cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient parallel out-of-core isosurface extraction

A new approach for large dataset isosurface extraction is presented. The approach's aim is efficient parallel isosurfacing when the dataset cannot be processed entirely in-core. The approach focuses on reducing the memory requirement and optimizing disk I/O while achieving a balanced load. In particular, an accurate model of isosurface extraction time is exploited to evenly distribute work across processors. The approach achieves processing efficiency by also avoiding unnecessary processing for portions of the dataset that are not intersected by the isosurface. To reduce the redundant computations and the storage requirements, a flexible, variably-granular data structure is utilized, thereby achieving excellent time and space performance.
Theory of domain dynamics in film heads

The authors recently proposed a variational principle and derived general nonlinear dynamical equations for coupled motions of domains and walls in inductive recording heads. In this report, the yoke region of the core is modeled with a set of parallel 180 degrees walls and domains. Boundary conditions simulate connections to the pole-tip and back gap. To calculate the small-amplitude dynamics, the author Fourier-transforms the motion equations in time and one of the spatial dimensions. Since integration is carried out in advance with respect to the other spatial dimension, the set of linear equations that the computer needs to solve has only one index. This method is inherently more correct and, in the present linear application, more efficient than its predecessors. Illustrative solutions for an input pulse simulating the reading of an ideal transition show how the flux channel broadens with increasing pulsewidth, generally supporting previous conclusions. >
Splice site requirement for the efficient accumulation of polyoma virus late mRNAs

Abstract Polyoma virus late nuclear primary transcripts are giant and heterogeneous, containing tandem repeats of the late strand of the circular viral genome. Late pre-mRNA processing involves the splicing of noncoding 'leader' exons to each other (removing genome-length introns), with the joining of the last leader to a coding 'body' exon. We have constructed a number of mutants blocked only in leader-leader splicing, or blocked in both leader-leader and leader-body splicing. We examined the accumulation of both nuclear and cytoplasmic late-strand RNAs in NIH3T3 cells. Consistent with our previous results, mutants lacking the 3' splice site of the late leader (leader-leader splicing blocked) showed a 10-20 fold defect in late RNA accumulation. Mutants which lacked the leader 5' splice site (leader-body splicing blocked) had a more profound defect, exhibiting virtually no late-strand cytoplasmic or nuclear RNA. This result was unexpected as a substantial proportion of wild type late cytoplasmic messages are unspliced. A mutant with no intron, but having functional 3' and 5' splice sites bordering the leader exon, is capable of producing large amounts of unspliced late mRNA. This demonstrates that an excisable intron is not a requirement for late mRNA accumulation. The accumulation of polyoma late mRNAs requires the presence of leader exons bordered by functional 3' and 5' splice sites, whether or not these sites are used during pre-mRNA processing.
Profiling People Searching for and Purchasing Travel Products on the World Wide Web

This study provides a profile of people who use the Internet to gather travel information or to purchase travel arrangements. Compared to other World Wide Web users, those who search for or purchase travel on-line are more likely to be 26 to 55 years of age; to have higher incomes; to be employed in management, professional, or computer-related occupations; and to have more years of experience on-line. Concerns about credit card security, evaluation of product quality, and privacy issues are problems that on-line retailers of travel products must overcome.
WDMA/subcarrier-FDMA lightwave networks: limitations due to optical beat interference

The authors present a general model of optical beat interference, and its contribution of channel outage in a WD-SFDMA (wavelength division-subcarrier frequency division multiple access) network. The probability of channel outage due to optical beat interference is determined from analysis and computer simulation for externally and directly modulated single-mode lasers. These results are used to calculate the ultimate limitation on the throughput and capacity of the network due to beat note interference, for a simple retransmission protocol. It is shown that, as more subcarrier channels are added, network capacity increases sublinearly and eventually saturates. >
Assessing compliance with industry self‐regulation of television advertising to children

Abstract Young children's limited ability to recognize and defend against commercial messages has led to numerous concerns about advertising that targets child‐viewers. Industry self‐regulation of child‐oriented advertising content is one response to those concerns. With the demise of the National Association of Broadcasters Code in 1982, guidelines maintained by the Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) of the National Council of Better Business Bureaus comprise the only industry‐wide self‐regulation. This study evaluates the extent of compliance with the CARU standards across a sample of over 10,000 ads directed to children. The results indicate a high overall rate of adherence to the guidelines. Two problem areas emerged which accounted for most of the violations observed: ads that featured premium offers, and ads for recorded telephone message services. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the child audience.
Using Geographic Information Systems to Present Nongeographical Data: An Example Using 2-Way Thermogradient Plate Data

“A picture is worth a thousand words” is a familiar truism that is aptly suited to the dilemma of presenting complex research results involving multiple explanatory variables. An example of such a scenario is the use of 2-way thermogradient plates to study optimal germination temperatures and germination over time to answer a variety of biological questions. Two-way thermogradient plates produce a plethora of seed germination data, the value of which quickly becomes obscured in cumbersome tabular data formats. Problems related to comprehensible data presentation can swell when germination over time is incorporated into an experiment. Although somewhat unorthodox, Geographic Information Systems–based techniques are powerful tools that provide a clear and visually evident presentation of seed germination data to the reader.
TWIN BOUNDARY FLUX PINNING IN A HIGH Tc SUPERCONDUCTOR

The pinning potential due to a twin boundary in an anisotropic, continuous superconductor is calculated in a simple model. The model assumes the twin boundary to constitute a thin superconducting slab, different from and embedded in the host superconductor. We find pinning only when the penetration length of the twin boundary slab is larger than that of the host (weak link). Pinning originates also at the interface of the two superconductors. This pinning center has a dependence of the twin boundary layer thickness. The anisotropy gives rise to yet another pinning center in the strong-link situation. The model yields an estimate for the critical current parallel to the twin boundary.
DAMGO stimulates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis through a mu-2 opioid receptor.

DAMGO, a highly selective mu opioid agonist, is capable of stimulating the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to produce a dose-related elevation in plasma corticosterone (CS). The purpose of this study was to confirm that this action was mu receptor selective and to determine which of the mu receptors was involved using naloxonazine, a mu-1 receptor-selective antagonist. Experiments were done in male rats with chronic i.v. catheters and i.c.v. cannula guides. This enabled the withdrawal of serial blood samples in conscious unrestrained animals that were isolated in sound-attenuated one-way vision boxes. DAMGO, 8 and 16 micrograms administered i.c.v. caused significant and prolonged elevation of plasma CS. beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA) in progressively increasing doses (i.c.v.), antagonized the effect of DAMGO. The hormone response to DAMGO was unaffected by pretreatment with norbinaltorphimine or naltrindole (both i.c.v.). Naloxonazine, 50 micrograms, administered i.c.v. 18 hr before DAMGO did not antagonize the response to DAMGO. The same dose of naloxonazine given 2 hr before did reduce the response to DAMGO. Naloxonazine, 20 mg/kg i.v., given 18 hr before did not alter DAMGO's effect on plasma CS; however, the analgesic response to DAMGO in the same animals 24 hr later was antagonized by naloxonazine pretreatment. Pretreatment with beta-FNA or naloxonazine i.c.v. did not alter the plasma CS increase after exposure to ether vapor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Postracial Pipedreams: The Limits of Alain Mabanckou's Plea for a Non-Racial French State in Le Sanglot De L'Homme Noir

In the winter of 2012, Alain Mabanckou published a book entitled, Le sanglot de lhomme noir (The black mans sobs). In the same spirit as the Franz Fanon of Black Skin White Masks, he proposes a critique of the growing influence, in French black communities, of Afrocentric and Black Nationalist philosophies. Accordingly, Mabanckou urges French people of African descent to recognize their post-racial condition and to take full advantage of their contemporary citizenship. Manbanckou acknowledges, nonetheless, that his argument is inseparable from the de-whitening of the idea of Frenchness. He advocates, consequently, that French citizenship be based on the very promise of the republic: liberte, egalite, fraternite. While Mabanckou postulates that the republic is essentially founded on the principles of liberte, egalite, fraternite, however, I will show that as an imagined community, conceived in opposition to an invented other, the modern state is inherently exclusionary. In such a state, liberte-egalite-fraternite refers essentially to a brotherhood between those who are originally from here. Mabanckous theory is, thus, an incomplete argument. To be completed, his de-racialized conception of citizenship should entail a radical critique of the very essence of the modern state. Otherwise, the result would be a naive call for a colorblind society.
Digital File Sharing and Royalty Contracts in the Music Industry: A Theoretical Analysis

Although several researchers have examined the impact of copying in other contexts, relatively little theoretical work exists that allows for the presence of a profit maximizing music industry as an intermediary between the creators of intellectual property and consumers. This paper develops a simple theoretical model of interactions between artists who create original musical compositions, record labels that distribute them, and consumers who have the option of copying rather than buying music. The model provides testable price and demand equations and suggests that file sharing may have been undertaken by consumers who were previously not in the market for music.
Chronic pain assessment from bench to bedside: lessons along the translation continuum

The first step to providing effective healthcare is accurate assessment and diagnosis. The importance of accurate assessment is particularly important for chronic pain, given its subjective and multidimensional nature. The purpose of the current review is to discuss the dilemma of chronic pain assessment within a translational framework. First, assessment issues specific to chronic pain will be introduced along the entire continuum of translational activities. Important barriers along the continuum include inconsistent measurement of pain, possibly inaccurate preclinical models, and other practical limitations such as time, cost, and training. Second, the review will highlight promising areas worth further consideration in research and practice to bridge some of the gaps that currently impede effective chronic pain assessment and care. Specifically, consideration will be given to observational, biological, and technology-driven measures of chronic pain.
Engaging Research Participants and Building Trust

Research participants are essential partners in the research enterprise. Through the efforts of participant volunteers, scientists have access to clinical data sets and biological samples. Generally de-identified, these data sets and samples are vital to research progress and are available only through the generous donations from research participants. Individuals participate in research for many reasons, such as to receive benefit from an investigational drug, to improve care for future generations, to contribute to something hopeful, and to advance scientific knowledge. For all participants, a key component of research participation is trust.
The impacts of membership in multi-hospital systems on cost, productivity growth and technical change

ABSTRACTWe examine whether affiliation in a multi-hospital system contributes to higher rates of total factor productivity (TFP) growth, technological progress and cost efficiency. With a 1996 to 1999 panel of 248 US hospitals (some are private nonprofit (church-related and other nonprofit) and the remaining are public (government, nonfederal)), empirical results indicate that urban system member hospitals experienced higher rates of both TFP growth and technical progress than the rates of TFP growth and technical progress experienced by urban nonsystem hospitals. Rural system member hospitals experienced smaller rates of both TFP decline and technical regress than the rates of TFP decline and technical regress experienced by rural nonsystem hospitals.
Using fetal cells for prenatal diagnosis: History and recent progress

The potential to use fetal cells in the mother's circulation during the first or second trimester for prenatal diagnosis was described in 1968, but it has not been possible do develop a routine clinical prenatal test despite extensive commercial and academic research efforts. Early attention focused on the detection of aneuploidy, but more recent technology opens the possibility of high resolution detection of copy number abnormalities and even whole genome or exome sequencing to detect both inherited and de novo mutations. In the interim, cell-free noninvasive prenatal testing NIPT has allowed improved detection of aneuploidy, but this has led to a sharp reduction in the number of amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) procedures, which inevitably implies reduced detection of serious de novo deletion abnormalities. Attention has focused of both fetal nucleated red blood cells (fnRBCs) and trophoblasts. Recent progress presented at meetings, but not yet published, suggests that it will soon be possible to perform genome-wide relatively high resolution detection of deletions and duplications by recovering fetal trophoblasts during the first trimester and analyzing them by whole gene genome amplification followed by copy number analysis using arrays or next generation sequencing. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Radiographic Diagnosis of Pneumomediastinum in Neonates

Objective To analyze radiographic characteristics of pneumomediastinum in neonates,and to improve its diagnostic quality. Methods Supine anteroposterior chest film was taken in 22 neonates with pneumomediastinum, additional supine lateral chest film with horizontal projection simultaneously carried out in 16. One or more radiographic follow-ups was made in 14 cases. Spiral CT scanning was done in 4 patients. The imaging findings were retrospectively analyzed.Results Of the total 22 cases, thymic spinnaker-sail sign was seen in 9,transparent area cross the intermediate line of mediastinum in 9,streak and cystic transparent area scattered in the mediastinum in 4. Pneumothorax was accompanied in 12 cases.Conclusion Pneumomediastinum in newborn has its own radiographic characteristics. In most patients occurred thymic spinnaker-sail sign,or transparent area cross the intermediate line of mediastinum and frequently with pneumothorax. It is best shown by integrating supine anterioposterior films with lateral films of horizontal projection. CT scanning can provide more valuable information.
Epidemiological Analysis of Rubella in Shunyi District of Beijing City during 2006-2010

[Objective]To know epidemiological characteristics of rubella in Shunyi District during 2006-2010,and provide evidence for rubella prevention and control.[Methods]Descriptive epidemiology was adopted to analyze the epidemic data and laboratory monitoring data from Infectious Diseases Information Systems.[Results]The reported rubella incidence rate of Shunyi District were 14.55/100 000,14.82/100 000,15.08/100 000,1.32/100 000 and 30.72/100 000 during 2006-2010.The proportions of rubella cases in schools and kindergartens were 80.00%,53.91%,41.88%,18.18% and 38.67%.6 out of 7 outbreaks occurred in schools,105 out of 123 cases in outbreaks did not have immunization history or had unknown immunization history.[Conclusion]School is the key place for prevention and control of rubella,the rubella vaccine immunization and surveillance in school should be strengthened to reduce the incidence of rubella,and prevent the outbreaks.
Troop distribution model in battlefield engineering support based on analytic network process

In order to solve the problems of timeliness and troop deficiency,a modeling method of troop distribution was given as the arithmetic basis on CGF.A time-military-dispatching optimal model was brought forward,with the theory of describing battlefield engineering support item and Analytic Network Process method,which established balance and constraint rule in military network flow.Time restricting characters such as interval number and key lines were analyzed to suggest a sort of network iterative algorithm which was used in optimal decision-making of military distribution projects.The model reflects dynamic characteristic of engineering support tasks,having multi-objective and optimal control on engineering support.
Some Views on China's Strategy in Opening to Outside World

Opening up is a basic national policy of China,which has been treated as a key road in China's dealing with the outside world.In essence,opening up facilitates the sound interaction between China and the outside world,thus becomes a basic characteristics of China's modernization road of peaceful development.The strategic objective of Opening up is to perfect China's open economy,and construct China as a great open power.The authors maintains that China should sticks to opening up as the nation's mainstay strategy;adheres to idea innovations,such as stressing the connections among sovereignty,security and interest,perfecting the strategy of mutual benefit and win-win,constructing common-interest-based community;and construct a sound national strategic system,by optimizing the national strategy in order to perfect the setting of domestic open-up situation;furthering the global strategy in order to extend national strategic interests;and strengthening regional strategy in order to be a dominator in the process of East Asian integration.
Ultra-sensitive in-situ detection of near-infrared persistent luminescent tracer nanoagents in crude oil-water mixtures.

Current fluorescent nanoparticles-based tracer sensing techniques for oilfield applications suffer from insufficient sensitivity, with the tracer detection limit typically at the several hundred ppm level in untreated oil/water mixtures, which is mainly caused by the interference of the background fluorescence from the organic residues in crude oil under constant external excitation. Here we report the use of a persistent luminescence phenomenon, which enables an external excitation-free and thus background fluorescence-free measurement condition, for ultrahigh-sensitivity crude oil sensing. By using LiGa5O8:Cr3+ near-infrared persistent luminescent nanoparticles as a tracer nanoagent, we achieved a tracer detection limit at the single-digit ppb level (down to 1 ppb concentration of nanoparticles) in high oil fraction (up to 65 wt.%) oil/water mixtures via a convenient, CCD camera-based imaging technique without any pretreatment or phase separation of the fluid samples. This detection limit is about four to five orders of magnitude lower than that obtained using conventional spectral methods. This study introduces a new type of tracer nanoagents and a new detection method for water tracer sensing in oil reservoir characterization and management.
Partial Nephrectomy for A Renal Oncocytomaassociated With Tuberous Sclerosis

AbstractWe describe a rare case of renal oncocytoma associated with tuberous sclerosis and discuss the role of conservative surgery.
Cultural Third World War: How Economic Disparity Adversely Affects Health.

![Figure][1] “When man is viewed in his totality…we are able to have a profound understanding of the poorest, those most in need, and the marginalized. In this way, they will benefit from your care and the support and assistance offered by the public and private health sectors.”—
Evaluation and Treatment of Hypertension in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis

Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular comorbidities in end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis. Its complex pathophysiology is related to extracellular volume overload, increased vascular resistance stemming from factors related to uremia or abnormal signaling from the failing kidneys, as well as the unique blood pressure changes that take place during and between hemodialysis treatments. Despite the changing nature of blood pressure over time in hemodialysis patients, hypertension diagnosed in or out of the hemodialysis unit is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This review details the causes of hypertension in hemodialysis patients and provides an updated review of the clinical consequences and management of hypertension.
Communication Behaviors of Principals at High Performing Title I Elementary Schools in Virginia: School Leaders, Communication, and Transformative Efforts

Abstract Principals of modern Title I elementary schools, where at least half of the student population lives in poverty, must possess a broader set of leadership skills than has been historically necessary. The ability to motivate teachers utilizing effective communication is one such skill set. This qualitative research proposes a division-level training program designed to improve communication skills of principals and aspiring principals based on the self-reported communication strategies of principals at high-performing Title I elementary schools. High performing Title I schools represented just 8% of all Title I schools in Virginia during 2014. This qualitative data was derived from semi-structured interviews with 8 of these principals, surveys of principals, and publicly available data about these schools. Analysis of the self-reported information resulted in 11 specific communication strategies practiced by most or all of the principals in the participating high performing Title I elementary schools. Further uncovered were 5 themes of communication in leadership which include: a student-centered approach to decision-making; transparency of decision-making; shared decision-making with principal and teachers; the role of faculty trust; and principal preparation. Specific principal communication behaviors with teachers were implemented in motivating teachers toward earning high-performing status. These included frequent face-to-face and personal communications, minimal use of whole-school meetings, and weekly principal participation in grade level meetings. Additionally, principal certification programs were found to have had little impact on the participants in the area of communication. Finally, the critical importance of mentoring, together with school-division level training in the area of communication development, was revealed. This research concluded that communication skills are necessary for building trust between school principals and teachers, with trusting relationships vital for leading teachers toward effective instruction. More structured leadership training is essential in the area of communication skills in preparing school leaders and is most effective at the school division level.
Making better multicultural and social justice teacher educators: a qualitative analysis of the professional learning and support needs of multicultural teacher education faculty

Despite the growing body of scholarship on the multicultural dispositions and learning needs of teacher education students, little scholarly attention has been paid to those of multicultural teacher educators: the people responsible for cultivating multiculturally minded teachers. In order to begin filling that gap, using a grounded theory approach, I analyzed data from interviews with 22 people teaching multicultural teacher education courses in the USA. Three common learning and support needs emerged: (1) identity-specific content knowledge, (2) pedagogical strategies, and (3) support networks. I describe these findings and discuss ways identified needs might be addressed more sufficiently.
Car Flirting and Morality Cruising: Neurotic Gazes and Paranoid Glances in Contemporary Iranian Art

Iran’s public sphere has been segregated along gender lines since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and is regularly policed by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. This article considers the ways in which the resulting homosocial spaces appear in the works of contemporary artists working in Tehran. Looking at video and photographic works by three Iranian artists, I argue that contemporary art is hyper aware of being under surveillance and addresses itself to multiple viewers. I bring queer viewing strategies as a method of viewing these artworks in order to point to the continuum between homosocial and homoerotic spaces that permeate contemporary Iranian art.
Flow reproducibility of whole blood and other bodily fluids in simplified no reaction lateral flow assay devices

The “no reaction” lateral flow assay (nrLFA) uses a simplified LFA structure with no conjugate pad and no stored reagents. In the nrLFA, the capillary-based transport time or distance is the key indicator, rather than the outcome of a biochemical reaction. Hence, the calibration and reproducibility of the nrLFA device are critical. The capillary flow properties of several membrane types (nitrocellulose, nylon, cellulose acetate, polyethersulfone, and polyvinylidene difluoride) are evaluated. Flow rate evaluations of MilliporeSigma Hi-Flow™ Plus (HF075, HF135 and HF180) nitrocellulose membranes on nrLFA are performed using bodily fluids (whole blood, blood plasma, and artificial sweat). The results demonstrate that fluids with lower viscosity travel faster, and membranes with slower flow rate exhibit higher capability to distinguish fluids with different viscosities. Reproducibility tests of nrLFA are performed on HF075, demonstrating excellent reproducibility. The coefficient of variation for blood coagul...
Contemporary Legal Thought as... (Afterword)

This chapter is the Afterword in the volume, Searching for Contemporary Legal Thought (2017), edited by Justin Desautels-Stein and Christopher Tomlins. The chapter reflects on the meaning of "contemporary legal thought" through the lens of the "Law as..." literature.
New Concepts in Genome Regulation

Manipulating gene regulation to favor gamma-globin transcription over beta-globin transcription has been a goal of research in erythropoiesis for decades because of its relevance to amelioration of the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. A fundamental unanswered question in biology is how the unique pattern of gene expression, the transcriptome, of the many different individual mammalian cell types arises from the same genome blueprint and changes during development and differentiation. There is a growing appreciation that genome organization and the folding of chromosomes is a key determinant of gene transcription. Within this framework, enhancers function to increase the transcription of target genes over long linear distances. To accomplish this, enhancers engage in close physical contact with target promoters through chromosome folding, or looping. These long range interactions are orchestrated by cell type specific proteins and protein complexes that bind to enhancers and promoters and stabilize their interaction with each other. We have been studying LDB1, a member of an erythroid protein complex containing GATA1, TAL1 and LMO2. The LDB1complex activates erythroid genes through occupancy of virtually all erythroid enhancers. LDB1engages in homo- and heterotypic interactions with proteins occupying the promoters of erythroid genes to bring them into proximity with their enhancers. We find that enhancer long range looping activity can be redirected. Both targeting of the beta-globin locus control region to the gamma-globin gene in adult erythroid cells by the tethering of LDB1 or epigenetic unmasking of a silenced gamma-globin gene lead to increased locus control region (LCR)/gamma-globin contact frequency and reduced LCR/beta-globin contact. The outcome of these manipulations is robust, pan-cellular gamma-globin transcription activation with a concomitant reduction in beta-globin transcription. These examples suggest that chromosome looping can be considered a therapeutic target for gene activation or gene silencing to ameliorate genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Abstract 3656: Implication for checkpoint therapeutics: Expression of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules in melanoma cells

Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, with a dim prognosis when metastasized, leading to the highest number of skin cancer related deaths. In recent years there has been a focus on the use of checkpoint inhibitor therapies like anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 to treat melanoma. PD-L1, HVEM and VISTA expression on cancer cells has been shown to promote immune evasion and tumor survival. CTLA-4, when engaged on tumor cells leads to their apoptosis and LIGHT signaling leads to recruitment of T cells and effective tumor clearance. Thus, since these molecules do not function in isolation, we need to consider tissue pleiotropy and the expression of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules on tumor tissue. Our laboratory has characterized and established five primary patient derived melanoma cell lines, MEL-2, MEL-V, 3MM, KFM and GLM-2. In an effort to understand tumor tissue pleiotropy, we conducted a comprehensive expression pattern screening of eight co-inhibitory and ten co-stimulatory molecules by RT-PCR. Among others, VISTA, a CD4+ T cell suppressor, HVEM, an immune evasion regulator, LAG3 and TIM3, potential immune checkpoint targets, were seen to be differentially expressed in these primary cell lines. Current therapies target CTLA-4, PD-1 and PD-L1, which also exhibit varying expression in our primary cell lines, pointing to the importance of considering tissue expression of these molecules when administering these novel immunotherapies. Additionally, 80% of melanoma patients are positive for the BRAFV600E genetic lesion and are administered vemurafenib (PLX4032), an inhibitor of the overactive mutated BRAF. Our in vitro studies show that treatment with PLX4032, changed the expression of CTLA-4 and PD-L1 in these primary cells. We observed a decrease in PD-L1 protein expression in MEL-V and GLM-2 and an increase in PD-L1 protein expression in MEL-2 and KFM, the four BRAFV600E positive cell lines. CTLA-4 protein expression demonstrated an upward trend on treatment with PLX4032. This synergy observed between treatment with drugs targeting genetic lesions and the expression of immunomodulatory molecules warrants characterization of tumor biopsies prior to designing an effective combinatorial therapy regime. Our long term goal is to optimize combinatorial immune and drug therapies directed against both co-stimulators and checkpoint inhibitors. Citation Format: Rachana R. Maniyar, Sanjukta Chakraborty, Neha Tuli, Ghada Ben Rahoma, Sarnath Singh, Jan Geliebter, Marc Wallack, Raj K. Tiwari. Implication for checkpoint therapeutics: Expression of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules in melanoma cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3656. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3656
"What do Rankings do? Understanding the Antecedents, Form & Consequences of Organizational Rankings"

The practice of ranking organizations on varied dimensions of performance has become a pervasive phenomenon across industries and organizational fields. A substantial body of work in management and...
Oracle essentials: Oracle9 i , Oracle8 i & Oracle8 (2nd ed.)

The second edition of O'Reilly's bestselling Oracle Essentials has been updated to include the latest Oracle release, Oracle9i. Oracle Essentials distills an enormous amount of information about Oracle's myriad technologies and releases into a compact, easy-to-read volume filled with focused text, illustrations, and helpful hints. Oracle9i promises to be an even more significant upgrade than Oracle8i, offering such major features as Real Application Clusters, flashback queries, Oracle personalization, clickstream intelligence, and Oracle Database Cache and Web Cache; it also promises significant improvements in Oracle's business intelligence, XML integration, high availability, and management capabilities. The book includes overviews of these features, as well as the new Oracle9I Application Server (Oracle9iAS) and Oracle9i Portal. The book contains chapters on: Oracle products, options, and overall architecture for Oracle9i and other recent releasesInstalling and running Oracle: creating databases, configuring Net8 (known as Oracle Net in Oracle9i), starting up and shutting down OracleOracle data structures, datatypes, and ways of extending datatypesManaging Oracle: security, the Oracle Enterprise Manager, fragmentation and reorganization, and backup and recoveryOracle networking, monitoring, and tuningMulti-user concurrency, online transaction processing (OLTP), and high availabilityHardware architectures (e.g., SMP, MPP, NUMA) and their impact on OracleData warehousing and distributed databasesOracle9i, Oracle8i, and the Web, including the latest Java, web, and XML technologies, interMedia, Oracle9i Application Server, and Oracle9i Portal For new Oracle users, DBAs, developers, and managers, Oracle Essentials is an all-in-one introduction to the full range of Oracle features and technologies, including the just-released Oracle9i features. But even if you already have a library full of Oracle documentation, this compact book is the one you'll turn to, again and again, as your one-stop, truly essential reference.
Parenting in Prison

Parental incarceration has increased dramatically over the past three decades with the War on Drugs and the rise of mass incarceration. In the United States, more than 1.5 million minor children have a parent in state or federal prison. While 90 percent of inmates are men, mothers' incarceration presents particular challenges for families and children, as women are more likely to be custodial caregivers prior to their arrest and imprisonment. Children of the incarcerated experience economic hardship, developmental disadvantages, and behavioral problems at rates higher than children whose parents have not been incarcerated. Visitation can mediate the negative effects of parental incarceration, but long distances between prisons and inmates' homes can make visitation difficult and rare. Some jurisdictions are utilizing prison nurseries and alternative-to-incarceration facilities to enable mothers and children to live together during mothers' incarceration. Keywords: family/household; legal systems; motherhood
Impact of radiation dose level on CT number accuracy in photon counting CT

It is well known that when radiation dose is reduced in x-ray computed tomography, image noise increases and noise induced streaks may appear. However, to quantify the accuracy of the image reconstruction, another source of error, known as the statistical bias, also needs to be considered. In the projection domain, signal bias originates in the quantum nature of the x-ray photon fluctuations as well as the nonlinear nature of the logarithmic transform used to generate line integral data. The bias in the projection domain is then propagated into the image domain through the image reconstruction process to generate CT number biases. The purpose of this work is to experimentally study the dependence of CT number bias on the radiation dose.
Forest Society: A Social History of Peten, Guatemala

The author contends that for 250 years, roughly from the 1720s to the 1970s, the sociocultural system of Peten endured with remarkable continuity, not in spite of the changes in the hinterland region but, to an important degree, because of them.
Pharmacokinetics of Isosorbide Dinitrate During Tolerance Development

One of the central questions posed in this symposium is: “Does chronic use of organic nitrates in the clinical setting lead to tolerance of their beneficial effects?” The various chapters address the clinical evidence for and against this hypothesis. The purpose of the present discussion is, however, to examine whether chronic nitrate dosing produces changes in its pharmacokinetics, i.e., in the rates and extents of absorption, distribution, and elimination of the drug in the body, and to determine whether these pharmacokinetic changes, if present, are consistent with the various mechanisms that can be proposed for nitrate tolerance.
The spectrum of acute cardiopulmonary events associated with multiple sclerosis exacerbations

Diverse acute neurological injuries may cause acute cardiopulmonary events including neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) and neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM). The mechanism is probably mediated by sympathetic nervous system activation. Focal central nervous system (CNS) lesions, such as demyelinating lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS), may also cause cardiopulmonary disturbances. We aim to review the acute cardiopulmonary events associated with MS relapses. We performed a literature search using PubMed, and selected case reports of acute cardiac and/or pulmonary events related to MS exacerbations. We grouped these events into three categories: 1) NPE with normal cardiac function; 2) NSM and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC); 3) coexisting myocardial dysfunction and pulmonary edema. In some cases, cardiac and pulmonary symptoms preceded the onset of neurological symptoms. The majority of cases were associated with acute demyelinating lesions located in the medulla. Acute brainstem MS relapses, with demyelinating lesions affecting the medulla, may cause acute cardiac and pulmonary events presumably secondary to sympathetic hyperstimulation. Specific regions in the medulla that regulate cardiac function, systemic blood pressure and pulmonary hydrostatic pressure seem to be responsible for these events.
Prospect Theory and Criminal Choice: Experiments Testing Framing, Reference Dependence, and Decision Weights

Rational choice theory in criminology is based on a model of decision-making, expected utility theory (EUT), that research in psychology and economics has shown to be descriptively inaccurate for m...
Design and Analysis of Real Time Spiking Neural Network Decoder for Neuromorphic Chips

Neuromorphic computing, which is based on non-traditional architectures that mimic bio-neurological process, could offer potentially disruptive capabilities and high energy-efficiency in real-time data monitoring and prediction, and resource allocation. The first step for de-signing neuromorphic chips is to explore effective design methodologies for real time and energy efficient spiking neural network (SNN) encoders and decoders. In this paper, a spike timing dependent plasticity principle (STDP) based decoder is designed and optimized. As shown in our experimental results, the proposed STDP based SNN decoder achieves good performance in information recovery with multiple scales.
After the Content Course: An Expert-Novice Study of Disciplinary Literacy Practices

This manuscript presents findings and implications from multiple case study of how teacher candidates in secondary and middle childhood programs learn specialized knowledge, skills, and expertise from disciplinary experts in content courses and enact practices of disciplinary literacy in field placements. An expert-novice framework was employed to explore the pedagogical content knowledge of experts (professors of economics and history) and novices (middle childhood and secondary social studies teacher candidates) who taught history and economics during their clinical internships. Data were analyzed from participants’ think-aloud and cart sort activities, semi-structured interviews, classroom artifacts, and classroom observations. The findings provide key insights in the preparation of teacher candidates in social studies.
Structural diversity as a predictor of ecosystem function

Biodiversity is believed to be closely related to ecosystem functions. However, the ability of existing biodiversity measures, such as species richness and phylogenetic diversity, to predict ecosystem functions remains elusive. Here, we propose a new vector of diversity metrics, structural diversity, which directly incorporates niche space in measuring ecosystem structure. We hypothesize that structural diversity will provide better predictive ability of key ecosystem functions than traditional biodiversity measures. Using the new lidar-derived canopy structural diversity metrics on 19 National Ecological Observation Network forested sites across the USA, we show that structural diversity is a better predictor of key ecosystem functions, such as productivity, energy, and nutrient dynamics than existing biodiversity measures (i.e., species richness and phylogenetic diversity). Similar to existing biodiversity measures, we found that the relationships between structural diversity and ecosystem functions are sensitive to environmental context. Our study indicates that structural diversity may be as good or a better predictor of ecosystem functions than species richness and phylogenetic diversity.
Current behavioral health and cognitive screening practices in pediatric epilepsy.

Abstract Purpose Initiatives such as the Epilepsy Learning Healthcare System continue to advocate for standardized care and shared outcome data. Therefore, the current project aim was to gather information from epilepsy healthcare professionals, behavioral health professionals in particular, regarding their behavioral health and cognitive screening practices in pediatric patients with epilepsy. Information obtained will be used to assist in the development of new educational programs and platforms in the American Epilepsy Society (AES) and to inform the development of guidelines for behavioral healthcare of patients with pediatric epilepsy. Survey information Twenty-five AES members representing 25 unique epilepsy programs across the United States participated in the survey. Findings are described in terms of three focus areas: (1) Systems, (2) Assessment, and (3) Intervention. Over 80% of respondents surveyed reported that they do conduct formal screenings, most commonly to determine if further evaluation is indicated (81%), inform treatment decisions (57.1%), and for developmental surveillance (33.3%). Assessment methods were fairly evenly split between nonstandardized informal questions (50%) and evidence-based broadband measures, with the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC), 2nd or 3rd Editions (40%) most commonly used. If behavioral health concerns are identified, referrals are often made for psychotherapy (48% in-house; 80% community-based), psychiatry (68% in-house; 48% community-based), and cognitive testing (88% neuropsychological testing; 36% for psychoeducational testing). Thirty-two percent refer for psychotropic medication management. Conclusion According to this survey, a number of epilepsy centers and clinics incorporate behavioral health screening; however, there is significant variability in assessments/measures used, who is administering them, and their purpose in the trajectory of treatment. These findings emphasize the need for standardization across centers in order to most effectively provide comprehensive care for youth with epilepsy.
An Intellectual History of Multilevel Selection from Darwin to Dawkins

Whole books, and sections of books, have been dedicated to reviewing the intellectual history of multilevel selection, some small swath of which are considered in this first chapter. Readers are then made aware of other pertinent publications, acquiring something of their substance in this condensed review. For example, readers will certainly gain knowledge of multilevel selection’s prototypical origins as they are present in Darwin’s Descent of Man, while also being introduced to its reformulation a century later as a measure of population regulation. In addition to preferring main ideas to tortuous detail, we here take such content’s subsequent relevance as our litmus test for inclusion. We also review recent bouts of controversy between adherents and detractors. Where historical review is the end of other books, we use the history of multilevel selection instrumentally, with the end of contrasting its original formulation with its present instantiation. Having drawn these distinctions, one can clearly see that most controversies and objections no longer apply, as they do not pertain to modern manifestations of multilevel selection. Even as naysayers continue to criticize it for something it either never was or no longer is, the modern formulation of multilevel selection is becoming known to, and accepted among, most evolutionists. Nevertheless, this is only the first act in the two-part drama, taking us to the lowest ebb of multilevel selection’s reputation. The astute reader may notice that we use the expression multilevel selection when referring to the more general theoretical framework that is the subject matter of the present volume, while reserving the term group selection for describing the positions of past commentators that directed their reflections specifically to this particular component of multilevel selection theory, especially as more narrowly defined by past formulations of this principle. Multilevel selection theory is a more inclusive term that recognizes the operation of selection at multiple levels of biological organization, including both solitary individuals and social groups, as exemplified but never explicitly named by Charles Darwin’s thinking on the matter.