cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental sampling reveals that Pythium insidiosum is ubiquitous and genetically diverse in North Central Florida

Pythiosis is a deadly disease of horses, dogs, and other mammals, including humans, in tropical and subtropical regions. In the United States, the disease has been reported in the Southeast as well as in the temperate North and the dry Southwest. The causal agent of pythiosis is Pythium insidiosum, one of few mammalian pathogens in the fungus-like Oomycetes. P. insidiosum has not been studied in the environment in the United States. Given anecdotal reports of pythiosis in Gainesville, Florida dogs, we hypothesized that warm standing water in lakes and ponds in North Central Florida is suitable habitat for P. insidiosum. We sampled 19 lakes or ponds to examine the environmental distribution of P. insidiosum and to determine which of the three previously described genetic clusters of P. insidiosum are present. We found P. insidiosum in 11 of the sampled lakes and ponds. Sequencing of the ITS region separated isolates into three genetic clusters, including a distinct group previously represented by a single isolate from South Carolina. AFLP genotyping of isolates showed genetic variation in Cluster I, which is the group associated with the majority of characterized clinical isolates from the Americas. Our results indicate that animal exposure to P. insidiosum in North Central Florida is common. This study provides the first evidence that P. insidiosum may be more widely distributed in freshwater lakes and ponds in the Southeastern United States than previously appreciated.
Role of glutathione depletion and reactive oxygen species generation in apoptotic signaling in a human B lymphoma cell line.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the sequence of biochemical signaling events that occur after modulation of the cellular redox state in the B cell lymphoma line, PW, with emphasis on the role of mitochondrial signaling. L-Buthionine sulphoximine (BSO), which inhibits gamma glutamyl cysteine synthetase (γGCS), was used to modulate the cellular redox status. The sequence and role of mitochondrial events and downstream apoptotic signals and mediators was studied. After BSO treatment, there was an early decline in cellular glutathione (GSH), followed by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which induced a variety of apoptotic signals (detectable at different time points) in the absence of any external apoptotic stimuli. The sequence of biochemical events accompanying apoptosis included a 95% decrease in total GSH and a partial (25%) preservation of mitochondrial GSH, without a significant increase in ROS production at 24 h. Early activation and nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor kappa B subunit Rel A was observed at approximately 3 h after BSO treatment. Cytochrome c release into the cytosol was also seen after 24 h of BSO treatment. p53 protein expression was unchanged after redox modulation for up to 72 h, and p21waf1 independent loss of cellular proliferation was observed. Surprisingly, a truncated form of p53 was expressed in a time-dependent manner, beginning at 24 h after BSO incubation. Irreversible commitment to apoptosis occurred between 48 and 72 h after BSO treatment when mitochondrial GSH was depleted, and there was an increase in ROS production. Procaspase 3 protein levels showed a time-dependent reduction following incubation with BSO, notably after 48 h, that corresponded with increasing ROS levels. At 96 h, caspase 3 cleavage products were detectable. The pan-caspase inhibitor zVADfmk, partially blocked the induction of apoptosis at 48 h, and was ineffective after 72 h. PW cells could be rescued from apoptosis by removing them from BSO after up to 48, but not 72 h incubation with BSO. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) remained intact in most of the cells during the 72 h observation period, indicating that ΔΨm dissipation is not an early signal for the induction of redox dependent apoptosis in PW cells. These data suggest that a decrease in GSH alone can act as a potent early activator of apoptotic signaling. Increased ROS production following mitochondrial GSH depletion, represents a crucial event, which irreversibly commits PW cells to apoptosis.
Bacterial Pathogens and Indicators in Poultry Litter during Re-Utilization

Abstract A study of broiler litter re-utilization potential was conducted with a goal of determining if a coarse litter fraction could be safely re-utilized as a supplement for wood shavings bedding without significant pathogen accumulation. Pathogenic and indicator bacteria were monitored in three litter types (coarse fractions of fresh or stored litter supplemented with wood shavings, or wood shavings alone) during a 40-day growth period in broiler house pens. Initial microbial concentrations were higher in fresh litter than in stored litter or wood shavings. Significant increases in microbial concentrations occurred during 40 days of re-utilization in fresh/stored/shavings litter. No consistent significant differences were found among concentrations of microorganisms in fresh/stored/shavings litter during re-utilization.
THE SMALL-SIZED OPTICAL MODULE AND THE SLED MOVING METHOD OF A GAP SERVO NEAR FIELD RECORDING

We present two viewpoints of small-sized optical module of a gap servo NFR. One is experimental results on the adjustment system and the other is the sled moving way mounted on the deck mechanism.
Selective access to E- and Z-ΔIle-containing peptides via a stereospecific E2 dehydration and an O → N acyl transfer.

A concise synthesis of peptides that contain E- or Z-dehydroisoleucine (ΔIle) residues is reported. The key reaction is an unusual anti dehydration of β-tert-hydroxy amino acid derivatives that is mediated by the Martin sulfurane. A subsequent tandem Staudinger reduction–O → N acyl transfer process forges an amide bond to the ΔIle residue with minimal E/Z alkene isomerization. Density functional calculations attribute the stereospecific dehydration to a highly asynchronous E2 anti process.
The Ethical Imperative And Moral Challenges Of Engaging Patients And The Public With Evidence

Engaging patients and the public with evidence is an ethical imperative because engagement is central to respect for persons and will likely improve health outcomes, facilitate the stewardship of resources, enhance prospects for justice, and build public trust. However, patient and public engagement is also morally complex, because evidence alone is never definitive. As patients and the public engage with evidence, value conflicts will arise and must be managed to achieve trustworthy decision making. We outline value conflicts likely to emerge in the following five settings: clinical care, health care organizations, public health, the regulatory context, and among payers. Using a variety of examples, we offer suggestions about how such conflicts may be managed, including providing more opportunities for democratic deliberation and having more explicit community discussion of how to balance personal choice and community well-being, transparent discussions of cost and quality outcomes, and greater patient e...
7 Gα12 IN MEMBRANE TRAFFICKING IN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS.

Proper functioning of intracellular membrane trafficking in endothelial cells is indispensable for maintaining endothelial barrier, as well as for regulated secretion of a variety of pro- and anticoagulants and inflammatory proteins. While the involvement of several heterotrimeric G proteins in regulation of membrane trafficking has been documented, there is only one work published on the possible role of Gα12 in this respect in PC12 cells, where Gα12 has been reported to inhibit exocytosis. In the present study, we addressed possible roles of Gα12 in membrane trafficking in endothelial cells, using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as a model. Using confocal microscopy, ECIS measurements, and velocity sedimentation assays, we examined the effects of overexpression of wild-type or constitutively active Gα12, as well as siRNA-mediated depletion of endogenous Gα12, on several markers in resting or thrombin-stimulated HUVEC. Our data indicate that Gα12 has stimulatory effect on exocytosis in HUVEC. Moreover, we were able to detect macromolecular complexes of Gα12 with transported proteins, suggesting its direct involvement in membrane trafficking.
The genetics of rheumatic disease in man.

This article reviews the current knowledge of genetic factors conferring susceptibility to several major rheumatic disorders, in particular, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Sjogren's syndrome. Emphasis is given to major histocompatibility complex associations with these diseases, particularly rapidly evolving knowledge of class II HLA genes and disease-conferring "epitopes." Non-MHC-linked genes, such as T cell receptor and immunoglobulin genes, also may be involved.
Dyad vs. network effects: Modeling relationships in personal networks using contextual effects

This paper proposes using contextual models to disentangle the effects of dyad characteristics from the effects of characteristics of the networks in which they reside. Multilevel models that nest dyads in personal networks can be coded for contextual analysis by entering both the dyad value of a predictor and the network mean of that predictor into the prediction equation. These models can then be used to measure a within-network effect for dyads and a network contextual effect. This paper conducts an example analysis of how dyad redundancy, and the network's average dyad redundancy, impact discussions of job opportunities. The findings suggest that the dyad and network effects of redundancy are in opposite directions: redundancy has a positive effect at the dyad level and a negative effect at the network level when predicting number of jobs discussed. These results support the major social capital tenets of closure and brokerage, respectively.
Social status and energy intake: a randomized controlled experiment

Summary While the inverse association between socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity in high gross domestic product countries is well established using observational data, the extent to which the association is due to a true causal effect of SES and, if so, the mechanisms of this effect remain incompletely known. To assess the influence of social status on obesity via energy intake, we randomized individuals to a higher or lower social status and observed subsequent energy intake. College students between the ages of 18 and 25 were randomized to social status and were operationalized as being a leader or follower in a partner activity as purportedly determined by a (bogus) test of leadership ability. Investigators were blinded to treatment assignment. Immediately after being told their leadership assignment, paired participants were provided with platters of food. Energy intake was objectively measured in kilocalories (kcal) consumed, and paired t-tests were used to test for significant differences in intake between leaders and followers. A total of 60 participants were included in the final analysis (males = 28, females = 32). Overall, no difference in energy intake was observed between leaders and followers, consuming an average of 575.3 and 579.8 kcal, respectively (diff = 4.5 kcal, P = 0.94). The null hypothesis of no effect of social status, operationalized as assignment to a leadership position in a small-group activity, on energy intake was not rejected.
Exploring Game Space of Minimal Action Games via Parameter Tuning and Survival Analysis

Game designers can use computer-aided game design methods to model how players may experience the perceived difficulty of a game. We present methods to generate and analyze the difficulty of a wide variety of minimal action game variants throughout game space, where each point in this abstract design space represents a unique game variant. Focusing on a parameterized version of Flappy Bird , we predict hazard rates and difficulty curves using automatic playtesting, Monte Carlo simulation, a player model based on human motor skills (precision and actions per second), and survival analysis of score histograms. We demonstrate our techniques using simulated game play and actual game data from over 106 million play sessions of a popular online Flappy Bird variant, showing quantitative reasons why balancing a game for a wide range of player skill can be difficult. Some applications of our techniques include searching for a specific difficulty, game space visualization, computational creativity to find unique variants, and tuning game balance to adjust the difficulty curve even when game parameters are time varying, score dependent, or changing based on game progress.
Long-Term Metabolic Effects of Urinary Diversion: A Comparison of Myelomeningocele Patients Managed by Clean Intermittent Catheterization and Urinary Diversion

AbstractWe previously reported that chronic urinary diversion through intestinal segments may have adverse effects on bone and mineral metabolism. This study examined the long-term health of patients managed by urinary diversion (94% by ileal conduit) for neuropathic bladders secondary to myelomeningocele defects and compared them to a control population of myelomeningocele patients managed by intermittent catheterization. Of the patients 93 were studied by personal interview, chart review, morphometric analysis, serum studies and dual-photon bone density determination. Average followup was 23 ± 6 years in the urinary diversion group and 17 ± 5 years in the intermittent catheterization group. Fractures occurred in 40% of the patients in both groups. Patients with a urinary diversion had an increased need for surgery to correct spinal curvature (57% versus 40%) and a significantly increased incidence of complications resulting from orthopedic procedures (17% versus 3%, p ≦ 0.05). There was also an adverse ...
Age-related reduction in single muscle fiber calcium sensitivity is associated with decreased muscle power in men and women.

Abstract Age-related declines in human skeletal muscle performance may be caused, in part, by decreased responsivity of muscle fibers to calcium (Ca2+). This study examined the contractile properties of single vastus lateralis muscle fibers with various myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms (I, I/IIA, IIA and IIAX) across a range of Ca2+ concentrations in 11 young (24.1 ± 1.1 years) and 10 older (68.8 ± 0.8 years) men and women. The normalized pCa-force curve shifted rightward with age, leading to decreased activation threshold (pCa10) and/or Ca2+ sensitivity (pCa50) for all MHC isoforms examined. In older adults, the slope of the pCa-force curve was unchanged in MHC I-containing fibers (I, I/IIA), but was steeper in MHC II-containing fibers (IIA, IIAX), indicating greater cooperativity compared to young adults. At sub-maximal [Ca2+], specific force was reduced in MHC I-containing fibers, but was minimally decreased in MHC IIA fibers as older adults produced greater specific forces at high [Ca2+] in these fibers. Lessor pCa50 in MHC I fibers independently predicted reduced isokinetic knee extensor power across a range of contractile velocities, suggesting that the Ca2+ response of slow-twitch fibers contributes to whole muscle dysfunction. Our findings show that aging attenuates Ca2+ responsiveness across fiber types and that these cellular alterations may lead to age-related reductions in whole muscle power output.
"Are you gonna publish that?" Peer-reviewed publication outcomes of doctoral dissertations in psychology

If a doctoral dissertation represents an original investigation that makes a contribution to one's field, then dissertation research could, and arguably should, be disseminated into the scientific literature. However, the extent and nature of dissertation publication remains largely unknown within psychology. The present study investigated the peer-reviewed publication outcomes of psychology dissertation research in the United States. Additionally, we examined publication lag, scientific impact, and variations across subfields. To investigate these questions, we first drew a stratified random cohort sample of 910 psychology Ph.D. dissertations from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Next, we conducted comprehensive literature searches for peer-reviewed journal articles derived from these dissertations published 0-7 years thereafter. Published dissertation articles were coded for their bibliographic details, citation rates, and journal impact metrics. Results showed that only one-quarter (25.6% [95% CI: 23.0, 28.4]) of dissertations were ultimately published in peer-reviewed journals, with significant variations across subfields (range: 10.1 to 59.4%). Rates of dissertation publication were lower in professional/applied subfields (e.g., clinical, counseling) compared to research/academic subfields (e.g., experimental, cognitive). When dissertations were published, however, they often appeared in influential journals (e.g., Thomson Reuters Impact Factor M = 2.84 [2.45, 3.23], 5-year Impact Factor M = 3.49 [3.07, 3.90]) and were cited numerous times (Web of Science citations per year M = 3.65 [2.88, 4.42]). Publication typically occurred within 2-3 years after the dissertation year. Overall, these results indicate that the large majority of Ph.D. dissertation research in psychology does not get disseminated into the peer-reviewed literature. The non-publication of dissertation research appears to be a systemic problem affecting both research and training in psychology. Efforts to improve the quality and "publishability" of doctoral dissertation research could benefit psychological science on multiple fronts.
Pre-PDK block-level PPAC assessment of technology options for sub-7nm high-performance logic

This paper describes a rigorous yet flexible standard cell place-and-route flow that is used to quantify block-level power, performance, and area trade-offs driven by two unique cell architectures and their associated design rule differences. The two architectures examined in this paper differ primarily in their use of different power-distribution-networks to achieve the desired circuit performance for high-performance logic designs. The paper shows the importance of incorporating block-level routability experiments in the early phases of design-technology co-optimization by reviewing a series of routing trials that explore different aspects of the technology definition. Since the electrical and physical parameters leading to critical process assumptions and design rules are unique to specific integration schemes and design objectives, it is understood that the goal of this work is not to promote one cell-architecture over another, but rather to convey the importance of exploring critical trade-offs long before the process details of the technology node are finalized to a point where a process design kit can be published.
Negative Goals and Forbidden States

NOWALY is a LISP program which can achieve both positive and negative goals, while avoiding forbidden states. A negative goal can specify that some relation must be false, and optionally that, in addition, some near (usually incompletely specified) relation must be true. For example (HOLDING ROBOT-SOCKET) indicates that the ROBOT must hold something, but not SOCKET. Forbidden states may not be entered at any point during problem solving. NOWALY utilizes a hierarchy of subtasks to order its subgoals. Given a negative goal, it generates positive auxiliary subgoals which may be abandoned if no longer needed.
The Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness: Its Implications for Understanding the Nature of Innovation

Abstract: The Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness focuses on creative/innovative productivity, which differs from schoolhouse or lesson-learning giftedness. Giftedness that leads to innovation emerges from the interaction and overlap of three clusters of traits—well above average ability in a particular domain, task commitment, and creativity—and occurs in certain individuals, at certain times, under certain conditions. A broader conception of giftedness will allow researchers, theorists, and educators to more fully address, answer, and respond to the most pressing questions about where innovation ‘comes from’. Simultaneously, this model, when applied, will assist in the development of individuals most capable of engaging in innovation and improving the quality of life for society.
The Serology of Viral Hepatitis Making Sense out of Alphabet Soup

When I was a youngster, my mother told me to have a good hot lunch everyday. So there I was, eating some soup, when the letters A,a,Ag,Anti,B,c,D,d,DNA,DNAP,e,G,H,HBV,Ig,M,NANB,r,s,w came floating into my field of vision. I pushed them around with my spoon (since I never was a big fan of vegetable soup anyway) until they all were lined up in alphabetical order. For the rest of this chapter, I shall try to make some sense out of all of them.
Systematic Study of Structure, Stability, and Electronic Absorption of Tetrahedral CdSe Clusters with Carboxylate and Amine Ligands

In this work, we carried out a systematic investigation to assess the effects of ligands on the structure, stability, and absorption spectra of ultrasmall CdSe tetrahedral quantum dots, where the cores of small tetrahedral quantum dots have been postulated to be stabilized by amine and carboxylate ligands. We found that amine and carboxylate ligands form extensive hydrogen bonding networks, which provide thermodynamic stability to the clusters. On the basis of the optimized structures, good agreement between observed and computed spectra was obtained. The ligands were also found to have a large influence on the color and intensity of the electronic absorption spectra, particularly for the small clusters, which were previously monitored with in situ UV-visible absorbance spectroscopy. Our work provides an understanding of the effect of ligands that influence thermodynamic stability and electronic absorption of ultrasmall quantum dots, thus potentially motivating further experimental exploration.
Multicultural teacher education and diversity practices in early childhood

Multicultural teacher education (MTE), self-efficacy and satisfaction are all important for teachers, especially as they relate to their engagement in practices that are beneficial for culturally and linguistically diverse children. Yet it remains to be seen how these important constructs work together to predict teaching practices once teachers enter the field. The purpose of this paper is to explore how MTE, teacher efficacy, teacher satisfaction and culturally responsive teaching (CRT) practices are related among early childhood teachers.,Specifically, the paper will address the connections between these variables via a path analysis. Previously collected data from 105 public early childhood teachers (PreK-2) in a single county in the Southeast United States was analyzed for the study.,Results suggest that CRT in early childhood is a three-faceted construct with teacher efficacy having a direct effect on all dimensions of CRT and teacher satisfaction having a direct effect on two dimensions of CRT. MTE did not have any direct effect on teacher efficacy, teacher satisfaction or CRT.,This paper contributes to the literature in that it is especially necessary to examine how teacher education influences teachers’ efficacy and practices with culturally and linguistically diverse students. There is limited research on how these variables work together in the early childhood setting.
Perspectives on Library Reorganization

In the last 20 years, libraries have continued to see changes in information delivery options, technologies, and academic and information environments. This column examines the multifaceted ways in...
How to be a maker 2: How's the weather?

With two micro:bits you can make a mini weather station that sends you up-to-the-minute reports, says Hannah Joshua
Gender Perspectives on Social Norms Surrounding Teen Pregnancy: A Thematic Analysis of Social Media Data

Background: Social concern with teen pregnancy emerged in the 1970s, and today’s popular and professional health literature continues to draw on social norms that view teen pregnancy as a problem—for the teen mother, her baby, and society. It is unclear, however, how adolescents directly affected by teen pregnancy draw upon social norms against teen pregnancy in their own lives, whether the norms operate differently for girls and boys, and how these social norms affect pregnant or parenting adolescents. Objective: This research aims to examine whether and how US adolescents use, interpret, and experience social norms against teen pregnancy. Methods: Online ethnographic methods were used for the analysis of peer-to-peer exchanges from an online social network site designed for adolescents. Data were collected between March 2010 and February 2015 (n=1662). Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software. Results: American adolescents in this online platform draw on dominant social norms against teen pregnancy to provide rationales for why pregnancy in adolescence is wrong or should be avoided. Rationales range from potential socioeconomic harms to life-course rationales that view adolescence as a special, carefree period in life. Despite joint contributions from males and females to a pregnancy, it is primarily females who report pregnancy-related concerns, including experiences of bullying, social isolation, and fear. Conclusions: Peer exchange in this online forum indicates that American adolescents reproduce prevailing US social norms of viewing teen pregnancy as a social problem. These norms intersect with the norms of age, gender, and female sexuality. Female adolescents who transgress these norms experience bullying, shame, and stigma. Health professionals must ensure that strategies designed to prevent unintended adolescent pregnancy do not simultaneously create hardship and stigma in the lives of young women who are pregnant and parent their children.
Perlecan/Hspg2 deficiency impairs bone’s calcium signaling and associated transcriptome in response to mechanical loading

Abstract Perlecan, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan, acts as a mechanical sensor for bone to detect external loading. Deficiency of perlecan increases the risk of osteoporosis in patients with Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome (SJS) and attenuates loading-induced bone formation in perlecan deficient mice (Hypo). Considering that intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i is an ubiquitous messenger controlling numerous cellular processes including mechanotransduction, we hypothesized that perlecan deficiency impairs bone’s calcium signaling in response to loading. To test this, we performed real-time [Ca2+]i imaging on in situ osteocytes of adult murine tibiae under cyclic loading (8 N). Relative to wild type (WT), Hypo osteocytes showed decreases in the overall [Ca2+]i response rate (−58%), calcium peaks (−33%), cells with multiple peaks (−53%), peak magnitude (−6.8%), and recovery speed to baseline (−23%). RNA sequencing and pathway analysis of tibiae from mice subjected to one or seven days of unilateral loading demonstrated that perlecan deficiency significantly suppressed the calcium signaling, ECM-receptor interaction, and focal adhesion pathways following repetitive loading. Defects in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium cycling regulators such as Ryr1/ryanodine receptors and Atp2a1/Serca1 calcium pumps were identified in Hypo bones. Taken together, impaired calcium signaling may contribute to bone’s reduced anabolic response to loading, underlying the osteoporosis risk for the SJS patients.
Associations between personality and whole-brain functional connectivity at rest: Evidence across the adult lifespan.

Introduction Personality is associated with cognitive, emotional, and social functioning, and can play a role in age-related cognitive decline and dementia risk; however, little is known about the brain dynamics underlying personality characteristics, and whether they are moderated by age. Methods We investigated the associations between personality and resting-state functional MRI data from 365 individuals across the adult lifespan (20-80 years). Participants completed the 50-item International Personality Item Pool and a resting-state imaging protocol on a 3T MRI scanner. Within-network connectivity values were computed based on predefined networks. Regression analyzes were conducted in order to investigate personality-connectivity associations, as well as moderation by age. All models controlled for potential confounders (such as age, sex, education, IQ, and the other personality traits). Results We found that openness was positively associated with connectivity in the default-mode network, neuroticism was negatively associated with both the ventral and dorsal attention networks, and agreeableness was negatively associated with the dorsal attention network. In addition, age moderated the association between conscientiousness and the frontoparietal network, indicating that this association become stronger in older age. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that personality is associated with brain connectivity, which may contribute to identifying personality profiles that play a role in protection against or risk for age-related brain changes and dementia.
Healthcare coverage and utilization among caregivers in the United States: Findings from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE Caregivers are vital to our health care system and its sustainability, yet extensive literature has recognized caregivers' vulnerabilities for experiencing financial, physical, and emotional difficulties-compromising the sustainability of their services. The risks associated with being a caregiver are not well-defined and warrant further exploration to guide national health initiatives underway. This brief report sought to identify risks that may be associated with the wide-ranging secondary effects of being a caregiver. Specifically, health care coverage and utilization were compared between caregivers and noncaregivers in a large national sample. METHOD A cross-sectional study design was used with data from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Risk ratio analyses were conducted to assess how many times more likely unpaid adult caregivers were for experiencing specific risks related to health care access, relative to noncaregivers. RESULTS Caregivers (n = 24,034; 64.5% female; 69.6% preretirement age) were more at risk for lacking health care coverage and underutilizing needed health care service due to cost, when compared to noncaregivers (n = 84,412; 57.3% female; 61.8% preretirement age). Caregivers were also at an increased risk for lifetime diagnosis of a depressive disorder and activity limitations due to a health challenge. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the need for the development of low-cost and accessible clinical services available to caregivers. Rehabilitation psychology can offer unique and instrumental contributions for addressing this growing population's health care needs by informing disability-focused public health agendas and incorporating caregivers into rehabilitation programs for care recipients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
A Mouse Model of Dysphagia After Facial Nerve Injury

Objective Dysphagia is common following facial nerve injury; however, research is sparse regarding swallowing-related outcomes and targeted treatments. Previous animal studies have used eye blink and vibrissae movement as measures of facial nerve impairment and recovery. The purpose of this study was to create a mouse model of facial nerve injury that results in dysphagia to enhance translational research outcomes. Study design Prospective animal study. Methods Twenty C57BL/6J mice underwent surgical transection of the main trunk (MT) (n = 10) or marginal mandibular branch (MMB) (n = 10) of the left facial nerve. Videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) assays for drinking and eating were performed at baseline and 14 days postsurgery to quantify several deglutition-related outcome measures. Results VFSS analysis revealed that MT transection resulted in significantly slower lick and swallow rates during drinking (P ≤ .05) and significantly slower swallow rates and longer inter-swallow intervals during eating (P ≤ .05), congruent with oral and pharyngeal dysphagia. After MMB transection, these same VFSS metrics were not statistically significant (P > .05). Conclusion The main finding of this study was that transection of the facial nerve MT leads to oral and pharyngeal stage dysphagia in mice; MMB transection does not. These results from mice provide novel insight into specific VFSS metrics that may be used to characterize dysphagia in humans following facial nerve injury. We are currently using this surgical mouse model to explore promising treatment modalities such as electrical stimulation to hasten recovery and improve outcomes following various iatrogenic and idiopathic conditions affecting the facial nerve. Level of evidence NA Laryngoscope, 2020.
Cluster-Based Empirical Tropospheric Corrections Applied to InSAR Time Series Analysis

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) allows for mapping of crustal deformation on land with high spatial resolution and precision in areas with high signal-to-noise ratios. Efforts to obtain precise displacement time series globally, however, are severely limited by radar path delays within the troposphere. The tropospheric delay is integrated along the full path length between the ground and the satellite, resulting in correlations between the interferometric phase and elevation that can vary dramatically in both space and time. We evaluate the performance of spatially variable, empirical removal of phase-elevation dependence within SAR interferograms through the use of the $K$ -means clustering algorithm. We apply this method to both synthetic test data, as well as to C-band Sentinel-1a/b time series acquired over a large area in south-central Mexico along the Pacific coast and inland—an area with a large elevation gradient that is of particular interest to researchers studying tectonic- and anthropogenic-related deformation. We show that the clustering algorithm is able to identify cases where tropospheric properties vary across topographic divides, reducing total root mean square (rms) by an average of 50%, as opposed to a spatially constant phase-elevation correction, which has insignificant error reduction. Our approach also reduces tropospheric noise while preserving test signals in synthetic examples. Finally, we show the average standard deviation of the residuals from the best-fit linear rate decreases from approximately 3 to 1.5 cm, which corresponds to a change in the error on the best-fit linear rate from 0.94 to 0.63 cm/yr.
An improved and readily available version of Bst DNA Polymerase for LAMP, and applications to COVID-19 diagnostics

Abstract Despite the fact that strand-displacing activity is of great utility for a variety of applications, including isothermal amplification assays, there are relatively few strand-displacing DNA polymerases. In particular, the thermotolerant DNA polymerase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (previously Bacillus stearothermophilus), Bst DNA polymerase (Bst DNAP), is used in a variety of assays, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification. However, despite its wide use, its properties remain open to improvement, as has been demonstrated by a variety of engineering efforts, including the identification of point mutations that impact its robustness, strand-displacement capabilities, and nascent reverse transcriptase activity. Interestingly, a strategy that has been commonly used to alter the capabilities of DNA polymerases, the addition of additional DNA- or RNA-binding domains, has yet to be applied to Bst DNAP. To this end, we now show that by adding fusion domains the performance of Bst DNAP in isothermal amplification assays, including its nascent RT activity, can be greatly improved. The impact of these improvements on the development of LAMP assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 is fully explored.
Writing the Americas in Enlightenment Spain: literature, modernity and the New World, 1773–1812: by Thomas Cassidy Neal, Lewisburg, PA, Bucknell University Press, 2017, 204 pp., $95 (hardback), ISBN13 978-1611488830

In a nutshell, Thomas C. Neal’s Writing the Americas in Enlightenment Spain is a book about the nature and contours of the Spanish Enlightenment with a particular emphasis on the characteristics th...
COVID-19 Response: Student Views about Emergency Remote Instruction

The COVID-19 pandemic led institutions of higher education to move face-to-face (F2F) courses online. Here, Q methodology allowed the researcher to differentiate and describe the three student view...
Microeconomic Adjustment Hazards and Aggregate Dynamics

The basic premise of this paper is that understanding aggregate dynamics requires considering that agents are heterogeneous and that they do not adjust continuously to the shocks they perceive. We provide a general characterization of lumpy behavior at the microeconomic level in terms of an adjustment hazard function, that relates the probability that a unit adjusts to the deviation of its state variable from what would be its optimal level if frictions were momentarily removed. We argue that adjustment hazards that are eventually increasing with respect to the magnitude of this deviation are likely to be realistic. This allows for testable restrictions and a simple comparison with the partial adjustment model, which corresponds to the constant hazard case. We show how non-constant hazards - in particular, increasing hazards - generate non-linearities and history dependence in aggregate equations. We present an example based on U.S. Manufacturing employment and job flows, and find that increasing hazard models outperform partial adjustment models in describing aggregate employment dynamics; the improvement is most notorious during deep recessions and brisk expansions.
On the beginning of the world: dominance feminism, afropessimism and the meanings of gender:

Dominance feminism and afropessimist theory, despite their critical appearances three decades apart, are undergirded by similar rhetorical strategies, political commitments and argumentative moves....
Informing Parents and Educators about the importance of preschool for English Language Learners: A Guideline

5 Chapter 1 Introduction 6 Research Questions 7 Purpose Statement 7 Theoretical Rationale 7 Assumptions 8 Background and Need 8 Chapter 2 Review of the Literature 10 Introduction 10 Historical Context 10 Review of the Previous Literature 11 Statistical Analysis 13 Administrative Records 14 Interview with an Expert 14 Ethical Standards 16 Chapter 3 Method 17 Research Approach 17 Sample and Site 17 Data Gathering Strategies 17 Data Analysis 18 Chapter 4 Findings 19 Importance of Pre-K for ELL: A Guideline 4 Description of Sample and Site 19 Overall Findings 20 Chapter 5 Discussion 22 Summary of Major Findings 22 Comparison of Findings to Previous Research 22 Limitations/Gaps in the Study 23 Implications for Future Research 23 Overall Significance of the Research 23 About the Author 24 References 26 Importance of Pre-K for ELL: A Guideline 5 Abstract The importance of pre-kindergarten experience for English Language Learners is that it gives them a foundation for their kindergarten experience. Many Hispanic families are hesitant in putting their child in the care of someone who is not a family member, which then puts these children behind others who had an academic experience in pre-kindergarten. This not only brings the Hispanic children down academically but also fails to teach them about the social aspect of school. The purpose of this study is to give people involved with these children a guideline to help them understand the importance of pre-kindergarten education for English Language Learners. It will also offer strategies for teachers on how to communicate the importance of prekindergarten with this community.The importance of pre-kindergarten experience for English Language Learners is that it gives them a foundation for their kindergarten experience. Many Hispanic families are hesitant in putting their child in the care of someone who is not a family member, which then puts these children behind others who had an academic experience in pre-kindergarten. This not only brings the Hispanic children down academically but also fails to teach them about the social aspect of school. The purpose of this study is to give people involved with these children a guideline to help them understand the importance of pre-kindergarten education for English Language Learners. It will also offer strategies for teachers on how to communicate the importance of prekindergarten with this community.
Population aging and pension systems : reform options for China

Using an integrated simulation model, the authors estimate the scope and speed of population-aging in China, the cost of supporting the old, and the impact of different reform options and pension arrangements. Among their conclusions: The scope and speed of population-aging in China make the present pension system financially unsustainable, even assuming that GDP grows steadily in the long term. Moving the retirement age back would provide a temporary fix for the current pay-as-you-go pension system but would be politically viable only where there is great demand for labor. Pension funds could be made more sustainable by increasing GDP growth, raising contribution rates, or gradually reducing benefit rates. But the financial costs and social obstacles of those reform options must be carefully assessed. Fully funded, privately managed pension schemes might be feasible, but require a sound regulatory framework and institutional infrastructure, including financial markets that provide adequate savings instruments and insurance options. Pension reform is a long-term, multidimensional problem involving economic, social, political, and cultural factors. Governments should not focus only on taxes and transfers to redistribute income to and among the elderly. Real income growth is needed to cope with poverty among the elderly, especially in developing countries. To establish an adequate, efficient, and equitable social security system, China must maintain long-term socioeco nomic stability and sustainable growth. China could improve the labor market by removing management rigidities, facilitating human resource development, making labor markets more competitive, improving the household registration system, improving incentives, and rewarding hard and innovative work. To reduce unemployment, China can create more job opportunities in nontraditional sectors, especially its underdeveloped service industries. To shift jobs to the nonagricultural sector, it can develop medium-size cities. And to cushion the impact of demographic shocks, China should preserve traditional values and maintain family-community support. Drawing on experience in Europe and Latin America, China should move toward a transparent and decentralized system with 1) a fully funded, portable, defined-benefit pension plan, designed to meet basic needs, and 2) occupational pension plans or personal savings accounts to satisfy demand for maintaining or improving living standards.
Compact approximations of mixture distributions for state estimation in multiagent settings

In order to act rationally, an agent must track the state of the environment over time. In the presence of other agents who themselves act, observe, and update their beliefs the agent must track not only the physical state but also the possible states of others. This is because others' actions may affect the evolution of the physical state and the agent's payoffs. One approach is to generalize the Bayes filter to multiagent settings, in which an agent tracks the evolution of the interactive state [2]. In practice, the estimation may be carried out using the interactive PF (I-PF) [2] that generalizes the PF to the multiagent setting.
Thermodynamic and Kinetic Aspects of the Reaction of γ-Fluoroglutamate with d-Glutamate Cyclase

Abstract Diastereomers of γ-fluoroglutamate tentatively assigned the d configuration at the α-carbon are substrates for d-glutamate cyclase purified from mouse liver. In order to elucidate properties of these potentially useful analogues of glutamate as well as to gain some insight into the mechanism of the enzyme, the kinetics and thermodynamics of the reaction of these analogues have been compared to those of glutamate. The Michaelis constant for the reaction with cis-3-fluoro-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate (0.2 m) is comparable to that with 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate (0.09 m) but that of trans-3-fluoro-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate (1.5 m) is distinctly higher. The equilibrium favors pyrrolidone formation for 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate (97%) and for trans-3-fluoro-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate (60%) but not for cis-3-fluoro-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate (30%). The lactamization of glutamate has an enthalpy change of +2.3 kcal per mole while that for the diastereomer of γ-fluoroglutamate forming the cis pyrrolidone is +3.8 kcal per mole. The fluorine substituent greatly increases the Vmax for the enzymatic hydrolysis in both diastereomers of the pyrrolidone. The relevance of these observations to the mechanism of the enzyme and the conformation of the substrates is discussed.
Stability and course of personality disorders: the need to consider comorbidities and continuities between axis I psychiatric disorders and axis II personality disorders.

The literature pertaining to the stability and course of personality disorders is briefly reviewed. Available data suggest that PD diagnoses demonstrate only moderate stability and that—although generally associated with a plethora of negative outcomes—they can show improvement over time. This paper highlights the pervasiveness of diagnostic co-occurrence and its implications for continued investigation of the question of PD stability. In addition to examining the stability (and outcome) of PDs, longitudinal studies need to consider continuities between diagnoses. The Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorder Study (CLPS) is described briefly vis-a-vis some of these major issues.
Analysis of CD34+ cell collection using two mobilization regimens for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients reveals the separate impact of mobilization and collection variables

Mobilization regimens for CD34+ cells have generally been judged successful based on the number of cells collected without evaluating mobilization separately from collection. Using retrospective data for patients who collected CD34+ cells on Total Therapy protocols 3a/3b (VTD-PACE) and Total Therapy 4/5 using a novel regimen that added low dose melphalan to VTD-PACE (MVTD-PACE), we analyzed mobilization and collection variables separately. A significant difference favoring MVDT-PACE was found in mean CD34+ cells/µL on day 2 of collection and in mean ratio of CD34+ cells/µL on day 2 to day 1. However, because apheresis variables and growth factor dose during collection were manipulated to optimize individual collections, the two regimens were not significantly different when the mean total CD34+ cells ×10(6) /kg collected was compared. Thus, when evaluating a chemotherapy regimen or new growth factor for mobilization, it is important to realize that total CD34+ cells collected is dependent on both mobilization and collection variables.