cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relation Between Exposure to Sophisticated and Complex Language and Early-Adolescent English-Only and Language Minority Learners’ Vocabulary

This study investigated the relation between teachers’ (N = 22) use of sophisticated and complex language in urban middle-school classrooms and their students’ (mean age at pretest = 11.51 years; N = 782; 568 language minority and 247 English only) vocabulary knowledge. Using videotaped classroom observations, teachers’ speech was transcribed and coded for their total amount of talk, vocabulary usage, and syntactic complexity. Students’ vocabulary skills were assessed at the beginning and end of the school year. Results showed variation in students’ vocabulary skills and teachers’ language use. Hierarchical linear modeling techniques revealed that after controlling for classroom and school composition and students’ beginning-of-the-year scores, students’ end-of-the-year vocabulary skills were positively related to teachers’ use of sophisticated vocabulary and complex syntax, but not teachers’ total amount of talk.
More efficient estimators for case-cohort studies

The case-cohort study design, used to reduce costs in large cohort studies, is a random sample of the entire cohort, named the subcohort, augmented with subjects having the disease of interest but not in the subcohort sample. When several diseases are of interest, several case-cohort studies may be conducted using the same subcohort, with each disease analyzed separately, ignoring the additional exposure measurements collected on subjects with the other diseases. This is not an efficient use of the data, and in this paper, we propose more efficient estimators. We consider both joint and separate analyses for the multiple diseases. We propose an estimating equation approach with a new weight function, and we establish the consistency and asymptotic normality of the resulting estimator. Simulation studies show that the proposed methods using all available information gain efficiency. We apply our proposed method to the data from the Busselton Health Study.
Superior Vena Caval Resection in Lung Cancer

Abstract Lung cancer with involvement of the SVC is uncommon but presents a unique management challenge. Discovery of N2 disease should be given its due diligence and these patients should undergo induction therapy. Patients can attain favorable long-term outcomes with surgery, but they need to be carefully selected at specialized centers.
Melatonin administration prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative damage in phenobarbital-treated animals.

The protective effect of melatonin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative damage in phenobarbital-treated rats was measured using the following parameters: changes in total glutathione (tGSH) concentration, levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in both brain and liver, and the content of cytochrome P450 reductase in liver. Melatonin was injected intraperitoneally (ip, 4mg/kg BW) every hour for 4 h after LPS administration; control animals received 4 injections of diluent. LPS was given (ip, 4 mg/kg) 6 h before the animals were killed. Prior to the LPS injection, animals were pretreated with phenobarbital (PB), a stimulator of cytochrome P450 reductase, at a dose 80 mg/kg BW ip for 3 consecutive days. One group of animals received LPS together with Nw-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a blocker of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (for 4 days given in drinking water at a concentration of 50 mM). In liver, PB, in all groups, increased significantly both the concentration of tGSH and the activity of GSH-PX. When the animals were injected with LPS the levels of tGSH and GSSG were significantly higher compared with other groups while melatonin and L-NAME significantly enhanced tGSH when compared with that in the LPS-treated rats. Melatonin alone reduced GSSG levels and enhanced the activity of GSH-PX in LPS-treated animals. Additionally, LPS diminished the content of cytochrome P450 reductase with this effect being largely prevented by L-NAME administration. Melatonin did not change the content of P450 either in PB- or LPS-treated animals. In brain, melatonin and L-NAME increased both tGSH levels and the activity of GSH-PX in LPS-treated animals. The results suggest that melatonin protects against LPS-induced oxidative toxicity in PB-treated animals in both liver and brain, and the findings are consistent with previously published observations related to the antioxidant activity of the pineal hormone.
Abnormalities of neural circuitry in Alzheimer's disease Hippocampus and cortical cholinergic innervation

Severe pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) results in marked disruption of cortical circuitry. Formation of neurofibrillary tangles, neuronal loss, decrease in dendritic extent, and synaptic depletion combine to halt communication among various cortical areas, resulting in anatomic isolation and fragmentation of many cortical zones. The clinical manifestation of this disruption is severe and debilitating cognitive dysfunction, often accompanied by psychiatric and behavioral disturbances and a diminished ability to perform activities of daily living. However, different cortical circuits are not equally vulnerable to AD pathology. In particular, two cortical systems that appear to be involved in the neural processing of memory are selectively vulnerable to degeneration in AD. One consists of connections between the hippocampus and its neighboring cortical structures within the temporal lobe. The second is the cortical cholinergic system that originates in neurons within the basal forebrain and innervates the entire cortical mantle. The circuitry in these systems shows early and severe degenerative changes in the course of AD. The selective vulnerability of these circuits is the probable reason for the early and marked loss of memory observed in these patients. This review presents current knowledge of the general pattern of cortical circuitry, followed by a summary of abnormalities of this circuitry in AD. The cortical circuits that exhibit selective pathology in AD are described in greater detail. Therapeutic implications of the abnormal circuitry in AD are also discussed. For therapies to be effective, early diagnosis of AD is necessary. Future efforts at AD therapy must be combined with an equally intense effort to develop tools capable of early diagnosis of AD, preferably at a preclinical stage before the onset of cognitive symptoms.
Analysis of RNAV arrival operations with descend via clearances at phoenix airport

On 10 October 2006, two new area navigation (RNAV) arrival procedures for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) were published which provide vertical guidance in the terminal area. The procedures largely overlay corresponding conventional procedures and established navigation patterns used by air traffic control (ATC). However, the inclusion of vertical guidance and routine ATC issuance of descend via clearances to leverage this guidance was expected to result in more continuous aircraft arrival descents inside the terminal area. More continuous descents enable prolonged flight under reduced engine thrust and associated fuel burn and environmental benefits. The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD) was tasked by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to assess operational changes associated with the implementation of the new RNAV arrival procedures at PHX and estimate the resulting user benefits. Based on analysis of radar data recorded during eleven days of pre-and post-implementation operations, significant improvements in descent continuities were observed for aircraft descending via the new procedures. The improvements resulted in a 38-percent reduction in the time aircraft remained in level flight at key step-down altitudes in terminal airspace. Fuel burn benefits to users were estimated at $0.5 million annually, and resulting reductions in CO2 emissions were estimated at approximately 2500 metric tons annually. In addition to these currently realized benefits, improved participation coupled with procedure optimization efforts promise increased future user benefits.
Synthesis and characterization of fluorescence-labelled silica core-shell and noble metal-decorated ceria nanoparticles.

The present review article covers work done in the cluster NPBIOMEM in the DFG priority programme SPP 1313 and focuses on synthesis and characterization of fluorescent silica and ceria nanoparticles. Synthetic methods for labelling of silica and polyorganosiloxane/silica core–shell nanoparticles with perylenediimide derivatives are described, as well as the modification of the shell with thiol groups. Photometric methods for the determination of the number of thiol groups and an estimate for the number of fluorescent molecules per nanoparticles, including a scattering correction, have been developed. Ceria nanoparticles decorated with noble metals (Pt, Pd, Rh) are models for the decomposition products of automobile catalytic converters which appear in the exhaust gases and finally interact with biological systems including humans. The control of the degree of agglomeration of small ceria nanoparticles is the basis for their synthesis. Almost monodisperse agglomerates (40 ± 4–260 ± 40 nm diameter) can be prepared and decorated with noble metal nanoparticles (2–5 nm diameter). Fluorescence labelling with ATTO 647N gave the model particles which are now under biophysical investigation.
Textual Seductions: Women's Reading and Writing in Margaret Oliphant's “The Library Window”

Margaret oliphants ghost story “The Library Window” (1896) — one of the last works of its author's prolific career — is haunted by images of reading and writing. Visiting her aunt, the young narrator (never named) reads obsessively, perched in the window seat where she witnesses another scene of textuality. Some claim that a window in the college library across the street is only “fictitious panes marked on the wall” (296), yet in a series of increasingly vivid tableaux the girl sees through those panes a young man seated in a study “writing, writing always” (305). So entranced is she by this vision of scholarship, so convinced of its reality, that she is devastated to learn the window is indeed a fake and the young man a ghost who appears to her because of a curse on the female members of her family: he was killed by the brothers of another young girl — the narrator's ancestor — when they mistakenly assumed he was responding to her flirtatious overtures as she waved to him across the street.
Central role of Snail1 in the regulation of EMT and resistance in cancer: a target for therapeutic intervention

Snail1 is the founding member of the Snail superfamily of zinc-finger transcription factors, which also includes Snail2 (Slug) and Snail3 (Smuc). The superfamily is involved in cell differentiation and survival, two processes central in cancer research. Encoded by the SNAI1 gene located on human chromosome 20q13.2, Snail1 is composed of 264 amino acids and usually acts as a transcriptional repressor. Phosphorylation and nuclear localization of Snail1, governed by PI3K and Wnt signaling pathways crosstalk, are critical in Snail1’s regulation. Snail1 has a pivotal role in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the process by which epithelial cells acquire a migratory, mesenchymal phenotype, as a result of its repression of E-cadherin. Snail1-induced EMT involves the loss of E-cadherin and claudins with concomitant upregulation of vimentin and fibronectin, among other biomarkers. While essential to normal developmental processes such as gastrulation, EMT is associated with metastasis, the cancer stem cell phenotype, and the regulation of chemo and immune resistance in cancer. Snail1 expression is a common sign of poor prognosis in metastatic cancer, and tumors with elevated Snail1 expression are disproportionately difficult to eradicate by current therapeutic treatments. The significance of Snail1 as a prognostic indicator, its involvement in the regulation of EMT and metastasis, and its roles in both drug and immune resistance point out that Snail1 is an attractive target for tumor growth inhibition and a target for sensitization to cytotoxic drugs.
Carrier frequency offset estimation in OFDMA systems based on averaging over successive blocks

An uplink OFDMA systems is considered. Different users use different transmit antennas, thus, each user contributes a different carrier frequency offset (CFO) at the receiver. The multiple CFOs introduce intercarrier interference, thus impeding user separation and transmit signal recovery. A low complexity CFO estimation approach is proposed for estimating multiple CFOs. The proposed approach relies on one or more pilot symbols per user which are placed far from each other and each one carries the same symbol over a number of successive blocks. A user's CFO is obtained based on averaging over consecutive OFDM blocks of the symbols corresponding to the pilot tones of that user. Simulation results suggest that accurate CFOs estimation is possible with a very small amount of averaging, which makes the method applicable to the case of slowly varying channels. The proposed approach does not require channel state information, which is important as channel state information cannot be easily obtained before CFO correction.
Candidate gene studies in psychiatric disorders: promises and limitations.

The study of genetics is changing our understanding of the world. Just as we cannot step in the same river twice, we will never be able to see the world in the same way we did before the recent discoveries in behavioural genetics. The frequent reports in the mass media about the recent advances in genetic research suggest that the general public endorses genetic research. One of the most rapidly emerging areas of neuroscience research is the study of genetic approaches to complex psychiatric disorders. Family, twin and adoption studies have produced data that firmly support the genetic basis for the inheritance of psychiatric disorders. Molecular genetic studies attempt to identify the specific allele that may be responsible for the familiality and heritability of phenotype. Association studies search for correlations in the population between a DNA marker and a disorder. 1,2 If persons with a disorder have an increased frequency of a specific allele or genotype, it may mean that the gene contributes to vulnerability to the disease. The so-called “candidate gene approach” is frequently used in association studies. When biological investigations have provided some clue about the possible involvement of known genes, these genes may become candidates for studies. In the search for candidate genes, those physiological and biochemical systems that have been theorized to be important in the pathogenesis of behavioural disorders are logical ones on which to focus. One starting point for understanding vulnerability to behavioural disorders is to look for variants in genes that are involved in neurotransmitter metabolism. Genes for receptors, transporters and metabolizing enzymes are good candidates. However, because of the complexity of causation of psychiatric disorders, any genetic determinants of vulnerability to psychiatric disorders are likely to be subtle.
Power studies of an underwater DBD plasma jet

The production of a nonthermal plasma discharge in non-potable liquid water has shown the capacity to break down and remove contaminates, sterilizing the liquid. The plasma-water interaction creates copious amounts of short-lived radicals, electrons, excited species, ultrasound and UV photons, which react with contaminants in the liquid. All together, they have the ability to destroy microbial, bacterial and viral particles and drive the decomposition of toxic organic compounds. Key to the practical implementation of this novel water purification method is carrying out the processing at acceptable input power levels. This is to say, the electrical efficiency of the plasma-based method must be reasonably high. In general, the ideal system for point-of-use water treatment applications must also be amenable to low power operation, as is required in those regions with limited access to electrical power. Presented here are results of a detailed study of the power dissipation in an underwater DBD plasma jet currently under study for water treatment applications. Conversion and electrical efficiency is compared to conventional methods of water treatment.
Testing the Culture-Fit Hypothesis with religious beliefs: a multilevel analysis

This study tested the hypothesis that internalising cultural values that fit internalised Christian religious orientations would produce higher levels of well-being than internalising cultural values that are incongruous with one's religious orientation. Participants (n = 409) completed self-report measures of cultural values (individualism and collectivism), religious orientation (quest and Christian orthodoxy) and well-being. A series of hierarchical regression analyses and hierarchical linear modelling revealed several Cultural Value X Religious Orientation interaction effects. Specifically, people whose cultural values did not cohere with their religious orientation experienced lower levels of well-being than those whose cultural values fit well with their religious orientation.
The Illusion of the Free Trade Constitution

In the United States, commentators often contend that our constitutional structure of government can be reformed to promote the general welfare at the expense of special interest groups. Supposedly, one such constitutional innovation — touted widely in the literature — is the long standing practice in which Congress delegates significant international trade authority to the President. In the now familiar tale of institutional beneficence, starting in 1934 Congress agreed to sacrifice some portion of its constitutional authority for the greater good. By doing so, Congress was able to disempower narrow interest groups and enable the President to pursue trade policies that benefit the general welfare. There is one problem with this account: it is not quite true. Neither reciprocity nor the delegation of trade authority to the President were efforts to transcend interest group pressure; on the contrary, they were very much the products of interest group politics. Moreover, they were not particularly novel. Both delegation and reciprocity had been deployed by politicians to secure protectionist policy goals in the latter part of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. In the end, there are likely no set of constitutional structures that will continually guarantee a path to free trade; instead, the relationship between free trade and constitutional institutions is largely contingent and dependent on interest group politics.
Adenosine deaminase attenuates canine coronary vasodilation during systemic hypoxia

The hypothesis that adenosine mediates the coronary vasodilatory response to hypoxia was tested by determining if intracoronary infusion of the adenosine degrading enzyme, adenosine deaminase (ADA), would attenuate this response. Efficacy of ADA was also evaluated by examining its effect on the coronary responses to exogenous adenosine and to 20-s myocardial ischemia. Experiments were conducted in 14 anesthetized, open-chest dogs ventilated 3-5 min with 3% O2-5% CO2-92% N2 to induce systemic hypoxia. Under control, pre-ADA conditions, hypoxia (arterial PO2 19 +/- 2 mmHg) caused left anterior descending (LAD) coronary blood flow to increase from 100 +/- 12 to 382 +/- 47 ml X min-1 X 100 g-1 (+282%). After infusion of ADA (5 U X kg-1 X min-1 for 8-10 min) into the LAD, equally severe hypoxia (arterial PO2 18 +/- 3 mmHg) caused a significantly smaller increase in LAD flow, 79 +/- 9 to 234 +/- 41 ml X min-1 X 100 g-1 (+195%). Oxygen consumption in the LAD perfusion field was unchanged by hypoxia before ADA but fell significantly during hypoxia after ADA. ADA also attenuated significantly the coronary vasodilatory response to exogenous adenosine and to 20-s ischemia. The results of this investigation demonstrate a significant role of adenosine in the coronary vasodilatory response to systemic hypoxia.
Aerobic exercise dysfunction in human immunodeficiency virus: a potential link to physical disability.

Approximately 282,000 adults, adolescents, and children are currently living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States as of the year 2002.1 With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the life span of these individuals has dramatically increased,2 and HIV infection is now considered a chronic illness with accompanying episodes of exacerbations and remissions of symptoms.3 Numerous conditions such as lipodystrophy syndrome4–6 and skeletal myopathy7–9 have been associated with HIV and its medical management, many of which may result in physical disability and diminished quality of life. Due to the chronic nature of this condition, physical therapists will continue to manage many of these conditions in increased numbers of people who are living with HIV. Although guidelines for physical therapy evaluation and management of this potentially disabling condition have not been established, it appears that aerobic exercise training may have a beneficial effect on the cardiorespiratory health of people who are living with HIV. Thus, an understanding of the factors that limit the oxidative metabolic response to physical activity is paramount in developing effective exercise training programs for people with this virus. The focus of this Update is to examine the biological factors that might limit the oxidative metabolic response to physical activity in people with HIV. HIV-related disability has been associated with fatigue and decreased physical functioning10–13 as well as other factors that may limit people's ability to carry out necessary life activities.12,14,15 Fatigue in adults with HIV has been identified using patient self-reports of physical and functional limitations while performing activities of daily living such as housework, climbing stairs, and walking15 and activities required for employment.10,11 Asymptomatic HIV …
A concept mapping case domain modeling approach for digital forensic investigations

Over the decades, computer forensics has expanded from primarily examining computer evidence found on hard drives into the examination of digital devices with increasing storage capacity, to the identification of crimes and illegal activities involving the use of computers, to addressing standards and practices deficiencies, and to addressing the need to educate and train law enforcement, computer forensic technicians, and investigators. This dissertation presents the concept mapping case domain modeling approach to aid examiners/investigators in searching and identifying digital evidence and analyzing the case domain during the examination and analysis phase of the computer forensic investigation. The examination and analysis phases of a computer forensic process are two of the most important phases of the investigative process because the search for and identification of evidence data is crucial to a case; any data uncovered will help determine the guilt or innocence of a suspect. In addition, these phases can become very time consuming and cumbersome. Therefore, finding a method to reduce the amount of time spent searching and identifying potential evidence and analyzing the case domain would greatly enhance the efficiency of the computer forensic process. The hypothesis of this dissertation is that the concept mapping case domain modeling approach can serve as a method for organizing, examining, and analyzing digital forensic evidence and can enhance the quality of forensic examinations without increasing the time required to examine and analyze forensic evidence by more than 5%. Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the concept mapping case domain modeling approach. Analysis of the experiments supports the hypothesis that the concept mapping case domain modeling approach can be used to organize, search, identify, and analyze digital evidence in an examination.
Microwave photoresistance in an ultra-high-quality GaAs quantum well

The temperature dependence of microwave-induced resistance oscillations (MIRO), according to the theory, originates from electron-electron scattering. This scattering affects both the quantum lifetime, or the density of states, and the inelastic lifetime, which governs the relaxation of the nonequilibrium distribution function. Here, we report on MIRO in an ultra-high-mobility ($\ensuremath{\mu}g3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}/\mathrm{V}$ s) two-dimensional electron gas at $T$ between $0.3$ and $1.8$ K. In contrast to theoretical predictions, the quantum lifetime is found to be $T$ independent in the whole temperature range studied. At the same time, the $T$ dependence of the inelastic lifetime is much stronger than can be expected from electron-electron interactions.
Automated Cell Segmentation Method for Extracting Cell Information From Phase Contrast Microscopy of a Microfluidic Device

Technological advancement in cell and microscopy imaging generate a high demand for complex image analysis techniques. Image processing techniques are powerful tools to assess the images and extract information for quantization and evaluation of regions. It is crucial to develop advanced automatic cell segmentation methods with capability to analyze image data with high level of accuracy. In this paper, a quantitative technique is developed to count the number of cells from phase contrast microscopy. The technique selects region of interests (ROI) in the cell images and it measures the cell locations within ROI in a specific microfluidic device. The cell location is an important factor which will affect the flow pattern in the microfluidic device and consequently induced shear stresses.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Surface science for improved ion traps

Trapped ions are sensitive to electric-field noise from trap-electrode surfaces. This noise has been an obstacle to progress in trapped-ion quantum information processing (QIP) experiments for more than a decade. It causes motional heating of the ions, and thus quantum-state decoherence. This heating is anomalous because it is not easily explained by typical technical-noise sources. Experimental evidence of its dependence on ion-electrode distance, frequency, and electrode temperature points to the surface, rather than the bulk, of the trap electrodes as the origin. In this article, we review experimental efforts and models to help identify and reduce or eliminate the source of the anomalous heating. Recent progress to reduce the heating with in situ cleaning indicates that it may not be a fundamental limit to trapped-ion QIP. Moreover, the extreme sensitivity of trapped ions to electric-field noise may potentially be used as a new tool in surface science.
Desingn of new LED Lighting Power Supply

In order to solve the problem of LED driver circuit which has low efficiency and power factor.This paper dscribes a new LED driver circuit-SEPIC converter which has high efficiency and large power factor.It can produce output voltages lower,equal or greater than the input voltage and simplify the circuit.Simulation by Pspice proves that SEPIC achieves power factor correction and has higher efficiency.
Visual propaganda on Facebook: A comparative analysis of Syrian conflicts:

Social media platforms have become important in spreading propaganda images during conflicts, as demonstrated in several recent cases including the Israeli–Hamas confrontation in 2012 and graphic internet videos by the self-proclaimed Islamic State in 2014. This study examines the role of visual propaganda in the social media age by analyzing themes, frames, and structural features of images posted on the official Facebook pages of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces in 2013 and 2014. Our content analysis shows interesting differences and similarities between the two sides in using images to promote their political agendas during the recent Syrian conflicts following the 2011 uprisings. The Syrian government used visual frames to support its narrative that President Assad is a fearless leader protecting its people and that life has continued normally throughout Syria. The Syrian opposition used various images to solidify its narrative of t...
Neurology: A Clinician’s Approach

Neurology: A Clinician's Approach teaches a symptom-oriented approach to the 20 most common problems which face neurologists in training. Emphasizing the primary importance of the patient history, the reader is instructed which questions to ask in order to elicit the chief complaint, how to ask these questions, and how to interpret the answers. The neurologic examination is presented as a flexible diagnostic tool rather than as a rigid exercise to be performed by rote and without reference to the chief complaint. Each chapter integrates evidence-based and experience-based approaches to diagnostic testing and treatment. Frequently-encountered conditions, uncommon 'zebras', and non-neurologic mimics of nervous system dysfunction are all given appropriate weight. Neurology: A Clinician's Approach is essential reading for neurologists in training, including neurology residents and medical students.
CHAPTER 4 – The Platelet Cytoskeleton

Platelets are subcellular fragments released from megakaryocytes that circulate in blood as small discs. Their small size and discoid shape result in their being pushed to the vessel edge by blood flow, which posits them near the apical surface of the endothelium, allowing them to be in the right place to detect and respond to vascular damage rapidly. When encountering such surface-bound activating factors as linearized von Willebrand factor (VWF) bound to collagen and/or soluble factors released into blood, platelets avidly react, bind, spread, secrete, and interact with one another and with fibrin to form a plug that seals the damaged surface. Plug formation requires platelets to undergo rapid morphological changes as they convert from their resting discoid forms to their active shapes. Spreading allows platelets to flatten over the damaged surface, whereas the elaboration of long filopods facilitates the recruitment of additional platelets into the wound site. Recruitment of additional cells is accomplished by both the delivery of P-selectin receptors to the platelet surface and the release of attractive molecules such as ADP and serotonin from platelet granules during secretion, by the production and release of thromboxane, and by a conformational change that activates the major surface platelet integrin, αIIbβ3, the receptor for fibrinogen/fibrin.
Progressive Dubiety: The Discontinuity of Disraeli’s Political Trilogy

A brief look at Popanilla (1828), Disraeli’s early imaginary voyage, is an appropriate prelude to our discussion of the trilogy. Popanilla is undoubtedly indebted to Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and The Tale of a Tub and probably also to Johnson’s Rasselas and Voltaire’s Candide and Zadig, and could be discussed in terms of those predecessors. But I begin this chapter with Popanilla because Disraeli discovered in that work that he could use fiction to express his political and philosophic views. In his first example of political fiction, he avoided character analysis and a coherent unified plot, and relied upon loosely related and implausible episodes and one-dimensional caricatures in the service of ideas. His insistence on subordinating his imagination to his ideas prepared him for writing the Young England trilogy — Coningsby (1844), Sybil (1845) and Tancred (1847) — in which ideas and principles are paramount. But in those novels, as we shall see, there is ample room for character exploration and for Disraeli’s increasingly sophisticated narrative technique.
The Theatrical Filter

Chekhov’s art is allusive, syncretic, rich in ambivalence: his standard practice when rewriting was to excise lines that seemed tautological or overly explicit. Stanislavsky’s view of art was more Victorian: he meant it to illustrate, inform, and explain. In addition, Nemirovich-Danchenko emphasised the social purpose of drama. Consequently, a Moscow Art Theatre production treated a play not so much as the imaginative fruits of an individual author’s sensibility as a segment of real experience, to be probed in depth. Because Chekhov’s plays are grounded in reality and his characters are accretions of closely-observed psychological detail, the Moscow Art Theatre approach yielded successful results, but the success was only partial. Contemporary audiences of intelligentsia were enthralled to see themselves and their malaise reflected with such authenticity, yet Chekhov felt, with some justice, that his reticence, ambiguities, and comic pacing were lost in the process. The Moscow Art Theatre rendered photographically what had been meant as pointillism.
Detecting population–environmental interactions with mismatched time series data

Time series analysis is an essential method for decomposing the influences of density and exogenous factors such as weather and climate on population regulation. However, there has been little work focused on understanding how well commonly collected data can reconstruct the effects of environmental factors on population dynamics. We show that, analogous to similar scale issues in spatial data analysis, coarsely sampled temporal data can fail to detect covariate effects when interactions occur on timescales that are fast relative to the survey period. We propose a method for modeling mismatched time series data that couples high-resolution environmental data to low-resolution abundance data. We illustrate our approach with simulations and by applying it to Florida's southern Snail kite population. Our simulation results show that our method can reliably detect linear environmental effects and that detecting nonlinear effects requires high-resolution covariate data even when the population turnover rate is slow. In the Snail kite analysis, our approach performed among the best in a suite of previously used environmental covariates explaining Snail kite dynamics and was able to detect a potential phenological shift in the environmental dependence of Snail kites. Our work provides a statistical framework for reliably detecting population-environment interactions from coarsely surveyed time series. An important implication of this work is that the low predictability of animal population growth by weather variables found in previous studies may be due, in part, to how these data are utilized as covariates.
Demethylase JMJD6 as a New Regulator of Interferon Signaling: Effects of HCV and Ethanol Metabolism.

Background & Aims Alcohol-induced progression of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is related to dysfunction of innate immunity in hepatocytes. Endogenously produced interferon (IFN)α induces activation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) via triggering of the Janus kinase–signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) pathway. This activation requires protein methyltransferase 1–regulated arginine methylation of STAT1. Here, we aimed to study whether STAT1 methylation also depended on the levels of demethylase jumonji domain-containing 6 protein (JMJD6) and whether ethanol and HCV affect JMJD6 expression in hepatocytes. Methods Huh7.5-CYP (RLW) cells and hepatocytes were exposed to acetaldehyde-generating system (AGS) and 50 mmol/L ethanol, respectively. JMJD6 messenger RNA and protein expression were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. IFNα-activated cells either overexpressing JMJD6 or with knocked-down JMJD6 expression were tested for STAT1 methylation, ISG activation, and HCV RNA. In vivo studies have been performed on C57Bl/6 mice (expressing HCV structural proteins or not) or chimeric mice with humanized livers fed control or ethanol diets. Results AGS exposure to cells up-regulated JMJD6 expression in RLW cells. These results were corroborated by ethanol treatment of primary hepatocytes. The promethylating agent betaine reversed the effects of AGS/ethanol. Similar results were obtained in vivo, when mice were fed control/ethanol with and without betaine supplementation. Overexpression of JMJD6 suppressed STAT1 methylation, IFNα-induced ISG activation, and increased HCV-RNA levels. In contrast, JMJD6 silencing enhanced STAT1 methylation, ISG stimulation by IFNα, and attenuated HCV-RNA expression in Huh7.5 cells. Conclusions We conclude that arginine methylation of STAT1 is suppressed by JMJD6. Both HCV and acetaldehyde increase JMJD6 levels, thereby impairing STAT1 methylation and innate immunity protection in hepatocytes exposed to the virus and/or alcohol.
Abnormal Head Posture in Patients with Fourth Cranial Nerve Palsy

Ocular torticollis is a common finding and often the presenting complaint in patients with fourth cranial nerve or superior oblique muscle palsy. In most cases, a head posture is adopted which elim...
Quantifying the visual-sensory landscape qualities that contribute to cultural ecosystem services using social media and LiDAR.

Abstract Landscapes are increasingly recognized for providing valuable cultural ecosystem services with numerous non-material benefits by serving as places of rest, relaxation, and inspiration that ultimately improve overall mental health and physical well-being. Maintaining and enhancing these valuable benefits through targeted management and conservation measures requires understanding the spatial and temporal determinants of perceived landscape values. Content contributed through mobile technologies and the web are emerging globally, providing a promising data source for localizing and assessing these landscape benefits. These georeferenced data offer rich in situ qualitative information through photos and comments that capture valued and special locations across large geographic areas. We present a novel method for mapping and modeling landscape values and perceptions that leverages viewshed analysis of georeferenced social media data. Using a high resolution LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) derived digital surface model, we are able to evaluate landscape characteristics associated with the visual-sensory qualities of outdoor recreationalists. Our results show the importance of historical monuments and attractions in addition to specific environmental features which are appreciated by the public. Evaluation of photo-image content highlights the opportunity of including temporally and spatially variable visual-sensory qualities in cultural ecosystem services (CES) evaluation like the sights, sounds and smells of wildlife and weather phenomena.
7.7 Surface-Runoff Generation and Forms of Overland Flow

This chapter presents an overview of surface-runoff generation and overland flow. The basic mechanisms that generate infiltration-excess and saturation-excess overland flow are reviewed. In addition, the principal factors affecting the occurrence of each process on the landscape are examined, including climate, soil properties, vegetation, topography, rainfall characteristics, and land management. The chapter closes with a brief discussion on the importance of scale and hydrologic connectivity in research on the generation of surface runoff.
Religiousness on mental health in older adults: the mediating role of social support and healthy behaviours

The positive association between religiousness and mental health among the faithful is well-established; here, social support (SS) and healthy behaviours (HB) are investigated as mechanisms underly...
A multi-modal human robot interaction framework based on cognitive behavioral therapy model

According to recent statistics, depression and suicide are on a rise in the United States and elsewhere. To resolve this is- sue, synonymous to various current approaches, we propose a multi-modal robot interaction framework, which will act as an extension to current Human Robot Interaction systems to further identify studied signs of depression from various data-acoustic features, like images, video, speech, text, and in general, multi-modal data. One of the recent technologies that we plan to introduce in our resolution, is the use of social-humanoid robots (Pepper by SoftBank) to detect early signs of depression via the power of Natural Language and Multi-Modal Interactions. Rather than solely relying on the interaction between professionals and patients/individuals for treatment, the current HRI framework, offers to lower the entry barrier for potential mental health diagnosis and providing medical treatments in convenience of ones reach. To assure the psychological safety of conversation there is also a "psychological safety module" to provide professional assistance/aid for episodic-cognitive behavioral therapy. Our Multi-modal Robot Interaction (MRI) architecture contains of five modules: Multi-modal Data, Social Robot & dialogue system, psycho-linguistic feature extraction, Machine Learning & NLP methods, and Psychological Safety Feedback/Suggestion to end user and experts.
Development of Next-Generation Muscle Gene Therapy AAV Vectors

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene delivery is a promising approach to treat muscle diseases. However, body-wide muscle delivery and pre-existing immune responses pose significant challenges to AAV muscle gene therapy. While the determinants of tissue tropism and immunogenicity of AAV are amenable to traditional molecular engineering, the development of a muscle-specific, immunosilent AAV vector has remained elusive. Recent advances in understanding the relationship between capsid structural motifs and functional domains have created exciting developments in the search for a muscle-specific AAV. Novel approaches to generate unique AAV properties through forced evolution have resulted in capsids with improved immune properties and/or muscle-targeting efficiency. Optimization of the gene cassette to restrict expression to mature muscle fibers provides another level of control. These reengineered AAV vectors have the potential to greatly increase efficacy and reduce off-target effects for body-wide muscle gene therapy. In this chapter, we discuss recent advances in the development of a next-generation, muscle-specific AAV vector.
Empirical Investigation of Mutation Rate for Herbicide Resistance

In a predictable natural selection process, herbicides select for adaptive alleles that allow weed populations to survive. These resistance alleles may be available immediately from the standing genetic variation within the population or may arise from immigration via pollen or seeds from other populations. Moreover, because all populations are constantly generating new mutant genotypes by de novo mutations, resistant mutants may arise spontaneously in any herbicide-sensitive weed population. Recognizing that the relative contribution of each of these three sources of resistance alleles influences what strategies should be applied to counteract herbicide-resistance evolution, we aimed to add experimental information to the resistance evolutionary framework. Specifically, the objectives of this experiment were to determine the de novo mutation rate conferring herbicide resistance in a natural plant population and to test the hypothesis that the mutation rate increases when plants are stressed by sublethal herbicide exposure. We used grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) and resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides as a model system to discover spontaneous herbicide-resistant mutants. After screening 70.8 million plants, however, we detected no spontaneous resistant genotypes, indicating the probability of finding a spontaneous ALS-resistant mutant in a given sensitive population is lower than 1.4 × 10−8. This empirically determined upper limit is lower than expected from theoretical calculations based on previous studies. We found no evidence that herbicide stress increased the mutation rate, but were not able to robustly test this hypothesis. The results found in this study indicate that de novo mutations conferring herbicide resistance might occur at lower frequencies than previously expected.
The Tumor Microenvironment Innately Modulates Cancer Progression

Cancer development and progression occurs in concert with alterations in the surrounding stroma. Cancer cells can functionally sculpt their microenvironment through the secretion of various cytokines, chemokines, and other factors. This results in a reprogramming of the surrounding cells, enabling them to play a determinative role in tumor survival and progression. Immune cells are important constituents of the tumor stroma and critically take part in this process. Growing evidence suggests that the innate immune cells (macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and natural killer cells) as well as adaptive immune cells (T cells and B cells) contribute to tumor progression when present in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cross-talk between cancer cells and the proximal immune cells ultimately results in an environment that fosters tumor growth and metastasis. Understanding the nature of this dialog will allow for improved therapeutics that simultaneously target multiple components of the TME, increasing the likelihood of favorable patient outcomes.
Tunable Spin Characteristic Properties in Spin Valve Devices Based on Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Perovskites

The hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) form a new class of semiconductors which show promising optoelectronic device applications. Remarkably, the optoelectronic properties of HOIP are tunable by changing the chemical components of their building blocks. Recently, the HOIP spintronic properties and their applications in spintronic devices have attracted substantial interest. Here the impact of the chemical component diversity in HOIPs on their spintronic properties is studied. Spin valve devices based on HOIPs with different organic cations and halogen atoms are fabricated. The spin diffusion length is obtained in the various HOIPs by measuring the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) response in spin valve devices with different perovskite interlayer thicknesses. In addition spin lifetime is also measured from the Hanle response. It is found that the spintronic properties of HOIPs are mainly determined by the halogen atoms, rather than the organic cations. The study provides a clear avenue for engineering spintronic devices based on HOIPs.