cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biology, ecology, and impact of Cryptonevra nigritarsis Duda, a potential biological control agent against the giant reed Arundo donax

Abstract Arundo donax (L.), commonly known as giant reed, is an invasive weed in riparian habitats worldwide. The chloropid fly Cryptonevra nigritarsis Duda infests young shoots of A. donax in its native range and has been considered for a long time as a potential biological control agent. This study was designed to investigate the biology and field ecology of C. nigritarsis and document its impact on A. donax. Populations of A. donax were monitored in ten field sites for a full year and sticky traps were used to assess C. nigritarsis abundance. Young A. donax shoots with signs of infestation were dissected monthly, and a DNA-based diagnosis method was developed to assess the prevalence of C. nigritarsis among the larvae and pupae collected. Finally, a manipulative experiment was performed to evaluate the impact of water stress on A. donax vulnerability to C. nigritarsis. Results showed that C. nigritarsis is likely to be a multivoltine species overwintering mainly as pupa. Only 6.3% of the A. donax shoots monitored were infested and the overall prevalence of C. nigritarsis among the larvae and pupae collected was 54.3%. C. nigritarsis was found in shoots of all diameters and was the predominant species in very thin and very thick shoots. Thicker shoots had a greater probability of infestation by chloropid flies in general. The manipulative experiment showed that mortality of A. donax shoots in the presence of C. nigritarsis was higher is water-stressed plants, but overall shoot mortality and infestation were low. These results shed light on some important aspects on the biology and ecology of C. nigritarsis and help in evaluating its potential as a biological control agent.
Symmetry breaking during defect self-organization under irradiation

One of the most intriguing phenomena under radiation is the self-organization of defects, such as the void superlattices, which have been observed in a list of bcc and fcc metals and alloys when the irradiation conditions fall into certain windows defined by temperature and dose rate. A superlattice features a lattice parameter and a crystal structure. Previously, it has been shown that the superlattice parameter is given by the wavelength of vacancy concentration waves that develop when the uniform concentration field becomes unstable. This instability is driven thermodynamically by vacancy concentration supersaturation and affected by the irradiation condition. However, a theory that predicts the superlattice symmetry, i.e., the selection of superlattice structure, has remained missing decades after the first report of superlattices. By analyzing the nonlinear recombination between vacancies and self-interstitial-atoms (SIAs) in the discrete lattice space, this work establishes the physical connection between symmetry breaking and anisotropic SIA diffusion, allowing for predictions of void ordering during defect self-organization. The results suggest that while the instability is driven thermodynamically by vacancy supersaturation, the symmetry development is kinetically rather than thermodynamically driven. The significance of SIA diffusion anisotropy in affecting superlattice formation under irradiation is also indicated. Various superlattice structures can be predicted based on different SIA diffusion modes, and the predictions are in good agreement with atomistic simulations and previous experimental observations.
Analysis of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair for Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Males

Abstract Background Current guidelines recommend repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) when ≥5.5 cm. This study sought to evaluate the incidence of male patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for AAAs of various diameters (small Methods The 2011-2017 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Procedure-Targeted Vascular database was queried for male patients undergoing elective EVAR. Patients were stratified by aneurysm diameter. A multivariable logistic regression analysis for clinical outcomes, adjusting for age, clinical characteristics, and comorbidities, was performed. Results A total of 8037 male patients underwent EVAR with 3926 (48.9%) performed for AAAs 0.05). In AAAs Conclusions Nearly 50% of male patients undergoing elective EVAR were treated for AAAs
Recognition Properties of Antibodies to PAMAM Dendrimers and Their Use in Immune Detection of Dendrimers

Antibodies are immune proteins which specifically recognize and bind foreign macromolecules (antigens) and are critical in protective immune responses to viruses and other pathogens. Their exquisite specificity of binding, as well as their relative ease of production, have made antibodies invaluable reagents in biotechnology, and antibodies to dendritic polymers would presumably be similarly powerful, were they available. We have developed methods for generating and detecting antibody responses to PAMAM dendrimers, and have partially defined the recognition specificities of those antibodies. Furthermore, we have used the antibodies in multiple immune detection procedures. We also propose applications of our antibodies to assemble defined supramolecular assemblies of dendrimers and to pattern the surface of dendrimers. Our results and those of others suggest that it may be possible to generate antibodies to many synthetic nanostructures, and that these reagents should have numerous applications in nanotechnology.
Interventions to increase breast and cervical cancer screening uptake among rural women: a scoping review

Despite widespread promotion of breast and cervical cancer (BCC) screening, uptake remains low in rural communities. Barriers to healthcare, which often result in poorer health outcomes, differentially impact residents of rural communities. Effective interventions addressing the unique needs of rural women may target these barriers and increase BCC screening participation. Our objective is to review and assess the published literature on interventions to increase BCC screening in rural communities. A systematic scoping review of PubMed/Medline was performed to identify BCC screening interventions conducted in rural settings. English language articles from peer-reviewed journals published from January 2006 to October 2019 were included if they reported results for BCC screening interventions in rural communities in the United States. We reviewed 228 articles and identified eight articles consistent with our inclusion criteria. Studies varied in sample population characteristics, geographic location, design, and mode of intervention delivery. Interventions included patient navigation strategies, educational outreach programs, peer counseling, and small media initiatives. Interventions focused on promoting uptake of initial or one-time screening rather than targeted repeat screening, and few studies detailed the cost-effectiveness of the interventions. This review may inform efforts to develop strategies to increase BCC screening among rural women. Additional cancer prevention and control research gaps in rural communities include the examination of the theoretical foundations, design, delivery, and cost-effectiveness of BCC screening interventions for rural communities. Future research might focus on methods to promote repeat BCC screening and effective translation of these interventions for other rural populations.
Impact of Dynamic Workforce and Workplace Variables on the Productivity of the Construction Industry: New Gross Construction Productivity Indicator

AbstractConstruction productivity is the industry’s predominant determinant of performance. Although the construction industry periodically provides large amount of data, existing studies have not ...
A Study of Quasar Evolution in the X-Ray Band with the Aid of Gravitational Lensing

We present results from a minisurvey of relatively high redshift (1.7 1.5, especially in the low-luminosity range between 1043 and 1045.5 ergs s-1. This result is surprising, considering that such a correlation is not found for quasars with redshifts below 1.5. We suggest that this correlation can be understood in the context of the hot-corona model for X-ray emission from quasar accretion disks, under the hypothesis that the quasars in our sample accrete very close to their Eddington limits and that the observed luminosity range is set by the range of black hole masses (this hypothesis is consistent with recent predictions of semianalytic models for quasar evolution). The upper limits of X-ray variability for our relatively high redshift sample of lensed quasars are consistent with the known correlation between variability and luminosity observed in Seyfert 1 galaxies when this correlation is extrapolated to the larger luminosities of our sample.
A Strongly Interacting Polaritonic Quantum Dot

Polaritons are promising constituents of both synthetic quantum matter1 and quantum information processors2, whose properties emerge from their components: from light, polaritons draw fast dynamics and ease of transport; from matter, they inherit the ability to collide with one another. Cavity polaritons are particularly promising as they may be confined and subjected to synthetic magnetic fields controlled by cavity geometry3, and furthermore they benefit from increased robustness due to the cavity enhancement in light–matter coupling. Nonetheless, until now, cavity polaritons have operated only in a weakly interacting mean-field regime4,5. Here we demonstrate strong interactions between individual cavity polaritons enabled by employing highly excited Rydberg atoms as the matter component of the polaritons. We assemble a quantum dot composed of approximately 150 strongly interacting Rydberg-dressed 87Rb atoms in a cavity, and observe blockaded transport of photons through it. We further observe coherent photon tunnelling oscillations, demonstrating that the dot is zero-dimensional. This work establishes the cavity Rydberg polariton as a candidate qubit in a photonic information processor and, by employing multiple resonator modes as the spatial degrees of freedom of a photonic particle, the primary ingredient to form photonic quantum matter6. Cavity polaritons whose matter component is composed of highly excited Rydberg atoms are shown to act as a zero-dimensional quantum dot. Trapping 150 polaritons led to the observation of blockaded photon transport.
sigLASSO: optimizing cancer mutation signatures jointly with sampling likelihood

Multiple mutational processes drive carcinogenesis, leaving characteristic signatures on tumor genomes. Determining the active signatures from the full repertoire of potential ones can help elucidate mechanisms underlying cancer initiation and development. This task involves decomposing the counts of cancer mutations, tabulated according to their trinucleotide context, into a linear combination of known mutational signatures. We formulate it as an optimization problem and develop sigLASSO, a software tool, to carry it out efficiently. (An R package implementation is available at github.com/gersteinlab/siglasso). sigLASSO features four key aspects: (1) \textcolor{red}{It jointly optimizes the likelihood of sampling and signature fitting, by explicitly adding multinomial sampling into the overall objective function.} This is particularly important when mutation counts are low and sampling variance is high, such as in exome sequencing. (2) sigLASSO uses L1 regularization to parsimoniously assign signatures to mutation profiles, leading to sparse and more biologically interpretable solutions resembling previously well-characterized results. (3) sigLASSO fine-tunes model complexity, informed by the scale of the data and biological-knowledge based priors. In particular, instead of hard thresholding and choosing a priori a discrete subset of active signatures, sigLASSO allows continuous priors, which can be effectively learned from auxiliary information. (4) Because of this, sigLASSO can assess model uncertainty and abstain from making certain assignments in low-confidence contexts. Finally, to evaluate sigLASSO signature assignments in comparison to other approaches, we develop a set of reasonable expectations (e.g. sparsity, the ability to abstain, and robustness to noise) that we apply consistently in a variety of contexts.
Temperature dependent onset of shear thinning in supercooled glass-forming network liquids

The onset of shear thinning and the transition from Newtonian to non-Newtonian behavior in the viscous flow of select chalcogenide and oxide network glass-forming liquids in the deeply supercooled regime and its temperature dependence are studied using parallel plate rheometry. In all cases, the onset occurs at a shear rate γc that is several orders of magnitude lower than the shear relaxation rate τ0−1 and the former increases with increasing temperature. These results are in good qualitative agreement with the predictions of the existing models of shear relaxation and shear thinning based on the nonlinear Langevin equation theory, random first order transition theory, and the free volume model. However, in contrast to the theoretical predictions, the reduced shear rate W0 (=τ0γc) at the onset is found to range between 10−3 and 10−5 and decrease with increasing temperature. This temperature dependence becomes stronger with increasing fragility of the liquid. These results likely indicate that the shear thinning mechanism in network liquids could be fundamentally different from those in molecular, metallic, or polymeric glass-formers.
Inhibition of P110α and P110δ catalytic subunits of PI3 kinase reverses impaired arterial healing after injury in hypercholesterolemic male mice.

Endothelial cell (EC) migration is critical for healing arterial injuries, such as those that occur with angioplasty. Impaired re-endothelialization following arterial injury contributes to vessel ...
Silicon-rich soil amendments impact microbial community composition and the composition of arsM bearing microbes

Arsenic (As) cycling in flooded rice paddies is driven by soil microbes which among other transformations can cause conversion between inorganic and organic As species. Silicon (Si)-rich soil amendments cause increased methylated As species, particularly DMA, in grain likely because they influence the microbial community responsible for As methylation, but the mechanism remains unclear. To investigate how Si-rich amendments influenced the microbial community, we sequenced the 16S rRNA and arsM genes from rhizosphere soil collected at grain ripening from unamended rice paddy mesocosms or those amended with Si-rich rice husk, charred husk, or calcium silicate, and paired these data with geochemistry and As speciation in grain. We found that Si amendments influenced the 16S rRNA and arsM community composition. Increased C storage from calcium silicate amendment drove differences in the 16S rRNA community, whereas low soil redox potential drove differences in the arsM community. Differences in grain As were observed independent of Si-rich amendments, and did not correspond to differences in either the 16S rRNA or arsM community. Instead, methane flux and soil redox potential correlated with differences in grain DMA. Si-rich amendments drove changes in the microbial community composition and the subset of arsM-bearing organisms, but higher grain DMA levels were not directly caused by Si-rich amendments. Our findings imply that microbes active at lower soil redox potentials where As is mobilized are likely involved in DMA production, and future work should focus on linking the active community with DMA production.
Accuracy of institutional orthopedic trauma databases: a retrospective chart review

Introduction Academic trauma institutions rely on fracture databases as research and quality control tools. Frequently, these databases are populated by trainees, but the completeness and accuracy of such databases has not yet been evaluated. The purpose of this study is to determine the capture rate of a resident-populated database in collecting extremity fractures and to determine the accuracy of assigned Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) classifications. Materials and methods A retrospective study was performed at a level 1 trauma center of all adult patients who underwent treatment for extremity fractures after an emergency department or inpatient consultation. A 20% random sample was taken from these entries and compared to a resident-populated fracture database designed to capture the same patients. For all matching records containing a resident-assigned OTA classification, relevant imaging was blindly reviewed by a trauma fellowship-trained orthopedic attending surgeon for fracture pattern classification. Resident OTA classifications were compared to this gold standard to determine overall accuracy rate. Results Three hundred eighteen (80%) out of 400 entries were captured by the resident-populated database. Two hundred thirty-one of these 318 entries contained an OTA classification. One hundred fifty-three (66%) of these 231 entries demonstrated concordance between resident and attending assigned OTA classifications. On subgroup analysis, 133 (70%) of the 190 lower extremity classifications were accurately identified as compared to just 20 (49%) of the 41 upper extremity classifications (p = 0.009). Seventy-nine (65%) of the 121 end segment fractures showed agreement versus 42 (67%) of the 63 diaphyseal injury patterns (p = 0.85). Accuracy of classification did not significantly vary by resident year of training (p = 0.142). Conclusion Trainee generated databases at academic institutions may be subject to incomplete data entry and inaccurate fracture classifications. Quality control measures should be instituted to ensure accuracy in such databases if efforts are invested with the expectation of useful information.
Debt Maturity, Cash Holdings, Dividend Policy and Employee Characteristics

We examine how corporate managers can use more long-term debt even if both the cost of financing (i.e., bankruptcy costs and financial distress’ cost of debt) with long-term debt and the risk of being constantly monitored by the board increase. One way to reduce the risk of being constantly monitored by their board is by building a strong and capable workforce. We find that firm tend to hire and keep more university graduates in case they contract more long-term debt with a maturity of more than 5 years.
Physics-Informed Deep Learning for Traffic State Estimation: A Hybrid Paradigm Informed By Second-Order Traffic Models

Traffic state estimation (TSE) reconstructs the traffic variables (e.g., density or average velocity) on road segments using partially observed data, which is important for traffic managements. Traditional TSE approaches mainly bifurcate into two categories: model-driven and data-driven, and each of them has shortcomings. To mitigate these limitations, hybrid TSE methods, which combine both model-driven and data-driven, are becoming a promising solution. This paper introduces a hybrid framework, physics-informed deep learning (PIDL), to combine second-order traffic flow models and neural networks to solve the TSE problem. PIDL can encode traffic flow models into deep neural networks to regularize the learning process to achieve improved data efficiency and estimation accuracy. We focus on highway TSE with observed data from loop detectors and probe vehicles, using both density and average velocity as the traffic variables. With numerical examples, we show the use of PIDL to solve a popular second-order traffic flow model, i.e., a Greenshields-based Aw-Rascle-Zhang (ARZ) model, and discover the model parameters. We then evaluate the PIDL-based TSE method using the Next Generation SIMulation (NGSIM) dataset. Experimental results demonstrate the proposed PIDL-based approach to outperform advanced baseline methods in terms of data efficiency and estimation accuracy.
The Right to Counsel Denied: Confusing the Roles of Lawyers and Guardians

Even though it has long been recognized that minors have a Constitutional right to counsel in delinquency proceedings, there is significant evidence that there is confusion among attorneys and judges as to the proper role of attorneys who represent minors in delinquency proceedings. In many cases, judges and attorneys confuse the roles of an attorney for a minor client and of a guardian ad litem. Yet, these roles are fundamentally different. They are so different, in fact, that attempting to serve as an attorney and a guardian at the same time affects the effectiveness of the attorney’s role as an advocate for the minor, thus making it impossible for the attorney to provide the type of effective assistance of counsel that is guaranteed by the Constitution. For this reason, this article argues that the roles of attorneys and guardians ad litem should never be combined or confused. To the extent that this is what is happening across the United States, attorneys are attempting to do the impossible. In order to fulfill one role they will fail at the other, thus engaging in a per se conflict of interest.
Path Towards a Vertical TFET Enabled by Atomic Precision Advanced Manufacturing

We propose a vertical TFET using atomic precision advanced manufacturing (APAM) to create an abrupt buried $\boldsymbol{n}++$ -doped source. We developed a gate stack that preserves the APAM source to accumulate holes above it, with a goal of band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) perpendicular to the gate - critical for the proposed device. A metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitor shows hole accumulation above the APAM source, corroborated by simulation, demonstrating the TFET's feasibility.
The emergence of the idea of ‘the welfare state’ in British political discourse:

This article traces the emergence of the term welfare state in British political discourse and describes competing efforts to define its meaning. It presents a genealogy of the concept's emergence ...
Preschool blood lead levels, language competency, and substance use in adolescence.

Abstract Background Elevated lead levels in children are a persistent public health problem, particularly in urban areas in the United States, yet few prospective studies have examined the association of childhood lead levels with substance use in adolescence. Objectives To determine the association of early lead levels with adolescent substance use and whether childhood IQ, language skills, and externalizing (aggressive and disruptive) behavior mediate the association, controlling for confounding biological and environmental factors. Methods The participants (N = 265) were a subsample of a prospective birth cohort study on the developmental effects of prenatal cocaine exposure in the Midwest United States. Blood lead levels (BLL) were assessed at age 4, IQ at age 11, language skills and externalizing behavior at age 12, and substance (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana) use and substance use-related problems at age 15. Biologic assays (hair, urine, bloodspots), along with self-report, were utilized to determine adolescent substance use. Path analyses were conducted to examine the direct and indirect associations of BLL with adolescent substance use. Results The children's mean BLL at 4 years of age was 7.07 (SD = 4.12) μg/dL. Approximately 31% of adolescents used tobacco or marijuana, 40% used alcohol, and 23% reported experiencing substance use-related problems at age 15.7 (SD = 0.28). Elevated BLL was related to a higher likelihood of substance use. Childhood language skills fully mediated the relationship of BLL with substance use-related problems. IQ was related to neither substance use nor substance use-related problems. Discussion Elevated BLL in preschool years is a risk factor for adolescent substance use and related problems. Early screening and intervention for language impairment may reduce substance use-related problems.
Research for Upper Level Writing (Chapter 7, A Short & Happy Guide to Advanced Legal Research, 2d)

The attached excerpt includes a chapter on the most commonly recommended print and online resources for conducting research and may be used to supplement any upper level writing course or rigorous writing experience that satisfies ABA Standard 303. The chapter discusses resources to find a topic, tools for outlining and organizing research, and suggestions on editing the article. Resources for finding a topic include circuit split charts, 50-State Surveys and State Subject Compilations, symposiums, legal trends, ProQuest Thesis and Dissertations, and how to conduct a preemption search to make certain the proposed thesis is unique. Tips and tools for creating an outline and organizing research are discussed, as well as suggestions for finding additional support for a legal argument and an explanation of the ten types of plagiarism students want to avoid. Legal research can be costly for students and practitioners in two ways: time and money. This book compares free and fee-based legal research resources for each stage of civil litigation, including the initial case assessment; discovery and investigation resources to find information on judges, attorneys, experts, and companies; and resources to find pleadings, motions, and briefs for pretrial action. Although this book is designed for law students taking an Advanced Legal Research course with unlimited access to Bloomberg Law, Lexis+, and Westlaw Edge, it is also a valuable reference for anyone who graduated from law school prior to 2019, interested in learning about the new litigation analytics and artificial intelligence features. This book is included in the West Academic study aid package, and if your school is a subscriber, the book is available for free to your students.
Law and Society in the Age of Theoderic the Great: A Study of the Edictum Theoderici

Introduction 1. The historical context 2. The legal context 3. Law and order 4. Society and the family 5. The economy Epilogue Appendix: Edict of King Theoderic.
From Sandbox to Playground: Dynamic Virtual Environments in the Grid

Much experience has been gained with the protocols and mechanisms needed for discovery and allocation of remote computational resources. However, the preparation of a remote computer for use by a distributed application also requires the creation of an appropriate execution environment, which remains an ad hoc and often clumsy process. We propose here a codification of the interactions required to negotiate the creation of new execution environments. In brief we model dynamic virtual environments (DVEs) as first-class entities in a distributed environment, with grid service interfaces defined to negotiate creation, monitor properties, and manage lifetime. We also show how such DVEs can be implemented in a variety of technologies - sandboxes, virtual machines, or simply Unix accounts - and evaluate costs associated with these different approaches. DVEs provide a basis for both customization of a remote computer to meet user needs and also enforcement of resource usage and security policies. They can also simplify the administration of virtual organizations (VOs), by allowing new environments to be created automatically, subject to local and VO policy. Thus, DVEs have the potential to relieve much of the current administrative burden involved in providing and using grid resources.
Pemphigus vulgaris treated with metacortandracin; case report.

Metacortandracin and metacortandralone are new synthetic steroids that possess the physiological activities of adrenal cortical hormones. Biological experiments indicate that these compounds are potent anti-inflammatory agents, and that they have approximately three to four times the activity of cortisone or hydrocortisone. Preliminary studies also suggest that the enhanced potency of metacortandracin and metacortandralone may not be accompanied by a proportionate increase in the severity of undesirable side effects. For example, doses up to 60 mg. daily for 24 successive days produced a negative nitrogen balance but did not cause retention of sodium, loss of potassium, significant elevation of the fasting blood sugar, glycosuria or hypertension (1).
High-speed mass transit for poxviruses on microtubules.

Commuters can ride a high-speed mass-transit system from the city centre to the suburbs and then engage a private vehicle for the final leg home. Similarly, vaccinia virions travel to the cell periphery on microtubule tracks, disembark near the plasma membrane, and acquire individual actin tails for propulsion on microvilli towards adjacent cells.
Cry for Luck: Sacred Song and Speech among the Yurok, Hupa, and Karok Indians of Northwestern California

Cry for Luck: Sacred Song and Speech among the Yurok, Hupa, and Karok Indians of Northwestern California. Richard Keeling. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992. 325 pp.
Comparing campus and city police human resource and select community outreach policies and practices: An update

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the nature of campus police and city police in the areas of human resource and select community policing practices and policies. This comparison serves as an update to the work of Bromley and Reaves (1998a, b) and Bromley (2003). Design/methodology/approach – This paper utilizes the Bureau of Justice Statistics Campus Police Reports from 2012 and the Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics Reports from 2007 and 2013 to provide a comparison between campus and city departments in matters of human resource and community outreach policies and practices, paying special attention to demographics, salary, education, training, pre-employment screening, collective bargaining, community-policing, and special programs utilized. Findings – The data suggest that, while differences do exist between campus and city practices, there are a substantial number of similarities between the two. In some areas, such as workforce diversity, campus police are some...
Measuring change in sexual behavior: Concordance between survey measures

Measuring change in sexual behavior as reliably as possible is a crucial methodological issue in evaluation research. We compared two methods of assessing behavior change: the retrospective change method, which asks respondents about change explicitly by asking whether they have made any changes in their sexual behavior in a past time period, and the longitudinal or panel method, which asks respondents at two different times about their sexual behavior and compares the two sets of answers. Among heterosexual men and women (N = 962) in the AIDS in Multi‐Ethnic Neighborhoods (AMEN) Cohort Survey, the two methods of measuring change in condom use agreed, with a kappa of 0.38. The same was true among gay men (N = 596) where kappa for agreement was 0.35. However, among both heterosexuals and gay men, the two methods of measuring change in number of partners had a small but significant level of disagreement. Among heterosexuals, kappa was ‐0.14; among gay men, kappa was ‐0.16. Where the two types of change meas...
THE GENUS AMAUROASCUS.

The genusAmauroascus, with two species,A. verrucosus andA. niger, is reviewed historically and authentic herbarium material is cited. The characteristics of pure cultures for the two species are given for the first time. Data are given in support of placingAmauroascus in synonymy withArachniotus.
Ecosystem production in Douglas-fir plantations: Interaction of red alder and site fertility

Abstract Pure stands of Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) and mixed stands of Douglas-fir and naturally established red alder ( Alnus rubra Bong.) were examined on two different sites for soil properties, tree growth and nutrition, and aboveground ecosystem biomass and net primary production. One site (Mt. Benson, Nanaimo, B.C.) was nitrogen (N)-deficient and had a low site index (expected Douglas-fir height of 24 m at 50 years). The other site (Skykomish, western Washington) was N-rich and had a site index of 45 m at 50 years. Soil N accretion on the red alder units was estimated at 65 (Mt. Benson) and 42 (Skykomish) kg ha −1 year −1 for 23 years to a soil depth of 50 cm. At the current stage of plantation development, presence of red alder at the infertile Mt. Benson site increased average Douglas-fir diameter but did not affect its basal area and basal area growth rate; including alder stem biomass increased total stand basal area and basal area growth 2.5 fold. Presence of red alder at the fertile Skykomish site decreased average diameter, basal area, and basal area growth of Douglas-fir; including alder biomass left total stand basal area and basal area growth unchanged. Douglas-fir foliar N concentrations on Mt. Benson increased from 0.93 without alder to 1.41% on the red alder unit but were 1.55% for both units at Skykomish. Although alder did not affect Douglas-fir aboveground biomass and net primary production on Mt. Benson, total ecosystem biomass doubled and production tripled when alder biomass was included. Conversely, at Skykomish, Douglas-fir biomass and production decreased, and total ecosystem values were essentially unchanged. Mixing red alder and Douglas-fir seems to have great potential for increasing Douglas-fir growth and ecosystem production on infertile, N-deficient sites but probably has limited value on fertile, N-rich sites.
History, Hair, and Reimagining Racial Categories in Junot Díaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

In The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz articulates a complex, fluid racial world that defies conventional ideas about racial classification. The novel examines three generations of the Cabral/de Leon family as they negotiate complicated racial terrains in the Dominican Republic and the United States. This essay explores the historical and cultural factors that have shaped differing conceptions of race in the Dominican Republic and the United States, particularly notions of blackness, whiteness, and Dominican-ness; it then looks to Oscar Wao's engagement with hair as an illustration of the complex, contingent nature of racial categorization.
CARDIAC COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY DETECTING LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE THROMBI COMPARED WITH TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION. A META-ANALYSIS OF PROSPECTIVE TRIALS

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is considered the gold standard modality in detecting left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombi in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, this is a semi-invasive procedure with potential life-threatening complications. Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) has
Quantifying the percent increase in minimum sample size for SNP genotyping errors in genetic model-based association studies.

Kang et al. [Genet Epidemiol 2004;26:132–141] addressed the question of which genotype misclassification errors are most costly, in terms of minimum percentage increase in sample size necessary (%MSSN) to maintain constant asymptotic power and significance level, when performing case/control studies of genetic association in a genetic model-free setting. They answered the question for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the 2 × 3 χ2 test of independence. We address the same question here for a genetic model-based framework. The genetic model parameters considered are: disease model (dominant, recessive), genotypic relative risk, SNP (marker) and disease allele frequency, and linkage disequilibrium. %MSSN coefficients of each of the six possible error rates are determined by expanding the non-centrality parameter of the asymptotic distribution of the 2 × 3 χ2 test under a specified alternative hypothesis to approximate %MSSN using a linear Taylor series in the error rates. In this work we assume errors misclassifying one homozygote as another homozygote are 0, since these errors are thought to rarely occur in practice. Our findings are that there are settings of the genetic model parameters that lead to large total %MSSN for both dominant and recessive models. As SNP minor allele approaches 0, total %MSSN increases without bound, independent of other genetic model parameters. In general, %MSSN is a complex function of the genetic model parameters. Use of SNPs with small minor allele frequency requires careful attention to frequency of genotyping errors to insure that power specifications are met. Software to perform these calculations for study design is available, and an example of its use to study a disease is given.
Encounters with pharmaceutical sales representatives among practicing internists

Abstract Background: Although pharmaceutical sales representatives provide physicians with information on new products, these encounters have rarely been studied in practice settings. We examined these interactions among practicing internists and assessed whether prior residency policies limiting pharmaceutical sales representative access affected the subsequent behavior of practitioners. Methods: We conducted a mail survey of the internal medicine staffs of a medical school hospital and two affiliated community hospitals. A second request was sent to nonresponders. After the second mailing, a random sample of nonresponders was compared with a similar sample of respondents. Multivariate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated with logistic regression. Results: Of the 346 (40%) internists who responded, 22% were women and 60% were trained in university hospitals. There were no differences in gender, subspecialization, or type of training when survey responders and nonresponders were compared. Two hundred eighty-seven (83%) physicians had met with pharmaceutical sales representatives within the previous year, of whom 248 (86%) had received drug samples. Having had a policy that limited access to pharmaceutical sales representatives during residency did not affect the subsequent likelihood of seeing these representatives ( P = 0.20) or accepting samples in practice ( P = 0.99). Those describing themselves as busy practitioners were significantly less likely to abstain from meeting pharmaceutical sales representatives (OR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.6, P 10 times/month) were virtually all busy practitioners. Conclusions: Encounters between physicians and pharmaceutical sales representatives are common in internal medicine practice, especially in busy offices. Policies designed to limit pharmaceutical sales representative access during residency do not appear to affect the subsequent likelihood of meeting with pharmaceutical sales representatives or accepting samples.
Characterization and tissue-regulated expression of genes involved in pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) root development

Abstract This study was initiated to increase the molecular genetic resources available for pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) breeding and biotechnology. We differentially screened a root cDNA library for mRNAs that are preferentially present in the roots. Over 300 randomly selected cDNAs from the root library were categorized into 14 classes based on their expression characteristics. About 41% of the clones were classified as constitutive, being expressed about equally in roots, fruit and aerial tissues, while 23% of the clones were expressed higher in roots than other tissues. Twenty-four unique clones were sequenced and preliminarily identified based on sequence homology. Genes involved in lignin biosynthesis, cell wall biogenesis, and responses to stress or pathogens were highly represented. Six mRNAs (encoding a germin-like protein, mannose-binding lectin, two lipoxygenases, xyloglucan endotransglycosylase and peroxidase) were verified to be preferentially present in roots by analyzing in detail their abundance during field-grown plant and fruit development. Analysis of mannose-binding lectin gene expression via tissue-prints and micro-dissection of roots showed that its transcript was predominantly present in the protoderm. The occurrence of stress/pathogen-related mRNAs in healthy tissues is discussed in terms of processes that allow CAM plants to adapt to extreme environments. The molecular methods and genetic resources developed in this work will facilitate isolation of root-specific promoters, physical mapping, marker-assisted breeding, genomic studies and bioengineering for pineapple improvement.
Disruption of Nrf2, a Key Inducer of Antioxidant Defenses, Attenuates ApoE-Mediated Atherosclerosis in Mice

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammation are two critical factors that drive the formation of plaques in atherosclerosis. Nrf2 is a redox-sensitive transcription factor that upregulates a battery of antioxidative genes and cytoprotective enzymes that constitute the cellular response to oxidative stress. Our previous studies have shown that disruption of Nrf2 in mice (Nrf2 2/2 ) causes increased susceptibility to pulmonary emphysema, asthma and sepsis due to increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Here we have tested the hypothesis that disruption of Nrf2 in mice causes increased atherosclerosis. Principal Findings: To investigate the role of Nrf2 in the development of atherosclerosis, we crossed Nrf2 2/2 mice with apoliporotein E-deficient (ApoE 2/2 ) mice. ApoE 2/2 and ApoE 2/2 Nrf2 2/2 mice were fed an atherogenic diet for 20 weeks, and plaque area was assessed in the aortas. Surprisingly, ApoE 2/2 Nrf2 2/2 mice exhibited significantly smaller plaque area than ApoE 2/2 controls (11.5% vs 29.5%). This decrease in plaque area observed in ApoE 2/2 Nrf2 2/2 mice was associated with a significant decrease in uptake of modified low density lipoproteins (AcLDL) by isolated macrophages from ApoE 2/2 Nrf2 2/2 mice. Furthermore, atherosclerotic plaques and isolated macrophages from ApoE 2/2 Nrf2 2/2 mice exhibited decreased expression of the scavenger receptor CD36. Conclusions: Nrf2 is pro-atherogenic in mice, despite its antioxidative function. The net pro-atherogenic effect of Nrf2 may be mediated via positive regulation of CD36. Our data demonstrates that the potential effects of Nrf2-targeted therapies on cardiovascular disease need to be investigated.
Interactive Self-Regulatory Theory for Sharing and Protecting in Interorganizational Collaborations

Theorizing about the sharing-protecting tension has been mostly at the organizational level. We draw on advances in self-regulation theory and hot cognition microfoundations of organizational capabilities to articulate three capabilities that dyads of interacting individuals in interorganizational collaborations must possess to regulate the sharing-protecting tension. Besides the recursive influences within dyads, the three capabilities involve recursive multilevel influences between individuals and their home organizations. The interactive self-regulatory theory helps explain how interacting individuals are able to dynamically adjust their sharing and protecting behaviors to the complexity, emergence, and adaptation required in interorganizational collaborations.
Quantitative serum toxic screening in the management of suspected drug overdose.

Abstract Data were collected on 176 consecutive cases of drug overdose evaluated in an emergency department. quantitative serum toxic screening (TS) was performed for 164 (93%) of these patients; positive results were noted for 133 patients (81%). Six classes of drugs (ethanol, benzodiazepines, salicylates, acetaminophen, barbiturates, and tricyclic antidepressants) were responsible for nearly 70% of all drug detections and were associated with 80% of all admissions in this patient sample. Only two patients (1%) had drug-specific treatment initiated because of TS results. In 12 patients (7%), TS confirmed substances for which specific treatments had been initiated on clinical grounds. Four patients (2%) had drug-specific treatment discontinued because of TS results. Thirty-two patients (19%) were admitted to a medical service; however, only seven patients (4%) were admitted primarily because of TS results. All other patients were admitted because of clinical abnormalities that required inpatient care. It is concluded that only a few drugs are responsible for most drug overdoses. Moreover, TS results rerely change the treatment or disposition of overdose patients; these decisions are typically based on clinical parameters.
Accelerator physics issues in eRHIC

Abstract The accelerator physics issues associated with adding electron–gold and polarized electron–proton collisions to the RHIC repertoire are discussed. Two scenarios are considered: ring–ring and linac–ring collisions. In the first scenario a third electron ring, possibly made from permanent magnets, is added to the RHIC tunnel. In the second scenario the considerable beam power is recuperated by recycling the beam through the full energy linac injector. Straw man ring optics are presented, including an integrated spin rotator which provides longitudinally polarized electrons at the interaction points. Electron and ion intensity limitations are investigated, for operations with as many as 2520 bunches. Synchrotron radiation, beam–beam, electron cloud, and cryogenic heat load limits are examined. The implications for new and upgraded ion ring systems are discussed, including electron cooling, RF systems, the ion abort dumps, and injection and extraction kickers.
A Highly Sensitive Method for Large-Scale Measurements of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D

Abstract A quantitative method for measuring 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ) was developed utilizing a luciferase reporter gene under the control of the highly inducible 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 24-hydroxylase promoter in a stably transfected cell line. Transient transfections with constructs containing the 24-hydroxylase gene promoter 5′ to a luciferase reporter were first performed in cell lines with high levels of vitamin D receptor, i.e., the rat osteosarcoma (ROS 17/2.8) and human breast cancer (T-47D) cell lines. ROS 17/2.8 cells, stably transfected with the plasmid, gave a 60-fold stimulation with 10 −10 M 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 . A standard curve was constructed showing a large range of response to 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 (1 pg to 1 ng). The assay was adapted to microtiter plates, which permits a large number of samples to be assayed simultaneously. Other metabolites of vitamin D and analogs such as 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 , 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 , and 1α-hydroxyvitamin D 3 have negligible effects on the detection of 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 , thus eliminating the need for purification of sample. The sensitivity of the method permitted the use of 100 μl of serum with excellent results. Comparison of this method with a commercially available assay demonstrates that it gives higher sensitivity, simpler manipulations, and comparable results.
The turbulent thermal boundary layer with an abrupt change from a rough to a smooth wall

The work reported here was motivated by concern over the use of smooth heat flux gages for heat transfer measurements on the otherwise rough turbine blades. Stanton number distributions and boundary layer profiles of mean temperature, mean velocity, and turbulence intensity are reported for a surface with a step change from a rough to a smooth surface. In most cases, the Stanton number immediately downstream of the change in roughness drops below the all-smooth-wall data at the same x-Reynolds number. The alignment of the smooth surface between the bases and crests of the roughness elements is shown to have only a weak effect on the Stanton number distribution. It is concluded that the use of smooth heat flux gages on otherwise rough surfaces can cause large errors. It is recommended that heat transfer data collected in this manner be used with caution.