cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interrupting the mindset of educational neocolonialism: Critical deliberations from East and West international adult educators

Applying international and comparative education and cultural perspectives, through critical comparative reflection, this paper examines issues and challenges of adult learning, teaching, and research endeavors between the East and the West. First, a brief literature review illuminating the obstacles and barriers for a two-way exchange between East and West is presented to argue and call for an interchange through which the West might endeavor to listen to and learn from intelligent life beyond its own borders (Merriam and Associates. Non-western perspectives on learning and knowing. Krieger: Malabar. 2007; Milligan, Stanfill, Widyanto, & Zhang. Educational Studies, 47(1):50–70, 2011). Second, via critical personal narratives, two international adult educators’ lived issues, experiences, and reflections demonstrate the pressing necessity that invites us to recollect critically what has been “dismissed or at very least delegitimatized” (Reagan. Non-Western educational traditions: Indigenous approaches to educational thought and practice 3. New York: Routledge. 2010), in the discourse of conceptualizing educational thoughts and practice, and argue for consciousness to challenge our own ethnocentrism and the ethnocentrism of others that could help make the learning from each other more authentic and equally value from both sides. Finally, it concludes with recommendations that may facilitate further deliberations—philosophically, theoretically, and practically. The paper calls for a different mindset that helps interrupt educational neocolonialism in the globalized world. It also aims to help create a “third space” for bridging educational understandings and learning between East and West accurately, and more effectively.
Management of the Axilla in Breast Cancer

During the majority of the last century, management of the axilla in patients with breast cancer consisted of an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in most patients for the purpose of staging and locoregional control. Several landmark clinical trials in the past 30 years have challenged this dogma. Surgical staging of the axilla with sentinel lymph node (SLN) surgery, which is a less morbid procedure, has been shown to be equally effective in clinically node-negative patients, with ALND reserved for patients with positive nodes. More recent evidence from the ACOSOG Z0011 trial showed that omitting an ALND in patients with low-volume nodal disease is safe in patients receiving whole-breast radiation. This and other trials have contributed to the complexity and controversy in axillary management. As the use of more effective systemic and targeted local therapy has become available, the trend has shifted toward less aggressive surgery in the axilla. Patient selection in the modern era is paramount. Contemporary trials are directed toward optimizing the management of node-positive patients who have excellent response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Future trials may show that axillary staging in clinically node-negative patients may not even be necessary.
Genomic Studies of Local Adaptation in Natural Plant Populations

Local adaptation arises as a result of selection by the local environment favoring phenotypes that enhance fitness. Geographic patterns of phenotypic variation are in part due to this selective process. Classically, the genetic basis of those phenotypes has been studied in plant populations using a quantitative genetic approach in which plants from different source populations are grown in common environments, in reciprocal transplant experiments, or in studies across a wide geographic and environmentally heterogeneous area. Limitations of these approaches to understanding the genetic basis of phenotypic variation can now be addressed with next generation sequencing, gene expression profiles, and epigenetic analysis. In this paper, I summarize contemporary genomic research on local adaptation by comparing findings from the Arabidopsis annual plant model system with long-lived tree species in four kinds of local adaptation studies: 1) genomic studies of transplant experiments; 2) landscape genomic studies; 3) gene expression studies; 4) epigenetic studies of local adaptation. Although the basic study designs of common garden, reciprocal transplants, and geographic variation have remained constant, the inclusion of contemporary genomic approaches has provided substantive advances in our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of local adaptation, including the impact of climate, the identification of candidate genes involved in genotype-by-environment interactions, and evidence for the potential role of epigenetic modification. Despite these advances, new questions are arising and key areas for future research include more exploration of gene networks in response to biotic and abiotic stressors and improved statistical tools for traits with polygenic inheritance.
A Bi-Conical Log-Periodic Antenna for Vehicular Communications

Many antennas are highly resonant and only operate over a few percent of the center frequency. These narrow bandwidth antennas may be entirely satisfactory or even desirable for single-frequency or narrow band applications. Wider bandwidths may be required in applications such as Vehicle Communications (VC), where it may be necessary to transmit high bandwidth or latency dependent data. In this application, the transmissions may occur Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) or Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I). In this paper we present a specific antenna design that addresses this problem and has sufficient degree of freedom to select the desired features of the field pattern while keeping other features like antenna impedance and gain relatively stable or at least in the acceptable operation region.
Investigating modulation of inflammation in atherosclerosis by complement protein C1q

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the accumulation of fatty streaks within arterial walls. In hyperlipidemic conditions, cholesterol accumulates in macrophages disrupting cholesterol trafficking and leading to an inflammatory environment. C1q plays a dual role in atherosclerosis. Activation of complement by C1q exacerbates disease by release of pro-inflammatory activation fragments C3a and C5a. However, we have shown in vitro that C1q has numerous protective roles in atherosclerosis such as improving macrophage cholesterol ingestion and efflux, and polarizing macrophages towards a resolving, anti-inflammatory phenotype. Here we investigate if C1q programs similar macrophage inflammatory responses in vivo . We hypothesize that C1q polarizes macrophages to a protective phenotype in the early stages of atherosclerosis by increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to a reduction in disease markers such as cholesterol and triglyceride levels and atherosclerotic lesion size. To investigate, atherosclerosis model, LDLr−/−, mice that are C1q sufficient or deficient were fed a high fat Western diet for 12 weeks. Changes in plasma cyto/chemokine levels are measured by luminex multiplex assay. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels are measured by colorimetric assay. Atherosclerotic lesions are measured in H&E stained aortic sinus. Preliminary data suggests that C1q modulates disease markers as predicted. By understanding the role of C1q in atherosclerosis it may be possible to design improved treatment strategies.
Direct Wave-Drive Thruster

A propulsion concept relying on the direct steady-state acceleration of a plasma by an inductive wave-launching antenna is presented. By operating inductively in steady state, a direct wave-drive t...
The Impact of Diabetes in Older Adults

Nearly 8% of the United States population has diabetes mellitus, and nearly 25% of those who have diabetes are undiagnosed. Older adults have the highest prevalence and incidence of diabetes and diabetes among this group presents a large medical and economic challenge to society. Diabetes greatly impacts the health of older adults with regard to both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular complications. Cardiovascular diseases impacted by diabetes include coronary artery disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, autonomic dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease and hypertension. Non-cardiovascular diseases include cognitive decline; liver, bone, kidney and eye disease; disability, mobility decline; and cancer. With the increasing incidence and prevalence of diabetes, the prevention of these conditions is becoming increasingly urgent.
Cell biological approaches to the study of intracellular pathogens: motility, invasion, secretion and vesicular trafficking.

Gaining an appreciation of the interplay between intracellular pathogens and their host cells requires the exploitation of an ever-broadening range of techniques. These techniques are bundled under the blanket term “Cell Biology”, but are in reality a bastardized mixture of biochemistry, molecular biology and physiology. This chapter describes general protocols and specific experiments that have been developed and applied to several different intracellular pathogens.
Entropy of He II from 1.6 K to the λ line

The fountain pressure of He II was measured and the results were used to obtain the entropy from 1.6 K to near ${T}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$ at vapor pressure and from 1.7 K to near ${T}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$ at various pressures up to 29 bar. The data have a precision of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1% and an accuracy of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5%. There is excellent agreement with recent calorimetric measurements at vapor pressure and good agreement within the combined error estimates with some, but not all, previous fountain-pressure measurements. The small quantity $\ensuremath{\Delta}S=\ensuremath{\int}{{T}_{0}}^{{T}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}}(\frac{{C}_{p}}{T)}\mathrm{dT}$ was added to our measurements near ${T}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$ to yield values for ${S}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}(P)$ which were fitted to an empirical equation with a scatter of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1%. The increased accuracy of our new measurements will reduce considerably the experimental errors in the determination of the superfluid fraction from the second-sound velocity near the superfluid transition line.
How Does the Negative Impact of an Athlete’s Reputational Crisis Spill Over to Endorsed and Competing Brands? The Moderating Effects of Consumer Knowledge:

Despite some of the recent examinations of an athlete’s reputational crisis (ARC), their negative spillover effects on endorsed and competing brands have been overlooked. The purpose of this study ...
Carbon Nanotubes Directly Integrated in CMOS by Local Synthesis - Towards a Wafer-Level Process

Integrating nanomaterials in electronic circuitry and in microsystems is highly desired for fully exploiting the functionality of nanomaterials such as Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), utilizing the signal processing of micro/ nano-electronics such as CMOS. An example device is a CNT-based gas sensor, where the extreme surface-to-volume ratio of CNTs provides ultra-high sensitivity, and direct integration with CMOS enables a device rendering processed, amplified and calibrated signals in a single, low-cost device. The CNTs should be synthesized on-chip directly into electric circuits. One challenge to overcome is the contradiction between temperature requirements for CNT growth (800–1000 °C) and CMOS compatibility (< 300°C). We can achieve local CNT growth temperatures while keeping the main part of the chip at CMOS compatible temperatures by designing resistive micro-heaters. Synthesized CNTs are directed towards an electrode for desired contact by applying a voltage that gives a guiding electric field. All process parameters are controlled electrically, enabling a wafer-level process compatible with high-volume, low-cost manufacturing. This paper shows results from CNT integration in test vehicles manufactured in MEMS processes (using silicon microheaters), as well as our status towards realizing CNT integration in a purpose-designed CMOS chip (optionally using the chip's metal or polysilicon layers for microheaters).
Oral oncolytic and antiretroviral therapy administration: dose adjustments, drug interactions, and other considerations for clinical use

The rise in non-AIDS defining cancers (NADCs) is emerging as a leading cause of death for HIV and cancer patients. To address this, current literature and guidelines suggest the continuation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) with oral oncolytic agents to prevent adverse complications associated with HIV disease progression. However, such an approach has the potential for drug-drug interactions and adverse events for patients on such therapy. Further, recommendations on how to adjust these medications, when used concomitantly, are limited. As such, our purpose is to evaluate existing literature through such means as drug databases (e.g. Micromedex, Lexi-Comp, etc.) and package inserts along with PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar databases to develop a reference tool for providers to utilize when there is a decision to treat a patient with ART and oral oncolytic agents concurrently. Our findings suggest that there are many drug interactions that should be taken into consideration with dual therapy. Metabolism is a key determinant of dose adjustment, and many oncolytic agents and ART agents must have their dose adjusted as such. Most notably, several tyrosine kinase inhibitors require dose increases when used with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) but must be decreased when used concomitantly with protease inhibitors (PIs) and cobicistat. Further findings suggest that certain agents should not be used together, which include, but are not limited to, such combinations as bosutinib with NNRTIs, cobicistat, or PIs; idelalisib with maraviroc or PIs; neratinib with NNRTIs, cobicistat, or PIs; and venetoclax with NNRTIs. Overall, the most prominent oncolytic drug interactions were discovered when such agents were used concomitantly with PIs, cobicistat-boosted elvitegravir, or NNRTIs. Future studies are necessary to further evaluate the use of these agents together in disease therapy to generate absolute evidence of such findings. However, from the studies evaluated, much evidence exists to suggest that concomitant therapy is not without drug interactions. As such, clinical decisions regarding concomitant therapy should be evaluated in which the risk and benefit of dual therapy are assessed. Dose adjustments must be made accordingly and in consultation with both HIV and oncology clinicians and pharmacists to reduce the risk for adverse outcomes and disease progression for those with cancer and HIV/AIDS.
A Software-Inspired Constructive View of Nature

In their review article on “Scientific Reduction” Van Riel and Van Gulick (Scientific reduction. In: Zalta EN (ed) The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (Spring 2016 edition). Stanford University, Stanford, 2016) write, Saying that x reduces to y typically implies that x is nothing more thany or nothing over and abovey. The y to which an x reduces consists most often of x’s components. But virtually nothing can be reduced if to be “nothing more than” or “nothing over and above” its components means to have no properties other than those of its components, individually or aggregated. An atom has properties other than those of its quarks and electrons. A protein, a biological cell, and a hurricane—not to mention such man-made entities as houses, mobile phones, and automobiles—all have properties over and above their components. The properties of most entities depend on both those of the entity’s components and on how those components are put together. (That would seem obvious, but perhaps it’s not.)
Believe It or Not? Partisanship, Preferences, and the Credibility of Campaign Promises

We use a novel survey experiment with a broadly representative sample to reveal an important phenomenon in voter integration of campaign communications: preference-mediated partisan motivation. When evaluating the credibility of candidate position changes on minimum wage policy (a readily quantifiable and salient issue domain), partisans do not take a new stance at face value, apply universal skepticism, or simply afford more credibility to co-partisans. Instead, they process a candidate’s stance through an interaction between the voter’s partisan allegiance and their own policy preference. Partisans update more when a co-partisan moves closer to them than when the candidate shifts away from them. The opposite pattern emerges with the other party’s candidates: partisans tend to be more receptive if the candidate moves away from them. This feature of campaign message acceptance has profound implications for political communication and our understanding of partisan cognition.
The right to obtain patent protection on living material: The causes and consequences of the United States Supreme Court decision in the case of Diamond v. Chakrabarty

In 1980, the United States Supreme Court ruled in the case of Diamond v. Chakrabarty that living material was in the category of patentable subject matter, provided that the living material was a product of human invention as opposed to a product of nature. The fact that the material was living or inanimate was held to be irrelevant to the issue of eligibility for a patent. This ruling was the centerpiece in a series of events that combined to secure the status of animate material as private property. These events fundamentally changed the nature of scientific research in the academic community and the relationship between the university and the private market. These events also had a chilling effect on the pubic debate over the safety, ethics, and morality of commercializing biological material. As a result, the citizens of the United States have never fully dealt with this complex ethical issue except from a purely economic perspective
Optimal Selection of Tests for Active Fault Diagnosis Using Integer Programming

Abstract A model-based method is presented for the simultaneous active diagnosis of faults and sensor selection for complex systems subject to uncertainty. Sensors are selected based on their contribution to information gain with respect to FDI. Admissible input trajectories are selected that maximize the sensitivity of sensed outputs with respect to faults and minimize the joint confidence between faults and sources of uncertainty. The methodology is intended for active FDI in systems that are limited to a finite number of input design scenarios. The optimization of discrete sensors and input designs is formulated as a constrained mixed non-linear integer problem that maximizes a measure of Fisher Information, which is based on output sensitivities with respect to faults and uncertainty represented as parameters in the system model. FDI tests are executed using k-nearest neighbor classification, which is used as a verification method for test designs and sensor networks that result in high correct classification rates. The proposed design framework is tested on a virtual benchmark three-tank system, subject to multiple faults and sources of uncertainty.
Smog Sign: Hazy Diffusion-weighted Imaging Restriction in Dense Axonal Tracts in the Pons on Hyperacute MRI with Remarkable Clinical Improvement After Intra-arterial Thrombectomy.

Patient selection is of prime significance when considering intra-arterial thrombectomy (IAT) for patients with basilar artery occlusion (BAO). We present a case of BAO with the clinical locked-in syndrome and “smoggy” appearance diffusion restriction on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the pons on a hyper-acute magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. A 62-year-old man was admitted with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) of 21. An admission computed tomography angiogram (CTA) showed a mid-distal BAO. As the alteplase was being infused, the patient started declining with an examination suggesting locked-in syndrome. An emergent hyper-acute MRI showed true restricted diffusion on DWI at the entire right anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory, multiple punctate areas in the bilateral posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory, right > left hippocampus, and thalamic region mesial aspect, compatible with an acute posterior circulation infarct. He also had patchy or hazy pontine involvement with slight DWI signal changes but an impressive apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) darkening in the bulk of pons. The patient was taken to the operating room (OR) for IAT within five hours of the witnessed stroke onset, successfully revascularized, and then discharged on the eighth day with NIHSS of 3. MRI at discharge showed a pronounced DWI restriction in the same areas involved in the hyperacute MRI done at admission. However, now the ADC hyper-intensity was less noticeable, with continued hazy and smoggy pontine signal changes on DWI. On the two-month follow-up, the patient had zero NIHSS and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores, respectively. DWI-MRI changes in acute ischemic stroke behave differently in tract areas with a density of nerve axons, manifesting as a hazy or smoggy appearance: the “smog sign” on DWI. In hyper-acute MRI, "hazy" or "smoggy" diffusion restriction on DWI in different axonal tract areas like the pons can correlate with good functional outcomes if successful reperfusion therapy is offered.
A Capacitor Dielectric Relaxation Effect Cancellation Circuit in a 12-Bit, 1-MSps, 5.0-V SAR ADC on a 28-nm Embedded Flash Memory Microcontroller

In this letter, the influence on an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the dielectric relaxation effect of a metal–oxide–metal (MOM) capacitor is described, agreement of a capacitance model with simulations is shown, and a circuit for canceling the dielectric relaxation effect is proposed. When using an MOM capacitor that exhibits dielectric relaxation in an SAR-ADC for an MCU, accuracy is degraded by switching between multiple analog inputs due to the slow charge and discharge components in the capacitors. In this letter a circuit is proposed in which, by applying the same voltage stress on a local DAC at the negative side input of a comparator as on that at the positive one which samples the single-ended input and performs bit decisions, the influence of the dielectric relaxation effect is converted into common mode error and can be canceled by a differential-input comparator. This ADC is fabricated in a 28-nm embedded flash memory process, and in operation at 5 V and 1 MSps achieves an absolute accuracy error of −1.69/1.38 LSB, an INL of −0.50/0.65 LSB, and a DNL of −0.40/0.28 LSB without being affected by dielectric relaxation.
Surveillance of ground glass nodules-when is enough, enough?

Lee et al . provide important information about the long-term behavior of ground glass nodules (GGNs) (1). They carried out a retrospective review of 208 GGNs, detected during routine health check-up CT scans (1–3 mm slice thickness), that were stable for 5 years (78% pure GGNs) (1). Growth was defined as an increase in the largest total dimension of ≥2 mm (others have shown high inter- and intra-observer variability for changes of <2 mm) or the development of a new solid component (presumably visible on mediastinal windows although not explicitly stated).
Leakage Currents and E’ Centers in 4H-SiC MOSFETs with Barium Passivation

4H-SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors have a substantially lower effective channel mobility than silicon-based counterparts. Nitric oxide annealing has been primarily utilized to provide an order of magnitude improvement in the effective channel mobility. Barium interface layers provide an additional doubling of the mobility over nitric oxide anneals. However, barium-based 4H-SiC transistors show more susceptibility to oxide leakage. We have investigated the atomic scale mechanisms of oxide leakage in barium-based devices with electrically detected magnetic resonance. We observe the presence of E’ centers within the oxides of modestly stressed devices. Our measurements directly demonstrate that these E’ centers are important and very likely the dominating cause of these leakage currents. In conventional silicon-based devices, E’ centers are known to be important defects in reliability issues such as bias temperature instabilities and stress-induced leakage currents.
Elusive structural changes of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase revealed by ultraviolet photodissociation mass spectrometry

We use mass spectrometry (MS), under denaturing and non-denaturing solution conditions, along with ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) to characterize structural variations in New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) upon perturbation by ligands or mutation. Mapping changes in the abundances and distributions of fragment ions enables sensitive detection of structural alterations throughout the protein. Binding of three covalent inhibitors was characterized: a pentafluorphenyl ester, an O-aryloxycarbonyl hydroxamate, and ebselen. The first two inhibitors modify Lys211 and maintain dizinc binding, although the pentafluorophenyl ester is not selective (Lys214 and Lys216 are also modified). Ebselen reacts with the sole Cys (Cys208) and ejects Zn2 from the active site. For each inhibitor, native UVPD-MS enabled simultaneous detection of the closing of a substrate-binding beta-hairpin loop, identification of covalently-modified residue(s), reporting of the metalation state of the enzyme, and in the case of ebselen, observation of the induction of partial disorder in the C-terminus of the protein. Owing to the ability of native UVPD-MS to track structural changes and metalation state with high sensitivity, we further used this method to evaluate the impact of mutations found in NDM clinical variants. Changes introduced by NDM-4 (M154L) and NDM-6 (A233V) are revealed to propagate through separate networks of interactions to direct zinc ligands, and the combination of these two mutations in NDM-15 (M154L, A233V) results in additive as well as additional structural changes. Insight from UVPD-MS helps to elucidate how distant mutations impact zinc affinity in the evolution of this antibiotic resistance determinant. UVPD-MS is a powerful tool capable of simultaneous reporting of ligand binding, conformational changes and metalation state of NDM, revealing structural aspects of ligand recognition and clinical variants that have proven difficult to probe.
Anatomy and Embryology of the Thoracic Outlet

The thoracic outlet is the space between the thorax and axilla through which the subclavian vein, subclavian artery, and brachial plexus travel from their central origins to their peripheral termini. Its bounds include the clavicle, first thoracic rib, insertion of the pectoralis minor muscle onto the coracoid process of the humerus, and the sternum. It contains three areas: the scalene triangle, the costoclavicular space, and the subcoracoid or pectoralis minor space. Aberrant anatomy is common in the thoracic outlet and may predispose patients to compression of the neurovascular bundle and development of clinical thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Much of this aberrancy is explained by the embryologic origins of the structures that comprise the thoracic outlet. A thorough understanding of this anatomy and embryology is therefore critical to the understanding of TOS.
Numerical predictions of shear stress and cyclic stretch in the healthy pulmonary vasculature

Isolated post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (Ipc-PH) occurs due to left heart failure, which contributes to 1 out of every 9 deaths in the United States. In some patients, through unknown mechanisms, Ipc-PH transitions to combined pre-/post-capillary PH (Cpc-PH), diagnosed by an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and associated with a dramatic increase in mortality. We hypothesize that altered mechanical forces and subsequent vasoactive signaling in the pulmonary capillary bed drive the transition from Ipc-PH to Cpc-PH. However, even in a healthy pulmonary circulation, the mechanical forces in the smallest vessels (the arterioles, venules, and capillary bed) have not been quantitatively defined. This study is the first to examine this question via a computational fluid dynamics model of the human pulmonary arteries, veins, arterioles, and venules. Using this model we predict temporal and spatial dynamics of cyclic stretch and wall shear stress. In the large vessels, numerical simulations show that shear stress increases coincides with larger flow and pressure. In the microvasculature, we found that as vessel radius decreases, shear stress increases and flow decreases. In arterioles, this corresponds with lower pressures; however, the venules and smaller veins have higher pressure than larger veins. Our model provides predictions for pressure, flow, shear stress, and cyclic stretch that provides a way to analyze and investigate hypotheses related to disease progression in the pulmonary circulation.
Making Them Pay? Patient Ability to Pay and Care Disparities in Emergency Medical Services

We investigate how patient ability to pay through insurance influences the equity of care given by Emergency Medical Service (EMS) crews following 9-1-1 calls. EMS agencies are often underfunded and rely on self-generated revenues to carry out their health mission. Revenues depend on insurance reimbursement rates that typically decrease in the following order: private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. Reimbursement rate differences provide strong organizational-level incentives to treat patients differently based on ability to pay, but it is unclear if such differences might impact individual-level behaviors in the absence of direct incentives. Using data from 31 states reported to the US National Emergency Medical Services Information System, we find that both private insurance and Medicare patients receive more procedures (4.6% and 1.5%) and have longer transport times (5.1% and 3.9%) than Medicaid patients. These differences reduce with call urgency but increase on busy days. Differences manifest across all agency types but particularly in larger agencies and agencies with fewer private insurance calls in the recent past. While EMS crews do not benefit directly from patient payments, our results suggest they do respond to indirect organization-level incentives when making care decisions.
Packaging and shipping diagnostic samples

This document discusses packaging and shipping veterinary diagnostic specimens (fresh tissues, fixed tissues, bacteriology specimens and cultures), US Department of Transportation packaging and shipping safety, and package labeling requirements for both standard “biological” samples and for samples shipped in dry ice. Additionally, examples of the required symbols are noted in the document examples.
Pre-adolescents narrate classroom experience: Integrating socioemotional and spatiotemporal sensitivities

Abstract This study applies sociocultural narrative theory and method to integrate children’s perspectives into research on classroom climate. Sociocultural narrative theory explains how individuals use expressive genres to make sense of environments, how they fit, and what they would like to change. This study incorporates such theory and method into a qualitative research design, applying quantitative analysis techniques to understand trends in student attention and expression. The main goal of this study is to examine whether and how students enact and express socioemotional and spatiotemporal (climate) sensitivities with their use of regular narrative elements. This study employs plot and character analyses to understand 22 sixth graders’ narrations of best and worst classroom experiences. These analyses reveal diverse patterns of focus on classroom events. Differences in the young narrators’ attention highlight areas for ongoing inquiry, with implications for mixed methods studies of classroom climate and related developmental research.
Hormonal Regulation of Diapause and Development in Nematodes, Insects, and Fishes

Diapause is a state of developmental arrest adopted in response to or in anticipation of environmental conditions that are unfavorable for growth. In many cases, diapause is facultative, such that animals may undergo either a diapause or a non-diapause developmental trajectory, depending on environmental cues. Diapause is characterized by enhanced stress resistance, reduced metabolism, and increased longevity. The ability to postpone reproduction until suitable conditions are found is important to the survival of many animals, and both vertebrate and invertebrate species can undergo diapause. The decision to enter diapause occurs at the level of the whole animal, and thus hormonal signaling pathways are common regulators of the diapause decision. Unlike other types of developmental arrest, diapause is programmed, such that the diapause developmental trajectory includes a pre-diapause preparatory phase, diapause itself, recovery from diapause, and post-diapause development. Therefore, developmental pathways are profoundly affected by diapause. Here, I review two conserved hormonal pathways, insulin/IGF signaling (IIS) and nuclear hormone receptor signaling (NHR), and their role in regulating diapause across three animal phyla. Specifically, the species reviewed are Austrofundulus limnaeus and Nothobranchius furzeri annual killifishes, Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, and insect species including Drosophila melanogaster, Culex pipiens, and Bombyx mori. In addition, the developmental changes that occur as a result of diapause are discussed, with a focus on how IIS and NHR pathways interact with core developmental pathways in C. elegans larvae that undergo diapause.
Taphonomy of large marine vertebrates in the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) Tropic Shale of southern Utah

Abstract Sediments from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) Tropic Shale were deposited along the western margin of the Western Interior Seaway, in present-day southern Utah. Marine vertebrates from this formation include plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, bony fish, sharks, and turtles. They are concentrated in the lower portion of the Tropic Shale, mostly between Bentonites B and D. Study of the taphonomic condition of these vertebrates has contributed to an understanding of how they were preserved as well as a detailed paleoenvironment for the Tropic Shale. Physical factors played the dominant role in their preservation, with robust and durable skeletal elements, such as teeth and vertebrae, being most common within the shale. Isolated bones and teeth are also relatively common within the formation, while complete and nearly complete skeletons are more rare. Biological factors played a less dominant role, with no evidence of epifaunal or infaunal activity preserved with any of the skeletal remains. In addition, scavenging marks (both bite and gnaw marks) are relatively uncommon, typically only being found on more complete specimens. A signature of post-burial alteration can be recognized as low levels of abrasion, weathering, and compression and high levels of fracturing of vertebrate skeletal material. Slightly higher levels of abrasion and weathering occur to the west, closer to the ancient shoreline, suggesting some pre-burial alteration. The preservation of marine vertebrates in the Tropic Shale suggests a low energy marine environment with some weak bottom currents and low levels of benthic oxygen. The substrate ranged from soft and soupy to firm, with moderate sedimentation rates resulting in relatively rapid burial.
Review of Advances in Quantitative Eddy Current Nondestructive Evaluation

A comprehensive review of advancements in eddy current (EC) modeling is presented. This paper contains three main sections: a general treatise of EC theory, the thin skin EC forward modeling, and the EC inverse problem. (1) The general treatise of eddy current theory begins with an exposition of the reciprocity formulas for evaluating probe impedance changes, which are derivable from first principles. Two versions of the reciprocity formulas, one with a surface integral and the other with a volume integral, are given. Any particular type of defect, as well as both one-port and two-port probes, can be treated. Second, a brief account of analytical and numerical methods for calculating the field distributions is presented. Third, theory of probe/material interactions with various defect types is described. (2) The paper then proceeds to the forward modeling section, which contains a detailed treatment of the eddy current forward problem for surface breaking cracks and EDM notches in the thin skin approximation. (3) The inverse problem section begins with a general review of commonly used inversion methods, exemplified by selected references from the literature, followed by more detailed examinations of EC inversions for surface breaking cracks and slots. The last part of this section is devoted to the inverse problem for layered structures. Although being a review in nature, the paper contains a number of new accounts for time-domain eddy current interactions. In particular, a modification is proposed to the reciprocity formula in order to take a better account of pulsed eddy current signals.
Abstract 11697: Hyperhomocysteinemia Induces CD40+ Monocyte and Inflammatory Monocyte in Chronic Kidney Disease Subjects via DNA Hypomethylation-Related Mechanism

Hyperhomocysteinenia (HHcy) is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) which has increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and mobility. Elevated inflammatory monocyte (inf. MC) is a cellular hallmark of chronic inflammation which contributes to the burden CVD. We previously reported that HHcy induces inf. MC differentiation in mice and DNA hypomethylation in vascular cells. We assesses whether HHcy causes MC differentiation in CKD and the underlying mechanism. Degree of CKD was determined by plasma creatinine from patients with peripheral vascular disease (VD). Estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated with modification in age, race and gender. (VD, n=13; VD with CKD, n=13; Healthy donor without evidence of VD and CKD, n=13). Blood cells were assessed for phenotypic characterization by flow cytometry. We found that plasma Hcy levels are elevated in VD and CKD. CD14++CD16+ inf. MC are increased in VD subjects and mild HHcy(>15μM). Plasma Hcy levels are positively correlated with inf. MC, CD40, TNF receptor family 5. We identify that CKD patient serum and Hcy (50μM) treatment increased CD40 in purified human blood MC by RT-PCR. Hcy metabolites, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), are increased in CKD subjects. SAM/SAH ratio, an indicator of methylation status, is reduced and is negatively correlated with Hcy, inf. MC, and CD40+ inf. MC. Hcy induced MC-origin inflammatory cytokines IL-6 mRNA in MC isolated from healthy donor by RT-PCR, and potentiated inflammatory cytokine IL-6, TNFα, and IFN[[Unable to Display Character: ɤ]]-induced CD40 expression in cultured PBMCs. Hcy suppressed CD40 transcription and reduced DNA methyltransferase 1 protein levels in cultured human MC. We identified four DNA hypomethylation CpG dinucleotides at p65 and PU.1 transcription factor consensus sequences on CD40 promoter in white blood cells isolated from CKD patients by Bisulfite pyrosequencing. Finally, CD40L levels are positively correlated with plasma Hcy and inf. MC. CD40 ligation by CD40L treatment (0.4μg/l) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) induced inf. MC differentiation. We conclude that HHcy potentiates IFN[[Unable to Display Character: ɤ]]-mediated CD40 expression via CD40 DNA hypomethylation in CKD and promotes CD40-CD40L mediated inf. MC differentiation.
The Cornell Urban Scholars Program: Cultivating New York City’s Next Generation of Civic Leaders

This article describes the origins, evolution, and developmentof a comprehensive civic engagement program designedto encourage Ivy League students to pursue public servicecareers with nonprofits and municipal government organizationsserving New York City’s poorest children, families, and neighborhoods.The article offers a detailed description of the variousprograms that constitute the Cornell Urban Scholars Program,which includes a high school leadership camp, a public-serviceorientedalternative spring break, an undergraduate summerinternship program, a graduate research fellowship in children,family, and community development policy making, a nonprofitcareer fair, and a new refereed journal. The article alsoincludes a preliminary analysis of the accomplishments andlimitations of this new civic engagement effort. It concludeswith a review of the major factors that have led to the program’sinitial success and ongoing sustainability.
If We Build It, Will They Come?: Library Users in a Digital World

L'A. explore la facon dont les bibliotheques peuvent creer des environnements et des points d'acces d'information electroniques propices, en utilisant les etudes existantes sur les preferences des utilisateurs et leur comportement de recherche. Les bibliotheques qui repondront aux besoins des etudiants et des enseignants reussiront a etablir des bases d'utilisateurs solides et fideles.
Social networking applications: smarter product design for complex human behaviour modeling

The advent and adoption of internet-based social networking has significantly altered our daily lives. The educational community has taken notice of the positive aspects of social networking such as creation of blogs and to support groups of system designers going through the same challenges and difficulties. This paper introduces a social networking framework for collaborative education, design and modeling of the next generation of smarter products and services. Human behaviour modeling in social networking application aims to ensure that human considerations for learners and designers have a prominent place in the integrated design and development of sustainable, smarter products throughout the total system lifecycle. Social networks blend self-directed learning and prescribed, existing information. The self-directed element creates interest within a learner and the ability to access existing information facilitates its transfer, and eventual retention of knowledge acquired.
Mechanisms of action of the soy isoflavone genistein: emerging role for its effects via transforming growth factor beta signaling pathways

The soy isoflavone genistein attenuates growth factor- and cytokine-stimulated proliferation of both normal and cancer cells. This article reviews our current understanding of the potential mechanisms of action of genistein. In membrane preparations from mammalian cells, genistein is a potent and specific inhibitor of tyrosine autophosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. However, in several cell systems in which it inhibits growth, genistein does not alter tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor or other tyrosine kinase substrates thought to be involved in signal transduction pathways, suggesting that other mechanisms may be responsible for its action. Alternatives include inhibition of DNA topoisomerase II activity, regulation of cell cycle checkpoints, and antiangiogenic and antioxidant activity. Experiments in our laboratory suggest a new concept, that genistein may inhibit cell growth by modulating transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 signaling pathways. Such a link between genistein action and TGFbeta1 function is supported by preliminary results of studies in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (a genetic disorder involving mutations in proteins that regulate TGFbeta receptor complex formation and signaling) in which several patients had dramatic attenuation of their symptoms after 1 wk of ingesting soy-based beverages. These preclinical studies in combination with our cell culture data suggest that the mechanism of genistein involves, if not requires, TGFbeta1-signaling.
Time‐release versus immediate‐release formulations of venlafaxine, paroxetine and bupropion: a comparative study of a nationally representative sample of the US working population

Objective The purpose of this study is to compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) such as health-related quality of life, mental disorder and psychological distress among users of time-release (TR) versus immediate-release formulations of three commonly prescribed antidepressants in a sample of the US working population. Methods Adjusted multiple linear and logistic regression analyses using data from 2004 to 2010 Medical Expenditures Panel Surveys were conducted. The health-related quality of life was measured based on the Physical Component Summary (PCS-12) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS-12) of the SF-12v2. The mental disorder and the psychological distress were measured by the Patient Health Questionniare-2 and the Kessler 6 respectively. Key findings The utilization of TR formulations was not associated with higher scores in the SF12-v2, (β = −0.546, P = 0.442) and (β = −0.806, P = 0.346) for both PCS-12 and MCS-12 respectively. The users of TR formulations did not significantly differ in their likelihood of having a score of ≥3 in the Patient Health Questionniare-2 (OR = 1.048, P = 0.677). Furthermore, the utilization of TR formulations was not associated with lower scores in the Kessler 6 Scale (β = 0.073, P = 0.846). Conclusions Although controlled clinical trials report favourable tolerability profiles for TR formulations, it still remains unclear whether these formulations lead to better PROs in real-world patient-care settings.
What matters to performance? Structural and institutional dimensions of water utility governance

A prolific theoretical and empirical literature has examined the relevance of structures and institutions to public utility performance, with a particular emphasis on the discrete role of ownership. The empirical findings are inconsistent and mostly indeterminate. A narrow emphasis on ownership deflects attention from the inextricable role of governance. The impact of privatization may be marginal compared with alternative governance reforms. Offered here is an informal, practical, and parsimonious conceptual model that distinguishes between structural (endogenous) and institutional (exogenous) governance. Three structural dimensions (ownership form, practice standards, and enterprise autonomy) are juxtaposed against three institutional dimensions (market contestability, external review, and economic regulation). Each dimension may be complementary or substitutive. Given persistent monopoly, privatization may be unnecessary and will be insufficient for ensuring performance. Economic regulation is a prereq...
Mild traumatic brain injury: Effects on naming in word retrieval and discourse

Primary objective: To investigate differences between a group with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and a control group relative to standard scores and error type during word retrieval in both naming and discourse tasks.Methods and procedures: Ten participants with MTBI were age-, gender- and education-matched with 10 participants without injury. Pre-experimental tasks for the participants with MTBI included the Scales of Cognitive Ability for Traumatic Brain Injuryand the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matricesand both groups received the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III. Experimental tasks included the Test of Adolescent/Adult Word Findingand the Test of Word Finding in Discourse.Main outcomes and results: Few participants (three on each experimental task) demonstrated psychometrically-based word retrieval deficits (standard score < 85); however, a significant difference in performance for the TAWFas compared to the TWFDwas observed between groups. More word finding errors occurred with confrontation...