cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching through objects: grounding environmental studies in things

Old paradigms in environmental studies are being challenged and giving way to new ones. Discussions of scarcity, wilderness, and restoration have all evolved in the context of the Anthropocene. Learning the vocabulary of environmental studies in a world of conceptual diversity and ongoing change is an enormous challenge for students. Students themselves have changed in recent years as well, with traditional environmental learners being joined by a diversity of those interested in commerce or justice. These kinds of upheavals present challenges for teaching and learning in environmental studies. This is in part because the growing diversity of perspectives is difficult to metabolize in traditional approaches to teaching, many older concepts still enjoy popular hegemony, and debates over these questions are often rarified, abstract, and difficult to ground. We therefore propose an approach that mobilizes teaching through objects, where common and material things—bottled water, wolves, e-waste, trees, or lawns—are used as case objects from which learning begins. We maintain that such an approach, though not new, allows environmental studies to move beyond environmental problems. We further suggest that this approach better allows students to compare, address, exercise, and critique diverse theoretical ways of thinking about human-environment relationships. Finally, we believe that this approach is potentially transformational for learning in the field, simply because upending banal and familiar material things through iterative inquiry has the most immediate and affective potential for truly reaching students and transforming the way they think about the environment.
Early correlation of microglial activation with enhanced tumor necrosis factor-alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression specifically within the entorhinal cortex of triple transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice.

Background Alzheimer's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized pathologically by a temporal and spatial progression of beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, neurofibrillary tangle formation, and synaptic degeneration. Inflammatory processes have been implicated in initiating and/or propagating AD-associated pathology within the brain, as inflammatory cytokine expression and other markers of inflammation are pronounced in individuals with AD pathology. The current study examines whether inflammatory processes are evident early in the disease process in the 3xTg-AD mouse model and if regional differences in inflammatory profiles exist.
Evolving pattern recognition systems

A hybrid evolutionary learning algorithm is presented that synthesizes a complete multiclass pattern recognition system. The approach uses a multifaceted representation that evolves layers of processing to perform feature extraction from raw input data, select cooperative sets of feature detectors, and assemble a linear classifier that uses the detectors' responses to label targets. The hybrid algorithm, called hybrid evolutionary learning for pattern recognition (HELPR), blends elements of evolutionary programming, genetic programming, and genetic algorithms to perform a search for an effective set of feature detectors. Individual detectors are represented as expressions composed of morphological and arithmetic operations. Starting with a few small random expressions, HELPR expands the number and complexity of the features to produce a recognition system that achieves high accuracy. Results are presented that demonstrate the performance of HELPR-generated recognition systems applied to the task of classification of high-range resolution radar signals.
Structural facilitation: Mere exposure effects for grammatical acceptability as evidence for syntactic priming in comprehension

In Wve experiments, participants Wrst read grammatical sentences of English and later rated identical, structurally similar, or novel sentences for grammatical acceptability. The experimental method was modeled after “mere exposure” and artiWcial grammar learning paradigms in which preference ratings are enhanced by prior experience with the material. Participants rated sentences as more grammatical if they had read them earlier. Increased grammaticality ratings were also observed for sentences that shared syntactic structure, but not content words, with those read earlier. A single prior exposure to a similar sentence was suYcient to induce this structural facilitation eVect, although more exposures enhanced the eVect. We interpret the results with respect to frequency sensitive models of parsing and to syntactic priming observed in language production, and we consider the available evidence for shared representations or mechanisms for language production and comprehension.
Spotlight Synthetic Aperture Radar

The goal of a synthetic aperture radar is to observe a scene over a series of spatial sampling points and coherently combine those samples to synthesize a much larger aperture with finer azimuth resolution. The scene is persistently illuminated by the real beam of the antenna, and each spatial sampling point provides a range-resolved profile. Phase changes between profiles due to Doppler are exploited in Synthetic Aperture Radar processing to reconstruct a two (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) representation of the sampled scene.
Classical scrapie prions are associated with peripheral blood monocytes and T-lymphocytes from naturally infected sheep

Background Classical scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that affects sheep and goats. Our previous bioassay studies in lambs revealed that scrapie prions could be detected in association with peripheral blood monocular cells (PBMC), B lymphocytes and platelet-rich plasma fractions. In the present study, bioassay in lambs was again used to determine if scrapie prions are associated with the other two subsets of PBMC, monocytes and T lymphocytes.
Ratio of active to passive muscle shortening in the canine diaphragm.

Active and passive shortening of muscle bundles in the canine diaphragm were measured with the objective of testing a consequence of the minimal-work hypothesis: namely, that the ratio of active to...
Industrial NSC Hydrometallurgical Precious Metals Recycle

The use of nitric acid in metal sulfide oxidation is not new. Many derivations of the technology have been researched and piloted for applications such as copper, nickel and precious metals. Again, as noted in Table 1, and as specifically applied to copper concentrates and precious metals, only the nitrogen species catalyzed (NSC) acid pressure leach has ever been built and operated successfully on an industrial scale [1].
Comparison of thermal and hyperspectral data to correlate heat maps with spectral profiles from galvanized steel surfaces

A hyperspectral and thermal imaging system have been used to acquire hyperspectral data and thermal images from the surface of galvanized steel parts. After heating the parts in an oven, heat maps have been partitioned into hot (red) and cold (blue) regions as relative representation of heat distribution, to correlate the spectral signatures from hyperspectral data to the hot and cold areas. Three spectral point ratios were extracted as effective features from each spectrum and used for classification. We present the classification results for spectra representing irregularities in the galvanization process. Preliminary results suggest that hyperspectral imaging can potentially be used for surface characterization of galvanized metal surfaces as a nondestructive testing or remote inspection tool.
Chemometrics-Based Analytical Method Using FTIR Spectroscopic Data To Predict Diesel and Diesel/Diesel Blend Properties

In the hydrocarbons downstream business, it is very beneficial to quickly and reliably determine the physical and/or chemical properties of fuels. In this context, a nondestructive method was applied using midband Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in association with multivariate partial least squares (PLS) chemometrics to determine the properties of nine groups of middle distillates (diesels) boiling in the range 180–370 °C. This method enables identification of one single diesel property at a time or a group of properties (32 properties) simultaneously in the spectral data between 4000–650 cm–1; with a minimum number of steps and without any sample preparation. The method was further used for two blends prepared from individual diesel samples. The results showed that using PLS models to process FTIR data is a practical analytical method to predict diesel fuel properties. Statistically, the results obtained showed low standard deviations, a very low root mean square error of cross-validation...
Effect of removal of layers of WCSP assembly under thermal cyclic loading: A computational approach

Wafer Level Chip Scale packages use packaging technology at the wafer level instead of traditional method of assembling individual devices in packages. WCSP boards are being extensively used in handheld devices due to its smaller form factor, low cost and high packaging efficiency. WCSP has a relatively short solder life compared to other packages and so the reliability of these packages are of great concern. A PCB is a multi-layered structure in which each layer has different material characteristics and has a significant effect on the board itself. Removal of layers or changing the composition of the layers affects the solder balls' life [1], thus impacting the solder joint reliability of the boards. One of the key parameters in board level reliability is thermal cycling and during thermal cycling, stress is accumulated in the solders due to warpage of the board caused by coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and modulus mismatch between the layers [2–3]. This paper will try to address the possible effect of individual layers during thermal cycling by considering layer removal and by considering boards with different thickness created.
Weak Convergence and Unconditionally Convergent Series in Uniformly Convex Spaces

In this chapter, we prove three results too stunning not to be in the spotlight. These results are typical of the most attractive aspects of the theory of Banach spaces in that they are proved under easily stated, commonly understood hypotheses, are readily appreciated by Banach spacers and non-Banach spacers alike, and have proofs that bare their geometric souls.
Tuning Zeolite Precursor Interactions by Switching the Valence of Polyamine Modifiers.

Nonclassical mechanisms of crystal growth often involve the formation of amorphous precursors that play a direct role in what is generally referred to as crystallization by particle attachment (or CPA). One of the most studied CPA systems in the literature is zeolite MFI, which is a microporous crystal with siliceous (silicalite-1) and aluminosilicate (ZSM-5) isostructures. The self-assembly, microstructural evolution, and mechanistic role of nanoparticle precursors (1–6 nm) during silicalite-1 crystallization have been the subjects of prior investigation by combined experimental and modeling techniques. Here we investigate for the first time the effects of zeolite growth modifiers (ZGMs) on MFI precursors. ZGMs are organic molecules that alter the anisotropic rate(s) of crystal growth as a means of tailoring crystal size and/or habit. We show that most ZGMs have little effect on precursor assembly and evolution during the prenucleation stages of silicalite-1 and ZSM-5 synthesis; however, studies at varyi...
Metal-Free Carbon-Based Nanomaterial Coatings Protect Silicon Photoanodes in Solar Water-Splitting.

The decreasing cost of silicon-based photovoltaics has enabled significant increases in solar electricity generation worldwide. Silicon photoanodes could also play an important role in the cost-effective generation of solar fuels, but the most successful methods of photoelectrode passivation and performance enhancement rely on a combination of precious metals and sophisticated processing methods that offset the economic arguments for silicon. Here we show that metal-free carbon-based nanomaterial coatings deposited from solution can protect silicon photoanodes carrying out the oxygen evolution reaction in a range of working environments. Purified semiconducting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) act as a hole extraction layer, and a graphene (Gr) capping layer both protects the CNT film and acts as a hole exchange layer with the electrolyte. The performance of semiconducting CNTs is found to be superior to that of metallic or unsorted CNTs in this context. Furthermore, the insertion of graphene oxide (GO) between th...
Ethics and Research with Pregnant Women: Lessons from HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is among the most serious diseases confronting women who are pregnant. It is also one of the few areas of research involving humans where there is a long track record of research involving pregnant women. Yet the HIV/AIDS research community has struggled to expand the research agenda from research to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV to research encompassing issues pertaining to the pregnant woman’s own health. Research questions of interest include: which antiretrovirals are safest and most effective for pregnant women; how best to pursue preventive regimes for pregnant women who are not infected; or, how to treat HIV’s deadly co-infections, such as tuberculosis (TB), during pregnancy. In this chapter, we describe two key lessons about research in pregnancy from the context of HIV/AIDS: first, why addressing the health needs of pregnant women, not just the needs of their offspring, is so critical; and second, why doing so is immediately possible, even as we work to resolve certain ethical and regulatory debates, particularly about when it is appropriate to impose foetal risk without the prospect of foetal benefit. In particular, the HIV/AIDS context shows how treatment or prevention of maternal disease often entails not just risk – but the prospect of benefit – to the foetus; and creative trial designs can advance no-benefit studies without imposing foetal risk in the first place. For all the challenges that research with pregnant women entails, the HIV/AIDS context reveals that it is possible to conduct a wide range of important research during pregnancy that is both ethically responsible and consonant with US regulations.
Outcomes of adjuvant ACT vs. TC chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer.

1009 Background: Chemotherapy with both anthracyclines and taxanes sequentially or concurrently (ACT) has improved survival in breast cancer. A regimen containing docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (TC...
Abnormal Repolarization Duration During Everyday Emotional Arousal in Long QT Syndrome and Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract Background Rare, high-arousal negative emotions are known triggers of sudden death in individuals with preexisting heart disease. Whether everyday fluctuations in emotional arousal influence arrhythmia risk is unknown. Methods We studied 160 patients with the congenital long QT syndrome, 199 patients with coronary artery disease, and 2 groups of matched healthy volunteers (n = 52 and 50, respectively). Three-day home visits including a 12-hour Holter recording each day were completed. Subjects engaged in typical daily activities and were paged 10 times per day. On each occasion, subjects rated the intensity of 16 different emotions during the 5 minutes preceding the page. Holter data over those 5-minute epochs were analyzed for heart rate and QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc). Analyses focused on within-subject covariation of momentary emotion and QTc. Results In patients with long QT syndrome, activated positive affect and activated negative affect were associated with QTc shortening, whereas low arousal positive affect (calm and relaxed) was associated with QTc lengthening, which at times exceeded 500 msec. Findings were not affected by beta-blocker status or observed in younger healthy subjects. Findings were 3 to 8 times stronger in the LQT2 genotype, known to be prone to emotion-induced events, relative to the LQT1 genotype. Findings in patients with long QT syndrome for activated positive affect and low arousal positive affect were replicated in patients with coronary artery disease relative to older healthy subjects. Conclusion These findings suggest that even subtle changes in emotional arousal may alter repolarization reserve and contribute to sudden death risk in vulnerable individuals.
Energy Loss in Cement-based Material for Efficient Sensor Deployment at a Site

Past construction research has focused primarily on the realization of tracking systems but much less on their effectiveness. Despite significant achievements, little is known about the relationship between the environmental site conditions and deployed sensors and their influence on system effectiveness. To reduce this knowledge gap, we investigate the effect of cement-based material on signal energy loss using electromagnetic simulation. We take conventional electromagnetic equations and derive equations that quantitatively describe the signal behavior influenced by cement-based material. Then, we conduct HFSS simulation and experimental measurements for benchmark comparison with our analytical solution. Results suggest that our analytical method accurately quantifies attenuated signal loss. Also, we construct an attenuation spectrum of energy loss for cement-based material, which can serve as a reference for sensor deployment. Therefore, the method should enable quantification of the signal loss of sen...
Lymphoma exosomes reprogram the bone marrow.

In this issue of Blood, Mancek-Keber et al report that exosomes and microvesicles (MVs) produced by lymphoma B cells and carrying MyD88L265P reprogram the bone marrow environment (BME) by activating endogenous proinflammatory signaling pathways in recipient nonmalignant cells.
Virtual Love: Yehuda Duenyas's CVRTAIN

Yehuda Duenyas’s virtual reality performance piece CVRTAIN, which premiered at Performance Space 122’s Coil festival in January 2017, challenges the distinctions between the live and the mediated. ...
Validity of the Hum Test, a Simple and Reliable Alternative to the Weber Test.

Objectives:To compare the diagnostic performance of the Hum Test against the Weber Test using pure tone audiometry (PTA) as the “gold standard” comparator.Methods:29 participants with normal hearin...
Bicycle commuting in an automobile-dominated city: how individuals become and remain bike commuters in Charlotte, North Carolina

In Charlotte, North Carolina less than one half of 1% of commuters ride a bicycle to work despite several decades of public investment in bicycle infrastructure and planning. Like many fast-growing cities of North America, Charlotte’s rapid physical growth in the past half-century has left its residents little option but to navigate the city by car. To date, research on utility cycling has paid relatively little attention to the practice of bicycle commuting in auto-dominated cities. This article uses grounded theory methodology to build a context- and time-sensitive explanation of how individuals adopt and sustain the practice of bicycle commuting in Charlotte. Through interviews with 26 Charlotte-area bicycle commuters—20 men and 6 women, mean age 40.3—, we find that, according to subjects interviewed, initiating and sustaining the practice of bicycle commuting involves the renegotiation of relationships between the cyclist and (1) the bicycle, (2) other local cyclists, (3) urban space, and (4) the workplace. Dynamics in these relationships are overlapping and simultaneous. This time- and context-sensitive explanation broadens the array of policy interventions that complement the infrastructure-centered approach to promoting cycling in Charlotte today. Elected officials, planners, and bicycle advocates stand to benefit by understanding the transition to cycling as a process of social learning that exposes individuals interested in bicycle commuting to less hostile “neighborhood” thoroughfares.
Miscellaneous Results in the First Notebook

In this last chapter we collect together some miscellaneous results from the unorganized portions of the first notebook. Most are from analysis, with some pertaining to hypergeometric functions.
Meta-analysis of the effects of early education interventions on cognitive and social development

Background/ContextThere is much current interest in the impact of early childhood education programs on preschoolers and, in particular, on the magnitude of cognitive and affective gains.Purpose/Ob...
Appropriate Use of CT Scan in the Emergency Department

This chapter describes a case study in a community-based acute care hospital that was able to successfully reduce the Computed Tomography (CT) utilization in their Emergency Department by 8.7 % for 1 year, and 13.8 % since the prior 2-year period. The reduction was especially important because 10 % of the U.S. population gets a CT scan each year, and use of CT imaging is growing more than 10 % per year, and with it, increased long-term exposure can increase potential cancer risks. The cross-functional team applied the Six Sigma methodology and tools to define the problem, measure the current state, identify root causes, and develop medical research-based and evidence-based CT guidelines to reduce CT utilization. The information presented in this case study is not designed or intended to provide medical advice or recommendations.
Rupture of an unsuspected ectopic pregnancy following a hysterosalpingography-A case report.

Abstract Introduction Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is routinely performed in the mid-follicular phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle for cavity and tubal patency assessment as a part of the infertility screening. A pre-procedural pregnancy test is not routinely required unless the patient reports abnormal menstrual bleeding or irregular menstrual pattern. Presentation of case We present the case of a 29 year-old sub fertile woman who had a HSG performed on day 12 of her menstrual cycle. She developed abdominal pain shortly after and was diagnosed with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, resulting in a right salpingectomy. The patient was discharged well 3 days later. Discussion Based on available guidelines and the rare occurrence of such complication, we find insufficient evidence to perform universal pre-procedural pregnancy testing. However, we strongly recommend doing it for abnormal menstrual cycles (cycles shorter than 21 or longer than 35 days, unreliable menstrual history or unusual menstrual flow pattern). Furthermore, HSG should be scheduled during the follicular phase after practicing safe sex within the two weeks preceding the test. Conclusion While pre-procedural pregnancy test should not be performed for all, a high index of suspicion for early pregnancy should be maintained as undetected ectopic and heterotopic pregnancies could lead to serious complications once the HSG is done.
Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis Presenting as Unilateral Hearing Loss: Review of the Literature and Case Report.

Background/aims To review the existing literature on pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and report a rare case of PVNS of the TMJ presenting with unilateral hearing loss. Methods Review of the existing literature and a description of personal experience with PVNS of the TMJ presenting with unilateral hearing loss. Results Review of the existing literature revealed 76 reported cases of PVNS of the TMJ. The most common presenting symptom was of a slowly enlarging mass or swelling of the preauricular area, with dysfunctional TMJ also frequently reported. All patients underwent surgical excision with some pursuing radiation as adjuvant therapy. Presented Patient: A 46-year-old man presented with several months of unilateral subjective hearing loss and aural fullness. Imaging revealed a mass centered along the superior TMJ with expansion through the squamous temporal bone and extra-axial intracranial extension into the middle cranial fossa. Imaging characteristics and fine-needle aspiration biopsy were consistent with PVNS. Intervention The patient underwent near-total excision of the mass via frontotemporal craniectomy and lateral temporal bone resection. Follow-up At the 16-month follow-up there was no evidence of disease recurrence. Conclusion PVNS of the TMJ represents a rare entity that can present with a variety of symptoms including unilateral hearing loss.
Transitions Out of Informality Among Entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa

Prior research has linked firm registration among entrepreneurs to faster growth and larger eco- nomic benefits from entrepreneurship, such as higher employment and revenue generation. Yet, despite...
The Sociology of Disaster: Fictional Explorations of Human Experiences

In a book as illuminating as it is captivating, Thomas E. Drabek presents an in-depth analysis of the emotional impacts of disaster events and the many ripple effects that follow. Through the technique of storytelling, a series of nine fictional stories where characters experience actual disasters of different types throughout the United States illustrate the vulnerabilities and resilience to enhance the readers understanding of disaster consequences. Designed for classroom use, each story is followed by an "Analysis" section wherein discussion and research paper topics are recommended. These highlight links to published research findings. A "References" section details citations for all works included. Brief commentary in a "Notes" section adds further connections to other disasters and relevant research studies. The Sociology of Disaster is an important innovation in disaster education and will become an invaluable resource within universities and colleges that offer degrees in emergency management at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Analysis of Outcomes Using Intraoperative Irrigation and Drainage for Complicated Appendicitis

Background: The practice of irrigation and/or intraoperative peritoneal drain placement during an appendectomy for complicated appendicitis is currently controversial. This study was aimed at delineating the relationship between the practice of intraoperative drain placement and/or irrigation and patient outcomes for complicated appendicitis cases. Methods: A retrospective study of patients presenting with acute complicated appendicitis, which was defined as perforated or gangrenous, was conducted (n = 225). The primary outcome was defined as the presence of postoperative abscess or sepsis, while the secondary outcome measured was length of hospital stay. Results: Patients who received intraoperative drain placement had an increased risk of postoperative abscess (odds ratio (OR) = 13.33, P < 0.001) and sepsis (OR = 11.37, P = 0.026). There was no significant difference in primary outcomes with irrigation. Patients who received irrigation had a longer length of stay (7.59 vs. 4.69 days, P = 0.001) as did those who received an intraoperative drain (7.61 vs. 5.33 days, P = 0.01). Conclusions: In this study, irrigation did not change the OR of sepsis and postoperative abscess. However, placement of an intraoperative drain increased both the rates of sepsis and postoperative abscesses, indicating possible increase in postoperative complications with intraoperative drains when compared with no drains. J Curr Surg. 2019;9(2-3):17-21 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcs385 Â
Are Implant Choice and Surgical Approach Associated With Biceps Tenodesis Construct Strength? A Systematic Review and Meta-regression.

Background:Despite the increasing use of biceps tenodesis, there is a lack of consensus regarding optimal implant choice (suture anchor vs interference screw) and implant placement (suprapectoral v...
The Dead Don’t Bury Themselves: Reflections on At ypical Burial Arrangements and Gender in Mierzanowice Culture Cemeteries

Many archaeological and bioarchaeological studies of the past—and too many in the present day—have confined their investigations of gender to an assumed male/female, man/woman binary. Many Early Bronze Age cemeteries in Central Europe offer the possibility of going beyond the binary, thanks to their richly and complexly gendered burial practices. In this study, 12 burials from three Mierzanowice Culture cemeteries in Poland are investigated bioarchaeologically. These burials are of particular interest because each one in its own way deviates from the typical manifestations of gender in the mortuary practices of this time. Questions are raised, and potential implications are discussed relating to conceptions of gender in these Early Bronze Age communities.
Measuring Productivity of Citrus Hand Harvesters and Assessing Implications on Harvest Costs and Mechanical Harvesting Developments

Existing mechanical harvesters recover 70 to 95 percent of the available fruit crop. While changes can be made to increase fruit recovery percentages, mechanical systems will never equal the fruit recovery percentages from hand-harvesting crews, much less capture 100 percent of the available fruit. Whether or not to glean (to use manual labor to collect fruit not harvested by the machine) will remain an important question that growers will have to face with every block they choose to mechanically harvest. This study incorporated field harvesting data and developed a model that predicted the extent to which labor productivity would be affected by decreasing the number of oranges available for harvesting by manual labor. Given current market prices of fruit, recovery percentage of crops harvested using mechanical harvesting equipment can improve up to 99 percent and gleaning will remain a profitable activity. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Fritz M. Roka and Barbara R. Hyman and published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, May 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe933
Optimizing Diffusion Imaging Protocols for Structural Connectomics in Mouse Models of Neurological Conditions

Network approaches provide sensitive biomarkers for neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mouse models can help advance our understanding of underlying pathologies, by dissecting vulnerable circuits. While the mouse brain contains less white matter compared to the human brain, axonal diameters compare relatively well (e.g., ~0.6 μm in the mouse and ~0.65-1.05 μm in the human corpus callosum). This makes the mouse an attractive test bed for novel diffusion models and imaging protocols. Remaining questions on the accuracy and uncertainty of connectomes have prompted us to evaluate diffusion imaging protocols with various spatial and angular resolutions. We have derived structural connectomes by extracting gradient subsets from a high-spatial, high-angular resolution diffusion acquisition (120 directions, 43-μm-size voxels). We have simulated protocols with 12, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 80, 100, and 120 angles and at 43, 86, or 172-μm voxel sizes. The rotational stability of these schemes increased with angular resolution. The minimum condition number was achieved for 120 directions, followed by 60 and 45 directions. The percentage of voxels containing one dyad was exceeded by those with two dyads after 45 directions, and for the highest spatial resolution protocols. For the 86- or 172-μm resolutions, these ratios converged toward 55% for one and 39% for two dyads, respectively, with <7% from voxels with three dyads. Tractography errors, estimated through dyad dispersion, decreased most with angular resolution. Spatial resolution effects became noticeable at 172 μm. Smaller tracts, e.g., the fornix, were affected more than larger ones, e.g., the fimbria. We observed an inflection point for 45 directions, and an asymptotic behavior after 60 directions, corresponding to similar projection density maps. Spatially downsampling to 86 μm, while maintaining the angular resolution, achieved a subgraph similarity of 96% relative to the reference. Using 60 directions with 86- or 172-μm voxels resulted in 94% similarity. Node similarity metrics indicated that major white matter tracts were more robust to downsampling relative to cortical regions. Our study provides guidelines for new protocols in mouse models of neurological conditions, so as to achieve similar connectomes, while increasing efficiency.
Analysis in \( \mathbb {C}_p \)

This chapter tries to give the reader a taste of what analysis in Cp is like. Rather than attempt to be exhaustive, which would violate the goals of this book, we try to touch on a few remarkable points: the p-adic Weierstrass Preparation Theorem, the description of entire functions, and the theory of Newton polygons.
Analysis of the Cost-Effectiveness of Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilator Therapy in Adults

Background: In adults, inhaled epoprostenol (iEPO) is FDA-approved to treat pulmonary hypertension, but also commonly used in other off-label clinical situations like hypoxemia. This pharmaceutical agent improves oxygenation, inhibits platelet aggregation, reduces inflammation, and decreases pulmonary vascular resistance. Currently, there are gaps in the literature regarding initiation, weaning and discontinuation criteria for hospitals that use iEPO for hypoxemia. However, the use of iEPO for hypoxemia continues to persist and this use, despite the cost, often occurs in an unregulated manner. Scientific, relevant evidence is essential in clinical care and policy-creation. The purpose of this study was to describe iEPO use through retrospective charting review of cases for which iEPO was initiated; to determine treatment effectiveness; and to determine the utility of a protocol for initiation, weaning and discontinuation of iEPO. Methods: Following IRB approval, a retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients who received iEPO at our institution from 2015 through 2017. Primary data points recorded to assess oxygenation were the PaO2/FIO2 ratio, the oxygen index, the mean airway pressure (MAP) and arterial oxygen saturation. Ventilator settings were recorded in addition to nitric oxide use, prone positioning, and the patient outcome (mortality). Weaning strategies were described and creation of an evidence- based protocol (EBP) was modeled to reveal potential cost savings. Results: Retrospective review of 329 patients receiving iEPO for hypoxemia revealed inconsistencies in the following: starting dose of iEPO, method of weaning and time to discontinuance when not clinically effective. Secondary to charting inconsistencies, weaning strategies could not be articulated. Application of the protocol model for cases in which the medication was not effective revealed $487,334.15 of waste in the system, which is illustrated in the figure below. Conclusions: A clinical practice guideline is recommended to standardize use, weaning and discontinuation. The use of a clinical practice guideline may result in eliminating unnecessary patient charges as well as expenses to our institution. Future prospective studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of applying the clinical practice guideline to iEPO use, to evaluate the standardization of care and to deliver efficient care.
Policy and contextual considerations for enabling learning support roles in digital environments

This paper is in response to Nacu et al.'s (Educ Technol Res Dev 66(4):1029-1049, 2018) guidelines to enable educators to fulfill learner support roles in online education from a contextual perspective and how their heuristic method can be utilized in today's current pandemic. It also explores how learner support roles can be leveraged to balance affordances offered by the learning environment and the learners themselves. Additionally, this paper discusses the implications for addressing social inequities in digital environments and education policy reform.
The bedlam of the lynch mob: racism and enjoying through the other

Racism manifests itself first and foremost not through an exclusionary legal or social apparatus that gives one race an elevated social position that it denies to others. The primary manifestation of racism is the racist fantasy. This fantasy depicts the racial other as the obstacle to the enjoyment of the racist subject. As an obstacle, the racial other illegitimately takes the subject’s enjoyment for itself. In this role, the racial other doesn’t deprive the racist subject of enjoyment. Instead, the racist enjoys through the figure of the racial other. This is because what we perceive as the obstacle to our enjoyment is actually the vehicle through which we enjoy. This is the logic that underlies racism and the racist fantasy that provides its psychic support. The racist subject enjoys the racial other that it hates as the obstacle to its enjoyment. This racist fantasy serves as the foundation for the legal and social apparatus of discrimination that arises around it.
A Computatuional Analysis of the Reachability Problem for a Class of Hybrid Dynamical Systems

Hybrid systems possess continuous dynamics defined within regions of state spaces and discrete transitions among the regions. Many practical control verification and synthesis tasks can be reduced to reach ability problems for these systems that decide if a particular state-space region is reachable from an initial operating region.
USDA Production Forecasts for Pork, Beef, and Broilers: An Evaluation

One-step-ahead forecasts of quarterly beef, pork, and poultry production are examined and evaluated based on traditional criteria for optimality-efficiency and unbiasedness-as well as their performance versus a univariate time-series model. However, traditional regression methodology for evaluating forecasts is avoided due to interpretive issues. Instead, an empirical framework focusing on forecast errors in employed. Results suggest USDA forecasts are unbiased, but generally not efficient. That is, they do not fully incorporate the information contained in past forecasts. Moreover, USDA's predictions do not encompass all the information contained in forecasts generated by simple time-series models. Thus, practitioners who use the USDA forecasts may want to supplement them with time-series forecasts.
Psychophysical measurements of itch and nociceptive sensations in an experimental model of allergic contact dermatitis.

Abstract Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common condition that can significantly affect the quality of life. Contact with allergens results in delayed hypersensitivity reactions involving T lymphocytes, with associated skin inflammation and spontaneous itch and nociceptive sensations. However, psychophysical studies of these sensations are lacking. In the present study, we sensitized 8 healthy volunteers to squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE). Two weeks later, 1 volar forearm was challenged with SADBE, and the other with acetone vehicle control. Subsequently, participants rated the maximal perceived intensity of spontaneous itch, pricking/stinging, and burning every 6 to 12 hours for 1 week, using the generalized Labeled Magnitude Scale. In the laboratory, they judged stimulus-evoked sensations within and outside the chemically treated area. The SADBE- but not the acetone-treated skin resulted in 1) localized inflammation, with spontaneous itch and nociceptive sensations peaking at 24 to 48 hours after challenge, 2) alloknesis, hyperknesis, and hyperalgesia to mechanical stimuli that were reduced or eliminated by anesthetic cooling of the SADBE-treated area and restored on rewarming, suggesting that sensations and dysesthesias are dependent on ongoing peripheral neural activity, and 3) enhanced itch to intradermal injection of histamine, BAM8-22, or β-alanine. This experimental model of T-cell-mediated inflammation may prove useful in evaluating potential treatments of itch from ACD. Perspective In a model of allergic contact dermatitis, experimentally applied in humans, psychophysical measurements were obtained of persistent, spontaneous itch and enhanced stimulus-evoked itch and pain sensations. These sensory measurements will be useful in the identification of the neural mechanisms underlying inflammatory itch and pain.
Intranasal vaccination of New Zealand white rabbits against pasteurellosis, using alginate-encapsulated Pasteurella multocida toxin and potassium thiocyanate extract.

OBJECTIVE We evaluated the efficacy of intranasal administration of Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT) and a potassium thiocyanate extract of P. multocida (CN) encapsulated in alginate microspheres, compared with unencapsulated PMT and CN antigens, in protection of rabbits against pasteurellosis. METHODS New Zealand male rabbits (n=24) were allotted randomly into four intranasally administered vaccine groups: 1, PMT/CN; 2, microencapsulated PMT/CN with or; 3, without subcutaneous priming; and 4, empty microspheres (control). Blood samples and nasal wash specimens were collected before vaccination and one week after each vaccination (days 7, 21, 35, and 49). Rabbits were primed subcutaneously with either unencapsulated PMT/CN or aluminum hydroxide (control) (day 0), vaccinated intranasally (days 14, 28, and 42), challenged intranasally with live P. multocida (day 56), and necropsied (day 60). RESULTS Compared with controls, PMT/CN-immunized rabbits had significantly higher concentrations of serum IgG and IgM, nasal IgG, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid IgA and IgG against CN. Immunized rabbits had 100% survival rate and low numbers of bacteria in liver and lungs; the control group had 50% survival rate and higher numbers of bacteria (> 4x) per gram of tissue in liver and lungs. CONCLUSION The PMT/CN microspheres stimulated systemic and mucosal immune responses similar in effectiveness (protection) to those in response to unencapsulated PMT/CN administration.
'Distal Doppler-guided dearterialization' is highly effective in treating haemorrhoids by transanal haemorrhoidal dearterialization.

Aim Transanal haemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD® Doppler) is a surgical procedure involving Doppler-guided ligation of haemorrhoidal arteries to reduce arterial flow. With proximal Doppler-guided dearterialization, arterial ligation is achieved by introducing the proctoscope completely into the anal canal and lower rectum. In the present study, distal Doppler-guided dearterialization (DDD) is performed in the distal 2 cm of the lower rectum. Immediate and short-term results were evaluated. Method One hundred patients with bleeding haemorrhoids, with or without muco-haemorrhoidal prolapse, underwent THD® Doppler procedure, using DDD of the haemorrhoidal arteries 2 cm above the anorectal junction. Mucopexy was performed in patients with haemorrhoidal prolapse. Results The operation time was 20 ± 7 min for dearterialization alone (10 patients), and 30 ± 10 min when mucopexy was added (90 patients). Morbidity included: transient haemorrhoidal thrombosis (two patients); urinary retention (five patients); submucosal abscess (one patient). No patient complained of faecal incontinence. At a median follow-up of 7.3 (3–17) months, all patients reported an improvement in symptoms. No patients reported bleeding. Conclusion DDD of the haemorrhoidal arteries could be a simplified and more effective method of applying THD.
Kinetically coupled folding of a single HIV-1 glycoprotein 41 complex in viral membrane fusion and inhibition

HIV-1 glycoprotein 41 (gp41) mediates viral entry into host cells by coupling its folding energy to membrane fusion. Gp41 folding is blocked by fusion inhibitors, including the commercial drug T20, to treat HIV/AIDS. However, gp41 folding intermediates, energy, and kinetics are poorly understood. Here, we identified the folding intermediates of a single gp41 trimer-of-hairpins and measured their associated energy and kinetics using high-resolution optical tweezers. We found that folding of gp41 hairpins was energetically independent but kinetically coupled: Each hairpin contributed a folding energy of ∼−23 kBT, but folding of one hairpin successively accelerated the folding rate of the next one by ∼20-fold. Membrane-mimicking micelles slowed down gp41 folding and reduced the stability of the six-helix bundle. However, the stability was restored by cooperative folding of the membrane-proximal external region. Surprisingly, T20 strongly inhibited gp41 folding by actively displacing the C-terminal hairpin strand in a force-dependent manner. The inhibition was abolished by a T20-resistant gp41 mutation. The energetics and kinetics of gp41 folding established by us provides a basis to understand viral membrane fusion, infection, and therapeutic intervention.
Ablation of CD8 and CD4 T Cell Responses by High Viral Loads

To evaluate the impact of sustained viral loads on anti-viral T cell responses we compared responses that cleared acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection with those that were elicited but could not resolve chronic infection. During acute infection, as replicating virus was cleared, CD8 T cell responses were down-regulated, and a pool of resting memory cells developed. In chronically infected hosts, the failure to control the infection was associated with pronounced and prolonged activation of virus-specific CD8 T cells. Nevertheless, there was a progressive diminution of their effector activities as their capacity to produce first IL-2, then TNF-alpha, and finally IFN-gamma was lost. Chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection was also associated with differential contraction of certain CD8 T cell responses, resulting in altered immunodominance. However, this altered immunodominance was not due to selective expansion of T cells expressing particular TCR Vbeta segments during chronic infection. High viral loads were not only associated with the ablation of CD8 T cell responses, but also with impaired production of IL-2 by virus-specific CD4 T cells. Taken together, our data show that sustained exposure to high viral loads results in the progressive functional inactivation of virus-specific T cell responses, which may further promote virus persistence.
Antibodies to CD18 influence neutrophil migration through extracellular matrix

Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) is known to be involved in neutrophil (PMN) adhesion to endothelial cells and extracellular matrix. Although antibodies to CD 18 are being tested for therapy in humans, their role in PMN migration through the extracellular matrix is unknown. We used direct visualization to quantify PMN motility through reconstituted, three-dimensional gels of collagen type I. Gels were prepared with different concentrations of collagen (ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL) and PMN migration was examined in the presence and absence of antibodies to CD18 (anti-CD18), with and without stimulation by N-formyl peptides. In low-concentration gels ( 0.6 mg/mL). PMN migration through collagen gels is CD18-dependent but only under conditions of high hydration, suggesting that CD18-mediated effects (e.g., adhesion to gel fibers) are only important when the fiber density is relatively low. Anti-CD18 inhibited, but did not eliminate, the adhesion of fMLP-stimulated PMN to the surface of collagen gels, suggesting that cells use multiple mechanisms for gaining traction within the gel. Because of the multiple modes of interaction between motile cells and the deformable fiber matrix, blockade of one component, such as CD18, can enhance the rate of cell migration under one set of conditions, and inhibit under another.
The Behavior of Innovation: Inside Behavioral Biology and the Innovative Mind

Amongst non-human species, one limitation to innovation is conservatism, or the tendency to avoid novel behaviors related to a familiar object or paradigm. Conservatism has recently been implicated amongst non-human primates in both social conformity and as a potential impediment to insight learning, or the ability to spontaneously solve a novel problem. On the other hand, sometimes relatively simple changes will circumvent this problem. I will discuss both what we know about conservatism in nonhuman primates as well as potential implications for innovation in humans.