cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three queen morphs with alternative nest-founding behaviors in the ant, Temnothorax longispinosus

In many ant species, multiple modes of founding new colonies occur in the same population. These modes include dependent founding, independent founding by haplometrosis (single queen), and independent founding by pleometrosis (multiple queens). In several cases, a dimorphism in queen size has been found, such that each morph specializes in a particular nest-founding behavior. I investigated queen size in the ant Temnothorax longispinosus in several southern Wisconsin populations and found three distinct queen morphs: small queens with very low fat content and short wings, large queens with low fat and long wings, and large queens with high fat and very long wings. Several traits associated with founding behavior correlated with these queen sizes. Small queens were produced in lower numbers, were more common in polygynous nests, and returned to the nest in higher proportions than both large queen morphs. The size ranges and fat levels of each queen morph were similar to those of other species that specialize in either haplometrosis (very large, high fat), pleometrosis (large, low fat), or dependent founding (small and low fat). However, there was extensive overlap in several of the founding behaviors, suggesting that the morphs in these populations have some flexibility in founding behavior. The queen morphs in these populations of T. longispinosus may resemble early stages in the evolution of more specialized dispersal polymorphisms found in other ant species.
Korean Fan Dance for Fun: Performing Alterity in Contemporary Japan

ABSTRACTThis paper focuses on performances of Korean folk culture in Japanese schools and communities to analyse how minority identities are constructed. Korean minority education in Japan has taken up the challenge of reversing the stigma attached to former colonial subjects, employing a range of tangible props what Twine (1999) calls ‘racial literacy’ which prepares racial minority children to cope with and challenge racism at large. While embodying identity expression through Korean folk dance performances is an effective strategy, it faces constraints from larger social forces. Korean dance and music performances do little to challenge the dominance of mainstream values. These performances are embedded in everyday family, school, and community practices and paradoxically reproduce existing gender roles, broader pedagogical ideologies, and social structures. This ethnographic case study disentangles contradictions in minority education and shows commitment to alterity accompanies disavowal of alterity ...
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS: Where Are the Children?

This paper argues that the assumption that parents and children have coextensive interests is sometimes erroneous. It is suggested that children's participation in decisions concerning them is ethically and legally permitted, or even demanded, in some situations. Initial research on children's concepts of their rights and their perception of their quality of life is reviewed.
''Organization'' as Setting Boundaries of Individual Development

“Development” suggests that there is something that is developing, or changing over time. We can ask about temporal boundaries of that developmental process, asking when development begins or ends and whether it has defined stages along the way, for example. We can ask about spatial boundaries as well: where does the developing object start and end? For this article, I ask about the boundary definition of the developing organism in particular. What is an individual organism, and what defines it as the same organism as it changes over time? In particular, how has this been answered historically: how have researchers described and explained what an individual developing organism is? This article explores ideas and approaches especially starting in the late 19th century, and in particular looks at the role of “organization.”
Defensive Responses of Cuttlefish to Different Teleost Predators

We evaluated cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) re- sponses to three teleost predators: bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), and black seabass (Centropristis striata). We hypothesized that the distinct body shapes, swimming behaviors, and preda- tion tactics exhibited by the three fishes would elicit mark- edly different antipredator responses by cuttlefish. Over the course of 25 predator-prey behavioral trials, 3 primary and 15 secondary defense behaviors of cuttlefish were shown to predators. In contrast, secondary defenses were not shown during control trials in which predators were absent. With seabass—a benthic, sit-and-pursue predator— cuttlefish used flight and spent more time swimming in the water column than with other predators. With bluefish—an active, pelagic searching predator— cuttlefish remained closely as- sociated with the substrate and relied more on cryptic be- haviors. Startle (deimatic) displays were the most frequent secondary defense shown to seabass and bluefish, particu- larly the Dark eye ring and Deimatic spot displays. We were unable to evaluate secondary defenses by cuttlefish to floun- der—a lie-and-wait predator— because flounder did not pursue cuttlefish or make attacks. Nonetheless, cuttlefish used primary defense during flounder trials, alternating be- tween cryptic still and moving behaviors. Overall, our re- sults suggest that cuttlefish may vary their behavior in the presence of different teleost predators: cryptic behaviors may be more important in the presence of active searching predators (e.g., bluefish), while conspicuous movements such as swimming in the water column and startle displays may be more prevalent with relatively sedentary, bottom- associated predators (e.g., seabass).
Nasal Tip Rotation

The nasal tip is a three­dimensional structure. Projec­tion, width, and angle of rotation impact appearance. This cartilaginous component of the nose is composed of the lower lateral cartilage and is influenced by the more cephalic components, such as the upper lateral cartilage and bony vault. Internally, the septum sup­ports the overlying structures. Cartilage strength and skin thickness play a large role in the shape of the tip.
Antipsychotics in bipolar disorder.

While the molecular locus of antidepressant and antibipolar drug action has not yet been established, it has become increasingly likely that the targets of such drugs lie distal to neurotransmitter receptors along the signal transduction pathway. These targets are likely to involve G protein-mediated signal transduction systems such as adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C. This article will demonstrate model systems that have been developed in an attempt to determine how and where these drugs work. It appears that these model systems not only represent good experimental paradigms for studying the mechanisms of antibipolar and antimanic drugs, but are useful as simplified, yet realistic venues in which to test the speed and efficacy of suspected therapeutic agents.
Rayleigh-wave evidence for the low-velocity zone in the mantle

Variational calculus methods are applied to the problem of dispersion of mantle Rayleigh waves. In the present paper we have worked two models. One is Gutenberg's model with a low-velocity layer around 150 km. depth. The other is a Jeffreys-Bullen model modified above 200 km. depth so as to join smoothly to the explosion-determined velocities just under the Mohorovicic discontinuity. No low-velocity layer is assumed in this model. Both models give almost identical theoretical dispersion curves which agree well with the Ewing-Press observations of mantle Rayleigh waves for periods longer than 250 sec. This result means that the minimum group velocity at about 250 sec. is mainly due to a sharp increase of shear velocity at about 400 km. depth, which is a common feature for the two models. For periods shorter than 250 sec. Gutenberg's model gives results concordant with the observations. The modified Jeffreys-Bullen model disagrees significantly with the observations. This demonstrates the existence of a low-velocity layer in the upper mantle.
Why Not an International Clinical Legal Exchange Program? It Is Worth the Shlep

Clinical programs are a critical component of legal education worldwide. This article proposes a model of clinical legal exchange program that shifts the paradigm from one that presumes the U.S. clinician in the role of the consultant, to one in which the presumption is that clinicians from different countries have equivalent potential to positively influence each other’s programs. This model is based upon an exchange program between Suffolk University Law School, and the University of Haifa, Israel (the Suffolk-Haifa Clinical Legal Exchange Program – “SHCLEP”). This experience suggests that international cooperation in clinical education should be seen through the lens of comparative law theory, as an endeavor in which participants in exchange programs seek to advance clinical pedagogy and practice on a global level. Sending clinical students abroad as a precursor to their clinical experience at home provides the student with an important, culturally disorienting experience that, ideally, will lead the student to think critically about his or her own legal system, and to be better prepared to understand the needs of clients at home. Empirical data shows that study abroad programs promote cultural sensitivity, self-reflection, and self-reliance, some of the very values that clinical educators hope to impart to their students. A survey of SHCLEP participants confirms these findings. Law schools should send their students to participate in the clinical programs of law schools in other countries as part of international clinical exchange programs that emphasize a comparative clinical law experience.
In Defense of World Bank and IMF Conditionality in Structural Adjustment Programs

It is an open secret that the two Bretton Woods Institutions (BWIs) — the World Bank and the IMF — are the main architects of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) that are prevalent in much of the developing world. The very nature of "conditionality" — the policy strings that the BWIs attach to SAP loans to developing nations — does affect the operations of companies, whether these are publicly-owned or private. Conditionality imposes on the program-country (one with a BWI-inspired SAP in place) such measures as: the adjustment/devaluation of local currencies and/or floating of hitherto fixed exchange rates; the decontrol of internal price systems as well as external and internal trade flows (trade liberalization); removal of legal restrictions on private entrepreneurship; abolition of state enterprises and monopolies in both production and marketing; reforming of banking policy, including interest rate decontrol; cutting the state budget, including the removal of all consumer subsidies and other social expenditures; and reduction in money supply accompanied by a general public sector wage and salary freeze to control inflation. These measures, invariably, affect the operations of companies, as well as the socio-economic welfare of the nation involved. It is not surprising, therefore, that some of the negative impacts of SAPs have led to heavy criticism of both the IMF and the World Bank. Based in part on the author's attendance and presentations at conferences in Africa, Europe and North America (on structural adjustment programs in Africa), this paper explores some of the major arguments for and against "conditionality". It argues that whichever way one looks at it, some form of conditionality in structural adjustment programs is unavoidable. It concludes that there are some sound arguments to be found on both sides of the conditionality debate, most of which — in and of themselves — will be of interest to managers.
Genome Sequences of Staphylococcus hominis Strains ShAs1, ShAs2, and ShAs3, Isolated from the Asian Malaria Mosquito Anopheles stephensi

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus hominis is a culturable component of the bacterial microbiome of Anopheles stephensi. Here, we present the annotated draft genome sequences of three S. hominis isolates from A. stephensi. These genomic resources will facilitate experiments to further our understanding of the role of bacteria in mosquito biology.
Planar lens with a quasi-periodic circular design

In recent years, subwavelength dielectric gratings have been engineered for use as planar focusing elements at optical communication frequencies. Pioneering designs were based on aperiodic one-dimensional gratings, which were polarization-sensitive and designed bar by bar. In this paper, we present our recent designs which eliminated the polarization dependence by using a novel two-dimensional hexagonal lattice and algorithm to build the lens. In this way, lens can be designed algorithmically, with the inherent geometry requiring the use of only one period for the hexagonal lattice. We propose a unique geometry for designing two-dimensional grating lenses: dielectric posts arrayed in concentric circles. Because it is straightforward to space concentric rings apart at varying distances, we no longer need to restrict the design to a uniform grating period. By choosing two periodicities to work with, we managed to algorithmically design a two-dimensional lens, but with the advantage that our smallest feature sizes are up to twice as large as those of lenses designed with only one period. This increases the ease of fabrication for lenses working at current wavelengths and opens up the possibility for working with shorter wavelengths. Furthermore, this concentrically arrayed grating lens can be designed using phase information calculated for a periodic hexagonal lattice, even though the two designs show very little geometric resemblance. Also, we found that the grating lens is suitable not only for focusing plane waves, but also for imaging point sources. Finally, we show that bifocal lenses can be crated from diffraction gratings using our algorithm as well.
Serum Immunoglobulin Levels in Grey Collies

SummarySera from a group of grey collies with cyclic bone marrow maturation arrest and sera from a group of adult collies who carry the autosomal recessive grey gene were quantitated for immunoglobulin levels. These levels were compared with a group of normal adult collies and a litter of age-matched normal collie pups. No cyclic variation in immunoglobulin levels were found in the grey collies. However, the appearance of significantly increased levels of serum immunoglobulins in the young grey collies, suggested that the impetus of repeated infections accelerated the development of serum immunoglobulins as a compensatory host defense mechanism. In the group of adult collie carriers of the grey gene no abnormal immunoglobulin pattern was found which might identify the heterozygote.
Detection of Malignancy in Body Fluids

A prospective study of 300 body fluid specimens was undertaken to assess the role of cytocentrifuged, air-dried, Wright-Giemsa–stained slides in the detection of malignancy and to compare them with preparations stained by the Papanicolaou method. All cases in which differential cell counts and routine cytology were ordered by the clinician were included. The preparations were examined by independent observers and recorded as benign, atypical, suspicious for malignancy, and malignant. In 87% of the cases, the diagnoses were in complete agreement. Of these, 74% were benign, 11.3% were malignant, 1% were suspicious, and 0.7% were atypical. Of the remaining 13% of the cases, none of the diagnoses showed significant disagreement. The results indicate that the examination of cytocentrifuged Wrightstained preparations by the pathologist is a valuable, rapid method of screening for malignancy and should be routine procedure in the hematologic evaluation of body fluids.
Thermal Annealing Investigation of the Optical Properties of BxN1-X Films Fabricated by Ion Beam Assisted Deposition and Application for an Optical Filter

The annealing behavior of the optical properties of boron nitride films (BxN1-x) is described for films fabricated by ion beam assisted deposition. The data are needed for the precise manufacture of optical filters, where the index of refraction must be predicted from deposition parameters and film annealing history. The reflection of homogeneous samples deposited at room temperature on (100) silicon substrates was measured from 400 to 3125 nm. to obtain the wavelength dependence of the index of refraction as a function of film nitrogen content. Nitrogen atom fraction was varied from 0.325 to 0.5 by variation of the incident of nitrogen ion beam current to evaporant boron flux ratio. The films were annealed in argon at 500 C and 700 C, and the optical measurements repeated after each anneal. The index of refraction obtained for the annealed films was used to design a narrow band optical reflection filter at 1060 nm. The filter, constructed by sinusoidally varying the index of refraction of the BxN1-x film by varying ‘x’, performed as designed.
An ESCA and SEM Study of Changes in the Surface Composition and Morphology of Low-Calcium Coal Fly Ash as a Function of Aqueous Leaching

The reactivity of coal fly ash is dependent on the chemical composition of the surface. As reactions occur the ash particle size decreases and new material is available for reaction. This means that the near-surface chemistry can also be important. In the present study the surface chemistries of three ashes are determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy both before and after exposure to a hydrating/leaching environment. Scanning electron microscopy is used to reveal ash morphology. The concentration of sulfur, found at the ash surfaces as a sulfate, and sodium decreased after leaching while the amount of iron and aluminum increased. Other elements, including calcium, increased and decreased with leaching depending on which ash was analyzed. Changes which occurred in the ash morphology after the removal of leachable elements are discussed.
Should Prizes Replace Patents? A Critique of the Medical Innovation Prize Act of 2005

The Medical Prize Innovation Act of 2005 proposes replacing the current patent regime with a prize system. This paper is the first in the legal literature to evaluate and critique the weaknesses of such the proposed prize system. The prize system described in the Act faces challenges including, decisions of prize spending and values of prize payments, duplication of resources, loss of commercial and marketing development, and significant administrative costs. This paper looks both to historical and modern precedents to argue for a more modest change: a pilot program that distributes prizes in particular market segments to supplement the current patent regime and bridge gaps in NIH funding. The paper also suggests that a program could borrow from the NIH institutional structure, priority setting and review process as a workable starting point and also for comparison. Thus, one can observe the untested empirics of a prize system to better evaluate the impact and desirability for a total replacement of the patent system.
Unsuspected proximal urethral obstruction in young and middle-aged men.

AbstractProximal urethral obstruction, a common cause of prostatism in young and middle-aged men, often is misdiagnosed as prostatitis, neurogenic bladder or a psychogenic voiding disorder. Simple urodynamic studies (uroflowmetry and cystometry) do not distinguish a poor flow owing to bladder neck obstruction from that caused by poor detrusor contractility in these patients. Only the simultaneous measurement of detrusor pressure and uroflowmetry can make this distinction. A total of 23 patients with unsuspected proximal urethral obstruction underwent synchronous video-pressure-flow electromyography studies, and were treated and followed for a minimum of 1 year. Treatment by transurethral prostatic resection or bladder neck incision almost always was curative but α-adrenoceptor blocking agents have not been effective. All patients who underwent transurethral prostatic resection or bladder neck incision at the 5 and 7 o’clock positions have had retrograde ejaculation but both patients who underwent unilater...
The human microbiome: Opportunities for dynamics, systems, and control (based on the IFAC blog post translate or die)

Yu-Chi “Larry” Ho famously titled a 2010 blog post “Control Is Dead?”, http://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-1565-344686.html In follow up posts Larry's advice has been simple: control has to be constantly reinvented with the times. It's success is its own worst enemy. Therefore, control engineers and theorists must continue to push the boundaries of possible applications and take advantage of the adage “necessity is the mother of invention.” This paper gives a brief outline of a new research area in biology and medicine where problems for systems, dynamics, and control are sitting and waiting for solutions and insights. How much do you know about microbes?
Gene, Stem Cell, and Alternative Therapies for SCA 1

Spinocerebellar ataxia 1 is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction. In disease pathogenesis, polyglutamine expansion within Ataxin-1, a gene involved in transcriptional repression, causes protein nuclear inclusions to form. Most notably, neuronal dysfunction presents in Purkinje cells. However, the effect of mutant Ataxin-1 is not entirely understood. Two mouse models are employed to represent spinocerebellar ataxia 1, a B05 transgenic model that specifically expresses mutant Ataxin-1 in Purkinje cells, and a Sca1 154Q/2Q model that inserts the polyglutamine expansion into the mouse Ataxin-1 locus so that the mutant Ataxin-1 is expressed in all cells that express Ataxin-1. This review aims to summarize and evaluate the wide variety of therapies proposed for spinocerebellar ataxia 1, specifically gene and stem cell therapies.
Minimal supervision for language learning: bootstrapping global patterns from local knowledge

A fundamental step in sentence comprehension involves assigning semantic roles to sentence constituents. To accomplish this, the listener must parse the sentence, find constituents that are candidate arguments, and assign semantic roles to those constituents. Each step depends on prior lexical and syntactic knowledge. Where do children begin in solving this problem when learning their first languages? To experiment with different representations that children may use to begin understanding language, we have built a computational model for this early point in language acquisition. This system, BabySRL, learns from transcriptions of natural child-directed speech and makes use of psycholinguistically plausible background knowledge and realistically noisy semantic feedback to begin to classify sentences at the level of "who does what to whom." Starting with simple, psycholinguistically-motivated representations of sentence structure, the BabySRL is able to learn from full semantic feedback, as well as a supervision signal derived from partial semantic background knowledge. In addition we combine the BabySRL with an unsupervised Hidden Markov Model part-of-speech tagger, linking clusters with syntactic categories using background noun knowledge so that they can be used to parse input for the SRL system. The results show that proposed shallow representations of sentence structure are robust to reductions in parsing accuracy, and that the contribution of alternative representations of sentence structure to successful semantic role labeling varies with the integrity of the parsing and argument-identification stages. Finally, we enable the BabySRL to improve both an intermediate syntactic representation and its final semantic role classification. Using this system we show that it is possible for a simple learner in a plausible (noisy) setup to begin comprehending simple semantics when initialized with a small amount of concrete noun knowledge and some simple syntax-semantics mapping biases, before acquiring any specific verb knowledge.
Optimal all-to-some personalized communication on hypercubes

In a hypercube multiprocessor with distributed memory, each data element has a street address and an apartment number (i.e. a hypercube node address and a local memory address). We describe an optimal algorithm for performing the all-to-some personalized communication (ASPC) on Boolean n-cubes, defined as (i|j)/spl rarr/(i/spl plusmn/2/sup j/|j), i/spl isin/[0,2/sup n/-1], j/spl isin/[0,n-1], where (i|j) denote the data element on node i and location j. The algorithm also gives an optimal schedule for emulating PM2I networks on hypercubes under the binary-reflected Gray code encoding. We also study an important class of parallel algorithms, called /spl plusmn/2/sup b/-descend, which perform log M iterations on an M-element input a[O:M-1]. For b=log M-1,...,0, iteration b computes new values of each a[i] as a function of a[i], a[i+2/sup b/], a[i-2/sup b/]. For large applications, the problem size M is typically much larger than the number of nodes N. We show that on hypercubes, the optimal ASPC algorithm devised in this paper can be used in combination with pipelining communication and computation in /spl plusmn/2/sup b/-descend computations to reduce the communication steps from 2.log N.M/N to 4(log M+M/N-1). At one communication step, a hypercube node can send n elements along its n links, one per link.
609. Systemic Delivery of Dysferlin Overlap Vectors Mediates Functional Recovery of Dysferlin Deficiency

Dysferlinopathies comprise a family of disorders caused by mutations in the dysferlin (DYSF) gene leading to absent or mutant protein. Dysferlin protein has been implicated in multiple functional roles specifically in membrane stabilization/repair, t-tubule formation and vesicle trafficking. The loss of dysferlin causes a progressive dystrophy characterized by chronic muscle fiber loss, fat replacements and fibrosis resulting in deteriorating muscle weakness. Efforts made in the gene therapy arena with dysferlin or surrogate gene replacement have shown some efficacy in restoring membrane repair, however, only delivery of full-length DYSF has been able to correct the underlying histopathology. Therefore, there is a strong rationale to develop therapies that deliver the entire DYSF cDNA. A potential issue with this is the size of the DYSF gene (6.5 kb) which is too large for canonical AAV packaging. To circumvent this, we have developed and previously shown efficacy with a unique dual vector system using AAV to deliver and express DYSF specifically in muscle cells. This two vector system (AAV.DYSF.DV) packaged in the rh. 74 serotype is defined by a 1 kb region of homology between the two vectors. Following delivery to muscle, this overlap serves as a substrate for recombination/repair to generate the full-length gene. Our previous work studied the efficacy of this treatment strategy through intramuscular and regional vascular delivery routes. However, as generalized muscle weakness is common in dysferlinopathies, therapies targeting all muscle groups are warranted to maximize clinical efficacy. In this update, we have treated dysferlin-deficient mice systemically by intravenous injection to target all muscles through the vasculature for efficacy and safety studies. Mice were evaluated at 3 and 6 months post-treatment for dysferlin expression, restoration of membrane repair capability, diaphragm specific force measurements and muscle histology. Additional animals are awaiting MRI analysis following 1 year of treatment. A single systemic dose of 6×1012 vector genomes (3×1012 vg of each vector) resulted in widespread gene expression exceeding 30% of muscle fibers. Treated muscles showed a significant decrease in central nucleation and collagen deposition. Membrane repair ability was improved toward wild-type and force deficits in the diaphragm were restored to wildtype levels. The mice showed no evidence of local or systemic toxicity, further confirming previous safety data. This study, in conjunction with our previous work, lays the foundation for clinical trial.
Aloe Vera for Tissue Engineering Applications

Aloe vera, also referred as Aloe barbadensis Miller, is a succulent plant widely used for biomedical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years. However, recent significant advances have been made in the development of aloe vera for tissue engineering applications. Aloe vera has received considerable attention in tissue engineering due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and low toxicity properties. Aloe vera has been reported to have many biologically active components. The bioactive components of aloe vera have effective antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulatory effects that promote both tissue regeneration and growth. The aloe vera plant, its bioactive components, extraction and processing, and tissue engineering prospects are reviewed in this article. The use of aloe vera as tissue engineering scaffolds, gels, and films is discussed, with a special focus on electrospun nanofibers.
PLURALYSIS IN/OF THE COMPUTER LITERACY MOVEMENT

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the pluralysis in/of the computer literacy movement. The problems caused by illiteracy regarding computers need to be alleviated; the benefits of improved knowledge and skill regarding computing and information systems need to be extended throughout the population. The different needs of individual teachers and the different approaches to providing literacy justify some variety in teacher training. Many educators are learning on their own, using self-instruction materials and courses offered by vendors. Some of the national strategies for implementing computer literacy are assessment of needs, cooperation between public and private sectors, update of government regulations, involvement of all parties in decision making, and concerted action.
The Moderating Effect of Sibling Delinquency on Risky Behavior during Emerging Adulthood

This study examines the relationship between sibling delinquency and respondent risky behavior of emerging adults. This study attempts to understand the influence a sibling has on deviant behavior, sexual behavior and substance use during emerging adulthood. Sibling support and sibling contact were the two components of sibling relationships that were examined. A social learning theory framework was used. It was hypothesized that an individual who has high contact and support from a deviant sibling would be more likely to engage in risky behavior, be more sexually active and have increased alcohol use. The sample was comprised of 690 undergraduates enrolled in a large state university. A test of the moderating effects of sibling support and contact was conducted. Results indicate that there is a moderating relationship between the influence of sibling delinquency on respondent deviance, sexual permissiveness and alcohol use for females. As contact and support with a delinquent sibling increases, the level of respondent deviance, sexual permissiveness and alcohol use also increases.
Defeating Tyranny of the Masses in Crowdsourcing: Accounting for Low-Skilled and Adversarial Workers

Crowdsourcing has emerged as a useful learning paradigm which allows us to instantly recruit workers on the web to solve large scale problems, such as quick annotation of image, web page, or document databases. Automated inference engines that fuse the answers or opinions from the crowd to make critical decisions are susceptible to unreliable, low-skilled and malicious workers who tend to mislead the system towards inaccurate inferences. We present a probabilistic generative framework to model worker responses for multicategory crowdsourcing tasks based on two novel paradigms. First, we decompose worker reliability into skill level and intention. Second, we introduce a stochastic model for answer generation that plausibly captures the interplay between worker skills, intentions, and task difficulties. This framework allows us to model and estimate a broad range of worker "types". A generalized Expectation Maximization algorithm is presented to jointly estimate the unknown ground truth answers along with worker and task parameters. As supported experimentally, the proposed scheme de-emphasizes answers from low skilled workers and leverages malicious workers to, in fact, improve crowd aggregation. Moreover, our approach is especially advantageous when there is an (a priori unknown) majority of low-skilled and/or malicious workers in the crowd.
Biodiversity research requires more boots on the ground.

Our incomplete taxonomic knowledge impedes our attempts to protect biodiversity. A renaissance in the classification of species and their interactions is needed to guide conservation prioritization.
Examining Curing Efficiency using Neutron Radiography

Many state highway agencies use prescriptive specifications for the curing of concrete bridge decks, pavements, flatwork, or structural elements. For example, concrete pavements are frequently spec...
Design of the Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for OpNav (DRACO) on the double asteroid redirection test (DART)

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is a spacecraft that will impact the smaller body of the binary asteroid Didymos. As a technology demonstration, this will be the first time a kinetic impactor is used to perturb the motion of a near earth object. This technique could someday be used to deflect a dangerous asteroid on a future collision course with Earth. As the only instrument aboard DART, the Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for OpNav (DRACO) serves two purposes. First, DRACO provides images to the Small-body Maneuvering Autonomous Real-Time Navigation (SMARTNav) algorithm, allowing the spacecraft to precisely locate and impact the target. In its final moments, DRACO will also characterize the impact site by providing high resolution, scientific imagery of the surface. Derived from the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) on New Horizons, the telescope is a 208 mm aperture, f/12.6, catadioptric Ritchey-Chretien, with a 0.29 degree field of view. A lightweight opto-mechanical structure, with low CTE mirror substrates and a composite baffle tube, maintains telescope focus in the low temperature environment of deep space. At the focal plane is a 2560 by 2160 pixel, panchromatic, front-side illuminated complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, with digital output, global shutter, and low read noise. A highly integrated focal plane electronics (FPE) module controls the sensor and relays data to the spacecraft.
T4 and Recurrent Rectal Cancer

Deciding on the optimal treatment plan for patients with T4 and recurrent rectal cancer is a complex and highly individualized process. Accurate preoperative imaging is required in all patients to determine the extent of local disease and exclude the presence of distant metastases. The information gained from these studies is then used to direct management decisions and select the most appropriate treatment strategies for individual patients.
Retos y oportunidades en la química del estado sólido

Por el momento estamos muy lejos de ser capaces de predecir la composicion y la estructura cristalina de nuevos compuestos de estructura extendida, a pesar de que consideramos que mientras los materiales sean mas complejos en estructura y estequiometria, presentaran fenomenos nuevos, interesantes y, quiza, utiles. Asi, este trabajo discute la necesidad de mejores enfoques experimentales y teoricos para aprovechar mas rapido las oportunidades inherentes de su complejidad.
Abstract 165: Total Intravenous Anesthesia as Compared to Volatile Anesthesia is Associated with Reduced Length of Stay After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Results From Two-Year Program at Major Academic Medical Center

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis who are at least intermediate risk for surgery. As TAVR has evolved, more emphasis has been placed on reducing hospital length of stay (LOS) following the procedure. Therefore, we sought to identify whether changes in the general anesthetic technique, specifically using total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) versus volatile anesthesia (VA), would lead to reductions in hospital LOS. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 67 consecutive patients at a single institution who underwent TAVR under general anesthesia (GA) with either TIVA or VA between November 2014 and July 2016. Hospital LOS, as well as patient demographics, intraoperative, and postoperative risk factors for prolonged hospital LOS were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were conducted using Fisher’s exact and Student’s t-test. Risk factors for LOS were assessed using unadjusted linear regression. Results: Data were analyzed from 67 TAVR patients with a mean age of 78 ± 9 years. The patient population was 43% female (29/67), 88% Caucasian (59/67), with a mean ± SD aortic valve gradient of 42 ± 17 mmHg with an ejection fraction of 53 ± 13 %. Of the 67 patients, 35 received TIVA (52%) and 32 received VA (48%). The majority of patients in both the TIVA and VA group underwent TAVR with a transfemoral approach (29/35, 83% vs. 24/32, 75%, p=0.55). Patients receiving TIVA had a shorter hospital LOS (3.7 ± 2.6 days vs. 5.9 ± 3.3 days, p=0.003) and shorter ICU LOS (1.5 ± 0.8 days vs. 2.7 ± 2.0 days, p=0.004) as compared to patients receiving VA. For every hour increase in anesthesia time, hospital LOS was increased by 0.92 days (p=0.02). Patients receiving GA with propofol infusion had a reduction in hospital LOS by 1.9 days (p=0.02) and a reduction in ICU LOS by 1 day (p=0.009) as compared to patients who received VA with desflurane. Conclusions: Reducing hospital LOS following TAVR is a complex and multifactorial problem. Our study suggests that anesthetic technique, the particular mix of drugs used for GA, and the time under GA all play a role in determining the hospital LOS. This finding can influence refinements in the techniques used to care for patients undergoing TAVR and may help us continue to reduce hospital LOS following TAVR.
Abstract B24: Characterization of somatically acquired regulatory mutations in high-risk neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer of the developing peripheral nervous system and is uniquely characterized by a broad spectrum of phenotypes ranging from spontaneous tumor regression to relentless progression. The 5-year survival rate for children in the low- and intermediate-risk groups is over 95%; however, children with high-risk disease have a 40-50% likelihood of survival despite aggressive multimodal therapy. High-risk neuroblastomas harbor relatively few protein coding mutations at diagnosis, with the oncogenic mechanisms underlying MYCN amplification and ALK activation remaining obscure. We therefore hypothesized that characterizing high-risk neuroblastoma noncoding genetic variation will define gene regulatory mechanisms driving tumor progression, and that somatically acquired noncoding mutations alter critical neurodevelopmental gene regulatory regions. Here, we have integrated neuroblastoma cell line histone ChIP-Seq (N = 10), ATAC-Seq (N = 12), and RNA-Seq (N = 39) with high-risk patient (N = 105) whole-genome mutation data to define the landscape of noncoding somatic events dysregulating enhancers and promoters in high-risk neuroblastoma. We found a significantly higher number of mutations per patient in high-risk and stage 4 patients, compared to other risk groups (Wilcox W high-low = 129.5, p = 1.47e-07; W high-int = 70, p = 3.66e-08) and stages (W Stage4-Stage3 = 86, p = 2.68e-3; W Stage4-Stage4s = 65.5, p = 1.21e-12). We found a median of 1,809 somatic noncoding single nucleotide mutations per patient, and a subset of these recurrently mutate sequences underlying super-enhancer peaks of 102 genes. An additional subset lie within CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) motifs (a median of 5 mutations per patient), suggesting potential dysregulation of chromosome looping in neuroblastoma. Understanding noncoding drivers of oncogenic gene expression and translating these basic science discoveries to the clinic is a critical step towards changing the devastating course of this disease. Citation Format: Jo Lynne Harenza, Gregory Chen, John M. Maris. Characterization of somatically acquired regulatory mutations in high-risk neuroblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Pediatric Cancer Research: From Basic Science to the Clinic; 2017 Dec 3-6; Atlanta, Georgia. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(19 Suppl):Abstract nr B24.
Development and Application of First-Principles Electronic Structure Approach for Molecules in Solution Based on Fully Polarizable Continuum Model

This is a brief review of some recent progress in the development and application of firstprinciples electronic structure approaches for molecules in solution. In particular, it accounts for the background, theoretical features, and representative applications of a recently developed, truly accurate continuum solvation model which is known as Surface and Volume Polarization for Electrostatics (SVPE) or Fully Polarizable Continuum Model (FPCM) in literature. The FPCM-based first-principles electronic structure approaches have been widely employed to study a variety of chemical and biochemical problems and serve as an integrated part of various computational protocols for rational drug design. Some perspective of the future of the FPCM-based first-principles electronic structure approaches is also given.
PC12 Cells as a Model for Neuronal Secretion

PC12 cells are widely used as models for both neuroendocrine secretion and neuronal differentiation. In this article we will briefly review the origin of these cells and the various types of experiments in which they are employed. We will then discuss in some detail their use as a model for neuronal secretion. There are several extensive and authoritative reviews on PC12 cells which provide much more detailed information on the origin, differentiation, and biochemical properties of PC12 cells.1–4
Optical absorption, scattering, and multiple scattering: Experimental measurements using food coloring, India ink, and milk

A series of optical experiments is used to illustrate color effects, absorption, and scattering. In the simple experiments, the intensity of red laser light is measured after the beam passes through samples with increasing concentrations of food dyes, black ink, and milk. The data are fitted with exponential functions, and similar attenuation is obtained with samples which are very different: black ink and white milk. Measured intensities and visual observations serve to illustrate the distinction between absorption, scattering, and attenuation. In more advanced experiments, attenuation coefficients and the mean attenuation length are measured. With milk samples, intensity measurements reveal a non-exponential concentration dependence which is a signature of multiple scattering. Finally, intensity as a function of distance is measured by scanning wedge-shaped samples of ink or milk across a detector. The effects of multiple scattering in milk are very pronounced in this case.
Assessing patient perceptions of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy.

Pregnant women impacted by cytomegalovirus (CMV) make clinical decisions despite uncertain outcomes. Intolerance of uncertainty score (IUS) is a validated measure of tendency for individuals to find unacceptable that a negative event might occur. We investigated patient perceptions of CMV infection during pregnancy and correlated IUS and knowledge with decision-making. Electronic questionnaire was sent to women from July to August 2017. The questionnaire evaluated knowledge of CMV, IUS, and responses regarding management to three clinical scenarios with escalating risk of CMV including choices for no further testing, ultrasound, amniocentesis, or abortion. For each scenario, logistic regression was used to model IUS on responses. A total of 815 women were included. The majority of participants was white (63.1%) and 42% had a postgraduate degree. Over 70% reported that they had not previously heard of CMV. In the scenario with only CMV exposure, participants with increasing IUS were more likely to choose abortion (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 1.06) and no further testing (OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95, 0.99). In the scenario with mild ultrasound findings in setting of CMV exposure, increasing IUS was associated with higher odds of choosing no further testing (OR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94, 0.99). No significant association was observed between IUS and responses in the scenario with severe ultrasound abnormalities in setting of CMV exposure. The majority of patients had no knowledge of CMV. Higher IUS was associated more intervention in low severity scenarios, but in severe scenarios, IUS was not associated with participants' choices.
Central neuroprotection demonstrated by novel oxime countermeasures to nerve agent surrogates

Oximes remain a long-standing element of the therapy for nerve agents, organophosphates (OPs) that poison by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), resulting in hypercholinergic activity both centrally and peripherally. Oximes, such as the pyridinium oxime pralidoxime (2-PAM) in the United States, can reactivate the inhibited AChE and restore cholinergic function. However, there are several drawbacks to the current oximes; one of them, the inability of these oximes to effectively enter the brain, is the subject of study by several laboratories, including ours. Our laboratory invented a platform of substituted phenoxyalkyl pyridinium oximes that were tested against highly relevant surrogates of the nerve agents, sarin and VX. Using high sublethal dosages of the OPs, the novel oximes were observed to attenuate seizure-like behavior in rats and to reduce the levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (an indicator of glial scarring) to control levels, in contrast to levels observed with 2-PAM or no oxime therapy. Using lethal levels of surrogates, some novel oximes protected against lethality compared with 2-PAM, shortened the time to cessation of seizure-like behavior (from 8+ to 6 h), and protected the brain neurons. Therefore, some of these novel oximes are showing exceptional promise alone or in combination with 2-PAM as therapeutics against nerve agent toxicity.
Examining Student Perception of Readiness for Online Learning: Importance and Confidence.

The last two decades have seen a steady increase in the number of online courses in higher education. This survey-based study examines student readiness for online learning in 2018, through the dimensions of importance and confidence as measures of readiness. An instrument with four subscales of competencies (online student attributes, time management, communication, and technical) that measures student readiness for online learning (SROL) was developed. Reliability of student responses to an online readiness instrument and factors related to student perception are examined. Descriptive statistics and item level means for the competencies are provided. Two repeated measures ANOVAs with one-within subject factor (four subscales for importance and competency) were conducted. Online student attributes, time management, and technical competencies were rated high for importance compared to communication competencies. Students were confident in online student attributes and technical competencies compared to time management and communication. Data was also analyzed based on demographic differences. MANOVA showed significant differences based on the race (white and non-white) of the students and course format (asynchronous, synchronous, and blended) on their perceptions of online learning competencies.