cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Notions of Cause: Russell's thesis revisited*

We discuss Russell’s 1913 essay arguing for the irrelevance of the idea of causation to science and its elimination from metaphysics as a precursor to contemporary philosophical naturalism. We show how Russell’s application raises issues now receiving much attention in debates about the adequacy of such naturalism, in particular, problems related to the relationship between folk and scientific conceptual influences on metaphysics, and to the unification of a scientifically inspired worldview. In showing how to recover an approximation to Russell’s conclusion while explaining scientists’ continuing appeal to causal ideas (without violating naturalism by philosophically correcting scientists) we illustrate a general naturalist strategy for handling problems around the unification of sciences that assume different levels of na¨´ e with respect to folk conceptual frameworks. We do this despite rejecting one of the premises of Russell’s argument, a version of reductionism that was scientifically plausible in 1913 but is not so now. 1 Russell’s Naturalistic Rejection of Causation 2 Psychology, Folk Notions and Intuitions 3 Causes in Science 4 Letting Science Hold Trumps
Redox-regulated Cargo Binding and Release by the Peroxisomal Targeting Signal Receptor, Pex5

In its role as a mobile receptor for peroxisomal matrix cargo containing a peroxisomal targeting signal called PTS1, the protein Pex5 shuttles between the cytosol and the peroxisome lumen. Pex5 binds PTS1 proteins in the cytosol via its C-terminal tetratricopeptide domains and delivers them to the peroxisome lumen, where the receptor·cargo complex dissociates. The cargo-free receptor is exported to the cytosol for another round of import. How cargo release and receptor recycling are regulated is poorly understood. We found that Pex5 functions as a dimer/oligomer and that its protein interactions with itself (homo-oligomeric) and with Pex8 (hetero-oligomeric) control the binding and release of cargo proteins. These interactions are controlled by a redox-sensitive amino acid, cysteine 10 of Pex5, which is essential for the formation of disulfide bond-linked Pex5 forms, for high affinity cargo binding, and for receptor recycling. Disulfide bond-linked Pex5 showed the highest affinity for PTS1 cargo. Upon reduction of the disulfide bond by dithiothreitol, Pex5 transitioned to a noncovalent dimer, concomitant with the partial release of PTS1 cargo. Additionally, dissipation of the redox balance between the cytosol and the peroxisome lumen caused an import defect. A hetero-oligomeric interaction between the N-terminal domain (amino acids 1-110) of Pex5 and a conserved motif at the C terminus of Pex8 further facilitates cargo release, but only under reducing conditions. This interaction is also important for the release of PTS1 proteins. We suggest a redox-regulated model for Pex5 function during the peroxisomal matrix protein import cycle.
Background stabilization and debris flagging in launch pad videos

Launch pads have many cameras that record footage of the space vehicles and the surrounding areas during launches. The footage from many of these cameras is not stable due to camera vibration during ignition and lift-off from the rocket thrust. Aside from making the footage difficult to watch, these instabilities in the background make it harder for viewers to notice any debris that may have fallen from the vehicle, or any other foreign objects. In this paper, we present a method for the automatic stabilization and detection of any debris from such footage. We first stabilize the background by registering consecutive frames and subsequently detect and track moving objects that could be potentially dangerous debris.
Exponential error bounds for binary detection using arbitrary binary sensors and an all-purpose fusion rule in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks are considered in which sensors convey binary decisions over fading channels to a common fusion center. The fusion center first takes each received signal and makes an estimate of the transmitted bit. The average of the estimated bits is compared to a threshold to make a global decision. Exponential error bounds are derived that allow one to trade off signal-to-noise ratio versus the number of sensors to achieve desired average error levels. An attractive feature of the bounds is that they do not require exact knowledge of the wireless channel statistics; approximations are sufficient.
Field mapping and temperature dependence of magnetic domain memory induced by exchange couplings

Strong magnetic domain memory is achieved in (Co/Pd)IrMn exchange-biased ferromagnetic thin films when zero-field-cooled (ZFC) below their blocking temperature TB. By mapping out the amount of memory throughout the entire magnetization cycle, from nucleation to saturation, at different temperatures below and above TB, we discover how microscopic morphological changes in the magnetic domain patterns correlate with the macroscopic magnetic hysteresis, in the presence or absence of exchange couplings. Our unique inter-field correlation maps show that in the ZFC state, the film exhibits the highest amount of domain memory, exceeding 90%, when domain patterns are compared at the same field value, in the coercive region of the magnetization loop. However, domain patterns also cross-correlate surprisingly well when measured at different field values, on a wide field range centered about the coercive region. The shape and symmetry of the correlation maps provide further insights into the microscopic morphological changes in the domain patterns and the amount of reversibility in the reversal process, at the nanoscale.
Preparation of Topical Reading Lists from the Link Structure of Wikipedia

Personalized reading preparation poses an important challenge for education and continuing education. Using a PageRank derivative and graph distance ordering, we show that personalized background reading lists can be generated automatically from the link structure of Wikipedia. We examine the operation of our new tool in professional, student, and interdisciplinary researcher learning models. Additionally, we present desktop and mobile interfaces for the generated reading lists.
The allantoic membrane of the rabbit: evidence of a cholinergic electrical potential.

The electrical potential of the rabbit allantoic membrane is sensitive to acetylcholine, a sensitivity which can be altered or abolished by anticholinesterase compounds. Biochemical and histochemical studies indicates that acetylcholinesterase activity is present in the endodermal layer of the membrane. These findings suggest that the allantois may be a valuable model for investigations into the role of acetylcholinesterase in membrane excitability.
Spinal motion and intradiscal pressure measurements before and after lumbar spine instrumentation with titanium or PEEK rods

Spinal instrumentation and fusion have been incriminated as contributing to adjacent segment degeneration (ASD). It has been suggested that ASD results from increased range of motion and intradiscal pressure (IDP) adjacent to instrumentation. Posterior dynamic stabilization with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) rods has been proposed as potentially advantageous compared to rigid instrumentation with titanium (Ti) rods in reducing the incidence of ASD. We evaluated segmental motions in the cadaveric spine instrumented with PEEK or Ti rods from L3 to S1, as well as the adjacent segment motions and IDP at L1-2 and L2-3. Human cadaveric spines were potted at T12-L1 and S1-2. Spinal instrumentation from L3-S1 was accomplished using pedicle screws with either PEEK or Ti rods. Specimens were subjected to displacement controlled testing: 15° flexion, 15° extension, 10° lateral bending, and 5° right axial rotation using the MTS machine (MTS, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Intradiscal pressure was measured by placing pressure transducers into the intervertebral disc at L1-2 and L2-3. Spinal motion of L2 relative to L3, and L3 relative to S1 was tracked using a three dimensional motion analysis system. Instrumentation with PEEK and Ti rods was associated with a decrease in L3-S1 motion compared to the intact state that was significant in flexion (p=0.002), and extension (p=0.0075). Instrumentation with PEEK and Ti rods was associated with an increase in IDP at L1-2 that was significant in flexion (p=0.0028). Instrumentation with either PEEK or Ti rods resulted in decreased motion at the instrumented levels while increasing IDP at the adjacent level.
Anesthetic considerations for the pediatric oncology patient--part 2: systems-based approach to anesthesia.

Summary One of the prices paid for chemo- and radiotherapy of cancer in children is damage to the vulnerable and developing healthy tissues of the body. Such damage can exist clinically or subclinically and can become apparent during active antineoplastic treatment or during remission decades later. Furthermore, effects of the tumor itself can significantly impact the physiologic state of the child. The anesthesiologist who cares for children with cancer or for survivors of childhood cancer should understand what effects cancer and its therapy can have on various organ systems. In part two of this three-part review, we review the anesthetic issues associated with childhood cancer. Specifically, this review presents a systems-based approach to the impact from both tumor and its treatment in children, followed by a discussion of the relevant anesthetic considerations.
Ayahuasca as Antidepressant? Psychedelics and Styles of Reasoning in Psychiatry

There is a growing interest among scientists and the lay public alike in using the South American psychedelic brew, ayahuasca, to treat psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. Such a practice is controversial due to a style of reasoning within conventional psychiatry that sees psychedelic-induced modified states of consciousness as pathological. This article analyzes the academic literature on ayahuasca's psychological effects to determine how this style of reasoning is shaping formal scientific discourse on ayahuasca's therapeutic potential as a treatment for depression and anxiety. Findings from these publications suggest that different kinds of experiments are differentially affected by this style of reasoning but can nonetheless indicate some potential therapeutic utility of the ayahuasca-induced modified state of consciousness. The article concludes by suggesting ways in which conventional psychiatry's dominant style of reasoning about psychedelic modified states of consciousness could be reconsidered.
Metabolism of apoB-100 in lipoproteins separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation in normal and Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits

We have examined the capability of a previously developed compartmental model to explain the kinetics of radioiodinated apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL), and low density lipoproteins (LDL) separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation after intravenous injection of radioiodinated VLDL into New Zealand white (NZW) and Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. Our model was developed primarily from kinetics in whole blood plasma of apoB-100 in particles with and without apoE after intravenous injection of large VLDL, total VLDL, IDL, and LDL. When the initial conditions for this model were assumed to be an intravenous injection of radiolabeled VLDL, the plasma VLDL and LDL simulations for NZW rabbits and the VLDL, IDL, and LDL simulations for WHHL rabbits were found to be inconsistent with the observed density gradient data. By adding a new pathway in the VLDL portion of the model for NZW rabbits and a new compartment in VLDL for WHHL rabbits, and by assuming some cross-contamination in the density gradient ultracentrifugal separations, it was possible to bring our model, which was based upon measurements of 125I-labeled apoB-100 in whole plasma, into conformity with the data obtained by density gradient ultracentrifugation. The relatively modest changes required in the model to fit the gradient ultracentrifugation data support the suitability of our approach to the kinetic analysis of the metabolism of apoB-100 in VLDL and its conversion to IDL and LDL based upon measurements of 125I-labeled apoB-100 in whole plasma after injection of radiolabeled VLDL, IDL, and LDL. Furthermore, the differences in kinetics observed by us between data from whole plasma and data from plasma submitted to ultracentrifugal separation from the same or similar animals highlight the fact that small variations that can occur in the separation of lipoprotein classes by buoyant density can lead to confusing results.
Calculating the Fugacity of Pure, Low Volatile Liquids via Molecular Simulation with Application to Acetanilide, Acetaminophen, and Phenacetin

Conventional molecular simulation free energy calculations and standard thermodynamic relations are applied to compute the pure liquid fugacity of low volatile liquids and compared to reference Monte Carlo simulations. The method involves the calculation of the residual chemical potential and the molar volume of the liquid at the conditions of interest. For substances that are solid at the conditions of interest, simulations may be performed at elevated temperatures and extrapolated to subcooled conditions. It is shown that direct calculations at subcooled conditions provide erroneous values of the fugacity. Knowledge of the pure liquid fugacity is essential to compute activity coefficients defined with respect to a Lewis–Randall standard state for thermodynamic property modeling. The validity of the method is verified by comparing to reference simulation results for n-octane, 3,4-dimethylhexane, cyclohexane, methanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol. The method is then applied to acetanilide, acetaminophen, a...
Estimating the Uncertainty in Spatial Estimates of Areal Snow Water Equivalent

With the increased demand for water in the United States, particularly in the West, it is essential that water resources be accurately monitored. Consequently, the National Weather Service (NWS) maintains a set of conceptual, continuous, hydrologic simulation models used to generate extended streamflow predictions, water supply outlooks, and flood forecasts. A vital component of the hydrologic simulation models is a snow accumulation and ablation model that uses observed temperature and precipitation date to simulate snow cover conditions. The simulated model states are updated throughout the snow season using snow water equivalent estimates (estimates of the water content of snowpack) obtained from airborne and ground-based snow water equivalent data. The National Weather Service has developed a spatial geostatistical model to estimate the areal snow water equivalent in a river basin. The estimates, which are obtained for river basins throughout the West, are used to update the snow model. To facilitate accurate updating of the simulated snow water equivalent estimates generated by the snow model, it is necessary to incorporate measures of uncertainty of the areal snow water equivalent estimates. In this research, we derive the expression for the mean-squared prediction error of the areal snow water equivalent estimate and illustrate the methodology with an example from the Upper Colorado River basin.
Embryotoxicity of Leukocyte Extracts and its Relationship to Intrauterine Contraception in Humans

Twelve human uteri containing intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) and ten uteri without IUDs were obtained at hysterectomy. Samples of fluid were collected from the uterine lumina by absorbing the fluid in small pieces of lens paper. In the samples of luminal fluid we measured the concentration of β-galactosidase, an enzyme which is present in human neutrophilic leukocytes and whose concentration in luminal fluid should correlate with the local inflammatory response to the intrauterine foreign body. In the samples of fluid from IUD-bearing uteri, the concentration of β-galactosidase was significantly (P To determine whether a foreign-body response of this magnitude could have any effect on preimplantation embryos, we cultured mouse embryos from day 4 to day 7 of development in culture media to which extracts of human leukocytes were added. All mouse embryos were killed when the culture media contained enough leukocyte extract to give β-galactosidase concentrations of 0. 5 unit or higher. Thus mouse embryos were killed by leukocyte extracts whose β-galactosidase concentrations were actually less than the concentration of this marker enzyme measured in IUD uterine fluid. This comparison indicates that the luminal fluid in IUD-bearing uteri contains leukocyte breakdown products in sufficient concentration to be lethal for preimplantation embryos.
The pharmacology of alcohol and its relationship to drinking and driving.

The relationship of alcohol absorption and blood alcohol levels and its variability are discussed in connection with the medicolegal aspects of chemical testing of the drinking driver and statistic...
Echoortung bei der Fledermaus Chilonycteris rubiginosa

Chilonycteris rubiginosa erzeugt in allen Orientierungsituationen dreiteilige Ortungslaute. Im Anfangsteil steigt die Frequenz um etwa 1–2 kHz an. Der folgende Mittelteil hat eine konstante Frequenz von etwa 57 bis 57,6 kHz. Im Endteil fallt die Frequenz um etwa 8 kHz ab. Die Laute werden in Folgen von Lautgruppen ausgesendet.
Simulation of Locking Space Truss Deployments

There is a growing need in the space industry for large antenna apertures that can be deployed from existing launch vehicle payload fairings in order to increase ground to space communications sensitivity. The solutions presented here involves a sparse antenna array made from self-deploying, folded box trusses which use locking joints and tension cables to create a parabolic reflector. This paper presents method for simulating a largely unconstrained deployment of a single box truss. Results of this simulation establish the framework for future work that will include an entire truss system of eight truss boxes that constitute an entire arm of the sparse antenna array.
Human Trafficking - A Global Perspective

UCF Nursing Faculty, Concurrent Program, Altamonte Springs Campus, University of Central Florida College of Nursing, Orlando, Florida, USA *Corresponding author: Susan Scoot Ricci, ARNP, MSN, MEd, CNE UCF Nursing Faculty Concurrent Program Altamonte Springs campus Site Coordinator University of Central Florida College of Nursing Orlando, Florida, USA Tel. (407) 404-6088 E-mail: Susan.Ricci@ucf.edu
Are There Clinical Implications of Racial Differences in HbA1c? A Difference, to Be a Difference, Must Make a Difference

Studies that have compared HbA1c levels by race have consistently demonstrated higher HbA1c levels in African Americans than in whites. These racial differences in HbA1c have not been explained by measured differences in glycemia, sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, access to care, or quality of care. Recently, a number of nonglycemic factors and several genetic polymorphisms that operate through nonglycemic mechanisms have been associated with HbA1c Their distributions across racial groups and their impact on hemoglobin glycation need to be systematically explored. Thus, on the basis of evidence for racial differences in HbA1c, current clinical guidelines from the American Diabetes Association state: "It is important to take…race/ethnicity…into consideration when using the A1C to diagnose diabetes." However, it is not clear from the guidelines how this recommendation might be actualized. So, the critical question is not whether racial differences in HbA1c exist between African Americans and whites; the important question is whether the observed differences in HbA1c level are clinically meaningful. Therefore, given the current controversy, we provide a Point-Counterpoint debate on this issue. In the preceding point narrative, Dr. Herman provides his argument that the failure to acknowledge that HbA1c might be a biased measure of average glycemia and an unwillingness to rigorously investigate this hypothesis will slow scientific progress and has the potential to do great harm. In the counterpoint narrative below, Dr. Selvin argues that there is no compelling evidence for racial differences in the validity of HbA1c as a measure of hyperglycemia and that race is a poor surrogate for differences in underlying causes of disease risk.-William T. CefaluEditor in Chief, Diabetes Care.
The evolution of morbidity and mortality conferences

Morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs) have become a vital element of patient care, sitting at the intersection of medical education, quality improvement and risk management. MMCs may have increased in importance as a staple of safety education since the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has identified that the discussion and analysis of adverse events in a structured fashion promotes the learning of key quality and safety concepts.1–3 Groups across specialties and disciplines have implemented innovative models of MMCs as a vehicle to engage clinicians in discussions to learn from adverse events and to identify opportunities to improve care. In studying these new models, it has become clear that deliberate attention to the structure, processes and content of the conference yields the greatest opportunity for improving the quality of patient care beyond just learning the concepts of quality and safety.4 ,5 We now face the next iteration of the MMC and are tasked with describing the facets that will best allow MMCs to drive learning and improved outcomes. In this issue, Kwok and colleagues highlight the impact of implementing a structured MMC, the Ottawa M&M Model (‘OM3 model’), at their acute care tertiary centre across multiple specialties.6 The model consists of five key elements, including appropriate case selection, structured case analysis, the creation of and dissemination of bottom-line summaries, the development of effective pathways for action items and interprofessional and multidisciplinary participation. The authors conducted a yearlong study of 16 clinical groups implementing the OM3 model. The investigators provided an OM3 toolkit that included relevant educational materials, dedicated coaching to the teams, encouraged the groups to establish a quality committee for subsequent action …
Detecting mental health problems and suicidal motives among terrorists and mass shooters

Background For years, many scholars dismissed the possibility that terrorists – including suicide attackers – could be mentally ill or primarily suicidal. However, that view is gradually changing. Aim Researchers continue to face significant challenges when attempting to detect mental health problems and suicidal motives among terrorists and mass shooters, because many offenders cannot easily be psychologically assessed. This article offers several specific recommendations for how researchers can better understand offenders' mental state by studying their life histories and behaviour. Methods Research on detection of mental disorders and suicidal intent is reviewed and applied to specific challenges for assessing terrorists and mass shooters. Results It appears that researchers can improve the accuracy of their assessments by (1) recognising the likelihood of under-diagnosis of mental disorders, (2) prioritising in-depth evaluation and analysis of mental state and (3) considering the role of social and situational factors in suicidal ideation and motivation. Conclusion More accurate detection of mental health problems and suicidal motives among terrorists and mass shooters could help advance scientific understandings of these individuals and even help prevent lethal attacks. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GIR-based ensemble sampling approaches for imbalanced learning

Abstract This paper presents two adaptive ensemble sampling approaches for imbalanced learning: one is the undersampling-based approach, and the other one is the oversampling-based approach, with the objectives of bias reduction and adaptive learning. Both of these two approaches are based on a novel class imbalance metric, termed generalized imbalance ratio (GIR), instead of the conventional sample size ratio. Specifically, these two sampling-based approaches adaptively split the imbalanced learning problem into multiple balanced learning subproblems in a probabilistic way, which forces the classifiers trained in the subproblems focus on those difficult to learn samples. In each subproblem, several weak classifiers are trained in a boosting manner. A final stronger classifier is further built by combining all these weak classifiers in a bagging manner. Extensive experiments are conducted on real-life UCI imbalanced data sets to evaluate the performance of the proposed methods. The superior performance demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed methods and indicates wide potential applications in data mining.
Plane Flame Furnace Combustion Studies of Pulverized Wood

The problem of fuel selection is becoming a more difficult one for the combustion engineer, primarily because of the rapidly increasing number and variety of new fuels available.1 These manifold new fuels are being identified or developed in response to the dual world problem of energy availability and maintenance of environmental air quality.1,2 Nations around the world will place an increased reliance on the utilization of biomass resources, particularly wood, to partially meet short term energy demands. Although the increased usage of virgin wood or wood wastes seems feasible, detailed combustion performance characteristics of pulverized wood (ignition and burnout times; pollutant emissions) as a function of fuel properties (species; moisture; particle size) and combustor operating conditions (preheat; excess air) are virtually unknown. Development of second-generation technology is necessary for increased wood utilization. Combustion research is required to supply well-defined data on biomass flames, and a fundamental understanding of pulverized- fuel combustion.
Natural Products as Anti-inflammatory Agents

Inflammation is triggered by numerous factors including oxidative stress, environmental pollutants, microbial agents, and physical damage to tissues. Chronic inflammation, characterized by a prevalence of macrophages and lymphocytes in the affected tissues and the overexpression of a host of cellular cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory enzymes, promotes all stages of cancer development including initiation, promotion, cell transformation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. This chapter describes some key mechanisms by which naturally occurring dietary compounds, either alone or in combination, reduce the harmful effects of inflammation and the risk for cancer development. The most extensively studied compounds are a series of polyphenols which influence the inflammatory process in multiple ways including their ability to scavenge oxidative radicals, influence carcinogen activation and detoxification, and regulate expression levels of numerous transcription activators and their associated cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory enzymes. In the past, the inhibitory effects of naturally occurring compounds, especially the polyphenols, have been attributed mainly to their intrinsic antioxidant capacity; however, it is likely that their direct binding to cellular macromolecules and the associated effects on gene transcription and translation, as well as on enzyme activity, may be equally as important.
Behavior, brain, and morphology in a complex insect society: trait integration and social evolution in the exceptionally polymorphic ant Pheidole rhea

Polyphenisms in social insects arise from flexible developmental mechanisms that may produce behaviorally and morphologically specialized workers. The ant genus Pheidole is typically characterized by small minor worker and large soldier subcastes, but larger supersoldiers have evolved in several species, including the exceptionally polymorphic Pheidole rhea. To examine worker phenotype evolution in this socially complex ant, we tested the hypotheses that behavior, brain structure, and morphology are integrated within worker size classes due to selection for specialized social roles and that traits have been discretized among these groups. Our analyses revealed significant differences in brain structure and body shape between minor workers and the two soldier size classes. Behavioral repertoires of minors, soldiers, and supersoldiers were similar, but minors performed important tasks at higher frequencies than soldiers and supersoldiers. The extensive overlap in behavioral repertoire between soldier and supersoldier groups correlated with shared neuroanatomical and morphological traits. Although head and body size vary allometrically among P. rhea size classes, scaling analyses revealed little allometry in brain substructure. The covariation of behavior and brain organization between soldier size classes suggests that their functionality may be due to differences in task performance rate or efficiency rather than task repertoire. The early branching position of P. rhea in the phylogeny of Pheidole and patterns of worker phenotypic plasticity suggest this species exhibits an ancestral state of sociobiological and neurobiological organization that served as a ground plan for diversification in this ecologically dominant ant genus. Selection for divergent social roles may impact the degree to which behavioral, neuroanatomical, and morphological phenotypes are integrated within individuals and between specialized groups. Behavioral repertoire, neuroanatomy, and worker body shape in the strongly polymorphic P. rhea, a species of the hyperdiverse ant genus Pheidole that branched early in the phylogeny of the clade appear to show a relatively low degree of integration with worker head-body size. The putatively ancestral and developmentally plastic condition in which larger-bodied soldier groups are not distinguishable in behavior, brain scaling relationships, and body shape suggests the advantage of worker head-body allometry may derive from variation in quantitative aspects of behavioral performance rather than specialization on qualitatively different tasks. This appears to be significant to social evolution in the genus.
Housing Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Tribal Areas: A Report from the Assessment of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Needs: Executive Summary

During the past two decades, although improvements have been made, the overcrowding and physical housing problems of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) living on reservations and other tribal areas remain strikingly more severe than those of other Americans. Particular circumstances of tribal areas — remoteness, lack of infrastructure, and complex legal and other constraints related to land ownership — make it extremely difficult to improve housing conditions in those areas, although it is important to point out that tribal area housing problems and the barriers to addressing them are much more challenging in some locations and regions of the country than in others. This main final report includes the principal findings and conclusions of the Assessment of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Needs, a congressionally mandated study funded by HUD and carried out by the Urban Institute and its subcontractors, Econometrica, Inc.; NORC at the University of Chicago; and Support Services International, Inc.
Utility of FDG-PET/CT in lymphoma patients undergoing immunotherapy with autologous CTL019 T-cells.

3022 Background: Molecular imaging with FDG-PET/CT (PET/CT) is an established modality for response assessment in lymphoma patients (pts) undergoing treatment (Tx). However, pts treated with novel ...
Immunosuppression by Measles Virus

The ability of measles virus to alter an expected immune (adaptive) response was first recognized by Clements von Pirquet in 1908. He observed that chil dren who were tuberculin positive before contracting acute measles virus infection failed to mount specific skin responses to tuberculin during measles. Later reports confirmed von Pirquet–s observation and extended his findings to other infectious agents.(1–8) Furthermore, during acute measles virus infection, humans may not make antibodies to tetanus toxoid or H and O antigens of Salmonella typhi. Lymphocytes harvested from persons undergoing acute measles virus infection respond poorly, in vitro, to a variety of mitogenic or antigenic stimuli and are deficient in producing chemotactic factors. Therefore, in vivo infection with measles virus can result in a weakened or abolished immune response and in susceptibility to concurrent infection with other viral or bacterial agents.(9,10–16) Indeed, it has been recognized that during measles virus infection, susceptibility to herpes simplex virus (HSV) increases(17) and pulmonary tuberculosis worsens(18–20) By contrast, lipoid nephrosis, a disease that frequently responds to immune suppressive therapy, can dramatically improve in the presence of a concomitant measles virus infection(21–23) The concept that measles virus can also impair the function of some cells involved in natural defense (nonadaptive) mechanisms stems from more recent findings and suggests the need for wider reconsideration of the in vivo immunosuppressive role of measles virus.(24)
Surface Oxidation of Ethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) Membrane for the Treatment of Real Produced Water by Membrane Distillation.

Modification of ethyleneechlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) membranes by simple surface oxidation was reported in the present investigation in order to induce thin hydrophilic layer on hydrophobic membrane surface for the treatment of real produced water (PW). FTIR spectra indicates the appearance of hydrophilic functional groups (–OH and –COOH) on the membrane surface due to modification, while water contact angle, zeta potential measurement, EDX, XPS analysis confirmed the presence of O functionalized hydrophilic groups on the surface. The effect of modification temperature and the time of surface oxidation on the performance of the resulting membranes were studied systematically, which revealed that induction of optimized hydrophilicity can successfully reduce the organic fouling. However, too much hydrophilic surface induces polar/electrostatic interaction resulting salt deposition on membrane surface. A simple on site cleaning procedure was demonstrated to be successful for the treatment PW for at least three consecutive cycles of membrane distillation (MD).
Correction to: Shared school transportation: determinants of carpooling as children’s school travel mode in California

In the online published article, in figure 2 a value is missing in column 4. The correct figure is given in this correction. The original article has been corrected.
AID, POLICIES, AND GROWTH: WHY SO MUCH CONFUSION?

We revisit the highly debated aid‐policy‐growth association. Our results overturn Burnside and Dollar's original findings by simply using new data over the same countries and years. Marginal effects from the extended sample (1962–2013) provide weak evidence that aid can promote growth in the presence of good policies. Post‐Cold War (1990–2013) analysis, however, reveals that aid can decrease growth at any level of policy. The overwhelming majority of the results suggest aid conditional on policy is ineffective. This debate continues because the results are highly sensitive to country‐year selection, choice of methodology, measurement of institutional quality, and growth rate measurement. (JEL F35, O23, O40)
Fine-Grained Crime Prediction in an Urban Neighborhood

Crime is a serious problem that has severe implications on city resources. In this work, we present a novel probabilistic model that predicts the occurrence of various crime types by learning from previous crime incidents and takes advantage of joint dependencies across crime types. We perform a preliminary evaluation using a real-world dataset of crime incidents reported in Memphis across several precincts which shows the promise of our approach.
A thrombin inhibitor reduces brain edema, glioma mass and neurological deficits in a rat glioma model.

Although thrombin is a critical enzyme in the coagulation cascade, it has become apparent that it has many other effects. Thus, it may induce brain edema formation, angiogenesis and cell proliferation. Because of the importance of these three factors in the extremely poor prognosis of glioma patients, the present study examined the role of thrombin in that disease state. We found that thrombin activity is increased in a rat glioma model and thrombin positive cells were present in the tumor. Anti-thrombin treatment with argatroban reduced brain edema, tumor growth, and tumorrelated neurological deficits. Our results suggest that thrombin is a new target for glioma treatment.
Convergence to real-time decision making

Real-time decision making reflects the convergence of several digital technologies, including those concerned with the promulgation of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies that underpin real-time actions. More specifically, real-time decision making can be depicted in terms of three converging dimensions: Internet of Things, decision making, and real-time. The Internet of Things include tangible goods, intangible services, ServGoods, and connected ServGoods. Decision making includes model-based analytics (since before 1990), information-based Big Data (since 1990), and training-based artificial intelligence (since 2000), and it is bolstered by the evolving real-time technologies of sensing (i.e., capturing streaming data), processing (i.e., applying real-time analytics), reacting (i.e., making decisions in real-time), and learning (i.e., employing deep neural networks). Real-time includes mobile networks, autonomous vehicles, and artificial general intelligence. Central to decision making, especially real-time decision making, is the ServGood concept, which the author introduced in an earlier paper (2012). It is a physical product or good encased by a services layer that renders the good more adaptable and smarter for a specific purpose or use. Addition of another communication sensors layer could further enhance its smartness and adaptiveness. Such connected ServGoods constitute a solid foundation for the advanced products of tomorrow which can further display their growing intelligence through real-time decisions.
Information behavior and ICT use of Latina immigrants to the U.S. Midwest

Abstract Latina immigrants to the U.S. Midwest are a vibrant, complex, and resilient population of women with intersectional identities stemming from their participation in at least three distinct but interrelated communities: (1) women [in a family-centric culture defined by strong gender roles], (2) immigrants [potentially with linguistic and socioeconomic status disadvantages] and (3) residents of the U.S. Midwest [a low-population/rural area with lesser access to resources and an increasingly xenophobic host community]. Given the potential for marginalization, Latina immigrants to the Midwest represent a population vulnerable to digital exclusion. The current research is the first to investigate systematically ICT use by immigrant Latinas to the U.S. Midwest. Specifically, as consumers and users of technology-mediated information, Latina immigrants to the U.S. Midwest navigate a complex and understudied social environment. To develop a strategy to begin to break down technology barriers for these women, first the complex and interconnected nature of their social environment and information practices needs to be understood; the current article presents that foundational research.
Shining light on the response to repair intermediates in DNA of living cells.

Abstract Fluorescently-tagged repair proteins have been widely used to probe recruitment to micro-irradiation-induced nuclear DNA damage in living cells. Here, we quantify APE1 dynamics after micro-irradiation. Markers of DNA damage are characterized and UV-A laser micro-irradiation energy conditions are selected for formation of oxidatively-induced DNA base damage and single strand breaks, but without detectable double strand breaks. Increased energy of laser micro-irradiation, compared with that used previously in our work, enables study of APE1 dynamics at the lesion site. APE1 shows rapid transient kinetics, with recruitment half-time of less than 1 s and dissociation half-time of less than 15 s. In cells co-transfected with APE1 and PARP1, the recruitment half-time of PARP1 was slower than that of APE1, indicating APE1 is a rapid responder to the damage site. While recruitment of APE1 is unchanged in the presence of co-transfected PARP1, APE1 dissociation is 3-fold slower, revealing PARP1 involvement in APE1 dynamics. Further, we find that APE1 dissociation kinetics are strongly modified in the absence of DNA polymerase β (pol β). After unchanged recruitment to the damage site, dissociation of APE1 became undetectable. This indicates a necessary role for pol β in APE1 release after its recruitment to the damage site. These observations represent an advance in our understanding of in vivo dynamics of base excision repair factors APE1, PARP1 and pol β.
Ligand-Mediated Nanocluster Formation with Classical and Autocatalytic Growth

We present a systematic study of ligand-mediated nanocluster (NC) formation using a kinetic model, which provides atomic insight into sub-nanometer cluster (S-NC) and NC formation. Our model describes the role of ligand-mediated nucleation and growth in obtaining monodisperse NCs. Nucleation includes metal ion reduction, reversible ligand association to the metal ion/atom, and formation of dimer nuclei. Growth can occur through autocatalytic surface growth and ligand-associated monomer addition to the cluster, depending on the rate of metal ion to neutral metal atom conversion. Furthermore, we studied the effect of the initial concentration of metal ions on NC formation using fast and slow reducing agents in the presence of slowly and rapidly binding ligands. The model shows that fast nucleation, slow growth, and a high molar ratio of rapidly binding ligand to metal ions promote the formation of S-NCs and NCs. Our results can guide experiments in the synthesis of ultrasmall clusters.
[WC339] Preparing for One-on-One Qualitative Interviews: Logistics

This new 4-page publication provides an introduction for researchers and evaluators wishing to use qualitative methods of interviews and focus groups. The document covers a short background on qualitative methods versus quantitative methods and offers practical tips on piloting your questions, preparing your materials, and conducting the interview or focus group. Written by Kathryn A. Stofer and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, this EDIS article is designed to accompany AEC675, Preparing for One-on-One Qualitative Interviews: Designing and Conducting the Interview. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc339
Aspirin used for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in total hip arthroplasty decreases heterotopic ossification

Abstract Background Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a known complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA) that can lead to persistent pain, stiffness, nerve impingement, and instability. Aspirin (ASA) has become an increasingly popular method of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, given its availability, ease of use, and relative safety. Although indomethacin has been commonly used for HO prophylaxis, we wanted to determine whether ASA, given the similar mechanism of action, may be effective in reducing the risk of HO in routine unilateral, primary THA when already being used for VTE prophylaxis. Methods The postoperative radiographs of 222 consecutive patients undergoing unilateral, primary THA with cementless fixation were evaluated for HO formation using the Brooker classification immediately before and after surgeon protocol shifted to routine utilization of ASA as VTE prophylaxis in low-risk patients. Results HO was detected in 13 of 99 (13.1%) THAs prescribed ASA for VTE prophylaxis (11 grade I, 1 grade II, 1 grade III) compared with 38 of 123 (30.9%) THAs prescribed non-ASA chemoprophylaxis (26 grade I, 7 grade II, 4 grade III, 1 grade IV). Significantly more THAs in the non-ASA cohort developed HO (P Conclusions ASA may be effective as monotherapy for both VTE and HO reduction in low-risk patients undergoing unilateral primary arthroplasty with cementless fixation.
Production of the Short Chain Fatty Acid, Acetic Acid/Acetate from Ethanol Metabolism Activates NMDAR

Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) regulation of neuronal function remains an interesting but poorly understood area of research. The SCFA, acetic acid, the main component of vinegar and the major metabolite of ethanol has been directly linked to altering neuronal function. However, the underlying mechanisms as it relates to alcohol consumption and SCFA regulation of neuronal function have yet to be elucidated. Here we show that local metabolism of ethanol to acetic acid/acetate in the central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) activates glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) in vivo causing a sympathoexcitatory response. External acetate and intracellular loading of acetic acid in CeA neurons increased neuronal excitability through activation of NMDAR. Furthermore, cultured neurons exposed to acetate showed increased cytosolic calcium which response was abolished by NMDAR antagonist and decreased pH. These findings suggest that acetic acid/acetate is an underestimated bioactive metabolite of ethanol that mediates some effects via an NMDAR-dependent mechanism in the brain. The link between the SCFA, acetic acid/acetate on increased neuronal excitability at least partially through NMDAR may provide a novel avenue for understanding alcohol, metabolic, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders related to alterations in SCFA concentrations in the brain.
A clickable probe for versatile characterization of S-nitrosothiols

Abstract S-nitrosation of cysteine thiols (SNOs), commonly referred to as S-nitrosylation, is a cysteine oxoform that plays an important role in cellular signaling and impacts protein function and stability. Direct labeling of SNOs in cells with the flexibility to perform a wide range of cellular and biochemical assays remains a bottleneck as all SNO-targeted probes to date employ a single analytical modality such as biotin or a specific fluorophore. We therefore developed a clickable, alkyne-containing SNO probe ‘PBZyn’ based on the o-phosphino-benzoyl group warhead that enables multi-modal analysis via click conjugation. We demonstrate the utility of PBZyn to assay SNOs using in situ cellular imaging, protein blotting and affinity purification, as well as mass spectrometry. The flexible PBZyn probe will greatly facilitate investigation into the regulation of SNOs.
Impact of an experiential learning curriculum on youth developmental assets in alternative high schools

Adventure-based learning is used by behavioral health providers to connect clients to therapeutic activities outside traditional settings. These approaches often aim to build internal and external ...