cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of 224Ra and 222Rn for evaluating seawater residence times in a tidal subterranean estuary

Abstract The length of time in which seawater circulates through the beach face and mixes with terrestrial groundwater will have a profound influence on the geochemical cycling of nutrient deliveries to surface waters through submarine groundwater discharge. The goal of this work is to utilize pore water measurements of 222Rn and Ra isotopes to evaluate the time-scale of tidal seawater circulation in a coastal bluff and a barrier beach subterranean estuary (STE) on Long Island, NY. Intertidal pore water profiles sampled monthly between 2014 and 2015 revealed distinct geochemical differences between the two sites that were driven by the primary hydrogeologic forcing mechanisms. The coastal bluff site was dominated by a large hydraulic gradient that drove terrestrial groundwater discharge, while the barrier beach site had saline pore waters and was physically controlled by tidal forcing mechanisms. These mechanisms resulted in notably different pore water radionuclide (222Rn, 223,224,226,228Ra) and trace metal (Fe, Mn, Ba) distributions in the STE. A one-dimensional advective transport model was applied to estimate the residence time of circulated seawater within the STE using measured radionuclide activities. There are inherent uncertainties within the model, set by the activity of deep groundwater that has mixed with the circulated seawater, the initial activity of seawater that infiltrated the coastal aquifer and the radionuclide production rates. Residence times generally increased with depth from 0.1 to ≥ 15 d and were greater in the low tide well of the barrier beach (4.9 ± 3.4 d) compared to the coastal bluff (1.1 ± 0.4 d). Residence times were fairly constant over time within the coastal bluff STE but varied seasonally in the barrier beach STE, suggesting that the barrier beach may have not been in “steady-state.” Variable pore water residence times within the STE may have a profound effect on the cycling of carbon, nutrient and trace metal fluxes to the coastal ocean.
Generation of arbitrary lithographic patterns using Bose-Einstein-condensate interferometry

We propose an arbitrary pattern lithography process using interference of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). A symmetric three-pulse Raman atom interferometer (AI) is used to implement the system. The pattern information, in the form of a phase-only mask, is optically encoded into the BEC order parameter in one of the AI arms. The lithographic pattern is represented by a two-dimensional intensity variation, and is transformed into a two-dimensional phase variation in the BEC order parameter via the use of ac-Stark shift induced by a pulsed laser field. The BEC probability distribution of the interference result at the end of the AI is proportional to the required pattern. In order to produce features smaller than the diffraction limit for the used optical elements, we employ a three-dimensional atomic lens system to scale down the resulting pattern. The operating conditions for this lens structure are investigated in order to identify practical constraints. Simulations of the overall system using the parameters of $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ BEC were performed to illustrate its functionality. The proposed process, while perhaps not suitable for general purpose usage, may enable the creation of special purpose patterns on a very small scale, with features as small as a few nanometers.
Zirconium-Columbium Diagram

The constitutional diagram presented herein is relatively simple. Complete mutual solid solubility exists for an interval below the solidus line, a continuous curve with a flat minimum near 22 pet Cb and 1740°C. Upon cooling, the solid solution breaks up, except at the columbium-rich side, from two causes: zirconium-rich alloys transform under the influence of the β-α transformation in zirconium; alloys of intermediate composition decompose into two solid solutions below 1000°C. The combined effect is the formation of a eutectoid at a temperature of 610°C and a composition of 17.5 pet Cb. The eutectoid horizontal extends from 6.5 to 87.0 pet Cb. Some age hardening effects have been observed in the zirconium-rich alloys but the positions of the solvus lines remain uncertain.
Chapter 11 – Thiamin

Thiamin, sometimes called vitamin B1, is essential in carbohydrate metabolism and neural function. It is widely distributed in foods, although cereal grains contribute the greatest levels to most human diets. It is water soluble and is absorbed through both active transport and passive diffusion. Thiamin serves as a cofactor for a series of enzymes in different metabolic pathways and is required for the production of ATP, ribose, NAD, and DNA. Severe thiamin deficiency results in the nerve and heart disease beriberi, which occurs in populations subsisting on polished rice. Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, typically affecting alcoholics, is also associated with poor thiamin status.
STANDARDIZING THE CARE OF OUTPATIENT PEDIATRIC SYNCOPE AND DIZZINESS: A LESSON IN UTILIZATION AND CHARGE REDUCTION

Background: Variability in medical practice is associated with higher cost without improved outcome. Our aim was to standardize the evaluation and treatment of dizziness/syncope and track resultant cost savings. Methods: A multidisciplinary team developed a care algorithm using best evidence and
Converging Organ Transplantation Towards Regenerative Medicine

In recent decades, organ transplantation has proven itself a landmark success for the treatment of end-stage organ failure. In light of such dramatic success, the demand for transplantable organs continues to rise at an extraordinary rate while the supply has reached a virtual plateau. Waiting lists have reached alarming levels with patients enduring significant morbidity and mortality in hopes of eventually receiving a transplant. On the other hand, patients who do go on to receive life-saving transplants are consigned to a lifelong regimen of brutal immunosuppressive protocols, which themselves carry harmful side-effect profiles. The present trajectory of organ bioengineering and regeneration (OBR) indicates a potential to dramatically alter the discipline of organ transplantation. Modern techniques in OBR allow for the manufacture of relatively simple organs using autologous cellular material, which would avoid evoking immune response and thereby bypass the need for immunosuppressive protocols. The ideal end product of current investigations would be the fabrication of an autograft-equivalent for clinical application by using cells obtained from the patient in need of a transplant. Such an achievement would represent an immunosuppression-free state, a laborious yet fruitless pursuit that has persisted since the early days of the transplant era. Furthermore, an optimized protocol for the biofabrication of transplantable organs using methods in OBR could theoretically generate an inexhaustible supply and thus provide a solution to the chronic shortage suffered by end-stage patients on the waiting list today. The incorporation of OBR approaches and methodologies into the modern practice of transplantation could plausibly represent a major paradigm shift for the field given the advantages described above.
Temporal dynamics of reactive cognitive control as revealed by event‐related brain potentials

Reactive cognitive control refers to a complementary set of cognitive operations by which individuals monitor for and detect the presence of goal-interfering conflict (i.e., conflict monitoring/evaluation) and, subsequently, initiate attention-focusing and response selection processes to bolster goal-directed action in the face of such conflict (regulative control). The purpose of the current study was to characterize the nature of conflict adaptation in both components of this dynamic process across sequences of trials and, more broadly, across time as participants complete a cognitive control task. Fifty-two young adults completed a standard arrow flanker task while behavioral and ERP data were recorded. Multilevel modeling of sequences of compatible and incompatible trials over time showed that, whereas response time data demonstrated a typical conflict adaptation effect throughout the task, N2 and frontal slow wave (FSW) indices of conflict monitoring and regulative control, respectively, demonstrated significant conflict adaptation only during the early part of the task. Moreover, although differential change in N2 and FSW over time suggested that conflict monitoring and regulative control were dissociable, a reciprocal relation between them was maintained throughout the task and was not present in a component theoretically unrelated to conflict adaptation (visual attention-related N1). Findings are discussed in terms of compensatory processes that help to maintain goal-directed performance even as control-related neural responses become fatigued.
Rediscovering ACL Discoveries Through the Lens of ACL Anthology Network Citing Sentences

The ACL Anthology Network (AAN) is a comprehensive manually curated networked database of citations and collaborations in the field of Computational Linguistics. Each citation edge in AAN is associated with one or more citing sentences. A citing sentence is one that appears in a scientific article and contains an explicit reference to another article. In this paper, we shed the light on the usefulness of AAN citing sentences for understanding research trends and summarizing previous discoveries and contributions. We also propose and motivate several different uses and applications of citing sentences.
African-American Forestland Owners in Alabama's Black Belt

A survey in Alabama's Black Belt counties reveals that, like other nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) owners in the region, African-American forestland owners have diverse ownership objectives and occupations and represent the relatively financially well-off and better educated group in their communities. However, they have lower household incomes, hold their properties longer, and manage forestland less intensively than NIPF owners in general. The constraints they faced indicate a strong need to engage them in the stewardship of their forest resources, but such an effort calls for different landowner assistance programs and approaches.
[26] (with P. R. Garabedian) Identities in the theory of conformal mapping

Paul Garabedian and Max Schiffer both arrived at Harvard in 1946, Garabedian as a very young Ph.D. student under Lars Ahlfors and Schiffer as a Research Lecturer, his first appointment in the United States. For an account of how they first met, told in Garabedian’s own words, see Garabedian (Recollections of Menahem Max Schiffer, these Selecta, vol. 1) elsewhere in these Selecta. The first of their 11 joint papers, (Schiffer and Garabedian, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc., 65, 187–238, 1949) was an impressive debut to a long and fruitful collaboration that continued until 1967.
DNA replication timing, genome stability and cancer. Late and/or delayed DNA replication timing is associated with increased genomic instability.

Normal cellular division requires that the genome be faithfully replicated to ensure that unaltered genomic information is passed from one generation to the next. DNA replication initiates from thousands of origins scattered throughout the genome every cell cycle; however, not all origins initiate replication at the same time. A vast amount of work over the years indicates that different origins along each eukaryotic chromosome are activated in early, middle or late S phase. This temporal control of DNA replication is referred to as the replication-timing program. The replication-timing program represents a very stable epigenetic feature of chromosomes. Recent evidence has indicated that the replication-timing program can influence the spatial distribution of mutagenic events such that certain regions of the genome experience increased spontaneous mutagenesis compared to surrounding regions. This influence has helped shape the genomes of humans and other multicellular organisms and can affect the distribution of mutations in somatic cells. It is also becoming clear that the replication-timing program is deregulated in many disease states, including cancer. Aberrant DNA replication timing is associated with changes in gene expression, changes in epigenetic modifications and an increased frequency of structural rearrangements. Furthermore, certain replication timing changes can directly lead to overt genomic instability and may explain unique mutational signatures that are present in cells that have undergone the recently described processes of “chromothripsis” and “kataegis”. In this review, we will discuss how the normal replication timing program, as well as how alterations to this program, can contribute to the evolution of the genomic landscape in normal and cancerous cells.
Fundamentals of Plant Anatomy and Physiology Related to Water Use

Water comprises between 75% and 90% of the mass of terrestrial and aquatic plants. Such high water content reflects an aquatic stage during evolution. Moreover, it indicates that the successful transition of plants from aquatic to terrestrial environments required the ability to retain and maintain a high water content.
Violence and the perception of risk associated with hosting refugees

How do individuals’ experiences with political violence affect their perceptions regarding the risk associated with hosting refugees? This is an important question given that many communities are beginning to resent and oppose hosting refugees. To explore answers to the question, we study recent exposure to violence within Lebanon, which is a meaningful context since Lebanon serves as host to more than one million refugees from the Syrian Civil War. We adopt a novel empirical strategy to isolate the effect of exposure to violence upon perceptions of risk associated with hosting refugees. We exploit plausibly exogenous variation in the timing of violent events linked to refugee populations in Lebanon relative to the timing of responses to our nationally representative survey deployed between June and August 2017. Our empirical strategy compares individuals interviewed before and after violent attacks in Lebanon. The results suggest that recent exposure to violence by Syrian militants increases individuals’ perceptions of risk associated with hosting refugees from conflict zones, while exposure to violence carried out by Lebanese forces reduces perceptions of risk.
Viscoelastic Foam-Filled Lattice for High Energy Absorption

Abstract A new composite foam concept that involves infiltrating a polyurea-based foam through an open 3D lattice structure with 2 mm strut size is presented. The stress-strain characteristics, energy absorption, and cushioning efficiency are measured at quasi-static and dynamic strain rates using an Instron load frame and a drop tower facility, respectively. Results are compared with EPS72 (expanded polystyrene foam with a density of 72 kg/m3) and Poron320 (density of 320 kg/m3) foams that represent high performance benchmarks for foams that absorb impact energy through plastic crushing and rate-induced glass transition mechanisms, respectively. The composite foams absorb more impact energy in same section thickness, while keeping both the peak stress and impulse duration low compared to these benchmarks. Most importantly, the composite foams display stability at both low (0°C) and high temperatures (40°C) because of its extremely low Tg of − 50°C. Being viscoelastic, they recover fully within 30 s after each impact, without loss of any energy absorption capability. The underlying microstructural mechanisms for these superior impact properties are also discussed. These properties should allow these materials to have a wide range of military and civilian applications, especially in advance armors and protective body and headgear systems.
GaP/Si Heterojunction Solar Cells: An Interface, Doping and Morphology Study

We report on an study of the GaP/Si interface for application in silicon heterojunction solar cells. We analyzed the band alignment using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cross-sectional Kelvin probe force microscopy (x-KPFM). Our measurements show a high conduction band offset (0.9 eV) leading to a barrier in electron extraction which we microscopically resolved via x-KPFM. XPS reveals the presence of Si-Ga bonds which explains the observed interface dipole that leads to low open circuit voltage and low fill factor in GaP/Si heterojunction solar cells. Furthermore, we investigated the electronic and morphologic changes in GaP upon Si and Mg doping.
Spectral Analysis for Non-Hermitian Matrices and Directed Graphs

We generalize classical results in spectral graph theory and linear algebra more broadly, from the case where the underlying matrix is Hermitian to the case where it is non-Hermitian. New admissibility conditions are introduced to replace the Hermiticity condition. We prove new variational estimates of the Rayleigh quotient for non-Hermitian matrices. As an application, a new Delsarte-Hoffman-type bound on the size of the largest independent set in a directed graph is developed. Our techniques consist in quantifying the impact of breaking the Hermitian symmetry of a matrix and are broadly applicable.
Development of modified HCH-1 kinetic model for long-term enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis and comparison with literature models

Enzymatic hydrolysis is a major step for cellulosic ethanol production. A thorough understanding of enzymatic hydrolysis is necessary to help design optimal conditions and economical systems. The original HCH-1 (Holtzapple–Caram–Humphrey–1) model is a generalized mechanistic model for enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis, but was previously applied only to the initial rates. In this study, the original HCH-1 model was modified to describe integrated enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis. The relationships between parameters in the HCH-1 model and substrate conversion were investigated. Literature models for long-term (> 48 h) enzymatic hydrolysis were summarized and compared to the modified HCH-1 model. A modified HCH-1 model was developed for long-term (> 48 h) enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis. This modified HCH-1 model includes the following additional considerations: (1) relationships between coefficients and substrate conversion, and (2) enzyme stability. Parameter estimation was performed with 10-day experimental data using α-cellulose as substrate. The developed model satisfactorily describes integrated cellulose hydrolysis data taken with various reaction conditions (initial substrate concentration, initial product concentration, enzyme loading, time). Mechanistic (and semi-mechanistic) literature models for long-term enzymatic hydrolysis were compared with the modified HCH-1 model and evaluated by the corrected version of the Akaike information criterion. Comparison results show that the modified HCH-1 model provides the best fit for enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis. The HCH-1 model was modified to extend its application to integrated enzymatic hydrolysis; it performed well when predicting 10-day cellulose hydrolysis at various experimental conditions. Comparison with the literature models showed that the modified HCH-1 model provided the best fit.
Parallel Bit Pattern Computing

There are many ways to reduce power consumed in performing a computation. Most focus on making each gate more power efficient. In contrast, the current work focuses on directly reducing the number of gate-level operations needed to produce each word-level result.Compiler optimization of computations at the gate level exposes many redundancies that are not apparent when optimizing word-level operations. In the proposed architecture, all operations on multi-bit data values are performed bit serially. Thus, a k-bit add takes O(k) clock cycles. However, by doing each operation SIMD-parallel on n data, n k-bit operations also complete in O(k) clock cycles using only O(n) gates per clock. Further improvement can be made by using regular expression patterns to represent the n values in each bit position; not only does this compress the data, but it also allows many gate-level operations to be performed directly on the patterns without expanding them to bit vectors.
Codon and amino acid content are associated with mRNA stability in mammalian cells

Messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation plays a critical role in regulating transcript levels in the cell and is a major control point for modulating gene expression. In yeast and other model organisms, codon identity is a powerful determinant of transcript stability, contributing broadly to impact half-lives. General principles governing mRNA stability are poorly understood in mammalian systems. Importantly, however, the degradation machinery is highly conserved, thus it seems logical that mammalian transcript half-lives would also be strongly influenced by coding determinants. Herein we characterize the contribution of coding sequence towards mRNA decay in human and Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. In agreement with previous studies, we observed that synonymous codon usage impacts mRNA stability in mammalian cells. Surprisingly, however, we also observe that the amino acid content of a gene is an additional determinant correlating with transcript stability. The impact of codon and amino acid identity on mRNA decay appears to be associated with underlying tRNA and intracellular amino acid concentrations. Accordingly, genes of similar physiological function appear to coordinate their mRNA stabilities in part through codon and amino acid content. Together, these results raise the possibility that intracellular tRNA and amino acid levels interplay to mediate coupling between translational elongation and mRNA degradation rate in mammals.
Current status of immunotherapies for addiction

The treatment of substance use disorders has always been challenging because multiple neurotransmitters mediate addiction. However, with smoking being the leading cause of preventable death and the recent opioid epidemic in the United States, the search for novel solutions becomes more imperative. In this review, we discuss the use of antibodies to treat addictions and highlight areas of success and areas that require improvement, using examples from cocaine, nicotine, and opioid vaccines. Through each example, we examine creative problem-solving strategies for developing future vaccines, such as using an adenovirus vector as a carrier, designing bivalent vaccines, stimulating Toll-like receptors for adjuvant effects, and altering the route of administration. Our review also covers passive immunization alone to override or prevent drug toxicity as well as in combination with vaccines for more rapid and potentially greater efficacy.
Impact of Hospitalist Team Structure on Patient-Reported Satisfaction with Physician Performance

Patient experience is valuable because it reflects how patients perceive the care they receive within the healthcare system and is associated with clinical outcomes. Also, as part of the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rewards hospitals with financial incentives for patient experience as measured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. It is unclear how the addition of residents and advanced practice clinicians (APCs) to hospitalist-led inpatient teams affects patient satisfaction as measured by the HCAHPS and Press Ganey survey. To compare patient satisfaction with hospitalists on resident, APC, and solo hospitalist teams measured by HCAHPS and Press Ganey physician performance domain survey results. Retrospective observational cohort study. All patients discharged from the Internal Medicine inpatient service between July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2018, who met HCAHPS survey eligibility criteria and completed a patient experience survey. HCAHPS and Press Ganey physician performance domain survey results. No differences were observed in the selection of “top box” scores on the HCAHPS physician performance domain between resident, APC, and solo hospitalist teams. Adjusted Press Ganey physician performance domain survey results demonstrated significant differences between solo hospitalist and resident teams, with solo hospitalists having higher scores in three areas: time physician spent with you (4.58 vs. 4.38, p = 0.050); physician kept you informed (4.63 vs. 4.43, p = 0.047); and physician skill (4.80 vs. 4.63, p = 0.027). Solo hospitalists were perceived to have higher physician skill in comparison with hospitalist-APC teams (4.80 vs. 4.69, p = 0.042). While Press Ganey survey results suggest that patients have greater satisfaction with physicians on solo hospitalist teams, these differences were not observed on the HCAHPS physician performance survey domain, suggesting physician team structure does not impact HVBP incentive payments by CMS.
Electrodiagnosis in neuromuscular disorders

This article provides a general approach to the electrodiagnostic evaluation of the patient with neuromuscular disease. The electrodiagnostic findings in patients with various forms of peripheral neuropathy, motor neuron disease, neuromuscular junction disorders, and myopathy are presented. The pediatric electrodiagnostic evaluation is also discussed.
Imagining a Climate of Equity through a Critical Theory of Love: Using CPAR to Identify Guiding Principles That Humanize Library Work

Abstract Diversity is a core value of the American Library Association and diversity standards including cultural competencies have been adopted by the Association of College and Research Libraries. Nevertheless, academic libraries still have obstacles to overcome to embody these principles. Minorities continue to be underrepresented in the field and many encounter barriers within library cultures where cultural competency is lacking and micro aggressions are pervasive and invisible to many white colleagues. This study uses critical participatory action research to identify ways a library diversity and inclusion team can support library employees engaging in equity-minded work at a private, predominantly white Catholic university in the Midwest. The researchers developed a moderator guide, which they used to conduct focus groups with library faculty and staff. Library employees were asked to identify the challenges and opportunities for doing equity-minded work at the institution. What emerged from these conversations led to the development of four guiding principles. The guiding principles outlined are: a) engaging stakeholders; b) building relationships; c) modeling equity-minded practice; and d) demonstrating intercultural competence. These guiding principles are embedded in a critical theory of love as well as critical emotion and critical whiteness studies. These principles promote re-humanizing the ways in which library employees interact with each other and students while resisting the normalization of white cultural practices. Action item examples are offered to demonstrate how library employees can incorporate these principles into their practice. Finally, we offer our next steps moving forward as we plan to implement these guiding principles to support a climate of equity for library employees.
Liver fibrosis is driven by protease-activated receptor-1 expressed by hepatic stellate cells in experimental chronic liver injury.

Background Blood coagulation protease activity is proposed to drive hepatic fibrosis through activation of protease-activated receptors (PARs). Whole-body PAR-1 deficiency reduces experimental hepatic fibrosis, and in vitro studies suggest a potential contribution by PAR-1 expressed by hepatic stellate cells. However, owing to a lack of specific tools, the cell-specific role of PAR-1 in experimental hepatic fibrosis has never been formally investigated. Using a novel mouse expressing a conditional PAR-1 allele, we tested the hypothesis that PAR-1 expressed by hepatic stellate cells contributes to hepatic fibrosis. Methods PAR-1flox/flox mice were crossed with mice expressing Cre recombinase controlled by the lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) promoter, which induces recombination in hepatic stellate cells. Male PAR-1flox/flox/LRATCre and PAR-1flox/flox mice were challenged twice weekly with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 1 mL/kg i.p.) for 6 weeks to induce liver fibrosis. Results PAR-1 mRNA levels were reduced (>95%) in hepatic stellate cells isolated from PAR-1flox/flox/LRATCre mice. Hepatic stellate cell activation was evident in CCl4-challenged PAR-1flox/flox mice, indicated by increased α-smooth muscle actin labeling and induction of several profibrogenic genes. CCl4-challenged PAR-1flox/flox mice displayed robust hepatic collagen deposition, indicated by picrosirius red staining and type I collagen immunolabeling. Notably, stellate cell activation and collagen deposition were significantly reduced (>30%) in PAR-1flox/flox/LRATCre mice. Importantly, the reduction in liver fibrosis was not a consequence of reduced acute CCl4 hepatotoxicity in PAR-1flox/flox/LRATCre mice. Conclusions The results constitute the first direct experimental evidence that PAR-1 expressed by stellate cells directly promotes their profibrogenic phenotype and hepatic fibrosis in vivo.
Local gradient optimization of leakage-suppressing entangling sequences

We use a gradient-based optimization scheme to find single-qubit rotations to be interwoven between time steps of a noisy logical two-qubit entangling gate in order to suppress the effects of arbitrary logical and leakage noise in the two-qubit gate. We show how the sequence fidelity is affected by imperfections in the single-qubit operations, as well as by various relative strengths of the logical and leakage noise. Our approach is completely general and system-independent, allowing for application to any two-qubit system regardless of the experimental implementation details.
In AF with recent ACS or PCI, apixaban improved 30-day outcomes vs. VKAs; aspirin effects varied vs. placebo.

SOURCE CITATION Alexander JH, Wojdyla D, Vora AN, et al. Risk/benefit tradeoff of antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation early and late after an acute coronary syndrome or percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from AUGUSTUS. Circulation. 2020;141:1618-27. 32223444.
Supporting Diverse Learners with Autism Through a Culturally Responsive Visual Communication Intervention

Rates of inclusion for children with disabilities continue to increase. Schools are also experiencing an increase in culturally and linguistically diverse students. As such, the diversity of childr...
The EU and Mexico: The Strategic Partnership in the Context of the Global Agreement

This chapter argues that the EU-Mexico relationship has been resilient to the challenges posed by regional and global transformations since the mid-1990s. Even before the implementation of EU Strategic Partnerships with several countries worldwide, Mexico and the EU had concluded an Association Agreement in 1997 to face trade deviations produced by NAFTA and address the need for bilateral strategic coordination in the context of the uncertainties of the end of the Cold War. In the 2000s, the EU Strategic Partnership with Mexico was added to the bilateral framework of cooperation to reinforce areas of communication and coordination. In the early 2010s, the SP and the GA provided a framework for revisiting the bilateral relationship in light of the challenges derived from the increasing role of China in global trade, the slow growth of the global economy after the 2008 recession, and the emergence of areas such as environment that gained a more prominent role in the international agenda. The negotiations for the modernization of the EU-Mexico Global Agreement started in 2016 and concluded in 2020. The process of ratification and implementation is expected to occur in 2021. In this regard, the SP and the GA are two pillars that have provided the EU-Mexico relationship with tools to respond to a more competitive economy and a more challenging international agenda.
"Living with a Stoma": Exploring the Lived Experience of Patients with Permanent Colostomy.

Introduction: Living with a permanent colostomy brings severe changes in patients’ lives. The general health status as well as the personal, social and professional life of patients are significantly affected. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the lived experience of patients undergoing permanent colostomy. Material and Methods: A qualitative research design based on interpretive phenomenology was carried out. Semi-structured interviews were conducted as the data collection method to obtain in-depth information regarding the research topic. The study sample consisted of eight (8) patients who had undergone a permanent colostomy. The data analysis was performed by the method of content analysis. Results: From the analysis of the data, three main themes emerged, namely: (A) Experiencing a traumatic event; (B) Living a new reality; (C) Efforts to improve quality of life. Five subthemes were formulated which were encompassed within the respective main themes accordingly. Conclusion: Patients with permanent colostomy face significant life changes that are experienced in a traumatic way. Issues such as autonomy, family and organizational support, self-management and empowerment can significantly improve the patients’ quality of life. Further research, regarding caregivers’ experience, improved community nursing care as well as nurses’ views on the needs of colostomy patients and their families, is suggested.
DecisionWeb: a tool for asynchronous meeting support

Among the many types of group activities that are supported by various group support technologies, perhaps the most widely studied is the group meeting. Meeting support systems have had two main goals in the past 20 years — supporting face-to-face (FTF) meetings and replacing face-to-face meetings with non-FTF meetings.
Simulation of a multi-stage manufacturing process

Providing management control of the multi-stage manufacturing processes found in industry today requires the engineer to apply more sophisticated methods of process definition and analysis. These statistical methods may be collectively called operations research of which simulation is a specific technique. The following paper describes the use of simulation to solve multi-stage process problems in terms of problem definition and analysis of the simulator output.
Food, Feelings and Film

This paper uses the Mexican film Like Water for Chocolate (1991) to address the question of how women can use food as a path to power. Directed by Alfonso Arau based on his wife Laura Esquivel's sc...
Richard Rankin Russell, Poetry and Peace: Michael Longley, Seamus Heaney, and Northern Ireland : Richard Rankin Russell (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2010)

In his elegy for W. B. Yeats, W.H. Auden worried that “poetry makes nothing happen.” In Poetry and Peace: Michael Longley, Seamus Heaney, and Northern Ireland, Richard Rankin Russell challenges Aud...
Photoresponse diversity among the five types of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) mediate non-image-forming visual responses, including pupillary constriction, circadian photoentrainment and suppression of pineal melatonin secretion. Five morphological types of ipRGCs, M1-M5, have been identified in mice. In order to understand their functions better, we studied the photoresponses of all five cell types, by whole-cell recording from fluorescently labelled ipRGCs visualized using multiphoton microscopy. All ipRGC types generated melanopsin-based ('intrinsic') as well as synaptically driven ('extrinsic') light responses. The intrinsic photoresponses of M1 cells were lower threshold, higher amplitude and faster than those of M2-M5. The peak amplitudes of extrinsic light responses differed among the ipRGC types; however, the responses of all cell types had comparable thresholds, kinetics and waveforms, and all cells received rod input. While all five types exhibited inhibitory amacrine-cell and excitatory bipolar-cell inputs from the 'on' channel, M1 and M3 received additional 'off'-channel inhibition, possibly through their 'off'-sublamina dendrites. The M2-M5 ipRGCs had centre-surround-organized receptive fields, implicating a capacity to detect spatial contrast. In contrast, the receptive fields of M1 cells lacked surround antagonism, which might be caused by the surround of the inhibitory input nullifying the surround of the excitatory input. All ipRGCs responded robustly to a wide range of motion speeds, and M1-M4 cells appeared tuned to different speeds, suggesting that they might analyse the speed of motion. Retrograde labelling revealed that M1-M4 cells project to the superior colliculus, suggesting that the contrast and motion information signalled by these cells could be used by this sensorimotor area to detect novel objects and motion in the visual field.
Causes and Correlates of Frequent Night Awakenings in Early Childhood

Night awakenings are a normative part of early development. In the first year, night awakenings are associated with birth order, feeding route, sleep aid use, sleep location, infant temperament and development, infant-parent attachment, family socioeconomics, and cultural norms. In the second year, additional factors build on these foundational features, including parenting practices and object attachment. As children grow, contextual factors like preschool entry or changes in family member status may influence the continuation or exacerbation of awakenings. Future research should consider the multitude of factors that influence not only awakenings but also parental perceptions, family dynamics, and cultural norms.
Modification of Technique for Suprapubic Catheter Placement After Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy Reduces Catheter-associated Complications

Objective To compare the outcomes of patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with urinary drainage using a modified technique for suprapubic catheter (SPC) placement with those undergoing a previously described technique for SPC placement and those with urethral catheter (UC) alone. Materials and Methods We reviewed the records of 225 consecutive patients who underwent RARP by a single surgeon. The most recent patients were contacted via a telephone survey with 86 responses (69%) received. Results After RARP, 174 patients had only UC placement (77%) and 51 had an SPC placed (23%). Twelve patients had SPC placement with a 4-mL balloon (SPC-4), with catheter-related complications occurring in four patients (33%). The technique was modified to use SPC with a 10-mL balloon (SPC-10). Only 2 of 39 SPC-10 patients (5%) had catheter-related complications ( P = .03 vs SPC-4). Continence rates at 6 weeks were 83% and 82% for UC and SPC, respectively. Based on postoperative survey results using a 10-point scale, overall experience with RARP was rated 8.9 ± 1.7 and 8.7 ± 2.3 for UC and SPC, respectively ( P = .63). Mean catheter bother was rated 5.1 ± 3.0 and 4.6 ± 2.9 for UC and SPC, respectively ( P = .45). Conclusion SPC provides a safe option for patients who would prefer not to have UC following RARP, with equivalent perioperative outcomes. Modification of the published technique to place a standard 16F catheter results in fewer catheter-related complications.
Modeling spatially distributed ecosystem flux of boreal forest using hyperspectral indices from AVIRIS imagery

Correct estimation of spatially distributed CO2 flux is of utmost importance for regional and global carbon balance studies. Tower-based instruments provide flux data from a small footprint area and may not be suitable for spatial extrapolation over areas not represented by the towers. In this study we developed a method of combining optical indices from remotely sensed hyperspectral images with flux data from towers covering different vegetation types to make spatially continuous maps of gross CO2 fluxes. Using a simple light-use efficiency model, we tested the ability of spectral indices derived from Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) imagery to estimate photosynthetic fluxes of several boreal forest stands. Because CO2 flux from terrestrial ecosystems is dependent on both vegetation cover and physiological state, we hypothesized that measures of both forest structure and physiology were important for flux estimation. Consequently, the modeled fluxes considered both the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and a scaled value of the photochemical reflectance index (PRI), both derived from narrowband reflectance. NDVI alone was of limited use in describing the variation in ecosystem fluxes (R2 = 0.26). Addition of the PRI, which is related to xanthophyll cycle pigment activity and unrelated to NDVI, improved the agreement between modeled and measured fluxes (R2 = 0.82). Our results also indicated that simple extrapolation of point-based flux tower data to represent the large-area fluxes of boreal forest may lead to an underestimation of the spatially distributed fluxes, at least for the vegetation types studied in this analysis.
Cadaveric analysis of nasal valve suspension

This study was designed to measure the efficacy of a nasal valve suspension technique and determine the adequate traction length without creation of nasofacial fullness in a cadaveric model. Seven fresh frozen cadaveric heads were evaluated. Minimal cross-sectional (MCA) areas were measured with a transient-signal acoustic rhinometer (Ecco Vision; Hood Instruments, Pembroke, MA) before and after suspension. The adequate traction length, which did not cause obvious changes, was determined. Five millimeters of lateral nasal valve traction was determined to be the maximal traction achievable without creating facial fullness. After lateral nasal suspension, average MCA increased by 13.7%. Average distance to the MCA from the nostril changed from 1.57 to 1.76 cm. Postsuspension values were significantly higher than the presuspension values (p < 0.05). Nasal valve suspension with 5 mm of lateral traction has a significant impact on nasal valve area without obvious nasofacial changes.
Weakly Θ-precontinuous functions

A weak form of strong Θ-precontinuity, called weak Θ-precontinuity, is introduced. It is shown that weak Θ-precontinuity is strictly weaker than strong Θ-precontinuity and that it is strictly between continuity and almost weak continuity. Weak Θ-continuity is used to improve a result in the literature concerning the graph of a strongly Θ-precontinuous function. Also additional properties of these functions are investigated.
Categorical quasivarieties revisited

Quasivarieties (and varieties) which are categorical in some power not less than the power of their language have been completely characterized by S. Givant [6], [7] and independently by E. A. Palyutin [11], [12]. These classes fall into two radically different families. A class in the first family is derived from the class of permutational representations of a group. Its members are [n]-th powers of algebras whose operations are unary, for some fixed positive integern. A class in the second family consists of affine algebras. Its members are polynomially equivalent (but not usually definitionally equivalent) to modules over a ring which is isomorphic to the ring ofn-by-n matrices with entries in a division ring.
Intestinal polyposis syndromes: progress in understanding and treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Dramatic advances in the understanding of the genetic basis for inherited diseases and in diagnosis and treatment are particularly applicable to intestinal polyposis. Recent contributions have impacted our understanding of the molecular basis for the disease and improved our ability to treat them. RECENT FINDINGS: Insights into the genetic basis of the spectrum of disease and refinement of genetic screening, diagnostic tests, and surgical management of intestinal polyposis and extraintestinal manifestations are reviewed. SUMMARY: Our understanding of the genetic basis for the intestinal polyposis syndromes remains incomplete, but recent studies have contributed to filling in significant gaps in our knowledge. Specific genetic alterations have been identified in the majority of the 30% of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis that do not test positive for mutations in the APC gene with routine testing. A novel gene ENG has been identified in a subgroup of patients with Peutz-Jegher's syndrome and a hypothesis has been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of the mucosal defects. Technological advancements in diagnosis and treatment include the use of capsule endoscopy for screening and the minimally invasive approach to total colectomy with ileoanal pullthrough. Treatment of desmoid tumors remains a challenge, but new chemotherapy regimens show some promise in treating this rare, but devastating, extraintestinal manifestation.
Trajectory of care and use of multimodality therapy in older patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Introduction Multimodality therapy with chemotherapy and operative resection is recommended for patients with locoregional pancreatic cancer but is not received by many patients. Objective To evaluate patterns in the use and timing of chemotherapy and resection and factors associated with receipt of multimodality therapy in older patients with locoregional pancreatic cancer. Methods We used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–linked Medicare data (1992–2007) to identify patients with locoregional pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Multimodality therapy was defined as receipt of both chemotherapy and pancreatic resection. Logistic regression was used to determine factors independently associated with receipt of multimodality therapy. Log-rank tests were used to identify differences in survival for patients stratified by type and timing of treatment. Results We identified 10,505 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. 5,358 patients (51.0%) received either chemotherapy or surgery, with 1,166 patients (11.1%) receiving both modalities. Resection alone was performed in 1,138 patients (10.8%), and chemotherapy alone was given to 3,054 (29.1%) patients. In patients undergoing resection as the initial treatment modality, 49.4% never received chemotherapy; 97.4% of patients who underwent chemotherapy as the initial treatment modality never underwent resection. The use of multimodality therapy increased from 7.4% of patients in 1992–1995 to 13.8% of patients in 2004–2007 (P Conclusion Only half of older patients with locoregional pancreatic cancer receive any treatment, and fewer than one quarter of treated patients receive multimodality therapy. Nearly all patients receiving chemotherapy as the initial treatment modality did not undergo resection, whereas half of those undergoing resection first received chemotherapy. When multimodality therapy is used, the vast majority of patients had chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting with a similar survival, regardless of approach.