cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute respiratory infections.

The radiographic and clinical features of a variety of pneumonias provide helpful clues in the diagnosis and therapy of these infections which, although they are relatively rare, constitute a potential serious problem because of the complications that may develop.
DNA Methylation Profiling of Blood Monocytes in Patients With Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome: Effect of Positive Airway Pressure Treatment

Background OSA is a highly prevalent condition that is associated with a wide range of long-term morbidities including metabolic, cardiovascular, and cognitive alterations, possibly via activation of systemic inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. Implementation of positive airway pressure (PAP) is the first-line treatment for OSA, as well as for obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), its most severe phenotype. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying OHS-induced morbidities and their response to PAP treatment remain unclear, and could be mediated, in part, by OSA-induced epigenetic changes. Methods Blood was collected before starting PAP treatment (PRE group), as well as 6 weeks after PAP treatment (POST group) in 15 adult patients with OHS. DNA methylation profiles were studied by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation coupled to microarrays (MeDIP-chip) in six representative patients and further verified in a cohort of 15 patients by MeDIP-quantitative PCR. Results We identified 1,847 regions showing significant differential DNA methylation ( P 4) between the groups. Analysis of biochemical pathways and gene networks demonstrated that differentially methylated regions were associated with immune responses, and particularly with mechanisms governing gene regulation by peroxisome proliferation-activated receptors (PPARs). Single-locus quantitative PCR analysis revealed that DNA methylation was increased at the PPAR-responsive elements (PPAREs) of eight genes in the post-treatment samples (PRE/POST fold changes: ABCA1 , 3.11; ABCG1 , 1.72; CD36 , 5.04; FABP4 , 2.49; HMOX , 2.74; NOS2 , 7.78; PEPCK , 9.27; and ADIPOQ , 1.73), suggesting that PAP treatment leads to an increase in DNA methylation at PPAREs, possibly affecting the binding of the PPAR-γ complex and downstream gene expression. Conclusions Our work provides initial evidence of epigenetic regulation particularly involving metabolic pathways in patients with OHS who are responsive to PAP treatment.
Narcissistic Pro-Environmental Behavior

Narcissism is defined as a persistent pattern of grandiosity, self-focus, and self-importance (American Psychiatric Association 1994). Narcissists tend to display exhibitionistic behaviors and demand for attention and admiration. Overall, normal narcissism has been considered as a personality trait and appears to be increasingly common in the general population (Lasch 1979; Twenge 2006). However, it is not clear how this pattern might relate to environmental values and consumption. Previous research has shown that normal narcissism is negatively related to responsibility, empathy, and concern for others, whereas it is positively correlated with social presence and status seeking (Raskin and Terry 1988). More precisely, although narcissists do not care about others, the narcissistic paradox is that they are dependent on the admiration of others (Emmons 1984). On the other hand, green consumption has been regarded as a form of status-consumption (e.g., Pederson 2000), and purchasing and consumption of environmentally friendly products could be an opportunity for narcissists to gain status and be admired even though they are not truly concerned about the environment. When consumption of the products is for the purpose of gaining status or relative position, it must be socially visible (Chao and Schor 1998). It is predicted, then, that green consumption to satisfy narcissists’ need for status occurs only when product use or consumption is publicly visible. Two studies test these predictions.
A Note on the Relationship Between Advertising and Sales

The importance of understanding the effect of advertising on sales has been well recognized. Although there have been many studies in this and related areas, there is no consensus on the significance and interpretation of the findings. Results that suggest that there is either no relationship or a very weak relationship between advertising and sales are especially controversial because they run contrary to the common belief that advertising is the key element of changes in sales. This article clarifies the nature of the relationship by focusing on some overlooked conceptual issues relating to causality, non-optimization, and demand and market conditions.
Western boundary currents and climate change

A recent paper in Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans connects recent changes in atmospheric circulation to poleward movement and intensification of western boundary currents. Causes and character of past and future trends in surface wind stress and western boundary currents are discussed here. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Mounting frustration: the art museum in the age of black power

After decades of spotty acquisitions, undernourished scholarship and token exhibitions, American museums are rewriting the history of 20th-century art to include black artists in a more visible and...
Probing soot formation, chemical and physical evolution, and oxidation: A review of in situ diagnostic techniques and needs

Abstract Soot is responsible for notoriously detrimental effects on human health, air quality, and global and regional climate. Controlling soot emissions to the atmosphere will require overcoming large gaps in the understanding of soot formation and physical and chemical evolution during combustion. These gaps in understanding are largely attributable to the complexity of the chemical and physical system combined with a paucity of diagnostic techniques available for probing soot non-invasively and under a wide range of combustion conditions. This review briefly summarizes the chemistry of soot formation and evolution during combustion and describes diagnostic tools that are available to make these measurements. Despite the availability and value of a host of ex situ particle diagnostic techniques, because of space limitations, this review is restricted to a discussion of in situ diagnostic methods. The review concludes with a brief discussion of needs for new diagnostic tools to probe soot chemistry.
Treatment of coronary heart disease with minimally invasive surgery

In 1998, most cardiac surgical practices used cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardioplegic arrest as techniques to perform coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (1). More than 25% of patients undergoing CABG have ≥1 complications (e.g., atrial fibrillation, bleeding, myocardial infarction, sternal infection, stroke, or renal failure). Although some of the morbidity of CABG is directly related to patient comorbidity factors, some of these complications are due to the current technique of CABG. The goal of minimally invasive CABG is to avoid the morbid complications of standard CPB-supported CABG. The 2 most common techniques of minimally invasive CABG are minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) and offpump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB). For example, the median sternotomy incision is avoided in techniques that gain access to the heart via a left anterior thoracotomy (MIDCAB, Port-Access). CPB is avoided in techniques that perform coronary bypasses on a beating heart (OPCAB). In MIDCAB, both the sternotomy and CPB are avoided. One of the very first attempts at using the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) to revascularize the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was done in a minimally invasive fashion, avoiding CPB. Professor Vasili I. Kolessov, in his pioneering 1967 work in LITA-to-LAD anastomosis, reported on an experimental study of 14 dogs with autopsy confirmation of patency at an intermediate-term (19 months) follow-up (2). In addition, he reported on 6 human patients. The surgery was conducted through a left anterior thoracotomy in the fifth intercostal space with LITA harvesting. Ischemic preconditioning for 6 to 8 minutes was afforded by coronary occlusion of the LAD using a snare. Anastomosis on a beating heart was performed with an interrupted silk suture technique, with or without a Vineberglike intramyocardial tunnel technique. Among the human patients, Kolessov reported 4 excellent results, the return of angina in 1 patient after 1 year, and 1 perioperative death. In this paper, I will examine the controversies related to the use of different techniques, present some pertinent data about them, perform Bayesian analysis comparing minimally invasive CABG and CABG-CPB, and review some comparative trials with the goal of clarifying the best uses of each technique.
Data assimilation of physical and chlorophyll a observations in the California Current System using two biogeochemical models

Abstract Biogeochemical numerical models coupled to physical ocean circulation models are commonly combined with data assimilation in order to improve the models’ state or parameter estimates. Yet much still needs to be learned about important aspects of biogeochemical data assimilation, such as the effect of model complexity and the importance of more realistic model formulations on assimilation results. In this study, 4D-Var-based state estimation is applied to two biogeochemical ocean models: a simple NPZD model with 4 biogeochemical variables (including 1 phytoplankton, 1 zooplankton) and the more complex NEMURO model, containing 11 biogeochemical variables (including 2 phytoplankton, 3 zooplankton). Both models are coupled to a 3-dimensional physical ocean circulation model of the U.S. west coast based on the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS). Chlorophyll satellite observations and physical observations are assimilated into the model, yielding substantial improvements in state estimates for the observed physical and biogeochemical variables in both model formulations. In comparison to the simpler NPZD model, NEMURO shows a better overall fit to the observations. The assimilation also results in small improvements for simulated nitrate concentrations in both models and no apparent degradation of the output for other unobserved variables. The forecasting skill of the biogeochemical models is strongly linked to model performance without data assimilation: for both models, the improved fit obtained through assimilation degrades at similar relative rates, but drops to different absolute levels. Despite the better performance of NEMURO in our experiments, the choice of model and desired level of complexity should depend on the model application and the data available for assimilation.
Developing Online Graduate Coursework in Adapted Physical Education Utilizing Andragogy Theory

ABSTRACTGraduate adapted physical education (APE) courses have typically been taught using face-to-face formats where the instructor and learners physically meet in a classroom and engage in discussions and experiential exercises. However, because in-service physical educators have time demands associated with teaching, coaching, and family commitments, face-to-face meetings may not be feasible. Therefore, online learning may provide a more efficient and effective method for training in-service physical educators to become APE specialists. The purpose of this article is to disseminate guidelines for developing and implementing online coursework in APE within the theoretical framework of andragogy (adult learning). In this article, the authors describe characteristics and implementation of an online APE graduate course for in-service physical educators based on andragogy theory. Andragogy theory addresses the particular needs of adult learners and is based on the idea that there are significant differences...
Evolving application of minimally invasive cancer operations at a tertiary cancer center.

BACKGROUND Patients and providers are increasingly interested in the utilization, safety, and efficacy of minimally invasive surgery (MIS). We reviewed 11 years of MIS resections (laparoscopic and robotic) for intra-abdominal malignancies. METHODS Patients who underwent gastrectomy, distal pancreatectomy, hepatic resection, and colorectal resection between 2004 and 2014 were identified. Cases were categorized as open, laparoscopic, and robotic based on the initial operation approach. Diagnostic laparoscopies were excluded. RESULTS Of the 10 039 patients who underwent the above procedures, between 2004 and 2014, 2832 (28%) were MIS. In 2004, 12% (100/826) of all resections were performed with MIS approaches, rising to 23% (192/821) of all resections by 2009 and 44% (484/1092) in 2014. The number of open resections has remained largely stable: 726 (88% of all resections) in 2004 and 608 (56% of all resections) in 2014. Initially, laparoscopy experienced incremental adoption. Robotic surgery was implemented in 2009 and is currently the dominant MIS approach, accounting for 76% (368/484) of all MIS resections in 2014. Overall mortality has remained less than 1%. CONCLUSIONS While maintaining patient safety, utilization of MIS techniques has increased substantially since 2004, particularly for gastric and colorectal resections. Since 2009 robotic surgery is the predominant MIS approach.
Managing Competing Interests: A Review of Ethics in Military Procurement

Conflicts of interest represent an increasing problem in organizations, given the expansion of stakeholder concerns, needs, and expectations. Existing remedies to address these conflicts largely involve aligning management incentives with the interests of investors, or recusing parties with special interests from the decision-making effort. Both focus on a dyad between the primary stakeholder and the decision-maker. However, increasingly complex situations involving multiple stakeholders exist. The added complexity of considering multiple stakeholders heightens uncertainty that can facilitate the pursuit of self-interest. Ironically, a potential remedy may involve ensuring the presence of competing interests. A review of military procurement suggests that competing interests can mitigate self-interest.
Antibiotic Resistance Markers in Burkholderia pseudomallei Strain Bp1651 Identified by Genome Sequence Analysis.

ABSTRACT Burkholderia pseudomallei Bp1651 is resistant to several classes of antibiotics that are usually effective for treatment of melioidosis, including tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and β-lactams such as penicillins (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid), cephalosporins (ceftazidime), and carbapenems (imipenem and meropenem). We sequenced, assembled, and annotated the Bp1651 genome and analyzed the sequence using comparative genomic analyses with susceptible strains, keyword searches of the annotation, publicly available antimicrobial resistance prediction tools, and published reports. More than 100 genes in the Bp1651 sequence were identified as potentially contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Most notably, we identified three previously uncharacterized point mutations in penA, which codes for a class A β-lactamase and was previously implicated in resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. The mutations result in amino acid changes T147A, D240G, and V261I. When individually introduced into select agent-excluded B. pseudomallei strain Bp82, D240G was found to contribute to ceftazidime resistance and T147A contributed to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and imipenem resistance. This study provides the first evidence that mutations in penA may alter susceptibility to carbapenems in B. pseudomallei. Another mutation of interest was a point mutation affecting the dihydrofolate reductase gene folA, which likely explains the trimethoprim resistance of this strain. Bp1651 was susceptible to aminoglycosides likely because of a frameshift in the amrB gene, the transporter subunit of the AmrAB-OprA efflux pump. These findings expand the role of penA to include resistance to carbapenems and may assist in the development of molecular diagnostics that predict antimicrobial resistance and provide guidance for treatment of melioidosis.
Loss of Female Sex Hormones Exacerbates Cerebrovascular and Cognitive Dysfunction in Aortic Banded Miniswine Through a Neuropeptide Y–Ca2+‐Activated Potassium Channel–Nitric Oxide Mediated Mechanism

BackgroundPostmenopausal women represent the largest cohort of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and vascular dementia represents the most common form of dementia in pat...
Schritt 6: Experimente aufsetzen – ins Handeln kommen

Wir kennen nun die externen Probleme und die interne Zielstellung. Jetzt gilt es, Ideen zu generieren, wie diese Probleme gelost werden konnen. Hierfur gibt es eine grose Anzahl an moglichen Denkwerkzeugen, die genutzt werden konnten. Einige seien hier erwahnt, ohne dass wir einen Anspruch auf Vollstandigkeit erheben.
How Do We Get Them on the Farm? Efforts to Improve Rural Teacher Recruitment and Retention in Arkansas.

Rural schools, particularly high poverty rural schools, often have difficulty hiring and retaining qualified teachers. Here, we discuss three programs the Arkansas Department of Education has used to attract teachers to teacher Geographic Shortage Districts (GSDs) through material incentives. Unfortunately, none of the programs have had much success, perhaps in part since the funding offered was inadequate to attract new teachers to isolated communities. Additionally, we analyze the use of materialistic and non-materialistic incentives on the websites of all school districts designated as GSDs by the Arkansas Department of Education. Few GSDs display non-materialistic appeals that might entice individuals to seek out employment in the district, with the notable exception of KIPP Delta, the only charter school on the list, which has much more success recruiting teachers. We end with suggestions for policymakers and school district officials seeking to attract teachers to geographic shortage areas.
Modal analysis of microstrip and fine line step discontinuities for microwave and millimeter-wave integrated-circuits applications

Modal analysis of microstrip and flnline stepjunctions, commonly seen in microwave and millimeter-waveintegrated circuits, are derived. Numerical results ofscattering parameters are presented in W-band (75 - 110 GHz).There is a good agrrement between our calculated results andpublished data.
One-Loop Evolution of Parton Pseudo-Distribution Functions on the Lattice

We incorporate recent calculations of one-loop corrections for the reduced Ioffe-time pseudo-distribution $\mathfrak{M}(\ensuremath{\nu},{z}_{3}^{2})$ to extend the leading-logarithm analysis of lattice data obtained by Orginos et al. We observe that the one-loop corrections contain a large term reflecting the fact that effective distances involved in the most important diagrams are much smaller than the nominal distance ${z}_{3}$. The large correction in this case may be absorbed into the evolution term, and the perturbative expansion used for extraction of parton densities at the $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\approx}2\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ scale is under control. The extracted parton distribution is rather close to global fits in the $xg0.1$ region, but deviates from them for $xl0.1$.
How Do US Teachers Align Instructional Resources to The Common Core State Standards: A Case of Pinterest

Social media has become an emergent phenomenon in education in US. Yet, there is a void in our understanding and research on teachers' professional behaviour within virtual spaces. This paper examines a sample of early career teachers' curation of curriculum materials within Pinterest in the context of a national education policy reform---the adoption of the Common Core State Standards. By aligning the content of the resources that teachers actively seek out online to the Common Core State Standards, we provide an account of the instructional resources accessed and shared as teachers make sense and respond to the policy implementation. Furthermore, by leveraging a novel network approach---Epistemic Network Analysis, we provide a visualization of teachers' conceptualization of varying content and how they relate instruction across content within their curriculum curation. Finally, by comparing networks of teachers from different states, we find evidence of differences in teachers' behaviour patterns as they respond to policy change.
Benchmarks of Significant Change After Aphasia Rehabilitation.

Abstract Objective To establish benchmarks of significant change for aphasia rehabilitation outcome measures (ie, Western Aphasia Battery-Aphasia Quotient [WAB-AQ], Communicative Effectiveness Index [CETI], Boston Naming Test [BNT]) and assess if those benchmarks significantly differ across subgroups (ie, time post onset, dose frequency, treatment type). Data Sources A comprehensive literature search of 12 databases, reference lists of previous reviews, and evidence-based practice materials was conducted. Study Selection Randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, single-subject design, and case studies that used a standardized outcome measure to assess change were included. Titles and full-text articles were screened using a dual review process. Seventy-eight studies met criteria for inclusion. Data Extraction Data were extracted independently, and 25% of extractions were checked for reliability. All included studies were assigned quality indicator ratings and an evidence level. Data Synthesis Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted separately for each study design group (ie, within-/between-group comparisons). For within-group designs, the summary effect size after aphasia rehabilitation was 5.03 points (95% confidence interval, 3.95-6.10, P Conclusions This study established benchmarks of significant change on 3 standardized outcome measures used in aphasia rehabilitation.
What are family forest owners thinking and doing about invasive plants

Effectively managing invasive plants across forested landscapes requires voluntary control by 10.7 million family forest owners (FFOs) who own 36% of forestlands in the USA. The literature on individual and collective invasive plant management has focused on farmers, ranchers, urban gardeners and community residents, with less attention on forestlands and the role of FFOs. By analyzing survey data from 1422 FFOs in Indiana, USA, we provide a thorough assessment of their awareness, perceptions, behaviors and intentions towards invasive plants; as well as their needs and challenges. In our study, FFOs reported moderate familiarity with, concern about, and interest in invasive plant control on and around their properties. Despite a lack of confidence in their ability to manage invasive plants, FFOs reported having taken actions on the ground, including inspecting their woodlands, talking to their families and other landowners, and removing invasive plants, all without much input from natural resource professionals. Most FFOs relied on self-directed learning and social networks for invasive plant-related information and advice. They generally had little or no experience or interest in interacting with natural resource professionals. This suggests a need for natural resource professionals to refocus their efforts on developing communication strategies to target specific segments of FFOs, stronger online presence to facilitate self-directed learning, and partnerships with non-profit organizations trusted by FFOs to encourage self-organization and sharing of information and resources. These results from Indiana provide important insights for engaging FFOs to manage invasive plants more broadly.
Regenerative Endodontics: A Systematic Analysis of the Failed Cases

Abstract Introduction The aim of this systematic review was to analyze failed cases of regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) reported in the literature in terms of etiology, diagnosis, treatment protocols, signs of failure, and additional endodontic interventions. Methods Electronic searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses databases. All in vivo publications in humans that reported at least 1 failed case of RET were included in this systematic review. Failed RET cases were defined in the current study as any case that required an additional endodontic intervention or extraction after the completion of the initial RET. Results A total of 28 studies that reported 67 failed cases of RET were included in this review. A total of 37 failed RET cases reported the etiology that resulted in the initiation of RET; 59% of these cases were caused by dental trauma, and 30% were caused by dens evaginatus. A total of 26 (39%) failed RET cases were detected at least 2 years after the initiation of RET. A total of 53 (79%) failed RET cases were presented with signs and/or symptoms of persistent infection. Conclusions Persistent infection was the main presentation in 79% of failed RET cases. Furthermore, 39% of failed RET cases were identified after more than 2 years of follow-up. Future studies should include a detailed description of the etiology, preoperative variables, intraoperative protocols, and postoperative follow-up to provide a better understanding of failed cases after RET.
Drug Combinations: Mathematical Modeling and Networking Methods

Treatments consisting of mixtures of pharmacological agents have been shown to have superior effects to treatments involving single compounds. Given the vast amount of possible combinations involving multiple drugs and the restrictions in time and resources required to test all such combinations in vitro, mathematical methods are essential to model the interactive behavior of the drug mixture and the target, ultimately allowing one to better predict the outcome of the combination. In this review, we investigate various mathematical methods that model combination therapies. This survey includes the methods that focus on predicting the outcome of drug combinations with respect to synergism and antagonism, as well as the methods that explore the dynamics of combination therapy and its role in combating drug resistance. This comprehensive investigation of the mathematical methods includes models that employ pharmacodynamics equations, those that rely on signaling and how the underlying chemical networks are affected by the topological structure of the target proteins, and models that are based on stochastic models for evolutionary dynamics. Additionally, this article reviews computational methods including mathematical algorithms, machine learning, and search algorithms that can identify promising combinations of drug compounds. A description of existing data and software resources is provided that can support investigations in drug combination therapies. Finally, the article concludes with a summary of future directions for investigation by the research community.
Trichodysplasia spinulosa successfully treated with adapalene 0.1% gel and oral valganciclovir in a renal transplant recipient.

Trichodysplasia spinulosa (TS) is a rare condition primarily affecting recipients of solid organ transplants who are receiving immunosuppressive medication.1,2 Although reducing immunosuppression is often recommended, there is no criterion standard for treatment. We present a case of TS in a kidney transplant recipient that was successfully treated with adapalene 0.1% gel and oral valganciclovir.
Chapter 6 – Brain

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the morphology of brain. Primates display the unique combination of an unspecialized postcranial morphology together with an increasingly refined central nervous system. There can be no doubt that one representative of the order primates, Homo sapiens, our own species, is distinct from other mammalian groups because of its unique progressive development of the brain in combination with such features as hands freed from locomotion and a vocal ability that allows speech, as in language, writing, reading, composing, and much more. The chapter describes the neurological arrangement in humans; the understanding of time, language skills, and even some well-described psychiatric disorders are located in the left hemisphere, whereas visual, spatial, musical, and mathematical abilities; holistic thought processes; emotions; and certain benign psychiatric qualities have been assigned to the right hemisphere. The chapter uses various families, such as Tupaiidae, Lemuridae and Lorisidae, Tarsiidae, and Anthropoidea as the morphological basis for the description of specific changes or trends in primate-brain morphology.
Immunosuppression of sepsis

Sepsis is an infectious disease that affects immune function by various inflammatory factors and is the main cause of death in ICU patients.As a syndrome caused by uncontrollable inflammation, sepsis not only contains a large number of continuous inflammatory reactions, but also has a long-term immunosuppressive state, which increases the probability of secondary nosocomial infection in patients with sepsis.The immune status of patients with sepsis will change with the progression of the disease, and different biomarkers help to explain the immune stage of patients.Immune-enhancing therapy is expected to reduce the mortality rate of sepsis patients in the stage of immunoparalysis. Key words: Sepsis; Immunoparalysis; Immunosuppression; Immunotherapy
Multi-Task Gaussian Process Learning for Energy Forecasting in IoT-Enabled Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Modern electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure represents an application of an Internet of Things (IoT) framework in power systems where communication networks are the basis to transmit, monitor, and control a network of EV charging stations. This paper takes advantage of the high-resolution EV charging data made available by IoT-enabled charging stations for developing models that would forecast the energy demand of EV charging stations. More superficially, this paper proposes a Multi-Task Learning (MTL) method that enhances the estimation and forecast accuracy by fusing data from multiple charging stations via a Gaussian Process (GP) model in order to extract common features of the charging data. The proposed GP model learns a shared covariance function over all data sources, and transfers the meaningful knowledge of one charging station to other stations, which helps improve the forecasting accuracy. Data from multiple EVs charging stations in Utah is used in a case study to implement and validate the proposed forecasting model. The implementation results show that the proposed method significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art forecasting methods.
Uncovering patterns of freshwater positive interactions using meta‐analysis: Identifying the roles of common participants, invasive species and environmental context

Positive interactions are sensitive to human activities, necessitating synthetic approaches to elucidate broad patterns and predict future changes if these interactions are altered or lost. General understanding of freshwater positive interactions has been far outpaced by knowledge of these important relationships in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. We conducted a global meta-analysis to evaluate the magnitude of positive interactions across freshwater habitats. In 340 studies, we found substantial positive effects, with facilitators increasing beneficiaries by, on average, 81% across all taxa and response variables. Mollusks in particular were commonly studied as both facilitators and beneficiaries. Amphibians were one group benefiting the most from positive interactions, yet few studies investigated amphibians. Invasive facilitators had stronger positive effects on beneficiaries than non-invasive facilitators. We compared positive effects between high- and low-stress conditions and found no difference in the magnitude of benefit in the subset of studies that manipulated stressors. Future areas of research include understudied facilitators and beneficiaries, the stress gradient hypothesis, patterns across space or time and the influence of declining taxa whose elimination would jeopardise fragile positive interaction networks. Freshwater positive interactions occur among a wide range of taxa, influence populations, communities and ecosystem processes and deserve further exploration.
Racial Nationalism and the Serbian Theatre: From Radovan III to DAH

In order to explore the role of racism and theatre’s response to it in the former Yugoslavia, and more specifically, Serbia, the definition of racism is expanded to include the process of racializing nationalities. The concept of “racial nationalism,” therefore, becomes the main theoretical ground from which the chapter builds. This chapter offers a simple overview of changes that have occurred in the former Yugoslavia since the death of Tito, through the last war, and up to the present time, and how racial nationalism has been a key ingredient in most of those changes. This chapter offers examples from three different performances and plays, one from the 1970s and two from the first decade of the twenty-first century.
Roles of Stra8 and Tcerg1l in retinoic acid induced spermatogonial differentiation in mouse

Retinoic acid (RA) induces spermatogonial differentiation, but the mechanism by which it operates remains largely unknown. We developed a germ cell culture assay system to study genes involved in spermatogonial differentiation triggered by RA. Stimulated by RA 8 (Stra8), a RA-inducible gene, is indispensable for meiosis initiation, and its deletion results in a complete block of spermatogenesis at the pre-leptotene/zygotene stage. To interrogate the role of Stra8 in RA mediated differentiation of spermatogonia, we derived germ cell cultures from the neonatal testis of both wild type and Stra8 knock-out mice. We provide the first evidence that Stra8 plays a crucial role in modulating the responsiveness of undifferentiated spermatogonia to RA and facilitates transition to a differentiated state. Stra8-mediated differentiation is achieved through the downregulation of a large portfolio of genes and pathways, most notably including genes involved in the spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal process. We also report here for the first time the role of transcription elongation regulator-1 like (Tcerg1l) as a downstream effector of RA-induced spermatogonial differentiation. Summary sentence The genes stimulated by retinoic acid 8 (Stra8) and transcription elongation regulator-1 like (Tcerg1l) are necessary in early-stage male germ cell differentiation induced by retinoic acid (RA). Stra8 is critical in modulating the responsiveness of undifferentiated spermatogonia to RA.
Race, Lifetime SES, and Allostatic Load among Older Adults.

Background Prior research demonstrates that Black Americans receive fewer health benefits at high levels of SES relative to Whites. Yet, few studies have considered the role of lifetime SES (i.e. changes in SES from childhood to adulthood) in shaping these patterns among older adults. This study investigates the extent to which racial disparities in allostatic load (AL), an indicator of accelerated physiological aging, vary across levels of lifetime SES among Black and White adults aged 50+. Methods With data from the Nashville Stress and Health Study, modified Poisson regression models were used to assess racial differences in the odds of high AL (4+ high-risk biomarkers) among Black and White older adults (N=518) within each level of lifetime SES (i.e., stable low SES, upward mobility, downward mobility, stable high SES). Results Stable high SES was associated with greater odds of high AL; there was not a significant association between other lifetime SES trajectories and AL. However, the magnitude of racial disparities varied across levels of lifetime SES, with a significant Black-White difference in AL observed only among upwardly mobile (OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.24-2.51) and high SES groups (OR=2.22, 95% CI=1.37-3.58). Conclusions Our study demonstrates that racial disparities in AL among older adults depends on individuals' lifetime SES trajectories, and that older Black Americans receive fewer health benefits for achieving higher SES. These findings underscore the need to evaluate socioeconomic resources across the life course to clarify the extent of racial disparities among aging populations.
Assessing Age Inclusivity in Higher Education: Introducing the Age-Friendly Inventory and Campus Climate Survey (ICCS).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This study introduces a theoretical framework for assessing age inclusivity in higher education environments and describes the Age-Friendly Inventory and Campus Climate Survey (ICCS). The ICCS measures age-friendly campus practices as reported by administrators, perceptions of age friendliness by campus constituents, and the fit between objective practices and subjective perceptions as an overall indicator of age inclusivity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The ICCS was administered at a public university in the northeastern United States. Administrators completed the Inventory of potential age-friendly campus practices associated with their units. Campus constituents (n = 688) completed the online Campus Climate Survey to assess subjective awareness of these practices, perceived age-friendliness, and personal beliefs about age inclusivity. RESULTS The Inventory yielded a score of 66% of potential age-friendly practices in place as reported by administrators. The Campus Climate Survey showed low overall perceptions of age-friendliness and varied beliefs about age inclusivity on campus. Fit was measured by comparing the Inventory practices and Campus Climate Survey awareness of the existence of 47 of 73 potential practices. Convergence on this campus showed an awareness of 36% of age-friendly practices. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS Based on the proposed theoretical framework for age inclusivity, the ICCS offers a way of assessing the age-friendliness of the objective environment across campus functions, the subjective environment across campus constituents, and the fit between subjective and objective environments on campuses. The ICCS will help higher education institutions identify strengths and challenges for advancing age inclusivity.
Applications of Supervised-Learning Approaches for Air Conditioning Plants Condition-Based Maintenance

Numerous data analytic techniques have been employed by the United States Navy for air conditioning (AC) plant condition-based maintenance. The developed diagnosis models include physics-based and data-driven approaches, particularly regression models have shown that AC plants operating conditions could be correctly diagnosed for poor conditions or faults. However, building effective condition-based maintenance models for AC plants faults prognosis based on classification has not been explored in-depth. This paper presents a comparative study of machine learning classification techniques that produces solutions that are as effective and better than solutions produced by the physics-based and regression approaches.
Agricultural Cooperatives in Mental Health: Farmers' Perspectives on Potential Influence.

Agricultural cooperatives are formed to promote farmers’ economic, social, and legislative interests. Their role in influencing mental health is less known. We characterized farmers’ experiences wi...
Role of decreased sensory neuron membrane calcium currents in the genesis of neuropathic pain.

The pathogenesis of neuropathic pain is incompletely understood and treatments are often inadequate. Cytoplasmic Ca2+ regulates numerous cellular processes in neurons. This review therefore examines the pathogenic contribution of altered inward Ca2+ flux (ICa) through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in sensory neurons after peripheral nerve injury. We reviewed studies that recorded membrane currents through intracellular and patch-clamp techniques, as well as intracellular Ca2+ levels using fluorimetric indicators, and performed behavioral analysis of rodent nerve injury models. Following nerve injury by partial ligation, a response characterized by sustained lifting, shaking, and licking of the paw after sharp mechanical stimulation is a reliable indicator or neuropathic pain. Primary sensory neurons isolated from animals with this behavior show a decrease in high-voltage activated ICa by approximately one third. Low voltage-activated ICa is nearly eliminated by peripheral nerve injury. Loss of ICa leads to decreased activation of Ca2+-activated K+ currents, which are also directly reduced in traumatized neurons. As a result of these changes in membrane currents, membrane voltage recordings show increased action potential duration and diminished afterhyperpolarization. Excitability is elevated, as indicated by resting membrane potential depolarization and a decreased current threshold for action potential initiation. Traumatized nociceptive neurons develop increased repetitive firing during sustained depolarization after axotomy. Concurrently, cytoplasmic Ca2+ transients are diminished. In conclusions, axotomized neurons, especially pain-conducting ones, develop instability and elevated excitability after peripheral injury. Treatment of neuronal ICa loss at the level of injury of the dorsal root ganglion may provide a novel therapeutic pathway.
Derived Lengths of Solvable Groups Having Five Irreducible Character Degrees I

Let G be a solvable group with five character degrees. We show that the derived length of G is at most 5. This verifies that the Taketa inequality, dl(G)≤|cd(G)|, is valid for solvable groups with at most five character degrees.
A Question about Hierarchical Systems

The control of large systems is always organized in a distributed hierarchy. We discuss two approaches to understanding such a hierarchy. The approach propagated by work in verification adopts a “one-world” semantics in which syntactical constructs at higher levels are “compiled” into a single interpretation at the lowest level. Many hierarchical systems, however, are designed and analyzed using a “multi-world” semantics, with a separate interpretation at each level. One-world semantics offers a sound way of stating and proving claims about the system, but multi-world semantics better conforms to practice. The paper poses the question: how to join the theoretical advantages of one-world semantics to the practical convenience of multi-world semantics.
Balancing practicality and hydrologic realism: a parsimonious approach for simulating rapid groundwater recharge via unsaturated-zone preferential flow

[1] The impact of preferential flow on recharge and contaminant transport poses a considerable challenge to water-resources management. Typical hydrologic models require extensive site characterization, but can underestimate fluxes when preferential flow is significant. A recently developed source-responsive model incorporates film-flow theory with conservation of mass to estimate unsaturated-zone preferential fluxes with readily available data. The term source-responsive describes the sensitivity of preferential flow in response to water availability at the source of input. We present the first rigorous tests of a parsimonious formulation for simulating water table fluctuations using two case studies, both in arid regions with thick unsaturated zones of fractured volcanic rock. Diffuse flow theory cannot adequately capture the observed water table responses at both sites; the source-responsive model is a viable alternative. We treat the active area fraction of preferential flow paths as a scaled function of water inputs at the land surface then calibrate the macropore density to fit observed water table rises. Unlike previous applications, we allow the characteristic film-flow velocity to vary, reflecting the lag time between source and deep water table responses. Analysis of model performance and parameter sensitivity for the two case studies underscores the importance of identifying thresholds for initiation of film flow in unsaturated rocks, and suggests that this parsimonious approach is potentially of great practical value.
Multiscale theory of valley splitting in the conduction band of a quantum well

The coupling between z valleys in the conduction band of a Si quantum well arises from phenomena occurring within several atoms from the interface, thus, ruling out a theoretical description based on pure effective mass theory. However, the complexity and size of a realistic device precludes an analytical atomistic description. Here, we develop a fully analytical multiscale theory of valley coupling by combining effective mass and tight binding approaches. The results are of particular interest for silicon qubits and quantum devices but also provide insight for GaAs quantum wells.
Where is Motherhood Studies in Africana Studies

As Motherhood Studies continues to burgeon globally, it is critical to raise the question, â€œWhat role will Africana Studies scholars play?â€ in view of the established centrality of motherhood in African cultures.
Sea-level rise, depth-dependent carbonate sedimentation and the paradox of drowned platforms

A mathematical model of carbonate platform evolution is presented in which depth-dependent carbonate growth rates determine platform-top accumulation patterns in response to rising relative sea-level. This model predicts that carbonate platform evolution is controlled primarily by the water depth and sediment accumulation rate conditions at the onset of relative sea-level rise. The long-standing ‘paradox of a drowned platform’ arose from the observation that maximum growth rate potentials of healthy platforms are faster than those of relative sea-level rise. The model presented here demonstrates that a carbonate platform could be drowned during a constant relative sea-level rise whose rate remains less than the maximum carbonate production potential. This scenario does not require environmental changes, such as increases in nutrient supply or siliciclastic sedimentation, to have taken place. A rate of relative sea-level rise that is higher than the carbonate accumulation rate at the initial water depth is the only necessary condition to cause continuous negative feedbacks to the sediment accumulation rates. Under these conditions, the top of the carbonate platform gradually deepens until it is below the active photic zone and drowns despite the strong maximum growth potential of the carbonate production factory. This result effectively resolves the paradox of a drowned carbonate platform. Test modelling runs conducted with 2·5 m and 15 m initial sea water depths at bracketed rates of relative sea-level rise have determined how fast the system catches up and maintains the ‘keep-up’ phase. This is the measure of time necessary for the basin to respond fully to external forcing mechanisms. The duration of the ‘catch-up’ phase of platform response (termed ‘carbonate response time’) scales with the initial sea water depth and the platform-top aggradation rate. The catch-up duration can be significantly elongated with an increase in the rate of relative sea-level rise. The transition from the catch-up to the keep-up phases can also be delayed by a time interval associated with ecological re-establishment after platform flooding. The carbonate model here employs a logistical equation to model the colonization of carbonate-producing marine organisms and captures the initial time interval for full ecological re-establishment. This mechanism prevents the full extent of carbonate production to be achieved at the incipient stage of relative sea-level rise. The increase in delay time due to the carbonate response time and self-organized processes associated with biological colonization increase the chances for platform drowning due to deepening of water depth (> ca 10 m). Furthermore this implies a greater likelihood for an autogenic origin for high-frequency cyclic strata than has been estimated previously.