cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
KatharoSeq Enables High-Throughput Microbiome Analysis from Low-Biomass Samples.

Microbiome analyses of low-biomass samples are challenging because of contamination and inefficiencies, leading many investigators to employ low-throughput methods with minimal controls. We developed a new automated protocol, KatharoSeq (from the Greek katharos [clean]), that outperforms single-tube extractions while processing at least five times as fast. KatharoSeq incorporates positive and negative controls to reveal the whole bacterial community from inputs of as few as 50 cells and correctly identifies 90.6% (standard error, 0.013%) of the reads from 500 cells. To demonstrate the broad utility of KatharoSeq, we performed 16S rRNA amplicon and shotgun metagenome analyses of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory spacecraft assembly facility (SAF; n = 192, 96), 52 rooms of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU; n = 388, 337), and an endangered-abalone-rearing facility (n = 192, 123), obtaining spatially resolved, unique microbiomes reproducible across hundreds of samples. The SAF, our primary focus, contains 32 sOTUs (sub-OTUs, defined as exact sequence matches) and their inferred variants identified by the deblur algorithm, with four (Acinetobacter lwoffii, Paracoccus marcusii, Mycobacterium sp., and Novosphingobium) being present in >75% of the samples. According to microbial spatial topography, the most abundant cleanroom contaminant, A. lwoffii, is related to human foot traffic exposure. In the NICU, we have been able to discriminate environmental exposure related to patient infectious disease, and in the abalone facility, we show that microbial communities reflect the marine environment rather than human input. Consequently, we demonstrate the feasibility and utility of large-scale, low-biomass metagenomic analyses using the KatharoSeq protocol. IMPORTANCE Various indoor, outdoor, and host-associated environments contain small quantities of microbial biomass and represent a niche that is often understudied because of technical constraints. Many studies that attempt to evaluate these low-biomass microbiome samples are riddled with erroneous results that are typically false positive signals obtained during the sampling process. We have investigated various low-biomass kits and methods to determine the limit of detection of these pipelines. Here we present KatharoSeq, a high-throughput protocol combining laboratory and bioinformatic methods that can differentiate a true positive signal in samples with as few as 50 to 500 cells. We demonstrate the application of this method in three unique low-biomass environments, including a SAF, a hospital NICU, and an abalone-rearing facility.
Glycoprotein 340 in mucosal immunity and ocular surface

Glycoprotein 340 (Gp340) is an innate immune receptor with well-defined roles in mucosal tissues. It is a normal component of mucosal fluids such as tears, breast milk, and saliva, and it is expressed in tissues such as the vagina, gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity, lung alveoli, and pancreas. In the eye, it is expressed in the lacrimal gland, cornea, conjunctiva, and retina. Investigations of the protein in wet-surfaced epithelia of the body show that the effects of Gp340 can be beneficial or harmful depending on the conformation in which it exists. In a fluid phase, Gp340 appears to be protective against mucosal infection, while in a surface-associated form it appears to promote infection. On the ocular surface, it is dysregulated in dry eye disease and inhibits twitching motility of P. aeruginosa in tears. This review discusses what is known about Gp340 in wet-surfaced mucosal epithelia and highlights the potential roles of the protein in ocular surface immunity, inflammation, and infections.
An Upper Bound on Covering Radius

We present a new upper bound on the covering radius of any binary linear code. For some codes the new bound improves on the Delsarte bound.
CHEMOKINES, CC | C10 (CCL6)

CCL6 is a CC chemokine that was cloned in the mouse in 1991. Although a human homolog has not been described to date, this novel chemokine shares significant homology with the human CC chemokine, CCL15. In contrast to the other members of the CC chemokine family, CCL6 has four instead of three exons. CCL6 is produced by macrophages, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, and skeletal muscle. CCL6 is chemotactic for monocytes, macrophages, and T cells. CCL6 has been shown to be present in a variety of chronic inflammatory disorders. High expression of CCL6 has been found in the cerebellum and spinal cord of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalitis. Furthermore, intracerebroventricular injection of CCL6 protein promotes the recruitment of large number of macrophages. CCL6 has an important role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis and it mediates some of the pro-fibrotic effects of interleukin-13 (IL-13). CCL6 also has an important role in the airway remodeling seen in animal models of asthma. Interestingly, CCL6 has a protective effect in animal models of peritoneal sepsis and it improves macrophage phagocytic functions. Furthermore, CCL6 has been shown to have a role in tumor growth and invasion.
Pioneers of the Field: South Africa’s Women Anthropologists

This study begins with a wall of portraits in the Department of Social Anthropology at the University of the Witwatersrand, featuring a number of white men and one white woman. Andrew Bank contends...
Evidence of actigraphic and subjective sleep disruption following mild traumatic brain injury.

Abstract Objective/background Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) are frequently associated with long-term, self-reported sleep disruption. Objective corroboration of these self-reports is sparse and limited by small sample sizes. The purpose of this study was to report on actigraphically-measured sleep outcomes in individuals with and without a history of recent mTBI in two U.S. cities (Boston, MA and Tucson, AZ). Patients/methods Fifty-eight individuals with a recent (within 18 months) mTBI and 35 individuals with no prior mTBI history were recruited for one of four studies across two sites. Participants completed a minimum of one week of actigraphy. Additionally, mTBI participants self-reported daytime sleepiness, sleep disruption, and functional sleep-related outcomes. Results In Boston, mTBI participants obtained less average sleep with shorter sleep onset latencies (SOL) than healthy individuals. In Tucson, mTBI participants had greater SOL and less night-to-night SOL variability compared to healthy individuals. Across mTBI participants, SOL was shorter and night-to-night SOL variability was greater in Boston than Tucson. Sleep efficiency (SE) variability was greater in Tucson than Boston across both groups. Only SOL variability was significantly associated with daytime sleepiness (r = 0.274) in the mTBI group after controlling for location. Conclusion Sleep quality, SOL and SE variability, are likely affected by mTBIs. Between-group differences in each site existed but went in opposite directions. These findings suggest the possibility of multiple, rather than a singular, profiles of sleep disruption following mTBI. Precision medicine models are warranted to determine whether multiple sleep disruption profiles do indeed exist following mTBI and the predisposing conditions that contribute to an individual's experience of sleep disruption.
Anisohydric behavior linked to persistent hydraulic damage and delayed drought recovery across seven North American tree species.

The isohydry-anisohydry spectrum has become a popular way to characterize plant drought responses and recovery processes. Despite the proven utility of this framework for understanding the interconnected physiological changes plants undergo in response to water stress, new challenges have arisen pertaining to the traits and tradeoffs that underlie this concept. To test the utility of this framework for understanding hydraulic traits, drought physiology and recovery, we applied a 6 wk experimental soil moisture reduction to seven tree species followed by a 6 wk recovery period. Throughout, we measured hydraulic traits and monitored changes in gas exchange, leaf water potential, and hydraulic conductivity. Species' hydraulic traits were not coordinated, as some anisohydric species had surprisingly low resistance to embolism (P50 ) and negative safety margins. In addition to widespread hydraulic damage, these species also experienced reductions in photosynthesis and stem water potential during water stress, and delayed recovery time. Given that we observed no benefit of being anisohydric either during or after drought, our results indicate the need to reconsider the traits and tradeoffs that underlie anisohydric behavior, and to consider the environmental, biological and edaphic processes that could allow this strategy to flourish in forests.
Evaluation of Medicare Claims Data as a Tool to Identify Dementia.

Background Medicare claims record linkage has been used to identify diagnosed dementia cases in order to estimate dementia prevalence and cost of care. Claims records in the 1990 s and early 2000 s have been found to provide 85% - ∼90% sensitivity and specificity. Objective Considering that dementia awareness has improved over time, we sought to examine sensitivity and specificity of more recent Medicare claims records against a standard criterion, clinical diagnosis of dementia. Methods For a sample of patients evaluated at the University of Southern California Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC), we performed database linkage with Medicare claims files for a six-year period, 2007-2012. We used clinical diagnosis at the ADRC as the criterion diagnosis in order to calculate sensitivity and specificity. Results Medicare claims correctly identified 85% of dementia patients and 77% of individuals with normal cognition. About half of patients clinically diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment had dementia diagnoses in Medicare claims. Misclassified dementia patients (i.e., missed diagnosis by Medicare claims) had more favorable Mini-Mental State Examination and Clinical Dementia Rating scores and were less likely to present behavioral symptoms than correctly-classified dementia patients. Conclusions Database linkage to Medicare claims records is an efficient and reasonably accurate tool to identify dementia cases in a population-based cohort. However, possibilities of obtaining biased results due to misclassification of dementia status need to be carefully considered to use Medicare claims diagnosis for etiologic research studies. Additional confirmation of dementia diagnosis may also be considered. A larger study is warranted to confirm our findings.
CFD for Externak Aerodynamics

Using computer simulations to determine the aerodynamic properties of motor vehicles has become a common and accepted method. Improved forecasts with continually reduced time expenditure are crucial factors of this process. However, at Volkswagen, the Exa Corp. PowerFLOW simulation program, a Lattice-Boltzmann procedure, has proven to be essential.
A Review of You Can't Teach Us If You Don’t Know Us and Care About Us: Becoming an Ubuntu, Responsive and Responsible Urban Teacher

I have been honing my skills and finding innovative ways to teach students of color in urban schools for 18 years. However, I almost quit when I first started teaching because it was very challengi...
Aspirin-triggered proresolving mediators stimulate resolution in cancer

Inflammation in the tumor microenvironment is a strong promoter of tumor growth. Substantial epidemiologic evidence suggests that aspirin, which suppresses inflammation, reduces the risk of cancer. The mechanism by which aspirin inhibits cancer has remained unclear, and toxicity has limited its clinical use. Aspirin not only blocks the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, but also stimulates the endogenous production of anti-inflammatory and proresolving mediators termed aspirin-triggered specialized proresolving mediators (AT-SPMs), such as aspirin-triggered resolvins (AT-RvDs) and lipoxins (AT-LXs). Using genetic and pharmacologic manipulation of a proresolving receptor, we demonstrate that AT-RvDs mediate the antitumor activity of aspirin. Moreover, treatment of mice with AT-RvDs (e.g., AT-RvD1 and AT-RvD3) or AT-LXA4 inhibited primary tumor growth by enhancing macrophage phagocytosis of tumor cell debris and counter-regulating macrophage-secreted proinflammatory cytokines, including migration inhibitory factor, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2/monocyte chemoattractant protein 1. Thus, the pro-resolution activity of AT-resolvins and AT-lipoxins may explain some of aspirin's broad anticancer activity. These AT-SPMs are active at considerably lower concentrations than aspirin, and thus may provide a nontoxic approach to harnessing aspirin's anticancer activity.
Termination of Drosophila mushroom body neurogenesis via autophagy and apoptosis.

Neurogenesis initiates and terminates in a spatially and temporally defined manner. Most neurogenesis occurs during development driven by the cell divisions of neural stem cells, but in some animal...
Abstract TP84: Comparative Analysis of Genetic and Pharmacological Inhibition of Sirt3 in Post Ischemic Injury

Background: Sirtuin3 (Sirt3), NAD+-dependent deacetylase, regulates several key proteins in both mitochondria and nucleus. The majority of early studies have shown neuroprotective effects of Sirt3 ...
Give Me More: Increasing Output for the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) Mission

In December 2016, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a constellation of eight spacecraft for the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) at an inclination of 35 degrees. The mission's science goal is to understand the coupling between ocean surface properties, moist atmospheric thermodynamics, radiation, and convective dynamics in the inner core of Tropical Cyclones (TCs). CYGNSS uses an innovative technique, Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R), to derive surface wind speed by measuring the strength of the specular reflection of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals from the surface of the ocean. Despite limited onboard processing resources and relatively short ground station contacts, the CYGNSS data processing system has been effective - it has collected and successfully delivered to the science team hundreds of gigabytes of data in just eighteen months of operation. Since GNSS-R has proven useful, scientists are looking at other applications for observations over water and land. To make accurate measurements over land, it is of considerable interest to increase the data production rate for the Delay-Doppler Maps (DDMs), one of the chief onboard data products. This increase would significantly reduce the smearing effect that results from integrating over a longer time interval, resulting in higher-resolution imagery. This paper reexamines the flight segment and ground segment data processing for CYGNSS. It considers some of the limiting constraints and explores some changes that have improved performance or may potentially improve it. For the flight segment, we evaluate enhancements such as alternative formatting and additional data compression. For the ground segment, we look at improved planning and increased ground contacts.
Dissociation of insulin oligomers by bile salt micelles and its effect on alpha-chymotrypsin-mediated proteolytic degradation.

Bile salts have been found to be effective absorption promoters of insulin across mucosal barriers, i.e., nasal and gastrointestinal. One of the mechanisms proposed for absorption enhancement is the dissociation of insulin oligomers to monomers, rendering a higher insulin diffusivity. alpha-Chymotryptic degradation and circular dichroism studies were used to characterize such a transition. When zinc insulin (hexamers) and sodium insulin (dimers) were subjected to alpha-chymotryptic degradation, a 3.2-fold difference in the apparent first-order rate constants was observed (zinc insulin being slower than sodium insulin), representing the intrinsic difference in the concentration of total associated species in solution (three times). In the presence of a bile salt, sodium glycocholate (NaGC), the rate of degradation of both zinc and sodium insulin increased in an asymptotic manner. A maximum increase of 5.4-fold was observed for zinc insulin at a 30 mM NaGC concentration and a 2.1-fold increase was noted for sodium insulin at 10 mM NaGC, both values being close to the theoretical numbers of 6- and 2-fold as predicted by the complete dissociation of hexamers and dimers to monomers. The result indicates dissociation of insulin oligomers to monomers by bile salt micelles, probably by hydrophobic micellar incorporation of monomeric units. Circular dichroism studies also revealed progressive attenuation of molecular ellipticities at negative maxima of 276, 222, and 212 nm for zinc insulin solution in the presence of NaGC. Therefore, both alpha-chymotryptic degradation and circular dichroism studies have consistently demonstrated that the bile salts may be capable of dissociating insulin oligomers to monomers, a fact which may play an important role in enhancing insulin bioavailability.
Predicting MRI RF Exposure for Complex-shaped Medical Implants Using Artificial Neural Network

In this paper, a fast prediction method using a 3-layer feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) based on complex shape descriptors was proposed to estimate the radio-frequency (RF) exposure for complex-shaped implantable devices under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The inputs of the ANN consist of 20 parameters based on dimensions and surface-based features of the complex-shaped devices, and the output is the peak MRI RF exposure, in terms of 1-gram averaged specific absorption rate (SAR1g), for the device. This method is implemented and validated with 408 complex-shaped trauma implantable devices. These accurate 3D CAD models are used to numerically calculate the peak SAR1g of the devices by using a full-wave electromagnetic solver based on finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Among the 408 devices, 326 were used to train the neural network, while 82 were utilized to examine the validity of the SAR1g values predicted by the ANN. The results have shown that the correlation between the estimation and the target values was larger than 0.993, and the root mean square error was less than 6.21 W/kg.
The application of blind punch-assisted pull through of rectal muscle sheath for the treatment of anal atresia combined with urethral fistula in children

Objective To explore the feasibility and efficacy of blind punch assisted pull through of rectal muscle sheath for the treatment of anal atresia combined with urethral fistula in children.Methods A total of 112 patients with anal atresia combined with urethral fistula were recruited in this study.Group A consisted of 48 patients,who were performed blind punch-assisted pull through of rectal muscle sheath surgery.Group B included 64 patients,who underwent posterior sagittal anorectoplasty.Their defecation function was followed up to evaluate surgical efficacy.Results In group A,38 children (79.2％) achieved satisfactory defecation function after surgery compared with 55 children (85.9％) in group B.In group A,36 patients (75％) had satisfied external anal sphincter contraction,which is not significantly different from that in group B (75％ vs 85.9％,P＞0.05).Three patients (6.3％) presented constipation in group A,compared with 15 (23.4％) in group B (P＜0.05).During follow-up,complications of group A consisted of anorectal stenosis in 2,urinary fistula in 1,urethral strictures in 2,and rectal mucosal prolapse in 5.In group B,complications included anorectal stenosis in 6,urinary fistula in 1,and urethral stricture in 10.The incidence of postoperative complications was not significantly different between the 2 groups.Conclusions Blind punch-assisted pull through of rectal muscle sheath is feasible and efficient for the treatment of anal atresia combined with urethral fistula in children. Key words: Anus, imperforate; Urethra; Fistula; Surgical procedures, operative
Demographic history impacts stratification in polygenic scores

Abstract Large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many loci exhibiting small but statistically significant associations with complex traits and disease risk. However, control of population stratification continues to be a limiting factor, particularly when calculating polygenic scores where subtle biases can cumulatively lead to large errors. We simulated GWAS under realistic models of demographic history to study the effect of residual stratification in large GWAS. We show that when population structure is recent, it cannot be fully corrected using principal components based on common variants—the standard approach—because common variants are uninformative about recent demographic history. Consequently, polygenic scores calculated from such GWAS results are biased in that they recapitulate non-genetic environmental structure. Principal components calculated from rare variants or identity-by-descent segments largely correct for this structure if environmental effects are smooth. However, even these corrections are not effective for local or batch effects. While sibling-based association tests are immune to stratification, the hybrid approach of ascertaining variants in a standard GWAS and then re-estimating effect sizes in siblings reduces but does not eliminate bias. Finally, we show that rare variant burden tests are relatively robust to stratification. Our results demonstrate that the effect of population stratification on GWAS and polygenic scores depends not only on the frequencies of tested variants and the distribution of environmental effects but also on the demographic history of the population.
Comparing the constraints led approach, differential learning and prescriptive instruction for training opposite-field hitting in baseball

Abstract Skill acquisition approaches can be broadly grouped into two camps: those which promote the attainment of an “optimalˮ technique and those which promote self-organization. To date, there have been relatively few training studies that have compared the motor learning effects for these different approaches. The present study compared two training methods designed to encourage self-organization (differential learning, DL, and the constraint-led approach, CLA) with prescriptive instructions (PI) designed to promote the acquisition of an optimal technique. Batters were trained for 6 weeks in a task that involved learning to hit a baseball to the opposite-field (OF) in a virtual environment. In pre and post-tests, batters received points for OF hits and were penalized for hitting the ball to other parts of the field. Relative to a no-training control group, PI training led to a significant change in action selection (fewer swings at pitches on the inside of the plate), but no change in the number of total points. The DL trained group showed the opposite pattern: significantly more points but no change in the number of swings at inside pitches. The CLA trained group significantly improved in both areas and showed greater functional variability in the control of contact point than the other groups. The CLA was more effective than the other methods because it promoted the development of both the coordination of the movement and the perception of the affordance for OF hitting.
Abstract P72: The Obesity Paradox: Association Between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Disability After Stroke

Background: Present rise in the incidence of obesity has led to several opposing reports regarding the association between obesity and stroke outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigat...
Black swans in astronomical data

Astronomy has always been propelled by the discovery of new phenomena lacking precedent, often followed by new theories to explain their existence and properties. In the modern era of large surveys tiling the sky at ever high precision and sampling rates, these serendipitous discoveries look set to continue, with recent examples including Boyajian's Star, Fast Radio Bursts and `Oumuamua. Accordingly, we here look ahead and aim to provide a statistical framework for interpreting such events and providing guidance to future observations, under the basic premise that the phenomenon in question stochastically repeat at some unknown, constant rate, $\lambda$. Specifically, expressions are derived for 1) the a-posteriori distribution for $\lambda$, 2) the a-posteriori distribution for the recurrence time, and, 3) the benefit-to-cost ratio of further observations relative to that of the inaugural event. Some rule-of-thumb results for each of these are found to be 1) $\lambda < \{0.7, 2.3, 4.6\}\,t_1^{-1}$ to $\{50, 90, 95\}\%$ confidence (where $t_1=$ time to obtain the first detection), 2) the recurrence time is $t_2 < \{1, 9, 99\}\,t_1$ to $\{50, 90, 95\}\%$ confidence, with a lack of repetition by time $t_2$ yielding a $p$-value of $1/[1+(t_2/t_1)]$, and, 3) follow-up for $\lesssim 10\,t_1$ is expected to be scientifically worthwhile under an array of differing assumptions about the object's intrinsic scientific value. We apply these methods to the Breakthrough Listen Candidate 1 signal and tidal disruption events observed by TESS.
Blockade of retinal or cortical activity does not prevent the development of callosal patches normally associated with ocular dominance columns in primary visual cortex

Callosal patches in primary visual cortex of Long Evans rats, normally associated with ocular dominance columns, emerge by postnatal day 10 (P10), but they do not form in rats monocularly enucleated a few days before P10. We investigated whether we could replicate the results of monocular enucleation by using tetrodotoxin (TTX) to block neural activity in one eye, or in primary visual cortex. Animals received daily intravitreal (P6–P9) or intracortical (P7–P9) injections of TTX, and our physiological evaluation of the efficacy of these injections indicated that the blockade induced by a single injection lasted at least 24 h. Four weeks later, the patterns of callosal connections in one hemisphere were revealed after multiple injections of horseradish peroxidase in the other hemisphere. We found that in rats receiving either intravitreal or cortical injections of TTX, the patterns of callosal patches analyzed in tangential sections from the flattened cortex were not significantly different from the pattern in normal rats. Our findings, therefore, suggest that the effects of monocular enucleation on the distribution of callosal connections are not due to the resulting imbalance of afferent ganglion cell activity, and that factors other than neural activity are likely involved.
Performance Prediction and Ranking of Supercomputers

Abstract Performance prediction indicates the time required for execution of an application on a particular machine. Machine ranking indicates the set of machines that is likely to execute an application most quickly. These two questions are discussed within the context of large parallel applications run on on supercomputers. Different techniques are surveyed, including a framework for a general approach that weighs the results of machine benchmarks run on all systems of interest. Variations within the framework are described and tested on data from large-scale applications run on modern supercomputers, helping to illustrate the trade-offs in accuracy and effort that are inherent in any method for answering these two questions.
Between the Notion and the Act: Veteran Teachers' TPACK and Practice in 1:1 Settings

This chapter presents a multiple case study, where six veteran secondary education teachers participated in videotaped lessons, simulated recall, and semi-structured interviews. The findings highlight veteran teachers’ desired autonomy in selecting professional development, combined with opportunities to learn and practice with peers, as well as the unique generational challenges they face, while practicing in 1:1 settings. The findings suggest that: (a) veteran teachers will need customized, just-in-time professional development to help them acquire nuanced and critical understanding of how to best use their readily available technologies to enhance student content learning; and (b) intentional leveraging of veteran and novice teachers’ skills and talents in tandem, when professional learning communities are developed. Future theory building and description must include research-based strategies to best support secondary veteran teachers’ successful development of TPACK.
Using a visible BI to construct lean manufacturing within big data

There are several factors to influence effectiveness of manufacturing. People productivity is one of very important factor that helps to construct lean manufacturing that provides profit of company. We separate operators' work hour into effective productivity and non-effective productivity to point out opportunity to improve productivity without heavy invest. Through constructed visible people loading with BI (Business Intelligent) software analysis system using existing KPI (Key performance Index), we can see whole picture of actual factory runs. Benchmark, resource leverage and re-organize job become possible and precise by visible chart within those huge data. Several truly opportunities and effective activities will be discussed as below that exposure by visible BI; most of them was executed and help us to improve at least 30% people productivity without extra heavy invest.
Transcriptomic signatures convergent across multiple studies of upper and lower airway allergic disease support the unified airway hypothesis (HUM7P.321)

Asthma is frequently associated with co-morbid diseases of the upper airways, including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). This has led to a hypothesis that the upper and lower airway may be immunologically linked, functioning as a continuous mucosal epithelial barrier interacting with the environment. Despite a growing number of transcriptomics studies, the differences and similarities between upper and lower airways in allergic disease are still poorly understood. We analyzed raw microarray data from three independent studies of CRS and four studies of asthma, and conducted a secondary multivariate and pathway analysis to identify genes commonly altered in both diseases. Despite regional differences, close to 20% of genes found to be differentially expressed in CRS were also found to be differentially expressed in the lower airways of asthmatics. Notable examples are IL6R, IL13RA2, MSMB, MUC5B, POSTN, SERPINB2, TFF2, WIF1 and WNT5A. Pathway analysis revealed that key processes represented by these shared genes are developmental pathway signaling, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and innate immune response, suggesting co-existence of epithelial remodeling and persistence of innate immune signals. Interestingly, many of the genes altered in CRS that we identified in the upper airways are also asthma susceptible genes previously identified through GWAS studies (e.g., IL1RL1, ORMDL3), indicating a common role for these genes in the pathogenesis of respiratory allergic diseases.
Online system adoption and K-12 academic outcomes

This study seeks to understand the relationship between K-12 online system adoption e.g., Blackboard, Edmodo, WordPress and school-level academic achievement ratings. Utilizing a novel approach to data collection via website data extraction and indexing of all school websites in a target state in the United States n=732 and merging these data with publicly available data on school academic achievement ratings, this study provides generalizable results of online system adoption on academic achievement ratings for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years. Univariate general linear modelling is used to determine significant relationships between categories of systems e.g., any, education-specific, generic, cost, no-cost, proprietary, open-source or specific systems and school academic ratings for each year. The results indicate some general positive effects, but effect sizes remain small and account for 2% or less of variance in ratings. Implications of this study suggest that online system adoption does not impact student academic achievement at a sufficient level to justify adoption that is not meaningfully coupled with other essential factors of school development e.g., professional development, curricular development, and we propose that decision-makers should be wary of large-scale, technocentric attempts to improve schools that are not grounded in generalizable research findings.
Climatological Characteristics and Orographic Enhancement of Lake-Effect Precipitation East of Lake Ontario and over the Tug Hill Plateau

AbstractLake-effect snowstorms east of Lake Ontario are frequently intense and contribute to substantial seasonal accumulations, especially over the Tug Hill Plateau (hereafter Tug Hill), which rises at a gentle 1.25% slope to ~500 m above lake level. Using a variety of datasets including radar imagery from the KTYX (Fort Drum, New York) WSR-88D, this paper examines the characteristics of lake-effect precipitation east of Lake Ontario over 13 cool seasons (16 September 2001–15 May 2014). During this period, days with at least 2 h of lake effect account for 61%–76% of the mean cool-season snowfall and 24%–37% of the mean cool-season liquid precipitation. Mean monthly lake-effect frequency and snowfall peak in December and January. The highest lake-effect frequency and snowfall occur over the western and upper Tug Hill, with an arm of relatively high lake-effect frequency and snowfall extending to the southeast shore of Lake Ontario. To the east (lee), lake-effect frequency and snowfall decrease abruptly ov...
Reproductive mode and the shifting arenas of evolutionary conflict

In sexually reproducing organisms, the genetic interests of individuals are not perfectly aligned. Conflicts among family members are prevalent since interactions involve the transfer of limited resources between interdependent players. Intrafamilial conflict has traditionally been considered along three major axes: between the sexes, between parents and offspring, and between siblings. In these interactions, conflict is expected over traits in which the resulting phenotypic value is determined by multiple family members who have only partially overlapping fitness optima. We focus on four major categories of animal reproductive mode (broadcast spawning, egg laying, live bearing, and live bearing with matrotrophy) and identify the shared phenotypes or traits over which conflict is expected, and then review the empirical literature for evidence of their occurrence. Major transitions among reproductive mode, such as a shift from external to internal fertilization, an increase in egg-retention time, modifications of embryos and mothers for nutrient transfer, the evolution of postnatal parental care, and increased interaction with the kin network, mark key shifts that both change and expand the arenas in which conflict is played out.
Surgical Intervention for Penile Methamphetamine Injections

Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant and is the second most commonly used illicit drug after cannabis. Methamphetamine use for sexual pleasure is well documented. In this case report, we describe two cases presenting to our urban county hospital associated with complications related to penile injection of methamphetamine. Both patients developed penile abscesses and required urgent surgical incision and drainage. Penile abscesses represent a rare complication associated with IV drug administration into the penile corpora. Resultant penile abscesses require broad-spectrum antibiotics and surgical drainage. Further understanding of methamphetamine abuse along with the role it plays in sexual enhancement would be an invaluable addition to understanding of the rationale behind this self-administered stimulant. Drainage of penile abscesses associated with IV drug users may be hazardous to healthcare providers who are at risk from a needle stick injury.
Boosting image orientation detection with indoor vs. outdoor classification

Automatic detection of image orientation is a very important operation in photo image management. In this paper, we propose an automated method based on the boosting algorithm to estimate image orientations. The proposed method has the capability of rejecting images based on the confidence score of the orientation detection. Also, images are classified into indoor and outdoor, and this classification result is used to further refine the orientation detection. To select features more sensitive to the rotation, we combine the features by subtraction operation and select the most useful features by boosting algorithm. The proposed method has several advantages: small model size, fast classification speed, and effective rejection scheme.
Travel Allowances in Fourteenth-Century France *

Historians of medieval prices have relied very heavily on grain prices, which are abundant and easily available. In France, for example, there is an impressive run of biweekly figures from the grain market at Albi. A different category of data, that has not received much attention, concerns the cost of travel in fourteenth-century France.
Investigation of surface roughness of poly(methylmethacrylate) developed at reduced temperatures

The surface roughness of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) with various molecular weights, using 50 keV electron beam, has been investigated at reduced developer temperatures. As the developer temperature decreased, the magnitude of the surface roughness increased rapidly while the contrast curves merged into a single curve below 0 °C. A sharp drop in roughness at the bottom of the resist was observed for all temperatures investigated. At each temperature, the higher molecular weight PMMA had higher maximum roughness.
Socialization influences of collegiate female athletes : a tale of two decades

Over the past decade, sport participation opportunities for females have increased dramatically. The purposes of this study were to compare perceptions of encouragement and support from socializing agents for: (a) female collegiate volleyball players competing during the 1979 and 1989 seasons, and (b) female collegiate athletes and female and male nonathletes. Female athletes (n= 345), female nonathletes (n= 128), and male nonathletes (n= 88) completed a questionnaire to assess significant others' influence on sport involvement during childhood, adolescence, and college years. Results indicated that interest and encouragement by parents, older siblings, and friends significantly increased for female athletes over the past 10 years during one or more developmental period. Discriminant analyses revealed that female athletes perceived stronger influences from mother, siblings, friends, and coaches than did male and female nonathletes. These results demonstrate that female athletes received greater social support than their peers a decade earlier, and these influences were significantly different than male and female nonathletes.
Simple Phenomenological Model and Phase Behavior of Ternary Mixtures of Saturated and Unsaturated Lipids and Cholesterol

We present a phenomenological theory for the phase behavior of ternary mixtures of cholesterol and saturated and unsaturated lipids, one which describes both liquid and gel phases. It leads to the following description of the mechanism of the phase behavior. In a binary system of the lipids, phase separation occurs when the saturated chains are well ordered, as in the gel phase, simply due to packing effects. In the liquid phase the saturated ones are not sufficiently well ordered for separation to occur. The addition of cholesterol, however, increases the saturated lipid order to the point that phase separation is once again favorable. Our theory addresses this last mechanism, the means by which cholesterol-mediated ordering of membrane lipids leads to liquid-liquid immiscibility. It produces, for the system above the main chain transition of the saturated lipid, phase diagrams in which there can be liquid-liquid phase separation in the ternary system but not in any of the binary ones, while below that temperature it yields the more common phase diagram in which a gel phase, rich in saturated lipid, appears in addition to the two liquid phases.
Human interleukin-1-induced murine osteoclastogenesis is dependent on RANKL, but independent of TNF-α

Although interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory osteolysis, the means by which it recruits osteoclasts and promotes bone destruction are largely unknown. Recently, a cytokine-driven, stromal cell-free mouse osteoclastogenesis model was established. A combination of macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand (RANKL) was proven to be sufficient in inducing differentiation of bone marrow hematopoietic precursor cells to bone-resorbing osteoclasts in the absence of stromal cells or osteoblasts. This study utilizes this model to examine the impact of human IL-1beta on in vitro osteoclastogenesis of bone marrow progenitor cells. We found that osteoclast precursor cells failed to undergo osteoclastogenesis when treated with IL-1 alone. In contrast, IL-1 dramatically up-regulated osteoclastogenesis by 2.5- to 4-folds in the presence of RANKL and M-CSF. The effect can be significantly blocked by IL-1 receptor antagonist (p < 0.01). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was undetectable in the culture medium of differentiating osteoclasts induced by IL-1. Adding exogenous TNF-alpha neutralizing antibody had no influence on the IL-1-induced effect as well. These results show that in the absence of stromal cells, IL-1 exacerbates osteoclastogenesis by cooperating with RANKL and M-CSF, while TNF-alpha is not involved in this IL-1-stimulated osteoclast differentiation pathway.
Lighting environment predicts the relative abundance of male colour morphs in bluefin killifish (Lucania goodei) populations

Animal communication occurs when an animal emits a signal, the signal is transmitted through the environment, and then detected by the receiver. The environment in which signalling occurs should govern the efficacy of this process. In this study, I examine the relationship of lighting environment (light transmission and tree cover), location and the relative abundances of male colour morphs across seven drainages and 30 populations in the bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei. I found that males with blue anal fins were more common in populations with low transmission of ultraviolet (UV) and blue wavelengths. By contrast, males with red anal fins (and to a lesser extent, males with yellow anal fins) were more common in populations with high transmission of UV and blue wavelengths. High UV-blue light transmission should create a blue visual background and may make blue males less conspicuous and red males more conspicuous to conspecifics. Colour contrast with the visual background may be more important than total brightness of the colour pattern. These results indicate that natural selection for effective intraspecific communication drives the relative abundance of male colour morphs in different lighting habitats.
A low jitter Spread Spectrum Clock Generator using Varactor delay line

A spread spectrum clock generator (SSCG) is realized using varactor based delay line and a dejittering PLL. This varactor based delay line utilizes the delay-modulation to phase-modulation property to generate an intermediate spread-spectrum input clock. This SSCG has been fabricated in a 0.18 ㎛ double-poly six metal CMOS process and it consumes 35㎽ from the supply of 1.8V. The proposed SSCG can generate clocks 27㎒, 54㎒ and 108㎒ with centre-spread ratios of +/-0.25%. The measured peak-to-peak cycle-to-cycle jitter is less than 100ps and the measured electromagnetic interference reduction amount is 2.8㏈.
Ethical issues of managed care.

Health care expenditures continue to skyrocket, presently comprising over 14% of the domestic gross national product. 55 Increased spending under the traditional fee-for-service (FFS) paradigm has not resulted in materially improved life-expectancy for Americans. 77 Appropriate concerns about cost and unequal access to healthcare have resulted in the creation of powerful managed networks seeking to share the risks of high healthcare costs among plans, providers, and patients. To their credit, these managed networks have slowed the rise in healthcare spending by as much as 44% in markets with high health maintenance organization (HMO) penetration. 75 Whether these savings will materially improve access and quality, however, remains to be seen. 85 Although conflicts between the emergency healthcare system and the payer arise under FFS and managed care systems, the increasing pressures of preauthorization, retrospective denial of payment, economic credentialing, capitation, and incentives to limit care threaten patient trust on a new level, as demonstrated by the following case:
Imaging features of medulloepithelioma: report of four cases and review of the literature.

Intraocular medulloepithelioma is a childhood tumor arising from the nonpigmented primitive ciliary neuroepithelium. Although rarer than retinoblastoma, it remains the second most common primary intraocular neoplasm in children. The rarity of intraocular medulloepithelioma creates the challenge in establishing a clinical diagnosis, and radiologically the tumor is often confused with other intraocular masses. To describe the clinical, imaging and pathological features of intraocular medulloepithelioma with emphasis on the role of imaging to enable its differentiation from more common intraocular pathology. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, histopathological and imaging data of four children with intraocular medulloepithelioma. All four children had medulloepithelioma arising from the ciliary body. The children were imaged with US (n = 3), MRI (n = 4), whole-body 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy (n = 2) and CT (n = 1). All four children had enucleation of the involved eye. One tumor was a malignant teratoid variant, two tumors were malignant nonteratoid variants and one was a nonteratoid variant of uncertain malignant potential. None of the tumors had extraocular extension on histopathology or imaging. Two children had associated retinal detachment on US and MRI examinations. All tumors were iso/hyperintense to vitreous on T1-weighted and hypointense on T2-weighted MRI and showed marked contrast enhancement of the solid components. No calcifications were identified on US or CT examinations. Our findings are consistent with previously reported cases of medulloepithelioma. This series emphasizes the roles of various imaging modalities, with pathological correlation, in differentiating the tumor from other ciliary body masses, in detecting tumor extension and in identifying associated ocular complications. In this series we also describe the results of postsurgical follow-up for tumor recurrence.