cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Good Grubbin': impact of a TV cooking show for college students living off campus.

Abstract Objective To determine if a series of 4 15-minute, theory-driven (Social Cognitive Theory) cooking programs aimed at college students living off campus improved cooking self-efficacy, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding fruit and vegetable intake. Design A randomized controlled trial with pre-, post- and follow-up tests. Setting University campus. Participants Students (n = 101) from upper-level nonhealth courses (n = 37 male and n = 94 living off campus). Intervention The intervention group (n = 50) watched 4 weekly episodes of the cooking show, Good Grubbin’. The control group (n = 51) watched 4 weekly episodes on sleep disorders. Main Outcome Measures Demographic information; knowledge, self-efficacy, motivations, barriers of eating fruits and vegetables; self-efficacy, motivations, barriers and behaviors of cooking; fruit and vegetable intake food frequency questionnaire. Analysis Repeated-measure analysis of variance and chi-square analyses were used to compare outcome variables. Results There were significant improvements in knowledge of fruit and vegetable recommendations in the intervention group compared to the control group postintervention and at 4-month follow-up (P Conclusions and Implications A television show on nutrition and cooking may be influential in changing students’ knowledge, but it seems to have little impact on dietary behaviors. With a recent increase in popularity of cooking shows, future research should investigate the impact an extended cooking and nutrition show series might have on young adult viewers.
Epipelagic fish distributions in relation to thermal fronts in a coastal upwelling system using high-resolution remote-sensing techniques

Coastal upwelling systems are characterized by substantial spatial and temporal variability with respect to surface conditions, with fauna patchily distributed and high abundances in localized areas. Examining habitat associations on finer spatial scales than previous studies have been able to achieve would advance the understanding of important marine coastal ecosystems. This study evaluates the spatial and temporal relationships of single fish and fish schools with sea surface temperature (SST) fronts in the northern California Current upwelling system, using lidar (light detection and ranging) from an aircraft to sample surface waters over the continental shelf. High-resolution data were collected on the distribution of surface nekton and SST, then the locations of fish were analysed with respect to their proximity to SST fronts using GIS spatial analyses. Both fish schools and solitary fish were located significantly closer to fronts than would be expected by chance. The association of fish to fronts varied with the progression of the upwelling season such that fish associated less with fronts under stronger upwelling conditions. The relationships observed indicate the importance of thermal features to fish as a habitat component in a variable upwelling environment and have implications for management and conservation.
Effects of considering uncontrollable factors in sales force performance evaluation

Sales managers often make adjustments for factors such as territory difficulty or representative experience when doing performance evaluations. These adjustments may be subjective, they may be simple ratio calculations (e.g., sales divided by territory size), or they may involve complicated regression analyses. This research attempts an explanation of how and why these adjustments influence perceptions of the performance evaluation process, particularly its fairness and usefulness. Data from two surveys are presented. The first is an exploratory survey of sales managers; the second is a fuller survey of salespeople. Results show that making adjustments for territory difficulty increases perceptions of fairness and usefulness of the evaluation system among both sales managers and salespeople. Feedback quality is a key mediator of these effects for both groups. A different pattern exists with regard to accounting for representative experience. For sales managers, there are no effects on feedback quality or fairness or usefulness. Salespeople, however, rate systems that account for representative differences as providing better feedback quality, as more fair, and as more useful. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)/poly (caprolactone) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks

Semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPN's) composed of cross linked poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), and linear poly(caprolac tone) (PCL), display improved mechanical properties over pure PHEMA in the water swollen state without covalent bonding between the components.
A Micropuncture Study of a Dietary Induced, Hyperuricemic Model of Acute Renal Failure in the Rat

SummaryA hyperuricemic model of acute renal failure was induced in the rat by dietary means. Powdered rat chow supplemented with 5% uric acid and 3% oxonic acid as the potassium salt was fed to the “Diet” group for 2 days. The “Control” group was pair fed powdered rat chow alone. The dietary regimen resulted in significantly elevated plasma urate concentrations and reductions in glomerular filtration rate in the diet group. The pathogenesis of the acute renal failure in diet animals was the result of at least two factors; first, tubular obstruction beyond the distal convolution indicated by significantly elevated distal intratubular pressures. These nephrons presumably did not contribute to urine formation. This observation was confirmed by the histological demonstration of uric acid deposits in the medullary collecting ducts. Second, reduced glomerular capillary pressures in the diet group resulting from changes in both pre- and post-glomerular resistances.
Optimal network reconfigurations in distribution systems. I. A new formulation and a solution methodology

A new formulation of the network reconfiguration problem for both loss reduction and load balancing that takes into consideration load constraints and operational constraints is presented. The number of switch-on/switch-off operations involved in network reconfiguration is put into a constraint. The new formulation is a constrained, multiobjective and nondifferential optimization problem with both equality and inequality constraints. A two-stage solution methodology based on a modified simulated annealing technique and the epsilon -constraint method for general multiobjective optimization problems is developed. A salient feature of the solution methodology is that it allows designers to find a desirable, global noninferior solution for the problem. An effective scheme to speed up the solution methodology is presented and analyzed. >
Black economic power and nation-building in post-apartheid South Africa

This paper evaluates the evolution and the implementation of the ANC government's commitment to fostering a black capitalist class or black economic empowerment (BEE) as a non-racial nation-building strategy. A substantial black bourgeois i.e. and other middle classes begun to emerge over the last decade, contrary to popular perceptions. The legitimating role assigned to the emergent black bourgeoisie by the ANC and the government is, however, threatens to turn the strategy into a nepotistic accumulation. This development is paradoxically threatening to re-racialise the country, widening black inequality gaps, and precluding the rise of a black bourgeoisie with a nurture capitalist agenda. Other equally powerful social groups have begun to challenge the prevailing strategy, compelling the government to explore a more accommodating strategy exemplified by the recent introduction by the government of ‘broad-based economic empowerment’. Should a less patrimonial, less racially and ethnically divisive BEE strategy emerge from this quasi-pluralist power play, such a change holds prospects for the creation of a ‘growth coalition’ capable of sustainable capitalist development and true empowerment of the black majority. That would be a positive development in terms of establishing and consolidating democracy in South Africa.
The Roles of Physical Therapists in Wound Management: Part IV

Physical therapists are important members of the comprehensive wound management team. In addition to being able to provide standard wound care, they are well prepared to treat wounds with a variety of biophysical agents that introduce electromagnetic, acoustic, and mechanical energies that enhance healing. Physical therapists also address restoration of function that is frequently compromised in patients who suffer from chronically and acutely wounded tissues.
Testing whether a prediction scheme is better than guess

To be able to predict a future event is the most convincing side of science. Usually in the beginning of an investigation, the prediction is not perfect, i.e., an event may be missing or a prediction turns out to be a false alarm. When past prediction records are available, can we determine whether the prediction scheme is promising? In this paper, we use the naive optimal prediction as a yard stick, i.e., testing whether the new prediction scheme is better than the naive optimal scheme through statistical hypothesis testing. Here the naive scheme is defined as we know only the distribution of the inter-arrival times without any other auxiliary information. We use the trade off curve between false alarm rate and sensitivity to measure the prediction performance and the bootstrap method to compute the p-value. Real data and simulation examples are presented.
Minimizing human infection from Escherichia coli O157:H7 using GUMBOS

Results: Synergism and in vitro antibacterial activities against EHEC were observed in this study, which suggests chlorhexidine di-ampicillin could be a useful reagent in reducing EHEC transmission and minimizing EHEC-associated infections. Likewise, chlorhexidine di-ampicillin reduced HeLa cell toxicity as compared with chlorhexidine diacetate or the stoichiometric combination of antimicrobial agents. Further results suggest that the mechanisms of action of chlorhexidine di-ampicillin and chlorhexidine diacetate against E. coli O157:H7 are similar. Conclusions: Reacting antimicrobial GUMBOS as indicated in this study may enhance the approach to current combination drug therapeutic strategies for EHEC disease control and prevention.
Multidecadal to millennial marine climate oscillations across the Denmark Strait (~ 66° N) over the last 2000 cal yr BP

Abstract. In the area of Denmark Strait (~66° N), the two modes of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Arctic Oscillation (AO) are expressed in changes of the northward flux of Atlantic water and the southward advection of polar water in the East Iceland current. Proxies from marine cores along an environmental gradient from extensive to little or no drift ice, capture low frequency variations over the last 2000 cal yr BP. Key proxies are the weight% of calcite, a measure of surface water stratification and nutrient supply, the weight% of quartz, a measure of drift ice transport, and grain size. Records from Nansen and Kangerlussuaq fjords show variable ice-rafted debris (IRD) records but have distinct mineralogy associated with differences in the fjord catchment bedrock. A comparison between cores on either side of the Denmark Strait (MD99-2322 and MD99-2269) show a remarkable millennial-scale similarity in the trends of the weight% of calcite with a trough reached during the Little Ice Age. However, the quartz records from these two sites are quite different. The calcite records from the Denmark Strait parallel the 2000 yr Arctic summer-temperature reconstructions; analysis of the detrended calcite and quartz data reveal significant multi-decadal–century periodicities superimposed on a major environmental shift occurring ca. 1450 AD.
Experimental demonstration of two beam acceleration using dielectric step-up transformer

We report on the experimental results of the dielectric based two beam accelerator (step-up transformer). By using a single high charge beam, we have generated and extracted a high power RF pulse from a 7.8 GHz primary dielectric structure and then subsequently transferred to a second accelerating structure with higher dielectric constant and smaller transverse dimensions. We have measured the energy change of a second (witness) beam passing through the acceleration stage. The measured gradient is >4 times the deceleration gradient. The detailed experiment of set-up and results of the measurements are discussed. Future plans for the development of a 100 MeV demonstration accelerator based on this technique is presented.
Nonlinear and anisotropic tensile properties of graft materials used in soft tissue applications.

Abstract Background The mechanical properties of extracellular matrix grafts that are intended to augment or replace soft tissues should be comparable to the native tissue. Such grafts are often used in fiber-reinforced tissue applications that undergo multi-axial loading and therefore knowledge of the anisotropic and nonlinear properties are needed, including the moduli and Poisson’s ratio in two orthogonal directions within the plane of the graft. The objective of this study was to measure the tensile mechanical properties of several marketed grafts: Alloderm, Restore, CuffPatch, and OrthADAPT. Methods The degree of anisotropy and non-linearity within each graft was evaluated from uniaxial tensile tests and compared to their native tissue. Findings The Alloderm graft was anisotropic in both the toe- and linear-region of the stress–strain response, was highly nonlinear, and generally had low properties. The Restore and CuffPatch grafts had similar stress–strain responses, were largely isotropic, had a linear-region modulus of 18 MPa, and were nonlinear. OrthADAPT was anisotropic in the linear-region (131 MPA vs 47 MPa in the toe-region) and was highly nonlinear. The Poisson ratio for all grafts was between 0.4 and 0.7, except for the parallel orientation of Restore which was greater than 1.0. Interpretation Having an informed understanding of how the available grafts perform mechanically will allow for better assessment by the physician for which graft to apply depending upon its application.
Controversies in Initial Management of Open Fractures.

Background:Treatment of open fractures continues to be a challenge for orthopedic and trauma surgeons, and early treatment recommendations, which persist in the literature for decades, often do not have supporting data.Methods:This is a critical review of the literature surrounding controversies in the initial management of open fractures. It also focuses on the utility of negative pressure dressings in the care of associated complex wounds. Studies were selected based on their relevance to the treatment of open fractures.Results:A total of 40 studies were included. The following topics were critically discussed: timing of initial debridement, antibiotic coverage, utility of obtaining cultures, and timing of wound closure.Conclusion:The majority of open fractures require urgent, not emergent, irrigation and debridement. Antibiotics are essential in preventing infection in open fractures. Timely wound closure after all necrotic tissue has been debrided decreases complications in open fractures. Finally, ne...
The Changing Hitting Performance Profile In the Major League, 1996-2006

The career batting profile of a regular starting major league ballplayer typically rises, at least up to a point, and then falls as skills diminish with age. The career batting profiles are derived for all regular starting players in the National and American Leagues for each of five different years: 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996, and 2006. The profiles have changed dramatically since the 1960s, with arguably stronger ballplayers reaching a higher peak several years after the batting average reached a peak for regulars in 1966. The profiles for 2006 show what might be early manifestations of baseball’s tougher steroids policy.
Sequence-based methods for detecting and evaluating the human gut mycobiome.

UNLABELLED We surveyed the fungal microbiota in 16 faecal samples from healthy humans with a vegetarian diet. Fungi were identified using molecular cloning, 454 pyrosequencing and a Luminex analyte-specific reagent (ASR) assay, all targeting the ITS region of the rRNA genes. Fungi were detected in each faecal sample and at least 46 distinct fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected, from two phyla - Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Fusarium was the most abundant genus, followed by Malassezia, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Candida. Commonly detected fungi such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, as well as known dietary fungi Agaricus bisporus and Ophiocordyceps sinensis, are presumed to be transient, allochthonous members due to their abundance in the environment or dietary associations. No single method identified the full diversity of fungi in all samples; pyrosequencing detected more distinct OTUs than the other methods, but failed to detect OTUs in some samples that were detected by cloning and/or ASR assays. ASRs were limited by the commercially available assays, but the potential to design new, optimized assays, coupled with speed and cost, makes the ASR method worthy of further study. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Fungi play a role in human gut ecology and health. The field lags immensely behind bacterial gut microbiota research, and studies continue to identify new fungi in faecal samples from healthy humans. However, many of these 'new' species are incapable of growth in the human GI tract, let alone making a meaningful contribution to the gut microbial community. Fungi actually inhabiting and impacting the gut likely constitute a small set of species, and an optimized, targeted, probe-based assay may prove to be the most sensible way of quantifying their abundances.
Defining Speech in an Entertainment Age: The Case of First Amendment Protection for Video Games

Defining Speech in an Entertainment Age: The Case of First Amendment Protection for Video Games, argues that in a media society producing ever increasing amounts of entertainment the courts must closely examine the types of entertainment that qualify as protected speech under the First Amendment. In laying out a theory of what type of expressions warrant constitutional status, the article focuses on the examples provided by recent case law concerning violent video games.
Corrosion Benefits of Piperazine As an Alternative CO2 Capture Solvent

The corrosion behavior of A106 carbon steel in piperazine, an advanced alternative postcombustion CO2 capture solvent to monoethanolamine, has been investigated. Electrochemical corrosion testing methods such as linear polarization resistance (LPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) have been used to evaluate the corrosion of A106 in 0.43 mol CO2/mol alkalinity (C/N) loaded 30 wt % piperazine at 80 °C for 150 h. In addition, immersion corrosion has been carried out up to 1050 h in a traditional corrosion cell with the same CO2 loaded solution but at 100 °C and 110 psi. Subsequently, as-corroded A106 samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that a sharp decrease in the corrosion rate occurred before reaching a steady-state corrosion process. This was due to the growth of a protective and stable layer of FeCO3. Possible mechanisms are discussed.
Mantram Repetition Fosters Self-Efficacy in Veterans for Managing PTSD: A Randomized Trial

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that affects physical health. However, many military veterans with PTSD refuse or drop out of commonly used trauma-focused, evidence-based treatments. Growing research supports the value of spiritual components in diverse type
Jahn-Teller effect in VCl4.

A theoretical study is made of the Jahn–Teller and other properties of vanadium tetrachloride. Relativistic effective core potentials and corresponding valence spin–orbit operators are used with Gaussian atomic orbitals to compute self-consistent-field and spin–orbit configuration-interaction wave functions. Energy-surface parameters, electronic excitation energies, vibronic energy levels, and g factors are computed. Electron correlation is shown to have a substantial effect on the Jahn–Teller properties. As have others, we find the Jahn–Teller effect in VCl4 to be of the dynamic form.
The Contribution of Social Behavior to Diabetes and Obesity: Do Health Behaviors Matter in the African‐American Community?

The obstacles experienced by those who are overweight and suffering from associated ailments are immense. This literature review evaluates the health behaviors and the socio-structural barriers among African-Americans that contribute to the high prevalence of obesity and diabetes. These include behaviors of African-Americans that contribute to diabetes such as diet behavior, social behaviors, as well as behaviors that manifest in socioeconomic status. This assessment will be used to provide insights as they pertain to African-Americans, cultural beliefs and practices, and their impact on the development of diabetes. This review illustrates that many of the aforementioned behaviors are embedded within and are shaped by broader social structures. This literature offers policy recommendations to assist in the elimination of health disparities specifically within the African-American community.
Basic Information Platform of Digital Mine Based on 3DGIS and Its Application

On the basis of analyzing and describing development and status of 3DGIS and sources,content,acquisition,hierarchy division and using ways of basic information of digital mine,a structure of basic information platform of digital mine was put forward which took application frame of digital mine based on 3DGIS as core content,composition and main functions of the basic information platform of digital mine based on 3DGIS were briefly introduced,and a method of the second development for professional application based on the basic information platform of digital mine was introduced with an example.
Evidence of Pre-Procedural Statin Therapy : A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

Objectives The purpose of this study was to summarize the evidence of pre-procedural statin therapy to reduce periprocedure cardiovascular events. Background Invasive procedures can result in adverse cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction (MI) and death. We hypothesized that statins might improve clinical outcomes when used before invasive procedures. Methods We searched the MEDLINE, Cochrane, and clinicaltrials.gov databases from inception to February 2010 for randomized, controlled trials that examined statin therapy before invasive procedures. Invasive procedures were defined as percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and noncardiac surgery. We required that studies initiated statins before the procedure and reported clinical outcomes. A DerSimonian-Laird model was used to construct random-effects summary risk ratios. Results Eight percent of the screened trials (21 of 270) met our selection criteria, which included 4,805 patients. The use of pre-procedural statins significantly reduced post-procedural MI (risk ratio [RR]: 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46 to 0.70, p Conclusions Statins administered before invasive procedures significantly reduce the hazard of post-procedural MI. Additionally, statins reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation after CABG. The routine use of statins before invasive procedures should be considered.
Ablative Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing

As the average age of the population continues to advance, the demand for effective treatments for photoaged facial skin will continue to grow. Ablative fractional laser skin resurfacing is a popular and effective treatment for facial rhytids and dyschromias. This chapter highlights preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative pearls; application techniques; safety measures; and the management of potential complications. Included are tables and figures of actual patients to better illustrate and highlight the key concepts in the text. The pearls described in this chapter stem from the accumulation of over 15 years of personal experience using lasers and provide valuable insights for both new and experienced practitioners.
Quantification and Controls of Wetland Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Wetlands cover only a small fraction of the Earth’s land surface, but have a disproportionately large influence on global climate. Low oxygen conditions in wetland soils slows down decomposition, leading to net carbon dioxide sequestration over long timescales, while also favoring the production of redox sensitive gases such as nitrous oxide and methane. Freshwater marshes in particular sustain large exchanges of greenhouse gases under temperate or tropical climates and favorable nutrient regimes, yet have rarely been studied, leading to poor constraints on the magnitude of marsh gas sources, and the biogeochemical drivers of flux variability.The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California was once a great expanse of tidal and freshwater marshes but underwent drainage for agriculture during the last two centuries. The resulting landscape is unsustainable with extreme rates of land subsidence and oxidation of peat soils lowering the surface elevation of much of the Delta below sea level. Wetland restoration has been proposed as a means to slow further subsidence and rebuild peat however the balance of greenhouse gas exchange in these novel ecosystems is still poorly described.In this dissertation I first explore oxygen availability as a control on the composition and magnitude of greenhouse gas emissions from drained wetland soils. In two separate experiments I quantify both the temporal dynamics of greenhouse gas emission and the kinetic sensitivity of gas production to a wide range of oxygen concentrations. This work demonstrated the very high sensitivity of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide production to oxygen availability, in carbon rich wetland soils. I also found the temporal dynamics of gas production to follow a sequence predicted by thermodynamics and observed spatially in other soil or sediment systems.In the latter part of my dissertation I conduct two field studies to quantify greenhouse gas exchange and understand the carbon sources for decomposition in a 1 km2 restored wetland in the Sacramento Delta. By coupling flux measurements at multiple-scales with remote sensing imagery I showed that large methane emissions produce an overall climate warming effect from the wetland for the next several centuries, despite relatively high productivity. I also used radiocarbon analyses of wetland sediment carbon dioxide and methane to show that both bulk peat and recently fixed carbon contribute to decomposition in the wetland, and that their relative importance is regulated by proximity to, and the phenological cycles of, emergent vegetation.
Genetically informed ecological niche models improve climate change predictions

We examined the hypothesis that ecological niche models (ENMs) more accurately predict species distributions when they incorporate information on population genetic structure, and concomitantly, local adaptation. Local adaptation is common in species that span a range of environmental gradients (e.g., soils and climate). Moreover, common garden studies have demonstrated a covariance between neutral markers and functional traits associated with a species' ability to adapt to environmental change. We therefore predicted that genetically distinct populations would respond differently to climate change, resulting in predicted distributions with little overlap. To test whether genetic information improves our ability to predict a species' niche space, we created genetically informed ecological niche models (gENMs) using Populus fremontii (Salicaceae), a widespread tree species in which prior common garden experiments demonstrate strong evidence for local adaptation. Four major findings emerged: (i) gENMs predicted population occurrences with up to 12-fold greater accuracy than models without genetic information; (ii) tests of niche similarity revealed that three ecotypes, identified on the basis of neutral genetic markers and locally adapted populations, are associated with differences in climate; (iii) our forecasts indicate that ongoing climate change will likely shift these ecotypes further apart in geographic space, resulting in greater niche divergence; (iv) ecotypes that currently exhibit the largest geographic distribution and niche breadth appear to be buffered the most from climate change. As diverse agents of selection shape genetic variability and structure within species, we argue that gENMs will lead to more accurate predictions of species distributions under climate change.
Bioprocessing – from Biotechnology to Biorefinery

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces some important applications of biotechnology and recent developments in bioprocessing technologies for biomass utilization. It focuses on the industrial bioconversion of renewable resources to fuels and chemicals. The concept and principles of integrated biorefineries to attain the sustainable production of food, energy, and industrial products are also presented. Bioprocessing and bioproducts have gained commercial interest because of the perceived “green” advantages of using biomass rather than fossil energy for the production of chemicals and industrial products. Other key benefits in the move toward bioproducts include the sustainability of renewable biomass, replacing depleted fossil energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the present petroleum-based chemical and energy industries. With rising oil prices and advances in industrial biotechnology, the potential of biomass to replace petroleum-based chemicals and fuels is huge. In the short term, starch and sugar present in crops and processing wastes continue to be the main substrates for fermentation. In the long run, lignocellulosic biomass offers the greatest potential as feedstock, but the cost of fermentable sugars derived from lignocelluloses must be significantly reduced to less than $0.10/lb.
Second-language Discourse in the Digital World: Linguistic and social practices in and beyond the networked classroom

Second-language Discourse in the Digital World illustrates a new, practice-driven approach to technology in second-language (L2) learning that begins with what L2 users do when they connect with others online. With its rich set of examples from a number of different languages and a variety of digital platforms, in and beyond the classroom, this book provides a structured account of L2 computer-mediated discourse. The book is divided into four sections. Section I considers how new media have changed language learning. Section II is about L2 participation in digital forms and practices in online communities. Sections III centers around L2 linguistic and other semiotic practices, including the use of multimodal and multilingual resources while section IV analyzes social practices to explore how networked L2 users build, maintain and challenge relationships. Written in accessible style, the volume will be an important read to anyone interested in L2 use and learning in Web 2.0.
Assessment and Adaptation in Games

Digital games are very popular in modern culture. We have been examining ways to leverage these engaging environments to assess and support important student competencies, especially those that are not optimally measured by traditional assessment formats. In this chapter, we describe a particular approach for assessing and supporting student learning in game environments—stealth assessment—that entails unobtrusively embedding assessments directly and invisibly into the gaming environment. Results of the assessment can be used for adaptation in the form of scaffolding, hints, and providing appropriately challenging levels. We delineate the main steps of game-based stealth assessment and illustrate the implementation of these steps via two cases. The first case focuses on developing stealth assessment for problem-solving skills in an existing game. The second case describes the integration of game and assessment design throughout game development, and the assessment and support of mathematical knowledge and skills. Both cases illustrate the applicability of data-driven, performance-based assessment in an interactive game as the basis for adaptation and for use in formal and informal contexts.
Quantifying the effects of UV-A/riboflavin crosslinking on the elastic anisotropy and hysteresis of the porcine cornea by noncontact optical coherence elastography

The collagen fibril orientation of the cornea can provide critical information about cornea tissue health because diseases such as keratoconus and therapeutic interventions such as UV-A/riboflavin corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) can alter the ultrastructural arrangement of collagen fibrils. Here, we quantify the elastic anisotropy and hysteresis of in situ porcine corneas as a function of intraocular pressure (IOP) with noncontact optical coherence elastography. Moreover, the effects of UV-A riboflavin corneal collagen crosslinking on the elastic anisotropy and hysteresis were evaluated. The propagation of an air-pulse induced elastic wave was imaged at stepped meridional angles by a home built phasestabilized swept source OCE system. The stiffness of the cornea was translated from the velocity of the wave, and the elastic anisotropy was quantified by modifying the planar anisotropy coefficient. As the IOP increased, the stiffness of the corneas increased from ~18 kPa at 15 mmHg IOP to ~ 120 kPa at 30 mmHg IOP. While there was a measureable hysteresis, it was not significant. After CXL, the Young’s modulus of the corneas significantly increased from ~18 kPa to ~44 kPa at 15 mmHg IOP. The mechanical anisotropy also increased significantly from ~10 a.u. in the untreated corneas to ~23 a.u. in the CXL treated corneas, 15 mmHg IOP. However, CXL did not change the elastic anisotropic orientation, and the mechanical anisotropic hysteresis was not significant after CXL.
Visualization of Photoreceptors in Birdshot Chorioretinopathy Using Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy: A Pilot Study

Purpose: Adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) allows en face visualization of specific layers of the retina. This pilot study evaluated the ability of AOSLO to visualize photorecep...
Clinical Reasoning: A young woman with progressive headache and pancytopenia

A 33-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for treatment of pancytopenia and rash. Her history was notable for systemic lupus erythematosus as well as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) manifested by prior deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and elevated anticardiolipin antibody (95 G phospholipids), β2 glycoprotein immunoglobulin G (IgG) (81 units/mL), and dilute Russell viper venom time (ratio 1.8). She was treated with enoxaparin 1 mg/kg twice daily for her APS. She also had a history of mild bilateral diffuse throbbing headaches occurring every couple of months beginning in her early 20s. Two weeks prior to admission, while vacationing in the Southeastern United States (without exposure to a forest), she developed chills, fatigue, and throbbing headache radiating to the right side of her face, accompanied by a whooshing sound in her right ear. Several days after headache onset, she presented to an outside hospital, where she reportedly had a normal head CT scan and brain MRI scan, but was noted to be pancytopenic (leukocyte count 0.5 × 103/μL, hemoglobin 7.7 mg/dL, and platelets 9 × 103/μL). She underwent a bone marrow biopsy, the results of which were unremarkable. She was discharged with a prednisone taper for suspected lupus flare. Her headache resolved but 2 days later she developed a new erythematous maculopapular rash involving the palms and soles for which she presented to our emergency room. Her complete blood count on admission was again notable for pancytopenia, with a leukocyte count 0.6 × 103/μL (absolute neutrophil count 900/μL), hemoglobin 8.0 mg/dL, and platelets 13 × 103/μL. Her enoxaparin was held given severe thrombocytopenia. The day after her admission, she developed a progressive return of similar quality right-sided headache again accompanied by a whooshing sound. Her headache was made worse by crying, coughing, and physical exertion. She denied any neurologic deficits and her vital signs were normal.
Cross-Regulation Between iNOS/NO and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathways

Abstract Wnt/β-catenin, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/NO are pathways involved in the regulation of many pathophysiological disease states including chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and carcinogenesis. Previous work has identified that iNOS transcription is regulated by NF-κB, and the human iNOS gene has been shown to be directly activated by Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Recent studies have shown an inverse correlation in the expression of iNOS and the Wnt/β-catenin negative regulator Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) in human cancer. In human tumors and animal models, induced NO synthesis increased Wnt/β-catenin signaling by inhibiting DKK1 gene expression and causing adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) loss of heterozygosity. Thus, NO promotes cancer in part by unleashing Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Furthermore, iNOS/NO has been found to regulate certain Wnt/β-catenin signaling proteins. These findings underscore the complex role of Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, and iNOS/NO in the pathophysiology of inflammation-associated carcinogenesis. In this chapter, we will summarize the cross-regulation between iNOS/NO and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.
Expression of immunoglobulin D is increased in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Abstract Background Immunoglobulin (Ig) D is largely localized to the upper airway and reacts with colonizing respiratory pathogens. Objective To determine whether chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is associated with increased IgD expression. Methods We performed immunofluorescent staining for cytoplasmic IgD, IgA, IgM, and surface plasma cell marker CD138 (syndecan-1) in sinus tissue of patients with CRS with and without nasal polyps (CRSwNP and CRSsNP, respectively) and control subjects without CRS (n = 6 each). Sinonasal mucus antibody levels of patients with CRSwNP or CRSsNP and control subjects were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (n = 13, 11, and 9 subjects, respectively). Cells per square millimeter and antibody levels were compared by analysis of variance. Histopathology was performed with sinus tissue from subjects in the 3 groups (n = 6, 8, and 13 subjects respectively). Results Cells expressing cytoplasmic IgD exceeded those with cytoplasmic IgA and IgM and represented most CD138 + plasma cells in the lamina propria. The frequencies of IgD + plasma cells were significantly higher in patients with CRSsNP and CRSwNP compared with control subjects ( P P P Conclusion IgD plasma cells are prominent in sinus tissues and are increased in CRS. That IgD protein also shows the lowest concentration of antibodies in secretions suggests that its activity might be targeted to the tissue rather than secretions.
What is the quality of drug safety information for patients: An analysis of REMS educational materials.

Background Poor-quality patient drug information has been identified as a major cause of preventable medication errors in the United States. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to require marketing authorization holders of medicinal products to implement risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) to ensure that the benefits of a drug or biological product outweigh its risks. Aside from medication guides, no research has been conducted to assess the quality of patient-targeted REMS materials, including whether, and to what extent, patients find these materials understandable and actionable. Purpose To describe the readability, understandability, and actionability of patient educational materials in currently approved REMS programs, and to highlight opportunities for improving both the quality and effectiveness of these important drug safety tools. Methods Seventy-seven REMS programs were identified from the FDA REMS database. We excluded medication guides (MGs) from our analysis because of the fact that there is a mandatory MG template. Based on this, we identified a total of 27 (non-MG) REMS patient materials on the FDA REMS website for analysis purposes. The materials were tested for readability using the Lexile Measure, the Gunning Fog Index, and Flesch Kincaid and then assessed using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for printable materials, for understandability and actionability. Results Twenty-three of 77 (30%) REMS programs used educational materials to communicate serious risks to patients, yielding a total of 27 REMS patient materials for analysis. The median readability score for these materials was at a ninth-grade reading level or higher. While most (89%) of these patient education materials met established criteria for being understandable, less than half (49%) were deemed actionable. Discussion Currently approved REMS patient materials fell short in terms of recommended reading level, and over half did not meet recommended standards for actionability. Developers of these materials should apply plain language principles when design these materials to improve their readability and to assess both understandability and actionability in order to increase the effectiveness when distributed to patients.
Cdc42 negatively regulates endocytosis during apical plasma membrane maintenance and development in mouse tubular organs in vivo

Lumen establishment and maintenance is fundamental for tubular organs physiological functions. Most of the studies investigating the mechanisms regulating this process have been carried out in cell cultures or in smaller organisms, whereas little has been done in mammalian model systems in vivo. Here we used the salivary glands of live mice to examine the role of the small GTPase Cdc42 in the regulation of the homeostasis of the intercellular canaliculi, a specialized apical domain of the acinar cells, where protein and fluid secretion occur. Depletion of Cdc42 in adult mice induced a significant expansion of the apical canaliculi, whereas depletion at late embryonic stages resulted in a complete inhibition of their post-natal formation. In addition, intravital subcellular microscopy revealed that reduced levels of Cdc42 affected membrane trafficking from and towards the plasma membrane, highlighting a novel role for Cdc42 in membrane remodeling through the negative regulation of selected endocytic pathways.
Measuring Manufacturing Test Data Analysis Quality

Manufacturing test data volumes are constantly increasing. While there has been extensive focus in the literature on big data processing, less focus has existed on data quality, and considerably less focus has been placed specifically on manufacturing test data quality. This paper presents a fully automated test data quality measurement developed by the authors to facilitate analysis of manufacturing test operations, resulting in a single number used to compare manufacturing test data quality across programs and factories, and focusing effort cost-effectively. The automation enables program and factory users to see, understand, and improve their test data quality directly. Immediate improvements in test data quality speed manufacturing test operation analysis, reducing elapsed time and overall spend in test operations. Data quality has significant financial impacts to businesses [1]. While manufacturing cost models are well understood, data quality cost models are less well understood (see Eppler & Helfert [2] who review manufacturing cost models and create a taxonomy for data quality costs). Kim & Choi [3] discuss measuring data quality costs, and a rudimentary data quality cost calculation is described in [4]. Haug et al. [5] describe a classification of costs for poor data quality, and while they do not provide a cost calculation, they do define optimality for data quality. Laranjeiro et al. [6] have a recent survey of poor data quality classification. Ge & Helfert [7] extend the work in [2], and provide an updated review of data quality costs. Test data is specifically addressed in the context of data processing in [8]. Big data quality efforts are reviewed in [9], [10]. Data quality metrics are discussed in [11], and requirements for data quality metrics are identified in [12]. Data inconsistencies are detailed in [13], while categorical data inconsistencies are explained in [14]. In the current work, manufacturing test data quality is directly correlated to the speed of manufacturing test operations analysis. A measurement for manufacturing test data quality indicates the speed at which analysis can be performed, and increases in the test data quality score have precipitated increases in the speed of analysis, described herein.
History of Cardiac CT: A Personal Story

As the story goes, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, a physicist, was working late in his laboratory in Wurzburg, Germany, experimenting with a vacuum tube made of glass. He was using this to generate beams of electrons and wrapped the tube with black paper to avoid viewing the electric discharge occurring in the gas inside the vacuum tube. When he started his experiment, he noted that a piece of coated paper lying near the tube began to glow. He was astonished and did another experiment where he held a thick book between the tube and the paper – however, the “rays” simply passed through the book, as if totally unobstructed. When Roentgen looked at the coated paper, it showed a shadowy outline of the bones in his hand. This was November 8, 1895, and the world of the “X-ray” has never looked back.
Genetic analysis of complex traits using clonal rainbow trout lines

This paper describes the derivation and characterization of five homozgyous clonal rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) lines by androgenesis and gynogenesis at Washington State University (WSU). The lines represent diverse genetic backgrounds including three hatchery (Shasta-type) strains, one Alaskan rainbow source and one Idaho steelhead source. Four are YY male lines and one is an XX female line. The lines have also been characterized based on differences in karyotype The Alaskan line shows more rapid embryonic development than the Shasta lines. Differences among the lines are also evident in nonspecific cytotoxic cell response. Doubled haploid progeny have been produced by androgenesis from hybrids between the lines to facilitate genetic mapping, primarily using AFLP markers, and quantitative trait locus analysis. This set of lines and the doubled haploid approach appear to have considerable potential for allowing genetic analysis of complex traits in rainbow trout.
Responsive Professional Development for Vocabulary Instruction

ABSTRACTVocabulary is important to reading achievement and overall school success; however, in spite of the research in support of vocabulary instruction, robust vocabulary instruction is lacking i...
Using Patent Capital to Estimate Tobin's q

I construct a new proxy for Tobin's q that incorporates the replacement cost of patent capital. This proxy, which I call patent q, explains up to 62% more variation in investment than other proxies for q. Furthermore, investment is more sensitive to patent q than to other proxies for q. Although investment is predicted more accurately by, and is more sensitive to, patent q, controlling for patent q leads to relatively larger, not smaller, cash flow coefficients. All results are stronger in subsamples with more patent capital. Overall, patent q strengthens the historically weak investment-q relation.
Utilizing Objective Drought Severity Thresholds to Improve Drought Monitoring

AbstractDrought is a prominent climatic hazard in the south-central United States. Drought severity is frequently classified using the categories established by the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM). Thi...