cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling mutant phenotypes and oscillatory dynamics in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cAMP-PKA pathway.

The cyclic AMP-Protein Kinase A (cAMP-PKA) pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signal transduction mechanism that regulates cellular growth and differentiation in animals and fungi. We present a mathematical model that recapitulates the short-term and long-term dynamics of this pathway in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our model is aimed at recapitulating the dynamics of cAMP signaling for wild-type cells as well as single (pde1 Δ and pde2 Δ) and double (pde1 Δ pde2 Δ) phosphodiesterase mutants. Our model focuses on PKA-mediated negative feedback on the activity of phosphodiesterases and the Ras branch of the cAMP-PKA pathway. We show that both of these types of negative feedback are required to reproduce the wild-type signaling behavior that occurs on both short and long time scales, as well as the the observed responses of phosphodiesterase mutants. A novel feature of our model is that, for a wide range of parameters, it predicts that intracellular cAMP concentrations should exhibit decaying oscillatory dynamics in their approach to steady state following glucose stimulation. Experimental measurements of cAMP levels in two genetic backgrounds of S. cerevisiae confirmed the presence of decaying cAMP oscillations as predicted by the model. Our model of the cAMP-PKA pathway provides new insights into how yeast respond to alterations in their nutrient environment. Because the model has both predictive and explanatory power it will serve as a foundation for future mathematical and experimental studies of this important signaling network.
The human cranium from Bodo, Ethiopia: evidence for speciation in the Middle Pleistocene?

Abstract The cranium found at Bodo in 1976 is derived from Middle Pleistocene deposits containing faunal remains and Acheulean artefacts. A parietal recovered later must belong to a second individual, probably representing the same taxon. The cranium includes the face, much of the frontal bone, parts of the midvault and the base anterior to the foramen magnum. It is clear that the Bodo hominids resembleHomo erectusin a number of characters. The facial skeleton is large, especially in its breadth dimensions. The braincase is low and decidedly archaic in overall appearance. Individual bones are quite thick. Behind the projecting supraorbital torus, the frontal profile is flattened. The midline keel and bregmatic eminence are characteristic ofH. erectus. Frontal narrowing is less pronounced than in crania from Olduvai and Koobi Fora but slightly greater than in some Sangiran specimens. The parietal displays a prominent angular torus. Whether the inferior part of the tympanic plate was substantially thickened cannot be checked, but in the placement of its petrous bone and the resulting crevice-like configuration of the foramen lacerum, the Bodo hominid resemblesH. erectus. Other traits seem more clearly to be synapomorphies uniting Bodo with later Middle Pleistocene populations and recent humans. Cranial capacity is substantially greater than expected forH. erectus. Among traits related to this size increase may be counted the broader midvault with signs of parietal bossing, a high contour of the temporal squama and perhaps some details of cranial base anatomy. Derived features of the frontal bone and face likely include division of the brow at mid-orbit and its attenuation laterally. The “crista nasalis” falls vertically from rhinion so as to give the nasal aperture an erect appearance, characteristic of modern humans. Another synapomorphy is the positioning of the incisive canal relative to the hard palate. Sorting the Middle Awash specimens is difficult. The cranium is incomplete, and individuals are always variable in their anatomy. Nevertheless, it seems most reasonable to group Bodo with Broken Hill and similar Middle Pleistocene specimens from Africa and Europe. This entire assemblage can be referred toHomo heidelbergensis. It is clear thatH. heidelbergensisoverlaps in time with late populations ofH. erectus. The Middle Awash hominids may be approximately contemporary with the people at Ternifine (Tighenif) and upper Bed IV at Olduvai Gorge. The Bodo deposits probably antedate even the first signs of occupation at Zhoukoudian and are far older than sites such as Longtandong (Hexian) in China. The evidence is consistent with an episode of speciation occurring in Africa or western Eurasia and subsequent dispersal ofH. heidelbergensis. This event occurred while more archaic people still inhabited much of the Far East.
Use of adrenocorticotrophic hormone analog to minimize brain injury

Study objectives: To investigate the effects of a vasoactive analog of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (GMM 2 ) on time-dependent disturbances in regional cerebral blood flow, permeability-capillary surface area products, and intracranial pressure in a rat model of moderate concussion/brain injury. Setting and design: Regional permeability-capillary surface area products and cerebral blood flow were measured at two hours after trauma. Intracranial pressure was monitored for 120 hours after trauma. Subjects: Male Wistar rats (330 to 430g) (regional cerebral blood flow studies, n = 35; permeability-capillary surface area product studies, n = 36; intracranial pressure studies, n = 32). Interventions: Post-traumatic subcutaneous administration of nanomolar concentrations of GMM 2 (31 nmol per rat). Measurements and main results: Untreated trauma acutely increased average brain permeability-capillary surface area products for sucrose and decreased average brain cerebral blood flow. Moreover, it produced marked and prolonged increases in intracranial pressure. Post-traumatic subcutaneous administration of nanomolar concentrations of GMM 2 effectively reduced the early hypoperfusion, blood-brain barrier leakiness, and pathologic elevation of intracranial pressure. Conclusion: Post-traumatic administration of GMM 2 , in nanomolar amounts, can prevent or reverse significantly the serious cerebrovascular sequelae of moderate head injury in this animal model. In view of its potency, low toxicity, and other neuroprotective properties, in both rats and human beings, these data suggest that GMM 2 may have considerable clinical benefits in the treatment of central nervous system trauma.
The Real Numbers

Project # 20. In these studies, we have seen mathematics pulling itself up by its bootstraps. ℕ was formed from O. Lacking subtraction, we created ℤ out of the subtraction problems themselves. Lacking division, we created ℚ out of the division problems. What do we lack now? Quite a few numbers really. We can’t take square roots, for example, but many other important numbers are missing.
Alcohol exposure in utero perturbs retinoid homeostasis in adult rats

Background: Maternal alcohol exposure and adult alcohol intake have been shown to perturb the metabolism of various micro- and macro-nutrients, including vitamin A and its derivatives (retinoids). Therefore, it has been hypothesized that the well-known detrimental consequences of alcohol consumption may be due to deregulations of the metabolism of such nutrients rather than to a direct effect of alcohol. Alcohol exposure in utero also has long-term harmful consequences on the health of the offspring with mechanisms that have not been fully clarified. Disruption of tissue retinoid homeostasis has been linked not only to abnormal embryonic development, but also to various adult pathological conditions, including cancer, metabolic disorders and abnormal lung function. We hypothesized that prenatal alcohol exposure may permanently perturb tissue retinoid metabolism, predisposing the offspring to adult chronic diseases. Methods: Serum and tissues (liver, lung and prostate from males; liver and lung from females) were collected from 60-75 day-old sprague dawley rats born from dams that were: (I) fed a liquid diet containing 6.7% alcohol between gestational day 7 and 21; or (II) pair-fed with isocaloric liquid diet during the same gestational window; or (III) fed ad libitum with regular rat chow diet throughout pregnancy. Serum and tissue retinoid levels were analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Serum retinol-binding protein (RBP) levels were measured by western blot analysis, and liver, lung and prostate mRNA levels of lecithin-retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) were measured by qPCR. Results: Retinyl ester levels were significantly reduced in the lung of both males and females, as well as in the liver and ventral prostate of males born from alcohol-fed dams. Tissue LRAT mRNA levels remained unchanged upon maternal alcohol treatment. Conclusions: Prenatal alcohol exposure in rats affects retinoid metabolism in adult life, in a tissue- and sex-dependent manner. We propose that the alcohol-induced perturbations of vitamin A metabolism may predispose to detrimental consequnces on adult health.
Exploring integrated crop–livestock systems in different ecoregions of the United States

Large-scale, energy-intensive, specialized production systems have dominated agricultural production in the United States for the past half-century. Although highly productive and economically successful, there is increasing concern with unintended negative environmental impacts of current agricultural systems. Production systems integrating crops and livestock have potential for providing additional ecosystem services from agriculture by capturing positive ecological interactions and avoiding negative environmental outcomes, while sustaining profitability. A diversity of ecologically sound integrated crop-livestock systems have been and can be employed in different ecoregions: sod-based crop rotations, grazing cover crops in cash-crop rotations, crop residue grazing, sod intercropping, dual-purpose cereal crops, and agroforestry/silvopasture. Improved technologies in conservation tillage, weed control, fertilization, fencing, and planting, as well as improved plant genetics offer opportunities to facilitate successful adoption of integrated systems. This paper explores the use and potential of integrated crop-livestock systems in achieving environmental stewardship and maintaining profitability under a diversity of ecological conditions in the United States.
Control of the Light Saturation Point for Photosynthesis in Tomato

The light saturation curves for photosynthesis in Lycopersicon esculentum have been studied for a yellow-green mutation and for hormone treated plants. Comparisons have been made between saturation point and the size of the photosynthetic unit in these plants. These data suggest a function in the regulation of photosynthetic rates.
Lifetime Studies of 130 nm nMOS Transistors Intended for Long-Duration, Cryogenic High-Energy Physics Experiments

Future neutrino physics experiments intend to use unprecedented volumes of liquid argon to fill a time projection chamber in an underground facility. To increase performance, integrated readout electronics should work inside the cryostat. Due to the scale and cost associated with evacuating and filling the cryostat, the electronics will be unserviceable for the duration of the experiment. Therefore, the lifetimes of these circuits must be well in excess of 20 years. The principle mechanism for lifetime degradation of MOSFET devices and circuits operating at cryogenic temperatures is via hot carrier degradation. Choosing a process technology that is, as much as possible, immune to such degradation and developing design techniques to avoid exposure to such damage are the goals. This requires careful investigation and a basic understanding of the mechanisms that underlie hot carrier degradation and the secondary effects they cause in circuits. In this work, commercially available 130 nm nMOS transistors operating at cryogenic temperatures are investigated. The results show that the difference in lifetime for room temperature operation and cryogenic operation for this process are not great and the lifetimes at both 300 K and at 77 K can be projected to more than 20 years at the nominal voltage (1.5 V) for this technology.
Validity and Utility of the Parent--Teacher Relationship Scale-II.

Preliminary findings indicate that positive relations between parents and teachers are associated with successful school outcomes for children. However, measures available to assess parent–teacher relations are scant. The current study examined validity evidence for the Parent–Teacher Relationship Scale–II (PTRS). Specifically, the internal structure of the PTRS and the test–criterion relationships between the PTRS and several important child-level variables were examined. Primary school teachers (n = 120) completed the PTRS referencing two different parents of children in their classroom, as well as outcome measures about both of these parent’s children (i.e., academic competence, student–teacher relationship, and behavior). Confirmatory factor analyses supported the two-factor solution originally proposed by the PTRS authors. Associations between the PTRS and child outcome variables provided further evidence in support of test–criterion relationships. School mental health professionals and researchers s...
Measurement of Thin-film Coating Hardness in the Presence of Contamination and Roughness: Implications for Tribology

Standard nanoindentation measurements on commercially available TiAlN, CrN, metal-containing diamond-like carbon, and TiN coatings, deposited on steel substrates were performed to determine coating hardness and elastic modulus. It was found that the coating surface roughness/morphology present after deposition can significantly affect the measurements of nanomechanical properties so that measurements of these properties on the as-deposited coating surface may be significantly different from the bulk. In addition, a surface measurement may produce a lower nanohardness due to the existence of a soft surface contamination layer. A simple method was developed to enable accurate measurement of the nanomechanical properties of coatings, while avoiding errors introduced by surface topography and the presence of superficial contamination layers on thin films. Friction and wear behavior, as well as the wear mechanisms in dry reciprocating sliding contact of the various coatings with a steel ball can be correlated to the surface attributes of each coating in terms of roughness and the presence of contamination layers, both of which are shown to also affect the nanohardness measurements.
The evolving relationship between TNCs and political actors and governments

This contribution considers the nature of the relationships among TNCs, political actors and government, as a set of emerging ecologies of political economy. Each represents a distinct response to the transformation of the global legal, economic and political order in the face of globalization. Each exists autonomously and is evolving simultaneously, yet each is significantly interconnected within a polycentric governance order that lends overall structure without a centering position. The chapter starts with the conventional and traditional ecology of relationships, centered on the state. It then considers the three most distinctive forms of emerging relational ecologies emerging that de-center the state. The first is based on the TNC as the centering element of production chain order. The second is grounded on the emergence of non-state governance centers which assert order through certification, verification, and monitoring. The third posits the emergence of a multi-stakeholder autonomous and self referencing system around production chains. The chapter briefly considers whether there is something like meta theory structuring this disaggregated and scattered by intermeshed systems that have arisen around the state. The examination ends with a brief suggestion of what may lie ahead.
Lactate generation by liver in hemorrhagic shock.

AbstractHemorrhagic shock caused a decreased hepatic vein PO2 and pH. This anoxia and acidosis was associated with an increased hepatic vein lactate greater than the arterial and portal vein lactate. This is a reversal of the normal state in which the liver is a consumer of lactate. The normal lactate relationship readily returned following reinfusion of the blood if the hepatic vein PO2 and pH also returned to normal. However, following a subsequent hemorrhage and reinfusion, the liver continued to produce lactate and the hepatic vein pH remained acidotic, even though the hepatic vein PO2 returned to the control level. Previous studies had shown that catheterization of the hepatic veins in the dog traumatized the liver and the blood samples from that catheter may be misrepresentative of the true state of hepatic venous blood. A study of the level of lactate, PO2, pH, PCO2, and indocyanine green (ICG) compared blood specimens obtained from individually cannulated hepatic veins to those from a “common hepa...
Bilateral Ovarian Endometriosis Associated with Carcinosarcoma of the Right Ovary and Endometrioid Carcinoma of the Left Ovary

The case of a 44-year-old woman with bilateral ovarian malignancies in association with endometriosis is presented. A carcinosarcoma was present in the right ovary, and a well-differentiated endometrioid carcinoma in the left ovary. This case is, to the authors’ knowledge, unique.
What are Families For? Re-Evaluating Return to Filial Responsibility Laws

As the elder population in the United States grows, so too does the concern over who should bear the costs of extended nursing home stays. One approach would call for a return to enforcement of filial responsibility laws, which are currently on the books in half of the states. In her Article, Professor Harkness discusses the history and current state of filial responsibility laws throughout the country as well as the justification for those laws over time. The author explores the various problems associated with enforcing filial responsibility laws and ultimately suggests some alternatives which would both defray the cost of caring for elder Americans and strengthen the supportive relationships which have proved essential for social stability and wellbeing.
Exercise Prescription for Pre-diabetes: Design and Implementation

Objective: Combining medicine and exercise resources,we confirmed the principles and implement program of exercise prescriptions for pre-diabetes,in order to provide a practical reference for controlling,reversing and preventing pre-diabetes or diabetes. Design and Implementation: Referring to relative research design,methods and results at home and abroad,according to the principles of designing Randomized Controlled Trial( RCT),basing on the results of our own finished research,we proposed an exercise intervention program for pre-diabetes,and put it into practice in health management centers to test its feasibility and compliance. Results of 11 months intervention demonstrated that this exercise intervention program can fit all local situations and meet all demands of subjects. The total follow-up rate is 88. 9%,and two intervention group's are 92. 3% and 96. 3% respectively.Conclusion: The designed exercise intervention program for pre-diabetes has good feasibility and compliance supported by evidence-base medicine. It can be spread to enhance its effect on preventing diabetes.
Decision-Making and Ranking of Maintainability Growth Index Allocation

The differences between maintainability growth allocation and maintainability allocation were provided.Basic process of decision-making and ranking for maintainability growth index allocation was given.The relations between the maintenance influence factors and the maintenance characteristic indexes were built up by utilizing the least square support vector machine(the radial basis Gaussian kernel function).The maintenance indexes of MTTR and MPMT were predicted.Through analysis of the input and output factors of maintainability growth scheme,the evaluation index system for maintainability growth allocation scheme was built up.Various allocation schemes were ranked according to binary relative Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) method.The proposed methods were applied in the maintainability growth of a certain rotary inverter.
Norms as a Basis for Governing Sociotechnical Systems: Extended Abstract

We understand a sociotechnical system as a microsociety in which autonomous parties interact with and about technical objects. We define governance as the administration of such a system by its participants. We develop an approach for governance based on a computational representation of norms. Our approach has the benefit of capturing stakeholder needs precisely while yielding adaptive resource allocation in the face of changes both in stakeholder needs and the environment. We are currently extending this approach to address the problem of secure collaboration and to contribute to the emerging science of cybersecurity.
On the nature and significance of rarity in mineralogy

More than half of the >5000 approved mineral species are known from five or fewer localities and thus are rare. Mineralogical rarity arises from different circumstances, but all rare mineral species conform to one or more of four criteria: (1) P-T-X range: minerals that form only under highly restricted conditions in pressure-temperature-composition space; (2) Planetary constraints: minerals that incorporate essential elements that are rare or that form at extreme conditions that seldom occur in Earth’s near-surface environment; (3) Ephemeral phases: minerals that rapidly break down under ambient conditions; and (4) Collection biases: phases that are difficult to recognize because they lack crystal faces or are microscopic, or minerals that arise in lithological contexts that are difficult to access. Minerals that conform to criterion 1, 2, or 3 are inherently rare, whereas those matching criterion 4 may be much more common than represented by reported occurrences. Rare minerals, though playing minimal roles in Earth’s bulk properties and dynamics, are nevertheless of significance for varied reasons. Uncommon minerals are key to understanding the diversity and disparity of Earth’s mineralogical environments, for example in the prediction of as yet undescribed minerals. Novel minerals often point to extreme compositional regimes that can arise in Earth’s shallow crust and they are thus critical to understanding Earth as a complex evolving system. Many rare minerals have unique crystal structures or reveal the crystal chemical plasticity of well-known structures, as dramatically illustrated by the minerals of boron. Uncommon minerals may have played essential roles in life’s origins; conversely, many rare minerals arise only as a consequence, whether direct or indirect, of biological processes. The distribution of rare minerals may thus be a robust biosignature, while these phases individually and collectively exemplify the co-evolution of the geosphere and biosphere. Finally, mineralogical rarities, as with novelty in other natural domains, are inherently fascinating.
Character and Characterization: An Inquiry

On the ground floor in the Johnson Museum at Cornell stand two statues — the one by Jason Seley entitled Herakles in Ithaka I (Herakles is the Greek name for Hercules), the other by Alberto Giacometti entitled Walking Man II (See Figures 1 and 2). Seley’s figure takes its meaning from the prototype of strength, Hercules; this epic figure of strength, this figure whose name is synonymous with physical prowess, is rendered in the medium of postmodernism, or perhaps we should say post-industrialism: discarded automobile bumpers. At first the ten-foot tall Herakles made of shiny automobile bumpers seems to call into question the statue of Hercules as a heroic figure; shiny as if hand-polished, and gleaming in the light, the bumpers seem to suggest the armament of a warrior. But gradually we understand Seley’s bumpers as a post-modern medium which lends dignity to the huge nude male figure, for even as he acknowledges the expected imposing physical presence of his Hercules, Seley expands the concept of ‘beauty’ to include intellectual and emotional stature.
Discontinuing Medication: Recurrence Risk Factors

The results of antiepileptic drug discontinuation in epileptic children who were seizure free for at least 2 years are reported from the Services of Child Neurology and Psychology, Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Communicative Function of Sad Facial Expressions.

What are the communicative functions of sad facial expressions? Research shows that people feel sadness in response to losses but it’s unclear whether sad expressions function to communicate losses...
Sex on the Brain: Adolescent Psychosocial Science and Sanctions for Risky Sex

The increased rates of sexually transmitted disease among adolescents have been the subject of much public concern over the past several decades. Lawmakers and legal scholars have responded to this public health crisis by suggesting or, in some cases, actually implementing laws that impose harsh sanctions on the risky sexual behavior associated with sexually transmitted diseases. This Article argues that these efforts to limit the spread of sexually transmitted diseases among teens are doomed to fail because they are neither predicated on nor informed by adolescent psychosocial science. Because adolescents enter puberty before their brains and corresponding reasoning and emotional systems are fully mature, they are unlikely to take these laws into account when making decisions about sexual behavior. Furthermore, because punishment does not deter risky behaviors in teens unless it is highly certain to occur, the sanctions built into these proposals are unlikely to be effective. Finally, it is doubtful that adolescents will be aware of these laws, making it even less probable that they will consider potential legal penalties in making decisions about sexual behaviors.Although such laws are unlikely to be successful in slowing the spread of disease, however, they may have a negative impact on another audience. The expressive effect of these laws may alter adult attitudes about adolescent sexuality, leading to decreased intergenerational communication about sex. Because most teens rely on parents to help them access health care services and because teens who have positive communication experiences with their parents are less likely to engage in risky sex, the net effect of these laws may in fact be negative rather than positive. In the end, the legal system’s most productive role in addressing this public health crisis may be a legislative and executive one: to create and fund programs designed to increase teen self-efficacy, sexual responsibility, and connectedness with parents and schools.
Predictive modeling to de-risk bio-based manufacturing by adapting to variability in lignocellulosic biomass supply

Commercial-scale bio-refineries are designed to process 2000 tons/day of single lignocellulosic biomass. Several geographical areas in the United States generate diverse feedstocks that, when combined, can be substantial for bio-based manufacturing. Blending multiple feedstocks is a strategy being investigated to expand bio-based manufacturing outside Corn Belt. In this study, we developed a model to predict continuous envelopes of biomass blends that are optimal for a given pretreatment condition to achieve a predetermined sugar yield or vice versa. For example, our model predicted more than 60% glucose yield can be achieved by treating an equal part blend of energy cane, corn stover, and switchgrass with alkali pretreatment at 120 °C for 14.8 h. By using ionic liquid to pretreat an equal part blend of the biomass feedstocks at 160 °C for 2.2 h, we achieved 87.6% glucose yield. Such a predictive model can potentially overcome dependence on a single feedstock.
Abstract 5782: A novel method for high-throughput drug screening in 3D tumor organoids

3D tumor organoids are pivotal tools to study tumor development, propagation and invasive properties (Tanner and Gottesman, 2015). They closely recapitulate many characteristics of the tumor of origin in terms of structure, heterogeneity, complexity and response to drug treatment. As such, they are considered an accurate pre-clinical model for drug discovery and development (Nyga et al, 2011; Tanner and Gottesman, 2015; Shroyer, 2016). Nevertheless, reliable methods to perform high-throughput drug screenings using tumor organoids are limited and require extensive manipulation such as sample transfer from plate to plate. In addition, thick 3D matrix supports may hinder drug penetration. Here we introduce a robust method to generate, treat and assay 3D tumor organoids in standard, uncoated 96- or 384-well plates. By plating cells around the rim of the wells we generate an ultrathin layer of Matrigel that allows penetration of small molecules and bulkier peptide drugs. Media change is easily performed from the center of the well without perturbing the organoids. After a 2-day treatment course, organoids are released by dispase treatment and assayed in the same well by performing a CellTiter-Glo assay (Promega). The method exhibits low plate-to-plate, experiment-to-experiment and operator-to-operator variability. In addition, it can be extended to patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTO) generated from primary tumors. We show how PDTO from high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) specimens are generated with a success rate >95%. Given the low number of cells required and high assay sensitivity, we can seed 200 wells from 1Mio cells derived from a tumor biopsy, and test over 60 different drugs/concentrations in triplicates. Moreover, we show how drug combination studies are feasible and allow assessing treatment synergies. As an example, we combined a peptidic inhibitor of p53 aggregation, ReACp53 (Soragni et al, 2016), with carboplatin in PDTO HGSOC established from a panel of patients harboring different p53 mutations. Drug interaction studies are performed across a range of ReACp53 and carboplatin concentrations and cell viability assessed at day 2 is used to compute drug-response curves, EC50 values and combination indexes. In conclusion, we are introducing an inexpensive, robust, easily automated method to perform high-throughput drug screenings in 3D organoids and PDTO and demonstrate its utility in determining drug sensitivities and optimizing multi-drug combinations in vitro. Citation Format: Nhan Phan, Jessica Huang, David Eisenberg, Sanaz Memarzadeh, Alice Soragni. A novel method for high-throughput drug screening in 3D tumor organoids [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5782. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5782
Multiple Temporalities, Layered Histories

In Quotational Practices: Repeating the Future in Contemporary Art, Patrick Greaney asserts, “the past matters not only because of what actually happened but also because of the possibilities that were not realized and that still could be. Quotation evokes those possibilities. By repeating the past, artists and writers may be attempting to repeat that past’s unrealized futures.”[1] In the information age, the Internet, for instance, provides us an expanded collection of visual information—quite literally available at our fingertips—summoning together aspects of the past and possibilities of the future into a boundless present. Sketchbook Revisions (2014–2015), a series of mixed-media paintings, represents my attempt to communicate the ways in which I experience my contemporary moment constructed from multiple temporalities excavated from my past. This body of work combines fragments of representational paintings created between 1995 and 2003 and nonrepresentational renderings produced between 2003 and 2014. Using traditional tracing paper and graphic color, I randomly select moments of my previous work to transfer and layer over selected areas of already-filled pages of a sketchbook I used from 2003 to 2004. These sketches depict objects I encountered in studio art classrooms and iconic architecture on the campus of McDaniel College, and often incorporate teaching notes. The final renditions of fragmented and layered histories enact the ways that we collectively experience multiple temporalities in the present. Quoting my various bodies of work, Sketchbook Revisions challenges both material and conceptual boundaries that determine fixed notions of artistic identity.
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus reduces feed efficiency in nursery pigs.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infects enterocytes and in nursery pigs, results in diarrhea, anorexia, and reduced performance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine how PEDV infection influenced growth performance and repartitioning of amino acids and energy in nursery pigs. A total of 32 barrows and gilts, approximately 1 wk post-wean (BW = 8.46 ± 0.50 kg), and naive for PEDV were obtained, weighed, and allotted based on sex and BW to one of two treatments: 1) Control, PEDV naive and 2) PEDV-inoculated (PEDV) with eight pens of two pigs each per treatment. On day post-inoculation (dpi) 0, PEDV pigs were inoculated via intragastric gavage with PEDV isolate (USA/Iowa/18984/2013). Pig and feeder weights were recorded at dpi -7, 0, 5, and 20 in order to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Eight pigs per treatment were euthanized on dpi 5 and 20, and tissues and blood were collected. At dpi 5, all PEDV pigs were PCR positive for PEDV in feces. Overall, PEDV pigs tended (P 0.05) between treatments within dpi; however, at dpi 5, 20S proteasome activity was increased (P 0.05) between treatments within dpi. Overall, PEDV-inoculated pigs did recover the absorptive capacity that was reduced during PEDV infection by increasing proliferation of intestinal stem cells. However, the energy and nutrients needed to recover the epithelium may be originating from available luminal nutrients instead of muscle proteolysis and gluconeogenesis. This study provides insight into the effects of an enteric coronavirus on postabsorptive metabolism in nursery pigs.
Shortcomings of eco-labelling of construction and building materials

Abstract: In recent years, there has been a proliferation of eco-labels of differing kinds, resulting in customer fatigue. This chapter discusses the common shortcomings of different eco-labels, especially in the context of construction materials. From the same context, the four most important shortcomings of an eco-label are identified, demonstrating that an eco-label must be comprehensive, clear, credible and customer focused. Further, with the proliferation of eco-labels, clarity is the most important attribute. Eco-labels of important construction materials are discussed.
Developmental Evidence for Amphibian Origins

The origin of Recent amphibians remains one of the foremost unresolved puzzles in vertebrate paleobiology. One fundamental aspect concerns the phylogenetic relationships among the three extant orders, Anura (frogs), Caudata (salamanders), and Gymnophiona (caecilians). Several contradictory theories have been argued (Table I) [reviewed by Carroll and Holmes (1980); Gaffney (1979); Jarvik (1980); Lovtrup (1977); Saint-Au-bain (1981)]. At one extreme is the view that Recent amphibians are each other’s closest relatives among extant tetrapods, specifically that they comprise a single, monophyletic group, Lissamphibia, whose members shared a common amphibian ancestor relatively recently (e.g., Parsons and Williams, 1963). At the other extreme are views that deny monophyly of the Lissamphibia, and hold instead that modern amphibians represent at least two independent derivations of tetrapods from bony fishes (e.g., Jarvik, 1980). All views in this category entail a polyphyletic origin of amphibians, but they differ from each other in details, such as whether caecilians are more closely related to frogs or to salamanders (if indeed they consider caecilians at all), the particular fish lineage directly ancestral to each order, and phylogenetic relationships among the orders and the various amniote classes. (In this chapter I refer to all theories that entail a multiple origin of amphibians by the term polyphyly, including those that entail a dual origin, or diphyly.) Between these extremes are views that emphasize the distinctiveness of the modern orders but stop short of arguing for amphibian, and thus tetrapod, polyphyly (e.g., Carroll and Holmes, 1980).
Surgical margins and risk of local recurrence after wedge resection of colorectal pulmonary metastases.

Abstract Objective During resection of pulmonary metastases, the need to spare lung parenchyma is often weighed against the increased risk of local recurrence if an inadequate surgical margin is obtained. We sought to identify risk factors for local recurrence after wedge resection of pulmonary metastases of a colorectal origin. Methods A retrospective study of patients who underwent a wedge resection for colorectal pulmonary metastases from 2006 to 2016 was performed. Cox regression with robust variance was used to estimate the risk of local recurrence per nodule treated. Results We identified 335 patients who underwent 679 wedge resections. The 2-year local recurrence risk for each nodule was 11.8% (95% confidence interval, 8.9%-14.6%), and the 5-year risk was 20.6% (95% confidence interval, 16.2%-24.8%). Longer margin length decreased the risk of local recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.434 per additional cm of length; P = .015), whereas larger tumor size increased this risk (hazard ratio, 1.520 per additional cm of size; P = .012). However, other factors tested, including tumor grade, KRAS mutation status, and response to induction chemotherapy, did not affect recurrence risk. A pathologic margin length of at least half the tumor size was estimated to result in a local recurrence rate Conclusions Among surgically resected colorectal pulmonary metastases, technical factors related to margin length and tumor size were associated with the risk of local recurrence, whereas tumor grade and KRAS status were not. However, the increased risk of local recurrence with larger tumors was diminished with a sufficient margin length.
Abstract P078: Racial Differences in the Association Between Diabetes and Length of Residence Among African Migrants to the US

Background: In the US, length of residence has been shown to increase diabetes risk in migrants. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of research on the topic for African migrants especially as it rela...
The Impact of School Improvement Grants on Student Outcomes: Findings From a National Evaluation Using a Regression Discontinuity Design

AbstractAs part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program received more than $3 billion with the goal of substantially improving student achievement. The SIG program’s funding was to help states turn around the nation’s persistently lowest-achieving schools using one of four school intervention models—transformation, turnaround, restart, or closure. We used a regression discontinuity design and a large sample of schools from more than 20 states to evaluate the impact of implementing a SIG-funded intervention model on use of SIG-promoted practices and student outcomes. Our regression discontinuity design exploited cutoff values on the continuous variables used to define the SIG eligibility tiers to compare outcomes in schools that just met the eligibility cutoff for receiving SIG funding to outcomes in schools that just missed it. We found that SIG had no impact on any of the outcomes we examined, including math and reading test scores, high school g...
Contentious Federalism: Sheriffs, State Legislatures, and Political Violence in the American West

Despite the extensive literature probing individual motivations for committing political violence, little existing academic research directly examines the role of local governments in encouraging political violence. I use a federalism perspective to consider how subnational governments can decrease the perceived costs of high-risk political violence against the state. This paper introduces three novel datasets to substantiate my theories: political violence against Bureau of Land Management employees, land transfer legislation in state legislatures, and a roster of constitutionalist sheriffs. As emblems of the contentious relationship between rural land users and the federal government, employees of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) routinely deal with threats, harassment, and physical violence from civilians who are incensed by restrictions on the use of federal land. Counties with constitutionalist sheriffs are 50% more likely to have violence against BLM employees than other counties, even when controlling for other factors. Additionally, levels of political violence are higher in years following the passage of land transfer legislation in the state legislature. Elected officials’ legislative activity, campaign promises, and law enforcement decisions all may promote political violence against federal employees. Incorporating federalism into the study of political violence uncovers how the actions of elected officials at the state and county levels can lower the perceived costs of violence against the national government.
Transnational and Counternational Queer Agencies in Lusophone Cultures: Introduction

This special issue of the Journal of Lusophone Studies was devised with the aim of addressing issues of (nonnormative) gender and (queer) sexuality in relation to travel, translation, transnational friendships and relationships, posturing and imitation, contagion, promiscuity, and other related themes across the spectrum of modern Luso-Afro-Brazilian literatures and cultures from the nineteenth century onward. Collectively, the editors and contributors are particularly interested in considering the ways in which queer subjectivities and agencies have counteracted triumphant versions of the nation and nationalism that seek to foreclose any alternatives to patriarchal and heteronormative fictions of progress and homogeneous identity.
Targeted insertional mutagenesis libraries for deep domain insertion profiling

Domain recombination is a key principle in protein evolution and protein engineering, but inserting a donor domain into every position of a target protein is not easily experimentally accessible. Most contemporary domain insertion profiling approaches rely on DNA transposons, which are constrained by sequence bias. Here, we establish Saturated Programmable Insertion Engineering (SPINE), an unbiased, comprehensive, and targeted domain insertion library generation technique using oligo library synthesis and multi-step Golden Gate cloning. Through benchmarking to MuA transposon-mediated library generation on four ion channel genes, we demonstrate that SPINE-generated libraries are enriched for in-frame insertions, have drastically reduced sequence bias as well as near-complete and highly-redundant coverage. Unlike transposon-mediated domain insertion that was severely biased and sparse for some genes, SPINE generated high-quality libraries for all genes tested. Using the Inward Rectifier K+ channel Kir2.1, we validate the practical utility of SPINE by constructing and comparing domain insertion permissibility maps. SPINE is the first technology to enable saturated domain insertion profiling. SPINE could help explore the relationship between domain insertions and protein function, and how this relationship is shaped by evolutionary forces and can be engineered for biomedical applications.
Trainees participation in breast cancer surgery: an assistance or a hinderance?

The participation of trainees in breast cancer surgery is often a concern to patients. The effect of trainees’ involvement during surgery on patient’s safety and satisfaction in term of complications, oncologic and cosmetic outcomes is not fully known. Currently, there is limited and conflicting data on the outcomes of trainees’ involvement in breast cancer surgery. Most of the studies were of retrospective nature with small numbers. Also, the true extent of involvement and supervision of the trainees in the surgery were often not clearly defined in the studies (1-5). There were also major flaws in the design of some studies. In the analysis of outcomes in these studies, there were no differentiation on whether the residents participated in cases of palpable tumour or not (4) or if the patients had invasive ductal carcinoma or pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) alone (1,3), which severely affected the validity of the results.
Capitalism and Earth System Governance: An Ecological Marxist Approach

Growing recognition of the Anthropocene era has led to a chorus of calls for Earth System Governance (ESG). Advocates argue that humanity’s newfound sociotechnical powers require institutional tran...
De Garengeot hernia: a systematic review.

A De Garengeot hernia is a femoral hernia that contains the appendix. This rare type of hernia was first described by Rene-Jacques Croissant De Garengeot in 1731. Numerous case reports have been published since then, yet collective analysis about the presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of patients with this unique hernia is lacking. A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Web of Science for cases of De Garengeot hernias. Keywords searched included "De Garengeot hernia” OR “femoral appendicitis” OR “femoral hernia appendix” OR “crural hernia appendix.” To facilitate review, a classification system was created based on the gross appearance of the appendix and related structures in the femoral hernia. Two hundred and twenty-two cases were identified in 197 manuscripts. Cases most commonly came from Europe but have been reported worldwide. There was a female predominance (n = 180, 81.1%) and the mean age at presentation was 69.8 years. The most common presenting symptoms were a groin bulge and groin tenderness (82.4%, n = 183 and 79.7%, n = 177, respectively). A groin bulge was observed on physical exam in 95.0% (n = 211) of cases, and erythema over the hernia was present in 33.3% (n = 74). A pre-operative diagnosis of a De Garengeot hernia was established with imaging in only 31.5% (n = 70) of cases. The most common surgical approach was through a groin incision. Complications occurred in 9.5% (n = 21) of cases, most commonly surgical site infections. The most common condition of the appendix was congested/inflamed, found in 44.1% (n = 98) of cases and corresponding to class 2A in the classification system devised. Overall, De Garengeot hernias were found to be rare and clinically heterogeneous, as highlighted by our classification system. A systematic approach to categorizing this unique hernia may improve management decisions and help avoid complications.