cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Economic Geography of the Layout of Sports Facility Construction——research on the concept,types and characteristics of sports facilities network

This paper uses the methods of literature material and so on to analyze the application of the point-axis-network theory to the layout of sports facilities. It further discusses the new idea about the layout of sports facilities construction in order to provide references for the establishment and perfection of public sports service system. The concept of sports facility network is suggested herein: growth pole theory, " point-axis-net" theory and network development theory constitute the theoretic basis of sports facility network; the types of sports facility network are consistent with the layout of urban sports facilities; sports facility network demonstrates the phased feature.
Purification and Crystallization of the Cytochrome b 6 f Complex in Oxygenic Photosynthesis

The cytochrome b6f complex from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus and spinach chloroplasts has been purified as a dimeric species. It was found by electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy to contain eight and nine subunits, respectively, and dimeric masses of 217,070 and 286,454 Da. The subunits common to the complex from both sources are petA (cytochrome f), B (cytochrome b6), C (Rieske iron-sulfur protein), D (subunit IV), and small 3.2-4.2 kDa polypeptides petG,L,M, and N. The ninth polypeptide, the 35 kDa petH poly-peptide in the spinach complex, was identified as ferredoxin NADP reductase (FNR), which binds to the complex tightly at a stoichiometry of approx 0.9 (cyt f)-1. The spinach complex contains diaphorase activity diagnostic of FNR, and is active in facilitating ferredoxin-dependent electron transfer from NADPH to the cytochrome b6f complex. The purified cytochrome b6f complex contains stoichiometrically bound chlorophyll a and beta-carotene at a ratio of one per cytochrome f, and bound lipid, in which MGDG and PG are the most abundant species. The delipidated highly purified complexes are active immediately after preparation and for approx 1 wk if left on ice, transferring 300-350 electrons/cyt f/s. Both complexes are subject to proteolysis and associated loss of activity if left for extended periods (>1 wk) at room temperature. Addition of pure synthetic lipid to the delipidated M. laminosus complex (the "lipid augmentation" technique) allows rapid and ready formation of large (>0.2 mm) crystals suitable for x-ray diffraction analysis and structure determination, which diffract with good statistics to 3.0 A.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Central Nervous System Involvement

Real or suspected brain involvement occurs in the majority of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The clinical manifestations are myriad and are accounted for by diverse pathogenic mechanisms. Purely psychological disturbances and psychiatric syndromes with organic components account for the majority of cases. Metabolic disturbances, drug effects, and infections may masquerade for immune-related brain dysfunction. In the absence of reliable and specific indicators of lupus brain activity, successful management requires the combined skills and clinical judgment of the rheumatologist, neurologist, and psychiatrist.
Solutions of Triangles

This chapter discusses application of trigonometry in the solving triangles, and vectors. The determining of all unknowns in any triangle is called solving the triangle. Quantities that possess both magnitude and directions are known as vector quantities. Two vectors that have the same direction and magnitude define the same vector. Each can be transformed into the other by a parallel translation. Vectors that cannot be moved without changing their effect in a system are known as bound vector. This chapter also discusses the law of sines and the law of cosines. The law of sines states that in any triangle the sides are proportional to the sines of the opposite angles. The law of cosines states that the square of any side of a triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides minus twice the product of these two sides and their included angle.
Moisture Alarm Therapy for Primary Nocturnal Enuresis

Publisher Summary Nocturnal enuresis, or enuresis, is a very common parasomnia affecting 5–7 million children annually. It is largely an inherited condition wherein children involuntarily pass urine while asleep. Nocturnal enuresis affects 15–20 percent of 5-year-old children, with as many as 10 percent of those children remaining wet at 10 years of age. Prevalence rates tend to be somewhat higher for boys than girls throughout. By 12 years of age, approximately 8 percent of boys and 4 percent of girls continue to be enuretic. Treatment is often deferred until age 6 or 7, because enuresis shows a steady decline with age and has an annual spontaneous remission rate of approximately 15 percent. In addition, younger children may be less motivated to participate in treatment. After the age of 6 or 7, however, numerous reasons for treatment arise. Nocturnal wetting episodes inexorably interfere with participation in recreational activities (such as sleepovers, overnight trips, and camp), thus imposing an obstacle to important social and developmental experiences. Chronic bedwetting also can result in sleep disruption for the child and other family members. In addition, incontinence is a leading cause of child abuse. Finally, a child with enuresis may develop an unhealthy low self regard that interferes with effective psychosocial development.
Sequence-specific 1H, 13C and 15N chemical shift assignment and secondary structure of the HTLV-I capsid protein.

Key words: HTLV-I, perdeuteration, retroviral capsidBiological contextWe have initiated NMR studies of the capsid protein(CA) from human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), a retrovirus linked with adult T-cell leukemia andmyelopathy (Vogt, 1997). The capsid proteins con-dense duringmaturationto formthe viral core particle.Whereas the HTLV-I core is spherical, the human im-munodeﬁciency virus (HIV-1) core is conical (Vogt,1997). These differences are intriguing in view of the20% sequence identity between the HTLV-I and HIV-1 CAs. Knowledge of the 3D structure of HTLV-ICA is importantfor understandingretrovirusassemblymechanisms.Methods and resultsWe have over-expressed and puriﬁed an N-terminaldeletion mutant (
Genetic complexity at expression quantitative trait loci

Identifying variants that regulate gene expression and delineating their genetic architecture is a critical next step in our endeavors to better understand the genetic etiology of complex diseases. The appropriate genomic tools are in place, and preliminary analytic strategies have been developed. Here we used Genetic Analysis Workshop (GAW) 19 data to investigate the genetic complexity of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), chromosomal regions likely to harbor regulatory elements responsible for gene expression. For this investigation, we analyzed the lymphocyte expression profiles of 653 individuals in 20 pedigrees who were also genotyped by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, followed by sequencing and imputation. We used these data to examine the degree of allelic heterogeneity, a contributor to genetic complexity at eQTL, by sequentially conditioning on the most significantly associated SNPs. SOLAR (Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines)-MGA (measured genotype approach) and FaST-LMM (Factored Spectrally Transformed Linear Mixed Model) software allowed us to analyze pedigree data. The power and Type 1 error rates for single SNP association testing and multiple SNP sequential association testing were consistent for these programs. Sequential conditioning of the real expression data revealed substantial levels of allelic heterogeneity at the 2 eQTL examined, illustrating this feature of genetic complexity. eQTL exhibit substantial genetic complexity among and within pedigrees.
Bioavailability of Trace Metals

Metals external to the organism are unlikely to cause any adverse effect in that organism but may do so once absorbed (or taken up) and assimilated. This implies that as a prelude step, metals have to come in contact with the organism to be of any benefit or consequence to that organism. In turn, metals have to be in a particular form to be able to enter an organism. In essence, for a contaminant to be assimilated, it will have to be mobile and transported and be bioavailable to the organism. Because bioavailability (also known as bioaccessibility) may have different meanings to different disciplines, it is prudent to define it according to the receptor organism.
Making Academic Progress: The University of Michigan STEM Academy

In recognition of the critical need for an increased and diverse STEM workforce within the State of Michigan and across the nation, the University of Michigan launched the Michigan STEM (M-STEM) Academy in the College of Engineering in the summer of 2008. M-STEM adapted features of the successful and nationally recognized Meyerhoff Scholars Program at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, to develop a program serving a new clientele: talented diverse incoming engineering student who, for reasons of socioeconomic class, first generation college student status, race, gender, or lack of high school rigor might not be successful in pursuing a Michigan STEM degree. M-STEM provides these students with a highly coordinated support system during the critical transition years between high school graduation and the declaration of a STEM concentration by the junior undergraduate year. We will assess the program’s impact on first-year grades (actual grades compared to predicted grades, based on background); the performance of this cohort within the context of a large engineering population and; the components of the first-year program associated with this achievement outcome. Our long-term goal for the M-STEM Academy Scholars is that they will complete their degrees with sufficient distinction to be highly competitive for admission to professional schools, graduate programs, or the workforce. Thus, our long term indicators include graduation rate, GPA, undergraduate research participation, summer internships, first position after graduation, and acceptance to professional or graduate schools. The program staff meets regularly to discuss the quantitative and qualitative indicators and how to use them to improve/modify program components including the content and mode of instruction in the summer transition courses, the frequency of academic coaching meetings, and the right combination of curricular and co-curricular programmatic efforts.
Identity or Difference

In this chapter Nāgārjuna continues to examine critically the functioning of characterization or description of things. He argues that a conceptual description of reality is impossible by showing that the adequate relation between the characterizable and characteristics cannot be established.
An OFDM-based dual radar/communication system facing uncertain jamming power

One of the challenges in designing dual communication and radar systems employing multi-carrier waveforms is addressing the separate radar and communication objectives. This challenge becomes more difficult when one considers that such a system would be the target of malicious attacks, especially those involving interference. In this paper, to gain insight into the problem, a game-theoretical model with SNRs as the utilities for radar and communication objectives is developed for an OFDM-based dual radar-communication system facing a jamming attack. We first investigate the scenario with known jamming power. Then, employing a Bayesian approach, we generalize the formulation to unknown total jamming power. The equilibrium jamming strategies are derived in water-filling form for both scenarios. It is shown that the system equilibrium strategy equalizes the rate at which the system's utility is decreased when jamming enters the scenario. The jamming equilibrium strategy is always unique, while the system has multiple equilibria, but these are shown to be equivalent as they return the same payoff.
Accounting for Similarities

Despite differences in the legitimacy of law in the two communities studied, the most striking feature of the comparison is similarity. In both communities the morality of compliance is largely shaped by moral distinctions between moderation and excess, and between money and food. Food is commonly regarded morally innocent, whereas money is not. People are thus under a moral obligation to comply with regulations in terms of commercial fisheries, but not in terms of subsistence fisheries. In both communities we have seen a commonly-perceived right to secure a satisfactory life, while maximisation of profit is perceived as carrying a potential of immorality. In Uerhavn, small boat fishermen could thus be met with some degree of understanding if they broke the law in commercial fisheries, provided that they did so in order to resolve a situation of economic force majeure. Commercial large-scale activities are generally subjected to much stricter informal surveillance than small-scale, subsistence-oriented ones.
Moving Beyond Collaboration: A Model for Enhancing Social Work’s Organizational Empathy

Many first-year field students and new practitioners enter the "fog of practice" seeking a strong mentor who will teach them to survive and thrive in the practice world. They are armed with much social work-related ideology but perhaps too little organizational knowledge and savvy. This challenge may be traced back to another historical professional debate: the imbalance between micro and macro social work education and training. This article addresses the challenge by introducing the overarching competency of organizational empathy, defined as an understanding of the practice environment one occupies. The major objective of this article is to help bridge an academe-practice knowledge gap, thereby giving the social work practitioner enhanced opportunities for broader organizational influence, collaboration, and leadership.
Standardization of operative technique in minimally invasive right hepatectomy: improving cost-value relationship through value stream mapping in hepatobiliary surgery.

Abstract Background With current emphasis on improving cost-quality relationship in medicine, it is imperative to evaluate cost-value relationships for surgical procedures. Previously the authors demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes for minimally invasive right hepatectomy (MIRH) and open right hepatectomy (ORH). MIRH had significantly higher intraoperative cost, though overall costs were similar. Methods MIRH was decoded into its component critical steps using value stream mapping, analyzing each associated cost. MIRH technique was prospectively modified, targeting high cost steps and outcomes were re-examined. Records were reviewed for elective MIRH before (pre-MIRH n = 50), after (post MIRH n = 25) intervention and ORH (n = 98), between January 1, 2008 and November 30, 2016. Results Average overall cost was significantly lower for post-standardization MIRH (post-MIRH $21 768, pre-MIRH $28 066, ORH $33 020; p Conclusions Using a common quality improvement tool, the authors established a model for cost effective clinical care. These tools allow surgeons to overcome personal or traditional biases such as stapler choices, but most importantly eliminate non-value added interventions for patients.
Three Dimensional Triply Resonant Sum Frequency Spectroscopy Revealing Vibronic Coupling in Cobalamins: Toward a Probe of Reaction Coordinates

Triply resonant sum frequency (TRSF) spectroscopy is a fully coherent mixed vibrational–electronic spectroscopic technique that is ideally suited for probing the vibrational–electronic couplings th...
Emerging Diagnosis Improvements and Treatments of Mild to Traumatic Brain Injuries

This review paper evaluates the current clinical and research practices for diagonising and treating TBI and mTBI. It provides an overview of the new emerging treatments for mTBI and TBI that are in varying stages of research. The paper analyzes the shortcomings and practices of diagnosing mTBI and TBI and also evaluates new and potentially break-through mTBI and TBI treatments such as Iron Chelators, Cellular Therapy, Cannabinoid Receptor Treatment, Electroaccupuncture, and Transcanial Magnetic Stimulation. While the current method of diagnosis for severe TBI is sound, mTBIs remain largely undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. This paper identifies the limitations of current neuroimaging and diagnostic techniques for mTBI and TBI. There are many current treatments for the primary symptoms/damage of TBI and mTBI (severe swelling, trauma, neuroinflammation, edema, diffuse axonal damage, and loss of consciousness). However, there is little or no treatment for secondary injuries (personality shifts, free iron collection, cognitive deficits in short-term memory, abstract reasoning, and many unique deficits dependent on the site of injury). This review paper seeeks to evaluate emerging research and diagnostic methods and explores possible new directions for diagnosis and conceivable conjunction therapies to treat multiple aspects and deficits of mTBI and TBI.
Risk or resource: Does school climate moderate the influence of community violence on children's social-emotional development in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

Exposure to community violence is thought to create risk for the social and emotional development of children, including those children living in low-income, conflict-affected countries. In the absence of other types of community resources, schools may be one of the few community resources that can help buffer children from the negative effects of community violence exposure. We sampled 8,300 students ranging in age from 6-18 years in 123 schools from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to examine whether and how two distinct dimensions of positive school climate can protect two key features of children's social-emotional development in the presence of community violence. Multi-level models tested the hypothesis that students' perceptions of a positive school climate moderated the relation between community violence and self-reported mental health problems and peer victimization. Findings support the hypothesis. Specifically, a positive school climate protected against mental health problems and peer victimization in the presence of high community violence. Students who experienced high community violence and a negative school climate generally demonstrated the worst development. We find complex interactions between the dimensions of school climate and exposure to violence on student social-emotional development that highlight the salience of children's contexts for developmental studies in low-income countries. We use dynamic developmental systems theory and differential impact to discuss the dual potential of schools as a buffer against the effects of violence or as a source of compounded risk.
Public Attitudes About Body-Worn Cameras in Police Work: A National Study of the Sources of Their Contextual Variability:

Based on a large national sample of U.S. adults, the current study examines the nature and correlates of public support for body-worn cameras (BWCs) in various policing activities. Multivariate ana...
An illustrative case of endocardial fibroelastosis and recalcitrant intracardiac thrombosis: a case report

Endocardial Fibroelastosis is diffuse, accentuated proliferation of ventricular endocardium causing a rare form of restrictive cardiomyopathy in both children and adults. It is an incompletely understood cause of heart failure predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa associated with high morbidity and mortality. Atrial fibrillation and thrombus formation are common accompanying complications and portend a poor prognosis. Due to rarity of the condition in the developed countries and lack of evidence based options, the optimal strategy for anticoagulation is unclear. Herein, we describe a relatively asymptomatic patient with endocardial fibroelastosis who has been found to have atrial fibrillation and a large thrombus in the right atrium. Currently, there is no evidence-based strategy in the management of endocardial fibroelastosis-associated intracardiac thrombus. This case report illustrates a scenario by which the use of apixaban potentially benefited or prevented the thrombus formation compared with warfarin as demonstrated by imaging findings. The patients with endocardial fibroelastosis are at risk of developing intracardiac thrombus due to sticky substrate lining cardiac chambers while being relatively asymptomatic. No directed therapy is known for the management of heart failure and any complications of subsequent arrhythmias. The general recommendations follow those of same conditions in other hosts. Novel oral anticoagulant agents can be considered in the treatment of atrial thrombus in the appropriate settings.
Hydrogen atom catalyzed ortho-to-para conversion in solid molecular hydrogen

Infrared spectroscopy is used to investigate the process of molecular hydrogen ortho-to-para (o/p) conversion in solid hydrogen samples doped with small concentrations (10–50 ppm) of hydrogen atoms (H-atoms) as an impurity. The H-atoms are generated using the in situ 193 nm photolysis of N2O dopant molecules. For hydrogen crystals with relatively low initial ortho-H2 fractions (Xo ≤ 0.03), the o/p conversion kinetics at temperatures of 1.8 and 4.0 K follow kinetic equations developed previously for H-atom catalyzed o/p conversion. The measured atom catalyzed o/p conversion kinetics indicates the H-atoms are mobile under these conditions in agreement with previous ESR measurements. It has been proposed that the H-atoms diffuse by a quantum tunneling mechanism that is described as chemical diffusion. Detailed fits of the measured o/p conversion kinetic data allow the initial H-atom concentration after photolysis to be extracted assuming literature values for the H-atom recombination rate constant (H + H → H2). The measured o/p conversion kinetics show the observed o/p conversion is much less than expected based on the previously measured H-atom recombination rate constant and thus suggest that the H-atoms do not diffuse randomly through the crystal but rather diffuse preferentially in regions of high para-hydrogen content. The estimated H-atom concentrations from this study are consistent with previous ESR measurements but in conflict with kinetic studies of H-atom reactions with various dopants such as N2O.
Communication system identification for individuals with complex communication needs: the need for effective feature matching

Abstract Identifying augmentative and alternative communication systems (AACs) for individuals with complex communication needs (CCNs) is a multifaceted process. Those who are deemed as decision-makers often use a variety of methods to arrive at their decision. However, it is unclear what these decision-making practices entail. As a result, a systematic literature review was conducted of the last 36 years to: (1) determine if a specific process exists to effectively identify a communication system for an individual with CCN; (2) identify the key components of feature matching; and (3) identify if a procedure exists for the comparison of communication systems. A total of 27 articles met the inclusion criteria and were organized and reported into three major categories: (1) reports and tools for identifying present level of performance; (2) communication system comparison; and (3) decision making process for the identification of a communication system. Findings and implications of the review of the literature are discussed.
Seasonal dynamics of midwater zooplankton and relation to particle cycling in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

Abstract Midwater zooplankton are major agents of biogeochemical transformation in the open ocean; however their characteristics and activity remain poorly known. Here we evaluate midwater zooplankton biomass, amino acid (AA)-specific stable isotope composition (δ15N values) using compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA), trophic position, and elemental composition in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG). We focus on zooplankton collected in the winter, spring, and summer to evaluate midwater trophic dynamics over a seasonal cycle. For the first time we find that midwater zooplankton respond strongly to seasonal changes in production and export in the NPSG. In summer, when export from the euphotic zone is elevated and this ‘summer pulse’ material is transported rapidly to depth, CSIA-AA indicates that large particles (>53 μm) dominate the food web base for zooplankton throughout the midwaters, and to a large extent even into the upper bathypelagic zone. In winter, when export is low, zooplankton in the mid-mesopelagic zone continue to rely on large particle basal resources, but resident zooplankton in the lower mesopelagic and upper bathypelagic zones switch to include smaller particles (0.7–53 μm) in their food web base, or even a subset of the small particle pool. Midwater zooplankton migration patterns also vary with season, with migrants distributed more evenly at night through the euphotic zone in summer as compared to being more compressed in the upper mixed layer in winter. Deeper zooplankton migration within the mesopelagic zone is also reduced in late summer, likely due to the increased magnitude of large particle material available at depth during this season. Our observed seasonal change in activity and trophic dynamics drives modestly greater biomass in summer than winter through the mesopelagic zone. In contrast midwater zooplankton carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) composition does not change with season. Instead we find increasing C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios with greater depths, likely due to decreases in proteinaceous structures and organic P compounds and increases in storage lipids with depth. Our study highlights the importance and diversity of feeding strategies for small zooplankton in NPSG midwaters. Many small zooplankton, such as oncaeid and oithonid copepods, are able to access small particle resources at depth and may be an important trophic link between the microbial loop and deep dwelling micronekton species that also rely on small particle-based food webs. Our observed midwater zooplankton trophic response to export-driven variation in the particle field at depth has important implications for midwater metabolism and the export of C to the deep sea.
Performance Analysis of Squarely Packed Polymorphic SWCNT Interconnect

In this paper, we propose a new configuration, named squarely packed bundle of polymorphic SWCNTs, to acquire a better performance than previously developed configuration namely hexagonally packed bundle. Subsequently, we alter the existing RLC model according to the physics based requisites of our proposed configuration. We, in the end, demonstrate a comparison among extracted RLC value and delay model of Cu and differently configured SWCNT interconnects in regards to pre-defined parameters. Having analyzed our proposed squarely packed polymorphic configuration of isolated SWCNT in SWCNT-bundle, we yield a better performance of SWCNT. In fact, using this configuration, it is depicted through simulation that SWCNT bundle can outperform copper interconnect for local level interconnect. This work reinforces further the acceptability of SWCNT as interconnect to deal with scaling issue in VLSI technologies.
Omnidirectional Optical Crosslinks for CubeSats: Transmitter Optimization

CubeSat swarm in low earth orbit is an attractive alternative to present-day expensive and bulky satellite-based remote sensing systems. This article presents the design and optimization rules to achieve omnidirectional, high speed, long-range (more than 100 km) data communication among CubeSats. The unprecedented size, weight, power, and cost constraints imposed by the CubeSat platform and the availability of the commercial-off-the-shelf components are considered in the analyses. Analytical studies related to the scanning mirror based beam steering system as well as scanning mirror's smallest step angle requirement are presented. In addition, we demonstrate the relations and dependencies among scanning mirror's smallest step angle, laser beam divergence, optics dimensions, communication distance, and scanning area filling efficiency, etc. Furthermore, the optimization challenges of the transmit laser beam size considering the interplay among beam divergence, beam clipping, and scattering are studied in detail. This article also presents the effect of laser peak power, initial beam size, and communication distance on effective communication beamwidth to maintain a long-distance (more than 100 km) communication with SNR ≥ 10 dB at a data rate greater than 500 Mb/s.
AdaBoost-based multi-wavelength spatial frequency domain imaging for human colorectal tissue assessment

A multi-wavelength spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) system combined with AdaBoost classifier was used to automatically classify ex vivo human colorectal tissues. A sensitivity of 89.7% and a specificity of 91.8% were achieved.
A Portable Power Concept Based on Combustion and Pyroelectric Energy Conversion

Summary Pyroelectric energy-conversion research is focused on harvesting from waste heat. Meanwhile, there is a need for portable power with extended lifetimes and energy densities. Here, we demonstrate the potential for a portable power concept using pyroelectric energy conversion driven by the heat from on-chip catalytic combustion of methanol. Given the high energy density of liquid fuels (22 MJ/kg for methanol), system conversion efficiencies of only 3% bring the energy density close to Li-ion batteries (∼0.8 MJ/kg). Nanostructured iridium oxide serves as the top electrode and combustion catalyst, with light-off temperatures as low as 105°C. The in-operando energy-conversion performance is measured for thin film La-doped lead zirconate titanate, showing a 2.5× increase in power when operating at the phase transition compared to room temperature. Energy-conversion densities of 48 mJ/cm3 are extracted from the on-chip combustion experiments between temperatures of 230°C and 255°C.
Reconstructing Christopher Clarkson’s Flip Flop Box: A Protective Enclosure for Book Covers

In the early 1970s Christopher Clarkson designed and constructed specialized enclosures, which he later named “flip flop boxes,” to protect Islamic book covers in the Kirkor Minassian Collection at...
Dual role of Snail transcription factor in epithelial to mesenchymal transition and neuroendocrine differentiation in human prostate cancer cells

1027 Snail transcription factor induces EMT via decreased cell adhesion-associated molecules like E-cadherin, and increased mesenchymal markers like vimentin. We transfected Snail transcription factor cDNA into LNCaP or ARCaP cells to establish an EMT model, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which EMT promotes tumor progression in prostate cancer cells. Overexpression of Snail resulted in an EMT characterized by redistribution of E-cadherin from predominantly cell membrane to intracellular in LNCaP cells, and decreased E-cadherin expression in ARCaP cells, while vimentin expression was increased in both cell lines. Biologically, the ARCaP- and LNCaP- Snail transfected cells were more migratory while the LNCaP-Snail transfectant was less proliferative in vitro. Interestingly, Snail transfection into LNCaP cells resulted in cells acquiring a neuroendocrine (NE) morphology with long neurite-like processes. Furthermore these cells displayed increase in the neuroendocrine markers, neuron specific enolase (NSE) and chromogranin A (CgA) as well as translocation of androgen receptor to the nucleus. Conditioned medium from the LNCaP-Snail transfectants increased proliferation of LNCaP and PC-3 parental cells. Overall our data provide evidence that Snail transcription factor may promote tumor aggressiveness through multiple processes; induction of EMT may be required to promote migration and subsequent metastasis, while a novel role for Snail in NE differentiation may promote tumor proliferation of surrounding cancer cells. Therefore, therapeutic targeting of Snail may prove beneficial in not only abrogating EMT but also NE differentiation.
Using game design to increase teachers’ familiarity with design thinking

Society needs creative problem solvers to work towards solutions of complex global issues such as climate change. Design thinking is a way to solve problems creatively. Unfortunately, in-service teachers are largely unfamiliar with design thinking and their students rarely engage in design thinking during class. To familiarize teachers with design thinking, this study provided three teacher cohorts with a game design experience. Utilizing a predefined game design document, participants designed an educational game. To experience a thorough design cycle, teachers worked through two iterations of their design. Using a pre- and post-survey, this exploratory study empirically examined whether teachers gained an understanding of design thinking. Results indicated that the game design experience worked well to improve overall design perceptions; the results showed a consistent, positive trend. Specifically, two of the three cohorts had statistically significant differences (p < .05) while the third cohort had a marginally significant difference (p < .10) from pre- to post-survey. More importantly, after the intervention, teachers from all three cohorts reported an increase in their familiarity with design thinking. Implications for the findings are discussed.
Periaortic Ventricular Tachycardias in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy: Substrate and Electrocardiographic Correlations.

Background: Periaortic fibrotic ventricular tachycardia (VT) substrate is common in nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), often intramural, and difficult to ablate. We sought to better characterize no...
Sustaining University Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Colleges and universities around the world engaged diverse strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Baylor University, a community of ˜22,700 individuals, was 1 of the institutions which resumed and sustained operations. The key strategy was establishment of multidisciplinary teams to develop mitigation strategies and priority areas for action. This population-based team approach along with implementation of a "Swiss Cheese" risk mitigation model allowed small clusters to be rapidly addressed through testing, surveillance, tracing, isolation, and quarantine. These efforts were supported by health protocols including face coverings, social distancing, and compliance monitoring. As a result, activities were sustained from August 1 to December 8, 2020. There were 62,970 COVID-19 tests conducted with 1435 people testing positive for a positivity rate of 2.28%. A total of 1670 COVID-19 cases were identified with 235 self-reports. The mean number of tests per week was 3500 with approximately 80 of these positive (11/d). More than 60 student tracers were trained with over 120 personnel available to contact trace, at a ratio of 1 per 400 university members. The successes and lessons learned provide a framework and pathway for similar institutions to mitigate the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and sustain operations during a global pandemic.
Exogenous ketone ester delays CNS oxygen toxicity without impairing cognitive and motor performance in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) is breathing >1 atmosphere absolute (ATA; 101.3 kPa) O2 and is used in HBO2 therapy and undersea medicine. What limits the use of HBO2 is the risk of developing central ner...
Utilization of Educational Videos to Improve Communication and Discharge Instructions.

Author(s): Wray, Alisa; Goubert, Ronald; Gadepally, Rishi; Boysen-Osborn, Megan; Wiechmann, Warren; Toohey, Shannon | Abstract: Introduction: When discharging a patient from the emergency department (ED), it is crucial to make sure that they understand their disposition and aftercare instructions. However, numerous factors make it difficult to ensure that patients understand their next steps. Our objective was to determine whether patient understanding of ED discharge and aftercare instructions could be improved through instructional videos in addition to standard written discharge instructions.Methods: This was a prospective pre- and post-intervention study conducted at a single-center, academic tertiary care ED. Patients presenting with the five selective chief complaints (closed head injury, vaginal bleeding, laceration care, splint care, and upper respiratory infection) were given questionnaires after their discharge instructions to test comprehension. Once video discharge instructions were implemented, patients received standard discharge instructions in addition to video discharge instructions and were given the same questionnaire. A total of 120 patients were enrolled in each group.Results: There were significantly better survey scores after video discharge instructions (VDI) vs standard discharge instructions (SDI) for the closed head injury (27% SDI vs 46% VDI, P = 0.003); upper respiratory infection (28% SDI vs 64% VDI; P l 0.0001); and vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy groups (20% SDI vs 60% VDI, P l 0.0001). There were no significant differences in survey scores between the splint care (53% SDI vs 66% VDI; P = 0.08) and suture care groups (29% SDI vs 31% VDI; P = 0.40).Conclusion: Video discharge instructions supplementing standard written instructions can help improve patient comprehension and information retention. This better understanding of aftercare instructions is essential to patient follow-up and has been shown to improve patient outcomes.
Seeing the tundra for the plants, on the eco-spiritual wholeness of arctic vegetation:

Drawing on ethnographic field research in Chukotka, Russia, this article explores ideas and practices connected with the Arctic tundra vegetation that speak to its place in Chukchi spirituality and...
Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor Modulators in Multiple Sclerosis

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators possess a unique mechanism of action as disease-modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). Subtype 1 S1P receptors are expressed on the surfaces of lymphocytes and are important in regulating egression from lymph nodes. The S1P receptor modulators indirectly antagonize the receptor’s function and sequester lymphocytes in lymph nodes. Fingolimod was the first S1P agent approved in the USA in 2010 for relapsing MS after two phase III trials (FREEDOMS and TRANSFORMS) demonstrated potent efficacy, and good safety and tolerability. Post-marketing experience, as well as a third phase III trial (FREEDOMS II), also showed favorable results. More selective S1P receptor agents—ponesimod (ACT128800), siponimod (BAF312), ozanimod (RPC1063), ceralifimod (ONO-4641), GSK2018682, and MT-1303—are still in relatively early stages of development, but phase I and II trials showed promising efficacy and safety. However, these observations have yet to be reproduced in phase III clinical trials.
Transnational Labor? Insights from North America

NAFTA and the Politics of Labor Transnationalism. By Tamara Kay. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011. 310 pp., $31.99 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-0-521-13295-4). NAFTA and the Politics of Labor Transnationalism by Tamara Kay contributes to the study of transnational movements, particularly labor transnationalism, and the impacts of transnational governance on their formation. The study covers primarily the period just before and during the first seven years of NAFTA (1994–2001). The author argues that despite their serious limitations, quite unexpectedly, the NAFTA process and the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation nurtured labor transnationalism in North America. More specifically, “although the evidence supporting an economic explanation for NAFTA's effect is not terribly convincing, that for a political explanation is quite compelling” (p. 7). NAFTA “catalyzed labor transnationalism by creating two new transnational institutional arenas through which North American labor activists could engage each other” (p. 7). The first was the “transnational trade-negotiating field” (p. 8) and the second a “transnational legal field” (p. 10). Taking advantage of these fields, “unions with progressive leadership that granted key players the authority to direct and nurture relationships were more likely to engage in transnationalism than unions in which NAFTA was simply perceived as a threat” (p. 11). Transnational institutional fields are central to the explanatory scheme of the volume because they “create transnational opportunity structures by serving three constitutive functions: (1) constituting transnational actors and interests; (2) defining and recognizing transnational rights; and (3) adjudicating rights at the transnational level” (p. 16). In short, transnational fields allow for the bridging of the global and the local while the opportunity structures that emerge from them “create spaces where activists come together, mobilize, and develop their interests and identities in relationship to each other” (p. 21). However, the …
Abstract 3216: Percutaneous Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) and Atrial Septal Defects (ASD): Incidence and Complication Rates in the United States Adult Population

Introduction: PFO/ASD closure may prevent recurrent events among patients with cryptogenic stroke. Hypothesis: Despite a lack of randomized trial evidence supporting the role of PFO/ASD closure for the secondary prevention of stroke, anecdotal evidence suggests increasing use of this procedure. We suspected that complication rates would be higher at hospitals performing fewer procedures. Methods: We used data from the 1998–2003 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project to produce a U.S. national estimate for the number of percutaneous PFO/ASD closures (ICD-9 code 35.52) among patients 20 years and older without other congenital heart disease. The analysis was limited, when the data was available, to procedures done on hospital day 1 or 2. Length of stay (LOS), total hospital charges and complication rates during admission were calculated. Results: The number of procedures increased markedly over the 6 study years (national estimate per year: 81, 85, 240, 414, 1923, 3230). Patient age averaged 51.8 years, 58.0% were female, and of those with valid data 83.8% were white, 4.1% were black, and 7.3% were Hispanic. A total of 96 hospitals in the sample did at least 1 procedure, and 50.0% of all procedures were done at 6 high volume hospitals (50 or more total procedures). High volume hospitals had lower mean charges ($27,265 v. 31,585, p 2 days (3.4 v.12.0%, p Conclusions: Percutaneous PFO/ASD closure is increasingly common. Complications are not infrequent, and a significant number appear related to inexperience with this new procedure.
Abstract P110: Mean Daily Pedometer Step Count is Associated With Weight Loss

Introduction: Increased physical activity (PA), along with reduced energy intake, are the key strategies to achieve weight loss. However, there are challenges to obtaining accurate PA data. Many studies rely on self-report, which is easily accessible and inexpensive but is known to have numerous limitations. Pedometers are a relatively inexpensive and accessible method to objectively measure certain aspects of PA. However, their limitations include the inability to assess certain types of PA such as swimming and cycling. The purpose of this analysis was to examine the associations between self-reported PA, pedometer step count data and weight loss in a behavioral weight loss intervention. Hypotheses: 1) Self-reported PA will not be associated with weight loss. 2) Higher daily pedometer step count will be associated with greater weight loss. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of 6-month data from the Self Efficacy Lifestyle Focus (SELF) Trial. Self-reported PA was assessed using the Modifiable Activity...
Confidence Intervals for Signal to Noise Ratio of a Poisson Distribution

The Poisson distribution is one of the most useful probability distributions to fit rare event data. Confidence interval for the SNR is an important issue among the researchers in image processing. This study considers several confidence intervals for the SNR of a Poisson distribution. Different confidence intervals available in literature are reviewed and compared based on the coverage probability and average width of the intervals. Since a theoretical comparison is not possible, a simulation study has been conducted to compare the performance of the interval estimators. Based on the simulation study we observed that most of our proposed interval estimators are performing well in the sense of attaining nominal size and they have been recommended for the researchers. Most of the proposed intervals except methods Wald, Waldz and bootstrap are performing well in the sense of attaining nominal size. The exact method performed the best followed by VSS, Wald B and Bayes in the sense of attaining nominal size and shorter width when the SNR is large.
Heterobivalent ligands crosslink multiple cell-surface receptors--a step towards personal medicine.

Introduction Effective treatment of tumor malignancies depends upon identifying targets – molecular markers that differentiate cancer cells from healthy cells. Current cancer therapies involve targeting either differential metabolism, especially nucleic acid biosynthesis pathways, or overexpressed specific gene products. We propose an alternative approach – to specifically target combinations of cell-surface receptors using heteromultivalent ligands (htMVLs). We envision that a three cell-surface protein combination that is expressed on a cancer cell but not on a normal cell could be targeted with heteromultivalent ligands displaying cognate binding motifs of weak affinities. These constructs should bind with high avidity and specificity to cancer population in vivo [1, 2]. As a proof-of-concept, we have synthesized series of heterobivalent constructs of MSH, CCK and -opioid receptors (Fig. 1). The constituent binding motifs in these constructs were moderately potent (see Fig. 1 legend) and were connected via a semi-rigid poly(Pro-Gly) linker flanked by flexible polyethylene glycol based PEGO chains.
Osmotin: A Protein Associated with Osmotic Stress Adaptation in Plant Cells

Osmotin is a cationic protein which accumulates (up to 12% of total cell protein) in cells adapted to grow in the medium with low water potentials. The synthesis of osmotin is developmentally regulated and is induced by abscisic acid (ABA) in cultured cells. In whole plants, both the synthesis and accumulation of osmotin is tissue specific. The highest rate of synthesis occurs in outer stem tissue and the highest level of accumulation occurs in roots. ABA induced synthesis of osmotin is transient in cells and NaCl stabilizes its synthesis and accumulation. NaCl adapted tobacco cells exhibit a stable increase in both their ability to tolerate salt and to produce osmotin in the absence of NaCl. Osmotin is localized in vacuolar inclusions but also appears to be loosely associated with the tonoplast and plasma membrane. Osmotin is also found in the culture medium of adapted cells during all stages of cell growth. The molecular weight of mature osmotin deduced from the cDNA nucleotide sequence is 23,984 daltons. Osmotin is synthesized as a preprotein 2.5 kD larger than the mature protein. Three proteins, thaumatin, TPR and MAI, exhibit a very high level (52% to 61%) of sequence homology with osmotin. Osmotin mRNA synthesis is induced by ABA. The level of osmotin mRNA increases after NaCl adaptation.