cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Results of the introduction and selection of Nepeta mussinii (Lamiaceae) in the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Мета. Сформувати колекційний фонд та створити високоадаптивний сорт малопоширеної рослини Nepeta mussinii Spreng. ex Henckel (Lamiaceae Lindl.), придатний до вирощування в Лісостепу України та використання як ефіроносної, лікарської, харчової і декоративної культури. Методи. Загальноприйняті в інтродукції рослин при дослідженні родових комплексів та багаторазовий індивідуальний добір, задіяний в селекційному процесі. Результати. Представлено результати використання ефіроносних видів рослин після успішної інтродукції в умовах Національного ботанічного саду імені М. М. Гришка НАН України (НБС) на прикладі виду іноземної флори N. mussinii , який на сьогодні є нетрадиційною малопоширеною рослиною в Україні. Окреслено ключові етапи комплексного наукового та прикладного дослідження рослини – від мобілізації і накопичення колекційного матеріалу, через інтродукційні випробування і селекційний процес до створення сортового матеріалу та його використання в прикладних інноваційних розробках. На підставі проведених протягом 2005–2018 років досліджень в умовах України розроблена Методика проведення експертизи сортів N. mussinii на відмінність, однорідність і стабільність та створено вітчизняний сорт N. mussinii ‘Посвята Мейсу’. У статті наведено морфологічні особливості та технічні характеристики сорту, які забезпечують впізнаваність рослин серед зарубіжних сортів і сприяють його подальшому поліфункціональному використанню – як ефіроолійної, лікарської, харчової, декоративної культури. Враховуючи кількісний склад окремих біологічно активних сполук сировину рослин даного сорту використано в рецептурі трав’яного чаю «Ранкова увертюра», рекомендованого авторами розробки як загальнозміцнюючий, тонізуючий з антиоксидантною дією на організм людини засіб. Даний продукт є інтелектуальною розробкою НБС. Висновки. Комплексні дослідження малопоширених ефіроолійних рослин в НБС показали, що їх колекціонування та інтродукція слугують джерелом для подальшого селекційного та прикладного використання цих рослин. На прикладі N. mussinii продемонстровано етапи роботи – від мобілізації вихідного колекційного матеріалу до створення сорту та інноваційної розробки.
Patterns of Big Sagebrush Plant Community Composition and Stand Structure in the Western United States

Abstract Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) plant communities are found in western North America and comprise a mix of shrubs, forbs, and grasses. Climate, topography, and soil water availability are important factors that shape big sagebrush stand structure and plant community composition; however, most studies have focused on understanding these relationships at sites in a small portion of the big sagebrush region. Our goal was to characterize detailed stand structure and plant composition patterns and identify environmental variables related to those patterns by sampling 15 sites distributed across the western United States. In each site, we characterized stand structure at the individual shrub level and at the site level. We quantified size distributions and assessed relationships among canopy volume, age, and height. We also characterized functional type cover and species composition and related those to climatic, topographic, and edaphic variables. Mean big sagebrush age ranged from 21 (± 8) to 57 (± 22) yr at individual sites, mean height ranged from 0.23 (± 0.12) to 0.67 (± 0.23) m, and mean canopy volume ranged from 0.03 (± 0.04) to 0.62 (± 0.51) m3. Bare ground and litter contributed the most cover (mean = 64%), followed by big sagebrush (mean = 39% of vascular plant cover). There was a negative relationship between big sagebrush cover and grass and forb cover. Species composition was related to both climate and elevation, likely because these variables influence water availability. Although our study was limited to 15 field sites, our detailed descriptions of widely distributed sites provide insight into the magnitude of variability in big sagebrush plant community structure.
ECHO OVERESTIMATES TRANS-AORTIC GRADIENTS IMMEDIATELY POST TAVR: A PRESSURE RECOVERY PHENOMENON IN A SIMULTANEOUS CATH AND ECHO STUDY

Echocardiography (ECHO) is the leading tool to evaluate post TAVR transaortic valve (AV) mean gradients (MG). Pressure recovery (PR) beyond the AV leads to lower and in some cases, markedly discrepant catheterization (CATH) vs. (ECHO) MG in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). We sought to evaluate
Bedside Use of Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in the Emergency Department to Identify Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract Background Rapid diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the emergency department (ED) is often hindered by the limitations of the electrocardiogram (ECG). Speckle tracking echocardiography (STEch) is a semiautomated, computer-assisted process that provides accurate detection of regional ventricular wall motion abnormalities and can be performed at the bedside by operators with limited experience. Case Reports Two separate patients, each with history and ECG findings concerning for AMI, were evaluated using STEch performed by an emergency physician. Ventricular wall motion abnormalities found on STEch accurately reflected the findings of emergent cardiac catheterization, with one patient requiring urgent coronary artery revascularization and the other with no coronary artery occlusion. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? STEch is a novel, easy-to-use form of echocardiography that can be used in the ED to identify patients with AMI who would benefit from emergent revascularization.
Exploring changes in mindfulness and body appreciation during yoga participation.

Abstract Evidence supports the positive role that yoga participation can play in predicting positive body image experiences. However, less is known about the mechanisms that might explain this relationship. The purpose of this study was to test for change in state and trait mindfulness and body appreciation as well as the relationship between change in trait mindfulness and change in body appreciation across 16 weeks of yoga participation. Participants (N = 376; Mage = 20.45; 87% female) were recruited from for-credit yoga classes at a university. They completed measures of trait mindfulness and body appreciation at the beginning, mid-point, and end of the 16-week course. They also completed a measure of state mindfulness of the body that targeted their experience during yoga every other week after class. Latent growth curves were estimated for each variable and demonstrated significant (p
γ2 GABAAR Trafficking and the Consequences of Human Genetic Variation

GABA type A receptors (GABAARs) mediate the majority of fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). Most prevalent as heteropentamers composed of two α, two β, and a γ2 subunit, these ligand-gated ionotropic chloride channels are capable of extensive genetic diversity (α1-6, β1-3, γ1-3, δ, 𝜀, 𝜃, π, ρ1-3). Part of this selective GABAAR assembly arises from the critical role for γ2 in maintaining synaptic receptor localization and function. Accordingly, mutations in this subunit account for over half of the known epilepsy-associated genetic anomalies identified in GABAARs. Fundamental structure-function studies and cellular pathology investigations have revealed dynamic GABAAR trafficking and synaptic scaffolding as critical regulators of GABAergic inhibition. Here, we introduce in vitro and in vivo findings regarding the specific role of the γ2 subunit in receptor trafficking. We then examine γ2 subunit human genetic variation and assess disease related phenotypes and the potential role of altered GABAAR trafficking. Finally, we discuss new-age imaging techniques and their potential to provide novel insight into critical regulatory mechanisms of GABAAR function.
A novel total variation based noninvasive transmural electrophysiological imaging.

While tomographic imaging of cardiac structure and kinetics has improved substantially, electrophysiological mapping of the heart is still restricted to the body or heart surface with little or no depth information beneath. The progress in reconstructing transmural action potentials from surface voltage data has been hindered by the challenges of intrinsic ill-posedness and the lack of a unique solution in the absence of prior assumptions. In this work, we propose to exploit the unique spatial property of transmural action potentials that it is often piecewise smooth with a steep boundary (gradient) separating the depolarized and repolarized regions. This steep gradient could reveal normal or disrupted electrical propagation wavefronts, or pinpoint the border between viable and necrotic tissue. In this light, we propose a novel adaption of the total-variation (TV) prior into the reconstruction of transmural action potentials, where a variational TV operator is defined instead of a common discrete operator, and the TV-minimization is solved by a sequence of weighted, first-order L2-norm minimizations. In a large set of phantom experiments performed on image-derived human heart-torso models, the proposed method is shown to outperform existing quadratic methods in preserving the steep gradient of action potentials along the border of infarcts, as well as in capturing the disruption to the normal path of electrical wavefronts. The former is further attested by real-data experiments on two post-infarction human subjects, demonstrating the potential of the proposed method in revealing the location and shape of the underlying infarcts when existing quadratic methods fail to do so.
Quality Performance and Compensation Considerations

Traditionally, physician medical services, including surgical pathology and cytopathology, are compensated based on the type and amount of service provided. However, government payment for physician services is shifting toward value-based payment where the amount of compensation for a service is based in part on the quality of service provided in addition to the type and amount of service provided. Pathologists have been leaders in developing quality programs to improve medical care through our initiation of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs. Under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), payment for physician services may be positively or negatively adjusted based on the clinician’s performance in four distinct categories: quality, cost, promoting interoperability, and improvement activities. As an alternative, physicians may participate in advanced alternative payment models (APMs) and also have their reimbursement adjusted based on quality and cost. Qualified clinical data registries allow for a unique way to participate in the MIPS program. Developing meaningful performance metrics for pathologists to utilize in these quality payment programs is challenging given the ever-changing regulatory and practice environment.
Telecommunications health and safety: DARPA's RadioBio and recent US bioelectromagnetic research programs

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) issued a request for proposals (RFP) in the spring of 2017 by announcing its new research initiative: Radiobio — What role does electromagnetic signaling have in biological systems? [1, 2] The stated goal of this project was to “determine if purposeful signaling via electromagnetic waves between biological systems exists, and, if it does, determine what information is being transferred.”
Pregnancy and autoimmune diseases

Abstract Autoimmune diseases (AID) are more prevalent in women than in men, and pregnancy-related factors such as hormonal modulation and fetal microchimerism may influence the future risk of maternal AID. For women with AID, optimizing reproductive health requires a continuum of multidisciplinary care that initiates well before the desire for pregnancy is articulated. Family planning is essential so that pregnancy can be timed when disease is stable and to allow for appropriate medication adjustments. When contraception is used, the choice of method needs to take into consideration underlying disease and laboratory features. For females undergoing gonadotoxic therapy, options for preserving ovarian health and fertility warrant consideration, even among those who are not contemplating future pregnancy. Both maternal and fetal outcomes are optimized with multispecialty care as well as close monitoring during pregnancy and the postpartum period and when treatment regimens compatible with pregnancy are maintained to control underlying disease activity.
Visual Juxtapositions as Exemplars in Messages Promoting Healthy Dietary Behavior.

While health communicators often study strategic health messages, investigations of how visual message elements complement or inhibit persuasive efforts are sparse in the literature. Visual juxtapo...
Evaluating the Use of Spatiotemporal Aircraft Data for Air Tour Management Planning and Compliance

Examining visitors’ spatiotemporal movement patterns within parks and protected areas (PPAs) has become an informative methodology for management actions and understanding visitor behavior. This work has given managers and researchers a better understanding of visitor spatial behaviors, spatiotemporal resource impacts, and theoretical and organizing frameworks for approaching this type of research. However, few studies have examined the spatial patterns of air traffic, specifically low-level air tours, above PPAs and the resulting impacts to visitors’ experience and the natural soundscapes. This need is particularly relevant in the U.S. due to legislative mandates that the National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have to manage air tours over NPS units. Further, prior studies have shown how air tours negatively impact both visitors’ experience and the natural soundscapes. Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of air tours is critical for the managers working with air tour operators and the FAA for planning, ensuring compliance with management decisions, and examining the effects of aircraft noise on PPA resources and the on-the-ground visitors. Recently enacted laws and regulations across the globe, including the U.S., are requiring all aircraft operating in controlled airspace to equip air traffic tracking technology called Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out avionics. ADS-B Out broadcasts an unencrypted and publicly accessible signal that relays latitude, longitude, altitude, and unique identification code. In the U.S., this code can then be cross-referenced to a publicly accessible database with information including the type/model of aircraft and the registered owner. Only a single prior study has examined ADS-B data over NPS units, finding both potential and limitations to this new technology for tracking air tours. This study seeks to expand methodological improvements and ADS-B’s potential to inform management actions by exploring ADS-B data at Haleakalā National Park (HALE). This study explores the use of ADS-B data at HALE for monitoring compliance with spatially explicit conditions within a preexisting agreement established between the park and air tour operators. The study identified 321 air tours, compared with 454 air tours reported by operators over the same time period. Compliance with the spatially explicit agreement conditions was generally high, though better for lateral offsets than minimum altitude requirements. Overall, this study advances methodological uses of ADS-B logging to track air tours over PPAs and advances knowledge about the potential utility and current limitations of using ADS-B tracking systems for compliance in PPA contexts. Subscribe to JPRA
A Framework for Résumé Decisions: Comparing Applicants’ and Employers’ Reasons:

What reasons do applicants use to write resumes, and what reasons do employers use to evaluate them? This article advocates for teaching reasons as a way to empower writers to make more nuanced, ad...
Modeling collaterally sensitive drug cycles: shaping heterogeneity to allow adaptive therapy

Abstract In previous work, we focused on the optimal therapeutic strategy with a pair of drugs which are collaterally sensitive to each other, that is, a situation in which evolution of resistance to one drug induces sensitivity to the other, and vice versa. [1] Here, we have extended this exploration to the optimal strategy with a collaterally sensitive drug sequence of an arbitrary length, N(≥ 2). To explore this, we have developed a dynamical model of sequential drug therapies with N drugs. In this model, tumor cells are classified as one of N subpopulations represented as {Ri|i = 1,2,…, N}. Each subpopulation, Ri, is resistant to ‘Drug i’ and each subpopulation, Ri–1 (or RN, if i = 1), is sensitive to it, so that Ri increases under ‘Drug i’ as it is resistant to it, and after drug-switching, decreases under ‘Drug i + 1’ as it is sensitive to that drug(s). Similar to our previous work examining optimal therapy with two drugs, we found that there is an initial period of time in which the tumor is ‘shaped’ into a specific makeup of each subpopulation, at which time all the drugs are equally effective . After this shaping period, all the drugs are quickly switched with duration relative to their efficacy in order to maintain each subpopulation, consistent with the ideas underlying adaptive therapy. [2, 3] Additionally, we have developed methodologies to administer the optimal regimen under clinical or experimental situations in which no drug parameters and limited information of trackable populations data (all the subpopulations or only total population) are known. The therapy simulation based on these methodologies showed consistency with the theoretical effect of optimal therapy.
Telemedicine Utilization in Neurosurgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Glimpse Into the Future?

Abstract Objective To describe telemedicine utilization in neurosurgery at a single tertiary institution to provide outpatient care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with 315 telemedicine visits performed by the neurosurgery department. Patients and Methods In response to the COVID-19 pandemic national stay-at-home orders and postponed elective surgeries, we converted upcoming clinic visits into telemedicine visits and rescheduled other patients thought not to be markedly affected by surgical postponement. We reviewed the charts of all patients who had telehealth visits from April 1 through April 30, 2020, and collected demographic information, diagnosis, type of visit, and whether they received surgery; a satisfaction questionnaire was also administered. Results In March 2020, 94% (644 of 685) of the neurosurgery clinic visits were face-to-face, whereas in April 2020, 55% (315 of 573) of the visits were telemedicine (P Conclusion Rapid implementation of telemedicine to evaluate neurosurgery patients became an effective tool for preoperative consultation, postoperative and follow-up visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, and decreased risks of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 to patients and health care staff. Future larger studies should investigate the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine used to triage surgical from nonsurgical patients, potential cost-savings from reducing travel burdens and lost work time, improved access, reduced wait times, and impact on patient satisfaction.
Biosynthetic Interrogation of Soil Metagenomes Reveals Metamarin, an Uncommon Cyclomarin Congener with Activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis .

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases. Unfortunately, the development of antibiotic resistance threatens our current therapeutic arsenal, which has necessitated the discovery and development of novel antibiotics against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Cyclomarin A and rufomycin I are structurally related cyclic heptapeptides assembled by nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), which show potent anti-Mtb activity with a new cellular target, the caseinolytic protein ClpC1. An NRPS adenylation domain survey using DNA extracted from ∼2000 ecologically diverse soils found low cyclomarin/rufomycin biosynthetic diversity. In this survey, a family of cyclomarin/rufomycin-like biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC) that encode metamarin, an uncommon cyclomarin congener with potent activity against both Mtb H37Rv and multidrug-resistant Mtb clinical isolates was identified. Metamarin effectively inhibits Mtb growth in murine macrophages and increases the activities of ClpC1 ATPase and the associated ClpC1/P1/P2 protease complex, thus causing cell death by uncontrolled protein degradation.
Routine cancer screening in young dermatomyositis patients risks missing most occult malignancies

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the incidence and types of malignancies in dermatomyositis (DM) patients, focusing on young patients, and to estimate the percentage of cancers missed if only age-appropriate screening is utilized. Methods: The MarketScan® (MS) Commercial Claims and Encounters database, a collection of private insurance claims data from 53 million Americans, was queried for patients with at least two separate diagnoses of DM by ICD9 code (710.3), separated by at least six months. The MS database was also queried for age-and-gender matched controls without a diagnosis of DM. The types of cancer in the DM and control groups were determined using ICD-9 codes and compared to malignancies screened for by USPSTF and ACS guidelines. Malignancies routinely screened vs those not routinely screened in the DM and control groups were compared using an odds ratio. Results: 632 DM cases were identified across all age groups. 302 DM patients were over 50 years old with 89 malignancies identified. 55% of these cancers occurred in organs not routinely screened. 330 patients were under 50 years old with 28 malignancies identified. 100% of these cancers occurred in organs not routinely screened for. In both groups, there was a statistically significant increase in malignancies in organs not routinely screened for by ACS/USPSTF guidelines when compared to age-and-gender matched controls. Conclusions: Our results agree with the well-defined risk for neoplasia with DM and highlight that younger patients with DM have a considerably higher risk of developing a cancer than matched controls, especially in organs not routinely screened. Development of evidence-based guidelines to optimize malignancy screening in adult DM patients of all ages is needed. Broad malignancy screening should include modalities for identifying cancers poorly visualized on traditional imaging, such as ovarian and prostate. Special attention should be given to young DM patients as guidelines undergo development. Overall, our research supports the need for future studies aimed at optimizing malignancy screening in all patients with DM.
Blood Conservation and Management in Cardiac Surgery

Cardiac surgical procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass necessitate systemic anticoagulation and exposure to the pro-inflammatory extracorporeal circuit. Surgical procedures already account for 50% of all allogeneic blood product administration. Cardiac surgical procedures are high-risk for bleeding and allogeneic transfusion. Transfusion rates in cardiac surgery vary widely, with rates of 40–90% of cardiac surgical patients will receive a transfusion; cardiac surgical procedures consist of 10–20% of total blood product administration in the United States [1–4].
Performance and stability improvements in metal halide perovskite with intralayer incorporation of organic additives

Metal halide perovskites are emerging semiconducting materials with a wide range of applications, including photovoltaics, thin-film transistors, and light-emitting diodes. A key advantage of perovskites over more established semiconductor technologies is solution processability, which reduces processing costs and enables rapid production by roll-to-roll printing. However, metal halide perovskites suffer from poor thermomechanical and chemical stability that must be overcome for successful commercialization of perovskite-based technologies. These instabilities have been shown to stem from defect states present at perovskite interfaces, and particularly grain boundaries, that result in destructive trap states. This review focuses on one successful strategy—organic additive engineering—that has been demonstrated to inhibit the formation of defect sites in perovskite films. This review begins by discussing defects present at grain boundaries—e.g., undercoordinated bonds, vacancies, and antisites—that develop during crystallization, and how these defects lead to reduced device performance via non-radiative recombination and hysteresis, as well as poor chemical and thermal stability. The bulk of this review is dedicated to additive engineering strategies to enhance performance and stability in 3D, quasi-2D, and 2D perovskites. Lewis acid–base interactions between the additives and perovskite constituents are highlighted, with additives ranging from small molecules and solvents to polymers. Special attention is paid to Lewis base additives containing amino and/or carbonyl functional groups, and a short discussion on semiconducting additives for improved charge transport is also included. This review concludes by identifying several areas of further discovery in organic additives for metal halide perovskites.
Pelvic actinomycosis three years after colporrhaphy: A case report.

A 57-year-old patient presented with vaginal discharge and was found to have a pelvic abscess with A. turicensis and Streptococcus constellatus, with likely nidus of infection being a non-absorbable suture placed during colporrhaphy three years prior. She was treated with drain placement and antibiotics. Post-hospitalization, her colporrhaphy suture was removed. Subsequently the drain output decreased and this was removed as well. She had a total course of 6 weeks of amoxicillin/clavulanate, with complete resolution of her abscess.
Dietary Approaches and Health Outcomes: An Evidence Analysis Center Scoping Review

Abstract Appropriate diet can prevent, manage, or reverse noncommunicable health conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Consequently, the public’s interest in diet and nutrition has fueled the multi-billion-dollar weight loss industry and elevated its standing on social media and the internet. Although many dietary approaches are popular, their universal effectiveness and risks across overall populations are not clear. The objective of this scoping review was to identify and characterize systematic reviews (SRs) examining diet or fasting (intermittent energy restriction [IER]) interventions among adults who are healthy or may have chronic disease. An in-depth literature search of six databases was conducted for SRs published between January 2010 and February 2020. A total of 22,385 SRs were retrieved, and 1,017 full-text articles were screened for eligibility. Of these, 92 SRs met inclusion criteria. Covered diets were organized into 12 categories: high/restricted carbohydrate (n = 30), Mediterranean, Nordic, and Tibetan (n = 19), restricted or modified fat (n = 17), various vegetarian diets (n = 16), glycemic index (n = 13), high protein (n = 12), IER (n = 11), meal replacements (n = 11), paleolithic (n = 8), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypretension (DASH; n = 6), Atkins, South Beach, and Zone (n = 5), and eight other brand diets (n = 4). Intermediate outcomes, such as body weight or composition and cardiometabolic, were commonly reported. Abundant evidence was found exploring dietary approaches in the general population. However, heterogeneity of diet definitions, focus on single macronutrients, and infrequent macronutrient subanalyses were observed. Based on this scoping review, the Evidence Analysis Center prioritized the need to collate evidence related to macronutrient modification, specifically restricted carbohydrate diets.
Electrochemical Kinetics of Reduction of Zinc Oxide to Zinc Using 2:1 Urea/ChCl Ionic Liquid

Abstract Electrochemical reduction of zinc oxide to zinc was investigated in 2:1 urea/choline chloride electrolyte at applied cell potentials of 3.2 - 3.5 V. Concentration polarization was observed at the beginning of electrochemical reduction process. The diffusion coefficient of zinc species in the electrolyte was calculated to be 7.85 × 10−13 m2/s at 363 K. An increase in the current density was observed after a sharp initial decrease due to activation polarization, in which case, a linear relationship was established between log (current density) and over-potential. The electrochemical kinetic parameters was investigated in the steady-state current region. The transfer coefficient was calculated to be 0.2 indicating an irreversible charge transfer process. The XRD analysis confirmed that the electrodeposits consists of high purity zinc. The SEM analysis showed the formation of dendrites at higher over-potential (≥0.65 V), which is comparable to the calculated critical over-potential for Zn dendrite formation. The estimated energy consumption varied from 3.04 to 3.66 kWh/kg and current efficiency from 78.5 to 88.9%.
Velocities of Thwaites Glacier and smaller glaciers along the Marie Byrd Land coast, West Antarctica

Average velocities for time intervals ranging from < 1 to 15 years were measured by tracking ice-surface patterns on sequential Landsat and European Remote-sensing Satellite synthetic aperture radar images. Velocities ofThwaites Glacier range from 2.2 km a−1 above the grounding line to 3.4 km a−1 at the limit of measurements onThwaites Glacier ice tongue. The glacier increases in velocity by about 1 km a−1 where it crosses the grounding line. Over the period 1984-93, Thwaites Glacier ice tongue accelerated by about 0.6 kin a .Velocities of the floating part of several minor glaciers and some ice shelves are also determined: Land Glacier, 17—1.9 km a−1 ; DeVicq Glacier, 0.7-1.1 km a−1; Dotson Ice Shelf 0.2-0.5 km a−1; Gctz Ice Shelf, 0.2-0.8 km a−1; and Sulzberger Ice Shelf, 0.01 -0.02 km a−1. The high velocities along the Marie Byrd Land coast are consistent with the high precipitation rates over West Antarctica and, for some of the glaciers, the lack of buttressing ice shelves.
Yeast cells expressing the human mitochondrial DNA polymerase reveal correlations between polymerase fidelity and human disease progression (573.1)

Mutations in the human mitochondrial polymerase (Pol-γ) are associated with various mitochondrial disorders. To correlate biochemically quantifiable defects resulting from point mutations in Pol-γ with their physiological consequences, we created ‘humanized’ yeast, replacing the yeast mtDNA polymerase (MIP1) with human Pol-γ. In spite of differences in the replication and repair mechanism, the human polymerase efficiently complements the yeast mip1 knockouts, suggesting common fundamental mechanisms of replication and conserved interactions between the human polymerase and the yeast helicase. We examined the effects of four disease-related point mutations (S305R, H932Y, Y951N and Y955C) and an exonuclease-deficient mutant (D198A/E200A). In haploid cells, each mutant results in mtDNA depletion, increased mutation frequency leading to reductions in mtDNA content and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mutation frequencies measured in vivo equal those measured with purified enzyme in vitro. In heterozygous diploid ce...
Energy efficiency of optoelectronic interfaces in scaled FinFET and SOI CMOS technologies

Evolution of CMOS from planar to FinFET devices raises questions about the scaling of energy efficiency. Comparisons of driver and transimpedance amplifiers identify device characteristics that contribute to energy efficiency in CMOS-based optoelectronic circuits.
A Multi-Layered and Multi-Faceted Framework for Mining Evolving Web Clickstreams

Data on the Web is noisy, huge, and dynamic. This poses enormous challenges to most data mining techniques that try to extract patterns from this data. While scalable data mining methods are expected to cope with the size chal- lenge, coping with evolving trends in noisy data in a continuous fashion, and without any unnecessary stoppages and reconfigurations is still an open challenge. This dy- namic and single pass setting can be cast within the framework of mining evolving data streams. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of the Web has required Web-based applications to more effectively integrate a variety of types of data across multiple channels and from different sources such as content, structure, and more recently, semantics. Most existing Web mining and personalization methods are limited to working at the level described to be the lowest and most primitive level, namely dis- covering models of the user profiles from the input data stream. However, in order to improve understanding of the real intention and dynamics of Web clickstreams, we need to extend reasoning and discovery beyond the usual data stream level. We propose a new multi-level framework for Web usage mining and personalization, consisting of knowledge discovery at different granularities: (i) session/user clicks, profiles, (ii) profile life events and profile communities, and (iii) sequential patterns and predicted shifts in the user profiles. One of the most promising features of the proposed framework address the challenging dynamic scenarios, including (i) defin- ing and detecting events in the life of a synopsis profile, such as Birth, Death and Atavism ,a nd(ii) identifying Node Communities that can later be used to track the temporal evolution of Web profile activity events and dynamic trends within communities, such as Expansion, Shrinking ,a ndDrift.
As constituições são legítimas? Doi: 10.5020/2317-2150.2011.v16n1p83

O artigo critica o constitucionalismo sobre o ponto de vista de sua legitimidade moral. Para tanto, o Autor, na primeira parte, inicia expondo as principais caracteristicas do constitucionalismo, que chama de “pacote constitucional”: supremacia normativa da constituicao, revisao judicial, longevidade, rigidez, conteudo bidimensional, generalidade/abstracao. Na segunda parte, na qual e iniciada a analise critica, o Autor argumenta que o proposito e o fundamento logico do constitucionalismo, a saber, proteger alguns principios do Estado e certos direitos morais e politicos do processo de decisao democratico ordinario, sao frageis no que diz com sua legitimidade moral, por duas razoes basicas: o problema da vinculacao de geracoes futuras e o problema do pluralismo. Na terceira parte, o Autor explica, para depois criticar, quatro dos principais argumentos dos adeptos do constitucionalismo, a saber, os argumentos da oportunidade, da estabilidade, da pratica e dos limites inerentes a regra da maioria, os quais estariam destinados a suplantar os dois problemas de legitimidade moral ao constitucionalismo apresentados pelo Autor na segunda parte. Seguem, em resumo, duas conclusoes, uma no campo da interpretacao constitucional e outra no da estrutura constitucional.
The Efficacy of Social Media Technologies in Academia: A Pedagogical Bliss or Digital Fad?

Efficacy of a teaching strategy technically refers to the ability of that strategy to produce a desired or intended learning outcomes. To date, there is little information on the efficacy of social media technologies in academia and it is likely to be some time before their effectiveness is proven. It is therefore legitimate to ask the question, is their use in education a pedagogical bliss or merely a digital fad? To answer this question, this paper reports the current results of a study being conducted at a University in Australia to investigate the efficacy of using Google Circles Learning Communities (GCLC) social media technologies to facilitate teaching, learning, assessing and curriculum development for 2 nd year, Bachelor of Education students in a pre-service teacher training award. The digital structures for the study were set up in the 1 st trimester of 2015 with a small cohort of only 35 students. Those structures were then used in the 2 nd trimester to conduct a formal research study involving a much larger cohort of 106 students. As the research is still ongoing, finalized results are yet to be obtained. The results reported here are drawn from the findings in the data gathered over the first five weeks of trimester 2 relating to the use of cutting-edge social media technologies to help students engage with and develop the Super 4Cs skills of the 21 st century, namely Critical thinking, Collaboration, Creativity and Communication. The results indicate that while there is some anxiety among students about using social media technologies for academic work, there is a willingness to have a go. The data also provide evidence that students are keen to engage with the Super 4Cs of the 21 st century, and that the use of social media technologies gives them an opportunity to do so. In particular the data provide evidence that the use of these technologies has potential to bridge gaps between internal and external students.
Alternative Material Parameters for Transformation Electromagnetics Designs

A method to find alternative material parameters for 2-D transformation electromagnetics (EM) devices is presented. The alternative material parameters support exactly the same field pattern as the original ones of the transformation EM device. The same method is extended to design dual functional transformation EM devices that combine the characteristics of two separate transformation devices into one. Analytical calculations are shown and the results are verified through the full-wave simulation of well-known transformation EM devices: an electromagnetic field rotator and a cylindrical electromagnetic field concentrator. Although the transformation EM devices possessing alternative material parameters only work for a particular illumination direction, the method presented will find application in the design of antennas and beam-forming networks with a fixed feed position.
Issues in renovascular disease and ischemic nephropathy: Beyond ASTRAL

Purpose Whereas atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis is recognized to accelerate hypertension and threaten kidney function, recent trials indicate that many patients can be managed primarily with antihypertensive drug therapy without renal revascularization. These trials have been criticized for many reasons, including inclusion of large groups with only minor vascular occlusive disease. Recent findings Although moderate stenosis is associated with preserved oxygenation within both cortex and medulla, severe disease is demonstrably associated with reduced oxygenation that can be identified using blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance. Fewer clinical procedures to revascularize stenotic kidneys likely will be followed by advanced occlusion with loss of function. Experimental studies confirm that poststenotic microvascular injury is magnified in the presence of atherosclerosis, activating local inflammatory and fibrogenic pathways in the kidney. Even without restoring renal blood flow, experimental studies with endothelial progenitor cells indicate that recovery of renal vascular structures and function may be possible. Summary The short-term prospective trials to date remain at odds with observational studies indicating improved blood pressure, stabilization of renal function, and improved management of some patients with congestive heart failure. Nephrologists will need to balance optimizing medical therapy for complex patients with renovascular disease and identifying those most likely to benefit from renal revascularization on an individualized basis.
Armed Americans: The impact of firearm availability on national homicide rates

This study examines the relationship between firearm availability and national homicide rates. The theoretical and empirical literatures are reviewed, and a cross-national two-stage least squares regression analysis is described. The relationship between a circa 1990 measure of firearm availability and the average 1990–1994 homicide rate is examined across 36 countries. Two-stage least squares regression, which controls for homicide's effect on firearm availability in addition to a number of other confounding factors, reveals a statistically significant positive effect of firearm availability on national homicide rates. The magnitude of the association is considerable. The observed relationship is found to be insensitive to sample composition. Results also indicate that homicide rates do not influence levels of firearm availability. The limitations of the study and avenues for future research are discussed.
Evaluating the performance of the two-phase flow solver interFoam

The performance of the open source multiphase flow solver, interFoam, is evaluated in this work. The solver is based on a modified volume of fluid (VoF) approach, which incorporates an interfacial compression flux term to mitigate the effects of numerical smearing of the interface. It forms a part of the C + + libraries and utilities of OpenFOAM and is gaining popularity in the multiphase flow research community. However, to the best of our knowledge, the evaluation of this solver is confined to the validation tests of specific interest to the users of the code and the extent of its applicability to a wide range of multiphase flow situations remains to be explored. In this work, we have performed a thorough investigation of the solver performance using a variety of verification and validation test cases, which include (i) verification tests for pure advection (kinematics), (ii) dynamics in the high Weber number limit and (iii) dynamics of surface tension-dominated flows. With respect to (i), the kinematics tests show that the performance of interFoam is generally comparable with the recent algebraic VoF algorithms; however, it is noticeably worse than the geometric reconstruction schemes. For (ii), the simulations of inertia-dominated flows with large density ratios yielded excellent agreement with analytical and experimental results. In regime (iii), where surface tension is important, consistency of pressure–surface tension formulation and accuracy of curvature are important, as established by Francois et al (2006 J. Comput. Phys. 213 141–73). Several verification tests were performed along these lines and the main findings are: (a) the algorithm of interFoam ensures a consistent formulation of pressure and surface tension; (b) the curvatures computed by the solver converge to a value slightly (10%) different from the analytical value and a scope for improvement exists in this respect. To reduce the disruptive effects of spurious currents, we followed the analysis of Galusinski and Vigneaux (2008 J. Comput. Phys. 227 6140–64) and arrived at the following criterion for stable capillary simulations for interFoam: where . Finally, some capillary flows relevant to atomization were simulated, resulting in good agreement with the results from the literature.
Learning and operational convergence in logical thought development

Abstract Kindergarten S s ( N = 170) were tested, trained and retested on conservation tasks. Pre- and posttesting were on length, number and area conservation using experimental and verbal report procedures. S s were trained on length and number conservation using nonverbal reinforcement, verbal orientation-reinforcement, verbal rule instruction and “equilibration” methods. Results indicate training to be effective in facilitating conservation performance but principally with the verbal rule instruction method. No conservation learning transferred to the area task. Correct verbalization of the conservation principle, both before and after training, was less predictive of correct performance in conservation tasks than the reverse. On pretest, there was little convergence of conservation performance for children who did not fully conserve. Training materially increased convergence, but not to the extent represented among conservers who acquired the capacities less formally.
Modification of amphipathic non-opioid dynorphin A analogues for rat brain bradykinin receptors.

Abstract It has been shown that under chronic pain or nerve injury conditions, up-regulated dynorphin A (Dyn A) interacts with bradykinin receptors (BRs) to cause hyperalgesia in the spinal cord. Thus BRs antagonist can modulate hyperalgesia by blocking Dyn A’s interaction with the BRs in the central nervous system. In our earlier structure–activity relationship (SAR) study, [des-Arg 7 ]-Dyn A-(4–11) 13 was discovered as a minimum pharmacophore for rat brain BRs with its antagonist activity (anti-hyperalgesic effect) in in vivo tests using naive or injured animals. We have pursued further modification on the [des-Arg 7 ]-Dyn A analogues and identified a key insight into the pharmacophore of the rat brain BRs: amphipathicity.
Structural organization of the endoplasmic reticulum

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a continuous membrane system but consists of various domains that perform different functions. Structurally distinct domains of this organelle include the nuclear envelope (NE), the rough and smooth ER, and the regions that contact other organelles. The establishment of these domains and the targeting of proteins to them are understood to varying degrees. Despite its complexity, the ER is a dynamic structure. In mitosis it must be divided between daughter cells and domains must be re-established, and even in interphase it is constantly rearranged as tubules extend along the cytoskeleton. Throughout these rearrangements the ER maintains its basic structure. How this is accomplished remains mysterious, but some insight has been gained from in vitro systems.
Tracheoesophageal compression from aortic arch anomalies: Analysis of 30 operatively treated children

During a 16-year period (1976 to 1992), 30 children underwent surgery for tracheoesophageal compression caused by aortic arch anomalies. The age range was 3 days to 12 years (median, 3 months); 19 (63%) were male, and 20 (67%) were white. Of the 30 patients, 10 had a double aortic arch (the left was atretic in 6), 5 had a left-sided arch with an aberrant right subclavian artery (4) or innominate artery (1), and 15 had a right-sided arch with an aberrant left subclavian artery (14) or with mirror-image branching (1). There was no mortality during hospitalization or within 30 days of surgery. The left ductus arteriosus was divided in 26 of the 30 patients. Among the 10 patients with a double aortic arch, division of the atretic left arch (6), the lesser left arch (3), or the lesser right arch (1) was carried out. All 4 patients with a left arch and aberrant right subclavian artery had division of the artery. Of 14 patients with a right arch and aberrant left subclavian artery, only 3 underwent division of the artery. Of the 30 patients, anterior arteriopexy was performed in 9 (30%), and reoperation for persistent symptoms was necessary in 4 (13%). The second operation usually consisted of aortopexy or tracheopexy. Of the 4 patients with associated cardiac anomalies, 2 underwent simultaneous cardiac repair. The duration of hospital stay for the 30 patients ranged from 4 to 148 days (median, 6 days). Excluded from this series are patients with vascular rings who were asymptomatic and patients with the pulmonary vascular sling syndrome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Activity of vitamin K in the enzymatic hydroxymethylation of benzo[α]pyrene☆

Abstract The rat lung 6-hydroxymethylbenzo[α]pyrene synthetase is resolved into an apoenzyme by filtration of the holoenzyme through Amicon XM100 and XM50 filters. The enzymatic activity is a function of the concentration of lipid-soluble fraction prepared from the rat lung preparation when added to apoenzyme. The apoenzyme is purified at least 150-fold by these procedures. Vitamins K, and K2, the 2,3-epoxide of vitamin K1, and menadione show partial activity when substituted for the lung-lipid fractions. Some naphthoquinones can also inhibit the reaction in the presence of vitamin K1. The synthetase reaction requires NADPH.