cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do men and women use feedback provided by their Decision Support Systems (DSS) differently

This study investigates the effect gender has on the use of computer-based feedback and the impact that this feedback has on mood. The decision making process of men and women are investigated via a laboratory experiment using a previously validated Decision Support System (DSS) and a commonly used and negatively framed feedback. Grounded in human-computer interaction theories highlighting the strong social component of computers and social feedback theories showing that men and women react to negative feedback differently, we argue that the commonly used outcome feedback in DSS studies will influence both the decision accuracy of male and female users and their moods differently. The results, which support our basic theoretical argument, indicate that outcome feedback (in particular the more negative outcome feedback) improved the decision accuracy of the female users compared to their male counterparts. The results also indicate that the outcome feedback affect the overall mood of men and women differently as well. The overall moods of the female subjects were significantly less positive before and after completing the task (receiving this commonly used negative form of feedback), the moods of the male subjects before and after completing the task (receiving the same negative feedback) did not change. These results not only extend prior DSS feedback studies but also highlight the need and provide support for examining gender differences in such investigations.
Wearable sensors for pervasive healthcare management

We show that it is possible to identify individual personality traits and measure group performance in a Post-anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) using wearable sensors.We instrumented a group of 67 nurses working in the PACU of a Boston area hospital with sociometric badges capable of measuring physical activity, speech activity, face-to-face interaction, and physical proximity. Using the data collected with these sensors we were able to estimate the daily average length of stay (LOS) and number of delays.
Phosphatidylinositol-Specific Phospholipase C of Bacillus anthracis Down-Modulates the Immune Response

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipases (PI-PLCs) are virulence factors produced by many pathogenic bacteria, including Bacillus anthracis and Listeria monocytogenes. Bacillus PI-PLC differs from Listeria PI-PLC in that it has strong activity for cleaving GPI-anchored proteins. Treatment of murine DCs with Bacillus, but not Listeria, PI-PLC inhibited dendritic cell (DC) activation by TLR ligands. Infection of mice with Listeria expressing B. anthracis PI-PLC resulted in a reduced Ag-specific CD4 T cell response. These data indicate that B. anthracis PI-PLC down-modulates DC function and T cell responses, possibly by cleaving GPI-anchored proteins important for TLR-mediated DC activation.
Review Essay: Rapid Assessment Process in Qualitative Inquiry

James BEEBE prasentiert mit dem "Rapid Assessment Process" (RAP) Modell einen systematischen Ansatz fur den Aufbau eines Forschungsteams. RAP basiert auf der kollaborativen Einbeziehung sowohl von Insider- als auch von Outsider-Perspektiven und bezieht sich auf den gesamten Forschungsprozess von den ersten Schritten bis zum Endbericht. In diesem Rezensionsaufsatz werden die Angemessenheit von RAP fur qualitative Forschungsarbeiten und die Frage der Umsetzung von BEEBEs Vorschlagen in angewandten Evaluationsprojekten diskutiert. Das Buch von BEEBE liefert einen reichhaltigen Uberblick uber mogliche Anwendungsperspektiven des RAP-Modells mit illustrierenden Beispielen von Forschungsprojekten, die in verschiedenen kulturellen Kontexten durchgefuhrt wurden. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0204332
Adaptive robust control of LTV systems

This note concerns the combination of an iterative robust system identification method with robust system design in an adaptive control scheme. The adaptive method thus obtained enjoys both the benefits of time varying model tracking and robustness guarantees. >
On the development of communicative understandings: An early strategy for interpreting and responding to messages

Young children’s apparently sophisticated understanding of language is explained by a simple heuristic which produces responses fortuitously appropriate to many of the messages directed to them. Specifically, the strategy recruits action responses to language unless some element, either linguistic or nonlinguistic, indicates otherwise. Two experiments tested for the existence of the heuristic by examining the responses ofchildren, lY-34 months of age, to sentences susceptible of more than one interpretation. In the first experiment such sentences weir spoker~ in as ueul~al a coutexl as possible. 111 lltr second, the same sorts of sentences were presented in contexts supporting either action or informing responses. The results of both experiments indicate that young children interpret and respond to language in terms of an action-based strategy. Moreover, the observed effects of context show that even young children engage in a continuous, context-sensitive process of interpretation. The data are discussed with regard to speech act theory and its role in adevelopmental theory of understanding.
Patterns of Overstory Composition in the Fir and Fir-Spruce Forests of the Great Smoky Mountains After Balsam Woolly Adelgid Infestation

Abstract In 1957, the exotic balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae Ratz.) was discovered in the southern Appalachians. It quickly spread throughout the spruce-fir forests, decimating adult Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.) populations. In 1990 and 1991, a system of temporary and permanent plots was established on five mountains in the Great Smoky Mountains. Almost seventy percent of total standing fir basal area in the study area was dead. Mt. Collins, which experienced the major wave of fir mortality about 4 yr before sampling, had the greatest percentage (91%) of dead fir basal area of the five mountains. Despite catastrophic mortality, fir dominated (11–16 m2/ha) live stand basal area on the tops of the three higher elevation mountains, whereas red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and deciduous taxa dominated the two lower mountains. Live fir density over the short term was positively associated with time since the major wave of mortality. Patterns of fir mortality, treefall rates and recruitment det...
Memory in Degenerative Diseases of the Nervous System

A large number of degenerative processes affect the brain causing impairment of cognitive and emotional functions. Identifiable patterns of neurological deficits are produced by different degenerative diseases as they affect different parts of the brain. However, deficits in cognition and emotions are much more global and their presence rarely localizes a lesion in specific parts of the brain. Albert and associates (1974) suggested that most of the degenerative diseases of the CNS may be divided functionally into two broad groups depending on whether they predominantly affect the cerebral cortex or the subcortical structures. The terms cortical and subcortical dementia imply patterns of impairment in cognitive and emotional functions.
A lesson learned from the H3.3K27M mutation found in pediatric glioma: A new approach to the study of the function of histone modifications in vivo?

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor in human. Recent studies on high-grade pediatric GBM have identified two recurrent mutations (K27M and G34R/V) in genes encoding histone H3 (H3F3A for H3.3 and HIST1H3B for H3.1).1,2 The two histone H3 mutations are mutually exclusive and give rise to tumors in different brain compartments.3 Recently, we4 and others5 have shown that the histone H3 K27M mutation specifically altered the di- and tri-methylation of endogenous histone H3 at Lys27. Genome-wide studies using ChIP-seq on H3.3K27M patient samples indicate a global reduction of H3K27me3 on chromatin. Remarkably, we also found a dramatic enrichment of H3K27me3 and EZH2 (the catalytic subunit H3K27 methyltransferase) at hundreds of gene loci in H3.3K27M patient cells. Here, we discuss potential mechanisms whereby H3K27me3 is enriched at chromatin loci in cells expressing the H3.3K27M mutation and report effects of Lys-to-Met mutations of other well-studied lysine residues of histone H3.1/...
Federalism and the 9th Amendment

Suppose that Justices Black and Stewart were correct (or at least not completely wrong) when they observed in Griswold v. Connecticut that the 9th and 10th Amendments were meant to operate solely as a tandem guarantee that the federal government was one of enumerated powers. Although the Black/Stewart position seems to ignore the obvious textual differences between the 9th and 10th Amendments, draining the 9th Amendment of any independent utility, their theory of "coordination" does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that the text of the 9th Amendment can be ignored. This essay tentatively explores how a coordinated model of the 9th and 10th Amendments might operate. The basic thesis is that "retained rights" are those created by exercises of the "reserved powers." This is, quite obviously, a radical departure from current doctrine. It suggests the possibility that such reserved powers/retained rights may sometimes operate as a trump on the exercise of federal power, leading to a type of reverse supremacy. The point of this essay is not to establish a proposition, but simply to consider possibilities and to open a dialogue.
Abstract 3092: Does Pre-existing Antiplatelet Treatment Influence Post-thrombolysis Intracranial Hemorrhage In Community Treated Ischemic Stroke Patients?

Background: Post-thrombolysis ICH is associated with poor outcomes. Previous investigations have attempted to determine the relationship between pre-existing anti-platelet (AP) use and the safety of intravenous thrombolysis, but have been limited by low event rates thus decreasing the precision of estimates. Our objective was to determine whether pre-existing AP therapy increases the risk of ICH following thrombolysis. Methods: Consecutive cases of ED treated thrombolysis patients were identified using multiple methods, including active and passive surveillance. Retrospective data were collected from 4 hospitals from 1996-2005, and 24 distinct hospitals from 2007-2010 as part of a cluster randomized trial. The same chart abstraction tool was used during both time periods and data was subjected to numerous quality control checks. Hemorrhages were classified using a pre-specified methodology: ICH was defined as presence of hemorrhage in radiographic interpretations of follow up imaging (primary outcome). Symptomatic ICH (secondary outcome) was defined as radiographic ICH with associated clinical worsening. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to adjust for clinical factors previously identified to be related to post-thrombolysis ICH. The models included: pre-existing AP use, age*, NIHSS*, pre-treatment systolic blood pressure, onset to treatment interval, pre-treatment blood glucose*, tobacco use, presence of post-treatment protocol violations (*variable classified by quartile). As there were fewer SICH events, the multivariable model was constructed similarly, except that variables divided into quartiles in the primary analysis were dichotomized at the median. Results: There were 830 patients included, with 47% having documented pre-existing AP treatment. The mean age was 69 years, the cohort was 53% male, and the median NIHSS was 12. The unadjusted proportion of patients with any ICH was 15.1% without AP and 19.3% with AP (difference 4.2% [95% CI: -1.2% - 9.6%]); for SICH this was 6.1% without AP and 9% with AP (difference 3.1% [95%CI: -1-6.7%]). No significant association between pre-existing AP treatment with radiographic or symptomatic ICH was observed (table). Conclusions: We did not find that AP treatment was associated with post-thrombolysis ICH or SICH in this cohort of community treated patients. Pre-existing tobacco use, younger age, and lower severity were associated with lower odds of SICH. An association between AP therapy and SICH may still exist - further research with larger sample sizes is warranted in order to detect smaller effect sizes.
The Effects of Bin Proximity and Visual Prompts on Recycling in a University Building

Institutions such as universities are responsible for a significant amount of recyclable material entering landfills. This problem could be addressed in part by increasing the percentage of waste recycled by consumers on campuses. Building on previous research, we evaluated the effects of bin proximity and visual prompts on rates of recycling within a university building. The total weight of recyclable materials (aluminum, plastic, and paper) placed into the building’s garbage and recycling bins was measured each day, and a reversal design was employed in which the environmental arrangement of the recycling bins was systematically manipulated. Both interventions produced a decrease in the amount of recyclable material being thrown in the trash cans, with visual prompts plus bin proximity being slightly more effective than bin proximity alone. However, neither intervention produced large increases in recycling. Interpretations of these findings and suggestions for future researchers are discussed.
The Genetics and Linkage of Odd-body, a Mutant of the German Cockroach,

Odd-body (Ob) , a dominant mutation in Blattella germanica (L.), is described. The Ob homozygotes are lethal, and postembryonic lethality occurs frequently among heterozygotes. The position of the Ob locus in the 10th linkage group was determined by 2 sets of 3-point crosses, each having one crossover region in common. These data indicate a gene sequence of bu-Ob-cv-y. Differences in interference values are interpreted in respect to possible centromere location. A factor causing increased crossingover in different, but adjacent, chromosome segments in males and females is postulated for one set of crossover data.
The permanent crisis of film criticism: the anxiety of authority

As someone with both an interest in the history of film criticism and an investment in its continuing relevance, I find the dismissive evaluations of the contemporary film-critical landscape to be ...
The Influence of Perceived Parenting Style and Contraceptive Self-Efficacy on College Student Contraceptive Use

ABSTRACTFew studies have examined the influence that parenting style has on the contraceptive use of college students. The current study explored the relationships between perceived parenting style, contraceptive attitudes, contraceptive self-efficacy, and contraceptive use in 270 college students. Analyses revealed that perceived parenting style had a relationship with contraceptive attitudes and when combined with contraceptive self-efficacy predicted contraceptive use. Findings suggest that for college students, both internal and external influences on beliefs contribute to contraceptive use and the parent–child relationship remains influential. Further research should explore specific aspects of parent–child communication that increase self-efficacy and subsequent contraceptive use. The implications of current results could inform the delivery of parent education and student sexual health programs.
Effects of time of day, adult food, and host fruit on incidence of calling by male Caribbean fruit flies (Diptera : Tephritidae)

Male Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), exhibited two distinct calling periods under greenhouse conditions, one within the first hour of daylight and another during mid to late afternoon. In the laboratory, males called only during the afternoon. In the greenhouse, this afternoon calling period was not observed when flies were deprived of food for that day. High rates of calling were observed in the afternoon if flies were provided either a mixture of hydrolyzed torula yeast and cane sugar, or pure sucrose, but not if provided yeast alone, or deprived of food. Deprivation of sugar for 8 h resulted in a 30% reduction in calling rates in the afternoon, whereas such deprivation for 23 h (from late afternoon to midafternoon) nearly eliminated calling during that period. Male Caribbean fruit flies kept in cages with green, ripe, or overripe guava fruit also exhibited calling (35–45%) near dawn, but only those flies kept in cages with overripe fruit called in the afternoon. Such a difference is likely due to males feeding on the surface of overripe fruit.
Magnetocardiography and Magnetoencephalography: New Technologies for Fetal Surveillance

The fetal magnetocardiogram (FMCG) and fetal magnetoencephalogram (FMEG) are among the most compelling applications of biomagnetism. For fetal surveillance the inherent signal transmission properties of the FMCG and FMEG are highly advantageous, compared to their electrical counterparts, and there is a paucity of alternative functional imaging techniques suitable for routine fetal evaluation. The need to develop new and improved techniques is considerable, as presently there is no single method with high predictive value for the assessment of fetal well-being, and there are no techniques whatsoever that can directly record human neurological activity in utero. While the first FMEG and FMCG studies were published more than ten and twenty years ago, respectively, there was surprisingly little activity in these areas in subsequent years. However, interest in fetal biomagnetism has reemerged recently, as a number of groups have reported findings at meetings and in the literature. This paper presents FMCG and FMEG studies performed by our group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and discusses the potential clinical utility of these techniques.
Redetermination of clinobaryl­ite, BaBe2Si2O7

Clinobaryl­ite, ideally BaBe2Si2O7 (chemical name barium diberyllium disilicate), is a sorosilicate mineral and dimorphic with baryl­ite. It belongs to a group of compounds characterized by the general formula BaM2+2Si2O7, with M2+ = Be, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Co, or Cu, among which the Be-, Fe-, and Cu-members have been found in nature. The crystal structure of clinobaryl­ite has been re-examined in this study based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collected from a natural sample from the type locality (Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia). The structure of clinobaryl­ite can be considered as a framework of BeO4 and SiO4 tetra­hedra, with one of the O atoms coordinated to two Be and one Si, one coordinated to two Si, and two O atoms coordinated to one Si and one Be atom. The BeO4 tetra­hedra share corners, forming chains parallel to the c axis, which are inter­linked by the Si2O7 units oriented parallel to the a axis. The Ba2+ cations (site symmetry m..) are in the framework channels and are coordinated by eleven O atoms in form of an irregular polyhedron. The Si—Obr (bridging O atom, at site symmetry m..) bond length, the Si—Onbr (non-bridging O atoms) bond lengths, and the Si—O—Si angle within the Si2O7 unit are in marked contrast to the corresponding values determined in the previous study [Krivovichev et al. (2004). N. Jb. Miner. Mh. pp. 373–384].
The Theory — A New Finance Paradigm

Central to an emerging approach to asset pricing in the 1920s and 1930s was the principle of the time value of money. While Williams was not the first to originate the concept, he is the first to use it to such substantial analytic effect.
DeepDiary: Automatically Captioning Lifelogging Image Streams

Lifelogging cameras capture everyday life from a first-person perspective, but generate so much data that it is hard for users to browse and organize their image collections effectively. In this paper, we propose to use automatic image captioning algorithms to generate textual representations of these collections. We develop and explore novel techniques based on deep learning to generate captions for both individual images and image streams, using temporal consistency constraints to create summaries that are both more compact and less noisy. We evaluate our techniques with quantitative and qualitative results, and apply captioning to an image retrieval application for finding potentially private images. Our results suggest that our automatic captioning algorithms, while imperfect, may work well enough to help users manage lifelogging photo collections.
Getting down to the FACT: therapeutic targeting of MYC -dependent tumors

The MYC oncogene is thought to be involved in more than half of all human tumors and hence has great potential as a targeted therapy. However, despite the well appreciated role of oncogenes in the pathogenesis and maintenance of tumors, the ability to directly target them has proven elusive save a few examples, such as imatinib for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Recently, Carter et al. reported a way to circumvent the necessity to directly target MYC in neuroblastoma, a MYC -driven pediatric cancer, by identifying a downstream factor that was essential for the high expression of MYC -targeted genes in these tumors (1).
Enzymatic Synthesis, Amplification, and Application of DNA with a Functionalized Backbone

The ability to amplify DNA along with its unprecedented sequence control has led to its use for different applications, but all are limited by the properties available to natural nucleotides. We previously reported the evolution of polymerase SFM4-3, which better tolerates 2'-modified substrates. To explore the utility of SFM4-3, we now report the characterization of its recognition of substrates with 2'-azido, 2'-chloro, 2'-amino, or arabinose sugars. We find that SFM4-3 can efficiently synthesize polymers composed of these nucleotides, and most interestingly, that SFM4-3 can also PCR amplify these modified oligonucleotides. When combined with post-amplification modification, the latter allows for the exponential amplification of polymers that may be functionalized with desired moieties arrayed in a controlled fashion, the utility of which we demonstrate with extensive small molecule functionalization and the production and initial characterization of a novel DNA hydrogel.
Surgical Techniques and Pearls: The Unsuccessful Reoperation

Even in the most skilled of hands, a small percentage of patients will not be cured after reoperative parathyroid surgery. Reoperative parathyroid surgery can be dangerous even for the most experienced surgeons and is associated with higher complication rates. Damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), hypoparathyroidism, and persistent hyperparathyroidism are the common complications associated with reoperative parathyroid surgery [1]. Reoperative parathyroid surgery is often indicated for persistent primary hyperparathyroidism and recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism. Persistent primary hyperparathyroidism is defined as a failure of serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) normalization after a parathyroidectomy operation. Recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism occurs when serum calcium and PTH levels are initially normal but become elevated 6 months after surgery [2]. This is common in patients who have undergone a subtotal parathyroidectomy without correction of the underlying abnormality, such as renal disease. This represents a separate entity and will not be considered an unsuccessful operation.
Comparing North-South technology transfer and South-South technology transfer: The technology transfer impact of Ethiopian Wind Farms

Abstract The paper compares HydroChina’s involvement in Adama Wind Farm in Ethiopia as a case of South-South technology transfer to that of Vergnet, a French firm involved in the construction and financing of Ashegoda Wind Farm, as a case of North-South technology transfer. The impact of technology transfer is evaluated along four dimensions: capital goods and equipment, direct skill transfer, indirect skill transfer, and knowledge and expertise. In recent years, rise of south-south technology transfer led by Chinese-financed overseas renewable energy projects in developing countries has rekindled debate on motivations and impacts of China’s increasing engagements. However, the literature on impact of technology transfer in renewable energy is scarce and non-comparative in nature. This paper aims to fill in the gap. Through interviews with key stakeholders and detailed analysis of the negotiation and construction processes in both projects, the research shows although HydroChina shared a higher level of knowledge and expertise to local engineers and university scholars during the construction phase, Vergnet formed stronger long-term skill transfer linkages with local university students and employed a larger share of local workers than HydroChina. It is crucial to note the research presented here shows that host government, rather than donor country, has considerable capacity and can play a vital role in negotiating and maximizing technology transfer. In fact, the host government’s expectations and demands contributed to the variations in technology transfer patterns. The paper concludes with a discussion of potential opportunities and challenges, and policy recommendations to facilitate international technology transfer.
Prolonged T-wave peak-end interval in Down syndrome patients with congenitally normal hearts.

BACKGROUND Heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization has been assessed using the QT dispersion in Down syndrome (DS) patients with congenitally normal hearts. Novel repolarization indexes, that is, T-wave peak-end (Tp-e) interval and Tp-e/QT ratio, however, have not previously been evaluated in these patients. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio in DS patients without congenital heart defects. METHODS Tp-e interval, Tp-e dispersion, and Tp-e/QT ratio were compared between 160 DS patients and 110 age- and sex-matched healthy controls on 12-lead surface electrocardiogram. RESULTS Heart rate, Tp-e interval, Tp-e dispersion, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were significantly higher in the DS group than the control group. CONCLUSION Myocardial repolarization indexes in DS patients with congenitally normal hearts were found to be prolonged compared with those in normal controls. Further evaluation is warranted to elucidate the relationship between prolonged repolarization indexes and arrhythmic events in these patients.
The Cost of Replacing South Carolina High School Principals.

The purpose of this study is to examine the costs of replacing high school principals. The technique for cost estimation used is the ‘ingredients method’ and is based on the economic principle of o...
Collagen Content and Organization Relate to Bone Nanomechanical Properties

Cancellous bone plays an important load-bearing role in the skeleton, yet relatively little is known about the microstructure-mechanical property relationships of the tissue at the sub-10 [.proportional]m level. Cancellous tissue is characterized by a layered microstructure with variable proportions of collagen and mineral. The lamellar material is substantially stiffer than the interlamellar material at the nanomechanical level. However, the microstructural origin of the observed differences in mechanical properties of these structures has not been investigated. In this study, second harmonic generation microscopy was used to examine collagen in human vertebral cancellous bone. At the same location in the tissue, nanoindentation was used to assess the indentation modulus of lamellar and interlamellar bone. The stiff lamellae corresponded to areas of highly ordered, collagen-rich material, while the compliant interlamellar regions corresponded to areas of unoriented or collagen-poor material. The lamellar bone was approximately 30% stiffer and contained approximately 50% more oriented collagen than the interlamellar bone. These observed differences in the mechanical properties and collagen content and organization of lamellar and interlamellar tissue are consistent with previous scanning electron microscopy studies showing greater mineral and collagen content and organization in lamellar bone. Given the well-known coupling between collagen and mineral in bone tissue, the mineral distribution may mirror that of the aligned collagen. However, similar measurements of local variations in mineral content are needed to confirm this hypothesis and may provide additional insights into the tissue nanomechanical behavior.
A Discrete-Time RF Signal-Processing Technique for Blocker-Tolerant Receivers With Wide Instantaneous Bandwidth

A new signal-processing approach aimed at improving the intermodulation performance of wideband receivers implemented in CMOS technologies is described. The receiver operates by downconverting an input signal to $N$ decimated baseband signals. The local oscillator signals used in this process are each a different phase of a pseudo-random bit sequence of length $N$ . The baseband signals are amplified and digitized before the original RF signal is reconstructed in the digital domain. The operating principles of the system are described and the performance specifications of this system are studied using a combination of analytical and numerical techniques. A prototype integrated circuit has been designed and fabricated using a 130-nm CMOS process. Detailed measurements demonstrating the narrowband and wideband operation of the system are presented and compared to theory. The measured in-band $IIP3$ has been found to be greater than 5.7 dBm from 40 to 300 MHz. The blocker tolerance of the circuit has also been characterized and it was found that a 10-MS/s −50-dBm 16-QAM signal could be received with nearly constant error-vector magnitude as the power of an in-band blocker signal was swept from −20 to −7 dBm.
The Remainders of Faith: On Karl Löwith’s Conception of Secularization

The essay explores Karl Lowith’s notion of secularization arguing that this notion presupposes a conception of faith found only in the religions of the Book. In addition, it is shown that his analyses of history whether eschatological or progressive are carried out against the background of the Greek experience of the physical cosmos characterized by cyclical time.
Carbon Cycling and Dissolved Organic Matter Export in the Northern Everglades

Because much of the Everglades is a vast subtropical freshwater fen, its carbon cycle can be expected to differ from that of most ecosystems in several important ways. The accumulation of peat is evidence that net primary productivity (NPP) exceeds heterotrophic respiration over the long term. The Everglades are subtropical, and thus NPP proceeds year-round, although with a peak in the summer (Davis 1989). Consequently, with a release from nutrient limitations, the potential rates of NPP may be expected to be high compared with many ecosystems. However, nutrient limitation by P is severe, and – like in many peat soils – the long-term storage of P has depleted the sources of recyclable P. In addition, the vast extent of contiguous peatland probably serves to minimize the impact of runoff from surrounding natural upland geological sources of mineral P. Acidity is not a factor in slowing the carbon cycle as is the case in acidic peatlands like the Okefenokee. The occurrence of an annual dry season and periodic droughts creates great episodic bursts of aerobic mineralization and conditions conducive to fires. The sapric nature of Everglades peat is likely a result of the subtropical warmth and periodic aerobic conditions. The low clay content and lack of an underlying clay layer also preclude the protection by organomineral complexes of the humified peat from decomposition when it is drained. Consequently, subsidence and the acceleration of respiration in the warm humid climate are exceptionally severe in the drained peats of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). Finally, the relatively moderate concentrations of sulfate and presence of emergent species of macrophytes that vent methane to the atmosphere allow methane emission to be a prominent feature of the carbon cycle (Chanton et al. 1993). Our discussion of the carbon cycle is restricted to the northern Everglades, which lack the extensive marl soils and mangroves found in the southern Everglades. The northern Everglades has been subject to two severe alterations that dramatically affect the carbon cycle: drainage in the EAA and phosphorus enrichment in areas bordering the EAA. Consequently, we will contrast the carbon cycle in the drained EAA, the P-enriched area of Water Conservation Area 2A (WCA-2A), and the unenriched area of WCA-2A. We have excluded the slough communities because of lack of data on NPP.
Legal Aspects of Ethics in the Neural and Behavioral Sciences

A major ethical issue in clinical neurology is deciding when it is proper to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining medical care from a neurologically impaired patient. The question arises most often with respect to the irreversibly comatose and children with severe mental retardation or irremediable birth defects. It may also surface in connection with various progressive or untreatable neurological diseases, some of which destroy cognitive functions (e.g., Alzheimer Disease) or which leave cognition intact but are otherwise totally incapacitating (e.g., the motor neuron diseases). Most persons subject to ethical inquiries of this sort are unable to participate in a dialogue about what is “right” for them. They lack capacity to comprehend in even the most rudimentary fashion the nature of their condition or their prospects for the future. Others must decide what level of medical care should be provided for them. As to those few who can know their prognosis and express themselves, their wishes must be heeded. A decision which excludes them would appear ethically intolerable and is legally impermissible [1,2].
Effects of trans-10,cis-12 Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Body Composition in Genetically Obese Mice

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has shown a number of biologically beneficial effects, including prevention of obesity. The purpose of this study was to test effects of dietary supplementation of 0.5% trans-10,cis-12 CLA in a high fat diet in neuronal basic helix-loop-helix 2 knock-out animals (N2KO), which is a unique animal model representing adult-onset inactivity-related obesity. Eight wild-type (WT) and eight N2KO female mice were fed either 0.5% trans-10,cis-12 CLA-containing diet or control diet (with 20% soybean oil diet) for 12 weeks. Body weights, food intake, adipose tissue weights, body compositions, and blood parameters were analyzed. Overall, N2KO animals had greater body weights, food intake, adipose tissue weights, and body fat compared to WT animals. CLA supplementation decreased overall body weights and total fat, and the effect of dietary CLA on adipose tissue reduction was greater in N2KO than in WT mice. Serum leptin and triglyceride levels were reduced by CLA in both N2KO and WT animals compared to control animals, while there was no effect by CLA on serum cholesterol. The effect of CLA to lower fat mass, increase lean body mass, and lower serum leptin and triglycerides in sedentary mice supports the possibility of using CLA to prevent or alleviate ailments associated with obesity.
Improving Stem Cell Delivery to the Trabecular Meshwork Using Magnetic Nanoparticles.

Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness and is frequently associated with elevated intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork (TM), the tissue that primarily regulates intraocular pressure, is known to have reduced cellularity in glaucoma. Thus, stem cells, if properly delivered to the TM, may offer a novel therapeutic option for intraocular pressure control in glaucoma patients. For this purpose, targeted delivery of stem cells to the TM is desired. Here, we used magnetic nanoparticles (Prussian blue nanocubes [PBNCs]) to label mesenchymal stem cells and to magnetically steer them to the TM following injection into the eye’s anterior chamber. PBNC-labeled stem cells showed increased delivery to the TM vs. unlabeled cells after only 15-minute exposure to a magnetic field. Further, PBNC-labeled mesenchymal stem cells could be delivered to the entire circumference of the TM, which was not possible without magnetic steering. PBNCs did not affect mesenchymal stem cell viability or multipotency. We conclude that this labeling approach allows for targeted, relatively high-efficiency delivery of stem cells to the TM in clinically translatable time-scales, which are necessary steps towards regenerative medicine therapies for control of ocular hypertension in glaucoma patients.
Análisis de la efectividad de las estrategias metacognitivas en el desarrollo de las competencias lingüísticas orientadas a la lectura rápida y a la identificación y comprensión de la idea principal en un texto con estudiantes de inglés

Reading is one of the four key competences of the English language learning process, in particular, as a receiving skill that facilitates the adoption and incorporation of a variety of information that can be found in different ways. Today, the world of technology, specifically the digital world, offers the reader not only access to a greater variety of texts, but also requires the reader to perform more accurately and quickly when reading. This context requires fast reading and reading comprehension skills to discern all available. The essay focuses on the evaluation and documentation of a pedagogical strategy, which promotes the development of reading competence with the students of the Intensive Academic Program (IAP). The pedagogical strategy raises the development of skills, such as: prediction, where the reader activates his prior knowledge of reading; Skimming through a text quickly to get a general idea of the text; scanning for specific information, since they are considered to be transcendental for the acquisition of reading ability, as well as exploring key words and comprehension questions, elements that contribute to the comprehension of the language and to the broadening of the general culture of the students.
Leadership as an Act of Love: Leading in Dangerous Times

This essay is an invitation to engage in a heart-whole thought experiment around the possibilities and potential of framing leadership as an act of love. The current school context is defined by increasing pressures and demands that undermines the humanity of leaders, children and educators. In this context, leaders must find other ways to lead. The authors propose a framework offered to help leaders to reconnect with their love of children and education. They define the “habits of the heart” as harmony, courage, wisdom, and imagination. It is the combination of these habits that allow leadership with and through love. By defining these habits of heart, leaders can recognize them in their existing practice and find ways to enact new practices that create schools of learning and belonging.
A Corpus-assisted Discourse Analysis of Chiptune-related Practices Discussed within Chipmusic.org

This study examined 245,098 discussion forum posts within a website dedicated to chiptunes, which are electronic music compositions or performances either emulating the sounds of or created through early computer and video game sound chips. Corpus-assisted discourse analysis tools and techniques assisted with revealing patterns of discourse across 10,892,645 words written between December 30th, 2009 and November 13th, 2017 within chipmusic.org. Findings indicate seven interconnected themes of chiptune-related practices that demonstrate potential transdisciplinary connections between computer science education and music education: (a) music composition practices, (b) music performance practices, (c) maker practices, (d) coding practices, (e) entrepreneurial practices, (f), visual art practices, and (g) community practices. Members of chipmusic.org engaged in computer science practices such as designing, manufacturing, and modifying electronic hardware for performing and recording chiptunes, as well as coding practices such as creating or modifying software for chiptune-related purposes. Such practices were guided by an interest in making music through old computer and video game hardware, and demonstrate several potential connections between computer science education and music education. For example, members engaged in computer science practices such as hardware and software modification to enable the ability to compose and perform music through the Nintendo Game Boy. Findings from this study not only demonstrate potential connections between computer science education and music education, they also raise questions about spaces and curricula with blurred disciplinary boundaries. For example, where might chiptune-related practices that blur concepts and practices from a multitude of disciplines and standards occur within a formalized education environment?
Gender, Migration and Social Transformation : Intersectionality in Bolivian Itinerant Migrations

Intersectionality can be used to analyse whether migration leads to changes in gender relations. This book finds out how migrants from a peri-urban neighbourhood on the outskirts of Cochabamba, Bolivia, make sense of the migration journeys they have undertaken. Migration is intrinsically related to social transformation. Through life stories and community surveys, the author explores how gender, class, and ethnicity intersect in people’s attempts to make the most of the opportunities presented to them in distant labour markets. While aiming to improve their economic and material conditions, migrants have created a new transnational community that has undergone significant changes in the ways in which gender relations are organised. Women went from being mainly housewives to taking on the role of the family’s breadwinner in a matter of just one decade. This book asks and addresses important questions such as: what does this mean for gender equality and women’s empowerment? Can we talk of migration being emancipatory? Does intersectionality shed light in the analysis of everyday social transformations in contexts of transnational migrations? This book will be useful to researchers and students of human geography, development studies and Latin America area studies.
Environmental factors affect foraging efficiency of leaf cutter ants in Costa Rica

Leaf-cutter ants serve as keystone species that affect and advance diversity, productivity, and nutrient flow in tropical habitats. Field work was conducted in Costa Rica between May and June 2017 to investigate the role of environmental factors on biomass transport by leaf-cutter ants. Thirty leaf-cutter ant trails were identified along hiking paths throughout La Selva Biological Station, and measures corresponding to foraging efficiency (i.e. speed of biomass transport, average mass of forage transported, trail workforce composition, and biomass transport rate) were documented, along with potential environmental determinants of foraging efficiency (e.g. time of day, precipitation, canopy cover, proximity to forage source and colony). Multiple linear regression models indicated that time of day was significantly associated with workforce composition, weight of forage transported, speed of transport, and biomass transport rate. Precipitation was associated with workforce composition, weight of forage transported, and biomass transport rate. Substrate type was associated with speed of transport and biomass transport rate. Forage source proximity was associated with workforce composition, while proximity to colony was associated with weight of forage transported. Biomass transport rate was also associated with canopy cover. This study characterizes key features of the foraging ecology of leaf-cutter ants, and demonstrates how foraging efficiency is affected by environmental factors.
Emerging molecular mediators and targets for age-related skeletal muscle atrophy

The age-associated decline in muscle mass has become synonymous with physical frailty among the elderly due to its major contribution in reduced muscle function. Alterations in protein and redox homeostasis along with chronic inflammation, denervation, and hormonal dysregulation are all hallmarks of muscle wasting and lead to clinical sarcopenia in older adults. Reduction in skeletal muscle mass has been observed and reported in the scientific literature for nearly 2 centuries; however, identification and careful examination of molecular mediators of age-related muscle atrophy have only been possible for roughly 3 decades. Here we review molecular targets of recent interest in age-related muscle atrophy and briefly discuss emerging small molecule therapeutic treatments for muscle wasting in sarcopenic susceptible populations.
Distributed 3-D Bearing-Only Orientation Localization

We propose a method to recover the orientation of a set of agents with respect to a global reference frame using local bearing measurements alone. Our method is distributed, does not require prior rotation information, and considers the full 3-D version of the problem. We identify sufficient localizability conditions on the directed graph of measurements, propose an algorithm based on distributed Riemannian gradient descent to recover a localization, and verify our theoretical results with simulations.
Abstract A06: Differential response to autophagy in primary versus melanoma cells

Autophagy is a cellular recycling mechanism triggered by nutrient scarcity. Upregulation of autophagy is associated with lifespan extension, DNA repair, and improved cancer immune recognition. Cancer cells can also utilize this mechanism to cope with nutrient-limited conditions. Chloroquine, an inhibitor of autophagy, has shown promising results alone and in combination with other anticancer agents in various types of cancer. However, several promoters of autophagy have also been shown to display potent anticancer properties. To better understand the relationship between autophagy and cancer, we tested promoters and inhibitors of autophagy in a metastatic melanoma cell line (B16F10) and compared the results with primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). After 48h, all tested promoters and inhibitors of autophagy decreased the number of live cells in the B16F10 melanoma cell line compared to untreated controls. In primary cells, promotion of autophagy with methionine restriction (25 μM versus 100 μM in control), complete methionine replacement with homocysteine, and 50 μM of the polyamine spermidine did not affect the number of live cells. Sulforaphane (10 μM) and serum starvation significantly decreased the number of live primary cells. Inhibition of autophagy with 6.25 μM chloroquine did not affect primary cell numbers, while there was a significant decrease in cell numbers associated with a dose of 10 μM of chloroquine and 0.1 μM bafilomycin A1. Cell numbers remained unaffected by longer incubations (96h with replenishment after 48h) of HDF cells with methionine restriction, replacement of methionine with homocysteine, and 6.25 μM chloroquine. These data suggest that cancer cells are more sensitive to both promotion and inhibition of autophagy than primary cells. Interesting compound-specific differences were noted in primary cells. Ongoing preclinical studies evaluate the potential of modulating autophagy as an adjuvant cancer therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic melanoma. Citation Format: Lauren C. Morehead, Alan J. Tackett, Isabelle R. Miousse. Differential response to autophagy in primary versus melanoma cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Melanoma: From Biology to Target; 2019 Jan 15-18; Houston, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(19 Suppl):Abstract nr A06.
Comparative Media Studies in the Digital Age| Comparative Research, System Change, and the Complexity of Media Systems

This commentary reflects on the implications of new media and change in media systems for comparative analysis, focusing particularly on the question of whether increased complexity and fluidity mean that the concept of media systems is no longer relevant to comparative research or that a national media system as a unit of analysis is no longer relevant. It considers the nature of systems theory in general and the place of complexity and variation in the systems perspective. It then goes on to reflect on how to think about new media in relation to existing national media systems, drawing on the concept of path dependence. It closes with reflections on methodology in comparative analysis.