cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Internet-based intervention training for parents of young children with disabilities: a promising service-delivery model

Efficient early intervention (EI) services are required to serve the needs of young children with disabilities and the needs of their families. Effective EI includes family-centred practices, evidence-based interventions, parent involvement/training, and delivery in children's natural environments. Due to the challenges of providing home-based EI for children with disabilities, there is a need to identify alternative service models. One possible alternative service-delivery model is training and coaching parents from a distance, via Internet technologies. The purposes of this paper are to (a) describe the challenges related to home-based EI services, (b) discuss the potential advantages of using Internet-based interventions as a supplemental service model, and (c) describe current Internet-based interventions by reviewing the literature related to training parents of young children with autism, from a distance via the Internet.
Commentary on the Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel

Foundations for Success: The Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (2008) excludes the view of students learning the social practices of mathematical reasoning and the use of mathematics in understanding and modeling situations. The authors argue that by filtering research to only “statistically significant individual effects, significant positive mean effect size, or equivalent consistent positive findings,” the report misrepresents the resources that education research affords for improving mathematics education and education in general. The authors argue that only offering research results of statistical comparisons is inappropriately limited. They recall a strategy developed by the National Academy of Education in which researchers and educators collaborate to strengthen educational practice in local settings and to provide analyses and develop resources intended to support travel of their innovations to other sites.
Ernest Amory Codman, M.D., and End Results of Medical Care

Ernest Amory Codman, M.D., was one of the most important figures in the history of outcomes research in medicine. While his contemporaries scorned his efforts to create systematic procedures to evaluate the end results of medical care, his work foreshadowed many of today's most pressing issues in technology assessment. This article traces Codman's career as an innovator and political gadfly at the Massachusetts General Hospital during the first three decades of this century, and examines the development and demise of his end-result system.
A class of block-iterative equalizers for intersymbol interference channels: fixed channel results

A new and efficient class of nonlinear equalizers is developed for intersymbol interference (ISI) channels. These -"iterated-decision equalizers" use an optimized multipass algorithm to successively cancel ISI from a block of received data and generate symbol decisions whose reliability increases monotonically with each iteration. These equalizers have an effective complexity comparable to the decision-feedback equalizer (DFE), yet asymptotically achieve the performance of maximum-likelihood sequence detection (MLSD). We show that, because their structure allows cancellation of both precursor and postcursor ISI, iterated-decision equalizers outperform the minimum mean-square error DFE by 2.507 dB on severe ISI channels even with uncoded systems. Moreover, unlike the DFE, iterated-decision equalizers can be readily used in conjunction with error-control coding, making them attractive for a wealth of applications.
Effects of Filtering Data on Testing Asymmetry in Threshold Autoregressive Models

Empirical macroeconomic research on business cycle typically filters economic time series in order to obtain cyclical components. This paper examines the effects of filtering data on the test for a linear autoregression against a threshold autoregression. Monte Carlo simulation shows that (1) filtering data in general reduces the power of the test, (2) the power is sensitive to the choice of filters and the specification of the trend and cyclical components, (3) regime-varying variance of the error term can affect the rejection frequency. Empirical evidences for cyclical asymmetry are provided for the quarterly US real GNP.
Thermal fluctuations of vesicles and nonlinear curvature elasticity—implications for size-dependent renormalized bending rigidity and vesicle size distribution

Both closed and open biological membranes noticeably undulate at physiological temperatures. These thermal fluctuations influence a broad range of biophysical phenomena, ranging from self-assembly to adhesion. In particular, the experimentally measured thermal fluctuation spectra also provide a facile route to the assessment of mechanical and certain other physical properties of biological membranes. The theoretical assessment of thermal fluctuations, be it for closed vesicles or the simpler case of flat open lipid bilayers, is predicated upon assuming that the elastic curvature energy is a quadratic functional of the curvature tensor. However, a qualitatively correct description of several phenomena such as binding-unbinding transition, vesicle-to-bicelle transition, appearance of hats and saddles among others, appears to require consideration of constitutively nonlinear elasticity that includes fourth order curvature contributions rather than just quadratic. In particular, such nonlinear considerations are relevant in the context of large-curvature or small-sized vesicles. In this work we discuss the statistical mechanics of closed membranes (vesicles) incorporating both constitutive and geometrical nonlinearities. We derive results for the renormalized bending rigidity of small vesicles and show that significant stiffening may occur for sub-20 nm vesicle sizes. Our closed-form results may also be used to determine nonlinear curvature elasticity properties from either experimentally measured fluctuation spectra or microscopic calculations such as molecular dynamics. Finally, in the context of our results on thermal fluctuations of vesicles and nonlinear curvature elasticity, we reexamine the problem of determining the size distribution of vesicles and obtain results that reconcile well with experimental observations. However, our results are somewhat paradoxical. Specifically, the molecular dynamics predictions for the thermo-mechanical behavior of small vesicles of prior studies appear to be inconsistent with the nonlinear elastic properties that we estimate by fitting to the experimentally determined vesicle size-distribution trends and data.
Interventions for Necrotizing Pancreatitis: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Interventions for necrotizing pancreatitis have recently undergone a shift away from open surgery and towards minimally invasive techniques, obviating the need for open necrosectomy in most cases. Recommendations of a recent international multidisciplinary consensus conference and evidence-based guidelines have emphasized the superiority of minimally invasive approaches over standard surgical approaches. Percutaneous catheter or endoscopic transluminal drainage, followed by endoscopic or video-assisted retroperitoneal debridement as needed, is associated with improved outcomes over traditional open necrosectomy for patients with infected necrosis. Endoscopic transluminal drainage and necrosectomy are emerging as the primary approach in many centers, with adjunctive use of percutaneous catheter drainage and minimally invasive retroperitoneal necrosectomy techniques as needed. Enteral nutritional support is an essential component of management. The success of all of these techniques depends on concerted efforts of a team of interventional endoscopists, radiologists, intensivists, and surgeons dedicated to the management of severe acute pancreatitis and its complications. This review provides an overview of minimally invasive techniques for management of necrotizing pancreatitis, including indications, timing, advantages, and disadvantages.
United States V. Lopez, 514 U.S. 549 (1995): A Measured Retreat

United States v. Lopez (1995) was the first time in seventy-seven years that the Supreme Court struck down a federal law involving the Commerce Clause and national police powers. The decision, however, is limited by the unique set of facts in the case. Lopez deals with public schools, which is part of the states' authority to regulate under the Tenth Amendment. The three major implications of the case are also minimal. First, the lower courts have been more deferential to pre-Lopez precedent than to the Lopez decision. Second, based on Lopez, the only types of Congressional laws that may be overturned by the Court will be those that do not involve two or more states. And, third, it would behoove Congress to use a jurisdictional statement explaining how the law affects interstate commerce to defeat any potential constitutional challenges.
Effects of Cr Content on Mechanical Properties of Fe-Cr Alloy

Fe-xat%Cr (x=28, 38, 48, 58, 68) alloy powders were synthesized by a mechanical alloying (MA) of elementary Fe powder and Cr powder using a planetary ball mill for 360ks under 1.33kPa argon gas atomosphere. The obtained MA powders were consolidated at 1173K for 0.3ks with a spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus, and the rectangular sintered bodies having a size of 30 mm in length, 5 mm in width and 2 mm in thickness were prepared. The sintered bodies were cut into the tensile specimen by grinding. The tensile strength increased and the elongation decreased with increasing the Cr content. This is due to increase in a ratio of the hard Cr powders. Fe-68at%Cr alloy produced by a cast could not be grind because of the creation of chromium oxide, but that produced by a MA-SPS process could be grind and the tensile strength of this alloy was about 1500MPa. As this alloy was inferior to other alloys in a milling condition of Fe and Cr, the numerical value in tensile strength of this alloy was scattered. Considering balance of tensile strength and elongation, Fe-48at%Cr was the best composition in the Fe-Cr alloys, because the tensile strength was about 1125MPa and the elongation was more than 5%.
Accumulation of calcium in the antennal gland during the molting cycle of the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii

Calcium (Ca+2) was histochemically localized in antennal glands during the molting cycle of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii. In tissues involved in electrolyte reabsorption, alizarin red S formed precipitates with Ca+2 (4-30 iim in diameter). In the coelomosac, the number of Ca+2-alizarin precipitates did not vary significantly during the molting cycle. In labyrinth and nephridial canal tissues, Ca+2 precipitates were significantly more abundant during postmolt than during intermolt, with a maximum at 4 days postmolt; by 14 days postmolt, Ca+2 precipitation had decreased in the labyrinth and nephridial canal, although t he values remained significantly greater than intermolt levels. Distal nephridial canal cells treated with potassium oxalate contained mitochondria with electron-dense precipitates (30-85 nm in diameter). These deposits reached a maximum at 4 days postmolt, but remained significantly above intermolt levels by 14 days postmolt. These findings suggest that Ca+2 accumulates in reabsorptive tissues during postmolt and that the mitochondria of distal nephridial canal cells may also serve to maintain intracellular and extracellular Ca+2 homeostasis. Additional key words: nephridial canal, labyrinth, alizarin red S, K+-oxalate, histochemistry The molting cycle of a freshwater crayfish can be used as a model system to study cellular mechanisms of calcium transport associated with cuticular calcification and decalcification. At intervals, the old cuticle is decalcified, and a new cuticle is formed underneath. Once the old cuticle is shed at ecdysis, the new cuticle undergoes calcification. During the molting cycle, these animals experience physiological challenges related to ionic regulation that are more pronounced in freshwater than in saltwater, specifically, low calcium
Higher Proportion of at Least Pentaploidy for Chromosomes X, Y, and 18 Is Present in Myocytes of Patients Having a Good Outcome After Receiving a Left-Ventricular Assist Device

Myocyte hypertrophy and ploidy status have been proposed as predictive factors for cardiac function improvement of patients following left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) explantation and outcome of cardiac transplantation, but there is a paucity of data testing this hypothesis. The primary aim of this study was to determine if ploidy status correlates with myocyte size and/or outcome. Aneuploidy/polyploidy patterns …
Analysis of health knowledge awareness of community practitioners in Taishan district

Objective:To learn the community practitioners' health education level in Taishan district and provide basis for human resource arrangement and operation training.Methods:By the use of sampling methods,140 practitioners' health knowledge awareness was investigated in 9 community service centres.Results:The rate of the minimum was 60.12﹪ and the maximumn was 83.48﹪ and the average was 70.64﹪ with regard to the awareness of 9 aspects including 45 questions.There were wide differences between the different education level and the title of a technical post.There was no difference between different ages and sexes.Conclusion:The health knowledge awareness rate is low,and theoretical knowledge and skill are scarce.General diathesis need improving immediately.In order to improve the practitioners' diathesis and satisfy the masses' need for health Knowledge,the government should improve the practitioners' theoretic diathesis and actively introduce a highly educated and skilled personnel titles.
Functional components for a design strategy: Hot cell shielding in the high reliability safeguards methodology

Abstract The high reliability safeguards (HRS) methodology has been established for the safeguardability of advanced nuclear energy systems (NESs). HRS is being developed in order to integrate safety, security, and safeguards concerns, while also optimizing these with operational goals for facilities that handle special nuclear material (SNM). Currently, a commercial pyroprocessing facility is used as an example system. One of the goals in the HRS methodology is to apply intrinsic features of the system to a design strategy. This current study investigates the thickness of the hot cell walls that could adequately shield processed materials. This is an important design consideration that carries implications regarding the formation of material balance areas, the location of key measurement points, and material flow in the facility.
Trade Policy in Developing Countries: The Trade Policy Debate

In this chapter I try to provide a balanced, dispassionate critique of the various arguments that have been advanced for export promotion and against protection. The chapter begins with a brief overview of LDC trade policy that introduces some basic concepts and discusses the main features of import-substituting industrialization (ISI). Following this, Section 3.2 examines at length the argument that the first-best remedy for most types of market failure is to combine free trade with an appropriate tax or subsidy. The argument is powerful but subject to the qualifications that the most direct tax/subsidy intervention (i) not involve greater administrative costs than the comparable trade tax, and (ii) not adversely affect the strategic environment in which policy makers operate. If these qualifications matter, trade taxes may have a place in the optimal policy package. The second half of the chapter deals with more specific aspects of the policy debate. Section 3.3.1 appraises the infant industry argument, the oldest and most common defense of protection. In Section 3.3.2, I discuss the nature of factor market distortions in LDCs and the claim that ISI exacerbates the underemployment problem. Sections 3.3.3 and 3.3.4 examine the theory and empirical evidence bearing on the connection between trade policy, production and prices in oligopolistic markets, scale economies, and productivity growth.
When Is It Important to Measure Unbound Drug in Evaluating Nanomedicine Pharmacokinetics

Nanoformulations have become important tools for modifying drug disposition, be it from the perspective of enabling prolonged drug release, protecting the drug molecule from metabolism, or achieving targeted delivery. When examining the in vivo pharmacokinetic properties of these formulations, most investigations either focus on systemic concentrations of total (encapsulated plus unencapsulated) drug, or concentrations of encapsulated and unencapsulated drug. However, it is rare to find studies that differentiate between protein-bound and unbound (free) forms of the unencapsulated drug. In light of the unique attributes of these formulations, we cannot simply assume it appropriate to rely upon the protein-binding properties of the traditionally formulated or legacy drug when trying to define the pharmacokinetic or pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics of these nanoformulations. Therefore, this commentary explores reasons why it is important to consider not only unencapsulated drug, but also the portion of unencapsulated drug that is not bound to plasma proteins. Specifically, we highlight those situations when it may be necessary to include measurement of unencapsulated, unbound drug concentrations as part of the nanoformulation pharmacokinetic evaluation.
Obesity and energy balance: What is the role of physical activity?

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Despite billions of dollars spent over decades of research, debate remains over the causes and solutions of the obesity epidemic. The specific role of physical activity in the prevention or treatment of obesity seems a particularly contentious issue, with opposing views put forth in both academic and popular media. In an attempt to provide context and clarity to the specific question of the role of physical activity in determination of body weight, we have attempted to identify evidence or lack thereof in the scientific literature and provide a summary of our findings.Areas covered: Topics included in this narrative review are an overview of energy balance, the relationship between physical activity and energy expenditure, compensatory responses in non-exercise energy expenditure and energy intake, and the relationship between physical activity and obesity.Expert commentary: Based on a review of the existing literature, daily physical activity and structured exercise has beneficial e...
Combined Computed Tomorgraphy and Pgotoacustic Imaging using Dual Modal Targeted Contract Agents

I order to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment an accurate detection and localization of the tumor is necessary. By combining the Computed Tomography (CT) and Photoacoustic Imaging (PAT), a non-invasive anatomic diagnostic imaging and an intraoperative optical modality would be valuable to provide fine morphological details for accurate tumor detection and localization. Here, I report the development of new contrast agents as dual-modality molecules with extend properties (specific-targeting and therapy capability) able to combine the strengths of both CT and PAT imaging modality with resulted complementary diagnostic information.
Magnetic recording on patterned media

The storage density of conventional thin film recording media, where each bit is comprised of several hundred grains, is limited by superparmagnetism, since thermal excitation of the magnetization may degrade recorded information. Patterned magnetic media where magnetic bits are recorded on pre-defined, single-domain islands is one of the proposed approaches for extending magnetic storage densities beyond the limit set by thermal decay for conventional media. In this paper we discuss writing and reading from single domain magnetic islands with a conventional recording head, compare the performance to unpatterned media, and present a possible manufacturable approach to achieving run-scale patterning over disk sized areas.
Discrimination against female surgeons is still alive: Where are the full professorships and chairs of departments?

Background Although half of all medical students are now and women are increasingly filling surgical residency positions, few ascend the academic ladder to become chairman of their departments, much less full academic professors. Methods We queried PubMed to search for the number of women surgeons in different subspecialties, and asked how many were chairman or full academic professors? Results Data coming out of largely general or cardiothoracic surgery departments cited no substantial gains for women surgeons over the years; there were few chairmanships or full professorships. In one study of 54 female cardiothoracic surgeons, 60% of academic appointments were at the instructor or assistant professor level; only 18% were full professors. In another study looking at 12-year data from major academic medical institutions in the US, women constituted only 9.2% of chairs, only 14.7% of full professors, and just 9.3% of deans. In a third study, out of 270 female general surgeons, there were only three who were chairman, and just 12.4% were tenured professors. In Great Britain/Ireland, of 315 neurosurgeons (25 females), all 16 full professors were males. Two medical/surgical series speculated it would take until 2096 or 2136 for females to attain 50% of full professorships. The American Association of Neurological Surgery (U.S. 2017; personal communication) showed that of 287 Board-certified female neurosurgeons, there is just one female surgeons chairman. Conclusions Few female physicians/surgeons were chairs of departments or full professors at their academic institutions. Do women in medicine/surgery really need to wait until 2136 to achieve equality?
Critical Issues in Advancing the Special Education Technology Evidence Base

The field of special education technology is devoted to a variety of activities that ultimately serve to augment, bypass, or compensate for a disability. Much like a kaleidoscope, perceptions of th...
The War Is Not Yet Won.

In this issue of Diabetes Care , Selvin and Ali (1) have done a masterful job of exploring and explaining both the rise in the incidence of diabetes over 20 years and the fall in the incidence of diabetes over the last 5 years in the U.S. You may want to skip this and just read their article. The bottom line is that we as clinicians can confirm that they, as epidemiologists, have almost certainly gotten it right. Importantly, their analysis has critical implications for policy makers. There are a couple of critical definitions that need to be clarified. First, the term “incidence” refers to an annual rate of new diagnoses. That is the feature of diabetes explored in this article and here refers specifically to the number of people who report in a survey that a health care professional told them for the first time that they had diabetes in the last year. That number has dropped about 20% since 2009 (2). Incidence needs to be distinguished from “prevalence,” which refers to the number or proportion affected by a condition. For diabetes, that is a number that continues to rise and is only peripherally addressed (3). While clinicians tend to not focus on research methodology, in this case the methods are crucial to understand. The data from which incidence rates are derived is national survey data. These data …
Thinking About Assessments in a Transitional Time

Russell Almond supports the use of ECD for designing innovative assessments with diverse sources and types of evidence. From the perspective of a large state such as Florida that uses standards-based assessments to make high-stakes decisions, the ECD approach holds promise, but also poses challenges. In this response to Russell Almond’s support of ECD, the authors focus on three key questions as they relate to this approach. The first question regards gathering coherent evidence across multiple time points, which can be challenging due to the need for professional development and timely reporting, among other considerations. The second question focuses on how to balance information gathered from multiple aspects of proficiency. Florida’s experience and future plans with assessments of writing and the use of technology frame this discussion. Lastly, the question of collecting evidence from complex tasks involves even more challenges than are cited by Almond. Practical experience shows that the cost of including complex tasks, the challenges of student proficiency, and the logistics of field testing are major considerations when these tasks are used in large-scale assessments.
The Promise and Pitfalls of Using Crowdsourcing in Research Prioritization for Back Pain: Cross-Sectional Surveys

Background: The involvement of patients in research better aligns evidence generation to the gaps that patients themselves face when making decisions about health care. However, obtaining patients’ perspectives is challenging. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) has gained popularity over the past decade as a crowdsourcing platform to reach large numbers of individuals to perform tasks for a small reward for the respondent, at small cost to the investigator. The appropriateness of such crowdsourcing methods in medical research has yet to be clarified. Objective: The goals of this study were to (1) understand how those on MTurk who screen positive for back pain prioritize research topics compared with those who screen negative for back pain, and (2) determine the qualitative differences in open-ended comments between groups. Methods: We conducted cross-sectional surveys on MTurk to assess participants’ back pain and allow them to prioritize research topics. We paid respondents US $0.10 to complete the 24-point Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) to categorize participants as those “with back pain” and those “without back pain,” then offered both those with (RMDQ score ≥7) and those without back pain (RMDQ <7) an opportunity to rank their top 5 (of 18) research topics for an additional US $0.75. We compared demographic information and research priorities between the 2 groups and performed qualitative analyses on free-text commentary that participants provided. Results: We conducted 2 screening waves. We first screened 2189 individuals for back pain over 33 days and invited 480 (21.93%) who screened positive to complete the prioritization, of whom 350 (72.9% of eligible) did. We later screened 664 individuals over 7 days and invited 474 (71.4%) without back pain to complete the prioritization, of whom 397 (83.7% of eligible) did. Those with back pain who prioritized were comparable with those without in terms of age, education, marital status, and employment. The group with back pain had a higher proportion of women (234, 67.2% vs 229, 57.8%, P=.02). The groups’ rank lists of research priorities were highly correlated: Spearman correlation coefficient was .88 when considering topics ranked in the top 5. The 2 groups agreed on 4 of the top 5 and 9 of the top 10 research priorities. Conclusions: Crowdsourcing platforms such as MTurk support efforts to efficiently reach large groups of individuals to obtain input on research activities. In the context of back pain, a prevalent and easily understood condition, the rank list of those with back pain was highly correlated with that of those without back pain. However, subtle differences in the content and quality of free-text comments suggest supplemental efforts may be needed to augment the reach of crowdsourcing in obtaining perspectives from patients, especially from specific populations.
Mutation in Somatic Cells as Determined by Electrophoretic Analysis of Mutagen-Exposed Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

After Ingram(17) demonstrated that the electrophoretic differences in inherited forms of hemoglobin were due to specific substitutions of amino acids of one charge for those of another, electrophoresis has been a useful procedure in identifying genetically variant forms of proteins. The procedure was made available to the study of a wide range of proteins (enzymes) as a result of the application of histochemical staining to gels after electrophoresis.(16,21) It became practical to screen hosts of organisms and populations for mutant alleles that directed the production of electrophoretically variant proteins at a wide range of enzyme loci (any locus that produced an enzyme for which a histochemical stain was available). Such detected electrophoretic variants were proven to be due to the presence of mutant alleles by family or breeding studies, population frequencies, and electrophoretic patterns in heterozygotes consistent with the subunit structures of the enzymes (see Harris(12) for review).
Manipulation, character, and ego depletion: A response to Michael Cholbi

Michael Cholbi argues that moral character plays no role in ego-depleted, manipulated action (2014). He bases his claim on ego depletion studies in the psychological literature. Using an Aristotelian account of virtue and moral character, I will give two arguments as to why Cholbi’s conclusion is too quick. While conceding the possibility of ego depletion and its potential influence in a manipulated environment, I first argue that character plays precisely the role that Aristotle believed it to play for at least two character types. Indeed, ego depletion studies may be good indicators of these types of character. Second, I argue that Cholbi has made a mistake in causal reasoning – because these ego depletion studies have not controlled for the influence of all-things-considered judgment in the participant’s deliberation – judgments which are central to Aristotle’s understanding of character – Cholbi is not justified in concluding that character plays no role in ego-depleted, manipulated action. Keywords: manipulation, action theory, ego depletion, character, virtue ethics, Aristotle, Cholbi.
Analysis of DP Region Products by T Cells and Monoclonal Antibodies: Blocking of DP-Specific Proliferation and Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity

Three families of class II (“Ia”) genes/molecules (DR, DQ, DP) have been defined within the human HLA region, each of which can stimulate allogeneic T cell responses and restrict T cell recognition of foreign antigen. We have explored the relationship between serologically defined epitopes on class II HLA molecules and T-cell-mediated responses to the DP antigens. Our approach has combined the use of (1) DP-specific primed T cells, (2) HLA-deletion mutant cell lines, and (3) 70 monoclonal antibodies (moabs) specific for class II molecules. The most informative analysis has been possible for DPw2-specific responses, since mutant lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) have been derived which are positive for DPw2, but have lost expression of DR and DQ determinants. Analysis of moab inhibition of T cell proliferation [but not cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CML)] was complicated by the fact that many moabs which failed to bind to the stimulator (or target) cell inhibited the response. In CML, enhancement rather than inhibition was observed with a number of moabs. Three moabs inhibited CML specific for all DP alleles tested, while other moabs gave allele-specific inhibition. Overall patterns of inhibition suggested that DPw2 and DPw3 are more similar to each other than to DPw1.
Domain analysis for a video game metadata schema: issues and challenges

As interest in video games increases, so does the need for intelligent access to them. However, traditional organization systems and standards fall short. Through domain analysis and cataloging real-world examples while attempting to develop a formal metadata schema for video games, we encountered challenges in description. Inconsistent, vague, and subjective sources of information for genre, release date, feature, region, language, developer and publisher information confirm the imporatnce of developing a standardized description model for video games.
COMPARISONS OF ANTIGENICALLY PURE DOPAMINE β-HYDROXYLASE (DβH) FROM BOVINE LARGE DENSE CORED NORADRENERGIC VESICLES (LDV) AND ADRENOMEDULLARY CHROMAFFIN GRANULES (AMG)

Triton treatment of purified LDV solubilizes at least 7 proteins, including 3 glycoproteins. It is estimated that DβH comprises ∼ 20% of the total LDV protein and pure DβH can be prepared at a yield, ∼ 4 mg/100 g nerve, which affords the unique opportunity to produce antibodies to this enzyme from a single noradrenergic neuronal source for radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemical applications.
Green Remediation of Hexavalent Chromium Using Naturally Derived Flavonoids and Engineered Nanoparticles

Conventional methods (e.g., bioremediation and zerovalent iron (ZVI)) for in situ remediation of chlorinated organic solvents may produce undesirable by-products and the use of nanoscale bimetallic particles has succeeded in eliminating some of these by-products. Palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs), bimetallic particles, ZVI particles with various oxidants, reductants, and nutrients have been shown to be useful in promoting contaminant transformation from toxic to benign forms. This chapter examines the most current information regarding metal contamination in water and the in situ remediation of inorganic contaminants, specifically chromium. We focus on the use of PdNPs for the catalytic conversion of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) using formic acid (FA) and sulfur. Based on the experimental results, this approach has shown that colloidal PdNPs enhanced the rate of reduction of Cr(VI). Along with the discussion of their enormous technological and economic potential, this chapter also discusses the use of naturally occurring flavonoids as reducing agents for Cr(VI).
Comparison of heel stick sample with placental blood sample for pretransfusion testing

Background Published studies demonstrate that placental blood samples provide acceptable results for various laboratory tests, but these studies did not include pretransfusion testing. The aim of this study was to show concordance between heel stick and placental blood sample pairs for pretransfusion testing and to validate tube and gel method for placental samples. Using placental blood samples for pretransfusion testing potentially reduces the amount of blood collected from newborns for initial laboratory tests. Study design and methods Placental samples were collected for pretransfusion tests at birth from 32 newborns with less than 2000 g birthweight and less than 35 weeks to compare the results with the heel stick samples from the same newborns. ABO and D typing, direct antiglobulin test (DAT) with IgG, and antibody screen tests were performed on these sample pairs. For ABO and D typing both tube and gel methods were used to validate both methods for the placental samples. Results This study shows 100% concordance in 32 sample pairs for ABO, D, and DAT tests. Antibody screen results were compared on 29 sample pairs. All 28 sample pairs were concordant, but one placental blood sample was more sensitive to detect a weak maternal antibody than its corresponding heel stick sample was. Conclusion The results of this study validated that placental blood samples can be used in place of heel stick samples and are suitable for pretransfusion testing. This study also validated ABO and D typing by tube and gel methods for placental samples.
Pre-oil spill baseline profiling for contaminants in Southern Resident killer whale fecal samples indicates possible exposure to vessel exhaust.

The Southern Resident killer whale population (Orcinus orca) was listed as endangered in 2005 and shows little sign of recovery. Exposure to contaminants and risk of an oil spill are identified threats. Previous studies on contaminants have largely focused on legacy pollutants. Here we measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in whale fecal (scat) samples. PAHs are a diverse group of hazardous compounds (e.g., carcinogenic, mutagenic), and are a component of crude and refined oil as well as motor exhaust. The central finding from this study indicates low concentrations of the measured PAHs (<10 ppb, wet weight), as expected; however, PAHs were as high as 104 ppb prior to implementation of guidelines mandating increased distance between vessels and whales. While causality is unclear, the potential PAH exposure from vessels warrants continued monitoring. Historical precedent similarly emphasizes the importance of having pre-oil spill exposure data available as baseline to guide remediation goals.
MAGIC: A tool for predicting transcription factors and cofactors binding sites in gene sets using ENCODE data

Transcriptomic profiling is an immensly powerful hypothesis generating tool. Whether one is comparing an experimental versus control condition or collecting transcriptomes from cohorts of disease tissue, it is often necessary to determine which transcription factors (TFs) and cofactors drive programs of gene expression in the datasets. Most available tools rely on searching for TF binding motifs near promoters of genes in a gene set. This approach can work well for TFs with extended recognition elements but is less useful for shorter elements and does not work at all for cofactors. The Encyclopedia Of DNA Elements (ENCODE) archives ChIPseq tracks of 169 TFs and cofactors assayed in 91 cells lines. The algorithm presented herein, Multiple Aligned Genomic Integration of ChIP (MAGIC), uses ENCODE ChIPseq data to look for statistical enrichment of TFs and cofactors in gene bodies and flanking regions in gene sets. When compared to a commonly used web resource o-Possum, MAGIC was able to more accurately predict TFs and cofactors that drive gene changes in 3 settings: 1) A cell line expressing or lacking REST, 2) Breast tumors divided along PAM50 designations and 3) whole brain samples from WT mice or mice lacking CTCF in a particular neuronal subtype. In summary, MAGIC is a standalone application that works in OSX and Windows machines and has a simple interface that produces meaningful predictions of which TFs and cofactors are enriched in a gene set.
A comparison of participants and non-participants of state forest property tax programs in the United States

Abstract Information collected by the National Woodland Owner Survey, supplemented with state forest property tax program, land use, and socio-economic data, was used to develop a national characterization of participants enrolled in state forest property tax programs and their forest land. Family forest owners who owned a single parcel of forest land, were at least slightly familiar with their state's property tax program, and whose forest land qualified to participate in their state's program were included in the analysis. Landowner and parcel characteristics were organized into eight categories hypothesized to distinguish participants and non-participants. The analysis found that enrolled lands are larger, more likely found in predominantly forested landscapes, more actively managed, and less likely used for hunting than non-enrolled forest land. While enrollment in a state forest property tax program is positively associated with higher population density, no correlation was found between enrollment tendency and land development pressure, as defined in this analysis. The owners of enrolled forest lands generally report higher household incomes than their non-enrolled counterparts. However, owners whose forest land is enrolled in a forest property tax program do not express greater concern about the level of property tax levied on their forest land, and are no less likely to divest their land than non-enrollees. The information generated from this study may help state forest property tax program administrators and public policy makers improve the ability of these programs to achieve their intended objectives, such as incentivizing the production of timber, other ecosystem goods and services, and forest land protection, through more effective marketing and targeting efforts.
Wireless Sleep Apnea Detection Using Continuous Wave Quadrature Doppler Radar

A non-contact and non-invasive physiological radar monitoring system (PRMS) is introduced. The system is based on motion detection using quadrature microwave Doppler radar, eliminating the need to place sensors on the body. An algorithm was designed to perform real-time actigraphy and sleep apnea detection. The system was validated with clinical polysomnography (PSG) in a sleep study facility on ten consented volunteers with known obstructive sleep apnea. Data obtained from both PRMS and clinical PSG systems were rated by a sleep technician and show an excellent agreement in the detected apnea and hypopnea events. The apnea-hypopnea events were distinguished with an overall sensitivity of 86%, the specificity of 91% and accuracy of 92%.
Structures of Neurexophilin-Neurexin Complexes Reveal a Regulatory Mechanism of Alternative Splicing

Neurexins are presynaptic, cell-adhesion molecules that specify the functional properties of synapses via interactions with trans-synaptic ligands. Neurexins are extensively alternatively spliced at six canonical sites that regulate multifarious ligand interactions, but the structural mechanisms underlying alternative splicing-dependent neurexin regulation are largely unknown. Here, we determined high-resolution structures of the complex of neurexophilin-1 and the second laminin/neurexin/sex-hormone-binding globulin domain (LNS2) of neurexin-1 and examined how alternative splicing at splice site #2 (SS2) regulates the complex. Our data reveal a unique, extensive, neurexophilin-neurexin binding interface that extends the jelly-roll β-sandwich of LNS2 of neurexin-1 into neurexophilin-1. The SS2A insert of LNS2 augments this interface, increasing the binding affinity of LNS2 for neurexophilin-1. Taken together, our data reveal an unexpected architecture of neurexophilin-neurexin complexes that accounts for the modulation of binding by alternative splicing, which in turn regulates the competition of neurexophilin for neurexin binding with other ligands.
Salvage logging reduces wild bee diversity, but not abundance, in severely burned mixed-conifer forest

Abstract Natural disturbances are critical for supporting biodiversity in many ecosystems, but subsequent management actions can influence the quality of habitat that follow these events. Post-disturbance salvage logging has negative consequences on certain components of forest biodiversity, but populations of some early seral-adapted organisms may be maintained in salvage-logged areas. We investigated the influence of an essential group of pollinators – wild bees – to recent post-wildfire salvage logging within managed mixed-conifer forest in the Pacific Northwest. We compared bee diversity (i.e., bee abundance, species richness, alpha diversity, and beta diversity) and habitat features (i.e., floral resources and available nesting substrates) in salvage-logged areas to unlogged sites, both of which experienced high-severity wildfire. Although we found no evidence for differences in bee abundance between salvage-logged and unlogged sites, interpolated estimates of species richness and both interpolated and extrapolated estimates of alpha diversity were greater in unlogged sites. Additionally, beta diversity was greater in unlogged sites when equal weight was given to rare species. Salvage logging did not select for specific functional groups of bees, as both logged and unlogged sites were dominated by generalist, social species that nest in the ground. However, habitat conditions for bees were influenced by salvage logging: flowering plant density was greater in salvage-logged sites during the latter half of the season, with fewer conifer snags and more woody debris than were available in unlogged sites. Our study indicates that salvage logging can support wild bee abundance, but that unlogged patches of severely burned forest supports slightly greater bee diversity within fire-prone mixed-conifer landscapes.
Di-Palladium Complexes are Active Catalysts for Mono-N-Protected Amino Acid-Accelerated Enantioselective C–H Functionalization

The role of mono-protected amino acid (MPAA) ligands in accelerating enantioselective cyclopalladation and palladium-catalyzed C–H functionalization was investigated using kinetic, spectroscopic, a...
Using Bayesian induction methods in risk assessment and communication

Bayes's theorem allows us to use subjective thinking to find numerical values to formulate assessments of risk. It is more than a mathematical formula; it can be thought of as an iterative process that challenges us to imagine the potential for "unknown, unknowns." The heuristics involved in this process can be enhanced if they take into consideration some of the established risk assessment and communication models used today in technical communication that are concerned with the social construction of meaning and the kairos involved in rhetorical situations. Understanding the connection between Bayesian analysis and risk communication will allow us to better convey the potential for risk that is based on probabilistic assumptions.
The gender belief system, authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and heterosexuals' attitudes toward lesbians and gay men.

We tested hypotheses drawn from three theoretical perspectives—gender belief system, authoritarianism, and social dominance—concerning heterosexuals' attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Data from 122 male and 131 female heterosexual college students with mostly White, middle-class backgrounds indicated that constructs postulated by all three perspectives played important roles in predicting attitudes: Gender differences in attitudes toward lesbians and gay men were mediated by social dominance orientation and gender-role beliefs, indicating that gender role beliefs may act as legitimizing myths to justify antigay attitudes. Authoritarianism had both a direct relationship to attitudes toward lesbians and gay men and an indirect relationship mediated by gender-role beliefs.
Launching a Spacecraft to the Sun: Development and Execution of the PSP Launch Countdown Procedure

NASA's Parker Solar Probe (PSP) mission will revolutionize our understanding of the Sun by traveling through the Sun's atmosphere, closer to the surface than any spacecraft before it, to provide humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star. The PSP spacecraft was designed, built, and operated by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). A successful launch of the spacecraft occurred on August 12, 2018 from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle using an additional upper stage. This paper describes the development and execution of the launch countdown procedure that was used by the APL spacecraft Integration and Test (I&T) team to prepare the spacecraft for launch. Specific aspects of the complex spacecraft design are introduced where these led to unique driving requirements for the countdown process. The nominal countdown activity timeline is reviewed, and spacecraft contingency procedures are presented that were developed for use in the event of a hold, recovery, recycle, or scrub. Associated test scripts and telemetry display pages specific to the spacecraft countdown are also discussed, as well as pre-launch testing and launch rehearsals. Finally, an overview is provided of spacecraft countdown operations during two launch attempts on back-to-back days. This sequence challenged the spacecraft team to exercise a range of countdown contingency procedures, both to resolve technical issues with the spacecraft ground systems and to support launch vehicle scrubs and recycles. All spacecraft countdown operations were ultimately completed successfully, culminating in the successful launch of PSP.
Stabilization of U(III) to Oxidation and Hydrolysis by Encapsulation Using 2.2.2-Cryptand

The electrochemical properties of U(III)-in-crypt (crypt = 2.2.2-cryptand) were examined in dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetonitrile (MeCN) to determine the oxidative stability offered by crypt as ...
“Queríamos algo bueno. . . para nuestros hijos y también para nosotras”: Centering Latina Parent Organizing as Muxerista Praxis

This article focuses on the processes undertaken by Latina mothers to advocate for themselves and their children at the intersections of racial, cultural, gender, anti-immigrant, and sociolinguisti...