cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Root controls on soil microbial community structure in forest soils

We assessed microbial community composition as a function of altered above- and belowground inputs to soil in forest ecosystems of Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Hungary as part of a larger Detritus Input and Removal Treatment (DIRT) experiment. DIRT plots, which include root trenching, aboveground litter exclusion, and doubling of litter inputs, have been established in forested ecosystems in the US and Europe that vary with respect to dominant tree species, soil C content, N deposition rate, and soil type. This study used phospholipid fatty-acid (PLFA) analysis to examine changes in the soil microbial community size and composition in the mineral soil (0-10 cm) as a result of the DIRT treatments. At all sites, the PLFA profiles from the plots without roots were significantly different from all other treatments. PLFA analysis showed that the rootless plots generally contained larger quantities of actinomycete biomarkers and lower amounts of fungal biomarkers. At one of the sites in an old-growth coniferous forest, seasonal changes in PLFA profiles were also examined. Seasonal differences in soil microbial community composition were greater than treatment differences. Throughout the year, treatments without roots continued to have a different microbial community composition than the treatments with roots, although the specific PLFA biomarkers responsible for these differences varied by season. These data provide direct evidence that root C inputs exert a large control on microbial community composition in the three forested ecosystems studied.
Serotonin and the Neuropeptide PDF Initiate and Extend Opposing Behavioral States in C. elegans

Foraging animals have distinct exploration and exploitation behaviors that are organized into discrete behavioral states. Here, we characterize a neuromodulatory circuit that generates long-lasting roaming and dwelling states in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that two opposing neuromodulators, serotonin and the neuropeptide pigment dispersing factor (PDF), each initiate and extend one behavioral state. Serotonin promotes dwelling states through the MOD-1 serotonin-gated chloride channel. The spontaneous activity of serotonergic neurons correlates with dwelling behavior, and optogenetic modulation of the critical MOD-1-expressing targets induces prolonged dwelling states. PDF promotes roaming states through a Gαs-coupled PDF receptor; optogenetic activation of cAMP production in PDF receptor-expressing cells induces prolonged roaming states. The neurons that produce and respond to each neuromodulator form a distributed circuit orthogonal to the classical wiring diagram, with several essential neurons that express each molecule. The slow temporal dynamics of this neuromodulatory circuit supplement fast motor circuits to organize long-lasting behavioral states.
Dynamin-related Protein Drp1 Is Required for Mitochondrial Division in Mammalian Cells

Mutations in the human dynamin-related protein Drp1 cause mitochondria to form perinuclear clusters. We show here that these mitochondrial clusters consist of highly interconnected mitochondrial tubules. The increased connectivity between mitochondria indicates that the balance between mitochondrial division and fusion is shifted toward fusion. Such a shift is consistent with a block in mitochondrial division. Immunofluorescence and subcellular fractionation show that endogenous Drp1 is localized to mitochondria, which is also consistent with a role in mitochondrial division. A direct role in mitochondrial division is suggested by time-lapse photography of transfected cells, in which green fluorescent protein fused to Drp1 is concentrated in spots that mark actual mitochondrial division events. We find that purified human Drp1 can self-assemble into multimeric ring-like structures with dimensions similar to those of dynamin multimers. The structural and functional similarities between dynamin and Drp1 suggest that Drp1 wraps around the constriction points of dividing mitochondria, analogous to dynamin collars at the necks of budding vesicles. We conclude that Drp1 contributes to mitochondrial division in mammalian cells.
Saturation, Yosida Covers and Epicompleteness in Compact Normal Frames

In this article the frame-theoretic account of what is archimedean for order-algebraists, and semisimple for people who study commutative rings, deepens with the introduction of \({\mathcal{J}}\)-frames: compact normal frames that are join-generated by their saturated elements. Yosida frames are examples of these. In the category of \({\mathcal{J}}\)-frames with suitable skeletal morphisms, the strongly projectable frames are epicomplete, and thereby it is proved that the monoreflection in strongly projectable frames is the largest such. That is news, because it settles a problem that had occupied the first-named author for over five years. In compact normal Yosida frames the compact elements are saturated. When the reverse is true one gets the perfectly saturated frames: the frames of ideals Idl(E), when E is a compact regular frame. The assignment E↦Idl(E) is then a functorial equivalence from compact regular frames to perfectly saturated frames, and the inverse equivalence is the saturation quotient. Inevitable are the Yosida covers (of a \({\mathcal{J}}\)-frame L): coherent, normal Yosida frames of the form Idl(F), with F ranging over certain bounded sublattices of the saturation SL of L. These Yosida frames cover L in the sense that each maps onto L densely and codensely. Modulo an equivalence, the Yosida covers of L form a poset with a top \({\mathcal{Y}} L\), the latter being characterized as the only Yosida cover which is perfectly saturated. Viewed correctly, these Yosida covers provide, in a categorical setting, another (point-free) look at earlier accounts of coherent normal Yosida frames.
SLO-aware hybrid store

In the past storage vendors used different types of storage depending upon the type of workload. For example, they used Solid State Drives (SSDs) or FC hard disks (HDD) for online transaction, while SATA for archival type workloads. However, recently many storage vendors are designing hybrid SSD/HDD based systems that can satisfy multiple service level objectives (SLOs) of different workloads all placed together in one storage box, at better cost points. The combination is achieved by using SSDs as a read-write cache while HDD as a permanent store. In this paper we present an SLO based resource management algorithm that controls the amount of SSD given to a particular workload. This algorithm solves following problems: 1) it ensures that workloads do not interfere with each other 2) it ensure that we do not overprovision (cost wise) the amount of SSD allocated to a workload to satisfy its SLO (latency requirement) and 3) dynamically adjust SSD allocated in light of changing workload characteristics (i.e., provide only required amount of SSD). We have implemented our algorithm in a prototype Hybrid Store, and have tested its efficacy using many real workloads. Our algorithm satisfies latency SLOs almost always by utilizing close to optimal amount of SSD and saving 6–50% of SSD space compared to the naive algorithm.
Learning in Politics: Brazilian Teachers' Political Engagement as a Pedagogical Resource

The suggestion that teaching is a political act has been a divisive issue among educators. However, there has been little analysis of the ways that teachers draw on their political experiences as pedagogical resources. Using a case study of seven teachers in Porto Alegre, Brazil who were involved in politics, this article explores the relationship between political experiences and teaching citizenship. The data consisted of interviews with the teachers, observations of their teaching, and classroom materials. This research shows that politics played an important role in their efforts to teach democratic citizenship. Through the teachers’ diverse political experiences and ideologies, they developed different understandings of the relationship of politics with citizenship education that promote democratization and social change.
Determination of lifetimes and recombination currents in p-n junction solar cells, diodes, and transistors

New methods are presented and illustrated that enable the accurate determination of the diffusion length of minority carriers in the narrow regions of a solar cell or a diode. Other methods now available are inaccurate for the desired case in which the width of the region is less than the diffusion length. Once the diffusion length is determined by the new methods, this result can be combined with measured dark I-V characteristics and with small-signal admittance characteristics to enable determination of the recombination currents in each quasi-neutral region of the cell-for example, in the emitter, low-doped base, and high-doped base regions of the BSF (back-surface-field) cell. This approach leads to values for the effective surface recombination velocity of the high-low junction forming the back-surface field of BSF cells or the high-low emitter junction of HLE cells. These methods are also applicable for measuring the minority-carrier lifetime in thin epitaxial layers grown on substrates with opposite conductivity type.
4,4'-Imino-dipyridinium bis-(hydrogen phthalate).

In the title salt, C10H11N32+·2C8H5O4−, doubly protonated 4,4′-dipyridylamine (dpa) cations participate in N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding with two hydrogen phthalate anions to form a neutral unit. Both anions contain an intramolecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond. In the crystal structure, these units form two-dimensional layers through π–π stacking inter­actions with a centroid-to-centroid distance of 3.763 (3) A. In turn, these layers aggregate in three dimensions by additional N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding. The assignment to the noncentrosymmetric space group P1 is corroborated by chemically unreasonable aromatic ring bond distances and poor K scale factor distributions for a disordered model in the centrosymmetric P\overline{1} space group.
Sport: Into the water

It all started with a humble piece of Styrofoam, four feet by three – a great watershed, so to speak, in my life. That was the seed, the singularity. My son Bruno (now a fully grown doctor) was visiting me in the US – he was fifteen at the time – and we decided to take a road trip to Florida from New York, a good eighteen hour journey. He lived in Cornwall then and was a keen body-boarder, equipped with wetsuit, fins – the works. He suggested we rent a board, also called a “boogie board”, for amusement at the beach. We checked out Ron Jon's in Cocoa Beach, a huge surfing shop (I'd never been into one before), and found that the boogie boards were on sale, so I bought one with a dark green bottom and grey plastic top for about sixty bucks. It wasn't top of the line, but it was serviceable enough, and it was only going to see a couple of weeks of use. Little did I know what would grow from that initial germ! I had always regarded the beach with some misgivings. I'd walk on it in Blackpool with the dog, but I had no great interest in lingering there. On summer holidays to Greece or Spain I'd dutifully acquire a bit of a tan, but found myself generally bored on the sand. I didn’t much like to read on the beach, because of the glare of the sun, and after an hour or so I was just too hot and bothered. I’d go in the water for a dip and a perfunctory swim, but that palled quickly too. I was constitutionally beach-averse; I didn’t even like the sand clinging between my toes.
Individual differences and social visibility in climate change mitigation

We investigated individual differences in environmental social identification and climate change belief in predicting emissions-reducing behavior (“mitigation”). Specifically, we hypothesized individual differences would moderate the importance of the social visibility of climate change behaviors to help resolve why high rates of climate change belief are not accompanied by commensurate mitigation. Climate change believers (but not skeptics) are hypothesized to experience cognitive dissonance between their beliefs and lack of action. We argued the social visibility of climate change actions will drive mitigating behavior: climate change belief will predict public behaviors such as taking recycled bags to the grocery (trifling carbon footprint), but will not affect carbon-intense but less visible activities such as meat consumption or long-distance air travel. Moral licensing (Monin & Miller, 2001) also suggests that climate change belief can function as a ideological badge that can ironically prevent future action, further explaining the mitigation gap. .
Applications of the effective medium HB resistivity models in tuffaceous sandstone formation of Hailer Basin

Based on the effective medium HB resistivity models for dispersed shaly sands proposed by Berg and combined with the characteristics of resistivity for tuffaceous sands matix,the effective medium HB resistivity models for tuffaceous sandstone is derived.The equation about water saturation is joined with the response equations about some well logging curves,and then with the method of optimization the content of rock components and water saturation were calculated.By applying the method we interpreted well BEI16 in Sudert,and compared the calculated results with the real slice analysis and production test results.The result shows that the model proposed in the paper is applicable to tuffaceous sands formation in Hailer Basin.
Targeted therapy for hematologic malignancies.

Background The introduction of monoclonal antibodies, either as native molecules or conjugated to radioisotopes or other toxins, has led to new therapeutic options for patients with hematologic malignancies. In addition, the use of small molecules against specific cell surface receptors, enzymes, and proteins has become an important strategy in the treatment of such disorders. Methods The author reviewed the published clinical trials of monoclonal antibody and other targeted therapies in hematologic malignancies. Results Results from several trials demonstrate a therapeutic benefit for the use of monoclonal antibodies (either native or conjugated) and other targeted therapies, used alone or in combination with standard cytotoxic chemotherapy. Conclusions Targeted therapy of hematologic malignancies seems to be an effective and less toxic approach to the treatment of such disorders. Nevertheless, additional studies are needed to determine where and when such management fits into a therapeutic regimen for any given disorder, whether upfront or as salvage therapy, alone or in combination with chemotherapy (concurrent or sequential).
Regional and postnatal heterogeneity of activity-dependent long-term changes in synaptic efficacy in the dorsal striatum.

High-frequency activation of excitatory striatal synapses produces lasting changes in synaptic efficacy that may contribute to motor and cognitive functions. While some of the mechanisms responsibl...
Abstract A09: CD138-negative myeloma cells regulate mechanical properties of bone marrow stromal cells through SDF-1/CXCR4/AKT signaling pathway.

As the second most prevalent hematologic malignancy, multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable and relapses due to intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies that target molecular mechanisms responsible for drug resistance are attractive. Interactions of tumor cells with their surrounding microenvironment impact tumor initiation, progression and metastasis, as well as patient prognosis. This cross-talk is bidirectional. Tumor cells can also attract or activate tumor-associated stromal cells by releasing cytokines to facilitate their growth, invasion and metastasis. The effect of myeloma cells on bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) has not been well studied. In current study, we determined the effect of myeloma cells on the stiffness of BMSCs and explored the molecular mechanisms underlying these mechanical changes. Cell stiffness measurements were performed using a combined atomic force microscope (AFM)/inverted optical microscope. We found that higher stiffness of BMSCs was not a unique characteristic of BMSCs from MM patients (M-BMSCs). BMSCs from MGUS (Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance) patients were also stiffer than the BMSCs from healthy volunteers (N-BMSCs). The stiffness of M-BMSCs was enhanced when cocultured with myeloma cells. In contrast, no changes were seen in myeloma cell-primed MGUS- and N-BMSCs. Interestingly, our data indicated that CD138- myeloma cells, but not CD138+ cells, regulated M-BMSC stiffness. SDF-1 was highly expressed in the CD138- myeloma subpopulation compared with that in CD138+ cells. Inhibition of SDF-1 using AMD3100 or knocking-down CXCR4 in M-BMSCs blocked CD138- myeloma cells-induced increase in M-BMSC stiffness, suggesting a crucial role of SDF-1/CXCR4. AKT inhibition attenuated SDF-1-induced increases in M-BMSC stiffness. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, CD138- myeloma cell-directed cross-talk with BMSCs and reveal that CD138- myeloma cells regulate M-BMSC stiffness through SDF-1/CXCR4/AKT signaling. Citation Format: Dan Wu, Xinyi Guo, Jing Su, Ruoying Chen, Dmitriy Berenzon, Keith Bonin, Martin Guthold, Weiling Zhao, Xiaobo Zhou. CD138-negative myeloma cells regulate mechanical properties of bone marrow stromal cells through SDF-1/CXCR4/AKT signaling pathway. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies; Sep 20-23, 2014; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(17 Suppl):Abstract nr A09.
Abstract 3: Comparison of First Pass and Overall Success Rates of Intubation Between Direct Laryngoscopy, Bougie-assisted Laryngoscopy, and Video Laryngoscopy

1: Airway Intubation Stationary vs. Transport David J. Olvera, FP-C, NREMT-P; Daniel Davis, MD, FACEP; Allen C. Wolfe Jr., MSN, RN, CNS, CFRN, CCRN, CMTE; Charles F. Swearingen, BS, NRP, FP-C. Air Methods Corporation Objectives: The most appropriate location to attempt an advanced airway in the prehospital setting has been a topic of discussion for many years. The purpose of this study is to explore intubation success for air medical flight crews during transport settings versus stationary settings. Methods: The study is a retrospective observational review of all patients requiring intubation in the prehospital setting with a national air medical transport company. After completion of a flight, the crew completed an airway continuous quality improvement (CQI) form documenting multiple aspects of the intubation. Upon completion of the form, the data were collated and analyzed using confidence intervals on first pass success as the primary outcome measure. The incidence of oxygen desaturation events was also reported. An intubation attempt was defined by the insertion of a laryngoscope blade into the patient's mouth. Successful placement required confirmation by quantitative capnography. Desaturation was defined as either 1) a decrease in SpO2 to 93% or below or 2) a decrease in oxygen saturation by 10% form the initial Sp02 value. Stationary intubation settings were defined as any intubation attempt made where the patient was not in transport when the intubation attempt was being attempted. Results: Intubation was attempted in a total of 3,254 patients during the study period, with success on the first attempt documented in 2,947 of these (90.6%, 95% CI 87.5%93.6%). Intubation was eventually successful in a total of 3,186 patients (97.9%, 95% CI 97.6%98.3%). A total of 2,835 first attempts of these occurred in a stationary setting, of which 2,565 were successful (90.5%, 95% CI 87.2 %93.8 %). The initial intubation attempt was made during transport in a total of 418 patients, with 382 intubated successfully on the first attempt (91.1%, 95% CI 82.5 %99.8%). Oxygen desaturation occurred during 676 of initial intubation attempts in a stationary setting (23.2%, 95% CI 21.9%-24.7%) and during 131 of initial intubation attempts during transport (30.6%, 95% CI 26.4%-34.8%). Conclusion: We document high first attempt intubation success rates for patients undergoing attempts in either a stationary setting or during transport. The desaturation rate was slightly higher during transport. This data suggests competency in either setting, however there is a greater complication of desaturation while intubating during flight. This analysis is limited by selection bias toward performing airway management in a stationary setting in patients anticipated to have difficult airways. Future studies should explore various factors predicting success during transport versus a
Cost-effectiveness of workplace wellness to prevent cardiovascular events among U.S. firefighters.

The leading cause of death among firefighters in the United States (U.S.) is cardiovascular events (CVEs) such as sudden cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of three strategies to prevent CVEs among firefighters. We used a cost-effectiveness analysis model with published observational and clinical data, and cost quotes for physiologic monitoring devices to determine the cost-effectiveness of three CVE prevention strategies. We adopted the fire department administrator perspective and varied parameter estimates in one-way and two-way sensitivity analyses. A wellness-fitness program prevented 10% of CVEs, for an event rate of 0.9% at $1440 over 10-years, or an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $1.44 million per CVE prevented compared to no program. In one-way sensitivity analyses, monitoring was favored if costs were 0.928. Wellness-fitness programs may be a cost-effective solution to preventing CVE among firefighters compared to real-time physiologic monitoring or doing nothing.
“Whale Deaths” Are Unnatural: A Local NGO’s Framing of Offshore Oil Production Risks in Ghana

The past several decades have seen a shift in environmental and risk communication that emphasizes harnessing local knowledge to enhance environmental advocacy. As a result, one would expect local ...
Importance of Brands of Dehydrated Culture Medium

Selenite Brilliant Green Sulfa broths, one prepared from basic ingredients according to formula and brands A and B available in dehydrated form, were compared for effectiveness of recovering salmonellae. Distinctly different percent recoveries of salmonellae were achieved among the three types of media.
Review: Tributes to Pierre du Prey: Architecture and the Classical Tradition, from Pliny to Posterity, edited by Matthew M. Reeve

Matthew M. Reeve, ed. Tributes to Pierre du Prey: Architecture and the Classical Tradition, from Pliny to Posterity London: Harvey Miller, 2014, 288 pp., 129 b/w illus. €100, ISBN 9781909400122 “The classical tradition meanders in and out of the history of architecture, sometimes looping back upon itself as if to suggest that time has stood still,” Pierre de la Ruffiniere du Prey notes at the opening of Hawksmoor's London Churches: Architecture and Theology .1 In that book, du Prey explores how the buildings of the early Christians, although known to Nicholas Hawksmoor only through texts and drawings, inspired the idiosyncratic Anglican churches that Hawksmoor designed in the early eighteenth century. The question of renewed relevance that underpins du Prey's Hawksmoor study, as well as much of his other work, also ties together the sixteen essays of Tributes to Pierre du Prey , edited by Matthew M. Reeve. One of the strengths of this Festschrift is its coherence. An opening essay by Mark Wilson Jones lays out the stakes by posing a dual question: Why do the orders have the forms that they do, and why has that problem proven so intriguing for writers from Vitruvius to the present? He then surveys the various possible origins of three architectural elements—fluting, the Ionic capital, and the Doric frieze—to argue for a multivalent understanding of the orders. Although no single justification for the architectural form of the orders has been produced, Wilson Jones asserts that contradictory explanations can reinforce each other rather than cancel each other out. The title of Guy P. R. Metraux's essay, “Some Other Literary Villas of Roman Antiquity besides Pliny's,” recalls du Prey's book The Villas of Pliny from Antiquity to Posterity , a magisterial examination of the influence of Pliny the Younger's letters on country house design.2 Metraux supplies context for Pliny's letters, which describe Tuscan and Laurentine villas, by describing the letters of Seneca the Younger, written about forty years before Pliny's, and of Sidonius …
Efficient semi-supervised learning bittorrent traffic detection - an extended summary

The peer-to-peer (P2P) technology has been well developed over the Internet. BitTorrent (BT) is one of the most popular P2P sharing protocols. BT network traffic detection has become increasingly important since ISP and enterprise networks often want to detect and limit P2P traffic for other critical applications. We propose a new detection method that is based on an intelligent combination of Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and Deep Flow Inspection (DFI) with semi-supervised learning. Comparing with existing methods, the new method has achieved equally high accuracy with shorter classification time.
An Enhanced Approach to Query Performance Prediction Using Reference Lists

We address the problem of query performance prediction (QPP) using reference lists. To date, no previous QPP method has been fully successful in generating and utilizing several pseudo-effective and pseudo-ineffective reference lists. In this work, we try to fill the gaps. We first propose a novel unsupervised approach for generating and selecting both types of reference lists using query perturbation and statistical inference. We then propose an enhanced QPP approach that utilizes both types of selected reference lists.
On the stagnation-point ignition of a premixed combustible

Abstract The ignitability of a cold premixed combustible at the stagnation point of an isothermal hot surface is analyzed in the limit of large activation energy. Analytical solutions were obtained for the first order perturbation, resulting in explicit expressions for the heat transfer at the wall, the temperature and species profiles, and most importantly an ignition criterion which states that ignition is expected to occur when a suitably-defined Damkohler number exceeds unity. It is further demonstrated that this state corresponds to the case of zero heat transfer from the wall, which has been intuitively used in the past as the ignition criterion.
Local Anesthetics and Regional Anesthesia

With cocaine first isolated from the coca leaves in Germany during the 1860s, local anesthetics are one of the oldest forms of anesthesia. Since that time, numerous local anesthetics have been developed, and much has been learned about their potential role in the perioperative period. Today, local anesthetics are widely utilized to provide anesthesia and analgesia by disrupting nerve conduction in the central nervous system (CNS) or peripheral nervous system (PNS). In order to understand the implications for local anesthetic utilization in the geriatric patient, this chapter reviews nerve anatomy and physiology before exploring local anesthetic pharmacology. Various local anesthetic types are examined with a corresponding review of mechanism of action, onset, metabolism, and potency. Factors prolonging duration are also considered, including local anesthetic type, perineural additives, and emerging local anesthetic formulations. The focus then shifts to local anesthetic utilization through regional anesthesia, including the benefits of regional techniques for the geriatric patient. Basic regional anesthesia techniques are discussed, including the role of ultrasound and indications for common peripheral nerve blocks. Finally, other important considerations are reviewed, including systemic toxicity, concerns with anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications, and the potential for postoperative falls, which are relevant to the geriatric population.
Does Absenteeism Differ for Children with Disabilities in Full-Day versus Part-Day Kindergarten?

ABSTRACTLittle is known about the effects of attending full-day versus part-day kindergarten for children with disabilities, and nothing is known about how these settings link to differences in children's school absences. This is concerning, given that children with disabilities have higher absence rates compared to children in the general population. To address this gap, this study examined a nationally-representative sample of kindergartners with disabilities and inquired into whether going to full- versus part-day kindergarten predicted differences in absences. Children with disabilities in full-day kindergarten had more total number of school days missed as well as a higher chance of being chronically absent compared to those children in part-day kindergarten. However, the size of this association was reduced for children with disabilities in lower-SES families and for boys with disabilities. There were no differences by disability category. Policy implications are discussed in terms of how early educ...
Stochastic Runway Scheduling

Runway scheduling deals with the sequencing of arriving and departing aircraft at airports such that a predefined objective is optimized subject to several operational constraints. Different from t...
Solitary-fibrous tumor/hemangiopericytoma of the central nervous system: a population-based study

The World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) was recently updated, restructuring solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) and hemangiopericytoma (HPC) into one combined entity. This is the first population-based study to examine outcomes of SFT/HPC based on the new WHO guidelines. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1998–2013) was queried to examine age-adjusted incidence and prognostic factors associated with overall survival in 416 surgically resected cases. Age-adjusted incidence was calculated to be 3.77 per 10,000,000 and was rising. Median survival was 155 months, with 5- and 10-year survival rates of 78 and 61%, respectively. Younger age, Asian/Pacific Islander versus white race, benign histology, tumor location, gross-total resection (GTR), and GTR plus radiation (RT) versus subtotal resection were significantly associated with survival. In multivariable analysis, older age (HR = 1.038, p < 0.0001), infratentorial location (HR = 2.019, p = 0.038), GTR (HR = 0.313, p = 0.041), and GTR + RT (HR = 0.215, p = 0.008) were independent prognostic factors. In the HPC and borderline/malignant subgroups, GTR + RT was associated with significantly increased survival compared with GTR alone (HR = 0.537, p = 0.039 and HR = 0.525, p = 0.038). After eliminating patients that died within 3 months of diagnosis, GTR + RT was still associated with an incremental increase in survival (HR = 0.238, p = 0.031) over GTR alone (HR = 0.280, p = 0.054). GTR + RT may be optimal in the management CNS HPC and SFT/HPC tumors with borderline/malignant features. This study, in combination with existing literature, warrants further investigation of adjuvant radiation through a prospective clinical trial.
The effects of interaural level differences on binaural fusion in normal-hearing listeners

Sound localization is an important aspect of auditory scene analysis, allowing listeners to group acoustic components from the same location into a single stream (Bregman 1990). Binaural pitch fusion, the fusion of different frequency tones across ears, can be thought of as one type of auditory streaming. Little is known about how sound localization cues affect binaural fusion. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of interaural level differences (ILDs), one cue for sound localization, on binaural fusion of dichotic tones. Binaural pitch fusion was measured in adult normal-hearing (NH) listeners, using five ILD conditions: ILD = 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 dB. Fusion ranges were measured by simultaneous presentation of reference and comparison stimuli in opposite ears, and varying the comparison stimulus to find the frequency range that fused with the reference stimulus. Preliminary results (5 NH; data collection is ongoing) show that small ILDs increase fusion ranges, while larger ILDs decrease fusion ranges. These findings suggest that ILDs can affect fusion range in NH listeners, and imply that simulated sound source location may provide a top-down grouping cue for binaural fusion. [This research was funded by a NIH-NIDCD grant R01 DC013307.]Sound localization is an important aspect of auditory scene analysis, allowing listeners to group acoustic components from the same location into a single stream (Bregman 1990). Binaural pitch fusion, the fusion of different frequency tones across ears, can be thought of as one type of auditory streaming. Little is known about how sound localization cues affect binaural fusion. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of interaural level differences (ILDs), one cue for sound localization, on binaural fusion of dichotic tones. Binaural pitch fusion was measured in adult normal-hearing (NH) listeners, using five ILD conditions: ILD = 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 dB. Fusion ranges were measured by simultaneous presentation of reference and comparison stimuli in opposite ears, and varying the comparison stimulus to find the frequency range that fused with the reference stimulus. Preliminary results (5 NH; data collection is ongoing) show that small ILDs increase fusion ranges, while larger ILDs decrea...
Primary Spinal Intradural Extraosseous Ewing Sarcoma in a Pediatric Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive, primary bone malignancy with occasional soft tissue extension. Purely extra-osseous ES is rare. A primary intraspinal, intradural ES without bone involvement is exceedingly rare. ES may be differentiated from other primitive neuroectodermal tumors by molecular analysis. The authors report the case of a 14-year-old female who suffered an acute neurologic decline from a hemorrhagic, intraspinal, intradural ES. The patient has been tumor free for 2 years after the initial emergency surgery. Our management of the patient and a review of the literature are provided. Considering only those cases with molecular or genetic confirmation of ES, our patient is the fifth pediatric case reported in the English literature.
The Ecoregions of the Oceans

At times, or during the winter, ice of the Arctic or Antarctic Oceans covers the regions of the polar domain. They are characterized, in general, by ocean water that is greenish, low in temperature, low in salt content, and rich in small, sometime microscopic plant and animal organisms, know as plankton. The duration of ice provides a basis for division into (a) an inner polar zone (division) covered by ice for the entire year, and (b) an outer polar zone (division) where, with a 50% probability, ice is encountered during winter and spring.
From Haar to Lebesgue via Domain Theory

If C ≃ 2ℕ is the Cantor set realized as the infinite product of two-point groups, then a folklore result says the Cantor map from C into [0,1] sends Haar measure to Lebesgue measure on the interval. In fact, C admits many distinct topological group structures. In this note, we show that the Haar measures induced by these distinct group structures are all the same. We prove this by showing that Haar measure for any group structure is the same as Haar measure induced by a related abelian group structure. Moreover, each abelian group structure on C supports a natural total order that determines a map onto the unit interval that is monotone, and hence sends intervals in C to subintervals of the unit interval. Using techniques from domain theory, we show this implies this map sends Haar measure on C to Lebesgue measure on the interval, and we then use this to prove any two group structures on C have the same Haar measure.
RAMA: easy access to a high-bandwidth massively parallel file system

Massively parallel file systems must provide high bandwidth file access to programs running on their machines. Most accomplish this goal by striping files across arrays of disks attached to a few specialized I/O nodes in the massively parallel processor (MPP). This arrangement requires programmers to give the file system many hints on how their data is to be laid out on disk if they want to achieve good performance. Additionally, the custom interface makes massively parallel file systems hard for programmers to use and difficult to seamlessly integrate into an environment with workstations and tertiary storage. The RAMA file system addresses these problems by providing a massively parallel file system that does not need user hints to provide good performance. RAMA takes advantage of the recent decrease in physical disk size by assuming that each processor in an MPP has one or more disks attached to it. Hashing is then used to pseudo-randomly distribute data to all of these disks, insuring high bandwidth regardless of access pattern. Since MPP programs often have many nodes accessing a single file in parallel, the file system must allow access to different parts of the file without relying on a particular node. In RAMA, a file request involves only two nodes -- the node making the request and the node on whose disk the data is stored. Thus, RAMA scales well to hundreds of processors. Since RAMA needs no layout hints from applications, it fits well into systems where users cannot (or will not) provide such hints. Fortunately, this flexibility does not cause a large loss of performance. RAMA's simulated performance is within 10-15% of the optimum performance of a similarly-sized striped file system, and is a factor of 4 or more better than a striped file system with poorly laid out data.
23-OR : DSA SCORING METHOD FOR ENHANCED VITUAL CROSS MATCH PREDICTABILITY: CASE STUDIES

Aim Cross match (XM) results are highly predictable by single antigen bead (SAB) / Luminex technology when low or high levels of donor specific antibody (DSA) are present. However, about 5% of sera have DSA in an intermediate range where XM results are inconsistent therefore decreasing the reliability of the Virtual XM (VXM). In the following case reports we demonstrate a simple DSA analysis method for addressing this issue. Methods A DSA analysis method was developed where an MFI score (MFI-s) = Sum (minus background) of all positive DSA - bead - MFI, for each bead expressing the reactive DS epitope (EP). EP reactivity was determined by evaluation of SAB test data in conjunction with EP listings in published/online databases (see El-War, 2007 and the HLA EP Registry, http://epregistry.ufpi.br/index/index). If more than one DS EP (DSE) was detected all were included in the MFI-s. MFI-s of HLA class 1 DSE was used to predict the T cell FCXM whereas the MFI-s of HLA class 1 and class 2 DSE were added to predict the B cell FCXM since B cells express both antigens on their surface. Results When the highest MFI among multiple DSA allele beads (eg A*02:01 + B*07:01) is used to predict the VXM, then a positive T or B cell FCXM is observed in >90% of the cases when the latter summed MFI value is > 5,000. However in some patients, positive FCXM were observed with a representative-bead-MFI sum of only about 1000. This result occurred when the DSA was against an EP that was broadly distributed over a large number of antigens in the SAB assay. For such patients when all of the EP positive beads were summed the MFI-s was > 11,000. In the latter analyses a positive FCXM would be predicted. Conclusions False negative VXMs occurred in patients when the level of DSA was relatively low and importantly when the EP was broadly distributed over a large number of antigens represented in the SAB assay. The reliability of the VXM is improved when a DSA analysis method is used that calculates an MFI-s from DSE beads. Norin: Immucor - Lifescodes: Speakers Bureau.
Evaluation of Modified Techniques for Toggle Pin Repair of Coxofemoral Luxation in Dogs: A Cadaveric Study.

Objectives The primary objective was to assess acetabular articular cartilage damage when an acetabular tunnel is drilled by passing the drill bit through the femoral tunnel. The second objective was to assess the success rate of passing the toggle through the femoral and acetabular tunnels in a single manoeuvre using a toggle delivery device. Methods Open bilateral coxofemoral luxations in 16 canine cadavers were repaired by toggle pin technique by a surgical resident (n = 8) and a diplomate surgeon (n = 8). In one hip of each cadaver, the acetabular tunnel was drilled through the femoral tunnel and the toggle was passed in a single manoeuvre using the delivery device. In the contralateral hip, the tunnels were drilled separately, and the toggle was passed through each tunnel separately (resident) or in a single manoeuvre (surgeon). Pelves were examined for acetabular cartilage damage and toggle placement. Results Cartilage damage did not occur with independent drilling of the acetabulum but occurred in 6/16 hips in which the acetabulum was drilled via the femoral tunnel. Successful deployment of the toggle was obtained in 24/24 hips in which the toggle was passed through the femoral and acetabular tunnels simultaneously using the delivery device, regardless of how the acetabular tunnel was drilled. Clinical Significance Drilling the acetabular tunnel through the femoral tunnel risks damaging the acetabular cartilage. Success was consistently obtained when passing the toggle through the femoral and acetabular tunnels simultaneously using the toggle delivery device.
The Path of Emergent Experience in the Consumer IoT: From Early Adoption to Radical Changes in Consumers’ Lives

Up to now, IoT device adoption is happening mainly in the niche segments of technologically sophisticated upscale consumers and technology-focused DIYers. To reach a broader range of users, marketers must do a better job of understanding and offering the inherent value of smart products. Current marketing approaches are fragmented and tend to focus on individual products and single use cases. They may actually be underselling the consumer IoT. The mass-market consumer is not buying a platform or devices controlled by an algorithm, they are buying an experience. We need to ask, in what ways consumers and devices will interact with each other to create the experience they actually seek. Therefore, the main challenge is to implement a bottom-up approach that encourages users to experiment with their devices and their interactions and to integrate their individual experiences into everyday routines.
The Unfolding of Student Adjustment During the First Semester of College

College sense of belonging and well-being constitute critical components of college student adjustment and success. Previous studies have generally measured these outcomes at one (or sometimes two) points in time, which prevents researchers from understanding the ongoing adjustment process as well as the dynamic interplay between college experiences and outcomes. This study provides unique insights by examining week-by-week data that consisted of 12,529 total responses from 882 undergraduates during their first semester of college. Fixed-effects regression analyses were used to examine the extent to which weekly changes in students’ experiences and interpersonal relationships predicted corresponding changes in adjustment outcomes. Social connection, relationship satisfaction with college friends, and feeling successful in class were most strongly related to changes in belonging and well-being. Some experiences that are often overlooked in higher education research were also significant predictors; specifically, time spent exercising and relationship satisfaction with parents were associated with more favorable outcomes, whereas extensive social media use was associated with poorer outcomes. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Family Involvement in Intervention with Children Having Severe Handicaps

Research is examined which pertains to the use of family members in interventions with children having severe handicaps. First, interventions addressing inappropriate behavior are reviewed and then skill acquisition research is discussed. In general, evidence to date suggests that family members can be effective interventionists. Some critical issues are discussed including the child focus of the literature, generality, measurement, and cost-effectiveness. Implications for further research are delineated.
Brothers in exile: Masonic lodges and the refugees of the Haitian Revolution, 1790s–1820

In the wake of the Haitian Revolution (1791–1804), tens of thousands of people – white colonists, free people of color, and slaves – left the French colony of Saint-Domingue for neighboring Caribbe...
Total and differential white blood cell count in cannabis users: results from the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2016.

Elevated white blood cell (WBC) count in tobacco cigarette smokers compared to non-smokers has been well documented, but little is known on circulating WBC counts and cannabis use. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2016) is designed to be nationally representative of United States non-institutionalized population. The current study includes adult participants 20–59 years of age (n = 16,430) who underwent a detailed examination in the mobile examination center (MEC). Cannabis use was measured using Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview. Cannabis use was classified into never, former, occasional (1–7 days of the past 30 days), and heavy (> 7 days of the past 30 days). WBC count was measured using the Coulter Counter method. Total WBC count was higher among heavy cannabis users when compared to never users (β = 189; 95% confidence interval: 74, 304, p = 0.001). Among circulating WBC types, modest differences were observed for neutrophil count. Neither former nor occasional cannabis use was associated with total or differential WBC counts. A modest association between heavy cannabis use and WBC count was detected. Additional research is needed to understand the immune related effects of different modes of cannabis use and to elucidate the role of proinflammatory chemicals generated from smoking cannabis.
Terahertz Wireless Links Using Diffuse Scattering From Rough Surfaces

We describe measurements of the diffuse bistatic scattering of a modulated terahertz beam incident on five metallic rough surfaces, to investigate the implications of surface roughness for non-line-of-sight (NLOS) wireless data links at frequencies at and above 100 GHz. The measurements were performed using transmitter and receiver modules, operating at several frequencies from 100 to 400 GHz. We investigate the dependence of the scattering patterns on surface roughness parameters, including rms height and correlation length. The results are consistent with numerical models for scattering from a rough surface. They support the design of bistatic methods for future multiple antenna systems, remote sensing, imaging, and localization in the terahertz range. We demonstrate for the first time that data links which incorporate an NLOS reflection in a nonspecular direction can be established at frequencies above 100 GHz, with low bit error rates.