cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bioremediation of arsenic-contaminated groundwater by sequestration of arsenic in biogenic pyrite.

Abstract Pyrite (FeS2) is the most common sulfide mineral in the Earth's crust, and it commonly contains minor amounts of arsenic. Here we show that authigenic pyrite can remove arsenic from contaminated groundwater and this can be used as a new and relatively inexpensive remediation process. Laboratory batch experiments presented show that fine-grain natural pyrite is an effective sorber of dissolved arsenic. Arsenic sorption onto pyrite is shown to increase with increasing pH, particularly at pH > 5 and at elevated dissolved arsenic concentration. We also present results from a field experiment at an arsenic-contaminated industrial site, which demonstrates the results of stimulation of natural sulfate-reducing bacteria in groundwater by injection of a labile organic carbon source, iron, and sulfate. Within a week, bacterial sulfate reduction triggered the formation of biogenic pyrite nanoparticles, which sequestered arsenic by adsorption and co-precipitation. Microscopic and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed that pyrite was the only iron-sulfide formed, and that no arsenic-only sulfide phase precipitated (e.g. orpiment or realgar). Pyrite occurs as either 1–10 μm euhedral crystals or similar-sized framboids both of which contain 500–4000 mg/kg arsenic. As a result, dissolved arsenic decreased from its initial concentration of 0.3–0.5 mg/L to below the regulatory clean-up standard for the site of 0.05 mg/L in a matter of weeks. In addition to the potential of this technique to remediate anthropogenic arsenic contamination, it is possible that it can be modified to inexpensively treat individual small drinking-water wells contaminated by natural sources of arsenic in many developing nations.
Perceiving Artistic Expression: A Formal Exploration of Performance Art Salsa

This paper studies artistic expression in human movement by exploring the performance art form salsa. The motions of a salsa performance are constructed as concatenations of motion primitives, each of which specifies the movement of the dance pair over the course of eight musical beats. To analyze the syntax of artistic expression, the choreography of dance performances is represented by a transition model that is based on humanoid robot representations of the dancers. In order to assess the quality of a performance, two distinct metrics are explored. By integrating the performance metrics into the proposed transition system, it is possible to create an algorithm that is capable of autonomously recognizing the dance moves and evaluating the quality of the performance with a score. To validate the model, a dance pair performed four distinct salsa dance sequences observed by an artificially intelligent (AI) judge. The video recordings of the performances are also shown to a dance audience for evaluation. By looking at the correlation between the dance audience and the AI judge’s scores, we conclude that the proposed model performs well in evaluating the artistic merit of the dance.
Clonal Hematopoiesis and risk of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute Myeloid Leukemia, the most common form of acute leukemia in adults, is an aggressive hematopoietic stem cell malignancy that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Though AML generally presents de novo, risk factors include exposure to chemotherapy and/or radiation, as well as both familial and acquired bone marrow failure syndromes. Clonal Hematopoiesis (CH) refers to an expansion of blood or marrow cells resulting from somatic mutations in leukemia-associated genes detected in individuals without cytopenias or hematological malignancies. While CH is considered part of normal ageing, CH is also significantly associated with cardiovascular disease, solid tumors, and hematological malignancies. In this review, we will discuss evidence linking CH with the development of AML, as well as describe challenges in and strategies for monitoring patients with high risk CH mutations.
Three new species of parasitoid Phoridae (Diptera) from the neotropical region.

One species of ant-decapitatingfly, Apocephalus (Apocephalus) meekerjensenae n. sp. from Costa Rica, and two species of bee-killing flies, Melaloncha ( Udamochiras) stoneorum n. sp. and M. (Melaloncha) eminara n. sp. from Bolivia, are described.
Regression analysis and variable selection for two‐stage multiple‐infection group testing data

Group testing, as a cost-effective strategy, has been widely used to perform large-scale screening for rare infections. Recently, the use of multiplex assays has transformed the goal of group testing from detecting a single disease to diagnosing multiple infections simultaneously. Existing research on multiple-infection group testing data either exclude individual covariate information or ignore possible retests on suspicious individuals. To incorporate both, we propose a new regression model. This new model allows us to perform a regression analysis for each infection using multiple-infection group testing data. Furthermore, we introduce an efficient variable selection method to reveal truly relevant risk factors for each disease. Our methodology also allows for the estimation of the assay sensitivity and specificity when they are unknown. We examine the finite sample performance of our method through extensive simulation studies and apply it to a chlamydia and gonorrhea screening data set to illustrate its practical usefulness.
Examining the "Repletion Reflex": The Association between Serum Potassium and Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure.

Background In patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF) exacerbations, physicians routinely supplement potassium to maintain levels ≥4.0 mEq/L. The evidence basis for this practice is relatively weak. We aimed to evaluate the association between serum potassium levels and outcomes in patients hospitalized with HF. Methods We identified patients admitted with acute HF exacerbations to hospitals that contributed to an electronic health record-derived dataset. In a subset of patients with normal admission serum potassium (3.5-5.0 mEq/L), we averaged serum potassium values during a 72-hour exposure window and categorized as follows: 4.5 mEq/L (high normal). We created multivariable models examining associations between these categories and outcomes. Results We included 4,995 patients: 2,080 (41.6%), 2,326 (46.6%), and 589 (11.8%) in the 4.5 mEq/L cohorts, respectively. After adjustment for demographics, comorbidities, and presenting severity, we observed no difference in outcomes between the low and medium normal groups. Compared to patients with levels 4.5 mEq/L had a longer length of stay (median of 0.6 days; 95% CI = 0.1 to 1.0) but did not have statistically significant increases in mortality (OR [odds ratio] = 1.51; 95% CI = 0.97 to 2.36) or transfers to the intensive care unit (OR = 1.78; 95% CI = 0.98 to 3.26). Conclusions Inpatients with heart failure who had mean serum potassium levels of 4.5 may be associated with increased risk of poor outcomes.
Getting Promoted as a Surgical Educator

For those interested in a career as a surgical educator, planning and intentional career development cannot begin too early. Whether you are a resident, junior faculty, or a more senior faculty member, this chapter will provide information about getting involved in key organizations, developing career trajectory plans, and recording your educational efforts in an appropriate and effective way. In addition to your individual work, mentorship and institutional support will be key to your success.
How the other half looks: the Lower East Side and the afterlives of images

Having for decades studied and photographed the streetscapes of New York City, I was looking forwarding to an easy read, and even easier reviewing, of Sara Blair’s How the Other Half Looks: The Low...
The Oxford Handbook of Later Medieval Archaeology in Britain

This massive volume serves as a textbook for those British universities that teach “later medieval” archaeology, from 1066 to c.1550. It is skillfully edited by Prof Chris Gerrard, assisted by his ...
Palatal myoclonus, abnormal eye movements, and olivary hypertrophy in GAD65-related disorder

Antibodies targeting the 65-kilodalton isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) are implicated in several autoimmune neurologic disorders.1 Anti-GAD65 antibodies (GAD65-Abs) can be seen in healthy individuals, highlighting the importance of interpreting their significance in the appropriate clinical context.1 Classic neurologic presentations include stiff-person syndrome, cerebellar ataxia, limbic encephalitis, epilepsy, myelopathy, other brainstem manifestations, and extrapyramidal symptoms.1–3 A few cases of focal myoclonus have been described.2 There is one previous report of palatal myoclonus with normal brain MRI.4 We report a patient with GAD65-Abs with relapsing diplopia, cerebellar syndrome, and palatal myoclonus with hypertrophy of the inferior olivary nuclei (ION) seen on 1.5T MRI and a dentato-rubro-olivary pathway lesion on 7T MRI.
Virtue and Meaning: A Neo-Aristotelian Perspective

The revival of Aristotelian virtue ethics can be seen as a response to the modern problem of disenchantment, that is, the perceived loss of meaning in modernity. However, in Virtue and Meaning, David McPherson contends that the dominant approach still embraces an overly disenchanted view. In a wide-ranging discussion, McPherson argues for a more fully re-enchanted perspective that gives better recognition to the meanings by which we live and after which we seek, and to the fact that human beings are the meaning-seeking animal. In doing so, he defends distinctive accounts of the relationship between virtue and happiness, other-regarding demands, and the significance of linking neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics with a view of the meaning of life and a spiritual life where contemplation has a central role. This book will be valuable for philosophers and other readers who are interested in virtue ethics and the perennial question of the meaning of life.
Performance of a multiplexed amplicon-based next-generation sequencing assay for HLA typing.

Background Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled efficient high-resolution typing of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes with minimal ambiguity. Most commercially available assays amplify individual or subgroup of HLA genes by long-range PCR followed by library preparation and sequencing. The AllType assay simplifies the workflow by amplifying 11 transplant-relevant HLA genes in one PCR reaction. Here, we report the performance of this unique workflow evaluated using 218 genetically diverse samples. Methods Five whole genes (HLA-A/B/C/DQA1/DPA1) and six near-whole genes (HLA-DRB1/DRB345/DQB1/DPB1; excluding exon 1 and part of intron 1) were amplified in a multiplexed, long-range PCR. Manual library preparation was performed per manufacturer's protocol, followed by template preparation and chip loading on the Ion Chef, and sequencing on the Ion S5 sequencer. Pre-specified rules for quality control and repeat testing were followed; technologists were blinded to the reference results. The concordance between AllType and reference results was determined at 2-field resolution. We also describe the ranges of input DNA and library concentrations, read number per sample and per locus, and key health metrics in relation to typing results. Results The concordance rates were 98.6%, 99.8% and 99.9% at the sample (n = 218), genotype (n = 1688), and allele (n = 3376) levels, respectively. Three genotypes were discordant, all of which shared the same G group typing results with the reference. Most ambiguous genotypes (116 out of 144, 80.6%) were due to the lack of exon 1 and intron 1 coverage for HLA-DRB1/DRB345/DQB1/DPB1 genes. A broad range of input DNA concentrations and library concentrations were tolerated. Per sample read numbers were adequate for accurate genotyping. Per locus read numbers showed some inter-lot variations, and a trend toward improved inter-locus balance was observed with later lots of reagents. Conclusion The AllType assay on the Ion Chef/Ion S5 platform offers a robust and efficient workflow for clinical HLA typing at the 2-field resolution. The multiplex PCR strategy simplifies the laboratory procedure without compromising the typing accuracy.
Is there an advantage to laparoscopy over open repair of primary umbilical hernias in obese patients? An analysis of the Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative (AHSQC)

The most common techniques used to repair umbilical hernias are open and laparoscopic. As the obesity epidemic in the United States is growing, it is essential to understand how this morbidity affects umbilical hernia repairs. This study compares laparoscopic versus open umbilical hernia repairs in obese patients. All patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 who underwent elective, open or laparoscopic repair of a primary umbilical hernia with mesh were identified from the Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative (AHSQC). A retrospective review of the prospectively collected data was conducted. Outcomes of interest included surgical site infections (SSI), surgical site occurrences requiring procedural intervention (SSOPI), hernia-related quality-of-life survey (HerQles), and long-term recurrence. A logistic regression model was used to generate propensity scores. Of 1507 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 322 were laparoscopic, and 1185 were open cases. The laparoscopic group had higher mean BMI (37 ± 6 vs. 35 ± 5 kg/m2 , P < 0.001 ) and mean hernia width (3 cm ± 1 vs. 2 cm ± 2, P < 0.001). Using a propensity score model, we controlled for several clinically relevant covariates. Propensity score adjustment showed no differences in the 30-day HerQles score (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.58–1.49), SSI (OR 1.57, 95% CI 0.52–4.77), SSOPI (OR 2.85, 95% CI 0.84–9.62) or hernia recurrence (hazard ratio 0.86, 95% CI 0.50–1.49). In obese patients with primary umbilical hernias, there is likely no benefit to laparoscopy over open umbilical hernia repair with mesh with regard to wound morbidity. Although, the long-term recurrence also showed no difference between these two approaches, overall follow up was lacking.
High-throughput discovery of phage receptors using transposon insertion sequencing of bacteria

As the most abundant microbes on Earth, novel bacteriophages (phages; bacteria-specific viruses) are readily isolated from environmental samples. However, it remains challenging to characterize phage–bacteria interactions, such as the host receptor(s) phages bind to initiate infection. Here, we tested whether transposon insertion sequencing (INSeq) could be used to identify bacterial genes involved in phage binding. As proof of concept, results showed that INSeq screens successfully identified genes encoding known receptors for previously characterized viruses of Escherichia coli (phages T6, T2, T4, and T7). INSeq screens were then used to identify genes involved during infection of six newly isolated coliphages. Results showed that candidate receptors could be successfully identified for the majority (five of six) of the phages; furthermore, genes encoding the phage receptor(s) were the top hit(s) in the analyses of the successful screens. INSeq screens provide a generally useful method for high-throughput discovery of phage receptors. We discuss limitations of our approach when examining uncharacterized phages, as well as usefulness of the method for exploring the evolution of broad versus narrow use of cellular receptors among phages in the biosphere.
Acute Calcific Tendinitis of the Longus Colli: Not All Retropharyngeal Fluid is an Abscess.

Objective:This report aimed to present a case of acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle as an uncommon cause of neck pain and dysphagia and is often misdiagnosed as a retropharyngeal ...
Tokimeku: The Poetics of Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method

Mono no aware is a poetic term developed by Motoori Norinaga to refer to the driving force behind aesthetic works, specifically poetry, and to refer to the human awareness of the qualitative nature of our experience in the world. For Norinaga, the cultivation of mono no aware necessarily leads to heightened sensitivity to both natural and man-made objects. As mono no aware is the natural response of the cultivated heart to the world around us, Norinaga takes it to be fundamental to human experience. Norinaga’s interpretation of the term aware as “to be stirred” bears striking similarities to the concept of “sparking joy” or tokimeku as used by Marie Kondo in her KonMari system. In Japanese, Kondo’s phrase “spark joy” is written as tokimeku, a word whose literal translation means “throb,” “pulsate,” or “beat fast,” as in the heart’s response to anticipation or anxiety. The aim of the present work is to make clear the connection between tokimeku in the KonMari system and Norinaga’s poetics of mono no aware. Specifically, this paper indicates the ways in which the KonMari system functions in line with a tradition of Japanese aesthetics of experience. This philosophy informs Japanese aesthetic practices and is articulated throughout Japanese poetics. This paper places Kondo in conversation with Norinaga’s work on aware and mono no aware towards a conceptualization of the KonMari system as an implement for cultivating a mindful heart.
Abstract 5902: Integrative genomic analysis of checkpoint blockade in lung cancer: A multi-institution SU2C collaborative

PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade has been a landmark advance for many patients suffering from advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, detailed biomarkers of response beyond tumor mutational burden (TMB) are still poorly understood. As part of the effort to elucidate these additional signatures, we describe our progress on the Stand Up to Cancer Lung (SU2C-Lung) cohort. Initial characterization of exomes recapitulates mutational and copy number profiles seen in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. To better define expression subtypes using RNA sequencing, we performed non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) across an aggregated set of publicly available NSCLC expression data (including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell neuroendocrine histologies), and demonstrate good concordance in the SU2C-Lung cohort between this expression-based classifier and clinically annotated histology. To gain further insight into how immune cell infiltrates vary across our cohort, we additionally tested two common deconvolution algorithms, EPIC and CIBERSORT. While these two methods agree for some prominent cell types, such as B cells and CD4 T cells, discrepancies in minor infiltrating components such as NK cells may suggest a limit to the inference of rare subpopulations from bulk sequencing data.Finally, we describe a novel approach for determining single-gene predictors of response. Using the method, which is based on comparison of top single transcriptional features identified from random bootstraps of the full cohort as compared to a set of background shuffles, we are able to show that we remain powered for discovery of RNA response biomarkers despite the typically burdensome toll of multiple hypothesis correction at genome wide scale. Acknowledgment: Supported by Stand Up To Cancer-American Cancer Society Lung Cancer Dream Team Translational Research Grant SU2C-AACR-DT17-15. Citation Format: Monica Arniella, Arvind Ravi, Chip Stewart, Sam Freeman, Mark Awad, Patrick Forde, Valsamo Anagnostou, Brian Henick, Jonathan Riess, Don Gibbons, Nathan Pennell, Vamsidhar Velcheti, Ignaty Leshchiner, Jaegil Kim, Subba Digumarthy, Mari Mino-Kenudson, John Heymach, Nir Hacohen, Naiyer Rizvi, Roy Herbst, Victor Velculescu, Julie Brahmer, Kurt Schalper, Pasi Janne, Jedd Wolchok, Alice Shaw, Justin Gainor, Matthew Hellmann, Gad Getz. Integrative genomic analysis of checkpoint blockade in lung cancer: A multi-institution SU2C collaborative [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5902.
Low-dose trans-resveratrol induce poly(ADP)-ribosylation-dependent increase of the PPAR-γ protein expression level in the in vitro model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

An effect of low-dose resveratrol treatment on lipid metabolism and pro-inflammatory processes has been studied, using an in vitro model of Non-Alcoholic-Fatty Liver Disease. The model system consisted of lipid-loaded monolayer cultures of hepatocytes (Hepa1-6) and macrophages (RAW264.7), as both cell types are present in the liver. Also a tridimensional model of hepatic spheroids has been created to mimic spatial adhesive contacts between cells. Treatment with resveratrol (5 μM, 10 μM) for 3 h caused a decrease in lipid load in all three model systems. This decrease wasn’t accompanied by any changes in surface expression of lipid transporter–CD36. The response to resveratrol (RSV) was cell type- and cell environment-dependent. In both cell types an increase of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) protein level has been revealed. The increase of the PPAR-γ protein level appeared to be poly (ADP)-ribosylation-dependent. It has been revealed, that in the resveratrol-induced signaling pathway, leading to the decrease of intracellular lipid load, an activation of poly (ADP)-ribose polymerase should happen upstream of PPAR-γ protein expression.The decrease of lipid load isn’t accompanied by changes in the surface expression of lipid transporter CD36.
Can an AI learn political theory

Alan Turing’s 1950 paper, “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” contains much more than its proposal of the “Turing Test.” Turing imagined the development of what we today call AI by a process akin to the education of a child. Thus, while Turing anticipated “machine learning,” his prescience brings to the foreground the yet unsolved problem of how humans might teach or shape AIs to behave in ways that align with moral standards. Part of the teaching process is likely to entail AIs’ absorbing lessons from human writings. Natural language processing tools are one of the ways computer systems extract knowledge from texts. An example is given of how one such technique, Latent Dirichlet Allocation, can draw out the most prominent themes from works of classical political theory.
Control of pH in bioelectronics and applications

Ions and biomolecules are the languages that biological systems use to transfer signals in intracellular communication and organism function. As such, bioelectronic devices that conduct ions and biomolecules rather than electrons and holes are particularly suited for biological integration. Among these ions, protons (H+) are important in many biochemical reactions including neuronal excitability and oxidative phosphorylation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In this Research Update, we describe our efforts in measuring and controlling the concentration of H+ ions in biological systems using bioelectronic devices with contacts that are made of palladium and palladium hydride (Pd/PdHx). Pd/PdHx contacts act as an electron to proton transducer and can be used in artificial membranes containing ion channels, biohybrid photodetectors, the delivery of biochemical stimuli, pH sensitive glucose sensing, and precise control of pH using machine learning.
From Universal Design for Learning to Universal Design for Communion with the Living God

In this article, Jay Dolmage and John Calvin are brought into conversation with one another to develop a theological framework for pastoral and practical reflection on the intersection of disabilit...
Histopathological features of fibrous cephalic plaques in tuberous sclerosis complex.

AIMS Fibrous cephalic plaques (FCPs) in individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) may be excised for cosmetic reasons or biopsied to confirm lesion identification and TSC diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the range of histopathological features of FCPs. METHODS AND RESULTS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 119 adults with TSC. Twenty-one lesions from 16 individuals were evaluated by a dermatopathologist. Additionally, we assessed whether lesion colour or histology varied by anatomical location. Seventy-six lesions were observed in 36 of 119 individuals. Erythematous lesions were more commonly found on the forehead, face or neck than on the scalp (odds ratio = 12.6, P = 0.0001). Thickened and disorganised collagen fibre bundles were present in 95% (20/21) of lesions. Perifollicular fibrosis was observed in 95% (20/21) of lesions, enhanced vascularity was observed in 52% (11/21) of lesions, and features of fibrofolliculoma were observed in 43% (9/21) of lesions. Other abnormalities included features similar to trichofolliculoma, follicular-derived, infundibular-type cysts, and abnormally arranged primitive hair follicles. CONCLUSIONS FCPs in TSC show thickened bundles of collagen, and hamartomatous changes involving hair follicles. Recognition of these histopathological features may raise the possibility of unsuspected TSC or confirm FCP identification.
Teaching Subjective Construal and Related Constructions with SCOBAs: Concept Learning as a Foundation for Japanese Language Development

Japanese and English have substantial typological differences, including different construal patterns. Construal patterns reflect linguistic framing of events, more objectively or more subjectively, depending on whether the speaker is understood as a separate part of the scene or as merged with the scene. English frames events using objective construal more often than subjective construal; Japanese overwhelmingly prefers subjective construal. Understanding construal is critical for Japanese L2 learners, yet overlooked in Japanese pedagogy. This paper considers how SCOBAs (Schema of a Complete Orienting Basis of an Action) can be used in Concept-Based Language Instruction (C-BLI) to teach construal. The first SCOBAs introduced visualize construal concepts; subsequent SCOBAs depict how Japanese subjective construal relates to other constructions, including the non-use of ‘I’, motion verbs, verbs meaning ‘give’, and psychological predicates. We also discuss approaches to promoting internalization of the concepts via a variety of dialogic tasks and application exercises.
Altered Electrical, Biomolecular, and Immunologic Phenotypes in a Novel Patient-Derived Stem Cell Model of Desmoglein-2 Mutant ARVC

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a progressive heart condition which causes fibro-fatty myocardial scarring, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Most cases of ARVC can be linked to pathogenic mutations in the cardiac desmosome, but the pathophysiology is not well understood, particularly in early phases when arrhythmias can develop prior to structural changes. Here, we created a novel human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) model of ARVC from a patient with a c.2358delA variant in desmoglein-2 (DSG2). These DSG2-mutant (DSG2Mut) hiPSC-CMs were compared against two wildtype hiPSC-CM lines via immunostaining, RT-qPCR, Western blot, RNA-Seq, cytokine expression and optical mapping. Mutant cells expressed reduced DSG2 mRNA and had altered localization of desmoglein-2 protein alongside thinner, more disorganized myofibrils. No major changes in other desmosomal proteins were noted. There was increased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression that may be linked to canonical and non-canonical NFκB signaling. Action potentials in DSG2Mut CMs were shorter with increased upstroke heterogeneity, while time-to-peak calcium and calcium decay rate were reduced. These were accompanied by changes in ion channel and calcium handling gene expression. Lastly, suppressing DSG2 in control lines via siRNA allowed partial recapitulation of electrical anomalies noted in DSG2Mut cells. In conclusion, the aberrant cytoskeletal organization, cytokine expression, and electrophysiology found DSG2Mut hiPSC-CMs could underlie early mechanisms of disease manifestation in ARVC patients.
Effective Medical Education Resource Design and Integrative Learning: A Lesson in Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease

Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) is the most common ciliopathy affecting children and has a diverse penetrance. Health care practitioners must be aware of the varying phenotype...
Public Management: Public management and performance: what we know, and what we need to know

This book has presented a perspective, a model, and a large set of empirical findings. The results speak to a broad agenda occupying many scholars and practitioners: understanding how public managers shape agency and program performance. In this chapter we draw the volume to a close by undertaking two tasks. First, we review and tie together what we have learned about public management and performance. We then sketch a new agenda for some of what, we believe, remains to be explored. What does the evidence show? This research program has developed many findings about whether, how, and how much public management influences the performance of public organizations. Most findings explain what is going on in school districts within one state; but, we argue strongly, this “limitation” should not diminish the record. Although this work should be replicated in other empirical settings – and although we have initiated that ourselves, as have others discussed in earlier chapters – the patterns analyzed here should not be marginalized. First, the sample included in most of our empirical studies consists of more than 1 percent of all governments in the United States. Second, no larger sample of public organizations has ever been analyzed for determinants of performance. Third, the analyses develop and report on numerous types of managerial influence. While the findings sometimes show that managers shape performance in ways that some might find to be expected, the results do not merely theorize or speculate about such channels of influence; they demonstrate the influence with systematic evidence.
Synthetic Cocaine Impurities

The compounds 3-aminomethyl-2-methoxycarbonyl-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo(3.2.1.) oct-2-ene (1), 3-benzoyloxy-2-methoxycarbonyl-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo(3.2.1)oct-2-ene (2), and 3-benzoyloxy-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo(3.2.1)oct-2-ene (3) have been detected in clandestine synthetic cocaine samples. Synthetic rationalization, chromatographic separation (gas liquid chromatography), and spectroscopic information (infrared, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry) of these compounds are provided.
Gynecologic considerations in malignant lymphomas.

Abstract 1. 1. The rarity of gynecologic involvement by malignant lymphoma is stressed. 2. 2. A case of apparent primary Hodgkin's disease of the Bartholin gland is described with details of treatment. 3. 3. A case of lymphoblastoma affecting the pelvic organs is described and the type of therapy outlined. 4. 4. A case of follicular lymphoblastoma is described with survival for 11 years. 5. 5. A case of lymphocytic leukemia with extension to the pelvis and the method of treatment utilized are outlined. 6. 6. A case of generalized Hodgkin's disease and the type of therapy employed are contrasted with the localized Hodgkin's disease. 7. 7. A patient in whom the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma was suspected on periodic pelvic examination is eited.
Centralized control of carrier sense threshold and channel bandwidth in high-density WLANs

Wireless LAN (WLAN) devices are now everywhere and their rapid spread has created dense deployment environments. Since WLAN transmission is based on carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), network capacity is degraded by the restrictions created by CSMA/CA on transmission opportunity in such high-density WLAN environments. The increased channel bandwidth available in recent WLANs also accelerates the degradation in transmission opportunity. This paper proposes a centralized control scheme of carrier sense threshold and channel bandwidth to improve spectrum efficiency in high-density WLAN environments. The proposed control determines the clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold and channel bandwidth by using the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and wireless channel information of the access points (APs). A computer simulation shows that the proposed control raises the average throughput per station by 15 times compared to the conventional isolated APs.
Ingestion in Reptiles and Amphibians

The feeding stages of prey capture, ingestion, processing, intraoral transport and swallowing are accomplished in different ways in different species of amphibians (caecilians, salamanders and frogs) and reptiles (crocodilians, turtles, tuatara, lizards, amphisbaeneans and snakes – birds have diverged so much from other reptile groups that they can be considered separately). The structural and ecological diversity of amphibians and reptiles is reflected in the diversity of their feeding systems. Keywords: anatomy; biomechanics; caecilians; crocodilians; evolution; frogs; ingestion; lizards; prey capture; snakes; salamanders; swallowing; turtles; skull; tuatara
Advances in the psychosocial treatment of addiction: the role of technology in the delivery of evidence-based psychosocial treatment

The clinical community has a growing array of psychosocial interventions with a strong evidence base available for the treatment of SUDs. Considerable opportunity exists for leveraging technology in the delivery of evidence-based interventions to promote widespread reach and impact of evidence-based care. Data from this line of research to date are promising, and underscore the potential public health impact of technology-based therapeutic tools. To fully realize the potential of technology-delivered interventions, several areas of inquiry remain important. First, scientifically sound strategies should be explored to ensure technology-based interventions are optimally designed to produce maximal behavior change. Second, efficient and effective methods should be identified to integrate technology-based interventions into systems of care in a manner that is most responsive to the needs of individual users. Third, payment, privacy, and regulatory systems should be refined and extended to go beyond electronic medical records and telehealth/distance care models, and support the deployment of technology-based systems to enhance the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of care. Fourth, the mechanisms underlying behavior change derived from technology-based treatments should be explicated, including new mechanisms that may be tapped via novel, technology-based tools. Such work will be critical in isolating mechanisms that are useful in predicting treatment response, and in ensuring that key ingredients are present in technology-based interventions as they are made widely available.
Biochemical Adaptations in Muscle EFFECTS OF EXERCISE ON MITOCHONDRIAL OXYGEN UPTAKE AND RESPIRATORY ENZYME ACTIVITY IN SKELETAL MUSCLE

The capacity of the mitochondrial fraction from gastrocnemius muscle to oxidize pyruvate doubled in rats subjected to a strenuous program of treadmill running. Succinate dehydrogenase, reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide dehydrogenase, DPNH cytochrome c reductase, succinate oxidase, and cytochrome oxidase activities, expressed per g of muscle, increased approximately 2-fold in hind limb muscles in response to the training. The concentration of cytochrome c was also increased 2-fold, suggesting that the rise in respiratory enzyme activity was due to an increase in enzyme protein. The total protein content of the mitochondrial fraction increased approximately 60%. These changes in the concentration of cytochrome c and total mitochondrial protein are of special interest because they suggest that exercise could serve as a useful tool for studying the biosynthesis of mitochondrial proteins. Mild exercise, such as that used in previous studies, was found to have no effect on the level of succinate dehydrogenase in muscle, suggesting that the failure of earlier studies to show an increase in respiratory enzyme activity resulted from the use of an insufficient exercise stimulus. Mitochondria from muscles of the exercised animals exhibited a high level of respiratory control and tightly coupled oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, the increase in electron transport capacity was associated with a concomitant rise in the capacity to produce adenosine triphosphate. This adaptation may partially account for the increase in aerobic work capacity that occurs with regularly performed, prolonged exercise.
Experience, Expertise and the Forecasting Performance of Security Analysts

We examine the ongoing performance of forecast analysts who change their brokerage affiliation and/or the companies they follow. On average, analysts who leave a brokerage house exhibit a decline in the forecast accuracy relative to all other analysts who follow the same company(s) as they approach the replacement date. Analysts joining a new brokerage house and/or follow new companies, however, do not become more accurate as they gain experience. This result is consistent with our finding of commonalities in analysts' performance across all the companies they follow, suggesting differential levels of innate or native abilities among analysts. The results also indicate that situational factors such as brokerage size and industry specialization by the brokerage have a positive impact on forecast accuracy. For example, large brokerage houses tend to be associated with analysts who issue more accurate forecasts. Similarly, analyst turnover within a brokerage has a detrimental effect on forecast accuracy of the remaining analysts. Overall, the results suggest that situational or brokerage related factors have a significant effect on analysts' forecast accuracy.
Free Energy Relationships in the Inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase by Diethyl Phosphates

Acetylcholinesterase inhibited by diethyl phosphorofluoridate (DEP-enzyme) was reactivated by a number of phenols and hydroxyquinolines. The second-order rate constants for reactivation were divided into the known second-order rate constants for inhibition by the corresponding diethyl phosphoryl derivatives of the reactivators (conjugate inhibitors) to obtain the equilibrium constant in terms of analytical concentrations for the inhibition of the enzyme. These values were multiplied by the known value of the equilibrium constant for the hydrolysis of the DEP-enzyme, ECH (DEP-enzyme), to obtain equilibrium constants for the hydrolysis of the inhibitor, ECH (inhibitor). These values were converted to ECH (inhibitor) in terms of acidic species, ECH (inhibitor-acidic), and it was found that a linear free energy relationship was obeyed with the pK a of the conjugate acid of the leaving group ( reactivator): log ECH (inhibitor-acidic) = 13.18 - 0.620 pK a Using this relationship, log ki/kr vs. pK a and log ECH (anal.) vs. pK a , plots were calculated for pH 7.0. Since the DEP-enzyme falls on these curves using pK a = 13.6 for the hydroxyl group of serine, it was concluded that there were no very substantial interactions, positive or negative, between the phosphoryl group and the protein. This is not the case with other DEP-enzymes, such as chymotrypsin, which is 4 orders of magnitude more stable. Diethyl phosphorofluoridate is much more stable than esters of oxygen leaving groups, with the same pK a as HF. Compounds containing a sulfur leaving group are much less stable than oxygen esters of the same pK a . A number of observations can be explained using the thermodynamic data.
Some critical points in the metamorphosis of the halichondrine sponge larva

The larval epithelium cells of Mycale syrinx (O. Schm.) unite syncytially with one another. The stratum so formed is continuous with the syncytial interior of the larva and into this interior the epithelial nuclei are drawn. Many of them degenerate and are digested by the syncytium or, eventually, by nucleolate cells. The syncytial cytoplasm breaks up into cell bodies, some surrounding epithelial nuclei and thus forming choanocytes, others surrounding nucleolate and non-nucleolate mesenchyme nuclei. The larval epithelial cells do not then become the choanocytes. Only their nuclei are specifically determined. The bodies of the choanocytes are picked out of the general syncytium in accordance with the location which the nuclei may occupy at the time. Non-nucleolate cells of the interior break through to the surface and form epidermis. Or non-nucleolate nuclei, usually not in special cell bodies but in the general syncytium, are drawn to the surface, the surface layer there condensing to form epidermis. There is a provisional formation of limiting membranes by the reticular syncytium around spaces of the interior and at the surface. The definitive cellular membranes, epidermis and canal epithelia, are only completed later. Some mesenchyme cells may be digested by the general syncytium. Such cells lie in vacuoles, as in a digesting protozoan.
The Golgi complex and the sorting of membrane and secreted proteins

Abstract All proteins and glycoproteins synthesized by eukaryotic cells are either secreted or become localized to the cytoplasm or to specific membranes or organelles. Proteins that are encoded by nuclear DNA (the vast majority of cellular proteins) are synthesized on cytoplasmic ribosomes: depending on the protein being synthesized, the ribosomes are either bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane, or are free in the cytosol, unbound to membranes. All proteins must be sorted, or targetted, to their proper destinations during or after synthesis.
Ascorbic Acid Content of Baobab Fruit

IN the course of investigations into the nutritional value of traditional African foodstuffs, samples of the fruit of the baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) were taken for analysis. This tree, which is particularly noteworthy for the massive girth which its boll eventually attains, is widespread in the low-veld areas of Southern Rhodesia, and the pulp or matrix surrounding the seed in the fruit capsule is commonly chewed or sucked by the indigenous population, or made into a pleasant acidic drink, thus giving rise to the colloquial name of ‘cream of tartar’ tree.
Experimental Tests of Normative Group Influence and Representation Effects in Computer-Mediated Communication: When Interacting Via Computers Differs from Interacting With Computers.

Two experiments addressed the questions of if and how normative social influence operates in anonymous computer-mediated communication (CMC) and human-computer interaction (HCI). In Experiment 1, a 2 (public response vs. private response) × 2 (one interactant vs. four interactants) × 3 (textbox vs. stick figure vs. animated character) mixed-design experiment (N = 72), we investigated how conformity pressure operates in a simulated CMC setting. Each participant was asked to make a decision in hypothetical social dilemmas after being presented with a unanimous opinion by other (ostensible) participants. The experiment examined how the visual representation of interaction partners on the screen moderates this social influence process. Group conformity effects were shown to be more salient when the participant's responses were allegedly seen by others, compared to when the responses were given in private. In addition, participants attributed greater competence, social attractiveness, and trustworthiness to partners represented by anthropomorphic characters than those represented by textboxes or stick figures. Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1, replacing interaction with a computer(s) rather than (ostensible) people, to create an interaction setting in which no normative pressure was expected to occur. The perception of interaction partner (human vs. computer) moderated the group conformity effect such that people expressed greater public agreement with human partners than with computers. No such difference was found for the private expression of opinion. As expected, the number of computer agents did not affect participants' opinions whether the responses were given in private or in public, while visual representation had a significant impact on both conformity measures and source perception variables.
Two-phase flow in a rough fracture: experiment and modeling.

To develop and test theory-based procedures for modeling two-phase flow through fractures, it is important to be able to compare computational results for a fracture with experiments performed on the exact same fracture. Unfortunately for real fractures, any attempt to image the fracture and to produce a numerical model of the fracture accessible to computer modeling unavoidably results in a coarsening of the resolution, with the very small-scale features of the imaged fracture averaged to produce the numerical representation used in modeling. Contrary to the hope that these high-resolution features would be unimportant, several modeling efforts have shown that such changes in resolution do affect the flow. Therefore, the numerical representation is different from the real fracture because of this unavoidable coarsening of the resolution. To remove the problems caused by the use of different fractures in the experiment and in the model, the fracture used in our experiments was stereographically constructed from the same numerical representation used in the modeling so that the only difference between the experimental ``fracture'' and the modeling ``fracture'' is a manufacturing error of approximately 3% or less in the aperture sizes of the manufactured experimental model. Using several models not unlike others in the literature, we modeled injection of air into the water-saturated fracture. The modeling results are compared to experimental results for injection of air into the water-saturated stereolithographically constructed fracture. A comparison between modeling and experimental results for the essentially identical fractures shows a much better detailed agreement than obtained in other studies, which compared experimental flows on the real fracture with modeling results for a lower resolution representation of the real fracture. This suggests that many of the differences between experiment and modeling in previous work resulted from the differences between the experimental and modeling fractures. For our low capillary-number cases, the best agreement with experiment is for a modification of invasion percolation with trapping (IPwt) that included approximations to viscosity ratio effects and to the interfacial tension effects in reducing very short-range curvature.
Interval vs massed training: how best do we teach surgery?

ObjectiveTo compare 2 different training paradigms, massed vs interval training, when novice students learn a surgical procedure, myringotomy with ventilation tube insertion, on a validated surgical simulator.Study DesignMedical students were randomized into 2 training groups: the interval group (n = 19) was trained to perform the procedure in 5 trials/d over 3 days, and the massed group (n = 21) was trained to perform the procedure in 15 trials all in 1 session. One week later, all students were tested in 5 additional final trials. Pre- and posttest surveys were administered.SettingAcademic medical center.Subjects and MethodsForty medical students: 19 students in the interval group were compared with 21 students in the massed group. Time to complete the procedure and number and type of error made were recorded and compared between groups. Pre- and poststudy surveys examined confidence levels working under a microscope and with the procedure.ResultsStudents in both groups had a significant decrease in tim...