cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reply to comment by Finnigan on “On micrometeorological observations of surface-air exchange over tall vegetation”

I thank Dr. Finnigan for his correspondence and his insightful analysis of the assumptions involved in Lee (1998). Before responding to his comment, it is useful to state the objective of Lee's analysis which is to examine the role of a non-zero mean vertical velocity or ow divergence/convergence in determination of surface-atmosphere exchange rates by the eddy covariance technique. Adequate upwind fetch with a horizontally homogeneous source distribution is assumed and (weakly) 2D air motions leading to ow convergence/divergence occur at length scales much larger than the tower footprint. Because this debate is motivated by a need for conservation of mass in surface-air exchange measurements, which is unfortunately not apparent in some ®eld studies, arguments will need to be both practical and theoretically sound. The main point of dispute is the assumption about horizontal advection (assumption `b'). This assumption and assumptions `a' and `c', critiqued by Finnigan, are made in almost all observational studies of surface-air exchange. This emphasizes the need to examine them critically. Lee (1998) separates total advection into horizontal and vertical (or mass ow) components and postulates that vertical advection is generally the dominant one at sites where the usual ux observational criteria are met. However, it is understood that horizontal advection is not always much smaller than vertical advection. For example, horizontal advection is not negligible near the boundary where there is an abrupt change in the surface source strength (poor fetch; e.g., Mahrt et al., 1994; Sun et al., 1998), or at places where a large horizontal gradient of the scalar concentration exists in response to heteorogeneous surface source distributions (Raupach et al., 1992). Finnigan uses thought experiments and the results of a linear analysis of neutrally strati®ed ow over hills (Raupach et al., 1992) to illustrate how the concentration ®eld might respond to ow convergence/divergence. The mechanisms he has identi®ed offer valuable guidance for future observational and modeling studies of the advection problem. There are, however, a number of points in need of clari®cation from the perspective of real atmospheric ows: (1) The experimental goal is to quantify the surface ux, w0c0 y
Transporting Children With Special Health Care Needs: Comparing Recommendations and Practice

Objective: We compare the use of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for the safe transportation of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) with reported and observed practices. Methods: This observational study was based on a convenience sample of vehicles exiting the garage of a tertiary children's hospital. Certified child passenger safety technicians with a health care background and specialized training in the transportation of CSHCN gathered the driver's demographic information and the child's reported medical condition, weight, age, clinic visited, and relation to the driver. The safety technicians observed the car safety seat (CSS) type, vehicle seating position, and if the child required postural support. Results: During the study, 275 drivers transporting 294 CSHCN were observed. Overall, most drivers complied with AAP recommendations by using a standard CSS seat (75.4%). Among the seats evaluated, 241 (82.0%) were the appropriate choice, but only 75 (26.8%) of 280 assessed had no misuses. Approximately 24% of the drivers modified the CSS, and 19.4% of the children would have benefited from additional body-positioning support. Only 8% of medical equipment was properly secured. Conclusions: Although most drivers seemed to choose the appropriate seat, many had at least 1 misuse. Drivers complied with most AAP recommendations; however, some deviated to facilitate care of the child during transport. Discussions with parents or caregivers about the proper transportation of CSHCN and referrals to child passenger safety technicians with special training may improve safety, care, and comfort in the vehicle. Language: en
Overcoming the Memory Bottleneck in Distributed Training of Latent Variable Models of Text

Large unsupervised latent variable models (LVMs) of text, such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation models or Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), are constructed using parallel training algorithms on computational clusters. The memory required to hold LVM parameters forms a bottleneck in training more powerful models. In this paper, we show how the memory required for parallel LVM training can be reduced by partitioning the training corpus to minimize the number of unique words on any computational node. We present a greedy document partitioning technique for the task. For large corpora, our approach reduces memory consumption by over 50%, and trains the same models up to three times faster, when compared with existing approaches for parallel LVM training.
Effects of Niacin Deficiency on Growth and Development of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Deletion of niacin from an artificial diet developed for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), resulted in high larval mortality, reduced pupation, longer time to pupation, and low adult emergence. Addition of niacin antagonists to complete diets had no effect at the concentration tested. Niacin deficiency could not be overcome by addition of tryptophan to the diet. However, when either niacinamide or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) replaced niacin, growth and development appeared normal. The importance of both niacin and niacinamide as precursors to the pyridine nucleotides supports the notion that physiological processes involving these nucleotides may be affected.
Gonadotropic Blood and Urine Cycles in Normal Menstruating Woman

SummaryBy an improved method increased concentration of the follicle stimulating factor and the presence of luteinizing factor can be demonstrated in the blood of cyclical, menstruating women during the 9th to 12th day of the cycle. 2. In the urine a similar accumulation of both factors was noted between the 10th to the 14th day. 3. The presence of the luteinizing reaction has hitherto been associated with pregnancy and chorionepithelioma.
Pastoral Advice on Parish Closures and Mergers in the African American Community

For more than fifteen years I have participated in discussions regarding parish viability and closures/mergers as a member of the advisory board for the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Black Catholics and the planning and implementation committees for the Black Catholic Convocation, a gathering of 1,500 Black Catholics to decide on options for the future. In my work with parishes on strategic planning for their future, I was part of a team that helped a parish reach the decision to close their church and then decide on the criteria to choose a new parish. The following reflections come from these experiences and from interviews conducted with people who have gone through closures and mergers in the African American Catholic community. I look at the challenges of closure/merges for the bishops, the pastors, and the parishioners and provide pastoral advice for each
Selection on Superior Families of Betula alnoides Hamilt.

This paper investigated 407 families of Betula alnoides Hamilt.,which they come from 25 different zones of Guangxi province and Yunnan province,on the base of dissect on the biological peculiarity,growth, purpose and distribution.It mainly analyzed the variance of timber volume and genetic gain from three aspects,that is superior seed source,seedling selection and superior families early selection of Betula alnoides Hamilt.at 2 years old.The result showed that it got 381 superior families from 407 families after seedling selection to afforest.At 2 years old of Betula alnoides Hamilt.,it got 184 superior families on Ⅰ rank from 381 families,which hereditary was greater than 0.9,that offspring can get high genetic gain.And the best superior family is K6,which actual genetic gain got to 112.58%,next to is K4,which got to 94.33%.
Special Challenges and Opportunities for Application of Bio-Medical Sensors

Real-time data from sensors can potentially transform the practice of medicine. This article compares progress in genetics with sensors to draw some lessons for investigators developing sensor technologies. Special opportunities for research funding related to sensors at the NIH and challenges for sensor applications are highlighted.
What will the new medicare drug benefit mean for Minnesota physicians

The Medicare Modernization Act passed by Congress in 2003 included a prescription drug benefit that will go into effect in January 2006. In addition to providing prescription drug coverage, the new benefit presents physicians and their patients with a complex set of procedures and regulations. This article explores the historical context for the law, the effects of the interim benefit for 2004 and 2005, the provisions of the benefit, and the implications for Minnesota seniors and their physicians.
A Group Contribution Pseudocomponent Method for Phase Equilibrium Modeling of Mixtures of Petroleum Fluids and a Solvent

We present a group contribution pseudocomponent (PC) method for mixtures of petroleum fluids and a solvent based on the characterization method (CM) for petroleum fractions and the predictive Peng–Robinson 1978 (PPR78) model. The objective of this study is to model the phase equilibrium of crude oil and a solvent consisting of one or multiple pure components. We develop a structural analysis of crude oil to bridge the CM and the PPR78 model, which predicts the temperature-dependent binary interaction parameters (BIP) among the PCs and pure components. The predicted results using our method agree well with experimental data for mixtures of oil sand bitumen and propane, CO2, or water. The approach is applicable to phase equilibrium predictions of mixtures of crude oil and water over a wide range of temperatures (273–644 K or higher as reasonable extrapolations) and pressures (4 kPa–26 MPa).
Do fitness and fatigue affect gait biomechanics in overweight and obese children

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine how an overweight or obese child's cardiorespiratory fitness level and a state of fatigue affect gait biomechanics. Methods Using a three-dimensional motion analysis system, twenty-nine (female and male) overweight and obese children aged 8–11 years walked on force plates before and after being fatigued from the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) protocol. Joint moments were calculated for the knee and hip in the frontal and sagittal planes. Results In a non-fatigued state, peak hip and knee adductor moments showed a negative relationship with cardiorespiratory fitness level (R 2 =0.26, 0.26). After the subjects were fatigued, peak hip extensor (p=0.02), peak knee extensor moments (p=0.02) and peak knee adductor moments (p=0.01) showed a significant increase. Conclusion This trend illustrates that as an overweight or obese individual's fitness improves, the lower limb joint moments in the frontal plane decrease when walking. However, with the introduction of cardiorespiratory fatigue, lower limb joint moments tend to increase in the frontal and sagittal planes. Increased joint stress may have potential implications for obese children performing physical activity, as well as for clinicians who are attempting to intervene in the cycle of obesity.
Langur Infanticide and Long-Term Matriline Fitness

In this chapter, we explore the selective pressures that infanticides may exert on a population and the impacts they have on long-term fitness. Our model is developed for the particular case of Hanuman Langurs.
Parkinsonism and dystonia are differentially induced by modulation of different territories in the basal ganglia.

Abstract Numerous clinical and experimental observations suggest that deficient neuronal signaling in the globus pallidus externa (GPe) is integral to both Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dystonia. In our previous studies in jaundiced dystonic rats, widespread silencing of neurons in GP (rodent equivalent to GPe) preceded and persisted during dystonic motor activity. We therefore hypothesized that on a background of slow and highly irregular and bursty neuronal activity in GP, cortical motor drive produces profound inhibition of GP as the basis for action-induced dystonia in Gunn rats. Presently, the neurotoxin ibotenate was injected locally into the motor territory of GP at one to four sites, over one to two tracts, in 19 normal rats. We found that highly circumscribed dorsal motor territory lesions reproducibly induced parkinsonism, while ventral lesions consistently produced dystonia. Post-lesioning, slow neuronal burst oscillations in the entopeduncular nucleus distinguished parkinsonian from dystonic rats. Next, we compared the deep brain stimulation contact sites in the GP internus used to treat patients with PD ( n = 21 implants in 12 successive patients) versus dystonia ( n = 16 implants in nine patients) and found the efficacious territory for ameliorating PD to be located chiefly dorsal to that for dystonia. The comparative distribution for treating PD versus dystonia was therefore anatomically consistent with that for inducing these features via GP lesions in rodents. Our collective findings thus suggest that dystonia and parkinsonism are differentially produced by pathological silencing of GPe neurons along distinct motor sub-circuits, resulting in disparate pathological basal ganglia output signaling.
A Cooperative Ternary Catalysis System for Asymmetric Lactonizations of α-Ketoesters

A general and enantioselective N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed lactonization of simple enals and α-ketoesters has been discovered using a new ternary cooperative catalytic system. The highly selective annulation was achieved by using a combination of a chiral NHC, a hydrogen-bond donor, and a metal salt, facilitating self-assembly of the reactive partners. A proposed model for this new mode of NHC chiral relay catalysis is supported by experimental and computational mechanistic studies.
Braving waves: Fusing the digital humanities and social sciences in public discourse

Collaborations among digital humanities and social science disciplines are not new, but they are increasingly responding to recent, increased examination of how “discourse” looks in public spheres (particularly U.S. North American). Whether focused on the involvement of social media during the U.S. Presidential campaign, re/definitions of “civility,” credibility of source information, or presumed shortening of reader attention spans, disciplinary collaborations now find themselves addressing general and/or public discursive phenomena with the same frequency as with field-specific communications. Technical communication, always a cross-disciplinary act, has the opportunity to shape and direct public discourses in this new environment. Technical writers working within agricultural contexts are well-positioned to participate in this regard. Whether, e.g., translating the role of data and scientific research during landowners and farmers' conservation decisions, pointing out the influence of extension agents' research reports, interacting with advocacy organizations (such as Farm Bureau or the Iowa Soybean Association), working with local agronomists upon farm-level operations, or illuminating the deployment and use of big data by Big Ag, technical communicators long have been involved in this elemental enterprise (food production, consumption, and distribution) as it daily plays out in public contexts.
A global stochastic programming approach for the optimal placement of gas detectors with nonuniform unavailabilities

Abstract Optimal design of a gas detection systems is challenging because of the numerous sources of uncertainty, including weather and environmental conditions, leak location and characteristics, and process conditions. Rigorous CFD simulations of dispersion scenarios combined with stochastic programming techniques have been successfully applied to the problem of optimal gas detector placement; however, rigorous treatment of sensor failure and nonuniform unavailability has received less attention. To improve reliability of the design, this paper proposes a problem formulation that explicitly considers nonuniform unavailabilities and all backup detection levels. The resulting sensor placement problem is a large-scale mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem that requires a tailored solution approach for efficient solution. We have developed a multitree method which depends on iteratively solving a sequence of upper-bounding master problems and lower-bounding subproblems. The tailored global solution strategy is tested on a real data problem and the encouraging numerical results indicate that our solution framework is promising in solving sensor placement problems. This paper was selected for the special issue in JLPPI from the 2016 International Symposium of the MKO Process Safety Center.
Shear Layer Dynamics in a Reacting Jet in Crossflow

Abstract This study explores the effect of heat release on the growth of the shear layer vortical structures in a reacting jet in crossflow. Jets composed of mixtures of hydrogen, helium and nitrogen were used to independently vary the momentum flux ratio (J), jet to crossflow density ratio (S) and heat release. Velocity fields were obtained from 10 kHz high-speed stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) and regions of elevated temperature/combustion products from simultaneous OH planar laser induced fluorescence (OH-PLIF). The shear layer vortices (SLV) originating from instabilities in the windward and leeward shear layers were identified using vortex identification indicator functions in order to track their spatial location and strength. The results show that the asymmetries in shear layer strength between the windward and leeward shear layers are dependent primarily on J, for both reacting and non-reacting flow-fields. The SLV growth rate dependencies on J and S is found to match trends noted by previous studies for non-reacting jets, where SLV growth rates increase with degree of global instability of the JICF. Heat release is also shown to suppress the SLV growth rates relative to non-reacting cases with the same jet parameters. Related to this point, the degree of lifting of the flame also has a significant impact on SLV growth. As flame lifting is directly related to autoignition times, this point shows strong coupling between kinetic rates and jet hydrodynamic stability.
Effect of 17 β-estradiol on adherence of Escherichia coli to human endometrial stromal cells

The effect of 17 β-estradiol onin vitro adherence of six strains of uropathicEscherichia coli to human endometrial stromal cells was examined. In contrast to the findings of earlier investigations using murine urogenital cells and malignant human urogenital cell lines, our studies showed no significant effect of 17 β-estradiol on adherence.
DETECTION OF SURFACE ELECTROPOTENTIALS OF HUMAN BREAST LESIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a methodology to detect and measure the surface electropotentials of different organs and tissues in the human body. A different type of direct current electric potential exists between normal tissues and malignancies of the female genital tract. The differences in the electropotentials between normal and malignant tissues are measured by using special silver chloride electrodes and electrometers. The surface electropotential of freshly excised malignant tumors is electronegative in comparison to freshly excised normal tissues. The surface electropotentials are sometimes affected by changes in blood flow and body temperature. In an experiment described in the chapter, it was discovered that the fibrosis in a breast interfered with the ability to accurately characterize lesions. However, the rate of correct identification of patients with fibrocystic disease was encouraging. To detect breast lesions, a measuring electrode was placed on the skin directly over the lesion in the involved breast, and five other electrodes were used to map the breast.
Spatially explicit pollutant load-integrated in-stream E. coli concentration modeling in a mixed land-use catchment

Pathogen contamination is a major cause of surface water impairment in the United States, and fecal bacteria levels are typically used to evaluate microbial loading in bodies of water. Environmental models are considered a useful tool for evaluating watershed management practices. In this study, we assessed E. coli contamination of the Upper Stroubles Creek, Virginia, USA using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The study area has been declared an impaired body of water due to recent bacterial contamination. Bacterial source characterizations play a critical role in such modeling exercises and especially in the case of non-point sources. As the SWAT model involves bacteria load estimation at a Hydrological Response Unit (HRU) level, we use the Spatially Explicit Load Enrichment Calculation Tool (SELECT) for our E. coli load estimations. We also evaluate current approaches to the measurement of bacterial interactions of the sediment-water interface using SWAT and the frequent measurements of streambed E. coli concentrations. For the simulation of in-stream E. coli concentrations using estimates drawn from SELECT without (with) sediment bacteria resuspension-deposition, Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values of -0.41 to 0.34 (-0.19 to 0.36) are found. Moreover, in-stream E. coli concentrations measured at flow duration intervals show that the model frequently overestimates mid-range flows while underestimating low-range flows even with model improvements. The use of high-resolution E. coli loads and the consideration of sediment bacteria resuspension-deposition processes, generated higher E. coli concentrations for forested areas compared to those of urban and pasture lands, suggesting the importance of using detailed bacteria load estimations and land use information when assessing E. coli distribution in the environment.
A Phrase Structure Account of Scandinavian Extraction Phenomena

0.0 The aim of this paper is threefold: (i) to present data from Scandinavian languages that any general theory of island constraints must account for; (ii) to describe these data in the framework being developed in Gazdar (this volume), Sag (this volume), Gazdar, Pullum and Sag (1980), and to show that while a straightforward extension of the framework to cover the Scandinavian data is possible, it leads to an increase in generative capacity of the theory so that it no longer provides grammars only for context-free languages; and (iii) to sketch a theory of island constraints that transfers some of the burden of explanation from the syntax to processing mechanisms on the one hand and to discourse organization on the other.
Neural Networks Underlying Novelty Processing

The ability to rapidly respond to novel events is fundamental to survival. Novelty processing also contributes to cognitive development, learning, and adaptive behavior. Novelty acts as a motivationally salient signal that can capture attention, drive exploratory behavior, and modulate memory efficiency. This chapter examines three major intersecting neurocognitive systems in which novelty processing plays a critical role: attention, motivation, and memory. The ventral attention network may serve as a 'circuit breaker' to orient attention toward new and potentially relevant environmental events; context can modulate this process. The brain’s reward system is engaged by novelty, which facilitates the active exploration of one’s environment. Finally, novelty impacts memory systems that lead to the enhanced encoding of novel relative to familiar stimuli.
Selenium, Mercury, and Their Molar Ratio in Sportfish from Drinking Water Reservoirs

Mercury (Hg) bioaccumulates in aquatic ecosystems and may pose a risk to humans who consume fish. Selenium (Se) has the ability to reduce Hg toxicity, but the current guidance for human consumption of fish is based on Hg concentration alone. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between Se and Hg in freshwater sportfish, for which there is a paucity of existing data. We collected three species of fish from different trophic positions from two drinking water reservoirs in central North Carolina, USA, to assess Hg and Se concentrations in relation to fish total length and to compare two measures of the protective ability of Se, the Se:Hg molar ratio and Se health benefit value (HBVSe), to current guidance for Hg. According to the Se:Hg molar ratio, all of the low trophic position fish sampled and the middle trophic position fish sampled from one of the reservoirs were safe for consumption. The same number of fish were considered safe using the HBVSe. More fish were deemed unsafe when using the Se:Hg molar ratio and HBVSe than were considered unsafe when using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Hg threshold. These findings suggest that the measures of Se protection may be unnecessarily conservative or that the USEPA Hg threshold may not be sufficiently protective of human health, especially the health of sensitive populations like pregnant or nursing mothers and young children. Future examination of the Se:Hg molar ratio and HBVSe from a variety of fish tissue samples would help refine the accuracy of these measures so that they may be appropriately utilized in ecological and human health risk assessment.
Approximate Duality

We extend the Lagrangian duality theory for convex optimization problems to incorporate approximate solutions. In particular, we generalize well-known relationships between minimizers of a convex optimization problem, maximizers of its Lagrangian dual, saddle points of the Lagrangian, Kuhn---Tucker vectors, and Kuhn---Tucker conditions to incorporate approximate versions. As an application, we show how the theory can be used for convex quadratic programming and then apply the results to support vector machines from learning theory.
Readmission After Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery: An Analysis of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database

Background Hospital readmission after pediatric cardiac surgery is incompletely understood. This study analyzed data from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database to determine prevalence, to describe patient characteristics, and to evaluate risk factors for readmission. Methods Readmission was defined by the "readmission within 30 days after discharge" field. Routine variables were summarized. Regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with readmission. Results The study cohort included 56,429 patient records from 100 centers. Overall, 6,208 (11%) patients were readmitted. The most common reasons for readmission were respiratory or airway complications (14.2%), septic or infectious complications (11.4%), and reasons not related to the preceding surgical procedure (20.2%). Primary reason for readmission varied across benchmark operation groups. In multivariable analysis, factors associated with increased odds of readmission included the presence of noncardiac abnormalities (odds ratio [OR], 1.24), chromosomal abnormalities or genetic syndromes (OR, 1.24), preoperative mechanical circulatory support (OR, 1.36), other preoperative factors (OR, 1.21), prior cardiac surgery (OR, 1.31), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.13), higher STAT procedural complexity (Society of Thoracic Surgeons/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery) (STAT level 3 vs 1, OR, 1.22; STAT 4 vs 1, OR, 1.48; STAT 5 vs 1, OR, 2.62), prolonged postoperative length of stay (OR, 1.07 per day from 0 to 14 days; OR, 1.01 per week >14 days), any major complication (OR, 1.27), any other postoperative complications (OR, 2.00), and discharge on a weekday (OR, 1.07). Conclusions Readmission is common after congenital heart surgery, mostly for noncardiovascular reasons. Process improvement initiatives targeted at high-risk patients could minimize its impact.
Fast Optimization of Boolean Quadratic Functions via Iterative Submodular Approximation and Max-flow

We consider the NP–hard combinatorial optimization problem of minimizing arbitrary quadratic forms over the {0, 1 } (Boolean) lattice. While polynomial-time approximation algorithms do exist for such problems, they suffer from the practical drawback of being computationally involved – often a side effect of being agnostic to the combinatorial structure inherent in the problem. In this paper, we propose a computationally lightweight approximation alternative which specifically exploits the combinatorial structure of the problem. The key result underlying our approach is that any Boolean quadratic function can be expressed as a difference of quadratic sub-modular functions, which enables us to construct and iteratively min-imize a sequence of global submodular upper bounds on the cost function. This entails solving a quadratic submodular function min-imization problem at each step, which can be efficiently accomplished via the seminal Max-Flow algorithm. Overall, our algorithm performs iterative approximation by solving a sequence of maximum-flow problems. The merits of using this approach are illustrated via simulations which indicate the very favorable performance of our algorithm.
RFe 2 Mg x Al 8-x (R=La-Nd and Sm; x≈0.8): Flux synthesis, structure, magnetic and electrical properties

Single crystals of Mg-substituted CeFe{sub 2}Al{sub 8} type intermetallics RFe{sub 2}Mg{sub x}Al{sub 8–x} (R=La–Nd and Sm; x≤1) were grown by reacting iron and rare earth metals in 1:1 Mg/Al mixed flux. The structure features mono-capped and bi-capped trigonal prismatic FeAl{sub 6} units. Electronic structure calculations indicate that magnesium substitution reduces the valence electron count, shifting the Fermi level away from a pseudo-gap. This changes the electronic nature of the cerium analog; the previously reported ternary CeFe{sub 2}Al{sub 8} shows strong hybridization between the cerium states and the conduction electrons, resulting in no magnetic moment on Ce atoms. On the other hand, magnetic susceptibility measurements on CeFe{sub 2}Mg{sub x}Al{sub 8–x} indicates a localized moment on cerium. The newly synthesized Pr, Nd and Sm analogs exhibit antiferromagnetic ordering at 2.8 K, 7.8 K and 12 K respectively. Solid state {sup 27}Al NMR of LaFe{sub 2}Mg{sub x}Al{sub 8–x} exhibits a broad Knight shift at ~1200 ppm, consistent with the metallic behavior shown by electrical resistivity data. - Graphical abstract: Mg substitution into CeFe{sub 2}Al{sub 8} modifies cerium valence due to changing valence electron count. - Highlights: • RFe{sub 2}Mg{sub x}Al{sub 8−x} (R=La–Nd, Sm) grow as large crystals from reactions in Mg/Al flux. •more » Products are magnesium-substituted variants of CeFe{sub 2}Al{sub 8}, with CaCo{sub 2}Al{sub 8} structure. • Ce magnetic moment in CeFe{sub 2}Mg{sub x}Al{sub 8−x} varies from that in CeFe{sub 2}Al{sub 8} due to VEC change. • Antiferromagnetic ordering observed for Pr, Nd, Sm analogs of RFe{sub 2}Mg{sub x}Al{sub 8−x}.« less
Effects of Sequence Changes on the Torsion Elastic Constant and Persistence Length of DNA. Applications of the Two-State Model.

Previous experimental studies of the effects of changes in sequence on the elastic constants and other properties of DNAs are analyzed using the recently parametrized two-state cooperative transition model. With appropriate assumptions regarding the relative preference of particular subsequences for the b and a states, the model gives an approximately quantitative account of the surprisingly large observed effects of replacing 25 bp of natural sequence near the middle of an ∼1100 bp DNA by 16 bp of alternating (CG)8 sequence on the fraction fb of base-pairs in the b-state and on the torsion elastic constant. This demonstrates the effect of the strong cooperativity of the transition to significantly influence the state of the DNA over surprisingly large domains of the flanking DNA. With appropriate assumptions regarding the disposition of nonrelaxing (permanent) and slowly relaxing bends between the a and b states, the two-state model resolves the discrepancy between experimental estimates of the magnitude of the nonrelaxing bends obtained from studies of synthetic straight and natural DNA sequences by cryo-electron microscopy on the one hand and by j-factors inferred from the kinetics of ligase cyclization of small ∼200 bp circular DNAs on the other. Approximately quantitative agreement with the experiments is again obtained.
In Pursuit of Progress: Narratives of Development on a Philippine Island

Few concepts are as freighted—or as fetishised—as development. This is true everywhere, but seems especially so wherever the term implies catching up with an elusive—and illusory—standard achieved ...
Theory/Criticism: A Functionalist Approach to the “Specific Intellectual” Work of Rhetorical Criticism

In this essay, the author uses a functionalist perspective to explore the tension between theory and criticism within contemporary rhetorical criticism. Theory and criticism, he argues, exist as th...
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) for Borderline Resectable and Locally Advanced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (BR/LA PDAC) in the Era of Modern Neoadjuvant Treatment: Short-Term and Long-Term Outcomes.

To define short-term and long-term outcomes of IORT for the management of BR/LA PDAC in the era of modern neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). In the era of neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX, many patients with borderline resectable/locally advanced (BR/LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) become candidates for surgical exploration with curative intent. IORT may be used to consolidate treatment for successfully resected patients with close or positive margins or administered in unresectable patients without distant metastases. A retrospective review of 158 patients who received IORT in the setting of biopsy-proven BR/LA PDAC following NAT between 2008 and 2017 was performed. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to analyze progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of FOLFIRINOX treated patients. Most patients (83%) received FOLFIRINOX, and 95% underwent consolidative chemoradiation therapy (50.4–58.8 Gy). Among FOLFIRINOX-treated patients, 86 underwent combined surgical resection with IORT (10 Gy) while 46 received IORT alone (15–20 Gy). The median PFS and OS were 21.5 and 46.7 months for patients who underwent resection with IORT and 14.7 and 23 months in the IORT alone group. Local progression occurred in 12.7% of patients after resection with IORT, and in 15% of patients who received IORT alone. Major complications occurred in 13% of patients following resection, and 5% of patients after IORT alone, including one death. IORT combined with surgical resection appears to be associated with improved survival and minimal morbidity in patients with positive or close margins. IORT is also associated with improved survival in patients with unresectable, non-metastatic disease.
Evaluation of Central Line Thrombosis in Children with Heart Failure on Continuous Infusion Milrinone

Purpose Milrinone is utilized for hemodynamic support in heart failure (HF) patients. Due to reduced cardiac output and systemic blood flow, patients with HF are at increased risk of thrombosis. Central venous catheter (CVC) placement compounds this risk. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of thrombosis, identify thrombosis risk factors, and determine the impact of anticoagulation in pediatric patients receiving continuous milrinone via CVC at the Medical University of South Carolina. Methods This retrospective study evaluated HF patients less than 18 years of age receiving continuous milrinone infusion via CVC for greater than or equal to 14 days between July 2014 and July 2019. Patients were evaluated based on anticoagulation (AC) status: therapeutic, prophylactic, or none (NAC). The primary outcome measure was the incidence of thrombosis. Possible risk factors for thrombus formation analyzed included age, pathogenesis of heart failure, ventricular assist device (VAD) use, duration of milrinone, and type of CVC. Blood product, factor VII, and prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) utilization during VAD placement and transplant were analyzed as safety endpoints. Results A total of 35 patients were included - 16 patients receiving AC and 19 with NAC. There was no difference in thrombus formation between the AC and NAC groups [5 vs. 6; P = .49]. Of patients on prophylactic AC, 50% (n = 4) experienced a thrombus, compared to 25% (n = 12) of patients on therapeutic AC. Patients with CVC in place for greater than 300 days had an incidence of thrombosis of 83% (n = 6). Those receiving therapeutic AC used more PCC and Factor VII than the NAC group during transplant [17.37 units/kg vs. 0, P = .004, 74.74 mcg/kg vs. 18 mcg/kg, P = .025]. Those on therapeutic AC utilized more blood products than patients on prophylactic AC during both VAD placement and transplant (61.5 mL/kg vs. 3.5 mL/kg, P = .003) and NAC patients (61.5 mL/kg vs 24.6 mL/kg, P = .046). Conclusion Incidence of thrombosis was similar among anticoagulated and non-anticoagulated patients who were on continuous infusion milrinone. Higher total CVC days increased the risk of thrombosis. Prophylactic anticoagulation had a limited effect on thrombus formation, but did not increase blood product use during VAD and transplant procedures as compared to therapeutic anticoagulation.
Proteasome inhibition as a therapeutic approach in atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors.

Background Atypical teratoid/thabdoid tumor (AT/RT) remains a difficult-to-treat tumor with a 5-year overall survival rate of 15%-45%. Proteasome inhibition has recently been opened as an avenue for cancer treatment with the FDA approval of bortezomib (BTZ) in 2003 and carfilzomib (CFZ) in 2012. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize a pre-approved targeted therapy with potential for clinical trials in AT/RT. Methods We performed a drug screen using a panel of 134 FDA-approved drugs in 3 AT/RT cell lines. Follow-on in vitro studies used 6 cell lines and patient-derived short-term cultures to characterize selected drug interactions with AT/RT. In vivo efficacy was evaluated using patient derived xenografts in an intracranial murine model. Results BTZ and CFZ are highly effective in vitro, producing some of the strongest growth-inhibition responses of the evaluated 134-drug panel. Marizomib (MRZ), a proteasome inhibitor known to pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB), also strongly inhibits AT/RT proteasomes and generates rapid cell death at clinically achievable doses in established cell lines and freshly patient-derived tumor lines. MRZ also significantly extends survival in an intracranial mouse model of AT/RT. Conclusions MRZ is a newer proteasome inhibitor that has been shown to cross the BBB and is already in phase II clinical trials for adult high-grade glioma (NCT NCT02330562 and NCT02903069). MRZ strongly inhibits AT/RT cell growth both in vitro and in vivo via a moderately well-characterized mechanism and has direct translational potential for patients with AT/RT.
Should qualitative RT-PCR be used to determine release from isolation of COVID-19 patients?

• COVID-19 patients may have persistently positive RT-PCRs for as many as 9 weeks. • Some are being required to continue in isolation until they have negative results. • SARS-CoV-2 qualitative RT-PCR does not distinguish infectious from noninfectious. • Quantitative RT-PCRs and immunoassays are better markers of infectivity period. • Social isolation can have economic, physical, psychological, and social effects.
Regulation and function of autophagy in pancreatic cancer

Oncogenic KRAS mutation-driven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is currently the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Macroautophagy (hereafter "autophagy") is one of the lysosome-dependent degradation systems that can remove abnormal proteins, damaged organelles, or invading pathogens by activating dynamic membrane structures (e.g., phagophores, autophagosomes, and autolysosomes). Impaired autophagy (including excessive activation and defects) is a pathological feature of human diseases, including pancreatic cancer. However, dysfunctional autophagy has many types and plays a complex role in pancreatic tumor biology, depending on various factors, such as tumor stage, microenvironment, immunometabolic state, and death signals. As a modulator connecting various cellular events, pharmacological targeting of nonselective autophagy may lead to both good and bad therapeutic effects. In contrast, targeting selective autophagy could reduce potential side effects of the drugs used. In this review, we describe the advances and challenges of autophagy in the development and therapy of pancreatic cancer.Abbreviations: AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; CQ: chloroquine; csc: cancer stem cells; DAMP: danger/damage-associated molecular pattern; EMT: epithelial-mesenchymal transition; lncRNA: long noncoding RNA; MIR: microRNA; PanIN: pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia; PDAC: pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; PtdIns3K: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; SNARE: soluble NSF attachment protein receptor; UPS: ubiquitin-proteasome system.
PRX9 and PRX40 are extensin peroxidases essential for maintaining tapetum and microspore cell wall integrity during Arabidopsis anther development: Extensin peroxidases prevent tapetum hypertrophy

Abstract Pollen and microspore development is an essential step in the life cycle of all land plants that generate male gametes. Within flowering plants, pollen development occurs inside of the anther. Here, we report the identification of two class III peroxidase-encoding genes, PRX9 and PRX40, that are genetically redundant and essential for proper anther and pollen development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Arabidopsis double mutants devoid of functional PRX9 and PRX40 are male-sterile. The mutant anthers display swollen, hypertrophic tapetal cells and pollen grains, suggesting disrupted cell wall integrity. These phenotypes ultimately lead to nearly 100%-penetrant pollen degeneration upon anther maturation. Using immunochemical and biochemical approaches, we show that PRX9 and PRX40 are likely extensin peroxidases that contribute to the establishment of tapetal cell wall integrity during anther development. This work identifies PRX9 and PRX40 as the first extensin peroxidases to be described in Arabidopsis and highlights the importance of extensin cross-linking during plant development.
Child Brides, Inegalitarianism, and the Fundamentalist Polygamous Family in the United States

Despite the ongoing shift in contemporary notions of what or who constitutes a family, the idea of the polygamous family remains on the margins of what is deemed a legitimate marital and familial structure in liberal democratic societies such as the US. Nevertheless, despite the illegality of polygamy and the social stigma attacted to it, thousands of Mormon Fundamentalist polygamists live and practice in the US. This article assesses the arguments in favor of and against the legalization and, consequently, the legitimatization of polygamous marriage. It explores three grounds polygamists have employed or could employ to advocate legalization of the practice of plural marriage: freedom of religion, sexual privacy (as defined by the recent case of Lawrence v. Texas), and contractualism. However, the author concludes that the impact of the Fundamentalist polygamous lifestyle on the autonomy, integrity, and equality of adult women and children is sufficiently troubling that lifting the sanction on plural marriage may run counter to basic considerations of justice.
Rapid initial OCT RNFL thinning is predictive of faster visual field loss during extended follow-up in glaucoma.

Purpose To investigate the relationship between the rate of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) loss during initial follow-up and the magnitude of associated visual field loss during an extended follow-up period. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods A total of 1,150 eyes of 839 glaucoma patients extracted from the Duke Glaucoma Registry. Rates of RNFL loss were obtained from global RNFL thickness values of the first 5 optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans. Rates of visual field loss were assessed using standard automated perimetry mean deviation (SAP MD) during the entire follow-up period. Joint longitudinal mixed effects models were used to estimate rates of change. Eyes were categorized as fast, moderate or slow progressors based on rates of RNFL loss, with cutoffs of ≤-2 µm/year, -2 to -1 µm/year and ≥-1 µm/year, respectively. Univariable and multivariable regressions were completed to identify significant predictors of SAP MD loss. Results The rate of RNFL change was -0.76±0.85 µm/y during initial follow-up, which occurred over 3.7±1.5 years. 765 (66%) eyes were slow, 328 (29%) moderate, and 57 (5%) fast progressors, with rates of RNFL thinning of -0.36±0.54 µm/year, -1.34±0.25 µm/year, and -2.87±1.39 µm/year respectively. The rates of SAP MD loss among slow, moderate, and fast OCT progressors were -0.16±0.35 dB/y, -0.32±0.43 dB/y, and -0.71±0.65 dB/y respectively over the extended follow-up period of 6.1±1.9 years (P Conclusion Rapid RNFL thinning during an initial follow-up period was predictive of concurrent and subsequent rates of visual field decline over an extended period.
Temporal variation in lymphocyte proteomics

Abstract Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a slow progressing disease, characterized by a long asymptomatic stage followed by a symptomatic stage during which patients receive treatment. While proteomic studies have discovered differential pathways in CLL, the proteomic evolution of CLL during the asymptomatic stage has not been studied. In this pilot study, we show that by using small sample sizes comprising ~145 cells, we can detect important features of CLL necessary for studying tumor evolution. Our small samples are collected at two time points and reveal large proteomic changes in healthy individuals over time. A meta-analysis of two CLL proteomic papers showed little commonality in differentially expressed proteins and demonstrates the need for larger control populations sampled over time. To account for proteomic variability between time points and individuals, large control populations sampled at multiple time points are necessary for understanding CLL progression. Data is available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD027429.
Right now versus back then: Recency and remoteness as discursive resources in online reviews

Abstract This study explores variation in temporal reference within a dataset of 1000 user-generated online consumer reviews, sampled from 5 different websites. Analyzing the proportion of references to recency compared with references to remoteness in these texts, an overall trend toward remoteness was found, which diverges from earlier findings about temporality in other types of social media, such as Facebook and Twitter . Further considering specific examples from three of the five review sites ( Yelp , Amazon , and Epicurious ), this paper offers insights into how both the remote past and the present are variably deployed as discursive resources by the authors of these online texts. In addition, the study׳s findings reveal that whereas lexical resources are used to refer to the present/recent past, references to the remote past rely much more on grammatical resources. Consequently, in order to provide a more complete account of time reference, I argue that it is important to consider a broader range of linguistic features (e.g., grammatical aspect, prepositional phrases) rather than concentrating exclusively on temporal adverbs when making claims about temporality in social media.