cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Demography and social organization of free-ranging Lemur catta in the Beza Mahafaly Reserve, Madagascar

In 1987, a long-term study of the demography of Lemur catta was begun in southern Madagascar. Eighty-five ringtailed lemurs were captured, marked, and released. Adult age classes were estimated using patterns of dental attrition. Including young, 155 individuals from nine groups were identified and monitored over 18 months. The study population of the reserve remained stable, with a growth rate of 0.98. Group sizes ranged from nine to 22 individuals (mean 14). Home ranges were larger (32 ha) and population densities lower (135/km2) than those for previously studied populations, and there was a relationship between habitat quality (e.g., no. of large trees) and these factors. At the beginning of the study, there were more adult males than females, but the sex ratio reached 1.00 by the last census. Females first gave birth at 3 years of age, and 80% or more of the females gave birth in 2 consecutive years. Fifty-two percent of the infants died in the first year and, given preliminary findings, only 40% of those born reach adulthood. Age-specific fertility patterns were similar to those reported for anthropoid primates. Forty-seven percent of the adult males migrated or were missing within a year. This included 78% of the 3–4 year olds and 38% of older age classes. No females were observed to migrate. One group split during the study. Demographic patterns are discussed and related to patterns in other populations of ringtailed lemurs as well as in anthropoids.
The institutional environment for technology diffusion: the role of nonmarket institutions

The institutional aspects of technology diffusion are discussed. It is argued that the relevant institutional environment for technology diffusion cannot be limited to the user and supplier of technology. Owners of vertical complementary assets (i.e., industries and firms that produce complementary products and technologies) and nonmarket institutions form an integral part of the diffusion environment. Nonmarket institutions include professional societies, trade associations, governmental agencies, independent research and coordination agencies, and public service organizations. In suggesting the need for an integrated institutional perspective of technology diffusion, the authors outline the role played by each of the nonmarket institutions. >
Ready or Not: Responding to Measles in the Postelimination Era

Measles incidence in the United States is increasing due to vaccination refusal and disease importation. Yet, many currently practicing clinicians have never seen a case. It is crucial that clinici...
Habituation to stress and dexamethasone suppression in rats with selective basal forebrain cholinergic lesions

Previous studies suggest a role for basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in enhancing the inhibitory influence of the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) on glucocorticoid stress responses mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. An inhibitory action of the basal forebrain cholinergic (BFC) system may occur through facilitation of stress-related information processing and maintenance of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression and negative feedback signaling in these target regions. The current study investigated the possibility that BFC input to the hippocampus contributes to habituation of the glucocorticoid response following repeated exposure to a stressor. Cholinergic lesions were made by microinjections of the immunotoxin 192 IgG-saporin into the medial septum/vertical limb of the diagonal band, and 3 weeks later rats were subjected to six daily sessions of restraint stress. Blood samples taken before, during and after acute stress revealed a significant increase in peak activation and protracted elevation of corticosterone in cholinergic lesioned rats. After 5 days of repeated stress, however, both groups habituated to the stressor, as indicated by similarly low corticosterone profiles throughout both the response and recovery period. Against that habituated background, rats were administered a dexamethasone challenge on day 6, so that feedback status could be examined. Dexamethasone-induced suppression of endogenous corticosterone before, during, and after stress was significantly attenuated in lesioned rats. The profile of dysfunction in glucocorticoid regulation after selective cholinergic lesions in young animals may be relevant to the adrenocortical hyperactivity and negative feedback deficits seen in conditions such as normal aging and Alzheimer's dementia, in which integrity of the basal forebrain cholinergic system is compromised. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Dynamic O-Linked Glycosylation of Nuclear and Cytoskeletal Proteins

Modification of Ser and Thr residues by attachment of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine [Ser(Thr)-O-GlcNAcylation] to eukaryotic nuclear and cytosolic proteins is as dynamic and possibly as abundant as Ser(Thr) phosphorylation. Known O-GlcNAcylated proteins include cytoskeletal proteins and their regulatory proteins; viral proteins; nuclear-pore, heat-shock, tumor-suppressor, and nuclear-oncogene proteins; RNA polymerase II catalytic subunit; and a multitude of transcription factors. Although functionally diverse, all of these proteins are also phosphoproteins. Most O-GlcNAcylated proteins form highly regulated multimeric associations that are dependent upon their posttranslational modifications. Evidence is mounting that O-GlcNAcylation is an important regulatory modification that may have a reciprocal relationship with O-phosphorylation and may modulate many biological processes in eukaryotes.
Delegation and Agency in International Organizations

Delegation and Agency in International Organizations. Edited by Darren G. Hawkins, David A. Lake, Daniel L. Nielson, and Michael J. Tierney. 424p. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006. $80.00 cloth, $34.99 paper. This volume examines and exemplifies the usefulness of principal-agent (P-A) theory for the study of international relations through a set of well-integrated analyses of delegation to international (governmental) organizations (IOs). The editors begin with some useful, explicit definitions of key terms. They define delegation as a revocable “grant of authority” from one or more “principal(s)” to an “agent,” which enables “the latter to act on behalf of the former” in a specified domain and/or for a limited period of time. The agent's discretion in how to pursue the principal's objectives is a direct inverse function of the precision of the rules laid down by the principal. Agent autonomy, by contrast, is defined as the possible range of actions the agent can take contrary to the principal's interests, net whatever mechanism the principal may have put in place to control the agent. To the extent that an agent actually pursues his own interests contrary to the principal's, we see agency slack.
Fertility capability soil classification: a tool to help assess soil quality in the tropics

The soil quality paradigm was originally developed in the temperate region with the overarching objective of approaching air quality and water quality standards. Although holistic and systemsoriented, soil quality focused principally on issues arising from large nutrient and energy inputs to agricultural lands. Soil quality in the tropics, however, focuses on three overarching concerns: food insecurity, rural poverty and ecosystem degradation. Soil science in the tropics relies heavily on quantitative attributes of soils that can be measured. The emotional, value-laden and ‘‘measure everything’’ approach proposed by some proponents of the soil quality paradigm has no place in the tropics. Soil quality in the tropics must be considered a component of an integrated natural resource management framework (INRM). Based on quantitative topsoil attributes and soil taxonomy, the fertility capability soil classification (FCC) system is probably a good starting point to approach soil quality for the tropics and is widely used. FCC does not deal with soil attributes that can change in less than 1 year, but those that are either dynamic at time scales of years or decades with management, as well as inherent ones that do not change in less than a century. FCC attributes can be positive or negative depending on the land use as well as the temporal and spatial scales in question. Version 4 is introduced in this paper. The main changes are to include the former h condition modifier (acid, but not Al-toxic) with ‘‘no major chemical limitations’’ because field experience has shown little difference between the two and to introduce a new condition modifier m that denotes organic carbon saturation deficit. Additional modifiers are needed for nutrient depletion, compaction, surface sealing and other soil biological attributes, but there is no sufficient evidence to propose robust, quantitative threshold values at this time. The authors call on those actively involved in linking these attributes with plant growth and ecosystem functions to provide additional suggestions that would enhance FCC. The use of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) shows great potential on a wide range of tropical soils. The evolution of soil science from a qualitative art into a
Spatial Concept Learning in Preschool Children: Motoric Experiences and Verbal Repetition as Adjuncts to Passive Listening:

32 preschool children were matched by age, sex, and pretest scores on spatial concept knowledge. Four groups were (a) instruction (see and hear) only, (b) verbal repetition, (c) fine motor treatmen...
Tyrosine phosphorylation in contraction of opossum esophageal longitudinal muscle in response to SNP.

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) has been shown to elicit a guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP)-mediated, indomethacin-sensitive contraction of the opossum esophageal longitudinal muscle. We examined the role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the signal transduction pathway of contractions induced by SNP and cGMP in longitudinal muscle strips in vitro. Force of isometric contractions was expressed as the percentage of responses to KCl (73 mM). SNP (100 microM)-induced contractions were 75 +/- 5% before and 3 +/- 2% after 50 microM genistein (P 0.05 for both). Carbachol contractions were partially suppressed by genistein (106 +/- 8% vs. 79 +/- 8%; P 0.05). Western blot analysis revealed a 116-kDa phosphotyrosine protein in the control muscle strips. The level of this protein was increased to 206 +/- 15% of control after SNP treatment. Both genistein and tyrphostin B46 blocked this increase. These studies show that contractions of the esophageal longitudinal muscle induced by SNP and cGMP utilize a signal transduction pathway different from that used by the depolarizing agent KCl and the muscarinic agonist carbachol. Contractions induced by SNP and cGMP involve tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein, possibly identified as a 116-kDa protein, as a key step in the signaling pathway.
New insights into the mechanisms of cadmium regulation of mouse metallothionein-I gene expression

Mouse MT-I and MT-II gene transcription is induced rapidly by heavy metals (especially Zn & Cd) [1]. Metal response elements (MRE) are essential for this induction, and these elements are present in multiple copies in the proximal promoters of these MT genes. MREs were initially shown to mediate transcriptional response of MT genes to Zn and Cd [2–4], and more recently to oxidative stress (5, 6). The Zn-finger transcription factor MTF-1 (MRE-binding transcription factor-1) binds specifically to MREs and transactivates MT gene expression [7, 8]. The Zn-fingers of MTF-1 are of the Cys2His2 family and we have shown that the DNA-binding activity of MTF-1 is reversibly regulated by Zn interactions with the Zn-finger domain [9]. In contrast with some Zn-finger proteins, including Zn-finger transcription factors, which can bind Zn with pM to nM disassociation constants [10, 11], MTF-1 is regulated by μM concentrations of this metal. Thus, MTF-1 may serve as a sensor for “free” Zn within the cell.
Molecular Imaging of Serotonin Synthesis in the Brain

Tracer kinetic analysis of 11C-labeled alpha-methyl-tryptophan (AMT) allows quantitative assessment of serotonin synthesis using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in human brain. The obtained K-complex represents an index of serotonin synthesis (termed serotonin synthesis capacity) that is well suited to study serotonergic mechanisms in the developing brain. Assessment of global and local developmental changes of serotonin synthesis capacity in brains of autistic children indicates impaired serotonin metabolism that affects neuronal differentiation of serotonergic neurons during critical developmental periods. Moreover, increased serotonin synthesis capacity in various supratentorial regions of children with alternating hemiplegia is observed during ictal and postictal periods, suggesting increased regional serotonergic activity associated with hemiplegic attacks in extended neural networks. Finally, children with Tourette syndrome show decreased serotonin synthesis capacity in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and increased serotonin synthesis capacity in the bilateral thalamus and caudate, suggesting abnormal tryptophan metabolism in the fronto-striato-thalamic circuits.
Decoupled Wave Equations For P And SV Waves In an Acoustic VTI Media

In this paper, we decouple the P and SV wave components in an acoustic transversely isotropic media with vertical symmetric axis (VTI), and construct an independent pseudo-differential equation for each wave mode. The resulted wave equation for P-wave is unconditionally stable. A scheme based on the optimized separable approximation is proposed for their numerical implementation. We demonstrate the theory with some simple experiments.
Computation of a Rigid Airfoil in Plunging Motion with a Flexible Trailing Beam

EI ρA Wn(x) eigenfunction corresponding to the n th eigenvalue Tn(t) generalized function corresponding to the n th eigenvalue Fn(t) forcing function in terms of the n th eigenmode z the deflection of the beam in the complex plane x nondimensional length scale by chord length of the NACA0012 airfoil κ Reduced plunging frequency, ωc U∞ h non-dimensional amplitude,y/c ha maximum nondimensional amplitude τ one period of plunging motion c chord length of NACA0012 airfoil cx chord length with the trailing edge extension q∞ freestream dynamic pressure, 1 2 ρ∞U 2 ∞
Radical SAM catalysis via an organometallic intermediate with an Fe–[5′-C]-deoxyadenosyl bond

Radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzymes use a [4Fe-4S] cluster to cleave SAM to initiate diverse radical reactions. These reactions are thought to involve the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical intermediate, which has not yet been detected. We used rapid freeze-quenching to trap a catalytically competent intermediate in the reaction catalyzed by the radical SAM enzyme pyruvate formate-lyase activating enzyme. Characterization of the intermediate by electron paramagnetic resonance and (13)C, (57)Fe electron nuclear double-resonance spectroscopies reveals that it contains an organometallic center in which the 5' carbon of a SAM-derived deoxyadenosyl moiety forms a bond with the unique iron site of the [4Fe-4S] cluster. Discovery of this intermediate extends the list of enzymatic bioorganometallic centers to the radical SAM enzymes, the largest enzyme superfamily known, and reveals intriguing parallels to B12 radical enzymes.
[Flexible ureterorenoscopy: a method for minimally invasive diagnosis and therapy in the upper urinary tract]

Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) utilizing flexible, actively deflectable instruments has become a valuable asset in the diagnosis of upper urinary tract pathology and treatment of stone disease. Flexible endoscopic surgery of the proximal ureter and in the intrarenal collecting system constitutes the natural extension of rigid instrumentation in the upper urinary tract. At the UCLA Stone Center, retrograde ureteral and intrarenal surgery has become an integral part of our diagnostic and therapeutic armamentarium. This is documented by over 500 treatments and diagnostic procedures performed in the upper urinary tract during the past 5 years.
Rearrangements involving chromosome band 11Q23 in acute leukaemia

Rearrangements involving chromosome band 11q23 are very common in acute leukaemia, both lymphoblastic and myeloid (monoblastic), and are less common in lymphoma. Although several different genes have been cloned from translocation breakpoints, the great majority of translocations involve the MLL (myeloid-lymphoid leukaemia) gene. The MLL gene has several different names, ALL1, Htrx, HRX; the central part of the gene codes for multiple zinc fingers which show strong homology to the Drosophila trithorax gene. MLL is involved in four common translocations as well as in 25 uncommon or rare translocations, insertions and deletions. The translocation breakpoints occur within an 8.3 kb region which can be detected with a 0.74 kb cDNA probe. Twenty-five percent of patients have a deletion 3' of the breakpoint which includes the zinc finger region. Patients who previously received drugs that inhibit topoisomerase II often develop acute leukaemia with translocations involving 11q23. These translocations break MLL in the same 8.3 kb region. In the three breakpoints cloned to date, the translocation has led to a fusion gene on the derivative 11 chromosome with a chimaeric transcript, consisting of 5' MLL and the 3' segment of the other gene. Although transcripts were also cloned from the other derivative chromosome, all the evidence indicates that the critical fusion gene is on the derivative 11 chromosome. The molecular dissection of these rearrangements will provide insights into the biology of MLL and into the interaction of MLL with topoisomerase II inhibitors. In addition, this research has provided DNA probes that will be important for diagnosis and for monitoring patients during the course of their disease.
Changes in Cognitive Function Related to Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment, or CRCI, is not yet well understood. It is a phenomenon that occurs among a subset of cancer patients who have received chemotherapy. In general, it is defined as a clinically meaningful or statistically significant decline in cognitive function – such as memory, attention, verbal memory, executive function, or information processing speed – that is associated with chemotherapy treatment [1–3]. However, cognitive function is complex and is affected by a number of other changes patients experience, such as hormonal changes, stress/distress, worry, anxiety, depression, fatigue, aging, and the effects of anesthesia during surgery, all of which are known to affect cognitive function [4–7].
Modulation of complement-mediated immune damage by intravenous immune globulin.

High-dose intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) exerts a beneficial effect in a variety of immune disorders. One possible underlying mechanism of this effect could be interference with the complement system. This conclusion was based on the results obtained in animal models of complement-mediated pathology, in vitro complement assays and studies on related human diseases. Clearance of IgM-sensitized erythrocytes was specifically suppressed by IVIG treatment. The same therapy prevented pulmonary endothelial cell lesions, the hallmark of Forssman shock, in 75% of animals. All control animals, either untreated or injected with control reagents, died within minutes following induction of Forssman shock. In vitro uptake of C3b and C4b complement fragments on to corpusculate immune complexes was significantly inhibited by IVIG. Studies that involved patients suffering from disorders with pathogenesis similar to animal models of complement-mediated immune injury fully supported the hypothesis that IVIG interacts with activated complement components and prevents their deposition on target cells. The author's results suggest that IVIG can be an effective modulator of inappropriate complement attack.
Further characterization of the Na-Ca exchange-dependent Ca compartment in rat ventricular cells

A discrete subcellular Ca compartment, absolutely dependent upon Na-Ca exchange for its exchange, has been previously identified in ventricular cells from both adult rat and from neonatal rat cultures. The present study further characterizes this compartment in the adult ventricular myocyte. The compartment9s exchange is significantly decreased by 20 microM 3,4-dichlorobenzamil. Its content responds significantly to variation of the extracellular Ca concentration ([Ca]o) and to reversal of the Na-Ca exchanger by reduction of extracellular Na concentration to zero. Its content decreases to 155 +/- 24 mumol/kg dry cell wt in 0.2 mM [Ca]o and increases to 623 +/- 48 mumol/kg at 6.5 mM [Ca]o, where it appears to be near saturation. The compartment is significantly reduced by 45Ca labeling in the presence of 10 mM caffeine (23%) and 1 mM ryanodine (22%). This compartment is not significantly affected by 1 microM thapsigargin. 45Ca activity is retained in the compartment when 45Ca washout is conducted without Na or Ca in the washout solution, i.e., Na-Ca exchange is not operative. Under these conditions, addition of 1 mM Cd to the washout produces a significant release of 45Ca from the compartment. The results are interpreted to indicate that the compartment in the adult cell has two components that are in equilibrium: a relatively small sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) component and a larger "non-SR" component. This is in contrast to the compartment in the cultured cell in which the compartment is 2.6 times larger and has a larger SR component. The possibility that the non-SR component represents Ca bound to the cytoplasmic leaflet of the sarcolemma at SR junction regions is discussed.
Mean and covariance based estimation of multiple access UWB channels

Traditional pulse position modulation based ultra-wideband (UWB) communication system transmits short pulses whose positions carry user's data information. Using different time-hopping sequences, multiple access is enabled. We address blind multiuser channel estimation after following a pulse-rate discrete-time channel model. The model can be regarded in a tri-linear structure and also resembles a code-division multiple access (CDMA) system with newly defined hopping-code dependent matrices for each user. Considering that either the mean or covariance of received signals contains sufficient information for all unknown channels, least squares and covariance matching ideas are successfully applied for channel estimation. Performance of each estimator is analyzed and also verified by computer simulations.
Case series of hypomethylating agents (HMA) effect on myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm unclassified (MDS/MPN-U): Mayo Clinic experience.

7088 Background: MDS/MPN-U is a rare myeloid disorder that has both dysplastic and proliferative features, but cannot be parsimoniously classified as either MDS or MPN. There is currently no standa...
Expansion of American marten (Martes americana) distribution in response to climate and landscape change on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Rapidly changing environmental conditions are influencing distributions of wildlife species in Alaska. Due to strict physiological requirements, the distribution of American martens (Martes americana) is theorized to be driven by changing habitat, climate, and other anthropogenic conditions. We aimed to quantify marten distributions on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and compared historic and contemporary occurrence records. To illustrate changing distribution patterns, we developed predictive niche models for 2 decades and investigated patterns by relating environmental trends with predicted distributions. Museum and trapping records, supplemented by aerial videography detections for martens on the Kenai over the past century, served to train RandomForests-based niche models for 1988–2001 and 2002–2010. Change-detection analyses revealed an ongoing westward expansion of likely marten distribution on the Kenai Peninsula since at least 1988, and historic records indicated longer-term growth. Top predictors in the models included soil ecotype, landcover, distance to trails, and distance to recreation sites. Our research suggests that on the Kenai Peninsula, marten distribution is responding to a combination of landscape and climate effects that have contributed to expanding marten distributions over the past century.
Counseling About Skin Cancer Prevention Among Adolescents: What Do Parents Receive From Health Care Providers?

Abstract Purpose Adolescence is a high-risk period for ultraviolet radiation exposure, a primary cause of skin cancer later in life. We sought to characterize receipt of health care provider-delivered counseling about skin cancer prevention (SCP) among parents of adolescents. Methods In 2016, we conducted an online survey with a national sample of parents of adolescents aged 11–17 years (n = 1,253). Multivariable logistic regression assessed correlates of receiving counseling from a health care provider about any of the six skin cancer prevention (SCP) topics. Results Only half (49%) of parents recalled discussing any SCP topic with their child's provider; the prevalence was highest for sunscreen (39%) and lowest for indoor tanning (3%). Parents had greater odds of receiving counseling if they had a child with more sun-reactive skin (odds ratio [OR] = 1.53); a family history of skin cancer (OR = 1.38); or a higher quality relationship with the provider (OR = 1.47; all p Conclusions Greater attention to SCP counseling is needed, especially for exposures such as indoor tanning that remain prevalent among adolescents but are rarely addressed in clinical encounters.
Fluorinated Methacrylamide Chitosan Hydrogels Enhance Cellular Wound Healing Processes.

Low availability of oxygen can lead to stalled wound healing processes and chronic wounds. To address local hypoxia and to better understand direct cellular benefits, a perfluorocarbon conjugated chitosan (MACF) hydrogel that delivers oxygen was created and applied for the first time to in vitro cultures of human dermal fibroblasts and human epidermal keratinocytes under both normoxic (21% O2) and hypoxic (1% O2) environments. Results revealed that local application of MACF provided 233.8 ± 9.9 mmHg oxygen partial pressure at 2 h and maintained equilibrium oxygen levels that were approximately 17 mmHg partial pressure greater than untreated controls. Cell culture experiments showed that MACF oxygenating gels improved cellular functions involved in wound healing such as cell metabolism, total DNA synthesis and cell migration under hypoxia in both fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) quantification also revealed that MACF treatments improved cellular ATP levels significantly over controls under both normoxia and hypoxia (p < 0.005). In total, these studies provide new data to indicate that supplying local oxygen via MACF hydrogels under hypoxic environments improves key wound healing cellular functions.
Challenging Our Elite Schools to Do Better

The stories of low-income students who didn’t make it have not been told here. The students I interviewed graduated successfully from an elite college and continued on paths similar to those of their upper-middle-class peers. On the surface, these students lived up to the tacit assumption that students smart enough to get in are smart enough to figure out how to do well; just drop them off at the base of a mountain without a map or blazes and expect them to arrive at the summit.
Academic Drug Development: The DRIVE Model

Although there are hundreds of academic drug discovery centers open around the world, there are comparatively few academic drug development centers that contain the key core competencies needed to progress a lead compound into clinical trials. This is largely a consequence of operating in the “Valley of Death” (i.e., insufficient infrastructure, expertise, and funding). We have created an academic drug development center called DRIVE (Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory) that was designed to overcome many of the intrinsic and occasionally unintended barriers associated with academic drug development. Herein, we report a proof of concept that the DRIVE model provides a robust framework for pursuing university-based drug development, especially when the drugs in question target rare and neglected diseases.
Improving Classification Rate of Schizophrenia Using a Multimodal Multi-Layer Perceptron Model with Structural and Functional MR.

The wide variety of brain imaging technologies allows us to exploit information inherent to different data modalities. The richness of multimodal datasets may increase predictive power and reveal latent variables that otherwise would have not been found. However, the analysis of multimodal data is often conducted by assuming linear interactions which impact the accuracy of the results. We propose the use of a multimodal multi-layer perceptron model to enhance the predictive power of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI and fMRI) combined. We also use a synthetic data generator to pre-train each modality input layers, alleviating the effects of the small sample size that is often the case for brain imaging modalities. The proposed model improved the average and uncertainty of the area under the ROC curve to 0.850+-0.051 compared to the best results on individual modalities (0.741+-0.075 for sMRI, and 0.833+-0.050 for fMRI).
Targeted RNA-sequencing for the quantification of measurable residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia

Great effort is spent on developing therapies to improve the dire outcomes of those diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. The methods for quantifying response to therapeutic intervention have however lacked sensitivity. Patients achieving a complete remission as defined by conventional cytomorphological methods therefore remain at risk of subsequent relapse due to disease persistence. Improved risk stratification is possible based on tests designed to detect this residual leukemic burden (measurable residual disease). However, acute myeloid leukemia is a genetically diverse set of diseases, which has made it difficult to develop a single, highly reproducible, and sensitive assay for measurable residual disease. Here we present the development of a digital targeted RNA-sequencing-based approach designed to overcome these limitations by detecting all newly approved European LeukemiaNet molecular targets for measurable residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia in a single standardized assay. Iterative modifications and novel bioinformatics approaches resulted in a greater than 100-fold increase in performance compared with commercially available targeted RNA-sequencing approaches and a limit of detection as low as one leukemic cell in 100,000 cells measured, which is comparable to quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, the current gold standard for the detection of measurable residual disease. This assay, which can be customized and expanded, is the first demonstrated use of high-sensitivity RNA-sequencing for measurable residual disease detection in acute myeloid leukemia and could serve as a broadly applicable standardized tool.
Adverse Hemodynamic Conditions Associated with Mechanical Heart Valve Leaflet Immobility

Artificial heart valves may dysfunction, leading to thrombus and/or pannus formations. Computational fluid dynamics is a promising tool for improved understanding of heart valve hemodynamics that quantify detailed flow velocities and turbulent stresses to complement Doppler measurements. This combined information can assist in choosing optimal prosthesis for individual patients, aiding in the development of improved valve designs, and illuminating subtle changes to help guide more timely early intervention of valve dysfunction. In this computational study, flow characteristics around a bileaflet mechanical heart valve were investigated. The study focused on the hemodynamic effects of leaflet immobility, specifically, where one leaflet does not fully open. Results showed that leaflet immobility increased the principal turbulent stresses (up to 400%), and increased forces and moments on both leaflets (up to 600% and 4000%, respectively). These unfavorable conditions elevate the risk of blood cell damage and platelet activation, which are known to cascade to more severe leaflet dysfunction. Leaflet immobility appeared to cause maximal velocity within the lateral orifices. This points to the possible importance of measuring maximal velocity at the lateral orifices by Doppler ultrasound (in addition to the central orifice, which is current practice) to determine accurate pressure gradients as markers of valve dysfunction.
Modifying Laboratory Experiments To Promote Engagement in Critical Thinking by Reframing Prelab and Postlab Questions

As described by the National Research Council, science practices reflect, in part, the way science is done. When researchers are developing an explanation for a phenomenon, they are using a combination of knowledge and skills reflected in the science practices. Laboratory-based chemistry courses provide the opportunity for students to move beyond surface-level thinking as they use quantitative reasoning skills, analyze data, and draw connections between observations and explanations. Thus, when students in a laboratory course are utilizing science practices, they are making use of the shared set of tools used by researchers. Here we discuss laboratory curriculum development that focuses on taking current laboratory experiments and modifying them by framing the prelab and postlab questions in terms of science practices, which provides the opportunity for students to engage in critical thinking. This approach toward creating a practice-centered curriculum is an easy way instructors can promote engagement in...
The Effects of TMT Faultlines and CEO-TMT Power Disparity on Competitive Behavior and Firm Performance:

Although upper echelons scholars have drawn from the demographic faultlines concept to study top management team (TMT) subgroup dynamics, the effects of TMT faultlines on competitive behavior and p...
Young adults learning executive function skills by playing focused video games

Abstract The goal of this focused review is to examine the potential of using computer games as vehicles for improving cognitive skills in young adults, particularly the cognitive development of executive function skills, such as being able to shift attention efficiently from one task to another (i.e., shifting). On the disappointing side, this review finds a lack of convincing evidence that off-the-shelf games (often designed for entertainment) promote executive function skills. In addition, there is a lack of consistent evidence that long-term exposure to brain training games, such as offered in Lumosity, improves performance on non-game measures of executive function such as shifting ( Bainbridge & Mayer, 2018 ). However, on the encouraging side, this review finds promising evidence for the benefits of playing a focused computer game that is designed to provide repeated practice on a targeted executive function skill (e.g., shifting) in a variety of contexts, at progressively increasing levels of challenge, and with clear feedback (Parong et al., 2017). The most promising direction for games aimed at fostering the cognitive development of executive function skills is to create mini-games that target a specific skill and are grounded in cognitive theories of skill learning.
The effects of animated video modeling on joint attention and social engagement in children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of animated video modeling (VM) in promoting the acquisition and generalization of joint attention and social engagement in children autism spectrum disorder. Method Participants include six children ranging in age from 7 to 11 years old, each with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A multiple baseline design across participants was used to evaluate the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Results Visual analysis of the results suggest rapid acquisition of both target skills and generalizing across settings and persons. Additionally, caregivers reported animated VM was a socially valid treatment. Conclusions Findings have several important implications regarding the use of animated VM as an intervention. Most importantly, animated video modeling may contribute to the rapid acquisition of joint attention and social engagement. Limitations and recommendations for future research are presented.
Health factors and spinal cord injury: a prospective study of risk of cause-specific mortality.

Prospective cohort study. Identify the risk and protective factors of all-cause and cause-specific mortality among persons with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Rehabilitation specialty hospital in the Southeastern United States. A prospective cohort study was conducted with 3070 adults with traumatic SCI who were a minimum of 1 year post-injury at assessment. Prospective data were collected in 1997–1998 and 2007–2010, with mortality determined as of 31 December, 2016. The deceased were classified into six categories based on underlying cause of death: septicemia, pneumonia and influenza, cancer, heart and blood vessel diseases, unintentional injuries, and all other causes. The competing risk analysis strategy applied to each of the specific causes. There were a total of 803 observed deaths among the 2979 final study sample. After controlling for demographic and injury characteristics, general health, pressure ulcer history, and symptoms of infections were significantly associated with all-cause mortality. Except for cancer, they were also related with at least one of the specific causes of death, whereas orthopedic complications and subsequent injuries were unrelated to any cause. Three health domains, global health, pressure ulcers, and symptoms of illness or infection, were significantly associated with mortality after SCI, and the patterns of association varied as a function of specific cause of death.
Sirolimus plus nintedanib treats vascular pathology in HHT mouse models

ABSTRACT Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), a genetic bleeding disorder leading to systemic arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the ALK1-ENG-Smad1/5/8 pathway. Evidence suggests that HHT pathogenesis strongly relies on overactivated PI3K-Akt-mTOR and VEGFR2 pathways in endothelial cells (ECs). In the BMP9/10-immunoblocked (BMP9/10ib) neonatal mouse model of HHT, we report here that the mTOR inhibitor, sirolimus, and the receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, nintedanib, could synergistically fully block, but also reversed, retinal AVMs to avert retinal bleeding and anemia. Sirolimus plus nintedanib prevented vascular pathology in the oral mucosa, lungs, and liver of the BMP9/10ib mice, as well as significantly reduced gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia in inducible ALK1-deficient adult mice. Mechanistically, in vivo in BMP9/10ib mouse ECs, sirolimus and nintedanib blocked the overactivation of mTOR and VEGFR2, respectively. Furthermore, we found that sirolimus activated ALK2-mediated Smad1/5/8 signaling in primary ECs—including in HHT patient blood outgrowth ECs—and partially rescued Smad1/5/8 activity in vivo in BMP9/10ib mouse ECs. These data demonstrate that the combined correction of endothelial Smad1/5/8, mTOR, and VEGFR2 pathways opposes HHT pathogenesis. Repurposing of sirolimus plus nintedanib might provide therapeutic benefit in HHT patients.
Gain-Managed Nonlinear Fiber Amplifier

We demonstrate a novel pulse evolution in a fiber amplifier. We show that this pulse evolution is driven by a nonlinear attractor and paves the way toward simple, compact fiber systems producing high-energy, ∼30-fs pulses.
The Anthropology of Water

The anthropology of water is a self-declared relational field that attempts to transcend nature/culture distinctions by attending to the fact that the social and ecological aspects of water are sep...
Human presence and human footprint have non-equivalent effects on wildlife spatiotemporal habitat use

Abstract Human impacts on wildlife stem from both our footprint on the landscape and the presence of people in wildlife habitat. Each may influence wildlife at very different spatial and temporal scales, yet efforts to disentangle these two classes of anthropogenic disturbance in their effects on wildlife have remained limited, as have efforts to predict the spatial extent of human presence and its impacts independently of human footprint. We used camera trap data from a 1400-km2 grid spanning wildlands and residential development in central California to compare the effects of human presence (human detections on camera) and footprint (building density) on mammalian predators. We then developed a model predicting the spatial extent of human presence and its impacts across the broader landscape. Occupancy modeling and temporal activity analyses showed that human presence and footprint had non-equivalent and often opposing effects on wildlife. Larger predators (pumas Puma concolor, bobcats Lynx rufus, coyotes Canis latrans) were less active where human footprint was high but avoided high human presence temporally rather than spatially. Smaller predators (striped skunks Mephitis mephitis, Virginia opossums Didelphis virginiana) preferred developed areas but exhibited reduced activity where human presence was high. A spatial model, based on readily available landscape covariates (parking lots, trails, topography), performed well in predicting human activity outside of developed areas, and revealed high human presence even in remote protected areas that provide otherwise intact wildlife habitat. This work highlights the need to integrate multiple disturbance types when evaluating the impacts of anthropogenic activity on wildlife.
Viscoelastic Response (VisR)-Derived Mechanical Anisotropy for Differentiating Malignant from Benign Breast Lesions in Women, in vivo

Breast cancer screening is beneficial when it averts progression of disease to metastasis, but adverse effects to patients and unnecessary medical expense may result downstream from false positives. Achieving early breast cancer detection with high sensitivity and specificity remains a challenge that may be met by using acoustic radiation force to assess the mechanical properties of tissue. The objective of this study is to evaluate in vivo the diagnostic relevance of Viscoelastic Response (VisR)-derived metrics for mechanical anisotropy. We compare our in vivo human results against biopsy findings. This study analyzed 9 breast lesions (4 malignant, 5 benign) imaged in vivo in women with BIRADS-4 or -5 ratings after standard screening. VisR relative elasticity (RE), relative viscosity (RV), and peak displacement (PD) were measured for each transducer orientation, and fit to a sinusoid by least-squares minimization, extrapolating to 360°. The fits were phase-aligned, and the point-wise differences in each parameter between lesion and background were integrated over angle. Finally, the ratio of the maximum to the minimum parameter value was calculated to reflect the degree of anisotropy (DoA). DoAs by PD, RE, and RV were statistically significantly greater in background than in lesion for all malignant cases but statistically significantly smaller in background than in lesion for all benign cases (Wilcoxon, p < 0.05). Additionally, differences between lesion and background integrated over angle by RE, RV and PD were statistically significantly different (Wilcoxon, p < 0.05) for malignant and benign lesions across all examined patients. These results suggest that VisR-derived mechanical anisotropy assessment could be diagnostically relevant for discriminating malignant from benign breast lesions.
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention with eHealth Technology in the General Population

Electronic health (eHealth) is an important tool to leverage chronic disease prevention across the lifespan. eHealth technologies transcend geographic boundaries to efficiently deliver programs and information to the general population about physical activity, nutrition, and mindfulness, three critical and modifiable health behaviors to prevent chronic disease. Despite the generally low quality of commercial eHealth programs, patients continue to use them and report positive outcomes. Discouraging patients from using eHealth due to their questionable quality may negatively risk future disclosures and compromise the patient-practitioner dynamic. This chapter provides the current state of eHealth programs for physical activity, nutrition, and mindfulness. It highlights the need for clinicians to engage in proactive discussions with patients about eHealth. Clinicians must understand patients’ motivations and desires for eHealth programs and the process used to achieve their goals. Patients with a high degree of eHealth literacy are more aware of their health-related wants and needs from an eHealth program, and they know how to overcome adversity and negotiate with the technology, program, and other users to achieve that goal. Being aware of the current state of eHealth literacy and the factors that enhance this skill set across diverse audiences at risk for chronic disease is critical for culturally adapting and tailoring conversations to promote its prevention.
Phantom Experimentation on SPECT, Infrared and Optical Tomography

The Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) using simple γ - radiotracers has been established as a standard technique in the physiological and functional nuclear imaging. On the other hand, accurate reconstruction of abnormalities inside biological tissues based on the detected temperature distribution obtained at the surface of the skin presents a major challenge in emission thermography. The present work focuses on the experimental study with these modalities using appropriately constructed 99 Tc and thermal phantoms. Special emphasis was given to the relationship between the physical characteristics, such as the location and the emission power of an embedded heat source inside an absorbing medium and the measured temperature distribution by means of infrared imaging. Those thermal phantoms were studied at temperature 35 0 − 40 0 C, which corresponds to mammal’s core temperature. The obtained planar information was further analyzed to reconstruct the tomographic images, and from them, the final 3D image of the phantoms. The reconstruction procedure was performed with iterative algorithms based on MLEM and accelerated ART techniques. In order to investigate scattering and absorption effects, the same reconstruction procedure has been applied to optical (fluorescence) tomography with appropriately constructed phantoms. Recon- structions results are presented in this study for different phantom depth locations and heat generation rates.
Bringing the law home: abortion, reproductive coercion, and the family in early twentieth-century China

This article examines how pregnant women, family heads, and the judiciary renegotiated reproductive space when abortions, both voluntary and coerced, became crimes in early twentieth-century China....
Competing Rhetoric Over Time: Frames Versus Cues

Citizens’ preferences form the foundation of democratic governance. When they form their preferences, they typically do so in the presence of various types of competing arguments that reach them at different times. Surprisingly, public opinion research offers little guidance on how competition and time affect preference formation. We fill this gap by exploring the relative influence of two prominent types of competing arguments, frames and cues, over time. We find that only frames have initial direct effects, although cues exert initial indirect effects on opinion formation. Over time, the relative impact of frames and cues depends on individual differences in processing style. Our results have important implications for opinion formation, political communication, and democratic responsiveness.