cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional Tourism at the Cross-Roads: Perspectives of Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Stakeholders

The Caribbean has experienced considerable fluctuations with many of the small island-nations of the Region being highly vulnerable to socio-political, environmental and economic changes. The Caribbean Tourism Association (CTO) contends that this Region is highly dependent on tourism, possibly more than any other region in the world, but globalization has left the countries of the Region with limited economic alternatives. The result is that tourism has emerged as the largest employer and the foremost foreign exchange earner in the Region. This survey research study, data from which were analyzed with SPSS for Windows, explored three research questions and identified the Region’s strengths, assets and issues as perceived by stakeholders at the CTO’s 2010 Sustainable Tourism Conference. People, culture and favorable weather were identified as strengths. However, critical issues such the absence of clear political and policy directions, loss of biodiversity and natural resources, need for more efficient zoning and land use planning for integrated tourism development, and insufficient stakeholder involvement were characterized as challenges that must be addressed. Recommendations are proposed.
The Influence of Parental Support, Depressed Affect, and Peers on the Sexual Behaviors of Adolescent Girls:

Using logitudinal data from self-reports and observer ratings of family interaction regarding 76 adolescent girls and their parents, this research investigated the effects of parental warmth and supportiveness on adolescents' depressed affect, attitudes about sexuality, peer influence, and sexual experience. The results indicated that girls with more emotionally distant parents were more likely to manifest symptoms of depression. Depressed affect, in turn, was associated with sexually permissive attitudes and having sexually active friends. Although there was a weak direct effect of Time 1 depressed affect on Time 2 sexual experience, the predominant influence on adolescent girls' sexual activity at Year 2 was their perception that their friends were sexually active during the previous year. The authors concluded that the effects of peer influence were due, in part, to the influence of the emotional climate of the girls' families.
High-resolution fmri reveals match enhancement and attentional modulation in the human medial temporal lobe

A primary function of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) is to signal prior encounter with behaviorally relevant stimuli. MTL match enhancement-increased activation when viewing previously encountered stimuli-has been observed for goal-relevant stimuli in nonhuman primates during delayed-match-to-sample tasks and in humans during more complex relational memory tasks. Match enhancement may alternatively reflect (a) an attentional response to familiar relative to novel stimuli or (b) the retrieval of contextual details surrounding the past encounter with familiar stimuli. To gain leverage on the functional significance of match enhancement in the hippocampus, high-resolution fMRI of human MTL was conducted while participants attended, ignored, or passively viewed face and scene stimuli in the context of a modified delayed-match-to-sample task. On each "attended" trial, two goal-relevant stimuli were encountered before a probe that either matched or mismatched one of the attended stimuli, enabling examination of the consequences of encountering one of the goal-relevant stimuli as a match probe on later memory for the other (nonprobed) goal-relevant stimulus. fMRI revealed that the hippocampus was insensitive to the attentional manipulation, whereas parahippocampal cortex was modulated by scene-directed attention, and perirhinal cortex showed more subtle and general effects of attention. By contrast, all hippocampal subfields demonstrated match enhancement to the probe, and a postscan test revealed more accurate recognition memory for the nonprobed goal-relevant stimulus on match relative to mismatch trials. These data suggest that match enhancement in human hippocampus reflects retrieval of other goal-relevant contextual details surrounding a stimulus's prior encounter.
Factors influencing publication of abstracts presented at the AAO-HNS Annual Meeting.

Objective To examine abstracts presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Annual Meeting and to identify factors associated with publication success. Study design and setting All abstracts published in the August 1999 official program issue of the AAO-HNS Journal were examined. MEDLINE searches were performed to assess publication success. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors related to successful publication. Results We identified 473 abstracts, of which 260 (55%) were poster presentations. Median publication time was 16 months, with a publication rate of 50%. Multivariate analysis revealed oral presentation, statistical analysis, and number of authors to be the most significant predictive factors of publication success (odds ratios of 2.2, 1.9, and 1.2 respectively). Level of evidence did not correlate with publication success, even when case reports (n = 70) were excluded from the analysis. Publication rates in other disciplines ranged from 25% to 68%, with a mean of 47%. Conclusions The rate of publication from the AAO-HNS Annual Meeting is similar to other disciplines. Oral presentations with inferential statistics in the abstract were most likely to be published. Conversely, level of evidence and direction of study inquiry were not significant predictors, suggesting that research design is a less important determinant of publication success. Significance Our investigation is one of the first to critically analyze the factors in presentations at annual meetings that predict successful publication.
Tunnel Diode Delay-Line Memory

This paper describes a memory system wherein bits of information are stored serially in time on electrical delay lines, The simplicity and speed of the basic storage cell makes large high-speed stores of this sort feasible. The paper stresses the basic principles of operation. A brief description of one such system model built to demonstrate these principles is included.
alpha 1-Adrenergic receptors of a smooth muscle cell line: guanine nucleotides do not regulate agonist affinities

AbstractUsing [3H]-dihydroergocryptine, we have identified in membranes prepared from the DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cell line a binding site with characteristics of the α1-adrenergic receptor. Specific binding (90–95% of total binding) was saturable with a binding site concentration of 197±44 fmol/mg protein and was of high affinity with a dissociation constant of 1.7±0.4 nM. The order of agonist competition for the binding site was epinephrine (Ki=2.3±0.5μM) ≥ norepinephrine (Ki=4.4±1.3μM) ≫ isoproterenol (Ki=195.5±27.6μM), consistent with an α-adrenergic interaction. Computer modelling of competition curves obtained with prazosin (α1-selective) and yohimbine (α2-selective) indicated that the DDT1 cell αa-adrenergic receptor was predominantly (>95%) of the α1-subtype. Guanine nucleotides, either GTP or 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate, did not reduce the affinity of either epinephrine of phenylephrine for the [3H]-dihydroergocryptine binding site.
Multivariate Patent Similarity Detection

As patent filings and litigations increase, there is an increasing demand for more effective detection of similarities among patents, leading to better prior art search, market gap analysis, infringement detection, legal discovery, and litigation support. Ample patent data is readily available, but detection of similarities among patents is difficult, generally resulting in high false-positive and false-negative errors. A multivariate approach to detection of similarities among patents benefits from the advantages offered by several different techniques. In particular, leveraging text mining, the patent classification system, and patent citations can each improve accuracy. Further, visualization of the multiple variables can further assist the patent searchers.
Optimization of a Certain Quality of Complete Controllability and Observability for Linear Dynamical Systems

Analytical measure of quality of controllability for linear dynamic system and computational procedure for maximizing adjustable structural parameters
Purification of vitellin from grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio, generation of monoclonal antibodies, and validation for the detection of lipovitellin in Crustacea.

Abstract Much effort has been put into developing vitellogenin antibodies against a wide variety of aquatic vertebrate species to study potential estrogen or anti-estrogen endocrine disrupters. Little work has been done on endocrine disruption in aquatic invertebrates. Although some antibodies have been produced against blue crab and penaeid shrimp lipovitellin, they have only poor cross-reactivity with the important estuarine grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio . Vitellin was purified from eggs, monoclonal antibodies were produced using standard techniques, and hybridoma supernatants were screened by ELISA. Western blots were done using extracts from male and female grass shrimp to verify specificity of the monoclonal antibodies. Two low molecular mass bands in the range of 68–85 kD and two high molecular mass bands in the range of 190–221 kD were found. In addition to grass shrimp, several other crustacean species were screened and cross-reactivity found, including blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus ), mud crab ( Rhithropanopeus harrisii ), red swamp crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii) and Daphnia magna . To further investigate the use of the antibody, we performed a chronic 6-week pyrene exposure study. We found that vitellin was upregulated in females after 6 weeks and that this may be a protective measure against lipophilic xenobiotics.
Translation of genetic information into healthcare use

The genome era has seen the interplay of two powerful and disruptive forces in healthcare, those being genetic information and information technology. Following the investment of several billion US dollars, the international Human Genome Project provided a vast amount of information that was usually well outside of a healthcare service context. Investment in associating genetic information with human disease and disease epidemiology was limited. This disconnect has left the public unsure of when particular genetic discoveries are still in research or ready to be delivered as services. How we use genetic information in healthcare varies over the two major subdivisions of genetic information, those being acquired versus heritable disease traits. Even within the heritable diseases and traits the kinds of information needed to integrate genetics into healthcare varies over the three major categories of genetic influence, those being: (1) the usually rare Mendelian diseases with very strong genetic influences;(2) the genetic susceptibilities and predispositions with moderately strong genetic influences that are modulated by the individual’s genetic background and environmental influences;and (3) the common diseases with weak genetic influences and strong lifestyle and other environmental influences. Each area will need different strategies for educating the workforce, improving the evidence base, and developing and providing the appropriate clinical guidance to practitioners. Information technology will clearly be central to the development of an effective translational research infrastructure and has its place in all of the aforementioned areas.
GPU Performance Prediction Through Parallel Discrete Event Simulation and Common Sense

We present the GPU Module of a Performance Prediction Toolkit developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, which enables code developers to efficiently test novel algorithmic ideas particularly for large-scale computational physics codes. The GPU Module is a heavily-parameterized model of the GPU hardware that takes as input a sequence of abstracted instructions that the user provides as a representation of the application or can also be read in from the GPU intermediate representation PTX format. These instructions are then executed in a discrete event simulation framework of the entire computing infrastructure that can include multi-GPU and also multi-node components as typically found in high performance computing applications. Our GPU Module aims at a trade-off between the cycle-accuracy of GPU simulators and the fast execution times of analytical models. This trade-off is achieved by simulating at cycle level only a portion of the computations and using this partial runtime to analytically predict the total execution of the modeled application. We present GPU models that we validate against three different benchmark applications that cover the range from bandwidth- to cycle-limited. Our runtime predictions are within an error of 20%. We then predict performance of a next-generation GPU (Nvidia’s Pascal) for the same benchmark applications.
Optimized 4 and 8 dimensional modulation formats for variable capacity in optical networks

We present enhanced modulation formats optimized for nonlinear performance over a range of spectral efficiency. Maximum transmission distance is improved by > 600 km at PM-8QAM capacity and by > 3500 km at PM-BPSK rates.
Maintenance of Adult and Nymphal Ornithodoros coriaceus (Acari: Argasidae) by Artificial Feeding Through a Parafilm Membrane

Efficiency of a technique for artificially feeding nymphs and adults of the argasid tick, Ornithodoros coriaceus Koch on various substances through a Parafilm membrane is described. Ticks would not probe or feed through the membrane unless it was covered with a thin layer of hair, and guinea pig hair elicited the highest engorgement rate among several types of hair compared. Optimal temperature for feeding ticks was 37–39°C. Excellent engorgement rates (87–90%) were obtained with bovine red blood cells, fetal calf serum, glutathione solution, and a solution composed of 75% minimum essential medium and 25% fetal calf serum. All ticks that fed on these substances secreted coxal fluid and survived for 3+ mo. Several females fed on fetal calf serum laid viable eggs, and most nymphs or adults fed on this substance readily refed within 28 d.
Total Phosphorus Concentration Trends in 40 Iowa Rivers, 1999 to 2013.

Excessive phosphorus (P) in rivers is prompting states to develop strategies to reduce P concentrations and export. The goal of this study was to assess the current condition by analyzing trends in total P (TP) concentrations at 40 river monitoring sites in Iowa for the period 1998 to 2013. We used monthly river monitoring data collected by the State of Iowa at ambient sites located beyond the influence of point sources or cities. Study objectives were to assess the presence of any linear trends in the TP concentration data using a time-series method that accounted for temporal correlation in the data and discharge and to combine the trend information from individual sites into an assessment of the statewide rate of change in river TP concentrations. Results indicated that annual TP concentrations were significantly decreasing at 12 sites ( 0.05), although all but four of these sites had decreasing concentrations. As a population of sampled rivers across Iowa, TP concentrations were declining at an annual rate of approximately 2.6%. The decreasing trends are consistent with reported reductions in sediment concentrations measured in the Raccoon River and with decreasing trends detected in other midwestern rivers. We attribute the decreasing TP trends primarily to improvements in conservation and land management. Although reducing nonpoint source TP concentrations in Iowa rivers will be a tremendous challenge for the agricultural community, progress is being made toward meeting this goal with existing programs.
Perineuronal Nets Suppress Plasticity of Excitatory Synapses on CA2 Pyramidal Neurons.

Long-term potentiation of excitatory synapses on pyramidal neurons in the stratum radiatum rarely occurs in hippocampal area CA2. Here, we present evidence that perineuronal nets (PNNs), a specialized extracellular matrix typically localized around inhibitory neurons, also surround mouse CA2 pyramidal neurons and envelop their excitatory synapses. CA2 pyramidal neurons express mRNA transcripts for the major PNN component aggrecan, identifying these neurons as a novel source for PNNs in the hippocampus. We also found that disruption of PNNs allows synaptic potentiation of normally plasticity-resistant excitatory CA2 synapses; thus, PNNs play a role in restricting synaptic plasticity in area CA2. Finally, we found that postnatal development of PNNs on CA2 pyramidal neurons is modified by early-life enrichment, suggesting that the development of circuits containing CA2 excitatory synapses are sensitive to manipulations of the rearing environment. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are thought to play a major role in restricting synaptic plasticity during postnatal development, and are altered in several models of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as schizophrenia and Rett syndrome. Although PNNs have been predominantly studied in association with inhibitory neurons throughout the brain, we describe a dense expression of PNNs around excitatory pyramidal neurons in hippocampal area CA2. We also provide insight into a previously unrecognized role for PNNs in restricting plasticity at excitatory synapses and raise the possibility of an early critical period of hippocampal plasticity that may ultimately reveal a key mechanism underlying learning and memory impairments of PNN-associated neurodevelopmental disorders.
Lamin A/C gene and the heart: how genetics may impact clinical care.

Lamins are type V intermediate filament proteins that, thanks to their tridimensional structure, are able to polymerize, forming an organized meshwork. The lamin polymers lie between the inner nuclear membrane and the chromatin and have a complex role in maintaining nuclear shape and structure,
Ultrafast photocurrent spectroscopy in a black phosphorus van der waals heterostructure

Ultrafast photocurrent spectroscopy is used to investigate the carrier lifetime of a black phosphorus heterostructure. Tuning the polarization reveals anisotropic response of the excitons with the optical field. Individual ultrafast pulses with a spacing of ∼1ns are resolved with our device.
RETURNS TO COLLEGE MAJORS ACROSS LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS

In this paper, we provide new evidence that earnings for various college majors differ across large metropolitan areas in the United States. We then set out to explain, at least in part, why these differences exist. We find that the intrinsic elements of geographic areas, such as common agglomeration effects and spatial differences in demand, are an important explanation for all majors. Further, we find that the endogenous sorting of individuals plays less of a role, particularly for domestic-born college graduates. The sorting of lower-paid, foreign-born college graduates, however, increases the estimated dispersion in returns across geographic areas.
The Use of a Bar Model Drawing to Teach Word Problem Solving to Students With Mathematics Difficulties

For students with mathematics difficulties (MD), math word problem solving is especially challenging. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a problem-solving strategy, bar model drawing, on the mathematical problem-solving skills of students with MD. The study extended previous research that suggested that schematic-based instruction (SBI) and cognitive strategy instruction (CSI) delivered within an explicit instruction framework can be effective in teaching various math skills related to word problem solving. A multiple-baseline design replicated across groups was used to evaluate the effects of the intervention of bar model drawing on math problem-solving performance of students with MD. Student achievement was measured in terms of increased correct use of cognitive strategies and overall accuracy of math word problem solving. Results showed that bar modeling drawing is an effective strategy for increasing elementary students’ accuracy in solving math word problems and their ability to...
“You Can Do it Anywhere”: Student and Teacher Perceptions of an Online Sexuality Education Intervention

ABSTRACTFormal sexuality education in schools is declining in the United States and this is disproportionately affecting adolescents in rural settings. The purpose of this qualitative study was to assess student and teacher perception of sexuality education delivered online as a potential solution to address this gap in access. Nine gender-specific group interviews were conducted with ninth grade students (n = 29) in rural North Carolina to discuss students’ experience with an online sexuality education intervention called MyHealthEd. Interviews were also conducted with three health teachers at pilot schools. Students and teachers identified more benefits to online sexuality education including more student engagement and greater privacy and comfort, than drawbacks, such as too much student autonomy and less interaction with others. Online sexuality education is a promising and preferred method of delivery for sexuality education for students and health teachers, particularly in settings where trained hea...
HomeStyles, A Web-Based Childhood Obesity Prevention Program for Families With Preschool Children: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The home environment is where young children spend most of their time, and is critically important to supporting behaviors that promote health and prevent obesity. However, the home environment and lifestyle patterns remain understudied, and few interventions have investigated parent-led makeovers designed to create home environments that are supportive of optimal child health and healthy child weights. Objective: The aim of the HomeStyles randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to determine whether the Web-based HomeStyles intervention enables and motivates parents to shape the weight-related aspects of their home environments and lifestyle behavioral practices (diet, exercise, and sleep) to be more supportive of their preschool children’s optimal health and weight. Methods: A rigorous RCT utilizing an experimental group and an attention control group, receiving a bona fide contemporaneous treatment equal in nonspecific treatment effects and differing only in subject matter content, will test the effect of HomeStyles on a diverse sample of families with preschool children. This intervention is based on social cognitive theory and uses a social ecological framework, and will assess: intrapersonal characteristics (dietary intake, physical activity level, and sleep) of parents and children; family interpersonal or social characteristics related to diet, physical activity, media use, and parental values and self-efficacy for obesity-preventive practices; and home environment food availability, physical activity space and supports in and near the home, and media availability and controls in the home. Results: Enrollment for this study has been completed and statistical data analyses are currently underway. Conclusions: This paper describes the HomeStyles intervention with regards to: rationale, the intervention’s logic model, sample eligibility criteria and recruitment, experimental group and attention control intervention content, study design, instruments, data management, and planned analyses. [JMIR Res Protoc 2017;6(4):e73]
Advanced Gene-Targeting Methods to Generate Cell Line Models that Preserve Native Regulatory Elements for Efficient High-Throughput Drug Screenings

Many genes were known to cause Parkinsonism. One of these genes is the SNCA which codes for α-synuclein. Elevated levels of misfolded α-synuclein cause dopaminergic neuronal loss in PD. Misfolded α-synuclein clearance and HADC inhibitors treatment were neuroprotective to dopaminergic neurons in PD animal and cell models suggesting that manipulating transcriptional gene expression can be used to prevent dopaminergic neuronal death in PD patients. However, there is no cell line model that has the entire SNCA regulatory elements for identifying compounds that act on the SNCA regulatory elements. We aimed to produce cell lines that express either α-synuclein-luciferase or α-synuclein-GFP for high-throughput drug screenings for compounds that regulate SNCA transcriptional functions. We constructed a pair of ZFN-FokI and donor plasmids consisting of a GFP or Luciferase gene flanked by ~800 bp sequences up- and downstream of the ZFN-FokI cleaved site of the SNCA gene. The ZFN-FokI and donor plasmids were cotransfected into growing SH-SY5Y cells, selected by 10 µg/ml puromycin, and confirmed by RT-PCR, Western blots, and chemical treatments. Two SH-SY5Y cell lines expressing α-synuclein-luciferase (Luc6B) or α-synuclein-GFP (GFP12) were generated. RT-PCR confirmed that the reporter gene was located at the desired site. Western blots using anti-GFP, anti-α-synuclein, and anti-luciferase antibodies confirmed that both cell lines produced the desired α-synuclein fusion proteins. Valproic acid treatments of the Luc6B and GFP12 cell lines significantly increased the expression of levels α-synuclein luciferase and α-synuclein-GFP. In conclusion, we have used the ZFN method successfully to generate cell lines which will be useful in high-throughput drug screenings to identify compounds that can inhibit the elevation or expression of α-synuclein. These cell lines provide unique tools for drug screens as they include human SNCA regulatory control regions in promoters, introns, and even distant sites that potentially interact through chromatin loops.
Nociception and Pain: Evolution of Concepts and Observations

Publisher Summary The relationship of pain to other sensory experiences from the body has presented a major conceptual hurdle in defining its underlying mechanisms. Under most circumstances, pain is associated with a subjective component, suffering. Suffering or discomfort is not unique to pain, although pain is more consistently linked to suffering than other sensory experiences. The language of pain has been confounded by the use of the same words to describe both the perceptual recognition of the experience and the unpleasantness or emotion associated with it. This chapter focuses on the 19 th and 20 th century development of and obstacles to the concept that afferent organs and central systems exist that function selectively in signaling noxious events. The chapter emphasizes on the legacy of old ideas such as pain representing an “emotion” pervades even modern thinking about pain mechanisms.
Shooting Stability: A Critical Component of Marksmanship Performance as Measured through Aim Path and Trigger Control:

Marksmanship proficiency is an essential component to operational effectiveness in the military. Previous research suggests marksmanship proficiency is dependent on shooter posture and weapon stabi...
Impact of Insurance Coverage on Outcomes in Primary Breast Sarcoma

Private insurance is associated with better outcomes in multiple common cancers. We hypothesized that insurance status would significantly impact outcomes in primary breast sarcoma (PBS) due to the additional challenges of diagnosing and coordinating specialized care for a rare cancer. Using the National Cancer Database, we identified adult females diagnosed with PBS between 2004 and 2013. The influence of insurance status on overall survival (OS) was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier estimator with log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard models. Among a cohort of 607 patients, 67 (11.0%) had Medicaid, 217 (35.7%) had Medicare, and 323 (53.2%) had private insurance. Compared to privately insured patients, Medicaid patients were more likely to present with larger tumors and have their first surgical procedure further after diagnosis. Treatment was similar between patients with comparable disease stage. In multivariate analysis, Medicaid (hazard ratio (HR), 2.47; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.62-3.77; p < 0.001) and Medicare (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.10-2.57; p=0.017) were independently associated with worse OS. Medicaid insurance coverage negatively impacted survival compared to private insurance more in breast sarcoma than in breast carcinoma (interaction p < 0.001). In conclusion, patients with Medicaid insurance present with later stage disease and have worse overall survival than privately insured patients with PBS. Worse outcomes for Medicaid patients are exacerbated in this rare cancer.
Material Properties of Rat Middle Cerebral Arteries at High Strain Rates

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), resulting from either impact- or non-impact blast-related mechanisms, is a devastating cause of death and disability. The cerebral blood vessels, which provide critical support for brain tissue in both health and disease, are commonly injured in TBI. However, little is known about how vessels respond to traumatic loading, particularly at rates relevant to blast. To better understand vessel responses to trauma, the objective of this project was to characterize the high-rate response of passive cerebral arteries. Rat middle cerebral arteries were isolated and subjected to high-rate deformation in the axial direction. Vessels were perfused at physiological pressures and stretched to failure at strain rates ranging from approximately 100 to 1300 s-1. Although both in vivo stiffness and failure stress increased significantly with strain rate, failure stretch did not depend on rate.
Maya Caciques in Early National Yucatán, by Rajeshwari Dutt, Norman, University of Oklahoma Press, 2017, 200 pp., US$29.95 (hardback), ISBN 9780806155784

In Maya Caciques in Early National Yucatan, Rajeshwari Dutt examines how caciques (indigenous headmen) navigated the “municipal revolution” in the wake of Independence, when liberal governments imp...
Heller: A Constitutional Right to Self-Defense & the Burden of Proof in Criminal Trials

In Heller, The Supreme Court not only recognized the Second Amendment’s protection of the individual right to bear arms but also the related constitutional right to self-defense. This paper examines past case holdings, historic context of the Second Amendment, and the text of Heller itself. Part III asks – assuming there is a constitutional right to self-defense – are states foreclosed from shifting the burden of proving such to criminal defendants? This part examines the history of the burden of proof and the historical precedent for burden shifting as well as cases involving constitutional rights and burden shifting. It concludes that while states may be allowed to require defendants bear a burden of production of evidence supporting self-defense, they will no longer be permitted to shift the burden of proof.
Hierarchies and Contractions of the Description

One of the characteristic features of the mechanistic statistical theory is that it can be used at a variety of levels of description. Indeed, we have seen that molecular processes ranging from momentum and heat transport to electrochemical reactions and molecular scattering events all can be described by the canonical equations in Chapter 4. The amount of molecular detail contained in these descriptions varies tremendously. At the thermodynamic level the extensive variables are characteristic of properties of the entire system, such as the total internal energy. At the hydrodynamic level, on the other hand, one keeps track of densities of extensive variables at each point in space. Finally, at the Boltzmann level the number density of particles in the molecular phase space is the fundamental quantity of interest.
Effect of degree of corn processing on urinary nitrogen composition, serum metabolite and insulin profiles, and performance by finishing steers.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of degree of corn processing on urinary ammonia and urea N concentrations, serum metabolite and insulin concentrations, and feedlot performance of steers. Corn was processed by either dry rolling to .54 kg/L bulk density (DR42; 42 lb/bushel) or steam flaking to a bulk density of .36 or .26 kg/L (28 [SF28] and 20 [SF20] lb/bushel, respectively). Degrees of processing were selected to generate final products with 25, 50, or 75% enzymatically available starch. Available starch, expressed as a percentage of total starch for DR42, SF28, and SF20, averaged 24.5, 56.4, and 81.1% in Exp. 1 and 22.4, 60.1, and 80.1% in Exp. 2. In Exp. 1, 29 steers were housed in individual outdoor pens and adapted to a 90% concentrate diet over 21 d. Whole blood and urine were collected before feeding and at 4 and 8 h after feeding on d 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 84, and 140. Daily DMI decreased linearly (P .42) among treatments. Average daily gain, ADG:DMI, and hot carcass weight responded quadratically (P .30) by degree of processing. Whole blood packed cell volume, serum glucose, creatinine, D(-)-lactate, L(+)-lactate, and lactate dehydrogenase activity did not differ (P > .15) among treatments. For insulin data, ME intake on the day of sample collection was evaluated as a covariate. On d 28, serum insulin (2.49, 2.95, and 1.80+/-.33 ng/mL) responded quadratically (P = .04) as degree of processing increased. Serum insulin did not differ (P = .52) on d 84, whereas insulin (5.77, 7.51, and 4.12+/-.98 ng/mL) responded quadratically (P = .02) on d 140. In Exp. 2,216 steers were blocked by BW into two blocks (18 pens; 12 steers/pen) and assigned to the same treatments used in Exp. 1. Daily DMI and carcass weight responded quadratically (P < .05), whereas ADG and ADG:DMI increased linearly (P < .04) with increasing degree of processing. Results suggest that the degree of corn processing influences serum insulin concentrations of feedlot steers; however, serum metabolites, urinary nitrogen composition, and carcass characteristics were generally not affected by degree of corn processing.
Social Identity and Ethnic Interaction in the Western Pueblos of the American Southwest

With the increasing realization of the frequency of migration in prestratified societies, our understanding of ethnic interaction needs to become more sophisticated. This paper discusses ethnic interaction in prestratified societies on a theoretical level by examining currently used models based on Barth's concepts of interaction (Barth, F., Ethnic Groups and Boundaries, Little, Brown, Boston, 1969, pp. 9–39) and Bourdieu's concept of habitus (Bourdieu, P., Outline of a Theory of Practice, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1977). These current models are flawed, and an alternative model relying on reflexive decisions by agents who are constrained by their place within the existing social structure is presented. This model is then used to examine ethnic identity in Western Pueblo societies in three areas of central Arizona: Point of Pines, Grasshopper, and Silver Creek. All three areas were locations of prehistoric migration and subsequent interaction between migrants and indigenous peoples. However, the nature of the interaction differed considerably, with ethnicity being emphasized in some places, de-emphasized in others, and ignored all together in still others.
Self-incompatibility in the Brassicaceae: Regulation and mechanism of self-recognition.

Abstract Self-incompatibility is one of the most common mechanisms used by plants to prevent self-fertilization. In the Brassicaceae, the inhibition of self-pollen is triggered right at the stigma surface by interaction of two highly polymorphic self-recognition proteins that are encoded by tightly linked genes of the S-locus haplotype: a receptor protein kinase displayed at the surface of stigma epidermal cells and its small diffusible ligand that is localized in the outer coat of pollen grains. It is the specific interaction between receptor and ligand encoded in the same S haplotype that determines specificity in the rejection of self-pollen. The chapter reviews recent results that have shed light on the genetic control, cell biology, and regulation of the self-recognition molecules, as well as the structural basis of ligand recognition. Models that aim to explain how diversification of the self-recognition repertoire can occur in this two-gene self-recognition system are discussed.
Translation Apps: Increasing Communication with Dual Language Learners

Dual language learners (DLLs) represent one of the fastest growing populations in classrooms, and yet many teachers are monolingual and not trained in English as a Second Language. Many teachers strive to create an anti-bias classroom that puts goals of diversity and equity at the center of all that they do, but are unsure of effective strategies for communicating with all students. By supporting the home language, teachers show their DLLs and native English speakers that every child’s home language is important and welcome in the classroom. Using translation apps can help teachers talk to their students, build relationships with children and families, and support bilingualism. Once teachers and children can communicate successfully, DLLs can increase their understanding of content, engagement, motivation, communication, and sense of self-esteem. The three apps discussed in this article, Speak and Translate, Microsoft Translator, and Google Translate have been shown to be helpful in facilitating interactions with children in their home language. Additional information is provided on using these apps, as well as their potential benefits and drawbacks.
Sintering of ultrafine and nanosized particles

Abstract: : The sintering of nanosized particles exhibits a number of distinctively unique phenomena compared to the sintering of coarse powders, e.g. low sintering temperatures and rapid grain growth. This chapter aims to bring into focus the understanding of the fundamental issues of nanosinteirng, including the thermodynamic driving force of nanosintering, non-linear diffusion and the kinetics of nanosintering, and the relationships between agglomeration, densification and grain growth. This chapter will also examine the effects of microstructure and processing variables.
Hypoxia-sensitive Transcription Factors and Growth Factors

The role of growth factors in HPH is an open book, with no ending in sight. As novel vascular growth factors are discovered, and as we learn more about their biological and pathobiological role, we add a new level of understanding in HPH. Undoubtedly, abnormal vascular cell growth is at the center of pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension (Fig. 3). In the next few years, the elucidation of master control levels of pulmonary vascular remodeling using genomics and proteonomics of human lung tissue compromised by pulmonary hypertension and transgenic models of pulmonary hypertension may shed important information in the relative contribution of growth factor in the pathogenesis of HPH.
Enclothed cognition: putting lab coats to the test

Although there has been some success with programmes that aim to increase STEM involvement by women and underserved minorities, science educators continue to seek ways to promote students’ interest...
Weak Analytic Geometry and a Trace Formula for Families of $p$-adic Representations

The eigencurve is a powerful tool introduced by Coleman and Mazur to study $p$-adic families of overconvergent modular forms. In this article, we introduce an analogous set of tools for understanding families of "overconvergent" $p$-adic representations of $\pi_1(X)$, where $X$ is a smooth affine variety over a finite field of characteristic $p$. Our main theorem is a trace formula relating the $L$-function of such a family to the geometry of a sequence of associated eigenvarieties. In the case of a single $p$-adic representation, our result reduces to the well known trace formula of Monsky. We apply our theory to the study of $T$-adic exponential sums attached to $\mathbb{Z}_p$-towers over $X$. Special cases of this theory have been applied by Davis, Wan, and Xiao to prove a spectral halo decomposition of the eigencurve attached to $\mathbb{Z}_p$-towers over $X=\mathbb{A}^1$.
Protic media enhanced protodeboronation for a potential H2O2-sensitive ligand system

Abstract The detection of elevated concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2O2 represents a promising route to identify oxidative misregulation in cells, a hallmark of carcinoma and neurodegeneration. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) presents an opportunity to detect ROS over a greater portion of the body compared to strategies such as fluorescence. To sense hydrogen peroxide, potential Fe2+ and Co2+ MRI sensors were synthesized by appending pinacolborane to two amino-pyridine ligand scaffolds. These were designed to expose phenol upon reaction with H2O2, turning on PARACEST ( Para magnetic C hemical E xchange S aturation T ransfer) and allowing detection by MRI. Instead of yielding a phenol upon exposure to oxidative conditions, protodeboronation was observed as the major product even under mild conditions. Optimization of oxidation conditions allowed access to the phenolic analogue of the two ligands studied in 11% and 17% conversion under organic conditions. Treatment of the Fe2+ and Co2+ complexes with H2O2 resulted in rapid, partial demetallation with no evidence of the bound or free ligand undergoing an oxidative transformation. These results stress the importance of establishing stability of potential MRI contrast agents in aqueous conditions.
Thermodynamic Properties of Antifluorescyl Antibodies

The thermodynamic properties of three monoclonal antifluorescyl antibodies (4-4-20,20-19-1,20-20-3) were determined over a temperature range of 2°-70°C., using fluorescence methodology. Curvilinear van’t Hoff plots (In Ka vs. T-1 were observed for all three antibodies indicating that their standard enthalpy changes (ΔH°) were temperature dependent. This phenomenon was further investigated by plotting the changes in unitary free energy (ΔGu), standard enthalpy (ΔH°), and unitary entropy (ΔSu) versus temperature. At low temperatures (4°C), entropy played a major role in the binding of fluorescein by all three antibodies, while enthalpy dominated at higher temperatures. Negative heat capacity values (ΔCp°) were observed for all three antibodies, which indicated that the hydrophobic effect was instrumental in the binding of fluorescein. However, ΔSu values were lower than expected for hydrophobic binding alone, suggesting that other forces were acting to mitigate the hydrophobic effect. One possibility was that the binding of fluorescein acted to restrain vibrational fluctuations in the active site region, producing negative changes in both heat capacity and entropy. This hypothesis was confirmed by determining the hydrophobic and vibrational contributions to binding, using the method of Sturtevant (1977). The phenomenon was most pronounced with the 20-20-3 protein, and the least with the 4-4-20 protein. Considering that 4-4-20 exhibited the highest affinity of the three proteins, it is possible that one mechanism of generating high affinity active sites may involve structural changes which reduce the size of the unfavorable vibrational condition.
Deconstructing Sonic Hedgehog Medulloblastoma: Molecular Subtypes, Drivers, and Beyond

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a highly malignant cerebellar tumor predominantly diagnosed during childhood. Driven by pathogenic activation of sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling, SHH subgroup MB (SHH-MB) accounts for nearly one-third of diagnoses. Extensive molecular analyses have identified biologically and clinically relevant intertumoral heterogeneity among SHH-MB tumors, prompting the recognition of novel subtypes. Beyond germline and somatic mutations promoting constitutive SHH signaling, driver alterations affect a multitude of pathways and molecular processes, including TP53 signaling, chromatin modulation, and post-transcriptional gene regulation. Here, we review recent advances in the underpinnings of SHH-MB in the context of molecular subtypes, clarify novel somatic and germline drivers, highlight cellular origins and developmental hierarchies, and describe the composition of the tumor microenvironment and its putative role in tumorigenesis.
Fourier Ptychographic Imaging using a High Numerical Aperture Dome Illuminator

Fourier ptychography setup is developed using 61 LEDs installed on a spherical dome which illuminate the sample sequentially. The resolution is improved by 4.9 times by Fourier Ptychographic recovery.
Ecological half-life of radiocesium in white-tailed deer on the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site: What can a half century of field monitoring tell us?

Abstract This paper estimates the 137Cs ecological half-life of white-tailed deer inhabiting the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) based on sex and age using data collected over a 51-year time-period. With a physical half-life of 30.2 yr, the biological half-life for the deer herd is considerably shorter because of the isotope's biochemical mimicry of K+ inside the body. Leveraging this long-term dataset and robust sample size, we compared the long-term half-century estimates to shorter decadal increments. The simple exponential decay model for the entire 51-year sampling period predicted an ecological half-life of 23.15 years. When breaking the sample data into decadal increments 137Cs body burden had complex temporal dynamics with predicted half-lives ranging from 9.25 to 32.33 years. Exponential decay for the entire 51-year sampling period for models evaluated by sex, age, sex*age to determine how these variables influence the predictability in the mean depuration rate, the ecological half-lives were between 21 and 23 years for all permutations, except for fawns that had a half-life no different than the physical half-life of the isotope itself. Differential habitat use and competition most likely explains why both yearling and adult females consistently had higher body burdens than males over the 51-year time period, showing how dynamic this radioisotope is in biological systems. This study is one of the most robust long-term datasets in the world (n = 42,412) that is specifically focused on monitoring the uptake and depuration of 137Cs in a wild species.
Integrated framework of process mining and simulation–optimization for pod structured clinical layout design

Abstract This paper proposes a three-phase framework to leverage hospital tracking data of patient visits while designing healthcare layouts with pod structures. The first phase proposes a process mining algorithm that modifies the Probabilistic Determining Finite Automata (PDFA) with Particle Swarm Optimization (PDFA-PSO) algorithm to predict the significant patient workflows from hospital historical data. The second phase employs simulation modeling to solve a right-sizing problem to determine the optimal size of the layout pods and the frequency of flows between the different clinical locations. The final phase uses an Unequal Area Facility Layout Problem (UAFLP) to determine the layout typology. The proposed process mining and simulation model are vital steps to measure the frequency between spaces and pod areas, which are needed to solve the UAFLP for outpatient settings. The proposed framework is validated using a case study for a renovation project of a large heart and vascular clinic in the US. The research shows that process mining is an efficient tool to extract a subset of significant patient pathways among 90 pathway variants and build a more realistic simulation that reflects behavioral and operational aspects. The research shows that the PSO algorithm is efficient in estimating the PDFA parameters and improving the prediction accuracy of the extracted patient pathways. In addition, the research shows that Genetic Algorithm with Placement Staretegy is an efficient algorithm for layout automation.