cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opening a new path to lipoic acid.

Lipoic acid (Fig. 1) is a cofactor that is critical to the catalytic function of several key enzymes in intermediary metabolism that are found in all domains of life. There are two pathways to lipoyl-modified proteins. The de novo pathway from octanoylacyl carrier protein (ACP) involves the consecutive action of LipB and LipA (Fig. 2A), and the LplA-dependent salvage pathway activates and transfers environmental lipoic acid to the lipoyl protein domains (Fig. 2B). In this issue, Hermes and Cronan (6) identify gain-of-function mutations in LplA that allow cells to bypass the requirement for LipB in de novo lipoic acid formation (Fig. 2C). Normally, lipB null strains require either a lipoate or an octanoate supplement for growth, but these lplA mutants have increased affinities for octanoic acid, permitting them to utilize the low concentrations of intracellular octanoate, thus substituting for the LipB reaction. The characterization of these suppressor strains provides new information on the biochemistry of lipoate metabolism and reveals the existence of intracellular pools of medium-chain fatty acids that previously were not thought to exist. Functions of lipoic acid. Lipoic acid is essential for the functions of several enzymes in oxidative metabolism (2). A good example is pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), where covalently bound lipoate shuttles reaction intermediates between the active sites of a multisubunit complex (11). Lipoic acid is bound to the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) subunit in its oxidized state as a five-membered, disulfide-linked ring (Fig. 1). The E1 subunit of PDH decarboxylates pyruvate, forming 2-hydroxyethyl-2-thiamine pyrophosphate, and the lipoic acid disulfide is reduced when E2 accepts an acetaldehyde moiety from the thiamine adduct. Acetyl-coenzyme A is then released via a thioester exchange reaction with coenzyme A. The disulfide ring of lipoate is reformed by the FAD-dependent dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase component (E3). Other important bacterial lipoyl enzymes include the glycine cleavage system, -ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and the branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase that is involved in supplying branched-chain precursors for fatty acid synthesis. In Escherichia coli, strains defective in lipoic acid synthesis are unable to grow aerobically on glucose minimal medium unless it is supplemented with acetate and succinate to bypass the requirement for PDH and -ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (5, 13). Bypassing LipB. The de novo biosynthetic pathway in E. coli requires lipA and lipB (Fig. 2A). Genetic studies identified the product of the lipA gene as responsible for inserting the two sulfur atoms into the octanoate precursor (13). LipA is an S-adenosylmethionine-dependent enzyme that inserts sulfur at
Nephroblastoma (Wilms’ tumour)

Abstract Wilms’ tumour is a common extracranial solid tumour of childhood; it typically presents as a painless abdominal mass, haematuria or fever. In the UK, it is treated according to the European International Society of Paediatric Oncology protocols: initial imaging by CT and Trucut needle biopsy followed by preoperative chemotherapy. Surgery involves radical nephrectomy and lymph node sampling. Histological examination of the kidney determines the stage and the histological grade of the tumour; postoperative treatment is decided on these two criteria. The overall survival for Wilms’ tumour is about 90%.
The CO2 response of Vicia guard cells acclimates to growth environment

Stomata of growth chamber-grown Vicia faba leaves have an enhanced CO(2) response, measured as change in stomatal aperture, compared to stomata of greenhouse-grown leaves. Reciprocal transfer experiments showed that the stomatal response to CO(2) acclimated to the growing environment. Stomata of growth chamber-grown leaves transferred to a greenhouse lost their high CO(2) sensitivity within 2-3 d while stomata of greenhouse-grown leaves transferred to a growth chamber acquired a high CO(2) sensitivity within 5-7 d. Experiments measuring the CO(2) responses of stomata in detached epidermis showed that growth chamber and greenhouse-grown stomata have the same contrasting CO(2) sensitivity observed in the intact leaf, indicating that the responses reflect intrinsic guard cell properties. The acclimation properties of the CO(2) response of guard cells have implications for the understanding of stomatal function under the predicted increases in atmospheric CO(2).
BioDiversifying the Curriculum.

The conundrum of biodiversity is that there's so much of it, more species than a person can count, more interactions than a supercomputer could calculate. At the same time, this unknown quantity is getting smaller at an alarming rate. Biodiversity as a life sciences subject touches evolution, ecology, conservation biology, and environmental studies. The educational challenge is to infuse biodiversity into the curriculum while emphasizing the science and addressing common misconceptions and gaps in student knowledge about biodiversity. What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important? Where is biodiversity? How does it arise? In a previous review (Liu, 2005 ), I focused on websites that support the teaching of evolution. The websites featured in that review continue to be outstanding resources. In particular the Understanding Evolution website (http://evolution.berkeley.edu) of the Berkeley Museum of Paleontology is a dynamic website that addresses biodiversity in relation to evolution. For this review, I emphasize some of the products of evolution, systematics, communities of organisms, and the environment, rather than the underlying genetic mechanisms of evolution.
MACHINING TITANIUM AND ITS ALLOYS

Abstract Titanium and its alloys are attractive materials due to their unique high strength-weight ratio that is maintained at elevated temperatures and their exceptional corrosion resistance. The major application of titanium has been in the aerospace industry. However, the focus shift of market trends from military to commercial and aerospace to industry has also been reported. On the Other hand, titanium and its alloys are notorious for their poor thermal properties and are classified as difficult-to-machine materials. These properties limit the use of these materials especially in the commercial markets where cost is much more of a factor than in aerospace. Machining is an important manufacturing process because it is almost always involved if precision is required and is the most cost effective process for small volume production. This paper reviews the machining of titanium and its alloys and proposes potential research issues.
From concrete forms to generalized abstractions through perspective-oriented analysis of logical relationships

We believe concreteness, direct manipulation and responsiveness in a visual programming language increase its usefulness. However, these characteristics present a challenge in generalizing programs for reuse, especially when concrete examples are used as one way of achieving concreteness. In this paper, we present a technique to solve this problem by deriving generality automatically through the analysis of logical relationships among concrete program entities from the perspective of a particular computational goal. Use of this technique allows a fully general form-based program with reusable abstractions to be derived from one that was specified in terms of concrete examples and direct manipulation. >
Calorie restriction as an anti-invasive therapy for malignant brain cancer in the VM mouse

GBM (glioblastoma multiforme) is the most aggressive and invasive form of primary human brain cancer. We recently developed a novel brain cancer model in the inbred VM mouse strain that shares several characteristics with human GBM. Using bioluminescence imaging, we tested the efficacy of CR (calorie restriction) for its ability to reduce tumour size and invasion. CR targets glycolysis and rapid tumour cell growth in part by lowering circulating glucose levels. The VM-M3 tumour cells were implanted intracerebrally in the syngeneic VM mouse host. Approx. 12-15 days post-implantation, brains were removed and both ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres were imaged to measure bioluminescence of invading tumour cells. CR significantly reduced the invasion of tumour cells from the implanted ipsilateral hemisphere into the contralateral hemisphere. The total percentage of Ki-67-stained cells within the primary tumour and the total number of blood vessels was also significantly lower in the CR-treated mice than in the mice fed ad libitum, suggesting that CR is anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic. Our findings indicate that the VM-M3 GBM model is a valuable tool for studying brain tumour cell invasion and for evaluating potential therapeutic approaches for managing invasive brain cancer. In addition, we show that CR can be effective in reducing malignant brain tumour growth and invasion.
Annual Volume and Area Variations in Tropical Cyclone Rainfall over the Eastern United States

Abstract This paper examines tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall in the eastern United States from the perspective of documenting accumulated annual water volumes and areas of the precipitation. Volume is a value that merges both rainfall depth and rainfall area into a single metric for each year that can be directly compared between individual years. Area represents the total land area affected by tropical rains. These TC rainfall metrics were then compared to the ENSO and the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO). Time series of annual TC water volumes show an annual average of 107 km3. The maximum volume was produced in 1985 with 405.8 km3, driven by Hurricanes Bob, Claudette, Danny, Elena, Gloria, Henri, Juan, and Kate as well as by Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel. The lowest TC volume occurred in 1978 with 8.9 km3. ENSO phases did not show any statistical correlation with TC frequency in the eastern United States. However, AMO showed a significant correlation with volume and the number of storms affect...
Rapid electrochemical processes on stimulating electrodes: double layer and oxygen contributions on gold

The electrochemical behavior of intramuscular stimulating electrodes under normal operating conditions is found to be quite different from what is generally described in the literature. Reaction kinetics appear to play an important role in determining whether a process participates in the faradaic reactions during a stimulus pulse. For H/sub 2/ evolution, slow kinetics drive the potential during a 100- mu s current pulse over 400 mV negative of the steady-state value. The current studies also reveal that the reversible nature of gold in sulfuric acid is much greater than that described by others for stimulating electrodes. Even when the electrode begins to evolve H/sub 2/, over 70% of the injected charge is reversible within 5 ms. This contrasts with reports indicating that the majority of the charge goes into irreversible reactions such as hydrogen evolution. The difference may result from the use of transient analysis instead of slow sweep methods and the extrapolation of the results to behavior during a normal pulse. >
Dissections of the cervicocerebral arteries.

We present four cases of cerebral ischemia secondary to dissections of cervicocerebral arteries. The majority of patients presented with transient ischemic attacks and strokes, although one patient presented with headache and focal seizure. In addition to history and physical examination, the diagnostic evaluation of these patients included computed tomography scan, carotid duplex studies, angiogram, and, in some cases, magnetic resonance imaging studies. Initially, the patients were anticoagulated with heparin and then with warfarin for a period of six to eight weeks. The emergency physician must consider such dissections in younger patients with sudden neurologic deficits and no or few risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. In our experience, these are not rare syndromes; with proper workup, prompt diagnosis, and therapy, the prognosis is usually excellent.
Pneumocystis jiroveci Pneumonia

Pneumocystis jiroveci, formerly known as Pneumocystis carinii, is now believed to be a fungus. P. jiroveci pneumonia is a fungal infection, the primary symptoms of which include progressive dyspnea, nonproductive cough, and low-grade fever. These patients are often profoundly hypoxemic, and chest radiographs typically show bilateral, diffuse interstitial infiltrates. While P. jiroveci pneumonia is more commonly diagnosed in individuals who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a depressed cluster-of-differentiation 4 (CD4 ) count, it can occur in individuals with other forms of immunosuppression. The presentation can depend on the host; non-HIV patients often have a more fulminant presentation. We describe the case of a 52-year-old woman who had no obvious risk factors for HIV or other forms of immunosuppression, and who presented with substantial arterial hypoxemia and bilateral lung infiltrates and was subsequently found to have both HIV infection and P. jiroveci pneumonia. Her case illustrates the importance of considering P. jiroveci pneumonia in any profoundly hypoxemic patient, even if risk factors for HIV or other forms of immunosuppression are not present on initial assessment.
Airborne Particle Collection and Extraction Methods Applicable to Genetic Bioassays

Particulate matter is present in the ambient air in a wide range of sizes and chemical compositions. Ambient air contains both carbonaceous soot particles and silica-alumina particles, which range in size from below 0.01 μm to over 100 μm. Carbonaceous soot particles are emitted from oil combustion, such as in residential heaters and diesel vehicle exhausts. Coal-fired power plants emit fly ash particles with a silica-alumina matrix. These and other sources of urban and industrial air particles also emit significant amounts of organic compounds which condense onto the surfaces of particles after dilution and cooling in the ambient air. Advances in the application of chemical analytical techniques have led to the identification of a number of genotoxic agents in these particle-bound organics, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), e.g. benzo(a)pyrene and benzo-flouranthene, oxygenated compounds, e.g. 7-8-benz(d,e)anthracene-2-one, and aromatic amines, e.g. aminoanthracene.
A Semiparametric Gaussian Copula Regression Model for Predicting Financial Risks from Earnings Calls

Earnings call summarizes the financial performance of a company, and it is an important indicator of the future financial risks of the company. We quantitatively study how earnings calls are correlated with the financial risks, with a special focus on the financial crisis of 2009. In particular, we perform a text regression task: given the transcript of an earnings call, we predict the volatility of stock prices from the week after the call is made. We propose the use of copula: a powerful statistical framework that separately models the uniform marginals and their complex multivariate stochastic dependencies, while not requiring any prior assumptions on the distributions of the covariate and the dependent variable. By performing probability integral transform, our approach moves beyond the standard count-based bag-ofwords models in NLP, and improves previous work on text regression by incorporating the correlation among local features in the form of semiparametric Gaussian copula. In experiments, we show that our model significantly outperforms strong linear and non-linear discriminative baselines on three datasets under various settings.
Message in a bottle for unknowing defenders: strategic plea negotiations persist in South African criminal courts

When a foreign lawyer spends time observing and interviewing participants in another legal system, the differentiation between mediocre and outstanding lawyering is sometimes quite startling. This article was born out of many months observing and interviewing practitioners in the criminal courts around Cape Town and Johannesburg. If an observer looks closely, she will find that pre-trial plea negotiations persist at all levels of South African criminal courts, particularly among more experienced practitioners, despite the fact that the practice is neither formally sanctioned nor taught in law school trial advocacy courses. This non-recognition of a pervasive practice by the legal hierarchy has created a group of unknowing defenders who are unenlightened regarding the nuances of pre-trial practices and negotiation strategies.
Geeks, Cowboys, and Bureaucrats: Deploying Broadband, the Wireless Way

The advent of new unlicensed wireless technologies allows a variety of new actors – from co-operatives to municipalities – to deploy and operate communication networks. This article reviews the evolution of the new breed of wireless technologies, in particular Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), and discusses its implications for the architecture and control of emerging wireless broadband networks. Drawing on the social constructivist history of large technical systems and the work of economic historians concerned with the evolution of technology, the article explores the largely unexpected success of Wi-Fi. It then reviews the evidence to date on the bottom-up deployment of wireless networks by local actors in the United States, focusing on three types of initiatives driven by different deployment dynamics: end-user co-operatives (the “geeks”), wireless internet service providers (“cowboys”), and municipal government (“bureaucrats”). The conclusion discusses the policy and institutional issues most likely to affect the balance between centralised and decentralised deployment of wireless broadband networks in the near future, and suggests possible implications for the developing world.
Evaluation of Different Scoring Rules for a Noncognitive Test in Development

In this report, systematic applications of statistical and psychometric methods are used to develop and evaluate scoring rules in terms of test reliability. Data collected from a situational judgment test are used to facilitate the comparison. For a well-developed item with appropriate keys (i.e., the correct answers), agreement among various item-scoring rules is expected in the item-option characteristic curves. In addition, when models based on item-response theory fit the data, test reliability is greatly improved, particularly if the nominal response model and its estimates are used in scoring.
Integrity risk minimisation in RAIM part 1: Optimal detector design

This paper is the second part of a two-part research effort to find the optimal detector and estimator that minimise the integrity risk in Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM). Part 1 shows that for realistic navigation requirements, the solution separation RAIM method can approach the optimal detection region when using a least-squares estimator. This paper constitutes Part 2. It presents new methods to design Non-Least-Squares (NLS) estimators, which, in exchange for a slight increase in nominal positioning error, can substantially lower the integrity risk. A first method is formulated as a multi-dimensional minimisation problem, which directly minimises integrity risk, but can only be solved using a time-consuming iterative process. Parity space representations are then exploited to develop a computationally-efficient, near-optimal NLS-estimator-design method. Performance analyses for an example multi-constellation Advanced RAIM (ARAIM) application show that this new method enables significant integrity risk reduction in real-time implementations where computational resources are limited.
Some Regional Indices of Agricultural Equipment Basic to Southern Regional Planning

W HILE the United States has long ceased to be a predominantly agricultural nation, agriculture is still one of the largest industries. In 1940 it employed 8 i million persons, 18.3 percent of the employed workers in the United States. The products for the year 1939 were worth nearly 8 billion dollars, or 21.2 percent of the value for four basic lines of production: agriculture, minerals, basic wood products, and value added by manufacture. The value of farm products sold, traded, and used by farm households was 11.4 percent of the estimated total income of the United States for 1939. Agriculture is, therefore, in any year an important factor in the economic life of the nation. It affects directly the 30 million farm population and indirectly all the other 100 million because they eat, wear, process, buy and sell the farm products. In war years the people of the nation, and indeed of the world, look anxiously and hopefully at American agriculture. In the years after the war the industry may face even greater problems than after the first world war or during the depression. When competing areas get back into production and world crops into international trade, when the stimulus of patriotism and the support of war prices are removed, the marginal nature of much of the country's agriculture will again be exposed. It is timely, then, to analyze the agricultural resources of the nation as a basis for intelligent planning to meet as many of the problems as possible. For on the proper balancing of these resources over the country and on their efficient use depends not only the human welfare of millions of farm people but also in large measure the internal balance of economy. On it depends also internal good will. Both our distant and our recent history shows that the national spirit is unhealthy when large groups of people-whole states and regions-feel that despite their best efforts they are frustrated and pauperized; when other large groups-also states and regions-feel that they are continually called upon to give "handouts" in the form of federal equalization, and subsidies.
Design of Real-time Eyes Detection System Based on FPGA

The near-infrared source and image difference methods were used to design the eyes detection system based on FPGA.Through the image difference processing,a difference image with bright pupils which takes the face as the main body can be obtained.Then,through gray stretching,image segmentation and intergal projection on difference image,the location of the face can be obtained,and then the eyes detection can be implemented through improved complexity algorithm in the detected face region.After experience,the processing speed of the system can achieve 30 frames persecond,which meets the requirement of real-time performance.Meanwhile,the method of near-infrared source can eliminate the effection from other sources,so the system's robustness can be graranteed.
Jejunal administration of glucose enhances acyl ghrelin suppression in obese humans

Ghrelin is a gastric hormone that stimulates hunger and worsens glucose metabolism. Circulating ghrelin is decreased after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery; however, the mechanism(s) underly...
Further experience with ileocecal conduit urinary diversion.

AbstractIleocecal conduit urinary diversion was performed on 18 patients. Over-all surgical complications were few. Creation of a sutured ileal intussusception across the ileocecal valve prevented reflux in 9 of 12 patients (75 per cent) followed for 8 to 25 months. A stapling technique prevented reflux in all 5 patients followed for 8 to 12 months. These modifications may allow chronically reliable nonrefluxing urinary diversion along with the previously recognized advantages of the ileocecal segment.
Frizzled-Induced Van Gogh Phosphorylation by CK1ε Promotes Asymmetric Localization of Core PCP Factors in Drosophila

Epithelial tissues are polarized along two axes. In addition to apical-basal polarity, they are often polarized within the plane of the epithelium, so-called Planar Cell Polarity (PCP). PCP depends upon Wnt/Frizzled (Fz) signaling factors, including Fz itself and Van Gogh (Vang/Vangl). We sought to understand how Vang interaction with other core PCP factors affects Vang function. We find that Fz induces Vang phosphorylation in a cell-autonomous manner. Vang phosphorylation occurs on conserved N-terminal serine/threonine residues, is mediated by CK1e/Dco, and is critical for polarized membrane localization of Vang and other PCP proteins. This regulatory mechanism does not require Fz signaling through Dishevelled and thus represents a cell-autonomous upstream interaction between Fz and Vang. Furthermore, this signaling event appears to be related to Wnt5a-mediated Vangl2 phosphorylation during mouse limb patterning and may thus be a general mechanism underlying Wnt-regulated PCP establishment.
Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy of Hot Electron Transport between Gold Nanoantennas and Molybdenum Disulfide by Plasmon Excitation

Hot electron transport from single gold nanoantennas to underlying monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is examined using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). EELS allows nanometer-scale resolution and avoids confounding effects of optical excitation. Experimental EELS measures of plasmon bandwidth in the presence and absence of MoS2 are compared with calculated bandwidth contributions from radiative, nonradiative, and interfacial damping. Transport of plasmon hot electrons from 80 nm gold nanospheres to underlying MoS2 is estimated. A 6 ± 1% hot electron transport quantum efficiency is inferred from a measured 0.08 eV increase in plasmon damping in the presence of MoS2. Hot electron transport can contribute to reported enhancements in catalysis and photodetection of MoS2 decorated with gold nanoantennas. Improved understanding of resonant electric interactions between noble metal nanoantennas and transition metal dichalcogenides can benefit emerging optoelectronics.
Repeated burning alters the structure and composition of hardwood regeneration in oak-dominated forests of eastern Kentucky, USA

Abstract The exclusion of anthropogenic fire is a primary factor responsible for the ‘mesophication’ of eastern oak (Quercus) forests and resultant oak regeneration problems. Consequently, the reintroduction of fire is increasingly used to promote the establishment and growth of oak and hickory (Carya) and control competition from shade-tolerant species (e.g., red maple (Acer rubrum)) in the forest understory. In this study, we examined the effects of fire frequency on the abundance of prominent species in the woody regeneration layer in oak-dominated forests of eastern Kentucky. Treatments included: (1) fire-excluded (FE); (2) frequent fire (FF) – five burns over nine years, and (3) less-frequent fire (LFF) – two burns over seven years. Prior to burning (2002) and again five and seven growing seasons following the cessation of burning in the FF and LFF treatments (2015), respectively, we inventoried tree species in the woody regeneration layer into three size classes: (1) small seedlings (stems
In Vivo Topical Bioavailability and Skin Decontamination

There are situations in which knowledge of the percutaneous absorption/bio-availability of a compound is needed but determining bioavailability by blood assay is beyond capabilities due to limited skin dose. Evaluation of the rate and extent of dose excretion is desirable as well as the ability to recover residual dose from the skin. Material balance is needed to aid potential health hazard assessment. Percutaneous absorption relative to humans is demanded, so the study needs to be done in vivo in humans or in vivo in a relevant animal model such as the rhesus monkey. The following study with alachlor is an example of how an assessment of bioavailability can be achieved using the above objectives.
Efficacy of a Maternal Depression Prevention Strategy in Head Start: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Low-income and minority mothers experience a disproportionate incidence of depression and lack access to treatment services. Development of prevention strategies in accessible community-based venues is a potentially important public health strategy. Objective To determine the efficacy of a depression prevention strategy embedded in Head Start. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized clinical trial was performed from February 15, 2011, through May 9, 2016, at 6 Head Start agencies serving families at or below the federal poverty level. Participants included mothers with depressed mood, anhedonia, or depression history but who were not in a current major depressive episode. Participants were followed up for 12 months with masked outcome assessments. Final follow-up was completed on May 9, 2016. Interventions Participants were randomized to a problem-solving education (PSE) intervention (n = 111) or usual Head Start services (n = 119). Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes were problem-solving skills and depressive symptoms. To capture the chronicity and intensity of symptoms, the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms was administered bimonthly, and rates of clinically significant symptom elevations were compared across groups. Secondarily, the presence of a major depressive episode was assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. Results Among the 230 participants, 152 (66.1%) were Hispanic, with a mean (SD) age of 31.4 (7.3) years. An intention-to-treat analysis among 223 participants contributing follow-up data found no differences in problem-solving skills across groups. The mean (SD) number of depressive symptom elevations among the PSE participants was 0.84 (1.39) compared with 1.12 (1.47) among the usual service participants (adjusted incident rate ratio [aIRR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.41-0.90). In analyses stratified according to baseline depressive symptoms, PSE exerted a preventive effect among those with lower-level baseline symptoms, with a mean (SD) of 0.39 (0.84) elevations among PSE participants compared with 0.88 (1.37) among usual service participants (aIRR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.21-0.75). However, no difference was observed among those with higher-level baseline symptoms (mean [SD] elevations, 2.06 [1.92] for PSE and 2.00 [1.91] for usual service; aIRR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.67-1.80). Analysis of symptom scores followed the same pattern, with an adjusted mean reduction of 1.33 (95% CI, 0.36-2.29) among participants with lower-level baseline symptoms. Conclusions and Relevance The PSE intervention is efficacious in preventing depressive symptom episodes and performs optimally among those with initial low-level symptoms. Additional effectiveness studies in Head Start are necessary to develop meaningful public health programs. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01298804
Hot Spot of Recombination

Enzyme systems for generalized (i.e., homology dependent) recombination can effect recombination anywhere along a pair of homologous chromosomes. However, the rate of such recombination per segment of DNA is not uniform. A recombination hot spot is a segment of chromosome with a conspicuously higher than average rate of recombination.
Enhancing evaluation of sarcopenia in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by assessing skeletal muscle index (SMI) at the first lumbar (L1) level on routine chest computed tomography (CT).

Ongoing cancer cachexia trials evaluate sarcopenia by skeletal muscle index (SMI) at the L3 vertebrae level, commonly used as a standard. Routine chest CT institutional protocols widely differ in including L3. We investigated whether SMI at L1 assessment, rather than L3, would be reliable and more practicable for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC patients with routine CT chest had SMI measurements performed at L1 using Slice-O-Matic software. Accuracy of including L1 level, imaging quality, and ability to detect sarcopenia was collected and correlation of L1 SMI with body mass index (BMI) was performed. Thirty-seven patients with NSCLC (73 CT assessments) were enlisted at three institutions. Characteristics: 47% female; medians: age 59, KPS 80%; BMI 25.49, weight 72.97 kg, SMI 59.24. Sarcopenia was detected in 14.7% of patients; 20% had sarcopenic obesity. Of the 73 CTs, 94.5% included L1 (95% CI 86.6–98.5%). Three images (4%) were difficult to evaluate. Inclusion of L1 was similar among the three participating institutions (90.4 to 96.7% inclusion). BMI correlation with SMI was weak (r = 0.329). SMI assessment at L1 is achievable in patients with NSCLC receiving routine chest CT, with 96% having acceptable quality evaluations. Similar to results previously reported at L3, BMI showed poor correlation and low sensitivity to detect muscle mass loss. The use of CT at L1 is reliable and presents the opportunity for easier patient evaluation of sarcopenia in patients with lung cancer without the need for additional testing or radiation exposure.
Between Sand and Sea: Constructing Mediterranean Plant Ecology

The iconic landscapes of the Mediterranean Basin have long stimulated the imaginations of artists, writers, and scientists. They have primarily been portrayed as degraded, an interpretation absorbed into the developing discipline of ecology. The core concepts of Mediterranean vegetation ecology, though, are based largely on the work of Louis Emberger, a French colonial botanist. This chapter analyzes Emberger’s problematic approach and its use as the foundation of a great deal of scientific work on the ecology of the Basin. It concludes that Mediterranean vegetation ecology would benefit from “knowledge decolonization” that demonstrates the complex messiness of knowledge politics, material landscape change, and social dynamics together in order to avoid the ecologically and socially problematic outcomes that have been common in the Basin for a century.
Association of birth defects with the mode of assisted reproductive technology in a Chinese data-linkage cohort.

Objective To evaluate the impact of assisted reproductive technology (ART) on the offspring of Chinese population. Design Retrospective, data-linkage cohort. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Live births resulting from ART or natural conception. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Birth defects coded according to ICD-10. Result(s) Births after ART were more likely to be female and multiple births, especially after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). ART was associated with a significantly increased risk of birth defects, especially, among singleton births, a significantly increased risk in fresh-embryo cycles after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and frozen-embryo cycles after ICSI. Associations between ART and multiple defects, between ART and gastrointestinal malformation, genital organs malformation, and musculoskeletal malformation among singleton births, and between ART and cardiac septa malformation among multiple births were observed. Conclusion(s) This study suggests that ART increases the risk of birth defects. Subgroup analyses indicate higher risk for both fresh and frozen embryos, although nonsignificantly for frozen embryos after IVF and for fresh embryos were presented with low power. Larger sample size research is needed to clarify effects from fresh- or frozen-embryo cycles after IVF and ICSI.
Feasible Models of Universal Health Insurance in Oregon According to Stakeholder Views

This study collects the views of 38 health policy leaders, answering one open-ended question in a 1-hour interview: What state-level reforms do you believe are necessary to implement a feasible model of universal health insurance in Oregon? Interviewees represented seven groups: state officials, insurers, purchasers, hospitals, physicians, public interest, and experts. About 370 coded arguments in the interview transcripts were condensed into 95 categorical topics. A code outline was constructed to present a dialogue among stakeholders in one comprehensive narrative. Topical sections include the cost imperative, politics, model systems, insurance, purchasing, delivery system, practice management, and finance. Summary results show the prevalence of group attention to each topic, group affinities, and proximity correlations of different arguments mentioned by individuals. The most common arguments related to problems of low-value care and delivery system reform. There was a generally felt imperative to control costs. Regarding universal health insurance, stakeholders were split between two main alternatives. One model, favored mostly by insurer and purchaser groups, supported the state-sponsored individual mandate. This plan, embodied in the current Oregon Action Plan to implement universal health insurance, involved managed competition for insurers and clinical governance over professional practice. A separate set of arguments, favored mostly by expert and physician groups, emphasized the need for a unified public system, or utility model, possibly with centralized funds and regional global budgets.
The U.S. Energy Strategy

In this paper I discuss the national energy strategy in relation to forecasting the changing path of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Splitting Problem for Linear Operators

The examples in Chapter 1 have made it clear that it is important to be able to find a complement C to the image of a linear map L: V → V, that is, a space C such that $$ V = \left( {imL} \right) \oplus C. $$ (2.0.1) This is purely a problem in linear algebra, and so can be discussed without any explicit mention of normal forms.
An Atypical Case Presentation of Adult-Onset Leigh's Disease (P07.206)

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of an unusual adult-onset presentation of Leigh9s disease with autopsy confirmation. BACKGROUND: Leigh9s disease, or subacute necrotizing encephalopathy, is a rare, progressive neurometabolic disorder that results primarily from abnormalities in mitochondrial DNA. Most often, Leigh9s disease presents in infants and children. Adult-onset cases are uncommon. Neurological features include movement disorders (e.g. chorea, dystonia, ataxia), hypotonia, spasticity, peripheral neuropathy, ophthalmoplegia, and basal ganglia hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging brain scans. Few adult-onset cases have been reported in the literature, and of those, atypical clinical and imaging presentations may be more likely. Thus, these patients may pose diagnostic dilemmas in the clinical setting. DESIGN/METHODS: A 51-year-old male with no significant family history of movement disorders, was seen in our Movement Disorders clinic for rapidly progressive neurologic abnormalities including ophthalmoparesis, nystagmus, ataxia, and left sided weakness (VIDEO). He developed insomnia, confusion, fluctuating cognition, and hallucinations. Routine blood and cerebrospinal fluid analysis including lactic acid and pyruvate were normal. Brain MRI (IMAGES) revealed right middle cerebral peduncle asymmetry and increased T2 signal in bilateral inferior olives. Brain PET scan showed symmetric activity in bilateral hemispheres with slightly decreased metabolic activity in the right thalamus compared to the left. His atypical neurologic findings in conjunction with marked inability to achieve sleep raised concern for the rare prion disease, sporadic fatal insomnia. Genetic analysis for fatal familial insomnia was negative, though there was homozygosity for the methionine-methionine polymorphism at codon 129. RESULTS: Brain autopsy confirmed a diagnosis of Leigh9s disease based on neuropathologic findings and morphology. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates instructive clinical, imaging, and pathologic features of adult-onset Leigh9s disease. Furthermore, it highlights that Leigh9s disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of adult patients presenting with rapidly progressive encephalopathies and movement disorders for whom prion disease is considered. Disclosure: Dr. Pal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goldman has received personal compensation for activities with American Academy of Neurology, Movement Disorder Society, Johns Hopkins Dystonia and Spasticity Practicum, and Teva. Dr. Goldman has received research support from NIH/NINDS and the Parkinson9s Disease Foundation.
Assessment of gaseous criteria pollutants in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand

Abstract. The analysis of gaseous criteria pollutants in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR), Thailand, from 2010 to 2014 reveals that while the hourly concentrations of CO, SO2 and NO2 were mostly within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQs) of Thailand, the hourly concentrations of O3 frequently exceeded the standard. The results reveal that the problem of high O3 concentration continuously persisted in this area. The O3 photolytic rate constant ( j1 ) for BMR calculated based on assuming a photostationary state ranged from 0.008 to 0.013 s −1 , which is similar to the calculated j1 using the NCAR TUV model ( 0.021±0.0024 s −1 ). Interconversion between O3 , NO and NO2 indicates that crossover points between the species occur when the concentration of NOx ( = NO + NO 2 ) is ∼60 ppb. Under a low- NOx regime ([ NOx ] < 60 ppb), O3 is the dominant species, while, under a high- NOx regime ([ NOx ] > 60 ppb), NO dominates. Linear regression analysis between the concentrations of Ox ( = O3 + NO2 ) and NOx provides the role of local and regional contributions to Ox . During O3 episodes ([ O3 ] hourly > 100 ppb), the values of the local and regional contributions were nearly double of those during non-episodes. Ratio analysis suggests that the major contributors of primary pollutants over BMR are mobile sources. The air quality index (AQI) for BMR was predominantly good to moderate; however, unhealthy O3 categories were observed during episode conditions in the region.
Association of STK11/LKB1 mutations with primary resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 axis blockade in PD-L1 positive non-squamous NSCLC.

9028Background: The genomic determinants of response to PD-1/PD-L1 axis blockade in non-squamous NSCLC are incompletely understood. We previously identified STK11/LKB1 alterations as a major genomi...
Analyzing Tropical Cyclone Structures during Secondary Eyewall Formation Using Aircraft In Situ Observations

AbstractThe dynamical mechanisms for secondary eyewall formation (SEF) in tropical cyclones (TCs) are not yet fully understood. Most hypotheses for SEF rely on the early presence of persistent and ...
From the Transindividual to the Imaginal: A Response to Balibar’s ‘Philosophies of the Transindividual: Spinoza, Marx, Freud’

AbstractThis article explores the implications of Balibar’s strategic decision to add Freud to the series of the thinkers of the transindividual. This move, I argue, both illuminates the other philosophers’ contribution to our understanding of transindividuality, but also creates some tensions within the triad Spinoza, Marx, Freud. After exploring both aspects, the reciprocal tensions and the reciprocal illumination, I will move on to analysing the relationship between the transindividual and the imaginal, as both concepts signal a questioning of the dichotomy ‘individual versus society’ and thus can be seen as the result of the same movement of thought.
Why and How Does Source Country Matter? The Effects of Home Countries and Immigrant Communities on Foreign-Born Student Achievement

Objective: This paper explores the effect of the economic conditions of source countries and the human capital characteristics of coethnic immigrant communities on foreign-born students' reading and math achievement.Methods: We use data on New York City public school foreign-born students from 39 countries merged with Census data on the characteristics of the city's immigrants, and United Nations data on the economic conditions of countries. We estimate regressions of student achievement on home country and coethnic immigrant community characteristics, controlling for student and school attributes.Results: Children from middle income nations and nations where English is an official language have lower reading scores than students from other nations, though no such effects are observed for math. Children from immigrant communities with higher levels of income and educational attainment perform better in school than children from other communities. Yet children in highly English proficient immigrant communities test slightly lower than children from less proficient communities.
Coping with diabetes: Provider attributes that influence type 2 diabetes adherence.

Diabetes, a chronic disease affecting over 29 million people in the United States, requires the integration of complex medical tasks into a person’s daily life. Patient-centered care and compassion are recognized as essential dimensions of the quality care experience. This research examined provider attributes that influence adherence to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) regimens and sought to understand the phenomena of provider attributes, treatment adherence, and their relationship to coping ability and treatment outcomes. This quantitative study sampled 474 people with T2DM using a 62-item online survey administered to three different groups. The sample population included people over age 18 diagnosed with T2DM. The first group included 91 persons with T2DM identified through a Facebook group and personal social media connections, the second group included 120 Amazon Mechanical Turk participants with T2DM, and the third group included 263 respondents from a Qualtrics panel who had T2DM. Results indicated that perceived provider compassion (β = .41, ρ < .001) and optimism (β = .48, ρ < .001) positively affected coping ability. Additionally, full mediation effects for self-management were revealed, with coping ability positively mediating the effect of compassion on self-management and the effects of optimism on self-management. Furthermore, full mediation effects were found for treatment satisfaction, with coping ability positively mediating the effect of compassion on treatment satisfaction and the effects of optimism on treatment satisfaction. This research has implications for patients, healthcare professionals, and leaders suggesting that providers who communicate with optimism and compassion positively affect coping ability. As a result, healthcare providers and professionals have an opportunity to enhance self-management adherence by helping their patients cope with the burdens of diabetes. In addition, this study has implications for developing provider communication tools aimed at assessing patients’ coping capacity and increasing compassionate communication.
Beyond Bias: Re-Imagining the Terms of ‘Ethical AI’ in Criminal Law

Data-driven decision-making regimes, often branded as “artificial intelligence,” are rapidly proliferating across the US criminal justice system as a means of predicting and managing the risk of crime and addressing accusations of discriminatory practices. These data regimes have come under increased scrutiny, as critics point out the myriad ways that they can reproduce or even amplify pre-existing biases in the criminal justice system. This essay examines contemporary debates regarding the use of “artificial intelligence” as a vehicle for criminal justice reform, by closely examining two general approaches to, what has been widely branded as, “algorithmic fairness” in criminal law: 1) the development of formal fairness criteria and accuracy measures that illustrate the trade-offs of different algorithmic interventions and 2) the development of “best practices” and managerialist standards for maintaining a baseline of accuracy, transparency and validity in these systems. The essay argues that attempts to render AI-branded tools more accurate by addressing narrow notions of “bias,” miss the deeper methodological and epistemological issues regarding the fairness of these tools. The key question is whether predictive tools reflect and reinforce punitive practices that drive disparate outcomes, and how data regimes interact with the penal ideology to naturalize these practices. The article concludes by calling for an abolitionist understanding of the role and function of the carceral state, in order to fundamentally reformulate the questions we ask, the way we characterize existing data, and how we identify and fill gaps in existing data regimes of the carceral state.