cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Syndromic Surveillance Information for Expanded Assessment of Wildfire Disaster

This presentation describes how syndromic surveillance information was combined with fire emission and spatio-temporal fire data to model and forecast climate change impacts on future fire scenarios. During 2003 and 2007, wildfires ravaged San Diego County. Various data were used to evaluate, model and predict future fire events. Several findings came out of this work. One result suggests that during the next three decades, San Diego County will experience approximately two extreme fire seasons in each decade by 2040. This study demonstrates utility of syndromic data for collaborative work resulting in better understanding of environmental interactions on human health.
Role of the Golgi apparatus in cellular pathology

The Golgi apparatus response to pathological disorders is predominantly as an intermediary component of membrane biogenesis where it is involved in processing, sorting and secretion of materials via secretory granules, and in the formation of lysosomes. A common initial response of the Golgi apparatus to any stress is an alteration or cessation of secretory activity. In the transformed cell, the Golgi apparatus is altered both morphologically and biochemically, suggesting a shift from a secretory to a membrane-generating mode of functioning. However, since fewer or less well-developed Golgi apparatus are frequently found in transformed cells, analytical methods of membrane isolation developed for normal tissues may not always yield equivalent results when applied to tumors. Cell surface alterations characteristic of malignant cells may result from modifications occurring at the level of the Golgi apparatus. Some lysosomal dysfunctions may result from underglycosylation of acid hydrolases by the Golgi apparatus. The use of cell-free systems between endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus or within Golgi apparatus cisterane is providing a new approach to the elucidation of the role of the Golgi apparatus in normal as well as pathological states.
AMR current sensors for evaluating the integrity of concentric neutrals in in-service underground power distribution cables

In this paper, we present a new method to diagnose the integrity of concentric neutral wires in underground power distribution cables. This method uses a commercially available 3-axis anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) magnetic field sensor chip. The AMR sensor is passed once along the energized cable axially, and the cable's 3-axis magnetic field is plotted as a function of position over the cable. Peaks corresponding to the individual concentric neutral currents are observed, and can be analyzed to diagnose breaks in concentric neutrals due to total corrosion or other means.
The Correlation Between Bubble-Enhanced HIFU Heating and Cavitation Power

It has been established that while the inherent presence of bubbles increases heat generation due to scattering and absorption, inertial cavitation is responsible for elevated heating during high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) application. The contribution of bubble-induced heating can be an important factor to consider, as it can be several times greater than the expected heat deposition from absorption of energy from the primary ultrasound field. The temperature and cavitation signal near the focus were measured for 5.5-s continuous-wave 1.1-MHz HIFU sonications in tissue mimicking phantoms. The measured temperature was corrected for heating predicted from the primary ultrasound absorption to isolate the temperature rise from the bubble activity. The temperature rise induced from cavitation correlates well with a measurement of the instantaneous ?cavitation power? as indicated by the mean square voltage output of a 15-MHz passive cavitation detector. The results suggest that careful processing of the cavitation signals can serve as a proxy for measuring the heating contribution from inertial cavitation.
Abrikosov vortex memory based on a single vortex

An Abrikosov vortex memory device based on a cross strip superconducting-insulating-normal-superconducting (SINS) Josephson junction was developed to investigate the feasibility of using the motion of a single vortex to store information and perform logic. The write operation is performed by moving a single vortex from one pinning site to another using a current in one leg of the cross strip junction. The read operation is performed by measuring the Josephson voltage at a fixed bias Josephson current. For these PbBi-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-Al-Pb SINS junctions, the Josephson voltage depends on the vortex position because the vortex distorts the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern in a predictable way. The device is superior to earlier superconductor-normal-superconductor (SNS) devices in that the junction voltages are millivolts and can be read with rather simple electronics.
Cultural Outlaws An Examination of Audience Activity and Online Television Fandom

A web-based survey was used to collect qualitative data about online fans' use of the internet for keeping up with a favorite television program and for interacting with other fans. The textual responses from 757 participants were coded for patterns and themes related to theories of audience activity. The results reveal a continuum of activity from “lurkers” to a thriving, interpretive community of “outlaw” fans involved in the consumption and production of favored cultural texts. In contrast to historical images of rabid television fans, the researchers discovered a sophisticated audience, devoted to programs that make them think and that inspire meaningful exchanges in online discussions. Internet technologies have empowered these fans to more effectively organize en masse as resistors and shapers of commercial television narratives.
Computer simulation of I27 translocation through ClpY reveals a critical role of protein mechanical strength and local stability

Clp family is one type of AAA+ proteases, which catalyze protein degradation and translocation. Because of the steric restriction of the complex structure, the substrates have to be denaturated before accessing the active sites of the peptidases. This type of translocation-induced protein unfolding has been studied in bulk biochemical experiments, but the detailed dynamic process is still unknown. Two models are proposed: the target protein somehow unfolds before it is pulled through a protease or the target protein is unfolded by pulling force during the translocation. We performed steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations to pull a model protein I27 and its variants (VHP, V13P and V15P) through ClpY, which is a member of Clp family with the available crystal structure. Resulting force-position profiles showed that the protein translocation needs a large initial force to break it open, and further unfolding needs relatively weaker forces. Comparison of the unfolding forces among translocation of I27 and its variants showed that the local mechanical stability of the protein determines the unfolding force. We also simulated the 127 translocation starting with different orientations and found that the unfolding dynamics are similar. The simulations presented here, combined with published experimental data, support the model that the target protein is pulled apart during translocation, and the force needed to unfold a protein follows the local stability model. This model does not only give a close insight into the processes of force-driven protein unfolding in translocation, but also is instructive to design protein in protein degradation, which is one of the most important steps in cellular cycles.
Operation of the TFTR neutral beam injection system which achieved greater than 30 megawatt injection

The Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) neutral beam injection system (NBIS) has performed injection experiments on the TFTR since 1984. During the 1988 run period, the NBIS exceeded the design capability of 27 MW of neutral injection. How the NBIS was operated to yield 30.5 MW of injected neutrals, the equipment upgrades and operational improvements from the 1987 operating experience which contributed to achieving this result, and the techniques used to achieve substantially increased system reliability over the 1987 run period are discussed. >
The Effect of a Hadley Circulation on the Propagation and Reflection of Planetary Waves in a Simple One-Layer Model

Abstract The effect of a simple representation of the Hadley circulation on the propagation and nonlinear reflection of planetary-scale Rossby waves in the winter hemisphere is investigated numerically in a single-layer shallow-water model. In the first instance, waves are forced by a zonal wavenumber three topography centered in the extratropics. In the linear limit the location of the low-latitude critical line at which the waves are absorbed is displaced poleward by the Hadley circulation. At finite forcing amplitude the critical layer regions where the waves break are found to be displaced poleward by a similar distance. The Hadley circulation is also found to inhibit the onset of nonlinear reflection by increasing the dissipation of wave activity in the critical layer. Second, for waves generated by an isolated mountain, the presence of the Hadley circulation further inhibits nonlinear reflection by generating a strong westerly flux of wave activity within the critical layer. This westerly flux is sh...
Post-mortem iris biometric analysis in Sus scrofa domesticus

Although biometric utility of ante-mortem human iris tissue has been long established, post-mortem study of human iris tissue for its biometric utility has only been speculated. Given obstacles in measuring and analyzing biometric capability of post-mortem human iris tissue, an investigation into the feasibility of using post-mortem Sus scrofa domesticus iris tissue as a biometric is undertaken. The contributions of our work are two-fold: first, our method discusses a feasible alternative to human iris for study of post-mortem iris biometric analysis. Second, we report the performance of iris biometrics over a period of time after death. Previous studies have only reported qualitative changes in iris after death while for the first time we measure the biometric capacity of post-mortem iris tissue.
The intentional fallacy: Defending myself

In “The Intentional Fallacy: Defending Beardsley,” George Dickie and Kent Wilson raise certain objections to my essay “Art, Intention, and Conversation.” In my essay, I attempted to defend the intentionalist interpretation of artworks. I offered a number of arguments against anti-intentionalism, a view that I take to hold that reference to artistic intentions and the biography of the artist are never relevant to the interpretation of the meaning of artworks. In a more positive vein, I also argued that interpretations of artworks should be constrained by our knowledge of the biography of the historical artist and our best hypotheses about the artist's actual intentions concerning the artworks in question. Thus, I maintain that authorial intentions and biographies are relevant to the interpretation of artworks. A number of my arguments, both positive and negative, depend upon a rough analogy with ordinary conversations. I rely on the claim that in such conversations we typically aim at understanding the intentions of our interlocutors. I further argue that I see no principled reasons to suppose that things stand differently with our “conversations” with artworks. Dickie and Wilson challenge this supposition by arguing that I have misconstrued the nature of ordinary conversations. Specifically, in their terminology, they maintain that typically in conversations we are concerned with understanding the meaning of the speaker's utterance and not the speaker's intended meaning. On their view, we are only concerned with the speaker's intended meaning in extraordinary cases where some puzzle arises about the speaker's intended meaning. But, in the main, we are not involved in making conjectures about the speaker's intended meaning.
Tactile sensing for gecko-inspired adhesion

Adhesion quality sensing is critical to the performance of any robot that utilizes gecko-inspired dry adhesives for climbing, perching, or grasping. We present a 3-axis tactile sensor designed for this application that demonstrates performance on par with a large commercial load cell while being compact enough to integrate into a robot foot. The sensor can measure spatially distributed force loads and demonstrates high sensitivity in both shear and normal components. Results showcase the sensor's ability to detect a variety of unreliable contact and loading conditions before the onset of adhesion failure.
Nonsaturable entry of neuropeptide Y into brain

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is found and is active both in the periphery and brain, but its crossing of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in either direction has not been measured. We used multiple time-regression analysis to determine that radioactively labeled NPY injected intravenously entered the brain much faster than albumin, with an influx constant of 2.0 x 10(-4) ml. g. -1. min-1. However, this rate of entry was not significantly changed by injection of 10 microgram/mouse of excess NPY, by leptin, or by food deprivation. HPLC showed that most of the NPY entering the brain was intact, and capillary depletion with and without washout showed that the NPY did not remain bound to endothelial cells or associated with vascular elements. Perfusion in a blood-free solution eliminated binding to serum proteins as an explanation for the lack of saturation. Efflux of labeled NPY from the brain occurred at the same rate as albumin, reflecting the normal rate of reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid. Thus NPY can readily enter the brain from blood by diffusion across the BBB.
Qualitative Evidence in Health Promotion

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the scholarly discourse between qualitative evidence and health promotion. We accomplish this by examining how qualitative evidence is conceptualized in the current health promotion literature as well as how health promotion efforts have been enhanced by qualitative evidence. This chapter is organized into major headings, which allow for a broad foundation and operational definition of health promotion to be discussed, followed by a presentation of health promotion models, how health promotion has benefited from qualitative research methods and evidence and, finally, recommendations and implications for health promotion scholars and practitioners. After reviewing the current scholarship on health promotion using qualitative evidence, we offer research, policy, and practice implications.
The Political Economy of Water Resource Development

Water resource development and management in the United States have created twelve thousand miles of waterways, irrigated thirty million acres of land (and drained an even larger area), provided water supplies for countless cities and industries, directed tons of concrete and earth at thousands of streams which from time to time overflow their banks and harnessed more than thirty million kilowatts of electric power capacity. Assuming the main objective of these federal expenditures is to contribute to the national welfare, two issues require clarification: the definition of "national welfare"; and the measurement of contributions to that welfare made by water resource development.
Pierre Goes Online: Blacklisting and Secondary Boycotts in U.S. Trade Policy

The extraterritorial application of U.S. economic sanctions and trade controls is a perennial topic of discussion among international trade practitioners and a frequent cause for concern abroad. While long present in one form or another as part of several U.S. trade and export control programs, there has been a resurgence in the use of unilateral extraterritorial trade regulation by the United States following the unraveling of widespread international consensus on who should be the targets for such controls and sanctions as a result of the breakup of the Soviet Union, and the demise of the international Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls. Moreover, the pressures created by rapidly developing new means of conducting domestic and international commerce online and over the Internet now exacerbate the problems created with these types of controls,by vastly increasing both the number of international transactions and the speed with which they are conducted. The most recent focus of the discussion of unilateral extraterritorial controls in the popular and academic press has been the Helms-Burton Act, which revised the terms of the U.S. embargo of Cuba. The amendments to the Cuban embargo controls that the Helms-Bwton Act introduced have generated significant opposition from other countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom. Additionally, the European Union has expressed its opposition through the initiation of a complaint with the World Trade Organization. Rather than the novel changes brought about by the Helms-Burton Act alone, however, it is the long-standing use of traditional "blacklisting" tools as part of the government's trade regulation and sanctions programs that most clearly highlights the difficulties inherent in unilateral extraterritorial controls. Using the Cuban embargo program as an example, this Article explores the question of the leg'timacy of these blacklisting measures under international standards, including those advocated and espoused by the United States itself in connection with the Arab League's boycott of Israel. An emerging rule of customary international law, the Article concludes, proscribes the use of blacklisting to conduct international secondary boycotts.
Radiolabeling of RNA aptamers with zirconium-89 and subsequent in vivo evaluation

1056 Objectives Aptamers are short synthetic oligonucleotides generated against a specific biological target. Although aptamers have been extensively investigated using other imaging modalities, very few studies have been reported using PET isotopes. By standardizing a protocol for radiolabeling RNA aptamers with the longer-lived radionuclide zirconium-89, quantitative imaging and biological studies can be conducted over long time periods. Methods Three RNA aptamers were generated against the tumor biomarkers prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), transferrin receptor (TfR), or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The aptamers were generated with a thiol functional group on the 3’ end to facilitate conjugation to maleimide-functionalized desferroxamine (DFO). Each aptamer was radiolabeled with 89Zr with purification evaluated via ITLC and HPLC. The PSMA and TfR aptamers were further evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The affinity and specificity of the aptamers for their targets was assessed in vitro. In vivo biodistribution studies were conducted with time points at 0.5, 6, and 24 hours using xenograft mouse models. Results All three aptamers were radiolabeled with 89Zr and high purification (>98%) was achieved. Immunoreactivity assays of the PSMA and TfR aptamers showed retention of binding affinity, and blocking studies with unlabeled aptamer showed high binding specificity. In vivo biodistribution studies of the TfR and PSMA aptamers showed a rapid blood clearance ( Conclusions Due to the modularity of aptamers, radiolabeling RNA aptamers with zirconium-89 should allow quantitative in vivo evaluation of a multitude of RNA aptamers over extended time periods, facilitating their use in vivo.
Structure and Dynamics of Acetonitrile Confined in a Silica Nanopore

Acetonitrile confined in silica nanopores with surfaces of varying functionality is studied by means of molecular dynamics simulation. The hydrogen-bonding interaction between the surface and the liquid is parametrized by means of first-principles molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that acetonitrile orders into bilayer like structures near the surface, in agreement with prior simulations and experiments. A newly developed method is applied to calculate relevant time correlation functions for molecules in different layers of the pore. This method takes into account the short lifetimes of the molecules in the layers. We compare this method with prior techniques that do not take this lifetime into account and discuss their pitfalls. We show that in agreement with experiment, the dynamics of the system may be described by a two population model that accounts for bulk-like relaxation in the center and frustrated dynamics near the surface of the pore. Specific hydrogen-bonding interactions are found to...
Comparing Forecasting Behavior Between Industrial-Product Firms and Consumer-Product Firms

This paper examines and compares the forecasting behavior of industrial-products firms to that of consumer-products firms to determine differences in their respective forecasting behavior.We also analyze why the found differences would be so and provide implications.
Wavelet Analysis based Grey Model applied in prediction of slope deformation

On the basis of analyzing the properties of Wavelet Analysis Theory and Grey Model,the Grey Model based on Wavelet Analysis is established for prediction.The measured data are first filtered via wavelet filtration process,and then input into Grey Model for prediction.This method can effectively increase the accuracy of prediction.
New device for selective dentin caries removal.

Objectives: To develop prototype rotary selective dentin caries excavators and to demonstrate their ability to remove only carious dentin in extracted teeth. Method and materials: Milled polymer prototype and formed wire loop prototype burs were made. They were tested on normal dentin with standardized force application and compared to carbide burs for ability to cut by weighing three extracted teeth at pre- and postcutting for each prototype version. They were tested on carious dentin of three teeth for each prototype version. The resulting excavated surfaces were analyzed with dentin caries dye, the teeth were decalcified and examined histologically, and the used prototypes were examined in light and scanning electron microscopes. Results: For both prototypes, noncarious teeth did not lose weight from prototype instrumentation, but each lost 9 or 10 mg after instrumentation with the control carbide bur. Both prototypes quickly removed carious dentin in each of the carious teeth until a definitive cutting endpoint was reached. The excavated surfaces from the milled polymer prototypes did not stain with caries dye, but those from the wire loop prototypes stained lightly in some areas. In the light microscope, all sections of excavated carious teeth were bacteria-free. Light and scanning electron microscope images of the prototypes revealed scratch patterns on the wire loop prototypes and deformation of blades on the polymer prototypes. Conclusion: Both prototypes removed carious dentin but did not remove normal dentin in the extracted teeth used in this study. Further development is indicated.
Paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil in metastatic breast cancer: the US experience

Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) is an effective drug in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In the salvage setting, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid have proved to be effective against MBC as well. Recent preclinical data suggest that paclitaxel plus 5-FU has additive cytotoxicity. Given these observations, we initiated a phase II trial in which 38 women with MBC have been treated with a combination of all three drugs. All patients are currently evaluable for toxicity and 34 are evaluable for response. All women had histologically proven and assessable disease. Patients with prior exposure to paclitaxel were ineligible. Patient characteristics include a median age of 51 years (age range, 31 to 73 years) and a median performance status of 1 (range, 0 to 2). Thirty-three patients have received prior chemotherapy, of whom 23 had adjuvant chemotherapy only. Fifty-eight percent of the patients (22 of 38) had received prior doxorubicin or mitoxantrone; four patients had only hormonal therapy. Four patients had bone-only disease, and three patients had lymphangitic spread or cytologically positive pleural effusion as the only evaluable disease. Treatment consisted of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 over 3 hours (day 1 only), followed by folinic acid 300 mg over 1 hour, followed by 5-FU 350 mg/m2 on days 1 to 3. Patients received standard paclitaxel premedications. To date, 175 cycles have been administered (median cycle length, 29 days; median number of cycles per patient, five). Toxicities included grade 3/4 infections in nine cycles (5%), grade 3/4 mucositis in three cycles, grade 3/4 nausea/vomiting in three cycles, grade 1 paresthesias in 12 patients (32%), alopecia 100%, and 17 cycles (10%) associated with dose reduction. Based on Cancer and Leukemia Group B toxicity criteria, arthralgia/myalgias were modest and graded mild (32 cycles), moderate (nine cycles), or severe (two cycles). There were two major hypersensitivity reactions, prompting removal of those patients from further protocol treatment. Four patients are unassessable for response due to hypersensitivity reactions (two) and unevaluable disease (two). Among the 34 patients evaluable for response, there were three complete responses, 18 partial responses, one minor response, nine stable disease, and three progressive disease (response rate, 62%). Responses were seen in patients who had received prior doxorubicin or mitoxantrone (11 of 22 patients) and in anthracycline/naive patients (10 of 16 patients). Responses were observed in all metastatic sites: soft tissue, viscera, and bone. Paclitaxel/5-FU/folinic acid appears to be an effective and well-tolerated outpatient regimen for women with MBC, even after failure of anthracycline-containing therapy.
American Urological Association Survey of Transurethral Prostatectomy and the Impact of Changing Medicare Reimbursement

SUMMARY The American Urological Association, in a survey of all American urologists, found that TURP accounts for 38 per cent of their major surgery and also found that activities associated with the operation account for nearly 25 per cent of their total patient workload. American urologists regard TURP as complex, and they believe proficiency requires more practical case experience during residency training than is required for any other urologic operation. American urologists assign TURP a significantly higher relative value than that proposed in the pending national Medicare Fee Schedule formulated by medical economists and the Physician Payment Review Commission. The legislated reductions in allowable Medicare fees for TURP and the possible shift in management of benign prostatic hyperplasia to nonsurgical methods create a financial vulnerability for American urologists who remain economically dependent on this dominant operation. Adjustments in practice patterns and manpower policy planning may well be required.
Inverted T Skin-Reducing Mastectomy and One-Stage Immediate Implant Reconstruction

The inverted-T skin-reducing mastectomy (SRM) with implant reconstruction represents the best reconstructive and cosmetic option in patients with macromastia needing mastectomy. However, in this subset of patients the risk of skin flap necrosis, especially at the T-junction, is significant. In this setting, complete implant coverage with viable tissue beneath the mastectomy skin flaps is paramount to reduce morbidity. In this chapter, the authors retrospectively review their case load of inverted-T SRM and immediate one-stage implant reconstruction by using the submuscular-subfascial pocket, with particular focus on the relevant applied anatomy of the submuscular-subfascial pocket, on the surgical technique and, finally, analyzing the reconstructive issues and cosmetic outcomes.
Experimental Pulmonary Cryptococcal Infection in Mice

Publisher Summary This chapter presents various methods that use the respiratory route of infection to produce a cryptococcal pneumonia in mice. The advantages of using mice model include lower cost and availability of various genetically characterized mouse strains. Either outbred or inbred mouse strains are used, which are infected between 8 and 12 weeks of age. The mice are housed under pathogen-flee conditions to avoid developing common rodent infections with agents such as mouse hepatitis virus, Sendai virus, and Mycoplasma pulmonis. Any cryptococcal strain can be used, however, the course of the infection in the lung has to be carefully analyzed for each new cryptococcal strain and inbred mouse strain before using the model for testing a new therapeutic agent. The yeast strain (strain 52D) is used in the majority of experiments, as this strain has a relatively low virulence for mice and requires T cell depletion in resistant mice to circumvent the lung clearance. To prepare the organisms for infections and for growth inhibition studies, the organisms are grown in SDB for 36–48 hours at room temperature on a shaker. All mice receive anesthesia prior to intratracheal inoculation, with Avertin via the intraperitoneal route. The mice are allowed to lose consciousness to the extent that there is no visible reaction to gentle pressure exerted on the extremities before undergoing surgery. The progress of the infection is monitored by histological assessment of inflammation and location of the organisms in various tissues using standard techniques.
Lumbar vertebrae fracture injury risk in finite element reconstruction of CIREN and NASS frontal motor vehicle crashes

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The objective of this study was to reconstruct 4 real-world motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), 2 with lumbar vertebral fractures and 2 without vertebral fractures in order to elucidate the MVC and/or restraint variables that increase this injury risk.Methods: A finite element (FE) simplified vehicle model (SVM) was used in conjunction with a previously developed semi-automated tuning method to arrive at 4 SVMs that were tuned to mimic frontal crash responses of a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2012 Ford Escape, 2007 Hummer H3, and 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier. Real-world crashes in the first 2 vehicles resulted in lumbar vertebrae fractures, whereas the latter 2 did not. Once each SVM was tuned to its corresponding vehicle, the Total HUman Model for Safety (THUMS) v4.01 was positioned in 120 precrash configurations in each SVM by varying 5 parameters using a Latin hypercube design (LHD) of experiments: seat track position, seatback angle, steering column angle, steering column telescoping position, an...
Assessing the Civic Attitudes and Participation of Urban Elementary Students

Presented is a report of a study conducted to examine Common Cents’ Penny Harvest program in New York City public elementary schools. Penny Harvest is a service learning program designed to promote positive social and civic values among youth. The goal of this paper is to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the research design in an effort to contribute new insight into effective and appropriate ways to measure civic-service-program success. Additionally, this work provides program results for the program evaluated. Our findings indicate that students in New York City public schools are highly involved in service projects – both in-school and outside of school. We present additional evidence on how such participation is related to a host of social and civic attitudes. Finally, we critique the research design used in this study and offer improvements to be made in future studies.
Analytics and patterns of knowledge creation: Experts at work in an online engineering community

Abstract Online learning communities have gained popularity amongst engineering learners who seek to build knowledge and share their expertise with others; yet to date, limited research has been devoted to the development of analytics for engineering communities. This is addressed through our study of an online engineering community that serves 31,219 engineering learners who contributed 503,908 messages in 65,209 topics. The guiding theoretical framework is the knowledge creation metaphor, which conceptualizes learning as a collaborative process of developing shared knowledge artifacts for the collective benefit of a community of learners. The aims of this study are twofold: (1) to analyze the state of knowledge creation in the community; and (2) to evaluate the strength of association between proposed analytics and variables indicative of knowledge creation in online environments. Findings suggest that the community is vibrant as a whole but also reveal disparity in participation at the individual level. At the topic-level, knowledge creation activities are strongly associated with Topic Length and moderately associated with Topic Duration. At the individual-level, participation in knowledge creation activities is strongly associated with Individual Total Interactions and weakly associated with Individual Total Membership Period. The implications of the findings are discussed and may provide guidance for educators seeking to adopt learning analytics in online communities.
Diet and plasma lipids.

The amount of cholesterol in the diet does affect blood cholesterol levels. In a recent study by Mattson and colleagues (1), a liquid formula diet containing 4 different amounts of cholesterol was fed to over 60 male prisoners. The results clearly show that for each 100 mg cholesterol per 1000 calorie increment there is a linear and predictable rise in serum cholesterol. But, these plasma changes are small and do not tell us how much cholesterol is actually absorbed.
Ambulating femoral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation bridge to heart-lung transplant.

Abstract Heart-lung transplantation is an established therapy for patients with combined end-stage heart and lung failure. However, patients may develop critical, refractory cardiopulmonary decompensation while awaiting suitable donor organs. In these instances, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) may be utilized as salvage therapy to mitigate further deterioration and end-organ dysfunction, and as a bridge to transplantation. Various cannulation configurations have been proposed and utilized to avoid accessing the femoral vessels, specifically to facilitate mobilization and prevent deconditioning. However, in certain instances, femoral cannulation may be most optimal, and efforts must be made to consistently mobilize patients cannulated in this manner. In this case report, we present our experience ambulating a patient femorally cannulated for VA-ECMO while awaiting en-bloc heart-lung transplantation.
Conflict in the Intracellular Lives of Endosymbionts and Viruses: A Mechanistic Look at Wolbachia-Mediated Pathogen-blocking

At the forefront of vector control efforts are strategies that leverage host-microbe associations to reduce vectorial capacity. The most promising of these efforts employs Wolbachia, a maternally transmitted endosymbiotic bacterium naturally found in 40% of insects. Wolbachia can spread through a population of insects while simultaneously inhibiting the replication of viruses within its host. Despite successes in using Wolbachia-transfected mosquitoes to limit dengue, Zika, and chikungunya transmission, the mechanisms behind pathogen-blocking have not been fully characterized. Firstly, we discuss how Wolbachia and viruses both require specific host-derived structures, compounds, and processes to initiate and maintain infection. There is significant overlap in these requirements, and infection with either microbe often manifests as cellular stress, which may be a key component of Wolbachia’s anti-viral effect. Secondly, we discuss the current understanding of pathogen-blocking through this lens of cellular stress and develop a comprehensive view of how the lives of Wolbachia and viruses are fundamentally in conflict with each other. A thorough understanding of the genetic and cellular determinants of pathogen-blocking will significantly enhance the ability of vector control programs to deploy and maintain effective Wolbachia-mediated control measures.
Integration von Modellen in ein Geographisches Informationssystem

Als Geographisches Informationssystem verwaltet ARC/INFO geometrische Daten, deren Topologie sowie zugeordnete Attribute und umfast Werkzeuge zur Erfassung, Verarbeitung und Analyse raumbezogener Daten. Es hat auf seiner Kommandoebene einen universellen Charakter und ist flexibel.
Purification and properties of theDrosophila zen protein

The zen protein is encoded by the zerknullt gene required for normal early development inDrosophila. Like many regulatory proteins of this type, zen contains a 60 amino acid homeobox sequence. We have purified the zen protein and studied its solution behavior and its interaction with DNA. The zen protein exists as a monomer in solution with a molecular weight of about 40000. It binds specifically to a site about 900 bases upstream from thezen gene. Within this binding site DNase protection experiments indicate that binding is confined to two regions approximately 11 and 14 bases in length that are separated by about 30 base pairs. The protein concentration dependence of the binding curve suggests that protein binding is non cooperative.
Pathophysiology and Diagnosis of BPPV

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a disorder of the inner ear characterized by sudden, repeated episodes of positional vertigo, is the most common of the peripheral vestibular disorders and is believed to be the leading cause of vertigo worldwide. It has a favorable prognosis for recovery, with approximately 50% of cases resolving spontaneously within 3 months, and is rarely associated with any serious underlying CNS disorder [1–3].
“A Frankenstein Monster”: Henry Kissinger, Richard Nixon, and the Year of Europe

“‘A Frankenstein Monster’: Henry Kissinger, Richard Nixon, and the Year of Europe,” tells the story of the severe crisis in US–European relations when Henry Kissinger was directing American foreign policy. Referencing contemporary concerns over the Trump Presidency’s harsh rhetoric and actions toward the European Union, the article demonstrates that such tensions have a long history in the US–European relationship, and are rooted in the concerns of American domestic politics, which Henry Kissinger well understood. Kissinger’s policy choices during the crisis represented the dilemmas that exist between domestic political priorities and alliance relationships, and may hold lessons for today’s US–European relationship.
A Ceramic Perspective on the Formative to Classic Transition in Southern Veracruz, Mexico

For any particular historical circumstance, explanations of ceramic evolution should consider the performance characteristics of pottery vessels in their behavioral contexts, as well as the varying effects of evolutionary processes operating at different social, spatial, and temporal scales. The replacement of tempered black and differentially fired serving vessels by fine-paste wares during the Formative to Classic transition in the Sierra de los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico illustrates these points. New radiocarbon assays from the Bezuapan site document the rapidity of this transition. Evaluation of visual performance characteristics and contextual associations suggest that the Tuxtlas fine-paste tradition began as a Late Formative prestige technology. Adoption of updraft kilns in the Terminal Formative period lowered the risk of firing losses and allowed savings in paste preparation and resource procurement costs to be realized. As a result, the fine-paste tradition spread to wider segments of society, ultimately replacing earlier traditions. A volcanic eruption at the close of the Formative period and subsequent immigration of Central Mexican settlers constituted evolutionary sorting mechanisms, which perturbed general trends in ceramic evolution within a restricted area of the central Tuxtlas.
Routes of non-traditional entry into buprenorphine treatment programs.

Excessive prescribing, increased potency of opioids, and increased availability of illicit heroin and synthetic analogs such as fentanyl has resulted in an increase of overdose fatalities. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) significantly reduces the risk of overdose when compared with no treatment. Although the use of buprenorphine as an agonist treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) is growing significantly, barriers remain which can prevent or delay treatment. In this study we examine non-traditional routes which could facilitate entry into buprenorphine treatment programs. Relevant, original research publications addressing entry into buprenorphine treatment published during the years 1989–2019 were identified through PubMed, PsychInfo, PsychArticles, and Medline databases. We operationalized key terms based on three non-traditional paths: persons that entered treatment via the criminal justice system, following emergencies, and through community outreach. Of 462 screened articles, twenty studies met the inclusion criteria for full review. Most studies were from the last several years, and most (65%) were from the Northeastern region of the United States. Twelve (60%) were studies suggesting that the criminal justice system could be a potentially viable entry route, both pre-release or post-incarceration. The emergency department was also found to be a cost-effective and viable route for screening and identifying individuals with OUD and linking them to buprenorphine treatment. Fewer studies have documented community outreach initiatives involving buprenorphine. Most studies were small sample size (mean = < 200) and 40% were randomized trials. Despite research suggesting that increasing the number of Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA) waived physicians who prescribe buprenorphine would help with the opioid treatment gap, little research has been conducted on routes to increase utilization of treatment. In this study, we found evidence that engaging individuals through criminal justice, emergency departments, and community outreach can serve as non-traditional treatment entry points for certain populations. Alternative routes could engage a greater number of people to initiate MOUD treatment.
A non-periodic planning and control framework of dynamic legged locomotion

This study proposes an integrated planning and control framework for achieving three-dimensional robust and dynamic legged locomotion over uneven terrain. The proposed framework is composed of three hierarchical layers. The high-level layer is a state-space motion planner designing highly dynamic locomotion behaviors based on a reduced-order robot model. This motion planner incorporates two robust bundles, named as invariant and recoverability bundles, which quantify analytical state-space deviations for robust planning design. The low-level layer is a model-based trajectory tracking controller capable of robustly realizing the planned locomotion behaviors. This controller is synthesized based on full-order hybrid dynamic modeling, model-based state feedback control, and Lyapunov stability analysis. The planning and control layers are concatenated by a middle-level trajectory generator that produces nominal behaviors for a full-order robot model. The proposed framework is validated through flat and uneven terrain walking simulations of a three-dimensional bipedal robot.
MicroRNA 182 is a Novel Negative Regulator of Adipogenesis by Targeting CCAAT/Enhancer‐Binding Protein α

Objective Recent studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) play key roles in adipogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of miR-182 in adipogenesis. Methods This study used the 3T3-L1 cell line and human visceral adipose tissue (VAT)-derived adipocytes to determine the role of miR-182 in adipogenesis. Adipose tissues from mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity, ob/ob mice, or human individuals with obesity were used to determine the association of miR-182 levels with obesity. A luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the target of miR-182. Results The expression level of miR-182 was greatly downregulated during white adipogenesis and markedly lower in the VAT of mice and humans with obesity. Ectopic expression of miR-182 in 3T3-L1 cells and human adipocytes suppressed the formation of lipid droplets and the expression of adipogenic genes. The luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-182 targeted the 3'-untranslated sequence of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) directly. In addition, glucocorticoids negatively regulated miR-182 expression, which, in turn, suppressed the glucocorticoid-induced expression of C/EBPα. Conclusions Taken together, our studies identified miR-182 as a novel negative regulator of adipogenesis and a potential therapeutic target for obesity.
Consumers’ Mobile Location-Based Advertising Opt-In Intention

The current study investigates how consumers’ decisions to opt-in/out are made through the trade-off between perceived benefits and risks and how the levels of these perceived benefits and risks are influenced by the intrinsic attributes (i.e., timeliness, personalization, and localization) of MLBA. The study findings revealed that the greater the timeliness and personalization attributes of MLBA, the more the consumers perceive the MLBA beneficial. However, the localization attribute of MLBA increases consumers' perceived risks. The consumers' MLBA opt-in intention positively influenced by the benefit perception and negatively influenced by the risk perception. Sending MLBA to consumers just based on location relevance information can make consumers feel vulnerable and irritated unless they are personalized to the needs of consumers in timely manner.
Research Progress on Economic Impacts of Animal Disease

Animal diseases have excerted bad influence on farmers,consumers,domestic and animal industries.Study the economic impact of animal disease is of great importance to evaluate the extent of loss,and develop effective prevention measures. Current studies mainly involved the economic impact of animal disease on producers,consumers,animal industries, international trade, and regional economy. But studies about its influence on international trade and regional economy were less,and application of inferential statistics is not much. Compared with the international society,studies in China is lag behind. So future research should lay emphasis on influence of animal diseases to consumers,animal industries,nation and the world. We should also break through the present partial,static,theoraticle research method,and try to adhere to inter-temporal and general equilibrium theories in accordance with animal disease characteristics; and apply econometric models including spatial econometrics and epidemiology; and also pay attention to simulate and forecast economic impacts of animal diseases.
A reservoir of stem-like CD8+ T cells in the tumor-draining lymph node preserves the ongoing antitumor immune response.

“Stem-like” TCF1+ CD8+ T cells (TSL) are necessary for long-term maintenance of T cell responses and the efficacy of immunotherapy but, as tumors contain signals that should drive T-cell terminal-d...