cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Mass Media and Disaster Awareness in Puerto Rico A Case Study of the Floods in Barrio Tortugo

Most of the literature about disasters assumes that the media are the most important mitigation tool for manager officials because its content creates disaster and risk awareness. This assumption proposes only three actors in the process of effective disaster management: the government officials that generate disaster information, the media that transmit it, and the public, who receives the information and acts accordingly. A case study of a flood in a rural community in Puerto Rico suggests that this model is inefficient in explaining how disaster awareness is created and how this relates to effective disaster mitigation. The data suggest that the literature fails to recognize important factors that increase or even create vulnerability to hazards. It also neglects other important actors, such as community leaders, and the actions of other groups and institutions that have indirect impact in generating the disaster situation.
A Grounded Theory Model of the Ideal Business Image for Women

Recent changes in women's business identities present an opportunity to explore the social meanings conveyed by dress in a specific and changing context. Using a grounded theory approach, interview data from twenty-four business women were analyzed for recurrent themes. These women felt they could choose from a variety of dress images in order to express appropriate or socially acceptable meanings, including credibility and competence in business. A dynamic, multi-dimensional model of the meanings comprising an “ideal” image for business women is proposed. These meanings include conservatism, fashion, masculinity, femininity/sexuality, creativity, and conformity. The meanings are conceptualized as approximately opposing forces causing tensions, thus requiring conscious balancing by business women. Each meaning has an extreme which can endanger the credibility of the wearer. The balance of meanings is mediated by several contextual factors.
Characterization of Hydrogenase and Reductive Dehalogenase Activities of Dehalococcoides ethenogenes Strain 195

Dehalococcoides ethenogenes strain 195 reductively dechlorinates tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) to vinyl chloride and ethene using H2 as an electron donor. PCE- and TCE-reductive dehalogenase (RD) activities were mainly membrane associated, whereas only about 20% of the hydrogenase activity was membrane associated. Experiments with methyl viologen (MV) were consistent with a periplasmic location for the RDs or a component feeding electrons to them. The protonophore uncoupler tetrachlorosalicylanilide did not inhibit reductive dechlorination in cells incubated with H2 and PCE and partially restored activity in cells incubated with the ATPase inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Benzyl viologen or diquat (Eo' approximately -360 mV) supported reductive dechlorination of PCE or TCE at rates comparable to MV (-450 mV) in cell extracts.
Unexpected Hole Transfer Leads to High Efficiency Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Photovoltaic

We report surprisingly efficient photocurrent generation at individual single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) /poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) junctions. Contrary to previous prediction, both semiconducting SWNTs (s-SWNTs) and metallic SWNTs (m-SWNTs) function as efficient hole acceptors. By active tuning of SWNTs’ Fermi level, we confirm that P3HT p-dopes both s-SWNT and m-SWNT, and the work function difference between the nanotube and P3HT leads to a built-in voltage driving the efficient exciton dissociation and hole transfer. We further demonstrate square millimeter scale SWNT/P3HT bilayer photovoltaics using horizontally aligned SWNT arrays. Importantly, the devices exhibit greater than 90% effective external quantum efficiency. These key findings will not only enhance our knowledge of photocurrent generation at nanoscale interfaces, but also make selective omission of m-SWNT redundant, promising carbon nanomaterial-based, low-cost, high-efficiency hybrid photovoltaics.
A new measure in network reliability-radio connectivity

A determination is made of the network reliability for a multihop packet radio network in the presence of a hostile jammer. A connectivity parameter called radio connectivity is defined as the maximum number of disjoint communication paths that are still usable between given nodes s and d after the jammer is on or, more generally, the minimum number of jammers needed to disconnect s and d. The time complexity of obtaining the ratio connectivity is analyzed. The problem is shown to be NP-hard. A couple of greedy heuristics to get an approximate answer for general networks are described. >
Immobilization following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: Evidence-based approach

The use of cervical orthoses after ACDF is a common practice. There is some retrospective evidence that the use of cervical immobilization may not be necessary in the setting of 1 and 2 level non-instrumented or instrumented ACDFs. There is not adequate evidence to support or refute the use of postoperative immobilization in greater than 2 level fusions. The use of interbody cages in 1 and 2 level fusions may obviate the need for postoperative immobilization. Overall, there is a paucity of high-level evidence to support the use of postoperative immobilization following ACDF.
A Sensitive Method for Detection of Circulating Forms of Human Growth Hormone by Immunoautoradiography

Several different forms of hGH have been isolated from the pituitary, but little is known about modifications of synthesized forms that may exist in the circulation. We used a combination of serum immunoextraction with gel electrophoresis and electrophoretic blotting to detect circulating hGH isohormones. Three different components were identified, with the predominant form being 22,000 MW isomer. The method is; sensitive to nanogram quantities of hGH and is applicable to the screening of human serum for the presence of variants of hGH.
A comparison of RN students in two types of baccalaureate completion programs.

The purpose of this study was to compare perceptions of nursing programs and attitudes toward professional nursing behaviors in entering and exiting registered nurse students enrolled in generic and second step baccalaureate degree completion programs. The convenience sample of 233 registered nurse students was drawn from eight baccalaureate nursing programs in a metropolitan area. Data included a student profile, perceptions of program in which enrolled, a professional attitude scale, and demographics. Data were factor analyzed to cluster items into distinct empirical groups and then examined by analysis of variance using program type and entry/exit status as covariates. Factor analysis of program perception data delineated six principal factors. On two of the factors, overall nursing role attainment and communication ability, entering second step students held significantly higher expectations. However, responses of exiting students as to how well expectations had been met were similar between the two program types. Similar analysis of the professional attitude scale differentiated five factors. Results showed that among students entering both program types, second step entrants had significantly more professional attitudes (p less than .01). Differences between the exiting groups were not significant. This study suggests that professional attitude formation is not dependent upon type of baccalaureate completion program in which enrolled but may relate to type of prior nursing education.
A Model for Assessing Performance in Small U.S. Exporting Firms

A model, which integrates the concepts of export strategy, administrative arrangements, and commitment as critical variables affecting export performance, is developed and evaluated using empirical...
Bayesian Cramer-Rao bounds for multistatic radar

The Bayesian Cramer-Rao bound (BCRB) on the mean square error in tracking the position and velocity of a moving target in a multistatic radar system is formulated and a recursive bound on the state variables as a function of time is derived based on the nonlinear filtering bound developed by Tichavsky et al (1998). The result is an error bound ellipse in the xy-plane that evolves as the target moves along its trajectory. The recursive BCRB provides an efficient technique to analyze various system design trade-offs including the effect of transmitter-receiver geometry, the contribution of each transmitter to tracking accuracy, the effect of angular estimation accuracy.
Portland Trail Blazers

A National Basketball Association franchise is struggling to increase attendance. It contracts a marketing research firm to conduct a conjoint analysis focusing on several aspects of its season ticket offerings with the hope that it can profitably improve their attractiveness. The case presents the results of that research and requires students to make tactical decisions based on it.
Estrogens and Chlamydia trachomatis

Isolates of Chlamydia trachomatis were inoculated in nonreplicating McCoy cells and incubated for 48 hr with various concentrations of hormones. Only the estrogens, particularly 17-beta-estradiol, had an affect on the subsequent infection of the McCoy cells by the Chlamydia. Exposure to 2-4 ng/ml (10(-8) M) estradiol during inoculation and incubation was associated with no change in the initial binding of Chlamydia to McCoy cells, but significantly more (about twofold) Chlamydia inclusions in the McCoy cells after 48 hr incubation. This effect was dose dependent, could be blocked with anti-estrogens, and also occurred with replicating McCoy cells. Localization studies suggest that this effect on the infectivity of Chlamydia trachomatis is dependent upon initial interactions of estrogens with McCoy cells. Both light microscopy and electron microscopy of the McCoy (fibroblast) cells showed no morphological changes after exposure to the estrogens under the incubation conditions employed in these studies. Estrogens may modify host susceptibility to Chlamydia infections in a manner independent of morphological changes in mammalian cells.
Energy Transfer between Conjugated Polyelectrolytes in Layer-by-Layer Assembled Films

We present a study of Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between two emissive conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) in layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembled films as a means of examining their organization and architecture. The two CPEs are a carboxylic acid functionalized polyfluorene (PFl-CO2) and thienylene linked poly(phenylene ethynylene) (PPE-Th-CO2). The PFl-CO2 presents a maximum emission at 418 nm, while the PPE-Th-CO2 has an absorption λmax centered at 431 nm, in sufficient proximity for effective FRET. Several LbL films have been constructed using varied concentrations of the deposition solutions and identity of the buffer layers separating the two emissive layers, using a system of either weak polyelectrolytes, poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/poly(sodium methacrylate) (PMA), or strong polyelectrolytes, poly(diallylammonium chloride) (PDDA)/poly(styrene sulfonate) sodium (PSS). The efficiency of FRET has been monitored using fluorescence spectroscopy. Initially, the fluorescence of the PF...
POPULATION DYNAMICS OF TWO SPECIES OF EIMERIA (APICOMPLEXA: EIMERIIDAE) IN DEER MICE (PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS): BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS

I investigated whether biotic factors (competitive exclusion between parasites and host immunity), abiotic factors (high temperature, low temperature, and rainfall), or a combination of the 2 affected the population dynamics of Eimeria arizonensis and Eimeria delicata in naturally infected deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). There was no evidence of competitive exclusion between E. arizonensis and E. delicata, nor were E. arizonensis population dynamics affected by host immunity (young deer mice were not infected significantly more frequently than adults). However, high temperatures were negatively associated with the prevalence of observed infections (r = -0.725, P < 0.001), suggesting sporulation of oocysts might be affected. In contrast, juvenile deer mice were infected with E. delicata more frequently than adults (z = 2.05, P < 0.02), suggesting that host immunity plays a role in the population dynamics of E. delicata. Temperature and rainfall during oocyst sporulation were not significantly associated with the prevalence of observed E. delicata infections. Finally, there was no evidence that a combination of biotic and abiotic factors was important in the population dynamics of either eimerian. Thus, the population dynamics of E. arizonensis seem to be controlled by abiotic factors, whereas those of E. delicata seem to be affected by biotic factors.
Emergence rhythms of adult screwworms.

Timing of emergence of adult Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) from puparia was found to be entrained within the larval stage of each generation if the larvae were reared with a regimen of 12 hours light:12 hours dark. However, the peak of emergence within the circadian cycle could be shifted from early morning to late afternoon by rearing a single generation with a regimen of 4 hours light:20 hours dark. The entrained circadian rhythm was unaffected by photo periodic regimens in the pupal stage. The periodicity of adult emergence appears to be induced early in larval development. These findings are applicable to a sterile-male-release program.
Observations on Mortality Factors of the Fir Engraver Beetle, Scolytus ventrails (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

The fir engraver beetle, Scolytus ventralis LeConte, is a major enemy of true firs in Western forests and has been exceedingly destructive to stands of white fir, Abies concolor (Gord and Glend.) Lindl., in California and Oregon (Keen 1952, Struble 1957).
Teaching Specialization of Teachers Education

The specialization in teaching in the course of teacher education has aroused increasing concern. Its essentials are the teacher抯 professional criteria, course modes of education study on educational science, etc. And it can be promoted through such methods as teaching training, selecting system for teachers, optimization of the curriculum, and practice teaching.
Influence of yeast culture supplementation and advancing season on steers grazing mixed-grass prairie in the northern Great Plains: II. Ruminal fermentation, site of digestion, and microbial efficiency

Twelve ruminally and duodenally cannulated beef steers (initial BW 368 +/- 25.3 kg) and four ruminally cannulated beef heifers (initial BW 559 +/- 79.5 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of yeast culture (YC) and advancing season on ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, ruminal fluid kinetics, and site of digestion. Treatments were control and YC supplementation (28.4 g.steer-1.d-1 dosed ruminally). Steers grazed from late June to early November 1991 on mixed-grass prairie. Ruminal pH decreased (P < .10) from late July to early October. Fluid dilution rate decreased (P < .10) as the grazing season advanced, whereas ruminal fluid volume and flow rate increased (P < .10) from late July to early October. Ruminal ammonia concentration (milligrams/deciliter) was lower (P < .10) during late July and late August than during late June and early October at 4, 8, 12, and 16 h after sunrise in YC-supplemented steers. Molar proportions of propionate and butyrate were greater (P < .10) in control than in YC-supplemented steers at 0, 4, 12, and 24 h and 0, 4, and 12 h after sunrise, respectively, during late July. Acetate (mol/100 mol) was greater (P < .10) during late July and late August than in late June and early October for YC-supplemented steers at 0, 4, and 8 h after sunrise. True ruminal OM digestion was greatest (P < .10) in late June, intermediate in late July and late August, and least in early October. Supplementation with YC increased (P < .04) true ruminal OM digestion in late June and late July. Steers receiving YC had greater (P < .07) duodenal bacterial N flow in late July. These data indicate that yeast culture supplementation can increase true OM digestibility early in the grazing season. Advancing season seems to result in increased ruminal fluid volume, lower true ruminal OM digestion, and greater microbial efficiency.
SHBG, Sex Steroids, and Kyphosis in Older Men: The MrOS Study.

Accentuated kyphosis is associated with adverse health outcomes, including falls and fractures. Low bone density is a risk factor for hyperkyphosis, and each vertebral fracture adds roughly 4° to forward spine curvature. Sex steroids, in particular low bioavailable estradiol and high sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), are associated with bone loss and high SHBG is associated with vertebral fractures in older men. We, therefore, hypothesized that low bioavailable estradiol and high SHBG would be associated with worse kyphosis. To test this hypothesis, we examined the cross-sectional associations between individual bioavailable sex hormones and SHBG with radiographically assessed kyphosis. Participants included 1500 men aged 65 and older from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study, in whom baseline measures of kyphosis and sex hormones were available. Modified Cobb angle of kyphosis, calculated from T4 through T12, was assessed from supine lateral spine radiographs. Serum total estradiol and total testosterone were measured by mass spectrometry, and bioavailable sex steroids were calculated from mass action equations. After adjustment for age and other confounding variables, no association was found between bioavailable estradiol or testosterone and Cobb angle, either when kyphosis was analyzed as a continuous variable or dichotomized into highest versus lower three quartiles. In linear regression models adjusted for age and clinic site, there was a significant association between SHBG and kyphosis (parameter estimate = 0.76 per SD increase, p = 0.01). In the fully adjusted model, this association was weakened and of only borderline statistical significance (parameter estimate = 0.61 per SD, p = 0.05). Logistic models demonstrated similar findings. Although associated with bone loss, we did not demonstrate that low bioavailable estradiol translates into worse kyphosis in older men. High SHBG is associated with bone loss and vertebral fractures. Our results suggest that high SHBG may also be a risk factor for hyperkyphosis. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Design and synthesis of inhibitors of the protein tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2

The protein tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, plays a critical role in growth factor, cytokine, hormone, and immune signaling [1]. The activation of signaling pathways that lead to cell growth by SHP-2 suggests that this protein may be involved in tumorigenesis [2]. Therefore, the development of specific inhibitors of SHP-2 could have potential therapeutic value as anticancer agents. In SHP-2, the catalytic protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) domain is preceded by two src homology (SH2) domains. It has been shown that the phosphatase activity of SHP-2 is activated when the SH2 domains bind to tyrosine phosphorylated peptides [3]. The recent crystal structure of SHP-2 suggests a possible allosteric regulatory mechanism involving a specific intramolecular block of the catalytic site by the N-terminal SH2 domain, N-SH2 [4]. In the inactive state, the N-SH2 domain binds in the catalytic cleft and prevents substrate binding. When a phosphopeptide sequence binds to the SH2 domains, a conformational change occurs that disrupts the interaction of the N-SH2 with the catalytic site and allows for substrate binding and phosphatase activity. Our initial studies have focused on the development of specific inhibitors of SHP-2 that target the catalytic site by designing peptides based on the amino acid sequence of the N-SH2 domain, and in particular, a loop of the N-SH2 that fits into the active site. Both linear and cyclic peptides having inhibitory activity in the μM range have been identified. The results have provided a more detailed understanding of the molecular basis for the inhibition of the catalytic domain of SHP-2 by the N-SH2 domain.
Cascades and plunge pools on the continental slope of the Gulf of Alaska

More than 321 400 km2 of seafloor in the Gulf of Alaska was mapped in 2005 (Gardner & Mayer 2005). Both bathymetry and high-resolution backscatter data were collected from the R/V Kilo Moana . The resulting digital terrain models and backscatter mosaics provide a remarkable view of the processes on a tectonically active, glaciated margin. In the course of these surveys several morphological features, similar to cascades and plunge pools found beneath terrestrial waterfalls, were identified on the continental slope. Although several cascade-like features are seen along the continental slope of the southeastern Alaskan margin, the most prominent is found SW of Yakutak Bay and south of the Malispina Glacier which emanates from the St Elias Mountain Range (Fig. 1a, b). The St Elias Range includes some of the highest mountains in North America with remarkable vertical relief, for example Mount St Elias rises to 5489 m above sea level in less than 16 km horizontal distance (Fig. 1a, b). Offshore of Yakutak Bay is the Yakutak Valley, a large, glacially excavated, submarine valley that cuts NE–SW across the continental shelf. Yakutak Valley originates in Yakutak Bay with a width of approximately 50 km and a depth of 120 m as it reaches the shelf break 90 km from the mouth of the bay (Fig. 1a). Fig. 1. Multibeam bathymetry and backscatter along the SE Alaskan margin. ( a …
Isogenic blood–brain barrier models based on patient‐derived stem cells display inter‐individual differences in cell maturation and functionality

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) constitutes an important component of the neurovascular unit formed by specialized brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) surrounded by astrocytes, pericytes, and neurons. Recently, isogenic in vitro models of the BBB based on human pluripotent stem cells have been documented, yet the impact of inter-individual variability on the yield and phenotype of such models remains to be documented. In this study, we investigated the impact of inter-individual variability on the yield and phenotype of isogenic models of the BBB, using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Astrocytes, BMECs, and neurons were differentiated from four asymptomatic patient-derived iPSCs (two males, two females). We differentiated such cells using existing differentiation protocols and quantified expression of cell lineage markers, as well as BBB phenotype, barrier induction, and formation of neurite processes. iPSC-derived BMECs showed barrier properties better than hCMEC/D3 monolayers; however, we noted differences in the expression and activity among iPSC lines. In addition, we noted differences in the differentiation efficiency of these cells into neural stem cells and progenitor cells (as noted by differences in expression of cell lineage markers). Such differences were reflected later in the terminal differentiation, as seen as ability to induce barrier function and to form neurite processes. Although we demonstrated our ability to obtain an isogenic model of the BBB with different patients' iPSCs, we also noted subtle differences in the expression of cell lineage markers and cell maturation processes, suggesting the presence of inter-individual polymorphisms.
Combined statistical and spatially distributed hydrological model for evaluating future drought indices in Virginia

Abstract Study region Virginia, United States. Study focus Climate change is expected to impact the intensity and severity of droughts; therefore, it is necessary to simulate future drought conditions using temperature and precipitation projections and hydrological models to derive reliable hydrological variables and drought indices. The objective of this study was to evaluate climate change influences on future drought potential and water resources in five major river basins in Virginia. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate models were used to compute a Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSI), a Multivariate Standardized Drought Index (MSDI), and a Modified Palmer Drought Severity Index (MPDSI) for both historic and future periods. The drought conditions were evaluated, and their occurrences were determined at river basin scales. New hydrological insights for the region The results of the ensemble mean of SSI indicated that there was an overall increase in agricultural drought occurrences projected in the New (>1.3 times) and Rappahannock (>1.13 times) river basins due to increases in evapotranspiration and surface and groundwater flow. However, MSDI and MPDSI exhibited a decrease in projected future drought, despite increases in precipitation, which suggests that it is essential to use hybrid-modeling approaches and to interpret application-specific drought indices that consider both precipitation and temperature changes.
Anti-nociceptive interactions between opioids and a cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist in inflammatory pain.

The cannabinoid 1 receptor and cannabinoid 2 receptor can both be targeted in the treatment of pain; yet, they have some important differences. Cannabinoid 1 receptor is expressed at high levels in the central nervous system, whereas cannabinoid 2 receptor is found predominantly, although not exclusively, outside the central nervous system. The objective of this study was to investigate potential interactions between cannabinoid 2 receptor and the mu-opioid receptor in pathological pain. The low level of adverse side effects and lack of tolerance for cannabinoid 2 receptor agonists are attractive pharmacotherapeutic traits. This study assessed the anti-nociceptive effects of a selective cannabinoid 2 receptor agonist (JWH-133) in pathological pain using mice subjected to inflammatory pain using the formalin test. Furthermore, we examined several ways in which JWH-133 may interact with morphine. JWH-133 produces dose-dependent anti-nociception during both the acute and inflammatory phases of the formalin t...
Screening for Food Insecurity: Short-Term Alleviation and Long-Term Prevention.

The article examines possible preventative measures and short-term solutions for food insecurity, or the lack of consistent access to food supporting a healthy life. Information is provided on the U.S. Food Security Scale (USFSS), or Hunger Vital Sign, that assess concern over food costs and personal budgets for purchasing food.
Anti-CD19 CAR T cells with high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation for refractory multiple myeloma

Background Multiple myeloma is usually fatal due to serial relapses that become progressively refractory to therapy. CD19 is typically absent on the dominant multiple myeloma cell population but may be present on minor subsets with unique myeloma-propagating properties. To target myeloma-propagating cells, we clinically evaluated autologous T cells transduced with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against CD19 (CTL019). Methods Subjects received CTL019 following salvage high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). All subjects had relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and had previously undergone ASCT with less than 1 year progression-free survival (PFS). Results ASCT + CTL019 was safe and feasible, with most toxicity attributable to ASCT and no severe cytokine release syndrome. Two of 10 subjects exhibited significantly longer PFS after ASCT + CTL019 compared with prior ASCT (479 vs. 181 days; 249 vs. 127 days). Correlates of favorable clinical outcome included peak CTL019 frequency in bone marrow and emergence of humoral and cellular immune responses against the stem-cell antigen Sox2. Ex vivo treatment of primary myeloma samples with a combination of CTL019 and CAR T cells against the plasma cell antigen BCMA reliably inhibited myeloma colony formation in vitro, whereas treatment with either CAR alone inhibited colony formation inconsistently. Conclusion CTL019 may improve duration of response to standard multiple myeloma therapies by targeting and precipitating secondary immune responses against myeloma-propagating cells. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02135406. Funding Novartis, NIH, Conquer Cancer Foundation.
Green’s Functions for Nonhomogeneous Second Order Difference Equations

In this chapter we will be concerned with second order nonhomogeneous difference equations. We will be studying equations of the form $${L_y}\left( t \right) = \Delta \left[ {P\left( t \right)\Delta y\left( {t - 1} \right)} \right] + Q\left( t \right)y\left( t \right) = h\left( t \right)$$ where P(t) and Q(t) are given n × n Hermitian matrix functions on the discrete intervals [a + 1, b + 2] and [a + 1, b + 1], respectively. We also assume P(t) is nonsingular for t ∈ [a + 1, b + 2]. In Section 2 of this chapter we will derive a variation of constants formula for the above nonhomogeneous problem. In Sections 3 and 4 we will be concerned with Green’s matrix functions for the conjugate boundary value problem and for the right focal boundary value problem. In Section 5 we will consider a Green’s matrix function for a more general two point boundary value problem.
Education, Self-consciousness and Social Action: Bildung as a Neo-Hegelian Concept

Education, Self-consciousness and Social Action reconstructs the Hegelian concept of education, Bildung, and shows that this concept could serve as a powerful alternative to current psychologist notions of learning. Taking a Hegelian perspective, Stojanov claims that Bildung should be interpreted as growth of mindedness and that such a growth has two central and interrelated components, including the development of self-consciousness toward conceptual self-articulation and the formation of one’s capacity for intelligent social action. The interrelation between the two central components of education implies that learning is transformed into education only when it involves the self-consciousness and the identity of the learner. Since both are grounded in the ethical beliefs and values of the individual, transforming learning into education therefore requires that education also address students’ everyday ethical assumptions, as well as their articulation and conceptualization. This claim has a number of implications for educational policy and pedagogy; one being that learning and teaching in schools are educative only if they have ethical significance for both students and teachers. Another implication is that the point of departure for educative teaching becomes the actual, everyday ethical beliefs and experiences of the students, rather than fixed curricular contents. Students’ encountering with sciences and arts should aim at the conceptual articulation of those beliefs and experiences – an articulation which makes individual’s rational autonomy and self-determination possible. Education, Self-consciousness and Social Action will be of great interest to academics, researchers and postgraduate students interested in the philosophy of education. It should also be essential reading for anyone engaged in the study of Hegel’s work.
Anti-apoptotic BCL2L2 increases megakaryocyte proplatelet formation in cultures of human cord blood.

Apoptosis is a recognized limitation to generating large numbers of megakaryocytes in culture. The genes responsible have been rigorously studied in vivo in mice, but are poorly characterized in human culture systems. As CD34-positive (+) cells isolated from human umbilical vein cord blood were differentiated into megakaryocytes in culture, two distinct cell populations were identified by flow cytometric forward and side scatter: larger size, lower granularity (LLG), and smaller size, higher granularity (SHG). The LLG cells were CD41aHigh CD42aHigh phosphatidylserineLow, had an electron microscopic morphology similar to mature bone marrow megakaryocytes, developed proplatelets, and displayed a signaling response to platelet agonists. The SHG cells were CD41aLowCD42aLowphosphatidylserineHigh, had a distinctly apoptotic morphology, were unable to develop proplatelets, and showed no signaling response. Screens of differentiating megakaryocytes for expression of 24 apoptosis genes identified BCL2L2 as a novel candidate megakaryocyte apoptosis regulator. Lentiviral BCL2L2 overexpression decreased megakaryocyte apoptosis, increased CD41a+ LLG cells, and increased proplatelet formation by 58%. An association study in 154 healthy donors identified a significant positive correlation between platelet number and platelet BCL2L2 mRNA levels. This finding was consistent with the observed increase in platelet-like particles derived from cultured megakaryocytes over-expressing BCL2L2. BCL2L2 also induced small, but significant increases in thrombin-induced platelet-like particle αIIbβ3 activation and P-selectin expression. Thus, BCL2L2 restrains apoptosis in cultured megakaryocytes, promotes proplatelet formation, and is associated with platelet number. BCL2L2 is a novel target for improving megakaryocyte and platelet yields in in vitro culture systems.
Redesigning a Computer Science Capstone Course with Micro-credentials

This Innovate Practice work-in-progress paper investigates micro-credentials as an approach to redesign a course taught by several different instructors in our department. The course involved in this research is a 100-level Computer Science capstone course in Python programming language. This course is mainly designed for freshmen in Computer Science major, but is also available to all the students in other majors. Because of the increasing number of students who are interested in learning programming, the department has to provide at least half a dozen of sessions each semester. Those sessions are usually taught by several faculty members, and in our case, the department has no guidelines on the course design other than a set of student learning outcomes. The instructors of each session can make course design decisions by themselves, including the textbook to use, the material to cover, etc. In this project, we present a course design methodology based on a common set of micro-credentials for this course. Micro-credentials are a set of academic competencies which the instructors expect the students to develop in the course. This paper presents one instructor’s course evaluation and redesigning process, showing micro-credentials can help instructors identify the topics which are not covered sufficiently. The process presented in this project could also be used to align the course designs of different instructors on the same course.
Scalp reconstruction: a review of the literature and a unique case of total craniectomy in an adult with osteomyelitis of the skull.

Osteomyelitis of the skull is a rare but well-studied condition that can lead to systemic illness, bone loss, intracranial complications, and mortality. It usually presents as a chronic process that arises from an overlying infection of scalp. Osteomyelitis of the skull has also been documented as developing from pediatric tumors and specific infections such as aspergillus, cryptococcus, blastomycosis, mucormycosis, salmonella, mycobacterium, propionibacterium acnes, treponema pallidum, tuberculosis, varicella, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).1,2 Furthermore, skull osteomyelitis has recently gained importance due to its association with immune-depressed states such as HIV, prolonged neutropenia in critically ill patients, drug-induced immune suppression in organ transplantation, and chemotherapy treatment for solid tumors.1 Treating osteomyelitis of the skull has benefited from the use of antibiotics; however, the debridement of necrotic bone still remains a viable treatment should medicine fail. In such cases that warrant surgery, specific scalp reconstructive techniques, such as primary closure, skin grafts, tissue expansion, local and regional flaps, and free tissue transfer, exist to provide durable soft tissue coverage, protection of underlying structures, and control of cerebral spinal fluid leaks.3 The authors present the case of a 54-year-old woman who required a total craniectomy after developing full-thickness osteomyelitis of her entire cranium due to the progression of a scalp wound sustained less than 1 year prior. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only case of skull osteomyelitis in the English literature that necessitated a total craniectomy. The success of this course of treatment sheds light on the extent of removal of necrotic bone that can be taken when treating widespread skull osteomyelitis in patients that fail conventional treatment with antibiotics.
CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics: a historical perspective

To accompany Applied Optics’ Institutional Focus Issue on CREOL, M. J. Soileau’s guest editorial tells the story of how the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL) at the University of Central Florida quickly grew from its inception to become one of the premier programs in optics and lasers.
Twinning iterative design with community cultural wealth: Toward a locally-grounded, expansive maker culture

Drawing upon critical justice studies and critical ethnographies in two community-centered makerspaces, we build an argument for how designing for expanded iterations that repeatedly draw from community cultural wealth, supported youth-makers and communities in co-creating an expansive, locally-grounded maker culture. Two related-foci are unpacked: First, we examine how youth engage in an "expanded" iterative process across the making cycle -- what this expanded iterative process is, and how it takes shape as youth move from collaborative ideation through to the afterlife of a maker project. Second, by delving into "moments of expanded iterations" we examine how youth articulate ownership of their making: what that means, how and why, and the subsequent generative spaces that resulted.
Convective instabilities derived from dissipation of chemical energy

Oxidation reactions of a series of organosulfur compounds by chlorite are excitable, autocatalytic, and exothermic and generate a lateral instability upon being triggered by the autocatalyst. This article reports on the convective instabilities derived from the reaction of chlorite and thiourea in a Hele-Shaw cell. Reagent concentrations used for the development of convective instabilities delivered a temperature jump at the wave front of 2.1 K. The reaction zone was 2 mm and due to normal cooling after the wave front, this induced a spike rather than the standard well-studied front propagation. Localized spatiotemporal patterns develop around the wave front. This exothermic autocatalytic reaction has solutal and thermal contributions to density changes that act in opposite directions due to the existence of a positive isothermal density change in the reaction. The competition between these effects generates thermal plumes. The fascinating feature of this system is the coexistence of plumes and fingering in the same solution as the front propagates through the Hele-Shaw cell. Wave velocities of descending and ascending fronts are oscillatory. Fingers and plumes are generated in alternating frequency as the front propagates. This generates hot and cold spots within the Hele-Shaw cell, and subsequently spatiotemporal inhomogeneities. The small ΔT at the wave front generated thermocapillary convection which competed effectively with thermogravitational forces at low Eotvos numbers. A simplified reaction-diffusion-convection model was derived for the system. Plume formation is heavily dependent on boundary effects from the cell dimensions.
Moving a School toward Cultural Relevance: Leveraging Organizational Structures, Routines, and Artifacts to Shape Social Interactions.

This qualitative case study demonstrates how anti-racist instructional leaders at Oakwood High School were able to leverage organizational improvement tools to support sustained school-wide teacher...
Hippocampal CA2 Organizes CA1 Slow and Fast γ Oscillations during Novel Social and Object Interaction.

A key goal in hippocampal research is to understand how neuronal activity is generated and organized across hippocampal subregions to enable memory formation and retrieval. Neuronal activity in CA2 is regulated by spatial and social investigation as well as by novelty (Mankin et al., 2015; Alexander et al., 2016), and CA2 activity controls population oscillatory activity in the slow γ and ripple ranges within hippocampus (Kay et al., 2016; Oliva et al., 2016; Boehringer et al., 2017; Alexander et al., 2018). CA2 neurons are also required for social recognition memory (Stevenson and Caldwell, 2012; Hitti and Siegelbaum, 2014; Smith et al., 2016). Because CA1 exhibits layer-specific organization (Scheffer-Teixeira et al., 2012; Lasztoczi and Klausberger, 2014, 2016) reflective of its inputs (Fernandez-Ruiz et al., 2012; Schomburg et al., 2014), and because CA2 activity controls CA1 slow γ (Alexander et al., 2018), we hypothesized that silencing CA2 would affect CA1 slow γ in a layer-specific manner during investigation of a novel social stimulus. While recording from CA1, we leveraged molecular tools to selectively target and inhibit CA2 pyramidal cells using inhibitory DREADDs while subject mice investigated novel animals or objects. We found that CA2 inhibition reduced slow γ power during investigation of a novel animal and fast γ power during both novel object and animal investigation in a manner reflective of the CA2 axonal projection zones within CA1. Our results suggest that CA2 contributes to CA1 slow and fast γ oscillations in a stimulus-specific manner.
Development of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on sorghum milling fractions

Abstract A series of tests was conducted to determine if Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), the red flour beetle, could survive on six milled sorghum fractions: Bran, Coarse Grits, Fine Grits, Flour, Red Dogs, and Shorts. In the first test, parental adults were exposed on the fractions, removed, and then the fractions were held for six-seven weeks at 27 °C. Late instar larvae and progeny adults were present in all fractions. In the second test, at least 80% of single neonates (1-2-day-old larvae) held on 1 g of a fraction at 27 °C for seven weeks were able to complete development to the adult stage. In the final test, individual neonates were held on 1 g of a fraction at 37 °C, 32 °C, 27 °C, or 22 °C. Time to adult emergence at each temperature ranged from 17 to 23 days, 21–27 days, 28–50 days, and 67–113 days, respectively, depending on the specific fraction. Logistic functions were compared for mean developmental times for each temperature-fraction combination. The six fractions were also analyzed for ash, fat, fiber, moisture, protein, and starch content. The fractions varied with respect to these chemical constituents; fat and moisture content were negatively correlated with development in some comparisons, though overall there was no correlation between these chemical components and neonate development on the fractions. Temperature had an obvious effect on neonate development, which has implications for assessing risk of pest infestations inside sorghum mills during warmer months of the calendar year. In addition, T. castaneum will reproduce and develop on all of the sorghum fractions included in this study, which are commonly generated during the sorghum milling process. Sanitation and removal of residual materials such as the measured fractions could also help with overall pest management of T. castaneum.
Theoretical Aspects of Quadrupole Perturbations of Time-Integrated Angular Correlations

Computations have been made in order to determine the optimum geometries for time-integrated angular-correlation experiments perturbed by static axially symmetric electric field gradients. Several new properties of the interaction are discussed, including planes of negative attenuation (enhancement), cases for which no interaction is allowed to occur, and new aspects of the concept of hard-core angular correlations.
Management of Iliac Stent Thrombosis

Iliac stent thrombosis was managed by thrombolysis by TPA and angioplasty in 2009. Patient subsequently developed in-stent stenosis in the left common iliac artery stent which was treated with balloon angioplasty in 2011 and 2014. Patient died 9 years following thrombolysis from carcinoma of the lung but with normal ABI in both lower extremities.
The Associations between Childhood Obesity, Academic Performance, and Perception of Teachers: From Kindergarten to Fifth Grade.

Background: Obesity is weakly associated with negative academic achievement among school-aged children. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the relationships between reading/mathematics scores (objective) and teachers' perception of learning ability (subjective) and childhood obesity-from kindergarten to fifth grade. Methods: This study examined a longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of 18,174 children who were enrolled in kindergarten in 2010 in the United States (ECLS-K:2011). Weighted multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between objective scores, subjective scores, and obesity (vs. healthy-weight children). Results: In the crude analyses, obesity was negatively associated with achieving above-median reading and mathematics scores. After adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status (SES), the association weakened but was still present. Children with obesity were less likely to achieve above-median reading and mathematics scores than their healthy-weight peers (odds ratio [OR] 0.77 and 0.86 for reading; OR 0.85, 0.67, 0.79, 0.82, and 0.75 for mathematics). Similarly, teachers reported that children with obesity did not have Approaches to Learning and Attentional Focusing as good as their healthy-weight peers regardless of their objective test scores and SES (OR 0.82, 0.80, 0.78, 0.69, and 0.77 for Approaches to Learning; OR 0.80, 0.81, 0.83, 0.82, 0.80, and 0.74 for Attentional Focusing). Conclusions: Obesity during elementary school years is negatively associated with both objective and subjective measures of academic performance. Further studies are needed to understand if the connection is stemming from behavioral issues of children, weight-based bias of teachers, or both.
The Impact of Multimedia in Course Design on Students' Performance and Online Learning Experience: A Pilot Study of an Introductory Educational Computing Course.

The creation of multimedia assets for online courses is a time intensive endeavor. Faculty have limited access to instructional designers for this and other course design functions. This study sought to determine if multimedia use in course design contributes positively to student performance or their perception of the online learning experience, after controlling for faculty course design expertise. Students totaling 142 were enrolled in an Introductory Educational Computing Course between 2016 and 2018 designed according to Quality Matters standards based on an informal internal review as well as a course designed according to instructor preferences. Eighty-four students, who participated in the courses designed according to Quality Matters standards based on an informal internal review were surveyed about their perceptions. While it may be of no surprise that multimedia use did not impact student performance directly, based on end-of-point course totals, it did positively influence student perceptions of the online learning experience. A performance gap between ethnicities in this study was not observed , as evidence through end-of-course total points . This may be salient given the prevalence of such performance gaps in most educational settings. Course policies and instructional strategies perceived by students as helpful may be one contributing factor to th is lack of performance gap. Furthermore, the use of multimedia in course design was found to reduce cognitive load, as shown by the amount of time spent inside the learning management system. What this means for multimedia use in course design and the student online learning experience concludes this paper.