cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“ Chalepa Ta Kala ,” “Fine Things are Difficult”: Socrates’ Insights into the Psychology of Teaching and Learning

The proverb “chalepa ta kala” (“fine things are difficult”) is invoked in three dialogues in the Platonic corpus: Hippias Major, Cratylus and Republic. In this paper, I argue that the context in which the proverb arises reveals Socrates’ considerable pedagogical dexterity as he uses the proverb to rebuke his interlocutor in one dialogue but to encourage his interlocutors in another. In the third, he gauges his interlocutors’ mention of the proverb to be indicative of their preparedness for a more difficult philosophical trial. What emerges in the study of these three Platonic dialogues is that Socrates believes that how he and others describe learning makes a tangible difference in philosophical investigation.
Sorafenib/regorafenib and phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase/thymoma viral proto-oncogene inhibition interact to kill tumor cells.

The present studies were undertaken to determine whether the multikinase inhibitors sorafenib/regorafenib cooperated with clinically relevant , phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase (PI3K)-thymoma viral proto-oncogene (AKT) inhibitors to kill tumor cells. In liver, colorectal, lung, breast, kidney, and brain cancer cells, at clinically achievable doses, sorafenib/regorafenib and the PI3K inhibitor acetic acid (1S,4E,10R,11R,13S,14R)-[4-diallylaminomethylene-6-hydroxy-1-methoxymethyl-10,13-dimethyl-3,7,17-trioxo-1,3,4,7,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-2-oxa-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-11-yl ester (PX-866) cooperated in a greater than additive fashion to kill tumor cells. Cells lacking phosphatase and tensin homolog were as sensitive to the drug combination as cells expressing the protein. Similar data were obtained using the AKT inhibitors perifosine and 8-[4-(1-aminocyclobutyl)phenyl]-9-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f] [1,6]naphthyridin-3(2H)-one hydrochloride (MK2206). PX-866 treatment abolished AKT/glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) phosphorylation, and cell killing correlated with reduced activity of AKT and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Expression of activated AKT and to a lesser extent activated mTOR reduced drug combination lethality. Expression of B-cell lymphoma–extra large or dominant negative caspase 9, but not cellular FLICE (FADD-like IL-1b–converting enzyme)-inhibitory protein short, protected cells from the drug combination. Treatment of cells with PX-866 increased protein levels of p62, lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2), and microtubule-associated protein light chain (LC) 3 and LC3II that correlated with a large increase in LC3–green fluorescent protein (GFP) vesicle numbers. Exposure of PX-866 treated cells to sorafenib reduced p62 and LAMP2 levels, decreased the ratio of LC3 to LC3II, and reduced LC3-GFP vesicle levels. Knockdown of Beclin1 or autophagy-related 5 suppressed drug toxicity by ∼40%. In vivo, sorafenib and PX-866 or regorafenib and MK2206 cooperated to suppress the growth of established HuH7 and HCT116 tumors, respectively. Collectively our data demonstrate that the combination of sorafenib family kinase inhibitors with inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT pathway kills tumor cells in vitro and in vivo.
Ultrasound Guidance for Placement of Difficult Intracavitary Implants

Placement of a radiation implant in patients with cervical cancer may be difficult because of distortion of the canal by tumor or fibrosis from previous radiation. The objective of this study was to determine whether ultrasound may be useful in recognizing or preventing complications associated with placement of an intracavitary implant. Transabdominal ultrasound was used during and after 20 intracavitary implants in patients with cervical cancers. In placing 20 implants, there were 9 placed in less than satisfactory relation to the anatomy of the uterus. In 6 patients, occult perforations occurred, with two-thirds not detected by the operator. Increased difficulty was seen at the time of placement of a second implant after external radiation. By using ultrasound, correction of the misplaced tandem could be made immediately without resorting to more invasive surgical approaches.
Public spending on health care: how are different criteria related? A second opinion.

A natural response to difficult questions is to increase the number of objectives one pursues in the hope that each of them separately will be easy to satisfy. This note critically evaluates this strategy as employed in a recent paper in this journal [Musgrove, Health Policy 1999;47:207‐223], especially its evaluation of the role of cost-effectiveness in priority setting in the health sector. It is suggested that cost-effectiveness measures provide information of limited use, and that the tools of applied welfare economics are sufficient to guide the policy choices addressed in the paper. Students of health economics and health policy makers would do well to be exposed to these tools. © 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Development of air micro plasma source using a magnetic loop with operation at modulated ultra high frequencies

Micro plasma sources are a rapidly growing area of study in plasma sciences, attracting widespread attention due to the large number of possible applications such as biomedical sterilizers, plasma displays, and chemical analyzers. The micro plasma operating power, gas, and pressure are three main issues to address in order to make portable micro plasma devices.
Survival of elderly men with congestive heart failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most common discharge diagnosis for elderly patients. The survival of elderly (age greater than or equal to 75 years) patients with CHF has not recently been reported, especially with reference to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). A patient database was searched for the diagnosis of CHF and then screened for age greater than or equal to 75, Framingham Criteria for CHF and an LVEF evaluation. Ninety-four men fitted all criteria, including a minimum potential follow-up of 3 years. Life-table analysis was employed to compare their survival experience to an expected survival based on a sex- and age-equivalent subset of the 1980 Census data. Causes of death were determined from autopsy, medical records or death certificates. Mean age at onset of CHF was 82.5. Forty-three per cent had an LVEF greater than or equal to 0.45. There was no difference in the prevalence of potential aetiologies between those with LVEF greater than or equal to 0.45 versus LVEF less than 0.45. Life-table analysis revealed that CHF patients had a worse survival than controls for the first 5 years after diagnosis, attributable primarily to a high first-year mortality (28%) for the CHF group. There was no difference in survival between the LVEF greater than or equal to 0.45 and LVEF less than 0.45 groups.
In vitro fertilization for Orthodox Jewish couples: antagonist cycle modifications allowing for mikveh attendance before oocyte retrieval.

Objective To describe a novel method of altering conventional gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, thereby allowing for the observance of ritual Jewish practices, and to investigate the impact of these cycle modifications on IVF outcomes. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Orthodox Jewish couples undergoing GnRH antagonist IVF cycles at The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College from January 1, 2007, to November 1, 2011, in whom cycle starts were delayed using GnRH antagonists and estradiol patches. Intervention(s) GnRH antagonist administration on cycle days 2, 3, and 4, as well as estradiol patch application on cycle days 2, 4, and 6. Main Outcome Measure(s) Days of stimulation, total cycle length, implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live-birth rate were compared for 42 Orthodox Jewish couples undergoing a "mikveh patching protocol" versus 42 control patients matched for age, diagnosis, and IVF cycle characteristics. Result(s) The protocol modifications successfully ensured the ability to visit the mikveh before retrieval by extending total cycle length by 3.85 days on average, with no decrement in implantation (43.2% vs. 39.3%), clinical pregnancy (57.1% vs. 59.5%), or live-birth rates (50.0% vs. 54.8%) as compared with controls. Conclusion(s) GnRH antagonist cycles can be successfully modified to allow for IVF that remains consistent with the observance of Orthodox Jewish practices.
Successful percutaneous repair of perivalvular prosthetic regurgitation.

Objective: To examine the feasibility and outcome of percutaneous transcatheter repair of perivalvular regurgitation. Background: Perivalvular prosthetic regurgitation causes significant morbidity, and is associated with high perioperative mortality if open surgical repair is required. Methods: Percutaneous repair of perivalvular regurgitation was attempted in 16 patients with heart failure or hemolytic anemia. All patients were either not candidates or were high-risk for open surgical repair (Parsonnet score, 39 ± 7). Regurgitant lesions were perimitral in 14 patients (2 had multiple defects) and peri-aortic in 2 patients. Under echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance, patients underwent implantation of either the Amplatzer Septal Occluder or Duct Occluder. Results: Successful percutaneous closure with mild or no residual regurgitation was achieved in 17 of 21 attempts (81%). In one patient, an occluder could not be deployed. There were no procedural deaths, strokes, or myocardial infarctions, and no prosthetic obstruction from device deployment. NYHA functional class improved from 3.1 ± 0.6 to 2.0 ± 1.0 at follow-up (mean, 3.1 mos; P = 0.0001 vs. baseline). One patient with heart failure had symptom resolution but died suddenly 4 weeks after the procedure. One subsequent noncardiac death and two late deaths from progressive heart failure also occurred. Conclusions: Percutaneous repair of perivalvular prosthetic regurgitation is a feasible alternative to open surgical correction, and may be preferred in patients at significant perioperative risk. Further experience with careful attention to patient selection, late morbidity, and mortality is required in this high risk patient subset. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Conformational stability, structural parameters, and vibrational frequencies from ab initio calculations for biphosphine

Abstract Ab initio calculations have been carried out utilizing various basis sets up to MP2/6-311++G** to determine the conformational stability and structural parameters of biphosphine, P2H4. A very shallow minimum is found at the trans position without bound vibrational states and an energy difference of about 400 cm−1 (1.14 kcal mol−1) above the stable gauche conformer. Additionally, infrared intensities, Raman activities and vibrational frequencies have been determined using the RHF/6-31G*, MP2/6-31G* and/or MP2/6-311G** basis sets. These theoretical quantities are compared to the corresponding experimental values and several reassignments of the fundamentals are proposed. The results are compared to those obtained for some related molecules.
Testing of nonlinear diamond-turned reflaxicons

The extreme alignment sensitivity of nonlinear diamond-turned reflaxicons makes them difficult to test and analyze. To evaluate the wave front it is necessary to know what portion results from alignment errors. This paper describes the setup, alignment, and testing of a nonlinear diamond-turned independent-element reflaxicon manufactured at the Union Carbide, Oak Ridge Y-12 plant. Interferograms taken with the center cone misaligned a known amount are analyzed using the axicon preprocessing option in FRINGE [J. S. Loomis (ASTM Report STP 666 and Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng. 171, 64 (1979)]. The results show that FRINGE correctly removes the cone and decenter errors introduced by the misalignments. It is also shown how the resulting interferograms are unfolded to give the OPD errors as seen on the outer cone.
CMOS Based Low Cost Temperature Sensor

This paper presents the design of low power, low cost design of temperature sensor that has been designed keeping in view VLSI circuits and technology changes. The circuit occupies an area close to 0.01 mm , which is less than 1/100th of the area occupied by most of the previous circuits that use capacitors and A/D converters. Power dissipation of the circuit ranges from 800 muW to 1.2 mW for temperatures ranging between -20degC to 80degC. It has been implemented using TSMC 0.18 mum technology.
On-Board Real Time Failure Detection and Diagnosis of Automotive Systems

This paper presents a technique for failure detection and diagnosis (FDD) for on-board vehicle applications. Failures are represented by abrupt changes in the characteristic parameters of a system that occur at random instants of time. This representation facilitates the formulation of the FDD problem as a combined state and parameter estimation problem of a system with uncertain parameters. This non-linear estimation problem is solved using a Bayesian approach and implementing a suboptimal filter. The performance of the FDD system is demonstrated in simulations of an active suspension subjected to sensor failures. In the simulations, the system diagnosed failures correctly within .05 seconds from their occurrence.
Adam Smith and Albert Einstein: The Aesthetic Principle of Truth

I argue for an aesthetic criterion of truth through the explication of the epistemologies of Adam Smith and Albert Einstein–the progenitors of modern economics and physics [cf. Skinner, 1979:ch. 2; Holton, 1968, 1979]. The aesthetic criterion supersedes objectivist and relativist epistemologies.
Sifting Through the Jungle of Sensor Standards

The domain of sensors is still a wild jungle in which nothing is quite standardized. To fix this, we need a device standard to characterize physical and electrical features and constraints, describe necessary data processing and message parsing procedures, and, more importantly, enable automatic device integration into the world of computers we already have. This paper highlights five standards, some of which are labeled "device," "sensor," or "transducer," but all of them are equally capable of describing devices. If sensors are considered as simple or primitive devices, it follows that all five standards are also capable of describing sensors. No distinction between sensors and devices are done here.
SEED GERMINATION AND PROPAGATION OF XYRIS TENNESSEENSIS, A FEDERAL ENDANGERED WETLAND SPECIES

Abstract The recovery plan for the U.S. federally endangered Xyris tennesseensis calls for increasing the size of some existing populations and establishing new ones in suitable sites. As a contribution to this goal, we investigated seed dormancy and germination and attempted to propagate the species in non-native soil. Freshly matured seeds were conditionally dormant and germinated to 0, 0, 92, 91, and 74% in light after two weeks at 15/6, 20/10, 25/15, 30/15, and 35/20°C, respectively. Seeds retained the ability to germinate to 80–100% in light at 25/15 and at 30/15°C throughout a 39.5-month period of burial in an unheated greenhouse. Following the first year of burial, however, germination at 20/10°C showed an annual cycle, with 79–86% of the seeds germinating in spring but only 0–1% in autumn. Under natural temperature regimes, seeds sown on native soil germinated from mid-May to early August. Seeds had an absolute light requirement for germination, and those incubated at 30/15°C required six days of ...
Hydronephrosis: A Rare Presentation of Uterine Didelphys with Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Anomaly.

Abstract Background Obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal anomaly syndrome is a Mullerian duct anomaly characterized by uterine didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal anomalies. Case A 12-year-old girl with a history of right renal agenesis presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain, dysuria, and urinary retention. Imaging identified a uterine didelphys with a large obstructed right hemivagina compressing the left ureter, causing hydronephrosis. She underwent vaginal septum resection for curative treatment. Summary and Conclusion In female patients who present with abdominal pain and a history of renal abnormalities, obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal anomaly syndrome must be considered in the differential diagnosis. This consideration is important in preventing complications such as hydronephrosis seen in this patient.
Gene expression signatures associated with suppression of TRAMP prostate carcinogenesis by a kavalactone-rich Kava fraction.

Kava (Piper methysticum Forster) extract and its major kavalactones have been shown to block chemically induced lung tumor initiation in mouse models. Here we evaluated the chemopreventive effect of a kavalactone-rich Kava fraction B (KFB), free of flavokavains, on carcinogenesis in a transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) model and characterized the prostate gene expression signatures. Male C57BL/6 TRAMP mice were fed AIN93M diet with or without 0.4% KFB from 8 wk of age. Mice were euthanized at 16 or 28 wk. The growth of the dorsolateral prostate (DLP) lobes in KFB-treated TRAMP mice was inhibited by 66% and 58% at the respective endpoint. Anterior and ventral prostate lobes in KFB-treated TRAMP mice were suppressed by 40% and 49% at 28 wk, respectively. KFB consumption decreased cell proliferation biomarker Ki-67 and epithelial lesion severity in TRAMP DLP, without detectable apoptosis enhancement. Real time qRT-PCR detection of mRNA from DLP at 28 wk showed decreased expression of cell cycle regulatory genes congruent with Ki-67 suppression. Microarray profiling of DLP mRNA indicated that "oncogene-like" genes related to angiogenesis and cell proliferation were suppressed by KFB but tumor suppressor, immunity, muscle/neuro, and metabolism-related genes were upregulated by KFB in both TRAMP and WT DLP. TRAMP mice fed KFB diet developed lower incidence of neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECa) (2 out of 14 mice) than those fed the basal diet (8 out of 14 mice, χ2 = 5.6, P < 0.025). KFB may, therefore, inhibit not only TRAMP DLP epithelial lesions involving multiple molecular pathways, but also NECa. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Balance Theory-Based Model for Discovering Trust Network

Relations among users on social network often reflect a mixture of positive (trust) and negative (distrust) interactions. It is necessary to extract the trust relationships among people and discover a trust network from the complex social network. The trust network can be used to calculate the trust confidence and can infer the trust values among the nodes in it. In this paper, we propose a method to estimate a trust network and it is the first time that the balance theory is applied to solve the problem of discovering trust network. The method makes use of balance theory to estimate the credibility of the relationships among the nodes. First, we analyzed the core content of the balance theory and the similarities with trust network. Then, we proposed the rules of building the trust network, and summarized the process of the implementation. The experiment runs on Epinions data set which consists of more than 130,000 nodes. The experiment results demonstrate that our algorithm performs well in building trust network.
From Blackstone's Ratio to the Conviction Ratio

Blackstone’s Ratio tells courts to focus more on preventing wrongful convictions than wrongful acquittals. Some critics argue that legislatures undermine the protection that courts afford to the wrongfully accused by, among other things, increasing sentences. A strong form of this critique suggests that the disproportionate focus on wrongful convictions leaves the wrongfully accused worse off. This essay uses a simple model to assess the plausibility of this critique and finds that Courts minimize the innocents’ suffering by minimizing the Conviction Ratio (the probability of convicting an innocent defendant divided by the probability of convicting a guilty defendant). This result holds even if one assumes that most cases are resolved through plea-bargaining. Only those who believe that our criminal justice system convicts many innocent defendants should find the anti-Blackstone critique convincing. This essay further shows that minimizing the Conviction Ratio may also minimize the total social costs of crime and punishment.
Screening for Strongyloides infection among the institutionalized mentally disabled.

BACKGROUND Strongyloidiasis is an intestinal helminthic infection common among the mentally disabled population and can cause persistent occult infection before resulting in disseminated, possibly fatal disease. METHODS Two cases of strongyloidiasis are described. The literature was searched using the key words "Strongyloides" and "mass screening." RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Strongyloidiasis is clinically important and well documented in the mentally disabled populations both in endemic and nonendemic regions of North America. It has a substantial latent phase during which screening can be conducted, and its treatment with thiabendazole is convenient, effective, and reasonably well tolerated. Although strongyloidiasis is usually incidentally detected by findings of eosinophilia during routine blood screening, peripheral eosinophilia occurs only in 50% to 80% of infected persons and is extremely nonspecific for Strongyloides infection. Given the high cost of critical care for a patient with disseminated disease, screening mentally disabled populations in institutional settings for strongyloidiasis by administering the Strongyloides stercoralis antibody ELISA appears justifiable, particularly if risk factors for hyperinfection syndrome are used to select a subpopulation to be screened.
Regulation of intracellular pH and blood flow in rat duodenal epithelium in vivo

Duodenal mucosal defense was assessed by measuring blood flow and epithelial intracellular pH (pHi) of rat proximal duodenum in vivo. Fluorescence microscopy was used to measure epithelial pHi using the trapped, pHi-indicating dye 2', 7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein-AM. Blood flow was measured with laser-Doppler flowmetry. The mucosa was briefly superfused with NH4Cl, pH 2.2 buffer, the potent Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor 5-(N,N-dimethyl)-amiloride (DMA), or the anion exchange and Na+-HCO-3 cotransport inhibitor DIDS. Cryostat sections localized dye fluorescence to the villus tip. Steady-state pHi was 7. 02 +/- 0.01, which remained stable for 60 min. Interventions that load the cells with protons without affecting superfusate pH (NH4Cl prepulse, nigericin with low superfusate K+ concentration, DMA, and DIDS) all decreased pHi, supporting our contention that the dye was faithfully measuring pHi. An acid pulse decreased pHi, followed by a DIDS-inhibitable overshoot over baseline. Intracellular acidification increased duodenal blood flow independent of superfusate pH, which was inhibited by DMA, but not by DIDS. We conclude that we have established a novel in vivo microscopy system enabling simultaneous measurements of pHi and blood flow of duodenal epithelium. Na+/H+ exchange and Na+-HCO-3 cotransport regulate baseline duodenal epithelial pHi. Intracellular acidification enhances duodenal blood flow by a unique, amiloride-inhibitable, superfusate pH-independent mechanism.
Effect of Carbohydrates on the Growth of Cephalosporium Longisporum in a Chemically Defined Medium

(1958). Effect of Carbohydrates on the Growth of Cephalosporium Longisporum in a Chemically Defined Medium. Mycologia: Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 223-228.
Visualization of quasi-periodic structures in a vortex flow

This paper presents experiments to capture images of flow strtictures occurring i n the vortex flow over swept wings at high angles-of-attack. These structures are believed to he responsible for nmow-hand velocity fluctuations which amplify i n the vicinity of the vertical tails of combat aircraft. Cross-spectral analysis of hot-film data was used to trace the origins and the helical trajectory of maximum coherence of these fluctuations. Various streamwise, spanwise, and surface laser sheet orientations were used to visualize the flow field over a 59.3" delta wing set at 18' and 25' anglesof-attack. A 45swept wing and a 1132-scale F-15 aircraft model were also used to test hypotheses. The search was focused on the three primary shear regions of the vortex flow: the leading-edge, the vortex core, and the surface boundary layer. Strouhal-scaled frequency was used as the criterion to test candidate flow structures. The leading-edge shear layer was rejected as the source because observed frequencies were much higher than those of the spectral peaks measured by the hot-film sensor, The fundamental reduced frequencies of the spiral breakdown of the vortex core and the surface layer streamline fluctuations under the primary vortex matched hot-film spectral characteristics. The surface streamlines eventually separate from the surface and feed into the secondary vortex. Roll-up of vortical structures i n the boundary layer was captured about the axis perpendicular to the vortex trajectory.
HiSentinel80: Flight of a High Altitude Airship

The first flight of the HiSentinel80, an unmanned high altitude airship, completed a successful test Nov. 10, 2010; launching from Page, Arizona, and tracked northeast toward Utah and Colorado. The payload, part of a U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command program, was recovered north of Monticello, Utah, on Nov. 11. The purpose of the test flight was to obtain performance data on the high altitude airship, as well as test various payload capabilities. The objective of the test was to demonstrate engineering feasibility and potential military utility of high altitude systems for persistent payload operations. The HiSentinel80 was aloft for eight hours at an altitude of 66,300 feet collecting valuable command and control and payload connectivity data before flight termination. The Prime Contractor for the HiSentinel effort is Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the sub-contractor is Aerostar International, Inc. The team of SwRI and Aerostar launched and recovered the airship. SwRI designed the airship and provided the telemetry, flight control, power, and propulsion systems. Aerostar fabricated the hull and supported in the integration and test flight. The SwRI/Aerostar Team developed the launch system, provided facilities, and launched and recovered the airship. The HiSentinel system is capable of lifting small to medium payloads (20–200 pounds) to high altitudes (>60,000 feet) for a duration of 30 days or greater. HiSentinel80 is 207 feet long and 45 feet in diameter and is designed to cruise at an altitude of 65,000 feet, well above commercial airspace. The HiSentinel80 airship is designed to launch similar to a weather balloon, taking the familiar airship shape as the vehicle reaches its mission altitude. At mission completion, the payload is released from the hull and returns to the ground by parachute and can be refurbished. The hull, or vehicle body, is made of low-cost disposable material designed not to be recovered after a mission. For the purpose of this flight demonstration, the airship hull was recovered for inspection south of Grand Junction, Colorado. This paper will include a technical overview of the HiSentinel80 airship development. An overview of results from the HiSentinel80 flight will be presented.
How to Assess

Assessment information can be obtained through client’s self- report and through direct observations by others. Self-report methods include (1) structured paper and pencil inventories, (2) focused interviews, and (3) self-monitoring techniques. Direct observations can be made during (1) interviews, (2) interactions with natural-environment social partners, and (3) roleplayed or simulated interactions. Although each of the individual techniques has its limitations, the combination can provide useful information in forming general impressions and measuring specific target behaviors on an ongoing basis.
Noncognitive Indicators as Critical Predictors of Students’ Performance in Dental School

Dental educators have traditionally prioritized cognitive indicators (especially undergraduate grade point average and Dental Admission Test scores) in choosing students for admission to dental school. These indicators' role in predicting academic outcomes, including coursework and examination success, is well documented. However, noncognitive predictors including conscientiousness, self-discipline, achievement-striving, task orientation, deliberation, resilience, and situational judgment have also been identified. This study's aims were to assess the significance of noncognitive indicators measured by the version of the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory (NEO PI) known as the NEO-PI-3, determine the place in the curriculum when these indicators' impact was most influential, and compare their influence with that of the cognitive indicators. Analysis was performed on stored data for three classes of dental students from admission through clinical exams at one U.S. dental school. Significant associations were found between NEO-PI-3 domains and facets (especially Conscientiousness) and the outcomes of coursework grades, standardized exam scores, and clinical behavior scores. Multiple regression analyses identified that the noncognitive indicators enhanced the prediction of students' academic and clinical performance early in the curriculum and then equaled or surpassed the predictive impact of cognitive indicators as they progressed through the curriculum sequence. The implications of noncognitive predictors for dental education are discussed including the challenge to identify and then weight the indicators, whether to include them as admissions criteria, how to assess their impact as compared with cognitive measures, the necessity of standardization of assessment, and if and when to evaluate their relevance to professional practice.
Urea activation of K-Cl transport in human erythrocytes

This report prompted us to examine the effect of urea on K-Cl cotransport in human erythrocytes. In human erythrocytes, urea activated K-Cl cotransport reversibly and in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with okadaic acid abolished the urea activation of transport, suggesting that exposure to urea resulted in net dephosphorylation of the transporter or a key regulator and that the action of urea was exerted proximal to the phosphorylation-dephosphorylation step. At a concentration of 200 mM, urea activated K-Cl cotransport without any delay, even in the absence of cell swelling. However, with increasing urea concentrations, an appreciable increase in lag time was observed before the final steady-state flux was reached, suggesting that urea inhibits a regulatory kinase. The latter conclusion was also supported by the finding that, at any given urea concentration, the lag time for activation was greater than the lag time for deactivation. Mg depletion activated cotransport, and urea had no additional stimulatory effect in Mg-depleted cells. In urea-pretreated cells, swelling further activated cotransport, but without any measurable delay, in contrast to a time lag of 8 min when control cells (not exposed to urea) were swollen. The latter finding suggests that urea promotes the conversion of transporters from the resting to the partially activated state. These findings raise the possibility that high concentrations of urea in the renal medulla may play a role in the decrease in cell volume that occurs during the maturation of reticulocytes and young erythrocytes, both in normal subjects and in subjects with hemoglobinopathies.
Genome editing in butterflies reveals that spalt promotes and Distal-less represses eyespot colour patterns

Butterfly eyespot colour patterns are a key example of how a novel trait can appear in association with the co-option of developmental patterning genes. Little is known, however, about how, or even whether, co-opted genes function in eyespot development. Here we use CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to determine the roles of two co-opted transcription factors that are expressed during early eyespot determination. We found that deletions in a single gene, spalt, are sufficient to reduce or completely delete eyespot colour patterns, thus demonstrating a positive regulatory role for this gene in eyespot determination. Conversely, and contrary to previous predictions, deletions in Distal-less (Dll) result in an increase in the size and number of eyespots, illustrating a repressive role for this gene in eyespot development. Altogether our results show that the presence, absence and shape of butterfly eyespots can be controlled by the activity of two co-opted transcription factors.
Robotic Fire Suppression Through Autonomous Feedback Control

A computer vision-based autonomous fire suppression system with real-time feedback of fire size and spray direction is presented in this paper. The system has been developed for use in a firefighting robot for close-range, localized fire suppression tasks in enclosed environments. A probabilistic water classification method was developed for segmenting water spray in a pair of IR cameras. Stereo processing was performed to localize points along the spray path for use in yaw and pitch angle estimation. A Golden Section Search with linear least squares optimization was used to determine the optimal pitch angle of the spray position at each sampling time. Kalman filtering was used to remove noise from the angle measurements and obtain a better estimate of the current nozzle orientation. A decision tree was used to determine the correct nozzle positioning mode using image feedback to suppress the fire and accounts for errors in direction, fire size during suppression, and when to adjust the nozzle based on IR feedback. Through implementation of a PI controller, the system is able to correct for unknown disturbances causing erroneous targeting of a localized fire. Experiments are presented with the initial nozzle angled correctly and with forced offsets in the system to set the initial spray position incorrectly in order for the system to correct. Suppression times ranged from 7.2 s to 16.3 s with a standard deviation of 3.9 s and average time of 11.2 s. A total of 12 tests demonstrated performance of the system given a forced offset to the initial nozzle orientation resulting in an error between the spray location and the fire target. Suppression times ranged from 8.1 s to 27.9 s with a mean of 16.9 s and standard deviation of 6.2 s. The proposed system can be implemented on a robotic firefighting platform to autonomously detect a fire, choose a proper manipulation goal and suppress full scale fires given disturbances causing erroneous targeting.
High school biology evolution learning experiences in a rural context: a case of and for cultural border crossing

Although the concept of “rural” is difficult to define, rural science education provides the possibility for learning centered upon a strong connection to the local community. Rural American adolescents tend to be more religious than their urban counterparts and less accepting of evolution than their non-rural peers. Because the status and perception of evolutionary theory may be very different within the students’ lifeworlds and the subcultures of the science classroom and science itself, a cultural border crossing metaphor can be applied to evolution teaching and learning. This study examines how a teacher may serve as a cultural border crossing tour guide for students at a rural high school as they explore the concept of biological evolution in their high school biology class. Data collection entailed two formal teacher interviews, field note observations of two biology class periods each day for 16 days during the Evolution unit, individual interviews with 14 students, student evolution acceptance surveys, student evolution content tests, and classroom artifacts. The major findings center upon three themes regarding how this teacher and these students had largely positive evolution learning experiences even as some students continued to reject evolution. First, the teacher strategically positioned himself in two ways: using his unique “local” trusted position in the community and school and taking a position in which he did not personally represent science by instead consistently teaching evolution “according to scientists.” Second, his instruction honored local “rural” funds of knowledge with respect to local knowledge of nature and by treating students’ religious knowledge as a form of local expertise about one set of answers to questions also addressed by evolution. Third, the teacher served as a border crossing “tour guide” by helping students identify how the culture of science and the culture of their lifeworlds may differ with respect to evolutionary theory. Students negotiated the cultural borders for learning evolution in several ways, and different types of border crossings are described. The students respected the teacher’s apparent neutrality, sensitivity toward multiple positions, explicit attention to religion/evolution, and transparency of purposes for teaching evolution. These findings add to the current literature on rural science education by highlighting local funds of knowledge for evolution learning and how rural teachers may help students navigate seemingly hazardous scientific topics. The study’s findings also add to the current evolution education literature by examining how students’ religious perspectives may be respected as a form of expertise about questions of origins by allowing students to examine similarities and differences between scientific and religious approaches to questions of biological origins and change.
Single Center Retrospective Comparison of Gvhd Preventive Regimens after Cy/Flu Minimal Intensity Allotransplantation

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains the 2 nd leading cause of mortality—after relapse/progression following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for the treatment of hematological malignancies. The incidence of clinically significant GVHD ranges from 10 to 80% and accounts for approximately 10-20% transplant related mortality. The combination calcineurin inhibitor and methotrexate is widely used as a GVHD preventive following myeloablative conditioning; however, there is no standard prophylaxis regimen for Cy/Flu minimal intensity nonablative transplants. The objective of the current study is to compare outcomes in patients treated at a single institution with identical conditioning regimens and supportive methods but different GVHD preventive regimens. Outcomes on 134 patients who underwent nonmyeloablative transplant between May 2000 and Nov 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoint was incidence and severity of acute GVHD (aGVHD). Secondary endpoints included incidence and severity of chronic GVHD (cGVHD), incidence of relapse, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and causes of death. Median follow-up was 49 months; the median age at transplant was 56 years, 66% of patient were not in remission at time of transplant (predominately myelodysplasia). Donors were peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC, n=133) or bone marrow (n=1) HLA matched related or partially matched (9/10) donors. GVHD preventive regimens included the following: (1) single agent cyclosporine (CsA); (2) combination CsA/mycophenolate mofetil (MMF); (3) CsA+ basiliximab after ANC > 500/mm 3 ; (4) CsA + basiliximab post-transplant, pre-engraftment; (5) sirolimus + tacrolimus. The incidence of grade III-IV acute GVHD was lower in patients who received sirolimus/tacrolimus than patients in the cyclosporine group (25% and 32%, respectively; p = .062). There was a significantly higher proportion of patients in the cyclosporine group who had clinical extensive chronic GVHD (62% vs. 25%, p = .008). The incidence of relapse trended higher in the sirolimus/tacrolimus group compared to CsA alone or CsA/MMF (50% vs. 28% vs. 30%, respectively, p= .519). There was a trend towards slightly better OS and PFS with the cyclosporine-based prophylaxis, but follow-up was longer with these regimens. Sirolimus/tacrolimus provides potent GVHD prophylaxis for nonmyeloablative Cy/Flu allogeneic transplantation; however, may be associated with higher relapse/progression rates. Larger numbers and/or comprehensive analyses of multicenter registry data might help further delineate differences in clinical outcomes between these regimens. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
ID: 104: Opposing roles of two dsRNA binding proteins PACT and TRBP on RIG-I induced interferon production

An integral aspect of innate immunity is the ability to detect non-self molecules to initiate antiviral signaling via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). One such receptor is the RNA helicase RIG-I, which has the ability to detect and be activated by 5’triphosphate uncapped double stranded RNA (dsRNA) as well as the viral mimic dsRNA polyI:C. Once activated, RIG-I’s CARD domains oligomerize and initiate downstream MAVS signaling ultimately inducing interferon (IFN) production. Another dsRNA binding protein PACT, originally identified as the cellular protein activator of PKR, has recently been shown to stimulate RIG-I signaling in response to polyI:C treatment, in part by stimulating RIG-I’s ATPase and helicase activities and resulting in an enhanced induction of IFN. TRBP (TAR-RNA-binding protein), which is about 45% homologous to PACT is known to inhibit PKR signaling by sequestration of PKR and its’ activators, dsRNA and PACT. Despite the domain homology and similar structure of PACT and TRBP, the role of TRBP is yet to be explored in RIG-I like receptor (RLR) signaling. This work focuses on the effect of TRBP on RIG-I signaling and IFN production. Our results indicate that TRBP acts as an inhibitor of RIG-I signaling in a PACT- and PKR-independent manner. This work has major implications on viral susceptibility, disease progression, and antiviral immunity as it demonstrates the regulatory interplay between two dsRNA binding proteins PACT and TRBP on RIG-I mediated IFN production.
Kokuraichthys tokuriki n. gen. and sp., Early Cretaceous osteoglossomorph fish in Kyushu, Japan

ABSTRACT — Kokuraichthys tokuriki is described from the Early Cretaceous Dobaru Formation of the Wakino Subgroup, Kitakyushu in the northern part of Kyushu, Japan, as a new genus and species of Osteoglossomorpha. This new species is considered to be more closely related to Hiodontiformes or Lycopteriformes than Osteoglossiformes because it has a single epural and no neural spine on the first ural centrum. Although it has significantly fewer vertebrae (36 or 37), K. tokuriki is tentatively assigned to Hiodontiformes because of the long anal fin base, the anterior position of the dorsal fin and the reduced neural spine on the first preural centrum. KEY WORDS : Early Cretaceous,Hiodontiformes, Japan, Kyushu,Osteoglossomorpha, Wakino Subgroup INTRODUCTION Early Cretaceous lacustrine beds forming the Wakino The Subgroup of the Kanmon Group are distributed in the northern part of Kyushu, Japan (M atsumoto , 1951). The type locality of the Wakino Subgroup is Miyawaka, Wakamiya City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The Wakino Subgroup consists of the Sengoku, Nyoraida, Lower Wakamiya and Upper Wakamiya formations in ascending order, from where many mollusks have been found (O
A perspective on massive random-access

This paper discusses the contemporary problem of providing multiple-access (MAC) to a massive number of uncoordinated users. First, we define a random-access code for Ka-user Gaussian MAC to be a collection of norm-constrained vectors such that the noisy sum of any K a of them can be decoded with a given (suitably defined) probability of error. An achievability bound for such codes is proposed and compared against popular practical solutions: ALOHA, coded slotted ALOHA, CDMA, and treating interference as noise. It is found out that as the number of users increases existing solutions become vastly energy-inefficient. Second, we discuss the asymptotic (in blocklength) problem of coding for a K-user Gaussian MAC when K is proportional to blocklength and each user's payload is fixed. It is discovered that the energy-per-bit vs. spectral efficiency exhibits a rather curious tradeoff in this case.
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae colonization (CRE) and subsequent risk of infection and 90-day mortality in critically ill patients, an observational study.

Background Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have emerged as an urgent public health threat. Intestinal colonization with CRE has been identified as a risk factor for the development of systemic CRE infection, but has not been compared to colonization with third and/or fourth generation cephalosporin-resistant (Ceph-R) Enterobacteriaceae. Moreover, the risk conferred by colonization on adverse outcomes is less clear, particularly in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods We carried out a cohort study of consecutive adult patients screened for rectal colonization with CRE or Ceph-R upon ICU entry between April and July 2013. We identified clinical variables and assessed the relationship between CRE or Ceph-R colonization and subsequent systemic CRE infection within 30 days (primary outcome) and all-cause mortality within 90 days (secondary outcome). Results Among 338 ICU patients, 94 (28%) were colonized with either Ceph-R or CRE. 26 patients developed CRE infection within 30 days of swab collection; 47% (N = 17/36) of CRE-colonized and 3% (N = 2/58) of Ceph-R colonized patients. 36% (N = 13/36) of CRE-colonized patients died within 90 days compared to 31% (N = 18/58) of Ceph-R-colonized and 15% (N = 37/244) of non-colonized patients. In a multivariable analysis, CRE colonization independently predicted development of a systemic CRE infection at 30 days (aOR 10.8, 95% CI2.8–41.9, p = 0.0006); Ceph-R colonization did not (aOR 0.5, 95% CI0.1–3.3, p = 0.5). CRE colonization was associated with increased 90-day mortality in a univariable analysis (p-value 0.001), in a multivariable model, previous hospitalization and medical ICU admission were independent predictors of 90-day mortality whereas CRE colonization approached significance (aOR 2.3, 95% CI1.0–5.3, p = 0.056). Conclusions Our study highlights the increased risk of CRE infection and mortality in patients with CRE colonization at the time of ICU admission. Future studies are needed to assess how CRE colonization can guide empiric antibiotic choices and to develop novel decolonization strategies.
On pruning with the MDL Score

Abstract The space of Bayesian network structures is prohibitively large and hence numerous techniques have been developed to prune this search space, but without eliminating the optimal structure. Such techniques are critical for structure learning to scale to larger datasets with more variables. Prior works exploited properties of the MDL score to prune away large regions of the search space that can be safely ignored by optimal structure learning algorithms. In this paper, we propose new techniques for pruning regions of the search space that can be safely ignored by algorithms that enumerate the k-best Bayesian network structures. Empirically, these techniques allow a state-of-the-art structure enumeration algorithm to scale to datasets with significantly more variables.
Plasticity of Columbium Single Crystals

Columbium single crystals were deformed in tension and compression. Reorientation by X-rays and stereographic projections of slip traces indicate that plane of slip may be considered as {110}. The plastic behavior is shown to be quite similar to the deformation of molybdenum single crystals.