cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of a simulated λ Cro dimer conformational ensemble to its NMR models

Several solved X-ray structures and an NMR ensemble of the dimeric λ Cro protein markedly differ from one another, leaving its dominant solution conformation in question. Recently performed replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations starting from crystal structure coordinates sample a range of conformational space that correlates well with the X-ray structures but differs notably from the NMR models. To further investigate the latter observation, this study focuses on additional simulation beginning from an NMR model. Network analysis and a free energy surface show that the trajectory immediately converges to a region of conformational space in agreement with the previously run simulations and the crystal structures, but they suggest that the NMR models are not stable solution conformations. Insufficient intersubunit nuclear Overhauser enhancement restraints and the absence of electrostatics in the structure calculation may have compromised the global conformation of the NMR models. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bringing Instructional Support Teams to Scale: Implications of the Pennsylvania Experience

The statewide implementation of instructional support teams (ISTs) in Pennsylvania is analyzed in terms of the challenge of bringing team-based problem-solving models to scale. The history of the phase-in of ISTs in more than 1,700 elementary schools is presented, and the salient research conducted on ISTs is reviewed. The results indicate that ISTs are effective in reducing referrals to special education and improving measures of academic learning time. Recommendations for widespread adoption of problem-solving teams are contextualized in a three-tier model of service delivery. Within this model, the use of problem-solving teams of teachers analyzing group data for the purpose of restructuring whole-group instruction is proposed as a method of assisting schools in meeting the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Experiences In Extraction Of Contact Parameters From Process Evaluation Test-structures

Six-terminal-contact test structures are introduced for characterizing ohmic contacts between a metal and a heavily doped semiconductor layer. Specifically, the six-terminal test structure supplies the additional information needed in order to calculate the transmission length and eventual corrections to the characteristic resistance per unit width due to finite contact length. The essential feature of this test structure is a square contact with four taps in the lower (semiconductor) layer. Every other one of these taps is used for current injection ('front'). From the voltage drop at the opposite tap and the side taps, the 'end' resistance and the 'side' resistances are calculated. The test structures are shown to give valuable information complementary to the common front resistance measurements. The interfacial resistivity is obtained directly after proper correction for flange effects.
The Effect of Protein Level Fed During the Prebreeder Period on Performance of Large White Turkey Breeder Hens After an Induced Molt

Abstract An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of prebreeder protein levels on reproductive performance Large White turkey breeder hens after an induced molt. One hundred and sixty-eight, Nicholas Large White turkey breeder hens were fed either 8, 12, or 16% CP diets (2,904 kcal ME/kg) during the prebreeder period from 56 to 64 wk of age. All hens were photostimulated with 15.5h of light/d and fed a standard 16% CP breeder ration from 64 to 87 wk of age. Feed intake, plasma triglyceride concentration, reproductive performance, and body weight were regressed on age and prebreeder dietary protein intake using a general linear model. Prebreeder protein intake increased linearly as dietary CP increased. Treatments did not affect prebreeder feed consumption or subsequent egg production. Egg weight and breeder feed consumption were greatest for hens fed 12% CP during the prebreeder period. Plasma triglyceride and body weight increased as prebreeder dietary CP increased. Body weight increased from 56 to 87 wk in a cubic response as the hens aged. Feed consumption increased during the prebreeder period and decreased during the breeder period. Plasma triglyceride content was not affected by turkey hen age or stage of production.
Keeping It Close to the Vest

This PDF file contains the editorial “Keeping It Close to the Vest” for OE Vol. 41 Issue 09
Disulfiram—Ethanol Induced Delirium

OBJECTIVE:To report a case of delirium, without major autonomic symptoms, as the primary manifestation of concomitant use of alcohol while taking disulfiram.CASE SUMMARY:A 50-year-old white woman with a history of bipolar disorder, type I, and alcohol dependence being treated with disulfiram was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit with a three- to four-day history of a change in mental status, including deficits in orientation, concentration, and visual hallucinations. Significant finding on review of systems included the spurious report of a 9.1kg weight loss. Tachycardia and nonfocal neurologic signs on physical examination were also noted. Extensive metabolic, infectious, and neurologic work-up revealed no abnormalities that alone could explain the patients acute confusional state. It was subsequently discovered that the patient had imbibed alcohol on at least two separate occasions while taking disulfiram prior to her change in mental status and that a similar, although shorter, experience had o...
The Functional Brain in Depth and Breadth Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology, and Clinical Neuroscience (2nd ed.), by Rhawn Joseph. 1996. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. 864 pp., $72.00.

This book gives a comprehensive account of the functional neuroanatomy of the brain. The first edition, Neuropsychology, Neuropsychiatry, and Behavioral Neurology (1990), consisted of topics traditional for this subject matter, such as “The Cerebral Hemispheres,” “The Limbic System,” and “Neuroanatomy and Pathophysiology of Head Injury, Stroke, Neoplasm, and Abnormal Development.” With the addition of eleven new chapters, the second edition is impressive and unique in its range of topics. The new chapters cover evolution and ontogeny of the brain, social–emotional intelligence, and such unusual topics as the neurophysiology of repression and religious experiences, and the origins of life. One section is titled “The Birth of God and Limbic Hyperactivation.” The writing style is clear and compelling. Most topics are well referenced with scientific literature and include informative illustrations. More theoretical topics are presented with logical arguments.
Case report: misdiagnosed olecranon bursitis: pyoderma gangrenosum.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare inflammatory and ulcerative disorder of the skin. Despite the name, PG is not an infectious process. It is instead a neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by neutrophil-predominant cutaneous infiltrates. It is manifested clinically as an inflammatory papule or pustule that progresses to a painful ulcer with a well-defined erythematous to violaceous border and a purulent base. Nonspecific laboratory findings include leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and elevated C-reactive protein. Fever is often present in this disorder. A retrospective study looking at the medical records of patients with PG found that pathergy was documented in 31% of cases. The term pathergy refers to the induction or exacerbation of PG in sites of incidental or iatrogenic trauma. Because clinical and laboratory findings in PG are nonspecific, diagnosis depends on ruling out other disorders that are manifested with cutaneous ulcerations. After the exclusion of other disorders, the management of PG usually involves topical corticosteroids or immunosuppressants for mild, localized cases and systemic corticosteroids or cyclosporine for severe, extensive cases. Because of the phenomenon of pathergy, surgical procedures should generally be avoided in PG. We present a case of PG that was initially misdiagnosed as an infectious olecranon bursitis and treated as such, leading to clinical deterioration of the patient until the correct diagnosis was made. The purpose of this report is to make readers aware of the presentation of PG, of its overlapping features with
Examination of Cloninger's Type I and Type II Alcoholism with a Sample of Men Alcoholics in Treatment

Cloninger's clinical method of classifying alcoholics into two groups (Types I and II) was examined with data obtained from 360 VA hospitalized male alcoholic patients. For operational criteria, the Cloninger clinical method of subtyping alcoholics employs age-of-onset of problem drinking and symptom-clusters supposedly associated with each subtype. Marked overlap was found between the symptom-clusters used to define the two subtypes. Ninety-one percent of the entire sample satisfied criteria for both symptom-clusters. Dividing the sample by early-onset (Type II, less than or equal to 25 years) and late-onset (Type I, greater than 26 years) alcoholism did not substantially reduce the overlap between symptom-clusters; i.e., 96% of the early-onset and 83% of the late-onset subgroups were positive for both symptom-clusters. Only 21 men (6%) could be classified when both age-of-onset and the type-appropriate symptom-cluster were used to separate patients. In hospital settings, at least, these findings suggest that the two-group clinical alcoholism typology proposed by Cloninger basically reflects the age-of-onset of problem drinking.
Placement and replacement of restorations in primary teeth.

This practice-based study aimed to record the use of restorative materials, the type of restoration by class, and the reason for and the age of failed restorations in primary teeth by means of a survey of placement and replacement of restorations in 1996 and 2000/2001. Written alternative criteria for placement and replacement of restorations were provided for the participating clinicians. Details on 2281 restorations showed that primary caries was the main reason for inserting restorations in primary teeth. Replacements of failed restorations represented 14% of the fillings (n = 2040) in 1996 and 9% in 2000/2001 (n = 241). More than 80% of the fillings in primary teeth were of tooth-colored material, predominantly of the lightcured type. About 50% of failed amalgam and glass ionomer-type restorations were replaced due to secondary caries. The median age of amalgam restorations (3 years) was significantly higher than that of tooth-colored restorations (2 years). Any possible advantage of a cariostatic eff...
Signs of Intelligent Life

A chapter from a collection of 28 short interviews with scholars, all in response to five questions: 1. Why were you initially drawn to the theory of signs and meaning? 2. What do you consider your contribution to the field? 3. What is the proper role of a theory of signs and meaning in relation to other academic disciplines? 4. What do you consider the most important topics and contributions in the theory of meaning and signs? 5. What are the most important open problems in this field and what are the prospects for progress?
The Spiritual Pilgrimage of Sarah Osborn (1714–1796)

Sarah Osborn does not appear in the definitive biographical dictionary, Notable American Women. She is not in the pages of Sydney Ahlstrom's A Religious History of the American People, nor of any more recent standard American religious history text. She failed to catch the attention of the editors and authors of the recent Encyclopedia of the American Religious Experience or Dictionary of Christianity in America. The great New Divinity pastor-theologian Samuel Hopkins in some measure owed his career to Sarah Osborn, but studies of him mention her only in passing or not at all. Scholars have learned of her through the work of Mary Beth Norton and in the documentary history, Women and Religion in America, but the Sarah Osborn most often mentioned in connection with early New England is the one accused as a witch at Salem who died in Boston prison 10 May 1692.
Immediate/Early Response to Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Involves Minimal Modulation of Host Cell Transcription

Host cell infection by the intracellular pathogen, Trypanosoma cruzi, involves activation of signaling pathways, cytoskeletal reorganization, and targeted recruitment of host cell lysosomes. To determine the consequences ofT. cruzi invasion on host cell gene expression, high density microarrays consisting of ∼27,000 human cDNAs were hybridized with fluorescent probes generated from T. cruzi-infected human fibroblasts (HFF) at early time points following infection (2–24 h). Surprisingly, no genes were induced ≥2-fold in HFF between 2 and 6 h post-infection (hpi) in repeated experiments while immediate repression of six host cell transcripts was observed. A significant increase in transcript abundance for 106 host cell genes was observed at 24 hpi. Among the most highly induced is a set of interferon-stimulated genes, indicative of a type I interferon (IFN) response to T. cruzi. In support of this, T. cruzi-infected fibroblasts begin to secrete IFNβ at 18 hpi following the induction of IFNβ transcripts. As compared with global transcriptional responses evoked by other intracellular pathogens, T. cruzi is a stealth parasite that elicits few changes in host cell transcription during the initiation of infection.
Comparison of Kidney and Brown Adipose Tissue Iodothyronine 5′-Deiodinases*

We have examined the influence of assay conditions on the 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) sensitivity of the iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase in brown adipose tissue (BAT) from hypothyroid rats. These results were compared with similar studies of 5'-deiodinase activity in kidney microsomes from euthyroid animals. Even though BAT microsomes contain largely type II (PTU-insensitive) deiodinase activity, the 5'-deiodination of T4 can be inhibited by PTU if the dithiothreitol (DTT) concentration in the assay is reduced to 5 mM or less. The apparent Ki for PTU of BAT microsomes was 4.3 mM at 5.0 mM DTT and 0.41 mM at 0.5 mM DTT. The kinetics of inhibition were noncompetitive. With kidney microsomes, PTU inhibition of rT3 5'-deiodination was both time and enzyme/substrate ratio dependent. For example, using 1 microgram microsomal protein, 2 nM rT3, and 5 mM DTT, the inhibitory effect of PTU was not maximal until 12 min after PTU addition. At stable reaction velocities PTU inhibition was uncompetitive, and the Ki was about 1 microM. Deiodination by kidney microsomes was completely inhibited by 50 microM PTU. Even though it is possible to inhibit the type II 5'-deiodinase activity with high concentrations of PTU (in the presence of low DTT concentrations), the deiodinase in kidney is about 1000-fold more sensitive to PTU. By these criteria the kidney microsome 5'-deiodinase is type I.
Coparental communication, relational satisfaction, and mental health in stepfamilies

This study tested a series of actor–partner interdependence models of coparental communication, relational satisfaction, and mental health in stepfamilies. Participants included 127 couples (N = 254). Results revealed 2 actor-oriented models whereby parents' and stepparents' coparental communication quality positively predicted their own (but not their partners') satisfaction and mental health. A final model revealed that parents' relational satisfaction mediated the effect of coparental communication on their own mental health. A similar pattern emerged for stepparents, although coparental communication continued to have a direct, positive effect on stepparents' mental health. Importantly, parents' coparental communication produced an inverse partner effect on stepparents' mental health, highlighting the potential stress stepparents may experience as they are called upon to help raise their spouse's offspring.
Robust Cooperative Relaying in an Amplify-and-Forward Network

It has been shown that cooperative communication can significantly improve performance by utilizing distributed relay nodes. In most cases, cooperative communication systems have been designed and evaluated assuming perfect channel state information (CSI). Due to the feedback delay of the estimated CSI, a level of uncertainty in the channel estimates is inevitable, and systems designed for perfect CSI might not be optimal. In this paper we propose and evaluate several robust relay selection schemes for a best-select, amplify-and-forward cooperative communication system. Simulation results show that the proposed schemes can improve the average received SNR by 1.5 dB when the channel estimates are highly unreliable.
Goproporphyrinuria (Type III) in Acute Poliomyelitis.

Summary and ConclusionsA considerable excess in the excretion of coproporphyrin III has been commonly noted in a series of urine samples from cases of acute poliomyelitis. The total urinary coproporphyrin is usually in the range of 100-500 y per 24-hour sample, with from 50-90% of Type III isomer, as compared with 20-100 y and 8-35%, normally. This abnormal excretion is contrasted with the marked increase of Type I isomer previously found to characterize the urine in cases of infectious hepatitis.
An application of fuzzy logic control to a gimballed payload on a space platform

This paper will present results of applying two autonomous fuzzy controllers to a dynamically coupled system. The system consists of a space platform and a gimballed payload. The controllers are developed with the systems decoupled. Parametric studies are performed on the support limits for the error, change-in-error, and control. These parametric variations provide insight into satisfactorily tuning the controllers. The controllers were compared to controllers developed using Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) control design. The controllers are used to perform slew maneuvers and disturbance rejection. A design procedure using constraints due to hardware or software specification is also examined. When error and control support limits are specified, tuning the fuzzy controller is made relatively easy. The systems were coupled and the response of the payload and platform were examined for commanded payload trajectories and impulses applied to the platform. The fuzzy controllers performed very well in all cases.
Multiparametric MRI and targeted prostate biopsy: Improvements in cancer detection, localization, and risk assessment

Introduction Multiparametric-MRI (mp-MRI) is an evolving noninvasive imaging modality that increases the accurate localization of prostate cancer at the time of MRI targeted biopsy, thereby enhancing clinical risk assessment, and improving the ability to appropriately counsel patients regarding therapy.
Waddington, Dynamic Systems, and Epigenetics

Waddington coined the term “epigenetic” to attempt to explain the complex, dynamic interactions between the developmental environment and the genome that led to the production of phenotype. Waddington’s thoughts on the importance of both adaptability and canalization of phenotypic development are worth recalling as well, as they emphasize the available range for epigenetic action and the importance of environmental feedback (or lack thereof) in the development of complex traits. We suggest that a dynamic systems view fits well with Waddington’s conception of epigenetics in the developmental context, as well as shedding light on the study of the molecular epigenetic effects of the environment on brain and behavior. Further, the dynamic systems view emphasizes the importance of the multi-directional interchange between the organism, the genome and various aspects of the environment to the ultimate phenotype.
A study of the DNA region coding for initiation of precursor rRNA transcription in Lytechinus variegatus

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a study on the DNA region coding for initiation of precursor rRNA transcription in Lytechinus Variegates . The ribosomal DNA from the sea urchin L. Variegatus was mapped with various restriction enzymes and with the R-loop technique. Eco RI cuts a tandem rDNA repeat into 4 fragments. The largest Eco RI fragment (5120 bp) encompasses the majority of the nontranscribed spacer (NTS) and overlaps with the precursor rRNA, but does not hybridize with mature 18S rRNA. This NTS region was cloned using Bam HI, and 2 fragments were obtained; the smaller one (1800 bp) hybridized with precursor rRNA. From the size of the precursor molecule, the origin of transcription can be placed about 900 bases from the 5′ end of the 18S sequence. The 1800 bp Bam HI fragment overlaps the 18S rRNA sequence by ca. 300 bp and therefore, extends in the other direction ca. 600 bp beyond the 5′ end of the precursor.
Withaferin A is a leptin sensitizer with strong antidiabetic properties in mice

The increasing global prevalence of obesity and its associated disorders points to an urgent need for the development of novel and effective therapeutic strategies that induce healthy weight loss. Obesity is characterized by hyperleptinemia and central leptin resistance. In an attempt to identify compounds that could reverse leptin resistance and thus promote weight loss, we analyzed a library of small molecules that have mRNA expression profiles similar to that of celastrol, a naturally occurring compound that we previously identified as a leptin sensitizer. Through this process, we identified another naturally occurring compound, withaferin A, that also acts as a leptin sensitizer. We found that withaferin-A treatment of mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO) resulted in a 20-25% reduction of body weight, while also decreasing obesity-associated abnormalities, including hepatic steatosis. Withaferin-A treatment marginally affected the body weight of ob/ob and db/db mice, both of which are deficient in leptin signaling. In addition, withaferin A, unlike celastrol, has beneficial effects on glucose metabolism that occur independently of its leptin-sensitizing effect. Our results show that the metabolic abnormalities of DIO can be mitigated by sensitizing animals to endogenous leptin, and they indicate that withaferin A is a potential leptin sensitizer with additional antidiabetic actions.
Ethical issues in face transplantation.

Proper patient selection is the key to navigating the ethical challenges of facial tissue transplantation successfully. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Purification and Properties of Folate Reductase, the Cellular Receptor of Amethopterin

Folate reductase has been purified from an amethopterin-resistant subline of cultured Sarcoma-180 cells. The molecular weight of this enzyme was estimated to be 21,000. The specific activity of the purified reductase was 3.1 x 10 -8 mole of the enzyme per milligram of protein, and on this basis the preparation was calculated to be 65% pure. During free boundary electrophoresis, however, the enzyme migrates as a single peak toward the anode at pH 8.7. Both folate and dihydrofolate are substrates for this reductase, dihydrofolate being reduced much faster than folate at 30°. The Michaelis constant ( K m ) and the turnover number with dihydrofolate as substrate are independent of pH between pH 4.5 and 6.3. When folate is the substrate, both K m and the turnover number decrease with increasing pH. The enthalpy of activation is +14.7 kcal for dihydrofolate and +5.7 kcal for folate. The properties of the reductase of Sarcoma-180 are compared with those of other preparations of this enzyme from different sources.
Citations for Software: Providing Identification, Access and Recognition for Research Software

Software plays a significant role in modern academic research, yet lacks a similarly significant presence in the scholarly record. With increasing interest in promoting reproducible research, curating software as a scholarly resource not only promotes access to these tools, but also provides recognition for the intellectual efforts that go into their development. This work reviews existing standards for identifying, promoting discovery of, and providing credit for software development work. In addition, it shows how these guidelines have been integrated into existing tools and community cultures, and provides recommendations for future software curation efforts.
ELECTRONIC ANALOG SIMULATION OF AN IN-PILE CIRCULATING FUEL LOOP

An electronic analog is described which has been used to study the thermal behavior of a small circulating fuel loop intended for in-pile studies of molten fluoride reactor fuels. Results of a typi...
The Developmental Unfolding of Sibling Influences on Alcohol Use over Time.

Research has long demonstrated that siblings are similar in their alcohol use, however much of this work relies on cross-sectional samples or samples of adolescents alone and/or exclusive focus on older siblings' impact on younger siblings. Using a three time-point design from early adolescence to early adulthood (M ages = 14.9, 18.3, and 22.4 years, respectively; 55% female; 54% European ancestry, 38% Asian ancestry), we evaluated the prospective older and younger sibling influences on alcohol use across time (N = 613 sibling pairs; 35% sisters, 26% brothers, 39% mixed-gender; average age difference = 2.34 years; 34% full-biological siblings, 46% genetically-unrelated adopted siblings, 20% pairs where one child was the biological offspring of parents and the other was adopted). The results from both the traditional and random-intercept cross-lagged panel analyses showed that older siblings' alcohol use predicted younger siblings' alcohol use across each developmental transition and across a variety of sibling contexts (e.g., gender composition, age difference, genetic relatedness). On the other hand, younger siblings' alcohol use only predicted older siblings' alcohol use when siblings were close in age (1.5 years or less) and under conditions of high sibling companionship. These results add to a body of literature illustrating how both older and younger siblings are important socializing agents of adolescent and early adult alcohol use. Assessing or co-treating siblings for alcohol problems may be an important add-on to existing adolescent and early adult alcohol prevention and intervention programs.
Relationship between the global electric circuit and electrified cloud parameters at diurnal, seasonal, and interannual timescales

In the early 1900's, J.W. Whipple began to validate C.T.R. Wilson's Global Electric Circuit (GEC) hypothesis by correlating the diurnal variation of global thunder days with the diurnal variation of the fair weather electric field measured by the Carnegie Cruise. This study applies 16+ years of Precipitation Feature (PF) data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), including lightning data from the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS), alongside 12-years of electric field measurements from Vostok, Antarctica to further examine this relationship. Joint diurnal-seasonal variations of the electric field are introduced and compared with a variety of PF parameters that are potentially related to the GEC. All tested PF parameters showed significant correlations to the electric field on the joint seasonal-diurnal timescale, with the flash rate and volume of 30 dBZ between the -5oC and -35oC isotherms showing the best linear correlations with R2 values of 0.67 and 0.62 respectively. Furthermore, these relationships are analyzed during the two different phases of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Results show different seasonal-diurnal variations of the electric field during El Nino and La Nina periods, with enhancements in the electric field between the months of January through April at 16-24 UTC in La Nina years. A similar trend is shown in global PF parameters, indicating relationshipsbetween the variations seen in the fair weather electric field, and the variations of global PFs at diurnal, seasonal and interannual timescales. This provides further evidence that PFs around the globe have a direct connection to the GEC.
The Increasing Reliance on Ritual Handbooks in Pre–Print Era Ashkenaz

Handbooks devoted to a single area of ritual practice figure prominently among the works produced by German Jews from the thirteenth century to the fifteenth. These handbooks include minhagim books intended primarily as liturgical guides for cantors and manuals for other types of communal functionaries, such as scribes and ritual slaughterers. Historians typically associate minhagim books with the post–Black Death period and the desire to provide guidance during a time of decline for German Jewry. Similarly, the flourishing of halakhic manuals is considered a fourteenth-century phenomenon, a result of the rabbinate’s professionalization. However, these explanations are insufficient since both genres emerged earlier. This article links the production of ritual handbooks to two trends: geographic mobility and a more text-oriented culture. Between the thirteenth century and the fifteenth, major changes in German Jewish settlement patterns disrupted the transmission of ritual practice and led to a need for practical guides. The proliferation of ritual handbooks was also related to the increase in Ashkenazic society—as in medieval Europe generally—in the production of written texts. These texts included liturgical genres and practical halakhic works, some of which served as sources for the handbooks. However, the handbooks tend to be more accessible than their predecessors and to include more practical details. The proliferation of late medieval ritual handbooks demonstrates that changes typically associated with the advent of print, including a growing reliance on written sources for practical information and a move toward the standardization of ritual practice, began to emerge in earlier centuries.
Hybrid h-BN/Graphene/h-BN Silicon Device for Electro-optic Modulation

We integrate hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)-encapsulated graphene on top of a compact silicon microdisk resonator for modulation applications. We demonstrate reduced graphene resistance through h-BN encapsulation and showed active tuning of the optical mode through voltage-gated graphene.
Nursery Marketing Can Be Improved

The socioeconomic factors influencing consumer demand for landscape plants and services and nursery sector growth were investigated. Data that shows a shifting age composition, gains in consumer inconle, higher education levels, and increases in construction starts provides a socioeconomic rationale for continued expansion of the nursery industry. Through surveys and a review of published information it was revealed that the industry needs additional information on production costs, pricing strategies, profit margins for individual plants, product distribution and market planning. Research aimed at incorporating these components into appropriate economic analyses and models designed to investigate production and marketing of landscape plants and related services would assist the industry in capitalizing on the anticipated growth in demand.
Performing digital activism: new aesthetics and discourses of resistance

In Performing Digital Activism: New Aesthetics and Discourses of Resistance, Fidele A. Vlavo historically and culturally contextualizes digital activism dating back to the 1990s. Focusing on digita...
Three-Dimensional Printing Multifunctional Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) for Structural Elements

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) has great potential to facilitate fabrication of structures with smart functions. This research aims to develop an effective and efficient method to fabricate multifunctional structural elements using Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) through 3DP. To this end, ECC slabs measuring 304.8 mm by 76.2 mm by 12.7 mm (length by width by thickness) are prepared for experimental testing. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are incorporated in the slabs to deliver photocatalytic functionality for chemical reduction of gaseous air pollutants. Two schemes for incorporating titanium dioxide nanoparticles into the ECC slabs are investigated and compared. 3DP is employed to fabricate the slabs and compared with the conventional cast-in-mold fabrication method. The photocatalytic functionality of different slabs is evaluated through nitrogen oxides abatement testing under ultraviolet light. The concentration of nitrogen oxides is measured in real time. After the nitrogen oxides abatement testing, all slabs are tested to failure under four-point bending to evaluate their flexural properties. The results show that 3DP is promising to fabricate multifunctional ECC structural elements with improved efficiency.
Stabilization of Switched Linear Systems Using Continuous Control Input against Known Adversarial Switching

The problem of designing continuous control input to stabilize switched linear control systems against adversarial switching is studied. It is assumed that the continuous controller has access to the current switching mode and can be of the form of an ensemble of mode-dependent state feedback controllers. The fastest stabilizing rate under the given information structure is proposed as a quantitative metric of the system’s stabilizability, and its bounds are derived using seminorms. Computation algorithms for the stabilizing rate are developed and illustrated through examples.
The Health of a Musician: Identifying Musicians’ Unstated/Unrecognized Health Information Needs

One local non-profit organization in Austin, Texas, USA is HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians). HAAM assists musicians, music teachers, and disc jockeys by providing no- or low-cost health coverage along with dental, hearing, and vision care. Additional programs include Hepatitis-C testing and treatment and discounted wellness services (acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage). Without HAAM, 31% of Austin musicians would be without health insurance. In 2016 HAAM collaborated with the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) Dell Medical School to evaluate HAAM services and measure depression, pain interference, physical function, and social engagement/social isolation. HAAM staff need more details on musicians’ barriers to receiving health care. One finding was that the HAAM members did not avail themselves of HAAM basic services. The aim of this paper is to examine the results of this study that identified musicians’ stated health information needs and outline the structure of a planned subsequent study on unstated but overt health information needs. The future study will focus also on the place of information literacy, health literacy, and health insurance literacy in assisting musicians in taking wise health actions.
Revision of Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty to Hemiarthroplasty: Does it work?

Background: The projected increase in revision shoulder arthroplasty has increased interest in the outcomes of theseprocedures. Glenoid component removal and conversion to a hemiarthroplasty (HA) is an option for aseptic glenoidloosening after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA).Methods: We identified patients who had undergone revision shoulder arthroplasty over a 15-year period. 17 patientsmet inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a retrospective chart review was conducted for pre-surgical and operativedata. We contacted patients at a mean follow-up of 70 months from revision surgery for implant survival, reoperationsand functional outcomes scores.Results: Implant survival was estimated to be 88% at 2 years and 67% at 5 years. Mean ASES score for survivingimplants was 58 ± 22. Mean SANE score was 54 ± 24, and mean VAS pain score was 3.5 ± 2.8. Mean SF-12 Mentaland Physical scores were 46 ± 15 and 38 ± 10, respectively. Five patients (50% of those with surviving implants)reported being either very satisfied or satisfied with the status of their shoulder. There were complications in 6 patients(35%) and 5 patients (29%) required reoperation.Conclusion: HA following failed aTSA due to glenoid loosening produced modest clinical results and satisfaction rates.Reverse arthroplasty may be a more reliable treatment strategy in this patient population.Level of evidence: IV
Silencing the lncRNA Maclpil in pro-inflammatory macrophages attenuates acute experimental ischemic stroke via LCP1 in mice.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) expression profiles change in the ischemic brain after stroke, but their roles in specific cell types after stroke have not been studied. We tested the hypothesis that ...
Effects of Alpha-tocopherol Antioxidant on Dentin-composite Microtensile Bond Strength after Sodium Perborate Bleaching

Abstract It has been reported that bond strength can be reversed to prebleached levels with the application of 10% alpha-tocopherol in a 2-hour time frame or by delaying bonding for 2 weeks. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 5-minute application of 20% alpha-tocopherol to reverse the deleterious effects of nonvital bleaching on consequent bond strength. Thirty third molars were assigned to the following 3 groups: unbleached, bleached, and bleached followed by treatment with alpha-tocopherol. The bleached groups were exposed to sodium perborate (2 g/mL) for 7 days. The postbleach treatment group was subsequently treated with 20% alpha-tocopherol for 5 minutes, and then all groups were restored with composite resin. After 24 hours of storage at 37°C and 100% humidity, restored tooth specimens were sectioned into 1-mm2 dentin-composite beams. Six beams from each tooth were subjected to microtensile bond strength testing. Representative beams were further evaluated with Raman microspectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mean bond strength values (MPa) for each group were as follows: unbleached control group = 26.2, bleached control group = 20.3, and post–bleach treatment group = 18.5. A 1-factor analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test (α = 0.05) indicated that bleaching had a detrimental effect on bond strength and that short-term alpha-tocopherol treatments did not improve postbleach bond strength. Raman microspectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed no noted improvement for the post–bleach treatment group.The application of 20% alpha-tocopherol in a clinically relevant time frame was not effective in counteracting the deleterious effect of bleaching on bond strength. Bonding procedures should be delayed after tooth bleaching.
Further Improving the Performance of Logistic Regression Analysis Using Double Extreme Ranking

For dichotomous or ordinal dependent variables, logistic regression models as one of the generalized linear models have been intensively applied in several fields. We proposed a more powerful performance of logistic regression model analysis when a modified extreme ranked set sampling (modified ERSS) is used and further improved the performance when a modified double extreme ranked set sampling (modified DERSS) is used. We assume that ranking could be performed based on an available and easy-to-rank auxiliary variable, which is associated with the response variable. Theoretically and by simulations, we showed the superiority of the performance of the logistic regression analysis when ERSS and DERSS are used compared with using the simple random sample. We illustrated the procedures developed using real data from the 2011/12 National Survey of Children’s Health.
Impact of Informal Experiences: Changes in Mathematics Motivation for Middle Schoolers

The current research sought to examine the impact of a week-long mathematics camp on motivation and self-efficacy beliefs of participating middle school students. Middle school students participated in a one-week mathematics camp on a college campus, where they worked on authentic mathematics activities that were applied to real world concepts. The activities were developed by a mathematics educator and were facilitated by trained college students. Middle school students responded to the Sources of Self-Efficacy measure before and after the mathematics camp to determine whether changes occurred in various motivational variables resulting from their participation in the camp. Parallel t-tests indicated significant positive changes in students’ vicarious experiences and mastery goals to suggest that participation in the camp may have caused students to feel more confident in their ability to work through math problems and to adopt learning goals for mastering mathematics content. Providing middle school students with informal learning experiences in mathematics may help them in creating long-term goals for their learning.
Cyber assets at risk: monetary impact of U.S. personally identifiable information mega data breaches

This study investigates various factors that can affect the monetary impact of data breaches on companies. This paper introduces a model for the total cost of a mega data breach based on a data set created from multiple sources that categorises stolen data for U.S. residents as personally identifiable information (PII) and sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII). We use a rigorous stepwise regression analysis that includes polynomial and factorial multilevel effects of the independent variables. There are three significant findings. First, our model finds a significant relation between total data breach cost and revenue, the total amount of PII and SPII, and class action lawsuits. Second, the categorisation of personal information as sensitive and non-sensitive explains the cost better than previous work. Finally, all of the independent variables demonstrate multilevel factorial interactions.
Developmental Insights into Lung Cancer

Lung cancer continues to be the number one cancer killer. Despite a surge of therapeutic advances in recent years, lung cancer remains fatal when it presents at a stage too advanced for surgical re...
Differential risk of falls associated with pain medication among community-dwelling older adults by cognitive status.

Background Persons living with dementia have an elevated risk of falling and chronic pain. This study investigates the relationship of pain medication use with falls among community-dwelling adults based on their cognitive status. Methods We analysed a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries (n = 7,491) who completed cognitive assessments used for dementia classification in the 2015 US National Health and Aging Trends Study. We performed survey-weighted logistic regression to investigate differential associations between pain medication use and a recent fall by cognitive status: no dementia, possible dementia and probable dementia, controlling for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Results About 16.5% of the analytic sample was classified as possible dementia (8.3%) and probable dementia (8.2%). Pain medication use was associated with a recent fall among those with probable dementia [odds ratio (OR) = 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14, 3.03], controlling for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Taking medication for pain 2 days a week or more (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.20, 3.81) was associated with falls among those with probable dementia. Bothersome pain and worry about falling down were also associated with falls among participants with no dementia and possible dementia, respectively. Conclusion Differential risk factors for falls by cognitive status imply the need for tailored pain management and fall prevention strategies. The provision of fall prevention programmes stressing balance training and medication use is important regardless of cognitive status in community-dwelling older adults. Future research should explore other modifiable factors associated with the risk of falls among community-dwelling adults.
A retrospective analysis of the effect of self proning on disease progression in COVID-19 patients

Rationale:Prone positioning is a well-documented method to reduce mortality in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). (1) It has traditionally been described in intubated patients;however, in the COVID 19 pandemic proning has seen use in spontaneously breathing patients (2). In attempt to prevent progression to mechanical ventilation, we began a protocol of self-proning on any patient with documented COVID 19 infection meetingcriteria for ARDS using the Kigali modification of the Berlin criteria(3).Methods:Charts were reviewed from March 2020 to May 2020 for all admitted COVID-19 positive patients. Patients were divided into two cohorts, self-proning and non-self proning. Data points were time to mechanical ventilation in days, amount of respiratory support required, time at this maximal therapy in days, and number of deaths. Amount of respiratory support was defined as oxygen requirement, nasal canula, HFNC, NIPPV, and mechanical ventilation. Pregnant patients and second admissions were excluded.All statistical analyses were conducted using SYSTAT, version 13. Differences between proning and non-proning groups were tested normality using the Shapiro-Wilks test and for significance via independent samples t-tests, assuming separate variances;three variables (BMI, days to ventilation, days at maximum oxygen therapy) were log-transformed prior to analysis. Discrete variables were tested for significant differences between groups using chi-square tests of association.Results:Of the 117 patients encouraged to self-prone;26 (22.2%) did so, while 91 (77.8 %) did not. Three (3) of 26 (11.5%) patients in the proning group progressed to mechanical ventilation compared to 14 of 87 patients (16.1%) in the nonproning group. This difference was not significant (x2 = 0.32, df = 1, p = 0.572). There was no significant difference between patients in the proning vs. non-proning groups with respect to survival (x2 = 2.09, df = 1, p = 0.148)Conclusion:In our retrospective analysis of the effects of self proning, there was no statistically significant effect on progression to mechanical ventilation in the self proning vs non self proning patients. We feel our study limitations played a large role in this outcome due to the difference in the number of self-proning versus non-self proning, variability in management, and inability to document amount of time spent in the prone position. Ultimately, our study is a small sample size across both the self proning and non self proning groups. Showing self proning does not statistically effect progression to mechanical ventilation.
The Neural Underpinnings of Processing Newly Taught Semantic Information: The Role of Retrieval Practice.

Purpose Recent behavioral studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of implementing retrieval practice into learning tasks for children. Such approaches have revealed that repeated spaced retriev...
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: Large Database, Cautious Interpretations

Goffredo and colleagues from Duke University Medical Center have continued their interest in National Cancer Database (NCDB) data and reviewed the timeliness of resection and thyroidectomy margins in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer.1 Clearly, they have a large series of patients who have undergone surgery. Of the 680 patients in the NCDB between 2003 and 2006, a total of 335 (49 %) underwent surgical intervention. This clearly represents half the patients undergoing surgery (49 %), which is not an usual experience in major centers taking care of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.2,3 In our own experience, we see a very small percentage of patients who undergo surgical intervention for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Whether some of these were open biopsies or truly an attempt to remove all gross tumor remains somewhat unclear. It also becomes difficult to interpret the true definition of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. It is not uncommon in many institutions to use poorly differentiated thyroid cancer to be considered as anaplastic carcinoma, either by clinicians or even by the pathologists, which will clearly confuse the entire issue of management of truly defined anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. All large databases in the country, such as surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) and the NCDB, are important as they provide us with a lot of details regarding current trends in the management of a particular cancer. Clearly, the NCDB collects a great deal of information about patients with cancer. However, we do need to recognize that most of the information is entered through a hospital system rather than by the surgeon or the treating physician himself.