cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
beta-arrestin-dependent endocytosis of proteinase-activated receptor 2 is required for intracellular targeting of activated ERK1/2.

Recently, a requirement for β-arrestin–mediated endocytosis in the activation of extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) by several G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been proposed. However, the importance of this requirement for function of ERK1/2 is unknown. We report that agonists of Gαq-coupled proteinase–activated receptor 2 (PAR2) stimulate formation of a multiprotein signaling complex, as detected by gel filtration, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. The complex, which contains internalized receptor, β-arrestin, raf-1, and activated ERK, is required for ERK1/2 activation. However, ERK1/2 activity is retained in the cytosol and neither translocates to the nucleus nor causes proliferation. In contrast, a mutant PAR2 (PAR2δST363/6A), which is unable to interact with β-arrestin and, thus, does not desensitize or internalize, activates ERK1/2 by a distinct pathway, and fails to promote both complex formation and cytosolic retention of the activated ERK1/2. Whereas wild-type PAR2 activates ERK1/2 by a PKC-dependent and probably a ras-independent pathway, PAR2(δST363/6A) appears to activate ERK1/2 by a ras-dependent pathway, resulting in increased cell proliferation. Thus, formation of a signaling complex comprising PAR2, β-arrestin, raf-1, and activated ERK1/2 might ensure appropriate subcellular localization of PAR2-mediated ERK activity, and thereby determine the mitogenic potential of receptor agonists.
Factors and Abilities Influencing Achievement in Instrumental Jazz Improvisation

The primary purposes of this study were to identify factors underlying instrumental jazz improvisation achievement and to examine the extent to which knowledge of jazz theory, aural skills, aural i...
The Mixed-Signal Design of PLL with CMOS Technology

State of art phase locked loop (PLL) design methodologies and techniques are always of many mixed-signal circuit designers' interests. In this paper, a fully differential PLL having good common-mode noise rejection (low phase noise) has been designed and demonstrated using TSMC 0.25mum CMOS technology. The design and demonstration included a dead zone eliminating phase frequency detector (PFD) with complimentary signals, a differential charge pump/loop filter (CP-LPF) with common mode feedback, a differential voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with two stage only differential hysteresis delay cell and a divider. Using the full-custom design flow, each individual building block, like PFD, CP/LPF , VCO and divider has been designed, simulated, extracted (DRC and LVS) and verified (transistor level bottom up verification), then followed by the top level PLL simulation, extraction and verification.
Inmate-On-Inmate Assault: A Multilevel Examination of Prison Violence

Most literature on inmate assaultive behavior considers only one level of analysis, thereby ignoring the importance of prison context on inmate behavior. This study improved on past research by combining inmate and prison-level data into a multilevel model explaining inmate-on-inmate, nondeadly assaults. Data from 1,054 male inmates in 30 prisons revealed that age and aggression were the most robust predictors of inmate-on-inmate assaults. In terms of multilevel effects, aggressive inmates were found to commit more assaults in prisons that were more crowded and had a greater percentage of younger inmates (e.g., younger than age 25). Policy implications and suggestions for a multilevel theory of prison violence are discussed.
Single Source Precursors for the Growth of Metal-Chalcogenide Thin Films

We have recently reported the growth of ZnTe and CdTe thin films from the novel volatile single-source precursors Zn(sitel)2 and Cd(sitel)2 [sitel = TeSi(TeSi(siMe3)3]. In an effort to understand the role played by the bulky substituents, we have prepared a number of related compounds and have investigated their potential for the growth of II-VI materials. We now describe the synthesis and characterization of M[EX(SiMe3)3]2 (M = Zn, Cd, Hg for E = Te, X = C; M = Zn for E = Se, X = C, Si) and their use as precursors molecules for the growth of ZnSe, ZnTe, CdTe and HgTe. The thin films were characterized by Rutherford Back scattering spectrometry (RBS) and X-ray diffraction. Pyrolysis reaction conditions for the alkyl and silyl chalcogenolates are also compared.
Synthesis Of Optimal Hyperthermia Field Patterns With Ultrasound Phased-array Applicators

In this paper we define and present a method of optimizing the intensity gain of multiple-focus phased-array hyperthermia field patterns. Optimization of the intcnsity gain is shown to increase the power deposition in the target volume. More significantly, it is shown to reduce the intcrference patterns outside the target volume thus improving the localization of heating to the tumor volume. Simulation results are given to illustrate the effect of intensity gain maximization on intereference patterns.
Surface Cleaning Prior to Formation of Si/SiO2 Interfaces by Remote Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (RPECVD)

Ex situ UV/O2 cleaning prior to SiO2 deposition by RPECVD results in an SiO2/Si interface with mid-gap Dit values 2-5 times higher than interfaces formed by in situ exposure of HF-etched wafers to plasma-generated atomic O. In situ exposures to plasma-generated atomic H and atomic O are each effective at removing carbon contamination acquired by the UV/O2 cleaned wafers during transfer and introduction to the RPECVD chamber. However, in situ exposure of the photochemical oxide layer to atomic O results in higher mid-gap Dit values, and in situ exposure to atomic H results in creation of dangling bond defects (Pb centers).
Physical Therapy on the Wards After Early Physical Activity and Mobility in the Intensive Care Unit

Background Weakness and debilitation are common following critical illness. Studies that assess whether early physical activity initiated in the intensive care unit (ICU) continues after a patient is transferred to a ward are lacking. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess whether physical activity and mobility initiated during ICU treatment were maintained after patients were discharged from a single ICU to a ward. Design This was a cohort study. Methods Consecutive patients who were diagnosed with respiratory failure and admitted to the respiratory ICU (RICU) at LDS Hospital underwent early physical activity and mobility as part of usual care. Medical data, the number of requests for a physical therapy consultation or nursing assistance with ambulation at ICU discharge, and mobility data were collected during the first 2 full days on the ward. Results Of the 72 patients who participated in the study, 65 had either a physical therapy consultation or a request for nursing assistance with ambulation at ward transfer. Activity level decreased in 40 participants (55%) on the first full ward day. Of the 61 participants who ambulated 100 ft (30.48 m) or more on the last full RICU day, 14 did not ambulate, 22 ambulated less than 100 ft, and 25 ambulated 100 ft or more on the first ward day. Limitations Limitations include lack of data regarding why activity was not performed on the ward, lack of longitudinal follow-up to assess effects of activity, and lack of generalizability to patients not transferred to a ward or not treated in an ICU with an early mobility program. Conclusions Despite the majority of participants having a physical therapy consultation or a request for nursing assistance with ambulation at the time of transfer to the medical ward, physical activity levels decreased in over half of participants on the first full ward day. The data suggest a need for education of ward staff regarding ICU debilitation, enhanced communication among care providers, and focus on the importance of patient-centered outcomes during and following ICU treatment.
Mechanical Properties of Several 5000-Series Aluminum Alloys at Cryogenic Temperatures

The extensive use of liquid-oxygen and liquid-hydrogen propellants in missiles and spacecraft has placed an increasing demand upon the metallurgist to provide engineering materials for structural applications at cryogenic temperatures. The selection of a material for structural use at cryogenic temperatures is primarily dependent upon the material’s strength-to-density ratio and resistance to brittle fracture. Alloys with high strength-to-density ratios are required in order to minimize weight and meet design requirements of flight articles. Also of prime importance is the material’s toughness, or resistance to brittle fracture, under conditions of high stress, impact, repeated loading, and extreme low temperatures.
Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor blocks the production of West Nile virus-induced neuroinflammatory markers in astrocytes.

Inflammatory immune responses triggered initially to clear West Nile virus (WNV) infection later become detrimental and contribute to the pathological processes such as blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption and neuronal death, thus complicating WNV-associated encephalitis (WNVE). It has been demonstrated previously that WNV infection in astrocytes results in induction of multiple matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which mediate BBB disruption. Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and their product, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), modulate neuroinflammation and regulate the production of multiple inflammatory molecules including MMPs. Therefore, this study determined and characterized the pathophysiological consequences of the expression of COX enzymes in human brain cortical astrocytes (HBCAs) following WNV infection. Whilst COX-1 mRNA expression did not change, WNV infection significantly induced RNA and protein expression of COX-2 in HBCAs. Similarly, PGE2 production was also enhanced significantly in infected HBCAs and was blocked in the presence of the COX-2-specific inhibitor NS-398, thus suggesting that COX-2, and not COX-1, was the source of the increased PGE2. Treatment of infected HBCAs with NS-398 attenuated the expression of MMP-1, -3 and -9 in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, expression of interleukin-1β, -6 and -8, which were markedly elevated in infected HBCAs, exhibited a significant reduction in their levels in the presence of NS-398. These results provide direct evidence that WNV-induced COX-2/PGE2 is involved in modulating the expression of multiple neuroinflammatory mediators, thereby directly linking COX-2 with WNV disease pathogenesis. The ability of COX-2 inhibitors to modulate WNV-induced COX-2 and PGE2 signalling warrants further investigation in an animal model as a potential approach for clinical management of neuroinflammation associated with WNVE.
Déjà Vu All Over Again? Reflections on Auerbach's 'Modern Corporate Tax'

This paper comments on Alan Auerbach's "A Modern Corporate Tax" (Hamilton Project/CAP, December 2010) and argues that it is not a significant improvement over previous proposals to replace the corporate tax with a cash flow tax.
Delegation of Political Authority to Bureaucratic Agencies in an Authoritarian Regime: An Analysis of Regional Economic Regulation in Kazakhstan

This paper investigates the delegation of economic policy implementation in non-democratic settings. It draws on a dataset of statutory and administrative regulation created between 1991 and 2011 in Kazakhstan in order to investigate economic effects of bureaucratic discretion. The examination of regional and temporal variation in the number and detail of economic regulations shows that while regulatory intervention does not have a discernible effect on economic performance, statutory constraints on bureaucratic discretion have a positive effect. This finding supports the notion that in the absence of societal accountability, statutory constraint on the administrative apparatus leads to a more stable business climate and better economic performance. The paper explicates the ways in which theories of delegation apply to autocracies and broadens our understanding of political control over economic policy implementation.
Justice as Play

I am interested here in using Johannes Huizinga's work on play to explore a strange, yet civilizing, phenomenon. Why do we take those social disputes in our ordinary lives that often seem most serious and therefore most divisive, turn them over to playful participants in a legal literary game, and then choose, more or less, to call the outcome of this game "justice" and to trust it as such even to the point of preferring it to the political? Why, that is, do we think that it is justice that arises from this literary play? If we are to understand how this play became and becomes justice, I argue, we must abandon current assumptions about the legal conversation to appreciate anew not only its formal elements as a game -- constitutive rules; a "lusory attitude" (Bernard Suits' term) toward those rules upon which the game depends for its continuation; and, most important for this article, its insistence upon a certain playful "disinterestedness" or, as l call it here, an alterity or otherness -- but also beyond these its archaic Greek elements: agon, ritual, chance, and, most difficult of all, the remaining elements of sacredness and the divine. This then is the rhetorical task of the article and it proceeds by way of the ancient Greeks, not to define the legal conversation by its origins, but to attempt to reopen our understanding so that we can perceive the legal conversation anew.
Determining the likelihood of future offenses in SVP hearings

In Commonwealth v. Squire , 685 S.E.2d 631 (Va. 2009), the Supreme Court of Virginia affirmed the trial court's dismissal of a petition for civil commitment of a sexually violent predator (SVP) with an undisputed mental abnormality whose case lacked clear and convincing evidence, despite expert
Failure of the Vitek AutoMicrobic System to Detect Beta-Lactam Resistance in Aeromonas Species

The ability of the Vitek AutoMicrobic system (AMS; Vitek, Inc., Hazelwood, MO) and disk-diffusion method to detect beta-lactam resistance was assessed with 25 strains from four species of Aeromonas. A very major error was indicated when a strain was shown to be susceptible by the AMS or disk-diffusion method but resistant by the agar dilution method. The rates for very major errors for disk diffusion and the AMS were 0% and 43%, respectively. The beta-lactam agents and numbers of very major errors for the AMS were as follows: ticarcillin, 17; mezlocillin, 3; piperacillin 4; cephalothin, 9; cefazolin, 3; cefoxitin, 1; cefotetan, 2; and cefuroxime, 1. Thus, these data suggest that the AMS currently is not reliable for testing the resistance of Aeromonas to beta-lactam agents
Identification of Multiple Structurally Distinct, Nonpeptidic Small Molecule Inhibitors of Protein Arginine Deiminase 3 Using a Substrate-Based Fragment Method

The protein arginine deiminases (PADs) are a family of enzymes that catalyze the post-translational hydrolytic deimination of arginine residues. Four different enzymologically active PAD subtypes have been characterized and exhibit tissue-specific expression and association with a number of different diseases. In this Article we describe the development of an approach for the reliable discovery of low molecular weight, nonpeptidic fragment substrates of the PADs that then can be optimized and converted to mechanism-based irreversible PAD inhibitors. The approach is demonstrated by the development of potent and selective inhibitors of PAD3, a PAD subtype implicated in the neurodegenerative response to spinal cord injury. Multiple structurally distinct inhibitors were identified with the most potent inhibitors having >10,000 min(-1) M(-1) k(inact)/K(I) values and ≥10-fold selectivity for PAD3 over PADs 1, 2, and 4.
Practical considerations for rTMS during pregnancy

s / Brain Stimulation 8 (2015) 412e427 421 conventional HD-tDCS had 0.31 V/m of maximum cortical EF, while implanting the channel induced 1.6 V/m and 2.58 V/m peaks for shafts with diameter of 2 mm and 4 mm, respectively and it had more focal effects. T-shaped channels had increased peaks compared to shaft only. Finally, it was found that transcranial channels may yield the improved performance in intensity and focality compared to the conventional HD-tDCS; moreover, T-shaped channel had better performance than shaft only and was better for stabilizing the shaft relative to the skull.
Abstract A098: Helicobacter-specific T cell responses in gut homeostasis and disease

The gastrointestinal tract is the major site for constant immunological challenge to the host immune system. The host must be able to mount protective immune responses against pathogenic micro-organisms while maintaining tolerance to most microbes under homeostatic conditions. A number of Helicobacter species, including Helicobacter hepaticus , have been isolated as the etiological agents of gastric ulcer disease or colitis in their respective hosts. H. hepaticus infection induces severe colitis in a number of immunocompromised mouse mutants, but interestingly does not usually cause disease in most WT mouse strains. Although Th17/Th1 responses are known to play an important role in H. hepaticus -mediated inflammation, how the immune response is contained such that it is harmless under homeostatic conditions and how perturbations lead to pathogenicity remain elusive questions. To answer these, it will be important to track H. hepaticus -specific T helper cells, which form a small proportion of total gut T helper cells, under homeostatic conditions. We have characterized TCRs specific for H. hepaticus antigens, which has allowed for development of TCR transgenic mice and MHCII tetramers to interrogate the specific T cell response that can contribute to inflammatory bowel disease in mouse models. Citation Format: Mo Xu, Dan R. Littman. Helicobacter-specific T cell responses in gut homeostasis and disease. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Inaugural International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; September 16-19, 2015; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(1 Suppl):Abstract nr A098.
Aeromonas and Plesiomonas

Aeromonas and Plesiomonas are ubiquitous in natural and municipal water sources, lending to contamination of water-related food commodities, such as fish and seafood, as well as introduction into other foodstuffs through unsanitary processing and handling. Although gastrointestinal disease is usually mild or even asymptomatic, both organisms are invasive and can lead to septicemia and other extraintestinal infections in immunocompromised individuals. Major risk factors for disease include consumption of raw and undercooked seafood, foreign travel, especially to developing countries with inadequate sanitation, and underlying hepatobiliary disease and malignancies.
RAI-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Lung Lesions Causing Bleeding

Hemoptysis, the expectoration of blood arising from the lower respiratory tract, is commonly seen with primary intrathoracic malignancies and is less frequently due to metastatic disease such as differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Nonetheless, patients with DTC who develop hemoptysis require careful assessment to determine whether metastatic DTC is involving either the central airways or the lung parenchyma, as well as to consider whether the bleeding is due to a broad range of other neoplastic, infectious, or inflammatory disorders. Bronchoscopy may be required to localize the source of bleeding, and tissue acquisition to confirm a histologic diagnosis is often appropriate when there is clinical uncertainty as to the etiology. Once metastatic DTC is identified as the cause, hemoptysis can be managed with a variety of localized interventions, including bronchoscopic coagulation and resection, surgical resection, or radiotherapy. The absence of prospective comparative trials among the various treatment modalities or of data specific to DTC leads to reliance upon retrospective analyses and local physician biases for therapy selection.
Toxicity of Transgenic Corn Tissues Expressing Insecticidal Protein of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner to Southwestern Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in the Laboratory

Laboratory studies were conducted to compare the response of Diatraea grandiosella (Dyar) larvae to lyophilized transgenic corn tissue expressing the Cry1Ab endotoxin protein of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (Bt) with conventional corn tissue incorporated into a BioServ™ artificial diet. Whorl leaf, stalk, shank, husk, silk or kernel tissues were tested independently in the diet. Larvae fed diet containing conventional corn weighed more and were longer in length than larvae fed diet containing Bt corn for all tissue types included in the study. The number of larvae that survived depended on the tissue type and age of the tissue. Larvae fed diet with kernel tissue expressing Bt toxin had greater weight and body length than larvae fed the other Bt tissue types. The negative effects of Bt corn tissues expressing the Cry1Ab endotoxin protein on growth of D. grandiosella was observed, even at the diluted concentrations of toxic tissues incorporated into the diet in this study.
Early Folic Acid Supplement Initiation and Risk of Adverse Early Childhood Respiratory Health: A Population-based Study.

Objectives Folate plays a vital role in biologic functions yet women often do not meet the recommended dietary intake in pregnancy. It has been suggested that high folic acid intake during pregnancy may increase the risk of respiratory diseases in offspring. However, findings from observational studies in human populations are inconclusive. Methods In this population-based study, we collected self-reported folic acid and prenatal vitamin supplement use during pregnancy 3–6 months postpartum from mothers in Los Angeles whose children were born in 2003. Supplement initiation was based on whichever supplement, either folic acid or prenatal supplements, the women initiated first. In a 2006 follow-up survey, approximately 50% of women were re-contacted to gather information on the child’s respiratory health, including symptoms and diagnoses, at approximately 3.5 years of age. Results Overall, timing of folic acid supplement initiation was not associated with wheeze or lower respiratory tract infection, even after accounting for preterm births and censoring at follow-up. However, children born to mothers with a history of atopy (hay fever, eczema or asthma) who initiate folic acid supplements in late pregnancy, compared to first trimester initiators, have 1.67 (95% CI 1.12, 2.49) times the risk of wheeze in the first 3 years of life and 1.88 (95% CI 1.05, 3.34) times the risk of wheeze in the past year. No association was found among children of non-atopic mothers. Conclusions These findings suggest that early folic acid or prenatal supplementation among atopic women may be important to prevent wheeze among offspring.
Not All Behaviors Are Attention Maintained.

Ignore It! is a book aimed to assist frustrated parents and teachers dealing with children that engage in inappropriate or annoying behaviors. Ignore It! was written by Dr. Catherine Pearlman, a li...
Bacteria, Fungi and Endotoxin in Stored Timber Logs and Airborne Sawdust in Poland

Stored timber often is colonized by bacteria (Greaves, 1971; Rossell et al., 1973) and fungi (Levy, 1975) which may cause its decay (Kaarik, 1975). While the infected wood is processed in sawmills, papermills, or furniture factories and used as a fuel, people could be exposed through inhalation to potentially allergenic or toxic microorganisms (Wimander and Belin, 1980; Thorngvist and Lundstrom, 1982). In current studies of this hazard, the main focus has been on fungi. Many fungal species or genera have been implicated in the etiology of the cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other pulmonary diseases, resulting from the inhalation of wood dust. The more common of associated fungi are Cryptostroma corticale (Towey et al., 1932; Emanuel et al., 1966), Aureobasidium pullulans and Graphium (Cohen et al., 1967), Alternaria tenuis (Schlueter et al., 1972), Aspergillus fumigatus (Terho et al., 1980; Minârik et al., 1983), and Penicillium (Avila and Lacey, 1974; Van Assendelft et al., 1985; Dykewicz et al., 1988). Large concentrations of fungi, ranging from 102 to 108 colony forming units (cfu) per cubic meter of air were found in the air contaminated with wood dust (Terho et al., 1980; Wilhelmsson et al., 1984; Jappinen et al., 1987; Kolmodin-Hedman et al., 1987). Among suspected disease-causing agents, thermophilic actinomycetes Thermoactinomyces vulgaris (Terho et al., 1980) and Saccharomonospora viridis (Greene et al., 1981) were listed.
Structural changes in lenses of mice lacking the gap junction protein connexin43.

PURPOSE To investigate the role of the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43), which is predominantly expressed in lens epithelial cells in the control of lens development and organization. METHODS Newborn mice in which the Cx43 gene was disrupted by homologous recombination were used. Lenses from Cx43 (-/-) mice and wild-type littermates were processed by using 2% glutaraldehyde fixation for light and transmission electron microscopy and by freezing in liquid nitrogen for light and confocal microscopy of immunofluorescence in cryosections. RESULTS In wild-type mice, Cx43 was immunolocalized to apical and lateral regions of lens epithelial cells and throughout the cornea, iris, ciliary body, and retina. In the bow, or equatorial, region of the lens, Cx43 disappeared gradually at the margins of the epithelial layer, whereas major intrinsic polypeptide, MP26, and alpha-crystallins were only detected in differentiated fiber cells. Ultrastructural studies revealed that epithelial cells and epithelial fiber cells were connected by large gap junctions. Lens fiber cells were closely apposed to apical boundaries of epithelial cells and apposed to one another along their entire lengths. In Cx43 (-/-) mice, epithelial cells were connected more loosely. The distribution of MP26 and alpha-crystallin in bow region fiber cells in Cx43 (-/-) lenses was not distinguishable from that in the lenses of wild-type mice. Cx46 and Cx50 were also expressed in superficial and cortical fiber cells, with similar distributions in Cx43 (-/-) and wild-type mice. However, organization of appositional membranes between lens fiber cells and between fiber and epithelial cells differed dramatically in the Cx43 (-/-) lens. In contrast to the close apposition of cells in lenses of normal mice, fiber cells in Cx43 (-/-) lenses were largely separated from apical surfaces of epithelial cells, and large vacuolar spaces were apparent between fiber cells, most prominently in deeper cortical regions. CONCLUSIONS The normal differentiation of lens fiber cells in the bow region in lenses of Cx43 (-/-) mice, evidenced by similar distributions of Cx46, Cx50, MP26, and alpha-crystallin, suggests that the expression of Cx43 is not required for this process. However, these lenses exhibit grossly dilated extracellular spaces and intracellular vacuoles, indicative of early stages of cataract formation. These changes suggest that osmotic balance within the lens is markedly altered in Cx43 (-/-) animals, highlighting the importance of intercellular communication mediated by lens epithelial Cx43 gap junctions in the function of this tissue.
Clinical Applications and Comparison of Methods

The development of the noninvasive radiological methods in densitometry has enhanced the diagnosis and monitoring of osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases. These methods have progressed over the years from the qualitative to the quantitative, providing the medical community with important additional information regarding the assessment of bone disease. We have seen that these methods have unique characteristics that delineate their suitability and advantages for a particular application. However, the physical measurement parameters associated with each method are characterized by specific limitations upon their applicability, precision, and accuracy in the clinical environment.
PondView: Intuitive and Efficient Visualization of 3D GPR Data

The demand for high resolution 3D GPR imaging of the subsurface results in the acquisition of large datasets in utility mapping, archeological prospection, and concrete structural inspection. Visualization, analysis, and interpretation of such data is plagued by the need of high-end hardware and software, limited survey size for smooth user interaction, and the loss of resolution and low amplitude features contained in the original high-quality data. To overcome these bottlenecks, we use a 2D color matrix to automatically color code by amplitude and depth all features visible in thick horizontal slices. The resulting PondView is a top view of the buried features as if they were submerged in a clear pond illuminated by the sun from above. Prototype test results on a full-resolution 500 MHz 3D GPR survey show how pipes, tree roots and small metal objects can be easily recognized, interpreted, and located with centimeter precision without the need of vertical profiles. PondView bitmaps and animations can be generated on a standard PC and viewed on handheld devices like photographs and movies.
One English Language Arts Teacher’s Journey as a Secondary Teacher-Mentor: Life in the Hyphen:

This article shares the results of a case study that explored Annie’s socially situated identity as a secondary English Language Arts teacher-mentor over 5 years at an urban school. Annie’s identit...
Imprinting on Clinical Rotations: Multisite Survey of High- and Low-Value Medical Student Behaviors and Relationship with Healthcare Intensity

Physician behaviors are important to high-value care, and the learning environment medical students encounter on clinical clerkships may imprint their developing practice patterns. To explore potential imprinting on clinical rotations by (a) describing high- and low-value behaviors among medical students and (b) examining relationships with regional healthcare intensity (HCI). Multisite cross-sectional survey Third- and fourth-year students at nine US medical schools Survey items measured high-value (n = 10) and low-value (n = 9) student behaviors. Regional HCI was measured using Dartmouth Atlas End-of-Life Chronic Illness Care data (ratio of physician visits per decedent compared with the US average, hospital care intensity index, ratio of medical specialty to primary care physician visits per decedent). Associations between regional HCI and student behaviors were examined using unadjusted and adjusted (controlling for age, sex, and year in school) logistic regression analyses, using median item ratings to summarize reported engagement in high- and low-value behaviors. Of 2623 students invited, 1304 (50%) responded. Many reported trying to determine healthcare costs (1085/1234, 88%), but only 45% (571/1257) reported including cost details in case presentations. Students acknowledged suggesting tests solely to anticipate what their supervisor would want (1143/1220, 94%), show off their ability to generate a broad differential diagnosis (1072/1218, 88%), satisfy curiosity (958/1217, 79%), protect the team from liability (938/1215, 77%), and build clinical experience (533/1217, 44%). Students in higher intensity regions reported significantly more low-value behaviors: each one-unit increase in the ratio of physician visits per decedent increased the odds of reporting low-value behaviors by 20% (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.04–1.38; P = 0.01). Third- and fourth-year medical students report engaging in both high- and low-value behaviors, which are related to regional HCI. This underscores the importance of the clinical learning environment and suggests imprinting is already underway during medical school.
In Situ Measurements of Polymer Micellization Kinetics with Millisecond Temporal Resolution.

Utilizing synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) integrated with a microfluidic device, micellization kinetics of a diblock co-polymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(caprolactone), was measured in situ with millisecond temporal and micrometer spatial resolution. The evolutionary regimes of polymer micellization, nucleation, fusion, and insertion were directly observed. The five-inlet microfluidic device provided steady continuous mixing of the polymer solution and the antisolvent. The solvent replacement was mainly dominated by lateral diffusion across the hydrodynamically focused central layer, whose thickness could be precisely designed and manipulated from the mass balance of the partitioning streams. Knowing the micellization kinetics of the polymers is essential for the design and optimization of self-assembled polymeric nanostructures. The technique of integrating SAXS with microfluidic devices can be translatable to other systems for a breadth of applications.
Inorganic N addition replaces N supplied to switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide many benefits in agroecosystems including improved soil tilth, carbon sequestration, and water and nutrient transfer to plants. AMF are known to affect plant nitrogen (N) dynamics and transfer N to plants, but there have been few studies addressing whether the amount of N transferred to plants by AMF is agronomically relevant. We used δ15 N natural abundance methods and δ15 N mass balance equations to estimate the amount of plant N derived from AMF transfer in perennial grasses managed for bioenergy production under different N addition treatments (0, 56, and 196 kg N/ha). Differentiation of δ15 N among plant, soil N, and AMF pools was higher than anticipated leading to calculations of 34-55% of plant N transferred by AMF in the treatments receiving no N addition to 6-22% of plant N transferred to plants in high-N addition treatments. AMF extra-radical hyphae biomass was significantly reduced in the high-N (196 kg N/ha) addition treatments, which was negatively correlated to enriched plant δ15 N. Our results suggest that N addition decreases AMF N transfer to plants. When N was limiting to plant growth, AMF supplied agronomically significant amounts of plant N, and a higher proportion of overall plant N. Because differentiation between N pools was greater than expected, stable isotope measurements can be used to estimate N transfer to AMF plant hosts.
Adolescent Sexual Development and Peer Groups: Reciprocal Associations and Shared Genetic and Environmental Influences.

Peer groups influence the emergence of sexual behaviors in adolescence, but many details regarding the mechanisms underlying these effects have yet to be described. We examined the phenotypic, genetic, and environmental links between both antisocial and prosocial peer characteristics, and several sexual behaviors from middle childhood to late adolescence (ages 11, 14, and 17 years) using a longitudinal twin sample (N = 3762). Antisocial peers predicted greater engagement in both normative (e.g., dating) and non-normative (e.g., early sexual intercourse) sexual behaviors, while prosocial peers were associated with a lower likelihood of engaging in non-normative sexual behaviors. Reciprocal effects were also observed such that early sexual experiences were associated with a more antisocial and less prosocial peer groups later in adolescence. Behavioral genetic models indicated that most of the overlap between peer group characteristics and sexual behavior was due to shared environmental influences. That is, some features of the adolescent environment exert a press toward (or against) antisocial peers and sexual behaviors. Together, the results extend the existing literature by highlighting the ways through which peer affiliations are related to sexual development in adolescence.
Research on Application of New Intelligent Distributed Feeder Automation

This paper considers that the intelligent distributed feeder automation (IDFA) can effectively improve the reliability of distribution network. Slow distributed feeder automation (SDFA) is one mode of IDFA. The definition, implementation scheme and key technologies of SDFA are proposed. The distribution network is built based on Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS). The SDFA is verified and analyzed through simulation experiments. It is shown that the SDFA has the characteristics of flexible configuration, fast fault isolation and restoration of power supply, and can effectively improve the reliability of power supply in distribution network by the action case of SDFA deployed in Pudong Core District of Shanghai.
No-flip ShangRing circumcision in 10-12 year old boys: Results from randomized clinical trials in Kenya.

Background Attention has recently turned toward the use of device-assisted male circumcision to help scale up male circumcision services in sub-Saharan Africa, with increasing emphasis on younger age groups. We assessed the use of the ShangRing for circumcising the subset of boys aged 10 to 12 years who were enrolled in two randomized clinical trials in Kenya. Methods We performed a sub-analysis of outcomes in 197 boys aged 10 to 12 years; a subset who were enrolled in two randomized clinical trials to assess the use of the no-flip ShangRing circumcision technique in men and boys. One trial assessed spontaneous detachment vs. planned removal of the ShangRing 7 days post-circumcision. The second trial compared the use of topical vs. injectable anesthesia with ShangRing circumcision. Aside from baseline characteristics, data was collected and analyzed for each trial separately. Results All participants were successfully circumcised. Duration of circumcision, participants requiring a dorsal slit, rate of adverse events, time to complete wound healing, and participant satisfaction were similar between the two groups in each trial. Mean time required for spontaneous ShangRing detachment was 14.82±3.76 days. Topical anesthesia showed a significantly lower mean pain score at the time of application (0.64±1.71 vs. 1.55± 2.21, p = 0.03) as well as postoperatively (0.54±0.88 vs. 1.72±1.56, p<0.0001). Median dwell time of the topical anesthetic was 43 (IQR: 35.5–60) minutes, while the median time it took the injectable anesthetic to take effect was 2.04 (IQR: 1.72–3.09) minutes. Conclusion No-flip ShangRing circumcision had a positive safety profile among young adolescent boys, specifically ages 10–12 years. The use of spontaneous device detachment and topical anesthesia with the procedure have shown promising outcomes in this age group. This may have the potential to further increase the acceptability of ShangRing circumcision, and therefore accelerate the scle up of male circumcision services in sub-Saharan Africa. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov registration # NCT02390310.
P138 An Exploration of Nutrition Education Needs and Barriers of Uninsured Clients of Free Clinics in Western North Carolina

Background North Carolina has an uninsured population of 10.7%, the tenth highest in the country, and many uninsured adults must rely on free health clinics for prevention and treatment of chronic disease. However, little is known about the nutrition education needs of uninsured adults served by free health clinics, and potential acceptable strategies for intervention. Objective To conduct a needs assessment in western North Carolina to explore nutrition education needs, internet access, barriers, and feasibility of potential nutrition interventions for adults served by free health clinics. Study Design, Setting, Participants A semi-quantitative survey was distributed to 156 clients in waiting rooms of 2 free health clinics in western North Carolina. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Descriptive analyses were conducted using IBM's SPSS version 26 to determine frequencies for demographics, current nutrition knowledge, barriers, and internet access. Results Roughly 60% of participants were female with an average age of 45 (±12.81), and the majority were Caucasian (81%). Nearly one-third of participants requested interventions focused on managing diabetes (32%), hypertension (39%), and heart disease (32%). Most participants were interested in interventions focused on produce (87%) and recipe ideas (73%). Barriers to cooking included: budgeting/cost, time constraints, lack of access to food and cooking equipment, disabilities, and homelessness. The majority reported having regular access to smartphones (70%), internet (60%), and were open to receiving nutrition education through social media (41%) and online videos (43%). Conclusions This study adds to the limited body of literature on nutrition education needs and potential strategies/foci of intervention for uninsured adults who rely on free health clinics. Results suggest nutrition interventions should work alongside clinics to address equipment and food access to facilitate the preparation and selection of healthier items. Additionally, future interventions could leverage online modalities to support and enhance in-person nutrition education offered through clinics.
Multispectral Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis for the Real-Time and Label-Free Characterization of Amyloid-β Self-Assembly In Vitro.

The deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) plaques and fibrils in the brain parenchyma is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but a mechanistic understanding of the role Aβ plays in AD has remained uncle...
Combating Acquired Resistance to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Lung Cancer

The prospective identification and therapeutic targeting of oncogenic tyrosine kinases with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has revolutionized the treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TKI therapy frequently induces dramatic clinical responses in molecularly defined cohorts of patients with lung cancer, paving the way for the implementation of precision medicine. Unfortunately, acquired resistance, defined as tumor progression after initial response, seems to be an inevitable consequence of this treatment approach. This brief review will provide an overview of the complex and heterogeneous problem of acquired resistance to TKI therapy in NSCLC, with a focus on EGFR-mutant and ALK-rearranged NSCLC. In vitro models of TKI resistance and analysis of tumor biopsy samples at the time of disease progression have generated breakthroughs in our understanding of the spectrum of mechanisms by which a tumor can thwart TKI therapy and have provided an important rationale for the development of novel approaches to delay or overcome resistance. Numerous ongoing clinical trials implement strategies, including novel, more potent TKIs and rational combinations of targeted therapies, some of which have already proven effective in surmounting therapeutic resistance.
Utilization of gypsum in the manufacture of fused phosphate fertilizer

iv INTRODUCTION 1 LITERATURE SURVEY 5 LABORATORY INVESTIGATION 11 Materials and Apparatus 11 Raw materials 11 iUrnace 14 Crucibles 14 Quenching 18 Fusion Procedure 20 Analysis 22 Experimental Results 23 Qypsum fusions 23 Phosphate loss during fusion 28 Leaching 29 Fusions of phosphate rock, gypsum and fluxing agents 32 Ternary studies 38 Fusions with by-product gypsum 48 Product Evaluation 51 PILOT PLANT INVESTIGATION 55 Equipment 55 Measurements and Analyses 63 Materials 67 Operating Procedure 68 Experimental Results 72 Fusions with mineral gypsum 72 Fusions with by-product gypsum 79 Pilot Plant Evaluation 80 Product Evaluation 88 PRODUCT STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS 89 CONCLUSIONS 107
Treatment and Outcomes of Women With Large Locally Advanced Breast Cancer.

Advances in breast cancer research have made breast cancer a treatable disease. However, there is a population of women who present with large, advanced, or sometimes neglected breast cancers who c...
Nephropleural fistula after supracostal approach for PCNL: report of two cases with review of literature

Nephropleural fistula is a rarely encountered complication of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Only 11 cases have been reported in literature to date. Often associated with supracostal punctures, the presentation is frequently delayed. Diagnosis is based on imaging, mainly X-rays and CT along with retrograde pyelography that establishes the fistulous connection. A difficult to diagnose condition, any patient with a supracostal access PCNL who presents with delayed symptoms of breathlessness and has leucocytosis with fluid in the lungs on chest imaging should be suspected to have a nephropleural fistula. The management involves intercostal tube thoracostomy to relieve symptoms and drainage of the operated kidney by double-J stent placement, if not placed already. Prompt recognition and management results in excellent recovery with no sequelae. We present our experience with two such cases and our aim was to familiarise the practising urologist regarding the diagnosis and management of this infrequent condition.
The Tangle of Poverty and Pathology: The Use of Coded Language in the Post-Reagan Era

Political and historical literature largely attribute the political development of the Southern Strategy to the 1964 Barry Goldwater and 1968 Richard Nixon presidential campaigns. The Southern Strategy is commonly explained as the Republican Party’s 1964 campaign decision to abandon voters in the North to expand their national political base of support by seeking White voters outside of the south who were angry with the political advancements of the Civil Rights Movement (Aistrup, 1996, p. 5; Bass and DeVries, 1976, p. 27). Discussions of Ronald Reagan’s role in the development of the Southern Strategy describe him more as a beneficiary rather than a significant influence in the Republican Party’s efforts to nationalize Southern racial politics. His speeches equated social spending with racial stigmas and pathological behavior of the that have influenced Presidential politics ever since he delivered his “A Time for Choosing” speech in 1964 on behalf of the Goldwater campaign. This paper argues that the racialized language that Reagan used in this speech has fundamentally transformed the rhetorical frame of not just the Southern Strategy, but presidents of both parties for the past six decades. The study is a qualitative examination that utilizes content analysis to examine how Reagan’s language of the politics of pathology has shaped the manner in which Democratic and Republican presidents argue the legitimacy of the social safety net. The study seeks to examine the prevalence of the coded language of the politics of pathology, which is defined as the belief that social spending encourages individuals to engage in immoral behavior, in presidential speeches as a tool to mitigate or cultivate racial resentment and political extremism when explaining their policy and spending priorities related to poverty and social inequalities.
Decreased expression of glial-derived neurotrophic factor receptors in glaucomatous human retinas.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), the GDNF receptors GFRα1 and GFRα2, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), and the CNTF receptor CNTFRα in normal and glaucomatous human tissue. Methods Human retinas were collected from 8 donors that had been clinically diagnosed and treated for glaucoma, and also from 9 healthy control donors. Immunohistochemical analysis for each trophic factor and receptor was performed. The percent of each retinal section labeled with each antibody was quantified for the total retinal thickness, and separately for the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) complex + retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). The expression of each protein was correlated with measures of the subject's ocular histories. Results The percentage area immunopositive for GFRα2 was significantly decreased in the total retinal thickness containing all retinal layers and in the combined RGC complex + RNFL in glaucomatous eyes in both the peripapillary region and more peripheral retinal locations. We also observed a decrease in GFRα1 expression in the peripapillary RGC Complex + RNFL in glaucoma patients compared to healthy control patients. We also observed a relationship between GDNF and its receptors with several outcomes obtained from the medical record. No differences in CNTF or CNTFR labeling were observed. Conclusion Decreases in GDNF receptor expression in glaucomatous tissue may limit the potential for neuroprotective therapy by supplementation with GDNF.