cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nodal signaling in vertebrate development.

▪ Abstract TGFs signals belonging to the Nodal family set up the embryonic axes, induce mesoderm and endoderm, pattern the nervous system, and determine left-right asymmetry in vertebrates. Nodal signaling activates a canonical TGFs pathway involving activin receptors, Smad2 transcription factors, and FoxH1 coactivators. In addition, Nodal signaling is dependent on coreceptors of the EGF-CFC family and antagonized by the Lefty and Cerberus families of secreted factors. Additional modulators of Nodal signaling include convertases that regulate the generation of the mature signal, and factors such as Arkadia and DRAP1 that regulate the cellular responses to the signal. Complex regulatory cascades and autoregulatory loops coordinate Nodal signaling during early development. Nodals have concentration-dependent roles and can act both locally and at a distance. These studies demonstrate that Nodal signaling is modulated at almost every level to precisely orchestrate tissue patterning during vertebrate embryogen...
Arthroscopic approaches and intraarticular anatomy of the equine elbow

Periarticular anatomy and techniques for arthroscopic access to the equine elbow were studied in six joints from cadavers. Caudomedial and craniolateral approaches were evaluated subsequently in 11 anesthetized horses. The caudomedial approach was made between the flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi ulnaris muscle bellies. Most of the caudal articular surfaces of the humeral condyles, the caudal perimeter of the radius, and the trochlear notch and portions of the anconeal process of the ulna could be identified. The voluminous caudal joint capsule cul-de-sac proximal to the anconeal process was readily entered. A 70 degree arthroscope allowed examination of more of the joint recesses and articular surfaces of the olecranon fossa than a 25 degree arthroscope. A second portal for intraarticular instrument manipulation was made caudal and slightly proximal to the arthroscope entry. Entry more proximal than the level of the radiohumeral articulation carried significant risk of damage to the ulnar nerve and collateral ulnar artery and vein. For examination of the cranial regions of the elbow, a craniolateral portal was established cranial to the lateral collateral ligament. An instrument portal was made through the muscle bellies of the extensor carpi radialis or common digital extensor muscles. The cranial articular surfaces of the humeral condyles were readily exposed by extension of the elbow. The weight-bearing articular surface of the radius could not be seen. Eight horses were euthanatized without recovery from anesthesia and the elbows were dissected for examination. Three horses were allowed to recover from anesthesia and were euthanatized on days 3, 30, and 60.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
LINCS Canvas Browser: interactive web app to query, browse and interrogate LINCS L1000 gene expression signatures

For the Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) project many gene expression signatures using the L1000 technology have been produced. The L1000 technology is a costeffective method to profile gene expression in large scale. LINCS Canvas Browser (LCB) is an interactive HTML5 web-based software application that facilitates querying, browsing and interrogating many of the currently available LINCS L1000 data. LCB implements two compacted layered canvases, one to visualize clustered L1000 expression data, and the other to display enrichment analysis results using 30 different gene set libraries. Clicking on an experimental condition highlights gene-sets enriched for the differentially expressed genes from the selected experiment. A search interface allows users to input gene lists and query them against over 100 000 conditions to find the top matching experiments. The tool integrates many resources for an unprecedented potential for new discoveries in systems biology and systems pharmacology. The LCB application is available at http://www.maayanlab.net/LINCS/LCB. Customized versions will be made part of the http:// lincscloud.org and http://lincs.hms.harvard.edu websites.
Sonographic Diagnosis of Dextrotransposition of the Great Arteries

Ultrasonography has proved to be a clinically valuable procedure for diagnosing dextrotranspostion of the great arteries (d-TGA). In children with this congenital condition, the Rashkind procedure followed by the Mustard or Senning operation is performed to prolong life. An arterial switch procedure, without the Rashkind method, also may be the preferred type of surgery. Echocardiography has a major role during the Rashkind procedure and in monitoring patients after their corrective operation. This article attempts to help bridge the gap between inexperienced medical personnel and personnel who are knowledgeable about the sonographic appearance of the d-TGA heart. With proper medical treatment and surgical correction, affected children may survive into adulthood. Adult echocardiography, rather than pediatric echocardiography, may then be responsible for monitoring these patients as adults. All echocardiographers and cardiologists, not only pediatric personnel, therefore must understand the sonographic app...
Indirect detection of the 183W and 57Fe nuclei using 119Sn‐relayed 1H,X correlation spectroscopy

Recently reported triple-resonance Y-relayed 1H,X correlation experiments have been utilized to characterize 183W and 57Fe chemical shifts using 119Sn as the Y-relaying nucleus instead of the previously used 31P. Application of an adaptation of Gudat's original INEPT/HMQC sequence results in a significant enhancement of the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio for two-dimensional 119Sn-relayed 1H,183W and 1H, 57Fe correlation spectra with efficient detection of the transition metal nucleus in tungsten and iron complexes lacking an observable direct scalar coupling between the transition metal and any hydrogen nuclei. Strengths and shortcomings of the novel sequence and the original sequences reported by Gudat are discussed in the context of 119Sn-relayed proton detection of very low frequency transition metal nuclei. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of chest tube administration of tissue plasminogen activator to treat retained hemothorax

Abstract Background When retained hemothorax occurs, video-assisted thoracoscopy or thoracotomy is performed, but recently, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has been used. This study evaluated intrapleural tPA use for retained traumatic hemothoraces. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of trauma patients treated with intrapleural tPA for retained hemothorax. Data included demographics, past medical and surgical histories, injury details, treatment details, and outcomes. Results Seven patients (median age=47 years, male=6, blunt trauma=6) met study criteria. All patients received a chest tube. Six patients later received computed tomography-guided drains for tPA infusion. Number of tPA treatments per patient varied from 1 to 5. Median total tPA dosage was 24 mg. Median time from injury to chest tube placement was 11 days and from chest tube placement to first tPA treatment was 4 days. No patients required a video-assisted thoracoscopy; however, 1 patient required thoracotomy. There were no deaths or bleeding complications attributed to intrapleural tPA. Conclusion Although future studies are needed to identify optimum treatment guidelines, intrapleural tPA appears to be a safe and efficacious treatment option.
Corporate governance and the timeliness of financial reporting: a comparative study of the People's Republic of China, the USA and the European Union

Purpose – Timeliness of financial reporting is one of the attributes of good corporate governance identified by the OECD and World Bank. Shareholders and other stakeholders need information while it is still fresh and the more time that passes between year‐end and disclosure, the more stale the information becomes and the less value it has. This paper aims to examine the timeliness of financial reporting in the People's Republic of China and to compare it to timeliness in the USA and the European Union (EU).Design/methodology/approach – The timeliness of financial reporting was measured by counting the number of days that elapsed between year‐end and the date of the independent auditor's report for Chinese companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and a selection of public companies in the USA and EU. Results were then compared to determine whether there was a significant difference. This study also compares timeliness data on the basis of audit firm to determine whether companies audited by one of ...
Factors influencing parathion degradation by recombinant Escherichia coli with surface-expressed organophosphorus hydrolase

A unique approach for organophosphorus pesticides detoxification was developed previously by anchoring organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) onto the surface of Escherichia coli with a tightly regulated tac promoter. The resulting recombinant cells degraded parathion very effectively without the diffusional limitation observed in cells expressing OPH intracellularly. However, the precise conditions for surface targeting or pesticide degradation were not fully understood. In this paper, several factors influencing parathion degradation were investigated. Production of active OPH onto the cell surface was highly host-specific; a high rate of parathion degradation was observed from strains JM105 and XL1-Blue, which regulated production of the OPH fusion very tightly. However, in the absence of ampicillin selection, plasmids were only favorably maintained in strain XL1-Blue. OPH activity was highly dependent on growth conditions. Optimal OPH activity was observed when cells were grown in Luria-Bertani (LB)-buffered medium at 37 °C. OPH activity was further improved by supplementing the growth medium with cobalt chloride, which favors the formation of the metal active center. The timing of cobalt addition also influenced parathion degradation. Maximum OPH activity was obtained by adding cobalt to induced cultures during the late stationary phase. The resulting cultures grown under the optimized conditions had an eight-fold increase in parathion degradation.
Crime control through the private use of armed force

Legal defensive violence by private citizens armed with firearms is a significant form of social control in the United States. Evidence indicates that private gun use against violent criminals and burglars is common and about as frequent as legal actions like arrests, is a more prompt negative consequence of crime than legal punishment and is often far more severe. In 1980 about 1,500-2,800 felons were legally killed by gun-wielding civilians, about 8,700-16,000 were nonfatally wounded and guns were used defensively about one million times. Victim resistance with guns is associated with lower rates of both victim injury and crime completion for robberies and assaults than any other victim action, including nonresistance. Survey and quasi-experimental evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that the private ownership and use of firearms deters criminal behavior. Language: en
The Fluctuating Phenotype of the Lymphohematopoietic Stem Cell with Cell Cycle Transit

The most primitive engrafting hematopoietic stem cell has been assumed to have a fixed phenotype, with changes in engraftment and renewal potential occurring in a stepwise irreversible fashion linked with differentiation. Recent work shows that in vitro cytokine stimulation of murine marrow cells induces cell cycle transit of primitive stem cells, taking 40 h for progression from G0 to mitosis and 12 h for subsequent doublings. At 48 h of culture, progenitors are expanded, but stem cell engraftment is markedly diminished. We have investigated whether this effect on engraftment was an irreversible step or a reversible plastic feature correlated with cell cycle progression. Long-term engraftment (2 and 6 mo) of male BALB/c marrow cells exposed in vitro to interleukin (IL)-3, IL-6, IL-11, and steel factor was assessed at 2-4-h intervals of culture over 24-48 h using irradiated female hosts; the engraftment phenotype showed marked fluctuations over 2-4-h intervals, with engraftment nadirs occurring in late S and early G2. These data show that early stem cell regulation is cell cycle based, and have critical implications for strategies for stem cell expansion and engraftment or gene therapy, since position in cell cycle will determine whether effective engraftment occurs in either setting.
Experimental Facility for Laminar, Heterogeneous Flame Propagation in a Nano-Aluminum Aerosol

Research with heterogeneous mixtures involving solid particulate in closed, constantvolume bombs is typically limited by the powder dispersion techniques. This work details the development of an experimental apparatus that promotes ideal conditions, namely a quiescent atmosphere and uniform particle distribution, for measuring laminar, heterogeneous flame propagation. In this work, two methods of dispersing particles were investigated. In the first, heterogeneous mixtures were made in a secondary vessel that is connected to the main experiment. Particles are dispersed into the secondary vessel by adapting a piston-driven particle injector, which has been shown to produce uniform particle distributions. The heterogeneous mixture is then transferred to the main bomb facility and ignited after laminar conditions are achieved. In the second method of dispersion, particles were directly injected into the main experimental facility using a strong blast of compressed air. As with the first approach, enough time was given (~4 minutes) for the mixture to become quiescent before ignition occurs. An extinction diagnostic was also applied to the secondary mixing vessel as well as the primary experimental facility (for both dispersion methods) to provide a qualitative understanding of the dispersion technique. Aluminum nano-particles with an average diameter of 100 nm were used in this study. A hybrid mixture of Al/CH4/O2/N2 was employed to achieve the project goal of demonstrating a system for controlled laminar flame speed measurements in aerosol mixtures. With the hybrid mixture, the combustion characteristics were studied both with and without the presence of nano-Al particles. Based on experimental results, the simplicity of the directinjection methodology compared to that of the side-vessel is desirable and will be further investigated as a viable alternative, or improvement, to the side-vessel technology.
How reliable are the results from functional magnetic resonance imaging

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the most important methods for in vivo investigation of cognitive processes in the human brain. Within the last two decades, an explosion of research has emerged using fMRI, revealing the underpinnings of everything from motor and sensory processes to the foundations of social cognition. While these results have revealed the potential of neuroimaging, important questions regarding the reliability of these results remain unanswered. In this paper, we take a close look at what is currently known about the reliability of fMRI findings. First, we examine the many factors that influence the quality of acquired fMRI data. We also conduct a review of the existing literature to determine if some measure of agreement has emerged regarding the reliability of fMRI. Finally, we provide commentary on ways to improve fMRI reliability and what questions remain unanswered. Reliability is the foundation on which scientific investigation is based. How reliable are the results from fMRI?
Detection of Sphingomonas spp in soil by PCR and sphingolipid biomarker analysis.

spp possess unique abilities to degrade refractory contaminants and are found ubiquitously in the environment. We developed Sphingomonas genus-specific PCR primers (SPf-190 and SPr1-852) which showed specific amplification of a 627-bp 16S rDNA fragment from Sphingomonas spp. A PCR assay using these Sphingomonas specific primers was developed to detect Sphingomonas aromaticivorans B0695R in three texturally distinct soil types, showing detection limits between 1.3–2.2 × 103 CFU g−1 dry soil. A sphingolipid extraction protocol was also developed to monitor Sphingomonas populations in soil quantitatively. The detection limit of the assay was 20 pmol g−1 dry soil, equivalent to about 3 × 105 cells g−1 dry soil. Survival of S. aromaticivorans B0695R was monitored in the three different soils by antibiotic selective plate counting, PCR and sphingolipid analysis. All three approaches showed that the B0695R cells persisted in the low biomass Sequatchie sub-soil at about 3–5 × 107cells g−1 dry soil. In comparison to the plate counting assay, both the PCR and sphingolipid analysis detected a significantly higher level of B0695R cells in the clay soil and Sequatchie top-soil, indicating the possibility of the presence of viable but non-culturable B0695R cells in the soils. The combination of PCR and sphingolipid analysis may provide a more realistic estimation of Sphingomonas population in the environment.
Beneficial Fitness Effects Are Not Exponential for Two Viruses

The distribution of fitness effects for beneficial mutations is of paramount importance in determining the outcome of adaptation. It is generally assumed that fitness effects of beneficial mutations follow an exponential distribution, for example, in theoretical treatments of quantitative genetics, clonal interference, experimental evolution, and the adaptation of DNA sequences. This assumption has been justified by the statistical theory of extreme values, because the fitnesses conferred by beneficial mutations should represent samples from the extreme right tail of the fitness distribution. Yet in extreme value theory, there are three different limiting forms for right tails of distributions, and the exponential describes only those of distributions in the Gumbel domain of attraction. Using beneficial mutations from two viruses, we show for the first time that the Gumbel domain can be rejected in favor of a distribution with a right-truncated tail, thus providing evidence for an upper bound on fitness effects. Our data also violate the common assumption that small-effect beneficial mutations greatly outnumber those of large effect, as they are consistent with a uniform distribution of beneficial effects.
Stockpiling anti-viral drugs for a pandemic: The role of Manufacturer Reserve Programs

To promote stockpiling of anti-viral drugs by non-government organizations such as hospitals, drug manufacturers have introduced Manufacturer Reserve Programs which, for an annual fee, provide the right to buy in the event of a severe outbreak of influenza. We show that these programs enhance drug manufacturer profits but could either increase or decrease the amount of pre-pandemic stockpiling of anti-viral drugs.
FOXKs Promote Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling by Translocating DVL into the Nucleus

Dishevelled (DVL) proteins serve as crucial regulators that transduce canonical Wnt signals to the GSK3β-destruction complex, resulting in the stabilization of β-catenin. Emerging evidence underscores the nuclear functions of DVLs, which are critical for Wnt/β-catenin signaling. However, the mechanism underlying DVL nuclear localization remains poorly understood. Here we discovered two Forkhead box (FOX) transcription factors, FOXK1 and FOXK2, as bona fide DVL-interacting proteins. FOXK1 and FOXK2 positively regulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling by translocating DVL into the nucleus. Moreover, FOXK1 and FOXK2 protein levels are elevated in human colorectal cancers and correlate with DVL nuclear localization. Conditional expression of Foxk2 in mice induced intestinal hyper-proliferation that featured enhanced DVL nuclear localization and upregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Together, our results not only reveal a mechanism by which DVL is translocated into the nucleus but also suggest unexpected roles of FOXK1 and FOXK2 in regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
Living with Loss: Middle-Aged Men Face Spousal Bereavement

Spousal bereavement is one of the most profoundly disturbing events encountered in the human life span. Research has shown that conjugal bereavement has significant physical and psychological consequences for the surviving spouse. In American culture, men and women experience bereavement in different ways. The author used in-depth interviews in the tradition of phenomenology to collect data from 8 men aged 41 to 54 years who had experienced the death of their spouse within the previous 8 months to 6 years. The research revealed the lived experience of spousal bereavement to be a journey from the realization of irreconcilable loss through themes of responding to the loss and living through the loss toward reclamation and reconstruction of a life.
The effectiveness of three home products in cleaning and disinfection of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli on home environmental surfaces.

Aims The objectives of this study were to investigate three products for: (i) cleaning effectiveness on two common household surfaces, and (ii) disinfection effectiveness against two common bacteria. Products included conventional ('bleach'), environmentally preferable (EP), do-it-yourself (DIY: distilled white vinegar, club soda, tea tree oil), 24-h old DIY, and individual DIY components in dilution. Methods and results For cleaning ceramic, no product was effective (≥85% removal of Hucker's soil), however, DIY performed better than EP and bleach. On stainless, only DIY failed to meet the standard. For disinfection, bleach and EP achieved ≥5·00 log10 reductions under all conditions. DIY and components were more active against Escherichia coli than Staphylococcus aureus but only fresh DIY and 50% vinegar achieved ≥5·00 log10 reductions. Conclusions EP is an effective alternative to bleach. DIY may be an adequate alternative for cleaning ceramic and for household use, where complete elimination of micro-organisms is unnecessary; however, it must be freshly prepared each day. Significance and impact of the study This is the first report of performance of purportedly safer alternatives for both cleaning and disinfection for use in home health care. The EP product and DIY are potential alternatives for some household uses.
Medical Student Performance on the National Board of Medical Examiners Emergency Medicine Advanced Clinical Examination and the National Emergency Medicine M4 Exams.

Author(s): Hiller, Katherine; House, Joseph; Lawson, Luan; Poznanski, Stacey; Morrissey, Thomas K. | Abstract: Introduction: In April 2013, the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) released an Advanced Clinical Examination (ACE) in emergency medicine (EM). In addition to this new resource, CDEM (Clerkship Directors in EM) provides two online, high-quality, internally validated examinations. National usage statistics are available for all three examinations, however, it is currently unknown how students entering an EM residency perform as compared to the entire national cohort. This information may help educators interpret examination scores of both EM-bound and non-EM-bound students.Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare EM clerkship examination performance between students who matched into an EM residency in 2014 to students who did not. We made comparisons were made using the EM-ACE and both versions of the National fourth year medical student (M4) EM examinations.Method: In this retrospective multi-institutional cohort study, the EM-ACE and either Version 1 (V1) or 2 (V2) of the National EM M4 examination was given to students taking a fourth-year EM rotation at five institutions between April 2013 to February 2014. We collected examination performance, including the scaled EM-ACE score, and percent correct on the EM M4 exams, and 2014 NRMP Match status. Student t-tests were performed on the examination averages of students who matched in EM as compared with those who did not.Results: A total of 606 students from five different institutions took both the EM-ACE and one of the EM M4 exams; 94 (15.5%) students matched in EM in the 2014 Match. The mean score for EM-bound students on the EM-ACE, V1 and V2 of the EM M4 exams were 70.9 (n=47, SD=9.0), 84.4 (n=36, SD=5.2), and 83.3 (n=11, SD=6.9), respectively. Mean scores for non-EM-bound students were 68.0 (n=256, SD=9.7), 82.9 (n=243, SD=6.5), and 74.5 (n=13, SD=5.9). There was a significant difference in mean scores in EM-bound and non-EM-bound student for the EM-ACE (p=0.05) and V2 (pl0.01) but not V1 (p=0.18) of the National EM M4 examination.Conclusion: Students who successfully matched in EM performed better on all three exams at the end of their EM clerkship.
A pilot trial of brief group cognitive‐behavioral treatment for insomnia in an adult cancer survivorship program

Background Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-Insomnia) is effective, yet rarely available for cancer survivors. This is unfortunate because survivors are at elevated risk for insomnia, which is associated with significant health consequences in this already at-risk population. Barriers to delivering CBT-Insomnia in oncology settings include a lack of trained providers, distance to cancer centers, and treatment duration. Purpose To address insomnia treatment barriers, we adapted standard CBT-Insomnia treatment and evaluated a pilot group-based approach for feasibility and efficacy in an adult cancer survivorship program. Methods Thirty-eight cancer survivors (mean age = 52.2 years) enrolled in our three-session program delivered over 1 month. They were primarily diagnosed with breast cancer (58.6%) and were an average of 6.0 years post-diagnosis and 3.6 years post-treatment. Participants completed sleep logs throughout the study and measures of sleep at baseline and week 4. Results Participants reported experiencing insomnia symptoms an average of 2.4 years, with 89.7% indicating that the cancer experience had caused/exacerbated symptoms. Significant pre/post-intervention group improvements in sleep efficiency (77.3% to 88.5%), sleep quality, and insomnia symptoms were reported (all ps < .01). Less than 1 in 3 had discussed insomnia symptoms with their oncology providers in the prior year. Conclusions Pilot data indicate that a brief, group-based CBT-Insomnia intervention in a survivorship setting is both feasible and efficacious. There is a need to increase awareness about insomnia and its treatment among both cancer survivors and oncology providers. If validated in future studies, this novel approach can improve cancer survivors' access to much needed insomnia treatment. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Information Technology Research Trends in Transition Economies

In this paper we assess the publication base and the research trends in information technology specifically in transition economies. A transition economy is an economy that is in the long-term process of moving from a centrally planned to a market driven system. Although information technology is the principal enabler for global connectedness and critical for firms in transition economies to maintain competitiveness, only relatively little research is being reported that addresses the issues specific to effectively employing information technology in transition economies. By reviewing current publications and identifying the research trends we try to point to existing gaps and the needs and opportunities for further research.
In vivo evaluation of 64Cu labeled PEGylated shell crosslinked nanoparticles (SCKs) as candidates for imaging and drug delivery

174 Objectives: Nanoparticles (NPs) can be multi-functionalized for in vivo targeting, imaging, and drug delivery. The goal of this work was to design nanocarriers able to avoid the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) for nanomedical application. 64Cu was used to track the in vivo fate of these nanostructures in normal rodents. Methods: Amphiphilic diblock copolymers were conjugated with 2 DOTA and 0, 1, 2.4 or 5.5 PEG2000 chains per polymer and used to synthesize SCK1-4. After 64Cu-labeling, the SCK blood retention and MPS uptake were evaluated in normal rats (20-25 μg/kg) and mice (0.15-0.3 mg/kg) with biodistribution techniques and small animal PET imaging, respectively. Results: Increasing the amount of PEG per polymer chain prolonged the SCK blood retention (from 0.05 to 3.5 %ID/g at 1 h p.i.) and lowered the MPS uptake. Also, changes in the SCK surface density due to 20% (SCK4) or 50% (SCK5) crosslinking had the same influence. PET imaging confirmed the biodistribution data, as only the heart of the mice injected with SCK5 was clearly visible up to 24 h p.i. Conclusions: 64Cu-labeling and PET are excellent tools to evaluate NPs in vivo. The stealth properties of SCKs were finely tuned by choosing the appropriate number of PEG grafts or by modifying the surface density. These results suggest that SCKs can be employed as a platform for drug delivery and molecular imaging. Research Support: This material is based upon work supported by the NIH as a Program of Excellence in Nanotechnology (HL080729). The production of 64Cu is supported by a grant from the NCI (CA86307).
Improved Method for Determination of Total Mercury and Its Application to Vegetables and Fruits in Markets

To detect trace amounts of total mercury in vegetables and fruits, the wet digestion-cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry method was improved.The recoveries and the coefficients of variation for total mercury added to vegetables and fruits were 94-103% (average 99%) and 2.0-11% (average 5.6%) at 0.5ppb, and 97-101% (average 99%) and 2.8-6.3% (average 4.1%) at 2.5ppb. The detection limit was 0.1ppb in the samples.The improved method was adapted to the determination of trace amounts of total mercury in 27 kinds of vegetables and fruits (81 samples) collected from markets in Nara Prefecture. The obtained mean amounts of total mercury were less than 0.1ppb for 10 species, 0.1-1.0ppb for 12 species and 1.0-2.4ppb for 5 species. These values are lower by 1-2 orders of magnitude than those reported by other researchers.
Determination of lead and its compounds in the air of workplace by hydride generation-AFS

[Objective]To establish a method for determination of lead and its compounds in the air of workplace by hydride generation-AFS.[Methods]The air samples were collected with microporous membrane,digested by perchloric acid-nitric acid( 1 + 9) with heating,and constant volume with deionized water,then the lead and its compounds were determined with the hydride generation-AFS.[Results] The linear range of this method was 0-160 ng / ml,thedetection limit was 0. 1 ng / ml,RSD ranged from 0. 56%-2. 17%,relatively error was 0. 47%-1. 30%. [Conclusion] Hydrochloric acid concentration 1%( volume fraction), potassium ferricyanide concentration 0. 8%( mass concentration),sodium hydroxide concentration 0. 36%( mass concentration), pH of waste liquid ranges from 8-9,the fluorescence intensity is steady. The method has high precision and accuracy. The determination results of standard substance are within control limit. This method is suitable for the determination of lead and its compounds in the air of workplace.
Quality assurance in anatomic pathology.

Quality assurance in anatomic pathology presents special problems because of the consultative and subjective nature of the “test result.” This presentation outlines the essential features of a comprehensive quality assurance program for anatomic pathology, addressing procedural and technical issues, the quality of the diagnostic report, and the professional/diagnostic role of the pathologist.
What Principals Do to Improve Teaching and Learning: Comparing the Use of Informal Classroom Observations in Two School Districts.

Informally observing classrooms is one way that principals can help improve teaching and learning. This study describes the variability of principals’ classroom observations across schools and iden...
The Eighteenth Century I

Introduction In looking at episodes in our philosophical tradition that bear in various ways on what we now call biological questions – and anticipating what we have come to call the philosophy of biology – we have been dealing so far with figures at the opening and the close of the Aristotelian tradition, a tradition lasting more than 2,000 years. If Descartes wanted to overturn Aristotelian science, he wanted to do so from within a Scholastic environment, and he was speaking to Scholastic readers. However, when we come to Georges-Louis Leclerc, famous in his time as the Comte de Buffon, we enter a different world. Before we look at some of the major features of Buffon's work, we need to specify briefly the most striking novelty in the intellectual climate of his time: that from the last days of Scholasticism, we have moved to a post-Newtonian era. Looming over every area of scientific work, there falls the shadow of “the great Newton.” There were still thinkers in the Aristotelian tradition, such as Buffon's critic Malesherbes (Malesherbes 1798). But, on the whole, Newton was the authority figure to be followed, or perhaps in some ways challenged. In cosmology, Newton, rather than Descartes or Aristotle, commonly served as the starting point for new speculations. When, for example, in his account of the origin of the planets, Buffon invoked an “impulsive force” in addition to gravitation, he was reflecting against a Newtonian background (Buffon, “Proofs of the Theory of the Earth,” OP, p. 1).
On the Minute, Out of Time: Reading the Misreading of Time in Walter Benjamin's “Auf die Minute” (1934)

From its public birth in 1923 to the early 1930s, all German radio was “live,” in that early radio technology did not allow for edits and rerecordings. Such is the case described in Walter Benjamin's “Auf die Minute” (1934), his last published text on radio in which he describes his first experience in a radio studio. The text is often read as an allegory of his frustrated and ultimately failed attempt to change the course of German radio history. Nevertheless, “Auf die Minute” can also be read in the context of Benjamin's other references to both mechanical and historical time. This article suggests that this short text is less an allegorical eulogy of Weimar radio than a continuation of Benjamin's exploration into the problem of historical time and, more specifically, the possibility of having, even in the new medium of radio, what he calls a “genuine historical experience.”
Examining the Signaling Effect of E-tailers’ Return Policies

ABSTRACTE-tailers normally have more accurate information regarding their products and services than consumers due to the nature of online transactions. To reduce consumers’ concerns of hidden information, e-tailers can use lenient return policies to attempt to signal high product and service quality. This research proposes a model to investigate the signaling effect of two components of return policy, return window—short return window vs. long return window and return depth—full refund vs. partial refund, on product quality and service quality. Data was collected using an online survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results show that both a long return window and a full refund signal high service quality, which then positively affects purchase intention. When it comes to product quality, return window does not have a signaling effect, while the signaling effect of return depth is moderated by service quality.
Significance Analysis for Edges in a Graph by means of Leveling Variables on Nodes

This paper proposes a novel measure for edge significance considering quantity propagation in a graph. Our method utilizes a pseudo propagation process brought by solving a problem of a load balancing on nodes. Edge significance is defined as a difference of propagation in a graph with an edge to without it. The simulation compares our proposed method with the traditional betweenness centrality in order to obtain differences of our measure to a type of centrality, which considers propagation process in a graph.
Histopathology Discrepancy of Preoperative Endometrial Sampling and Final Specimen: How Does This Influence Selective Lymph Node Dissection?

Objective Preoperative histology is a major component in the perioperative selective lymph node (LN) dissection decision process. Discrepancy between preoperative endometrial sampling and final specimen histopathology is generally accepted. The goals of this project are to determine if discrepancy of histopathology is associated with alteration of adjuvant treatment or outcome. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of all patients undergoing surgery for endometrial cancer at a single institution from 2010 to 2014. All patients had preoperative endometrial sampling. Histopathology discrepancy was evaluated for potential in variation of perioperative LN dissection. Criteria for not performing LN dissection was defined as preoperative endometrioid histology, grade 1 or 2 lesion, myometrial invasion of 50% or less, and primary tumor diameter 2 cm or less. Results A total of 352 patients were identified; 44 were excluded because of no preoperative pathology or no residual disease on final pathology. Discrepancy of histopathology was noted in 64/308 (20.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 16.2%–25.3%) patients. Preoperative endometrioid histology was noted in 272 patients, and 17/272 (6.3%; 95% CI, 3.4%–9.1%) had preoperative sampling reviewed as a grade 1 or 2 endometrioid lesion and final specimen was upgraded to grade 3. Downstaging occurred in 3/272 (1.1%; 95% CI, 0%–2.3%) patients with preoperative grade 3 lesion and final specimen demonstrated grade 1 or 2 disease. All 3 patients9 primary tumor diameter was greater than 2 cm and therefore received LN dissection. Histopathological discrepancy that would alter perioperative LN dissection decision based on the aforementioned criteria occurred in 2/272 (0.7%; 95% CI, 0%–1.8%). Conclusions Despite a 20% discrepancy of preoperative and postoperative histopathology, discrepancy that would alter a perioperative decision for LN dissection occurs in only 0.7% of cases in this retrospective single-institutional experience. Myometrial invasion and tumor size may be more influential than histology in LN selection criteria.
The role of public relations in ethnic advocacy and activism: A proposed research agenda

This essay proposes a research agenda for exploring public relations’ role in ethnic advocacy and activism, as a way to build the field’s knowledge of ethnic public relations. To highlight the pote...
Sexual segregation of forage patch use: Support for the social-factors and predation hypotheses

Abstract Nearly all species of sexually dimorphic ungulates sexually segregate. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, including the social-factors hypothesis (SFH) and the predation hypothesis (PH). Interestingly, previous studies have accepted and rejected each hypothesis within and across species but few studies have simultaneously tested both hypotheses in the same population. In August 2011 and 2012 using 7680 photographs taken with camera traps in standardized forage patches, we tested two predictions of the SFH: 1) foraging efficiency of both sexes would decrease when foraging rate in mixed-sex groups relative to single-sex groups, and 2) activity patterns (i.e., the pattern of temporal use of forage patches on a diel scale) of the sexes would decrease in temporal overlap at the forage patch level (i.e., social segregation) compared to the overall temporal overlap of activity patterns of the population. Also, we tested two predictions of the +PH : 1) the relationship between feeding rates of each sex, and 2) temporal activity overlap would change with changing risk level of forage patches as a result of differing risk perception between sexes. In support of the SFH for temporal segregation, when in mixed-sex groups, mature males and all females decreased feeding rate 30% and 10%, respectively; further, the sexes had similar activity patterns overall (94–95% overlap), though temporal overlap was lower in individual forage patches (68–74% overlap). In multi-male mixed sex groups, at least one male exhibited aggressive posture toward females during all foraging bouts suggesting intersex aggression was the cause of the observed decrease in foraging rates. In support of the PH , the sexes adjusted feeding rate differently in response to changing risk level of a forage patch, encouraging spatial segregation; however, the PH was not supported for temporal segregation because temporal activity pattern overlap did not vary as a function of predation risk. Coupling our results with previous reports indicates that the SFH is supported for only temporal segregation of forage patch use, and the PH may only be supported for spatial segregation in forage patch use. Thus, both social factors and predation risk may interact to encourage sexual segregation.
Semiconductor fridges get into shape

Magnetoresistance is the change in the electrical resistance of a material when it is put in a magnetic field. Condensed-matter physicists have long known that the magnetoresistance of a device is made up of a physical contribution that depends on its intrinsic properties, such as carrier concentration and mobility, and a geometric contribution that depends on its shape, and on the size and location of the electrical contacts. Usually the physical magnetoresistance dominates, but our group at NEC has recently shown that the geometric effects can give rise to an unusually large or "extraordinary" magnetoresistance in inhomogenous nonmagnetic structures formed from gold and a semiconductor, such as indium antimonide (see Physics World November 2000 p24).
Stingray: A New Frontier in Police Surveillance

Police agencies around the United States are using a powerful surveillance tool to mimic cell phone signals to tap into the cellular phones of unsuspecting citizens, track the physical locations of those phones, and perhaps even intercept the content of their communications.The device is known as a stingray, and it is being used in at least 23 states and the District of Columbia. Originally designed for use on the foreign battlefields of the War on Terror, “cell-site simulator” devices have found a home in the arsenals of dozens of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.In addition, police agencies have gone to incredible lengths to keep information about stingray use from defense attorneys, judges, and the public. Through the use of extensive nondisclosure agreements, the federal government prevents state and local law enforcement from disclosing even the most elementary details of stingray capability and use. That information embargo even applies to criminal trials, and allows the federal government to order evidence withheld or entire cases dropped to protect the secrecy of the surveillance device.The controversy around police stingray surveillance challenges our antiquated Fourth Amendment jurisprudence, undermines our cherished principles of federalism and separation of powers, exposes a lack of accountability and transparency among our law enforcement agencies, and raises serious questions about the security of our individual rights as the government’s technological capability rapidly advances.
Diversity in growth patterns among strains of the lethal fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis across extended thermal optima.

The thermal sensitivities of organisms regulate a wide range of ecological interactions, including host–parasite dynamics. The effect of temperature on disease ecology can be remarkably complex in disease systems where the hosts are ectothermic and where thermal conditions constrain pathogen reproductive rates. Amphibian chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is a lethal fungal disease that is influenced by temperature. However, recent temperature studies have produced contradictory findings, suggesting that our current understanding of thermal effects on Bd may be incomplete. We investigated how temperature affects three different Bd strains to evaluate diversity in thermal responses. We quantified growth across the entire thermal range of Bd, and beyond the known thermal limits (Tmax and Tmin). Our results show that all Bd strains remained viable and grew following 24 h freeze (−12 °C) and heat shock (28 °C) treatments. Additionally, we found that two Bd strains had higher logistic growth rates (r) and carrying capacities (K) at the upper and lower extremities of the temperature range, and especially in low temperature conditions (2–3 °C). In contrast, a third strain exhibited relatively lower growth rates and carrying capacities at these same thermal extremes. Overall, our results suggest that there is considerable variation among Bd strains in thermal tolerance, and they establish a new thermal sensitivity profile for Bd. More generally, our findings point toward important questions concerning the mechanisms that dictate fungal thermal tolerances and temperature-dependent pathogenesis in other fungal disease systems.
Black Mountain College: A Creative Art Space Where It Was Safe to Fail

Black Mountain College is remembered as an artistic utopian alternative to institutional learning. Its faculty and students included some of the most important creative thinkers of the 20th century. Its foundation was built on the philosophy of “learning by doing.” But what made Black Mountain such a dynamic educational environment? Today, the financial burden of higher education places a lasting strain on students that inhibits creative growth. Does the educational structure of the college system impede our learning? Black Mountain was a legendary educational experiment, which offers a model for contemporary art education.
65-P : MODIFIED C1Q ASSAY DETECTS C1Q-BINDING ANTIBODY WITH HIGHER SENSITIVITY

Aim Preliminary clinical data suggest that the C1q assay is a promising noninvasive technique for prediction of antibody mediated rejection (AMR). However, conflicting reports exist suggesting that assay performance and sensitivity vary between laboratories. Our aim was to evaluate a modified protocol for the commercially available C1qScreen™ assay to achieve increased sensitivity. We hypothesized that sensitivity of the assay could be increased by preincubation of serum with LABScreen beads prior to incubation with C1q. The rationale for this modification was that individual heads on a C1q molecule bind to the Fc region with weak affinity. Antibody aggregation on an antigenic surface facilitates binding of several heads significantly enhancing C1q affinity to low-MFI antibody. Methods The standard and modified C1q assays were performed in parallel. The difference between protocols was that in the standard C1qScreen™ protocol, heat-inactivated serum was spiked with human C1q and incubated with LABScreen beads for 20 min at RT. In the modified protocol, heat-inactivated serum was first incubated with LABScreen beads for 20 minutes followed by a 20 minute incubation with C1q. The rest of the assay was performed as described in the standard protocol. Results Of 30 samples tested, 17 samples that were positive for class I and 19 samples that were positive for class II C1q-binding antibody by both protocols. Some specificities that were weak or negative for C1q-binding using the standard protocol were strongly positive using the modified protocol. Also, of 13 ClassI and 11 ClassII samples that were negative for C1q-binding antibody by the standard protocol, 5 and 2 samples, respectively, were positive by the modified protocol. Conclusions Preincubation of serum with LABScreen beads prior to addition of human C1q facilitates increased sensitivity for detection of C1q-binding antibody. Further investigation will reveal whether increase in sensitivity offers better prediction of AMR.