or intragroup marginalization. We used the 2014 San Francisco Bay Area Young Adult Health Survey to validate an abbreviated measure of intragroup marginalization and identify associations between intragroup marginalization and tobacco and marijuana use among ethnic minority young adults (N = 1,058). Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify factors within the abbreviated scale, and logistic regressions were conducted to examine relationships between intragroup marginalization and tobacco and marijuana use. Two factors emerged from the abbreviated scale. The first factor encompassed items related to belonging and membership, capturing whether individuals experienced marginalization due to not fitting in because of physical appearance or behavior. The second factor encompassed whether individuals shared similar hopes and dreams to their friends and family members. Factor 1 (membership) was associated with increased odds of marijuana use (OR = 1.34, p < .05) and lower odds of using cigars (OR = 0.79, p < .05), controlling for sociodemographic factors. Results suggest that young adults may use marijuana as a means to build connection and belonging to cope with feeling marginalized. Health education programs focused on ethnic minority young adults are needed to help them effectively cope with intragroup marginalization without resorting to marijuana use.
Landfullness in Adventure-Based Programming: Promoting Reconnection to the Land.

Nearly a half-century ago, Aldo Leopold acknowledged the threat of “landlessness” in our society as measured by the loss of our collective awareness of, and admiration for, the land (Leopold, 1966)...
Enhancement of electron mobility in GaAs/Al x Ga 1-x As square-parabolic double quantum well HEMT structure

We show that the enhancement of electron mobility μ as function of well width w can be achieved in a GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs square-parabolic double quantum well (SPDQW) high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structure. We consider the structures, in which one of the square well lies towards the substrate (SPDQW), and in another towards the surface (PSDQW). We also consider a symmetric square double quantum well (SDQW). In all the structures the wells are of equal width w and the side barriers are symmetrically delta doped with Si. We calculate μ by considering ionized impurity (ii-), alloy disorder (al-) and interface roughness (ir-) scatterings. We show that for lower w, single subband is occupied and μ is governed by ir-scattering. Near the transition from single subband to double subband occupancy, the drop in μ occurs and thereafter μ is governed by ii-scattering mediated by intersubband effects. We analyze the effect of coupling of subband wave functions through the central barrier width b and change in the potential profile through an external electric field F on μ. We show that for all values of w, μ (PSDQW) > μ (SPDQW) > μ (SDQW). We also calculate μ for a parabolic double quantum well (PDQW) and analyze the effect of change in the curvature of the parabolic potential which shows that μ (SPDQW) > μ (PDQW) at larger well widths. Our results can be utilized for the enhancement of the hybrid quantum well HEMT devices.
An integrative model of autonomous agent teammate-likeness

Advancements in autonomy are beginning to allow humans to partner with machines in order to accomplish work tasks in various settings. As human–agent teaming (HAT) becomes more prevalent as a resea...
Skeletal muscle mass in human athletes: What is the upper limit?

Objectives To examine the amount of absolute and relative skeletal muscle mass (SM) in large sized athletes to investigate the potential upper limit of whole body muscle mass accumulation in the human body. Methods Ninety-five large-sized male athletes and 48 recreationally active males (control) had muscle thickness measured by ultrasound at nine sites on the anterior and posterior aspects of the body. SM was estimated from an ultrasound-derived prediction equation. Body density was estimated by hydrostatic weighing technique, and then body fat percentage and fat-free mass (FFM) were calculated. We used the SM index and FFM index to adjust for the influence of standing height (ie, divided by height squared). Results Ten of the athletes had more than 100 kg of FFM, including the largest who had 120.2 kg, while seven of the athletes had more than 50 kg of SM, including the largest who had 59.3 kg. FFM index and SM index were higher in athletes compared to controls and the percentage differences between the two groups were 44% and 56%, respectively. The FFM index increased linearly up to 90 kg of body mass, and then the values leveled off in those of increasing body mass. Similarly, the SM index increased in a parabolic fashion reaching a plateau (approximately 17 kg/m2 ) beyond 120 kg body mass. Conclusions SM index may be a valuable indicator for determining skeletal muscle mass in athletes. A SM index of approximately 17 kg/m2 may serve as the potential upper limit in humans.
Genome-Wide Association Mapping of Anthracnose ( Colletotrichum sublineolum ) Resistance in the U.S. Sorghum Association Panel

The productivity and profitability of sorghum [ (L.) Moench] is reduced by susceptibility to fungal diseases, such as anthracnose ( P. Henn.). A limited number of resistant accessions are present in the temperate-adapted germplasm; other exotic sources of resistance are not currently available for breeding programs. Among 335 accessions available to breeders from a previously genotyped sorghum association panel (SAP), we found that 75 were resistant to anthracnose. A phylogenetic analysis of these accessions showed high genetic diversity and multiple resistance sources. Genome-wide association scans (GWAS) were conducted using 268,289 single-nucleotide polymorphisms to identify loci associated with anthracnose resistance. Using logistic regressions for binary measures of resistance responses, we identified three loci within a region on chromosome 5 that have been previously associated with three sources of anthracnose resistance. A GWAS limited to Caudatum germplasm identified an association with a region on chromosome 1 and with the same previous region on chromosome 5. Candidate genes within these loci were related to R-gene families, signaling cascades, and transcriptional reprogramming, suggesting that the resistance response is controlled by multiple defense mechanisms. The strategic integration of exotic resistant germplasm into the SAP is needed to identify additional rare resistance alleles via GWAS.
Maize Breeding and Genomics: An Historical Overview and Perspectives

The 1909 publication of G. H. Shull was the dawn of the modern era of maize breeding. Since that time maize has been unique as a major crop of the world and a very important species for basic research. Most of the knowledge from that research has been either worthless or inaccessible to maize breeding programs and actual improvement of maize. Recently, this relationship has changed and the connections between basic research and breeding have improved. The previous 10-15 years have been especially eventful with the advent of transgenic maize and DNA sequence information for maize germplasm. There is much to learn about the maize genome. Only a small fraction of the 30,000 to 60,000 genes and other sequences have functions assigned to them on the basis of direct experimentation. The advent of the genomics era of maize breeding, even at such an early stage, has clearly underlined our abilities to empirically assess all of the promising genetic options and questions that are raised by new sources of information. Field-based phenotyping and the prioritization of phenotyping have become much more important in the genomics era of maize breeding. The gains and pains of the initial decades of maize breeding have been well documented for some traits and production environments. But, with the exception of improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stress as a basis for genetic gains in grain yield, very little fundamental information and few validated mechanisms have been identified from that era. The next era of maize breeding should be fundamentally different in the sense that the strategies will rely more on a scientific method; consequently, some of the reasons for success or failure will be known and considered for devising more efficient methods of maize improvement.
Bone densitometry as an adjunct to GnRH agonist therapy

Objective To outline the optimal use of bone densitometry in women receiving gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy. Study design The use of bone densitometry during clinical trials of the use of GnRH agonists in endometriosis has resulted in a number of publications with varying conclusions about the effects of these agents on the skeleton. A review of this literature, taking into account known concepts of bone physiology and the varying quantities measured by different bone densitometry devices, was done to place these results into a common framework. Within this context, a proposal is made for when and how to use various bone densitometry methods in individual patients and how to interpret the results properly. Results Bone density in young women being treated for endometriosis is usually within the normal range, with even those 2 SD below normal not at significant risk of osteoporotic fracture. However, the clinical results show that most, if not all, women treated with GnRH agonists experience an increase in bone turnover due to estrogen deficiency during treatment, and this can result in a transient decrease in bone density. Even though the bone is regained after treatment is stopped, it may take years to recover fully. For those women who had low bone density to start, they may lose sufficient bone to increase their risk of osteoporotic fracture, and it is important to identify those individuals before treatment and to monitor them carefully. If the result of a peripheral bone density measurement (hand, forearm, heel) or central measurement (spine or hip) before treatment is higher than about 1 SD below a young normal mean, then even if a woman loses some bone, she will not have a significant increase in the risk of fracture. However, if a measurement is low (> 1 SD below the mean, putting her in the lower 15%), then it is advisable to have a spinal measurement by quantitative computed tomography or dual energy x-ray absorptiometry before and after therapy to determine what the bone changes are and to follow-up after the end of treatment. This is especially true if she decides to become pregnant, needs retreatment with a GnRH agonist or will be going through natural menopause in the near future; all can cause further bone loss. Conclusion Different bone density methods give different information and must be interpreted properly when used in evaluating patients on GnRH agonist therapy. Any bone measurement may be used to assess skeletal status before treatment, but if a peripheral bone measurement is low, it should be followed with a spinal measurement by quantitative computed tomography or dual energy x-ray absorptiometry so that the effect of the treatment can be monitored. Bone loss is transient with GnRH treatment, but only spinal measurements have sufficient sensitivity to follow patients and evaluate the skeletal changes in a meaningful way.
Should Counsel for a Non-Party Deponent be a “Potted Plant”?

It has long been the practice in New York that non-party deponents may be represented at depositions and that their counsel may object to questions counsel believes are improper. In 2010, however, the New York State Appellate Division, Fourth Department ruled in Thompson v. Mather that counsel for a non-party may not make objections during the deposition and, in effect, is a mere “potted plant” at the deposition. Under the Thompson holding counsel may not object even to protect a privilege or to strike a plainly improper question that would cause substantial prejudice if answered. Although only the Fourth Department has ruled in this manner, the case is binding on all lower courts throughout the state absent a contrary decision by another Appellate Division Department, by an overruling by the Court of Appeals, or by legislative correction. This article analyzes the practical considerations and ethical dilemmas implicated by this ruling. The article concludes that the ruling rests on an improper interpretation of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules, flies in the face of established practice, is impractical, and raises serious ethical dilemmas for counsel representing a non-party at a deposition. The authors urge the Court of Appeals, which is set to decide this issue in the October, 2014 term, to reject the Fourth Department ruling and to hold that the important protections provided by counsel to party deponents are available to counsel for non-parties. Alternatively, the authors recommend that legislation be enacted to achieve that end.
A Preliminary Temperature-Entropy Diagram for Neon

Interest in neon as an effective refrigerant for use with infra-red detectors, minicooiers and magnets has recently prompted a literature survey to determine the availability of useful design properties. One of the most useful means of displaying thermodynamic properties over a wide range of temperatures for a gas is a temperature-entropy chart. No such chart for neon (covering the temperature range 27–300°K) was found in the literature. Consequently an attempt was made, at the University of Colorado, to bring the necessary information together for the construction of a preliminary T-S chart for neon.
Wearable Sensor System for Detection of Lactate in Sweat.

Increased development of wearable sensors for physiological monitoring has spurred complementary interest in the detection of biochemical indicators of health and performance. We report a wearable sensor system for non-invasive detection of excreted human biomarkers in sweat. The system consists of a thin, flexible, kapton patch (2.5 × 7.5 cm) that can be coated with adhesive and affixed to the skin. The system can be controlled by a cell phone via a near-field communications protocol, charged wirelessly, and the data can be downloaded and displayed in a smart phone app. The system is designed such that the sensing element plugs into a low-profile socket, and can easily be removed and replaced as needed due to saturation or aging effects. As a demonstration case, we examined using an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) within this system to monitor lactate concentration. Several different methods for optimizing the sensor performance were compared, including altering electrode materials, employing various immobilization techniques, and tailoring operating voltages. Resulting functional response of the lactate oxidase enzyme was compared as a function of the sensor variables. The OECT sensor was shown to have high sensitivity to lactate, however the sensing range is limited to lactate concentrations below approximately 1 mM.
EyeChrom and CCDBcurator: Visualizing chromosome count data from plants.

Premise of the Study Chromosome count data are available for hundreds of plant species and can be explored in text-only format at the Chromosome Counts Database (http://ccdb.tau.ac.il). CCDBcurator and EyeChrom are an R package and a web application, respectively, that first curate and then visualize these data graphically, so that intra- and interspecific variation of chromosome numbers can be easily summarized and displayed for a given genus. Methods and Results We developed R code to clean, summarize, and display in several formats the chromosome count data for a selected genus or set of species present in the Chromosome Counts Database. These data and figures can be exported for use in analyses, publications, or teaching. Conclusions Chromosome count data are critical for a number of evolutionary studies in plant biology, and their importance is underscored by the increasing appreciation of the prevalence of polyploidy in land plants. CCDBcurator and EyeChrom provide a fast, easy, and reproducible means of cleaning, curating, and then visualizing the chromosome count data currently available for plants.
The Curious Case of an Isolated Positive Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Result.

A 43-year-old man with no apparent medical abnormality sought screening for sexually transmitted diseases. Screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis C, and HIV was negative but hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was newly positive upon screening and confirmation. Additional hepatitis B serology testing demonstrated a puzzling pattern (Table 1) not consistent with an acute infection. View this table: Table 1. Relevant serology results. 1. What …
A Bayesian approach for semiparametric regression analysis of panel count data

Panel count data commonly arise in epidemiological, social science, and medical studies, in which subjects have repeated measurements on the recurrent events of interest at different observation times. Since the subjects are not under continuous monitoring, the exact times of those recurrent events are not observed but the counts of such events within the adjacent observation times are known. A Bayesian semiparametric approach is proposed for analyzing panel count data under the proportional mean model. Specifically, a nonhomogeneous Poisson process is assumed to model the panel count response over time, and the baseline mean function is approximated by monotone I-splines of Ramsay (Stat Sci 3:425-461, 1988). Our approach allows to estimate the regression parameters and the baseline mean function jointly. The proposed Gibbs sampler is computationally efficient and easy to implement because all of the full conditional distributions either have closed form or are log-concave. Extensive simulations are conducted to evaluate the proposed method and to compare with two other bench methods. The proposed approach is also illustrated by an application to a famous bladder tumor data set (Byar, in: Pavone-Macaluso M, Smith PH, Edsmyn F (eds) Bladder tumors and other topics in urological oncology. Plenum, New York, 1980).
Organizing for Urban Education in the New Public Square: Using Social Media to Advance Critical Literacy and Activism

In this paper, we draw upon data from a multi-year, ethnographic case study of a community-based organization in Detroit, Michigan to consider how the organization has used social media to influence reform discourse, educate local communities, and forward community-driven educational reform goals within an austere, neoliberal political climate. Our analysis is informed by critical race theory and critical literacy scholarship, and it offers implications for enacting citizenship and democratic educational change. It also reveals insights about the ways in which technologies and ever-changing modes of communication can influence communities’ critical literacy and civic action. We aim to boost the limited attention paid to the use of social media in urban educational activism, leadership, and policy research.
Feasibility of Intensive Ecological Sampling of Tinnitus in Intervention Research.

ObjectiveTo assess whether adults with bothersome tinnitus will complete multiple ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) per day, including those during a therapeutic intervention trial. EMA is de...
Simple Quasi-Static Control of Functional Electrical Stimulation-Driven Reaching Motions

Functional electrical stimulation is a promising technology for restoring functional reaching motions to individuals with upper limb paralysis. We present a control architecture that combines static models of a paralyzed arm and its response to stimulation with a PID controller. The controller is used to drive the wrist of an individual with tetraplegia to a desired wrist position. We compare the performance of our controller with a feedforward component and with no feedforward component. The combined feedforward-feedback controller produced an average accuracy (defined as the distance away from the target wrist position) of 4.9 cm, and the feedback controller produced an accuracy of 4.3 cm. The combined feedforward-feedback controller produced initially larger errors than the feedback controller, but the end performance was similar. The control architecture presented has the potential to be used for arbitrary reaching motions.
Analysis of macrophages and neutrophils infiltrating murine mammary carcinoma sites within hours of tumor delivery

Here we used three different murine mammary carcinomas to study the immune environment associated with early tumor sites. While it was not surprising that the early immune response was predominated by macrophages and neutrophils, there were some novel findings at this early stage of disease. For instance, the macrophages and neutrophils expressed a mixed cytokine profile with TNF-α and TGF-β both produced at appreciable levels. Moreover, while the cells retained their phagocytic capacity, production of reactive oxygen species by the macrophages and neutrophils was in decline. Alterations in the metabolic profile of the tumor associated macrophages were also evident with a decrease in the ATP production rate, and a higher dependence on oxidative phosphorylation for ATP production. Collectively, these data indicate a mixed phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages and neutrophils evident within hours of murine mammary carcinoma delivery.
Compensation of measurement noise and bias in geometric attitude estimation

A geometry-based analytic attitude estimation using a rate measurement and measurement of a single reference vector has been recently proposed. Because rigid body attitude estimation is a fundamentally nonlinear problem, the geometry-based method does not contain errors consequent to linearization approximations. A critical source of residual error in the geometric solution is on account of the noise and bias in the vector and rate measurements. A methodical perturbation analysis of the attitude estimate is performed in this paper that reveals the effects of measurement noise and bias, and provides means to compensate for, or filter out, such errors. Application of the filter and compensation provides better attitude estimation than a standard Extended Kalman filter using an optimal Kalman gain. The geometric method is first verified in experiments and then simulation results are provided that validate the better performance of the geometric attitude and bias estimator.
Who Suffered More? Rivalry for the Right to Be Loved: Discussion of “Who Has the Right to Mourn?: Relational Deference and Rankings of Grief”

In this discussion of Peskin’s paper on who has the right to mourn (this issue), I explore what it means to “have a right.” When others reject our offerings, we may lose a sense of right to express...
Comorbid hepatitis C does not modulate prevalence or severity of diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose There are limited and conflicting data regarding the impact of comorbid hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study sought to compare the prevalence and severity of DR among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) with and without HCV. Patients and methods This was a retrospective, case-control study of patients with DM comparing 120 patients with comorbid HCV and 120 age-matched controls. DR prevalence and several measures of severity were compared between groups. Subgroup analyses were performed among HCV patients with cirrhosis, comorbid HIV, or history of treatment with interferon. Statistical analysis for between-group comparisons utilized both univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Cases and controls exhibited similar baseline characteristics: average hemoglobin A1c, DM duration, and age (p>0.05). Among cases and controls, there was no difference in DR prevalence (35.8% versus 42.5%, respectively, p=0.29) or severity (p>0.05). Within the HCV subgroup, DR severity was reduced in patients with HIV or cirrhosis. However, multivariate analysis identified reduced DM duration in these subgroups as the primary contributor to lesser DR severity, rather than HIV or cirrhosis. Conclusion In this study, comorbid HCV did not modulate the prevalence or severity of DR among patients with DM. These findings may inform clinical monitoring among HCV-positive diabetics undergoing ophthalmic evaluation.
On the Mitigability of Uncertainty and the Choice between Predictive and Nonpredictive Strategy

Managers face a critical issue in deciding when to employ a predictive planning approach versus a more adaptive and flexible strategic approach. We suggest that determining which approach is ideal ...
Shakespeare in Love and Anonymous: Two Films More or Less About Shakespeare

Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Anonymous (2011) make a lively pair for comparison under the topic of film biographies. The first is brilliantly inventive with its fictions that are offered tongue-in-cheek and yet are profoundly insightful as well as comically delightful. Anonymous, though cleverly executed, is a dishonest piece of work that argues the frayed nonsense that Shakespeare was not the author of his plays, along with several equally outrageous bits of fake news. Fictional film biography can be enlightening. It can instead be venomous.
Should We Abandon the Gynecologic Resectoscope in Favor of Hysteroscopic Morcellators

The treatment of intrauterine masses, such as endometrial polyps and leiomyomas, has undergone a technological revolution in the past few decades. Gynecologists may now choose from a variety of unipolar and bipolar resectoscopes as well as an assortment of both mechanical and bipolar hysteroscopic morcellators. We present a comparison of these technologies to better practitioners understanding of the strengths and limitations of these devices.
Evaluation of Novel Configurations of Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) Power Plants for Load-Following Operation using Dynamic Modeling and Optimization

With increasing penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources into the electric grid, conventional thermal power plants are being forced to cycle their load and operate under low-load conditions much more frequently. A high-fidelity dynamic model of a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plant with rigorous equipment level sub-models is developed in this work. A model of the gas turbine (GT) for estimating its performance under off-design conditions, a thermo-hydraulic model for the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), and a model of the steam turbine (ST) with moisture detection and model adaptation capability are also developed. Five novel configurations are proposed for controlling the main steam and reheat steam temperatures while avoiding ‘spraying to saturation’ during fast load-following by considering final high-pressure superheater (HP SH2)/ reheater (RH) arrangement (in series or in parallel) and attemperation strategies (single-stage, two-stage, and damper-assisted attemperation). Lo...
Eight DNA insertion events of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti-plasmids in isogenic sunflower genomes are all distinct.

The investigated whether the same or different T-DNA insertions occur every time Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the octopine type strain pTi 15955 strr, infects genetically identical sunflower plants. Eight newly established crown gall tissue culture lines were analyzed for their T-DNA content. Our data showed that all isogenic crown gall callus DNA produced distinct hybridization patterns. These eight patterns were also different from three standard lines included for comparison. In addition, all the tumor lines analyzed produced octopine, albeit in different quantities, and five produced agropine and mannopine. We concluded, that each A. tumefaciens crown gall tissue line derived from isogenic sunflower plants contained a distinct insertion pattern of T-DNA. Possible causes and reasons for this diversity will be discussed.
Creating Custom Neural Circuits on Multiple Electrode Arrays Utilizing Optical Tweezers for Precise Nerve Cell Placement

Precise creation, maintenance, and monitoring of neuronal circuits would facilitate the investigation of subjects such as neuronal development or synaptic plasticity, or assist in the development of neuronal prosthetics. Here we present a method to precisely control the placement of multiple types of neuronal retinal cells onto a commercially available multiple electrode array (MEA), using custom-built optical tweezers. We prepared the MEAs by coating a portion of the MEA with a non-adhesive substrate (Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)), and the electrodes with an adhesive cell growth substrate. We then dissociated the retina of adult tiger salamanders, plated them onto prepared MEAs, and utilized the optical tweezers to create retinal circuitry mimicking in vivo connections. In our hands, the optical tweezers moved ~75% of photoreceptors, bipolar cells, and multipolar cells, an average of ~2000 micrometers, at a speed of ~16 micrometers/second. These retinal circuits were maintained in vitro for seven days. We confirmed electrophysiological activity by stimulating the photoreceptors with the MEA and measuring their response with calcium imaging. In conclusion, we have developed a method of utilizing optical tweezers in conjunction with MEAs that allows for the design and maintenance of custom neural circuits for functional analysis.
TLR4 inhibition ameliorates mesencephalic substantia nigra injury in neonatal rats exposed to lipopolysaccharide via regulation of neuro-immunity.

Abstract Dopaminergic neurons play a key role in motor function of the extrapyramidal system. Previous studies have shown that septic neonates may have cognitive dysfunction in later life. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a transmembrane protein which is widely distributed in nerve cells. Its activation will activate the innate immune system through increasing an intracellular signaling pathway NF-κB and inflammatory cytokine production. Here, One-day-old rats were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg) as a sepsis model. We pre-treat neonatal rats with TAK-242, a TLR4 inhibitor, 1 day and 1 h before LPS injection to observe the neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons of inhibition TLR4 in septic neonatal rats. The number of dopaminergic neurons in the mesencephalic substantia nigra in septic brain was significantly reduced. Meanwhile, the number of activated microglia was increased. Additionally, the total number of lattice in the open field test of septic rats was less than that of control rats at the age of postnatal day 80 (PND80), the total time of septic rats to catch the rope in the grip traction test was less than the control rats at the age of PND80, and the septic rats were easier to slide down in the slopes experiment. However, TAK-242 administration significantly ameliorated LPS-induced dopaminergic neurons loss, prevented microglia activation, and improved behavioral test results of septic rats. We also found that TLR4 inhibition decreased the LPS-induced high expressions of NF-κB p65 and IL-1β of microglia. In conclusion, TLR4 inhibition showed neuroprotective effects on septic neonatal rats via regulation of neuro-immunity.