cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Has photosynthetic capacity increased with 80 years of soybean breeding? An examination of historical soybean cultivars

Crop biomass production is a function of the efficiencies with which sunlight can be intercepted by the canopy and then converted into biomass. Conversion efficiency has been identified as a target for improvement to enhance crop biomass and yield. Greater conversion efficiency in modern soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars was documented in recent field trials, and this study explored the physiological basis for this observation. In replicated field trials conducted over three successive years, diurnal leaf gas exchange and photosynthetic CO2 response curves were measured in 24 soybean cultivars with year of release dates (YOR) from 1923 to 2007. Maximum photosynthetic capacity, mesophyll conductance and nighttime respiration have not changed consistently with cultivar release date. However, daily carbon gain was periodically greater in more recently released cultivars compared with older cultivars. Our analysis suggests that this difference in daily carbon gain primarily occurred when stomatal conductance and soil water content were high. There was also evidence for greater chlorophyll content and greater sink capacity late in the growing season in more recently released soybean varieties. Better understanding of the mechanisms that have improved conversion efficiency in the past may help identify new, promising targets for the future.
A short-term clinical evaluation of immediately restored maxillary TiOblast single-tooth implants.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term clinical outcome of single-tooth implants placed in the maxilla and immediately restored using cementless friction-fit temporary crowns. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients consecutively referred to a private specialist practice for the replacement of failing or missing maxillary teeth were treated by means of immediate temporization of their single-tooth implants. Where teeth were still present, implants were placed immediately following extraction. Provisional crowns were fabricated on a special friction-fit coping by means of autopolymerizing acrylic resin. Definitive crowns were placed a mean of 4.5 months after surgery. Implant survival was recorded along with the level of the marginal bone relative to a fixed reference point 1 year after placement. Any adverse soft tissue changes were also noted. Results: A total of 28 Astra Tech ST dental implants were placed. The overall survival rate at the end of the study was 96.4% for implants which were in function for periods ranging from 15.7 to 27 months. One patient, a smoker, lost 1 implant within 1 month of surgery. Mean marginal bone loss was 0.40 mm (range 0 to 1.53 mm) 1 year after placement of the implants. Many implants (37.5%) had no observed bone loss. No implants or crowns have been lost during the functional loading period. One implant was associated with an unfavorable recession of soft tissues; however, most maintained an esthetic gingival architecture. Eleven of 28 provisional restorations needed treatment; 6 required replacement during the temporization period, and 5 required cementation because of looseness. The ease of removal of the crowns allowed regular access for irrigation with chlorhexidine and thus maintenance of soft tissue health. Discussion: The need to provide provisional restorations for single-tooth gaps often presents challenges. An immediate temporary partial denture or adhesive prosthesis may be unacceptable or impractical. The current study describes a simple method for the immediate temporization of single-tooth implants. The results did not indicate any negative influence on osseointegration or shortterm survival once the implants were functionally loaded. Conclusion: Immediate temporization of maxillary single-tooth implants can be both safe and predictable, and it appears that the procedure can yield favorable soft tissue esthetics. INT J ORAL MAXILLOFAC IMPLANTS 2004;19:274‐281
Envelope Structures of Gram-Positive Bacteria

Gram-positive organisms, including the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis, have dynamic cell envelopes that mediate interactions with the environment and serve as the first line of defense against toxic molecules. Major components of the cell envelope include peptidoglycan (PG), which is a well-established target for antibiotics, teichoic acids (TAs), capsular polysaccharides (CPS), surface proteins, and phospholipids. These components can undergo modification to promote pathogenesis, decrease susceptibility to antibiotics and host immune defenses, and enhance survival in hostile environments. This chapter will cover the structure, biosynthesis, and important functions of major cell envelope components in gram-positive bacteria. Possible targets for new antimicrobials will be noted.
THE RECOVERY OF LETHALLY IRRADIATED DOGS GIVEN INFUSIONS OF AUTOLOGOUS LEUKOCYTES PRESERVED AT -80 C.

Nine normal mongrel dogs were exposed to 1200 r whole-body irradiation at 4 to 5 r per minute. They were then given intravenous infusions of 2.12 to 20 x 109 autologous leukocytes that had been previously stored at -80 C. in 10 per cent dimethyl-sulfoxide. Three dogs survived with delayed but complete hematopoietic recovery. Three showed beginning marrow regeneration but died within 3-4 weeks of irradiation. Three given less than 6 x 109 cells died within 21 days. The number of leukocytes infused was critical since there was no survivor among the dogs receiving less than 9 x 109 cells. It is concluded that peripheral blood contains primitive cells capable of repopulating marrow spaces and restoring marrow function.
The Counterfeit Food Crisis in China: A Systemic Problem and Possible Solutions

In 2008, infant milk powder laced with the toxic chemical melamime to exaggerate protein content was sold in Chinese markets, resulting in infant deaths and thousands of illnesses. Since then, the counterfeit food industry in China has become infamous. China’s central government has attempted to fight back against the production and sale of unsafe foods through evolving food safety laws. Yet, its people remain wary of food products originating from China, and counterfeit food items manufactured in China continue to invade both Chinese and foreign markets. This is arguably because of the dark underbelly of the Chinese government, corrupt local officials who avoid enforcing food safety standards due to the economic incentive to allow counterfeiting to occur. This article presents the counterfeit food problem that plagues China, and examines China’s response in the development of stricter and more standardized food safety law, promulgated from its central government. It then discusses why local government corruption occurs in China, and how such local corruption prevents China from realizing the effectiveness of its laws. Finally, this article proposes several mechanisms to combat the production and sale of counterfeit foods.
Degradation of insecticides by a soil fungus, trichoderma viride.

Evidence is provided to show that a strain of Trichoderma viride Persoon, isolated from soil that had been heavily contaminated with various insecticides, has the ability to degrade several organophosphorus, carbamate, and chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides; probably through an oxidative system.
Geology, Mineralization, and Fluid Inclusion Characteristics of the Kensu W-Mo Skarn and Mo-W-Cu-Au Alkalic Porphyry Deposit, Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan

The Kensu deposit is located within a large metallogenic belt of W-Mo, Cu-Mo, W-Au, Au, and Pb-Zn deposits along the Late Paleozoic active continental margin of Tien Shan. The deposit is related to a small Late Carboniferous to Early Permian multiphase gabbro-monzonite(syenite)-granite pluton representing an alkaline potassic (shoshonitic) suite. The igneous rocks are related to a deep-rooted magmatic source but the pluton emplacement corresponds to shallow (“porphyry”) levels. The deposit represents an example of a complex W-rich alkalic magmatic-hydrothermal system that complements the typical mineral deposits related to shoshonitic igneous suites. It contains large bodies of W-Mo-skarn of the oxidized type, with abundant andradite garnet, scapolite, K-Na feldspars, and Fe oxides (magnetite, hematite). The skarns are overprinted and surrounded by extensive halos of stockwork-disseminated (porphyry-style) Mo, W-Mo, W-Cu, Pb-Zn, and Au-W mineralization with propylitic (chlorite-amphibole-epidote–dominated) and phyllic (quartz-sericite-carbonate-sulfide) alteration assemblages. Consistent with the oxidized nature of the major mineral assemblages, the deposit may represent the “oxidized lithophile” W-Mo-Cu-Au metallogenic type. The hydrothermal stages alternate with magmatic phases, and fluid inclusion data show the predominance of high-temperature (~550°–450°C), high-pressure (1,200–700 bars) and high-salinity (60–45 wt % NaCl equiv) magmatic-hydrothermal fluid at prograde and early retrograde skarn stages, with its possible direct exsolution from crystallizing magma. The general trend of cooling and dilution was complicated by the influx of higher-temperature and higher-salinity fluid that correlates to the intrusion of quartz monzonite, and the initial stages of its degassing and cooling. This more advanced phase of magmatic differentiation likely corresponded to the enrichment of residual melt and related magmatic fluids in W and Mo. Intense fluid boiling and phase separation triggered the deposition of molybdoscheelite in skarns that formed at T = >625°–500°C and P = 510–300 bars and continued to a nonboiling fluid at T = >420°–370°C and P = 1,150–750 bars. Mineralization in propylitic alteration zones was formed by highly to moderately saline nonboiling fluids. Late quartz-sericite-carbonate-sulfide stage involved both high to low salinity aqueous fluids and CO2-rich fluids, under decreasing temperature (from >400°C to 200°–300°C) and varying pressure (from ~1,200 bars to 750–600 bars).
Tandem mass spectrometry in an electrostatic linear ion trap modified for surface-induced dissociation.

A variety of ion traps are used in mass spectrometry. A key feature shared by most of them is the ability to perform tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The Orbitrap is perhaps the most notable ion trap in which MS/MS has yet to be performed. An electrostatic linear ion trap (ELIT) is analogous to an orbitrap in that ions are trapped using solely electrostatic fields. However, the relatively simple ion motion within an ELIT facilitates analysis of fragment ions produced within the device. In this report, we describe an ELIT to which we have added a target for surface induced dissociation (SID). When combined with our previously described method for isolating a precursor ion trapped in an ELIT,1 this apparatus enables MS/MS to be performed. Measurement of product ion m/z is facilitated by the fact that the ELIT is isochronous over the energy range of 1850–2000 eV so that changes to ion energy during SID do not cause major m/z shifts. We demonstrate MS/MS by isolating and dissociating each compound in a four ...
Serum Immunoglobulin Levels in Premature and Full-term Infants

Immunoglobulin determinations in more than 200 cord serum specimens studied revealed a linear relationship between log IgG and gestational age, with a wide range of normal values. Only two of 44 undergrown neonates had IgG levels below the tenth percentile. Of 77 sera having undetectable IgM levels using standard plates, retesting with Low-Level plates revealed values in 64 instances, five of which were 15 mg. per 100 ml. or more. IgD was detected in only seven of 84 cases, varying from 2.1 to 6.2 mg. per 100 ml. IgG, IgA, and IgM levels among multiple-birth newborns correspond to those of single infants of similar gestational age.
The chemistry of thiophene-based bis-(p-quinodimethanes): an approach to macrocycles

Bis-2,5-dimethylene-2,5-dihydrothiophenes have been generated in the gas-phase by flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) of diester precursors. These thiophene-based bis-(p-quinodimethanes) are shown to undergo reactions leading to macrocycles. The conversions are consistent with a mechanism involving cyclic diradical intermediates followed by disproportionation of the radical centers.
The Glass Eeling: Maine’s Glass Eel and Elver Regulations and Their Effects on Maine’s Native American Tribes

Until recently, elvers and glass eels were not commercially popular aquatic creatures.1 However, a tsunami and European ban depleted Asian supplies, which rapidly increased the demand for American elvers and glass eels.2 The increased demand for elvers has driven their price from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars per pound.3 This increased profit margin has caused many additional individuals to begin fishing for elvers in states in which elvers are numerous and widespread, including Maine.4 The initial increase in elver fishing began in 2012. By 2013, the impact of the increased fishing began to produce adverse effects on the Maine elver fishery.5 Because of these effects, the state legislature passed emergency, sweeping legislation in early 2013, days before the elver season was scheduled to begin.6 Although this legislation, and the regulations established thereunder, are applicable to all individuals
Characterization of drug resistance of Salmonella from foodborne disease surveillance in Shenzhen

Objective: To investigate the situation of drug-resistance of food-borne Salmonella and drug-resistance spectrum in Shenzhen.Methods: Disk diffusion method(KB) was used to detect antibiotic resistance and the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards(NCCLS) was applied to analyze the detection result.Results: Antibiotic susceptibility experiments for 69 strains of Salmonella on 23 kinds of drugs showed that the most sensitive(100%) antibiotics were Meropenem,Imipenem,Cefoxitin,Ceftazidime,Cefalotin,Cefotaxime/Clavulanic acid,Cefepime,Amikacin and so on.The top 5 drug-resistant antibiotics were Chennai pyridine acid(56.52%),Cotrimoxazole(47.83%),Tetracycline(47.83%),Trimethoprim(43.48%),Streptomycin(43.48%).Conclusion: Food-borne Salmonella are sensitive to Carbapenems and Cephalosporins;whereas they show drug-resistance to Quinolones tetracycline and Sulfonamides.Therefore,antibiotics should be limited for animal feeding in food-borne application process to ensure food safety.
Engineering Design Method of Composite Explosive Container

A design method of composite explosive container was put forward. The ply of composite shell was determined by theoretic computation, and the shape and dimension of metallic connector were derived from LS-DYNA simulation analysis. So a composite explosive container with 1kg TNT equivalent was designed with the method. The test result indicated that the explosive container was effective, safe and with a certain safety redundancy.
New Species of Podandrogyne (Cleomaceae) II. Two Species Endemic to the Southwestern and Northern Colombian Andes1

Abstract. Two new species, Podandrogyne laplanadae from the department of Narino and P. nutibarana from the department of Antioquia are described from the montane cloud forests of Colombia. Species descriptions, illustrations, specimen citations and ecogeographical information are presented, as well as notes about their conservation status.
Investigation of oxygen transport membrane reactors for oxy-fuel combustion and carbon capture purposes

Abstract There is an increasing pressure for industry to reduce carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from combustion processes, resulting in an increased interest in the development of methods to sequester and recycle CO 2 from flue gases. Current methods available to separate nitrogen and CO 2 for environmental benefits, such as chemical looping combustion (CLC), are expensive at the high flow rates encountered in industry. One potential alternative is a ceramic membrane catalytic reactor, which produces pure oxygen and simultaneously conducts oxy-fuel combustion, thus, CO 2 in the product stream can successfully be separated from the nitrogen in air. This work investigates the performance of a perovskite-type SrSc 0.1 Co 0.9 O 3-δ (SSC) and La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3-δ (LSCF) membrane reactors for the combustion of methane in various configurations. The ceramic membranes exploited here are oxygen semi-permeable, dense ceramic membranes based on the composite oxides with a high mixed oxygen ionic and electronic conductivity at high temperatures. The prepared SSC and LSCF hollow fibre membranes with catalysts were used to perform reactions with a methane fuel. The oxygen permeability feasibility of the membrane reactors were studied and confirmed. The CO 2 selectivity at various test conditions were also reported with the maximum selectivity achieved for SSC membrane to be 85.4% while LSCF membrane achieved 87.1% CO 2 selectivity.
Enacting Partnerships: Writing Programs, Writing Centers, and the Collaboration Continuum

This chapter introduces readers to the characteristics and theories of complex collaboration. It argues for the applicability of recent research on complex collaborative practices to the different forms of collaboration that are often enacted by writing programs and centers. Drawing on scholarship relevant to complex collaborations, the author connects the work of writing programs and centers to key dimensions put forth by Thomson (Collaboration: Meaning and measurement, 2001), an action framework proposed by organizational studies scholars Cohen and Mankin (Complex collaborations in the new global economy, 2002), the sharing rules of equity and equality put forth by Jap (Journal of Marketing Research 38(1):86–99, 2001), and the characteristics of successful academic collaborations identified by Eddy (Partnerships and collaborations in higher education, 2010), mapping such research to features audiences will find in their reading of the chapters in this collection.
Three-dimensional radiation dosimetry using polymer gel and solid radiochromic polymer: From basics to clinical applications

Accurate dose measurement tools are needed to evaluate the radiation dose delivered to patients by using modern and sophisticated radiation therapy techniques. However, the adequate tools which enable us to directly measure the dose distributions in three-dimensional (3D) space are not commonly available. One such 3D dose measurement device is the polymer-based dosimeter, which changes the material property in response to radiation. These are available in the gel form as polymer gel dosimeter (PGD) and ferrous gel dosimeter (FGD) and in the solid form as solid plastic dosimeter (SPD). Those are made of a continuous uniform medium which polymerizes upon irradiation. Hence, the intrinsic spatial resolution of those dosimeters is very high, and it is only limited by the method by which one converts the dose information recorded by the medium to the absorbed dose. The current standard methods of the dose quantification are magnetic resonance imaging, optical computed tomography, and X-ray computed tomography. In particular, magnetic resonance imaging is well established as a method for obtaining clinically relevant dosimetric data by PGD and FGD. Despite the likely possibility of doing 3D dosimetry by PGD, FGD or SPD, the tools are still lacking wider usages for clinical applications. In this review article, we summarize the current status of PGD, FGD, and SPD and discuss the issue faced by these for wider acceptance in radiation oncology clinic and propose some directions for future development.
Hepatocyte growth factor demonstrates racial heterogeneity as a biomarker for coronary heart disease

Objective To determine if hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a promising biomarker of coronary heart disease (CHD) given its release into circulation in response to endothelial damage, is associated with subclinical and clinical CHD in a racial/ethnic diverse population. Methods HGF was measured in 6738 participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Highest mean HGF values (pg/mL) were observed in Hispanic, followed by African, non-Hispanic white, then Chinese Americans. Results In all races/ethnicities, HGF levels were associated with older age, higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) and body mass index, lower high-density lipoprotein, diabetes and current smoking. In fully adjusted models, each SD higher HGF was associated with an average increase in coronary artery calcium (CAC) of 55 Agatston units for non-Hispanic whites (p Conclusion In a large and diverse population-based cohort, we report that HGF is associated with subclinical and incident CHD. We demonstrate evidence of racial/ethnic heterogeneity within these associations, as the results are most compelling in African-Americans and non-Hispanic white Americans. We provide evidence that HGF is a biomarker of atherosclerotic disease that is independent of traditional risk factors.
Constraining nuclear data via cosmological observations: Neutrino energy transport and big bang nucleosynthesis

We introduce a new computational capability that moves toward a self-consistent calculation of neutrino transport and nuclear reactions for big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). Such a self-consistent approach is needed to be able to extract detailed information about nuclear reactions and physics beyond the standard model from precision cosmological observations of primordial nuclides and the cosmic microwave background radiation. We calculate the evolution of the early universe through the epochs of weak decoupling, weak freeze-out and big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) by simultaneously coupling a full strong, electromagnetic, and weak nuclear reaction network with a multi-energy group Boltzmann neutrino energy transport scheme. The modular structure of our approach allows the dissection of the relative contributions of each process responsible for evolving the dynamics of the early universe. Such an approach allows a detailed account of the evolution of the active neutrino energy distribution functions alongside and self-consistently with the nuclear reactions and entropy/heat generation and 'ow between the neutrino and photon/electron/positron/baryon plasma components. Our calculations reveal nonlinear feedback in the time evolution of neutrino distribution functions and plasma thermodynamic conditions. We discuss the time development of neutrino spectral distortions and concomitant entropy production and extraction from the plasma. These e↑ects result in changes in the computed values of the BBN deuterium and helium-4 yields that are on the order of a half-percent relative to a baseline standard BBN calculation with no neutrino transport. This is an order of magnitude larger e↑ect than in previous estimates. For particular implementations of quantum corrections in plasma thermodynamics, our calculations show a 0.4% increase in deuterium and a 0.6% decrease in 4 He over our baseline. The magnitude of these changes are on the order of uncertainties in the nuclear physics for the case of deuterium and are potentially signi↓cant for the error budget of helium in upcoming cosmological observations.
A morphometric and analytical cadaver dissection study of a tumor-simulation balloon model

Abstract We quantified the effects on anatomical cadaver dissection of a balloon-inflation tumor model positioned in the parasellar region and approached through an orbitozygomatic (OZ) craniotomy. A modified supraorbital OZ was performed bilaterally on 5 silicon-injected cadaver heads. Ten predetermined anatomical points assigned using a frameless stereotactic device were used to measure the working area of exposure, degree of surgical freedom, and horizontal and vertical angles of attack to specific target points before and after inflation of a balloon catheter mimicking a parasellar tumor. Balloon inflation displaced the central anatomical structures (pituitary stalk, lamina terminalis, anterior chiasm, and internal carotid artery [ICA]–posterior communicating artery and ICA-A1 junctions) by 14–51% (p ≤ .05). With tumor simulation, the vertical angle of attack increased by 67% (p
Player-Game Interaction: An Ecological Analysis of Foreign Language Gameplay Activities

This article describes how the literature on game-based foreign language FL learning has demonstrated that player-game interactions have a strong potential for FL learning. However, little is known...
Calibrating Play: Sociotemporality in South Korean Digital Gaming Culture

Author(s): Rea, Stephen C. | Abstract: This article examines the significance of digital gaming culture amidst broader institutional trans- formations in South Korea over the past several decades. Digital gaming is contextualized by a popular narrative about Korean society “speeding up” and complementary sociotemporal expectations for being and acting that stress qualities of both quickness and endurance. Approaching digital gaming’s virtual- and actual-world sites as nested “taskscapes,” I contend that calibration—processes that bring phenomena across different taskscapes into corre- spondence with one another—best describes how Korean digital gamers align their individual, embodied play with sociotemporal expectations. Specifically, I analyze two digital gaming practices in their ethnographic contexts—an e-sports performance metric called “actions per minute” (APM) and an online gaming activity known as nogada—as modes for calibrating play with dominant sociotemporalities. The contrast between quick and slow sociotemporal- ities and the necessity of continual recalibration across taskscapes is a source of unending stress and frustration for many Koreans. Thinking with play as a disposition for calibration helps to make sense of everyday strategies for making do in precarious circumstances.
Graphene Logic Devices and Moore’s Law

The primary semiconductor device is the field-effect transistor, that has evolved with Moore’s Law and is now produced in large scale, reported as 1018 per year. These devices have a gate-electrode that draws carriers to a channel connecting the source and drain electrodes, in the ON condition of the device. Graphene has good conduction properties suitable for the channel of such devices, but lacks a high resistance state needed to turn the device OFF.
Review on System Functions

The systems to be discussed are restricted to those having linear, lumped, and time-invariant elements. The description that is pertinent here is the system function of the complex-frequency variable.
Nonlinear Optimal Tracking With Incomplete State Information Using State Dependent Riccati Equation

A number of computational techniques have been offered for estimation of unmeasured states in nonlinear systems. Most of these techniques rely on applying the linear estimation techniques to the linearized systems, which can be effective only in the neighborhood of the operating point. This paper presents an online technique for nonlinear stochastic tracking problems. The idea of the proposed technique is to integrate the Kalman filter algorithm and the State Dependent Riccati Equation (SDRE) technique. Unlike the ordinary methods which deal with the linearized system, this technique will estimate the unmeasured states of the nonlinear system directly, and this will make the proposed technique effective for wide range of operating points. Numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
The coordination chemistry of CmIII, AmIII, and AcIII in nitrate solutions: an actinide L3-edge EXAFS study

Understanding actinide(III) (AnIII = CmIII, AmIII, AcIII) solution-phase speciation is critical for controlling many actinide processing schemes, ranging from medical applications to reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. Unfortunately, in comparison to most elements in the periodic table, AnIII speciation is often poorly defined in complexing aqueous solutions and in organic media. This neglect – in large part – is a direct result of the radioactive properties of these elements, which make them difficult to handle and acquire. Herein, we surmounted some of the handling challenges associated with these exotic 5f-elements and characterized CmIII, AmIII, and AcIII using AnIII L3-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) as a function of increasing nitric acid (HNO3) concentration. Our results revealed that actinide aquo ions, An(H2O)x3+ (x = 9.6 ± 0.7, 8.9 ± 0.8, and 10.0 ± 0.9 for CmIII, AmIII, and AcIII), were the dominant species in dilute HNO3 (0.05 M). In concentrated HNO3 (16 M), shell-by-shell fitting of the extended X-ray fine structure (EXAFS) data showed the nitrate complexation increased, such that the average stoichiometries of Cm(NO3)4.1±0.7(H2O)5.7±1.3(1.1±0.2)−, Am(NO3)3.4±0.7(H2O)5.4±0.5(0.4±0.1)−, and Ac(NO3)2.3±1.7(H2O)8.3±5.2(0.7±0.5)+ were observed. Data obtained at the intermediate HNO3 concentration (4 M) were modeled as a linear combination of the 0.05 and 16 M spectra. For all three metals, the intermediate models showed larger contributions from the 0.05 M HNO3 spectra than from the 16 M HNO3 spectra. Additionally, these efforts enabled the Cm–NO3 and Ac–NO3 distances to be measured for the first time. Moreover, the AnIII L3-edge EXAFS results, contribute to the growing body of knowledge associated with CmIII, AmIII, and AcIII coordination chemistry, in particular toward advancing understanding of AnIII solution phase speciation.
Invited Keynote by Mr. Mukesh Ambani

Reliance has become the first Indian company to record PBDIT of over US$ 10 billion with each of our key businesses - Refining, Petrochemicals, Retail and Digital Services achieving record earnings performance. Substantial synergies, productivity gains and production growth in our energy and materials business has allowed us to perform at very competitive levels despite the uptrend in oil prices through the year. We have established strong foundations in retailing and digital services business with world-class supply chain management and network infrastructure which will serve our customers well. It is very heartening to see the traction our service offerings are gaining, with discerning Indian consumers. The growing Indian market provides exciting opportunities to scale-up these businesses and maximize long-term shareholder value in the coming years.
Tribute to Longtime Annals Managing Editor Claire Zimmerman.

The retirement of Claire Zimmerman from her long career behind the scenes in family medicine publishing is an occasion to pay tribute to her dedication and skill. Claire has worked with authors and contributed to the quality of 3 journals over 38 years. As the founding editor of The Journal of
Renal double negative T cells: increasing importance in health and disease.

We thank the authors for the in-depth commentary on our recently published manuscript “Activation and Proliferation of PD-1+ Kidney Double-Negative T Cells Is Dependent on Nonclassical MHC Proteins and IL-2” (1). The authors have very nicely reviewed the historic aspects, key publications and challenges in studying kidney TCRαβ double negative (DN) T cells.
Improving provider awareness to statin prescribing guidelines: A quality improvement project.

Guidelines recommend statin therapy for all patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) due to the increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events. A lack of adherence to these guidelines was identified at a vascular clinic located in the southeastern United States. The aim of this nurse practitioner–led quality improvement project was to increase the percentage of patients with lower extremity PAD who were prescribed a statin medication at this clinic. Baseline data were obtained via a chart review. Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model, a paper tool depicting an evidence-based algorithm was implemented in the clinic for 6 weeks to increase awareness of guidelines (PDSA cycle 1). Next, an electronic pop-up reminder was implemented in the electronic health record for the following 6 weeks (PDSA cycle 2). Data were collected throughout the process and analyzed to determine if either intervention increased the number of patients with PAD who were prescribed a statin medication. Baseline data revealed only 54.16% of patients were on a statin medication. After PDSA cycle 1, an average of 70.8% of patients were on a statin medication. PDSA cycle 2 revealed an average of 73.3% of patients were taking a statin medication. ANOVA was conducted and showed statistical significance between the groups (P = .003). There was statistical significance between baseline and implementation of the algorithm and baseline and implementation of the pop-up, but not between the 2 interventions. These findings are consistent with research suggesting algorithms and electronic reminders may increase medical staff awareness of guidelines. Standardization of these interventions enhanced provider adherence to guidelines and ultimately improved patient outcomes.
Assessment of student performance on a mock new prescription counseling session and an objective structured clinical examination across five years.

Abstract Introduction New prescription counseling (NPC) provides vital information to patients regarding newly prescribed medications to improve treatment outcomes. This evaluation's goals were to describe the implementation of teaching and assessment methods incorporated into an NPC module across two courses at Auburn University and evaluate student performance on assessments of NPC skills over five years. Methods Assessments included self and peer evaluations of a recorded mock NPC session, NPC objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), and overall course grade. Scores were analyzed over a five-year period (2012 to 2016) to evaluate mean student performance in each of four domains (gathering information, communication, management strategies, and monitoring and follow-up) and overall for each assessment. Pearson's correlation coefficients between these scores were calculated by combining all five years of data. Results Seven-hundred thirty-three students were included in the analysis. No trends in mean domain and total assessment scores were noted across years. Self and peer evaluation domain and total scores were significantly, though moderately, correlated across assessments (r = 0.43–0.51), except in the communication domain (r = 0.12). Overall, NPC OSCE total scores were not correlated with NPC recording self or peer evaluation total scores (r = 0.06 and r = 0.11, respectively). Assessment total scores were all moderately correlated with overall course grades. Conclusions Utilization of a scaffolding approach with class discussion, demonstration, role-play, self and peer evaluation, and OSCEs, is an effective means of building student competence in patient counseling for the NPC context.
A Non-Parametric Approach for Setting Safety Stock Levels

In practice, lead time demand (LTD) can be non-standard: skewed, multi-modal or highly variable; factors that compromise the validity of the classic approaches for setting safety stock levels. Motivated by encountering this problem at our industry partner, we develop an approach for setting safety stock levels using the bootstrap, a widely-used statistical procedure. We extend prior research that has used the bootstrap for quantile estimation to address the multi-parameter estimation of safety stocks. We develop a multivariate central limit theorem for the bootstrap mean and bootstrap quantile -- components of the safety stock calculation -- highlighting why the generalization of these bootstrap methods is critical for inventory management. These results provide a theoretical underpinning for the bootstrap estimator of safety stock and permit the construction of confidence intervals for safety stock estimates, allowing decision makers to understand the reliability with which the desired service level will be achieved. Building on our theoretical results, and supported by numerical experiments, we provide insights on the behavior of the bootstrap for various LTD distributions, which our results demonstrate are critical when employing the bootstrap method. Implementation results with our industry partner indicate our approach is quite effective in setting safety stock levels.
Adoption of Exclusive and Pooled TNC Services in Singapore and the US

AbstractOn-demand mobility services provided by transport network companies (TNCs) have experienced significant growth in their adoption and diversification of services in major metropolitan cities...
Historicizing Infrastructural Contexts for Teaching and Learning: A Heuristic for Institutional Engagement

Abstract This article encourages writing teachers to consider historical dimensions as they work with academic IT units on teaching and learning initiatives. To help teachers with this critical task, I trace the connected histories of institutions, literacies, and technologies, specifically enduring questions from the field and institutional dimensions that shape how academic IT units function, demonstrating how these connected histories influence key decision-making processes. My purpose is to provide a heuristic teachers can use to understand how academic IT units function in historical terms, identify pedagogical spaces for meaningful engagement, and intervene productively to advance the practices and perspectives of the profession.
State Equalizing Aids and Metropolitan Tax Base Sharing: A Comparative Analysis:

State gram programs aimed at equalizing local government fiscal capacities and metropolitan-wide programs for the sharing of property tax bases are very similar in terms of objectives as well as operation. The Twin Cities tax base sharing system, which has served as a model for numerous other proposals, has some serious deficiencies; a proposal for eliminating these defects is developed by viewing tax base sharing as a set of fiscal capacity equalizing grants. Alternative formulas are evaluated, and the merits of tax base sharing at the state rather than metropolitan level are discussed.
Marlowe and religion

Book synopsis: The life and death of Christopher Marlowe has long been shrouded in mystery and subject to speculation. One of the foremost dramatists of his day, Marlowe and his writings exerted an influence not only on the work of his contemporaries, including Shakespeare, but also on literary culture to the present. Setting Marlowe's writings in their historical context, this collection showcases the most exciting critics writing on critical and contextual approaches to his poems and plays, discussing both major and lesser-known works. In three sections, 'Marlowe's works', 'Marlowe's world', and 'Marlowe's reception,' short chapters tell a story ranging from classical literature through to modern cinema. Other topics covered include religion, geography, audience, and women. Chapters on the critics and Marlowe now show how and why his works continue to resonate and a comprehensive further reading list provides helpful suggestions for those who want to find out more.
Parts of recognition

Abstract We propose that, for the task of object recognition, the visual system decomposes shapes into parts, that it does so using a rule defining part boundaries rather than part shapes, that the rule exploits a uniformity of nature—transversality, and that parts with their descriptions and spatial relations provide a first index into a memory of shapes. This rule allows an explanation of several visual illusions. We stress the role inductive inference in our theory and conclude with a pre´cis of unsolved problems.
Loss at Chromosome 13q22.2 Indicates Poor Survival in a Group of Grade 2 and Grade 3 Astrocytomas

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4204 Pathologic grade is the most significant predictor of outcome in astrocytic tumors. World Health Organization (WHO) grading is based on cellular atypia, mitotic activity, endothelial proliferation, and necrosis. Grade 2 tumors (low grade, median survival >5 yr) usually have cellular atypia, while grade 3 tumors (anaplastic, median survival ∼3.5 yr) usually have both atypia and mitotic activity. However, some grade 2 and 3 patients have poor survival, and some have good survival. There is no known marker that distinguishes the atypical survivors. We used DNA microarrays to study 21 consensus grade 2 and 41 consensus grade 3 astrocytomas. Consensus was defined as diagnostic agreement among at least 4 of 6 neuropathologists. We used cluster analysis to identify genetic groups, significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) to identify genetic differences between groups, and the COX proportional hazards model to identify genetic markers associated with survival. Our preliminary analysis suggests that copy number at small loci on chromomes 3, 4, 6, 9, and X differ in grades 2 and 3. Copy number loss at a ∼5Mb region on chromosome 13q22.2 is associated with poor survival irrespective of grade. This work was supported by NIH (NS42927 and CA85799) and the National Brain Tumor Foundation.
A fiber-mounted polymer electro-optic-sampling field sensor

In this paper we describe the integration of contact-poled electro-optic polymer film into a fiber-based electro-optic sampling system for measurement of RF electric field signals from a microstrip device-under-test (DUT).
A flexible topology management software component to support business process integration

Abstract Topology information is a critical piece of data shared by many business processes and engineering activities. Many existing software applications manage topology data in different formats, which results in repeat work and inconsistency. Towards solving this problem, this paper presents a generic topology model in which a topology space and topology views are proposed to support different business process and engineering activities. The model abstracts topology connection from enterprise entities or plant equipment. The paper also discusses a prototype implementation of the model with an application example to illustrate its usage.
Who benefits from maintenance therapy in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is remarkable for its upfront mortality rate from disseminated intravascular coagulation and its high cure rate with therapy. Although induction and consolidation regimens continue to evolve, newer approaches combine an anthracycline with or without cytarabine and the highly effective differentiating drugs all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide. Early trials showed a benefit of maintenance therapy on overall survival, although this benefit has been less clear in subsequent trials. This review assesses the differences in these trials and outlines a rational approach to maintenance therapy in APL, generally advising against maintenance in patients who underwent adequate consolidation therapy, particularly if they presented with low-risk disease (WBC < 10,000) and experienced molecular complete remission after completion of consolidation.
Effect of ethanol on tumor necrosis factor signaling during liver regeneration.

Abstract Objectives: The liver has tremendous regenerative capacity but can be damaged by toxins, such as ethanol (EtOH). It has long been known that EtOH inhibits liver regeneration. Recent work demonstrates that the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF), is required for normal liver regeneration, as well as for EtOH-related liver damage. Therefore, it is conceivable that EtOH promotes liver damage by altering TNF signal transduction in such a way that proliferative signals are aborted and death signals predominate. Design and methods: Anti-TNF antibodies were used to characterize the TNF signals that are induced in the regenerating liver after two-thirds (partial) hepatectomy (PH) in normal mice and rats. Then, these TNF-regulated processes were evaluated in animals that had been fed nutritionally replete, EtOH-containing diets for several weeks before PH. Results: During normal liver regeneration, TNF induces potentially dangerous responses, such as increased mitochondrial ROS production, but also promotes the activation of several factors, including NF kappa B, Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK), and various mitochondrial membrane proteins, which are likely to permit hepatocytes to survive apoptotic and oxidant stress. Previous EtOH exposure inhibits the normal regenerative induction of NF kappa B and JNK. Conclusions: These finding are consistent with the possibility that potential hepatotoxins compromise the balanced induction of toxic and trophic signals by TNF.
Individual performance and self-evaluation in a simulated team

Abstract Team feedback was simulated by telling each subject that he had a partner and that posttrial feedback indicated their team score relative to average tracking performance. Feedback actually indicated the subject's own tracking score relative to a criterion, the stringency of which was systematically manipulated to generate varying levels of simulated team feedback. Teammate replacement was simulated by instructions and, in some conditions, by an actual change in criterion stringency. The subjects accepted the credit for the good scores incurred by a lenient criterion but attributed the blame for the poor scores wrought by a stringent criterion to their contrived partners. Individual performance was retarded by poor scores, but only after teammate replacement had been simulated. This inhibitory effect was most pronounced when poor scores were given both before and after replacement instructions. The performance data were interpreted in terms of the motivating effect of self-evaluations and of the discouragement rendered by unfulfilled hopes of improved team output. The self-evaluation data were interpreted in terms of social comparison theory.
Preparative‐scale isoelectric trapping by recursive electrophoresis in a compartmentalized system having orthogonal primary and secondary pH gradients. Part 1 – Construction and standard operation

The performance of the current preparative-scale isoelectric trapping systems is limited by the serial arrangement of the separation compartments. A new system has been developed that achieves trapping by recursive electrophoresis in a compartmentalized system (T-RECS). T-RECS features (i) parallel-connected elementary separation heads with independent electrode compartments, feed compartments, and harvest compartments, (ii) orthogonal primary pH gradients and secondary pH gradients, (iii) directionally controlled convective analyte transport along the primary (resolving) pH gradients, and (iv) electrophoretic analyte transport along the secondary (harvesting) pH gradients. The operation of T-RECS has been quantitatively characterized via separation of small molecule ampholytes.
School-Age Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Screening and Identification

Epidemiological studies indicate a worldwide increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) over the past decade. ASDs are no longer considered rare conditions. Although the reason(s) for this rise are uncertain, research indicates that specialised intervention at an early age is vital for optimising the outcomes of children with ASD. However, not all children with milder forms of autism will be identified prior to school entrance. Hence, it is essential for educators and school‐based support professionals to ensure that children who have risk factors and/or warning signs of ASD are identified and provided with special educational services as soon as possible. The aim of this article is to review five validated screening tools that hold promise for identifying at‐risk school‐age children in need of a more in‐depth diagnostic assessment.