cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unscented message passing for arbitrary continuous variables in Bayesian networks

Since Bayesian network (BN) was introduced in the field of artificial intelligence in 1980s, a number of inference algorithms have been developed for probabilistic reasoning. However, when continuous variables are present in Bayesian networks, their dependence relationships could be nonlinear and their probability distributions could be arbitrary. So far no efficient inference algorithm could deal with this case except Monte Carlo simulation methods such as Likelihood Weighting. But with unlikely evidence, simulation methods could be very slow to converge. In this paper, we propose an efficient approximate inference algorithm called Unscented Message Passing (UMP-BN) for Bayesian networks with arbitrary continuous variables. UMP-BN combines unscented transformation - a deterministic sampling method, and Pearl's message passing algorithm to provide the estimates of the first two moments of the posterior distributions. We test this algorithm with several networks including the ones with nonlinear and/or non-Gaussian variables. The numerical experiments show that UMP-BN converges very fast and produces promising results.
Fundamentals of UWB Impulse Systems

This chapter covers the fundamentals of UWB impulse systems operating across or within the unlicensed UWB frequency band of 3.1–10.6 GHz. It provides the essence of UWB impulse systems including the spectrum mask, advantages and applications of UWB impulse systems, UWB impulse signals including Gaussian impulse, doublet pulse and monocycle pulse, modulations including PPM, PAM, OOK and BPSK, UWB impulse transmitters and receivers, and UWB antennas.
Understanding the Transfer Deficit: Contextual Mismatch, Proactive Interference, and Working Memory Affect Toddlers' Video-Based Transfer.

Researchers tested the impact of contextual mismatch, proactive interference, and working memory (WM) on toddlers' transfer across contexts. Forty-two toddlers (27-34 months) completed four object-retrieval trials, requiring memory updating on Trials 2-4. Participants watched hiding events on a tablet computer. Search performance was tested using another tablet (match) or a felt board (mismatch). WM was assessed. On earlier search trials, WM predicted transfer in both conditions, and toddlers in the match condition outperformed those in the mismatch condition; however, the benefit of contextual match and WM decreased over trials. Contextual match apparently increased proactive interference on later trials. Findings are interpreted within existing accounts of the transfer deficit, and a combined account is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Large & small signal modeling of dual active bridge converter using improved first harmonic approximation

The paper derives a technique to develop large and small signal state-space models of a single-phase dual active bridge (DAB) based DC-DC converter operated in phase-shift mode. An improved first harmonic approximation (I-FHA) method is proposed by introducing a correction factor to the conventional first harmonic approximation (FHA) technique. The output DC voltage and the two orthogonal components of first harmonic of transformer current, corresponding to active and circulating powers, are used as state-variables. The large-signal model, thus derived, is of simple form and accurate for ideal converter. A small-signal model is also developed from the I-FHA model. Finally, the large and small signal models are validated through time-domain simulations and experimental results.
THE SURVIVAL ADVANTAGE OF READING BOOKS

Although books can expose people to new people and places, whether books also have health benefits beyond other types of reading materials is not known. This study examined whether those who read books have a survival advantage over those who do not read books and over those who read other types of materials, and if so, whether cognition mediates this book reading effect. The cohort consisted of 3635 participants in the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study who provided information about their reading patterns at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were based on survival information up to 12 years after baseline. A dose-response survival advantage was found for book reading by tertile (HRT2 = 0.83, p<.0001, HRT3 = 0.77, p<.0001), after adjusting for relevant covariates including age, sex, race, education, comorbidities, self-rated health, wealth, marital status, and depression. Book reading contributed to a survival advantage that was significantly greater than that observed for reading newspapers or magazines (tT2 = 98.8, p<.0001; tT3 = 4956, p<.0001). Compared to non-book readers, book readers had a 4-month survival advantage at the point of 80% survival. Book readers also experienced a 20% reduction in risk of mortality over the 12 years of follow up compared to non-book readers. Cognitive score was a complete mediator of the book reading survival advantage (p=.04). These findings suggest that the benefits of reading books include a longer life in which to read them.
Health-Related Issues in Latina Youth: Racial/Ethnic, Gender, and Generational Status Differences.

Abstract Purpose Few studies have examined the early development of a broad range of health issues of importance in adolescence in Latina (female) youth, despite their being potentially a vulnerable group. This study compared suicide and depressive symptoms, substance use, violence exposure, injury prevention, obesity, and health-related quality of life among Latina, African-American, and white females as well as Latino (male) youth in fifth grade, as well as differences related to immigrant generational status for Latinas. Methods Data were from the Healthy Passages study, including 3,349 African-American, Latina, and white females as well as Latino male fifth graders in three U.S. metropolitan areas. Self-report items and scales were used to compare status on health-related issues. Generational status was classified based on the parent report of birth location. Logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted, including adjustment for sociodemographic differences. Results Latinas showed higher vulnerability than white females for several health issues, whereas few remained after adjustments for sociodemographic differences (higher obesity, lower bike helmet use, and lower physical health-related quality of life). Latina's lower vulnerability compared with African-American females generally persisted after adjustments. Third generation Latinas, after adjustments, reported lower prevalence of alcohol use and fewer friends using alcohol, yet higher future intentions of alcohol use, than first and second generation Latinas. There were few differences between Latina and Latino youth. Conclusions Latina youth generally report low vulnerability across health issues in preadolescence. To the extent they appear at higher vulnerability than white females, this may be related to their disadvantaged sociodemographic status.
Fault discrimination using SiC JFET based self-powered solid state circuit breakers in a residential DC community microgrid

This paper identifies validates the use of ultra-fast SiC JFET based self-powered solid state circuit breakers (SSCBs) as the enabling protective device for a 340Vdc residential DC community microgrid. These SSCBs will be incorporated into a radial distribution system in order to enhance fault discrimination through autonomous operation. Because of the nature and characteristics of short circuit fault inception in DC microgrids, the time-current trip characteristics of protective devices must be several orders of magnitude of faster than conventional circuit breakers. The proposed SSCBs detect short circuit faults by sensing the sudden voltage rise between its two power terminals and draw power from the fault condition itself to turn off SiC JFETs and then coordinate with no load contacts can isolate the fault. Depending upon the location of the SSCBs in the microgrid either unidirectional or bidirectional implementations are incorporated. Cascaded SSCBs are tuned using a simple resistor change to enable fault discrimination between upstream high current feeds and downstream lower current branches. Operation of the SSCBs in these cascaded arrangements are validated both in simulation and with a hardware test platform. The target application is a residential DC microgrid that will be installed as part of a revitalization effort of an inner city Milwaukee neighborhood.
Relationship Factors’ Impact on Condom Use Among College Students

Research indicates that a number of college students are at risk for HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, and unplanned pregnancy as a result of their sexual behaviors. Specific behaviors placing college students at risk include having sex with multiple partners, poor communication about safer sex practices with their sexual partners and not using condoms consistently and correctly when engaging in sexual activity. The purpose of this paper is to identify potential differences in safer sex practices and factors that influence condom use among college students. A four-page, 18-item survey was developed to determine participants’ condom use and the impact of relationship status and other demographic factors on condom use. Analyses revealed that the number of lifetime vaginal sexual partners and participants’ sex influenced condom use. There were no significant differences in relationship status, duration, trust, honesty and condom use. These findings should be considered with designing interventions to increase condom use among college students.
Christmas on the Countryside: 27 Honky Tonkin’ Christmas Country Songs; Celebrating Christmas: Down Country Lane

Each December, modern country musicians thrive on Christmas music. Some record traditional religious tunes, as illustrated in “O Holy Night” by Martina McBride (1997) and “Silent Night” by Taylor S...
Abstract 4313: Methylated BAF155 promotes cancer metastasis by cooperating with BRD4 to potentiate genes addicted to super-enhancers

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) lack the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). TNBC is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype and is often associated with distant metastasis, poor prognosis, and lack of targeted treatment options. The failure to identify a few genes driving metastasis through sequencing of paired tumors at primary and metastatic sites implies that epigenetic mechanisms may play important roles in TNBC metastasis. Recently, we found that an epigenetic enzyme coactivator associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) is highly expressed in TNBC and its high expression correlates with poor prognosis. Subsequently we identified BRG1-Associated Factor 155 (BAF155), a component of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, as a novel CARM1 substrate. Transcriptome analyses of BAF155 methylation competent and defective cell lines identified many genes involved in regulating cancer metastasis are methyl-BAF155 targets. Methylation of BAF155 was found to promote metastasis in the TNBC xenografted mouse models. We generated a methyl-BAF155 antibody that could specifically detect methylated BAF155 (me-BAF155) by IHC and chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq). We mapped global me-BAF155 genomic association sites using ChIP-seq and discovered that me-BAF155 was highly enriched in super-enhancers (SEs), regulatory elements on chromatin that are known to drive high transcription of many oncogenes. SEs are known to recruit BRD4, a BET family bromodomain protein. Indeed, global me-BAF155 binding peaks greatly overlap with those of BRD4 binding sites. Treatment of TNBC cells with either BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 or CARM1 inhibitor TP-064 significantly reduced the expression of me-BAF155 target genes. Together our data suggest that me-BAF155 is an important epigenetic target for treatment of cancer metastasis in TNBC cells. Citation Format: Eui-Jun Kim, Yidan Wang, Li Lu, Lixin Rui, Xuehua Zhong, Kari B. Wisinski, Wei Xu. Methylated BAF155 promotes cancer metastasis by cooperating with BRD4 to potentiate genes addicted to super-enhancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4313.
A cost-benefit analysis of a California county's back injury prevention program.

Back-related injuries have become a major health problem in the workplace, affecting as many as 35 percent of the work force and accounting for about 25 percent of all compensation claims. This study evaluates a back injury prevention program among employees in a northern California county in 1989-90. Six divisions of the county government were selected for the study because they had the highest prevalence of back pain experienced and the most back-related injuries in recent years. Four of the six divisions were randomly selected as the intervention group and the remaining two, the control group. Overall, 77 percent or 205 of the targeted employees in the intervention group participated in the study. The intervention group was given an identical health risk assessment (HRA) before and after the 1-year back injury prevention program that offered employees a combination of education, training, physical fitness activities, and ergonomic improvement. The control group was neither given the HRA nor offered the program. The back injury and cost data of both the control and intervention groups were collected before and after the 1-year intervention. The results showed a modest overall decline in back pain prevalence rates, but significant improvement in satisfaction and reduction in risky behaviors. Cost-benefit analysis showed the net benefit of introducing back injury prevention program was $161,108, and the return on investment is 179 percent. Therefore, the study offers suggestive evidence for the initial benefits of a back injury prevention program and lends support to the widely held belief that health promotion in the workplace can reduce employee health risks, increase healthful behaviors and attitudes, and improve attitudes toward the employer organization.Whether such intervention will continue to reap benefits in future years depends, to a large extent,on a favorable work environment and the maintenance and continuation of positive behavioral changes. Language: en
Financial Institutions’ Lending and Real Estate Property Prices in China

The rapid increase of China’s property prices in recent years, especially in major municipalities, has drawn much attention and provoked intense debates on the existence of “inflationary property values.” Many believe that over-investment in the real estate sector should be blamed for the skyrocketing property prices in many municipalities. This study takes a slightly different angle by focusing on efficiency of capital allocation rather than total volume of investment. This chapter attempts to address the following question: Will efficiently allocated regional capital help hold off a potential housing price bubble? Our analysis finds a negative relationship between our proxy for loan efficiency and local property price. The finding, however, implies that when loan efficiency improves, local property price tends to be lower. Hence, effective lending policies and practices can reduce the level of “inflationary property value.”
Posets, Zorn’s Lemma, Ranks, and Trees

This chapter covers the very basics of the following topics: Partial orders, Zorn’s Lemma and some of its applications, well-founded relations and ranks on them, trees, Konig’s Infinity Lemma, well-founded trees, and Ramsey’s theorem.
Restratification of Abyssal Mixing Layers by Submesoscale Baroclinic Eddies

For small-scale turbulence to achieve water mass transformation and thus affect the large-scale overturning circulation, it must occur in stratified water. Observations show that abyssal turbulence is strongly enhanced in the bottom few hundred meters in regions with rough topography, and it is thought that these abyssal mixing layers are crucial for closing and shaping the overturning circulation. If it were left unopposed, however, bottom-intensified turbulence would mix away the observed mixing-layer stratification over the course of a few years. It is proposed here that the homogenizing tendency of mixing may be balanced by baroclinic restratification. It is shown that bottom-intensified mixing, if it occurs on a large-scale topographic slope such as a midocean ridge flank, not only erodes stratification but also tilts isopycnals in the bottom few hundred meters. This tilting of isopycnals generates a reservoir of potential energy that can be tapped into by submesoscale baroclinic eddies. The eddies slide dense water under light water and thus restratify the mixing layer, similar to what happens in the surface mixed layer. This restratification is shown to be effective enough to balance the homogenizing tendency of mixing and to maintain the observed mixing-layer stratification. This suggests that submesoscale baroclinic eddies may play a crucial role in providing the stratification mixing can act on, thus allowing sustained water mass transformation. Through their restratification of abyssal mixing layers, submesoscale eddies may therefore directly affect the strength and structure of the abyssal overturning circulation.
Detection of fast and slow waves propagating through porous media

Porous media can support two longitudinal waves, which often overlap in time and frequency domains. Each wave has its own attenuation coefficient and phase velocity. These properties are related to volume fraction of solid phase, tortuosity, viscous characteristic length, and elasticity. Therefore, knowledge of individual wave properties is useful for characterizing porous media. Accordingly, methods for recovering separate reconstructions of fast and slow waves are of interest. The transfer function of a porous sample may be expressed as a weighted sum of two complex exponentials. The Modified Least Squares Prony’s (MLSP) method may be used to recover the two individual components for non-dispersive media. Porous media are dispersive, however. The MLSP method may be augmented with curve-fitting (MSLP + CF) to account for dispersion. An alternative approach, based on Bayesian probability theory, is also powerful for recovering fast and slow waves. These approaches have been tested in through-transmission experiments on cancellous bone samples. Bayesian and MLSP + CF approaches successfully separated fast and slow waves and provided good estimates of the fast and slow wave properties even when the two wave modes overlapped in both time and frequency domains.
Christianity and the limits of minority acceptance in America: God loves (almost) everyone

The Christian church in America has long been known for its prejudice against many marginalized groups. Perhaps the strongest stance has been taken against homosexuals and their desire for rights t...
The Medicago truncatula CLAVATA3-LIKE CLE12/13 signaling peptides regulate nodule number depending on the CORYNE but not the COMPACT ROOT ARCHITECTURE2 receptor

We previously showed that the rdn1 and sunn supernodulation mutants of Medicago truncatula respond differentially to overexpression of the rhizobial CLAVAT3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION (CLE) signaling peptides MtCLE12p and MtCLE13p, allowing the order of action of the genes to be determined in the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) signal transduction pathway. We tested the same gene constructs that lead to the production of proteolytically processed peptides (indicated by a p after the name) in plants mutant for two other proteins that control nodule number (CRN and CRA2) and were able to determine that CRN is involved in the same signaling pathway as MtCLE12p and MtCLE13p, while regulation in CRA2 mutants responds normally to the peptides, suggesting CRA2 likely signals separately from SUNN, RDN1, and CRN. Based on the analysis of the double mutant of cra2-2 and sunn-4, we also confirm recent findings that CRA2 acts independently of SUNN in nodule number regulation.
Abstract 3559: A crowd-control approach for castration-resistant prostate cancer therapeutics

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is defined by affecting intrinsic cellular mechanisms including dysregulated androgen signaling, aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and dysregulation of transcription factors including androgen receptor (AR) and c-Myc. Development of CRPC post Androgen-deprivation therapy is indicated by tumor microenvironment heterogeneity, compensating cellular pathways and recurrence of AR expression leading to the failure of androgen-signaling inhibitors including Enzalutamide and Abiraterone Acetate. We have discovered that miR-644a potentiates Enzalutamide efficacy both, in vitro and in vivo prostate cancer models. In depth analyses revealed that miR-644a downregulated expression of diverse tumor microenvironment regulators including c-Myc, AR, AR co-regulators and the anti-apoptosis factors Bcl-xl and Bcl-2, EMT factors ZEB1, cdk6, and Snail. Enhanced miR-644a expression also suppressed the Warburg effect by direct down-regulating c-Myc, Akt, IGF-1R and GAPDH expression. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the adjunctive miRNA expression down-regulated several oncogenesis promoting cellular pathways and functions cooperatively with Enzalutamide. We propose that a “crowd-control” approach to pacifying aggressive tumorigenesis and metastasis supporting cellular pathways by a miRNA with a wide range of gene targets is likely to potentiate the efficacy of cancer treating drugs and potentially preventing the drug-resistance. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Girish C. Shukla. A crowd-control approach for castration-resistant prostate cancer therapeutics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3559.
Modeling and Robust Control with Virtual Inertia for Super-large-Scale Battery Energy Storage System

A secondary coordinated control method with virtual inertia is proposed in this paper, which takes full advantage of the large capacity of energy storage in the super-large-scale energy storage system. Firstly, the architecture of super-large-scale energy storage system and the structure of control system based on power converter are constructed. Accordingly, the non-linear model of the system is established and the virtual synchronous generator model is equivalent. Meanwhile, the influence of different virtual inertia on the output frequency of the system is investigated. Based on these, a secondary coordinated controller is designed by using robust control method. As a result, it can solve the asynchronous problem of voltage and frequency when multiple energy storage units are connected to the grid in large-scale energy storage system, due to the complexity of equipment and the limitation of conventional control system architecture. Finally, a simulation system of energy storage station is built to verify the control effect of virtual inertia and the designed secondary coordination controller.
Phase II Study of the Combination of Clofarabine Plus Idarubicin and Cytarabine (CIA) In Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Abstract 1061 Clofarabine is a second generation nucleoside analog with activity in patients with acute leukemias. Previous studies with the combination of clofarabine plus cytarabine have reported a complete remission rate (CR) of 24% in relapsed AML and 52% in previously untreated AML patients. To explore further combinations with drugs active in AML, we conducted a phase II study of CIA in patients with relapsed and primary refractory AML. Patients were treated at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) determined from a preceding phase I study: clofarabine 22.5mg/m2 IV daily × 5, idarubicin 6 mg/m2 IV daily × 3, and cytarabine 0.75 g/m2 IV daily × 5 days. A total of 63 patients were enrolled. Patients with prior exposure to clofarabine were not eligible. The median age was 51years (18 - 80years). Twenty-four patients were primary refractory and 39 had relapsed disease. All the patients received CIA in 1st salvage. For patients with relapsed AML, the median duration of the first CR was 36 weeks (3 – 215 weeks). Three patients underwent stem cell transplant (SCT) prior to treatment with CIA and 28 patients had received at least intermediate doses of cytarabine prior to relapse. Fifteen patients had secondary AML following a preceding phase of MDS. Twenty-five percent of patients had -5/-7 and 6% had trisomy 8. Thirteen patients (21%) achieved CR, 7 (11%) CRp (complete remission without platelet recovery), and 4 (6%) a partial remission (PR) for an overall response rate of 38%. The response rate in patients with primary refractory disease was 33% while the response rate in patients with relapsed disease was 41%. Five patients (8%) died during induction ( Disclosures: Ravandi:Genzyme: Honoraria, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kantarjian:Genzyme: Research Funding. Faderl:Genzyme: Research Funding.
e-Cigarette Use Among Youth in the United States, 2019

Importance The prevalence of e-cigarette use among US youth increased from 2011 to 2018. Continued monitoring of the prevalence of e-cigarette and other tobacco product use among youth is important to inform public health policy, planning, and regulatory efforts. Objective To estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette use among US high school and middle school students in 2019 including frequency of use, brands used, and use of flavored products. Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional analyses of a school-based nationally representative sample of 19 018 US students in grades 6 to 12 participating in the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey. The survey was conducted from February 15, 2019, to May 24, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures Self-reported current (past 30-day) e-cigarette use estimates among high school and middle school students; frequent use (≥20 days in the past 30 days) and usual e-cigarette brand among current e-cigarette users; and use of flavored e-cigarettes and flavor types among current exclusive e-cigarette users (no use of other tobacco products) by school level and usual brand. Prevalence estimates were weighted to account for the complex sampling design. Results The survey included 10 097 high school students (mean [SD] age, 16.1 [3.0] years; 47.5% female) and 8837 middle school students (mean [SD] age, 12.7 [2.8] years; 48.7% female). The response rate was 66.3%. An estimated 27.5% (95% CI, 25.3%-29.7%) of high school students and 10.5% (95% CI, 9.4%-11.8%) of middle school students reported current e-cigarette use. Among current e-cigarette users, an estimated 34.2% (95% CI, 31.2%-37.3%) of high school students and 18.0% (95% CI, 15.2%-21.2%) of middle school students reported frequent use, and an estimated 63.6% (95% CI, 59.3%-67.8%) of high school students and 65.4% (95% CI, 60.6%-69.9%) of middle school students reported exclusive use of e-cigarettes. Among current e-cigarette users, an estimated 59.1% (95% CI, 54.8%-63.2%) of high school students and 54.1% (95% CI, 49.1%-59.0%) of middle school students reported JUUL as their usual e-cigarette brand in the past 30 days; among current e-cigarette users, 13.8% (95% CI, 12.0%-15.9%) of high school students and 16.8% (95% CI, 13.6%-20.7%) of middle school students reported not having a usual e-cigarette brand. Among current exclusive e-cigarette users, an estimated 72.2% (95% CI, 69.1%-75.1%) of high school students and 59.2% (95% CI, 54.8%-63.4%) of middle school students used flavored e-cigarettes, with fruit, menthol or mint, and candy, desserts, or other sweets being the most commonly reported flavors. Conclusions and Relevance In 2019, the prevalence of self-reported e-cigarette use was high among high school and middle school students, with many current e-cigarette users reporting frequent use and most of the exclusive e-cigarette users reporting use of flavored e-cigarettes.
Lipid-Modified Aminoglycosides for mRNA Delivery to the Liver

Cationic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are widely used as carriers for delivery of nucleic acids. Most synthetic routes toward cationic lipids have derived from simple amine cores. Greater chemical diversity can be obtained through starting with natural products containing basic nitrogen atoms, which offers routes to more complex molecules. Natural building blocks are not extensively explored, such as aminoglycosides, which are both structurally and functionally interesting for developing new carriers for nucleic acid delivery. Herein, cationic lipid-modified aminoglycosides (CLAs) are explored as a family of vehicles for messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery. CLAs are synthesized from natural existing aminoglycosides coupling with alkyl epoxides and acrylates. The top hit (GT-EP10) is able to deliver Luc mRNA to C57BL/6 mice at a dose of 0.05 mg kg-1 to achieve a 107 average luminescence intensity in the liver. The Lox-Stop-Lox tdTomato mouse model is used to further demonstrate that this efficient mRNA delivery system can be potentially used for gene editing. Successful delivery of human erythropoietin mRNA shows that CLA-based LNPs have promising opportunities for delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids in the future.
Twitter Presence and Experience Improve Corporate Social Responsibility Outcomes

We investigate the role of social-media-triggered public pressure on corporate social responsibility (CSR) that includes expectations of transparency and accountability on the firm’s part, and participative/evaluative inputs on the public’s part. Using the date when SP it is also shown that CSR outcomes do not motivate corporations to establish a social media presence on Twitter. Finally, firms with more experience (number of years) on Twitter, and those with more followers, tweets or Twitter accounts are associated with improved CSR outcomes. We draw on two theories and qualitative interviews with senior CSR executives to explain why social media influences CSR firm behaviors.
Mapping quantitative trait loci associated with starch paste viscosity attributes by using double haploid populations of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract The paste viscosity attributes of starch, measured by rapid visco analyzer (RVA), are important factors for the evaluation of the cooking and eating qualities of rice in breeding programs. To determine the genetic roots of the paste viscosity attributes of rice grains, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the paste viscosity attributes were mapped, using a double haploid (DH) population derived from Zhongjiazao 17 (YK17), a super rice variety, crossed with D50, a tropic japonica variety. Fifty-four QTLs, for seven parameters of the RVA profiles, were identified in three planting seasons. The 54 QTLs were located on all of the 12 chromosomes, with a single QTL explaining 5.99 to 47.11% of phenotypic variation. From the QTLs identified, four were repeatedly detected under three environmental conditions and the other four QTLs were repeated under two environments. Most of the QTLs detected for peak viscosity (PKV), trough viscosity (TV), cool paste viscosity (CPV), breakdown viscosity (BDV), setback viscosity (SBV), and peak time (PeT) were located in the interval of RM6775–RM3805 under all three environmental conditions, with the exception of pasting temperature (PaT). For digenic interactions, eight QTLs with six traits were identified for additive×environment interactions in all three planting environments. The epistatic interactions were estimated only for PKV, SBV and PaT. The present study will facilitate further understanding of the genetic architecture of eating and cooking quality (ECQ) in the rice quality improvement program.
Mechanistic regulation of SPHK1 expression and translocation by EMAP II in pulmonary smooth muscle cells

Phosphorylation of sphingosine by sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) produces the bioactive sphingolipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a microvascular and immuno-modulator associated with vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The low intracellular concentration of S1P is under tight spatial-temporal control. Molecular mechanisms that mediate S1P burden and S1P regulation of vascular remodeling are poorly understood. Similarities between two early response pro-inflammatory cytokine gene transcript activation profiles, S1P and Endothelial Monocyte Activating Polypeptide II (EMAP II), suggested a strategic link between their signaling pathways. We determined that EMAP II triggers a bimodal phosphorylation, transcriptional regulation and membrane translocation of SPHK1 through a common upstream process in both macrophages and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). EMAP II initiates a dual function of ERK1/2: phosphorylation of SPHK1 and regulation of the transcription factor EGR1 that induces expression of SPHK1. Activated ERK1/2 induces a bimodal phosphorylation of SPHK1 which reciprocally increases S1P levels. This identified common upstream signaling mechanism between a protein and a bioactive lipid initiates cell specific downstream signaling representing a multifactorial mechanism that contributes to inflammation and PASMC proliferation which are cardinal histopathological phenotypes of PAH.
Retrospective blood lead assessment from archived clotted erythrocyte fraction in a cohort of lead-exposed mother-child dyads.

Exposure to lead (Pb) is linked to a host of adverse health effects. Recent revelations of unmonitored exposures to hazardous levels of lead as seen in the Flint Water Crisis have manifested a need for evaluating biological samples, other than regularly prepared whole blood, for biomonitoring of lead exposure. Here, we present a method utilizing clotted erythrocyte fraction samples, which are commonly archived along with serum (or plasma) in biorepositories, to predict whole blood lead levels to allow for retrospective assessments of environmental exposure to lead. Whole blood and clotted erythrocyte fraction samples were collected from 91 participants in the Airborne Exposure to Semivolatile Organic Pollutants (AESOP) cohort study of mother-child dyads. Clotted erythrocyte fraction samples were prepared either using microwave assisted acid digestion or alkaline dilution and subsequently analyzed for lead using Inductively-couple plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Simultaneously withdrawn whole blood samples were also analyzed. A strong linear relationship was observed between lead in whole blood and clotted erythrocyte fraction with Pearson correlation coefficients (r) of 0.90, and 0.89 (p 0.05) when compared to the standard blood lead assay method. Modeled blood lead predicted from clotted erythrocyte fraction was evaluated at a test threshold of 3 μg/dL was found to have diagnostic sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 100%. Results from this study demonstrate clotted erythrocyte fraction samples are a viable alternative biological sample for retrospective public health surveillance of environmental exposure to lead.
A simplified breast cancer prognostic score: comparison with the AJCC clinical prognostic staging system.

There have been many breast cancer prognostic models proposed in the last few decades, varying in their methods of development and validation, predictors, outcomes, and patients included. Most models were developed to assess prognostic outcomes for early breast cancers. In this study, we established a simplified prognostic score to predict survival outcomes in all breast cancer patients. A total of 36,152 breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were used as the training dataset. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent factors for disease-specific survival (DSS). A prognostic score was calculated by summing the point values based on the magnitude of the hazard ratio for all independent factors. The authors institutional cohort (n = 4982) was used as the validation dataset. The prognostic score model consisting of histologic grade, ER, PR, HER2, and TNM status demonstrated a similar predictive power when compared to the revised 8th AJCC Clinical Prognostic Staging system in both training and validation datasets, whereas the addition of age and race did not facilitate stratification of prognostic groups. Pairwise comparison of hazard ratios showed a significant difference in all categories when compared to their proximate groups in both prognostic schemes in the SEER database, while the prognostic score model demonstrated a slightly better discriminating power in the validation dataset. Thus, the proposed prognostic score showed at least a comparable predicting power for survival outcomes in breast cancer patients receiving standard-of-care treatment when compared to the AJCC Clinical Prognostic Stage. This prognostic model provides a convenient and alternative modality in clinical practice thus warranting further validation using larger cohorts with longer follow-up.
Pharmacokinetic drug interactions of integrase strand transfer inhibitors

Abstract The integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-containing regimens are currently considered as the first-line treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Although possessing a common mechanism of action to inhibit HIV integrase irreversibly to stop HIV replication cycle, the INSTIs, including raltegravir, elvitegravir, dolutegravir, and bictegravir, differ in pharmacokinetic characteristics. While raltegravir undergoes biotransformation by the UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), elvitegravir is primarily metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and co-formulated with cobicistat to increase its plasma exposure. The metabolism pathways of dolutegravir and bictegravir are similar, both including CYP3A and UGT1A1, and both agents are substrates to different drug transporters. Because of their differences in metabolism, INSTIs interact with other medications differently through CYP enzymes and transporters as inducers or inhibitors. These drug interactions may become an important consideration in the long-term clinical use because the life expectancy of people with HIV (PWH) approaches to that of the general population. Also, common geriatric challenges such as multimorbidity and polypharmacy have been increasingly recognized in PWH. This review provides a summary of pharmacokinetic interactions with INSTIs and future perspectives in implications of INSTI drug interactions.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Transport in Soil and Absorption and Distribution in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa).

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used as a surfactant in consumer and industrial products, is frequently found in biosolids from wastewater treatment plants. When present in biosolids applied to croplands, PFOA has potential to contaminate feed and fodder used by livestock, but the extent of PFOA transfer from soil to plants is not well characterized. A single dose of [ 14 C]-PFOA was applied to unplanted soil or soil containing growing alfalfa. PFOA transport through unplanted soil and uptake by alfalfa was monitored over a 10-week study period. Radiocarbon was initially measured in roots, stems, and leaves 7 days after PFOA application to soil. PFOA accumulation was greatest in leaves during the 10-week sampling. By week 10, PFOA migration through unplanted soil had reached a depth of 22.8 ± 2.5 cm. In contrast, PFOA migrated to 7.5 ± 2.5 cm in soil containing alfalfa plants. The greatest predictor of PFOA concentration in alfalfa leaves was PFOA concentration in the top 5 cm of soil; PFOA concentrations at lower depths were not correlated with alfalfa PFOA levels. PFOA transport through soil may be slowed by the presence of forage, however PFOA accumulation in edible portions of forage plants may increase food animal exposure to PFOA residues.
Protein kinase C regulates organic anion transporter 1 through phosphorylating ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2.

Organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) is a drug transporter expressed on the basolateral membrane of the proximal tubule cells in kidneys. It plays an essential role in the disposition of numerous clinical therapeutics, impacting their pharmacological and toxicological properties. The activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is shown to facilitate OAT1 internalization from cell surface to intracellular compartments and thereby reducing cell surface expression and transport activity of the transporter. The PKC-regulated OAT1 internalization occurs through ubiquitination, a process catalyzed by a E3 ubiquitin ligase, neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated 4–2 (Nedd4–2). Nedd4–2 directly interacts with OAT1 and affects ubiquitination, expression and stability of the transporter. However, whether Nedd4–2 is a direct substrate for PKC-induced phosphorylation is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of Nedd4–2 phosphorylation in the PKC regulation of OAT1. The results showed that PKC activation enhanced the phosphorylation of Nedd4–2 and increased the OAT1 ubiquitination, which was accompanied by a decreased OAT1 cell surface expression and transport function. And the effects of PKC could be reversed by PKC-specific inhibitor staurosporine. We further discovered that the quadruple mutant (T197A/S221A/S354A/S420A) of Nedd4–2 partially blocked the effects of PKC on Nedd4–2 phosphorylation and on OAT1 transport activity. Our investigation demonstrates that PKC regulates OAT1 likely through direct phosphorylation of Nedd4–2. And four phosphorylation sites (T197, S221, S354, and S420) of Nedd4–2 in combination play an important role in this regulatory process.
Investment in early American art: the impact of transaction costs and no-sales on returns

Art, along with other “treasure assets,” has become a central object for investment opportunities. Investment return studies using hedonic and resale price regressions on different artistic periods and styles produce estimates of varying rates of return, predominately low rates with high standard deviations. The present study employs a new sample of American art sold at auction between 1987 and 2011—art created before 1950 by 33 artists born prior to 1900. Our study, unlike those that preceded it, considers works that are no-sales (those “bought-in” for failing to sell at auction at or above a predetermined and negotiated minimum price), in addition to full transaction costs—buyers and sellers premia on hammer prices. We conclude that investment return calculations are biased upward and may be negative when these factors are considered and that the “consumption utility” of art may be higher than previously thought. However, using a variant of the capital asset pricing model, we find that investment in early American art may still be desirable in a diversified portfolio of assets for when the price of stock assets falls, the price of art does not fall in the same proportion.
A Statistical Profile of the KCMSD Teaching Workforce with a Special Emphasis on Teacher Training

In this report we present a statistical profile of the teaching workforce in the Kansas City, Missouri school district, paying particular attention to training received by these teachers.
A new iterative weighted norm minimization algorithm and its applications

A general class of linear inverse problems in which the solutions are sparse and localized is considered. The proposed algorithm is a nonparametric approach that finds sparse and localized solutions without prior information on the constraints. Each step of the iterative procedure consists in solving a weighted least squares problem wherein the weighting matrix is determined by the solution from the previous iteration. Some properties of the algorithm along with its applications to problems in direction of arrival and spectrum estimation are presented. >
Content-Practice Teaching

In this chapter you will deal with content-practice issues relevant to teaching middle school mathematics. You will learn different teaching models and write unit plans and lesson plans. The component of teaching completes the alignment mindset that you have been asked to frequently bear in mind in your developing professional understanding of teaching to the CCSSM.
The Precision Effect: How Numerical Precision Influences Everyday Judgments

Numerical precision – unusually precise or sharp numbers – can trigger heuristic processing and influence judgments. Numerical precision triggers heuristic processing because it causes computational difficulty or encoding difficulty. The authors propose that the discrepancy attribution model can offer a parsimonious explanation for the effects of numerical precision on everyday judgments.
Properties of the endosomal-lysosomal system in the human central nervous system: disturbances mark most neurons in populations at risk to degenerate in Alzheimer's disease

Specific antibodies and cytochemical markers combined with several imaging and morphometric techniques were used to characterize the endosomal-lysosomal system in mature neurons of the normal human central nervous system and to quantitate changes in its function in Alzheimer's disease. Compartments containing cathespin D (Cat D) and other acid hydrolases included a major subpopulation of mature lysosomes lacking mannose-6-phosphate receptors (MPR) and smaller populations of late endosomes (MPR-positive) and lipofuscin granules (MPR-negative). Antibodies to the pro-isoform of Cat D decorated perinuclear vacuolar compartments corresponding to late endosomes. Neurons and glia contained lysosomes with differing complements of acid hydrolases, implying different processing capabilities. Endosome/lysosome number per unit volume of cytoplasm was relatively well conserved within populations of normal neurons. By contrast, in morphometric analyses of Alzheimer's disease brains, 80–93% of pyramidal cells in the prefrontal cortex (laminae III or V) and hippocampus (CA2, CA3) displayed two- to eightfold higher numbers of hydrolase-positive vacuolar compartments than did corresponding cell populations in age-matched normal brains. Only 5–10% of cerebellar Purkinje cells, a less vulnerable population, showed the same statistically significant elevations. Most affected in these brain regions and in subcortical areas seemed otherwise normal by conventional histological staining and ultrastructural inspection. That both lysosomal and pro-Cat D- and MPR-positive endosomal compartments increased in number demonstrates that the endosomal-lysosomal system is activated markedly in vulnerable neuronal populations of Alzheimer's disease brains and implies that endocytosis or autophagy or both are accelerated persistently at an early stage of cellular compromise, greatly surpassing the degree of activity associated with normal aging. Early activation of the endosomal-lysosomal system represents a biological event potentially linking major etiological factors in Alzheimer's disease, including defective membrane proteins, apolipoprotein E function, and altered amyloid precursor protein processing.