cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Doing Homework on a Telecommunications Network.

In Texas, elementary school pupils are doing homework on a telecommunications network. A professor, a principal, and a production manager for a telecommunications network spearheaded this innovative use of an educational technology system. They got a pilot project started in one innercity school in 1991, and it has already spread to six surrounding school districts. The endeavor now involves parents, elementary teachers and administrators, university faculty and students, telecommunications technologists, videotex writers, and business sponsors.The children in the pilot program averaged two hours a week of extra-credit homework on the network during the school months. During their summer vacation, these children were allowed to keep equipment for accessing the telecom network at home. In June and July their average time online increased to over two hours a week on videotex programs that exercised math, writing, and reading. For this group, an educational technology system that involved doing homework on a...
Quantitative computed tomography perfusion of prostate cancer: correlation with whole-mount pathology.

Abstract Purpose Microvessel density within the prostate is associated with presence of cancer, disease stage, and disease-specific survival. We evaluated multidetector computed tomography (CT) to estimate prostate perfusion and localize prostate cancer. Patients and Methods Ten subjects were evaluated with contrast enhanced CT before radical prostatectomy with the Mx8000IDT 16-slice scanner. Following baseline pelvic scan, 100 cc of Optiray® 300 was administered intravenously (4 cc per second). Repeated dynamic scans through the prostate were obtained at 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 seconds following initiation of contrast injection. Computed tomography perfusion was compared with pathologic findings of Gleason score and tumor volume on whole-mount prostatectomy specimens. Results Conventional adenocarcinoma (Gleason score, 6-10) was present in all subjects, including one who also demonstrated a mucinous variant of prostate cancer. Visible focal CT enhancement was noted in 1 patient with a high-volume tumor and a Gleason score of 10. A positive correlation between local estimates of CT perfusion and percent of prostate volume occupied by tumor in each sextant was found for half of the subjects (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.3-0.95; mean, 0.48) but statistically significant correlation ( P Conclusion Visible enhancement of prostate cancer during dynamic CT is present in a minority of subjects. Correlation between quantitative CT perfusion and tumor location is statistically significant only in subjects with localized high-volume, poorly differentiated prostate cancer.
A comparative computer simulation study of three different sparse‐sampling methods for the estimation of steady‐state area under the concentration—time curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (Cmax) in toxicokinetics

A limited-sampling method is proposed to estimate the area under the curve (AUC) of concentration versus time and maximum concentration (Cmax) following single or multiple oral doses of a hypothetical drug. The plasma concentration versus time data sets for 50 animals were generated by simulation. The limited-sampling model (LSM) was developed with samples from 10 animals at a single time point. The model was validated in another 40 animals who received either a 500-mg single dose or multiple doses orally. The model provided good population mean estimates of AUC and Cmax. The proposed method was compared with the existing two methods; they are, naive sampling (five time points) and optimal sampling (three time points). The method described here may be useful in estimating AUC and Cmax with one or two samples in toxicokinetic studies following single or multiple oral dosing without detailed pharmacokinetic studies.
Unique microbial communities persist in individual cystic fibrosis patients throughout a clinical exacerbation

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by inherited mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene and results in a lung environment that is highly conducive to polymicrobial infection. Over a lifetime, decreasing bacterial diversity and the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the lung are correlated with worsening lung disease. However, to date, no change in community diversity, overall microbial load or individual microbes has been shown to correlate with the onset of an acute exacerbation in CF patients. We followed 17 adult CF patients throughout the course of clinical exacerbation, treatment and recovery, using deep sequencing and quantitative PCR to characterize spontaneously expectorated sputum samples We identified approximately 170 bacterial genera, 12 of which accounted for over 90% of the total bacterial load across all patient samples. Genera abundant in any single patient sample tended to be detectable in most samples. We found that clinical stages could not be distinguished by absolute Pseudomonas aeruginosa load, absolute total bacterial load or the relative abundance of any individual genus detected, or community diversity. Instead, we found that the microbial structure of each patient’s sputum microbiome was distinct and resilient to exacerbation and antibiotic treatment. Consistent with previously reported sputum microbiome studies we found that total and relative abundance of genera at the population level were remarkably stable for individual patients regardless of clinical status. Patient-by-patient analysis of diversity and relative abundance of each individual genus revealed a complex microbial landscape and highlighted the difficulty of identifying a universal microbial signature of exacerbation. Overall, at the genus level, we find no evidence of a microbial signature of clinical stage.
Fever Interval before Diagnosis, Prior Antibiotic Treatment, and Clinical Outcome for Young Children with Bacterial Meningitis

In young children, meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is preceded by a long interval from onset of fever to diagnosis of bacterial meningitis (hereafter known as "fever interval"), during which time the patient frequently contacts a clinician. By means of retrospective chart review, we compared the fever interval that preceded diagnosis with the complication rate among 288 young children (age, 3--36 months) who had bacterial meningitis (1984--1996), as stratified by causative organism and prior antibiotic treatment. Pathogens included S. pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and Neisseria meningitidis. Pneumococcus species were associated with the longest fever interval prior to diagnosis of meningitis, the highest frequency of contact with a clinician before hospitalization, and the highest rate of documented morbidity or mortality. For S. pneumoniae, there was an association between antibiotic treatment received at prior meetings with a clinician and a reduced rate of meningitis-related complications (odds ratio, 0.14; P=.02). Antibiotic treatment during such meetings is associated with a substantial reduction in disease-related sequelae.
On the switching initiation in ovonics

The temperature profile in semiconducting sandwiches is discussed as a function of the time. Using the model of “thermally forced double tunneling”, the conditions for the switching to occur in Ovonics are derived (Ovshinsky effect). The threshold voltage and the delay time are discussed and compared to some experimental results. It is shown that the conditions of perfect cooling are probably fulfilled for Ovonics. Die Temperaturverteilung in Halbleiterschichten wird als Funktion der Zeit diskutiert. Das Modell des „thermisch erzwungenen doppelten Tunnelns” wird benutzt, um die Bedingungen fur das Einsetzen des Ovshinsky-Effektes zu diskutieren. Die theoretischen Ergebnisse werden mit dem Experiment verglichen. Die Bedingungen fur perfekte Kuhlung durch die Elektroden sind in Ovonics wahrscheinlich erfullt.
Cooling of White Dwarfs

A knowledge of the precise relationship between the age and luminosity of a white dwarf can in principle be used to determine the compositions of the white dwarfs in galactic clusters. To this end the assumptions in Mestel’s theory of white dwarf cooling are critically reviewed, and the results of recent work aimed at relaxing these restrictions are briefly summarized. It is concluded that on the basis of current knowledge an accuracy of the order of 10 or 20% in the age-luminosity relation should be attainable.
The stressed hippocampus, synaptic plasticity and lost memories

Stress is a biologically significant factor that, by altering brain cell properties, can disturb cognitive processes such as learning and memory, and consequently limit the quality of human life. Extensive rodent and human research has shown that the hippocampus is not only crucially involved in memory formation, but is also highly sensitive to stress. So, the study of stress-induced cognitive and neurobiological sequelae in animal models might provide valuable insight into the mnemonic mechanisms that are vulnerable to stress. Here, we provide an overview of the neurobiology of stress memory interactions, and present a neural endocrine model to explain how stress modifies hippocampal functioning.
Emi1 preferentially inhibits ubiquitin chain elongation by the anaphase promoting complex

The Emi1 protein inhibits the anaphase promoting complex (APC), an E3 ubiquitin ligase and critical cell cycle regulator, but it has remained unclear how it does this. Wang and Kirschner demonstrate that Emi1 suppresses the elongation of ubiquitin chains on APC substrates by interfering in different ways with the activities of the E2 enzymes UBCH10 and Ube2S.
An applications-oriented freshman-level electrical circuits course

An electrical circuits course with an integrated learning laboratory has been developed at Northern Arizona University (USA) featuring real-world applications oriented to all engineering disciplines. This paper describes how this course is structured, the central role of the learning laboratory in this course, the impact on learning by the utilization of up-to-date computer controlled laboratory equipment and the benefits and relevance of real-world applications in motivating students. Findings concerning the effectiveness of this hands-on approach to motivating students, enhancing their life-long learning skills and providing exposure to real world applications of electrical circuits in their field of study are presented. In addition, the importance and benefits of an instrumented resource center that is available to all students throughout their undergraduate career is discussed.
Cellular localization of membrane-type serine protease 1 and identification of protease-activated receptor-2 and single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator as substrates.

Abstract Membrane-type serine protease 1 (MT-SP1) was recently cloned, and we now report its biochemical characterization. MT-SP1 is predicted to be a type II transmembrane protein with an extracellular protease domain. This localization was experimentally verified using immunofluorescent microscopy and a cell-surface biotinylation technique. The substrate specificity of MT-SP1 was determined using a positional scanning-synthetic combinatorial library and substrate phage techniques. The preferred cleavage sequences were found to be (P4-(Arg/Lys)P3-(X)P2-(Ser)P1-(Arg)P1′-(Ala)) and (P4-(X)P3-(Arg/Lys)P2-(Ser)P1(Arg) P1′(Ala)), whereX is a non-basic amino acid. Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator are proteins that are localized to the extracellular surface and contain the preferred MT-SP1 cleavage sequence. The ability of MT-SP1 to activate PARs was assessed by exposing PAR-expressingXenopus oocytes to the soluble MT-SP1 protease domain. The latter triggered calcium signaling in PAR2-expressing oocytes at 10 nm but failed to trigger calcium signaling in oocytes expressing PAR1, PAR3, or PAR4 at 100 nm. Single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator was activated using catalytic amounts of MT-SP1 (1 nm), but plasminogen was not cleaved under similar conditions. The membrane localization of MT-SP1 and its affinity for these key extracellular substrates suggests a role of the proteolytic activity in regulatory events.
Investigations on the influence of phosphonates in dispersing iron oxide (rust) by polymeric additives for industrial water applications

The performance of polymeric and non-polymeric additives as iron oxide (rust) dispersants in aqueous system has been investigated. The polymers evaluated include: homopolymers of acrylic acid, aspartic acid; copolymers of acrylic aci d: vinyl acetate; acrylic aci d: hydroxylpropyl acrylate, maleic aci d: sulfonated styrene; and terpolymer of acrylic aci d: 2acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic aci d: sulfonated styrene. Phosphonates (or nonpolymeric additives) tested include: hydroxyphosphono acetic acid, HPA; aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid), AMP; hydroxyethylidene 1,1-diphosphonic acid, HEDP; 2-phosphonobutane 1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid, PBTC; and polyamino polyether methylene phosphonic acid, PAPEMP. Based on the performance data, polymers effectiveness as iron oxide dispersants is: terpolymer > copolymer > homopolymer. Under similar experimental conditions, phosphonates exhibit poor performance as iron oxide dispersants. It has also been observed that presence of phosphonates exhibit antagonistic effect on the performance of polymers.
Reversible discrete event formulation and optimistic parallel execution of vehicular traffic models

Vehicular traffic simulations are useful in applications such as emergency planning and traffic management, for rapid response and resilience. Here, a parallel traffic simulation approach is presented that reduces the time for simulating emergency vehicular traffic scenarios. We use a reverse computation-based optimistic execution approach to parallel execution of microscopic, vehicular-level models of traffic. The unique aspects of this effort are: exploration of optimistic simulation of vehicular traffic; addressing the related reverse computation challenges; achieving absolute, as opposed to self-relative, speedup. The design, development and performance study of the parallel simulation system is presented, demonstrating excellent sequential and parallel performance. A speed up of nearly 20 on 32 processors is observed on a vehicular network of 65,000 intersections and 13 million vehicles.
Familial aggregation of tobacco use behaviors among Amish men.

introduction: Tobacco use is a complex behavior. The Old Order Amish community offers unique advantages for the study of tobacco use because of homogenous ancestral background, sociocultural similarity, sex-specific social norms regarding tobacco use, and large family size. Tobacco use in the Old Order Amish community is almost exclusively confined to males. Methods: We examined characteristics of tobacco use and familial aggregation among 1,216 Amish males from cross-sectional prospectively collected data. Outcomes examined included ever using tobacco regularly, current use, quantity of use, duration of use, and frequency of use. r esults: Sixteen percent of Amish men were current tobacco users, with the majority reporting cigar use only. Higher rates of tobacco use were found among sons of fathers who smoked compared with sons of fathers who did not smoke (46% vs. 22%, p < .001) as well as among brothers of index cases who smoked compared with brothers of index cases who did not smoke (61% vs. 29%, p < .001). After controlling for shared household effects and age, heritability accounted for 66% of the variance in ever smoking regularly (p = .045). conclusions: The familial patterns of tobacco use observed among Amish men highlight the important role of family in propagating tobacco use and support the usefulness of this population for future genetic studies of nicotine addiction.
Apoptosis, mastocytosis, and diminished adipocytokine gene expression accompany reduced epididymal fat mass in long-standing diet-induced obese mice

Obesity is characterized by increased cell death and inflammatory reactions in the adipose tissue. Here, we explored pathophysiological alterations taking place in the adipose tissue in long-standing obesity. In the epididymal fat of C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet for 20 weeks, the prevalence and distribution of dead adipocytes (crown-like structures), mast cells (toluidine blue, mMCP6), macrophages (F4/80), and apoptotic cells (cleaved caspase-3) were measured. Moreover, gene and/or protein expression of several adipocytokines (leptin, adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, MCP-1), F4/80, mMCP6, cleaved caspase-3 were determined. We observed that the epididymal fat mass was lower in obese than in lean mice. In obese mice, the epididymal fat mass correlated inversely with body weight and liver mass. Dead adipocytes, mast cells, macrophages, and apoptotic cells were abundant in the epididymal fat of obese mice, especially in the rostral vs. caudal zone. Accordingly, mMCP6, F4/80, and cleaved caspase-3 gene and/or protein expression was increased. Conversely, adiponectin, leptin, IL-6, and MCP-1 gene expression levels were lower in the epididymal fat of obese than lean mice. Although TNF-α and IL-10 gene expression was higher in the epididymal fat of obese mice, their expression relative to F4/80 and mMCP6 expression were lower in the heavily infiltrated rostral than caudal zone. This study demonstrates that in mice with long-standing obesity diminished gene expression of several adipocytokines accompany apoptosis and reduced mass of the epididymal fat. Our findings suggest that this is due to both increased prevalence of dead adipocytes and altered immune cell activity. Differential distribution of metabolically challenged adipocytes is indicative of the presence of biologically diverse zones within the epididymal fat.
Model-Based Assurance of Diagnostic Procedures for Complex Systems

Verifying diagnostic procedures for complex systems is hard and labor-intensive. Usually this verification is accomplished primarily through extensive review of the procedures by experts. We aim to augment this review process by using insights from comparing the diagnostic steps described in the procedural definitions with diagnostics information derived from existing models of the system. These comparisons offer various conformance checks between the manually developed diagnostic procedures and the diagnostic trees auto- generated from the diagnostic system models. We previously described our DTV (Diagnostic Tree for Verification) technique based on these comparisons. This paper describes an extension to DTV, and reports results of an application of DTV to a representative system’s diagnostic procedures. Specifically, it outlines four analyses (branch analysis, root cause coverage, path verification, and efficiency) that can be performed using DTV; illustrates the process for applying DTV; and reports results from our application of DTV to assure fifteen of the procedures developed for diagnosing problems in an electrical power system testbed for spacecraft.
Pre-operative and post-operative concerns in the management of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy

Hyperparathyroidism and associated hypercalcemia have multiple diverse end-organ effects. While most patients will not present with acute symptoms of hypercalcemic crisis, practitioners must take the necessary steps to ensure maintenance of safe serum calcium levels prior to surgical cure. The management of post-operative hypocalcemia likewise requires diligence and knowledge of treatment options. Increasingly, vitamin D is being appreciated as an important component of treatment, particularly in those with insufficient vitamin D levels. Awareness of the pre- and post-operative problems which can affect patients with HPT is useful for all physicians in order to ensure optimal care of patients with hyperparathyroidism.
Binding Characteristics of Estrogen Receptor (ER) in Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) Testis: Different Affinity for Estrogens and Xenobiotics from that of Hepatic ER

An estrogen receptor (ER) was identified in cytosolic and nuclear fractions of the testis in a marine teleost, Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). A single class of high affinity, low capacity, and displaceable binding sites was identified by saturation analysis, with a Kd of 0.40 nM in cytosolic extracts and a Kd of 0.33 nM in nuclear extracts. Competition studies demonstrated that the receptor was highly specific for estrogens (diethylstilbestrol > estradiol >> estriol = estrone) and also bound several antiestrogens. Testosterone and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone had much lower affinities for the receptor, whereas no displacement of specific binding occurred with 11-ketotestosterone or any of the C21 maturation-inducing steroids. A variety of xenoestrogens, including o,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), chlordecone (Kepone), nonylphenol, hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and the mycotoxin zearalenone, bound to the receptor with relatively low binding affinities, 10(-3) to 10(-5) that of estradiol. A comparison of the binding affinities of various ligands for the testicular ER and the hepatic ER in this species revealed that the testicular ER was saturated at a lower [3H]estradiol concentration (1 nM vs. 4 nM). The binding affinities of several compounds, including testosterone and nafoxidine, exhibited marked differences for the two ERs; and most of the estrogens and xenoestrogens tested had higher binding affinities for the testicular receptor. Minor amounts of estradiol (0.12 ng/g tissue/h) were produced by testicular tissue fragments incubated in vitro, and estradiol was detected in male Atlantic croaker plasma. The identification of a testicular ER and evidence that estradiol is produced by the testes in croaker suggest that estrogens participate in the hormonal control of testicular function in teleosts.
Family Environments and Early Development in Low-Income Nicaraguan Children

The associations between child and family characteristics and children’s developmental status were examined in a sample of 95 impoverished Nicaraguan children, aged two months to five years. Particular attention was placed on the interaction of child and family characteristics on development, and understanding how different domains of development (such as language and motor) are differentially affected by child and family characteristics. Variance in developmental outcomes was explained by child characteristics (weight status and age), and family and home characteristics (number of children under age five in the home, household density, and reported food shortages), but language and fine motor development were more sensitive to these factors than social and gross motor development. Among older children, developmental delays were more pronounced, suggesting that the more complex competencies required of children in the preschool years may be difficult to attain in highly impoverished environments.
Teacher Candidates with Learning Disabilities: Effective and Ethical Accommodations.

The number of teacher candidates with learning disabilities (LD) has grown over the past several years. Teacher education programs are accountable to produce quality teachers while providing reasonable accommodations that facilitate completion of a degree program. This study investigated accommodations provided to teacher candidates with LD in teacher education programs. Accommodations at the knowledge level were considered acceptable, while accommodations in field experiences were less common and more likely to raise ethical concerns. For some accommodations, a wide disparity of opinions was evident, indicating poor consistency across teacher education programs. Findings indicated that programs were willing to provide accommodations that maintain the standards of the program and require candidates to demonstrate competence in essential skills of being a teacher.
The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century, by Steven Pinker

Steven Pinker has written a potent prescription against the outdated and pedantic manual Elements of Style by William Strunk and E. B. White (Boston: Pearson, 2014), the alarmist manifesto Eats, Sh...
Dissociating the enhancing and inhibitory effects of pertussis toxin on autoimmune disease

Pertussis toxin (PT) has both enhancing and inhibitory effects on experimental autoimmune disease, depending on its time of administration relative to immunization. The inhibitory effect is due to blocking of G i -coupled receptors by the enzymatic A subunit. In this study, we attribute the enhancing effect of PT to the cell-binding B subunit (PT-B). C57BL/6 mice, a strain that requires PT to develop experimental uveitis, were immunized with a retinal Ag and were injected with whole PT, PT-B, or vehicle. Disease and associated immunological responses were evaluated. The results showed that PT-B, determined to be free of biologically significant contamination with whole PT or with endotoxin, was able to mimic all the effects of PT with respect to disease induction, enhancement of delayed-type hypersensitivity, enhancement of lymphocyte proliferation, induction of an innate IL-12 response, and promotion of an adaptive IFN-γ response to the uveitogenic Ag. Our results suggest that PT-B is largely responsible for the disease-enhancing properties of PT.
Peptide Synthesis on Glass Substrate Using Acoustic Droplet Ejector

This paper describes the synthesis of a 9-mers-long peptide ladder structure of glycine on a modified glass surface using a nanoliter droplet ejector. To synthesize peptide on a glass substrate, SPOT peptide synthesis protocol was followed with a nozzleless acoustic droplet ejector being used to eject about 300 droplets of preactivated amino acid solution to dispense 60 nL of the solution per mer. The coupling efficiency of each mer was measured with FITC fluorescent tag to be 96%, resulting in net 70% efficiency for the whole 9-mer-long peptide of glycine. Usage of a nanoliter droplet ejector for SPOT peptide synthesis increases the density of protein array on a chip.
Severe coagulopathy after 90Y microsphere administration: resemblance to the Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

bthe rehe le to . nw a the y, ARTERIAL administration of Yttrium 90 (Y) microspheres is increasingl being used for the treatment of p mary and metastatic hepatic mali nancies. This strategy takes advantag of the fact that tumors derive most their blood supply from the hepa arterial circulation. Both glass an resin microspheres have been used deliver large intrahepatic doses of Y. The microspheres have diameters 20–40 m and thus lodge in precap lary terminal arterioles, predom nantly at the periphery of tumor n ules (1). A typical microsphere activi vial consists of 1.2– 8 10 glass microspheres or 40 – 80 10 resin spheres. Y emits pure high-energ beta energy with a maximum range penetration of 11 m. Ninety-four p cent of the radiation is given within days (1,2). A complication with radioembol zation that is not uncommonly se
Trial anterior artificial tooth arrangement for an immediate denture patient: A clinical report * **

VOLUME 84 NUMBER 3 An immediate denture is defined as a complete or removable partial denture fabricated for placement immediately after the removal of natural teeth.1 Immediate dentures allow patients to continue their social and business activities without being in an edentulous state. This is one of the major advantages of immediate dentures. However, this advantage can be demanding and challenging, as the arrangement of artificial teeth cannot be observed at a try-in appointment. Because observation of the artificial tooth arrangement in the mouth is not possible beforehand, the patient (and sometimes the dentist) may not be prepared to accept the result on final insertion. It is therefore important for both the patient and the dentist to fully understand the limitations of the procedure.2 The final esthetic outcome cannot always be predictable when using conventional immediate denture techniques. This clinical report describes a technique that allows the esthetic observation of the anterior artificial tooth arrangement in an immediate denture patient before extractions, thereby making the esthetic results more predictable.
Aldosterone Production by Isolated Adrenal Glomenilosa Cells: Stimulation by Physiological Concentrations of Angiotensin II

The production of aldosterone by isolated canine zona glomenilosa cells was measured after the incubation of cell suspensions with angiotensin II and ACTH, and during changes in extracellular potassium concentration. Adrenal cell suspensions were prepared by collagenase digestion and physical dispersion of the capsular layer of the dog adrenal cortex, and aldosterone production was determined by direct radioimmunoassay of cell incubation media. The isolated dog adrenal cells were highly responsive to angiotensin II, with aldosterone production significantly stimulated by concentrations of the octapeptide as low as 10-11M. Thus, the steroidogenic response of zona glomenilosa cells was consistently observed at peptide concentrations within the physiological range of angiotensin II in dog plasma, i.e., 2.0–5.0 × 5.0 × 10-11M. The maximum aldosterone response of 3–8 times the basal level of steroid production was induced by 3 × 10-10M angiotensin II, and a decrease in aldosterone production occurred at peptid...
Upregulation of Kv1.3 K+ channels in microglia deactivated by TGF-β

Microglial activation is accompanied by changes in K+ channel expression. Here we demonstrate that a deactivating cytokine changes the electrophysiological properties of microglial cells. Upregulat...
Assessing Epilepsy-Related Behavioral Phenotypes in Adult Zebrafish

Over the past decades, zebrafish have been presented as a novel and valuable tool for modeling complex human diseases. Epilepsy is a serious brain disorder with multiple genetic and environmental causes. Our poor understanding of its pathogenesis requires novel paradigms and model organism for translational experimental epilepsy research. Seizure-like behavior has already been studied in both larval and adult zebrafish models, including genetically modified strains and convulsant drugs. This protocol describes how to quantify seizure-like behavioral phenotypes commonly observed in adult zebrafish models of epilepsy.
Crystal Structure Determination. II: Hexagonal Structures

To index the x-ray diffraction pattern and calculate the lattice parameters of some common materials with a hexagonal structure.
Abstract B02: The Cultural Framework for Health: Transforming the use of culture to reduce cancer health disparities

Culture is currently poorly defined and even more poorly operationalized in cancer research. Such practice renders culture irrelevant to the risk factors known or suspected to impact disease prevalence, morbidity, and mortality in diverse population groups. Consequently, it is not surprising that analyses of study data finds culture to contribute negligible explanatory weight to the variance of health outcomes for diverse populations who bear an undue burden of cancer, and the opportunity to identify the pathways of this panhuman process remain invisible. Research studies miss scientifically-grounded concepts and methods that likely account for both population and individual variations in health outcomes. NIH9s OBSSR funded a report to change science when researchers consider culture, a fundamental human process, as a factor in health outcomes. This report provides multiple scientifically proven approaches by which to integrate the dynamic and adaptive nature of culture into research. These multiple factors that inform the cultural process require that we reassess how we frame health issues, how we design interventions, how we measure the impact of interventions, and for whom, by whom, and why. Each step will require further theorizing and research, but this report provides a first step by providing a theoretical and practical framework to use to build the foundation needed to pursue this line of inquiry to identify the fundamental role of culture in framing behavior and ways of life that influence mental and physical responses to cancer. Application of this framework could move the science of cancer health disparities research and practice forward in more promising and effective directions. Citation Format: Marjorie Kagawa Singer. The Cultural Framework for Health: Transforming the use of culture to reduce cancer health disparities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B02. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-B02
The W3C and Its Patent Policy Controversy: A Case Study of Authority and Legitimacy in Internet Governance

This paper argues that the preservation of openness and innovation in Internet technologies requires more than code; it requires institutions to govern code in a manner that is consistent with the values of a broad community of stakeholders. My specific claim is that the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is the body responsible for developing technical standards for the World Wide Web (Web), adjusted its mechanisms and policies in order to preserve a balance between centralized authority and decentralized, grassroots public inputs. By virtue of its efforts to accommodate larger participation throughout its recent patent policy dispute, the W3C strengthened its claim to be a legitimate, more democratic regulator of the Web.
Ligand effects in carbon- K -shell photoionization

We consider the effect of substituting atomic ligands $X$ with different electronic properties in the carbon-$K$-shell photoionization of the linear $X\mathrm{CC}X$ molecules. We study the cases of lithium, hydrogen, and fluorine as ligands bonded to the carbon atoms. The molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions are computed using the variational complex Kohn technique. The electronic properties of the ligands have direct observable effects on the angular distribution of the emitted carbon core-hole photoelectron. These effects have already been observed experimentally using the cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy technique. We propose a simple classical explanation based on the intramolecular electrostatic potential to qualitatively explain the preferred directions of electron emission.
Surgical treatment for obesity: ensuring success.

In the United States, obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Serious medical complications, impaired quality of life, and premature mortality are all associated with obesity. Medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or sleep apnea can improve or be cured with weight loss.1 Medical treatment programs focused on diet, behavior modification, and/or pharmacologic intervention have met with limited long-term success. Although surgical treatments for obesity have become popular in recent years, they should only be used as a last resort for weight loss. Not all patients can be considered appropriate candidates for surgery; therefore, guidelines based on criteria from the National Institutes of Health should be used preoperatively to help identify suitable persons.2 Most individuals who opt for weight-loss surgery have usually struggled for many years with losing weight and keeping it off, but surgery alone will not ensure successful weight loss. Patient education is imperative for long-term success. Moreover, any such educational regimen should include information on diet, vitamin and mineral supplementation, and lifestyle changes, as well as expected weight-loss results and improvements in comorbid conditions. Patients must be willing to commit to a long-term follow-up program intended to promote successful weight loss and weight maintenance and to prevent metabolic and nutritional complications.
Ineradicable System Vulnerabilities in the Anesthesia Pre-Filled Syringe Medication Management Process:

Pre-filled medication syringes (PFS) are injection devices that were recently introduced into the anesthesia medication management process to enhance safety, affordability, and convenience. However, it is still uncertain how well PFS integrate within the process and whether they effectively eliminate the system vulnerabilities (SV) associated with the traditional self-filled medication syringe (SFS) process. Two Human Factors Engineers conducted observations of 17 general surgery cases with either SFS or PFS. Aggregating the observation data, four ineradicable SV in the process with PFS were identified. Participants rated these ineradicable SV based on their occurrence, their severity to patients, and the disruptiveness to the operating room (OR) workflow. Results show that while PFS resolve SV to some degree, they are not panacea to all the problems in the anesthesia medication management process. Organizational-level interventions are needed for the elimination of all SV.
Closed-Loop Tracking of Large Displacements in Electro-Thermally Actuated ${\rm VO}_{2}$ -Based MEMS

The large displacements produced by vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ) integrated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based actuators have been precisely controlled through the use of a simple proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller and an integrated heater. A complete device characterization is performed, including quasi-static response, frequency response, creep, repeatability, and rate dependency. These characterization results are used to design, simulate, and implement two PID controllers for closed-loop device actuation optimized for different control specifications. To validate the performance of the designed controllers, step and sinusoidal reference tracking experiments are performed. Highly accurate deflection control is obtained for each case with a displacement range of 80 μm. Zero average steady-state error and fast actuation, up to 0.34 ms, are observed for the step reference tracking experiment with some signal oscillations resulting from the limit cycles produced by the VO 2 hysteresis. The root-mean-square error obtained for the sinusoidal reference tracking was found to increase for increasing frequencies due to the phase lag. A comparison between open- and closed-loop control is also performed, which shows the far superior stability and performance of the latter when the sample temperature is varied. The obtained results show that the VO 2 -based MEMS actuators, although characterized by a complicated hysteretic and nonmonotonic deflection-to-heater current behavior, can be accurately controlled with a simple PID controller.
On the Flight Path of a Hypervelocity Glider Boosted by Rockets / Über die Flugbahn eines raketengetriebenen Hyperschallgleiters / La trajectoire d’un planeur hypersonique à fusées d’appoint

The problems arising from the analysis of the flight paths of hypervelocity vehicles have received considerable attention in recent years. Historically, Sanger and Bredt were among the first to realize the military importance of hypervelocity vehicles. Eggers, Allen, and Neice, on the other hand, produced a simple and interesting comparative analysis of the performance of ballistic missiles, skip-type vehicles, and glide-type vehicles.
Tamm Horsfall Glycoprotein and Uromodulin: It Is All about the Tubules!

“The hyaline cast is made of Tamm Horsfall protein—the most abundant protein in the urine.” This often-spoken statement is delivered universally in urinalysis lectures and represents the current knowledge of most students, physicians, and nephrologists regarding Tamm Horsfall glycoprotein—
Development of Pollutant Specific Models for Toxic Organic Compounds in the Activated Sludge Process

The concept of pollutant specific models in completely mixed biological recycle reactors is developed. Pollutant specific Monod constants are developed by considering substrate utilization, cell growth, and endogenous decay rates based solely on influent and effluent specific pollutant concentrations. In this way, models are developed which predict specific pollutant removal in biological reactors. Three nonvolatile compounds are evaluated; namely, phenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and 2,4-dinitrophenol and their respective specific Monod constants determined. A pollutant specific model for concurrent biodegradation and volatilization is also developed. A mathematical method for evaluating the pollutant specific Monod constants independent of volatilization kinetics is derived for the volatile compounds dinitrobenzene and carbon tetrachloride. Control strategies are discussed which emphasize the rate limiting pollutant concept. Conclusions are drawn as to the applicability and limitations of pollutant specific models.
Survival and postweaning performance of pigs from sows fed fat during late gestation and lactation.

Sows were fed a control corn-soybean meal gestation diet to d 80 of gestation. One group of sows (n = 25) continued receiving the control diet until the end of lactation, whereas two groups were placed on other treatments. One group (n = 27) was fed a diet containing 5% added solid fat pellets from gestation d 80 through lactation, whereas another group (n = 25) was fed a diet with 10% added solid fat pellet from gestation d 100 through d 14 of lactation. Feed supply was 2.27 kg/d during gestation and to appetite during lactation. Pigs from sows fed the control diet or 5% solid fat pellet diet were weaned with an age range of 22 to 28 d and immediately allotted in a 2 x 3 factorially designed 4-wk feeding trial. Pigs from these two sow groups were fed diets 1) without fat, 2) with 4.5% choice white grease or 3) with 5% solid fat pellet. Sow weight loss, backfat change and pig weights were not different at weaning among treatments. Survival rates of all pigs to 21 d averaged 90% with no significant differences between treatments. Pigs from fat-fed sows had more (P less than .05) glycogen per gram of liver, 41% more total liver glycogen and 16% more serum glucose at birth. Weanling pigs from fat-fed sows grew slower (P less than .05) than pigs from control sows. Supplemental fat during gestation increased liver glycogen of pigs, which should help survival, but the feeding of fat throughout lactation had a negative effect on ADG during a 4-wk postweaning period.
Long-range electrostatic corrections in multipolar/polarizable QM/MM simulations

Taking long-range electrostatic effects into account in classical and hybrid quantum mechanics–molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations is necessary for an accurate description of the system under study. We have recently developed a method, termed long-range electrostatic corrections (LREC), for monopolar QM/MM calculations. Here, we present an extension of LREC for multipolar/polarizable QM/MM simulations within the LICHEM software package. Reaction barriers and QM–MM interaction energies converge with a LREC cutoff between 20 and 25 A, in agreement with our previous results. Additionally, the LREC approach for the QM–MM interactions can be smoothly combined with standard shifting or Ewald summation methods in the MM calculations. We recommend the use of QM(LREC)/MM(PME), where the QM region is treated with LREC and the MM region is treated with particle mesh Ewald (PME) summation. This combination is an excellent compromise between simplicity, speed, and accuracy for large QM/MM simulations.
Towards Understanding Buyer Insecurity and the Moderating Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Relationship Quality

The focus of this conceptual paper is the phenomenon of buyer insecurity. An antecedent/consequence model is presented that considers specific threats and risks that contribute to a buyer’s feelings of insecurity, as well as a complex variable that is believed to moderate the relationship between buyer insecurity and relationship quality. While the reasons for these feelings of insecurity may not always be apparent to the buyer, a set of threats and risks can produce emotions of doubt, worry and low self-esteem. Buyer insecurity is defined as the state of experiencing negative feelings (reflected as doubt, worry and low self-esteem) within the buyer-seller relationship that are a direct result of the antecedent organizational forces of job insecurity and role ambiguity.
Community College First‐Year Experience Programs: Examining Student Access, Experience, and Success from the Student Perspective

This chapter examines community college first-year experience programs using critical race theory and ecological theory. The study draws on diverse students’ experiences with access, support, and long-term success within community colleges to assess how these programs foster student success, as told through the voices of student participants.
Some Final Thoughts and Motivation for Additional Examination

We make the case that cultural differences are an important determinant of public opinion on economic globalization. As such, there are clear general implications for policy makers who seek to devise and implement policies that will enhance international economic integration—namely, that a more complete understanding of why some individuals hold negative views on these topics may improve policy makers’ abilities to counter public opinion and act to enhance social welfare. We close the book with a final discussion of our topic and, having highlighted our findings, indicate what is believed to be a reasonable path forward. We conclude by noting what, due to data limitations, we cannot address in this work and by offering several possible extensions and avenues for future research efforts.
USING SIMULATION TO TEACH TRANSTHORACIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY TO CARDIOLOGY FELLOWS: A STUDY USING THE MASTERY LEARNING CONCEPT

Learning transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) can be challenging for trainees. Mastery learning (ML) is a teaching method relying on feedback and mastery of a portion of a topic before moving on to the next portion. This approach with deliberate practice using simulation might solve the problem of
Flood Extent Mapping Using Dual-Polarimetric SENTINEL-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery

Abstract. Rapid generation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) based flood extent maps provide valuable data in disaster response efforts thanks to the cloud penetrating ability of microwaves. We present a method using dual-polarimetric SAR imagery acquired on Sentinel-1a/b satellites. A false-colour map is generated using pre- and post- disaster imagery, allowing operators to distinguish between existing standing water pre-flooding, and recently flooded areas. The method works best in areas of standing water and provides mixed results in urban areas. A flood depth map is also estimated by using an external DEM. We will present the methodology, it’s estimated accuracy as well as investigations into improving the response in urban areas.