cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Requirement for IGF-I in epidermal growth factor-mediated cell cycle progression of mammary epithelial cells

Induction of cyclin proteins is required for progression of cells through the G1-S and G2-M cell cycle checkpoints and is a primary mechanism by which mitogens regulate cell cycle progression. IGF-I and the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related ligands are mitogens for mammary epithelial cells in vitro and are essential for growth of the mammary epithelium during development. We report here that IGF-I in combination with EGF or TGFα is synergistic in promoting DNA synthesis in mammary epithelial cells in the intact mammary gland cultured in vitro. We further investigated the role of IGF-I and EGF in cyclin expression and cell cycle progression in the mammary gland and demonstrate that IGF-I and EGF induce expression of early G1 cyclins. However, we show that IGF-I, but not EGF, induces late G1 and G2 cyclins and is required for mammary epithelial cells to overcome the G1-S checkpoint. These data demonstrate that IGF-I is essential for cell cycle progression in mammary epithelial cells and that it is requi...
Current practice regarding the enteral feeding of high-risk newborns with umbilical catheters in situ.

Objective Textbooks recognize the controversy of concomitant enteral nutrition (EN) during umbilical catheter usage in high-risk newborns, but support for the practice varies. There is only one clinical trial examining these practices in a small but randomized, controlled trial of enterally fed newborns with umbilical arterial catheters (UACs) in situ, and that trial did not demonstrate any adverse consequences. We speculate that concomitant EN with umbilical catheter usage is more common than some textbooks suggest-practiced by at least 20% of all US neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of NICUs where high-risk newborns with UAC or umbilical venous catheter (UVC) placement receive concomitant EN. Methods Medical Directors listed in the American Academy of Pediatrics United States Neonatologist and Perinatologist Directory were surveyed by mail. On return of surveys, responses to multiple choice questions were recorded by electronic scanning and validated by manually conducted quality control checks. NICU identities were recorded by code to maintain anonymity. Results Following 2 requests for survey participation, 70% (549/785) of surveys were returned. Respectively, 82% and 62% of NICUs with and without training programs were represented. On average, surveyed medical directors had practiced neonatal medicine 18.1 +/- 0.3 years. Of surveyed NICUs, 99% reported placement of UVCs and UACs. Of the 92% believing that it is safe to provide trophic EN to newborns with UVCs in place, 51% practiced this some of the time, and 37% practiced it most of the time. By comparison, it was reported that newborns with UACs in place receive trophic EN most of the time (30%), some of the time (49%), or none of the time (22%). Of the 80% believing that it is safe to provide more complete EN to newborns with UVCs in place, 44% practiced this some of the time, and 24% practiced it most of the time. For newborns with UACs in place, more complete EN was provided most of the time (15%), some of the time (36%), or none of the time (49%). Conclusions Concurrent UVC and UAC usage with EN is more commonly practiced than suggested in textbooks or published articles. The relative risk-benefit profiles of these practices remain uncertain secondary to the limited number of controlled clinical observations and to the infrequent occurrence of adverse events. A prospective, multicenter, controlled trial would address the continued advisability of these unexpectedly common practices.
Sources of Stress in Nursing Terminal Patients in a Hospice.

A study was undertaken in the hospice unit at a large, midwestern community hospital to investigate the sources of stress experienced by hospice nurses. The case material reported in this article i...
Design, Operation, and Interpretation of Clinical Trials

Randomized controlled clinical trials offer the best evidence for changing clinical practice and informing public health policy. Using examples from the literature, this paper reviews clinical trials for those who may be unfamiliar with their design, operation, and interpretation. In the design of a clinical trial, the question to be answered and a clinically meaningful outcome must be clearly defined. Ethics must be considered, sample size carefully estimated, and use of biomarkers and surrogate outcomes understood. Prominent issues in trial implementation include developing a manual of operations, trial registration, subject recruitment and retention, use of a data coordinating center, and data and safety monitoring. Interpretation of clinical trials requires understanding differences between efficacy and effectiveness; superiority, equivalence, and non-inferiority; intent-to-treat; primary and secondary analyses; and limitations of unregistered small clinical trials compared with large multi-center Phase III trials that are more likely to be representative of a population and change clinical practice or public health policy.
Effects of the D-1 agonist SKF-38393 combined with haloperidol in schizophrenic patients.

To the Editor.— The original dopamine (DA) hypothesis of schizophrenia suggested that D-2 receptor densities are augmented in subcortical brain areas and that the therapeutic effects of antipsychotic drugs are mediated by the antidopaminergic properties of these drugs. However, the notion that augmented dopaminergic activity is a consistent and pervasive phenomenon in schizophrenic patients is probably too simplistic. More recent elaboration of the DA hypothesis suggests that, depending on the brain area, dopaminergic activity could be increased or decreased. 1 In fact, clinical observations attribute some schizophrenic symptoms to frontal cortical dopaminergic deficits, and cerebral blood flow studies in schizophrenic patients indicate that frontal DA activity is reduced rather than augmented. 2 Animal experiments support the notion that reduced dopaminergic activity in cortical brain regions can coexist with, or even be the cause of, increased dopaminergic activity in subcortical areas. Lesions of dopaminergic innervation of the medial prefrontal cortex
Identification of Protein Domains That Control Proton and Calcium Sensitivity of ASIC1a

The acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) open in response to extracellular acidic pH, and individual subunits display differential sensitivity to protons and calcium. ASIC1a acts as a high affinity proton sensor, whereas ASIC2a requires substantially greater proton concentrations to activate. Using chimeras composed of ASIC1a and ASIC2a, we determined that two regions of the extracellular domain (residues 87–197 and 323–431) specify the high affinity proton response of ASIC1a. These two regions appear to undergo intersubunit interactions within the multimeric channel to specify proton sensitivity. Single amino acid mutations revealed that amino acids around Asp357 play a prominent role in determining the pH dose response of ASIC1a. Within the same region, mutation F352L abolished PcTx1 modulation of ASIC1a. Surprisingly, we determined that another area of the extracellular domain was required for calcium-dependent regulation of ASIC1a activation, and this region functioned independently of high affinity proton sensing. These results indicate that specific regions play overlapping roles in pH-dependent gating and PcTx1-dependent modulation of ASIC1a activity, whereas a distinct region determines the calcium dependence of ASIC1a activation.
Gene-environment interactions in the development of complex disease phenotypes.

The lack of knowledge about the earliest events in disease development is due to the multi-factorial nature of disease risk. This information gap is the consequence of the lack of appreciation for the fact that most diseases arise from the complex interactions between genes and the environment as a function of the age or stage of development of the individual. Whether an environmental exposure causes illness or not is dependent on the efficiency of the so-called “environmental response machinery” (i.e., the complex of metabolic pathways that can modulate response to environmental perturbations) that one has inherited. Thus, elucidating the causes of most chronic diseases will require an understanding of both the genetic and environmental contribution to their etiology. Unfortunately, the exploration of the relationship between genes and the environment has been hampered in the past by the limited knowledge of the human genome, and by the inclination of scientists to study disease development using experimental models that consider exposure to a single environmental agent. Rarely in the past were interactions between multiple genes or between genes and environmental agents considered in studies of human disease etiology. The most critical issue is how to relate exposure-disease association studies to pathways and mechanisms. To understand how genes and environmental factors interact to perturb biological pathways to cause injury or disease, scientists will need tools with the capacity to monitor the global expression of thousands of genes, proteins and metabolites simultaneously. The generation of such data in multiple species can be used to identify conserved and functionally significant genes and pathways involved in geneenvironment interactions. Ultimately, it is this knowledge that will be used to guide agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in decisions regarding biomedical research funding and policy.
Propylthiouracil hypersensitivity: Report of two patients with vasculitis and review of the literature

Two patients with a hypersensitivity vasculitis in association with propylthiouracil (PTU) administration are described. Although both patients presented with a cutaneous eruption, our first patient suffered severe systemic manifestations and the second patient's involvement was primarily limited to the skin. Patients with a vascular hypersensitivity reaction to PTU typically present with constitutional symptoms, acral purpuric skin lesions, and variable involvement of multiple organ systems. The reaction is treated by urgent withdrawal of PTU and implementation of supportive measures and immunosuppressive agents, as necessary. Prompt recognition of this condition and initiation of appropriate therapy lead to complete recovery in most cases.
Forest Management and Curculionid Weevil Diversity in Mixed Oak Forests of Southeastern Ohio

Abstract Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) may play a role in the reduced regenerative ability of oak (Quercus L.) species in the hardwood forests of eastern North America. Presently, because of biome-wide regeneration failure, silvicultural treatments of prescribed fire and mechanical thinning are being implemented as a means to enhance natural oak regeneration. The effect that these treatments may have on the diversity and population structure of non-target organisms like weevils (oak seed predators) remains unclear. This study provides an evaluation of the weevil populations of two experimentally managed, mixed-oak forests in southeastern Ohio. Each of the two sites used in this study was divided into four 20 ha treatment plots consisting of: (1) untreated control, (2) thin only, (3) thinning followed by prescribed burning, and (4) prescribed burning only plots. Pyramid style traps (N = 48) were placed in each treatment unit to sample weevils. Overall, we identified 26 species of Curculionid weevils ...
Salient findings: A potentially groundbreaking study on the neuroscience of hypnotizability, a critical review of hypnosis' efficacy, and the neurophysiology of conversion disorder

Three papers of special interest to researchers and clinicians alike have recently appeared in the general scientific and medical literatures. Two of these papers are original research studies that employ brain-imaging technologies, one using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the other position emission tomography (PET). A third paper is a comprehensive review of the empirical findings on the clinical use of hypnosis in pediatric oncology. The research study using MRI technology is extraordinary, because it is the first to document differences in brain morphology between high hypnotizable and low hypnotizable individuals. Arguably, if its findings replicate, the study could be one of the most important developments in scientific hypnosis since the genesis of the Stanford scales 45 years ago. The PET study notes differences in brain activation during intentionally simulated and hypnotically experienced paralysis. The review article examines empirical work addressing the efficacy of hypnosis for procedural pain in pediatric oncology.
Philosophy and Illusion

Freud explained an illusion as a belief which has its origin primarily in a wish and maintains its hold on the mind through the strength of the wish rather than by virtue of evidence. When a wish is very strong the belief that it is or will be satisfied by the world springs to life and takes the form of a conviction, and any reason, however transparent and feeble, will serve to protect the belief from intellectual scrutiny. The wish may not, of course, be conscious, and it could, and in many cases does, introduce subjective distortions into reality by the mechanisms of transference and projection. Fantasy and illusion are the mental equivalents of a sanctuary, a refuge from a reality we feel we cannot face and so must deny. In fantasy and illusion we make the world accommodate itself to our wishes, but we do this at a price. We resort, in our waking life, to the mechanisms entering into the formation of dreams, and in doing this we place ourselves under the domination of a condition which weakens our sense of reality, which blocks our intelligence and impoverishes our powers of reasoning. Thomas Sturge
Multitemporal burnt area detection methods based on a couple of images acquired after the fire event

Fire detection methods based on remote sensing data are gaining more and more attention among the scientific community, and many algorithms have been developed for this purpose. In order to assess the location and the characteristics of burned areas, some of them apply a suitable threshold to a multispectral index such as the NBR (Noise Burn Ratio) index or the NDII (Normalized Difference Infrared Index) evaluated on a single image acquired after the fire season. Other methods use a multitemporal approach based on the processing of a couple of images, the former acquired before and the latter after the fire season, and applying a chosen threshold to the differential value of the same, or other multispectral indexes. This paper focuses the problem of assessing the performance of some burnt areas detection methods based on a couple of satellite images acquired both after the fire season. In particular the threshold method applied to the differential form of the NDII and NDVI (Normalized Differential Vegetation Index) are considered as concern their capacity of locating or detecting (not characterizing) burnt areas and the resulting performances are evaluated and compared with the corresponding ones of the same methods applied to a single image only, acquired after the fire season.
Wolf Wars: Online Information About Wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains

Wolves were protected under the Endangered Species Act from 1995, when they were reintroduced to the United States, until 2009. The law did not protect them from controversy. This study examines so...
A study of the fine structure of cellulosic fibers by level‐off degree of polymerization measurements

The crystallization of disordered and partly disordered cellulose on hydrolysis with boiling dilute mineral acid was studied and the level-off degree of polymerization (LODP) of cotton after treatment with inter-or intracrystalline swelling agents was determined. The LODP, of cotton and of cotton which had been swollen in morpholine were similar, indicating that the LODP of cotton cellulose was not affected by this intercrystalline swelling agent. It appears that the aggregates of cellulose chains present in cotton which has been treated with aqueous NaOH of mercerizing strength and then washed with water are not uniformly accessible to hydrolyzing acid and that the accessibility to the acid is not changed when the cellulose is dried. The LODP of samples of mercerized, ethanol-washed, never-dried cotton that had been acetylated was obtained and the results are discussed in terms of current views on the fine structure of cotton.
Software Architecture for Scalable Multi-hop Mobility Emulation with Indoor Wireless Grids

Wireless multi-hop mobility emulation on an indoor stationary testbed requires tools that can create arbitrary topologies and adapt network connectivity. We begin with a brief comparison of current options for mobility emulation, and describe the need for a better emulation mechanism. based on these requirements we implement the bursty PER filtering engine in the linux kernel. We further build on this engine and implement our discrete and streamline mobility models. Through this study we describe our methodology and finally present a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness and the ease of our approach.
Economic development, research and development, policy making: Some converging views†

Order, harmony, planning, method, comprehensive understanding—these qualities, it is almost universally agreed, are necessary and invaluable for any organized effort. But are they? The authors of this paper are persuaded that an unbalanced economy may be more productive and quicker to develop than a balanced one, that a carefully thought-out plan of research may be a hindrance rather than a help in achieving the desired goal, and that sometimes it may be easier to solve a problem if it is not fully understood.
Trophic relationships of nonnative brown trout, Salmo trutta , and native Bonneville cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii utah , in a northern Utah, USA river

Nonnative trout invasions have caused the widespread decline of cutthroat trout popu- lations in western North America. In contrast to other nonnative salmonids, the role of nonnative brown trout in native cutthroat trout decline is poorly understood. Specifically, the level of eco- logical similarity that occurs between these spe- cies and the importance of other trophic mechanisms (e.g., predation) in their interactions are key uncertainties. We evaluated the trophic relationships of brown trout and cutthroat trout in a northern Utah river using a combination of diet and stable isotope analyses. We compared the dietary habits of these two species using multiple and complementary measures. Based on both stomach contents and d 13 C signatures, we found that these species consumed a similar and oppor- tunistic diet (i.e., they were nonselective in their foraging patterns). However, at most sizes, brown trout ingested larger prey—including fishes—and occupied a higher relative trophic position (i.e., d 15 N) than cutthroat trout. Overall, these results demonstrate a high degree of dietary similarity and therefore strengthen earlier conclusions regarding interspecific competition between these two species. Our study, when considered along- side the work of others, suggests there is potential for predatory interactions between these species (i.e., brown trout preying on small cutthroat trout). We believe that future research on brown trout-cutthroat trout interactions should consider predatory effects in greater detail.
Remembering John L. Holland, PhD

Dr. John Holland, one of the most influential psychologists in the 20th century, has left a profound legacy. His theoretical work and his scientist-practitioner approach to test development and career counseling have shaped the lives of many. This article provides a brief overview of his scientific contributions and his impact on vocational psychology.
Susceptibility to UV damage in Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae): testing for opportunity costs to shade-avoidance and population differentiation

Plastic increases in leaf secondary compounds may be an adaptive strategy that reduces the damaging effects of high-energy, ultraviolet radiation (UV). Here, we examine (1) the relationship between fitness and anthocyanin and flavonoid concentrations in experimental, UV environments, (2) the effects of UV on Impatiens capensis plants derived from woodland and clearing sites, and (3) whether susceptibility to UV damage is reduced by exposure to high ratios of red : far-red wavelengths (R : FR), which also stimulate the production of leaf compounds. Seedlings from each site were exposed to either high R : FR typical of sunlight or low R : FR characteristic of foliar shade, after which plants were moved into ambient UV or UV-removal treatments. Ultraviolet radiation stimulated the production of anthocyanins and flavonoids. However, higher anthocyanin concentrations were associated with lower biomass in the UV environment. Relative to the clearing population, reproductive output of the woodland population was more detrimentally affected by exposure to UV, despite its higher concentration of anthocyanins. Increased anthocyanin production may therefore be a stress response rather than an adaptive one. The greater tolerance of the clearing population to UV suggests that populations with an evolutionary history of UV exposure evolve mechanisms to limit damage. The R : FR pretreatments did not influence susceptibility to UV damage.
Inelastic Displacement Ratios for Design of Structures on Soft Soils Sites

This paper summarizes the results of a comprehensive statistical study of inelastic displacement ratios that allow the estimation of maximum lateral inelastic displacement demands from maximum elastic displacement demands for structures built on soft soil sites. These ratios were computed for single-degree-of-freedom systems undergoing six levels of inelastic deformation when subjected to 116 earthquake ground motions recorded on bay-mud sites of the San Francisco Bay Area and on sites in the former lake-bed zone of Mexico City. These soft soil deposits are characterized by low shear wave velocities, high water contents, and high plasticity indices. The influence of period of vibration normalized by the predominant period of the ground motion, the level of inelastic deformation, earthquake magnitude, and epicentral distance are evaluated and discussed. Mean inelastic displacement ratios and their corresponding dispersion are presented. The effect of stiffness degradation on inelastic displacement ratios is also considered. For this purpose, mean ratios of maximum inelastic displacement demands of stiffness degrading systems to maximum inelastic displacement demands of nondegrading systems are presented. Finally, a simplified equation to estimate mean inelastic displacement ratios obtained through nonlinear regression analyses is provided to aid designers estimate inelastic displacement demands of structures built on soft soil sites.
The global distribution of net primary production: resolving the paradox

The distribution of the diversity and abundance of life on Earth is thought to be shaped by the patterns of plant growth (net primary production, NPP) in the oceans and on land. The well-known latitudinal gradient of species diversity reaches its maximum in tropical rain forests, which are considered to be the most productive ecosystems on the planet. However, this high tropical productivity on land is the opposite of the well-documented distribution of marine productivity, which is greatest in the high-latitude oceans around the poles. This paradox can be resolved by a reevaluation of the terrestrial productivity gradient. Compilations of direct measurements of forest NPP show that annual NPP in tropical forests is no different than annual NPP in temperate forests, contrary to recent syntheses and to the output of global vegetation models. Other properties of forest ecosystems, such as basal area of trees, wood density, and the ratio of wood to leaf production, as well as animal properties such as body size, population density, and reproductive rates, support the conclusion that ecologically relevant terrestrial productivity is actually highest in the temperate latitudes, reaching a maximum between 30° and 50° before declining toward the poles. This “reversal” of the latitudinal productivity gradient, if substantiated by a systematic global sampling effort, will necessitate a major reevaluation of ecological and evolutionary theory, as well as conservation strategies and international development policies.
Evolutionary Attitudes and Literacy Survey (EALS): Development and Validation of a Short Form

The Evolutionary Attitudes and Literacy Survey (EALS) is a multidimensional scale consisting of 16 lower- and 6 higher-order constructs developed to measure the wide array of factors that influence both an individual’s endorsement of and objection to evolutionary theory. Past research has demonstrated the validity and utility of the EALS (Hawley et al., Evol Educ Outreach 4:117–132, 2011); however, the 104-item long-form scale may be excessive for researchers and educators. The present study sought to reduce the number of items in the EALS while maintaining the validity and structure of the long form. For the present study, and following best practices for short-form construction, we surveyed a new sample of several hundred undergraduates from multiple majors and reduced the long form by 40% while maintaining the scale structure and validity. A multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis supported strong factorial invariance across samples, and therefore verified structure and pattern between the six higher-order constructs of the long-form EALS and the EALS short form (EALS-SF). Regression analysis further demonstrated the short form’s validity (i.e., demographics and openness to experience) and replicated previous findings. In the end, the EALS-SF may be a versatile tool that may be used whole or in part for a variety of research areas, including curricular effectiveness of courses on evolution and/or biology.
14C-labeled propionate metabolism in vivo and estimates of hepatic gluconeogenesis relative to Krebs cycle flux

Purposes of this study were 1) to estimate in humans, using 14C-labeled propionate, the rate of hepatic gluconeogenesis relative to the rate of Krebs cycle flux; 2) to compare those rates with estimates previously made using [3-14C]lactate and [2-14C]acetate; 3) to determine if the amount of ATP required for that rate of gluconeogenesis could be generated in liver, calculated from that rate of Krebs cycle flux and splanchnic balance measurements, previously made, and 4) to test whether hepatic succinyl-CoA is channeled during its metabolism through the Krebs cycle. [2-14C]propionate, [3-14C]-propionate, and [2,3-14C]succinate were given along with phenyl acetate to normal subjects, fasted 60 h. Distributions of 14C were determined in the carbons of blood glucose and of glutamate from excreted phenylacetylglutamine. Corrections to the distributions for 14CO2 fixation were made from the specific activities of urinary urea and the specific activities in glucose, glutamate, and urea previously found on administering [14C]-bicarbonate. Uncertainties in the corrections and in the contributions of pyruvate and Cori cyclings limit the quantitations. The rate of gluconeogenesis appears to be two or more times the rate of Krebs cycle flux and pyruvate's decarboxylation to acetyl-CoA, metabolized in the cycle, less than one-twenty-fifth the rate of its decarboxylation. Such estimates were previously made using [3-14C]lactate. The findings support the use of phenyl acetate to sample hepatic alpha-ketoglutarate. Ratios of specific activities of glucose to glutamate and glucose to urinary urea and expired CO2 indicate succinate's extensive metabolism when presented in trace amounts to liver. Utilizations of the labeled compounds by liver relative to other tissues were in the order succinate = lactate > propionate > acetate. ATP required for gluconeogenesis and urea formation was approximately 40% of the amount of ATP generated in liver. There was no channeling of succinyl-CoA in the Krebs cycle in the hepatic mitochondria.
Genes and Nevogenesis

Total nevus count has been shown to be a strong and consistent predictor of melanoma risk in adult population [1]. Twin studies have been a tremendously useful tool to tease out the relative contributions of genetic and behavioral risk factors for disease. Exploring differences between monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs allows for the assessment of the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors for a specific trait. Several twin cohorts have been assembled to assess the roles of genetics and UVR in nevus phenotype. In general, total nevus counts have been shown to be highly influenced by genetic factors. Twin studies have estimated that up to 60 % of the variation in nevus counts can be attributed to genetic factor [2–4]. One of the first studies to evaluate nevus phenotype in twins found that in 23 monozygotic (MZ) and 22 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, a strong correlation (r = 0.83) for total body nevus counts was found in the monozygotic twins. However, when assessing the dizygotic twins, the correlation disappeared (r = −0.24) [3]. In a parallel study exploring a larger cohort of 221 twin pairs, the intraclass correlation for total nevus count in MZ pairs was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.92–0.96) compared with 0.63 (0.52–0.74) for the DZ pairs [5]. These results were corroborated in a study by Goldgar et al. in a cohort of kindreds selected from dysplastic nevus syndrome and melanoma families. Investigators found that total nevus number (TNN) and total nevus density (TND) were highly correlated within families [6]. Parameter estimates from the best-fitting genetic model indicated that a major gene may be responsible for 55% of the phenotypic variability of TND in kindreds. Further investigations utilizing genome-wide association studies suggest that variants on 9p and 22q harbor genes associated with increased nevus counts [7]. In addition, the exploration of other genes associated with pigmentation, such as the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) and OCA2, may provide additional insights for nevus development. To date, a “nevus gene” has not been identified, but as with many other characteristics, nevi are most likely polygenic, with many individual genes working in concert to determine an individual’s overall nevus phenotype.
Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis Analysis of Multicellular DNA Double-Strand Break Damage and Repair

This assay quantifies the extent of double-strand break (DSB) DNA damage in cell populations embedded in agarose and analyzed for migratory DNA using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with ethidium bromide staining. The assay can measure preexisting damage as well as induction of DSB by chemical (e.g., bleomycin), physical (e.g., X-irradiation), or biological (e.g., restriction enzymes) agents. By incubating the cells under physiological conditions prior to processing, the cells can be allowed to repair DSB, primarily via the process of nonhomologous end joining. The amount of repair, corresponding to the repair capacity of the treated cells, is then quantified by determining the ratio of the fractions of activity released in the lanes in comparison to the total amount of DNA fragmentation following determination of an optimal exposure for maximum initial fragmentation. Repair kinetics can also be analyzed through a time-course regimen.
Flipped Learning in TESOL: Definitions, Approaches, and Implementation

As the use of flipped learning spreads throughout educational disciplines, TESOL educators need to consider its potential for our field. This article, based on a computer-aided language learning (CALL) interest session at TESOL 2015, first looks at how best to describe and define flipped learning and examines the factors needed to make it effective in promoting language acquisition in a classroom setting. Next, the authors discuss the role of assessment and how flipped learning provides opportunities for increased informal assessment measures. Then, a flipped learning project is presented as an example of how flipped learning can take shape using project-based learning in an intensive English program (IEP) course. The article concludes with a consideration of both the benefits and the challenges pertaining to this approach for TESOL.
Effects of repeated applications of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis on the mosquito predator Erythemis simplicicollis (Odonata: Libellulidae) from hatching to final instar

Nymphs of a common dragonfly, Erythemis simplicicollis (Say), were exposed to Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis de Barjac at 1.2 ppm once a week for an entire life cycle in a controlled laboratory environment. Eight weekIy applications were administered to 2 treatment groups: external contact only, and external + internal contact using prey (mostly anopheline larvae) that had fed on B. thuringiensis . Each B. thuringiensis -treated group and a control group consisted of 15 nymphs. Mortality was not affected by B. thuringiensis applications. Repeated B. thuringiensis applications did not affect development to the adult stage, morphology, or maiden flight capability. Nymph size of the external contact group, measured by hind femur length and head width, was substantially smaller compared with the control group in most instars from 4–12. However, adult size, based on head width and hind wing length comparisons, did not differ among the 3 groups. Prey consumption and instar duration, which were highly correlated, did not account for the differences in size. Sex ratio (lower proportion of large females in the external group) and initial size (slightly smaller in instar 2 in the external group) appeared to be the major factors contributing to the size differences in the external group. However, these variables were not responsible for the external + internal contact group being smaller in instar 10 compared with the controls, as sex ratios and initial size were equal. If repeated B. thuringiensis applications affect size in E. simplicicollis , the effect may be insignificant in terms of reproductive success, as published studies do not show a positive relationship between size and reproductive success in dragonflies.
Hybridization-reactivity relationship in Pb(II) adsorption on α-Al2O3-water interfaces: A DFT Study

We report on a density functional theory study aimed at comparing the reactivity of differently structured α-Al2O3−water interfaces as probed through adsorption of the Pb(II) cation. We assign the ...
Application of improved Kriging-model-based optimization method in solid rocket-ramjet missile's aerodynamic design

The approximation technology based on Kriging model was applied to the aerodynamic optimization design of missiles.The accuracy of the approximate model was researched by solving the optimum correlated parameter.An improved Krigingmodel-based optimization design method was presented,and it was applied to the aerodynamic optimization design of a solid rocketramjet missile,defining the lift-drag ratio as the goal function under cruise state.The results show that under the condition of small sample capacity,the optimum correlated parameters calculated by optimization algorithm can ensure the accuracy of the Kriging model;The lift-drag ratio of optimized missile is increased by 21.9% compared with the prototype missile,when the area of the wing and empennage are constant.
Repair of coarctation of the thoracic aorta by patch graft aortoplasty.

Patch graft aortoplasty, rather than resection of the coarctation segment plus end-to-end anastomosis, was utilized in 70 patients ranging from 2 days to 65 years in age. Associated defects were present in 84 per cent of the patients under the age of 2 years (Group I) and in 50 per cent of the patients ages 2 to 65 years (Group II). The mortality rate in Group I was 26 per cent. All 5 patients who died were under the age of 2 months, had severe pulmonary hypertension from associated cardiac defects, and died within 4 days after the operation. None of the patients between 2 months and 2 years of age died. In Group II the mortality rate was 4 per cent. Both patients who died had severe associated defects; no patient with simple coarctation died. In Group II, associated cardiac defects were concomitantly repaired with patch graft aortoplasty. There was no evidence of recurrence in the follow-up period up to 12 years following surgery, but in 1 patient there was a 20 mm. Hg gradient across the repair. One technical aspect essential for successful repair is the fashioning of a patch large enough so that the proximal and distal portions of the patch along with the coarcted segment do not result in subsequent obstruction. The advantages of avoiding a circular constricting anastomosis, retaining the posterior wall for further growth potential, and eliminating suture line tension are essential in repair of coarctation in infants. Lack of hemorrhage problems, adaptability to long coarcted segments, and the small degree of mobilization of the aorta required are other definitive advantages. The technique is recommended for more widespread usage and for routine repair of coarctation of the thoracic aorta.
Paul: crisis in Galatia: Paul's view of the law

In the previous chapter certain aspects of the law were delineated in the discussion of Paul's view of justification by faith. In the present chapter we consider the specific issue of Paul's view of the law in relation to the ‘elements of the world’ (τὰ στοιχєĩα τοῡ κόσμου). After reviewing some key interpretations of the meaning of this phrase and its use in the context we will reinterpret the passage in terms of Paul's view of the inclusion of uncircumcised Gentiles into the kingdom of God. It will be our contention that Paul looked upon that version of Christianity propagated by the judaizers as synonymous with paganism since it made Yahweh into the national God of Israel only. The gospel as Paul preached it demanded a continued ethnic distinctiveness between Jews and Gentiles in order that Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, could be conceptualized by both Jews and Gentiles as the God of all nations. In Gal. 4: 3 Paul says: ‘Thus also we, when we were babes were enslaved to the elements of the world.’ Just what Paul means by ‘the elements of the world’ is problematic and has been the source of endless debate. Without entering into a lengthy discussion of the derivation and history of the word ‘elements’ (στοιχ∈ĩον), since this has been done often and well in the past, it is sufficient to say that originally στοιχ∈ĩον meant ‘what belongs to a series or a row’.
Plant Proteomics: An Overview

The proteins encoded in a plant have a significant role in its survival and adaptation to external stresses. The cell wall, being the outermost layer, helps in defense against pathogens by production of glycoside hydrolases and proteases that degrade the pathogen external wall. The cell membrane assists in the movement of different molecules into and out of the cell. Different cells communicate with each other with the help of specific signals. Osmotic and salt concentrations are maintained by the embedded ion pumps in the cell membrane. The chloroplast, the only photosynthetic apparatus present in plants, leads to production of energy and also utilizes sunlight for the process of photosynthesis. A number of complex reactions, cycles, and pathways are present in the chloroplast. The mitochondria, also called the powerhouses of the cells, are rich in energy-producing cycles that are required for most of the activities of plants. In the matrix and cristae, a number of enzymes are active continuously. The mitochondrial membrane assists in the survival of the mitochondrion as an independent organelle. The nucleolus, the hub of all the protein-encoding genome, contains many processes. When we begin the analysis of a protein, protein extraction is the first issue. The plant possesses a cell wall that is a critical barrier which should be overcome. Many detergents and other chemicals are applied to break the bonding present in the cell wall, and we then extract our target protein, which is separated using gel electrophoresis. Two-dimensional sodium dodecyl-sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D SDS-PAGE) facilitates the reaction by separating the proteins with respect to isoelectric point as well as molecular weight. Target proteins are visualized and then digested in gel to process it further for identification of the protein. A mass spectrometer is applied for this purpose to characterize each protein on the basis of charge to mass ratio, leading to unambiguous results. Bioinformatics tools are also used for confirmation of our target protein.
An analysis of the effects of temperatures and circulations on the strength of the low-level jet in the Turkana Channel in East Africa

The Turkana Low-Level Jet (LLJ) was discovered in the early 1980s, yet there are still questions about the primary forcing mechanisms that drive and sustain the jet throughout the year. A few studies have addressed these questions, but most focus on numerical simulations of mechanical forcing mechanisms, such as orography, channeling flow, and monsoon background flow. No studies have shown the effects of thermal forcing from differential heating in the regions in and around the Turkana Channel. This paper uses National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) data and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) data in order to analyze and find relationships between temperature gradients and the strength of the Turkana LLJ. In addition to temperature, potential temperature, divergence, wind magnitude, wind fields, and vertical motion are also examined. This analysis attempts to show that thermal forcing is one of the most important factors, if not the primary factor, in the initiation and maintenance of the jet and propose that more research and model simulations should be implemented to determine the contributions from thermal forcing.
Associative Duties and Professional Obligations

In his article “Saving Life, Limb, and Eyesight: Assessing the Medical Rules of Eligibility During Armed Conflict,” Michael Gross (2017) argues that in the military, associative obligations overrid...
There must be something in the water: assessing the behavioral responses of rusty crayfish ( Orconectes rusticus ) to fish and amphibian predator kairomones

Animals use chemical cues to find food, locate mates, and detect potential predators. Detecting cues in a risky environment can induce behavioral changes to increase survival. Rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) reduce activity, increase refuge use, and make defensive displays after detecting fish predator cues. However, no studies have introduced amphibian cues. We investigated crayfish responses to hellbender salamander (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, a dominant predator of crayfish) cues and compared these to responses to largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) cues. Largemouth bass occur sympatrically with hellbenders and are known to induce distinct responses in rusty crayfish. We randomly assigned crayfish to predator cue and conspecific alarm cue combinations and recorded frozen behavior, appendage movement, locomotion, and refuge use. We found crayfish increased their proportion of time spent frozen and reduced their proportion of time spent active in the tank when exposed to either predator cue. Moreover, these responses were magnified when crayfish were exposed to predator cues in combination with conspecific alarm cues. Our experiment demonstrates evidence in support of the crayfish’s ability to detect and appropriately respond to predator cues alone and in combination with conspecific alarm cues. Future work should investigate the effects of these behavioral changes on trophic dynamics in a natural system.
Directed assembly of metal nanoparticles in polymer bilayers

The integration of layer-by-layer (LbL) and self-assembly methods has the potential to achieve precision assembly of nanocomposite materials. Knowledge of how nanoparticles move across and within stacked materials is critical for directing nanoparticle assembly. Here, we investigate nanoparticle self-assembly within two different LbL architectures: (1) a bilayer composed of two immiscible polymer thin-films, and (2) a bilayer composed of polymer and graphene that possesses a “hard-soft” interface. Polymer-grafted silver nanocubes (AgNCs) are employed as a model nanoparticle system for systematic experiments – characterizing both assembly rate and resulting morphologies – that examine how assembly is affected by the presence of an interface. We observe that polymer grafts can serve to anchor AgNCs at the bilayer interface and to decrease particle mobility, or can promote particle transfer between layers. We also find that polymer viscosity and polymer mixing parameters can be used as predictors of assembly rate and behavior. These results provide a pathway for designing more complex multilayered nanocomposites.
Covariance Matrix for Helicity Couplings

The helicity couplings at $$Q^2=0$$ for excited baryonic states have been determined in the past, but no information is available regarding their correlations that are relevant for comparison to theory. We present here our calculation of such correlations between the helicity couplings. They contain information for quantitative comparisons with theoretical values, they can be used to quantify the impact of polarization observables, and can help design new experiments.
UFAP: Ultra-fast handoff authentication protocol for wireless mesh networks

Wireless mesh networking (WMN) is a new technology aimed to introduce the benefits of using multi-hop and multi-path to the wireless world. However, the absence of a fast and reliable handoff protocol is a major drawback especially in a technology designed to feature high mobility and scalability. We propose a fast and efficient handoff authentication protocol for wireless mesh networks. It is a token-based authentication protocol using pre-distributed parameters. We provide a performance comparison among our protocol, UFAP, and other protocols including EAP-TLS and EAP-PEAP tested in an actual setup. Performance analysis will prove that our proposed handoff authentication protocol is 250 times faster than EAP-PEAP and 500 times faster than EAP-TLS. The significant improvement in performance allows UFAP to provide seamless handoff and continuous operation even for real-time applications which can only tolerate short delays under 50 ms.
Controversy sells, but what about science? Press coverage of 13 Reasons Why

For decades, popular press reports have called the role of media in the lives of young people into question. Of course, some of these news stories and other popular press pieces are associated with...