cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Challenges of Symbolic Computation

The success of the symbolic mathematical computation discipline is striking. The theoretical advances have been continuous and significant: Grobner bases, the Risch integration algorithm, integer lattice basis reduction, hypergeometric summation algorithms, etc. From the beginning in the early 1960s, it has been the tradition of our discipline to create software that makes our ideas readily available to scientists, engineers, and educators: SAC-1, Reduce, Macsyma, etc. The commercial viability of our system products is proven by Maple and Mathematica. Today?s user communities of symbolic computation systems are diverse: educators, engineers, stock market analysts, etc. The mathematics and computer science in the design and implementation of our algorithms are sophisticated. The research challenges in symbolic computation at the close of the twentieth century are formidable. I state my favorite eight open problems in symbolic computation. They range from problems in symbolic/numeric computing, symbolic algorithm synthesis, to system component construction. I have worked on seven of my problems and borrowed one from George Collins. I present background to each of my problems and a clear-cut test that evaluates whether a proposed attack has solved one of my problems. An additional ninth open problem by Rob Corless and David Jeffrey on complex function semantics is given in an appendix.
Interference of the End Why Recency Bias in Memory Determines When a Food Is Consumed Again

The results of three experiments reveal that memory for end enjoyment, rather than beginning enjoyment, of a pleasant gustatory experience determines how soon people desire to repeat that experience. We found that memory for end moments, when people are most satiated, interferes with memory for initial moments. Consequently, end moments are more influential than initial moments when people decide how long to wait until consuming a food again. The findings elucidate the role of memory in delay until repeated consumption, demonstrate how sensory-specific satiety and portion sizes influence future consumption, and suggest one process by which recency effects influence judgments and decisions based on past experiences.
A Synthesis of Reading Interventions and Effects on Reading Comprehension Outcomes for Older Struggling Readers

This article reports a synthesis of intervention studies conducted between 1994 and 2004 with older students (Grades 6–12) with reading difficulties. Interventions addressing decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension were included if they measured the effects on reading comprehension. Twenty-nine studies were located and synthesized. Thirteen studies met criteria for a meta-analysis, yielding an effect size (ES) of 0.89 for the weighted average of the difference in comprehension outcomes between treatment and comparison students. Word-level interventions were associated with ES = 0.34 in comprehension outcomes between treatment and comparison students. Implications for comprehension instruction for older struggling readers are described.
Temporal changes in allele frequencies in two reciprocally selected maize populations

The effects of breeding on allele frequency changes at 82 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) loci were examined in two maize (Zea mays L.) populations undergoing reciprocal recurrent selection, Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic and Iowa Corn Borer Synthetic #1. After 12 cycles of selection, approximately 30% of the alleles were extinct and 10% near fixation in each population. A test of selective neutrality identified several loci in each population whose allele frequency changes cannot be explained by genetic drift; interpopulation mean expected heterozygosity increased for that subset of 28 loci but not for the remaining 54 loci. Mean expected heterozygosity within the two subpopulations decreased 39%, while the between-population component of genetic variation increased from 0.5% to 33.4% of the total. Effective population size is a key parameter for discerning allele frequency changes due to genetic drift versus those resulting from selection and genetic hitchhiking. Empirical estimates of effective population size for each population were within the range predicted by the breeding method.
Developing First Graders' Phonemic Awareness, Word Identification and Spelling: A Comparison of Two Contemporary Phonic Instructional Approaches.

Abstract This exploratory study compared the effectiveness of two contemporary phonic approaches (word box instruction and word sort instruction) on children's phonemic awareness, word identification, and spelling performance. Forty‐two first‐grade children who were randomly selected to participate in three conditions: word box instruction, word sort instruction, and traditional instruction. The experimental conditions lasted approximately three months and consisted of daily 20 minute phonics instruction sessions. Children were administered five posttest measures: phonemic blending, phonemic segmentation, pseudo‐word naming, word identification, and spelling. MANO VA and univariate analyses revealed that type of phonic instruction significantly discriminated among the groups on posttest measures. Post hoc analyses indicated that there were significant differences favoring (1) word box instruction group over the traditional group on performance on all posttest measures except spelling, and (2) word sort gr...
Rhodopsin levels and retinal function in cats during recovery from vitamin A deficiency

Extended vitamin A deficiency in the cat led to an abnormal appearance in the tapetal fundus with the formation of a dark brown streak centered on the area centralis. At this time rod sensitivity, as measured by the b-wave of the electroretinogram, was reduced by more than two log units; the level of rod visual pigment was reduced by about 90% throughout the paracentral retinal region and was essentially absent from the area centralis. Following oral supplementation with vitamin A there was a rapid partial recovery of both rhodopsin levels and rod sensitivity. Further recovery continued over more than 18 days to levels that were not substantially below normal. This recovery was absent from the area centralis, in which measured visual pigment levels remained very low. In supplemented cats, the brown color in the fundus faded but there remained a small hyper-reflective zone at the area centralis. Morphological examination of the central retina in a supplemented cat showed an outer nuclear layer reduced to one or two rows in the small zone with low rhodopsin levels. Cone but not rod photoreceptors were present in this zone and they appeared to lack outer segments. During recovery, the increase in rod sensitivity was approximately linearly related to the recovery of rhodopsin levels. Thus, in these conditions reduction in sensitivity resulting from previous vitamin A deficiency was limited by the ability of the photoreceptors to absorb incident quanta. The time course of the recovery of rhodopsin and sensitivity suggests that at least two processes were involved. The faster of these may be the regeneration of rhodopsin from existing opsin molecules in the outer segments, while the slower may depend on the renewal of the outer segments themselves.
Clinical Validation of Percutaneous Cochlear Implant Surgery: Initial Report

Objective: Percutaneous cochlear implant surgery consists of a single drill path from the lateral mastoid cortex to the cochlea via the facial recess. We sought to clinically validate this technique in patients undergoing traditional cochlear implant surgery. Study Design: Prospective clinical trial. Methods: After institutional regulatory boardapproved protocols, five ears were studied via the following steps. 1) In the clinic under local anesthesia, bone-implanted anchors were placed surrounding each mastoid. 2) Temporal-bone computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained. 3) On the CT scans, paths were planned from the lateral mastoid cortex, through the facial recess, to the basal turn of the cochlea both “manually” and “automatically” using computer software. 4) Customized microstereotactic frames were rapid-prototyped to serve as drill guides constraining the drill to follow the appropriate path. 5) During cochlear implant surgery, after drilling of the facial recess, drill guides were mounted on the bone-implanted anchors. 6) Accuracy of paths was assessed via intraoperative photodocumentation. Results: All surgical paths successfully traversed the facial recess and hit the basal turn of the cochlea. Distance in millimeters (average SD) from the midpoint of the drill to the facial nerve was 1.18 0.68 for the “manual” path and 1.24 0.44 mm for the “automatic” path and for the chorda tympani 0.986 0.48 for the “manual” path and 1.22 0.62 for the “automatic” path. Conclusions: Percutaneous cochlear implant access using customized drill guides based on preoperative CT scans and image-guided surgery technology can be safely accomplished.
The Human Cdc14 Phosphatases Interact with and Dephosphorylate the Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

The yeast Cdc14 phosphatase has been shown to play an important role in cell cycle regulation by dephosphorylating proteins phosphorylated by the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdc28/clb. We recently cloned two human orthologs of the yeastCDC14, termed hCDC14A and -B, the gene products of which share ∼80% amino acid sequence identity within their N termini and phosphatase domains. Here we report that the hCdc14A and hCdc14B proteins interact with the tumor suppressor protein p53 both in vitro and in vivo. This interaction is dependent on the N termini of the hCdc14 proteins and the C terminus of p53. Furthermore, the hCdc14 phosphatases were found to dephosphorylate p53 specifically at the p34Cdc2/clb phosphorylation site (p53-phosphor-Ser315). Our findings that hCdc14 is a cyclin-dependent kinase substrate phosphatase suggest that it may play a role in cell cycle control in human cells. Furthermore, the identification of p53 as a substrate for hCdc14 indicates that hCdc14 may regulate the function of p53.
Calibration of the treatment beam of the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform

In cancer research, well characterized small animal models of human cancer, such as transgenic mice, have greatly accelerated the pace of development of cancer treatments. The goal of the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP) is to make those same models available for the development and evaluation of novel radiation therapies. SARRP can deliver high resolution, sub millimeter, optimally planned conformal radiation with on-board cone-beam CT (CBCT) guidance. This system requires accurate calibration of the X-ray beam for both imaging and radiation treatment. In this paper, we present a novel technique using an X-ray camera for calibration of the treatment beam. This technique does not require precise positioning or calibration of the X-ray camera.
Accelerating Sequential Applications on CMPs Using Core Spilling

Chip multiprocessors (CMPs) provide a scalable means of exploiting thread-level parallelism for multitasking or multithreaded applications. However, single-threaded applications will have difficulty dynamically leveraging the statically partitioned resources in a CMP. Such sequential applications may be difficult to statically decompose into threads or may simply be-a legacy code where recompilation is not possible or cost-effective. We present a novel approach to dynamically accelerate the performance of sequential application(s) on multiple cores. Execution is allowed to spill from one core to another when resources on one core have been exhausted. We propose two techniques to enable low-overhead migration between cores: prespilling and locality-based filtering. We develop and analyze an arbitration mechanism to intelligently allocate cores among a set of sequential applications on a CMP. On average, core spilling on an eight-core CMP can accelerate single-threaded performance by 35 percent. We further explore an eight-core CMP running a multiple application workload composed of the entire SPEC 2000 benchmark suite in various combinations and arrival times. Using core spilling to accelerate the current set of running applications in cases where there are idle cores, we achieve up to a 40 percent improvement in performance.
Effects of Dietary Zearalenone on Finishing Broiler Chickens and Young Turkey Poults

A total of 168 broiler chickens (6 to 9 weeks of age) and 192 turkey poults (3-1/2 to 6-1/2 weeks of age) were fed purified zearalenone at levels of 0 (control), 10, 25 (turkeys only), 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg diet for a 3 week period to evaluate its toxicity. Dietary zearalenone had no effect on body weight gain, feed consumption, weights of liver, heart, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius, serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, total protein and cholesterol, hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, and differential leukocyte count in both chickens and turkeys. Male broiler comb and testes weights were reduced by high levels of zearalenone. Female comb weight, broiler oviduct weight, and turkey testes and ovaries were unaffected by zearalenone. Histopathological examination of tissues revealed no change due to zearalenone. Male turkeys fed 400 and 800 mg/kg zearalenone had increased development of dewlaps and caruncles and exhibited considerable strutting behavior. Muscle and fat tissue from broilers fed 800 mg/kg zearalenone had no detectable estrogenic activity as measured by mouse uterine bioassay. These studies indicate that the effects of dietary zearalenone on finishing broilers and young growing turkey poults are minimal.
Co-regulation of constitutive nitric oxide synthases and NADPH oxidase by the small GTPase Rac.

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO), generated by NO synthases (NOSs), has multifarious roles in signal transduction. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated by ubiquitous NADPH oxidases (NOXs), also participate in cellular signaling. However, the coordination of signals conveyed by NO and ROS is poorly understood. We show that the small GTPase Rac, a component of some NOXs, also interacts with and regulates the constitutively-expressed NOSs. Cellular NO and O 2 - production increase or decrease together following activation or inhibition of Rac, and Rac inhibition reveals transduction mechanisms that depend upon NO (vasodilation), ROS (actin polymerization) or both (cytoskeletal organization). Thus, signaling by NO and ROS may be coordinated through a common control element.
Bunch lengthening calculations for the SLC damping rings

Treatments of the problem of bunch lengthening in electron storage rings have hitherto lacked a calculation of bunch lengthening that uses a carefully calculated ring impedance (or wakefield). In the present work, the potential well distortion due to some very simple impedance models is studied in order to illustrate different types of bunch lengthening behavior. A prescription is given for extending potential well calculations into the turbulent regime once the threshold is known. Using the wakefield calculated by K.L.F. Bane (1988) for the SLC (Stanford Linear Collider) damping rings, combined with the measured value of the threshold given by L. Rivkin et al. (1988), the authors calculate bunch lengthening for the damping rings and compare the results with the measurements. >
Occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Two Oregon Oyster-growing Bays

ahaemolyticus ahaemolyticus ahaemolyticus was detected in 15.0% of o was detected in 15.0% of o was detected in 15.0% of o was detected in 15.0% of o was detected in 15.0% of oyster, 20.0% of seawater of seawater of seawater of seawater of seawater, and 47.5% of sediment samples with v , and 47.5% of sediment samples with v , and 47.5% of sediment samples with v , and 47.5% of sediment samples with v , and 47.5% of sediment samples with very low levels of pathogenic str els of pathogenic str els of pathogenic str els of pathogenic str els of pathogenic strains being detected in o es ( es ( es ( es (P < 0.01), with < 0.01), with < 0.01), with < 0.01), with < 0.01), with higher densities in samples being detected in summer higher densities in samples being detected in summer higher densities in samples being detected in summer higher densities in samples being detected in summer higher densities in samples being detected in summer, especially J , especially J , especially J , especially J
Interspecific Interactions Among Three Entomopathogenic Nematodes, Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser, S. feltiae Filipjev, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, with Different Foraging Strategies for Hosts in Multipiece Sand Columns

Abstract Multipiece sand columns were used to study the dispersal and interspecific interactions at different depths among three nematode species with different foraging strategies. Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser, strain ‘NY001’, an ambusher nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, strain ‘Oswego’, a cruiser nematode, and S. feltiae Filipjev, strain ‘Valko’, an intermediate nematode were applied to multipiece sand columns in single-, two-, and three-species combinations 7 d before host introduction. The effect of interspecific interactions on nematode performance was estimated by comparing the percent host infected by a nematode species at specified depths when applied alone to the performance of the same nematode species when applied in combination with other nematode species. All three nematodes were capable of infecting some proportion of hosts down to the 32.5-cm depth when applied singly. In nematode combinations, interspecific competition occurred, but negative impacts of competition on nemat...
Civility climate mitigates deviant reactions to organizational constraints

Purpose – Research has consistently shown that organizational constraints lead to deviant behavioral reactions. Although many studies have investigated personality variables as moderators of such predictors of deviance, considerably less research has considered cross-level moderators of these effects. The purpose of this paper is to draw on several related theories to test team civility climate as a cross-level moderator of the organizational constraints – interpersonal deviance relationship. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected using paper-and-pencil surveys from 239 employees nested within 68 work teams. Teams were employed in various industries including healthcare, insurance, manufacturing/engineering, and financial services. Findings – Results from hierarchical linear modeling analyses demonstrated that the effect of organizational constraints on interpersonal deviance varied significantly across teams. In addition, the positive relationship between organizational constraints and interpe...
Sticky mittens, prickly Velcro, and infants' transition into independent reaching: Response to Williams, Corbetta, and Guan (2015)

Williams, Corbetta, and Guan (2015) report findings on the effects of active and passive motor training in three-month-old infants and argue that passive task exposure is sufficient to encourage future reaching behaviors. In this commentary, we relate these new findings to our body of published work using sticky mittens and describe important differences in the materials and procedures used. In particular, Williams et al. (2015) used modified sticky mittens that allowed infants' fingers to make direct contact with prickly Velcro on the toys, and they used a different training procedure that required infants to discover the hidden functionality of the sticky mittens by themselves. We argue that these differences explain the apparent conflicts between our prior work and the results reported by Williams et al. (2015). The Williams study presented infants with a learning context that was quite different from the one infants encountered in our research, and so it is not surprising that infants in their study showed such different patterns of behavior.
A CASE OF EOSINOPHILIC GASTRITIS AT THE UPPER BODY OF THE STOMACH

Eosinophilic enterogastritis is regarded as an idiopathic disease which induces infiltration of eosinophils into various layer of the gastrointestinal tract. This disease commonly involves the gastric antrum, and frequently has been reported in the European and American literature but rarely in the Japanese literature.In this case, eosinophilic gastritis with a concaved lesion was found at the upper body of the stomach, and subtotal gastrectomy was performed because the lesion was refractory to conservative therapy. The final diagnosis of this disease was made by the pathohistological findings.
Revision of the Neotropical Treehopper Genus Smerdalea (Homoptera: Membracidae) with Two New Species

The Neotropical treehopper genus Smerdalea Fowler is redescribed and an illustrated key is presented for the three species. Smerdalea circumflexa Cryan, from Ecuador, and S. elevata Cryan, from Peru, are described as new. S. horrescens Fowler, from Central America and Mexico, is redescribed including the first description of the male.
Specificity and mechanism of in vitro adherence of Candida albicans

Adherence of 14C-glucose labeled Candida albicans to vaginal epithelial cells was measured in the presence of 10 potential inhibitory sugars at concentrations of 5 to 150 mg per ml for 90 minutes at 37 degrees C. In competitive inhibition experiments, no inhibition of adherence was seen with any sugar at any concentration. On the contrary, with the exception of the aminosugars glucosamine, galactosamine, and mannosamine, increased attachment of Candida to vaginal epithelial cells was found in the presence of dextrose, galactose, mannose, alpha-methyl-mannoside, N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetyl-galactosamine, and N-acetyl-mannosamine. Increased adherence was not associated with recognizable changes in the electron microscopic appearance of Candida cell surface or alterations in fungal cell hydrophobicity as measured by interaction chromatography. Measurement of nonreceptor-specific adherence of Candida to glass beads revealed similar increased attachment in the presence of the test sugars, suggesting that adherence of Candida may not require specific yeast adhesin-cell receptor interaction.
High field side launch of lower hybrid waves: A scoping study for ADX

Launching lower hybrid (LH) waves from the high field side (HFS) of a tokamak offers significant advantages over low field side (LFS) launch with respect to both wave physics and plasma material interactions (PMI). The higher magnetic field opens the window between wave accessibility and the condition for strong electron Landau damping, allowing LH waves from the HFS to penetrate into the core of a burning plasma, while waves launched from the LFS are restricted to the periphery of the plasma. The lower parallel refractive index (n∥) of waves launched from the HFS yields a higher current drive efficiency as well. The absence of turbulent heat and particle fluxes on the HFS, particularly in double null configuration, makes it the ideal location to minimize PMI damage to the antenna structure. The quiescent SOL also eliminates the need to couple LH waves across a long distance to the separatrix, as the antenna can be located close to plasma without risking damage to the structure.
Cerebral bronchial fistula and vena caval obstruction as simultaneous complications of ventriculoatrial shunt.

A case is presented in which the atrial tip of a ventriculocardiac shunt was surrounded by organized thrombus which produced partial occlusion of venous return through superior and inferior vena cavae simultaneously. As a further complication, fistulous connection with the bronchial tree occured, possibly as a result of dissection of cerebrospinal fluid. Both defects were correctly diagnosed radiographically prior to surgical correction.
Gallium arsenide cluster reactions with NO

Semiconductor cluster ions can be observed with extremely high mass resolution (of the Older of 105) with a Fourier-transform ion- cyclotron- resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer. Various physical and chemical processes can be implemented with a given environment for tens of seconds in the ET-ICR trap.1,2
Between Social Work and Government: Investigating the Triangle Fire and Perkins’s Conference Method

This chapter concerns perhaps Frances Perkins’s most celebrated “case”: the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Perkins, with Al Smith’s help, manages to open this “case” to a plethora of other dangerous and unhealthy workplace conditions for the New York State Factory Investigating Commission to explore. Tammany thus gives Perkins a grand opportunity to demonstrate to government offcials the value of her conference method, setting the stage for entry into New York State government.
The Intersections of Marginalized Social Identities in the Transition to Adulthood A Demographic Profile

Studies focusing on emerging adulthood suggest that young adults from marginalized populations are more likely to assume adult roles earlier or struggle to assume adult roles altogether, both of wh...
Updates on chronic Hepatitis B: Initiation of medical therapy

H B virus (HBV) infection is a global epidemic with estimated mortality 0.5-1.2 million deaths a year. Long-term goal of treatment on patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) is to reduce cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and ultimately improve survival.The decision on initiating viral therapy can be complex because not all the patients with CHB derive significant clinical benefits from current medical therapies. Elevated HBV DNA level is a strong independent risk predictor of liver-related disease outcomes. Up to date, many studies have demonstrated improved clinical outcomes with successful viral suppression in CHB patients.Hepatic disease activity, assessed by histology and less accurately by alanine aminotransferase (ALT), is another major decision-making factor on initiating anti-viral therapy in patients with CHB. As in immune tolerance phase of CHB, characterized by high HBV DNA level, normal ALT, and no/minimal hepatic inflammation, disease progression is negligible.Treatment on these patients is therefore unlikely to alter long-term clinical outcomes. However, close monitoring of ALT level is highly recommended during immune tolerant phase astransition to immune clearance phase may occur. Anti-viral therapy is often required during immune clearance phase due to rapid disease progression.In patients with low HBV DNA and normal ALT, as seen in inactive carrier, medical therapy is typically not beneficial in long-term out comes due to minimal risk of developing hepatic complications.
Content Strategy in University Admissions

In this presentation, I will share a case study on content strategy conducted on the Admissions Office at a Southern California University. The Admissions Office recently revised their content strategy to create a consistent message across multiple channels and platforms. This study examined the core strategy, content (substance and structure), and work practices (workflow and governance). After analysis, the content substance was determined to follow six themes based on the university identity. The content structure followed an anti-single-sourcing strategy, showcasing variety in images across platforms and channels, rather than repetition. The strategy also used genre sets for different audiences. For workflow, there was a lead responsible for each channel. Governance followed the university hierarchy for decision-making. The content lifecycle followed the admission cycle of prospective, applicant, admitted, and yield over the academic year.
The Impact of Facility Volume on Rates of Pathologic Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Used in Breast Cancer.

Patient and tumor factors have been associated with rates for pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer, but variation in pCR rates across facilities has not been studied. This study used the National Cancer Data Base to identify women with clinical stages 1–3a breast cancer undergoing NAC from 2010 to 2013. Generalized estimation equation models were used to examine the relationship between facility characteristics and pCR rates, with adjustment for patient and tumor factors, while accounting for patient clustering at facilities. Analyses were stratified by tumor molecular subtype. Overall, 16,885 women underwent NAC, of whom 3130 (18.5%) were hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor 2-positive (HER2+), 7045 (41.7%) were HR+HER2−, 1847 (10.9%) were HR−HER2+, and 4863 (28.8%) were HR−HER2−. Overall, 4002 of the patients (23.7%) achieved a pCR. The pCR rates were 29.5% for HR+HER2+, 10.8% for HR+HER2−, 45.3% for HR−HER2+, and 30.5% for HR−HER2− tumors. Multivariable analysis showed that pCR rates were significantly higher at high-volume facilities (>75th vs. <25th percentile) for all tumor subtypes except HR+HER2− tumors. Facility location and type were not significant. Adjustment for time from NAC to surgery decreased the likelihood of a pCR in high- versus low-volume facilities, but facility volume remained significantly associated with pCR. Facility volume, not location or type, was significantly associated with higher pCR rates in this exploratory analysis. Time to surgery has a modest impact on pCR rates across facilities, but further study to identify other potentially modifiable factors is needed.
Impact of Implementation of Electronically Transmitted Referrals on Pediatric Subspecialty Visit Attendance.

Abstract Objective One barrier to timely access to outpatient pediatric subspecialty care is the complexity of scheduling processes. We evaluated the impact of implementing electronically transmitted referrals on subspecialty visit attendance. Methods Through collaboration with stakeholders, an electronically transmitted referral order system was designed, piloted, and implemented in 15 general pediatrics practices, with 24 additional practices serving as controls. We used statistical process control methods and difference-in-differences analysis to examine visits attended, appointments scheduled, appointment nonattendance, and referral volume. Electronically transmitted referrals then were expanded to all 39 practices. We surveyed referring pediatricians at all practices before and after implementation. Results From April 2015 through September 2016 there were 33,485 referral orders across all practices (7770 before the pilot, 11,776 during the pilot, 13,939 after full implementation). At pilot practices, there was a significant and sustained improvement in subspecialty visits attended within 4 weeks of referral (10.9% to 20.0%; P P = .001). After implementation at control practices, rates of visits attended also improved but to a smaller degree: 11.8% to 14.7% ( P Conclusions While electronically transmitted referrals improved visit attendance after pediatric subspecialty referral, the sizable percentage of children without attended visits, the muted effect at control practices, and pediatrician survey responses indicate that additional work is needed to address barriers to pediatric subspecialty care.
RNAseq analysis of bronchial epithelial cells to identify COPD-associated genes and SNPs

There is a need for more powerful methods to identify low-effect SNPs that contribute to hereditary COPD pathogenesis. We hypothesized that SNPs contributing to COPD risk through cis-regulatory effects are enriched in genes comprised by bronchial epithelial cell (BEC) expression patterns associated with COPD. To test this hypothesis, normal BEC specimens were obtained by bronchoscopy from 60 subjects: 30 subjects with COPD defined by spirometry (FEV1/FVC < 0.7, FEV1% < 80%), and 30 non-COPD controls. Targeted next generation sequencing was used to measure total and allele-specific expression of 35 genes in genome maintenance (GM) genes pathways linked to COPD pathogenesis, including seven TP53 and CEBP transcription factor family members. Shrinkage linear discriminant analysis (SLDA) was used to identify COPD-classification models. COPD GWAS were queried for putative cis-regulatory SNPs in the targeted genes. On a network basis, TP53 and CEBP transcription factor pathway gene pair network connections, including key DNA repair gene ERCC5, were significantly different in COPD subjects (e.g., Wilcoxon rank sum test for closeness, p-value = 5.0E-11). ERCC5 SNP rs4150275 association with chronic bronchitis was identified in a set of Lung Health Study (LHS) COPD GWAS SNPs restricted to those in putative regulatory regions within the targeted genes, and this association was validated in the COPDgene non-hispanic white (NHW) GWAS. ERCC5 SNP rs4150275 is linked (D’ = 1) to ERCC5 SNP rs17655 which displayed differential allelic expression (DAE) in BEC and is an expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) in lung tissue (p = 3.2E-7). SNPs in linkage (D’ = 1) with rs17655 were predicted to alter miRNA binding (rs873601). A classifier model that comprised gene features CAT, CEBPG, GPX1, KEAP1, TP73, and XPA had pooled 10-fold cross-validation receiver operator characteristic area under the curve of 75.4% (95% CI: 66.3%–89.3%). The prevalence of DAE was higher than expected (p = 0.0023) in the classifier genes. GM genes comprised by COPD-associated BEC expression patterns were enriched for SNPs with cis-regulatory function, including a putative cis-rSNP in ERCC5 that was associated with COPD risk. These findings support additional total and allele-specific expression analysis of gene pathways with high prior likelihood for involvement in COPD pathogenesis.
Evaluation and retrospective optimization of genomic selection for yield and disease resistance in spring barley

The general applicability of genomic selection (GS) to plant breeding and principles guiding its use have been established by simulation and empirical cross-validation studies. More recently, studies have demonstrated genetic gains over multiple cycles of selection in a variety of crop species. In this study, we provide additional evidence for the effectiveness of GS in an actual breeding program by demonstrating significant gains of 186.1 kg ha−1 and − 1.85 ppm for grain yield and deoxynivalenol, respectively, two unfavorably correlated quantitative traits, across 3 cycles of selection in a spring six-row barley breeding population. With its general effectiveness established, the next step is to increase the accuracy of predictions used in GS and thereby increase genetic gains. For this, we first showed that updating the training population (TP) with phenotyped lines from recent breeding cycles, specifically selected lines, had an overall positive effect on prediction accuracy. Additionally, we investigated four recently proposed algorithms that seek to optimize the composition of a TP. Overall, the optimization algorithms improved prediction accuracy when compared to a randomly selected TP subset of the same size, but which algorithm performed best was dependent on the trait being predicted and other factors discussed within. This retrospective investigation highlights the importance of maintaining and optimizing the TP when using GS in applied breeding to maximize prediction accuracy, thereby maximizing gain from selection and resource utilization efficiency.
Serotonin Receptor Signaling

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) receptors are a family of guanine nucleotide triphosphate-binding protein-coupled receptors and one ligand-gated ion channel that transduce an extracellular signal by the neurotransmitter 5-HT to an intracellular response. These receptors are involved in a myriad of physiological functions. As many neuronal, physiological, and behavioral processes are influenced by 5-HT receptors, it is not surprising that dysfunction and regulation of 5-HT receptors are implicated in numerous disorders and disease states. Therefore, understanding 5-HT receptor second messenger systems, their effector linkage, the multiplicity of coupling pathways, and how these pathways are regulated is critical to disease etiology and therapeutic discovery.
Multi-Agent Data Mining using Evolutionary Computing

In this chapter we present a multi-agent based data mining algorithm for scaling up and improving the performance of traditional inductive learning algorithms that build feature-vector-based classifiers in the form of rule sets. With the tremendous explosion in the amount of data being amassed by organizations of today, it is critically important that data mining techniques are able to process such data efficiently. We present the Distributed Learning System, a multi-agent based data mining system that uses genetic algorithms as learning agents and incorporates a self-adaptive feature selection method.
The Autoradiographic Tracing of Axonal Connections in the Central Nervous System

Since the conception of the autoradiographic tracing method in the late 1960s (Weiss and Holland, 1967; Goldberg and Kotani, 1967; Lasek et al., 1968) and its popularization and first applications in the early 1970s (Cowan et al., 1972, Edwards, 1972), it has rapidly become one of the most widely used techniques for tracing neuroanatomical connections. Based on the process of axoplasmic transport and the technique of autoradiography, the autoradiographic tracing method represents a radical departure from past tracing methods that relied primarily on the visualization of degenerating axons. As such, it offers several new and significant advantages, the most important being the selective demonstration of pathways arising from neurons surrounded by passing fibers. This advantage alone has meant that the connections of whole new brain territories could be established for the first time and the connections of many previously examined areas clarified. But the technique also has definite limitations and certain disadvantages relative to other tracing methods, and, if naively used, it can produce misleading results.
The Experimental Analysis of Human Action

Traditional experimental techniques in social psychological science have been the object of vigorous and sustained criticism during the past quarter century. A variety of writers have drawn attention to problems such as “experimenter bias” (Rosenthal, 1976), “demand characteristics” (Orne, 1962), “evaluation apprehension” (Rosenberg, 1969), and the unrepresentative nature of many (usually volunteer student) experimental subjects (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 1970, 1976; Schultz, 1969). Others have focused on more fundamental issues, and have questioned the very rationale of experimental techniques on methodological (Adair, 1973; Orne & Holland, 1968), moral (Baumrind, 1964; Kelman, 1967), and philosophical grounds (Deese, 1972; Harre & Secord, 1972).
Introduction to Collective Excitations in Solids

The subject of collective excitations in solids is introduced by first considering the effects of time-dependent and time-independent perturbations on a two-level system. Subsequently, the physics of collective excitations is developed. After reviewing the process of absorption and emission of radiation, the interaction of radiation with collective excitations is dealt with. Final emphasis is accorded to examples of collective excitations.
Problem-Based Learning and Studio Instruction in Theatre Technology: A Case Study

Many courses in theatre technology address knowledge domains that exist at the intersection of art and technology. Any theatre technician, for example, must be versed in the technical details of their discipline. They must also be comfortable improvising, developing creative solutions to unexpected challenges, and working with shifting goals and expectations as productions evolve. Learners typically acquire the skills, practices, and assumptions in each of these different domains through very different signature pedagogies. This intersectionality of art and technology can make developing effective teaching approaches challenging, as learners and instructors find themselves coming to different chunks of domain material with different assumptions about how to teach it or how to learn it. This essay presents the instructional design of a course in show control system design for live entertainment. The course discussed is dual-level (graduate and undergraduate), focusing on understanding, designing and installing systems that connect and automate typical live entertainment control systems, like those for lighting, sound, and video. The instructional design of the course attempted to integrate two signature pedagogies: the studio model and the lecture-drill-test model. This essay describes some of the instructional design research that informed the design of the course, the design itself, some results of student work, and reflections on the success and challenges of merging the two signature pedagogies.
Lived Experiences of New Faculty: Nine Stages of Development Toward Learner-Centered Practice

Community college faculty development programs need to be designed to help faculty move beyond content experience and become learner-centered instructors. The purpose of this qualitative study with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was to explore the experiences of new faculty participating in a systematic dialogue about learner-centered instruction in a community college setting. Specifically, this research project was designed to answer the following question: How do new faculty experience participation in a semester-long faculty development program focused on learner-centered instruction? Interviews with faculty experiencing a learner-centered training program revealed common themes as well as nine stages of faculty development related to moving toward a learner-centered approach to teaching. Keywords: community college faculty preparation, learner-centered instruction, professional development for faculty, barriers to learner-centered instruction.
Cross-validation of the Invalid Forgetting Frequency Index (IFFI) from the Test of Memory Malingering.

Objective To increase sensitivity of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), adjustments have been proposed, including adding consistency indices. The Invalid Forgetting Frequency Index (IFFI) is the most recently developed consistency index. While strong classification accuracy rates were originally reported, it currently lacks cross-validation. Method A sample of 184 outpatients was utilized. Valid performers passed all criterion performance validity tests (PVTs) and invalid performers failed two or more PVTs. Classification accuracy statistics were calculated. Results AUC for the IFFI was 0.80, demonstrating adequate discrimination between valid and invalid groups. A score of 3 or more inconsistent responses resulted in sensitivity and specificity rates of 63% and 92%, respectively. Conclusions This is the first article to cross-validate the IFFI. In both the original IFFI study and the current study, the same cut-off was found to maintain at least 90% specificity while producing higher sensitivity rates than those achieved by traditional TOMM indices.
Limited hydraulic adjustments drive the acclimation response of Pteridium aquilinum to variable light

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The success of invasive plants can be attributed to many traits including the ability to adapt to variable environmental conditions. Whether by adaptation, acclimation or phenotypic plasticity, these plants often increase their resource-use efficiency and, consequently, their fitness. The goal of this study was to examine the hydraulic and eco-physiological attributes of sun and shade populations of Pteridium aquilinum, a weedy fern, to determine whether the presence of vessels and other hydraulic attributes affects its success under a variety of light conditions. METHODS Hydraulic traits such as cavitation resistance, hydraulic conductivity, photosynthesis and water potential at turgor loss point were measured on fronds from sun and shade populations. Anatomical and structural traits such as conduit diameter and length, stomatal density and vein density were also recorded. Diurnal measures of leaf water potential and stomatal conductance complement these data. KEY RESULTS Gas exchange was nearly double in the sun plants, as was water-use efficiency, leaf-specific conductivity, and stomatal and vein density. This was largely achieved by a decrease in leaf area, coupled with higher xylem content. There was no significant difference in petiole cavitation resistance between the sun and shade leaves, nor in xylem-specific conductivity. Hydraulic conduit diameters were nearly equivalent in the two leaf types. CONCLUSIONS Shifts in leaf area and xylem content allow P. aquilinum to occupy habitats with full sun, and to adjust its physiology accordingly. High rates of photosynthesis explain in part the success of this fern in disturbed habitats, although no change was observed in intrinsic xylem qualities such as cavitation resistance or conduit length. This suggests that P. aquilinum is constrained by its fundamental body plan, in contrast to seed plants, which show greater capacity for hydraulic adjustment.
Chemokines in Myocardial Infarction

In the infarcted myocardium, cardiomyocyte necrosis triggers an intense inflammatory reaction that not only is critical for cardiac repair, but also contributes to adverse remodeling and to the pathogenesis of heart failure. Both CC and CXC chemokines are markedly induced in the infarcted heart, bind to endothelial glycosaminoglycans, and regulate leukocyte trafficking and function. ELR+ CXC chemokines (such as CXCL8) control neutrophil infiltration, whereas CC chemokines (such as CCL2) mediate recruitment of mononuclear cells. Moreover, some members of the chemokine family (such as CXCL10 and CXCL12) may mediate leukocyte-independent actions, directly modulating fibroblast and vascular cell function. This review manuscript discusses our understanding of the role of the chemokines in regulation of injury, repair, and remodeling following myocardial infarction. Although several chemokines may be promising therapeutic targets in patients with myocardial infarction, clinical implementation of chemokine-based therapeutics is hampered by the broad effects of the chemokines in both injury and repair.
Telephone or Visit-Based Community Health Worker Care Management for Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus: A Longitudinal Study

Community health workers (CHWs) can reduce health disparities for low income patients but type of contact and outcomes has had limited study. Low-income Hispanic primary care patients with hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] ≥ 9% received care managment (CM) over 6 months classified as: (CM1) telephone only; (CM2) clinic visit but no calls; (CM3) clinic visit with calls; and (CM4) ≥ 2 visits ± calls. Type of CM delivery and time to DM control (HbA1c < 9%) examined in Cox proportional hazards model and more rapid control within 6 months using logistic regression. Models adjusted for demographics, clinical, and health care variables. At baseline, 523 patients had mean HbA1c 10.9% (SD = 1.7%), mean age 57.9 years (SD = 10), 58.5% women, 87.6% Hispanic, and 55.5% uninsured. CM types for patients: 51 (9.8%) CM1; 192 (36.7%) CM2; 44 (8.4%) CM3; and 236 (45.4%) CM4. Median time to HbA1c control was 197 days (95% CI [71, 548]) and 41.5% achieved control within 6 months. Compared with CM1, control was more rapid for CM2 (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.45, 95% CI [1.01, 2.09], p = 0.043) and CM4 but not significant (HR [95% CI] 1.29 [0.91, 1.83], p = 0.15). Adjusted odds of more rapid control within 6 months were twofold higher for CM2 (p = 0.04) and CM4 (p = 0.055), respectively, versus CM1. CM2 did not differ from CM1. DM control was less likely for CM by telephone only than face-to-face in clinic. To benefit vulnerable patients with uncontrolled DM, in-person engagement may be required.