cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cuticular hydrocarbons from six species of tephritid fruit flies

Cuticular alkanes obtained from larvae and adults of six species of tephritid fruit flies, Anastrepha ludens, A. suspensa, Ceratitis capitata, C. rosa, Dacus cucurbitae, and D. dorsalis were analyzed by gas chromatography. The same four major alkanes were shown to be present by capillary GC-mass spectra in all Anastrepha and Ceratitis larvae. Profiles were obtained from individual larvae and adult specimens that showed statistical differences between species, whereas profiles of conspecific life forms including pupae of A. suspensa from different locations showed some similarities. Sexual dimorphism was not observed in alkanes extracted from adults. A novel series of alkadienes was found in all Anastrepha and Ceratitis but not in Dacus.
Evaluation of the reconstruction of brachytherapy implants in three-dimensions from stereo radiographs

Summary The precision and the accuracy of the stereo-shift method for reconstruction of brachytherapy implants were evaluated. Analysis of shift films was performed (1) by measuring the coordinates of the seeds in an experimental set-up in the laboratory, (2) by manually calculating the coordinates of the seeds from the projection distances on the stereo-shift radiographs, and (3) by using a computer-aided treatment planning system. The resultant reconstructed coordinates agreed well with each other. The uncertainties in precision for the coordinates were expressed as the standard deviation of the measurements. The standard deviation of the computer and manual measurements agreed well with predicted values by an analysis of the random uncertainties in the reconstruction parameters. The uncertanties were within 0.2 mm for the coordinates parallel to the plan of the film and were within 0.4 mm for the coordinate perpendicular to the plane of the shift film. The uncertainties in the accuracy of the reconstruction were compared with the values obtained in clinical practice as well as with the values reported in the literature. Suggestions are made to improve the accuracy.
Diversity and intergroup contact in higher education: exploring possibilities for democratization through social justice education

This study contributes to research linking diversity and higher education teaching to democratic learning outcomes. It explores processes and outcomes associated with the intergroup contact of Black and White students enrolled in two sections of a diversity education course at a public university in the southeastern United States. The goals of this study were: (1) to explore the intergroup dynamics that emerged when students interacted in both sections of the course; and (2) to identify student support for intergroup cooperation as a result of their experiences in the course. While one section of the course experienced a high degree of intergroup conflict, students in both sections reported support for intergroup cooperation at the end of the course.
Effects of harvest frequency and biosolids application on switchgrass yield, feedstock quality, and theoretical ethanol yield

Sustainable development of a bioenergy industry will require low-cost, high-yielding biomass feedstock of desirable quality. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is one of the primary feedstock candidates in North America, but the potential to grow this biomass crop using fertility from biosolids has not been fully explored. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of harvest frequency and biosolids application on switchgrass in Virginia, USA. ‘Cave-in-Rock’ switchgrass from well-established plots was cut once (November) or twice (July and November) per year between 2010 and 2012. Class A biosolids were applied once at rates of 0, 153, 306, and 459 kg N ha−1 in May 2010. Biomass yield, neutral and acid detergent fiber, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and ash were determined. Theoretical ethanol potential (TEP, l ethanol Mg−1 biomass) and yield (TEY, l ethanol ha−1) were calculated based on cellulose and hemicellulose concentrations. Cutting twice per season produced greater biomass yields than one cutting (11.7 vs. 9.8 Mg ha−1) in 2011, but no differences were observed in other years. Cutting once produced feedstock with greater TEP (478 vs. 438 l Mg−1), but no differences in TEY between cutting frequencies. Biosolids applied at 153, 306, and 459 kg N ha−1 increased biomass yields by 25%, 37%, and 46%, and TEY by 25%, 34%, and 42%, respectively. Biosolids had inconsistent effects on feedstock quality and TEP. A single, end-of-season harvest likely will be preferred based on apparent advantages in feedstock quality. Biosolids can serve as an effective alternative to N fertilizer in switchgrass-to-energy systems.
Why “isms” Are Evil: Theory, Epistemology, and Academic Sects as Impediments to Understanding and Progress†

This essay probes tensions between our professional practices and the quality of our professional output in the field of international studies. We organize ourselves into academic “sects” that engage in self-affirming research and then wage theological debates between academic religions. This occurs at both the level of theory and epistemology. Unfortunately, this academic sectarianism produces less understanding rather than more. Theoretically, we should focus on developing contingent, mid-level theories of specific phenomena. Epistemologically, we should recognize there are multiple valid and perhaps even complementary paths to understanding.
Effects of vegetation cover on seedling and sapling dynamics in secondary tropical wet forests in Costa Rica

We examined effects of experimental manipulations of vegetation cover on recruitment, mortality and density of seedlings (20–100 cm tall) and saplings (≥100 cm tall) of woody growth forms over a 2.5-y period. We created four treatments in each of three 15–20-y-old tropical forest stands in Costa Rica: a large canopy gap (270–350 m2), a small canopy gap (50–100 m2), understorey vegetation removal, and an unmanipulated control treatment. Creation of canopy gaps, especially large ones, increased first-year recruitment and density, as well as overall mortality of seedlings. Saplings experienced lower mortality and more prolonged gap-enhanced recruitment and density than seedlings. Removal of understorey vegetation had little or no effect on tree seedling and sapling dynamics. Recruitment and density of lianas responded only to large gaps, whereas understorey species responded to both gap treatments and to spatial heterogeneity within gaps. Tree species exhibited diverse regeneration requirements, whereas liana and understorey species were more specialized to the high and low ends of the light availability gradient, respectively. Canopy gaps provide a critical mechanism for regeneration of lianas, and canopy tree species that dominate during the early stages of secondary forest succession. The choice of management system for these secondary forests can determine the direction and rate of succession.
Long-term visual acuity and initial postoperative refractive error in pediatric pseudophakia

Objective: To examine the long-term best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in children who, during the amblyogenic period, underwent cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and to see if initial postoperative refractive error following cataract extraction correlates with long-term BCVA. Design: Retrospective chart review. Participants: Thirty-six eyes of 26 patients were included in the study. At least 2 years of follow-up, an age < 8.5 years at time of IOL implantation, an ability to participate in subjective visual acuity measurement, and an absence of congenital glaucoma and significant trauma were required for inclusion in the study. Methods: Retrospective review of pseudophakic patients' charts at a tertiary care centre, with attention to initial and long-term pseudophakic refractive error, long-term BcVa, total myopic shift, length of follow-up, age at IOL implantation, and unilateral or bilateral cataract extraction with IOL implantation. Results: Initial pseudophakic spherical equivalent (SE) showed asignificant nonlinear relationship with most recent BCVA in unilateral cases and no relationship in bilateral cases (interaction p = 0.001). Unilateral cases with initial pseudophakic SE between +1.75 D and +5.00 D showed better long-term BCVA than those with values below +1.75 D or above +5.00 D; this was irrespective of the refractive error of their fellow eye. Conclusions: In patients receiving lens implants in the first 8 years of life, we recommend aiming for low early postoperative hyperopia, taking into consideration each patient's situation and age.
Variation in femoral anteversion

Variation in femoral anteversion in an adult African skeletal population is examined in this study. Variation is measured in reference to population, gender, and side of the extremity (right vs. left). This study demonstrates greater average anteversion (19°) and a significant right-left variation (21 vs. 17) when compared to previously reported Caucasian and Oriental populations. The increased anteversion complements previous reports documenting morphologic differences between populations in length and width of the femur. This study documents a variation in femoral anteversion not appreciated in earlier studies that may be clinically useful in the assessment and correction of “abnormal” anteversion. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The revised Piper Fatigue Scale: psychometric evaluation in women with breast cancer.

Purpose/objectives To confirm the multidimensionality of the Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS) and to reduce the total number of PFS items without compromising reliability and validity estimates. Design Methodologic, part of a larger, cross-sectional, mailed survey design study. Setting Urban and suburban area in the northeast United States. Sample As part of the larger study, 2,250 surveys were distributed to women survivors of breast cancer who were on a mailing list for the educational organization Living Beyond Breast Cancer, 715 surveys (32%) were returned. Of these, 382 women met this methodologic study's criteria for having completed each of the 40 items on the PFS. The average respondent was 50 years old, postmenopausal, and treated with combination cancer therapy. Methods Principal axes factor analysis with oblique rotation. Main research variables Fatigue factors/subscales. Findings Five factors/subscales were identified initially. Because the fifth factor contained only two items (ability to bathe/wash and ability to dress), these items and the associated factor/subscale were dropped from the final solution. An additional nine items, not loading on any factor (> 0.40), also were dropped. The remaining items and factors/subscales were reviewed to ensure that the criteria were met: a pattern of inter-item correlations between 0.30-0.70; a minimum number of five or more items/subscale; standardized alpha for the subscales and total scale of at least 0.89; and absence of gender-specific items. Conclusions The revised version of the PFS consists of 22 items and four subscales: behavioral/severity (6 items), affective meaning (5 items), sensory (5 items) and cognitive/mood (6 items). Standardized alpha for the entire scale (n = 22 items) is 0.97, indicating that some redundancy still may exist among the items. Additional revisions await further testing. Implications for nursing practice As fatigue is acknowledged to be the most frequent symptom experienced by patients with cancer, accurate measurement and assessment is essential to advance not only the science of fatigue but, most importantly, to evaluate the efficacy of intervention strategies on patient and family outcomes.
Effects of electric field and biaxial flexure on the failure of poled lead zirconate titanate

Reliable design of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezo stack actuators demands that several issues, including electromechanical coupling and ceramic strength-size scaling, be scrutinized. This study addresses those through the use of ball-on-ring (BoR) biaxial flexure strength tests of a PZT piezoelectric material that is concurrently subjected to an electric field. The Weibull strength distributions and fracture surfaces were examined. The mechanical failures were further analyzed in terms of internal stress, energy release rate, and domain-switching toughening. Both the sign and the magnitude of an electric field had a significant effect on the strength of poled PZT within the tested range. A surface flaw type with an average depth of around 18 mum was identified to be the strength limiter and responsible for the failure of the tested PZT under both mechanical and electromechanical loadings. With a value of 0.74 MPamiddotm1/2 in the absence of electric field, the fracture toughness of the poled PZT was affected by an applied electric field just as the strength was affected. These results and observations have the potential to serve probabilistic reliability analysis and design optimization of multilayer PZT piezo actuators.
Diurnal cycling of glutathione in marine phytoplankton: Field and culture studies

Glutathione is an abundant intracellular thiol that is involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species generated in the presence of light. We used short-term continuous cultures of Emiliania huxleyi and Thalassiosira pseudonana to show that a diurnal light cycle causes intracellular glutathione to undergo at least twofold variations, with maximum concentrations occurring during light periods. Cysteine concentrations also appear to vary in E. huxleyi to a similar extent, with the highest concentrations occurring at night. A complementary field study conducted at Salt Pond in Falmouth, Massachusetts, yielded a similar diurnal cycle of glutathione concentrations in particulate samples. This cycling is important to consider when measuring particulate thiols in both culture and field studies and provides additional evidence that glutathione plays an important role as an antioxidant in eukaryotic marine phytoplankton.
Auditing a Database under Retention Restrictions

Auditing the changes to a database is critical for identifying malicious behavior, maintaining data quality, and improving system performance. But an accurate audit log is a historical record of the past that can also pose a serious threat to privacy. Policies which limit data retention conflict with the goal of accurate auditing, and data owners have to carefully balance the need for policy compliance with the goal of accurate auditing. In this paper, we provide a framework for auditing the changes to a database system while respecting data retention policies. Our framework includes a historical data model that supports flexible audit queries, along with a language for retention policies that hide individual attribute values or remove entire tuples from history. Under retention policies, the audit history is partially incomplete. We formalize the meaning of audit queries on the protected history, which can include imprecise results. We implement policy application and query answering efficiently in a standard relational system, and characterize (both theoretically and experimentally) the cases where accurate auditing can be achieved under retention restrictions.
Are there optical differences between storm-time substorms and isolated substorms?

Abstract. We have performed an extensive analysis of auroral optical events (substorms) that occurred during the development of the main phase of magnetic storms. Using images from the Earth Camera on the Polar spacecraft (Frank et al., 1995), we compared the optical emission features of substorms occurring during 16 expansion phases of magnetic storms with the features of isolated substorms occurring during non-storm times. The comparison used two techniques, visual inspection and statistical comparisons. The comparisons were based on the common characteristics seen in isolated substorms that were initially identified by Akasofu (1964) and quantified by Gjerloev et al. (2008). We find that when auroral activity does occur during main phase development the characteristics of the aurora are very dissimilar to those of the classical isolated substorm. The primary differences include the lack of a surge/bulge, lack of bifurcation of the aurora, much shorter expansion phases, and greater intensities. Since a surge/bulge and bifurcation of the aurora are characteristics of the existence of a substorm current wedge, a key component of the magnetosphere-ionosphere current system during substorms, the lack of this component would indicate that the classical substorm model does not apply to the storm time magnetosphere-ionosphere current system. Rather several of the analyses suggest that the storm-time substorms are associated more closely with the auroral oval, at least spatially, and, therefore, probably with the plasma sheet dynamics during the main phase development. These results then must call into question the widely held assumption that there is no intrinsic difference between storm-time substorms and classical isolated substorms.
HES5 silencing is an early and recurrent change in prostate tumourigenesis

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, resulting in over 10 000 deaths/year in the UK. Sequencing and copy number analysis of primary tumours has revealed heterogeneity within tumours and an absence of recurrent founder mutations, consistent with non-genetic disease initiating events. Using methylation profiling in a series of multi-focal prostate tumours, we identify promoter methylation of the transcription factor HES5 as an early event in prostate tumourigenesis. We confirm that this epigenetic alteration occurs in 86-97% of cases in two independent prostate cancer cohorts (n=49 and n=39 tumour-normal pairs). Treatment of prostate cancer cells with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine increased HES5 expression and downregulated its transcriptional target HES6, consistent with functional silencing of the HES5 gene in prostate cancer. Finally, we identify and test a transcriptional module involving the AR, ERG, HES1 and HES6 and propose a model for the impact of HES5 silencing on tumourigenesis as a starting point for future functional studies.
Modeling assessment of transport and deposition patterns of anthropogenic mercury air emissions in the United States and Canada

In December 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency submitted its mercury study report to Congress, which included a modeling assessment of the long-range transport and deposition of mercury from various residential and industrial sources within the United States, based on numerical simulations of elemental mercury gas, divalent mercury gas and particulate mercury, using a special version of the Regional Lagrangian Model of Air Pollution (RELMAP). Observations of the deposition of total precipitated mercury at several locations within the U.S. were compared to the modeling results in order to evaluate the accuracy of the RELMAP simulations. However, the lack of Canadian mercury emissions data in the RELMAP modeling limited the usefulness of this model evaluation at locations near the Canadian border. An inventory of Canadian mercury emissions obtained from Environment Canada has now been added to the RELMAP mercury modeling, and the previous simulations and evaluation of modeled wet deposition have been repeated. The results indicate that emissions of mercury from Canada, as represented by the new inventory, do not significantly impact simulated wet deposition over the United States, nor the general results of the previous model evaluation. Analyses of the simulated transport and deposition patterns of mercury emissions from both the United States and Canada are presented, along with the simulated fraction of total mercury wet deposition, separately attributable to sources within each nation.
Population Status of Hellbender Salamanders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) in the Allegheny River Drainage of New York State

Abstract Studies that document changes in long-lived species are valuable in determining how demographic and environmental changes are affecting populations. This study documents apparent declines in Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) populations over the last 20 years in the Allegheny River drainage of New York State. We compared current mark–recapture data to similar data collected in the 1980s at eight sites using a comparable method of capture (rock turning). In addition, we employed several other methods of capture including trapping, bank searching, and night lighting. Despite these extra efforts, the number of Hellbenders captured was less than the number captured historically. Hellbenders were extirpated from a single site and the ecological density (number of individuals per 10 m2 of habitable area) decreased in several other sites relative to the 1980s. Current and historical populations contained more mature adults than juveniles, but we found more Hellbenders <20 cm total length...
Term elective induction of labour and perinatal outcomes in obese women: retrospective cohort study

Objective To compare perinatal outcomes between elective induction of labour (eIOL) and expectant management in obese women. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Deliveries in California in 2007. Population Term, singleton, vertex, nonanomalous deliveries among obese women (n = 74 725). Methods Women who underwent eIOL at 37 weeks were compared with women who were expectantly managed at that gestational age. Similar comparisons were made at 38, 39, and 40 weeks. Results were stratified by parity. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used for statistical comparison. Main outcome measures Method of delivery, severe perineal lacerations, postpartum haemorrhage, chorioamnionitis, macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, brachial plexus injury, respiratory distress syndrome. Results The odds of caesarean delivery were lower among nulliparous women with eIOL at 37 weeks [odds ratio (OR) 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34–0.90] and 39 weeks (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.63–0.95) compared to expectant management. Among multiparous women with a prior vaginal delivery, eIOL at 37 (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.24–0.64), 38 (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51–0.82), and 39 weeks (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.56–0.81) was associated with lower odds of caesarean. Additionally, eIOL at 38, 39, and 40 weeks was associated with lower odds of macrosomia. There were no differences in the odds of operative vaginal delivery, lacerations, brachial plexus injury or respiratory distress syndrome. Conclusions In obese women, term eIOL may decrease the risk of caesarean delivery, particularly in multiparas, without increasing the risks of other adverse outcomes when compared with expectant management. Tweetable abstract Elective induction of labour in obese women does not increase risk of caesarean or other perinatal morbidities.
Large-area Nanosilver Die-attach by Hot-pressing Below 200°C and 5 MPa

Sintered nanoscale silver joint is an emerging lead-free die-attach solution for high-temperature packaging because of silver's high melting temperature. For bonding small chips, the nanosilver solution can be achieved with a simple heating profile under atmospheric pressure. However, for bonding large-area chips, e.g. > 1 cm2 IGBT chips, uniaxial pressure of a few MPa has been found necessary during the sintering stage of the bonding process, which is carried out at temperatures below 275°C. Hot-pressing at high temperatures can cause significant wear and tear on the processing equipment, resulting in high maintenance cost. In this study, we ran a series of experiments aimed at lowering the hot-pressing temperature. Specifically, we examined a process involving hot-press drying, followed by sintering without any applied pressure. A fractional factorial design of experiments was used to identify the importance and interaction of various processing parameters, such as hot-pressing pressure/temperature/time...
The Golgi material and mitochondria in the salivary glands of the larva of Drosophila melanogaster.

1. The salivary glands in the larvae of Drosophila show evidence of serving two functions: (1) production of digestive secretion, (2) accumulation of reserve food for the period of pupation. The two functions proceed simultaneously within the same cell during certain stages of its development. 2. A single droplet of digestive material has been seen to originate and grow within each Golgi body in the gland-cells. When a certain size is reached the droplet is released into the cytoplasm and by the fusion of two or more of them bigger vacuoles are formed. The secretory material is discharged into the lumen by means of a merocrine mechanism. Neither mitochondria nor nucleus has been observed to take any visible part in the elaboration of secretion droplets. 3. The storage granules found in older and larger cells have been observed to be direct transformations of chondriomites, and neither the Golgi material nor the nucleus shows any sign of participation in the formation of these granules. 4. From the standpoint of morphology and behaviour, the Golgi bodies found in the salivary gland cells are the same as found in the cells of the glandular portion of the proventriculus and the epithelium of the anterior portion of the midgut of the larva. 5. My observations do not lend themselves convincingly to a two-component conception of the structure of Golgi bodies.
Groundwater Conservation District Finance in Texas: Results of a Preliminary Study

The preferred method of groundwater management in Texas is by locally formed groundwater conservation districts (GCDs). However, not all of Texas groundwater is managed by a district; some areas have not voted to form a GCD. There are 99 GCDs in Texas with 2 pending; only 174 of the 254 counties are covered by a GCD. GCDs are financed by ad valorem taxes, fees, and grants. Not all GCDs have ad valorem tax support. Revenues from the responding GCDs in this study range from $20,000 annually to $2,632,982. Some cannot open their offices daily. All need money for research to determine the actual amount of groundwater in their district, its sources, and its characteristics. Tax rates for the GCDs with ad valorem tax authority in this study run from $.005/$100 valuation to $.035/$100 valuation, meaning a $200,000 home in these districts would pay from $10 to $70 annually, not as much as a few cups of Starbucks coffee cost annually. All Texans agree water is life and groundwater is one of our most precious resources, therefore GCDs deserve more financial resources. The Texas Water Code provides a number of tools for GCDs to finance their operations including ad valorem taxation levies, issuance of bonds, notes, and promulgation of fees to name a few. However, in many of the GCDs who responded to the study, these tools are not practical to use. Since ad valorem taxation and bond authority must be granted by local voter approval, these tools are unavailable in some GCDs as well.
A Feature-Based Tool-Selection Classification for Agile Software Development

With the advancement in technology, software development complexities are rising across the globe. This trend is forcing companies and organizations to adopt management methods and tools to accelerate time to market, more easily manage changing priorities, increase the customer satisfaction and reduce product expenses. Agile software development methods offer a solution to these issues, but problems remain over evaluation along with the offering of the correct agile software as well as a collection of agile tools . The purpose of this paper is to introduce best tools and features, criteria used for evalua ting currently existing tools and propose a classification model to right agile tool selection. To prepare a list of the best tools and their features in the market, a practical research on existing tools and their features were performed. Finally, a classification model was prepared and the results show which tools best fit into different level of maturity in projects and companies.
Noninvasive assessment of hemodynamics: an emphasis on bioimpedance cardiography

Evaluation of the hemodynamic response in heart failure is a useful adjunct in clinical management. Invasive monitoring has been the accepted gold standard of hemodynamic assessment but carries with it significant associated risks. Noninvasive hemodynamic assessment in heart failure previously has been either unreliable or difficult to obtain. Bioimpedance relies on the proportional change in the conduction of alternating current applied across the thorax as a function of blood volume in the heart and great vessels. Stroke volume, cardiac output, thoracic fluid content, and measures of diastolic function can be determined with bioimpedance. Impedance cardiography is becoming an accepted method for safe, reliable, and reproducible assessment of hemodynamics in heart failure.
Stress-assisted Kosterlitz-Thouless Dislocation Nucleation: the Statistical Physics of Plastic Flow

The stress-assisted Kosterlitz-Thouless (K-T) transition was proposed by Khantha, Pope and Vitek as a possible mechanism for the abrupt transition from brittle to ductile behavior of single crystals as a function of temperature. The authors argue that in a two-dimensional crystal under elevated temperature and applied shear stress, the microscopic mechanism of the stress-assisted K-T transition is the nucleation of dislocation dipole pairs with a preferred Burgers vector orientation. This defect population gives rise to an anisotropic hexatic phase with quasi-long range order along one axis and short-range order along the orthogonal axis. The laboratory signature of such a phase is scattering peaks that are ``streaked,`` i.e., strongly broadened along a single direction. The authors discuss experimental data for an analogous two-dimensional system which displays order of this type. Potential implications for the brittle-ductile transition in three dimensions are outlined.
EIGENVALUES AND EIGENVECTORS OF THE EULER EQUATIONS IN GENERAL GEOMETRIES

The complete eigensystem, including eigenvalues and left and right eigenvectors, of the Euler equations of inviscid flow are derived in a general finite volume coordinate frame. The symmetry of the eigenvector space is demonstrated from a mathematical and geometric viewpoint. Results are presented for 2-D and 3-D inviscid flow, and their application in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is discussed. where,
Grit use by house sparrows: effects of diet and grit size

Free-ranging House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) were captured with mist nets in central Iowa from August through March, 1990-1993, and their gizzard contents were used to compare grit use by sex, season, and diet. Males and females did not differ in mean grit amounts or sizes (overall mean size = 0.5 mm) in their gizzards. Gizzards of birds captured during March and August contained more grit than those of birds captured during September through February (x = 674 vs. 477). Gizzards confining >75% animal material (insects) had more grit than those containing >75% plant food (x = 681 vs. 531). Aviary experiments then were conducted with captive House Sparrows to evaluate the effects of diet and grit size on grit choice and retention. When birds were given grit particles 0.2-1.4 mm in size and either soft animal food (canned dog food) or hard plant food (wild bird seed), grit in gizzards of birds on the two diets did not differ in mean number or size. When birds were given both animal and plant food and either small (0.2-0.4 mm) or large (1.01.4 mm) grit, gizzards of birds consuming small grit contained 5 times more particles than those of birds consuming large grit (x = 275 vs. 51). In experiments evaluating grit retention, most grit in gizzards was replaced within five days. Grit replacement rates were unaffected by diet, but birds given only hard, plant food averaged more grit per gizzard than those given only soft, animal food (x = 538 vs. 205). Gizzards of House Sparrows given only small grit consistently retained grit longer and contained more particles (x = 853 vs. 174) han those of birds given only large grit
Deep-wound and organ-space infection after surgery for degenerative spine disease: an analysis from 2006 to 2012.

Objective: To study the incidence and risk factors of deep-wound and organ-space surgical site infection (SSI) following surgery for degenerative spine disease.Methods: Data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were obtained for the years 2006–2012. All adult patients over 40 years of age who underwent elective cervical or lumbar spine surgery for degenerative spine disease were identified. Rates of deep-wound and organ-space SSI were calculated for each procedure. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent risk factors for SSI development.Results: A total of 36,440 patients were identified, with 7,627 patients (20.93%) undergoing cervical spine surgery and 28,813 patients (79.07%) undergoing lumbar spine surgery. The overall rate of SSI was 0.72% (n = 264); there were 189 deep-wound infections (0.52%) and 75 organ-space infections (0.21%). The highest rates of SSI were for patients undergoing a posterolateral fusion of ...
Application of the Innate Immune Adhesion Function of Erythrocyte in Children Hand- foot-mouth Disease

Objective This study was to investigate the change of erythrocytic innate immune adhesion function(EIIAF) in children with hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) and its clinical significance. Methods 111 cases were collected and divided into a death group(6 cases), acriticalgroup(57cases)and acontrolgroup(48 cases). EIIAFweremeasured in allthree groups. Results The median EIIAF(interquartile)ofthedeath group, criticalgroup and controlgroup were 19.5%(11), 26.0%(11)and 38.0%(24), respectively. The difference was statistically significant(χ2=24.452, P0.001). EIIAF of the death group and critical group were significantly decreased compared to the control group(P0.017). Conclusion EIIAF have important clinical significance for the diagnosis of HFMD.
Impact of lung surfactant therapy on chronic lung diseases in premature infants.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and chronic lung disease remain common complications of prematurity. This article addresses the evolution of BPD since its description in 1967, and the impact of surfactant replacement therapy on the incidence and characteristics of BPD. It also addresses the emergence of a form of chronic king disease now seen in surfactant-treated premature infants who had no acute lung disease.
The Nutritional Importance of Pure and Mixed Cultures of Yeasts in the Development of Drosophila mulleri Larvae in Opuntia Tissues and its Relationship to Host Plant Shifts

The prevalence of yeasts in the diets of Drosophila species has stimulated studies on the role of yeasts in almost all aspects of the biology of Drosophila. The early work of Del-court and Guyenot (1910) and Baumberger (1919) on the nutritional importance of yeasts for Drosophila was followed in the middle of the 20th century by two major research efforts. One was primarily concerned with the nutritional value of yeasts to Drosophila in the laboratory (reviewed by Sang, 1978) while the other was directed toward understanding the evolutionary biology of natural populations of Drosophila species by studying their natural food, yeasts (reviewed by Begon, 1982). Both lines of investigation suggested that the two organisms depend on one another for survival. The dependencies are basically mutualistic. The yeasts rely on insects such as Drosophila species for dispersal to new habitats while the Drosophila rely on the yeasts for nutrition during larval development and egg maturation.
TP53 mutations as a biomarker for high-grade serous ovarian cancer: are we there yet?

Ovarian cancer is in the top five causes of female cancer deaths in the developed world (1), and about 1 in 54 women will develop ovarian cancer based on lifetime risk (2). Symptoms can be vague, and most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Ovarian cancer is staged surgically and pathologically according to the FIGO system (3), and the five-year survival rate is around 30% for patients diagnosed with advanced-stage ovarian cancer (4). The five-year survival increases to 92% when the cancer is confined to the ovary, supporting the theory that early detection via biomarkers has the potential to reduce mortality. However, accuracy in ovarian cancer detection methods can be problematic and also lead to mortality via unsuitable treatment.
Hand Hygiene: An Update

The medical field has long recognized the importance of hand hygiene in preventing health care-associated infections, yet studies indicate that this important task is performed only 40% of the time. Health care workers cite several barriers to optimal performance of hand hygiene, but the time required to perform this task is foremost among them. Introduction of alcohol-based hand rubs, bundled interventions, and incorporation of technologies designed to monitor and promote hand hygiene all represent promising advances in this field.
Peroral endoscopic myotomy: a meta-analysis.

Background and study aim: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a relatively novel minimally invasive technique that is used to treat achalasia and other esophageal motility disorders. We systematically reviewed the medical literature in order to evaluate the safety and efficacy of POEM. Methods: We performed a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of studies published up to March 2016 that reported on clinical outcomes of POEM. Five databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Ovid, CINAHL, and Cochrane. Results: A total of 36 studies involving 2373 patients were included in the review. Clinical success (Eckardt score ≤ 3) was achieved in 98 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 97 % – 100 %) of patients after the procedure. The mean Eckardt score decreased from 6.9 ± 0.15 preoperatively to 0.77 ± 0.10, 1.0 ± 0.10, and 1.0 ± 0.08 within 1, 6, and 12 months of treatment. In addition, there were significant decreases in the average lower esophageal sphincter pressure, integrated relaxation pressure, and the average heights of the barium column following a timed barium esophagogram after the procedure. After a mean follow-up of 8 months post-procedure, the rates of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux, esophagitis on esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and abnormal acid exposure were 8.5 % (95 %CI 4.9 % – 13 %), 13 % (95 %CI 5.0 % – 23 %), and 47 % (95 %CI 21 % – 74 %), respectively. Conclusions: POEM appears to be safe and effective based on the large body of current evidence, and warrants consideration as first-line therapy when an expert operator is available.
Engineering an Affinity-Enhanced Peptide through Optimization of Cyclization Chemistry

Peptide cyclization is a strategy used to improve stability and activity of peptides. The most commonly used cyclization method is disulfide bridge formation of cysteine-containing peptides, as is typically found in nature. Over the years, an increasing number of alternative chemistries for peptide cyclization with improved efficiency, kinetics, orthogonality, and stability have been reported. However, there has been less appreciation for the opportunity to fine-tune peptide activity via the diverse chemical entities introduced at the site of linkage by different cyclization strategies. Here, we demonstrate how cyclization optimization of an M2 “anti-inflammatory” macrophage-binding peptide (M2pep) resulted in a significant increase in binding affinity of the optimized analog to M2 macrophages while maintaining binding selectivity compared to M1 “pro-inflammatory” macrophages. In this study, we report synthesis and evaluation of four cyclic M2pep(RY) analogs with diverse cyclization strategies: (1) Asp–[a...
Regeneration: Lessons from the Lizard

While regeneration of appendages is observed in a number of vertebrates, including teleost fish, amphibians, and squamate reptiles, birds and mammals, including humans, have very limited capacity. The combination of cellular and tissue-based studies together with high throughput sequencing technologies now permit investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration of appendages in vertebrates. As the first squamate reptile with a fully sequenced and annotated genome, the green anole lizard, Anolis carolinensis, has yielded insights into both the cellular and molecular programs for regeneration. RNA-Seq based studies have identified both developmental and repair mechanisms in anole tail regeneration, particularly pathways regulating formation of the wound epithelium, modulation of the immune response, musculoskeletal development, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and activation of Wnt/β-catenin and FGF signaling pathways. Additionally, both conserved and novel microRNAs have been identified in tail regeneration in the anole, giving insights into upstream regulators of the regenerative process. Ongoing comparative studies of lizard regeneration could potentially be translated into future regenerative therapeutics for appendage biological prosthetics.
Perú: Colonialismo y política educativa intercultural

En este articulo, analizo como los paradigmas coloniales obstaculizan los intentos de democratizacion social peruana a traves de la educacion intercultural. Mi tesis central es que la persistencia de creencias coloniales (eurocentricas y patriarcales) dentro de la cultura nacional dominante fomentan discursos y practicas que refuerzan las desigualdades existentes entre razas, generos, culturas y lenguas; las cuales perjudican especialmente a las mujeres de nuestros pueblos afro-descendientes e indigenas. De aqui se deriva la necesidad de que la educacion intercultural contenga un proposito descolonizador. Es decir que promueva creencias sociales inclusivas en relacion a identidades sociales marginalizadas y dispuestas a la democratizacion que los grupos mas oprimidos, movimientos sociales y ciudadanos mas progresistas exigen. Este tipo de politica educativa requiere la inclusion de los grupos marginalizados en su diseno, implementacion y evaluacion. Uno de los grupos que ha padecido extrema marginalizacion a traves de la historia peruana ha sido el afro-peruano. Mostrar las contribuciones potenciales de la tradicion afro-peruana para la creacion de una interculturalidad descolonizada facilitara tambien la inclusion de todos los otros grupos marginados. Por ello, presento algunas ideas del poeta peruano Nicomedes Santa Cruz y del filosofo y estadista senegales Leopold Sedar Senghor que pueden estimular una concepcion mas democratica y descolonizadora de la interculturalidad peruana.
A comprehensive framework for evaluating the environmental health and safety implications of engineered nanomaterials

Engineered nanomaterials (ENM) are a growing aspect of the global economy, and their safe and sustainable development, use, and eventual disposal requires the capability to forecast and avoid potential problems. This review provides a framework to evaluate the health and safety implications of ENM releases into the environment, including purposeful releases such as for antimicrobial sprays or nano-enabled pesticides, and inadvertent releases as a consequence of other intended applications. Considerations encompass product life cycles, environmental media, exposed populations, and possible adverse outcomes. This framework is presented as a series of compartmental flow diagrams that serve as a basis to help derive future quantitative predictive models, guide research, and support development of tools for making risk-based decisions. After use, ENM are not expected to remain in their original form due to reactivity and/or propensity for hetero-agglomeration in environmental media. Therefore, emphasis is placed on characterizing ENM as they occur in environmental or biological matrices. In addition, predicting the activity of ENM in the environment is difficult due to the multiple dynamic interactions between the physical/chemical aspects of ENM and similarly complex environmental conditions. Others have proposed the use of simple predictive functional assays as an intermediate step to address the challenge of using physical/chemical properties to predict environmental fate and behavior of ENM. The nodes and interactions of the framework presented here reflect phase transitions that could be targets for development of such assays to estimate kinetic reaction rates and simplify model predictions. Application, refinement, and demonstration of this framework, along with an associated knowledgebase that includes targeted functional assay data, will allow better de novo predictions of potential exposures and adverse outcomes.
Evaluation of the Rat Renal Allograft Model in Comparison to Man: A Physiological Perspective

Fabre has previously questioned the rat kidney allograft model from an immunologic perspective and raised some important considerations. The present study addresses further the fidelity of the rat renal allograft model from a physiologic rather than immunologic perspective. We reviewed several rat renal allograft studies from several laboratories, including our own, that followed BUN or urea levels during renal failure. Also examined were several studies from the literature concerning patient survival and uremia. The percentage of patient and rat survival was plotted against maximal BUNs attained. The frequency of survival was significantly (p less than 0.05) increased in the rats by comparison to the patient population over a range of median BUNmax values. Additional human data that were utilized for analysis included a group of 16 patients who experienced renal failure and subsequently chose not to undergo dialysis. Comparing the mean BUN at death in rats from our laboratory to this patient population, we found that there was a significant difference (p less than 0.001, 292 +/- 142 mg./dl. versus 127 +/- 51 mg./dl., respectively). When all of the rat data was combined, including results from the literature, and compared to the patients, a significant (p less than 0.001) increase in BUN at death was confirmed (204 +/- 95 versus 127 +/- 51, respectively). We also found that 82% of the rats that died with uremia possessed BUNs greater than 200 mg./dl. at some time during their course. In contrast, only one of the 16 patients (6%) that died with uremia demonstrated BUN levels as great as this. Although the rats frequently (13%) went on to indefinite survival after experiencing high levels of uremia, the vast majority did not. We conclude that the rats exhibit superior ability to tolerate high concentrations of urea in comparison to man. However, as a group, they demonstrated little ability to sustain their uremic condition for prolonged periods. This latter consideration is of utmost importance, since most renal transplant studies base their conclusions on length of animal survival following organ allograft failure due to rejection. We feel this is a salient feature of the rat renal allograft model.
Free energy of formation of Mn 7 C 3 from vapor pressure measurements

The Knudsen cell has been employed to determine the free energy of formation of Mn7C3 in the temperature range 800° to 950°C. A value of 66,440 cal was found for ΔH°0 for α-manganese. Measurements of the pressure of manganese over a mixed carbide, (Fe,Mn)7C3, points to a power relationship between \({a_{M{n_7}{c_3}}}\) and \({N_{M{n_7}{c_3}}}\).
Spintronics: Spins take sides

The conventional photovoltaic effect has now been given a spin twist, enabling spin control in a non-magnetic structure. This concept could yield new methods of detecting and tailoring spin-dependent phenomena in semiconductors.
Psychological Trauma: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Spirituality:

Traumatic life events impact the body, self-structure, and soul of the survivor. Accordingly, the authors submit that overwhelmingly traumatic events adversely affect not only the psychological dim...