cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engineering your own superbug: a useful assignment to evaluate real learning comprehension in microbiology classes.

The learning comprehension of students in microbiology classes is not easy to evaluate, particularly when the student population is diverse in terms of backgrounds, majors, levels of training and preparedness, and the students’ expectations and enthusiasm for the class. It is difficult to design a one-size-fits-all exam that best suits a mixed student population; and most traditional assignments/case studies focusing on particular microbes or topics might not readily assess students’ overall understanding and learning comprehension. It is important to develop an assessment method that not only can engage students in active learning and deliberate practice but can also promote their imaginative and creative potential. The word “superbugs” often appears in the media and refers to some deadly or drug-resistant microbes. These superbugs possess special phenotypic and functional attributes that constitute their “superness.” It is predicted that more new surprising superbugs will emerge in the future and students should be challenged now with some mindstimulating ideas and exercises in their microbiology class. To develop a supplementary tool to evaluate students’ comprehension and to prepare them for the predicted superbugs unknown to us, a writing project entitled “Constructing Your Own Superbug” was designed to achieve these goals.
The Influence of CEO Tenure and Attitude Toward Change on Organizational Approaches to Innovation

Using Miles and Snow’s typology as a measure for organizational approach toward innovation, this study investigates the effect of CEOs’ attitudes toward change on the extent of emphasis on innovati...
Representing hierarchical POMDPs as DBNs for multi-scale robot localization

We explore the advantages of representing hierarchical partially observable Markov decision processes (H-POMDPs) as dynamic Bayesian networks (DBNs). In particular, we focus on the special case of using H-POMDPs to represent multi-resolution spatial maps for indoor robot navigation. Our results show that a DBN representation of H-POMDPs can train significantly faster than the original learning algorithm for H-POMDPs or the equivalent flat POMDP, and requires much less data. In addition, the DBN formulation can easily be extended to parameter tying and factoring of variables, which further reduces the time and sample complexity. This enables us to apply H-POMDP methods to much larger problems than previously possible.
Testing Self-Determination Theory via Nigerian and Indian Adolescents.

We tested the generalizability of five propositions derived from Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 2000) using school-aged adolescents living in India (N = 926) and Nigeria (N = 363). Consistent with past U.S. research, perceived teacher autonomy-support predicted students’ basic need-satisfaction in the classroom and also predicted positive class evaluations. The three basic needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness also predicted positive class evaluations, and furthermore predicted students’ general life-satisfaction. Also, balance among the three needs had positive associations with life-satisfaction independent of the amount of need-satisfaction. Finally, perceived maternal and paternal autonomy-support both predicted life-satisfaction. Support was also found for two demographic hypotheses: older students perceived less autonomy-support from parents and teachers, and Indian students reported greater life-satisfaction than Nigerian students.
What's in the 'BAG'?--A functional domain analysis of the BAG-family proteins.

Abstract Bcl-2-associated athanogene (BAG)-family proteins are BAG domain-containing proteins that interact with the heat shock proteins 70, both constitutive Hsc70 and inducible Hsp70. BAG-family proteins bind through the BAG domain to the ATPase domain of Hsc70/Hsp70. The BAG domain, approximately 110 amino acids in length, is a conserved region at the carboxyl terminus and consists of three anti-parallel α helices based on X-ray crystallography and NMR studies. The second and third α-helices of the BAG domain interact with the ATP-binding pocket of Hsc70/Hsp70. Currently, six human BAG proteins have been reported, four of which have been shown to functionally bind Hsc70/Hsp70. BAG-family proteins regulate chaperone protein activities through their interaction with Hsc70/Hsp70. Over-expression of BAG-family proteins is found in several cancers and has been demonstrated in the laboratory to enhance cell survival and proliferation. The anti-apoptotic activities of BAG-family proteins may be dependent on their interactions with Hsc70/Hsp70 and/or binding to Bcl-2. Both BAG-1 and BAG-3/CAIR-1 interact with Bcl-2 and have been shown to have a supra-additive anti-apoptotic effect with Bcl-2. Several N-terminal domains or motifs have been identified in BAG-family proteins as well. These domains enable BAG-family proteins to partner with other proteins and potentially alter the activity of those target proteins by recruiting Hsc70/Hsp70. BAG-family proteins participate in a wide variety of cellular processes including cell survival (stress response), proliferation, migration and apoptosis.
Pathologic Findings of Follow-up Surgical Excision for Lobular Neoplasia on Breast Core Biopsy Performed for Calcification

This study aimed to ascertain pathologic findings of surgical follow-up excision (FUE) on patients who had radiologic finding of calcifications and lobular neoplasia (LN) on core biopsy. Breast core biopsy specimens from 2006-2011 with a diagnosis of pure classic-type LN (lobular carcinoma in situ [LCIS] and atypical lobular hyperplasia [ALH]) with no history of invasive carcinoma (IC) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were studied. Two hundred thirty-seven patients with the diagnosis of calcium on radiologic studies had FUE and were included in the study. Cases were divided into group 1 (pure ALH, n = 163) and group 2 (pure LCIS, n = 74). The interval between the core biopsy and FUE ranged from 0.2 to 7 months (mean, 1.5 ± 1.1 months). The risk of upstaging on FUE (DCIS or IC) is as follows: LCIS, 8.1% (6/74) and ALH, 3.1% (5/163). The data indicate that there is a low risk of upstaging to DCIS/IC from a core biopsy diagnosis of lobular neoplasia.
Infrequent intraprocedural premature ventricular complexes: implications for ablation outcome.

Premature Ventricular Complexes Background Frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) can be eliminated with an ablation procedure. Ablation success rates have been reported to be in the 80% range. Reasons for failure of ablation have not been described in detail. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the paucity of PVCs at the beginning of the ablation procedure affects the outcome. Methods Catheter ablation was attempted in a consecutive series of 194 patients (age: 50 ± 14 years, 91 male, ejection fraction: 56.4 ± 8.4%) with frequent idiopathic PVCs. Based on receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis, patients were divided into 2 groups: Patients with frequent PVCs (≥32 PVCs within the first 30 minutes of the procedure: n = 135 [70%]); and patients with infrequent PVCs (<32 PVCs within the first 30 minutes of the procedure: n = 59 [30%]). Procedural outcomes were compared at 3 months postablation. A successful ablation was defined as a ≥80% reduction in the PVC burden compared to baseline. Results A successful procedure was performed in 148 patients (76%) resulting in a decrease in the PVC burden from 19.1 ± 13.6% to 0.38 ± 0.98%(P < 0.0001). Patients with frequent intraprocedural PVCs had a higher success rate than patients with infrequent intraprocedural PVCs (85% vs. 56%, P = 0.0001). Administration of sedation was no different in the 2 groups. The paucity of PVCs was independent of the site of origin in predicting procedural failure (OR: 6.9, 95% CI: 3.0–16.2 P = 0.0001). Conclusion Paucity of PVCs at the beginning of an ablation procedure is associated with a lower ablation success rate independent of the site of origin.
An Illustration of a Longitudinal Cross-Lagged Design for Larger Structural Equation Models

A model of HIV behavior risk is tested, using a fully cross-lagged, longitudinal design, to illustrate the analysis of larger (i.e., 3 or more variables across 3 or more time points) structural equation models. The constructs in this integrated model were (a) Perceived Risk for AIDS, (b) Decisional Balance (relative weighing of benefits and barriers of condom use), (c) Self-Efficacy for Condom Use, (d) Lifetime Number of Sex Partners, and (d) Behavior Risk. Data were analyzed from 527 women living in a New England community who completed lifestyle surveys at 3 time points. Results of the cross-lagged analysis indicated a reciprocal, positive relation between Self-Efficacy for Condom Use and Decisional Balance. Behavior Risk for HIV was associated with higher Perceived Risk, lower Self-Efficacy for Condom Use, and lower Decisional Balance. The model showed excellent fit to the data and explained substantial variance in Time 3 measures of model constructs. Interpretations, as well as strengths and limitatio...
Goals-feedback conditions and episodic memory: Mechanisms for memory gains in older and younger adults

Research has established that challenging memory goals always lead to score increases for younger adults, and can increase older adults' scores under supportive conditions. This study examined beliefs and on-task effort as potential mechanisms for these self-regulatory gains, in particular to learn whether episodic memory gains across multiple trials of shopping list recall are controlled by the same factors for young and old people. Goals with feedback led to higher recall and strategic categorisation than a control condition. Strategy usage was the strongest predictor of gains over trials for both age groups. Age, goal condition, and effort also predicted scores across the entire sample. Older adults' gains, but not younger adults' gains, were affected significantly by the interaction of self-efficacy beliefs and goal condition, and condition interacted with locus of control to predict younger adult gains. These results emphasise the importance of self-regulatory effort and positive beliefs for facilitating goal-related memory gains.
Low-Level Kinematic, Thermodynamic, and Reflectivity Fields Associated with Hurricane Bonnie (1998) at Landfall

During 11 h on 26 August 1998, two NOAA WP-3D aircraft deployed 85 Global Positioning System (GPS) dropwindsondes within 2° of latitude of the circulation center of Hurricane Bonnie as it made landfall in North Carolina. About 75% of the sondes successfully collected data, which were used to create a series of storm-relative horizontal maps of kinematic and thermodynamic variables from 10 m to 2 km. Reflectivity fields were analyzed from the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Dopplers (WSR-88Ds) located at Wilmington and Morehead City, North Carolina, and the tail and lower fuselage radars aboard the WP-3Ds. GPS sonde performance and deployment spacing is adequate to identify several aspects of the vortex. These include 1) warm, dry, stable air in the offshore flow that results in reduced equivalent potential temperatures entering the southern portion of the eyewall, 2) cooler air collocated with the upwelled water in the right-rear quadrant and under the eyewall, and 3) an atypical radial wind pattern with strong inflow southwest of the circulation center and outflow northeast of the center. The strongly asymmetric structure found at 10 m becomes much more homogeneous by 2-km altitude. No intense rainbands developed over land in the onshore flow nor did the bands in the onshore flow undergo any significant changes once they made landfall. Beyond the eyewall the offshore flow contained much less precipitation than the onshore portion of the storm. Characteristics beyond the eyewall appear to have been modulated by the proximity to land but hurricane intensity did not vary. The authors infer that the lower energy content of the inflow was offset by the contraction of the eyewall.
Gas accumulation in particle-rich suspensions and implications for bubble populations in crystal-rich magma

article i nfo Gas mobility plays an important role in driving volcanic eruptions and controlling eruption style. The explosivity of an eruption depends, among other factors, on how easily gas can escape from the magma. Many magmatic systems have high concentrations of suspended crystals that inhibit gas migration through the melt. We use suspensions of plastic beads in corn syrup to investigate interactions between rising bubbles and particles. We observe different interaction styles as the ratio ψ of bubble to particle size is varied. Large bubbles (ψN1) deform and sometimes break up as they move around particles. Small bubbles (ψb1) are frequently trapped within the suspension, increasing the concentration of gas held within the system. We compare our experiments to bubble populations in tephra from Stromboli volcano, Italy. We show that these samples typically have bubbles and crystals of similar sizes and suggest that crystals might play a role in controlling bubble size in this natural system as well as in our experiments. Because small bubbles (ψb1) get trapped within the suspension, and can be formed by breakup of larger bubbles, we expect that an increase in gas flux will result in an increase in the population of small bubbles. Changes in bubble number density and vesicularity in tephra erupted during periods of different eruptive intensity may thus provide a way of tracking changes in gas flux through the magma prior to eruption.
Blood Utilization in Children Managed Non-Operatively for Blunt Solid Organ Injury

Background Blood product utilization is an important issue in health care, given the frequent shortages in hospitals and the societal burden required to maintain the supply. Therefore, we retrospectively audited our blunt spleen/liver trauma experience to determine the percentage of cross-matched blood that was transfused to see whether more stringent typing criteria should be applied. Methods A retrospective analysis of a recent 7-year experience with nonoperative management in patients with blunt spleen or liver injury was performed. Demographics, packed red blood cells prepared by cross-match, and transfusions were measured. Unmatched, O-type blood given in the trauma bay was excluded. Patients undergoing laparotomy for solid organ injury were excluded. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Results During the study period, 130 patients were nonoperatively managed for spleen and/or liver injury. Mean age was 8.7 ± 4.6 years, and 62% were male. The mean grade of injury was 2.4 ± 0.9. A total of 187 units of packed red blood cells was ordered in 60 patients. A total of 46.5 units was administered to 22 patients, revealing a 24.9% transfusion rate for the units ordered in 36.7% of the patients for whom it was ordered. When patients with other major injuries and those with ongoing bleeding requiring an operation or who clinically required blood on presentation were excluded, there were 80 patients. In this stable population, 104 units of PRBCs were ordered for 29 patients. A total of 18 units was then transfused in 5 patients, for a 17.3% transfusion rate for the units orders in 17.2% of the patients for whom it was ordered. None of the 5 patients received transfusion the day of admission. Conclusion Hemodynamically stable patients with blunt spleen/liver injury triaged to conservative management should have their blood typed and be monitored closely for signs or laboratory values that would mandate a cross-match. According to our data, this strategy would safely improve utilization of blood bank resources.
A Critique of the Practice of Comparing Control Data Obtained At A Single Time Point to Experimental Data Obtained At Multiple Time Points

The normal circadian rhythm in DNA synthetic activity (DNA-SA) in the tip of the mouse tongue is presented. When this rhythm, obtained from mice which were not treated (NT) or handled, was compared to the rhythms obtained from mice treated with saline (SAL) or 25 mg/kg isoproterenol (IPR), no alteration in the rhythm was observed after either treatment. the conclusion from this chronobiological, experimental design was that IPR had no effect on DNA-SA in the tip of the tongue. However, when three single time points (08.00, 11.00 or 14.00) are selected from the SAL-treated, control rhythm and compared to the multiple time point data from the IPR-treated mice, three very different, statistically supported conclusions were reached. The common practice of obtaining data at only one time point in control animals and comparing these data to data obtained from drug-treated animals at multiple time points is an example of poor experimental design which results in erroneous conclusions and unnecessary confusion in the literature on in vivo research.
Role for mismatch repair proteins Msh2, Mlh1, and Pms2 in immunoglobulin class switching shown by sequence analysis of recombination junctions.

B cells from mice deficient in mismatch repair (MMR) proteins show decreased ability to undergo class switch recombination in vitro and in vivo. The deficit is not accompanied by any reduction in cell viability or alterations in the cell cycle in B cells cultured in vitro. To assess the role of MMR in switching we examined the nucleotide sequences of Sμ-Sγ3 recombination junctions in splenic B cells induced in culture to switch to IgG3. The data demonstrate clear differences in the sequences of switch junctions in wild-type B cells in comparison with Msh2-, Mlh1-, and Pms2-deficient B cells. Sequences of switch junctions from Msh2-deficient cells showed decreased lengths of microhomology between Sμ and Sγ3 relative to junctions from wild-type cells and an increase in insertions, i.e., nucleotides which do not appear to be derived from either the Sμ or Sγ3 parental sequence. By contrast, 23% of junctions from Mlh1- and Pms2-deficient cells occurred at unusually long stretches of microhomology. The data indicate that MMR proteins are directly involved in class switching and that the role of Msh2 differs from that of Mlh1 and Pms2.
Has the NFL’s Rooney Rule Efforts ‘‘Leveled the Field’’ for African American Head Coach Candidates?

Madden provides evidence that African American head coaches in the National Football League (NFL) significantly outperformed whites between 1990 and 2002. She concludes that this evidence is consis...
Parental influence on models of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in children.

Background:: Lifestyle behaviors such as overeating and physical inactivity contribute significantly to CVD, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among adults globally. CVD risk factors that begin in children often track into adulthood. Parents are believed to influence the health behaviors of their children.Objective:: To review the literature on parental influence on children's health beliefs and behaviors, particularly eating and exercise behaviors as indicators of CV health, school-based CVD risk reduction programs, and racial/ethnic, gender and socioeconomic considerations for models of primary prevention of CVD in children.Methods:: Seventeen studies that included parents as either a source of information, change agent or participant in a CVD risk reduction intervention were identified searching the Medline, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases from 1980 through 2002.Results:: Children's lifestyle health beliefs and behaviors are significantly influenced by positive parental modeling and involvemen...
Quantifying simultaneous discrete and distributed deformation

Most natural deformation involves simultaneous discrete deformation (e.g. faults) and distributed deformation (e.g. penetrative strain). In order to properly understand the bulk kinematics of a given deformation, the discrete and distributed components must be evaluated simultaneously. The displacement diagram method has previously been utilized to quantify strain accommodated by faults or other discrete surfaces. The same method is applicable to distributed deformation, such as ductilely deformed conglomerates, which are typically evaluated by finite strain analysis. By mathematically combining the gradients in the displacement fields of both the discrete and distributed components of deformation, the bulk deformation can be quantified. We apply this method to several examples that contain both distributed and discrete components, and characterize the bulk displacement field and finite strain for these deformed systems.
Micro-concentrator module for Microsystems-Enabled Photovoltaics: Optical performance characterization, modelling and analysis

Prototype micro-concentrating optical modules developed for Microsystems-Enabled Photovoltaics (MEPV) were characterized, modelled, and analyzed. Laboratory and field tests were performed to evaluate the optical performance of the modules. An optical simulation model was constructed based on measured sub-component and material properties, showing a good agreement with on-sun experimental results. Performance of a fully-packaged module integrating 100X micro-scale solar cells (−250µm in diameter) was characterized and projected based on experimental and simulation results. Characterization results and analyses indicate that the micro-concentrator module developed provide desirable performance while maintaining a compact physical profile. The development of a next generation micro-concentrator module is also described.
Sufism and Healing

This chapter examines a neglected phenomenon: rapid wound healing after deliberate bodily damage. Some spiritual traditions, such as a particular school of Sufism, maintain that through immediate contact with the Divine bodily damage may not do harm and any wounds can heal rapidly. During such rituals the body is pierced and wounded by various objects, such as daggers, skewers, glass or razor blades. To investigate this claim extensive field documentations were conducted and a series of well controlled demonstrations under laboratory conditions. These findings are described. The observations and measurements seem to suggest the following: the rapid wound healing phenomenon after deliberate bodily damage is repeatable, even under laboratory conditions and outside the context of the religious ritual; there is clear evidence of penetration of tissue, but no evidence of pain, infection or other lasting damage; concomitant EEG data and the phenomenology do not seem to suggest that this phenomenon is a consequence of hypnosis. Spiritual explanations are discussed.
Planning your time in retirement: how to cultivate a leisure lifestyle to suit your needs and interests, by Robert A. Stebbins

In this slim volume, Robert Stebbins, faculty professor and professor emeritus at the University of Calgary, Canada, offers a planning guide for leisure-centred retirement. Drawing on a lifetime of...
Bone Disease in Myeloma: The Claws of CRAB

A dynamic approach to use bisphosphonates according to biomarkers of bone metabolism is presented in the Z-MARK study by Raje and colleagues. This is a major step forward toward a rational approach to bisphosphonate usage.
Abstract CN01-03: Autoimmune rheumatic diseases and cancer: Not just chance?

A relationship between cancer and autoimmune rheumatic diseases has been observed for many decades, although the relevance of, and mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Investigating this relationship has been extremely challenging, due to (i) the striking heterogeneity of the rheumatic diseases, (ii) the use of numerous pharmacologic agents which can be associated with cancer, (iii) the kinetic heterogeneity of cancer onset (some cancers precede the rheumatic disease; most follow diagnosis of cancer, but over a period which can vary from 0-25 years); and (iv) the large number of tumor types associated with rheumatic disease. Although >80% of rheumatic disease patients do not have any associated cancer, a striking temporal clustering of the onset of cancer and autoimmune rheumatic disease has been observed. This is true for Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis, where most cancers are diagnosed -1 to +1 years around the onset of the rheumatic syndrome. Cancer is diagnosed in ∼15% of all patients with DM (mostly adenocarcinomas). Interestingly, myositis autoantigens are expressed at very low levels in most normal tissues, but at increased levels in both tumors and inflamed muscle, where autoantigen expression is localized to regenerating muscle cells. Similar observations have been made in other rheumatic diseases including scleroderma. The available data suggest a model where autoantigen expression and inflammation in the tumor initiates a humoral and cellular immune response to autoantigens. In the setting of injury to a normal tissue (e.g. muscle), the precursors which differentiate to repair the injury express the same antigens, and become the target of the ongoing immune response, and drive tissue damage in a feedforward loop. Citation Format: Antony Rosen, Livia Casciola-Rosen. Autoimmune rheumatic diseases and cancer: Not just chance? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr CN01-03.
On the Synergy of Coulombic and Chelate Effects in Bidentate Diboranes: Synthesis and Anion Binding Properties of a Cationic 1,8-Diborylnaphthalene

As part of our investigation in the chemistry of bidentate Lewis acids for anion complexation, we have carried out the reaction of 1-(dimesitylboryl)-8-(1′-bora-9′-thia-anthryl)naphthalene (1) with methyltriflate. This reaction proceeds via alkylation of the sulfur atom to afford a bidentate diborane ([2]+) decorated by a peripheral sulfonium unit. This new diborane, which has been isolated as the triflate salt, reacts with both fluoride and azide anions to form the corresponding anion chelate complexes 2-μ2-F and 2-μ2-N3, respectively. Titration experiments carried out in chloroform indicate that the fluoride binding constant of [2]+ exceeds that of 1 by at least 4 orders of magnitude. These results, which are supported by spectroscopic, structural, and computational data, show that chelate and Coulombic effects are additive and can be combined to boost the anion affinity of bidentate Lewis acids.
Does Research Training During Residency Promote Scholarship and Influence Career Choice? A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a 10-Year Cohort of the UCSF-PRIME Internal Medicine Residency Program.

ABSTRACTProblem: The Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, and the Carnegie Foundation report on medical education recommend creating individualized learning pathways during medical training so that learners can experience broader professional roles beyond patient care. Little data exist to support the success of these specialized pathways in graduate medical education. Intervention: We present the 10-year experience of the Primary Care Medicine Education (PRIME) track, a clinical-outcomes research pathway for internal medicine residents at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). We hypothesized that participation in an individualized learning track, PRIME, would lead to a greater likelihood of publishing research from residency and accessing adequate career mentorship and would be influential on subsequent alumni careers. Context: We performed a cross-sectional survey of inte...
Status and Prospect of Demonstration and Extension of Quality Super Hybrid Rice Zhongzheyou 1

Zhongzheyou 1 was an elite three-line super hybrid rice combination, bred by the China National Rice Research Institute and the Wuwangnong Group in Zhejiang Province. It was registered and released for commercial production by the Zhejiang Provincial Crop Variety Appraisal Committee in 2004. At present, it has become an important popularized combination in Zhejiang Province. The status of the demonstration and extension for the combination since 2003 and the performances in different ecological regions were summarized. Moreover, the reasons for rapid extension and the development prospect of the combination were discussed.
Model Error in Filtering Random Compressible Flows Utilizing Noisy Lagrangian Tracers

AbstractLagrangian tracers are drifters and floaters that collect real-time information of fluid flows. This paper studies the model error in filtering multiscale random rotating compressible flow fields utilizing noisy Lagrangian tracers. The random flow fields are defined through random amplitudes of Fourier eigenmodes of the rotating shallow-water equations that contain both incompressible geostrophically balanced (GB) flows and rotating compressible gravity waves, where filtering the slow-varying GB flows is of primary concern. Despite the inherent nonlinearity in the observations with mixed GB and gravity modes, there are closed analytical formulas for filtering the underlying flows. Besides the full optimal filter, two practical imperfect filters are proposed. An information-theoretic framework is developed for assessing the model error in the imperfect filters, which can apply to a single realization of the observations. All the filters are comparably skillful in a fast rotation regime (Rossby numb...
Examining the sustainability of teacher learning following a year-long science professional development programme for inservice primary school teachers

This two-year, mixed-methods study explored teacher learning during a year-long professional development programme and during the year following the programme. The study examined patterns of change in primary school teachers’ inquiry practices, inquiry beliefs and physical science content knowledge during both years as well as the effects of school-level and individual-level factors on these changes in the year following the programme. Fifteen fourth-grade through sixth-grade teachers from three low-performing US schools participated. Results indicated that the programme was effective in advancing teacher change during the programme year, as scores in all three measures increased at statistically significant rates. Only content knowledge scores increased significantly in the year following the professional development. A combination of school-level and individual-level factors impacted the year 2 changes. School-level factors were: having supportive same-grade teams and/or a supportive mentor who advocate...
Adenosine A2-receptor-mediated phosphatidylcholine secretion in type II pneumocytes

Adenosine and its analogues stimulate phosphatidylcholine secretion in cultured rat type II pneumocytes. There is evidence that this effect is mediated by A2 receptors. We have now employed the rad...
Regenerating white matter using human iPSC-derived immature astroglia.

ABSTRACTAstrocytes traditionally were thought to have merely a support function, but are now understood to be important regulators of neural development and function. The immature and mature astrocytes have stage-specific roles in neuronal development. However, it is largely unclear whether human astrocytes also serve stage-specific roles in oligodendroglial development. Owing to the broad and diverse roles of astroglia in the central nervous system, transplantation of astroglia also could be of therapeutic value in promoting regeneration after CNS injury or disease. Our recent study (Jiang et al., 2016) explores the developmental interactions between astroglia and oligodendroglia, using a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) model. By generating immature and mature human astrocytes from hiPSCs, we reveal previously unrecognized effects of immature human astrocytes on oligodendrocyte development. Notably, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) is differentially expressed in the immature a...
The Skeletal Muscle Molecular Clock Regulates Titin Isoform Expression

The circadian clock transcription factors, BMAL1 and CLOCK, are fundamental transcriptional regulators of cell time keeping and critical cell specific genes important for homeostasis. To determine the specific role of the molecular clock in adult skeletal muscle, our lab developed the inducible, skeletal muscle specific Bmal1 knockout (iMSBmal1-/-) mouse. Notably, skeletal muscles from these mice exhibit decreased specific tension and reduced unstimulated tension developed during a fatigability test. To begin to discern the molecular mechanisms that link the changes in the molecular clock with changes in muscle function, we tested whether iMSBmal1-/- muscle would also exhibit changes in sarcomeric protein expression. We determined that the tibialis anterior muscle of the iMSBmal1-/- mice exhibits a significant increase (38% in iMSBmal1-/- mice vs. 19% in iMSBmal1+/+ mice) in expression of a longer isoform of titin. It is established that titin, the giant filamentous protein that maintains sarcomeric structure, underlies passive tension, and contributes to active tension development. To determine if this increased heterogeneity of titin isoforms within the TA had an effect on sarcomere length, we performed immunohistochemistry. An antibody to α-actinin was used to demarcate Z-lines in longitudinal sections of the tibialis anterior muscle and sarcomere length was measured as the distance between Z-lines. While average sarcomere length was not different between iMSBmal1+/+ and iMSBmal1-/- muscle, variation in sarcomere length was increased following Bmal1 knockout in skeletal muscle. Further studies with our model are currently ongoing and will lead to increased knowledge of the importance of titin isoform maintenance in a variety of pathological conditions.
Raman active components of skin cancer

Raman spectroscopy (RS) has shown great potential in noninvasive cancer screening. Statistically based algorithms, such as principal component analysis, are commonly employed to provide tissue classification; however, they are difficult to relate to the chemical and morphological basis of the spectroscopic features and underlying disease. As a result, we propose the first Raman biophysical model applied to in vivo skin cancer screening data. We expand upon previous models by utilizing in situ skin constituents as the building blocks, and validate the model using previous clinical screening data collected from a Raman optical fiber probe. We built an 830nm confocal Raman microscope integrated with a confocal laser-scanning microscope. Raman imaging was performed on skin sections spanning various disease states, and multivariate curve resolution (MCR) analysis was used to resolve the Raman spectra of individual in situ skin constituents. The basis spectra of the most relevant skin constituents were combined linearly to fit in vivo human skin spectra. Our results suggest collagen, elastin, keratin, cell nucleus, triolein, ceramide, melanin and water are the most important model components. We make available for download (see supplemental information) a database of Raman spectra for these eight components for others to use as a reference. Our model reveals the biochemical and structural makeup of normal, nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers, and precancers and paves the way for future development of this approach to noninvasive skin cancer diagnosis.
Food Insecurity and Pre-diabetes in Adults: Race/Ethnic and Sex Differences.

Objective We examined sex and race/ethnicity differences in the association between food insecurity status and prediabetes among adults. Method We used cross-sectional 2011 and 2012 National Health Interview Survey data on non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic adults aged 18-59 years whose household income was ≤ 299% Federal Poverty Line (N = 19,048). Food insecurity status was determined by 3 or more affirmative responses on the 10-item USDA Food Security Scale. Pre-diabetes was self-reported. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate associations of food insecurity with pre-diabetes and adjusted for several demographic characteristics. All models were stratified by sex and race/ethnicity. Results In adjusted models, food insecure non-Hispanic white women and non-Hispanic black women had 53% and over 200% higher odds of being pre-diabetic, respectively. Food insecurity was not related to pre-diabetes for Hispanic women or men. Conclusion Limited food resources appear to place non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women at risk for pre-diabetes. Linking food assistance programs with community-based health education programs may be a comprehensive approach to support those who are food insecure with diabetes prevention.
The role of breathing exercises in the treatment of COPD.

Patients with COPD who are treated with breathing exercises vs. standard care showed an improvement in exercise capacity, with inconsistent changes in dyspnea and health-related quality of life. Adding breathing exercises to a pulmonary rehabilitation program did not show any increased benefit. Breathing exercises may be helpful for those without access to a pulmonary rehabilitation program.
Characterizing the heterogeneity of tumor tissues from spatially resolved molecular measures.

Background Tumor heterogeneity can manifest itself by sub-populations of cells having distinct phenotypic profiles expressed as diverse molecular, morphological and spatial distributions. This inherent heterogeneity poses challenges in terms of diagnosis, prognosis and efficient treatment. Consequently, tools and techniques are being developed to properly characterize and quantify tumor heterogeneity. Multiplexed immunofluorescence (MxIF) is one such technology that offers molecular insight into both inter-individual and intratumor heterogeneity. It enables the quantification of both the concentration and spatial distribution of 60+ proteins across a tissue section. Upon bioimage processing, protein expression data can be generated for each cell from a tissue field of view. Results The Multi-Omics Heterogeneity Analysis (MOHA) tool was developed to compute tissue heterogeneity metrics from MxIF spatially resolved tissue imaging data. This technique computes the molecular state of each cell in a sample based on a pathway or gene set. Spatial states are then computed based on the spatial arrangements of the cells as distinguished by their respective molecular states. MOHA computes tissue heterogeneity metrics from the distributions of these molecular and spatially defined states. A colorectal cancer cohort of approximately 700 subjects with MxIF data is presented to demonstrate the MOHA methodology. Within this dataset, statistically significant correlations were found between the intratumor AKT pathway state diversity and cancer stage and histological tumor grade. Furthermore, intratumor spatial diversity metrics were found to correlate with cancer recurrence. Conclusions MOHA provides a simple and robust approach to characterize molecular and spatial heterogeneity of tissues. Research projects that generate spatially resolved tissue imaging data can take full advantage of this useful technique. The MOHA algorithm is implemented as a freely available R script (see supplementary information).
Shopping Orientation, Fashion Innovativeness, and Purchase Decision-Making

During the purchase decision-making process, attributes of a product play an important role; consumers evaluate attributes of apparel including intrinsic aspects (e.g., color, design/style, fabric, size/fit, quality, etc.) and extrinsic aspects (e.g., price, brand, price, origin of country, etc.). Studies have found that consumers use intrinsic attributes such as durability, comfort, and fit to evaluate apparel quality (Hugo & Aardt, 2012; Hsu & Burns, 2002).
Chapter 4 Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) Focal Plane Arrays

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) that utilizes the photoexcitation of an electron (hole) between the ground state and the first excited state in the conduction (valence) band quantum well. The quantum well structure is designed as the photoexcited carriers escape from the quantum well and is collected as photocurrent. Larger intersubband oscillator strength and detectors afford greater flexibility than extrinsically doped semiconductor infrared detectors because the wavelength of the peak response and cutoff is continuously tailored by varying layer thickness. Various types of gallium arsenide–aluminium gallium arsenide (GaAs–AlGaAs)-based QWIPs, QWIPs with other materials systems, the figures of merit, light-coupling methods, QWIP imaging arrays, and some applications of QWIP FPAs are also reviewed in the chapter. Rapid progress is made in the understanding of intersubband absorption and carrier transport in the QWIP device structure and practical demonstration of large, sensitive, and two-dimensional QWIP imaging focal plane arrays (FPAs).
Painted Ambitions: The Masonic Murals in the Elisha Gilbert House

This article investigates the masonic murals in the Elisha Gilbert House in New Lebanon, NY, looking into the circumstances of their creation, and their relationship to the role that freemasonry played in the region. The murals are found to be similar to those in the Calvin Hall Tavern in Cheshire, MA, and posits dating and a potential artist for both cycles, and investigates their relationship to the standardization of early American printed masonic iconography.
A Psychobiological Perspective on the Cardiovascular System

Our research concerns the interaction between cardiovascular and behavioral processes. It primarily involves two parameters of the activities of the heart, rate and contractile force, and deals with two interrelated questions. First, can cardiovascular activity tell us anything about behavioral processes? This is the traditional approach of using a biological event as an index of some behavioral state or process. Second, can behavioral processes influence the cardiovascular system, particularly in regard to the etiology of pathological conditions of the cardiovascular system? This is the question of psychosomatics.
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Products on the Aquarius Website

Aquarius has produced maps of salinity by measuring Earth's natural emissions at L-band. However, measurements made by its instruments are affected by the presence of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). For this reason, RFI detection algorithms had been implemented, both for the radiometer and the scatterometer, in order to reduce the impact of RFI on science data. In an effort to improve understanding of L-band RFI, the Aquarius mission has generated a new series of products. This contribution presents how these products were produced as well as the information that they contain. These products will be available starting at the end of January 2018 on the Aquarius website.
Plasticity in nesting adaptations of a tidal marsh endemic bird.

If individuals can perceive and manage risks, they may alter their behaviors based on prior experience. This expectation may apply to nest site selection of breeding birds, for which adaptive behavioral responses may enhance fitness. Birds that nest in tidal marshes have adapted to the challenges posed primarily by periodic, monthly tidal flooding and secondarily by predation. We investigated adaptive responses in nesting behavior of the saltmarsh sparrow (Ammospiza caudacutus), an obligate tidal-marsh-breeding bird, using 536 nests monitored across 5 years. Using linear mixed effects models, we tested whether nest characteristics differed among nests that were successful, depredated, or flooded, and we investigated whether females made changes in nest structure and placement according to outcome of their previous nesting attempt. Nest characteristics differed among females with different nest fates. Fledged and depredated nests were built higher in the vegetation and in higher elevation areas of the marsh than those that flooded. Successful nests had more canopy cover and were comprised of a lower proportion of high marsh vegetation (Spartina patens) than those that were flooded or depredated. Females with nests that failed due to flooding constructed subsequent nests higher in the vegetation and at higher elevation than those that were successful in their prior attempt, consistent with a response to previous experience. Eighty-five percent of females renested within the average home range core area distance (77 m), indicating a high degree of nest placement fidelity. Females for which nests were depredated in their prior nesting attempt renested at a greater distance than females for which the previous nesting attempts were successful. Our findings suggest saltmarsh sparrows exhibit plasticity in nesting behavior, which may be important for balancing selective pressures in a dynamic environment. This plasticity, however, is insufficient to enable them to adapt to the increased flooding predicted with sea-level rise.
Power and Sample Size

Power is “the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a statistical test when a particular alternative hypothesis happens to be true” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Here, we discuss why power is needed in clinical research; the properties of power—including sample size, variability, frequency, p-value, and effect size; whether statistical power can ever be truly known; and how to calculate statistical power. Power is a theoretical concept, but it has practical benefit. Overpowered studies are inefficient and may waste resources that could be used to further our knowledge in other ways. Conversely, underpowered studies not only waste the time of participants and the researchers, they may violate the responsibility to do no harm as the study intervention may not be risk-free. All studies, especially those in which invasive interventions are being used, should always, ethically, be adequately powered.