cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two decades of interaction between the MacArthur‐Wilson model and the complexities of mammalian distributions

More than two decades after its publication, MacArthur and Wilson’s equilibrium model of insular biogeography continues to provide the conceptual foundation for investigating the distribution of species on islands and the composition of insular biotas. During this period, studies of the distributions of mammals among insular habitats have tested, modified, and extended MacArthur and Wilson’s simple formalism to enhance greatly our understanding of the complexities of biogeographic patterns and processes. The papers in this symposium summarize many of the past contributions of mammalian biogeographers and introduce important new data and ideas. The diversity of biological characteristics and associated distributional patterns exhibited by mammals has facilitated this endeavour. Some insular mammalian faunas appear to represent approximate equilibria between opposing rates of contemporary colonization and extinction. Other faunas are currently decreasing in diversity because of extinctions, owing either to natural habitat fragmentation that has occurred since the Pleistocene or to human activities within the last few centuries. Still other faunas have been increasing in diversity (at least until recent human impacts) because limiting rates of origination, both colonization and speciation, have been extremely low. The questions and analyses of island biogeography can also be applied to continents with comparable overall results: the distributions of continental faunas reflect the consequences of similar processes of colonization, speciation and extinction. Analyses of insular distributions show unequivocally that probabilities of extinction, colonization and speciation are highly deterministic and vary in predictable ways among different taxa and archipelagos. These findings have important implications for applying the theory and data of insular biogeography to the pressing practical problems of designing natural reserves to preserve native species.
Preparation and properties of clean surfaces of aluminum

Abstract A low-energy electron diffraction study of clean {111}, {100} and {110} surfaces of aluminum and their reaction with oxygen is described. The procedures followed in order to achieve the atomically clean state were: (i) argon ion bombardments and anneals, (ii) baking in atomic hydrogen and (iii) growth of epitaxial films in situ. All three surfaces investigated have the ideal structure expected from simple termination of the bulk. Chemisorption of dry or wet oxygen at room temperature occurs in disordered fashion and gives rise to amorphous layers, probably by way of place-exchange mechanisms. The sticking coefficient of oxygen is estimated to be 10−3−10−2. Epitaxy of aluminum is found to be good at room temperature on all three surfaces investigated. On {110} surfaces, as-deposited films exhibit {111} facets.
Hadron distributions — Recent results from the CERN experiment NA44

Proton distributions at midrapidity have been measured for 158A{circ}GeV/c Pb + Pb collisions in the focusing spectrometer experiment NA44 at CERN. A high degree of nuclear stopping is found in the truly heavy ion collisions. Systematic results of single particle transverse momentum distributions of pions, kaons, and protons, of 200A-GeV/c S+S and 158A{circ}GeV/c Pb+Pb central collisions will be addressed within the context of thermalization. By comparing these data with thermal and transport models, freeze-out parameters such as the temperature parameter T{sub fo} and mean collective flow velocity ({Beta}) are extracted. Preliminary results of the particle ratios of K{sup -}/K{sup +} and p/p are discussed in the context of cascade models of RQMD and VENUS.
Elemental analysis by microwave-assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: Evaluation on ceramics

A new Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) enhancement method utilizing interaction between microwave radiation and laser-induced plasma has been evaluated. Experimental parameters such as laser pulse irradiance, microwave duration, and surrounding gas were studied and optimized for the microwave effect through a series of experiments on a piece of alumina ceramic sample. Up to 33 times enhancement on different spectral lines was achieved. Enhancement of the line intensity was found to be at a maximum when the laser ablation was induced at low irradiance on a large area in normal atmosphere. The enhancement was element-dependent and stronger for transitions with low excitation energy. The microwave enhancement in argon atmosphere was not as effective as in air, and the reasons are discussed.
NADPH oxidase NOX5-S and nuclear factor κB1 mediate acid-induced microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 expression in Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma cells.

The mechanisms of progression from Barrett’s esophagus (BE) to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) are not known. Cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2)-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been shown to be important in esophageal tumorigenesis. We have shown that COX-2 mediates acid-induced PGE2 production. The prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) responsible for acid-induced PGE2 production in BE, however, is not known. We found that microsomal PGES1 (mPGES1), mPGES2, and cytosolic PGES (cPGES) were present in FLO EA cells. Pulsed acid treatment significantly increased mPGES1 mRNA and protein levels but had little or no effect on mPGES2 or cPGES mRNA. Knockdown of mPGES1 by mPGES1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) blocked acid-induced increase in PGE2 production and thymidine incorporation. Knockdown of NADPH oxidase, NOX5-S, a variant lacking calcium-binding domains, by NOX5 siRNA significantly inhibited acid-induced increase in mPGES1 expression, thymidine incorporation, and PGE2 production. Overexpression of NOX5-S significantly increased the luciferase activity in FLO cells transfected with a nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in vivo activation reporter plasmid pNF-κB-Luc. Knockdown of NF-κB1 p50 by p50 siRNA significantly decreased acid-induced increase in mPGES1 expression, thymidine incorporation, and PGE2 production. Two novel NF-κB binding elements, GGAGTCTCCC and CGGGACACCC, were identified in the mPGES1 gene promoter. We conclude that mPGES1 mediates acid-induced increase in PGE2 production and cell proliferation. Acid-induced mPGES1 expression depends on activation of NOX5-S and NF-κB1 p50. Microsomal PGES1 may be a potential target to prevent or treat EA.
The addition of interleukin-6 soluble receptor and transforming growth factor beta1 improves a preoperative nomogram for predicting biochemical progression in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer

Purpose: Several preoperative prostate cancer nomograms have been developed that predict risk of progression using pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, clinical stage, and biopsy Gleason grade. We describe the development and performance of a new nomogram. The nomogram adds new markers to the standard clinical predictors that reflect the biologic behavior of prostate cancer: pretreatment plasma levels of interleukin-6 soluble receptor (IL6SR) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1). Patients and Methods: Between November 7, 1994 and December 22, 1997, 714 patients with stage cT1c to cT3a prostate cancer and no prior therapy were treated with radical prostatectomy at the Methodist Hospital, Houston TX. Plasma levels of IL6SR and TGF-β1 were measured in banked preoperative plasma. With these data, a nomogram was developed to predict the probability of PSA progression within 5 years of surgery. The nomogram was validated with bootstrapping to assess its discrimination and calibration per...
A DEVELOPMENT OF A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE DRIVING TASK.

A conceptual framework is developed based on observations of driving behavior under actual traffic conditions. After the framework has been established, the assumptions and implications are contrasted with those in the theories of traffic flow that relegate the driver's contribution to a minor role. It would appear that theorists are mainly concerned with traffic flow and safety while each driver is more concerned with independence and constancy of his vehicle's movement.
Efficient search for robot skill learning: simulation and reality

Table lookup with interpolation is used for many learning and adaptation tasks. Redundant mappings capture the important concept of "motor skill" in real, behaving systems. Few robot skill implementations have dealt with redundant mappings, in which the space to be searched to create the table has much higher dimensionality than the table. A practical method for inverting redundant mappings is important in physical systems with limited time for trials. The authors present the "Guided Table Fill In" algorithm, which uses data already stored in the table to guide search through the space of potential table entries. The algorithm is illustrated and tested on a skill learning task using a robot with a flexible link. The authors' experiments show that the ability to search high dimensional action spaces efficiently allows skill learners to find new behaviors that are qualitatively different from what they were presented or what the system designer may have expected. Thus the use of this technique can allow researchers to seek higher dimensional action spaces for their systems rather than constraining their search space at the risk of excluding the best actions. The authors also present a model for the robot arm, flexible link dynamics, and release mechanism of their robot. The authors' experiments suggest that the use of even a crude simulation model can be helpful for learning on the real robot. >
Vascular Injuries to the Neck After Penetrating Trauma: Diagnostic Performance of 40- and 64-MDCT Angiography.

OBJECTIVE. The purposes of this study were to assess the diagnostic performance of 40- and 64-MDCT angiography with digital subtraction angiography as the reference standard in the detection of arterial injuries in patients at high risk after penetrating neck trauma and to perform a separate analysis of injuries to the external carotid artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In a retrospective evaluation of 53 sets of angiograms from 51 patients with penetrating neck injury, three reviewers unaware of the digital subtraction angiographic findings reviewed the CT angiographic (CTA) images to discern the presence or absence of arterial injuries. Sensitivity and specificity of CTA were calculated per injury, and a separate analysis of external carotid artery injuries was performed. RESULTS. Sensitivity of CTA for detecting arterial injuries ranged from 75.7% (95% CI, 62.3–86.9%) to 82.2% (95% CI, 69.5–92.1%). Specificity ranged from 96.4% (95% CI, 94.0–98.4%) to 98.4% (95% CI, 96.0–100%). CTA was highly sensitive for...
The growth of e-procurement in american state governments: A model and empirical evidence

This article examines the development of the Internet and electronic procurement or e-procurement in American state governments. I am interested in discerning the extent of adoption of e-procurement, especially as it relates to the use of the Internet in the procurement function. Specifically, eprocurement is examined with data from a national survey of state procurement officers. The first part of this article demonstrates an e-government growth model as a way of modeling the development of e-procurement. The second part examines the existing literature on e-procurement development and challenges associated with its implementation. The third part constructs an eprocurement index, which measures the adoption rate of electronic procurement in each of the states. This e-procurement index is tested against management, organizational, and economic predictor variables. The results of the eprocurement model indicated positive support for electronic procurement on state management capacity and IT management capacity, indicating that high performing management is a critical catalyst for e-procurement development.
Cannabis Withdrawal, Posttreatment Abstinence, and Days to First Cannabis Use Among Emerging Adults in Substance Use Treatment: A Prospective Study

Very little prospective research investigates how cannabis withdrawal is associated with treatment outcomes, and this work has not used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) thresholds for cannabis withdrawal. The sample included 110 emerging adults entering outpatient substance use treatment who were heavy cannabis users with no other drug use and limited alcohol use. We used survival analyses to predict days to first use of cannabis and logistic regression to predict whether participants were abstinent and living in the community at 3 months. Those meeting criteria for cannabis withdrawal were more likely to return to use sooner than those not meeting criteria for cannabis withdrawal. However, the presence of cannabis withdrawal was not a significant predictor of 3-month abstinence. Emerging adults with DSM-5 cannabis withdrawal may have difficulty initiating abstinence in the days following their intake assessment, implying the need for strategies to mitigate their more rapid return to cannabis use.
Abstract PR13: Systems and structural biology approaches to elucidate new effectors in KRAS mutant tumors

Activated KRAS interacts directly and indirectly with numerous downstream effector pathways that are still elusive or poorly characterized. Furthermore, it has become clear over the past few years that the KRAS regulatory gene network (interactome) is highly cell-context dependent and thus tumor specific. We sought to computationally elucidate novel KRAS effectors, modulators, and interactors in Lung Adenocarcinomas (LUAD) and Colon Adenocarcinomas (COAD) by integrating computational and biochemical reverse engineering methods. Specifically, results from ARACNe and MINDy based analysis of KRAS networks were combined with Protein-protein interaction (PPI) predictions based on the PrePPI algorithm. These algorithms detect, respectively, transcriptional, post-translational, and protein-protein interactions respectively. The MARINa/VIPER algorithm was used to analyze the networks resulting from these analyses to identify key modulators and effectors of KRAS activity, including modulators harboring genetic alterations that phenocopy aberrant KRAS activity. In addition, we collaborated with the Jackson (Stanford) and Vidal (Harvard) labs to include high-throughput tandem affinity mass spectrometry data and yeast 2 hybrid screens in these analyses. Validation of computationally inferred effectors, using pooled shRNA silencing assays in primary lung cancer cells isolated from a KrasLSL/p53f/f mouse model of LUAD validated novel genes as likely KRASmut effectors and putative synthetic lethal genes. At least two hairpins against RNF43, E4F1, HMCN1, MYO9A, RHOT2, SETD1B and MAP3K2 scored in this assay. These results suggest that KRAS network analyses using computational methods can identify novel members of the KRAS interactome. Citation Format: Joshua Broyde, David Simpson, David A. Wah, Federico M. Giorgi, Donald Petrey, Mariano J. Alvarez, Antonina Silkov, Alexander Lachmann, David E. Hill, Marc Vidal, Peter Jackson, Barry Honig, Alejandro Sweet-Cordero, Andrea Califano. Systems and structural biology approaches to elucidate new effectors in KRAS mutant tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Computational and Systems Biology of Cancer; Feb 8-11 2015; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(22 Suppl 2):Abstract nr PR13.
PREDICTORS OF TREATMENT AND OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH ST SEGMENT ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN THE STATE OF NEVADA

Multiple factors can effect treatment and outcomes for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We studied the characteristics and variables associated with treatment and outcomes of patients who received STEMI care in the state of Nevada. This is a retrospective study of STEMIs from
Optical, Electrical, and Structural Characterization of GaInAsP/InP Layers Grown on Silicon Substrate for 1.35 μm Laser Applications

A 1.35 μm wavelength GaInAsP / InP double heterostructure laser has been grown on Si substrate by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The layers are grown directly on Si substrate coated with GaAs. Material characterization confirms the overall quality of the epitaxial layers, including excellent crystallinity and optical properties in addition to precision control over the growth, composition and doping of the different layers. Pulsed operation with output power of over 200 m W per facet was achieved at room temperature for a broad area laser with 20 μm width and 170μm cavity length.
Shame on us! Men need osteoporosis care, too! Commentary on an article by Carl M. Harper, MD, et al.: "Distal radial fractures in older men. A missed opportunity?".

Fragility fractures are nearly epidemic worldwide, and the occurrence of a fragility fracture is among the strongest risk factors predicting subsequent fractures1. Increasing emphasis has been placed on secondary prevention of fragility fractures, which involves initiating evaluation for osteoporosis and, when indicated, treatment following a fragility fracture in order to reduce the risk of future fracture. Despite the increasing national and international attention to secondary prevention efforts, the increasing availability of medications that reduce fracture risk, and the advent of fracture liaison programs, the majority of patients who have sustained a fragility fracture do not receive evaluation or treatment2,3. A recent report of over 129,000 U.S. patients with a fragility fracture treated from 2001 to 2009 indicated that, in fact, the rate of treatment decreased over the decade4. Among common sites of fragility fracture, the distal aspect of the radius was associated with the lowest rates of evaluation and treatment, with only 21% and 11% of women with this type of fracture receiving a dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan and …
Marketing Theory of the Firm

Marketing management is provided with a fundamental logic to guide strategic and operational planning. One descriptive element is a model of the customer. Other descriptive elements feed upon this ...
Selective isolation from soil and separation in vitro of P and Q strains of Trichoderma virens with differential media

Strains of the biocontrol fungus Trichoder- ma virens may be separated into P (gliovirin produc- ing) or Q (gliotoxin producing) groups by culture of conidial inoculum on agar media containing selective amendments. Strains of the P group will grow on PDA amended with chlorothalonil or thiabendazole, but not on PDA amended with gliotoxin or fludiox- onil, and they do not inhibit the growth of Bacillus subtilis in culture. Strains of the Q group will grow on gliotoxin and fludioxonil, but not on chlorothal- onil or thiabendazole, and they inhibit the growth of B. subtilis in culture. Strains of T. virens can also be isolated from natural soil with selective media. A PDA medium containing rifampicin (50 jig mL-'), chlo- rothalonil (1.25 pxg mL-1) and thiabendazole (0.6 iLg mL- ) can be used to selectively isolate P strains from soil. PDA containing rifampicin (50 jxg mL-'), glio- toxin (50 pLg mL-1) and low chlorothalonil (0.75 pg mL- ) will selectively isolate Q strains from soil. Since P and Q strains of T virens are known to differ in their biocontrol efficacy toward different soil-borne diseases, their separation into groups and isolation from soil on selective agar media should allow the development of more focused and efficient screening
Competition between Jagged-Notch and Endothelin1 Signaling Selectively Restricts Cartilage Formation in the Zebrafish Upper Face

The intricate shaping of the facial skeleton is essential for function of the vertebrate jaw and middle ear. While much has been learned about the signaling pathways and transcription factors that control facial patterning, the downstream cellular mechanisms dictating skeletal shapes have remained unclear. Here we present genetic evidence in zebrafish that three major signaling pathways - Jagged-Notch, Endothelin1 (Edn1), and Bmp - regulate the pattern of facial cartilage and bone formation by controlling the timing of cartilage differentiation along the dorsoventral axis of the pharyngeal arches. A genomic analysis of purified facial skeletal precursors in mutant and overexpression embryos revealed a core set of differentiation genes that were commonly repressed by Jagged-Notch and induced by Edn1. Further analysis of the pre-cartilage condensation gene barx1, as well as in vivo imaging of cartilage differentiation, revealed that cartilage forms first in regions of high Edn1 and low Jagged-Notch activity. Consistent with a role of Jagged-Notch signaling in restricting cartilage differentiation, loss of Notch pathway components resulted in expanded barx1 expression in the dorsal arches, with mutation of barx1 rescuing some aspects of dorsal skeletal patterning in jag1b mutants. We also identified prrx1a and prrx1b as negative Edn1 and positive Bmp targets that function in parallel to Jagged-Notch signaling to restrict the formation of dorsal barx1+ pre-cartilage condensations. Simultaneous loss of jag1b and prrx1a/b better rescued lower facial defects of edn1 mutants than loss of either pathway alone, showing that combined overactivation of Jagged-Notch and Bmp/Prrx1 pathways contribute to the absence of cartilage differentiation in the edn1 mutant lower face. These findings support a model in which Notch-mediated restriction of cartilage differentiation, particularly in the second pharyngeal arch, helps to establish a distinct skeletal pattern in the upper face.
In Search of Initial Predictors of Fischer–Tropsch Catalytic Activity

All Fischer–Tropsch mechanisms known to date begin with the adsorption of carbon monoxide followed by its dissociation on a given catalysts surface. Understanding how those catalysts modify reactivity descriptors such as CO adsorption and dissociation energies is a key for nanoengineering materials for this type of applications. Cluster models of Co, Fe, Ni, Pd, Pt, and Ru have been explored using the density functional theory, in search of initial descriptors of Fischer–Tropsch activity for pure and binary combinations of those elements. Carbon monoxide adsorption energies were calculated for adsorption on all possible catalytic sites, and the most preferred CO adsorption sites were found in each case. An initial predictor that can be used to anticipate potentially effective catalysts was identified as a percentage difference, using CO adsorption energy results in combination with CO dissociation energies from the previously found sites. A greater catalysts performance is expected when that percentage difference is maximized. On pure clusters, the predictor indicates that ruthenium is expected to be the best catalyst followed by cobalt, in very good agreement with the current knowledge in this field. Thus, this paper presents a mechanism to quickly explore the natural potential of a catalyst material to break the CO bond. The predictor presented here can guide the synthesis of new catalysts, involving modifications of known and currently used catalysts for the Fischer–Tropsch process, and investigations on catalysis in general.
Transporting down the road to dehydration.

In this issue of Blood, Brown and colleagues provide strong evidence that erythrocyte hydration is an important modifier of disease severity in sickle cell disease (SCD).1
Evaluation of Measurement Uncertainty in the Determination of Nickel in Filter Membrance by FAAS

Objective:To find the measurement uncertainty of determination nickel in filter membrance.Methods:The main sources of the combined uncertainty were considered,such as stand solution uncertainty,stand curve uncertainty,uncertainty induce by repeatablity of measurements.The components of uncertainty and the combined uncertainty were calculated.Results:The concentration of the nickel in filter membrance was 17.21μg calculated according to mathematical model established in the present study,expanded uncertainty was 0.55μg,and the expression of the uncertainty was(17.12±0.55)μg.Conclusion:This method can be used for evaluation of uncertainty of determinatiion of nickel in filter membrance by FASS.
Therapeutic Effect and Discussion of Immunological Mechanism of Compound Lidocaine Cream on Contact Dermatitis Model of Mice

Objective To study the therapeutic effect and discuss the immunological mechanism of compound lidocaine cream (CLC) on contact dermatitis model of mice. Methods Dinitrochlorobenzene ( DNCB )-induced contact dermatitis model of mice was used, and each group was stimulated by 4 times. The mice were randomly divided into model control group, low, medium, and high dose groups of CLC[0.032,0.064,0.096 g/(d·cm-2)]; positive drug [halcinonide cream 0.096 g/(d·cm-2)]control group. Twelve mice in each group, and choose another 12 mice without stimulation as normal control group. Each treating groups were treated externally on both sides of right ears of mice with continuous 15days. Normal control group and model control group were treated with blank cream respectively, Observing the scabbing conditions of mice' right ears. Central thickness of mice' right ears were measured by thickness tester. Both ears' weights were measured by electronic scale. The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-12, IL-18 and IFN-r in serum were determined by ELISA method. Results The mice' ears scabbing formation ratios of low, medium, and high dose groups of CLC and halcinonide cream group(41.67%、25.00%、8.33% and 8.33%). Ear swelling degrees after the 4th stimulation (0.352±0.049,0.322±0.054,0.305±0.059 and 0.301±0.058). Weight differences of both ears(5.678±3.642,3.092±1.937,2.106±1.034 and 14.731±2.857)were lower than model control group(91.67%,0.404±0.077,8.642±2.369).In addition, the expression levels of IL-2、IL-12 and IFN-r in serum were higher than Model Control group, and the expression levels of IL-4 and IL-18 were lower than Model Control group, showing a good dose-effect relationship with statistical significance(P all 0.05). Conclusion CLC had good therapeutic effect on contact dermatitis model of mice, and the mechanism might be related to regulating the balance of Th1 and Th2 in serum.
ICP-MS Determination of Metal Elements in Electric Current Speckle with Laser Ablation Sample Introduction

A method of ICP-MS for determination of metal elements in doubtful electric current speckle of skin with laser ablation sample introduction was proposed.By comparing contents of metal elements in metallic conductor,in doubtful speckle on skin and in blank skin,it was found that: the contents of Cr,Ni and Cu in metallic conductor were highest.While the contents of above 3 elements in doubtful speckle of skin were lower,but were about two orders of magnitude higher than those in blank skin.Hence,the doubtful speckle of skin was identified to be electric current speckle.
Renal Complications of Hematopoietic-Cell Transplantation

Despite overall improvement in the outcomes of hematopoietic-cell transplantation, kidney injury is a frequent complication. The author reviews the causes, diagnosis, and management of renal complications and disorders after hematopoietic-cell transplantation.
Breast Cancer and Fenretinide, an Analogue of Vitamin A

Preclinical studies make fenretinide attractive for prevention and treatment of breast cancer. It inhibits mammary gland end bud formation in developing animals. Carcinogen-induced mammary cancer is suppressed by fenretinide, both at early and late stages of carcinogenesis, in young and mature rats. Fenretinide causes regression of invasive rat mammary cancer. Cytostatic activity has been demonstrated against human breast cancer cell lines. Autocrine stimulation of human breast cancer cell lines by tgf-alpha, insulin-like growth factors I and II is significantly abrogated by fenretinide. The human half-life is 24 hours. Absorption is markedly affected by meal content. Serum levels of 1 mM are achieved at doses of 200 mg/day. This dose significantly suppresses serum IGF-I levels in women. This concentration is capable of suppressing human breast cancer growth in vitro. A 3-day drug holiday is given each month in order to restore serum retinol levels. Under these circumstances, fenretinide is well tolerated. A phase III trial evaluating the efficacy of fenretinide for breast cancer prevention in high-risk women has been completed. Tamoxifen enhances the effectiveness of fenretinide in carcinogenesis models. The combination can be safely administered to women. A phase III adjuvant trial of tamoxifen, with or without fenretinide will be conducted in the United States.
Chest film diagnosis of disc embolization in patients with Beall mitral valve prostheses.

This report presents the chest film findings in three patients with Beall mitral valve prostheses in whom severe disc wear resulted in disc embolization. In all three cases the worn disc embolized to the thoracic aorta with catastrophic decompensation, and all three patients were salvaged with emergency operation. Detection of the embolized disc was possible with plain chest radiography in each case and may permit removal of the embolized disc at the time of valve replacement. Early detection of disc wear and replacement of worn Beall mitral valve prostheses are advocated to avoid this life-threatening complication.
Absence of visual experience modifies the neural basis of numerical thinking

In humans, the ability to reason about mathematical quantities depends on a frontoparietal network that includes the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). How do nature and nurture give rise to the neurobiology of numerical cognition? We asked how visual experience shapes the neural basis of numerical thinking by studying numerical cognition in congenitally blind individuals. Blind (n = 17) and blindfolded sighted (n = 19) participants solved math equations that varied in difficulty (e.g., 27 - 12 = x vs. 7 - 2 = x), and performed a control sentence comprehension task while undergoing fMRI. Whole-cortex analyses revealed that in both blind and sighted participants, the IPS and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices were more active during the math task than the language task, and activity in the IPS increased parametrically with equation difficulty. Thus, the classic frontoparietal number network is preserved in the total absence of visual experience. However, surprisingly, blind but not sighted individuals additionally recruited a subset of early visual areas during symbolic math calculation. The functional profile of these "visual" regions was identical to that of the IPS in blind but not sighted individuals. Furthermore, in blindness, number-responsive visual cortices exhibited increased functional connectivity with prefrontal and IPS regions that process numbers. We conclude that the frontoparietal number network develops independently of visual experience. In blindness, this number network colonizes parts of deafferented visual cortex. These results suggest that human cortex is highly functionally flexible early in life, and point to frontoparietal input as a mechanism of cross-modal plasticity in blindness.
Adolescents’, mothers’, and fathers’ reports of adherence across adolescence and their relation to HbA1c and daily blood glucose

This study examined what is measured by adolescents', mothers', and fathers' reports of adolescents' adherence to the type 1 diabetes regimen and how such reports relate to HbA1c and daily blood glucose. Two-hundred fifty-two adolescents (M age = 12.49 at baseline), mothers, and 188 fathers completed an adapted Self-Care Inventory (LaGreca et al. in Child Health Care 19(3):132-139, 1990) every 6 months for 2.5 years, HbA1c was gathered from medical records, and daily number of blood glucose tests (BGT) and blood glucose mean (BGM) were obtained from glucose meters at one time point. A multitrait-multimethod approach decomposing adherence indicated that fathers' reports reflected a stable perception across time, mothers' reports a shared view within the family that varied with HbA1c across time, and adolescents' reports a unique view. Fathers' and mothers' reports were related to HbA1c; adolescents' reports were not, but were uniquely associated with BGT. Family members' adherence reports capture different information across time, with implications for measuring adherence and for family processes.
Writer Identity in Narrative and Argumentative Genres: A Case of Korean Students in the United States

This study investigated how three Korean ESL students constructed their writer identity in narrative and argumentative genres of writing. For this purpose, the qualitative data collected from interviews, observations and written documents for eight weeks were analyzed according to a social constructionist perspective as a philosophical framework and Ivanic’s approach to systemic functional linguistics as an analytic method. The results showed that the participants constructed a confident identity in narrative writing whereas they identified themselves with a less-confident writer in an argumentative genre. Accordingly, they adopted different strategies for the difficulties they were confronted with in two genres. In addition, while narrative essays showed their ownership of Korean culture as a sojourner in the U.S., argumentative essays revealed their ambivalent identity in an academic context. These findings shed light on the importance of a narrative writing task as a stepping stone for academic writing by empowering an L2 writer in terms of constructing an authoritative voice.
Racial disparities in preventable risk factors for head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To demonstrate racial differences in preventable risk behaviors/practices that contribute to head and neck cancer (HNCA). STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of large national risk factor survey. METHODS The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 2013 was analyzed. Demographic data were extracted, including age, sex, and race. Social habits considered risk factors for HNCA were also extracted, including alcohol consumption, smoking, and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination status. Statistical comparisons were conducted according to race for each risk factor, and additional comparisons were conducted within the American Indian population subgroup for risk factors according to sex. RESULTS A total of 238.6 million Americans were surveyed. American Indians reported higher rates of binge drinking (19.0%) than whites (17.3%), blacks (12.4%), and Asian Americans (13.1%; P < .001). This rate was significantly higher for American Indian males (23.5%) versus females (13.7%; P < .001). Mean total drinks per month was higher for whites and American Indians (13.5 and 13.5; P < .001). American Indians reported the highest rates of current smoking (28.1%), followed by blacks (20.1%), whites (18.3%), and Asians (10.2%; P < .001). American Indians also reported the highest rates of every day smoking (18.2%), versus whites (13.3%), blacks (13.1%), and Asians (6.1%; P < .001). Rates of HPV vaccination were lowest for American Indians (11.7%), compared to whites (14.6%), blacks (13.6%), and Asians (12%; P = 0.618). CONCLUSIONS There are striking racial disparities in the prevalence of preventable risk factors for HNCA. These data highlight the need for targeted education and prevention programs in particular racial groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4. Laryngoscope, 127:1068-1072, 2017.
Stereotypes violate the postmodern construction of personal autonomy

Individual autonomy, as constructed in the postmodern era, is violated by stereotypes, which makes stereotype accuracy morally unpalatable. Yet people are clustered and homogenized by social forces, entailing some accuracy in stereotypes. This tension can be ameliorated by unveiling the constructed nature of autonomous selfhood, and explaining why social clustering has occurred and been adaptive.
Anesthesia for Surgical Procedures in Cirrhotic Patients Other than Liver Transplantation: Management, Concerns, and Pitfalls

In patients with cirrhosis, the perioperative risk of anesthesia is invariably linked to the severity of hepatic dysfunction and the nature of the procedure, rather than the selection of anesthetic. The MELD (Model for End-stage Liver Disease) score has predictive value for perioperative risk, with MELD scores of 25 or more associated with 1-month mortality of 50%. Surgical procedures near the liver are associated with reductions in hepatic blood flow, which can lead to decompensation and hepatic failure. Other conditions associated with decompensation include preoperative infection, higher ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status score, and surgery on the respiratory system. Preoperative medical management should focus on treating infection, optimizing blood volume and renal status, and minimizing ascites and encephalopathy. However, specific goal-directed targets have not been shown to improve outcomes. Routine administration of prophylactic plasma in an attempt to correct INR abnormalities should be avoided, as volume loading is associated with increases in portal pressure that may worsen bleeding. Unique conditions associated with cirrhosis – hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and hepatorenal syndrome – also increase perioperative risk. Patients with an advanced disease benefit from liver transplantation prior to elective surgery. When such patients require emergency surgery they should be evaluated for minimally invasive and less extensive surgical alternatives. The effects of hepatic dysfunction on perioperative sedation and anesthetic selection are described, as is the anesthetic management of hepatic resection.
Precision drug development in ROS1-positive lung cancer

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The treatment paradigm of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to evolve with the advent of broadened molecularly-targeted approaches. Similar to activating EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements, ROS1 translocations define a distinct molecular subtype of NSCLC. ROS1 forms fusion products with a series of partners, leading to oncogenesis.Areas covered: This review will discuss key ROS1-fusion related downstream pathways and diagnostic techniques for detection of ROS1 rearrangements. Crizotinib, an inhibitor of MET/ALK/ROS1, has been approved as a targeted treatment for ROS1 positive lung cancer. Moreover, we will address the main resistance mechanisms to crizotinib, including development of secondary ROS1 mutations (such as G2032R and L2026M), activation of bypass signaling pathways (including EGFR and KRAS) and limitations in central nervous system penetrance. We will also review emerging therapies in ROS1 positive NSCLC, including cabozantinib, lorlatinib, entrectinib, and c...
Adhesion mechanisms on solar glass: Effects of relative humidity, surface roughness, and particle shape and size

Abstract To better understand and quantify soiling rates on solar panels, we are investigating the adhesion mechanisms between dust particles and solar glass. In this work, we report on two of the fundamental adhesion mechanisms: van der Waals and capillary adhesion forces. The adhesion was determined using force versus distance (F-z) measurements performed with an atomic force microscope (AFM). To emulate dust interacting with the front surface of a solar panel, we measured how oxidized AFM tips, SiO2 glass spheres, and real dust particles adhered to actual solar glass. The van der Waals forces were evaluated by measurements performed with zero relative humidity in a glove box, and the capillary forces were measured in a stable environment created inside the AFM enclosure with relative humidity values ranging from 18% to 80%. To simulate topographic features of the solar panels caused by factors such as cleaning and abrasion, we induced different degrees of surface roughness in the solar glass. We were able to 1) identify and quantify both the van der Waals and capillary forces, 2) establish the effects of surface roughness, relative humidity, and particle size on the adhesion mechanisms, and 3) compare adhesion forces between well-controlled particles (AFM tips and glass spheres) and real dust particles.
Finite square function implies integer dimension

Following a recent paper (Tolsa and Ruiz de Villa, 2008) we show that the finiteness of square function associated with the Riesz transforms with respect to Hausdorff measure Hs implies that s is integer. To cite this article: S. Mayboroda, A. Volberg, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 347 (2009).
Bridging the “Expectation Gap” Using Student Preceptors

An “Expectation Gap” can exist between what teachers expect of their students and what effort students expect to and are willing to expend. In order to get students and teachers on the same learning page, this Gap needs remedied. One successful means of bridging the Gap is the use of Student Preceptors.
It’s Time to Upgrade to Principal Selection 2.0:

Education researchers have continually noted the importance of the principal in affecting student achievement and school success. Despite this importance, school districts seldom use reliable metho...
Radical View of Freedom: An Interview with Dread Scott

In 2019, US-based African American artist Dread Scott will present his new performative work, Slave Rebellion Reenactment, just outside the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. It will be a re-performance of the German Coast uprising of 1811, one of the largest rebellions of enslaved people in US history. It is the most recent installment in a slowly growing historical body of knowledge about this little-known history. The story is about a radical idea of freedom that Scott seeks to enliven through recruiting the performers. The potential for organizing and future networks is at the heart of this effort. This text is based upon Joey Orr's interview with Dread Scott on Thursday 12 May 2016, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
3.1Å structure of yeast RNA polymerase II elongation complex stalled at a cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer lesion solved using streptavidin affinity grids

Abstract Despite significant advances in all aspects of single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), specimen preparation still remains a challenge. During sample preparation, macromolecules interact with the air-water interface, which often leads to detrimental effects such as denaturation or adoption of preferred orientations, ultimately hindering structure determination. Randomly biotinylating the protein of interest and then tethering it to a cryo-EM grid coated with two-dimensional crystals of streptavidin (acting as an affinity surface) can prevent the protein from interacting with the air-water interface. Recently, this approach was successfully used to solve a high-resolution structure of a test sample, a bacterial ribosome. However, the general applicability of this method to samples where interaction with the air-water interface is problematic remains to be determined. Here we report a 3.1A structure of a RNA polymerase II elongation complex stalled at a cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer lesion (Pol II EC(CPD)) solved using streptavidin grids. Our previous attempt to solve this structure using conventional sample preparation methods resulted in a poor quality cryo-EM map due to Pol II EC(CPD)’s adopting a strong preferred orientation. Imaging the same sample on streptavidin grids led to a high-resolution structure with little anisotropy, showing that streptavidin affinity grids could be used as a general strategy to address challenges posed by interaction with the air-water interface.
Crystal structures of [Gd[sub 6](O)(OH)[sub 8](NO[sub 3])[sub 6](OH[sub 2])[sub 12]]-[NO[sub 3]][sub 2][center dot]2H[sub 2]O and [NH[sub 4]][sub 2][Yb[sub 6](O)(OH)[sub 8](NO[sub 3])[sub 7](OH[sub 2])[sub 10]]-[NO[sub 3]][sub 3][center dot]H[sub 2]O

Two similar oxy-hydroxy-nitrate lanthanide(III) complexes were unexpectedly isolated from the reaction of Ln(NO[sub 3])[sub 3][center dot]5H[sub 2]O with tripropylene glycol in 3:1 CH[sub 3]CN:CH[sub 3]OH. The crystal structures of these two compounds revealed identical [Ln[sub 6](O)(OH)[sub 8]][sup 8+] central cores and are reported here.
News Media Reporting On Medication Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder Amid The Opioid Epidemic

Medications such as methadone and buprenorphine are effective treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD), but levels of use remain low. Given the importance of the news media as a source of health in...
Long-term persistence of summer annuals in soil seed banks of seasonally dewatered mudflats

In annually flooded and dewatered mudflats, does the big flush of germination following dewatering exhaust the seed bank, and if not, how long can seeds remain viable and nongerminated under annual flooding cycles? Soil samples from mudflats in Land Between the Lakes in western Kentucky and northwestern central Tennessee (USA) were collected in 1990, 1991, and 1992 and annually flooded in winter and kept moist during summer for 15, 14, and 13 years, respectively. Beginning in 1996, all samples were stirred when dewatered in June. Seedlings were counted and removed, thus preventing any input of new seeds. During the study, seeds of 37 species germinated, and there were 2 to 8588 seedlings m−2, depending on the species. Ten of the species germinated in only one set of samples (2–4 seedlings m−2) in 1 year, but the number of years before germination ranged from 1 to 9; one species germinated in two sets of samples (2–4 seedlings m−2) after 6 and 9 years. Eighteen species germinated in 2–12 of the years but not necessarily in consecutive years. Eight species germinated in 14 and/or 15 years. Regardless of seed bank size, seeds of many species lived in the samples for extended periods of time with 31 (83.8%) germinating after ≥ 5 years and 19 (48.6%) after ≥ 10 years. New species appeared in the 1990, 1991, and 1992 samples after 8, 9, and 11 years, respectively. Thus, if the seedling emergence method is used to study mudflat soil seed banks and monitoring is terminated after only a relative short period of time, the size and species richness of the seed bank may be greatly underestimated.
Inflammation and depression but where does the inflammation come from

Purpose of review Up until the latter part of the previous century, the monoamine theory guided our understanding of psychiatric disorders, notably depressive illness in its various phenotypic manifestations. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of newer theories that allow a deeper understanding of brain dysfunction and neuropsychiatric disease entities such as depressive illness. One such key theory is the theory of inflammation as a result of stress-induced immune system activation. Recent findings Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system [sympathetic branch (SNS)] with a concomitant reduction in vagal tone. This homeostatic imbalance makes a simultaneous dual contribution to the resulting proinflammatory state of depression. SNS stimulation results in upregulation of proinflammatory signaling, whereas diminution in parasympathetic tone affects the body's immune response. The resulting proinflammatory status has been closely associated with multiple organ dysfunction and comorbid conditions. Summary The advent of innovative theories about the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders has ushered in a new era on the basis of the role of the immune system and inflammation in mediating depression in its multifaceted manifestations. Extensive studies have confirmed the proinflammatory status in depression and causal relationships with neurotransmitter dysregulation. Equally importantly the role the autonomic nervous system plays in this complex and multifactorial interplay of body systems is being increasingly elucidated.