cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ecosystem Structure and Function

An ecosystem represents the integration of the biotic community and the abiotic environment. The capacity of the community to modify its environment depends on its structure and the degree to which it controls energy flow, biogeochemical cycling, and climatic conditions. Delineation of ecosystem boundaries can be problematic. Ecosystems can be described at various scales. At one extreme, the diverse flora and fauna living on the backs of rain forest beetles or the aquatic communities in water-holding plant structures constitute an ecosystem. At the other extreme, the interconnected terrestrial and marine ecosystems constitute a global ecosystem that has generated Earth's soil and atmospheric conditions. Generally, ecosystems have been described at the level of the landscape patch or stream reach composed of a relatively distinct community type. Ecosystems are characterized by their structure and function. Structure reflects the way in which the ecosystem is organized, e.g., species composition, distribution of energy and matter (biomass), and trophic or functional organization in space. This chapter describes the major structural and functional parameters of ecosystems in order to provide the basis for description of insect effects on these parameters. Ecosystem structure represents the various pools (both sources and sinks) of energy and matter and their relationships to each other, i.e., the directions of matter or information flow.
Chorea, Athetosis, and Ballism

This chapter discusses the large variety of diagnoses in childhood where chorea may be a prominent feature. Chorea is uncommon in children. It nearly always causes some interference with life activities and is perceived as involuntary by the individual. The terms “athetosis” and “ballism” designate similar movements, and are reviewed in this chapter. The most common cause of chorea in childhood is Sydenham’s chorea. This chapter provides a systematic approach to diagnosis and treatment of chorea in childhood, based on childhood development, epidemiology, primary features, associated symptoms, and understanding of neuroanatomy and pathophysiology.
E-Module Case Study

The e-module was entitled ‘The Practice of Digital HIStorytelling: Exploring the Trojan War’, and it was taught at the University of Hull, as a practice of using transmedia content for the purpose of learning about storytelling engagement. It was a cross-mediated story-based approach for e-learning that used popular entertainment to engage learners. The e-module was designed primarily to teach digital storytelling, and secondarily, to teach history. Various modes and mediums of communication were also implemented. That being said, ‘HIStorytelling’ was the objective of the e-module as both a method of instruction and as an object of inquiry. History is comparable to story because both make use of narrative technique; yet, history is not the focus of the case study, the approach is, which can clearly be used in diverse disciplines.
Physiological Properties of a Natriuretic Humoral Substance Occurring in Human Urine and Plasma

This chapter discusses the physiological properties of a natriuretic humoral substance occurring in human urine and plasma. It has also been shown that during saline diuresis, there is a depression in the amount of sodium which is reabsorbed from the proximal tubule which is independent of the above two factors. However, any depression in the rate of reabsorption of sodium from the proximal tubule is inadequate by itself to account for sodium diuresis because it has been shown that this change can be in evidence at a time when urinary sodium excretion is not increased. The natriuretic activity of the active fractions is consistently demonstrable in normal hydropenic rats as well as in rats with congenital diabetes insipidus. The induced natriuresis usually develops slowly and may last for several hours. The natriuresis is not usually associated with increases in water or potassium excretion. It occurs without measurable changes in glomerular filtration rate or arterial blood pressure. Altogether these results suggest that the substance acts to depress sodium reabsorption in the distal tubule.
Outcome and Cost of Inpatient Hospitalization for Intravenous Dihydroergotamine Treatment of Refractory Pediatric Headache

Abstract Background To determine the cost and efficacy of admitting patients for intravenous dihydroergotamine treatment and to identify factors associated with a higher likelihood of response to treatment. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all pediatric hospitalizations from 2001 to 2010 for intravenous dihydroergotamine therapy for headache. Data were collected using the REDcap database and consisted of multiple variables, including preadmission demographics, headache duration, use of prophylactic medications, inpatient therapies including dihydroergotamine dosing, procedures, consultations, total hospital cost, and headache severity at discharge and at follow-up. Results Seventy-four percent of the 145 individuals who were hospitalized were female. Mean age was 14.9 years. Headache was described as chronic or daily in almost all patients and 28 (19%) had status migrainosus. Sixty-six percent had a first-degree relative with migraine. The average length of stay was 3.7 days, and the average cost was $7569 per hospitalization. Patients received an average of eight doses of dihydroergotamine. At the time of discharge, 63% of patients reported improvement. Follow-up information was available for 68% of the cohort at a median of 42 days after discharge, and 21 of 99 patients (21%) experienced sustained relief of headache. Response to dihydroergotamine was correlated with a lower rate of comorbid diagnoses, lumbar puncture, and outpatient neuroimaging. Response also correlated to less expensive hospitalizations with an average cost of $5379 per hospitalization versus $7105 per hospitalization without positive response. Response was also correlated with a patient receiving more doses of intravenous dihydroergotamine. Conclusions Although intravenous dihydroergotamine is an effective abortive medication for intractable migraine, it may provide only short-term headache relief in many pediatric patients. Hospitalization is relatively costly with only modest long-term benefit, especially in patients with chronic migraine or chronic daily headache.
Bacteroides fragilis Lipopolysaccharide and Inflammatory Signaling in Alzheimer’s Disease

The human microbiome consists of ~3.8x1013 symbiotic microorganisms that form a highly complex and dynamic ecosystem: the gastrointestinal (GI) tract constitutes the largest repository of the human microbiome by far, and its impact on human neurological health and disease is becoming increasingly appreciated. Bacteroidetes, the largest phylum of gram-negative bacteria in the GI tract microbiome, while generally beneficial to the host when confined to the GI tract, have potential to secrete a remarkably complex array of pro-inflammatory neurotoxins that include surface lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) and toxic proteolytic species. The deleterious effects of these bacterial exudates appear to become more important as GI tract and blood-brain barriers alter or increase their permeability with aging and disease. For example, presence of the unique LPSs of the abundant Bacteroidetes species Bacteroides fragilis (BF-LPS) in the serum represents a major contributing factor to systemic inflammation. BF-LPS is further recognized by TLR2, TLR4 and/or CD14 microglial cell receptors as are the pro-inflammatory 42 amino acid amyloid-beta (Aβ42) peptides that characterize Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain. Here we provide the first evidence that BF-LPS exposure to human primary brain cells is an exceptionally potent inducer of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-kB (p50/p65) complex, a known trigger in the expression of pathogenic pathways involved in inflammatory neurodegeneration. This ‘Perspectives communication’ will in addition highlight work from recent studies that advance novel and emerging concepts on the potential contribution of microbiome-generated factors, such as BF-LPS, in driving pro-inflammatory degenerative neuropathology in the AD brain.
Additive phase noise of fiber-optic links used in photonic microwave-generation systems

In this work, we analyze the contributions of several mechanisms to the additive phase noise of the optical fiber in a microwave-photonic link. We discuss their fiber-length dependence and their impact on the phase noise of an optoelectronic oscillator. Furthermore, we present and verify for the first time a mechanism by which double-Rayleigh scattering directly generates microwave phase noise.
Relationship Privacy Preservation in Publishing Online Social Networks

The third-party enterprises, such as sociologists and commercial companies, are mining data published from online social network (OSN) websites (e.g., Face book, Twitter) to serve their diverse purposes. This process leads to critical user concerns over their privacy, especially sensitive relationship with others on OSNs. Existing anonymization techniques in publishing online social data are focused on user identities, as users' relationship privacy will be automatically protected in general, if their identities are hidden. However, in reality, some users can still be identified from an identity-anonymized OSN by an attacker, as an individual user may publish his personal information to the public, through blog for example, which can be exploited by the attacker to re-identify the user from the published data. Therefore, we intend to preserve relationship privacy between two users one of whom can even be identified in the released OSN data. We define the $\ell$-diversity anonymization model to preserve users' relationship privacy. Additionally, we devise two algorithms to achieve the $\ell$-diversity anonymization - one only removes edges while the other only inserts vertices/edges for maintaining as many topological properties of the original social networks as possible, thus retaining the utility of the published data for the third-parties. Extensive experiments are conducted on both synthetic and real-world social network data sets to demonstrate that except from the achievement of privacy preservation, the utility loss caused by our proposed graph manipulation based techniques is acceptable. Besides, we analyze the influence of social network topology (e.g., average degree, network scalability) on the performance of our algorithms.
Development of recessed contacts for mechanical stacking of GaSb solar cells

Transfer printing is a formidable technique to stack multijunction solar cells while avoiding existing epitaxial limitations. Thus, a larger portion of the solar spectrum can be harvested through careful design optimization. In this process, metal contacts are embedded within a highly conductive lateral conduction layer (LCL) on the lower subcells. A readily available low bandgap candidate for a multijunction stack includes a GaSb solar cell with a 1.0 eV Al 0.2 Ga 0.8 Sb LCL. Processing of a bare AlGaSb layer is difficult, as standard photolithography processes and wet etch chemistries leave the surface excessively roughened and inhibit good ohmic contact. Several dry etch recipes are investigated to etch the AlGaSb LCL while leaving a smooth surface. A recipe based on a gas mixture of BCl 3 /Ar was determined to be a viable candidate for dry etching of AlGaSb and used to fabricate a GaSb solar cell with recessed contacts in an AlGaSb LCL.
An interactive visual interface for the determination of similarity patterns in the Fourier spatial frequency spectrum of laser speckle

Laser speckle from particles that are smaller than the wavelength of light resemble a random Gaussian field, but can be shown to contain a characteristic spectrum in frequency space. Speckle is caused by not only the instantaneous microstructure of nanoparticles in suspension that will fluctuate as they reorganize, but also by the magnetic and optical properties of the scattering medium itself. Here we demonstrate interactive tool that can be used to define similarities between seemingly random scattering fields. Optimization of the Fourier spatial frequency spectrum gives a representative pattern that can be directly correlated to the transport properties of the particles.
Induction of Systemic Acquired Resistance Aids Restoration of Tree Health in Field-Grown Pear and Apple Diseased with Fire Blight

Induction of systemic acquired resistance as a therapeutic aid to restoration of tree health was evaluated in 3- to 14-year-old pear and apple trees diseased with fire blight. Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) was applied to diseased trees in late spring near the time of removal of primary fire blight cankers, which had originated from floral infection. Suspensions of ASM (7.5 to 22.5 g of active ingredient per liter plus silicone surfactant) were painted onto a 30- to 45-cm length of branch tissue immediately below primary pruning cuts or sprayed onto an 80- to 100-cm length of central trunk. In some experiments, a second ASM treatment was made in late June to early July in conjunction with secondary pruning of redeveloped cankers. After pruning primary cankers, effects of ASM were measured by assessing weight and length of secondary cankers that were the result of fire blight redevelopment. Over 5 years of field experiments, trees that received an ASM treatments yielded 62% less diseased wood at the time of secondary and tertiary canker removal compared with non-ASM-treated trees. Moreover, tree mortality and proportion of pruning cuts where fire blight redeveloped were reduced by ASM. Induction of systemic acquired resistance could prove practical as an aid to pruning therapy in young, fire-blight-susceptible pear and apple trees where, after canker removal, disease symptoms frequently redevelop owing to residual cells of the pathogen distributed within symptomless portions of the tree.
Transitional Instability Predicts Polymorphous Distress in Emerging Adults

ABSTRACTThe primary aim of this investigation is to determine the extent to which transitional instability can predict diverse markers of distress in emerging adults. Participants were 210 emerging adults, aged 18–25 who completed measures of distress that included loneliness, stress, problem drinking, and prescription medication use. One year later, they returned to complete these same measures of distress along with a measure of significant life transitions that they encountered during the past year in such domains as education, employment, residence, and relationships. Results of a structural equation modeling analysis showed that even after controlling for the potential reciprocal association between transitional instability and distress, the more transitional instability emerging adults experienced over the year, the higher their distress was at time 2. The results are consistent with models of transitional instability as a precipitant of distress in emerging adulthood.
Start using a checklist, PRONTO: Recommendation for a standard review process for chemotherapy orders:

Chemotherapy order review by pharmacists requires careful attention to many details, and serious consequences can occur if errors are made. Other high-risk industries have long used checklists to improve accuracy and reduce the risk of errors. Despite the recent expansion of checklist use in other areas of medicine, there is currently no published evidence that checklists are being widely used by pharmacists in the evaluation of chemotherapy orders. This article explains a flexible checklist called PRONTO (Patient, Regimen, Organ Function, Numbers, Toxicity, Order Verification) that has been successfully used by pharmacists in variety of practice settings in two academic centers in North Carolina. Proposed benefits of using a checklist in order review include standardization of review for better communication between collaborating pharmacists, a training tool for new or cross-training pharmacists, and an educational tool for students.
Abstract P181: Contrasting Effects of High Fat Diet and DOCA-salt on Primary Neuronal Cilia

Virtually, every mammalian cell is equipped with an antenna like primary cilium, a cell surface protrusion that is thought to act as a sensory organelle. Many of the rare genetic disorders that cause shorter, absent or disrupted cilia are associated with obesity and cardiovascular dysfunction in humans and rodents, which suggest that cilia length contribute to energy balance and cardiovascular homeostasis. Here, we examined the length of the primary neuronal cilia in the brain nuclei that contribute to metabolic and cardiovascular regulation in high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and DOCA-salt mice. Cilia length was examined by adenylate cyclase 3 (AC3) immunostaining, followed by confocal 3D reconstruction, and quantification by IMARIS imaging analysis software. Analysis of the cilia length and distribution showed reduced frequency of cilia that are over 10 μm in the brain of DIO mice compared to control mice fed normal diet fed mice (17.02±1.36% vs 23.78±1.15%, p=0.032). Interestingly, the most pronounced difference in cilia length was observed in the dorsomedial hypothalamus with the DIO mice displaying significantly shorter cilia (6.90±0.06 μm) relative to controls (7.32±0.14μm in controls, n=5/group p
Outcomes following minimally invasive lateral transpsoas interbody fusion for degenerative low grade lumbar spondylolisthesis: A systematic review

Abstract A variety of surgical approaches have been described to treat low grade lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). Minimally invasive spinal fusion techniques were first introduced to minimize morbidities associated with invasive surgical treatments. Minimally invasive lateral transpsoas interbody fusion, also known as lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF), is a relatively new method of lumbar arthrodesis that avoids various approach related complications compared to its posterior and anterior counterparts. A systematic and critical review of recent literature was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The sources of the data were PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane and Scopus. Key search terms were "transpsoas", "interbody fusion", "LLIF", "XLIF" and "spondylolisthesis". Papers included in the review were original research articles in peer-reviewed journals. The articles were thoroughly examined and compared on the basis of study design, outcomes, and results. Only studies which met the eligibility criteria were included. Eight studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative analysis (three retrospective, four prospective, one randomized controlled trial). A total of 308 patients (227 females) (pooled age 64.5 years) and a total of 353 operated levels were analyzed. Mean follow up time ranged from 6.2 to 24 months. There were no reported cases of durotomies or pseudarthrosis in any study. All neurologic complications were reported to be transient with no permanent deficits. Mean improvement in ODI scores ranged between 19.5 (38.6%) to 36 (54.5%). Mean improvement in slip ranged from 47 to 67.5%. Three studies also reported that patient satisfaction and willingness to undergo the procedure again approached 90%. Minimally invasive transpsoas interbody fusion possibly leads to favorable clinical and radiological outcomes while avoiding the possible complications of its more traditional open and minimally invasive counterparts. Further studies are needed to better establish its role in the management of low grade degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.
Organizational complexity and demographic scale in primary states

The relationship between organizational complexity and demographic scale is an enduring research problem at the intersection of the natural and social sciences and has far reaching implications for the study of social evolution, particularly the emergence and collapse of complex social organizations such as chiefdoms, states and empires. Anthropological models of social evolution universally assume that population growth plays a critical role in the development of organizational complexity; however, the relationship between organizational complexity and demographic scale has not been formalized and cross-culturally validated. There is a rich yet unsystematized body of diachronic organizational and demographic data describing the evolution of organizational complexity in 10 archaeologically known cases of primary state formation. Using this dataset, this essay proposes and tests a complex network model that describes state societies as discrete, self-similar, hierarchical social networks. The model accurately describes how organizational complexity and population scale in all cases. The complex network architecture of state societies suggests that further advances in our understanding of modern social organization may be found by a deeper investigation of the role of human nature in the evolution of human societies.
$$\Lambda $$ Λ CDM: Much More Than We Expected, but Now Less Than What We Want

The $$\Lambda $$ CDM cosmological model is remarkable: with just six parameters it describes the evolution of the Universe from a very early time when all structures were quantum fluctuations on subatomic scales to the present, and it is consistent with a wealth of high-precision data, both laboratory measurements and astronomical observations. However, the foundation of $$\Lambda $$ CDM involves physics beyond the standard model of particle physics: particle dark matter, dark energy and cosmic inflation. Until this ‘new physics’ is clarified, $$\Lambda $$ CDM is at best incomplete and at worst a phenomenological construct that accommodates the data. I discuss the path forward, which involves both discovery and disruption, some grand challenges and finally the limits of scientific cosmology.
Some Recent Trends in the Archaeology of Predynastic Egypt

The traditional explanation of the origin of Egypt credits the legendary Menes with founding the state through the conquest of the Delta region, but this is more of a political legend than explanation. Anthropological archaeologists and Egyptologists are bringing new methods and questions to their search for an adequate explanation for the development of one of the world's first territorial states. Early investigations of cemetery sites in Upper Egypt and settlements in the Delta have been supplemented by the excavation of more Upper Egyptian settlement sites, while cemeteries and other important settlements are now being uncovered in the Delta. Three trends are particularly important for the development of social complexity in ancient Egypt: (1) a growing appreciation of regional differences in Predynastic culture; (2) chronological refinements; and (3) an emphasis on group social and political developments, and trade. A consensus appears to be developing that stresses the gradual development of complex society in Egypt, in which a number of small polities coalesced into three or four larger entities during the late Predynastic, followed by the assimilation of the northwestern Delta by the Thinite rulers. The effort to control trade with the southern Levant and Mesopotamia seems to have encouraged expansion of Upper Egyptian cultural and political influence northward.
Laser micromachining of SrTiO3 single crystal

Abstract Laser micromachining of piezoelectric materials has many advantages over other etching techniques for the fabrication of ultrasound transducer linear arrays for medical imaging. It can achieve high aspect ratios and high etch rates without the use of complicated photolithography techniques. We have investigated a laser projection etch technique to make linear arrays in single crystal (0 0 1) SrTiO 3 substrates as a model of epitaxial piezoelectric thick film heterostructure. Feature sizes of 17.5 μm were obtained with depth to width aspect ratios of 4:1. The effect of laser fluence on etching was studied and it was found that straighter sidewalls and flatter trench floors were achieved as laser fluence increases. On the other hand, higher laser fluence caused increase in heat affected zone by post-pulse plasma and made the top surfaces rougher because of the accumulation of evaporated materials. Clean top surfaces of the features were achieved by deposition and subsequent lift off of a YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 sacrificial layer. In addition, the phases of recast layers on the sidewalls were characterized by four-circle X-ray diffraction with 2-D area detector before and after removed with a wet chemical etch solution. It was found that the use of the wet etchant could remove the thin polycrystalline recast layers.
Repeat Screening for Syphilis in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the cost-effectiveness of screening all women during the first and third trimesters compared with screening just once during pregnancy.METHODS:We used a theoretical cohort of 3.9 million women in the United States to model syphilis screening approaches in pregnancy, particularl
Optimization of Resource Allocation after Implementation of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Protocol.

The purpose of this study was to assess resource utilization after implementation of a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment protocol. A retrospective review was conducted of patients with is...
Overcoming Isolation as a Form of Leadership

Working in the technical services department of a small academic library is a bit of an isolation double-whammy: not only are you more removed from the patrons you serve than are your public-facing counterparts, you may also be a department of one and solely responsible for discharging a highly specialized set of duties. This has been the case for me since 2015 when I moved to Oregon after accepting the position of Acquisitions Specialist at Pacific University, a small, private, liberal arts college in Forest Grove. I am primarily responsible for tracking the library’s resource funds; overseeing the ordering, receiving, and invoicing process for all newly acquired materials; and aiming for the ever-moving target that is continuations budgeting. Prior to this position, I had mainly worked for larger institutions with more staff members who had the same or overlapping responsibilities. Over the past few years at Pacific, I have had to train myself in conquering the inherent isolation associated with my work. I’ve found that this has brought out leadership qualities I did not know I possessed, and I have identified a few ways in which I have been able to harness and hone these newfound skills.
Oxygen Effects on Solidification Behavior of Gas Tungsten Arc–Welded Laser Powder Bed Fusion–Fabricated 304L Stainless Steel

The laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process inherently accumulates interstitial gas elements during powder fabrication and laser deposition processes. Such elements can lead to localized variations in the weld pool and affect the solidification behavior (when compared with its wrought equivalent), in addition to chemical microsegregation within the fabricated material. This study was conducted to characterize the solidification behavior of gas tungsten arc (GTA) welds made on L-PBF 304L stainless steel. The effect of surface active elements on the local solidification rates was studied. An emphasis was placed on the role local solidification rates and temperature gradients throughout the weld play on the resultant weld solidification structure and microsegregation. It was determined that gas tungsten arc welds on L-PBF 304L stainless steel exhibited a vermicular ferrite solidification structure compared with a mix of vermicular and lathy ferrite structure in wrought 304L. The varying convective thermal gradients in the weld pool affected the solidification modes and partitioning of elements, leading to fluctuations of microsegregation in the L-PBF 304L. Macroscopically, such partitioning affected the surface tension within the weld pool, producing asymmetric weld pool geometries. The compositional differences between wrought and L-PBF fabricated 304L stainless steels resulted in irregular solidification behaviors during welding affecting the final weld microstructure.
Linking hydrologic signatures to hydrologic processes: A review

Hydrologic signatures are metrics that quantify aspects of streamflow response. Linking signatures to underlying processes enables multiple applications, such as selecting hydrologic model structure, analysing hydrologic change, making predictions in ungauged basins, and classifying watershed function. However, many lists of hydrologic signatures are not process‐based, and knowledge about signature‐process links has been scattered among studies from experimental watersheds and model selection experiments. This review brings together those studies to catalogue more than 50 signatures representing evapotranspiration, snow storage and melt, permafrost, infiltration excess, saturation excess, groundwater, baseflow, connectivity, channel processes, partitioning, and human alteration. The review shows substantial variability in the number, type, and timescale of signatures available to represent each process. Many signatures provide information about groundwater storage, partitioning, and connectivity, whereas snow processes and human alteration are underrepresented. More signatures are related to the seasonal scale than the event timescale, and land surface processes (ET, snow, and overland flow) have no signatures at the event scale. There are limitations in some signatures that test for occurrence but cannot quantify processes, or are related to multiple processes, making automated analysis more difficult. This review will be valuable as a reference for hydrologists seeking to use streamflow records to investigate a particular hydrologic process or to conduct large‐sample analyses of patterns in hydrologic processes.
Misuse of RPKM or TPM normalization when comparing across samples and sequencing protocols

In recent years, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful technology for transcriptome profiling. For a given gene, the number of mapped reads is not only dependent on its expression level and gene length, but also the sequencing depth. To normalize these dependencies, RPKM (reads per kilobase of transcript per million reads mapped) and TPM (transcripts per million) are used to measure gene or transcript expression levels. A common misconception is that RPKM and TPM values are already normalized, and thus should be comparable across samples or RNA-seq projects. However, RPKM and TPM represent the relative abundance of a transcript among a population of sequenced transcripts, and therefore depend on the composition of the RNA population in a sample. Quite often, it is reasonable to assume that total RNA concentration and distributions are very close across compared samples. Nevertheless, the sequenced RNA repertoires may differ significantly under different experimental conditions and/or across sequencing protocols; thus, the proportion of gene expression is not directly comparable in such cases. In this review, we illustrate typical scenarios in which RPKM and TPM are misused, unintentionally, and hope to raise scientists' awareness of this issue when comparing them across samples or different sequencing protocols.
Microbial DNA signature in plasma enables cancer diagnosis.

Bacteria within tumours affect progression and response to therapy; in addition, bacterial DNA can be detected in cell-free plasma. Herein, we discuss evidence showing that intratumoural bacteria are characteristic for each tumour type, and that detection of cell-free bacterial DNA in blood could provide an accurate and non-invasive test for cancer diagnosis.
Rapid evolution of genome-wide gene expression and plasticity during saline to freshwater invasions by the copepod Eurytemora affinis species complex.

Saline migrants into freshwater habitats constitute among the most destructive invaders in aquatic ecosystems throughout the globe. However, the evolutionary and physiological mechanisms underlying such habitat transitions remain poorly understood. To explore the mechanisms of freshwater adaptation and distinguish between adaptive (evolutionary) and acclimatory (plastic) responses to salinity change, we examined genome-wide patterns of gene expression between ancestral saline and derived freshwater populations of the Eurytemora affinis species complex, reared under two different common-garden conditions (0 versus 15 PSU). We found that evolutionary shifts in gene expression (between saline and freshwater inbred lines) showed far greater changes and were more widespread than acclimatory responses to salinity (0 versus 15 PSU). Most notably, 30-40 genes showing evolutionary shifts in gene expression across the salinity boundary were associated with ion transport function, with inorganic cation transmembrane transport forming the largest Gene Ontology category. Of particular interest was the sodium transporter, the Na+ /H+ antiporter (NHA) gene family, which was discovered in animals relatively recently. Thirty key ion regulatory genes, such as NHA paralogue #7, demonstrated concordant evolutionary and plastic shifts in gene expression, suggesting the evolution of ion transporter function and plasticity during rapid invasions into novel salinities. Moreover, freshwater invasions were associated with the evolution of reduced plasticity in the freshwater population, again for the same key ion transporters, consistent with the predicted evolution of canalization following adaptation to stressful conditions. Our results have important implications for understanding evolutionary and physiological mechanisms of range expansions by some of the most widespread invaders in aquatic habitats.
Digest: Incomplete convergence drives form-function relationship in gliders.

Little is known about the presence of incomplete convergence in the evolution of vertebrate taxa, as it is difficult to differentiate between evolutionary methods responsible for the appearance of similar forms. Grossnickle et al. present the first study of convergence evaluating all six extant glider clades using phylogenetic comparative methods. The authors find that the unique skeletal morphology of extant glider species (i.e., longer and thinner limbs) results from incomplete convergence under Brownian motion.
The Commodity Composition of Export Portfolios: A Comparative Analysis of Latin America

We construct measures of export similarity among seventeen Latin American countries over the period 1962-1991. Based on cluster analyses, we analyze patterns of similarity or complementarity in the commodity composition of various countries1 export portfolios. While exports of primary products have declined in importance for Latin America, they still play a significantly large role. The scope for intra-Latin trade of dissimilar products based on comparative costs has expanded modestly in recent decades. The potential for trade of differentiated, but broadly similar, manufactures has increased among Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, but not for intra-Latin bilateral trade involving smaller countries. This paper represents solely the professional views of the authors. It does not reflect the position of the U.S. International Trade Commission or any of its Commissioners.
Retinyl Palmitate, Retinyl Phosphate, and Dolichyl Phosphate of Postnuclear Membrane Fraction from Hepatoma, Host Liver, and Regenerating Liver: Marginal Vitamin A Status of Hepatoma Tissue

The retinyl palmitate content of the postnuclear membrane fraction from 10 Morris hepatomas, their host rat livers, one acetylaminofluorene-induced rat liver hepatoma, and the host liver and of regenerating rat liver was measured by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography of the chloroform:methanol extracts. Membranes from the hepatoma tissue contained less than detectable levels of retinyl acyl esters, whereas membranes from host liver tissue and regenerating liver contained levels of retinyl palmitate within normal ranges. The amount of cellular retinol-binding protein was also decreased considerably in cytosols from 9618 and 7777 hepatomas. The ratio of endogenous retinyl phosphate to the polyisoprenoid dolichyl phosphate available for mannosylation in an assay containing postnuclear membranes and guanosine dephospho[14C] mannose was decreased by a factor of 3 to 10 in hepatoma tissue. Such change in ratio was not attributable to specific changes in retinyl phosphate mannose-synthesizing activity, but it appeared to be related to the vitamin A deficiency condition of the membrane from tumors. As for membranes from vitamin A-deficient liver tissue, postnuclear membranes from rat cystic hepatocarcinoma, Morris 7777, 3924A1-1, and 5123D-1-2 transplantable rat hepatomas and guinea pig line 10 hepatoma all synthesized a mannolipid with intermediate hydrophobic properties between retinyl phosphate mannose and dolichyl phosphate mannose and not normally found in liver tissue. These alterations in patterns of lipid intermediates may be responsible for altered glycosylation of glycoproteins in neoplastic cells. In conclusion, the present investigation establishes that hepatoma cell membrane is in a status of vitamin A and of retinyl phosphate depletion, while dolichyl phosphate contents appear similar to host liver membrane.
The Past and Future of University Research Reactors

Research nuclear reactors at U.S. universities continue to contribute materially to research of value to the nation. Despite a number of high-level studies sponsored by the federal government that expressed deep concern, their number has shrunk to less than one-half that of 30 years ago. What is now being done and what will be required to stem these losses are discussed in this [Policy Forum][1]. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/295/5563/2217
Amino Acid Sequences of Tryptic Peptides of Cytochromes b5 from Microsomes of Human, Monkey, Porcine, and Chicken Liver

Abstract Liver microsomal apocytochromes b5 from man, monkey (Alouatta fusca), pig, and chicken were subjected to trypsin digestion, and all of the peptides were isolated and characterized. The sum of the residues present in these peptides equaled the total amino acid composition of the corresponding parent cytochrome. For all of these peptides a homologous segment was found in our previously established bovine and rabbit cytochrome sequence. This information provided sufficient evidence to construct a unique amino acid sequence for human, monkey, porcine, and chicken cytochrome b5. Comparison of the six sequences indicated a close similarity between these proteins. The human cytochrome differed from that of chicken in 15 positions but from that of monkey in only 2 positions. With the exception of the avian protein sequence, the amino acid replacements were confined predominantly to the NH2- and COOH-terminal segments of the cytochrome. A segment comprising residues 42 to 72 was invariant in all six cytochromes.
The Status of Administrative Agencies under the Georgia Constitution

This Article discusses the place of administrative agencies under the Georgia Constitution. The rulings of the Georgia Supreme Court on these issues, like the comparable rulings from the U.S.Supreme Court, make excellent reading for anyone interested in Georgia law, government, politics, and history. Most of the decisions surveyed in this Article are correct, but not necessarily for the reasons given by the Georgia Supreme Court. Some of the opinions offer comprehensive treatises on sections of the Georgia Constitution and aspects of administrative law, while others reach conclusions without much explanation. Some results are at odds with prior decisions that are not clearly or adequately distinguished. Sometimes the Georgia Supreme Court plays loose with how it categorizes or defines an agency's authority, and sometimes the court seems to defer too much to the General Assembly. These inconsistencies and tensions are inevitable given the Georgia Constitution's clear separation of powers provision and the performance of adjudicatory, legislative, and executive functions by any agencies, along with their administrative and ministerial duties. Of course, the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions regarding the place of administrative agencies under the U.S. Constitution have likewise defined administrative functions loosely, are sometimes inconsistent, and often reflect a similar tension between the language of the Constitution and a recognition of the many powers exercised by modern administrative agencies.
Arthroscopic Changes of the Biceps Pulley in Rotator Cuff Tear and Its Clinical Significance in Relation to Treatment

Background: In the case of rotator cuff tears, the biceps pulley can be stressed by the unstable biceps tendon, and this can subsequently affect the stability of the subscapularis tendon. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between normal variations and lesions of the biceps pulley that affect anterosuperior lesions in cases of rotator cuff tears. Methods: From January 2002 through November 2010, we observed biceps pulley and associated anterosuperior lesions in 589 of 634 cases (93%) of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, including 72 cases (12.2%) of small tears, 219 cases (37.2%) of medium tears, 134 cases (22.8%) of large tears, and 164 cases (27.8%) of massive tears. We classified normal stretched biceps pulleys as type I, stretched biceps pulleys with mild changes as type II, those with a partial tear as type III, and torn pulleys as type IV. Results: We were able to classify 589 cases of biceps pulleys as type I, II, III, or IV associated lesions in rotator cuff tears. Type I was seen in 91 cases (15.4%), type II in 216 cases (36.7%), type III in 157 cases (26.7%), and type IV in 101 cases (17.1%); unidentified cases numbered 24 (4.1%). Nearly three-quarters, 73.3%, of the cases (432/589) had associated anterosuperior lesions, and combined treatment for the associated lesions was administered in 29.2% (172/589) of cases. Conclusions: Biceps pulley lesions with more than partial tears were identified in 48% of rotator cuff tear cases. The incidence and severity of pulley lesions were related to the rotator cuff tear size, the status of the long head of the biceps tendon and subscapularis tendon lesion, and the treatment methods.
B 1 g mode softening in Fe F 2

Experiments are reported for the temperature dependence of phonon Raman scattering in Fe${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$. The ${B}_{1g}$ phonon exhibits anomalous frequency softening with decreasing temperature for temperatures in the range ${T}_{N}=78\ensuremath{-}340$ K. This softening is less marked for temperatures below ${T}_{N}$ because of spin-lattice effects resulting from the antiferromagnetic ordering. In the higher-temperature region the square of the ${B}_{1g}$-phonon frequency is proportional to temperature, which is suggestive of a virtual structural phase transition. However, consideration of other work on the pressure dependences of the Raman-active modes in similar compounds leads us to conclude that the mode softening results largely from the lattice thermal contraction. This contraction disproportionally influences the forces between nearest-neighbor fluorine ions in adjacent planes perpendicular to the $c$ axis.
GAS6/AXL Axis Regulates Prostate Cancer Invasion, Proliferation, and Survival in the Bone Marrow Niche

Our recent studies have shown that annexin II, expressed on the cell surface of osteoblasts, plays an important role in the adhesion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to the endosteal niche. Similarly, prostate cancer (PCa) cells express the annexin II receptor and seem to use the stem cell niche for homing to the bone marrow. The role of the niche is thought to be the induction and sustenance of HSC dormancy. If metastatic PCa cells occupy a similar or the same ecological niche as HSCs, then it is likely that the initial role of the HSC niche will be to induce dormancy in metastatic cells. In this study, we demonstrate that the binding of PCa to annexin II induces the expression of the growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) receptors AXL, Sky, and Mer, which, in the hematopoietic system, induce dormancy. In addition, GAS6 produced by osteoblasts prevents PCa proliferation and protects PCa from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Our results suggest that the activation of GAS6 receptors on PCa in the bone marrow environment may play a critical role as a molecular switch, establishing metastatic tumor cell dormancy.
Composite semiconductors - Selective absorbers of solar energy

Abstract We have produced composite semiconductors by cosputtering CaF2 with either Ge or Si and measured their optical constants. Their optical behavior can be used described as being similar to that of the parent semiconductor, with the same energy gap but with a reduced, concentration dependent index of refraction. The normal specular reflectance of films sputtered on mirrored surfaces was measured. These data were used to compute the solar absorptance αs and thermal emittance eth. It was found that α s ≈ 0.7 and e th ≈ 0.06 with a weak dependence on composition, thickness and operating temperatures. Thus at T = 500° C conversion efficiencies of 50% are currently possible at solar concentration ratios C of 7–8 and about 70% for C ≈ 40 and improved performance can be expected with continuing research.
Effects of serotonin antagonists on blood pressure in mineralocorticoid hypertensive sheep.

The serotonin antagonist methysergide has a partial agonistic action on isolated vascular smooth muscle from hypertensive animals, whereas ketanserin, another serotonin antagonist, does not. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of these two agents on blood pressure in the conscious, deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) hypertensive sheep. Adult sheep maintained on a standard laboratory diet and 0.1% NaCl/0.25% KCl drinking water developed hypertension following DOCA implantation (mean arterial pressure: control = 83 mm Hg, DOCA = 108 mm Hg). Methysergide (40 micrograms/kg--i.v. bolus) produced a greater pressor response in hypertensive sheep than in normotensive sheep (control = 8 +/- 1 mm Hg, DOCA = 18 +/- 3 mm Hg). Ketanserin (50 micrograms/kg--i.v. bolus), on the other hand, caused a similar decrease in blood pressure (approximately -16 mm Hg) in both control and DOCA sheep. Pressor responses to infusions of serotonin were greater in DOCA sheep compared with controls. Both methysergide and ketanserin were equally effective antagonists of a serotonin-induced pressor response (75% inhibition) in control and DOCA sheep. Methysergide had no effect on a norepinephrine-induced pressor response, but ketanserin caused a 20% attenuation of this response. These results demonstrate an enhanced responsiveness to serotonin and methysergide in DOCA hypertensive sheep.
Effect of breathing 7% carbon dioxide on the human soleus Hoffmann-reflex recruitment curve

Abstract Objective To examine the effect of inhaling 7% carbon dioxide on the recruitment curve of the soleus H-reflex. Methods Five males and five females (apparently healthy; 21–40yr) with surface EMG electrodes over the soleus muscle randomly breathed room air or a 7% CO 2 , 21% O 2 , balance N 2 mix for 10min. The tibial nerve was stimulated to elicit the H-reflex recruitment curve. H-reflex threshold, motor threshold, slope of ascending H-reflex curve, Hmax:Mmax ratio, and latency of Hmax were compared. Results Breathing 7% carbon dioxide increased the H-reflex threshold (as a percent of motor threshold) from 73% (SD 0.09) to 84% (SD 0.12; p p p 2 : 135 (SD 92); p >0.05), Mmax (room air: 3.70mV (SD 1.57); CO 2 : 3.69mV (SD 1.53); p >0.05), and motor threshold ( p >0.05) remained unchanged. Conclusions Breathing 7% carbon dioxide reduces afferent synaptic transmission in the soleus muscle by slowing transmission, increasing threshold stimulus, and reducing H wave size. Significance Clinicians and scientists should consider the possibility that carbon dioxide can reduce afferent synaptic transmission.