cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Animal personalities and their implications for complex signaling

Animal personalities have been a major focus of behavioral ecology over the past decade. Consistent individual differences in behavior have been found across taxa, and have been shown to influence a range of ecological processes. The role of personalities in sexual selection has been considered, and examples exist that show selection for personality traits with both assortative and disassortative mating patterns between personality types. One overlooked aspect of the personality and sexual selection literature is the potential for personality-signaling interactions, specifically with complex signaling. Complex signaling is a diverse topic in itself, and in short, consists of multiple signals within one or more modalities that interact to elicit a receiver response. Research into complex signaling has been thorough, although at times studies discover complex signaling systems that fail to fit into one of the existing hypotheses in the literature. Here, we argue that personalities may interact with complex signaling, which should be considered by researchers of both personality and sexual selection and communication. We describe several ways in which personality-complex signaling interactions could affect both the signaler and receiver, and the way in which they may drive personality-specific signals as well as receiver preferences. Finally, we discuss how considering personality in complex signaling studies may inform theory as well as improve the ability of researchers to accurately describe its function.
An anatomic index for the severity of ocular injuries.

Ocular injuries are a frequent cause of monocular blindness and cause disfigurement and discomfort. We developed a measure of severity for eye injuries using a multi-attribute utility (MAU) model. The severity index scoring was applied to eye injuries that presented at hospitals in Wisconsin, U.S.A. The resulting distribution of severities was compatible with that seen by general eye care physicians. A severity scale provides a means of comparing the severity of injuries from a wide variety of traumatic sources (e.g. automobile crashes, combat injuries, occupational accidents, etc.) and is useful in evaluating preventive and public health measurements.
Scale estimation with difference of ordered residuals

Multiple model estimation is an important problem in computer vision. Through estimation, one can detect important structural information in an image. A crucial step in multiple model estimation is the ability to dichotomize inliers of a model from outliers. This paper proposes a novel technique for estimating the scale of a model. In contrast to previous adaptive scale estimate works, our method removes the need for user provided input. We achieve accurate scale estimation through consecutive inspection of the ordered residuals. Our results show the ability of the proposed scale estimate metric to maintain accurate scale estimation even with over 90% outliers present in the data. Likewise, we also apply our scale estimator with multiple model estimation problems for detecting planes and two-view motions, demonstrating the ability of our approach to accurately estimate scale in real application oriented scenarios.
Status Evolution and Competition: Theory and Evidence

In this study, we (1) clarify and distinguish the concept of status, (2) identify and analyze the institutional and organizational factors that can lead to differences in organizational status over...
Chromatic Dispersion Compensated 25Gb/s Multimode VCSEL Transmission Assisted with a MMF Jumper

We propose a scheme of using special MMF jumper to provide desired DMD characteristics and chromatic dispersion compensation for a MMF link. 25 Gb/s VCSEL transmission results and additional estimate of jumper length are presented.
High-Resolution Structure of a Protein Spin-Label in a Solvent-Exposed β-Sheet and Comparison with DEER Spectroscopy

X-ray crystallography has been a useful tool in the development of site-directed spin labeling by resolving rotamers of the nitroxide spin-label side chain in a variety of α-helical environments. In this work, the crystal structure of a doubly spin-labeled N8C/K28C mutant of the B1 immunoglobulin-binding domain of protein G (GB1) was solved. The double mutant formed a domain-swapped dimer under crystallization conditions. Two rotameric states of the spin-label were resolved at the solvent-exposed α-helical site, at residue 28; these are in good agreement with rotamers previously reported for helical structures. The second site, at residue 8 on an interior β-strand, shows the presence of three distinct solvent-exposed side-chain rotamers. One of these rotamers is rarely observed within crystal structures of R1 sites and suggests that the Hα and Sδ hydrogen bond that is common to α-helical sites is absent at this interior β-strand residue. Variable temperature continuous wave (CW) experiments of the β-stran...
OUTCOMES OF PERCUTANEOUS REPAIR OF POST-INFARCTION VENTRICULAR SEPTAL RUPTURE IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: A META-ANALYSIS

Postinfarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a rare but deadly complication of acute myocardial infarction. One-month mortality is 94% without intervention. Percutaneous VSD repair is an emerging treatment, but there is a paucity of data examining this approach. We pooled patient data from all
Functional and molecular evidence for expression of the renin angiotensin system and ADAM17-mediated ACE2 shedding in COS7 cells

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) plays a vital role in the regulation of the cardiovascular and renal functions. COS7 is a robust and easily transfectable cell line derived from the kidney of the African green monkey, Cercopithecus aethiops. The aims of this study were to 1) demonstrate the presence of an endogenous and functional RAS in COS7, and 2) investigate the role of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-17 (ADAM17) in the ectodomain shedding of angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). Reverse transcription coupled to gene-specific polymerase chain reaction demonstrated expression of ACE, ACE2, angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), and renin at the transcript levels in total RNA cell extracts. Western blot and immunohistochemistry identified ACE (60 kDa), ACE2 (75 kDa), AT1R (43 kDa), renin (41 kDa), and ADAM17 (130 kDa) in COS7. At the functional level, a sensitive and selective mass spectrometric approach detected endogenous renin, ACE, and ACE2 activities. ANG-(1-7) formation (m/z 899) from the natural substrate ANG II (m/z 1,046) was detected in lysates and media. COS7 cells stably expressing shRNA constructs directed against endogenous ADAM17 showed reduced ACE2 shedding into the media. This is the first study demonstrating endogenous expression of the RAS and ADAM17 in the widely used COS7 cell line and its utility to study ectodomain shedding of ACE2 mediated by ADAM17 in vitro. The transfectable nature of this cell line makes it an attractive cell model for studying the molecular, functional, and pharmacological properties of the renal RAS.
Prediction of Stream Channel Erosion Potential

Field tests using a submerged jet apparatus were conducted to determine the erodibility coefficients in alluvial soils along stream channels. The soils tested ranged from cohesive clay soils to non-cohesive sandy soils. In addition to performing the jet test at thirty sample sites, laboratory tests on soil samples taken from each site were done to determine soil bulk density, antecedent soil moisture, Atterburg limits, and grain size distribution. Regression analysis was performed on these parameters against the erodibility coefficient to assess whether laboratory testing could be used to extend the submerged jet test results upstream and downstream. Best results were obtained with equations stratified by percent clay and soil activity with multiple correlation coefficients ranging from 0.78 to 0.96. Preliminary efficiency of the equations was 64 percent (coefficient of determination .71) when compared to an independent data set. Use of the erosion coefficient in a stream channel degradation model is shown.
Radiation Enhanced Diffusion in Mgo

Measurements of marker spreading following 2.0 MeV Kr+ irradiation at 25 to 1300°C have been performed on MgO samples containing O18, Ca and Zn buried tracer atoms. Ion beam mixing at room temperature on both sublattices was approximately 2.0 to 3.0 A5/eV. From 600 to 1000°C, the apparent activation enthalpy for diffusion on the anion sublattice (O18) was 0.35 eV and the diffusion coefficient was linear in the irradiation flux. From 1150 to 1300°C the measured activation enthalpy was 4.1 eV and the diffusion coefficient was proportional to the square root of flux. The measured activation enthalpy on the cation sublattice was roughly 0.30 eV up to 700°C for both Ca or Zn doped samples. Measurable extrinsic thermal diffusion from vacancies present for trivalent impurity charge compensation occurred above this temperature, complicating the analysis at higher temperatures. The observed kinetics in the lower temperature range are most likely controlled by interstitial loop formation. In the higher temperature range, vacancy traps with a binding energy of approximately 2 eV could account for the high activation enthalpy.
Experimental Investigation of Axial Turbine Performance Driven by Steady and Pulsating Flows

A series of experiments are conducted to characterize the effects of pulse frequency on the performance of an axial turbine under pulsating flow. A steady flow turbine map is generated over the range of interest for comparison to the pulsed flow results. An investigation of steady partial admission performance provides additional explanation for trends in the pulsating case. High frequency response probes are implemented to obtain time-resolved temperature, static pressure, and total pressure across the turbine stage. Various formulations of efficiency as well as other figures of merit are generated from these data to provide a direct comparison to the steady flow cases.
Clustering algorithm based on particle swarm optimization

After analyzing the disadvantages of initialization sensitive and local maximum of the K-medians algorithm, this paper proposes a novel K-medians clustering based on Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO)algorithm and density initialization. The Initialization of the algorithm is that, it chooses k candidate ranges which are far apart as the selection range for the k cluster centers, that is, the initial values of the particles are included in the k ranges. Through PSO clustering center, to solve the problem of the K-medians algorithm caused by the cluster center iteration is more complex due to the time complexity is higher. Experimental results show that this algorithm has higher accuracy, smaller time complexity, and more stable overall performance.
Analysis of spatial autocorrelation of HIV/AIDS in Chongqing from 2004 to 2012

Objective To explore whether the spatial autocorrelation exists in the incidence of HIV / AID S in C hongqing,discuss features of the spatial distribution,and analyze the trend of variation with time for hot regions.Methods T he annual incidence of H IV / AID S of districts and counties of C hongqing from2004 to2012 were calculated and the global spatial autocorrelation analysis and the local spatial autocorrelation analysis were conducted.Results T he annual global M oran's I indexes from2004 to 2012 were larger than 0( P 0.05),which indicated that positive spatial autocorrelation existed in the data.Results of the LISA analysis showed that the cluster state was high-high or low-low.Results of the G*ianalysis indicated that the hot regions expanded with time.Conclusion T he significant positive correlation exists in the spatial distribution of incidence of H IV / AID S in C hongqing from2004 to 2012.H ot regions expand with time,which indicates that the prevention and health care of H IV / AID S in C hongqing should be reinforced.
Abstract B20: Single-cell profiling of EGFR-regulated protein changes involved in cell cycle, cell proliferation and apoptosis

Single-cell molecular analysis has become increasingly important in biomedical research, especially in the field of cancer research, where cell heterogeneity is a characteristic feature. We developed a multiplexed single-cell protein detection assay for the C1™ system that can isolate and process 96 individual cells in parallel. The assay uses oligonucleotide-conjugated antibody binders and monitors the specific oligonucleotide levels instead of protein levels. The resulting DNA amplicon is detected by qPCR on the Biomark™ HD system. Data are analyzed using Singular™ Analysis Toolset. A total of 50 antibody binders were developed for this assay to target proteins related to apoptosis, cell cycle, cell proliferation, tumor suppressors, biomarkers, stem cells, growth factors and proteins associated with specific cancers, such as breast and prostate cancers. The assay can be performed in a 48-plex format which yields over 4,600 data points in two days. Assay sensitivity and specificity were assessed using recombinant proteins and various cell lysates. To demonstrate the usefulness of this assay, a panel of antibody binders was selected to profile the changes of proteins involved in cell cycle, cell proliferation and apoptosis in single cells. We treated cells that overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with either the EGF ligand or the gefitinib receptor inhibitor and analyzed the changes in protein levels. Cells without EGFR expression were used as the control. EGFR is a member of ErbB family of Type I tyrosine kinases. EGFR overexpression and its mutations are involved in a variety of cancers. While much effort has been made to investigate the consequences of EGFR activation or inhibition, hardly any information is available regarding how EGFR regulation changes protein expression in single cells. Single-cell analysis—determining protein changes and analyzing the correlation between different proteins at the single-cell level—yields valuable information that is not achievable using bulk-cell analysis. Citation Format: Ilona Holcomb, Gajalakshmi Dakshinamoorthy, Benjamin Liu, Marc Unger, Ramesh Ramakrishnan, Haibiao Gong. Single-cell profiling of EGFR-regulated protein changes involved in cell cycle, cell proliferation and apoptosis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2015 Oct 23-26; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B20.
Interleukin-1 beta induces interstitial collagenase gene expression and protein secretion in renal mesangial cells

Degradation and tissue remodeling of the extracellular matrix in the normal glomerulus occur through the coordinate action of neutral metalloproteinases, which are in turn regulated by specific inhibitors. Many of these proteins can be secreted by mesangial cells. In the current study, gene regulation of a rat matrix metalloproteinase, interstitial collagenase and its tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), was investigated by Northern blot analysis. Stimulation of rat mesangial cell (RMC) collagenase by interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) produced an increase (> 45-fold) in mRNA which peaked at 12 h. Lesser effects on the TIMP-1 mRNA expression were observed in response to IL-1 beta. Indomethacin did not influence the effect of IL-1 beta on collagenase, and exogenous prostaglandin E2 had no significant effect either on basal or IL-1 beta-stimulated mRNA levels. Collagenase was secreted into the media and showed minimal gelatinolytic activity at 36-h stimulation with IL-1 beta by zymography. By Western immunoblotting, we demonstrated with 24 h of stimulation the secretion of the active form of collagenase, which further increased after 36 h with IL-1 beta compared with the control. When RMC were retreated with genistein and herbimycin A, both inhibited collagenase mRNA induction by IL-1 beta. These data suggest that IL-1 beta stimulates interstitial collagenase synthesis and activation and that a tyrosine kinase pathway is involved in the signal transduction mechanisms and is not dependent on endogenous prostaglandin biosynthesis. Recently, a third interstitial collagenase (collagenase-3) has been identified from breast carcinoma. This cDNA is 84% identical to the rat interstitial collagenase cDNA probe we have utilized in this study and thus may represent the rat homologue of the human collagenase-3 now called matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13.
Black Entrepreneurs and Use of SBA Loans for Business Start-Ups: A Field Study

This study presents the results of a field study on the sources of financing used by black entrepreneurs to finance their business startups. The results of the study indicate that most entrepreneurs do not use the loan services of the SBA. Specifically, only three (14 percent) of the twenty-two black entrepreneurs interviewed for this study used the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a means of financing their business start-ups. The findings also indicate that the non-use derives partly from the cumbersomeness of the SBA’s loan procedure.
AC Loss Characteristics of Silver Sheathed Bi-2223 Multifilamentary Wires

Inductive method using a pickup coil system was carried out to study AC loss of the silver sheathed Bi-2223 multifilamentary wires in the AC external magnetic field. AC losses of the untwisted and twisted specimens were measured and compared with that calculated according to Been model. The advanced wires including oxide barrier among the inter-filaments space were also manufactured.
Electrochemical Transformation of Trace Organic Contaminants in the Presence of Halide and Carbonate Ions

Electrochemical treatment on anodes shows promise for the oxidation of organic contaminants in industrial wastewater and reverse osmosis concentrate from municipal wastewater recycling due to the high conductivity of the matrix and the concomitant low energy demand. The effect of background electrolyte composition (Cl–, HCO3–, and NH4+) on the formation and fate of electrochemically produced heterogeneous (HO•ads and Cl•ads) and homogeneous (HOCl and HOBr) oxidants was evaluated on Ti–IrO2 and boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes using a suite of trace organic contaminants that exhibited varying reactivity with HO•, CO3•–, HOCl, and HOBr. The contributions of adsorbed and bulk oxidants to contaminant degradation were investigated. Results show that transformation rates for most contaminants increased in the presence of chloride and trace amounts of bromide; however, elevated concentrations of HCO3– often altered transformation rates due to formation of selective oxidants, with decreases in reactivity obse...
Examiner manoeuvres ‘sensory tricks’ in functional (psychogenic) movement disorders

Sensory tricks, defined as ‘episodic and specific manoeuvres that temporarily improve dystonia in a manner that is not easily physiologically perceived as necessary to counteract the involuntary movement’, are well-recognised features of organic dystonia.1 The term ‘alleviating manoeuvres’ (AlM) has been proposed as a more appropriate term because ‘sensory trick’ suggests that only sensory input is required, and the word ‘trick’ wrongly implies that is ‘fake’.2 ‘Reverse sensory trick’ is the term used when a manoeuvre worsens dystonia, the latter can also be called ‘aggravating manoeuvres’ (AgM). AlMs are usually internally generated and rarely effective when applied by another person. However, patients with functional (psychogenic) movement disorders (FMDs) may show improvement or aggravation with stimuli applied by another person, that is, examiner manoeuvre (EM). In this study, we aimed to assess the frequency and characterise the clinical features of EMs in a large cohort of patients with FMDs. We reviewed medical records and video recordings of all cases of FMDs evaluated at Baylor College of Medicine Movement Disorders Clinic during a 2-year period. We assessed the stimuli type that improved or worsened the …
A structural theory of anisotropic turbulence

Turbulent flows in which all mean (time-averaged) values of functions of the fluctuating velocity field are independent of orientation are said to be “statistically isotropic” (Taylor [1]). The macroscopic motion of turbulent flows in which the turbulence is approximately isotropic seem to be well predicted by the so-called k-e theory, in which the turbulent fluid at the macroscopic scale is assumed to obey the usual Navier-Stokes equations but the viscosity is allowed to vary as a function of the additional “turbulence variables” k and e. Here, k denotes the “turbulent kinetic energy” per unit mass and e denotes the “rate of turbulent energy dissipation.” Additional transport equations for k and e are posed, both of which are similar in form to the usual energy conservation equation. Alternative, but similar, theories of isotropic turbulence have been constructed using the “mixing length” l (Launder and Spalding [2]) or a microscopic “vorticity” scalar ω (Saffman [3]) instead of e, where these variables are related to k and e according to ω∝ e/k and l ∝k 3/2 /e.
Using coherence as a quality measure for complex radar image compression

We desire a metric with which to evaluate the “goodness” of various image compression schemes in recreating an original Synthetic Aperture Radar image. Herein we propose a “coherence” measure that results in a single quality number for such an evaluation.
Teaching about race and social action by ‘digging up the past’: the Mary Turner project

AbstractThis paper explores how incorporating localized historical acts of racial injustice into Sociology courses can have a variety of pedagogical and social impacts. The use of one such event, the 1918 lynching of 13 people in South Georgia, led to the formation of the Mary Turner Project (MTP). We document the organization’s work as well as its impact on students and the region, as seen through the lens of public sociology. The MTP installed an official road marker to memorialize the lynching, intervened in a campus controversy involving the Confederate flag, hosted numerous commemoration events, and did classroom-based research and hosted community discussions on lynching and slavery in the local area. Drawing from organizational documents, the paper explores how ‘digging up the past’ and the experience of the MTP may serve as a model for critical sociologists who teach courses on social inequalities and want to make those courses more applicable to people’s every day lived experience.
Effect of copper on the proliferation of testicular Leydig cells

1183 The toxic effect of copper on spermatozoa is well established. Copper is known to reduce the oxidative processes and glucose consumption in sperm, which reduces or abolishes its mobility. This property of copper has been exploited in intrauterine devices for birth control and is the focus for the development of for male contraceptives. The later has given rise to experimental implantations of particles covered with copper at various sites within the male reproductive system (lumen of the deferens, epididymis and seminal vesicle scrotum). These implantations have reportedly been successful in significantly decreasing the mobility of the spermatozoa. To date, these implantation studies have failed to report any systemic effects of the copper implants. However, copper has been shown to increase oxidative damage to DNA. This in itself indicates that copper exposure may increase the risk of carcinogenesis. In addition, copper ions have been reported to stimulate proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, which is the first stage in tumor angiogenesis. In this study we have examined the effect of low doses of copper on the proliferation of testicular Leydig cells. Cells were grown in DMEM/F12 culture media containing 5% horse serum and 2.5% fetal bovine serum. The cells were allowed to attach for 24 hrs, then switched to serum free media. Treatments consisted of 1pg, 10pg, 100pg, 1ng, 10ng, and 100ng per ml of copper along with a control (distilled water). Cell growth was measured at 72hrs via a hemacytometer. Copper treatment resulted in a significant (P
Anxiety-inducing Facebook behavior is associated with higher rates of upper respiratory infection in college-aged users

Abstract Exposure to chronic stress can suppress immune function and increase susceptibility to infection. Recent evidence indicates that social network use (e.g., Facebook) can serve as a chronic stressor to some users and contribute to poor health, however, mechanisms underlying these interactions remain unclear. In the current study we investigated if Facebook user behavior might help start to explain interactions between Facebook use, stress and health. In this prospective study, healthy college students completed online questionnaires assessing Facebook use, health and then were followed for 10 weeks to track incidence of upper respiratory infection (URI). Subjects who reported that Facebook provoked anxiety/stress demonstrated a significantly higher number of URI than those not reporting Facebook-induced anxiety/stress and having more Facebook friends was associated with increased anxiety/stress and the number of URI. Users who demonstrated anxiety regarding their Facebook use were more likely to demonstrate a pattern of increased number of log-ins to Facebook/day and these anxiety-linked behavior patterns were associated with poorer health. The other health practices and psychological processes assessed (e.g., physical activity levels, sleep, social support) do not appear to explain these associations. These results suggest an association between specific Facebook use, psychological anxiety and health might exist.
Logging On: Using Online Learning to Support the Academic Nomad

The Internet is cited for bringing about the most rapid and significant social change within societies worldwide. Higher education does not lie at the fringe of this discussion, but is rather at the center of it. Online learning is no longer considered a mere supplement to education but digital tools now routinely embed themselves in higher education spaces. The evolving modalities of online learning are expanding the terrain of academic possibilities farther than previously imagined and new educational technologies are introduced daily. Against a backdrop of the potential for online learning in higher education, this article will paint a portrait of the ways one graduate program at a United States institution of higher education is addressing demands of academic nomads.
Injectable Polymeric Cytokine-Binding Nanowires Are Effective Tissue-Specific Immunomodulators.

Injectable nanomaterials that interact with the host immune system without surgical intervention present spatially anchored complements to cell transplantation and could offer improved pharmacokinetics compared to systemic cytokine therapy. Here we demonstrate fabrication of high aspect ratio polycaprolactone nanowires coupled with cytokine-binding antibodies that assemble into porous matrices when injected into the subcutaneous space. These structures are fabricated using a nanotemplating technique that allows for tunability of particle dimensions and utilize a straightforward maleimide conjugation chemistry to allow site-specific coupling to proteins. Nanowires are well tolerated in vivo and incite minimal inflammatory infiltrate. Nanowires conjugated with antibodies were designed to capture and potentiate endogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2), an important leukocyte activating cytokine. Together these nanowire-antibody matrices were capable of localizing endogenous IL-2 in the skin and activated targeted spe...
Custom Design of Substratum Topography Increases Biomass Yield in Algal Turf Scrubbers

Abstract Algal turf scrubbers (ATSs) have been used for water remediation in many applications, generating benefits such as water quality improvements and biomass production. Their economical operation is hampered, however, by uncontrolled mixed microbial communities, typical of open cultivation systems that result in lower biomass quality. Design of substratum topography is one approach to control the algal community composition by constraining colonization dynamics. This study seeks to elucidate the role of substratum topography on biomass productivity of benthic algae in an ATS environment. A set of tiles with custom-designed textures of repeated hemispheres across a range of diameters were 3D printed and cast on ceramic clay. An algal turf community dominated by Mougeotia taxa was cultivated on the tiles in a laboratory-scale ATS and harvested for biomass measurements after 21 days. Results show higher biomass on the topographies formed of 500 and 2,000 μm diameter hemispheres, with 74.3% more attache...
Analysis and Interpretation of Inclinometer and Pressure Cell Data on a Soil-Geofoam Embankment

This paper presents analysis and interpretation of monitored vertical settlements and pressures of a rehabilitated bridge approach slab located in Johnson County, Texas. Four horizontal inclinometer casings and pressure cells (equipped with thermometers) were installed at the test site during the rehabilitation process. In this paper, collected data from the inclinometers, pressure cells, and thermometers were employed in an attempt, to understand the effect of climate changes on the vertical settlements and pressures of the approach slab. It has been observed that with an increase in temperature, the bridge structure enforced the movements of the geofoam blocks causing vertical settlement. Whereas, the bridge structure movements after a temperature decrease, induced vertical swelling at the top of the geofoam blocks. The pressure cells that were installed at the top and bottom of the geofoam embankment revealed that the stresses observed at the top of the geofoam were significantly reduced. Also, the pressure cells installed at the sides of the bridge and geofoam structure to evaluate the lateral pressure response lost contact and provided negative results. The loss of contact can be a response to the movement of the structure with respect to thermal changes in the structure. This research highlights the important observations of a bridge structure and its approach soil-geofoam embankment movements with respect to temperature and precipitation variations.
Lap Reading for Young at-Risk Children: Introducing Families to Books

Many at-risk children do not experience lap reading to the degree their more advantaged peers do. To investigate the effects lap reading might have on such children, three families with at-risk children were taught lap reading techniques and were provided with books for lap reading over a 12- to 16-week period. Changes in the children's behavior included choosing books and reading as free-time activities, developing positive attitudes toward books, and persisting in attending to books in the face of other activity choices. Additional outcomes included an increase in higher level questions asked by the children, some improvement in their oral language, and an increase in literacy-specific knowledge. Lap reading is recommended as a tool for parents to increase instructional motivation for their at-risk children.
The Contributions of Cognitive Psychology to Vulnerability Models

This session addresses a theme developed by one of the “giants” of psychiatry, Emil Kraepelin. Part of Kraepelin’s genius was to use the constructs of the “cognitive” psychology of his day (associational psychology), to provide a conceptual framework and descriptive terms for his seminal characterization of the phenomenology of schizophrenia.
Patients with Cancer or Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: Infection with 2009 H1N1 Influenza

In 2009, emergence of a new influenza A strain of swine origin resulted in the first influenza pandemic since 1968. The virus, termed 2009 H1N1 influenza, was found to have unique virological and clinical characteristics. Among patients with cancer or hematopoietic stem cell transplant, 2009 H1N1 influenza is associated with a high frequency of lower respiratory tract involvement and hospitalization, and can result in severe outcomes. Neuraminidase inhibitors are the treatment of choice, although cases of oseltamivir resistance are increasingly being reported. Prevention is crucial, and can be achieved through a combination of infection control, vaccination and use of chemoprophylaxis.
Some Prospects for Adapting Fluorescence Instrumentation

We can classify the information content of light which is emitted, reflected or scattered by tissue as four types: 1, direction of propagation; 2, polarization state; 3, energy (wavelength) and 4, time of detection. Unfortunately, the first two are rather quickly “scrambled” in turbid media. Scattering also broadens energy lines and disperses path length; hence all of these may be degraded.
Municipal Bond Liquidity Before and After the Financial Crisis

I examine how liquidity risk affects municipal bond pricing. Liquidity has become a central concern to municipal bond investors, issuers, and regulators since the recent collapse of the monoline municipal bond insurers. The results show that liquidity risk had a minimal effect on yield spreads in the period prior to the insurance collapse, but since that collapse 10-20% of a typical municipal yield spread is due to liquidity risk. These findings have implications for our understanding of the determinants of municipal yield spreads, and for contemporary public policy debates about how to improve the efficiency of the public capital markets.
Implementing a cultural model to increase English-language proficiency at an international college

Research Question:The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of an American Cultural Model to an existing English as a Second Language (ESL) program improved the performance of international students.Idea: The English language proficiency is essential for students in global emerging economies in order to be competitive,and our study can be generalized to learning other languages within the respective cultural model. Motivation: The results of our study can be applied to higher education worldwide since currently the international business language is English.Data:The data collected were analyzed and interpreted to determine whether cultural training improved scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Tools: Two groups of incoming students were compared as the treatment and control groups, using the t-test with appropriate statistical package. Findings:Data analysis showed a statistically significant difference in TOEFL scores between the control group and the experimental group benefiting from the implementation of the Introduction of the American Cultural Model. Contribution:The English language proficiency is essential for students in global emerging economies in order for them to be competitive, and our study can be generalized to learning other languages within a respective cultural model
Determinants of Intensive Care Unit Telemedicine Effectiveness. An Ethnographic Study.

Rationale: Telemedicine is an increasingly common care delivery strategy in the ICU. However, ICU telemedicine programs vary widely in their clinical effectiveness, with some studies showing a larg...
Do Employers “Walk the Talk” After All? An Illustration of Methods for Assessing Signals in Underpowered Designs:

This article presents two alternative methods to null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) for improving inferences from underpowered research designs. Post hoc design analysis (PHDA) assesses wh...
Adult Onset Opsoclonus-myoclonus Ataxia Syndrome due to West Nile Virus: Two case reports (P2.314)

Objective: - Background: Opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome (OMAS) is a rare neurological disorder associated with paraneoplastic or viral infections. There are only seven reported cases of OMAS due to West Nile Virus (WNV). We report two cases in immunocompetent patients who recovered neurologically after treated with steroids. Design/Methods: - Results: Case report 1: A 47-year-old man presented with 10 days history of malaise followed by rash, fever, arthralgia and headache. Subsequently, he developed oscillopsia and generalized tremor. On admission, he had opsoclonus-myoclonus, bilateral dysmetria with generalized ataxia and myoclonus. His MRI brain was unremarkable. His Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) had 46 White Blood Cells (WBCs) (Lymphocyte predominant), protein 105 mg/dL, glucose 60mg/dL. He was started on IV methylprednisolone 1g for 5 days. His WNV IgM was positive but CSF WNV RNA was not detected. His other infective and paraneoplastic screen were normal. His opsoclonus-myoclonus resolved and the ataxia improved by follow-up at one month. Case report 2: A 47-year-old lady presented with 7 days history of rash followed by fever, arthralgia and headache. Subsequently, she developed oscillopsia and unsteady gait. On admission, she had opsoclonus-myoclonus and ataxic gait. Her MRI brain was unremarkable. Her CSF had 76 WBCs (Lymphocyte predominant), protein 78 mg/dL, glucose 56mg/dL. She was started with IV methylprednisolone 1g for 5 days. Her CSF WNV IgM was positive and CSF WNV RNA was not detected. Her other infective and paraneoplastic screen were normal. By one month follow-up, she had full neurological recovery. Conclusions: Discussion: We report 2 cases of OMAS due to WNV who recovered after steroid therapy. Whether the improvement can be attributed to steroids or occurred spontaneously cannot be determined, but neither of these patients received IV Immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis. It is pertinent to check for WNV infection in patients who present with OMAS after a viral prodrome particularly during the late summer. Study Supported by: Disclosure: Dr. Tan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kianirad has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zadikoff has received personal compensation for activities with Lundbeck Research USA, Inc, Merz Pharma, UCB Pharma, Teva Neuroscience, Acadia, and AbbVie as a consultant/speaker. Dr. Zadikoff has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Data and Safety Monitoring Board. Dr. Zadikoff has received research support from Allergan and AbbVie. Dr. Bega has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Pharmaceuticals, AVADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cynapsus Therapeutics, Inc as a consultant and speakers. Dr. Bega has received royalty payments from BMJ Best Practices. Dr. Bega has received research support from the National Parkinsons Foundation.
Biotech Enhancement and Natural Law

New biotechnologies promise to revolutionize human existence — not only by delivering therapeutic treatments and cures, but also by offering physical and mental “enhancements”: creating stronger bodies and more powerful minds for ourselves and for the children we will carefully select. Biotechnology will offer us the option of controlling our genetic composition in ways that were previously unimaginable, as we — in British bioethicist John Harris’s formulation — replace “natural selection with deliberate selection, Darwinian evolution with ‘enhancement evolution.’” Those bioethicists who, like Harris, express great enthusiasm for our “post-human future” often dismiss the reservations of critics concerned about biotech enhancement — calling those reservations arbitrary, or irrational religious superstitions, or, as Dartmouth professor Ronald M. Green has put it, mere “status quo bias.” But as the President’s Council on Bioethics showed in its 2003 report Beyond Therapy, it is in fact possible to make a reasoned case against certain enhancement technologies. In this essay, we attempt to formulate a natural law theory for appraising possible biotechnological enhancements. We begin with a twofold account of the nature of the human person. The first part is descriptive: human persons must be shown to be human animals — bodily organisms of the species Homo sapiens. The second part is normative: a reflective critical account of the practical horizons of human wellbeing, an account that grounds an understanding of human benefits, harms, and moral obligations. We then seek to address the questions of enhancement in three steps. First, the means of enhancement must be scrutinized to determine whether they respect the truths — descriptive and normative — about the human person. Second, the ends of enhancements must then be investigated: Do these ends threaten our nature, as descriptively and normatively understood? Finally, more general questions of culture and prudence must be raised: What sort of a people is it desirable for us to be, and how is it desirable for us to become such a people?
The awkward truth: failure to romance and the art of decoupling in the films of Hong Sang-soo

ABSTRACTHong Sang-soo’s films are famous for their persistent exploration of failed personal relationships. Hong’s obsessive passion for baring the truth about men and women in contemporary South K...
1.4 – Organocopper Reagents

The direct addition of an organocopper or cuprate reagent to a carbon–heteroatom multiple bond might rightfully be considered the forgotten son of transition metal based carbon–carbon bond formation. Indeed, although organocopper reagents are potent Michael donors, their well-recognized hesitation towards competing 1,2-addition may represent their most salient feature. Still, in most circumstances, while many substitution reactions1 (e.g. with a primary iodide) and especially 1,4-additions2 (e.g. with α,β-unsaturated ketones) tend to be far more rapid processes, the appropriately designed substrate can often benefit considerably from a copper reagent mediated 1,2-addition, not only in terms of yield but especially with regard to diastereoselectivity.
Quality indicators of IPE resources: Creation of a checklist for design and evaluation using a modified Delphi process

Abstract Background Interprofessional education (IPE) is a required component of training for all major health professions. A variety of instructional methods and activities have been adopted, however there is no widely-accepted review checklist to guide the creation and utilization of high quality and relevant IPE materials. Method A modified Delphi method was used to generate consensus around specific elements synonymous with high quality and relevant interprofessional education resources and instructional materials. The process included one pre-voting round with a convenience sample of 15 IPE professionals, and 3 subsequent rounds with an 8 member IPE expert panel from 6 institutions. Results The resulting IPE checklist includes 33 items grouped into categories of Content, Logistics and Assessment considerations. The checklist supports the development of new resources and evaluation of existing activities. Conclusions The modified Delphi process was a successful means to solicit expert feedback during the construction and iterative refinement of the IPE Checklist. The checklist will be useful in the design of new interprofessional education activities, and also in evaluating the quality of existing activities.
Ophthalmic manifestations and management of common and rare autoimmune syndromes.

Purpose of review This article reviews the ocular findings in patients with a myriad of autoimmune syndromes. This review will provide guidance and heighten awareness for the allergist or eye care provider to pay heed to the manifestations and treatments of autoimmune syndromes. Recent findings Autoimmune syndromes can present with varied manifestations on the ocular surface known to potentially cause significant visual morbidity. In particular, sterile corneal ulcers are the most devastating and common finding in uncontrolled autoimmune disease. Ophthalmic manifestations of autoimmune syndromes have been reported individually; however, herein we present a comprehensive review of typical and atypical syndromes that may present with sterile corneal ulceration. Summary Autoimmune inflammatory syndromes are known to be associated with ocular surface inflammatory processes ranging from bothersome dry eye syndromes to vision-threatening sterile corneal ulceration. It is important to pay heed to the clinical presentation of common and uncommon presentations of the syndromes in the eye. We propose best practice for management of ocular surface disease in these clinical entities.
Deconstructing the Hustle: Investigating the Meanings of Hustling Within the Carceral State

This article describes the ways in which the formerly incarcerated participants understand “hustling” and the “hustle.” Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted at Second Chance, a New York metropolitan area agency that serves formerly incarcerated persons and those who have had police contact, this article attempts to situate “hustling” within the carceral state. “Hustling” has a range of meanings. It is a form of labor performed to acquire material goods—the ability to “hustle” functions as a marker of an approved masculinity. “Hustling” also reflects power relations and can serve as a framework of reference. The participants in the study were routinely “hustled,” and they expressed concern that they were being “hustled” in the context of the programming offered at Second Chance. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for reentry programming.
Predictors of student veterans progression and graduation in Veteran to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) Programs: A multisite study.

Abstract Background Capitalizing on the veteran's extensive service experience, values, and norms, Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) proposed Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention – Veterans' Bachelor of Science (VBSN) Program grants (2016–2019). Purpose The purpose was to identify predictors of student veterans' (SV) progression and graduation rates in VBSN programs. Methods A descriptive correlational retrospective design was used. Two hundred and eighty-two (282) SV records were examined. Results One hundred and forty (140) SVs graduated (49.6%) and 107 (37.9%) were still enrolled. Only program delivery mode (hybrid) was significantly associated with completion and confirmed by logistic regression modeling. An increased representation of SVs' gender, race/ethnicity was present; however, gender, age, race, ethnicity, and veteran status did not significantly predict progression nor graduation. Conclusions Hybrid program delivery became the single predictor influencing VBSN progression and graduation. As non-traditional students in higher education with a history of social isolation and help-seeking stigma, this delivery mode may have assisted SV retention and persistence. With a registered nurse shortage and workforce calls for increased gender, race, and ethnic diversity, the findings suggest nursing education programs designed for veterans are a viable solution.