cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond the sensory: Findings from an in-depth analysis of the phenomenology of “auditory hallucinations” in schizophrenia

Objective: Research concerning the subjective sensory qualities of auditory hallucinations (AH) in people diagnosed with schizophrenia is scarce. Our goal was to investigate the “auditoriness” of AH and their overlap with symptoms grounded in alterations of thought rather than perception.Method: We undertook a detailed analysis of phenomenological interviews with 80 schizophrenia-spectrum voice-hearers.Results: We coded the dominant voice patterns of our subjects and found that only a minority (17.5%) reported a dominant pattern of AH which were experienced as literally auditory. Of dominant AH patterns, 11.3% were instead described as only quasi- or partially auditory, 28.8% as involving a combination of distinctly auditory and thought-like voices, and 15% as unambiguously thought-like. In addition, 5% reported exclusively simple, short-duration AH (e.g. hearing a single word), 12.5% the misperception of actual speech or sounds, and 10% predominantly multisensory voices. We also found substantial overlap...
Stable Flies (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) from Confined Beef Cattle Do Not Carry Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) in the Digestive Tract.

Abstract Background and Objective: Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) are very common around confined and pastured cattle, and due to their painful bites they are very important animal pests. Cattle are asymptomatic reservoirs of foodborne pathogens, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other Shiga-toxigenic E. coli serotypes (STEC). In the present study, the potential of stable flies to carry STEC in a beef cattle feedlot was assessed. Methods: Stable flies (n = 180) were collected over 3 summer months and processed individually for STEC-8 that included the serotype O157 and seven non-O157 serotypes (O26, O45, O103, O104, O111, O121, and O145). Isolation and detection of STEC was based on direct plating as well as the enrichment/immunomagnetic separation approach. Modified Posse agar (mP) was used for culturing non-O157 serotypes and sorbitol MacConkey agar with cefixime and potassium tellurite (CT-SMAC) for E. coli O157. Multiplex polymerase chain reactions were used for differentiation of individual serotyp...
Polyol pathway and osmoregulation in JS1 Schwann cells grown in hyperglycemic and hyperosmotic conditions

To test the osmoregulatory rules of Schwann cell aldose reductase (AR) and myo-inositol, JS1 Schwann cells were grown under control and hyperosmotic conditions with and without excess glucose or galactose. JS1 cells cultured in control conditions possessed AR protein and activity that were not altered by the inclusion of 25 mM glucose or galactose. Following culture with 100 mM NaCl, there was a decline in cell number accompanied by an increase in AR activity, both of which were attenuated by the addition of 25 mM glucose or galactose. Sorbitol was not detected in JS1 Schwann cells following culture in control, glucose-supplemented, or hyperosmotic medium, and dulcitol accumulated only following culture with galactose. However, both polyols were dramatically increased in JS1 cells cultured in hyperosmotic medium supplemented with 25 mM glucose or galactose. In contrast, myo-inositol levels were elevated only during hyperosmotic exposure but decreased when glucose or galactose was also present. These data are consistent with the use of polyol formation by JS1 Schwann cells as a means of responding to osmotic stress.
Massive Diffuse Calcification of the Ascending Aorta and Minimal Focal Calcification of the Abdominal Aorta in Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

A 41-year-old woman, the mother of 3 offspring, with likely heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, had been asymptomatic until age 38 when angina pectoris and exertional dyspnea appeared leading to the discovery of severe multivessel coronary artery disease and a massively calcified ascending aorta. Coronary bypass grafting using the right and left internal mammary arteries did not alleviate the symptoms. Evidence of overt heart failure subsequently appeared and that led to heart transplantation at age 41. She died 22 days later. The occurrence of massive diffuse calcification of the ascending aorta and minimal focal calcification of the abdominal aorta is rare and in the patient described it appears to be the consequence of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
Cyclical Variability in State Government Revenue: Can Tax Reform Reduce It?

Slowdowns in economic activity tend to significantly reduce state tax revenue growth, making it difficult to fund existing programs. This paper outlines tax reforms that policymakers may pursue to ease periods of fiscal stress. States can reduce the variability of revenue from the two most important sources, sales taxes and income taxes, by eliminating exemptions for food purchases and relying on a less progressive income tax. In addition, expenditures that are difficult to cut during downturns should be financed with stable revenue sources, while more variable revenue sources should be used to finance programs that can be cut more easily.
Abstract 408: Identifying the Molecular Basis of Monocyte Development Using Enhancer Profiling

Intro: Monocytes (Mo) are key drivers of atherosclerosis. In mouse the two main monocyte populations are distinguished based on Ly6C expression. Classical Ly6Chi Mo drive atherosclerosis while Ly6Clow Mo help to maintain vascular integrity. Indirect evidence also suggests that Ly6Clow Mo protect against atherosclerosis. Mo develop in the bone marrow (BM) from the macrophage dendritic cell precursor (MDP) and common monocyte progenitor (cMoP), although precise ontological relationships are unclear. We have recently described an obligate cell-intrinsic role for the transcription factor Nr4a1 in Ly6Clow monocyte development. Hypothesis: Enhancers drive transcription factor-dependent programs of gene expression in a cell-specific manner. We hypothesize that a functional analysis of Nr4a1-associated enhancers will provide insight into mechanisms regulating Ly6Clow Mo development. Furthermore, a genome-wide analysis of Mo and their progenitor enhancers will consolidate our understanding of lineage relationships...
Cytology of leukocyte concentrates.

Examination of leukocyte concentrates is useful in cytodiagnosis, particularly for examining large numbers of cells in a short time and for detecting in cytologic specimens rare elements that may escape detection by conventional cytologic methods. A simple method to prepare leukocyte concentrates of blood and marrow is presented. With minor modifications, this method is also applicable in cytodiagnosis of serous effusions and cerebrospinal fluid.
Survey on Latrine Hygiene in Rural Areas of Dujiangyan

[Objective]To understand the hygienic condition and problems of latrine in rural areas of Dujiangyan,Sichuan[.Methods]In 2009,2-3 villages were randomly chosen from each of the 18 towns in Dujiangyan,and 15-20 households from each of the selected villages were interviewed on sanitary status of latrine,excreta disposal,and awareness of sanitary latrine using questionnaires.[Results]Of the 741 households interviewed,97.7% installed household latrines.The popularization rate of sanitary latrines was 37.3%,including three-compartment septic tanks(17.8%),complete sewerage water flush latrines(11.7%),and biogas-producing latrines(6.3%).However,60.5% of the households still used non-sanitary latrines,mainly including pit toilets(51.4%) and simple water flush toilets(9.0%).Despite 84.9% of the household latrines with complete shelter structure,only 52.2% were in good sanitary condition.The coverage rate of sanitary latrines in house was 85.1% and 50.5% of non-sanitary latrines were installed outdoors.Feces utilization rates of household latrines were 70.0%,among which 62.5% were used as manure.Feces innocuous disposal rate was only 40.1%.As to the awareness of sanitary latrines,59.8% of the respondents were aware of the concept of sanitary latrine,66.3% understood that feces could spread diseases,15.9% learned how to use septic tanks,and only 11.3% answered all the questions correctly.Education and occupation were the main influencing factors of the awareness rate of sanitary latrine.[Conclusion]Both the rates of sanitary latrine popularization and feces innocuous disposal are low in the rural areas of Dujiangyan,which indicates potential public health hazards in excrement management.The low awareness rate of sanitary latrine requires urgent attention to health education,especially for the rural farmers with low education.
Information management in clinical trials

During the several years,the development in Chinese clinical trials has been improved in the research conditions and quality.In comparison with the clinical trials in the developed countries,there are still many insufficiencies.Application of information management could improve the quality control of drug clinical trials.In this paper,we introduced the advantages of information management in clinical trials,and the informationalization of clinical trials in China and overseas.Meanwhile,we discussed the construction of information management in clinical trials in China and put forward the notice of information system in clinical trials.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: current perspectives

Since the first successful intervention for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) was undertaken by Norwood in 1983, there have been many advancements in the pre-, intra-, and postoperative care of these children for a diagnosis that just 25 years ago was almost certainly a fatal one. This paper aims to describe the most recent trends and perspectives on the treatment of HLHS. In particular, we will discuss the five current options for HLHS, including Norwood stage I as the beginning to 3-stage palliation, transplant, true hybrid, hybrid-bridge-to-Norwood, and compassionate care.
Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Dermal Repair in Burns and Diabetic Wounds

In this review we explore stem cell function in wounds that are resistant to healing, such as burn injuries and diabetic wounds. Diabetic ulcers are of interest due to their remarkable resistance to heal; severe thermal burns are addressed due to critical need for effective therapies for the prevention shock and improvement in scarring. Cell-based therapy utilizing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also known as mesenchymal stromal cells, are currently being investigated as a therapeutic avenue for both chronic diabetic ulcers and severe thermal burns. The clinical utility of stem cells, in particular MSCs, in caring for these types of injuries is primarily based on repairing and replacing cellular substrates, attenuation of inflammation, increasing angiogenesis, and enhancing migration of reparative cells. MSCs are sought after due to their unique ability to initiate different wound-healing programs, depending on the environmental milieu. Thus, this review aims to highlight the properties of MSCs, including their characterization, immunogenicity, and function in the context of dermal repair and regeneration in severe burns and diabetic wounds. Additionally, relevant clinical and pre-clinical studies illustrating the impact of allogeneic and autologous sources of MSCs on therapeutic efficacy are reviewed. Insight into the properties of MSCs and the dramatic host-to-MSC interactions within these pathological states may lead to the development of effective strategies for improving outcomes in impaired wounds.
The fungal endophyte Chaetomium globosum negatively affects both above- and belowground herbivores in cotton.

Mutualistic plant–endophyte symbioses can benefit plants by increasing host fitness through reductions in herbivory. The fungus, Chaetomium globosum strain TAMU 520, was previously isolated as an endophyte from cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ) and can be re-inoculated to systemically colonize cotton plants via seed treatment. We evaluated the potential impacts of the endophyte in cotton on plant parasitic nematodes belowground, along with piercing-sucking and chewing insects aboveground. Endophytic C. globosum inhibited root-knot nematode ( Meloidogyne incognita ) infection and reduced female reproduction belowground. To confirm the endophytic effect of C. globosum on root-knot nematode, a contact fungicide was applied to remove soil-borne and epiphytic C. globosum . Consistent inhibition of nematode activity was observed post-fungicide treatment, with positive C. globosum colonization confirmed within plant tissues. Aboveground, endophytic C. globosum also negatively affected the fecundity of both cotton aphids ( Aphis gossypii ) and beet armyworms ( Spodoptera exigua ). Faster development rates and smaller head capsule of beet armyworm larvae were observed when fed Chaetomium -colonized plants. However, no larval weight difference was found between Chaetomium -colonized and control plants. No consistent effect on plant performance was found across experiments. Our findings illustrate how a single facultative fungal endophyte can increase plant systemic resistance against a range of invertebrate herbivores in a major crop.
Molecular Genetics Methods in Discovery of Chromosome Structure

Somatically acquired tumour genome alterations underlie many of the changes in gene expression that promote tumour formation. These changes, ranging from single nucleotide changes to those involving parts of chromosomes or whole chromosomes, likely reflect the many different solutions taken by individual tumours to escape normal growth regulatory mechanisms. A variety of molecular and cytogenetic techniques, differing in resolution and capabilities for high throughput or single cell analysis, for example, have been used to investigate the altered state of tumour genomes. Some of these methods have become the mainstay of clinical cancer diagnosis and patient management.
Morphokinetics of human blastocyst expansion in vitro.

Time-lapse imaging offers new tools to study dynamic processes of development such as blastocyst formation and expansion. This study quantitatively describes expansion in human blastocysts from donated oocytes. Measurements of hourly interval rate of changes in the blastocoel cross-sectional area revealed oscillatory pulses having 2-4 h periodicities. Two types of oscillations were distinguished. An E-Type ('expansion') had positive peak and positive or slightly negative trough interval rate of change values, and these characterized most of the expansion period. A C-type ('contraction') represented an infrequent but notable contraction of the blastocoel with loss of blastocoel fluid. These were reversible within 2-4 h in both groups and followed by further expansion. Therefore, oscillatory pulses are an intrinsic property of the trophectoderm. The zona seems to variably dampen the amplitude of these pulses. Expansion kinetics were compared between blastocysts with known positive (KID+) or negative (KID-) implantation outcomes. Regression analysis suggests that expansion may be relatively restricted in KID- embryos blastulating at relatively later times. These data extend observations in other mammalian systems and may provide information useful for clinical selection algorithms.
Subanesthetic ketamine decreases the incentive-motivational value of reward-related cues:

The attribution of incentive-motivational value to reward-related cues contributes to cue-induced craving and relapse in addicted patients. Recently, it was demonstrated that subanesthetic ketamine increases motivation to quit and decreases cue-induced craving in cocaine-dependent individuals. Although the underlying mechanism of this effect is currently unknown, one possibility is that subanesthetic ketamine decreases the incentive-motivational value of reward-related cues. In the present study, we used a Pavlovian conditioned approach procedure to identify sign-trackers, rats that attribute incentive-motivational value to reward-related cues, and goal-trackers, rats that assign only predictive value to reward-related cues. This model is of interest because sign-trackers are more vulnerable to cue-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior and will persist in this drug-seeking behavior despite adverse consequences. We tested the effect of subanesthetic ketamine on the expression of Pavlovian conditioned approach behavior and the conditioned reinforcing properties of a reward-related cue in sign- and goal-trackers. We found that subanesthetic ketamine decreased sign-tracking and increased goal-tracking behavior in sign-trackers, though it had no effect on conditioned reinforcement. These results suggest that subanesthetic ketamine may be a promising pharmacotherapy for addiction that acts by decreasing the incentive-motivational value of reward-related cues.
What Can be Learned from Controversial Sex Education Programs

AbstractFear of controversy has been cited as one of the most important obstacles to the establishment of sexuality and family life education programs in public schools. The author reviews selected research on another very controversial program designed for the public schools, that of equal educational opportunity through school desegregation. This research reveals that there were several key variables related to successful implementation. The author describes these variables and reviews ways in which these might be applied in planning for sexuality education programs.
The Moments That Drive Your Journey.

Nurses provide patients and their families will equal respect, care, and advocacy. However, there are moments with special patients that sink right into our hearts and keep us going. You know the ones! Those little moments you reflect on when the work feels overwhelming or when you don't think you can possibly make it through another crazy 12-hour hospital shift. Maybe a patient made your day and thanked you for going the extra mile. Or maybe they gave you a coloring book page they colored especially for you. Maybe the moment was so brief that no onlooker or passerby would realize it could ever mean something to you, but it did. .
The role of idealizations in the Aharonov–Bohm effect

On standard accounts of scientific theorizing, the role of idealizations is to facilitate the analysis of some real world system by employing a simplified representation of the target system, raising the obvious worry about how reliable knowledge can be obtained from inaccurate descriptions. The idealizations involved in the Aharonov–Bohm (AB) effect do not, it is claimed, fit this paradigm; rather the target system is a fictional system characterized by features that, though physically possible, are not realized in the actual world. The point of studying such a fictional system is to understand the foundations of quantum mechanics and how its predictions depart from those of classical mechanics. The original worry about the use of idealizations is replaced by a new one; namely, how can actual world experiments serve to confirm the AB effect if it concerns the behavior of a fictional system? Struggle with this issue helps to account for the fact that almost three decades elapsed before a consensus emerged that the predicted AB effect had received solid experimental support. Standard accounts of idealizations tout the role they play in making tractable the analysis of the target system; by contrast, the idealizations involved in the AB effect make its analysis both conceptually and mathematically challenging. The idealizations required for the AB effect are also responsible for the existence of unitarily inequivalent representations of the canonical commutation relations and of the current algebra, representations which an observer confined to the electron’s configuration space could invoke to ‘explain’ AB-type effect without the need to posit a hidden magnetic field. The goal of this paper is to bring to the attention of the philosophers of science these and other aspects of the AB effect which are neglected or inadequately treated in literature.
Lifetime allergic rhinitis prevalence among US primary farm operators: findings from the 2011 Farm and Ranch Safety survey.

Allergic rhinitis is associated with decreased quality of life, and reduced workplace performance and productivity. This study investigated the prevalence of lifetime allergic rhinitis and factors associated with allergic rhinitis among US primary farm operators. The 2011 Farm and Ranch Safety Survey data collected from 11,210 active farm operators were analyzed. Survey respondents were determined to have lifetime allergic rhinitis based on a “yes” response to the question: “Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you had hay fever, seasonal allergies, or allergic rhinitis?” Data were weighted to produce nationally representative estimates. An estimated 30.8% of the 2.1 million active farm operators had lifetime allergic rhinitis in 2011. The allergic rhinitis prevalence varied by demographic and farm characteristics. Farm operators with allergic rhinitis were 1.38 (95% CI 1.22–1.56) times more likely to be exposed to pesticides compared with operators with no allergic rhinitis. The association with pesticide exposure for allergic rhinitis and current asthma, and allergic rhinitis alone was statistically significant and greater than that for current asthma alone. Certain groups of farm operators may be at increased risk of allergic rhinitis. Studies should further investigate the association of allergic rhinitis with specific pesticide exposure.
The Evidence Matrix: A Framework for Use of Evidence in Organizational Behavior Teaching

Evidence-based management (EBM) is a growing area in approaches to managerial understanding and decision making. In the current research we examine the relevance of evidence in the student lassroom context. Specifically, we suggest that organizational behavior teaching can be improved by taking a broader view toward evidence that is inclusive of four forms of evidence: faith, analytics, intuition, and research. Together the four forms of evidence comprise the Evidence Matrix. The authors share their findings and suggestions for the use of the Evidence Matrix applied to two sections of an organizational behavior class.
Optimal secondary access in retransmission based primary networks via chain decoding

This paper investigates the design of secondary access policies which exploit the temporal redundancy of the retransmission protocol employed by primary users (PU) to improve the spectral efficiency of wireless networks. Secondary users (SU) perform selective retransmissions in order to optimize the potential of interference cancellation at the receiver. The corrupted signals are selectively buffered at the SU receiver, and then decoded via the successive application of chain decoding [1]. The optimal SU access policy which maximizes the SU throughput under a constraint on the maximum interference caused to the PU is derived, and its performance is found in closed form. It is shown that such policy optimally randomizes among three modes of operation of the SU: 1) The SU remains idle over the entire retransmission interval of the PU, to avoid interfering with the PU; 2) The SU transmits only after decoding the PU packet to leverage interference cancellation; 3) The SU always transmits over the entire retransmission interval of the PU, so as to leverage chain decoding. The optimal randomization is determined by the constraint on the maximum interference caused to the PU. It is shown numerically that chain decoding attains a throughput gain of 15% with respect to a state-of-the art scheme where the SU does not perform selective retransmissions.
Yersinia pestis YadC: a novel vaccine candidate against plague.

Current subunit vaccines provide partial protection against pneumonic plague if the infecting Y. pestis strain is encapsulated (F1 - ). Here we describe YadC, a novel Y. pestis outer membrane protein that provides partial protection against a F1 - Y. pestis strain. Swiss-Webster mice were immunized subcutaneously with glutathione S-transferase (GST) or His 6 -tagged (HT) purified fusion proteins (GST-YadC 137-409 or HT-LcrV) or buffer emulsified with Alhydrogel. Intravenous challenge with 1 x 10 4 F1 - Δpgm Y. pestis C099-3015 revealed no protection for those mice immunized with GST-Alhydrogel alone, full protection for HT-LcrV-immunized mice, and partial protection for GST-YadC 137-409 -immunized mice. Similarly, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with GST-YadC 137-409 , HT-LcrV, or GST all with Alhydrogel adjuvant. After intranasal challenge with 3 x 10 3 Fl Y. pestis C099-3015, 87% of GST-YadC 137-409 -immunized mice survived pneumonic plague. This is compared to the GST control group (0 surviving mice) and the LcrV-immunized group where 50% survived the challenge. This protection was correlated with a predominantly IgGI response in LcrV-immunized mice and an IgG1/IgG3 antibody response in YadC-immunized mice. Additionally, we report the cytokine response from HT-LcrV- and GST-YadC 137-409 -stimulated peripherally derived macrophages. YadC-stimulated cells demonstrated a predominant pro-inflammatory cytokine production. This mixed Th1/Th2 response suggests that YadC's protection may involve a different adaptive immune response than the LcrV protein that currently is part of plague vaccines.
Using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) 7 Nonverbal Battery to Identify the Gifted/Talented: An Investigation of Demographic Effects and Norming Plans:

The nonverbal battery of the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is one of the two most common nonverbal measures used in gifted identification, yet the relationships between demographic variables and...
Early seizures and temporal lobe trauma predict post-traumatic epilepsy: A longitudinal study.

Abstract Objective Injury severity after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a well-established risk factor for the development of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). However, whether lesion location influences the susceptibility of seizures and development of PTE longitudinally has yet to be defined. We hypothesized that lesion location, specifically in the temporal lobe, would be associated with an increased incidence of both early seizures and PTE. As secondary analysis measures, we assessed the degree of brain atrophy and functional recovery, and performed a between-group analysis, comparing patients who developed PTE with those who did not develop PTE. Methods We assessed early seizure incidence (n = 90) and longitudinal development of PTE (n = 46) in a prospective convenience sample of patients with moderate-severe TBI. Acutely, patients were monitored with prospective cEEG and a high-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan for lesion location classification. Chronically, patients underwent a high-resolution MRI, clinical assessment, and were longitudinally monitored for development of epilepsy for a minimum of 2 years post-injury. Results Early seizures, occurring within the first week post-injury, occurred in 26.7% of the patients (n = 90). Within the cohort of subjects who had evidence of early seizures (n = 24), 75% had a hemorrhagic temporal lobe injury on admission. For longitudinal analyses (n = 46), 45.7% of patients developed PTE within a minimum of 2 years post-injury. Within the cohort of subjects who developed PTE (n = 21), 85.7% had a hemorrhagic temporal lobe injury on admission and 38.1% had early (convulsive or non-convulsive) seizures on cEEG monitoring during their acute ICU stay. In a between-group analysis, patients with PTE (n = 21) were more likely than patients who did not develop PTE (n = 25) to have a hemorrhagic temporal lobe injury (p Conclusion Our results indicate that in a cohort of patients with a moderate-severe TBI, 1) lesion location specificity (e.g. the temporal lobe) is related to both a high incidence of early seizures and longitudinal development of PTE, 2) early seizures, whether convulsive or non-convulsive in nature, are associated with an increased risk for PTE development, and 3) patients who develop PTE have greater chronic temporal lobe atrophy and worse functional outcomes, compared to those who do not develop PTE, despite matched injury severity characteristics. This study provides the foundation for a future prospective study focused on elucidating the mechanisms and risk factors for epileptogenesis.
Advancing critical care in the ICU: a human-centered biomedical data visualization systems

The purpose of this research is to provide medical clinicians with a new technology for interpreting large and diverse datasets to expedite critical care decision-making in the ICU. We refer to this technology as the medical information visualization assistant (MIVA). MIVA delivers multivariate biometric (bedside) data via a visualization display by transforming and organizing it into temporal resolutions that can provide contextual knowledge to clinicians. The result is a spatial organization of multiple datasets that allows rapid analysis and interpretation of trends. Findings from the usability study of the MIVA static prototype and heuristic inspection of the dynamic prototype suggest that using MIVA can yield faster and more accurate results. Furthermore, comments from the majority of the experimental group and the heuristic inspectors indicate that MIVA can facilitate clinical task flow in context-dependent health care settings.
Applying Math onto Mechanism: Investigating the Relationship Between Mechanistic and Mathematical Understanding

Physical manipulatives are commonly used to improve mathematical understanding. However, it is unclear when physical manipulatives lead to significant benefits. We investigated whether understanding the mechanism of a manipulative would affect mathematical use and understanding. Participants were asked to navigate a physical robot through a maze, and to create a strategy that could navigate differently sized robots through the same maze. Participants with a better understanding of the robot’s mechanism were more likely to utilize complex mathematical strategies during the maze task than participants with lower mechanistic understanding. These participants with higher mechanistic understanding also showed greater understanding of the mathematical relationships within the robot. The study provides evidence for a relationship between mechanistic understanding and mathematical understanding, suggesting that mechanistic manipulatives, upon which mathematics can be applied, may be especially beneficial for fostering mathematical understanding.
Making the Connection: E-government and Public Administration Education

If e-government will transform how public sector organizations operate, what is the connection between e-government and public administration education? The purpose of this paper is to make that co...
Association between phase angle and survival in patients with advanced cancer admitted to an acute palliative care unit (APCU).

10023Background: Many complex healthcare decisions in the last weeks and days of life are dependent on accurate prediction of survival. Phase angle, a novel measure of cellular function, has been f...
Thermodynamic analysis of r-hGH-polymer surface Interaction using isothermal titration calorimetry.

Abstract Delivery of protein drugs would be an effective approach if mechanistic understanding of protein adsorption at solid/liquid surface is obtained and nonspecific adsorption can be controlled. This study involves evaluation of the thermodynamic parameters for interaction between recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) and nanoparticles of poly (lactic- co- glycolic) acid polymer of different molecular weight. Energy changes related to protein-nanoparticle interactions are usually very small and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is the only technique that determines the binding constant (Ka), enthalpy, (ΔH) and stoichiometry, (n) in a single experiment. Therefore, we used ITC to study the energetics of the binding of r-hGH with PLGA nanoparticles. The largely negative ∆H and ∆S suggested that binding was driven by non-classical hydrophobic effect for interaction with PLGA 50501A and PLGA 8515E nanoparticles at pH 7.2 where higher surface coverage was noted for the latter. Endothermic, entropically driven reaction was observed upon interaction of r-hGH with PLGA 5050 5E nanoparticles at pH 7.2, PLGA 5050 1A nanoparticles at pH 5.3 and pH 4.0. Moreover, negative value of ΔCp for PLGA 50501A NPs at pH 7.2 indicated cooperative disorder of hydrogen-bonding networks and no evidence of hydrophobic elements. ITC proved to be very efficient method in studying the thermodynamics of the protein polymer interaction. In agreement with results from previous studies using fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism and dynamic light scattering in our laboratory, this study demonstrated that adsorption can be controlled by selecting the polymer of low to moderate hydrophobicity depending on the pH of media.
Investigating the Mechanical and Thermal Relationship for Epoxy Blends

The mechanical response of epoxy networks was investigated under uniaxial compression at low, intermediate, and high strain rates. These epoxy blends are tailored to achieve a broad range of glass transition temperatures. Previous studies have shown a correlation of the epoxies’ Tg in relationship to its ballistic performance as well as its mechanical properties at quasi-static rates. To better understand these phenomena, a MWIR camera was used to directly measure the transient surface temperature and determine temperature change. The extent and rate of deformation highly influences the flow stress behavior which coincides with the rise in the adiabatic temperatures, hence the thermal softening response. One intriguing aspect for results at rates 0.01/s – 0.1/s and higher reveals that the surface temperature continues to increase despite pressure ceasing. This would indicate the core temperatures are still gradually transferring to the surface. The experimental setup and results are discussed.
The Spatial Dynamics of the Economic Impacts of an Aquatic Invasive Species: An Empirical Analysis

This paper examines how the economic loss from an aquatic species invasion of a freshwater lake is allocated between users of the lake itself (own-lake effect) and users of neighboring lakes that become invaded because the lake is a new source of the invader (spillover effect). The empirical application concerns the Eurasian watermilfoil invasion in the lake-rich landscape of northern Wisconsin. Results suggest that coordinated management across lakes provides its highest economic value in the early years of an invasion, before high-value, high-traffic lakes are invaded, and drops quickly once the invasion claims these lakes.
Galvanotechnik im Spannungsfeld der Automobilindustrie

Die Gute des Oberflachenschutzes des Bremssattels ist entscheidend fur die Betriebssicherheit eines Kraftfahrzeugs. Durch farblos passivierte Zink/Nickel-Legierungs-Uberzuge lasst sich der Korrosionsschutz an Graugussbremssatteln erheblich verbessern. Fur Sondermodelle werden farbige Bremssattel zusatzlich mit einem Epoxidharz-Pulverlack beschichtet.
PUBLIC AWARENESS OF NON-VITAMIN K ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS VERSUS WARFARIN: AN INFODEMIOLOGY APPROACH

Infodemiology is the science of determinants and distribution of information on electronic media. Google Trends (GTr) reports trends of search terms of Google users and is a useful tool to assess demand-based infodemiology indicators. Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) were introduced in
Forget the Fad Diets: Use of the USDA's MyPlate Plan Is Associated with Better Dietary Intake in Adults over Age 50 (OR14-06-19)

Adults over age 50 have different nutritional and metabolic needs than younger adults. During the aging process, metabolism slows, increasing risk for weight gain. Concurrently, as age increases, risk for cardiovascular disease increases. Adults over age 50 may benefit from guidance that provides nutritional guidance that encourages sufficient nutrient intake without caloric excess. Current recommendations in the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage adults to consume a diet low in energy density, and limit intake of solid fats, added sugars and sodium The USDA's MyPlate Plan is available online and provides free, individualized nutrition plans for individuals of all ages, including specific guidelines for adults over age 50. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between use of the online MyPlate Plan and dietary intake in adults >50. Using data from 2014–2016 NHANES, the impact of the MyPlate plan on dietary intake was evaluated in a nationally representative sample of older adults (>50y). During the NHANES, participants were asked to report whether or not they had tried the MyPlate plan. All data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 survey procedures to account for the unequal sampling probability and complex survey design of the NHANES. Adults over age 50 who reported using the MyPlate Plan online had diets lower in energy density (1.74 vs 1.95, P = 0.0009), total calories (1846 vs 2105, P < 0.002); reported fewer calories from beverages (128 vs. 234, P = 0.01), fewer added sugars (11 vs. 15 tsp, P = 0.003), and consumed more grains (7 vs 6 servings) and over double the amount of intact fruits, after adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, BMI, food security status, education, physical activity and smoking status. These findings expand on previous work from our group evaluating the impact of DGA on diet quality. Promotion of the MyPlate plan, particularly among older adults, may be an effective strategy to combat weight gain and risk for hypertension in the US. None.
Autopilot Design for an Autonomous Sailboat Based on Sliding Mode Control

This paper deals with the design of an autopilot based on sliding mode control combined with feedback linearization method for an autonomous sailing vessel. This autopilot is developed using a model with four degrees of freedom, which represents the dynamic of a sailboat. Due to the high nonlinearity of the developed dynamic model, heading and sail opening angle controller were developed to steer the sailboat toward a specific target position. The nonlinear four degrees of freedom dynamic model for the sailing vessel is first described. Then, an autopilot is designed using both sliding mode control and feedback linearization method. Finally, some simulations are carried out to illustrate the behavior of the overall system.
Evoking a shifting sense of place in one museum following the 3/11 tsunami in Japan

On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in that country. A coastal port and fishing city in Miyagi Prefecture, Kesennuma was one of the hardest hit populatio...
Gravity/ensemble duality

For the first time, a gravitational calculation was recently shown to yield the Page curve for the entropy of Hawking radiation, consistent with unitary evolution. However, the calculation takes as essential input Hawking's result that the radiation entropy becomes large at late times. We call this apparent contradiction the state paradox. We exhibit its manifestations in standard and doubly holographic settings, with and without an external bath. We clarify which version(s) of the Ryu-Takayanagi prescription apply in each setting. We show that the two possible homology rules in the presence of a braneworld generate a bulk dual of the state paradox. The paradox is resolved if the gravitational path integral computes averaged quantities in a suitable ensemble of unitary theories, a possibility supported independently by several recent developments.
STUDYING THE DYNAMICS OF COLLOIDAL PARTICLES WITH DIGITAL HOLOGRAPHIC MICROSCOPY AND ELECTROMAGNETIC SCATTERING SOLUTIONS

Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) can measure the 3D positions as well as the scattering properties of colloidal particles in a single 2D image. We describe DHM and our analysis of recorded holograms with exact scattering solutions, which permit the measurement of 3D particle positions with ∼10 nm precision and millisecond time resolution, and discuss studies of the Brownian dynamics of clusters of spheres with DHM.
Metabolomic Profile of Allantoic and Amniotic Fluid in Late-term Gestational Mares Characterized by 1H-nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

The amniotic and allantoic fluid compartments in the mare serve essential roles throughout pregnancy and parturition. Although the global metabolomic profile of amniotic fluid in women has been extensively characterized, current data for equine fetal fluids are limited. Therefore, the goal of this study was to characterize the global metabolomic profile of equine allantoic and amniotic fluid through nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Fetal fluids were collected between 270 and 295 days of gestation from 12 pregnancies through ultrasound-guided transabdominal puncture. A total of 24 samples (n = 10 allantoic fluid; n = 9 amniotic fluid; n = 5 admixed fluid) were analyzed by one-dimensional proton (1H) and two-dimensional (1H-13 C) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Metabolites were integrated and compared between fluid types using a Kruskal-Wallis test at P < .05 significance. A total of 28 distinct metabolites were found in allantoic and admixed fluid, whereas 23 metabolites were identified in amniotic fluid. Allantoic fluid contained significant elevations (P < .05) in the metabolites betaine, creatine, creatinine, citrate, histidine, nitrophenol, tryptophan, π-methylhistidine, and unknown metabolite #1 compared with amniotic fluid, whereas amniotic fluid contained statistically increased concentrations of the metabolite lactate compared with allantoic fluid (P = .003).
Creditor Rights and Bank Losses

We develop hypotheses regarding the association between two types of creditor rights and bank loan losses. Contrary to prior research conclusions, bank lending risk is negatively associated with both restrictions on reorganization and the secured creditor being paid first. Using accounting disclosures, we develop novel empirical measures of the probability of default (PD) and loss given default (LGD) at the loan portfolio-level. Different types of creditor rights have differential effects pertaining to PD and LGD and exhibit significant intertemporal variation. We corroborate our cross-country findings using the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act shock to creditor rights.
Connecting mathematical modeling and social justice through problem posing

This paper contributes to accumulating the knowledge base about prospective elementary school teachers’ (PTs’) understanding of socio-critical modeling by exploring how PTs make connections to feat...
Systemic Diseases and Heart Block.

Systemic diseases can cause heart block owing to the involvement of the myocardium and thereby the conduction system. Younger patients (<60) with heart block should be evaluated for an underlying systemic disease. These disorders are classified into infiltrative, rheumatologic, endocrine, and hereditary neuromuscular degenerative diseases. Cardiac amyloidosis owing to amyloid fibrils and cardiac sarcoidosis owing to noncaseating granulomas can infiltrate the conduction system leading to heart block. Accelerated atherosclerosis, vasculitis, myocarditis, and interstitial inflammation contribute to heart block in rheumatologic disorders. Myotonic, Becker, and Duchenne muscular dystrophies are neuromuscular diseases involving the myocardium skeletal muscles and can cause heart block.
The healthfulness of children's meals when multiple media and devices are present.

Although television viewing during mealtime has been shown to associate with greater consumption of energy-dense foods, little is known about how new technological devices may influence children's food consumption. Because the number and type of media accessible to children continue to increase, this study examines the association between the presence of various media (TVs, mobile devices, video games, laptops) during mealtime and the healthfulness of children's meals. In this study, 61 primary caregivers of children ages 3-5 years and 10-13 years old participated in video-recorded dinner meals, which were reliably coded for media use, including number of media present. The overall healthfulness of the meals was coded using the Healthy Meal Index (HMI). Linear regression models were used to examine associations between number of media devices present during the meal and HMI, adjusting for parental education, income-to-needs ratio, and child race. Results indicate that the number of media present during the meal is inversely associated with HMI Total scores (B = -.29, p < .01; F(4, 53) = 9.97, p < .01). In other words, as the number of mealtime media devices increases, the healthfulness of children's meals decreases. These results suggest that media and device use during mealtime may be an additional childhood risk factor for poor meal quality, and parents should make efforts to limit mealtime media and device use.
I-DG and HI-DG: Scalable and Efficient Techniques for Subscription-Based Data Dissemination via IP Multicasting

This paper proposes the IP Multicast-enabled Drop Groups (I-DG) and the Hybrid I-DG (HI-DG) techniques for solving the problem of efficiently and securely disseminating information to a large number of subscribers in the Internet. Possible application areas include stock market information distribution, refreshing the caches of edge servers on the Internet, pay-per-view information delivery. The proposed I-DG technique uses an appropriate IP multicasting protocol as the base and addresses the problems, such as key distribution and subscription, introduced by large scale data dissemination. I-DG provides dynamic and secure subscription to multicast data, and proposes a solution to content organization in broadcasts. The HI-DG technique employs a combination of multicasting and unicasting to reduce the packet load on the network. Simulation shows the efficacy of the two methods. I-DG performs the best when most of the clients subscribe to the same set of items, and HI-DG is best when a subset of data items is more popular.
The structure of IL2 bound to the three chains of the IL2 receptor and how signaling occurs

The interleukin-2 molecule and receptor were the first of the interleukins to be discovered and characterized at the molecular level. Now after 20 years of effort, two groups have succeeded in determining the structure of IL2 bound to the external domains of the three receptor chains in a quaternary complex. What do we know now that we did not know before this structural information was available, and how do these new data help us to develop new therapies?
A Wellbore Inertial Navigation System

A prototype wireline tool which includes a downhole inertial platform and a surface computer to spatially map a well is described. The hardware consists of a single-gimballed inertial platform with accelerometers and gyros to obtain three-axis motion information. The gyroscope and accelerometer outputs are transmitted to a computer at the surface which calculates probe attitude relative to north, east, and vertical. Double integration of the accelerometer data provides the position information. A conventional 7-conductor wireline is used for the system data transmission. System accuracy is enhanced by advances made in the computer software which processes the data received from the tool. The software uses statistical sampling estimation to obtain optimal estimates of the system errors. Measurement errors are determined by periodically stopping the tool during the logging procedure and observing the indicated velocity measurements. This procedure, known as Kalman filtering, results in increased accuracy of the data. Present mapping systems have an X-Y-Z location accuracy of 100 to 200 feet for a typical well depth of 10,000 feet. Test results show that the new system is accurate to about 1 foot per 1000 feet of well depth. Unlike conventional systems, the inertial navigator does not require any sort of projectionmore » of the cable length (which may not be accurately known). Also, this system provides continuous data throughout the wellbore and logging speeds on the order of 10 ft/sec appear possible. The hardware and software associated with this mapping system are described and the recent field test results are reported.« less