cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation of the Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora pectin lyase structural gene pnIA: a role for RdgB

The activation of pectin lyase (Pnl) production in Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora strain 71 occurs upon DNA damage via a unique regulatory circuit involving recA, rdgA and rdgB. In a similar Pnl-inducible system reconstituted in Escherichia coli, the rdgB product was found to activate the expression of pnIA, the structural gene for pectin lyase. The kinetic data presented here also show that transcription of pnIA followed that of rdgB in Er. carotovora subsp. carotovora, indicating a temporal order of gene expression. By deletion analysis we have localized the promoter/regulatory region within a 66 bp DNA segment upstream of the pnIA transcriptional start site. This region contains the -10 consensus sequence but not the sequences corresponding to the E. coli -35 region. For DNA-binding studies, rdgB was overexpressed in E. coli and a 14 kDa polypeptide was identified as the gene product. RdgB from crude extracts or a purified preparation caused an identical gel mobility shift of a 164 bp DNA segment containing the pnIA promoter/regulatory region. Utilizing DNase I protection assay the RdgB-binding site was localized between nucleotides -29 and -56, i.e. overlapping the position of the putative -35 box. The findings reported here, taken along with our previous observation that the rdgB product is required for pnIA expression, establishes that rdgB encodes a transcriptional factor which specifically interacts with the pnIA promoter/regulatory region.
Binding of a recombinant form of streptococcal protein G to porcine IgG.

and 5A. From the 9 calves with 2 Ph2 isolates, strain 2C was References recovered twice from calves 16 and 21 and strain 6C was recovered twice from calf 23. 1. Bauer AW, Kirby WMM, Sherris JC, Turck M: 1966, Antibiotic Our conclusions from this epidemiologic study are listed susceptibility testing by a standardized single disk method. Am as follows: 1) the combined enzyme and antimicrobial susJ Clin Pathol 45:493-496. ceptibility profiles provided a simple method for identifying 2. Biberstein EL: 1978, Biotyping and serotyping of Pasteurella
The marginal cost of solar backup

Abstract The long-run marginal cost of providing electricity for solar heating and hot water systems is estimated for three utilities and compared with the cost of providing electricity to electric-only systems. All investment, fuel, and operating costs are accounted for. Hot water systems and combined heating and hot water systems are analyzed separately. It is found that the marginal cost for solar backup is no more than the marginal cost of electricity used for purely electric heating and hot water devices and also no more than the incremental cost of normal load growth. For the three utilities studied, there appears to be little basis for rate distinctions between solar devices using electric backup and electric-only heating and hot water devices. “Off-peak storage” heating and hot water devices have a much lower marginal cost than the standard systems; again, there appears to be no basis for distinguishing between solar and electric off-peak devices. Compared with average cost pricing, marginal cost pricing offers benefits to customers using solar and electric heat and hot water, especially if a separate lower rate is adopted for off-peak storage devices; these benefits can amount to several hundred dollars a year. Substantial savings in the use of oil and gas fuels can be achieved if residences using these fuels convert to solar systems, savings not necessarily achievable by a shift, instead, to electric systems.
REPRESENTING THE NATION: POETICS, LANDSCAPE, AND EMPIRE IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY CULTURE

As I WAS FINISHING this essay ? taking yet another procrastination break for tea and idling through the mail ? there it was, in the middle of the September Lands' End catalog, between the luggage and the imported cotton shirts, William Least Heat-Moon's journey to the western isles of Scotland. In a few hundred words, beginning with Dr. Johnson's complaint of the barrenness and "sterility" of these rocky shores, and sketching the latest economic, geographical, and demographic changes in the Shetlands, the author described a complex reconfiguration. Big petroleum had arrived some time back, along with Indian and Chinese restaurants and new houses redolent of Levittown. All this has provoked a "local fervor for things Nordic" and a "vigor of nostalgia." The eye-catching photos accompanying the story of course contain nary an oil rig, not a single plate of stir-fry. Indeed, no inhabitants are pictured at all. Only archaeological sites and derelict crofters' cottages. To read Katie Trumpener's Bardic Nationalism or Elizabeth Helsinger's Rural Scenes and National Representation after Least Heat-Moon's description is to experience a cul tural d?j? vu. Both Heisinger and Trumpener call to our attention the complex ways that global relations configure local spaces; they demonstrate how representations of space recreate the past and respond to the present. Both trace the ways a vigorous nostalgia can take the form of antiquarian genealogy or emerge in representations of the rural scene. Both show us that the antiquarian and the representation of the rural scene may have ? in their own times, if not in later nostalgic appropriations of them ? an argumentative or an oppositional force. To read Trumpener's and Helsinger's books along with Timothy Lang's examination of nineteenth-century historiography, The Victorians and the Stuart Heritage, is to experience the range of current approaches to nineteenth-century histori cism and nationalism. While Helsinger and Trumpener clearly wish to further the current theoretical emphasis on the ideological power of representations, Lang's is a more tradi tional intellectual history. Helsinger and Trumpener begin from ? and diverge from ? the discussions of nationalism and community in Benedict Anderson, E. J. Hobsbawm, and John Lucas; Lang's work more closely resembles that of Peter Dale. Both Helsinger and Trumpener have rethought their notions about Englishness, rural scenes, and the
Temperature dependent study of carbon-doped InP/InGaAs HBT's

We report on a temperature dependent study of the dc and the microwave performance of carbon-doped InP/In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBT's). The turn on voltage increased 114% and the dc current gain decreased 25% as the temperature was reduced from 300 K to 33 K. Under high-current injection, there was a 29% increase in the current gain cutoff frequency of these devices as the temperature was lowered from 300 K to 77 K. By investigating the operation of HBT's at cryogenic temperatures, increased understanding of the mechanisms of carrier transport in these devices can be obtained, and this may lead to improvements in device performance.
Storage Stability of Dental Composites

Composites made from powder-liquid constituents and subjected to elevated temperatures during storage are more stable than those employing pastes. The decomposition of the benzoyl peroxide ingredient is mainly responsible for the increased setting time and the decreased mechanical properties of the resulting composite.
“The Wildest Show in the South”: Tourism and Incarceration at Angola

Since 1967, prisoners doing hard time at the Louisiana State Penitentiary have volunteered to take part in a rodeo staged for tourists. Few of the inmates have ever ridden a horse before, much less a bucking bronco or bull. Is this spectacle of criminalized bodies per-forming under duress “fun” or public torture?
Lung abscesses in 2 patients with Lancefield group F streptococci (Streptococcus milleri group).

Lung abscess presents as a circumscribed accumulation of pus in the lungs, which is more common in patients predisposed to aspiration, immunosuppressed patients, and patients with chronic lung disease, malignancies, or diabetes mellitus.[1][1] Lung abscess is also associated with dental caries,
Quantitative palaeobiogeography: GIS, phylogenetic biogeographical analysis, and conservation insights

Aim The utility of GIS-based and phylogenetic biogeographical analysis in palaeobiogeography is reviewed with reference to its ability to elucidate patterns of interest for modern conservation biology, specifically the long-term effects of invasive species. Location Emphasis is on biogeographical patterns in the Appalachian basin and mid-continent of North America during the Devonian. Global palaeobiogeographical patterns of the Cambrian are also considered. Methods Palaeobiogeographical patterns are assessed within a GIS framework, including both direct range reconstruction and niche modelling methods, and within phylogenetic biogeographical analysis. Biogeographical patterns are considered within multiple clades of fossil invertebrates, including trilobites, crustaceans, brachiopods, and bivalves. Results GIS-based analysis (including niche modelling methods) of Devonian invertebrates demonstrates a tightly correlated relationship between sea-level rises and range expansion, dispersal events, and species invasions. The predominance of range expansion and species invasions during the Late Devonian reduced opportunities for vicariant speciation during this interval. Comparison of phylogenetic biogeographical patterns between Cambrian and Devonian trilobites allows discernment of the relative roles of tectonics and eustacy in driving biogeographical patterns. Main conclusions GIS analysis and phylogenetic biogeography are powerful tools for analysing the coevolution of the Earth and its biota. Analyses can identify episodes of vicariance and geo-dispersal and produce testable hypotheses for further analysis within the fossil record.
A comparison of breast density measures between mothers and adolescent daughters

Based on the importance of breast density as a predictor of breast cancer risk, we examined the heritable component of breast measures in mothers and daughters using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). We recruited 101 mothers ≥30 years and their daughters aged 10-16 years through Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. Scans of both breasts were taken using a DXA system in research mode, calibrated to distinguish fibroglandular and fatty breast tissue. We calculated correlation coefficients between mothers and daughters for breast volume, absolute fibroglandular volume (FGV), and %FGV and performed multiple linear regression to include relevant covariates. Breast volume and absolute FGV in daughters were lower than in mothers and were positively associated with % total body fat and Tanner breast stage. In contrast, %FGV in daughters was higher than in mothers and was inversely associated with % total body fat. Although unadjusted correlations between mothers and daughters were significant for breast volume and absolute FGV (r = 0.28 and p < 0.01 for both), models adjusted for demographic variables, Tanner stage, and % total body fat indicated significant associations only among the more mature girls (Tanner stages 4&5). There was no significant association between %FGV of mothers and daughters. These results indicate that the heritability of breast volume and amount of dense tissue is measurable in adolescence, but percent breast density shows no relation between mothers and daughters at that time. Further study of breast tissue composition during adolescence and in young women may enhance understanding of breast cancer risk later in life.
Hospital Electronic Medical Record Use and Cost of Inpatient Pediatric Care

Abstract Objective Electronic medical record (EMR) systems are costly for hospitals to implement and maintain, and the effects of EMR on the cost of care for inpatient pediatrics remain unknown. Our objective was to determine whether delivering care with advanced-stage EMR was associated with a decreased cost per case in a national sample of hospitalized children. Methods The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids Inpatient Dataset 2009 identified pediatric discharges. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society 2009 database identified hospitals' EMR use. EMR was classified into 3 stages, with advanced-stage 3 EMR including automation of ancillary services, automation of nursing workflow, computerized provider order entry, and clinical decision support. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine the independent effect of advanced-stage EMR on cost per case. Propensity score adjustment was included to control for nonrandom assignment of EMR use. Results This analysis included 4,605,454 weighted discharges. EMR use by hospitals that care for children was common: 24% for stage 1, 23% stage 2, and 32% advanced stage 3. The multivariable model demonstrated that advanced stage EMR was associated with an average 7% greater cost per case ($146 per discharge). Conclusions The care of children across the United States with EMRs may create a safer health care system but is not associated with inpatient cost savings. In fact our primary analysis shows a 7% additional cost per case. This finding is contrary to predicted savings and may represent an added barrier in the adoption of EMR for inpatient pediatrics.
Durkheim’s Dilemma: Toward a Sociology of Emergence

The concept of emergence is a central thread uniting Durkheim's theoretical and empirical work, yet this aspect of Durkheim's work has been neglected. I reinterpret Durkheim in light of theories of...
A Foundation for Advanced Compile-time Analysis of Linda Programs

Efficient implementations of Linda must address two potentially expensive properties of tuple space: associative access and uncoupled communications. Current compile-time analyses have significantly reduced the cost of associative access to tuple space. We propose a set of new analyses that help tackle uncoupling, as well as establish a more general framework for optimizations. We relate these analyses to new optimization strategies and give example applications of the latter.
Advances in biotechnology and genomics of switchgrass

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a C4 perennial warm season grass indigenous to the North American tallgrass prairie. A number of its natural and agronomic traits, including adaptation to a wide geographical distribution, low nutrient requirements and production costs, high water use efficiency, high biomass potential, ease of harvesting, and potential for carbon storage, make it an attractive dedicated biomass crop for biofuel production. We believe that genetic improvements using biotechnology will be important to realize the potential of the biomass and biofuel-related uses of switchgrass. Tissue culture techniques aimed at rapid propagation of switchgrass and genetic transformation protocols have been developed. Rapid progress in genome sequencing and bioinformatics has provided efficient strategies to identify, tag, clone and manipulate many economically-important genes, including those related to higher biomass, saccharification efficiency, and lignin biosynthesis. Application of the best genetic tools should render improved switchgrass that will be more economically and environmentally sustainable as a lignocellulosic bioenergy feedstock.
Influence of dam regulation on 55-year canopy shifts in riparian forests

Floodplain and swamp forests are undergoing extensive changes due to altered flow regimes, invasive species, logging, and various land use changes. These changes often go unnoticed due to the absence of adequate baseline data and monitoring. Using a data set from 55 years ago, we resampled 50 lowland forest stands in southern Wisconsin to assess changes in forest overstory composition, structure, diversity, and dominant species abundances. We also applied univariate and multivariate analyses to determine whether these changes varied between dam-regulated and unregulated rivers, tree species with different flooding tolerances, the presence of logging, and variations in edaphic and hydrologic variables. Although these forests display various types of resilience, their forest canopies are substantially different from 55 years ago, reflecting shifts in hydrology and the impacts of disease. On average, these forests have retained the same local (alpha) diversity but have converged in species composition (decli...
Oxygen consumption and NADPH oxidation in microsomes from vitamin K-deficient, warfarin- and dicumarol-treated rats.

SummaryOxygen consumption relative to lipid peroxidation was decreased in micro-somes from vitamin K-deficient; warfarin-treated, and dicumarol-treated rats. Vitamin K1, when added to the microsomal system, appears to function similarly to the artificial acceptor menadione and does not alleviate the differences between control and vitamin K-deficient animals observed in lipid peroxidation.
Crystallization behavior during melt-processing of ceramic waste forms

Abstract Multiphase ceramic waste forms based on natural mineral analogs are of great interest for their high chemical durability, radiation resistance, and thermodynamic stability. Melt-processed ceramic waste forms that leverage existing melter technologies will broaden the available disposal options for high-level nuclear waste. This work reports on the crystallization behavior in selected melt-processed ceramics for waste immobilization. The phase assemblage and evolution of hollandite, zirconolite, pyrochlore, and perovskite type structures during melt processing were studied using thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. Samples prepared by melting followed by annealing and quenching were analyzed to determine and measure the progression of the phase assemblage. Samples were melted at 1500 °C and heat-treated at crystallization temperatures of 1285 °C and 1325 °C corresponding to exothermic events identified from differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Results indicate that the selected multiphase composition partially melts at 1500 °C with hollandite coexisting as crystalline phase. Perovskite and zirconolite phases crystallized from the residual melt at temperatures below 1350 °C. Depending on their respective thermal histories, different quenched samples were found to have different phase assemblages including phases such as perovskite, zirconolite and TiO2.
Terminal Digits of MN(M2 - N2)

If Al and N are integers, the unit's digit of P = AIN(A1 2 N 2) = MN(MI+N)(M-N) is dependent upon the unit's digits of its four factors. Let the unit's digits of M, N, P be m, n, p, respectively. Now p will be zero if: m = n; or m, n, or (mr-n) equals 0 or 5; or m+n ends in 0 or 5. These zeros form a symmetrical pattern in the square array of the values of p. Thus m \ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 6 4 0 0 0 6 4 0 2 6 0 0 6 0 4 0 0 6 3 4 0 0 4 0 6 0 0 4 4 0 6 4 0 0 0 4 6 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 4 6 0 0 0 6 4 0 7 6 0 0 4 0 6 0 0 6 8 4 0 0 6 0 4 0 0 4 9 0 6 4 0 0 0 6 4 0 The non-zero elements may be filled in by direct. computation. Or, the following properties of the array may be used: 1) The array is symmetrical to the principhl diagonal (where m = n), since interchange of M and N merely changes the sign of P. 2) In the upper-right triangle of the array (where m > n), Pm,n = Pm+5,n P Pm,n+5 because
Can abscopal effects of local radiotherapy be predicted by modeling T cell trafficking

The abscopal effect of radiation describes tumor regression in metastases outside of the field upon treatment of one site, and is mediated by radiation-induced anti-tumor T cells. The ability of radiation to generate an in situ tumor vaccine and improve responses to immunotherapy is under intense investigation in the clinic. Preclinical and clinical evidence shows that multiple factors regulate radiation interaction with the immune system within and outside of the irradiated tumor. Poleszczuk and colleagues developed a mathematical model of T cell trafficking between metastases, and in a recent publication propose that the specific metastatic site irradiated determines the ability of T cells to traffic to other metastases and mediate abscopal responses and should dictate clinical decision making [Poleszczuk et al. Cancer Res 76:1009-18, 2016]. Here we critically discuss this model in light of the currently available information about abscopal responses in mice and patients. Caution in relying upon overly simplified models, before validation in real patients, is recommended.
A Course in Critical Thinking for PhD Students in Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology: Classical Experiments in Biochemistry

This essay presents and discusses an eight-session seminar course designed to develop critical thinking skills in doctoral biochemistry students by exposing them to classical experiments in biochemistry. During each 2.5 session, different key topics of the discovery and development of biochemical concepts are discussed. Before each session, students are required to read the one or two classical papers. The size of the seminar course and the seating of the students are critical to make this a highly interactive environment for all students to participate in the critique and re-designing of key experiments, including control experiments, which helped formulate these classical concepts. Final student evaluation of the course’s goals has two equal components: Course participation and a final take home exam due two weeks after the course is completed. Together with the take home exam students are also required to write an evaluation of the course, preferably no longer than half a page. Students’ comments of the course have been uniformly positive. The author notes the sooner students are exposed to this manner of thinking, the better they will be equipped to choose an appropriate mentor and contribute creatively to attempt to solve the scientific problem of their PhD thesis.
Negative Regulation of the SHPTP1 Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase by Protein Kinase C δ in Response to DNA Damage

The SHPTP1 protein tyrosine phosphatase is activated by the c-Abl and Lyn tyrosine kinases in the cellular response to genotoxic stress. However, signaling mechanisms involved in the negative regulation of SHPTP1 are unknown. This study demonstrates that protein kinase C δ (PKCδ) associates with SHPTP1. The PKCδ catalytic domain binds directly to SHPTP1. The results also demonstrate that PKCδ is required, at least in part, for phosphorylation and inactivation of SHPTP1. The phosphatase activity of SHPTP1 was attenuated by coincubation with PKCδ in vitro. In addition, treatment of U-937 human myeloid leukemia cells with 1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) was associated with induction of the PKCδ kinase function and inhibition of SHPTP1 activity. Down-regulation of SHPTP1 by ara-C was blocked by the PKCδ inhibitor rottlerin but not by the PKCα and -β inhibitor Go6976. Moreover, transient coexpression studies with a dominant-negative mutant of PKCδ demonstrate that the kinase activity of PKCδ is required for the down-regulation of SHPTP1. These findings support the functional interaction between PKCδ and SHPTP1 in the cellular response to DNA damage.
Some Properties of Plant Mitochondrial Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinases

Mammalian mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes (PDCs) are regulated in part by reversible phosphorylation (1–3). Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (EC 2. 7. 1. 99) is an integral component of these complexes. This kinase catalyzes the multi-site phosphorylation of the E1α-subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.4.1, PDH) component of the complex, resulting in complete inactivation (4). Dephosphorylation, catalyzed by phospho-pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase, reactivates the complex. Regulation of mammalian PDH-kinase plays an important role in the overall regulation of PDC activity (5,6).
Stability of High‐Quality Warfarin Anticoagulation in a Community‐Based Atrial Fibrillation Cohort: The Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) Study

Background Warfarin reduces ischemic stroke risk in atrial fibrillation (AF) but increases bleeding risk. Novel anticoagulants challenge warfarin as stroke‐preventive therapy for AF. They are available at fixed doses but are more costly. Warfarin anticoagulation at a time in therapeutic range (TTR) ≥70% is similarly as effective and safe as novel anticoagulants. It is unclear whether AF patients with TTR ≥70% will remain stably anticoagulated and avoid the need to switch to a novel anticoagulant. We assessed stability of warfarin anticoagulation in AF patients with an initial TTR ≥70%. Methods and Results Within the community‐based Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in AF (ATRIA) cohort followed from 1996 to 2003, we identified 2841 new warfarin users who continued warfarin over 9 months. We excluded months 1 to 3 to achieve a stable dose. For the 987 patients with TTR ≥70% in an initial 6‐month period (TTR1; months 4–9), we described the distribution of TTR2 (months 10–15) and assessed multivariable correlates of persistent TTR ≥70%. Of patients with TTR1 ≥70%, 57% persisted with TTR2 ≥70% and 16% deteriorated to TTR2 <50%. Only initial TTR1 ≥90% (adjusted odds ratio 1.47, 95% CI 1.07–2.01) independently predicted TTR2 ≥70%. Heart failure was moderately associated with marked deterioration (TTR2 <50%); adjusted odds ratio 1.45, 95% CI 1.00–2.10. Conclusions Nearly 60% of AF patients with high‐quality TTR1 on warfarin maintained TTR ≥70% over the next 6 months. A minority deteriorated to very poor TTR. Patient features did not strongly predict TTR in the second 6‐month period. Our analyses support watchful waiting for AF patients with initial high‐quality warfarin anticoagulation before considering alternative anticoagulants.
Digital latin library: information work practices of classics scholars, graduate students, and teachers

Initial results of an information behavior study of Classics scholars of Latin, graduate students, and high school teachers are presented. The study was conducted to inform the design of the Digital Latin Library. Interviews and task demonstrations were conducted with 16 participants. Findings indicate user groups use a variety of specialized print and digital resources, with a preference for print manuscripts, and that they employ basic and advanced searching techniques but also require domain-specific tools to conduct their scholarly work activities.
HIF-1 Regulation of Chemokine Receptor Expression

The chemokine-chemokine receptor system is a highly conserved family of small molecules that bind to a given receptor(s) to regulate the mobilization and trafficking of cells. Hypoxia within the tumor microenvironment plays a role in the upregulation of several chemokine receptors on tumor cells and secretion of different chemokines promoting tumor cell invasion and metastatic spread. Preliminary data from animal models show promising antitumor efficacy with the use of small molecule chemokine receptor antagonists to prevent tumor growth and metastasis. Future studies are needed to evaluate chemokine receptor antagonists alone and in combination with other standard radiation and chemotherapy regimens to control not only local tumor growth but also metastatic potential.
Laminoplasty Does not Lead to Worsening Axial Neck Pain in the Properly Selected Patient With Cervical Myelopathy: A Comparison With Laminectomy and Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data. OBJECTIVE To determine if laminoplasty (LP) is associated with worsening axial neck pain in patients with multilevel cervical myelopathy, and to compare neck pain, clinical outcomes, and radiographic measures in a group undergoing laminectomy and fusion (LF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Postoperative new or worsening axial neck pain is commonly cited as a major disadvantage of laminoplasty. However, there remains a paucity of corroborative data from large series. METHODS Following institutional review board approval, we reviewed the medical records, radiographs, and prospective clinical outcomes database of 85 patients undergoing LP and 52 patients undergoing LF for cervical myelopathy with minimum 1-year radiographic follow-up and average clinical follow-up of 18.5 months. LP was performed in those with neutral to lordotic C2-7 alignment and who did not complain of diffuse axial pain. Otherwise, LF was performed. Clinical outcomes included visual analogue score (VAS)-neck pain, VAS-total pain, neck disability index (NDI), short form 36, modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA), and several radiographic parameters. RESULTS VAS-neck did not worsen in LP (-0.2, P = 0.54) and did improve in LF (-2.0, P = 0.0013). VAS-total improved significantly in both groups (LF -1.04 ± 0.52, P = 0.05; LP -1.4 ± 0.51, P = 0.008). NDI improved in both groups, but was significant in only LP (LP decreased 6.79 ± 2.25, P = 0.0032; LF decreased 4.01 ± 3.05, P = 0.19). mJOA scores improved significantly in both groups (LP improved 2.89 ± 0.27, P < 0.0001; LF improved 2.45 ± 0.33, P < 0.0001). There was a small loss of cervical lordosis in both groups that was significant in LP (LP 2.92° loss, P = 0.0181; LF 1.25° loss, P = 0.53). CONCLUSION In a carefully selected group of myelopathic patients without significant diffuse axial pain preoperatively and appropriate sagittal alignment, laminoplasty did not lead to worsening axial neck pain, and it was associated with significant improvements in other clinical and myelopathy outcomes. Although laminoplasty is not indicated in every myelopathic patient, this study exemplifies its efficacy as a non-fusion operation in the appropriately selected patient and assuages concerns regarding worsening axial neck pain in such patients following surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
Active cooling of microvascular composites for battery packaging

Batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) require a packaging system that provides both thermal regulation and crash protection. A novel packaging scheme is presented that uses active cooling of microvascular carbon fiber reinforced composites to accomplish this multifunctional objective. Microvascular carbon fiber/epoxy composite panels were fabricated and their cooling performance assessed over a range of thermal loads and experimental conditions. Tests were performed for different values of coolant flow rate, channel spacing, panel thermal conductivity, and applied heat flux. More efficient cooling occurs when the coolant flow rate is increased, channel spacing is reduced, and thermal conductivity of the host composite is increased. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were also performed and correlate well with the experimental data. CFD simulations of a typical EV battery pack confirm that microvascular composite panels can adequately cool battery cells generating 500 W m−2 heat flux below 40 °C.
The Role of Theory in an Age of Design and Big Data

I discuss economists’ views of what they do, and the particular roles of models and theory. The focus is on theory’s role in the design of social and economic systems—past, present, and future.
Youth's Daily Activities and Situational Triggers of Gunshot Assault in Urban Environments.

Abstract Purpose Although previous research has made progress in identifying individuals predicted to face an elevated risk of being shot, it is not clear how that risk varies within individuals based on the contexts they encounter as they navigate daily life. The current study examines how the convergence of individual risk activity and neighborhood disadvantage and disorder triggers the risk of being shot. Methods Using a novel geographic information system application, 123 male gunshot assault victims between 10 and 24 years old in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, described their minute-by-minute movements over the course of the day of the gunshot assault. Through latent class analysis, the primary exposure was real-life circumstance where nine theoretically informed risk factors converged, compared with two other circumstances. Case-crossover analyses of subjects' 10-minute segments of full-day activities compared gunshot assault victims at the time of assault with themselves earlier in the day. Results Compared to when individuals were exposed to minimal situational risk or were mainly exposed to neighborhood disadvantage and disorder, the concurrence of risk activity and neighborhood disadvantage and disorder was associated with a 9.90 (95% CI: 2.72–36.14) and 6.06 (95% CI: 2.78–13.22) times higher risk of being shot. Importantly, the likelihood of being in the high-risk circumstance increased systematically over the course of the day leading up to the time when young individuals were shot. Conclusions After controlled individual's propensity to be shot (e.g., inherent traits), the concurrence of situational risks emerged as significant triggers of gunshot assault. The findings suggest potential for community-based gunshot violence interventions.
Scanning Auger spectromicroscopy using the ScopeFoundry software platform

We have developed an open-source, Python-based software platform called ScopeFoundry for performing complex, multidimensional microscopy experiments that integrate diverse types of experimental hardware. ScopeFoundry streamlines experiment development by providing a modular environment where hardware controls and measurement schemes can be arranged and customized. Important software tasks such as data management and user interface generation are automated. Using this platform, we have implemented scanning Auger spectromicroscopy on a modified commercial surface analysis system. Spectromicroscopy produces multidimensional datasets with complete spectra at each image pixel, allowing for detailed analysis of material phases where Auger peaks may change in shape and position. Analysis of the surface phases of an advanced electron emission dispenser cathode is presented as an example. We describe the general ScopeFoundry platform, its application to Auger spectromicroscopy, and ways it can be applied to advance surface analysis and microscopy.
7.23 Mass-Movement Causes: Earthquakes

Earthquakes can trigger all types of landslides, and triggered landslides contribute significantly to landscape morphology and lowering in tectonically active areas. The most abundant types of landslides triggered in earthquakes are fairly shallow, disrupted falls and slides in rock and soil; larger, deeper landslides are less common but contribute significantly to total landslide volumes. Studies of worldwide earthquakes have allowed characterization of the relation between earthquake magnitude and (1) maximum landslide distance; (2) areas in which landslides occur; (3) total number of landslides triggered; (4) total, maximum, and average areas of landslides; and (5) total, maximum, and average landslide volumes. Regional studies indicate that earthquake-triggered landslides contribute significantly to landscape lowering, commonly comparable to the contributions from other erosive processes. Near active subduction zones, landscape lowering from earthquake-triggered landslides can range from 0.2 to 7 mm yr −1 ; near strike-slip plate boundaries, the range is 0.02–0.2 mm yr −1 . Thus, earthquake-triggered landsliding is a significant geomorphic process that both shapes and lowers landscapes in tectonically active areas.
Profiling Bortezomib Resistance in Multiple Myeloma: Implications in Personalized Pharmacotherapy

Treatment regimens for MM patients have undergone considerable modifications from the 1960s in an attempt to achieve that elusive “complete cure.” Proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib (Bz) have recently become effective chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of MM, used alone or in combination with other anticancer agents like alkylating agents, immunomodulators (IMiDs), topoisomerase inhibitors, corticosteroids, and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis). However, wide interindividual variation in response to treatment with Bz is a major limitation in achieving consistent therapeutic effect in MM. In addition, patients who respond commonly develop resistance to proteasome inhibitors, with subsequent aggressive relapses. Drug resistance may be categorized into innate resistance with nonspecific resistance already present in Bz-refractory drug-naive patients who never respond to Bz treatment or emerging (acquired) resistance where a patient’s tumor cells “acquire” the ability to resist therapy in the course of treatment leading to eventual Bz-resistant relapse. We discuss molecular profiling approaches to characterize bortezomib resistance, including analysis of genomic variations, gene expression patterns, epigenetic patterns, and protein patterns. We conclude that robust approaches using multiple data types are of primary importance in profiling drug resistance in MM. The ultimate purpose of such an effort will be to create a pharmacogenomic profiling-guided therapeutic response score that can be cross-validated using clinical trials on MM patients undergoing Bz-based therapy or any chemotherapy, so that it can be routinely applied in clinical settings to improve selective response to available drugs, predict effective combinations, and identify secondary therapies to circumvent the challenges in the relapsed patient.
A procedure for evaluation of the indoor environment

Exposure to substances found in the indoor environment is known totrigger respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Despite this knowledge,information on how to identify and remove these exposures is scarce. Toaddress this issue, we describe a program of environmental assessmentdeveloped at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Weevaluated buildings using a standardized assessment protocol. Thisprotocol included a combination of background information, visualinspection, volumetric air sampling, bulk sampling of suspicious areas,antigen measurement of housedust, and general measurements of the indoorclimate. We inspected a total of 63 buildings including 49 single unitstructures, 4 apartments, 4 town homes, 3 schools, 2 office buildings,and 1 mobile home. Most of these locations were identified because ofrespiratory ailments reported by the occupants. A screeningquestionnaire revealed factors that are known to be associated withfungal contamination such as leaks or flooding in 78% of thebuildings. Visual inspection confirmed these sources of contamination inthe majority of structures. Volumetric air sampling identified a highproportion of buildings with airborneAspergillus/Penicillium species. Stachybotrys wasfound in nearly 30% of these structures both in air and onsurface samples, and surprisingly, Stachybotrys spores werefound only in air in nearly 20%. Climactic factors were onlyweakly associated with fungal contamination. The homes of patients withrespiratory diseases often have significant fungal contamination thatcan be identified with a questionnaire. Using this standardizedapproach, factors associated with respiratory illnesses, usually fungalcontamination, frequently can be identified. Whether removal of theoffending exposure will lead to improve health remains to bedetermined.
Online Clinical Teacher Preparation Programs in Special Education: Perspectives and Critical Components:

Online special educator preparation programs are growing in prevalence and popularity. Yet, implementing a clinical model of special educator preparation within online programs can be challenging. ...
Methotrexate in the Treatment of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis.

Objective. Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a disfiguring inflammatory breast disease without effective treatment. We report the largest IGM cohort treated with methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy. Methods. Chart review was performed on patients evaluated by the Stanford Immunology and Rheumatology Clinic, with histopathologically established IGM treated with MTX, and at least 1 followup appointment. Results. Nineteen female patients with a mean age of 33.5 years were identified. Most failed treatment with antibiotics, prednisone, and surgical intervention. By 15 months of treatment with MTX, 94% had disease improvement and 75% achieved disease remission. Conclusion. MTX monotherapy is an effective treatment for IGM.
Effect of Moisture / Liquid Absorption on Mechanical Properties of Composites

Demand for lightweight and strong structures made of composite materials has increased tremendously over the past few years. This necessitates to fully exploit the properties of composite materials. It is important to understand the behavior of composites under different environmental conditions in order to take full advantage of its properties as their behavior is different from conventional materials (metals, nonmetals etc.). Glass fiber reinforced polymer composites are being used in multiple machines from bicycles to aircraft and to space ships. However, certain factors like environmental exposure and moisture absorption effects the mechanical properties of composites, like tensile and flexural strength, which require a thorough investigation. Therefore, in this paper moisture absorption effects on mechanical properties (tensile and flexural) of two categories of glass fiber (9 oz, 18 oz) epoxy laminate composites are analyzed. Fickian model has been used to find out moisture absorption rate and diffusion coefficient. Both configurations were put to three different environmental conditions, which are open environment, water, and kerosene oil, for a specified set time period. One set of specimen of both configurations was tested right after fabrication, and served as benchmark for rest of the specimens, which were put to environmental exposure. After completion of exposure period, specimens were tested and change in mechanical properties (tensile and flexural) were compared with benchmark, and after analysis it was found that 18 OZ glass fiber is less effected in term of environmental exposure and moisture interaction as compared to 9 OZ glass fiber.
The Nidobiome: A Framework for Understanding Microbiome Assembly in Neonates.

The importance of microbial associations to animals' development, physiology, and fitness is widely recognized. In most animals, these microbial associations must be developed anew with every generation, making microbiome assembly a critical ecological and evolutionary process. To fully understand neonate microbial colonization, we need to study the interacting effects of neonate, parents, nest, and external environment. We propose an integrative approach based on the concept of the ‘nidobiome', a new unit of microbiome–host interactions, which brings together these key elements. We discuss the contribution of each element on microbial colonization at different stages of host development, and we provide a framework based on key developmental events to compare microbiome assembly across animal species.
Defining the sediment microbiome of the Indian River Lagoon, FL, USA, an Estuary of National Significance

The Indian River Lagoon, located on the east coast of Florida, USA, is an Estuary of National Significance and an important economic and ecological resource. The Indian River Lagoon faces several environmental pressures, including freshwater discharges through the St. Lucie Estuary; accumulation of a anoxic, fine-grained, organic-rich sediment; and metal contamination from agriculture and marinas. Although the Indian River Lagoon has been well-studied, little is known about its microbial communities; thus, a two-year 16S amplicon sequencing study was conducted to assess the spatiotemporal changes of the sediment microbiome. In general, the Indian River Lagoon exhibited a microbiome that was consistent with other estuarine studies. Statistically different microbiomes were found between the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary due to changes in porewater salinity causing microbes that require salts for growth to be higher in the Indian River Lagoon. The St. Lucie Estuary exhibited more obvious microbial seasonality, such as higher Betaproteobacteriales, a freshwater associated organism, in wet season and higher Flavobacteriales in dry season samples. Distance-based linear models revealed these microbiomes were more affected by changes in total organic matter and copper than changes in temperature. Anaerobic organisms, such as Campylobacterales, were more associated with high total organic matter and copper samples while aerobic organisms, such as Nitrosopumilales, were more associated with low total organic matter and copper samples. This initial study fills the knowledge gap on the Indian River Lagoon microbiome and serves as an important baseline for possible future changes due to human impacts or environmental changes.
“Scoping” the Routes, Roots, and Rights to the City: “Mobilities of Vision” and Reading the Social Movement Landscape of Thessaloniki, Greece

This paper uses a novel qualitative visual methodology—scoping—to interrogate the Lefebvrian right to the city across the social movement landscape of Thessaloniki, Greece. Generating a reflexive a...
h-Index and Academic Rank by Gender Among Breast Surgery Fellowship Faculty.

Background: Gender disparities in academic promotion and leadership are well documented. Scholarly impact is essential for promotion. The Hirsch-index (h-index) is a measure of impact using number ...
Trans-Ocular Brain Impedance Indices Predict Pressure Reactivity Index Changes in a Porcine Model of Hypotension and Cerebral Autoregulation Perturbation.

Cerebrovascular autoregulation (CA) is a protective mechanism that enables the cerebral vasculature to automodulate tone in response to changes in cerebral perfusion pressure to ensure constant levels of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen delivery. CA can be impaired after neurological injury and contributes to secondary brain injury. In this study, we report novel impedance indices using trans-ocular brain impedance (TOBI) during controlled systemic hemorrhage and hypotension to assess CA in comparison with pressure reactivity index (PRx). Yorkshire swine were instrumented to record intracranial pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and CBF. TOBI was recorded using electrocardiographic electrodes placed on the closed eyelids. Impedance changes (dz) were recorded in response to introducing an alternating current (0.4 mA) through the electrodes. MAP, ICP, and CBF were also measured. Animals were subjected to a controlled hemorrhage to remove 30–40% of each animal’s total blood volume over 25–35 min. Hemorrhage was titrated to reach an MAP of approximately 35 mm Hg and end-tidal carbon dioxide above 28 mm Hg. PRx was calculated as a moving Pearson correlation between MAP and ICP. TOBI indices were calculated as the amplitude of the respiratory-induced changes in dz. DZx was calculated as a moving Pearson correlation between dz and MAP. TOBI indices (dz and DZx) were compared with hemodynamic indicators and PRx. dz was shown to be highly correlated with MAP, ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure, and CBF (r = − 0.823, − 0.723, − 0.813, and − 0.726), respectively (p < 0.0001). During hemorrhage, cerebral perfusion pressure and CBF had a mean percent decrease (standard deviation) from baseline of − 54.2% (12.5%) and − 28.3% (14.7%), respectively, whereas dz increased by 277% (268%). Receiver operator characteristics and precision-recall curves demonstrated high predictive performance of DZx when compared with PRx with an area under the curve above 0.82 and 0.89 for receiver operator characteristic and precision-recall curves, respectively, with high sensitivity and positive predictive power. TOBI indices appear to track changes in PRx and hemodynamics that affect CA during hemorrhage-induced hypotension. TOBI may offer a suitable, less invasive surrogate to PRx for monitoring and assessing CA.
Elevated sCD40L in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in Comparison to Non-progressive Benign and Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

Background:The long-term prognosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is usually unfavorable as most patients transition to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) with accumu...