cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A primer on higher education in the 21st century: the university as a whole and contributions made by law schools

Citizens live within their unit's belief systems and superstitions. Truth is derived from family narratives, stories spun by old friends, outbursts from neighbours, barbers, religious figures, and priests. Certainty and comfort come from living in these spaces. But there is a wider world out there with characters doing things that conflict with routine. Higher education illuminates this realm. Legal education predicts what authorities will do about their antics and, while this is a laudable undertaking in the abstract, legal education should do more. It should arm the next generation with tools to cope with cultural ruptures, social confusion, dislocations, avatars, and violence in cyberspace. This article strings together some ideas, insights, and proposals to deal with these challenges.
Wound splinting regulates granulation tissue survival.

Purpose. Fibroblast survival within an in vitro collagen matrix is dependent on matrix anchorage to a rigid substratum. The purpose of this study was to determine whether granulation tissue survival in vivo also is dependent on matrix anchorage. We hypothesized that splinting an excisional wound (i.e., anchoring the wound edges) would promote granulation tissue survival and that desplinting a splinted wound would produce granulation tissue apoptosis. Methods. Eighteen Wistar rats (3 months, 350 g) underwent excisional wounding (2 2 cm, dorsal skin) with immediate wound splinting (a metal template affixed with sutures) on day 0. On day 6, rats (n 6 per group) underwent splint removal (desplinted), splint removal with circumferential incision of the wound edge (desplint/release), or no intervention (splinted); sacrifice of all animals was on day 7. Frozen sections of granulation tissue were stained with TUNEL or HE data were analyzed with ANOVA and the unpaired t test. Results. The cross-sectional and surface area of the desplinted and desplint/release granulation tissue both decreased compared to the splinted granulation tissue (*P 10 greater than the splinted apoptotic rate, respectively (*P < 0.05). Conclusions. The rate of cell death in a splinted wound (an in vivo equivalent of an anchored FPCM) is minimal to nil, which is consistent with our hypothesis. Desplinting and releasing the wound edge of a previously splinted wound (the in vivo equivalent of a detached FPCM) results in granulation tissue regression and a large increase in apoptosis. Desplinting a wound alone results in changes somewhat intermedi
The Structure of the ζζ Transmembrane Dimer Reveals Features Essential for Its Assembly with the T Cell Receptor

The T cell receptor (TCR) alphabeta heterodimer communicates ligand binding to the cell interior via noncovalently associated CD3gammaepsilon, CD3deltaepsilon, and zetazeta dimers. While structures of extracellular components of the TCR-CD3 complex are known, the transmembrane (TM) domains that mediate assembly have eluded structural characterization. Incorporation of the zetazeta signaling module is known to require one basic TCRalpha and two zetazeta aspartic acid TM residues. We report the NMR structure of the zetazeta(TM) dimer, a left-handed coiled coil with substantial polar contacts. Mutagenesis experiments demonstrate that three polar positions are critical for zetazeta dimerization and assembly with TCR. The two aspartic acids create a single structural unit at the zetazeta interface stabilized by extensive hydrogen bonding, and there is evidence for a structural water molecule (or molecules) within close proximity. This structural unit, representing only the second transmembrane dimer interface solved to date, serves as a paradigm for the assembly of all modules involved in TCR signaling.
Optimal Capacity Allocation, Routing, and Congestion Control in Wireless Networks

We present a unified analytical framework within which capacity allocation, routing, and congestion control for wireless networks can be optimized in a coherent and integrated manner. We consider a multi-commodity flow model and examine wireless networks with general coding/modulation schemes represented by convex physical-layer capacity regions. Within this framework, capacity variables and routing variables are chosen to minimize convex link costs reflecting, for instance, average queueing delay. For problems with jointly convex cost functions, the necessary and sufficient conditions for optimality are derived. These results are then extended to the more general case where link costs are quasi-convex. Finally, we demonstrate that congestion control can be seamlessly incorporated into our framework.
A Cognitive Inventory of Business Students

Different cognitive-psychological assessments in higher education can help students to understand their own thinking and behavior patterns and help them to plan and have a successful career. In the 1970’s Mintzberg drew attention to two different styles on thinking: the use of the left side of the brain versus the right side of the brain. According to Mintzberg the analytical side of brain, which is the left side, focuses on planning. The holistic side of brain is the right side and it focuses on management. Until the 1970’s the trend in business was to favor analytical thinking as opposed to holistic thinking. However, since Mintzberg’s observations the educational community has attempted to balance the business curricula to accommodate both the left and right sides of the brain, in order to develop and produce business graduates that have the ability to use both sides of the brain. The objective of the study is to ascertain the cognitive style differences between students that major in the different business disciplines: accounting, finance, marketing and management and suggest institutional and classroom accommodations. An inventory instrument, which measures left and right brain preferences, was used to gather information about different business majors. Additional variables are included in the study such as grade point average, age, and gender to explain demographic differences.
Abstract 575: A subset of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines are Mcl-1-dependent and undergo apoptosis in response to Flavopiridol-mediated inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 9

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for approximately 13% of lung cancer cases. Although SCLC is initially a chemosensitive disease, the development of resistance is a major obstacle. Recently, multiple SCLC cell lines have been found to be responsive to a Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitor, ABT-737, both in vitro and in vivo (Oltersdorf T et al. Nature. 2005 Jun 2; 435(7042): 677-81). Clinical trials of the related orally-available compound ABT-263 have shown promising activity in SCLC patients. However, a subset of SCLC cell lines that express Mcl-1, another anti-apoptotic protein, are resistant to ABT-737 treatment. Furthermore, SCLC lines have elevated expression of Mcl-1 when they become resistant to ABT-737 (Tahir SK et al. Cancer Res. 2007 Feb 1; 67(3): 1176-83). Therefore drugs targeting Mcl-1 may be particularly useful in this disease. Here, we have investigated dependence of a panel of SCLC cell lines on Mcl-1 for survival, using Mcl-1 knockdown achieved by lentiviral-based shRNA technology. Several SCLC cell lines expressing Mcl-1, including NCI-H82 and SHP77 cells, demonstrate apoptosis by TUNEL assay and reduced viability by MTS assay in response to Mcl-1 depletion. However, other SCLC cell lines, including NCI-H69 and SW1271, are not responsive to Mcl-1 knockdown. We have also investigated the efficacy of Flavopiridol, a potent inhibitor of cdk9, against a panel of SCLC cell lines. Flavopiridol acutely down-regulates Mcl-1 expression in NCI-H82, SHP77, H69 and SW1271 cells. Mcl-1-dependent cell lines, including H82 and SHP77, undergo abrupt apoptosis in response to Flavopiridol. In contrast, H69 and SW1271 cells, which were not found to be Mcl-1-dependent, were not effectively killed by Flavopiridol. These data suggest that Mcl-1-dependent SCLC cells may be particularly sensitive to Flavopiridol treatment to overcome ABT-737 resistance. Finally, we have demonstrated that the combination of Flavopiridol and ABT-737 can synergistically kill both Mcl-1-dependent and -independent SCLC cells, with significantly reduced viability in SHP77 and SW1271 cells compared to treatment with either drug alone. Taken together, our studies suggest Flavopiridol-mediated cdk9 inhibition may effectively target Mcl-1 dependent SCLCs, including those resistant to Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 575.
Analysis of Surface Wave Generation by Laser Interference

An analytical solution for thermal excitation of elastic waves in an homogeneous, isotropic, elastic half-space resulting from a pulsed laser interference pattern incident on the solid surface is presented
An Improved Spectrophotometric Method To Study the Transport, Attachment, and Breakthrough of Bacteria through Porous Media

This study reports an improved spectrophotometric method for studying bacterial (Pseudomonas fluorescens UPER-1) transport and attachment in saturated porous media (silica sand). While studying the effect of ionic strength by the traditional packed-column spectrophotometric method, we encountered an artifact. The absorbance of a well-stirred bacterial suspension was found to decrease with time in the presence of high concentrations of sodium and potassium phosphate salts (> or = 10(-2) M) as the cells continued to age in a resting stage. Our results show that collision efficiency and a bed ripening index will be in error by as much as 20% if breakthrough is measured by the traditional spectrophotometric technique. We present an improved experimental technique that will minimize the artifact and should substantially advance the understanding of bacteria transport in porous media.
Erythromycin-induced ribosome stalling and RNase J1-mediated mRNA processing in Bacillus subtilis.

SUMMARY Addition of erythromycin (Em) to a Bacillus subtilis strain carrying the ermC gene results in ribosome stalling in the ermC leader peptide coding sequence. Using DeltaermC, a deletion derivative of ermC that specifies the 254 nucleotide DeltaermC mRNA, we showed previously that ribosome stalling is concomitant with processing of DeltaermC mRNA, generating a 209 nucleotide RNA whose 5' end maps to codon 5 of the DeltaermC coding sequence. Here we probed for peptidyl-tRNA to show that ribosome stalling occurs after incorporation of the amino acid specified by codon 9. Thus, cleavage upstream of codon 5 is not an example of 'A-site cleavage' that has been reported for Escherichia coli. Analysis of DeltaermC mRNA processing in endoribonuclease mutant strains showed that this processing is RNase J1-dependent. DeltaermC mRNA processing was inhibited by the presence of stable secondary structure at the 5' end, demonstrating 5'-end dependence, and was shown to be a result of RNase J1 endonuclease activity, rather than 5'-to-3' exonuclease activity. Examination of processing in derivatives of DeltaermC that had codons inserted upstream of the ribosome stalling site revealed that Em-induced ribosome stalling can occur considerably further from the start codon than would be expected based on previous studies.
Phylogeny, ecology, and the coupling of comparative and experimental approaches

Recent progress in the development of phylogenetic methods and access to molecular phylogenies has made comparative biology more popular than ever before. However, determining cause and effect in phylogenetic comparative studies is inherently difficult without experimentation and evolutionary replication. Here, we provide a roadmap for linking comparative phylogenetic patterns with ecological experiments to test causal hypotheses across ecological and evolutionary scales. As examples, we consider five cornerstones of ecological and evolutionary research: tests of adaptation, tradeoffs and synergisms among traits, coevolution due to species interactions, trait influences on lineage diversification, and community assembly and composition. Although several scenarios can result in a lack of concordance between historical patterns and contemporary experiments, we argue that the coupling of phylogenetic and experimental methods is an increasingly revealing approach to hypothesis testing in evolutionary ecology.
Taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugar sweetened beverages: Linkages and lessons learned

Increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been linked to increases in obesity in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries. Tobacco and alcohol taxes have proven to be effective tools to reduce tobacco and alcohol use. Many public health advocates propose using similar taxes to reduce consumption of SSBs. South Africa is a middle-income country that is considered a leader in the area of tobacco tax policy. A case study of tobacco and alcohol taxes is used to better understand optimal tax structures for SSBs. The case study tracks aggregate data over time on taxes, prices, consumption, tax revenues, and marketing expenditures at the brand level. Tobacco and alcohol taxes are shown to be effective in reducing the demand for tobacco. Additionally, taxes on the dose of alcohol rather than the volume of the beverage may incentivize producers to reduce the volume of alcohol in beverages through the supply side. While specific taxes based on the volume of beverages are likely to reduce the demand for SSBs, policy makers should also consider taxes on alcohol and SSBs that tax the dose of the alcohol and calories in order to create supply-side incentives for producers to lower alcohol and calorie levels in existing products or promote products with lower levels of alcohol and calories.
An Exposition of Bell’s Theorem

The purpose of this lecture is to give a self-contained demonstration of a version of Bell’s theorem and a discussion of the significance of the theorem and the experiments which it inspired. The lecture should be comprehensible to people who have had no previous acquaintance with the literature on Bell’s theorem, but I hope that explicitness about premisses and consequences will make it useful even to those who are familiar with the literature.
The Chicken or the Egg: Granger-Causality between Trade and Innovation

While the literature is quite clear on the association between trade and innovation, there has been little explicit study of the direction of causality. This study uses all patents granted in the U.S. between 1987 and 1999, assigns them to probable industries of origin and sectors of use, then tests Granger-causality with trade flows in those same economic sectors. We run robustness checks on various measures of trade (imports versus exports, volume versus value of trade), and on various measures of innovation (patent counts, patent claims, citation-weighted patents, and patent counts weighted for originality or generality). Results at the aggregate level support the literature’s assumption that imports cause innovation which then leads to exports, but at the industry level causality is more complicated, running in both directions from imports (or exports) to and from innovation.
Transmetalation Reactions Yield New Tetra- and Pentairidium Carbonyl Complexes Containing σ-Bonded Phenyl Rings

The new air-stable σ-phenyl tetrairidium carbonyl salt [Et4N][Ir4(CO)11Ph], 1, has been obtained by transmetalation reactions between [Et4N][Ir4(CO)11Br] and SnPh3OH in 45% yield or SnPh4 in 36% yi...
Translational evaluation of a lag schedule and variability in food consumed by a boy with autism and food selectivity

ABSTRACTPurpose: To evaluate the effects of a lag schedule of positive reinforcement on variability in food consumed by a boy with autism and food selectivity. Methods: Using single-subject experimental design methodology, an ABAB design was employed. During lag 0 (condition A), high-preferred toys were delivered contingent on consumption of any food. During lag 1 (condition B), high-preferred toys were delivered contingent on consumption of different foods within session. Results: Higher levels of variability in within-session consumption were observed during lag 1 conditions. Conclusions: The lag 1 schedule of reinforcement increased variability in food consumed. This finding adds to the literature by demonstrating a novel experimental arrangement that may be used in applied studies to evaluate the clinical utility of differentially reinforcing variability in the treatment of food selectivity associated with autism.
Structures, Li + mobilities, and interfacial properties of solid electrolytes Li 3 PS 4 and Li 3 PO 4 from first principles

This work reports a computer modeling comparison of two solid electrolyte materials, Li${}_{3}$PO${}_{4}$ and Li${}_{3}$PS${}_{4}$, in terms of the bulk structures, Li ion mobilities, and their interface properties with vacuum and with Li metal. The simulations show that for some forms of Li${}_{3}$PS${}_{4}$, Li ions can move from a host lattice site to an interstitial site with negligible net energy change. This favorable process for the formation of vacancy-interstitial pairs is undoubtedly important for the structural and ion migration properties of $\ensuremath{\beta}$-Li${}_{3}$PS${}_{4}$. Our model results for the idealized interfaces between the electrolytes and Li metal show that Li${}_{3}$PO${}_{4}$ /Li interfaces are stable, while Li${}_{3}$PS${}_{4}$ /Li interfaces are not. We find that a Li${}_{3}$PS${}_{4}$ surface in the presence of a small amount of Li relaxes to a complicated structure involving broken P-S bonds. On the other hand, the computer models show that a very thin film of Li${}_{2}$S on the Li${}_{3}$PS${}_{4}$ surface can provide a protective buffer layer to stabilize the interface between the Li${}_{3}$PS${}_{4}$ electrolytes and the Li metal anode.
FGF-23 serum levels and bone histomorphometric results in adult patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a hormone principally produced by osteocytes/osteoblasts. In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), FGF-23 levels are usually elevated and can reach up to 300 – 400 times the normal range. FGF-23 is regulated by local bone-related and systemic factors, but the relationship between circulating FGF-23 concentrations and bone remodeling and mineralization in CKD has not been well characterized. In the current study, we examined the relationship between FGF-23 levels and bone histomorphometry parameters in adult patients with renal osteodystrophy. Material and methods: 36 patients on dialysis (CKD-5D) underwent bone biopsies after tetracycline double labeling. Blood drawings were done at time of biopsy to determine serum levels of markers of bone and mineral metabolism. Results: Patients with high bone turnover had higher values of serum FGF-23 than patients with low bone turnover. FGF-23 levels correlated with activation frequency (ρ = 0.60, p 100 days) was mainly seen in patients with FGF-23 levels less than 2,000 pg/mL, while very high levels of FGF-23 are associated with normal mineralization lag time.
Effect of socking time of rice on the quality of Chinese rice wine

In the present study,the effect of soaking time of rice on the quality of Chinese rice wine was explored which took the total acid concentration,lactic acid concentration and the count of lactic acid bacterium as the indicators.The number of lactic acid bacteria and the content of lactic acid of rice milk were determined by the method of gradient dilution,spread plate count and high performance liquid chromatography.The results showed that the acidity of soaking sticky rice was higher than the one of the other rice during the soaking rice,and the soaking time of 8～12 days was benefit to the fermentation of Chinese rice wine.In addition,the result of the sense evaluation indicated that sticky rice was the optimal rice for the fermentation of Chinese rice wine.All these suggested that the acidity of soaking rice was related to the fermentation of wine which could provide scientific base for the production of Chinese rice wine.
The Progress of Standards on Packet Transport Network

Many global operators are currently constructing next generation IP packet-switched networks,with the view of gradually moving towards full IP-based networks.As data services increase,improvements in bandwidth,Quality of Service(QoS),Operation Administration and Maintenance(OAM),and network reliability are required.The convergence of network data transmission and network communications technology has been driven by IP convergence services(including video,voice,and data),and a unified multi-service load demand.The Packet Transport Network(PTN) has come into being to meet these requirements,and the PTN Standard is developing rapidly.
Comparative study of design standards of turbo-generator foundations

The differences between Chinese Power Machine foundation Design Code and foreign countries’standards are described and discussed respectively so as to provides significant reference for the engineering designer.
An Exploration into the Radial-Velocity Variability of the Sun

The presence of starspots , faculae and granulation on the photosphere of a star induces quasi-periodic signals that can conceal and even mimic the Doppler signature of orbiting planets. This has resulted in several false detections (see Queloz et al. 2001; Bonfils et al. 2007; Huelamo et al. 2008; Boisse et al. 2009, 2011; Gregory 2011; Haywood et al. 2014; Santos et al. 2014; Robertson et al. 2014 and many others). Understanding the RV signatures of stellar activity, in particular those modulated by the stellar rotation, is essential to develop the next generation of more sophisticated activity models and further improve our ability to detect and characterise low-mass planets. The Sun is the only star whose surface can be directly resolved at high resolution, and therefore constitutes an excellent test case to explore the physical origin of stellar radial-velocity variability. In this chapter, I present HARPS observations of sunlight scattered off the bright asteroid 4/Vesta, from which I deduced the Sun’s activity-driven RV variations. In parallel, the HMI instrument onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory provided me with simultaneous high spatial resolution magnetograms, dopplergrams, and continuum images of the Sun. I determined the RV modulation arising from the suppression of granular blueshift by magnetically active regions (sunspots and faculae) and the flux imbalance induced by dark spots. I confirm that the inhibition of convection is the dominant source of activity-induced RV variations at play. Finally, I find that the activity-driven RV variations of the Sun are strongly correlated with its full-disc magnetic flux, which could become a useful proxy for activity-related RV noise in future exoplanet searches.
States’ Description of Common Core State Standards to Support Students with Severe Disabilities:

A review of State Department of Education and school district websites was conducted to determine how policy related to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) was communicated to teachers of studen...
Downregulation of 14-3-3 Proteins in a Kainic Acid-Induced Neurotoxicity Model

The 14-3-3 proteins are among the most abundant proteins expressed in the brain, comprising about 1% of the total amount of soluble brain proteins. Through phosphoserine- and phosphothreonine-binding motifs, 14-3-3 proteins regulate many signaling proteins and cellular processes including cell death. In the present study, we utilized a well-known kainic acid (KA)-induced excitotoxicity rat model and examined the expression of 14-3-3 and its isoforms in the frontal cortex of KA-treated and control animals. Among the different 14-3-3 isoforms, abundant levels of eta and tau were detected in the frontal cortex, followed by sigma, epsilon, and gamma, while the expression levels of alpha/beta and zeta/delta isoforms were low. Compared to the control animals, KA treatment induced a significant downregulation of the overall 14-3-3 protein level as well as the levels of the abundant isoforms eta, tau, epsilon, and gamma. We also investigated two 14-3-3-interacting proteins that are involved in the cell death process: Bcl-2-associated X (BAX) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Both BAX and phosphorylated ERK showed increased levels following KA treatment. Together, these findings demonstrate an abundance of several 14-3-3 isoforms in the frontal cortex and that KA treatment can cause a downregulation of 14-3-3 expression and an upregulation of 14-3-3-interacting proteins BAX and phospho-ERK. Thus, downregulation of 14-3-3 proteins could be one of the early molecular events associated with excitotoxicity. This could lead to subsequent upregulation of 14-3-3-binding proteins such as BAX and phospho-ERK that contribute to further downstream apoptosis processes, eventually leading to cell death. Maintaining sufficient levels of 14-3-3 expression and function may become a target of therapeutic intervention for excitotoxicity-induced neurodegeneration.
TweetCount: urban insights by counting tweets

This paper characterizes an urban region using time series of geotagged tweet counts. Time series are constructed for each cell in a rectangular grid. We show how simple, anonymous tweet counts in the cells can be used to classify the cells into urban land use profiles based on the number of residences and businesses. We discover that Twitter activity for a certain short time of day is especially indicative of a region's profile. We go on to analyze the cells and profiles in a novel way by looking at their ability to predict tweet counts in other parts of the region.
ON THE DYNAMICAL UNITY OF INSTRUMENT AND SUBSTANCE

When modern instruments are used in laboratory research, dramatic changes occur at the microscopic level. Depending on the particular instrument employed, a specimen absorbs or emits radiation; alternatively, radiation is scattered, refracted or diffracted. In many studies, a researcher then renders a decisive judgment, whether to declare triumphantly that his/her findings reveal something real about a chemical substance or to refrain from such a judgment for fear of having produced an artificial effect. Both judgments presuppose that artificial conditions of the laboratory can be separated from the real effects. Some commentators charge that any pronouncement of success, that independently-existing properties are revealed from experimental studies, masks the inherent artificiality of all experimental techniques. The infiltration of socially-determined practices in laboratory research is so thoroughly contaminating that all declarations of access to Nature’s independent entities convey more about the scientist’s hubris than it does about the objectivity of techniques.
Market entry barriers and firm performance: higher-order quadratic interaction effects of capital requirements and firm competence

Barriers to entry prevent new market entrants from entering markets while protecting incumbent firms. Previous researches indicate that there is relationship between barriers and firm performance. Most of the previous studies are broad and explain barriers and firm performance relationship in generic terms. This research examines the interrelationships of barriers to market entry, capital requirements, business environment, competitive advantage of incumbent firms, and firm competence on firm performance. Interaction effects among barriers to entry on firm performance have not been studied before. The study utilises the 'resource based view' as a theoretical framework in support of hypotheses. The study supports the higher-order quadratic interaction effects of: 1) a strong positive effect of competitive advantage and capital requirements on firm performance; 2) a moderate negative effect of business environment and capital requirements on firm performance.
An aeroacoustic study of a leading-edge slat: Beamforming and far field estimation using near field quantities

Abstract The leading edge slat of a high-lift system is a large contributor to the overall radiated acoustic field from an aircraft during the approach phase of the flight path. This is due to the unsteady flow field generated in the slat-cove and near the leading edge of the main element. In an effort to understand the noise-source mechanisms, a suite of experimental measurements has been performed on a two-dimensional multi-element MD-30P30N airfoil, including PIV, steady and unsteady surface pressure, and phased microphone array measurements. Acoustic trends are given with angle of attack and flow speed which corresponds to a stowed chord Reynolds number range of 1.2 × 106 ≤ Rec ≤ 1.71 × 106. Spatially integrated beamforming is used to isolate the slat noise, while Kevlar sidewalls are utilized to minimize environmental influence. In addition, temporally-resolved estimates of a low-dimensional representation of the velocity vector fields are obtained through the use of proper orthogonal decomposition and spectral linear stochastic estimation and show good agreement with independent phase-locked PIV measurements. A time-resolved estimate of the pressure field is then computed via solution of the pressure Poisson equation. From this, Curle's acoustic analogy scaled for the frequency-dependent spanwise coherence length projects the time-resolved pressure forces in the slat region to the acoustic far field for comparison to the array measurements. The favorable results establish the connection between the dominant unsteady flow structures most responsible for the radiated noise and provide insight for future noise reduction efforts.
With widespread adoption of MIS colectomy for colon cancer, does hospital type matter?

Recent studies have shown that hospital type impacts patient outcomes, but no studies have examined hospital differences in outcomes for patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for segmental colectomies. The 2010–2014 National Cancer Data Base was queried for patients undergoing segmental colectomy for non-metastatic colon adenocarcinoma. Descriptive statistics characterized MIS utilization by hospital type. Multivariable models were used to examine the effect of hospital type on outcomes after MIS. Survival probability was plotted using the Kaplan–Meier method. 80,922 patients underwent MIS segmental colectomy for colon cancer from 2010 to 2014. From 2010 to 2014, the number of MIS segmental colectomies increased by 157% at academic hospitals, 151% at comprehensive hospitals, and 153% at community hospitals. Compared to academic hospitals, community and comprehensive hospitals had greater adjusted odds of positive margins (Community OR 1.525, 95% Confidence Interval 1.233–1.885; Comprehensive OR 1.216, 95% CI 1.041–1.42), incomplete number of lymph nodes analyzed (< 12 LNs) from surgery (Community OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.98–2.32; Comprehensive OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.34–1.51), and greater 30-day mortality (Community OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.14–1.78; Comprehensive OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.17–1.59). Patient survival probability was higher at academic hospitals at 5 years (Academic 69% vs. Comprehensive 66% vs. Community 63%, p < 0.001). Community hospitals and comprehensive hospitals had significantly higher risk of adjusted long-term mortality (Community HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.19–1.37; p < 0.001; Comprehensive HR 1.14; 95% CI 1.09–1.20; p < 0.001). Despite widespread use of laparoscopic oncologic surgery, short- and long-term outcomes from MIS for segmental colectomy are superior at academic hospitals. This difference may be due to superior perioperative oncologic technique and surgical outcomes at academic hospitals. Our data provide important information for patients, referring physicians, and surgeons about the significance of hospital type in management of colon cancer.
Special committee report, Part I: An evaluation of current testing approaches for the detection of chemically induced aneuploidy.

Evaluation of scientific data to determine the likelihood that a particular chemical may pose a health risk is a major function of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In certain legislative mandates (e.g., Toxic Substances Control Act), mutagenicity is identified as a toxicological endpoint for which testing standards must be developed. Thus, the EPA must make decisions on testing methods for mutagenicity. Most genetic toxicology tests identify chemicals that cause gene mutations, chromosome breakage and rearrangement, or other forms of direct DNA damage. Because DNA is not necessarily the target for the induction of numerical chromosome mutations, induction of aneuploidy may not correlate with the induction of other types of genetic alterations. Tests designed specifically to detect aneuploidy should be included in a screening or testing program to better characterize the potential genetic (or carcinogenic) hazard of a chemical.
Tensor Products of Operator Algebras and Direct Integrals

Tensor products of C*-algebras and von Neumann algebras will be introduced in this chapter, and direct integrals, a continuous analogue of direct sums, will also be discussed. Unlike the finite dimensional case, tensor products of infinite dimensional vector spaces or algebras are quite nontrivial. It is still considered as one of the tricky parts of the theory. The norms in the tensor product of two Banach spaces are highly nonunique. Fortunately however, the norm in the tensor product of Hilbert spaces which makes it a pre-Hilbert space is unique. This uniqueness makes interesting the tensor products of C*-algebras. However, the norms on the tensor products of C*-algebras which make it a pre-C*-algebra are not unique. In this chapter, the problem of defining a suitable norm on the tensor product of C*-algebras will be attacked. Sections 1 and 2 are just preliminary. In Section 3, completely positive maps are introduced to provide a powerful tool in the succeeding sections. Section 4 is devoted to the problems mentioned above. There we shall show that the tensor product of C*-algebras admits two natural norms: one is the smallest norm among all possible C*-norms and the other is the largest. In Section 5, the tensor product of W*-algebras is discussed, and it is proved that the algebraic type of the tensor product of von Neumann algebras is uniquely determined by those of the component algebras without regard to the underlying Hilbert spaces, Theorem 5.2.
A Contrast in Pathogenic Responses between C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ Mice Using a Model of Retinal Injury

Ischemia is associated with the pathogenesis of retinal disease, including diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. As a result, the retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury model has been used to study neurovascular changes. Historically, murine models of retinal disease are established in C57BL/6J (B6) mice, which have been described as type 1–dominant responders. In bacterial keratitis models, B6 mice are susceptible, whereas BALB/cJ (BALB/c; type 2–dominant) mice exhibit a resistant phenotype. As such, we questioned whether the type 1/type 2 paradigm could be extrapolated to events associated with retinal pathogenesis. The current study compares the retinal response of B6 with BALB/c mice to investigate strain-specific differences. Retinas were collected at 2 and 10 days after ischemia/reperfusion injury to examine differences in neurovascular degeneration, leukostasis, oxidative stress, glial activation, and select inflammatory mediators. Although both strains showed signs of retinal injury, significantly more damage was observed in B6 mice. Retinal thickness was reduced and vascular damage was more severe in B6 mice. Exacerbated response to injury in B6 versus BALB/c retinas was further supported by increased leukostasis, inflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species, and lipid peroxidation. In addition, more terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling–positive cells and increased glial activation were detected in B6 mice. These data indicate that B6 and BALB/c retinas differentially respond to injury, which has broader implications regarding the development and study of retinal diseases.
Cryptococcal Meningoencephalitis Presenting as a Psychiatric Emergency.

Abstract Background Organic conditions can often mimic neuropsychiatric disorders, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment for the most vulnerable populations presenting to the emergency department (ED). Case Report Here we discuss a case of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis seemingly consistent with psychosis on initial evaluation, and present strategies to recognize and treat this condition. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Due to the indolent time course of this disease, initial symptoms of altered mental status and personality changes may be attributed to drug use or psychiatric illness before more overt evidence for increased intracranial pressure and neurologic infection develops. It is important for emergency clinicians to maintain a high level of suspicion for this condition in at-risk patients and reassess them frequently during their ED visit.
Modified mouse model of Clostridioides difficile infection as a platform for probiotic efficacy studies.

Probiotics may represent a promising approach for reducing Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infections (CDIs). A clinical trial conducted by our group demonstrated that CDI patients undergoing adjunctive treatment with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotics had a reduction in diarrheal duration and compositional changes in their stool microbiomes. Here, we modified a CDI mouse model to represent clinical outcomes observed in patients and employed this model to identify evidence for the prevention of primary CDI and relapse with the same probiotic. Mice (n = 80) were administered 0.25 mg/ml cefoperazone over 5 days and subsequently challenged with 102 C. difficile VPI 10463 spores. A subset of mice (n = 40) were administered 108 CFU of probiotics daily alongside cefoperazone pretreatment and until experimental endpoints were reached. Clinical scoring was performed daily on mice and used to evaluate CDI onset and severity. Moderate CDI in mice was defined by survival beyond day 3 postinfection, while mice with severe CDI were those who succumbed to infection prior to day 3 postinfection. Sequencing and analysis of 16S rRNA from stool content were performed to determine compositional alterations to the microbiota. Using total clinical scores, we identified an association between probiotic treatment and delayed onset of primary CDI and relapse by approximately 12 to 24 h (P < 0.001). The stool microbiome of mice with moderate CDI receiving probiotic treatment was significantly enriched with Lachnospiraceae during primary CDI (P < 0.05). The outcomes observed present an opportunity to use this modified CDI mouse model to examine the efficacy of nonantibiotic options for CDI management.
The biology of IncI2 plasmids shown by whole-plasmid multi-locus sequence typing.

Abstract IncI2 type plasmids are medium-sized (~55–80 kb) conjugative plasmids that have been found carrying important antimicrobial resistance genes but have also been frequently found as cryptic plasmids. The DNA sequences for 147 fully sequenced IncI2 plasmids were studied by a whole-plasmid multi-locus sequence typing (wpMLST) scheme. A total of 171 loci were identified of which 52 were considered core (carried by greater than 95% of the plasmids). Most of the plasmids carrying the antimicrobial gene mcr-1 were in a distinct clade while most of the antimicrobial gene free plasmids were more distantly related. However, the host strains of bacteria were disparate for both groups of plasmids, showing that conjugal transfer of IncI2 plasmid is frequent. The mcr-1 gene was likely to have been introduced into IncI2 plasmids multiple times. It was also observed that the genes for conjugation showed significant linkage disequilibrium despite substantial diversity for most of those genes. Genes associated with biofilm formation were also among the core genes. The core genes can be considered the cohesive unit that defines the IncI2 plasmid group. Given the role conjugation can play in biofilm formation, it was concluded that conjugation is an active survival strategy for IncI2 plasmids. The IncI2 plasmid will have selective advantage when the plasmid-bearing bacteria are introduced to a new animal host that carries potential conjugal mates.
Clinical Biochemistry: Techniques and Instrumentation. A Practical Course. John S. Varoe. Singapore: World Scientific, 2001, 574 pp., $42.00, Paperback. ISBN 981-02-4550-4.

The strength of this paperback book lies in the protocols for 89 laboratory exercises that occupy half of the volume. The goal of the author is to provide students with an understanding of how clinical biochemistry instruments work and to “dispel the black-box mentality”. Toward that end, some exercises are about instrument characteristics, e.g., determination of spectral band width; effects of temperature on fluorescence; quench correction for tritium counting; response time and leakage current of an oxygen electrode; and determination of the …
Trophic basis of production in tropical headwater streams, Puerto Rico: an assessment of the importance of allochthonous resources in fueling food webs

The relative importance of allochthonous and autochthonous resources in fueling tropical headwater streams remains an open topic. We combined estimates of secondary production and assessment of its trophic basis to determine which resources were responsible for animal production. We studied benthic insect assemblages in two streams in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. Habitat-weighted production estimates were similar in both streams (528.5 and 591.5 mg m−2 year−1), but production was over twice as high in pool versus riffle habitats. The mayfly Neohagenulus (Leptophlebiidae) was a major contributor to total production (259.1 and 352.2 mg m−2 year−1). All taxa relied heavily on amorphous detritus and plant tissue. Aquatic insect production was similar to that reported for shrimp assemblages in the same study area, but low relative to temperate region estimates. The trophic basis of production appears to be allochthonous organic matter, which agrees with the small size and closed canopy cover over the study streams. This is the first study quantifying the production and trophic basis of the non-shrimp macroinvertebrate assemblage in tropical island streams. We also provide support for the importance of riparian vegetation as the main energy sources for stream tropical stream food webs.
Correction to: The Confounding of Race in High School Biology Textbooks, 2014-2019

The author deeply regrets, and apologizes to those affected as well as to the editors and readers of this journal, that the published version of this article contains the following errors:
Etiologies, Cerebral Vasomotion, and Endothelial Dysfunction in the Pathophysiology of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in Pediatric Patients

The posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome was characterized by Hinchey and colleagues in the 1990s. The condition frequently afflicts patients suffering from hematologic and solid organ malignancy and individuals undergoing transplantation. Cases are more frequently described in the adult population compared with children. In the pediatric population, malignancy, transplantation, renal disease, and hypertension represent the most common etiologies. Theories on pathogenesis have centered upon cerebrovascular dysautoregulation with increases in blood–brain barrier permeability. This generates vasogenic edema of the cerebral parenchyma and consequent neurologic deficits. The parietal and occipital lobes are affected with greatest prevalence, though frontal and temporal lobe involvement is frequent, and that of the contents of the infratentorial posterior cranial fossa are occasionally described. The clinical presentation involves a characteristic constellation of neurologic signs and symptoms, most typically inclusive of headache, visual-field disturbances, abnormalities of visual acuity, and seizures. Supportive care, withdrawal of the offending agent, antihypertensive therapy, and prophylactic anticonvulsants affect convalescence in majority of cases. The principal challenge lies in identifying the responsible agent precipitating the condition in patients with malignancy and those having undergone transplantation and thus deciding which medication among a multidrug treatment regimen to withhold, the duration of drug cessation required to effect clinical resolution, and the safety of resuming treatment with the compound. We accordingly reviewed and evaluated the literature discussing the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in children.
A Cost Analysis of the Innovation–Decision Process of an Evidence-Based Practice in Schools

The translation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) to improve students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes into authentic school settings has posed significant challenges for both researchers and practitioners. Among the many barriers to the adoption and use of EBPs are their associated costs. This study presents a framework for integrating the diffusion of innovation theory into an economic evaluation utilizing a societal perspective, which affords the capturing of costs of all phases from adoption through implementation of EBPs for all stakeholders. We leverage cost data from one evidence-based math intervention to serve as a model for incorporating diffusion of innovation theory into cost estimation. We exemplify how costs are distributed across personnel and organizational structures over time and across different stages of diffusion. Results suggest that the distribution of costs changes across stages of the innovation decision-making process, and lack of attention to the pre-adoption costs may partly explain challenges in EBP adoption in schools. Implications for the translation of social, emotional, behavioral, and academic interventions in schools and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Influence of methylation on the effectiveness of meat and bone meal protein as a bioflocculant

Abstract In this study, the enhancement in the application of meat and bone meal (MBM) protein as a bioflocculant was studied through methylation and dilute acid hydrolysis. Nuclear magnetic resonance (HSQC and CIGAR-HMBC) revealed that MBM proteins are being effectively methylated at their carboxylic acid groups. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled with tetra-detection system was used to obtain information about the hydrolyzed MBM and methylated MBM (MeMBM). The MeMBM protein hydrolysate (peak KCE = 2.4) showed enhanced flocculant properties compared to the raw MBM hydrolysate (peak KCE = 1.8) at all studied experimental conditions including flocculant dose, settling time, and suspension pH. The study revealed the enormous potential of methylated MBM hydrolysate to be used as a bioflocculant for clarifying colloidal suspensions.
High-resolution PIV for characterization of the inflow to a cavity flameholder

A methodology for the implementation of high-resolution, two-component, two-dimensional Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) in a high-speed, high-enthalpy flow is presented and demonstrated. The objective is to resolve the finer scales of combusting flows at high subsonic Mach numbers for accurate boundary conditions quantification for direct numerical simulations. A three-pronged approach consists of finding a near-optimum setup specific to the experiment, enhancing the raw signal with a novel filter for high-speed flows based on a logarithmic transform, and quantifying uncertainties. The methodology effectiveness is demonstrated with synthetic PIV, real PIV, and comparison with numerical simulations.