cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How well prepared are Texas dental hygienists to recognize and report elderly abuse

The elderly are the nation's fastest-growing population, and the number of elder abuse victims has reached epidemic proportions. In Texas, dentists and dental hygienists are mandated by law to report suspected abuse. This study surveyed Texas dental hygienists regarding elder abuse education received in dental hygiene school and post-graduation. Respondents were also asked to self-assess their knowledge level in recognizing the six types of elder abuse and to answer questions regarding Texas law and mandatory reporting of abuse. A survey designed for this study was mailed to 780 Texas licensed dental hygienists, representing 10 percent of the Texas dental hygiene population. Respondents were selected using a computer-generated random sample. A second mailing was sent to nonrespondents to prevent response bias. Results were analyzed using Statistical Programs for Social Scientists (SPSS). Over one-half of the respondents (56 percent) stated that abuse education was not part of their dental hygiene school curriculum. Only 46 percent of the respondents who replied that abuse education had been included in the curriculum were educated on elder abuse. A majority of respondents stated they lacked knowledge in recognizing the six types of elder abuse, and 81 percent of respondents reported being unknowledgeable about reporting elder abuse. The current status of elder abuse education in dental hygiene programs and post-graduation is insufficient. Dental hygienists have an obligation to become knowledgeable in recognizing and reporting elder abuse in order to provide complete care for their patients.
A comparison of INRs after local calibration of thromboplastin international sensitivity indexes.

There are approximately 300 reagent/instrument combinations for performing prothrombin times/international normalized ratios (PT/INR) in the United States. Manufacturers and laboratories continually struggle to ensure that the International Sensitivity Index (ISI) of their thromboplastin is accurate for assaying PT/INR. OBJECTIVE: This study reports the feasibility of a new method to locally calibrate ISI of thromboplastin using the mechanical STA automated coagulation analyzer (Diagnostica-Stago Inc.) and two photo-optic coagulation analyzers, the BCS (Dade-Behring) and CA-540 (Sysmex). DESIGN: Neoplastine CI+ (CI+) (Diagnostica-Stago Inc); Thromboplastin C+ (TC+); Thromborel S (TRS); and Innovin (I) (Dade-Behring) were used in this study. A mean normal PT (MNPT) was determined for each reagent/instrument combination using samples from 25 normal individuals. Manufacturer instrument specific ISI values were not available for the STA with TC+, TRS and I. The CA540 had no ISI value for CI+ and the BCS system had no manufacturer assigned ISI values for TC+ and I; generic photo-optic and mechanical ISI manufacturer values were used for these two systems. Local on-site calibration was performed using frozen plasma calibrators to determine ISI values for each thromboplastin. Post-calibration, 95 patient samples were assayed for each reagent/instrument system combination using the manufacturer ISI and the local calibrated ISI to determine the INR result. PATIENTS: Patients from whom samples were obtained included five with a lupus anticoagulant, 30 on heparin therapy, and 60 on coumadin therapy. RESULTS: Differences between manufacturer versus local calibrated ISI ranged from 0.9% to 18.9% for normal sample INRs and from 0.8% to 16.4% for patient sample INRs. The number (or proportion) of patient specimens with clinically significantly different INR values (>10.0% difference) ranged from zero for several reagent combinations to more than half (or >50.0%) of those tested for several other combinations. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that by locally calibrating ISI values, each laboratory may eliminate variability and guesswork between different reagent/instrument systems for ISI values when performing PT/INR assays and potentially improve the clinical accuracy of their patients9 PT/INR results. ABBREVIATIONS:CI+ = Neoplastine CI+; INR = international normalized ratio; IRP = international reference preparation; ISI = international sensitivity index; MNPT = mean normal prothrombin time; OAT = oral anticoagulant therapy; PIVKAS = proteins induced by Vitamin K antagonists; PT = prothrombin time; TC+ = Thromboplastin C+; TRS = Thromborel S; WHO = World Health Organization.
Protein kinase A can block EphA2 receptor-mediated cell repulsion by increasing EphA2 S897 phosphorylation

The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase plays key roles in tissue homeostasis and disease processes such as cancer, pathological angiogenesis, and inflammation through two distinct signaling mechanisms. EphA2 "canonical" signaling involves ephrin-A ligand binding, tyrosine autophosphorylation, and kinase activity; EphA2 "noncanonical" signaling involves phosphorylation of serine 897 (S897) by AKT and RSK kinases. To identify small molecules counteracting EphA2 canonical signaling, we developed a high-content screening platform measuring inhibition of ephrin-A1-induced PC3 prostate cancer cell retraction. Surprisingly, most hits from a screened collection of pharmacologically active compounds are agents that elevate intracellular cAMP by activating G protein-coupled receptors such as the β2-adrenoceptor. We found that cAMP promotes phosphorylation of S897 by protein kinase A (PKA) as well as increases the phosphorylation of several nearby serine/threonine residues, which constitute a phosphorylation hotspot. Whereas EphA2 canonical and noncanonical signaling have been viewed as mutually exclusive, we show that S897 phosphorylation by PKA can coexist with EphA2 tyrosine phosphorylation and block cell retraction induced by EphA2 kinase activity. Our findings reveal a novel paradigm in EphA2 function involving the interplay of canonical and noncanonical signaling and highlight the ability of the β2-adrenoceptor/cAMP/PKA axis to rewire EphA2 signaling in a subset of cancer cells.
Filamentation by Combining Sub-Critical Peak Power Ultrashort Pulses

This work experimentally demonstrates in air coupling between two beams below the critical power threshold for filamentation. Dependent upon the pulse overlap in space, time, and polarization these two beams are observed to fuse and form a single filament.
Biomanufacturing Seamless Tubular and Hollow Collagen Scaffolds with Unique Design Features and Biomechanical Properties

A versatile process to develop designer collagen scaffolds for hollow and tubular tissue engineering applications is presented. This process creates seamless and biomechanically tunable scaffolds ranging from ureter-like microsized tubings to structures with highly customized lumens that resemble intestinal villi, fluid bladders, and alveolar sacs that together with stem cells can potentially be used in preclinical and clinical settings.
The new global dis/order in central banking and public finance

A review of central bank governance and monetary policy, with a focus on the Federal Reserve, the myth of its independence and its role in and response to the 2008 financial crisis.
Rationale for Antiplatelet Agents in Diabetic Vascular Disease

Studies summarized in this paper indicate that some diabetics have increased sensitivity to platelet aggregating agents. The problem is in the platelet release reaction and may reflect increased synthesis of prostaglandins or their precursors. An interaction of plasma factors such as von Willebrand factor with platelets may also be involved. Based on these and other considerations, a prospective study on the use of aspirin and dipyridamole on diabetic lower extremity vascular disease is underway as a Veterans Administration Cooperative Study.
Single Right Ventricular Function and Failure in the Fontan Circulation

The Fontan procedure generates a unique human circulation, relying on a functionally single ventricle to pump blood around the systemic and pulmonary circulations, in series. If ever the frailty of a particular ventricular morphology were to be exposed, one might imagine that it would be the case for the Fontan circulation. In this chapter we will review the evidence for and against the right ventricle being more susceptible when acting as a functionally singular ventricle.
Regression and classification using optimal decision trees

Current state-of-the-art decision tree algorithms, such as Classification and Regression Trees (CART), build the decision tree using a recursive approach based on a greedy heuristic. We study the benefits of an optimal decision tree approach, which creates the entire decision tree at once using Mixed Integer Optimization (MIO). While such problems are known to be hard to solve for large instances, we leverage modern solver techniques that are able to obtain near-optimal solutions in a reasonable amount of time. The methodology is able to handle both single-feature splits, as in CART, and also hyperplane splits that use multiple features. We test optimal regression trees on a host of synthetic datasets and optimal classification tress on a novel application concerning the usage of CT imagining to diagnose head injuries in children. Our results demonstrate that optimal trees lead to a significantly greater accuracy than CART.
Incremental Value of Echocardiography in Patients With or Without Hypertension: Which (Death)Star to Hitch the Wagon?

See related article, pp 742–751 Hypertension is the most prevalent risk factor for ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and stroke.1 Several studies have shown that measures of cardiac target organ damage are independent predictors of increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.2–4 Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy was one of the first measures of cardiac target organ damage to have been shown to predict adverse cardiac events in patients with hypertension.2 Subsequently, other measures of cardiac target organ damage have been implicated in predicting adverse outcomes in population-based and selected clinical populations including patients with hypertension.3,4 More recently, global longitudinal strain (GLS)—an automated echocardiographic technique for measurement of long-axis systolic function—has been shown to predict adverse events in population-based and selected clinical populations.5,6 Echocardiography has been extensively utilized in clinical and epidemiological studies to evaluate cardiac target organ damage because of its availability, ease of …
Sacubitril/Valsartan: From Clinical Trials to Real-world Experience

Compared to enalapril, use of angiotensin-receptor blocker and neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril/valsartan to treat patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is associated with substantial reductions in both cardiovascular mortality and heart failure progression. The purpose of this review is to discuss the real-world experience of sacubitril/valsartan. In the years following the publication of the landmark PARADIGM-HF trial in 2014 and its subsequent FDA approval, a growing evidence base supports the safety and efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan in a broad spectrum of patients with HFrEF. Updated clinical practice guidelines have embraced the use of sacubitril/valsartan in preference to ACE inhibitors or ARBs in selected patients. In this review, we highlight the clinical trials that led to these key updates to clinical guidelines, offer practical strategies for patient selection and utilization in clinical practice, and identify important areas of uncertainty that require future research.
Infrared: An Unseen and Unnecessary Hazard in Ophthalmic Devices

The concept of instrument-induced light damage to the retina is well established. Many have argued that ultraviolet (UV) energy is overwhelmingly responsible and that longer wavelength infrared (IR) energy causes thermal change and plays a minimal role. We suggest that infrared may play a primary role in instrument-induced damage. We measured the radiometric and photometric outputs from commonly used ophthalmic devices in normal use and in IR-blocked conditions. We found IR output to represent a significant portion of the total irradiation produced by these instruments. Infrared was easily and inexpensively minimized without compromising usable visible light in these instruments using an efficient IR filter. The instruments' incandescent lamps, glass envelopes, and optics are poor UV emitters or transmitters. Manufacturers' data do not indicate UV emission. Evidence for UV blocking and IR transmission by the intraocular media is presented.
Contrasting preganglionic and postganglionic effects of phenylephrine on parasympathetic control of heart rate

Previous reports indicate that alpha-adrenergic agonists modulate vagal control of heart rate. In the rat, phenylephrine inhibition of vagal-stimulated bradycardia may be occurring at any of a number of sites along the cardiac parasympathetic pathway. The purpose of the present experiments was to localize the pre- or postganglionic sites of phenylephrine modulation of parasympathetic-mediated bradycardia in the rat. Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and instrumented with arterial and venous catheters and electrocardiographic leads. The cervical vagi were sectioned, and propranolol was administered. The right cervical vagus nerve was electrically stimulated to activate preganglionic parasympathetic nerves. Carbachol was injected to activate nicotinic receptors on postganglionic parasympathetic nerves (i.e., intracardiac ganglion cells). Methacholine was injected to activate muscarinic receptors at the sinoatrial node. The heart rate responses to these three interventions were recorded before, during, and after phenylephrine infusion. Phenylephrine significantly attenuated the bradycardia produced by vagal nerve stimulation. In contrast, phenylephrine facilitated the bradycardia elicited by carbachol injection. Since carbachol has both muscarinic and nicotinic effects, the results were compared with those obtained from methacholine, a pure muscarinic agonist. Phenylephrine had no effect on methacholine-induced bradycardia, suggesting that the modulation of the carbachol response was through carbachol's nicotinic effects. Yohimbine, the alpha 2-receptor antagonist, eliminated phenylephrine-mediated facilitation of the carbachol response. These data indicate that phenylephrine has contrasting effects on pre- and postganglionic cardiac parasympathetic nerves in rats: inhibition at preganglionic sites (vagal stimulation results) and facilitation at the level of the ganglion cells (carbachol experiments).
Glutathione S-transferases in tracheobronchial epithelium

The purpose of this study is to characterize glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene expression in airway epithelium both in vivo and in vitro. Immunohistochemical staining of nonhuman primate lungs of well-controlled healthy animals reveals the presence of alpha- and pi-class GST isoenzymes in ciliated bronchial epithelium. The stain of mu-GST antibody is either very low or absent in some of these monkey lungs. We observed that primary tracheobronchial epithelial (TBE) cells isolated from human and monkey pulmonary tissues maintain a relatively high level of GST enzymatic activity in culture, compared with various immortalized human TBE cell lines and other nonpulmonary cell lines. Northern blot analysis demonstrated the presence of mu-, pi-, and microsomal-GST messages but not the alpha-class message in cultures of primary TBE cells as well as in various human TBE cell lines. The expression of mu- and pi-class GST genes can be further regulated in culture by various environmental factors; however, most of these regulating factors are associated with TBE cell differentiation in culture. For instance, vitamin A treatment, which was shown to enhance mucous cell differentiation in vitro, stimulated the message levels of mu- and pi-class GST. Furthermore, plating cells on collagen gel substrata, which also enhanced mucous cell differentiation in culture, instead of plastic culture surface, enhanced total GST enzymatic activity by eightfold, and this enhancement is related to an increase in the expression of the pi-class GST gene. These results demonstrated that GST genes are differentially expressed and regulated by various environmental factors in primary TBE cells and various cell lines, and the regulation is correlated to the mucous cell differentiation in culture.
A universal weak method: summary of results

The weak methods occur pervasively in Al systems and may form the basic methods for all intelligent systems. The purpose of this paper is to characterize the weak methods and to explain how and why they arise in intelligent systems. We propose an organization, called a universal weak method, that provides functionality of all the weak methods. A universal weak method is an organizational scheme for knowledge that produces the appropriate search behavior given the available task-domain knowledge. We present a problem solving architecture in which we realize a universal weak method. We also demonstrate the universal weak method with a variety of weak methods on a set of tasks.
PD-1 inhibition has only limited clinical benefit in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma.

Objective To investigate the question of whether salvage therapy with the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)–blocking antibodies nivolumab or pembrolizumab with or without bevacizumab offers clinical or survival benefit in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas (HGGs). Methods This was a single-institution retrospective observational study in 31 adult patients who received pembrolizumab (Keytruda) or nivolumab (Opdivo) with or without concurrent bevacizumab for recurrent high-grade glioma. Results Median progression-free survival (mPFS) from first anti–PD-1 dose was 3.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2–4.2), and there was no difference in patients receiving nivolumab (mPFS 3.8 months, 95% CI 1.7–5.8) compared to patients receiving pembrolizumab (mPFS 2.3 months, 95% CI 1.7–2.8, log rank 3.1, p = 0.08). There was also no difference in mPFS if patients had previously received bevacizumab (mPFS 3.2 months, 95% CI 2–4.3) or were bevacizumab naive (mPFS 3.7, 95% CI 0–7.9, log rank 1.3, p = 0.3). The median survival from date of first anti–PD-1 dose was 6.6 months (95% CI 4.2–9.1). Conclusion Salvage therapy with nivolumab or pembrolizumab with or without bevacizumab does not confer a survival benefit in this heavily pretreated unselected patient population. Until the results of the currently ongoing clinical trials become available, the use of PD-1–blocking antibodies should be considered in selected individuals only. Classification of evidence This retrospective observational study provides Class IV evidence that for patients with recurrent HGGs, salvage therapy with nivolumab or pembrolizumab does not significantly improve survival.
Identifying and Treating Opioid Side Effects: The Development of Methylnaltrexone.

Methylnaltrexone Reverses Chronic Opioid-induced Constipation: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. By Yuan CS, Foss JF, O’Connor M, Osinski J, Karrison T, Moss J, Roizen MF. JAMA 2000; 130:142–8. Reprinted with permission.Context:Constipation is the most common chronic adverse effect of opioid pain medi
Home study course: spring 2004.

OBJECTIVE: The Home Study Course is intended for the practicing colposcopist or practitioner who is seeking to develop or enhance his or her colposcopic skills. The goal of the course is to present colposcopic cases that are unusual or instructive in terms of appearance, presentation, or management or that demonstrate new and important knowledge in the area of colposcopy or pathology. Participants may benefit from reading and studying the material or from testing their knowledge by answering the questions. ACCME ACCREDITATION: The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians. The ASCCP designates this continuing medical education activity for 1 credit hour Category I of the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association. Credit is available for those who choose to apply. The Home Study Course is planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME's Essential Areas and Elements.
High-Temperature Mechanical Characterization of Laser-Machined Sapphire for High-Temperature Pressure Sensor Applications

Abstract The robust material properties of sapphire across a large temperature range make it an ideal material for pressure sensing at extreme temperatures; however, it is difficult to machine and ...
TutoriVR: A Video-Based Tutorial System for Design Applications in Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality painting is a form of 3D-painting done in a Virtual Reality (VR) space. Being a relatively new kind of art form, there is a growing interest within the creative practices community to learn it. Currently, most users learn using community posted 2D-videos on the internet, which are a screencast recording of the painting process by an instructor. While such an approach may suffice for teaching 2D-software tools, these videos by themselves fail in delivering crucial details that required by the user to understand actions in a VR space. We conduct a formative study to identify challenges faced by users in learning to VR-paint using such video-based tutorials. Informed by results of this study, we develop a VR-embedded tutorial system that supplements video tutorials with 3D and contextual aids directly in the user's VR environment. An exploratory evaluation showed users were positive about the system and were able to use the proposed system to recreate painting tasks in VR.
Morphological Cell Transformation and DNA Adduction by Benz(J)Aceanthrylene and its Presumptive Reactive Metabolites in C3H10T1/2CL8 Cells

Benz(j)aceanthrylene [B(j)A], a cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon found in coal combustion emissions [Grimmer et al., 1985; Schmidt et al., 1986], is a strong inducer of morphological transforming activity in C3H10T1/2CL8 (C3H10T1/2) mouse embryo fibroblasts [Mohapatra et al., 1987]. The metabolism of B(j)A by these cells has been studied and the results differ from those found with Aroclor-1254 induced rat liver S9. In C3H10T1/2 cells the major metabolite is 9,10dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-B(j)A with minor amounts of 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-B(j)A [Mohapatra et al., 1987], while in rat liver S9 the major metabolite is 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-B(j)A [Nesnow et al., 1988]. These results suggest that while the major route of metabolic activation by Aroclor-1254 induced rat liver S9 is through B(j)A-1,2-oxide, the arene oxide at the cyclopenta-ring, metabolic activation of B(j)A in C3H10T1/2 cells might be via two routes: botharene oxide [B(j)A-1,2-oxide] formation and bay-region diol-epoxide formation [9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-B(j)A-7,8-oxide]. This study was undertaken to clarify the role of the putative reactive intermediates, 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-B(j)A-7,8-oxide [B(j)A-diol-epoxide], and B(j)A-1,2-oxide in the metabolic activation of B(j)A in C3H10T1/2 cells.
Employing Non-Citizens to Address Truck Driver Shortages: Is There an Impact on Domestic Driver Wages?

This study examines the effect of noncitizen truck driver employment on the wages of truck drivers who are US citizens. We hypothesize that citizen status job heterogeneity creates a labor market environment that contributes to relatively low wages for these drivers compared to drivers who are US citizens. Findings suggest a significant wage discount for noncitizen truck drivers; however, this discount erodes as these drivers gain experience in the USA. Nonetheless, the noncitizen wage discount persists even when accounting for noncitizen drivers attaining greater years residing in the USA. Findings also suggest that noncitizen truck drivers are imperfect substitutes for truck drivers who are US citizens. This lack of perfect substitutability is consistent with this study’s findings indicating a statistically insignificant negative noncitizen effect on the wages of drivers who are US citizens.
Inclusive High-Growth Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Fostering Female Entrepreneurs' Participation in Incubator and Accelerator Programs

In this article, the role of individual and team-level factors in promoting female entrepreneurs' participation in accelerator and incubator programs is explored. Using data collected from 65 teams enrolled in a team-based entrepreneurship program run by a university located in the U.S. Midwest region, the results showed that female and male program participants differed in several entrepreneurial metrics. The results further indicate that female students are less likely to participate in accelerator or incubator programs than their male counterparts. Furthermore, a higher proportion of women in a team was positively related to women's' subsequent entrepreneurial actions, namely joining accelerator and/or incubator programs. Although female students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intention scores were initially lower, their scores consolidated toward the end of the program. Lastly, the results indicate that the quality of students’ group experiences positively influenced their participation in accelerator and incubator programs.
18 – Stability Theorems

Publisher Summary This chapter describes stability theorems applicable to differential equations of all types. Stability is required if a differential equation is to be well posed. Floquet theory and Lyapunov functions are two techniques that can determine if an equation has stable or unstable solutions. There are many theorems that can be used to determine whether the solutions to a differential equation are stable. The chapter elaborates the equation y′ = Ay + f(t,y), where A is a real constant matrix whose eigenvalues all have negative real parts. If f be real, continuous for small |y| and t > 0, and f(t,y) = 0 (| y |) as | f | → 0, uniformly for t > 0, then the identically zero solution is asymptotically stable. The chapter also discusses some other simple theorems that are frequently useful.
Design and Control of a Series DC Active Filter (SDAF) for MVDC Marine Applications

Medium Voltage DC (MVDC) power systems have become more prevalent in industry, specifically marine distribution systems due in part to improved power density among the topology’s components. One drawback to MVDC systems is the ripple generated from the MVDC active rectifier, which can affect downstream loads (e.g., propulsion loads) which are fed by the MVDC bus. This paper explores an MVDC series DC active filter (SDAF) which is designed to attenuate unwanted harmonics present on the MVDC bus, leading to improved power quality of the system with tight and rapid control over the DC bus voltage. The addition of representative loads such as an AC permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) is also explored.
Development and application of a high throughput assay system for the detection of Rieske dioxygenase activity

Herein we report the development of a new periodate-based reactive assay system for the fluorescent detection of the cis-diol metabolites produced by Rieske dioxygenases. This sensitive and diastereoselective assay system successfully evaluates the substrate scope of Rieske dioxygenases and determines the relative activity of a rationally designed Rieske dioxygenase variant library. The high throughput capacity of the assay system enables rapid and efficient substrate scope investigations and screening of large dioxygenase variant libraries.
The World Cup Chronicles: 31 Days That Rocked Brazil: by Jorge Knijnik, Balgowlah Heights, Australia, Fair Play Publishing, 2018, 164 pp. (+4 pages of photos), $24.99 (paperback), ISBN: 978-0-6481333-1-5

Jorge Knijnik has written an interesting compilation of analytical chronicles about the 2014 World Cup hosted by Brazil. The front cover of The World Cup Chronicles shows a young black woman contro...
Suboptimal proteome allocation during changing environments constrains bacterial response and growth recovery

To sustain growth in fluctuating environments microbial organisms must respond appropriately. The response generally requires the synthesis of novel proteins, but this synthesis can be impeded due to the depletion of biosynthetic precursors when growth conditions vary. Microbes must thus devise effective response strategies to manage depleting precursors. To better understand these strategies, we here investigate the active response of Escherichia coli to changes in nutrient conditions, connecting transient gene-expression behavior to growth phenotypes. By synthetically modifying the gene expression during changing growth conditions, we show how the competition by genes for the limited protein synthesis capacity constrains the cellular response. Despite this constraint, cells substantially express genes that are not required, severely slowing down the response. These findings highlight that cells do not optimize growth and recovery in every encountered environment but rather exhibit hardwired response strategies that may have evolved to promote growth in their native environment and include the regulation of multiple genes. The constraint and the suboptimality of the cellular response uncovered in this study provides a conceptual framework relevant for many research applications, from the prediction of evolution and adaptation to the improvement of gene circuits in biotechnology.
Interdisciplinary conversations in STEM education: can faculty understand each other better than their students do?

Rate of change concepts from calculus are presented and applied rather differently in college mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry classes. This is not simply a matter of pedagogical style but reflects real cultural differences between these disciplines. We describe the efforts of our interdisciplinary collaboration to understand and reconcile these differences as we designed and discussed instructional videos for students. We summarize our conversations about terminology, notation, functions, rates, units, and sign conventions across the disciplines. We present some strategies that enabled us to communicate effectively, resolve confusions, and reach shared understandings. Our work has implications for others involved in collaborative interdisciplinary projects and for STEM educators. In theory, there’s no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is. – Benjamin Brewster. Also attributed to Yogi Berra.
Field Theory for Some Traffic Phenomena and Fundamental Diagram

A fundamental diagram consists of a scatter of traffic flow data sampled at a specific location and aggregated from vehicle trajectories. These trajectories, if presented equivalently, constitute a...
Pathobiome and microbial communities associated with forest tree root diseases

Abstract The forest pathology paradigm that one disease is caused by one pathogen is shifting toward a consideration of the complex ecological interactions among pathogens, microbial communities, tree host, and environment. Currently, rapidly evolving technologies have increasing potential to provide a wealth of novel information on complex ecological interactions that can enhance or suppress plant disease; however, these technologies and the resulting ecological information are not yet well developed for application to forest pathology and related microbial processes. This chapter explores a recently developed concept of the soil microbiome and provides current information on interpreting the myriad of interactions among host, soil-borne pathogens, soil microbial community, and soil environments in relation to forest diseases. Because studies on the interactions among the soil microbiome and forest pathosystems are in their initial stages, examples of applications are drawn from agricultural and/or cropping systems.
An Empirical Analysis of the Effect of Sub-Divisions of American Viticultural Areas on Wine Prices: A Hedonic Study of Napa Valley

American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) are descriptors of where wine grapes are grown that are designed to capture qualities unique to the wine and to influence its price. Sub-AVAs are sub-divisions of well-known AVAs designed to have the same effect. In this paper, I study the impact of the Napa Valley Sub-AVA system on the pricing and rating of Napa Valley wines. The analysis utilizes a primary hedonic pricing model to isolate both the individual Sub-AVA's price effect and the system's cumulative price effect. This study uses a unique dataset of 5,017 Napa Valley wines reviewed by the Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine over the 10-year period from 2004–2013. Estimated price effects persist even after controlling for rating differences, implying that consumers value the wines of sub-AVA's independently of critics’ ratings. These results indicate that Sub-AVAs deliver a more substantial price effect than previous literature has suggested. (JEL Classifications: C01, L10, L66, O13)
Vaccination with soluble headless hemagglutinin protects mice from challenge with divergent influenza viruses

Current influenza virus vaccines provide solid protection from infection with viruses that are well matched with the vaccine strains. However, they do not protect efficiently against drifted or shifted strains. We developed an antigen based on the conserved stalk domain of the influenza virus hemagglutinin and tested its efficacy as a vaccine in a mouse virus challenge model. Although the antigen lacked the correct conformation of the native stalk domain and was not recognized by a panel of neutralizing stalk-reactive antibodies, it did induce considerable protection against H1N1, H5N1 and H6N1 challenge strains. Protection was enhanced when mice had pre-existing immunity against the stalk domain. Since pre-existing immunity is also present in the human population, we hypothesize that a similar antigen could show efficacy in humans as well.
Self-limiting adsorption of Eu3+ on the surface of rod-shape anatase TiO2 nanocrystals and post-synthetic sensitization of the europium-based emission

The surface of oleic acid stabilized rod-shape anatase TiO2 nanocrystals was modified by adsorption of Eu(3+) ions. The Eu(3+) attachment showed Langmuir adsorption behavior, thus the loading of Eu(3+) could be controlled precisely up to surface saturation coverage. The Eu(3+)-TiO2 nanorods show weak Eu(3+) based luminescence. However, addition of thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) leads to coordination of the ligand to the Eu(3+) centers and the TTFA-Eu(3+)-TiO2 materials exhibit strong Eu(3+) fluorescence sensitized by the TTFA ligand.
Theories of electron capture in ion-atom collisions

In contrast to the theory of excitation of atoms by charged particles, which was developed early in the history of the quantum theory, a quantum theory of capture developed slowly and a fairly comprehensive picture has emerged only recently. This review recounts the major features of charge transfer theory that are now fairly firmly established.
Shared Traditions: Southern History and Folk Culture

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Charles Joyner Year: 1999 Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Adaptive Changes in Early and Late Blind: A fMRI Study of Braille Reading

Braille reading depends on remarkable adaptations that connect the somatosensory system to language. We hypothesized that the pattern of cortical activations in blind individuals reading Braille would reflect these adaptations. Activations in visual (occipital-temporal), frontal-language, and somatosensory cortex in blind individuals reading Braille were examined for evidence of differences relative to previously reported studies of sighted subjects reading print or receiving tactile stimulation. Nine congenitally blind and seven late-onset blind subjects were studied with fMRI as they covertly performed verb generation in response to reading Braille embossed nouns. The control task was reading the nonlexical Braille string "######". This study emphasized image analysis in individual subjects rather than pooled data. Group differences were examined by comparing magnitudes and spatial extent of activated regions first determined to be significant using the general linear model. The major adaptive change was robust activation of visual cortex despite the complete absence of vision in all subjects. This included foci in peri-calcarine, lingual, cuneus and fusiform cortex, and in the lateral and superior occipital gyri encompassing primary (V1), secondary (V2), and higher tier (VP, V4v, LO and possibly V3A) visual areas previously identified in sighted subjects. Subjects who never had vision differed from late blind subjects in showing even greater activity in occipital-temporal cortex, provisionally corresponding to V5/MT and V8. In addition, the early blind had stronger activation of occipital cortex located contralateral to the hand used for reading Braille. Responses in frontal and parietal cortex were nearly identical in both subject groups. There was no evidence of modifications in frontal cortex language areas (inferior frontal gyrus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex). Surprisingly, there was also no evidence of an adaptive expansion of the somatosensory or primary motor cortex dedicated to the Braille reading finger(s). Lack of evidence for an expected enlargement of the somatosensory representation may have resulted from balanced tactile stimulation and gross motor demands during Braille reading of nouns and the control fields. Extensive engagement of visual cortex without vision is discussed in reference to the special demands of Braille reading. It is argued that these responses may represent critical language processing mechanisms normally present in visual cortex.
Feasibility and Toxicity of Chemoembolization for Children With Liver Tumors

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility, toxicity, and efficacy of hepatic arterial chemoembolization (HACE) in pediatric patients with refractory primary malignancies of the liver. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six patients with hepatoblastoma (HB), three with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and two with undifferentiated sarcoma of the liver were treated with HACE every 2 to 4 weeks until their tumors became surgically resectable or they showed signs of disease progression. All but one newly diagnosed patient with HCC had previously received systemic chemotherapy. RESULTS: All patients with HB and HCC responded to HACE, as measured by imaging studies and alpha-fetoprotein levels. Surgical resection (complete or microscopic residual disease) was feasible in five of 11 patients, and three patients remain alive with no evidence of disease. Elevated liver transaminase and bilirubin levels were seen after each one of the 46 courses of HACE. Other toxicities included fever, pain, nausea, vomiting, and transient coagulop...
Advanced image processing for optical coherence tomographic angiography of macular diseases

This article provides an overview of advanced image processing for three dimensional (3D) optical coherence tomographic (OCT) angiography of macular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). A fast automated retinal layers segmentation algorithm using directional graph search was introduced to separates 3D flow data into different layers in the presence of pathologies. Intelligent manual correction methods are also systematically addressed which can be done rapidly on a single frame and then automatically propagated to full 3D volume with accuracy better than 1 pixel. Methods to visualize and analyze the abnormalities including retinal and choroidal neovascularization, retinal ischemia, and macular edema were presented to facilitate the clinical use of OCT angiography.
Period doubling and quasi-periodicity in additive-pulse mode-locked lasers.

We have observed period doubling and quasi-periodicity in an additive-pulse mode-locked F-center laser. Experiments show that period doubling is often present even though standard diagnostics such as pulse autocorrelations and spectra give no indication of it. Numerical simulations show that the period doubling is associated with strong pulse reshaping.
The three-dimensional boundary layer on a rotating helical blade

The laminar boundary layer on a twisted helical blade is considered. The blade geometry is the same as that proposed by Horlock and Wordsworth (1965). However, the blade is twisted about the leading edge in the manner described by Miyake and Fujita (1974). The flow may be considered to be the analog, in a rotating reference frame, of the flat-plate boundary layer in a stationary frame. It is shown that a coordinate system which is orthogonal in the blade surface may be developed. With the appropriate scaling of the dependent variables a solution for the boundary layer flow is readily obtained. The systems of ordinary differential equations for the stream function of the primary flow and the cross-flow are solved numerically.
The causes of storm-time increases of the F-layer at mid-latitudes

Abstract Incoherent scatter measurements of horizontal and vertical drift velocity of the ionization in the F-region are presented for the early phases of two magnetic storms when ƒ 0 F2 was observed to increase at midlatitudes. One of these storms occurred on 14 May 1969, and is shown to belong to a class of events in which a large increase in ƒ 0 F2 is observed near local sunset and an associated increase in the total magnetic field. It is shown that these events are caused by convergence of ionization in the east-west direction brought about by a northward electric field. This mechanism, originally proposed by Papagiannis et al. (1971), is believed to be the ionospheric manifestation of the sunward surges of the plasmapause bulge reported by Carpenter (1970). In the other storm, which occurred on 29 October 1968, there was an irregular increase in ƒ 0 F2 that was not confined to the evening and was not associated with an increase in the total magnetic field. For this storm we find evidence of lifting of the F-layer into regions of reduced recombination. Seemingly, the midlatitude magnetic storm positive phase can result from at least two separate effects operating independently or in concert.
Alkali-modified soy proteins: Effect of salts and disulfide bond cleavage on adhesion and viscosity

Soy protein isolates were treated with NaCl, Na2SO4, or Na2SO3 (disulfide bond-cleaving agent) at a pH of 10.0 and 50°C, and the effects of these salts on viscosity, adhesive strength on woods, and water resistance of the treated isolates were investigated. Viscosity and adhesive strength decreased with increasing concentrations of these salts. At a concentration of 0.1 M, these three salts reduced the viscosity of soy proteins with no significant adverse effects on adhesive strength and water resistance. Addition of 0.1 M NaCl, Na2SO4, or Na2SO3 reduced adhesive strength insignificantly from 1230 N to 1120, 1060, or 1013 N, respectively. The viscosity of protein isolate modified at pH 10.0 and 50°C in the absence of salts was >30,000 cP. Treatment with NaCl or Na2SO4 resulted in viscosity reductions to 6000 or 1050 cP, respectively. The Na2SO3 treatment yielded an isolate with the lowest viscosity of 110 cP and which retained adhesive and water-resistive properties. The water resistance of modified soy proteins with and without 0.1 M Na2SO3 treatment was not significantly different with 3.3 and 6.6% cumulative delaminations occurring after four water soaking cycles. Treatment with 0.1 M Na2SO3 resulted in an isolate with a 28% decrease in disulfide linkages.
Bulk ultrahigh-modulus polyethylene

Abstract Owing to the difficulty of wetting polyethylene, its various high modulus fiber forms have not found favor as inexpensive room temperature reinforcement materials. To obviate this problem, attempts have been made to use, as matrix material for ultrahigh modulus polyethylene fibers, both low and high density modifications of bulk polyethylene. Here, a different approach has been adopted—namely, to exploit the non-crystalline surface layer characteristic of the fiber to bind fibers together to form a usable monolithic solid.
Selective vagal postganglionic innervation of the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes in the non-human primate

Abstract The distribution of parasympathetic postganglionic nerves to the atrioventricular (AVN) and sinoatrial nodal (SAN) regions was investigated in the non-human primate heart. Eight male monkeys ( Macaca fascicularis ) weighing 5.5–7.0 kg. were anesthetized (α-chloralose, 50 mg/kg and urethane, 500 mg/kg) and instrumented to measure arterial pressure, electrocardiogram, atrial and ventricular electrograms. The cervical vagi were electrically stimulated (20 Hz, 4 V, 2 ms) before and after selective denervation (D) of the AVN and/or SAN. Vagal stimulation was repeated during atrial pacing to assess parasympathetic modulation of AVN conduction. Ablation of parasympathetic pathways to the AVN, accomplished by the disruption of the epicardial fat and surface muscle layer at the junction of the inferior vena cava and inferior left atrium eliminated ( P x ± S.D. ). In sharp contrast, surgical dissection of the fat pad overlying the right pulmonary vein-superior vena cava junction significantly ( P > 0.01) attenuated negative chronotropic effects of vagal stimulation (left vagus, before D the R-R interval increased by 832.7 ± 146.4 ms, 209.5% increase; after D 37.4 ± 18.0 ms, 8.8% increase). These data demonstrate discrete vagal efferent pathways innervate both the SAN and AVN regions of the non-human primate heart.
Validation of the new classification of pauci-immune glomerulonephritis in a United States cohort and its correlation with renal outcome

Renal biopsies provide important diagnostic and prognostic information in ANCA associated glomerulonephritis. A new classification for prognostication of pauci-immune glomerulonephritis (GN) based on four categories (Mixed, Crescentic, Sclerotic and Focal) was proposed by an international working group of renal pathologists (IWGRP). The goal of our study was to apply the proposed classification system to a United States cohort of vasculitis patients and determine the association of IWGRP class with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at one year. Seventy-six cases of pauci-immune glomerulonephritis diagnosed from 1995 to 2011 from a single center were identified for this retrospective study. Clinical data were collected by abstraction from medical records. Histology was reviewed by a pathologist and classified according to the new classification. MDRD formula was used to calculate eGFR. We correlated IWGRP class to renal function at presentation and at one year. ×2, ANOVA, and linear regression analysis were performed as appropriate. Renal biopsies were categorized as focal: n = 20, crescentic: n = 18, mixed: n = 27, sclerotic: n = 11. The baseline e-GFR was lowest in the crescentic class and highest in the focal class. In linear regression analysis investigating e-GFR at 1 year; age and baseline e-GFR were independent predictors of e-GFR at 1 year. The e-GFR at diagnosis and age were predictors of e-GFR at 1 year. Pathologic class at diagnosis may also be a helpful tool in risk stratification at diagnosis.