cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NEW SPECIES OF FALCAUSTRA (NEMATODA: KATHLANIIDAE) FROM HEOSEMYS GRANDIS (TESTUDINES: EMYDIDAE)

Falcaustra kinsellai n. sp. from the intestines of the turtle Heosemys grandis is described and illustrated. Falcaustra kinsellai represents the 30th Oriental species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other species by the distribution pattern of caudal papillae (6 precloacal, 6 adcloacal, 10 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (427–451 μm), presence of a pseudosucker, and presence of a toothed chamber between vestibule and pharynx.
Cutting edge: activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway mediates cytokine-induced hemopoietic suppression in aplastic anemia.

Myelosuppressive cytokines, in particular IFN-γ and TNF-α, play an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic aplastic anemia in humans. It is unknown whether these negative regulators of hemopoiesis suppress stem cells by activating a common signaling cascade or via distinct nonoverlapping pathways. In this study, we provide evidence that a common element in signaling for IFN-γ and TNF-α in human hemopoietic progenitors is the p38/MapKapK-2 signaling cascade. Our studies indicate that pharmacological inhibition of p38 reverses the suppressive effects of IFN-γ and TNF-α on normal human bone marrow-derived erythroid and myeloid progenitors. Most importantly, inhibition of p38 strongly enhances hemopoietic progenitor colony formation from aplastic anemia bone marrows in vitro. Thus, p38 appears to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia, suggesting that selective pharmacological inhibitors of this kinase may prove useful in the treatment of aplastic anemia and other cytokine-mediated bone marrow failure syndromes.
Measuring and Maximizing the Effectiveness of Honor Codes in Online Courses

We measure the effectiveness of a traditional honor code at deterring cheating in an online examination, and we compare it to that of a stern warning. Through experimental evaluation in a 409-student online course, we find that a pre-task warning leads to a significant decrease in the rate of cheating while an honor code has a smaller (non-significant) effect. Unlike much prior work, we measure the rate of cheating directly and we do not rely on potentially inaccurate post-examination surveys. Our findings demonstrate that replacing traditional honor codes with warnings could be a simple and effective way to deter cheating in online courses.
High temperature sensitivity is intrinsic to voltage-gated potassium channels

Temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels are members of the large tetrameric cation channels superfamily but are considered to be uniquely sensitive to heat, which has been presumed to be due to the existence of an unidentified temperature-sensing domain. Here we report that the homologous voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels also exhibit high temperature sensitivity comparable to that of TRPV1, which is detectable under specific conditions when the voltage sensor is functionally decoupled from the activation gate through either intrinsic mechanisms or mutations. Interestingly, mutations could tune Shaker channel to be either heat-activated or heat-deactivated. Therefore, high temperature sensitivity is intrinsic to both TRP and Kv channels. Our findings suggest important physiological roles of heat-induced variation in Kv channel activities. Mechanistically our findings indicate that temperature-sensing TRP channels may not contain a specialized heat-sensor domain; instead, non-obligatory allosteric gating permits the intrinsic heat sensitivity to drive channel activation, allowing temperature-sensitive TRP channels to function as polymodal nociceptors.
A Safety Analysis Method Using Fault Tree Analysis and Petri Nets

In this paper, we describe a safety analysis method that utilizes two models, namely, Petri Nets to model the behavioral aspects of a system, and Fault Tree Analysis to model failure and hence unacceptable behaviors of a system. Using Petri nets and Fault Tree Analysis, we should be able to perform both forward and backward reachability analyses that are related to acceptable and unacceptable behaviors of a system. To show the feasibility of our proposed method, a case study, railroad crossing system, has been conducted.
Evidence for Milankovitch Periodicities in Cenomanian-Turonian Lithologic and Geochemical Cycles, Western Interior U.S.A.

ABSTRACT The limestone/marlstone bedding couplets of the Bridge Creek Limestone Member, Cenomanian-Turonian Greenhorn Formation, were analyzed by applying spectral techniques to high-resolution lithologic and geochemical data from a core. The results suggest that the Bridge Creek contains a complex record of orbital cyclicity. The dominant signal appears to be obliquity, but signals corresponding to precession and eccentricity were also observed. The development of the bedding couplets is interpreted to have resulted from a combination of factors, including insolation-controlled changes in higher-latitude precipitation leading to dilution/redox cycles, and in lower-latitude evaporation, leading to changes in surface water conditions and productivity cycles in the calcareous plankton. The data nterpreted to reflect redox cycles appear to be more strongly influenced by obliquity, and show a weak precessional signal. In contrast, trends in the carbonate record show the opposite response. The complex bedding pattern observed in the Bridge Creek Limestone is interpreted to result from the competing influences of different orbital cycles expressed through different pathways of the depositional system, and was also affected by changes in sedimentation rates related to relative sea level fluctuations, aperiodic dilution by volcanic ash, and changes in organic-matter production and redox conditions related to a global "oceanic anoxic event". These factors complicate cycle analysis in the lower part of the member but leave a relatively undisturbed record in the upper Bridge Creek Limes one.
Spotlight on the Dance

(1955). Spotlight on the Dance. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 56-62.
Management of Epilepsy in Mentally Retarded Children Using the Newer Antiepileptic Drugs, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, and Surgery

Clusters of seizures, prolonged seizures, and status epilepticus occur more frequently in children with multiple disabilities, and chronic seizures are more likely to be refractory to treatment. In many patients, the seizures appear to contribute to the mental retardation. Thus, if the lives of these children are to improve, seizure control is essential. However, medical treatment can interfere with cognition and cause behavioral disturbances, making life very difficult for the child and the child's family. With the introduction of 10 new antiepileptic drugs in the last decade, the treatment of epilepsy in multiply handicapped children has significantly advanced. These new antiepileptic drugs may improve seizure control, medication tolerance, or both. Although the ultimate therapeutic goal is to keep children seizure free and alert, compromises regarding medication choice and dosage are still necessary in many cases. Novel treatment options, such as the vagus nerve stimulator, may decrease seizure frequency without behavioral or cognitive side effects. In carefully selected children with specific epilepsy syndromes, epilepsy surgery can provide partial or complete relief from seizures.
NATO, Security and Risk Management: From Kosovo to Kandahar, by Williams, M. J.

As the 21st century began the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) found itself adapting to an ever-changing security nexus. M.J. William-provides a theoretical account for NATO's future in wh...
Sexual experience and testosterone during adolescence alter adult neuronal morphology and behavior

Steroid hormones released immediately before and after birth provoke sexual differentiation of neural circuits. Further, steroid hormones secreted during adolescence also exert long lasting effects on the nervous system. Hormones secreted during development may act through two distinct pathways: (1) hormones can directly affect neuron and synapse elimination and (2) endocrine changes in the nervous system may occur secondary to changes in social behaviors. Therefore, a critical period for organization of the nervous system by steroid hormones during adolescence may also be a sensitive period for the effects of social experience. The overall goal of this experiment was to determine whether the opportunity to mate with a sexually receptive female during this adolescent critical period would have enduring effects on behavior and neuronal morphology into adulthood. A second question was to determine the extent to which testosterone mediated the effects of these social interactions on adult outcomes. Compared to sexually inexperienced hamsters and those that experienced sex for the first time in adulthood, hamsters that experienced adolescent sexual experience displayed increased anxiety- and depressive-like behavioral responses. Adolescent sexual experiences decreased the complexity and length of dendrites on prefrontal cortical neurons and increased the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1β (IL-1β) in the PFC. In a second experiment, administration of testosterone during the adolescent period largely recapitulated the effects of adolescent sexual experience. These data support the overall hypothesis that a sensitive period extends into adolescence and that salient social stimuli during this time can significantly and persistently alter adult phenotype.
Modeling contrast in the generation and synthesis of spoken language

This paper presents an implemented model of spoken language processing that accounts for intonational phenomena associated with semantic contrasts. The model determines accentual patterns based on sets of alternative properties from a knowledge base and a contrastive stress algorithm. The results of applying the model to a natural language generation program illustrate the advantages over previous models based on lexical "givenness".
Oral contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapy: relative and attributable risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other health outcomes

Abstract Purpose To summarize the relative risks (RRs) and attributable risks (ARs) of major health outcomes associated with use of combined oral contraceptives (OCs) and menopausal hormone therapy (HT). Methods For OCs, measures of association are from meta-analyses of observational studies. For HT, these measures are from the Women's Health Initiative, a large randomized trial of HT for chronic disease prevention in postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years. Results Current OC use increases risks of venous thromboembolism and ischemic stroke. However, women of reproductive age are at low baseline risk, so the ARs are small. OC use also increases risk of breast and liver cancer and reduces risk of ovarian, endometrial, and colorectal cancer; the net effect is a modest reduction in total cancer. The Women's Health Initiative results show that HT does not prevent coronary events or overall chronic disease in postmenopausal women as a whole. Subgroup analyses suggest that timing of HT initiation influences the relation between such therapy and coronary risk, and its overall risk-benefit balance, with more favorable effects (on a relative scale) in younger or recently menopausal women than in older women or those further past the menopausal transition. However, even if the RR do not vary by these characteristics, the low absolute baseline risks of younger or recently menopausal women translate into low ARs in this group. Conclusions OC and HT can safely be used for contraception and treatment of vasomotor symptoms, respectively, by healthy women at low baseline risk for cardiovascular disease and breast cancer.
Effects of aging and encoding instructions on emotion-induced memory trade-offs

The effects of emotion on memory are often described in terms of trade-offs: People often remember central, emotional information at the expense of background details. The present experiment examined the effects of aging and encoding instructions on participants’ ability to remember the details of central emotional objects and the backgrounds on which those objects were placed. When young and older adults passively viewed scenes, both age groups showed strong emotion-induced trade-offs. They were able to remember the visual details as well as the general theme of the emotional object, but they had difficulties remembering the visual specifics of the scene background. Age differences emerged, however, when participants were given encoding instructions that emphasized elaborative encoding of the entire scene. With these instructions, young adults overcame the trade-offs (i.e., they no longer showed impairing effects of emotion), whereas older adults continued to show good memory for the emotional object but poor memory for its background. These results suggest that aging impairs the ability to flexibly disengage attention from the negative arousing elements of scenes, preventing the successful encoding of nonemotional aspects of the environment.
Effects of single-walled carbon nanotubes on the bioavailability of PCBs in field-contaminated sediments

AbstractAdsorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) to black carbon is a well-studied phenomenon. One emerging class of engineered black carbon materials are single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Little research has investigated the potential of SWNT to adsorb and sequester HOCs in complex environmental systems. This study addressed the capacity of SWNT, amended to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated New Bedford Harbor (NBH) sediment, to reduce the toxicity and bioaccumulation of these HOCs to benthic organisms. Overall, SWNT amendments increased the survival of two benthic estuarine invertebrates, Americamysis bahia and Ampelisca abdita, and reduced the accumulation of PCBs to the benthic polychaete, Nereis virens. Reduction in PCB bioaccumulation by SWNT was independent of Kow. Further, passive sampling-based estimates of interstitial water concentrations indicated that SWNT reduced PCB bioavailability. Results from this study suggest that SWNT are a good adsorbent for PCBs and might...
Horizontal gene transfer in chromalveolates

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), the non-genealogical transfer of genetic material between different organisms, is considered a potentially important mechanism of genome evolution in eukaryotes. Using phylogenomic analyses of expressed sequence tag (EST) data generated from a clonal cell line of a free living dinoflagellate alga Karenia brevis, we investigated the impact of HGT on genome evolution in unicellular chromalveolate protists. We identified 16 proteins that have originated in chromalveolates through ancient HGTs before the divergence of the genera Karenia and Karlodinium and one protein that was derived through a more recent HGT. Detailed analysis of the phylogeny and distribution of identified proteins demonstrates that eight have resulted from independent HGTs in several eukaryotic lineages. Recurring intra- and interdomain gene exchange provides an important source of genetic novelty not only in parasitic taxa as previously demonstrated but as we show here, also in free-living protists. Investigating the tempo and mode of evolution of horizontally transferred genes in protists will therefore advance our understanding of mechanisms of adaptation in eukaryotes.
The Detection of The Gravitational Lensing of Supernovae

The weak gravitational lensing of high redshift type Ia supernovae has the potential of probing the structure of matter on galaxy halo scales. This is complementary to the weak lensing of galaxies which probes structure of larger scales. There are already several organized searches for these supernovae being carried out for the purposes of cosmological parameter estimation. A method is proposed for extracting from future supernovae data information on lensing and the structures responsible. This method utilizes the correlations between SN luminosities and foreground galaxies. Simulations of the lensing and uncertainties will be presented. It is found that with a hundred supernovae or more at $z\simgt 1$ or larger, significant measurements of the mass, shape and extent of dark matter halos could be made if they contain a significant proportion of the matter in the universe.
Effect of metallic objects and liquid supplies on RFID links

Metallic objects and liquid supplies around a reader and/or tags may significantly affect the read range of RFID systems. Strong reflecting signals may be generated by the metallic and liquid surface. Depending on the phase of the reflected signal relative to that of the signal transmitted by the reader or reflected by the tag, the reflected signal may affect the signal strength constructively or destructively. Thus, in some situations the read range may be extended due to the reflection, and in other situations the read range may be significantly reduced. The most significant impact is achieved when the metallic objects and liquid supplies are relatively large and close to the reader and/or tag. It is advised that the RFID system is operated away from metallic material and liquid supplies. Multiple RFID antennas may achieve spatial diversity and improve the link reliability over an extended read range.
Nanofluidics: Systems and Applications

Nanofluidics presents growing and exciting opportunities for conducting fundamental studies for processes and systems that govern molecular-scale operations in science and engineering. In addition, nanofluidics provides a rapidly growing platform for developing new systems and technologies for an ever-growing list of applications. This review presents a summary of the transport phenomena in nanofluidics with a focus on several systems and applications important to problems of public health and welfare. Special emphasis is afforded to the role of the electric double layer and the molecular-scale interactions that occur within confined nanoscale systems.
A prescription for gender study in thenext century

The evolution of separate sexes (dioecy) and sexual dimorphism has intrigued plant biologists for the past century. Indeed, the fact that dioecy has evolved from hermaphroditism repeatedly distinguishes it as a central problem in evolutionary biology. Gender and sexual dimorphism in flowering plants (GSDFP) is the first attempt at a comprehensive review and synthesis of this burgeoning field (and its terminology!) under a single cover. In bringing together diverse approaches, such as molecular and quantitative genetics, as well as, theory, ecology, and phylogeny, Geber et al. emphasize the strength of a multi-disciplinary approach to tackling this problem in the next century. A book of this sort should bring readers up to date and lingering issues to the forefront and provide clear prescriptions for the future. In these areas I think Geber et al. have done an admirable job. In the 20 years since several treatises on gender and sexual dimorphism in plants (e.g., Lloyd and Webb, 1977; Bawa, 1980; Thomson and Barrett, 1981; Givnish, 1982; Lloyd, 1982) rekindled an interest in these topics, hundreds of studies have been conducted. The majority of these were aimed at describing patterns of dimorphism, analyzing correlates of dioecy, and gathering empirical data relevant for testing theoretical models. The authors of GSDFP have made use of this wealth of data to formulate, and in some cases test, several novel hypotheses regarding gender evolution and its associated sexual dimorphism in life history, morphology, physiology, and biotic interactions. I am certain these hypotheses will stimulate new comparative research, especially in the more nascent areas of herbivore/pathogen impacts on sexual dimorphism, and of dimorphism in physiology and nonreproductive morphological traits. Nevertheless, the authors concur that now is the time to move beyond simple description of dimorphism and to focus on the quantitative variation in primary and secondary sexual traits within genders. Furthermore, they appropriately make an appeal for descriptions of the relationship between quantitative variation and fitness. Specifically, they argue that we need to measure natural selection on traits relevant to gender and dimorphism. These studies are crucial if we are to address fundamental questions regarding the evolution of sexual dimorphism, such as whether some traits (e.g., flower size, or photosynthetic rate) have stronger effects on fitness in one sex than the other, and whether different trait optima exist for males and females. The recent application of quantitative genetic theory to questions of natural selection in hermaphroditic and dioecious
Soil and plant characteristics as determining factors in site selection for surface coal mine reclamation

Four vegetative associations occur on surface mines located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Seventeen different species of grasses and legumes and 30 different species of trees and shrubs were evaluated for their ability to become established and control erosion on surface mines. The amount of organic matter and soil moisture are the principle factors regulating the establishment of vegetative cover on surface mines. Those species possessing a fibrous root system are better able to adapt for erosion control than tap rooted species. Likewise, shrubs such as bristley locust (Robina hispida) and Silver Bush or Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) that will produce shoots when a root becomes exposed due to erosion are better adapted for erosion control than other species. The methods and species utilized during reclamation will determine, at least in part, the future use of the land and should establish conditions for natural succession to occur.
Zero-Free Regions of Polynomials

(1954). Zero-Free Regions of Polynomials. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 61, No. 10, pp. 682-687.
Disrupted Working Memory Circuitry in Schizophrenia: Disentangling fMRI Markers of Core Pathology vs Other Aspects of Impaired Performance

Working memory (WM) impairment, a core feature of schizophrenia, is often associated with aberrant dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) activation. Reduced resting-state connectivity within the frontoparietal control network (FPCN) has also been reported in schizophrenia. However, interpretation of WM-related dlPFC dysfunction has been limited by performance differences between patients and controls, and by uncertainty over the relevance of resting-state connectivity to network engagement during task. We contrasted brain activation in 40 schizophrenia patients and 40 controls during verbal WM performance, and evaluated underlying functional connectivity during rest and task. During correct trials, patients demonstrated normal FPCN activation, despite an inverse relationship between positive symptoms and activation. FPCN activation differed between the groups only during error trials (controls>patients). In contrast, controls demonstrated stronger deactivation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) during correct and error trials. Functional connectivity analysis indicated impaired resting-state FPCN connectivity in patients, but normal connectivity during task. However, patients showed abnormal connectivity among regions such as vmPFC, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, and parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) during both rest and task. During task, patients also exhibited altered thalamic connectivity to PHG and FPCN. Activation and connectivity patterns that were more characteristic of controls generally correlated with better performance. In summary, patients demonstrated normal FPCN activation when they remained on-task, and exhibited normal FPCN connectivity during WM, whereas vmPFC deactivation differences persisted regardless of WM performance. Our findings suggest that altered FPCN activation in patients reflects performance difference, and that limbic and thalamic dysfunction is critically involved in WM deficits in schizophrenia.
A methodology for modeling and verification of cyber-physical systems based on logic programming

Model-based design and development has been applied successfully to design and development of complex systems, including safety critical systems. It is also a promising approach for designing cyber-physical systems (CPSs). In this paper we propose a methodology for model-based design of CPSs where, logic programming extended with coinduction, constraints over reals, and coroutining is used for modeling CPSs. This logic programming realization can be used for verifying interesting properties as well as generating implementations of CPSs. We use the reactor temperature control system as a running example to illustrate the various steps of our methodology. We present a model of the system using our framework and verify the safety property of the system. We also show how parametric analysis can be performed in our framework.
Epidemiological analysis of elderly tuberculosis in Wuxi City from 2009-2011

[Objective]To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis in elder people in Wuxi City,and to explore a better way of finding elderly tuberculosis patients.[Methods]The epidemiological data of elderly tuberculosis patients from 2009 to 2011 were analyzed and compared to know the distribution situation as well as the delay in diagnosis.[Results]In Wuxi City,tuberculosis patients aged over 60 years accounted for a large proportion(about 30%),but the proportion was decreasing from 2009 to 2011 as well as the patients number.The infectious ratio of over 55 years age group increased with age and reached a peak in 75 years age group.The proportion of retreated patients in 60 age group was more than two times higher than 60 age group.The proportions of delay in treatment and diagnosis in 60 age group were also higher,the difference was significant(treatment delay χ 2=27.802,P0.01;diagnosis delay χ2=15.868,P0.01).[Conclusion]Education to specific population and special training to medical institutions should be carried out to early discover elderly tuberculosis patients.
Tissue depth to lung for electron beam boost therapy of the breast.

Abstract Radiation therapy of the breast frequently employs electron beam boost therapy of the tumor bed. The electron energy is typically chosen based on the location of the tumor and tissue depth to lung within the electron field. This paper proposes a simple technique to estimate the tissue depth to lung using a port film taken orthogonal to the electron beam axis and patient axis for arbitrary electron beam gantry angles and patient table angles. The port film is taken with the patient in standard position (table angle of 0°) and the gantry at right angles to the electron field axis, clearly showing the depth to lung. The mathematical solution for arbitrary electron field gantry angle and patient table angle is presented.
Role of Imaging in Diagnosing and Staging Pancreatic Cancer

Imaging is a key component of diagnosis and staging of pancreatic cancer. CT, MRI, and endoscopic ultrasound are the most used and approved imaging modalities. The updated NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma feature a recently published Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Radiology Reporting Template endorsed by the Society of Abdominal Radiology and the American Pancreatic Association. The goal of the template is to standardize the reporting of the imaging findings and to improve communication among the various team members treating patients with pancreatic cancer, to ensure appropriate patient management.
Testing for Habit Persistence

Marshall long ago noted the phenomenon of past consumption being highly correlated with current consumption. If “habit” was indeed a major determinant of current consumption behavior, then the neo-classical theory of utility maximization should take it into account. A rigorous incorporation of habit formation into consumer theory began with the work of Gorman (1967). Pollak (1976, 1977) laid out the theoretical conditions that needed to be satisfied in order for “habit persistence” to be consistent with the utility maximizing model of consumer behavior.
A Generic Design for Implementing Intersection between Triangles in Computer Vision and Spatial Reasoning

The intersection between 3D objects plays a prominent role in spatial reasoning, and computer vision. Detection of intersection between objects can be based on the triangulated boundaries of the objects, leading to computing triangle-triangle intersection. Traditionally there are separate algorithms for cross and coplanar intersection. For qualitative reasoning, intersection detection is sufficient, actual intersection is not necessary; in contrast, the precise intersection is required for geometric modeling. Herein we present a complete design and implementation of a single integrated algorithm independent of the type of intersection. Additionally, this algorithm first detects, then intersects and classifies the intersections using barycentric coordinates. This work is directly applicable to: (1) VRCC-3D+, which uses intersection detection between 3D objects as well as their 2D projections essential for occlusion detection; and (2) CAD/CAM geometric modeling where curves of intersection between a pair of surfaces are required for numerical control machines. Experimental results are provided.
Setting Limits: How person-centered healthcare can assist clinicians in the allocation of scarce resources

Within person-centered healthcare, clinicians often occupy the center of a clinical decision along with the patient. As such, person-centered healthcare must value the clinician as person. Clinicians bring a duty of stewardship, professional values and clinical expertise to medical decisions, aiming to help the patient achieve a medical benefit and to avoid causing undue burden or risk of harm. The clinician is the best position to determine the range of interventions that are medically appropriate in an individual case. At times, patients or their surrogates may request or demand interventions that are not medically appropriate, as they have no meaningful chance of achieving a medical benefit or are likely to cause harm. Respecting clinicians as persons means that they cannot be obligated to provide medically inappropriate interventions, even when requested by patients.
Using direct mail to promote organ donor registration: Two campaigns and a meta-analysis.

Background Two direct mail campaigns were undertaken in Rochester and Buffalo, New York with the goal of enrolling adults’ ages 50-64 years into the state organ and tissue donation electronic registry. Meta-analytic methods were used to summarize the body of research on the effects of direct mail marketing to promote organ donation registration. Methods In the first study, 40,000 mailers were sent to targeted adults in Rochester, New York and varied by brochure-only, letter-only, and letter plus brochure mailing conditions. A follow-up mailer using letter-only was sent to 20,000 individuals in Buffalo, New York area. In a second study, campaign results were combined with previously published direct mail campaigns in a random-effects meta-analysis. Results The overall registration rates were 1.6% and 4.6% for the Rochester and Buffalo campaigns and the letter-only condition outperformed the brochure-only and letter plus brochure conditions in the Rochester area campaigns. Meta-analysis indicated a 3.3% registration rates across 15 campaigns and 329,137 targeted individuals. Registration rates were higher when targeting 18-year olds and when direct mail letters were authored by officials affiliated with state departments. Conclusion Use of direct mail to promote organ donor registration is an inexpensive method to increase enrollments in state registries. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Digital government and wicked problems

Abstract This editorial introduces three examples of innovative research from the 16th International Digital Government Research Conference (dg.o 2015). To position the contributions of these examples meaningfully, we first performed a brief bibliographic analysis of research articles in the knowledge domain of digital government. This analysis provided a detailed examination of the evolution of digital government research themes and helped us introduce the examples in this special issue to the research field. Specifically, the research selected contributes to the theme of “digital government and wicked problems” by examining people's online political behavior, extracting citizens' needs from massive quantities of text data, or engaging constituents across geographical boundaries. At the same time, the bibliographic analysis and research examples together led us to ask whether the research field is ready to adopt wicked problems as a central focus, as it appears that the field is only in the very early stages of understanding the importance of the theme. To facilitate the transition from the current research orientation of the field to the next stage, we provide several suggestions for directions in future research.
The Role of Early Growth Response 1 (EGR1) in Brain Plasticity and Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

It is now clearly established that complex interactions between genes and environment are involved in multiple aspects of neuropsychiatric disorders, from determining an individual’s vulnerability to onset, to influencing its response to therapeutic intervention. In this perspective, it appears crucial to better understand how the organism reacts to environmental stimuli and provide a coordinated and adapted response. In the central nervous system, neuronal plasticity and neurotransmission are among the major processes integrating such complex interactions between genes and environmental stimuli. In particular, immediate early genes are critical components of these interactions as they provide the molecular framework for a rapid and dynamic response to neuronal activity while opening the possibility for a lasting and sustained adaptation through regulation of the expression of a wide range of genes. As a result, immediate early genes have been tightly associated with neuronal activity as well as a variety of higher order processes within the central nervous system such as learning, memory, and sensitivity to reward. The immediate early gene and transcription factor early growth response 1 (EGR1) has thus been revealed as a major mediator and regulator of synaptic plasticity and neuronal activity in both physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we will focus on the role of EGR1 in the central nervous system. First, we will summarize the different factors influencing its activity. Then, we will analyze the amount of data, including genome-wide, that has emerged in the recent years describing the wide variety of genes, pathways, and biological functions regulated directly or indirectly by EGR1. We will thus be able to gain better insights into the mechanisms underlying EGR1’s functions in physiological neuronal activity. Finally, we will discuss and illustrate the role of EGR1 in pathological states with a particular interest in cognitive functions and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Spatial updating and common misinterpretations of spatial reference frames

Spatial memory plays an important role in everyday life, and a large amount of research has been devoted to understanding spatial coding and reference frames across many areas. The popular research...
Abstract P82: Identification of Potential Candidates for Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (ICDs) for Primary Prevention via Echocardiography Screening

Introduction: ICDs save lives in patients with depressed ejection fraction (EF) and heart failure and/or myocardial infarction However, under-utilization of ICDs is well documented. The potential benefit of identifying appropriate ICD candidates via echocardiography-laboratory-based screening is unknown. Methods: We sought to determine whether individuals who were identified as having a depressed EF on echo reports, and who were otherwise eligible, were receiving primary-prevention ICDs. We performed a retrospective review of charts of patients who had LVEF ≤ 35% on echos done between October 2009 and March 2010 to determine appropriateness for ICD and whether implantation was performed within the following 6 months. Potentially appropriate was defined as those with EF Results: Four hundred and four patients with EF ≤ 35% were identified. Of these,160 (40%) already had ICDs and in 4 (1%), data were insufficient. Two were admitted for ICD. 124 (31%) were ineligible: 36 with life-limiting co-morbidity, 32 expired, 11 had recent MI, and 45 showed improvement in EF at subsequent echo. ICD refusal was documented in 4 patients. The remaining 110 patients were considered potentially eligible for primary-prevention ICD (27% of low-EF echos). Of these, 41 (37%) received an ICD and 69 (63%) did not. Of potential candidates with primary follow-up with a cardiologist, (N=82) 40% received an ICD, versus 28% followed by an internist (N= 28, p NS). Conclusions: Echocardiography screening identified many patients with low EF with potential benefit from primary-prevention ICD implantation. Less than half of these received ICDs. Identifying the reasons for nonreferral and whether an echo-based reminder system can improve appropriate ICD referral are important avenues of future research.
Sampling requirements for wideband autocorrelation radiometric (WIBAR) remote sensing of dry snowpack and lake icepack

Wideband autocorrelation radiometry (WiBAR) is a new method to remotely sense the microwave propagation time τ delay of multi-path microwave emission of low loss layered surfaces such as dry snowpack and freshwater lake icepack. The microwave propagation time τ delay through the pack yields a measure of its vertical extent; thus, this technique is a direct measurement of depth. This technique is inherently low-power since there is no transmitter in contrast to active remote sensing techniques. In this paper, the system design parameters and physics of operation of the WiBAR are discussed, and it is shown that the microwave propagation time can be readily measured for lake icepack at incidence angles away from nadir to at least 59.1°.
Observational Evaluation of Teachers: Measuring More than We Bargained For?.

Our secondary analysis of Measures of Effective Teaching data contributes to growing evidence that observation ratings, used as part of comprehensive teacher evaluation systems across the nation, may measure factors outside of a teacher’s performance or control. Specifically, men and teachers in classrooms with high concentrations of Black, Hispanic, male, and low-performing students receive significantly lower observation ratings. By using various methodological approaches and a subsample of teachers randomly assigned to classrooms, we demonstrate that these differences are unlikely due to actual differences in teacher quality. These results suggest that policymakers consider the unintended consequences of using observational ratings to evaluate teachers and consider ways to adjust ratings to ensure they are fair.
Engineering Change: A Study of the Impact of EC2000*

This paper summarizes the research design, sampling plan, and instrument development for the Engineering Change (EC) Project, a three-year research activity that examines the impact of ABET’s EC2000 on engineering education. The project assumes that, if EC2000 has been effective, evidence of change in ABET-accredited programs will be linked to changes in engineering student outcomes. The primary focus of the EC Project, thus, is on student learning. Compared to engineers prepared under previous guidelines, engineers educated in EC2000 accredited programs should exhibit higher levels of achievement in the 11 learning outcomes identified in the accreditation standards, Criterion 3, a‐k. The EC Project includes a secondary focus on curricular modifications and instructional practices, on institutional policies and reorganization, and on faculty cultures and attitudes that may, in turn, have affected student learning. Thus, the following evaluation questions guide the EC Project: What impact, if any, has EC2000 had on student learning outcomes in ABET-accredited programs and institutions? What impact, if any, did EC2000 have on organizational and educational policies and practices that may have led to improved student learning outcomes? To address these research questions, we developed a project evaluation plan that contains the following elements: conceptual framework, research design, sampling strategy, and instrument development.
Effect of Peroxide- Versus Alkoxyl-Induced Chemical Oxidation on the Structure, Stability, Aggregation, and Function of a Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibody

Current guidelines indicate that the effects of oxidation should be included as part of forced degradation studies on protein drugs. We probed the effect of 3 commonly used oxidants, hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, and 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), on a therapeutic monoclonal IgG1 antibody (mAb8). Upon oxidation, mAb8 did not show noticeable changes in its secondary structure but showed minor changes in tertiary structure. Significant decrease in conformational stability was observed for all the 3 oxidized forms. Both hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide destabilized mainly the CH2 domain, whereas AAPH destabilized the variable domain in addition to CH2. Increased aggregation was found for AAPH-oxidized mAb8. In addition, a significant decrease in Fc receptor binding was observed for all 3 oxidized forms. Antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, binding to target protein receptor, and cell proliferation activity were significantly reduced in the case of AAPH-oxidized mAb8. The presence of free methionine in the formulation buffer seems to alleviate the effect of oxidation. The results of this study show that the 3 oxidants differ in terms of their effects on the structure and function of mAb8 because of chemical modification of different sets of residues located in Fab versus Fc.
Astrocyte-Secreted Chordin-like 1 Drives Synapse Maturation and Limits Plasticity by Increasing Synaptic GluA2 AMPA Receptors.

Summary In the developing brain, immature synapses contain calcium-permeable AMPA glutamate receptors (AMPARs) that are subsequently replaced with GluA2-containing calcium-impermeable AMPARs as synapses stabilize and mature. Here, we show that this essential switch in AMPARs and neuronal synapse maturation is regulated by astrocytes. Using biochemical fractionation of astrocyte-secreted proteins and mass spectrometry, we identified that astrocyte-secreted chordin-like 1 (Chrdl1) is necessary and sufficient to induce mature GluA2-containing synapses to form. This function of Chrdl1 is independent of its role as an antagonist of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Chrdl1 expression is restricted to cortical astrocytes in vivo, peaking at the time of the AMPAR switch. Chrdl1 knockout (KO) mice display reduced synaptic GluA2 AMPARs, altered kinetics of synaptic events, and enhanced remodeling in an in vivo plasticity assay. Studies have shown that humans with mutations in Chrdl1 display enhanced learning. Thus astrocytes, via the release of Chrdl1, promote GluA2-dependent synapse maturation and thereby limit synaptic plasticity.
Predictors of Inclusive Course Enrollments in Higher Education by Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Abstract Higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) offer opportunities to engage in college experiences including access to typical college cours...
Integration of soft data into multiple-point statistical simulation: re-assessing the probability conditioning method for facies model calibration

Conditioning multiple-point statistical (MPS) facies simulation on dynamic flow data is complicated by the complex relationship between discrete facies distribution and the flow response data. The process can be facilitated by using the probability conditioned method (PCM), in which an ensemble-based data assimilation approach is used to infer, from observed flow data, a facies probability map that can guide conditional simulation from a training image (TI). We discuss important aspects of flow model calibration based on facies probability maps and propose several improvements to the original PCM, including: (1) using a statistically consistent approach for inferring facies probability maps from updated ensemble of continuous hydraulic properties; (2) assigning spatially variable weights to simulation grids based on relative confidence in the information content of observed data; and (3) considering spatial patterns instead of marginal facies probabilities in constructing probability maps. We illustrate that, in simulating categorical facies, the pattern-imitating behavior of MPS can have a significant impact on soft data conditioning. In particular, in the Single Normal Equation SIMulation (SNESIM) algorithm, the initial points that are visited on the random path tend to determine the main global facies connectivity. Once these initial points are populated with simulated values, the conditional probabilities (inferred from the TI) for the subsequent cells on the random path tend to be very close to 0 and 1. Hence, the facies types in the remaining cells are known almost deterministically, making the soft data inconsequential at the later stages of simulation. This behavior suggests that, without compensating for this effect, the facies probability map is not effectively integrated into the SNESIM simulation, an issue that is reflected in the generated realizations. Several numerical experiments are presented and discussed to illustrate this behavior and its impact on soft-data conditioning.
Pediatric tethered cord release: an epidemiological and postoperative complication analysis.

Background: Tethered cord release (TCR) is a common procedure in pediatric neurosurgery. Despite a reputation for being relatively safe, the risk factors for postoperative complications are poorly understood. Methods: In this study, the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric Database (ACS-NSQIP-P) was reviewed to identify the demographics, risk factors, and 30-day postoperative complications for tethered cord release using univariate and multivariate analysis. A detailed analysis of reasons for readmission and reoperation was also performed. Results: Three thousand and six hundred eighty-two pediatric patients were studied. Males undergoing TCR were younger (5.6 vs. 6.1 years) and had a higher rate of pre-operative comorbidities but lower 30-day complication rate versus females. Patients who later developed complications were more likely to require a microscope intraoperatively, had longer operative times, and worse preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class. Conclusions: Despite being a relatively safe procedure, TCR in the pediatric population carries a finite risk of complications. In this large, international database study, males were found to have a greater number of risk factors prior to TCR, while females exhibit a higher risk of developing postoperative complications. This paper provides a large sample size of multi institutional pediatric patients undergoing TCR and may serve as a contemporary “snapshot” for future studies.
Automatic Optimization of Python Skeletal Parallel Programs

Skeletal parallelism is a model of parallelism where parallel constructs are provided to the programmer as usual patterns of parallel algorithms. High-level skeleton libraries often offer a global view of programs instead of the common Single Program Multiple Data view in parallel programming. A program is written as a sequential program but operates on parallel data structures. Most of the time, skeletons on a parallel data structure have counterparts on a sequential data structure. For example, the map function that applies a given function to all the elements of a sequential collection (e.g., a list) has a map skeleton counterpart that applies a sequential function to all the elements of a distributed collection.