cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolving management of symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma: experience of a single institution and review of the literature

AbstractObjective: Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) has an increasing incidence and results in high morbidity and mortality. We review here the 10-year experience of a single institution and the literature regarding the treatment and major associations of cSDH.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all cSDHs surgically treated from 2000 to 2010 in the New York Harbor Health Care System to evaluate the duration from admission to treatment, type of treatment, length of stay (LOS) in critical care, LOS in the hospital, and recurrence. The literature was reviewed with regards to incidence, associations, and treatment of cSDH.Results: From 2000 to 2008, 44 patients were treated with burr holes (BHs). From 2008 to 2010, 29 patients were treated with twist-drill evacuation (subdural evacuating port system, SEPS). Four patients from each group were readmitted for reoperation (9% vs 14%; P = 0·53). The average time to intervention for SEPS (11·2±15·3 hours) was faster than for BHs (40·3±69·1 hours) (P = 0·02). T...
Delicious guinea pigs: Seasonality studies and the use of fat in the pre-Columbian Andean diet

Abstract In the Nearctic ecozone (temperate, subarctic, and arctic environments) hunter–gatherers often have to rely on diets with inadequate caloric intakes during certain times of the year. Although the Neotropic ecozone has different and less extreme conditions, it can also be nutritionally challenging. While the tropical forests offer a more stable diet (in terms of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat availability), high altitude biomes, such as the central Andes, can challenge human populations to metabolize proteins properly in certain times of the year. Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) may have been incorporated in the Andean diet because they represented an additional source of fat, especially when carbohydrates were short in supply.
Manganese Amendment and Pleurotus ostreatus Treatment to Convert Tomato Pomace for Inclusion in Poultry Feed

If freshly dried tomato pomace could be fed to poultry, its naturally occurring alpha-tocopherol would retard lipid oxidation during further processing, long-term frozen storage, and heating of poultry meat; however, the high fiber content in this agricultural by-product adversely affects its use. Experiments were conducted to investigate the chemical composition and in vitro true digestibility of amended (without and with 487 micromol of manganese/g) tomato pomace substrate after treatment with the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus. In treated pomace without manganese, protein content was improved by 3.1%, cellulose and hemicellulose decreased over time, but lignin degradation was not detected. In addition, treated pomace without manganese showed a significant reduction of in vitro true digestibility. Manganese in pomace inhibited fungal growth and did not enhance lignin degradation. Under the conditions of the experiment, P. ostreatus improved the nutritional composition of tomato pomace; however, it did not reduce lignin. It is possible that manganese amendment at the level used affected gaseous conditions (O(2) consumption and CO(2) evolution rates), important factors that must be considered when attempting to enhance accelerated lignin degradation by P. ostreatus.
A replication-deficient rSV40 mediates liver-directed gene transfer and a long-term amelioration of jaundice in gunn rats.

Abstract Background & Aims: In the quest for a recombinant viral vector for liver-directed gene therapy that would permit both prolonged and efficient transgene expression in quiescent hepatocytes in vivo and repeated administration, we evaluated a recombinant simian virus 40 (rSV40). Methods: The rSV40 was generated through replacement of the DNA encoding for the T antigens (Tag) by the coding region of human bilirubin–uridine 5'-diphosphate–glucuronosyl–transferase (BUGT) complementary DNA (SV-hBUGT). Helper-free rSV40 units were generated at infectious titers of 5 × 10 9 to 1 × 10 10 infectious units (IU)/mL in a Tag-producing packaging cell line (COS-7 cells). Results: After 1, 3, or 7 daily infusions of 3 × 10 9 IU of SV-hBUGT through an indwelling portal vein catheter in bilirubin-UGT–deficient jaundiced Gunn rats, mean serum bilirubin concentrations decreased by 40%, 60% and 70%, respectively, in 3 weeks and remained at those levels throughout the duration of the study (40 days). Results of liver biopsies from SV-hBUGT–treated Gunn rats, but not from controls, were positive for human BUGT DNA, messenger RNA, and protein. Bilirubin-UGT activity in liver homogenates was 8%–12% of normal, and bilirubin glucuronides were excreted in bile. Immunostaining showed that >50%–60% of hepatocytes stably expressed the transgene. Portal vein infusion of an rSV40 expressing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in a naive Gunn rat and a Gunn rat that had received 7 injections of SV-BUGT resulted in approximately equal levels of hepatic expression of HBsAg, indicating that multiple inoculations of SV-BUGT did not elicit neutralizing antibodies. Plasma alanine aminotransferase levels and liver histology remained normal despite repeated injections of rSV40. Conclusions: rSV40 vectors may represent a significant advance toward gene therapy for metabolic diseases. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2000;119:1348-1357
Effective-medium theory of zeroth-order lamellar gratings in conical mountings

A formalism is presented for calculating the ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices for a uniaxial film with optical properties equivalent to those of a conically mounted zeroth-order lamellar grating. In the quasi-static limit (grating-period-to-wavelength ratio → 0) this treatment is exact for both dielectric and metallic gratings. For period-to-wavelength ratios approaching unity, the effective anisotropic refractive indices are dependent on the polar and azimuthal incidence angles. The validity of this method as the period-to-wavelength ratio increases is studied by comparison of the method with the predictions of rigorous grating theories. Comparisons are then made with the predictions of other effective-medium theories. Examples of the use of this theory for conically mounted zeroth-order gratings are presented.
Development of a real-time testbed for studying demodulation techniques in a jamming environment

A testbed that allows a variety of modulation and demodulation techniques to be implemented in programmable hardware and performance in additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and jamming conditions to be measured is described. Field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology is used in the majority of the modulators and demodulators to allow the design to be easily modified to investigate new modulation/demodulation approaches. AWGN hardware performance is compared with theoretical simulations as a check on both implementation loss and simulation validity. A jammer simulator that interfaces with the testbed has also been constructed. Various jammer threats can be introduced on the communications link, and resultant performance can be measured, displayed, and recorded. >
Variable frequency trains enhance torque independent of stimulation amplitude.

Aim: Variable frequency trains have been reported to enhance force of fatigued human skeletal muscle. More rapid calcium turnover and/or enhanced stiffness may be responsible for the augmented torque–time integral during surface stimulation at moderate amplitude. In contrast, it has recently been suggested that variable frequency train enhancement occurs only at low forces as a result of preferential stimulation of fast fibres and/or altered motor unit recruitment. If correct, this would limit the practical benefit of variable frequency trains. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that torque augmentation by variable frequency trains in fatigued skeletal muscle was independent of stimulation amplitude. Methods: The m. quadriceps femoris of six males was stimulated with constant frequency trains (six 200-ls square waves separated by 70 ms) or variable frequency trains (first interpulse interval 5 ms) at an amplitude that initially evoked � 25 or � 50% of maximal voluntary isometric torque. Results: After 180 constant frequency trains (50% duty cycle), isometric peak torque decreased � 63%. In fatigued muscle, variable frequency trains enhanced the torque–time integral by � 23% over that for constant frequency trains and this effect was independent of stimulation amplitude. This was due to greater peak torque and less slowing of rise time. Conclusion: These responses show that the torque–time integral can be enhanced at both moderate and high stimulation amplitudes. As such, it is suggested that neither recruitment nor preferential activation of fast muscle is
Expectation and Chance-Constrained Models and Algorithms for Insuring Critical Paths

In this paper, we consider a class of two-stage stochastic optimization problems arising in the protection of vital arcs in a critical path network. A project is completed after a series of dependent tasks are all finished. We analyze a problem in which task finishing times are uncertain but can be insured a priori to mitigate potential delays. A decision maker must trade off costs incurred in insuring arcs with expected penalties associated with late project completion times, where lateness penalties are assumed to be lower semicontinuous nondecreasing functions of completion time. We provide decomposition strategies to solve this problem with respect to either convex or nonconvex penalty functions. In particular, for the nonconvex penalty case, we employ the reformulation-linearization technique to make the problem amenable to solution via Benders decomposition. We also consider a chance-constrained version of this problem, in which the probability of completing a project on time is sufficiently large. We demonstrate the computational efficacy of our approach by testing a set of size-and-complexity diversified problems, using the sample average approximation method to guide our scenario generation.
Using community-level metrics to monitor the effects of marine protected areas on biodiversity

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are used to protect species, communities, and their associated habitats, among other goals. Measuring MPA efficacy can be challenging, however, particularly when con- sidering responses at the community level. We gathered 36 abundance and 14 biomass data sets on fish assemblages and used meta-analysis to evaluate the ability of 22 distinct community diversity metrics to detect differences in community structure between MPAs and nearby control sites. We also considered the effects of 6 covariates—MPA size and age, MPA size and age interaction, latitude, total species richness, and level of protection—on each metric. Some common metrics, such as species richness and Shannon diversity, did not differ consistently between MPA and control sites, whereas other metrics, such as total abundance and biomass, were consistently different across studies. Metric responses derived from the biomass data sets were more consistent than those based on the abundance data sets, suggesting that community-level biomass differs more predictably than abundance between MPA and control sites. Covariate analyses indicated that level of protection, latitude, MPA size, and the interaction between MPA size and age affect metric performance. These results highlight a handful of metrics, several of which are little known, that could be used to meet the increasing demand for community-level indicators of MPA effectiveness.
A Long-Term Real Time Sea Bed Morphology Evolution System in the South Atlantic Bight

A long-term real time sea bed morphology monitoring system has been established on the middle continental shelf in the South Atlantic Bight. This constitutes part of the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing System (SEACOOS) and now supports a project that focuses on studying material exchange processes in permeable sediments in response to large scale atmospheric and oceanic forcing. In particular the system supports studies of advective-pore water exchanges that depend on the size and geometry of the wave-induced ripples and the strength of the overlying flows. The seabed morphology system is composed of an Imagenex Model 881 tilted-head digital rotating imaging system (2.25 MHz) connected through 1.5 km of cable to a power and controller unit housed on the R2 Naval platform utilized by the South Atlantic Bight Synoptic Offshore Observational Network (SABSOON). The system collects acoustic images of the seabed along 6 meter long radials with resolution of 0.3 degrees. Data are acquired hourly, transmitted via microwave antenna to shore and reach the laboratory via T1 land line. Raw images are rectified and processed using a 2-dimensional fast Fourier transform algorithm providing wavelength and ripple orientation values. Post-data collection image processing allows evidence of bioturbation to be identified as well. The long-term data base (since April 2007) is used for evaluation of time-dependent ripple evolution models. System design, data analysis methods and example images are presented. The long-term data are used to evaluate a recently introduce time-depended model for coarse sand ripple evolution.
Always the Third Rail?: Pension Income and Policy Preferences in European Democracies

Social transfer programs are thought to generate beneficiary groups who will act politically to defend “their” programs from retrenchment. But little empirical research has been conducted to either verify or disconfirm the micro foundations of this hypothesis, which lies at the heart of the “new social risks” thesis as well as many economic analyses of welfare state politics. This article tests empirically whether benefiting from public pensions leads individuals to greater support of the pension system status quo, net of other factors. It uses cross—data set imputation to combine cross-nationally comparable individual-level data on income from public pensions with political attitudes toward proposed pension reforms. The hypothesis that public pension systems create policy feedbacks of self-interested beneficiaries supporting further pension spending is not supported in any of 11 European countries in either 1992 or 2001.
Blood Glucose and Hormonal Responses to Small and Large Meals in Healthy Young and Older Women

Blood glucose regulation in the fasting and fed states has important implications for health. In addition, the ability to maintain normal blood glucose homeostasis may be an important determinant of an individual's capacity to regulate food intake. We tested the hypothesis that aging is associated with an impairment in the ability to maintain normal blood glucose homeostasis following the consumption of large meals but not small ones, a factor that could help to explain age-related impairments in the control of food intake and energy regulation. The subjects were eight healthy younger women (25 +/- 2 years, SD) and eight healthy older women (72 +/- 2 years) with normal body weight and glucose tolerance. Following a 36-h period when diet and physical activity were controlled, subjects consumed test meals containing 0, 1046, 2092, and 4184 kJ (simulating extended fasting, and consumption of a snack, a small meal, and a moderately large meal), with 35% of energy from fat, 48% from carbohydrate, and 17% from protein. Each subject consumed each of the test meals on a separate occasion. Serial blood samples were collected at baseline and during 5 h after consumption of the meals. Measurements were made of circulating glucose, insulin, glucagon, free fatty acids, and triglycerides. There was no significant difference between young and older women in their hormone and metabolite responses to fasting and consumption of the 1046-kJ meal. However, following consumption of 2092 and 4148 kJ, older individuals showed exaggerated responses and a delayed return to premeal values for glucose (p = .023), insulin (p = .010), triglycerides (p = .023), and the ratio of insulin to glucagon (p = .026). In conclusion, these results suggest an impairment in the hormonal and metabolite responses to large meals in older women.
Novel Biomarkers: Help or Hindrance to Patient Care in the Emergency Department?

EDITOR'S CAPSULE SUMMARY FOR SHAPIRO ET AL WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC: Acute kidney injury is common in severe infection. At present, there are no biomarkers that accurately detect its presence before increase of the creatinine level. WHAT QUESTION THIS STUDY ADDRESSED: This 661-patient observational study tested the diagnostic performance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) to detect acute kidney injury in emergency department patients with suspected infection. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE: Plasma concentrations of NGAL greater than 150 ng/dL were 96% sensitive and 51% specific for acute kidney injury occurring within the first 72 hours of hospitalization. HOW THIS MIGHT CHANGE CLINICAL PRACTICE: These preliminary results should not change clinical practice but suggest that NGAL may be useful for identifying patients at risk for acute kidney injury.
In vivo quantitative evaluation of brain tissue damage in multiple sclerosis using gradient echo plural contrast imaging technique

Conventional MRI based on weighted spin-echo (SE) images aids in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS); however, MRI markers derived from SE sequences provide limited information about lesion severity and correlate poorly with patient disability assessed with clinical tests. In this study, we introduced a novel method [based on quantitative R2* (1/T2*) histograms] for estimating the severity of brain tissue damage in MS lesions. We applied at 1.5T an advanced, multi-gradient echo MRI technique [gradient echo plural contrast imaging (GEPCI)] to obtain images of the brains of healthy control subjects and subjects with MS. GEPCI is a simple yet robust technique allowing simultaneous acquisition of inherently co-registered quantitative T2* and FLAIR-like maps, along with T1-weighted images within a clinically acceptable time frame. Images obtained with GEPCI appear highly similar to standard scans; hence, they can be used in a reliable and conventional way for a clinical evaluation of the disease. Yet, the main advantage of GEPCI approach is its quantitative nature. Analysis of R2* histograms of white matter revealed a difference in the distribution between healthy subjects and subjects with MS. Based on this difference, we developed a new method for grading the severity of tissue damage [tissue damage score (TDS)] in MS lesions. This method also provides a tissue damage load (TDL) assessing both lesion load and lesion severity, and a mean tissue damage score (MTDS) estimating the average MS lesion damage. We found promising correlations between the results derived from this method and the standard measure of clinical disability.
Percutaneous Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy

Percutaneous gastrostomy is a safe, low-cost method of providing essential nutrition without the discomfort of a nasogastric tube [1]. The interventional radiologist plays an increasingly important role in the creation and maintenance of enteral access. Of the three standard methods available for gastrostomy (surgical, endoscopic, radiologic), radiologic percutaneous gastrostomy is the least invasive and is associated with less morbidity and mortality when compared to surgical or endoscopic approaches [2, 3]. In many cases, radiologic percutaneous gastrostomy can be performed as an outpatient procedure and feedings can be initiated shortly after placement. For patients at risk of aspiration due to gastroesophageal reflux, percutaneous gastrostomy can be easily converted to percutaneous gastrojejunostomy. Finally, radiologic percutaneous gastrostomy placed under fluoroscopic guidance has been shown to have lower costs when compared to endoscopic and surgical approaches.
Role of Enthalpy–Entropy Compensation Interactions in Determining the Conformational Propensities of Amino Acid Residues in Unfolded Peptides.

The driving forces governing the unique and restricted conformational preferences of amino acid residues in the unfolded state are still not well understood. In this study, we experimentally determine the individual thermodynamic components underlying intrinsic conformational propensities of these residues. Thermodynamic analysis of ultraviolet-circular dichroism (UV-CD) and 1H NMR data for a series of glycine capped amino acid residues (i.e., G-x-G peptides) reveals the existence of a nearly exact enthalpy–entropy compensation for the polyproline II−β strand equilibrium for all investigated residues. The respective ΔHβ, ΔSβ values exhibit a nearly perfect linear relationship with an apparent compensation temperature of 295 ± 2 K. Moreover, we identified iso-equilibrium points for two subsets of residues at 297 and 305 K. Thus, our data suggest that within this temperature regime, which is only slightly below physiological temperatures, the conformational ensembles of amino acid residues in the unfolded s...
Relationships: The Key to Student Engagement

The purpose of this study was to determine any variances existing between high school students, middle school students, and upper elementary students among the 3 components of student engagement—emotional, cognitive, and behavioral. In addition, the researcher wanted to verify any differences existing between high school teachers, middle school teachers, and upper elementary teachers among the 3 components of student engagement—emotional, cognitive, and behavioral. The goal was to clarify how students and teachers value the 3 components of engagement. Findings from the student respondents reveal significant differences between 2 of the 3 primary components of student engagement: emotional and cognitive. However, results indicate there was no statistical difference in the behavioral component among the 3 school levels. In contrast, findings from the teacher cohorts differed significantly among behavior engagement and emotional engagement with no significant differences among cognitive engagement. Therefore, results reveal an alarming dissimilarity between the student and teacher respondents on how the 3 components of student engagement are valued.
Pneumatic perforation of the colon during colonoscopy. Is the hypermobile right colon a risk factor

Perforation of the colon by pneumatic injury during colonoscopy is a rare complication. Intraoperative observations of a patient who developed massive cecal distention, pneumatosis coli and severe pneumoperitoneum during colonoscopy suggest that an isolated, air-trapping colonic segment is a factor in the mechanism of such injury. The possibility that a poorly fixed, hypermobile cecum and right colon predispose to such injury by air insufflation during colonoscopy is discussed.
The analysis of the investigation of the antibody of infuenza A(H1N1) of the residents in Jiangmen city

Objective to investigate the antiviral antibody levels of different age groups of influenza A(H1N1) infected residents in Jiangmen Ctiy,and provide scientific basis for setting strategies and measures for prevention and control of influenza A(H1N1) epidemic.Methods 480 persons were recruited by multi-stage stratified random sampling.The hemagglutination inhibition test was conducted to detect influenza A(H1N1) infection.Results The overall positive rate of influenza A(H1N1) antibody was 19.38%,in which 22.09% in 0～ age group,27.36% in 6～ age group,24.47% in 16～ age group,14.58% in 25～ age group,and 8.16% in over 60 age group.Influenza A(H1N1) infection occurred mainly in the 6～24 age group,with the positive rate of 51.83%.The latent infection rate was up to 12.61%.And the difference of influenza A(H1N1) antibody positive rates between different age groups,genders and jobs were statistical significant(P0.05).Conclusion The positive rate of influenza A(H1N1) virus infection is different in different age group,higher in younger people and lower in elder people.The positive rate of male group was higher than that of female group.
Quantification of penile "buckling" force

A hand-held transducer was developed for measuring penile rigidity. This instrument gives a quantitative measure of the force at which the penis "buckles." The transducer consists of a cantilever beam with strain gages that is rugged, easy to calibrate, and adaptable to most graphic recorders.
Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Renewal, and US Settler Colonialism

Indigenous peoples often embrace different versions of the concept of food sovereignty. Yet some of these concepts are seemingly based on impossible ideals of food self-sufficiency. I will suggest in this essay that for at least some North American Indigenous peoples, food sovereignty movements are not based on such ideals, even though they invoke concepts of cultural revitalization and political sovereignty. Instead, food sovereignty is a strategy of Indigenous resurgence that negotiates structures of settler colonialism that erase the ecological value of certain foods for Indigenous peoples.
A daily radiation therapy record form.

Abstract This communication reviews one institution’s experience in developing a reliable and accurate radiation therapy record form. The design of a daily record is highly subjective. With the subjectivity of this process in mind, the purpose of this presentation is to describe the advantages of our form and to acquaint the reader with the literature useful in preparing a therapy record that fulfills their facility’s requirements.
Human Biomonitoring of DNA Adducts by Ion Trap Multistage Mass Spectrometry

Humans are continuously exposed to hazardous chemicals in the environment. These chemicals or their electrophilic metabolites can form adducts with genomic DNA, which can lead to mutations and the initiation of cancer. The identification of DNA adducts is required for understanding exposure and the etiological role of a genotoxic chemical in cancer risk. The analytical chemist is confronted with a great challenge because the levels of DNA adducts generally occur at <1 adduct per 10(7) nucleotides, and the amount of tissue available for measurement is limited. Ion trap mass spectrometry has emerged as an important technique to screen for DNA adducts because of the high level sensitivity and selectivity, particularly when employing multi-stage scanning (MS(n) ). The product ion spectra provide rich structural information and corroborate the adduct identities even at trace levels in human tissues. Ion trap technology represents a significant advance in measuring DNA adducts in humans. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effect of adrenal medullectomy on metabolic responses to chronic intermittent hypoxia in the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test.

To our knowledge, this is the first study examining the role of adrenal catecholamines in glucose metabolism during intermittent hypoxia (IH) in unanesthetized unrestrained C57BL/6J mice. We report...
Dual-task Interference Disrupts Parkinson's Gait Across Multiple Cognitive Domains

Abstract Gait dysfunction, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, contributes to a relatively high incidence of falling. Gait function is further diminished during the performance of a motor-cognitive task (i.e., dual-task). It is unclear if Parkinson’s disease-related dual-task deficits are related to a specific area of cognitive function or are the result of a more global decline in executive function. The aim of this project was to systematically evaluate gait performance to determine if gait dysfunction is restricted to certain types of executive function or a global phenomenon in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Twenty-three individuals with mild-moderate Parkinson’s disease completed a series of dual-task conditions in which gait was paired with cognitive tasks requiring: working memory (0, 1, and 2-back), attention and problem solving (serial-7 subtraction), verbal memory (digit recall), semantic memory (Controlled Oral Word Association) and information processing speed (visual Stroop test). The results demonstrate that individuals with mild-moderate Parkinson’s disease have a generalized worsening of spatial–temporal gait parameters regardless of the specific cognitive demand being performed concurrently. Overall, gait velocity decreased (p
Understanding Electronic Wave Functions

In this article I discuss some aspects of what is known about correlated electronic wavefunctions, in particular what has been learned from quantum Monte Carlo studies of the homogeneous electron gas. First, I motivate the discussion, then briefly give references to the quantum Monte Carlo methods, discuss the pair product wavefunction and its generalization to backflow and three body wavefunctions. Finally, I conclude with some current difficulties in extending these ideas to electrons in an external potential.
Network Pharmacology to Aid the Drug Discovery Process

The drug discovery process is expensive and time consuming. Hundreds of drugs enter the research and development pipeline only to be dismissed in late phase due to some risky side effect or lack of efficacy in human subjects. Using existing knowledge of approved drugs we can compare experimental drugs’ expression profiles and chemical structures to predict their mechanism of action, filtering out the drugs that will not survive the development process saving time and money. We can also use these approaches in combination with clinical data to repurpose and combine existing drugs for improved therapeutic use. Here we discuss many of the current approaches in network pharmacology which can aid in the drug discovery process. First, we describe the fundamental data that forms the basis of these approaches and investigate where we can find this data. Next, we present how to use different data types incorporating network approaches to model drug effects, including various tools and algorithms developed for this purpose. Finally, we present a global overview of how to apply all of these techniques for accurate side effect and new indication predictions.
The Influence of External-Regulation on Student Generated Questions during Hypermedia Learning

The study examined the differences in the frequency and quality of student generated questions while using a hypermedia environment. We also examined what specific self-regulatory processes were present prior and following student generated questions. The experiment involved 20 college students from a larger study and categorized them into two separated groups. One group, which was called low shifters, contained participants who had mental model shifts from one to five out of a possible twelve, regardless of whether they started with low or high mental models. The second group, which was called high shifters, contained participants who had mental model shifts above five out of a possible twelve, regardless of whether they started with low or high mental models. Analysis revealed that there were no significant differences in the raw number of questions asked between the participants in the low shifters group and those in the high shifters group. Additional analysis also found that there were no significant differences in the amount of “deep” or “shallow” questions asked by participants in the two groups. In addition, we discovered that there was a significant difference in the specific self-regulatory processes that were used by the high shifters following the generation of a question. More specifically, the role of metacognitive processes is key to understanding the nature of question-generation during tutoring. We propose several implications for the design of intelligent learning environments (ILEs).
Issues in Ground-Water Economics

Abstract This paper raises economic issues related to ground-water development for consideration by policy makers and technical specialists in developing countries. Those issues include: factors affecting the costs of ground water; the economics of conjunctive use and conservation; and, public vs. private development of the resource. Constraints to sustainable ground-water development are presented, as well as policies to overcome them, including cost recovery measures. Government policies which might be introduced to promote sustainable development are suggested including measures related to regulation, rationing and pricing.
Sperm Entry in Sea Urchin Eggs: Recent Inferences Concerning its Mechanism

The mechanism by which a sperm enters the cytoplasm of an egg during fertilization is not known; but, inn the sea urchin egg, membrane potentials in two different ranges are capable of precluding sperm entry. we have attempted to determine what steps of sperm entry are regulated by membrane potential in eggs and oocytes of Lytechinus variegatus with the objective of obtaining insight into the sperm entry process. Early sperm-egg interactions include: sperm-egg attachment or binding, sperm-egg fusion, and an abrupt increase of membrane conductance which leds to a depolarization of the egg’s membrane potential. The positive-going activation potentail of the sea urchun egg following attachment of the first sperm decreases the probability of entry for sperm which attach subsequently (rapid, voltage block to polyspermy). A sperm fails to enter the egg or oocyte unless it first causes a conductance increase. In voltage-clamped eggs and oocytes, the probability that an attached sperm causes a conductance increase is maximal at potentials more negati ve than -10m V and decreases to 0 near +20 m V. It is possible that the lack of a conductance increase at potentials more positive than +20 m V results from a voltage-induced failure of sperm to fuse with the egg following attachment, hence precluding their entry. When sperm entry occurs at less positive potentials, the sperm’s nucleus slowly migrates into the cytoplasm of the egg beginning roughly 60s after the initial conductance increase. However, if an egg or oocyte is voltage clamped at a potential more negative than -30 mV (their resting potentials are -75 m V), it is unlikely that a sperm which attaches and causes a conductance increase will be incorporated. A characteristic “cutoff” of the conductance increase occurs in association with the failure of these sperm to enter. In oocytes which are not voltage clamped, depolarizations associated with attachment of a single sperm also cut off prematurely and are too small topermit sperm incorporation. Sperm entry occurs in oocytes only when many sperm attach and involves a cooperative summation of their depolarizations. Cooperativity is not seen for eggs. In oocytes, sperm incorporation, fertilization cone size, and the duration of the electrophysiological response are statistically associated and exhibit voltage dependences which are indistinguishable, suggesting that the three events are interrelated. We conclude that sperm entry involves two voltage-dependent, separable steps: sperm-egg fusion and nuclear incorporation. One common, voltage dependent mechanism may regulate nuclear incorporation and fertilization cone formation.
Residential Mobility Constraints and Immigration Restrictionism

Prevailing theories of public opinion toward immigration posit that responses to immigration are partially a function of local area demographics. However, evaluations of these theories suffer from the critique that local immigration patterns and attitudes toward immigrants are endogenous due to residential self-selection. Recent efforts attempt to address this problem by using experimental designs that reduce the possibility of selection bias. Instead of viewing residential mobility as a source of bias, I develop a theory that treats residential mobility and political behavior as interconnected strategies for responding to demographic change. Across two large sample studies, I find that residents who live in diversifying communities and face residential mobility constraints are more likely to express dissatisfaction with immigration and less likely to report desires to move than those who reside in more exit-friendly destinations.
High density DNA data storage library via dehydration with digital microfluidic retrieval.

DNA promises to be a high density data storage medium, but physical storage poses a challenge. To store large amounts of data, pools must be physically isolated so they can share the same addressing scheme. We propose the storage of dehydrated DNA spots on glass as an approach for scalable DNA data storage. The dried spots can then be retrieved by a water droplet using a digital microfluidic device. Here we show that this storage schema works with varying spot organization, spotted masses of DNA, and droplet retrieval dwell times. In all cases, the majority of the DNA was retrieved and successfully sequenced. We demonstrate that the spots can be densely arranged on a microfluidic device without significant contamination of the retrieval. We also demonstrate that 1 TB of data could be stored in a single spot of DNA and successfully retrieved using this method. DNA as a high density storage medium is receiving increasing attention, but long term physical storage is an unsolved problem. Here the authors show that up to 1 TB of data stored as dehydrated DNA spots on a glass cartridge can be retrieved in a spot of water using digital microfluidics with minimal data loss and contamination.
A three-dimensional analysis of scoliosis progression in non-idiopathic scoliosis: is it similar to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis?

To evaluate the three-dimensional (3D) characteristics of spine deformity in patients with non-idiopathic scoliosis compared with those observed in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify patients with non-idiopathic scoliosis. Twenty-eight patients with neural axis (NA) abnormalities (Chiari 1, syrinx) and 20 patients with connective tissue disorder (CTD) (Marfan’s, Beal’s, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, mixed) were identified. The 3D parameters of the coronal, sagittal, and axial plane were compared with 284 AIS patients with a similar range of coronal deformity. The average coronal curve was similar between all three groups (AIS 48 ± 15°, CTD 43 ± 22°, and NA 49 ± 18°; p = 0.4). The NA patients had significantly greater 3D thoracic kyphosis (20 ± 18° vs 10 ± 15°, p = 0.001) and less thoracic apical vertebral rotation (− 5 ± 18° vs − 12 ± 10°, p = 0.003) when compared with AIS. The CTD group’s 3D thoracic kyphosis (p = 0.7) and apical vertebral rotation (p = 0.09) did not significantly differ from AIS. Significant negative correlations were found in all three groups between thoracic kyphosis and coronal curve magnitude (AIS r = − 0.49, CTD r = − 0.772, NA r = −0.677, all p < 0.001). Scoliotic patients with NA abnormalities have a more kyphotic, less-rotated 3D profile than patients with AIS, while scoliosis patients with CTD have 3D features similar to AIS. Irrespective of the underlying diagnosis, however, greater scoliotic curves were associated with a greater loss of intersegmental kyphosis, suggesting a similar biomechanical pathophysiology for curve progression.
The Effects of Group Membership on College Students' Social Exclusion of Peers and Bystander Behavior.

Bystanders represent one major avenue for reducing the incidence and severity of social exclusion, yet little research has examined behavioral measurement of bystander intervention. Utilizing the m...
Shielding the HIV-1 capsid.

The host protein cyclophilin A binds to the HIV-1 capsid and its role in infection has long been enigmatic. A new study shows that this interaction protects the virus from inhibition by TRIM5α in physiologically relevant primary human cells.
Predictors of recurrence and high growth rate of residual meningiomas after subtotal resection

OBJECTIVE The extent of resection has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with meningiomas. However, resection can be complicated by constraining local anatomy, leading to subtotal resections. An understanding of the natural history of residual tumors is necessary to better guide postsurgical management and minimize recurrence. This study seeks to identify predictors of recurrence and high growth rate following subtotal resection of intracranial meningiomas. METHODS Adult patients who underwent primary surgical resection of a WHO grade I meningioma at a tertiary care institution from 2007-2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Volumetric tumor measurements were made on patients with subtotal resections. Stepwise multivariate proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with time to recurrence, as well as stepwise multivariate regression analyses to assess for factors associated with high postoperative growth rate. RESULTS Of the 141 patients (18%) who underwent radiographic subtotal resection of an intracranial meningioma during the reviewed period, 74 (52%) suffered a recurrence, in which the median (interquartile range, IQR) time to recurrence was 14 (IQR 6-34) months. Among those tumors subtotally resected, the median pre- and postoperative tumor volumes were 17.19 cm3 (IQR 7.47-38.43 cm3) and 2.31 cm3 (IQR 0.98-5.16 cm3), which corresponded to a percentage resection of 82% (IQR 68%-93%). Postoperatively, the median growth rate was 0.09 cm3/year (IQR 0-1.39 cm3/year). Factors associated with recurrence in multivariate analysis included preoperative tumor volume (hazard ratio [HR] 1.008,95% confidence interval [CI] 1.002-1.013, p = 0.008), falcine location (HR 2.215, 95% CI 1.179-4.161, p = 0.021), tentorial location (HR 2.410, 95% CI 1.203-4.829, p = 0.024), and African American race (HR 1.811, 95% CI 1.042-3.146, p = 0.044). Residual volume (RV) was associated with high absolute annual growth rate (odds ratio [OR] 1.175, 95% CI 1.078-1.280, p < 0.0001), with the maximum RV benefit at < 5 cm3 (OR 4.056, 95% CI 1.675-9.822, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS By identifying predictors of recurrence and growth rate, this study helps identify potential patients with a high chance of recurrence following subtotal resection, which are those with large preoperative tumor volume, falcine location, tentorial location, and African American race. Higher RVs were associated with tumors with higher postoperative growth rates. Recurrences typically occurred 14 months after surgery.
The economics of the global defence industry: edited by Keith Hartley and Jean Belin, London and New York, Routledge, 2020, xxiii+615 pp., £150.00, (hardback), ISBN 978-1-138-60809-2

The Economics of the Global Defence Industry is a thorough treatment of a challenging subfield of defence economics. It is an important addition to the libraries of scholars of defence economics, s...
e)Sport im rechtlichen Sinne und privatrechtliche Beziehungen zwischen Clan und eSportler

Haufig liest man, eSport sei ein neues Phanomen. Diese Aussage trifft nur eingeschrankt zu. Wahrend es zutrifft, dass der eSport erst in den letzten Jahren zunehmend in das Interesse der Offentlichkeit geruckt ist, entwickelt sich die Branche bereits seit Jahrzehnten kontinuierlich zu einem immer bedeutsameren Wirtschaftsfeld. Dennoch werden einige grundlegende juristische Fragen erst gestellt, seit die Branche einen immer groseren Umsatz generiert und sich auch die Politik zunehmend fur dieses Thema interessiert. Der Beitrag greift daher mit den Themen „Anerkennung des eSports als Sport“ und „Rechtsbeziehung zwischen eSportler und Clan“ zwei aktuelle Schwerpunkte der rechtlichen Auseinandersetzung mit dem eSport auf, die auch in der Praxis erhebliche Auswirkungen haben werden. Der Beitrag wird sich zunachst detailliert mit der Bestimmung des Begriffs eSport aus rechtswissenschaftlicher Sicht auseinandersetzen und dessen Subsumierbarkeit unter den Begriff Sport klaren. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt des Beitrags ist die arbeitsrechtliche Beziehung zwischen eSportler und „Verein“. Dabei wird auf die Anwendbarkeit deutschen Rechts eingegangen, um im Anschluss fur den eSport besonders relevante arbeitsrechtliche Fragen, wie bspw. die Arbeitnehmereigenschaft der eSportler und die Moglichkeit der Befristung, zu thematisieren.
Genetic variation in the BCL2 pathway and risk of non-hodgkin lymphoma

3436 Background: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is a malignancy of lymphocytes, and BCL2 family members are known regulators of programmed cell death in these cells. t(14;18)(q32;q21) is the most commonly observed chromosomal translocation in NHL, and this somatic event juxtaposes the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2 to the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus. However, little is known about the role of germline genetic variation in BCL2 and related genes with risk of NHL. Methods: We genotyped 152 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 20 candidate BCL2-family member genes in a clinic-based study of 458 Caucasian NHL cases and 484 frequency matched Caucasian controls seen at the Mayo Clinic from 2002-2005. Tagging SNPs were selected from HapMap for the following candidate genes: BCL2; BCL2LA1; BCL2L1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14; BAD; BAX; BAG1, 3, 4, 5; BIK; BAK1; BNIP2, 3; and HRK. The most prevalent homozygous genotype was used as the reference group, and each SNP was modeled individually as having a log-additive effect in a logistic regression model adjusted for age and sex. For gene analyses, we evaluated the association of haplotypes from each gene with risk of NHL using the score test implemented from HAPLO.SCORE. We also jointly tested the main effects for all independent (r2 Results. The mean age at diagnosis was 60.0 years for cases and 58% were male; among controls, the mean age at enrollment was 61.6 years and 55% were male. In the MLR gene analyses, both BCL2L11 (also know as BIM) (p=0.0028) and BCL2L2 (also known as BCLW) (p=0.049) were significant at p Conclusions. Two genes from the BCL2 family, BCL2L11 and BCL2L2, were associated with risk of NHL and warrant replication. Consideration of upstream regulators of BCL2, as well as downstream targets may identify additional genes that contribute to NHL risk.
Colorimetric and Physico-Chemical Property Relationships of Chemically Defined Media Powders Used in the Production of Biotherapeutics

Growth of mammalian cells in the production of biotherapeutics often require the benefits of chemically defined media (CDM). Storage, handling and stability advantages of CDM powders govern the preponderance of their use across the industry. Physico-chemical property lot-to-lot variation of these multicomponent powders, however, continues to be a challenge. Process imposed degradation of amino acids and vitamins, for example, can influence cell density, specific titer, and the quality profile of the molecule expressed due to the lack of process understanding and suitable mitigation controls. Such degradation can materialize in either their manufacture or in downstream media dissolution steps. Colorimetry, in lieu of visual appearance, can be an effective surveillance method for the direct assessment of CDM quality as color change is indicative of chemical-physical variations. This work describes a series of studies aimed to establish relationships between quantitative color change and physico-chemical attribute variation of glucose-free and glucose-based powders. The results illustrate color change is indicative of amino acid glycation, vitamin degradation and particle size shifts. These relationships enable a colorimetric control strategy for the sensitive and rapid detection of relevant CDM variation to drive additional targeted assessments to improve the productivity and robustness of cell culture processes.