cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Titan as the Abode of Life

Titan is the only world we know, other than Earth, that has a liquid on its surface. It also has a thick atmosphere composed of nitrogen and methane with a thick organic haze. There are lakes, rain, and clouds of methane and ethane. Here, we address the question of carbon-based life living in Titan liquids. Photochemically produced organics, particularly acetylene, in Titan’s atmosphere could be a source of biological energy when reacted with atmospheric hydrogen. Light levels on the surface of Titan are more than adequate for photosynthesis, but the biochemical limitations due to the few elements available in the environment may lead only to simple ecosystems that only consume atmospheric nutrients. Life on Titan may make use of the trace metals and other inorganic elements produced by meteorites as they ablate in its atmosphere. It is conceivable that H2O molecules on Titan could be used in a biochemistry that is rooted in hydrogen bonds in a way that metals are used in enzymes by life on Earth. Previous theoretical work has shown possible membrane structures, azotosomes, in Titan liquids, azotosomes, composed of small organic nitrogen compounds, such as acrylonitrile. The search for a plausible information molecule for life in Titan liquids remains an open research topic—polyethers have been considered and shown to be insoluble at Titan temperatures. Possible search strategies for life on Titan include looking for unusual concentrations of certain molecules reflecting biological selection. Homochirality is a special and powerful example of such biology selection. Environmentally, a depletion of hydrogen in the lower atmosphere may be a sign of metabolism. A discovery of life in liquid methane and ethane would be our first compelling indication that the universe is full of diverse and wondrous life forms.
Radiation sparing of cerebral cortex in brain tumor patients using quantitative neuroimaging

Abstract Background and purpose Neurocognitive decline in brain tumor patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) may be linked to cortical atrophy. We developed models to determine radiation treatment-planning objectives for cortex, which were tested on a sample population to identify the dosimetric cost of cortical sparing. Material and methods The relationship between the probability of cortical atrophy in fifteen high-grade glioma patients at 1-year post-RT and radiation dose was fit using logistic mixed effects modeling. Cortical sparing was implemented using two strategies: region-specific sparing using model parameters, and non-specific sparing of all normal brain tissue. Results A dose threshold of 28.6Gy was found to result in a 20% probability of severe atrophy. Average cortical sparing at 30Gy was greater for region-specific dose avoidance (4.6%) compared to non-specific (3.6%). Cortical sparing resulted in an increase in heterogeneity index of the planning target volume (PTV) with an average increase of 1.9% (region-specific) and 0.9% (non-specific). Conclusions We found RT doses above 28.6Gy resulted in a greater than 20% probability of cortical atrophy. Cortical sparing can be achieved using region-specific or non-specific dose avoidance strategies at the cost of an increase in the dose heterogeneity of the PTV.
The Future of Robotic Thyroid Surgery and Neck Dissection

The present generation of robotic technology has ushered in a revolution in surgical technique for selected patients undergoing thyroidectomy, beginning with Chung’s axillary and culminating with Terris’ facelift approach. Using these complementary approaches, Koh and colleagues have demonstrated the feasibility and reproducibility of robotic neck dissection, with outcomes in early studies comparable to open technique. As new robotic systems come to market and as the current platform is further refined, surgeons can expect smaller systems, with flexible arms, stereo-endoscopes, and new instrumentation to allow greater innovation and refinement of surgical technique in thyroidectomy, parathyroid surgery, and neck dissection.
Medication Use During the Perinatal Period

Abstract Objective To briefly describe the drug therapy administered during the perinatal period of pregnancy for common maternal and fetal complications, and to identify those agents that should not be used for these conditions. Data Sources References were obtained from an ongoing literature search of peer-reviewed obstetric and gynecologic journals and other selected medical and pharmacy journals available in the English language. Primary search vehicle was a weekly review of the tables of contents of nearly 1,300 medical journals provided by Reference Update (Institute of Scientific Information, Philadelphia). MEDLINE searches were also conducted using key terms for each subtopic. Study Selection Specific references were selected for each topic based on the adequacy of their study design, patient population, and a recent publication date. Reviews were used if a large number of primary references would have been required to adequately describe the topic. Data Extraction Most references reflected the current opinions expressed in the Educational (Technical) Bulletin and Committee Opinion series published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Recent, well-conducted studies that arrived at different conclusions were also included. Data Synthesis Data obtained from each reference reflected the conclusions of the authors based on their research or an analysis of the research of others on the appropriate use of the drug(s) for the specific condition being treated. Conclusion Drug therapy during the perinatal period is frequently required and can be beneficial for the mother, fetus, and newborn. Many complications previously associated with severe morbidity and mortality, such as infections, premature rupture of membranes, preterm labor, hypertension, maternal pain during labor, and postpartum hemorrhage, are now controlled with appropriate pharmacologic therapy. All health professionals who provide services to pregnant women should be knowledgeable in this drug therapy.
IVUS Virtual Histology: Unvalidated Gimmick or Useful Technique?

Since its introduction in 2002, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) “virtual histology” (VH) has generated an extraordinary number of scientific publications [(1)][1]. Searching the term “intravascular ultrasound virtual histology” in PubMed yields nearly 500 citations over the last decade. A
Analysis of the Usage of Antibiotic Drugs in Our Hospital During 2003～2006

Objective:To investigate the situation and trend of using antibiotics in our hospital,in order to provide some references for reasonable utilization of antibiotics.Methods:To conduct a comprehen- sive study on the antibiotics to make a comparison data of our hospital during the 2003～2006 according to ranking of money amount.Results:The percentages of antibiotics in total amount of income of our hospital and they were 27.98%,30.04%,33.02%,34.13% respectiovely.Cephalosporins and penicillin were commonly used and some old kinds,such as penicillin were still used.Conclusion:The utilization of antibiotics in our hospital is basically reasonable,but supervisionremains to be strengthened.
Parameter and delay estimation of fractional order models from step response

Abstract An integral equation approach to estimate the parameters and the delay term of fractional order (FO) continuous-time models is proposed. Data from a single step response is used for the estimation assuming that the fractional orders are known. In the proposed methodology the FO differential equation is transformed into a FO integral equation. A least-squares equation is then formulated by expanding an integral term that allows the implicit time delay term to have an explicit appearance in the parameter vector. This facilitates direct estimation of the time delay simultaneously with other model parameters. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated using simulation results. Identification results of a simulated distillation column are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the method.
The U.S. Produce Industry and Labor: Facing the Future in a Global Economy

Fruit and vegetable production is a labor-intensive process, and over half of the hired workers employed by growers are believed to be unauthorized immigrants. Reforms to immigration laws, if they reduce the labor supply, may increase the cost of farm labor. The authors of this report assess how particular fruit and vegetable commodities might adjust if labor rates increased. Analysis of case studies suggests a range of possible adjustment scenarios, including increased mechanization for some crops, reduced U.S. output for a few crops, and increased use of labor aids to improve labor productivity for others.
Routine ECG and Stimulant Medications for ADHD

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a statement contradicting the recommendation of the American Heart Association (AHA) for routine electrocardiograms (ECGs) before starting medication to treat ADHD.
Determinants of cancer screening in Asian-Americans

Recent data suggest that Asian-Americans (AsAs) are more likely to present with advanced disease when diagnosed with cancer. We sought to determine whether AsAs are under-utilizing recommended cancer screening. Cross-sectional analysis of the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System comprising of AsAs and non-Hispanic White (NHW) community-dwelling individuals (English and Spanish speaking) eligible for colorectal, breast, cervical, or prostate cancer screening according to the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations. Age, education and income level, residence location, marital status, health insurance, regular access to healthcare provider, and screening were extracted. Complex samples logistic regression models quantified the effect of race on odds of undergoing appropriate screening. Data were analyzed in 2015. Weighted samples of 63.3, 33.3, 47.9, and 30.3 million individuals eligible for colorectal, breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screening identified, respectively. In general, AsAs were more educated, more often married, had higher levels of income, and lived in urban/suburban residencies as compared to NHWs (all p < 0.05). In multivariable analyses, AsAs had lower odds of undergoing colorectal (odds ratio [OR] 0.78, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.63–0.96), cervical (OR 0.45, 95 % CI 0.36–0.55), and prostate cancer (OR 0.55, 95 % CI 0.39–0.78) screening and similar odds of undergoing breast cancer (OR 1.29, 95 % CI 0.92–1.82) screening as compared to NHWs. AsAs are less likely to undergo appropriate screening for colorectal, cervical, and prostate cancer. Contributing reasons include limitations in healthcare access, differing cultural beliefs on cancer screening and treatment, and potential physician biases. Interventions such as increasing healthcare access and literacy may improve screening rates.
Seasonal shifts in the relative importance of local versus upstream sources of phosphorus to individual lakes in a chain

Water quality in the Yahara chain of lakes in southern Wisconsin has been degraded significantly since European settlement of the region, primarily as a result of anthropogenic nutrient inputs. While all four main lakes (Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa) have undergone eutrophication, elevated phosphorus and chlorophyll concentrations are particularly pronounced in the smaller lakes at the bottom of the chain (Waubesa and Kegonsa). Due to their short water residence times (2–3 months), these lakes are more responsive to seasonal variability in magnitude and source of phosphorus loading compared with the larger upstream lakes. In 2014, more than 80 % of the phosphorus load to Lake Waubesa passed through the outlet of Lake Monona (situated immediately upstream). However, between mid-May and late October when phosphorus concentrations in Lake Monona were reduced as a result of thermal stratification the upstream load dropped to ~40 % of the total, with the majority of loading during this period coming from Lake Waubesa’s local watershed. Correspondingly, seasonal phosphorus trends in Lake Waubesa during summer are correlated with precipitation, rather than phosphorus concentrations leaving upstream lakes. While phosphorus export from the local watersheds of Lakes Waubesa and Kegonsa is relatively small on an annual time scale, targeted loading reductions in these areas during the summertime will most effectively reduce summertime phosphorus concentrations in these fast-flushing lakes. Understanding the interaction of landscape position, water residence time, and mixing regime can help guide watershed management for water quality improvements in lake chains.
Electrically detected magnetic resonance study of a near interface trap in 4H SiC MOSFETs

It is well known that 4H silicon carbide (SiC) based metal oxide silicon field effect transistors (MOSFETs) have great promise in high power and high temperature applications. The reliability and performance of these MOSFETs is currently limited by the presence of SiC/SiO 2 interface and near interface traps which are poorly understood. Conventional electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of silicon samples have been utilized to argue for carbon dangling bond interface traps [1]. For several years, with several coworkers, we have explored these silicon carbide based MOSFETs with electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR), [2,3] establishing a connection between an isotropic EDMR spectrum with g=2.003 and deep level defects in the interface/near interface region of SiC MOSFETs. We tentatively linked the spectrum to a silicon vacancy or closely related defect. This assessment was tentative because we were not previously able to quantitatively evaluate the electron nuclear hyperfine interactions at the site. Through multiple improvements in EDMR hardware and data acquisition software, we have achieved a very large improvement in sensitivity and resolution in EDMR, which allows us to detect side peak features in the EDMR spectra caused by electron nuclear hyperfine interactions. This improved resolution allows far more definitive conclusions to be drawn about defect structure. In this work, we provide extremely strong experimental evidence identifying the structure of that defect. The evidence comes from very high resolution and sensitivity “fast passage” (FP) mode [4, 5] electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR) or FPEDMR of the ubiquitous EDMR spectrum.
Abstract LB-265: Comparison of oleanane triterpenoids and dimethyl fumarate in lung cancer

Lung cancer accounts for the highest number of cancer-related deaths in the United States, highlighting the need for better therapies. Nrf2 is an important therapeutic target as activation of this pathway detoxifies harmful insults and reduces oxidative stress. However, the role of Nrf2 in cancer biology is controversial. Protection against oxidative stress and inflammation can confer a survival advantage to tumor cells, leading to a poor prognosis, and constitutive activation of Nrf2 has been detected in numerous tumors. In our study, we examined the role of two clinically relevant classes of Nrf2 activators, the synthetic triterpenoids (CDDO-Im and CDDO-Me) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in mouse macrophages (Raw 264.7) and in VC1 lung cancer cells. Although both triterpenoids and DMF activated Nrf2, CDDO-Im and CDDO-Me were more potent than DMF. Specifically, 25-50 nM CDDO-Im or CDDO-Me increased NQO1 and HO-1 expression 100-fold. Conversely, 10 μM of DMF was necessary to elicit the same effect. Additionally, 100 nM of CDDO-Im significantly (p Citation Format: Ciric To, Darlene B. Royce, Charlotte R. Williams, Renee Risingsong, Michael B. Sporn, Karen T. Liby. Comparison of oleanane triterpenoids and dimethyl fumarate in lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-265. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-LB-265
Small methyltransferase RlmH assembles a composite active site to methylate a ribosomal pseudouridine

Eubacterial ribosomal large-subunit methyltransferase H (RlmH) methylates 23S ribosomal RNA pseudouridine 1915 (Ψ1915), which lies near the ribosomal decoding center. The smallest member of the SPOUT superfamily of methyltransferases, RlmH lacks the RNA recognition domain found in larger methyltransferases. The catalytic mechanism of RlmH enzyme is unknown. Here, we describe the structures of RlmH bound to S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) and the methyltransferase inhibitor sinefungin. Our structural and biochemical studies reveal catalytically essential residues in the dimer-mediated asymmetrical active site. One monomer provides the SAM-binding site, whereas the conserved C-terminal tail of the second monomer provides residues essential for catalysis. Our findings elucidate the mechanism by which a small protein dimer assembles a functionally asymmetric architecture.
Scalable, Self‐Aligned Printing of Flexible Graphene Micro‐Supercapacitors

Graphene micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) are an attractive energy storage technology for powering miniaturized portable electronics. Despite considerable advances in recent years, device fabrication typically requires conventional microfabrication techniques, limiting the translation to cost-effective and high-throughput production. To address this issue, we report here a self-aligned printing process utilizing capillary action of liquid inks in microfluidic channels to realize scalable, high-fidelity manufacturing of graphene MSCs. Microstructured ink receivers and capillary channels are imprinted on plastic substrates and filled by inkjet printing of functional materials into the receivers. The liquid inks move under capillary flow into the adjoining channels, allowing reliable patterning of electronic materials in complex structures with greatly relaxed printing tolerance. Leveraging this process with pristine graphene and ion gel inks, miniaturized all-solid-state graphene MSCs are demonstrated to concurrently achieve outstanding resolution (active footprint: <1 mm2, minimum feature size: 20 µm) and yield (44/44 devices), while maintaining a high specific capacitance (268 µF cm–2) and robust stability to extended cycling and bending, establishing an effective route to scale down device size while scaling up production throughput.
FROM LANDSCAPES OF MEANING TO LANDSCAPES OF SIGNIFICATION IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST

This article builds upon two convergent trends in landscape archaeology: (1) investigations of symbolic meaning and (2) collaboration with descendant and stakeholder communities. The recent merger of these research agendas in the Southwest US provides an innovative approach to addressing meaning in the past. But the interpretations that result can inadvertently propagate notions of static and unchanging indigenous landscapes. Archaeologists can develop more dynamic studies of meaning and landscape by paying greater attention to the indexical properties of the archaeological record. To illustrate this point, I present a case study focused on ancestral Jemez (Pueblo) meanings associated with the Valles Caldera in northern New Mexico between AD 1300 and 1700. By combining contemporary Jemez understandings of this landscape with the indexical properties of obsidian revealed through pXRF analysis, this study illustrates how the uses of this landscape changed through time, particularly as a result of European colonization in the seventeenth century. It concludes that increased attention to the indexical properties of the archaeological record is critical for archaeological studies of meaning to reconstruct more robust and dynamic past landscapes.
Predicting motorcycle crash injury severity using weather data and alternative Bayesian multivariate crash frequency models.

Abstract Motorcycle crashes constitute a very high proportion of the overall motor vehicle fatalities in the United States, and many studies have examined the influential factors under various conditions. However, research on the impact of weather conditions on the motorcycle crash severity is not well documented. In this study, we examined the impact of weather conditions on motorcycle crash injuries at four different severity levels using San Francisco motorcycle crash injury data. Five models were developed using Full Bayesian formulation accounting for different correlations commonly seen in crash data and then compared for fitness and performance. Results indicate that the models with serial and severity variations of parameters had superior fit, and the capability of accurate crash prediction. The inferences from the parameter estimates from the five models were: an increase in the air temperature reduced the possibility of a fatal crash but had a reverse impact on crashes of other severity levels; humidity in air was not observed to have a predictable or strong impact on crashes; the occurrence of rainfall decreased the possibility of crashes for all severity levels. Transportation agencies might benefit from the research results to improve road safety by providing motorcyclists with information regarding the risk of certain crash severity levels for special weather conditions.
Measuring the Role of Urban Vegetation on Air Quality: The Case Study of the Real Bosco di Capodimonte in Naples, Italy

Urban vegetation, particularly urban forests are a crucial component of green infrastructure in our cities. A strong interest is related to the ecosystem services provided to both people and the environment including CO2 sequestration and air quality improvement. However few in situ experimental studies exist on these topics while most of the estimations derive from modelling exercise. Preliminary results of an innovative eddy covariance site located in the Real Bosco di Capodimonte within the urban area of Naples (Italy) are presented here.
El niño problema como objeto institucional: la psiquiatría infantil en Cuba, 1926-1945

The emergence of child psychiatry in 1920s Cuba mirrored the ascent of psychiatry as a discipline imbued with broader social relevance. The extension of psychiatric expertise was centrally concerned with the figure of the “problem child”, posited as a synecdoche for a maturing sovereign state. As reformers set out to rehabilitate mentally ill and “delinquent” children, however, they frequently found themselves running up against the problem of political corruption as it impacted the institutions in which they sought to intervene. Ultimately, psychiatrists and social crusaders who had identified the problem child as a potent site for political regeneration were forced to reverse the causal direction of their reformist logic: it was the state itself that would have to be rehabilitated in order to achieve their medical and social goals.
Bullying and suicide in high school students: Findings from the 2015 California youth risk behavior survey

School bullying and cyberbullying have been linked to suicidal behaviors through depression and alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use. However, how these associations may differ across ra...
(Un)civil Society in Digital China| Demobilizing the Emotions of Online Activism in China: A Civilizing Process

With the declining number of Internet protest events in recent years, online activism in China has suffered a setback. This is due significantly to the implementation of new forms of governing online expression. At the center of these new forms is a set of discourses of wenming , the Chinese characters for which can be translated as both “civilization” and “civility.” As civilization , wenming operates as an ideological discourse of legitimation, whereas as civility , wenming functions as a strategic technology for Internet governance. After tracing the evolution of the ideological discourse of wenming , this article analyzes the technologies of civility used for managing online speech in China. Two case studies illustrate how the technologies of civility are used to demobilize the emotions of online protest.
Vagal nerve stimulation for intractable hiccups is not a panacea: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION Hiccups are common and typically resolve spontaneously. However, in rare cases, they can continue for days, weeks or even years, causing significant morbidity and discomfort in patients. In the setting of intractable hiccups, vagal nerve stimulation has been reported in two cases. OBJECTIVES This is a case report and review of the literature regarding the use of vagal nerve stimulators for intractable hiccups. Specifically, this report highlights a case where this therapy was not effective, as two prior case reports have reported positive results. CASE REPORT A 52-year-old man presented with multiple years of intractable hiccups. A workup revealed no identifiable aetiology, and he had failed multiple medical therapies. A phrenic nerve block was attempted, which was not beneficial. Vagal maneuvers, specifically the induction of emesis, did consistently provide transient relief of his symptoms, and, therefore, the decision was made to proceed with a trial of vagal nerve stimulation after review of the literature supported the therapy. Despite 8 months with multiple stimulation parameters, the patient did not have any significant benefit from vagal nerve stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Intractable idiopathic hiccups continue to present a significant challenge for physicians and patients. While vagal nerve stimulation is a potentially beneficial therapy, it is not effective in all patients with central idiopathic intractable hiccups.
Intelligent Motion Planning for Safe and Reliable Control of Robot Arms

This paper presents new robot arm planning and control schemes compatible with sensor-based planning and control. These developments are a central component of robot arm control intelligence and significantly increase the safety and reliability of the robotic system. The schemes use event-based representation of robot arm motion in the task space, and apply time and energy optimization techniques to determine event-based trajectories for given geometric paths in the task space. A new event-based error definition and computation schemes have been introduced and combined with known nonlinear feedback control law, which linearizes and decouples the control in the task space. The new event-based planning and control schemes were experimentally implemented and tested on the 6-DOF position and orientation control of a PUMA 560 robot arm with very good results.
BOREAS TE-6 Predawn Leaf Water Potentials and Foliage Moisture Contents

The BOREAS TE-6 team collected several data sets to examine the influence of vegetation, climate, and their interactions on the major carbon fluxes for boreal forest species. This data set contains summaries of predawn leaf water potentials and foliage moisture contents collected at the TF and CEV sites that had canopy access towers. The data were collected on a nearly weekly basis from early June to late August 1994 by TE-06, members of the BOREAS staff, and employees of Environment Canada. The data are provided in tabular ASCII files. The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884), or from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Activity Archive Center (DAAC).
Producing Monotonically Improving Approximate Answers to Database Queries

For some applications, it may be better for a database to produce an approximate answer when it is not possible to produce an exact answer to a database query. An approximate query processor, called APPROXIMATE, makes approximate answers available if part of the database is unavailable or if there is not enough time to produce an exact answer. The processor implements monotone approximate query processing — the accuracy of the approximate result produced improves monotonically with the amount of data retrieved to produce the result. The query processing algorithm of APPROXIMATE works within a standard relational algebra framework. APPROXIMATE maintains semantic information for approximate query processing and can be implemented on a relational database system with little change to the relational architecture. We describe how the approximation semantics of APPROXIMATE serve as the basis for meaningful approximations of queries with set-valued or single-valued answers and how APPROXIMATE is implemented to make effective use of the semantic information.
Fluctuations Near and Far from Equilibrium

1 The general law of time decay of microscopic fluctuations was first given by Onsager, whose untimely death a short time ago we all mourn.
Design Considerations and Development of an Innovative Gate Driver for Medium-Voltage Power Devices With High $dv/dt$

Medium-voltage (MV) silicon carbide (SiC) devices have opened up new areas of applications which were previously dominated by silicon-based IGBTs. From the perspective of a power converter design, the development of MV SiC devices eliminates the need for series connected architectures, control of multilevel converter topologies which are necessary for MV applications, and the inherent reliability issues associated with it. However, when SiC devices are used in these applications, they are exposed to a high peak stress (5–10 kV) and a very high $dv/dt$ (10–100 kV/ $\mu$ s). Using these devices calls for a gate driver with a dc–dc isolation stage that has ultralow coupling capacitance in addition to be able to withstand the high isolation voltage. This paper presents a new MV gate driver design to address these issues while maintaining a minimal footprint for the gate driver. An MV isolation transformer is designed with a low interwinding capacitance, while maintaining the clearance, creepage, as well as insulation standards. A dc isolation test has been performed to validate the integrity of the insulating material. The key features include low input common mode current, and a short-circuit protection scheme specifically designed for 10 kV SiC mosfet s. The performance of the gate driver is evaluated using double pulse tests and continuous tests. Experimental results validate the advantages of the gate driver and its application for MV SiC devices exhibiting very high $dv/dt$ . The proposed gate driver concept is aimed at providing an efficient and reliable method to drive MV SiC devices.
Neritoptyx hogansoni new species (Gastropoda, Mollusca) from the Upper Cretaceous Fox Hills Formation on the Dakota Isthmus, western United States

In midcontinent North America, the Fox Hills Formation (Upper Cretaceous, upper Maastrichtian) preserves the last marine faunas in the central Western Interior Seaway (WIS). Neritoptyx hogansoni new species, a small littoral snail, exhibited allometric change from smooth to corded ornament and rounded to shouldered shape during growth. Specimens preserve a zig-zag pigment pattern that changes to an axial pattern during growth. Neritoptyx hogansoni new species was preyed on by decapod crustaceans, and spent shells were occupied by pagurid crabs. Dead mollusk shells, particularly those of Crassostrea subtrigonalis (Evans and Shumard, 1857), provided a hard substrate to which they adhered on the Fox Hills tidal flats. This new neritimorph gastropod establishes a paleogeographic and chronostratigraphic proxy for intertidal conditions on the Dakota Isthmus during the late Maastrichtian. Presence of a neritid extends the marine tropical/temperate boundary in the WIS northward to ~44° late Maastrichtian paleolatitude. Late Maastrichtian closure of the isthmus subsequently altered marine heat transfer by interrupting northward flow of tropical currents from the Gulf Coast by as much as 1 to 1.5 million years before the Cretaceous ended.UUID: http://zoobank.org/3ba56c07-fcca-4925-a2f0-df663fc3a06b
Recent Advances on Microbiota Involvement in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmunity

Autoimmune disorders derive from genetic, stochastic, and environmental factors that all together interact in genetically predisposed individuals. The impact of an imbalanced gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity has been suggested by an increasing amount of experimental evidence, both in animal models and humans. Several physiological mechanisms, including the establishment of immune homeostasis, are influenced by commensal microbiota in the gut. An altered microbiota composition produces effects in the gut immune system, including defective tolerance to food antigens, intestinal inflammation, and enhanced gut permeability. In particular, early findings reported differences in the intestinal microbiome of subjects affected by several autoimmune conditions, including prediabetes or overt disease compared to healthy individuals. The present review focuses on microbiota-host homeostasis, its alterations, factors that influence its composition, and putative involvement in the development of autoimmune disorders. In the light of the existing literature, future studies are necessary to clarify the role played by microbiota modifications in the processes that cause enhanced gut permeability and molecular mechanisms responsible for autoimmunity onset.
Optimal cartel trigger strategies and the number of firms

Recent empirical papers have analyzed collusion in the Joint Executive Committee in an attempt to determine which of several theories of cartel behavior is supported by the behavior of this 19th century railroad cartel. Non-parametric tests of whether high and low profit regimes followed a first-order Markov process when one controls for the number of firms support the theory of optimal collusion given by Abreu, Pearce, and Stachetti. Results on whether transition probabilities depend on the number of firms are inconclusive.
Influencia ALR sobre pronóstico postoperatorio en cirugía no-oncológica

Hoy en dia, la anestesia regional, y en particular el tratamiento del dolor agudo, dispone de una serie de analgesicos como los opioides, el acetaminofen o los medicamentos antiinflamatorios no-esteroideos (NSAID) que son conocidos bajo el termino de analgesia multimodal. La literatura medica esta llena de propuestas para minimizar el dolor postoperatorio siendo la anestesia multimodal un aspecto importante de la anestesia regional. Sabemos que en las intervenciones quirurgicas se desencadenan un cumulo de reacciones fisicas que en la fase postoperatoria da lugar a una reaccion catabolica. Dependiendo de esta reaccion y de la eficacia de las medidas disponibles para impedir un estado catabolico, tendremos resultados mas o menos favorables; la anestesia regional puede prevenir o influir positivamente en la iniciacion de una respuesta catabolica siempre y cuando se haga uso de ella con tiempo suficiente antes de la cirugia y se prolongue como minimo unas 48 horas o mas despues de una intervencion.
World Health Organization-defined eosinophilic disorders: 2019 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management.

DISEASE OVERVIEW The eosinophilias encompass a broad range of non-hematologic (secondary or reactive) and hematologic (primary, clonal) disorders with potential for end-organ damage. DIAGNOSIS Hypereosinophilia has generally been defined as a peripheral blood eosinophil count greater than 1.5 × 109 /L, and may be associated with tissue damage. After exclusion of secondary causes of eosinophilia, diagnostic evaluation of primary eosinophilias relies on a combination of various tests. They include morphologic review of the blood and marrow, standard cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ-hybridization, flow immunophenotyping, and T-cell clonality assessment to detect histopathologic or clonal evidence for an acute or chronic hematolymphoid neoplasm. RISK STRATIFICATION Disease prognosis relies on identifying the subtype of eosinophilia. After evaluation of secondary causes of eosinophilia, the 2016 World Health Organization endorses a semi-molecular classification scheme of disease subtypes. This includes the major category "myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia and rearrangement of PDGFRA, PDGFRB, or FGFR1 or with PCM1-JAK2", and the MPN subtype, "chronic eosinophilic leukemia, not otherwise specified" (CEL, NOS). Lymphocyte-variant hypereosinophilia is an aberrant T-cell clone-driven reactive eosinophila, and idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a diagnosis of exclusion. RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY The goal of therapy is to mitigate eosinophil-mediated organ damage. For patients with milder forms of eosinophilia (eg, <1.5 × 109 /L) without symptoms or signs of organ involvement, a watch and wait approach with close-follow-up may be undertaken. Identification of rearranged PDGFRA or PDGFRB is critical because of the exquisite responsiveness of these diseases to imatinib. Corticosteroids are first-line therapy for patients with lymphocyte-variant hypereosinophilia and HES. Hydroxyurea and interferon-alfa have demonstrated efficacy as initial treatment and in steroid-refractory cases of HES. In addition to hydroxyurea, second line cytotoxic chemotherapy agents, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have been used for aggressive forms of HES and CEL, with outcomes reported for limited numbers of patients. The use of antibodies against interleukin-5 (IL-5) (mepolizumab), the IL-5 receptor (benralizumab), as well as other targets on eosinophils remains an active area of investigation.
Your Soul Spills Out: The Creative Act Feels Self-Disclosing:

Breaking from the typical focus on the antecedents of creativity, we investigate the psychological and interpersonal consequences of being creative. Across five experiments, we find that generating...
Targeted therapy and immunotherapy: Emerging biomarkers in metastatic melanoma

Targeted therapy directed against oncogenic BRAF mutations and immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed melanoma therapy over the past decade and prominently improved patient outcomes. However, not all patients will respond to targeted therapy or immunotherapy and many relapse after initially responding to treatment. This unmet need presents two major challenges. First, can we elucidate novel oncogenic drivers to provide new therapeutic targets? Second, can we identify patients who are most likely to respond to current therapeutic strategies in order to both more accurately select populations and avoid undue drug exposure in patients unlikely to respond? In an effort to evaluate the current state of the field with respect to these questions, we provide an overview of some common oncogenic mutations in patients with metastatic melanoma and ongoing efforts to therapeutically target these populations, as well as a discussion of biomarkers for response to immune checkpoint inhibitors-including tumor programmed death ligand 1 expression and the future use of neoantigens as a means of truly personalized therapy. This information is becoming important in treatment decision making and provides the framework for a treatment algorithm based on the current landscape in metastatic melanoma.
Balancing Religious Liberty and Anti-Discrimination Interests in the Public Employment Context: The Impact of Masterpiece Cakeshop and American Legion

At the heart of national debate in recent years is the balance between religious liberty and anti-discrimination interests. The Supreme Court’s recent Free Speech and Establishment Clause decisions in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 138 S. Ct. 1719 (2018) and American Legion v. American Humanist Association, 139 S. Ct. 2067 (2019) push the pendulum in this debate towards greater protection of religious liberties, and signal the Court’s preference for context-specific tests for how the Establishment Clause will interact with the broader range of interests protected by the Free Exercise Clause. These cases are especially significant in the public employment context, where government employers must consider whether requested accommodations violate the Establishment Clause. This Article explores and analyzes the dichotomy of paradigms that has led Supreme Court jurisprudence to its current path, including the Court signaling its preference for context-specific Establishment Clause tests. This Article then proposes a context-specific test for public employment law that balances the magnitude and likelihood of third-party harm, substantiality of burden to religious liberty, and availability or prevalence of secular accommodations. This test seeks to establish an equitable balance between protection of religious liberties and anti-discrimination interests. It does so by providing room for factual inquiry and context-specific value judgments, while still allowing for a workable framework and sufficiently predictable results.
Trends in E-Cigarette, Cigarette, Cigar, and Smokeless Tobacco Use Among US Adolescent Cohorts, 2014–2018

Objectives. To examine changes in age of initiation of e-cigarette, cigarette, cigar, and smokeless tobacco use among adolescents in the United States.Methods. We used data from 5 cohorts of the Na...
Chronic low dose irradiation alters hepatic transcriptional profiles, but not global DNA methylation in medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Abstract Ionizing radiation (IR) resulting from both natural and anthropogenic sources is ubiquitous throughout the environment. Historically, studies on the biological impacts of radiation primarily focused on responses to acute doses of radiation, with little advancement in our understanding of environmentally relevant exposures. Epigenetic mechanisms are capable of mediating organismal responses to environmental stressors and DNA methylation plays important roles in gene regulation and promoting chromosomal stability. Here, we assess broad-scale transcriptional and epigenetic variation resulting from chronic exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation (LDIR; 5.78, 53.76, or 520.23 mGy/day) using Japanese medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) in a replicated mesocosm design. We observed significant changes to the hepatic transcriptome induced by a 3-month chronic exposure to IR, whereas global DNA methylation appeared largely unaffected. Our findings reveal a set of genes, including those involved in immune function, responding to environmentally relevant IR exposures, which do not appear to be mediated by a systemic global shift in DNA methylation.
The interplay between cancer associated fibroblasts and immune cells in the context of radiation therapy

Fibroblasts are a key component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that can serve as a scaffold for tumor cell migration and augment the tumor's ability to withstand harsh conditions. When activated by external or endogenous stimuli, normal fibroblasts become cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a heterogeneous group of stromal cells in the tumor that are phenotypically and epigenetically different from normal fibroblasts. Dynamic crosstalk between cancer cells, immune cells, and CAFs through chemokines and surface signaling makes the TME conducive to tumor growth. When activated, CAFs promote tumorigenesis and metastasis through several phenomena including regulation of tumor immunity, metabolic reprogramming of the TME, extracellular matrix remodeling and contraction, and induction of therapeutic resistance. Ionizing radiation (radiation theraphy [RT]) is a potent immunological stimulant that has been shown to increase cytotoxic Teff infiltration and IFN-I stimulated genes. RT, however, is unable to overcome the infiltration and activation of immunosuppressive cells which can contribute to tumor progression. Another paradox of RT is that, while very effective at killing cancer cells, it can contribute to the formation of CAFs. This review examines how the interplay between CAFs and immune cells during RT contributes to organ fibrosis, immunosuppression, and tumor growth. We focus on targeting mechanistic pathways of CAF formation as a potentially effective strategy not only for preventing organ fibrosis, but also in hampering tumor progression in response to RT.
A probable fatal argon gas embolism during resection of a cutaneous biliary fistula – a case report

Abstract Background The Argon Beam Coagulator (ABC) achieves hemostasis but has potential complications in the form of argon gas embolisms. Risk factors for embolisms have been identified and ABC manufacturers have developed guidelines for usage of the device to prevent embolism development. Case report A 49 year-old male with history of recurrent cholangiocarcinoma status post resection presented for resection of a cutaneous biliary fistula. Shortly after initial use of the ABC, the patient underwent cardiac arrest. After resuscitation, air bubbles were observed in the left ventricle via Transesophageal Echo (TEE). Conclusion Although argon embolisms have been described more commonly during laparoscopies, this patient most likely experienced an argon gas embolism during an open resection of a cutaneous biliary fistula via the biliary tract or vein with possible transpulmonary passage of the embolism. Consequently, a high degree of suspicion should be maintained for an argon gas embolism during ABC use in laparoscopic, open, and cutaneous surgeries.
Photographic contrast enhancement of Landsat imagery

The effect of increased contrast of Landsat imagery is to stretch the informational content over a much greater density range. This results in greater density differences among scene features and provides a more interpretable image. The stretch required for MSS 5 and 7 is in the gamma range of 1.5 to 3.0. Several different film types, developers, and development times were used to reprocess Landsat images in a range of gammas from 1.0 to above 4.0. The gamma value to which the imagery was processed depended on the densitometric range of scene features in the image relative to the gray scale. An example of a photographically enhanced MSS 4 image is shown, in which the standard 0.94 density units was increased to 2.19 density units. The results are similar to those obtained in a computerized contrast stretch of digital CCT data, but are obtained at a far lesser cost.
Etiology of halo blight in Michigan hopyards

Michigan’s hop acreage ranks fourth nationally, but the state’s growers contend with unique disease challenges resulting from frequent rainfall and high humidity. In August 2018, a Michigan hop gro...
Left-Digit Effect in Tourists’ Price Evaluations: The Moderating Role of Price Level and Composite Price:

Past research has found that the effect of odd-ending price (e.g., $9.99) can be explained by the left-digit effect whereby the leftmost digits of both prices influence the comparison of a pair of ...
Election Voting and Public Library Use in the United States

Objective - This study examines whether a correlation exists between state-wide voting in federal elections and state average per capita visits to public libraries in the U.S. In so doing, it provides insight into the extent to which library patronage is affiliated with political leaning. Methods - An analysis of data from the 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 Public Libraries Survey and election results from the 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 Presidential and House of Representatives elections (by state) is performed with the assistance of Tableau, a data visualization program. Scatter plots provide a visual representation of the data, while correlation coefficients indicate the strength of relationship between voting and library visits per capita. Results - The findings reveal no significant relationship between public library use and the vote share of a political party in elections among a state's population. Conclusions - The political leaning of a state appears to have no correlation with the frequency of library usage among that state’s population.