cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Foliar functional traits that predict plant biomass response to warming

Question: Ecologists are increasingly interested in making accurate predictions of plant response to climate change. Many studies have attempted to document plant response to warming by grouping species into functional groups. Within functional groups, however, species often display divergent responses. Determining how foliar functional traits might be used to predict plant responses to warming could reduce analytical complexity while maintaining generalizations across systems. Methods:We conducted a meta-analysis on 18 studies (consisting of 38 species) of plant biomass response to experimental or natural warming. We determined whether plant trait estimates associated with the leaf economics spectrum [leaf life span (LL), leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf nitrogen (Nmass), leaf phosphorus (Pmass), photosynthetic capacity (Amax) and stomatal conductance (Gs)] from a global plant database of experimentally unmanipulated plants, GloPNet, could be used to predict biomass response to experimental warming. Results: We found that three single leaf traits (LL, Nmass and Amax) were significant predictors for the response of plant biomass to warming treatments, perhaps due to their association with plant growth rates, adaptation rate and ability, each explaining between 21–46% of the variation in plant biomass responses. The magnitude of response to warming decreased with increasing LL, but increased with increasing Nmass and Amax. We found no linear combination of any of these traits that predicted warming response. Conclusions: These results show that foliar traits can aid in understanding the mechanisms by which plants respond to temperature across species. Because each trait only explained a portion of variation in how plant growth responded to warming, however, future studies that examine how plant communities respond to warming should simultaneously measure multiple leaf traits, especially those most sensitive to warming, across plant species, to determine whether the predictive ability of functional traits changes between different ecosystems or plant taxonomic groups.
Effects of watchdog organizations on the social capital market

This chapter examines the effects that watchdog agency evaluations of nonprofit organizations have on private donations.
Artificial life in the fight against cancer: Extended abstract of invited keynote lecture

Blood vessel growth is a fascinating and important example of an adaptive, morphologically plastic network formation process driven by complex interactions between individual cells in the vessel and between the cells and their dynamic extracellular environment. Under normal conditions this can generate a well-adapted hierarchical branching structure. However, in tumors, blood vessels become maladapted, leaky and bulbous, resulting in increased hypoxia and tumour cell metastasis. A method to switch tumor blood vessels back to a normal network could reduce metastasis and thus represents a significant goal in cancer therapy. However, studying human disease and the abnormalities that lead to pathological phenotypes is a monumentally difficult task. Probing the inner workings of in vivo systems present numerous technical challenges, though boundaries continue to be broken. Further, the normal fundamental mechanisms controlling development are of course not fully understood, let alone their perturbation by environmental changes in disease. Artificial Life (ALife) aims to instantiate and study biological principles of organisation in new media in order to exploit different methods to test the system uniquely available in that medium. Thus ALife can perfectly complement cutting edge in vivo research giving vital temporal, spatial and organisational understanding of the process, if we work together with biologists, to build data driven models, and test emergent properties. Using this integrated ALife/in vivo experimental approach, we have made advances in the understanding of blood vessel growth. The emergent properties of the embodied, agent-based model we developed, when put into a disease environment, have led to the discovery of a novel switch in cell communication which is changing the way we think about tumour malformations.
Dispersing Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Surfactants: A Small Angle Neutron Scattering Study

We have investigated the dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in heavy water with the surfactant octyl-phenol-ethoxylate (Triton X-100) using small angle neutron scattering. The results indicate an optimal surfactant concentration for dispersion, which we suggest results from competition between maximization of surfactant adsorption onto SWNT surfaces and a depletion interaction between SWNT bundles mediated by surfactant micelles. The latter effect drives SWNT reaggregation above a critical volume fraction of micelles. These behaviors could be general in dispersing SWNTs using amphiphilic surfactant. The data also reveal significant incoherent scattering from hydrogen in SWNTs, most likely due to acid and water residues from the purification process.
Self-Reported Differences in Creativity by Ethnicity and Gender

Creativity assessment has been proposed as a supplement to intellectual testing, in part because of reduced differences by ethnicity; creativity testing might also specifically help reduce stereotype threat. Recent trends in creativity research point to a domain-specific view challenging the more traditional generalist view. With these trends in mind, the current study assessed creative self-perceptions of 3553 students and community members in 56 different possible domains distributed across five factors (as determined by principal components analysis). African Americans were less likely to fall prone to gender stereotypes in creativity. In addition, African Americans and Native Americans tended to rate themselves as more creative than other ethnicities. Specific trends in the factors and implications for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient Soft-Output Demodulators for the Golden Code

In this work we design efficient soft output demodulators (also referred to as fast soft demodulators) for the 2×2 Golden code, which is a promising candidate space time block code in the evolving IEEE and 3GPP cellular standards. For this code, the naive approach for maximum likelihood (ML) hard decision as well as soft-output demodulation entails a complexity of O(M4), where M denotes the cardinality of the QAM constellation from which the underlying modulated symbols are drawn. In contrast, our efficient demodulator exploits the structure of the code and yields the ML decision and soft outputs in the form of exact max-log log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) with an O(M2.5) complexity. Moreover, we also design a sub-optimal soft output demodulator that has an O(M0.5) complexity comparable to that of the linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) based demodulator but results in substantial performance gains.
Optimal successive group decoder for the slow-fading multiple access channel

We consider a slow-fading narrowband multiple access channel (MAC) in which multiple users, each equipped with multiple transmit antennas, communicate to a receiver equipped with multiple receive antennas. The users are unaware of the channel state information (CSI) whereas the receiver knows it perfectly and employs the successive group decoder (SGD). We obtain achievable outage probabilities for the case where an outage must be declared simultaneously for all users (common outage) as well as the case where outages can be declared individually for each user (individual outage). We then derive the optimum successive group decoder (OSGD) which simultaneously minimizes the common outage probability and the individual outage probability of each user, over all successive group decoders of permissible decoding complexity. For each channel realization, the OSGD is also shown to maximize the minimum of the per-user error exponents of all users not in outage. An adaptive SGD is derived which retains the outage optimality of the OSGD but also minimizes the expected decoding complexity. Asymptotically tight affine approximations are then obtained for the weighted sum common and individual outage capacities and the symmetric outage capacities. Simulation results with practical LDPC outer codes show that the OSGD results in greatly improved performance at low decoding complexities.
Lymphocyte recruitment and homing to the liver in primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis

The mechanisms operating in lymphocyte recruitment and homing to liver are reviewed. A literature review was performed on primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), progressive sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and homing mechanisms; a total of 130 papers were selected for discussion. Available data suggest that in addition to a specific role for CCL25 in PSC, the CC chemokines CCL21 and CCL28 and the CXC chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 are involved in the recruitment of T lymphocytes into the portal tract in PBC and PSC. Once entering the liver, lymphocytes localize to bile duct and retain by the combinatorial or sequential action of CXCL12, CXCL16, CX3CL1, and CCL28 and possibly CXCL9 and CXCL10. The relative importance of these chemokines in the recruitment or the retention of lymphocytes around the bile ducts remains unclear. The available data remain limited but underscore the importance of recruitment and homing.
A trace simplification technique for effective debugging of concurrent programs

Concurrent programs are notoriously difficult to debug. We see two main reasons for this: 1) concurrency bugs are often difficult to reproduce, 2) traces of buggy concurrent executions can be complicated by fine-grained thread interleavings. Recently, a number of efficient techniques have tried to address the former reproducibility problem; however, there is no effective solution for the latter trace simplification problem. In this paper, we formalize and prove the trace simplification problem is NP-hard. We then propose a heuristic algorithm, Tinertia, that transforms a buggy execution trace into an easier-to-understand simplified trace. Tinertia works by automatically and iteratively increasing the granularity of the thread interleavings in the buggy trace. Tinertia cannot guarantee optimal simplification; however, we empirically show that our algorithm often generates optimally simplified traces. Moreover, we show that in the simplified trace, the locations of preemptive context switches point to the cause of the bug. We have implemented Tinertia in a tool for C/C++ programs using Pthreads and applied it to 11 benchmarks with up to 37,000 lines of code.
Gene Transfer of eNOS to the Thick Ascending Limb of eNOS-KO Mice Restores the Effects of l-Arginine on NaCl Absorption

The thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (THAL) plays an essential role in the regulation of sodium and water homeostasis by the kidney. l-Arginine, the substrate for nitric oxide synthase (NOS), decreases NaCl absorption by THALs. We hypothesized that eNOS produces the NO that regulates THAL NaCl transport and that selective expression of eNOS in the THAL of eNOS knockout(−/−) mice would restore the effects of l-arginine on NaCl absorption. eNOS−/− mice were anesthetized, the left kidney was exposed, and the renal interstitium was injected with recombinant adenoviral vectors that expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP) or eNOS driven by the promoter of the Na/K/2Cl cotransporter Ad-NKCC2GFP and Ad-NKCC2eNOS, respectively. In Ad-NKCC2eNOS–transduced kidneys, eNOS expression was detected 7 days after injection but was absent in Ad-NKCC2GFP–transduced kidneys. In THALs from eNOS−/− mice transduced with Ad-NKCC2eNOS, adding l-arginine increased DAF-2DA fluorescence, a measure of NO production, by 9.1±1.1% ( P P
On the well-posedness of integral equations associated with cavity Green’s functions around resonant frequencies

In this paper, a theoretical analysis is presented for the numerical scheme in [Lu, 20007]. It is shown that the numerical difficulties associated with cavity Greenpsilas functions around resonances originate from the non-unique solutions within fully-enclosed lossless cavities. As a result, conventional integral equations are not well-posed around cavitiespsila resonant frequencies, and modified integral equations need to be formulated. The numerical scheme in [Lu, 2007] straightforwardly follows from the modified integral equations constructed in this paper. Moreover, in this paper the modified integral equations are theoretically proven well-posed at cavitiespsila resonant frequencies.
Supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children. A long-term follow-up study of 107 cases

A total of 107 cases of supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children were examined after a follow-up period of 8 to 18 years. No serious complications were found. Conservative treatment gave good results, and open reduction was seldom indicated. Rotational displacement and displacement in the frontal or sagittal plane remodelled by the end of the growth period, whereas tilting of the distal fragment into varus or valgus remained. The position of reduction should be checked roentgenologically until bony consolidation occurs, by measuring Baumann's angle or the carrying angle, and rereductions should be performed within 2 weeks.
Semiconductor Diodes for Tv Receivers

At present there are three major uses for semiconductor diodes in the television receivers of today. Both silicon and germanium diodes have proven themselves indispensable in TV applications as uhf mixers, harmonic generators and video detectors.
A single mutation, RecB(D1080A,) eliminates RecA protein loading but not Chi recognition by RecBCD enzyme.

Homologous recombination and double-stranded DNA break repair in Escherichia coli are initiated by the multifunctional RecBCD enzyme. After binding to a double-stranded DNA end, the RecBCD enzyme unwinds and degrades the DNA processively. This processing is regulated by the recombination hot spot, Chi (χ: 5′-GCTGGTGG-3′), which induces a switch in the polarity of DNA degradation and activates RecBCD enzyme to coordinate the loading of the DNA strand exchange protein, RecA, onto the single-stranded DNA products of unwinding. Recently, a single mutation in RecB, Asp-1080 → Ala, was shown to create an enzyme (RecBD1080ACD) that is a processive helicase but not a nuclease. Here we show that the RecBD1080ACD enzyme is also unable to coordinate the loading of the RecA protein, regardless of whether χ sites are present in the DNA. However, the RecBD1080ACD enzyme does respond to χ sites by inactivating in a χ-dependent manner. These data define a locus of the RecBCD enzyme that is essential not only for nuclease function but also for the coordination of RecA protein loading.
Champion-challenger based predictive model selection

The selection of appropriate data mining predictive models is a challenging task. While it is easy to evaluate the model based on the historical data at a given point in time, using confusion matrix and misclassification rate, it is not very easy to ensure that the selected model upon deployment stays the most effective one as newer data comes in. Here we will address the issue of how to continually strive for the best model even after a predictive model is deployed for production use. In the champion-challenger based model selection paradigm, the historical data is used for creating the best or the champion predictive model using criteria like misclassification rate for a given cost matrix. Apart from the champion models, a number of other models are selected which are not as good as the champion model in predictive accuracy using same data. These models are termed as challengers to the current champion model. These models may differ from the champion model in the underlying predictive algorithm, algorithm tuning parameters or in use of model attributes. The predictive modeling starts with the conventional processes such as identifying the business problem that warrants the need for predictive modeling, finding the significant attributes for modeling, data quality analysis, followed by the actual modeling building and evaluation of the models. However, the emphasis is not at finding just the top or the champion model but to find the other models that are close in terms of model performance. The guiding principle here is that the selection of the best predictive model based on the current set of historical data, is not the stamp of approval till eternity. Real world systems that use predictive modeling are complex and dynamic processes and need to incorporate means to capture that. When the champion model is deployed in a production system and is used for predictions, these results are saved in a table. Likewise, the challenger models are also used to score a subset of the data and save the results. The predictions of the challenger models do not impact the real-time predictive use of the system. Based on the time intervals for future predictions, when the future time arrives, the actual results are captured for the same instances of data.
Defective design: regional competition in Medicare.

ABSTRACT: The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 creates several new types of private insurance plans in Medicare. The most familiar of these is the prefer...
P53-Mediated Rapid Induction of Apoptosis Conveys Resistance to Viral Infection in Drosophila melanogaster

Arthropod-borne pathogens account for millions of deaths each year. Understanding the genetic mechanisms controlling vector susceptibility to pathogens has profound implications for developing novel strategies for controlling insect-transmitted infectious diseases. The fact that many viruses carry genes that have anti-apoptotic activity has long led to the hypothesis that induction of apoptosis could be a fundamental innate immune response. However, the cellular mechanisms mediating the induction of apoptosis following viral infection remained enigmatic, which has prevented experimental verification of the functional significance of apoptosis in limiting viral infection in insects. In addition, studies with cultured insect cells have shown that there is sometimes a lack of apoptosis, or the pro-apoptotic response happens relatively late, thus casting doubt on the functional significance of apoptosis as an innate immunity. Using in vivo mosquito models and the native route of infection, we found that there is a rapid induction of reaper-like pro-apoptotic genes within a few hours following exposure to DNA or RNA viruses. Recapitulating a similar response in Drosophila, we found that this rapid induction of apoptosis requires the function of P53 and is mediated by a stress–responsive regulatory region upstream of reaper. More importantly, we showed that the rapid induction of apoptosis is responsible for preventing the expression of viral genes and blocking the infection. Genetic changes influencing this rapid induction of reaper-like pro-apoptotic genes led to significant differences in susceptibility to viral infection.
WHY SHOULD PHILOSOPHERS RULE? PLATO'S REPUBLIC AND ARISTOTLE'S PROTREPTICUS

I examine Plato's claim in the Republic that philosophers must rule in a good city and Aristotle's attitude towards this claim in his early, and little discussed, work, the Protrepticus. I argue that in the Republic, Plato's main reason for having philosophers rule is that they alone understand the role of philosophical knowledge in a good life and how to produce characters that love such knowledge. He does not think that philosophic knowledge is necessary for getting right the vast majority of judgments about actions open to assessment as virtuous or vicious. I argue that in the Protrepticus Aristotle accepts similar reasons for the rule of philosophers, but goes beyond the Republic and seems to suggest that philosophic knowledge is required for getting right ethical and political judgments in general. I close by noting some connections with Aristotle's later views in the Eudemian Ethics, the Nicomachean Ethics, and the Politics.
Enriching the Scholarship of Teaching: Determining Appropriate Cross-Professional Applications Among Teaching, Counseling, and Psychotherapy

When teaching is construed as facilitating learning rather than imparting knowledge, it becomes an educational helping relationship. In this light, teaching can be understood to share important characteristics with other helping professions, such as counseling and psychotherapy. As teaching is further conceptualized within this paradigm, confusion can develop regarding appropriate applications of concepts from related helping professions to teaching contexts. This article introduces and illustrates an appropriateness criterion that attempts to remove this confusion and thereby facilitate important cross-professional collaborations and further conceptual development of the teaching-as-helping paradigm.
Singular perturbations and the resolution of kinematic redundancy

Necessary conditions for pathwise optimal resolution of redundancy in robot manipulation kinematics are given in terms of boundary value problems. The true optimal solution must be selected from a family of mutually nonhomotopic locally optimal solutions. By means of careful singular perturbation analysis, it is shown that homotopy continuation may be used to simplify the calculation of optimal trajectories. >
Caregivers’ Baseline Understanding and Expectations of Antibiotic Use for Their Children

Although there is evidence that oral antibiotic prescriptions for children have decreased since the 1990s, antibiotic resistance continues to be a problem. This study evaluated the caregivers' understanding of antibiotic use for their children and identified demographic characteristics that may contribute to inappropriate antibiotic-seeking behavior. Caregivers were asked how often the child should receive antibiotics for common medical conditions and about factors to improve patient compliance. This study found that caregivers overexpected antibiotic use with upper respiratory infection, ear infection, and pneumonia. Caretakers with lower incomes and on Medicaid comprised the higher percentage of overusers. The most important factors to improve patient compliance were explanation of the name and indication for antibiotic use. This study showed that demographic variables play a role in caregivers' expectations of antibiotic use. Effective communication of physicians with caregivers on antibiotic use can be an important strategy to improve patient compliance.
The patient profile pharmacy filing system.

(1982). The Patient Profile Pharmacy Filing System. Journal of American College Health: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 86-87.
Electronic Portfolios: Making Their Presence Known

An electronic portfolio is a gathering of materials by students that are suitable for online delivery and typically delivered through a Web site. In a higher education environment, these materials can include course assignments, personal expressions of creativity, resumes, and other documents that may shed light on the skills of the designer. The creation of electronic portfolios by students allows them to express their learning in a very different way than in the classroom environment. Students must creatively design an online environment customized to their personal styles and interests. Doing this requires a level of communication and expression that is often deeper and more complex than what typically occurs in a classroom
Meeting report: SMART timing--principles of single molecule techniques course at the University of Michigan 2014.

Four days after the announcement of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for “the development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy” based on single molecule detection, the Single Molecule Analysis in Real-Time (SMART) Center at the University of Michigan hosted a “Principles of Single Molecule Techniques 2014” course. Through a combination of plenary lectures and an Open House at the SMART Center, the course took a snapshot of a technology with an especially broad and rapidly expanding range of applications in the biomedical and materials sciences. Highlighting the continued rapid emergence of technical and scientific advances, the course underscored just how brightly the future of the single molecule field shines.
Divine Justice and Profane Power: Benjamin’s and Kafka’s Approach to Messianism

Intrinsically dialectical in nature, sudden messianic change and the resolute character of the law are so closely connected with one another that both concepts should be among the key factors shaping a broad understanding of global cultures today. Whether we await the coming of the messiah as the Jewish religion teaches or commemorate his having come and died as most Christian teachings hold, it appears that Walter Benjamin's “now of a particular recognizability” (The Arcades Project 493) remains elusive, especially with respect to the correlation between the past and the future. In the spirit of temporal vectors that converge, Benjamin's and Franz Kafka's approaches to messianism are considered within the dialectics that make divine justice and profane power pivotal concepts of twenty-first-century cultural theory.
Tracking non-stationary EEG sources using adaptive online recursive independent component analysis

Electroencephalographic (EEG) source-level analyses such as independent component analysis (ICA) have uncovered features related to human cognitive functions or artifactual activities. Among these methods, Online Recursive ICA (ORICA) has been shown to achieve fast convergence in decomposing high-density EEG data for real-time applications. However, its adaptation performance has not been fully explored due to the difficulty in choosing an appropriate forgetting factor: the weight applied to new data in a recursive update which determines the trade-off between the adaptation capability and convergence quality. This study proposes an adaptive forgetting factor for ORICA (adaptive ORICA) to learn and adapt to non-stationarity in the EEG data. Using a realistically simulated non-stationary EEG dataset, we empirically show adaptive forgetting factors outperform other commonly-used non-adaptive rules when underlying source dynamics are changing. Standard offline ICA can only extract a subset of the changing sources while adaptive ORICA can recover all. Applied to actual EEG data recorded from a task-switching experiments, adaptive ORICA can learn and re-learn the task-related components as they change. With an adaptive forgetting factor, adaptive ORICA can track non-stationary EEG sources, opening many new online applications in brain-computer interfaces and in monitoring of brain dynamics.
Effect of Supplemental Feeding of Honeybee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Populations and the Economic Value of Supplemental Feeding for Production of Package-Bees

In an attempt to determine the effect of feeding on Apis mellifera L. populations and the economic value of feeding colonies for spring production of package-bees, a feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding time and feeding treatments on the A. mellifera population, and to compare the cost with the benefit of feeding. Colonies produced significantly more bees from fall feeding than from spring feeding or continuous feeding from fall to spring ( P < 0.01; analysis of variance). Colonies fed with protein supplement containing 21% protein from Torula yeast and/or syrup also produced significantly more bees than unfed control colonies ( P < 0.05; Duncan’s multiple range test). Colonies fed with ⅓ the amount of protein supplement in the fall had the potential to yield high adult bee populations and a net gain in production of package-bees. Feeding sugar syrup in spring was less profitable than feeding protein supplement in fall.
Macroergonomic Considerations in Determining Minimum safe Crew Size on Maritime Vessels

As part of a National Research Council project, a study was undertaken to develop and initially validate a function analysis model for determining the minimum safe crew size of maritime vessels. During the validation phase, macroergonomic factors were identified which must be specified in using the model. These factors and their effects on manning are reviewed.
Telerehabilitation and emerging virtual reality approaches to stroke rehabilitation

Purpose of reviewStroke is the leading cause of permanent motor disability in the United States, and the rapidly aging population makes finding large-scale treatment solutions to this problem a national priority. Telerehabilitation is an emerging approach that is being used for the effective treatme
CW 4.3 æm intracavity difference frequency generation in an optical parametric oscillator

We have demonstrated up to 150 mW of cw output at 4.3 µm using intracavity difference frequency generation in a singly resonant PPLN OPO cavity pumped by a Nd:YAG laser.
Detemination of L-camitine content in health food by HPLC

Objective:To establish an method for determination of L-camitine conten in health food hy HPLC.Methods: The samples were extracted by ultrasonic water.The separarion was performed on a CAPCELLPAKCR column(4.6×150 mm,5 μm);the mobile phase consisted of 20 mmol Ammonium acetate+Acetonitrile(0.1% Formic acid)(25+75,v/v);the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min;the detection wavelength was 210 nm.Results: The L-camitine was shown to be linear over the range from 1.2 μg～105 μg(r=0.999987).The limit of detection was 0.08 μg.The recovery was 97.7% ～101%,RSD 1.10%.Conclusion: This method is simple,accurate and reliable,which can be used for the quality control of L-camitine in health food.
The neurotrophin factors

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the mechanisms of action of neurotrophic factors. Neurotrophic growth factors are proteins responsible for cell survival, proliferation, migration, neurite elongation, neurotransmitter expression, and synaptic maturation in the nervous system. Early in neuronal development of the sympathetic nervous system there is an overproduction of precursor sympathetic neurons, sympathicoblasts, which, when exposed to the nerve growth factor protein (NGF) in the absence of glucocorticoids, extend neurites oriented to the NGF source. Over time there is a decrease in the ambient levels of NGF even as the extended growth cones contact target tissues that synthesize and release the reduced amounts of NGF. Synaptic contact between the neuronal growth cones that display NGF receptors takes place, and there is binding of nearby NGF molecules to these receptors followed by internalization and the eventual retrograde transport to the neuronal soma of both encapsulated NGF-receptor complexes and activated NGF receptors. The overproduction of neurons early in development is followed by a significant decrease in their number as maturity is reached. The initial event in the regulation of cell death by neurotrophins during development is the binding of a neurotrophin ligand to a neurotrophin receptor, and for the neurotrophin factors such as NGF, BDNF, NT-3, and NT4/5 and there are two categories of receptors that include p75NTR and the Trk receptors. The p75NTR binds pro-neurotrophin with a high affinity compared to the mature NTs. When p75NTR forms a complex with sortilin, it promotes neuronal cell death via binding to pro-neurotrophins; whereas when p75NTR forms a complex with NOGO-R-LINGO, it inhibits NOGO-dependent axonal growth as well as semaphorin 3 A axonal repulsion.
GRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

This chapter discusses graphic representations in problem solving. In a state-space formulation, a problem can be represented as a directed graph and a problem solution as a path among the selected nodes in the graph. The chapter presents some appropriate algorithms. In the main, these algorithms have been taken from or are the modifications of algorithms presented by Nilsson, who has presented a very thorough discussion of graphic methods in problem solving. There are a number of puzzles that do not fit the restricted definition of problem solving, but can still be handled by graphic methods. The chapter also discusses algorithms for finding a minimal path to a single goal node. There are four basic algorithms for graph searching. These are :(1) breadth first algorithm, (2) uniform cost search algorithm, (3) ordered search and (4) depth first searching.
Captioning Political Cartoons from Different Perspectives as a Tool for Student Reflection

Political cartoons are underutilized in classroom settings even though they can be quite effective in teaching theoretical and conceptual material and improving critical thinking skills. Examining political cartoons help students hone their analytical skills while enlivening class discussions, in part, by sparking enthusiasm. The goal of this chapter’s learning activity is to cultivate students’ critical thinking and analytical and writing skills by creating and discussing political cartoon captions from different perspectives. After completing this activity, students should be able to (1) consider discourse on an environmental issue by creating succinct political cartoon captions, (2) express varied perspectives about an environmental issue by writing cartoon captions from different viewpoints, and (3) interpret the discourse revealed by cartoons through discussion.
Augmenting the power system toolbox: Enabling automatic generation control and providing a platform for cyber security analysis

The Power System Toolbox (PST) is a MATLAB-based package for simulating power system electromechanical dynamics. In this paper, we report on code that we developed to augment the capabilities of the PST, which enables the possibility of including the automatic generation control (AGC) system in simulations. In the process, we have also modified the linearization capability of the PST so as to include the effect of the AGC system when enabled in the simulation. The augmented PST package can be easily utilized for simulation studies in different applications. As an example, we focus on its utilization for assessing the impact of cyber events on power system dynamic performance. Specifically, by using the augmented PST package, users can inject various measurement errors and communication delays to signals that are used by the AGC system, and simulate the effect of such cyber events on system dynamic performance. We present several case studies to illustrate the new features added to the PST.
Parent vessel occlusion for treatment of cerebral aneurysms: Is there still an indication? A series of 17 patients.

Abstract Introduction/purpose Flow diversion has allowed cerebrovascular neurosurgeons and neurointerventionalists to treat complex, large aneurysms, previously treated with trapping, bypass, and/or parent vessel sacrifice. However, a minority of aneurysms remain that cannot be treated endovascularly, and microsurgical treatment is too dangerous. However, balloon test occlusion (macro and micro), micro WADA testing, ICG, intra-angiography and intra-operative monitoring are all available to clinically test the hypothesis that vessel sacrifice is safe. We describe a dual-institution series of aneurysms successfully treated with parent vessel occlusion (PVO). Materials/methods Prospectively collected databases of all endovascular and open cerebrovascular cases performed at Maine Medical Center and Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 2011 to 2013 were screened for patients treated with primary vessel sacrifice. A total of 817 patients were screened and 17 patients were identified who underwent parent vessel sacrifice as primary treatment. Results All 17 patients primarily treated with PVO are described below. Nine patients presented with SAH, and 3/17 involved anterior circulation. Complete occlusion was achieved in 15/17 patients. In the remaining 2 patients, significant reduction in the aneurysm occurred. Modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 0, signifying complete independence, was achieved for 16/17 patients. One patient died due to an extracranial process. Conclusions Parent vessel sacrifice remains a viable and durable solution in select ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Many adjuncts are available to aid in the decision making. In this small series, patients naturally divided into vertebral dissecting aneurysms, giant aneurysms and small distal aneurysms. Outcomes were favorable in this highly selected group.
Suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by ultraviolet light is not mediated by isomerization of urocanic acid

Ultraviolet B irradiation confers strong resistance against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a model of multiple sclerosis. This protection by ultraviolet B is independent of vitamin D production but causes isomerization of urocanic acid, a naturally occurring immunosuppressant. To determine whether UCA isomerization from trans to cis is responsible for the protection against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis afforded by ultraviolet B, trans- or cis-urocanic acid was administered to animals and their disease progression was monitored. Disease incidence was reduced by 74% in animals exposed to ultraviolet B, and skin cis-urocanic acid levels increased greater than 30%. However, increasing skin cis-urocanic acid levels independent of ultraviolet B was unable to alter disease onset or progression. It is unlikely that urocanic acid isomerization is responsible for the ultraviolet B-mediated suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Additional work is needed to investigate alternative mechanisms by which UVB suppresses disease.
A rare presentation: A case report of osseous metaplasia and mature bone formation in a follicular adenoma of the thyroid

Abstract Introduction Cases of multinodular goiter, thyroid hyperplasia, follicular adenoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma have been reported with histopathologic findings of osseous metaplasia (OM), bone marrow metaplasia (BMM), ectopic bone formation (EBF), ossification, and extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH). To date no report of a follicular adenoma with OM and mature EBF in the absence of EMH has been reported in the English language. Presentation of case 63-year-old woman with an incidental finding of thyroid nodule unable to be biopsied. One area was found to contain OM with mature EBF and without vascular invasion. The surrounding tissue was unremarkable, and no malignancy was found. Discussion Ectopic bone formation and osseous metaplasia in a thyroid nodule has an extensive differential diagnosis, from thyroid related pathologies to parathyroid causes, congenital syndromes, and hamartomas. A common theory amongst these is the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), signaling factors involved in cellular proliferation and growth. Conclusion This is the first case report of a follicular adenoma with OM and EBF in the absence of EMH. In this case, this adenoma was an incidental finding and the patient had no symptoms or accompanying laboratory abnormalities. Her benign presentation underscores the importance of awareness of the more common changes a thyroid nodule can undergo, such as hemorrhagic, cystic, and fibrotic changes, as well as the rarer changes of calcification with eventual ossification.
The Impact of Federal Policy Changes and Initiatives on Breastfeeding Initiation Rates and Attitudes Toward Breastfeeding Among WIC Participants

To explore the effects of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on participants' breastfeeding (BF) practices, studies that use large national samples are warranted. The US Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service funded several studies that leveraged national samples of WIC agencies, sites, and participants to evaluate how WIC affects BF outcomes among its participants. This report integrates findings across multiple Food and Nutrition Service-funded studies to describe important program benefits and how the program and its benefits supported positive attitudes and beliefs toward BF, as well as higher rates of BF initiation. The report concludes with policy implications and suggestions for future research.
On-site monitoring of occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds by a portable comprehensive 2-dimensional gas chromatography device

A fully automated portable comprehensive 2-dimensional (2-D) gas chromatography (GC) device was utilized for the first time for the field analysis of occupational volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the Spray and Finishing Shop of the University of Michigan. The instrument contains a full set of micro-preconcentrator/injectors, commercial columns, micro-Deans switches, micro-thermal injectors, micro-photoionization detectors, data acquisition cards, and power supplies, as well as computer control and user interface. The indoor air was sampled and analyzed before, during, and after spraying the five most frequently used paints. The 2-D analysis yields enhanced peak capacity and shortened analysis time as compared to those achieved by portable GC instruments reported to date. In addition, the portable system is able to perform on-site analysis of VOCs, providing the results every 5 to 15 min, which would allow for enhanced acquisition of information regarding workers' safety and health risks from airborne VOCs. The performance of the portable 2-D GC device was validated by comparing the quantitative results of various type of paints using traditional occupational VOCs monitoring techniques in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration Method ORG-07.
The accuracy of chemotherapy ascertainment among colorectal cancer patients in the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results registry program

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) public research database does not include chemotherapy data due to concerns for incomplete ascertainment. To compensate for perceived lack of data quality many researchers use SEER-Medicare linked data, limiting studies to persons over age 65. We sought to determine current SEER ascertainment of chemotherapy receipt in two relatively large SEER registries compared to patient-reported receipt and to assess patterns of under-ascertainment. In 2011–14, we surveyed patients with Stage III colorectal cancer reported to the Georgia and Metropolitan Detroit SEER registries. 1301/1909 eligible patients responded (68% response rate). Survey responses regarding treatment and sociodemographic factors were merged with SEER data. We compared patient-reported chemotherapy receipt with SEER recorded chemotherapy receipt. We estimated multivariable regression models to assess associations of under-ascertainment in SEER. Eighty-five percent of patients reported chemotherapy receipt. Among those, 10% (n = 104) were under-ascertained in SEER (coded as not receiving chemotherapy). In unadjusted analyses, under-ascertainment was more common for older patients (11.8% age 76+ vs. < 9% for all other ages, p = 0.01) and varied with SEER registries (10.2% Detroit vs. 6.8% Georgia; p = 0.04). On multivariable analyses, chemotherapy under-ascertainment did not vary significantly by any patient attributes. We found a 10% rate of under-ascertainment of adjuvant chemotherapy for resected, stage III colorectal cancer in two SEER registries. Chemotherapy under-ascertainment did not disproportionately affect any patient subgroups. Use of SEER data from select registries is an important resource for researchers investigating contemporary chemotherapy receipt and outcomes.
Data-driven decision-making and its impact on accounting undergraduate curriculum

Abstract Data analytics appears soundly entrenched within both professional accounting and business environments. However, the role of data analytics within undergraduate accounting education does not appear to be well understood either by practitioners or academics. This study addresses the curriculum impact of the data-driven decision-making evolution by investigating the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) specifically needed within accounting curricula (as opposed to other disciplines within and outside of the business school). Based on prior literature and suggestions from interviews with business professionals, this study identifies a set of possible KSAs—incremental to technical accounting knowledge—useful for helping accountants succeed in the evolving data-driven decision-making environment. Using these KSAs, this study surveys business professionals and faculty from a set of representative accounting programs to better understand their desired emphasis on the KSAs as compared to traditional technical accounting knowledge. We find that compared to accounting faculty, business professionals desire an equal focus across all types of KSAs rather than on a detailed understanding of technical accounting knowledge traditionally emphasized in classrooms. We believe that this study’s results suggest a desired shift towards a more “scientific method” approach in which students use their understanding of business and accounting to ask questions, perform research, and seek out additional information to test alternate solutions (often using quantitative analyses) to evolve their accounting knowledge. Additionally, we provide results of a survey of business professionals on potential types of traditional accounting topics to deemphasize and thus provide opportunities to more thoroughly integrate additional KSAs into the accounting curriculum.
An on-chip fully electronic molecular clock based on sub-terahertz rotational spectroscopy

Mobile electronic devices require stable, portable and energy-efficient frequency references (or clocks). However, current approaches using quartz-crystal and microelectromechanical oscillators suffer from frequency drift. Recent advances in chip-scale atomic clocks, which probe the hyperfine transitions of evaporated alkali atoms, have led to devices that can overcome this issue, but their complex construction, cost and power consumption limit their broader deployment. Here we show that sub-terahertz rotational transitions of polar gaseous molecules can be used as frequency bases to create low-cost, low-power miniaturized clocks. We report two molecular clocks probing carbonyl sulfide (16O12C32S), which are based on laboratory-scale instruments and complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor chips. Compared with chip-scale atomic clocks, our approach is less sensitive to external influences and offers faster frequency error compensation, and, by eliminating the need for alkali metal evaporation, it offers faster start-up times and lower power consumption. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of monolithic integration of atomic-clock-grade frequency references in mainstream silicon-chip systems. The sub-terahertz rotational transitions of polar molecules can be used as frequency bases to create low-cost, low-power miniaturized clocks.
Manual muscle testing overlooks many knee extension strength deficits among older adults

This retrospective study examined the adequacy of manual muscle testing (MMT) as a measure of knee extension force among home-care patients. The knee extension strength of 31 patients was measured by MMT, hand-held dynamometry (HHD), and the five-repetition sit-to-stand-test (FRSTST). Although most patients were identified as weak by MMT, neither the sensitivity nor the specificity of MMT relative to HHD or FRSTST justifies its use as a sole measure of muscle strength among home care patients.