cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial regulation of zerknüllt: a dorsal-ventral patterning gene in Drosophila.

zerknullt (zen) is one of approximately 10 zygotically active genes that control the differentiation of the dorsal-ventral (D/V) pattern during early embryogenesis in Drosophila. Past genetic analyses suggest that maternal factors repress the expression of zen in ventral regions, thereby restricting zen products to dorsal and dorsal-lateral regions of precellular embryos. Subsequent interactions with other zygotic D/V regulatory genes refine the zen pattern, restricting expression to the dorsal-most ectoderm. Here we describe the use of zen promoter fusions and P-element transformation to identify cis elements that are responsible for the complex spatial pattern of zen expression. The zen promoter shows a two-tier organization: Distal sequences mediate its initial response to maternal factors, whereas proximal sequences are responsible for the refinement of the pattern in older embryos. The distal regulatory element has the property of a silencer (or anti-enhancer) element and can act over a distance to repress ventral expression of a heterologous promoter. Also, we discuss evidence that proximal promoter sequences interact with factors that may be modulated by a cell-cell communication pathway.
Masculinity, Medical Mistrust, and Preventive Health Services Delays Among Community-Dwelling African-American Men

BACKGROUND The contribution of masculinity to men’s healthcare use has gained increased public health interest; however, few studies have examined this association among African-American men, who delay healthcare more often, define masculinity differently, and report higher levels of medical mistrust than non-Hispanic White men.
Quantification of feather structure, wettability and resistance to liquid penetration

Birds in the cormorant (Phalacrocoracidae) family dive tens of metres into water to prey on fish while entraining a thin layer of air (a plastron film) within the microstructures of their feathers. In addition, many species within the family spread their wings for long periods of time upon emerging from water. To investigate whether wetting and wing-spreading are related to feather structure, microscopy and photographic studies have previously been used to extract structural parameters for barbs and barbules. In this work, we describe a systematic methodology to characterize the quasi-hierarchical topography of bird feathers that is based on contact angle measurements using a set of polar and non-polar probing liquids. Contact angle measurements on dip-coated feathers of six aquatic bird species (including three from the Phalacrocoracidae family) are used to extract two distinguishing structural parameters, a dimensionless spacing ratio of the barbule (D*) and a characteristic length scale corresponding to the spacing of defect sites. The dimensionless spacing parameter can be used in conjunction with a model for the surface topography to enable us to predict a priori the apparent contact angles of water droplets on feathers as well as the water breakthrough pressure required for the disruption of the plastron on the feather barbules. The predicted values of breakthrough depths in water (1–4 m) are towards the lower end of typical diving depths for the aquatic bird species examined here, and therefore a representative feather is expected to be fully wetted in a typical deep dive. However, thermodynamic surface energy analysis based on a simple one-dimensional cylindrical model of the feathers using parameters extracted from the goniometric analysis reveals that for water droplets on feathers of all six species under consideration, the non-wetting ‘Cassie–Baxter’ composite state represents the global energy minimum of the system. By contrast, for other wetting liquids, such as alkanes and common oils, the global energy minimum corresponds to a fully wetted or Wenzel state. For diving birds, individual feathers therefore spontaneously dewet once the bird emerges out of water, and the ‘wing-spreading’ posture might assist in overcoming kinetic barriers associated with pinning of liquid droplets that retard the rate of drying of the wet plumage of diving birds.
Delineation of a ring chromosome 16 by the FISH‐technique: a case report with review

We report on a new case with ring chromosome 16. Initially, the cytogenetic findings with GTG-banding revealed a 46, XY, r(16)(::p13.3 q24::)/46, XY karyotype. This is the first case of r(16) co-existing with a normal cell line with minimal clinical consequences. The ring appeared to be monocentric and stable. A ring chromosome can result in a loss of varied segments of one or both chromosome arms or may involve telomere-telomere fusion without loss of genetic material. Thus it was imperative to use the latest molecular cytogenetic techniques for evaluation of this ring chromosome. It is believed that the ring chromosome retained specific telomeric sequences unique to 16q and that there was no loss of genetic material during the ring formation. Apparently, either a 16p telomere-16q telomere fusion or a fusion between the 16q telomere and a distal segment of the 16p13 band may explain the mechanism of ring formation. In either case, loss of genetic material is assumed to be negligible. A more descriptive karyotype of the proband was determined to be: 46, XY, r(16)(::pter or ::p13.3 qter::)/46, XY. The fluorescent in-situ hybridization technique using various DNA probes provided this finer characterization.
Neuroenergetic basis of functional MRI: implications for efficiency of brain work

The conventional functional MRI (fMRI) map offers information indirectly about localized changes in neural activity because it reflects changes in blood oxygenation, not the actual neuronal activity. To provide neural basis of fMRI researchers have combined electrophysiology to show correlations of fMRI and electrical signals. But quantitative interpretation of "How much has the neural activity changed by?" still cannot be made from conventional fMRI data. The fMRI signal (S) has two partitions, one that describes the correlation between oxidative metabolism (CMR/sub O2/) and blood flow (CBF) which supports the bioelectric work to sustain neuronal excitability and the other is the requisite dilation of blood vessels (CBV) which is the mechanical response involved in removal of waste while providing nutrients. Since changes in energy metabolism is related to bioelectric work, we tested if spiking frequency of a neuronal ensemble (v) is reflected by local energy metabolism (CMR/sub O2/) in rat brain. We used extracellular recordings to measure /spl Delta/v/v and calibrated fMRI (using S, CBF, and CBV maps) to measure ACMR02/CMR02 during sensory stimulation. We found that ACMR/sub O2//CMR/sub O2/=/spl Delta/v/v which suggests efficient energy use during brain work. Thus calibrated OM provides data on where and by how much the neural activity has changed.
Defectors, Vulnerability, and Relative Power: Some Causes and Effects of Leaving a Stable Coalition

This study explored the causes and effects of defecting from a stable coalition. Vulnerability and the relative power of the defectors were the primary independent variables. Results showed that defectors were obtaining higher payoffs than nondefectors prior to their defection. Defection from stable coalitions in the four coalition games studied here led to reduced benefits for both the defectors and the nondefectors. At the same time defectors fared better than nondefectors, with vulnerability reducing the defectors' benefits. Relative power, over all conditions, led to significantly more positive outcomes than relative equality or weakness. The data also suggested that vulnerable defectors may fare more poorly than their nondefecting partners. The use of coalitions as models of a variety of interactions and the social contexts that facilitate or block defections are also discussed.
List-Message Passing Achieves Capacity on the q-ary Symmetric Channel for Large q

We discuss and analyze a list-message-passing decoder with verification for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes on the q-ary symmetric channel (q-SC). Rather than passing messages consisting of symbol probabilities, we pass lists of possible symbols and mark very likely symbols as verified. The density evolution (DE) equations for this decoder are derived and used to compute decoding thresholds. If the maximum list-size is unbounded, then we find that any capacity-achieving LDPC code for the binary erasure channel can be used to achieve capacity on the q-SC for large q. The decoding thresholds are also computed via DE for the case where each list is truncated to satisfy a maximum list-size constraint. The probability of false verification is considered for this case, and techniques are discussed to mitigate the problem. Optimization of the degree distribution is also used to improve the threshold for a fixed maximum list size. Finally, the proposed algorithm is compared with a variety of other algorithms using both density evolution thresholds and simulation results.
The calcium-dependent neuronal release of serotonin and its antagonism by lithium

The cilio-excitatory serotonergic innervation of lateral gill cilia of Mytilus edulis was studied in vivo. Peripheral serotonin release was dependent on the external calcium concentration. Serotonin release was inhibited by autodialyzing calcium from the tissue or by increasing the calcium concentration in the medium, as determined by measuring ciliary activity stroboscopically and by biochemical and radioassays of serotonin. Lithium also inhibited serotonin release when added to the external bathing medium. Concomitantly, altering calcium concentrations altered the degree of inhibition of serotonin release caused by lithium. The study demonstrates that the terminal release of the monoamine serotonin is a calcium-dependent mechanism. The pharmacological effects of lithium in this system appear to be interrelated with the calcium-dependent releasing mechanism.
A new interpretation of the integral equation formulation of cylindrical antennas

The validity of the conventional integral equation formulation of cylindrical antennas is often criticized because of an approximation of the kernel of the integral equation. If the antenna is of the form of a cylindrical tube there is an exact integral equation formulation. By means of the variational technique the integral equation for the cylindrical tube can be solved approximately. When the length of the tube is large compared to its diameters the input impedance of the structure is found to be the same as if one had used the approximate integral equation at the very beginning of the analysis. This new procedure therefore clarifies one main ambiguity involved in the early works of the theory of cylindrical antennas based upon the approximate integral equation. It also enables us to treat the problem of relatively thick cylindrical antennas.
Evolutionary pressures on simple sequence repeats in prokaryotic coding regions

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are indel mutational hotspots in genomes. In prokaryotes, SSR loci can cause phase variation, a microbial survival strategy that relies on stochastic, reversible on–off switching of gene activity. By analyzing multiple strains of 42 fully sequenced prokaryotic species, we measure the relative variability and density distribution of SSRs in coding regions. We demonstrate that repeat type strongly influences indel mutation rates, and that the most mutable types are most strongly avoided across genomes. We thoroughly characterize SSR density and variability as a function of N→C position along protein sequences. Using codon-shuffling algorithms that preserve amino acid sequence, we assess evolutionary pressures on SSRs. We find that coding sequences suppress repeats in the middle of proteins, and enrich repeats near termini, yielding U-shaped SSR density curves. We show that for many species this characteristic shape can be attributed to purely biophysical constraints of protein structure. In multiple cases, however, particularly in certain pathogenic bacteria, we observe over enrichment of SSRs near protein N-termini significantly beyond expectation based on structural constraints. This increases the probability that frameshifts result in non-functional proteins, revealing that these species may evolutionarily tune SSR positions in coding regions to facilitate phase variation.
Radiotherapy in Conjunction with 7-Hydroxystaurosporine: A Multimodal Approach with Tumor pO2 as a Potential Marker of Therapeutic Response

Abstract Checkpoint inhibitors potentially could be used to enhance cell killing by DNA-targeted therapeutic modalities such as radiotherapy. UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine) inhibits S and G2 checkpoint arrest in the cells of various malignant cell lines and has been investigated in combination with chemotherapy. However, little is known about its potential use in combination with radiotherapy. We report the effect of 20 Gy radiation given in conjunction with UCN-01 on the pO2 and growth of subcutaneous RIF-1 tumors. Multisite EPR oximetry was used for repeated, non-invasive tumor pO2 measurements. The effect of UCN-01 and/or 20 Gy on tumor pO2 and tumor volume was investigated to determine therapeutic outcomes. Untreated RIF-1 tumors were hypoxic with a tissue pO2 of 5–7 mmHg. Treatment with 20 Gy or UCN-01 significantly reduced tumor growth, and a modest increase in tumor pO2 was observed in tumors treated with 20 Gy. However, irradiation with 20 Gy 12 h after UCN-01 treatment resulted in a significant ...
Algorithms for deriving crystallographic space-group information

Algorithms are presented for three-dimensional crystallographic space groups, handling tasks such as the generation of symmetry operations, the characterization of symmetry operations (determination of rotation-part type, axis direction, sense of rotation, screw or glide part and location part), the determination of space-group type [identified by the space-group number of the International Tables for Crystallography (Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers)] and the generation of structure-seminvariant vectors and moduli. The latter are an algebraic description of allowed origin shifts, which are important in crystal structure determination methods or for comparing crystal structures. The space-group type determination produces a change-of-basis matrix which transforms a given space-group representation to the standard one according to the International Tables for Crystallography. The algorithms were implemented and tested using the SgInfo library. The source code is free for non-commercial applications.
Migration, urbanization, and fertility in the Philippines.

The effect of migration on fertility in a less developed nation is studied in this analysis by a comparison of three groups of women: 1) rural sedentary; 2) rural to rural migrants; and 3) rural to...
Survivorship care planning needs in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)

e20703 Background: Cancer survivorship care plans inform and direct care in the survivorship setting. These care plans should be tailored to individual medical information, needs, and circumstances, as providing excess information can be overwhelming. According to survivors of DLBCL, what are important components of care plans? Methods: We developed a 22-question survey to define and rate important survivorship health and psychosocial concerns; items were developed based upon literature review and experience in survivorship clinics. Through the tumor registry, 178 patients were identified who had been treated with curative intent (including stem cell transplant) without evidence of recurrence since 1/2006 and who continue to receive care at Duke University Medical Center. Results: Sixty-five survivors consented and returned a completed IRB approved survey (response rate 37%). Responders: 58% female, 88% white, and 75% from North Carolina, with mean age at diagnosis of 59.7 years; 42% had stage four diseas...
Age-Related Responses of Laryngeal Airway Resistance to Peripheral and Central Chemoreceptor Stimulation:

Laryngeal airway resistance was measured in anesthetized dogs ranging in age from one day to adult during central and peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation by hypoxia and hypercapnia. Chemoreceptor-mediated regulation of airway resistance was found to be qualitatively similar in all age groups; however, there was a progressive increased sensitivity to both hypoxia and hypercapnia with increasing age. The reduced sensitivity of the laryngeal airway to hypoxic and hypercapnic stimulation in the young animal may predispose the young animal to airway obstruction during periods of hypoxia or hypercapnia. This may bear some relevance to the etiology of certain cases of sudden infant death syndrome.
Seepage characteristics of the polymer solutions of different molecular masses in porous media

The effects of the molecular mass of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide and the characteristic dimension of the pores in porous medium on the flow performance of the partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide solution in the porous medium are discussed by core flow experiments,and a set of parameter vary law curves are obtained.It is shown that under the condition of eliminating viscosity effect,high molecular polymer can more effectively decrease the permeability of water phase than low molecular polymer;the higher the molecular mass of polymer and the lower the permeability of the porous medium,the greater the flow resistance factor and residual resistance factor and the earlier the polymer solution breaks through the porous medium;when the ratio of the average radius of the pores in the porous medium to the gyration radius of the polymer molecules is greater than 5,the pore tunnel of the porous medium will not generally be plugged by the polymer.
Detecting enteroviruses and gastroenteritis viruses in water samples

Enteroviruses and gastroenteritis viruses in water may lead to disease outbreaks around the contaminated area.The infections can result in severe clinical symptoms and complications in an immunocompromised population as well as in children,whose immunity is not fully developed.Therefore,effective detection and monitoring of enteroviruses and gastroenteritis viruses from water sources is critical in the prevention and control of associated diseases caused by their infection.The current progresses on virus enrichment methods and molecular-or cell-based virus detection methods for water samples are reviewed in this paper.A better understanding of these methods will help us to build the standards for industry and laboratory standards.
Survey on microbial pollution of indoor air in mall and supermarket

Objective:To understand microbial pollution status of indoor air in mall and supermarket in southern and northern cities and obtain the polluting data and corresponding influence factors.Methods:Airborne bacteria and fungi were collected in winter and summer respectively with six-stage Andersen sampler in Langfang City in north China and Shaoguan in south to culture and count during 2007-2009.Results:In indoor air of shopping mall and supermarket,airborne bacteria count and fungal count in south were almost the same in summer compared to winter.Bacteria count was higher in summer than in winter in north,while fungal count was almost the same.Conclusion:Seasonal changes may influence the concentration of indoor air microorganisms in shopping malls and supermarkets to a certain degree.In summer with high humidity and high temperature circumstances in north,bacterial contamination is much heavier.
Robust dipstick urinalysis using a low-cost, micro-volume slipping manifold and mobile phone platform

We introduce a novel manifold and companion software for dipstick urinalysis that eliminate many of the aspects that are traditionally plagued by user error: precise sample delivery, accurate readout timing, and controlled lighting conditions. The proposed all-acrylic slipping manifold is reusable, reliable, and low in cost. A simple timing mechanism ensures results are read out at the appropriate time. Results are obtained by capturing videos using a mobile phone and by analyzing them using custom-designed software. We show that the results obtained with the proposed device are as accurate and consistent as a properly executed dip-and-wipe method, the industry gold-standard, suggesting the potential for this strategy to enable confident urinalysis testing in home environments.
Deliberate and Natural Foodborne Risks

The January 2006 issue of Microbe reported opinions expressed at a workshop on protection against foodborne threats to health (p. 9). A central question was whether precautions should be different for natural contamination and intentional contamination.
[Long-term clinical follow-up after rotational atherectomy to coronary arterial stenosis in kawasaki disease].

Background Although rotational atherectomy (RA) have been proven to be effective in calcified and non-dilatable lesions in Kawasaki disease, long-term efficacy and safety have not been established. Method To evaluate long-term outcome, follow-up (FU) information was analyzed in 26 patients with Kawasaki disease, or 30 calcified and non-dilatable lesions with adjunctive balloon(BA) dilatation after RA from May 1993 to December 2002. Patient and lesion characteristics were: age 15 +/- 5 (8-28) years(yrs), and male-77%, previous myocardial infarction(MI)-4%, multi-vessel disease-35%, coronary aneurysm-87%. Lesion location was LAD-53%, RCA-40%, LCX-7%. Successful dilatation was achieved in 30 out of 30 lesions (100%) with adjunctive BA after RA. There were no in-hospital major events (Death/MI/coronary artery bypass surgery: CABG) and angiographic complications (perforation, no-reflow, spasm). Results Six-month FU quantitative coronary angiography(QCA) was performed in 23 patients or 27 lesions (90%). Binary restenosis (defined as > 50% diameter stenosis at FU) was detected in 4 of 27 lesions (15%). Target lesion(TL)-percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) was performed in 3 of 27 lesions (11%). Neoaneurysm was occurred in 4 of 27 lesions (15%) which was associated with post % diameter stenosis (p = 0.002) and the crack of calcified arch detected by intravascular ultrasoud examination after adjunctive BA dilatation (p = 0.03). Anti-coagulant therapy was performed in all patients with neoaneurysm. Clinical FU data was achieved in all patients. Mean clinical FU interval was 6.1 +/- 3.4 yrs. Event-free survival rates at 5 yrs were as follows: Death 100%, Death/MI/CABG 100%, Death/MI/CABG/TL-PCI 86%, Death/MI/CABG/Any-PCI 86%. There was no any- PCI beyond 6 months. Conclusion RA is an effective treatment in calcified and non-dilatable lesions with Kawasaki disease, associated with high procedural success rates. The safety and efficacy of RA appeared to be sustained at long-term FU.
Paleoecological reconstruction of hominin-bearing middle Pliocene localities at Woranso-Mille, Ethiopia.

Abstract Woranso-Mille is a paleoanthropological site in Ethiopia sampling an important and under-represented time period in human evolution (3.8–3.6 million years ago). Specimens of cf. Australopithecus anamensis, Australopithecus afarensis, and the recently named Australopithecus deyiremeda have been recovered from this site. Using multiple habitat proxies, this study provides a paleoecological reconstruction of two fossiliferous collection areas from Woranso-Mille, Aralee Issie (ARI) and Mesgid Dora (MSD). Previous reconstructions based on faunal assemblages have pointed, due to the presence of aepycerotins, alcelaphins, and proboscideans, to the existence of open habitats as well as more closed ones, based on the occurrence of cercopithecids, giraffids, and traglephins. Results from community structure analysis (proportions of locomotor and dietary adaptations) at ARI and MSD indicated a predominance of open habitats, such as shrublands. Mesowear analysis revealed that ungulates of all dietary types (grazers, leaf and fruit browsers, and mixed feeders) were present in nearly equal proportions. Ecomorphological analyses using linear measurements of the astragalus and phalanges indicated that bovids utilizing locomotor behaviors associated with all habitat types were present, though the intermediate-cover habitat bovids were best represented in the sample (Heavy cover at ARI and Light cover at MSD). Together, these results suggest that the ARI and MSD localities were heterogeneous habitats (mosaics), likely with densely vegetated areas along a paleo-river and more open regions (woodlands, grasslands) available away from the river.
INDUCIBILITY OF THE METABOLISM OF BENZO[a]PYRENE BY POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs) IN LIVER AND LUNG MICROSOMAL PREPARATIONS FROM RATS AND RABBITS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the inducibility of the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in liver and lung. The carcinogenic and mutagenic properties of certain polycyclic hydrocarbons, such as benzo(a)pyrene (BP), are because of the enzymatic formation of reactive intermediates that covalently bind to critical cellular macromolecule(s), such as DNA. The active metabolites causing these effects are diol-epoxides formed by the action of microsomal monooxygenases and epoxide hydrase. Of the large number of BP metabolites formed by rat liver microsomes, BP 7, 8–dihydrodiol is metabolized to a pair of diastereomerically related 7, 8–dihydrodiol–9, 10–epoxides. The mutagenicity of one diastereomer of this diol-epoxide in mammalian cells exceeds that of any other known metabolite of BP, providing evidence that this metabolite may be the ultimate reactive species. The assay used for the in vitro metabolism of BP has been a fluorometric assay known as BP hydroxylase or aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase that measures the phenolic metabolites 3– and 9–hydroxy BP. More recently, an HPLC method has been developed for the detailed separation and quantification of the various metabolites of BP.
Stylistics: The End of a Tradition

THE ANALYSIS Of literary style, stylistics, is essentially the attempt to characterize a work of literature by examining its syntax and vocabulary linguistically and correlating the results of such an examination with something else: the meaning of the work, the nature of its author, the history of the era it was composed in, examples of other kinds of art from the same era. Despite grave disputes about what the language of a work exemplifies and how analyses are to be conducted so that they will be conclusive, verifiable, and cumulative,1 common to all efforts to do stylistics is the basic premise that literature as a phenomenon is by definition a particular kind or special use of language. However, since this premise has never been satisfactorily established, the aim of stylistic analyses is not simply to characterize certain works, authors, periods, etc., but at the same time by this means to discover what particular kind or use of language literature is. Understandably, then, stylistics looms large in modern literary scholarship, for it promises to provide both an inductively established conception of the nature of literature and a means by which literature can be studied as literature. These promises, however, in spite of the enormous effort that has gone into stylistics, particularly since the turn of the century, have not been fulfilled, and in the monograph, Style: The Problem and Its Solution,2 I attempt to
Nuclear Medicine of the Thyroid Gland: Scintigraphy and Radioiodine Therapy

Nuclear medicine may have both diagnostic and therapeutic utility during the evaluation and management of thyroid disease. This article will focus on the use of radionuclide scintigraphy and radioactive iodine therapy in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease in the dog and cat.
Chemical Breaking and Induction of Bud Dormancy

Temporary suspension of growth, or deceleration to barely perceptible rates, called dormancy, is a common feature of the ontogeny of seed plants. Dormancy is a phenomenon of profound biological significance, because it provides a means by which plants are enabled to survive periods of environmental conditions which would be adverse or lethal to plants in an active state of growth. Thus, in the case of annual plants, dormancy of seeds is commonplace. In biennials and perennials, dormancy of the buds of established plants and of their seeds and storage organs (e.g. bulbs, corms and tubers) are typical events in the life cycles.
On equivalence of deforming Lie subalgebroids and deforming coisotropic submanifolds

Abstract Results on deformations of coisotropic submanifolds and Lie subalgebroids are obtained separately. Due to the close connection between these two objects, in this paper, we attempt to classify the relations between their deformation results. Under the correspondence (a Lie subalgebroid E of A ) ↦ (the coisotropic submanifold E ⊥ of A ∗ ), two deformation results turn out to be equivalent. However, under the picture (a coisotropic submanifold S of M ) ↦ (the Lie subalgebroid N ∗ S of T ∗ M ), difference in certain regularity conditions emerges.
Introduction to Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration

From the industrial revolution in 1750 to 2015, about 600 Pg C have been released by human activities into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2). Atmospheric measurements indicate that about half of the emitted CO2 remains in the atmosphere, while the ocean and terrestrial sinks have been removing the remaining half at a steadily increasing rate. Due to direct and indirect anthropogenic perturbation of the biosphere, the atmospheric concentration of well-mixed greenhouse gases-CO2, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), has increased from pre-industrial revolution concentrations of 278 ppm, 700 ppb, and 270 ppb for CO2, CH4 and N2O, respectively to a global abundances of 400 ppm, 1845 ppb and 328.1 ppb for CO2, CH4, and N2O, respectively in 2015. The mean annual absolute atmospheric increase during the last ten years was 2.06 ppm, 4.7 ppb, and 0.87 ppb yr−1, for CO2, CH4 and N2O respectively. Carbon stored in global soils exceeds the amount of C stored in plant biomass and atmosphere and represent a large component of C cycle that may participate in climate change feedbacks, especially on decadal and centennial timescales. In addition to loss of stored carbon (C) associated with anthropogenic activities, losses of SOC due to climate change could also contribute to increasing atmospheric CO2. Loss occurs through heterotrophic respiration , and is dependent on temperature, moisture, and disturbance regimes including land use change and fire. Because soil is the basic resource in agriculture, grassland and forest land use, it is the central component of most sustainable land management technologies. Soil C has a direct correlation with soil quality, and it is a major determinant of soil’s ability to hold and release nutrients that are essential for plants and their root system. Terrestrial C sequestration, a process by which atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is taken up by plants through photosynthesis and eventually stored as C in the biomass and soils, can have significant impact on mitigation of climate change by limiting CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, while also reversing the soil fertility loss in agricultural ecosystems. Land-based biological C mitigation strategies are viable pathway toward climate stabilization.
Teacher's Aides in Kindergarten: Effects on Achievement for Students with Disabilities.

ABSTRACTOver the past 20 years, the number of teacher's aides in the United States has more than doubled, potentially in response to the growth of special education programs now taking place in general education schools. Surprisingly, little research at all has focused on the role that teacher's aides may play in improving student achievement, and no known study had examined this for students with disabilities. The author addressed this void by examining how teacher's aides link to achievement outcomes for students with disabilities in kindergarten. Using nationally representative data, the findings suggest that students with disabilities in full-day kindergarten have higher reading and mathematics outcomes at the end of kindergarten when the classroom has a teacher's aide. In contrast, there was no observed benefit for students with disabilities in part-day kindergarten. The size and strength of this relationship differs by individual characteristics and teacher and classroom characteristics. Implication...
Surface Mechanoengineering of a Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glass via Ar-Nanobubble Doping To Probe Cell Sensitivity to Rigid Materials

In this study, a new materials platform, utilizing the amorphous microstructure of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) and the versatility of ion implantation, was developed for the fundamental investigation of cell responses to substrate-rigidity variations in the gigapascal modulus range, which was previously unattainable with polymeric materials. The surface rigidity of a Zr–Al–Ni–Cu–Y BMG was modulated with low-energy Ar-ion implantation because of the impartment of Ar nanobubbles into the amorphous matrix. Surface softening was achieved due to the formation of nanobubble-doped transitional zones in the Zr-based BMG substrate. Bone-forming cell studies on this newly designed platform demonstrated that mechanical cues, accompanied by the potential effects of other surface properties (i.e., roughness, morphology, and chemistry), contributed to modulating cell behaviors. Cell adhesion and actin filaments were found to be less established on less stiff surfaces, especially on the surface with an elastic modulus ...
Functional Reach, Depression Scores, and Number of Medications Are Associated With Number of Falls in People With Chronic Stroke

Abstract Background Falls are a common adverse event among people with stroke. Previous studies investigating risk of falls after stroke have relied primarily on retrospective fall history ranging from 6-12 months recall, with inconsistent findings. Objectives To identify factors and balance assessment tools that are associated with number of falls in individuals with chronic stroke. Design Secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial. Setting Multisite academic and clinical institutions. Participants Data from 181 participants with stroke (age 60.67 ± 11.77 years, post stroke 4.51 ± 4.78 years) were included. Methods Study participants completed baseline testing and were prospectively asked about falls. A multivariate negative binomial regression was used to identify baseline predictive factors predicting falls: age, endurance (6 minute walk test), number of medications, motor control (Fugl-Meyer lower extremity score), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), physical activity (number of steps per week), and cognition (Mini Mental Status Exam score). A second negative binomial regression analysis was used to identify baseline balance assessment scores predicting falls: gait velocity (comfortable 10 Meter Walk), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and Functional Reach Test (FRT). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) were used to determine the cutoff scores for significant predictors of recurrent falls. Main Outcome Measurement The number of falls during the 42-week follow-up period. Results Baseline measures that significantly predicted the number of falls included increased number of medications, higher depression scores, and decreased FRT. Cutoff scores for the number of medications were 8.5 with an AUC of 0.68. Depression scores differentiated recurrent fallers at a threshold of 2.5 scores with an AUC of 0.62. FRT differentiated recurrent fallers at a threshold of 18.15 cm with an AUC of 0.66. Conclusions Number of medications, depression scores, and decreased FRT distance at baseline were associated with increased number of falls. Increased medications might indicate multiple comorbidities or polypharmacy effect; increased depression scores may indicate psychological status; and decreased functional reach distance could indicate dynamic balance impairments. Level of Evidence II
Work ethic and life satisfaction among social workers in Massachusetts: the moderating effect of gender

ABSTRACTDespite the belief that agreement with ideals of work ethic has positive effects on life satisfaction, empirical linkage of the association is sparse. Using a disproportionate stratified sa...
Do Experiences With Nature Promote Learning? Converging Evidence of a Cause-and-Effect Relationship

Do experiences with nature –– from wilderness backpacking to plants in a preschool to a wetland lesson on frogs, promote learning? Until recently, claims outstripped evidence on this question. But the field has matured, not only substantiating previously unwarranted claims but deepening our understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship between nature and learning. Hundreds of studies now bear on this question, and converging evidence strongly suggests that experiences of nature boost academic learning, personal development, and environmental stewardship. This brief integrative review summarizes recent advances and the current state of our understanding. The research on personal development and environmental stewardship is compelling although not quantitative. Report after report –– from independent observers as well as participants themselves –– indicate shifts in perseverance, problem-solving, critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, and resilience. Similarly, over fifty studies point to nature playing a key role in the development of pro-environmental behavior, particularly by fostering an emotional connection to nature. In academic contexts, nature-based instruction outperforms traditional instruction. The evidence here is particularly strong, including experimental evidence; evidence across a wide range of samples and instructional approaches; outcomes such as standardized test scores and graduation rates; and evidence for specific explanatory mechanisms and active ingredients. Nature may promote learning by improving learners’ attention, levels of stress, self-discipline, interest, and enjoyment in learning, and physical activity and fitness. Nature also appears to provide a calmer, quieter, safer context for learning; a warmer, more cooperative context for learning; and a combination of “loose parts” and autonomy that fosters developmentally beneficial forms of play. It is time to take nature seriously as a resource for learning — particularly for students not effectively reached by traditional instruction.
Bok regulates mitochondrial fusion and morphology

Bok (Bcl-2-related ovarian killer) is a member of the Bcl-2 protein family that governs the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, but the cellular role that Bok plays is controversial. Remarkably, endogenous Bok is constitutively bound to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) and is stabilized by this interaction. Here we report that despite the strong association with IP3Rs, deletion of Bok expression by CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein-9 nuclease)-mediated gene editing does not alter calcium mobilization via IP3Rs or calcium influx into the mitochondria. Rather, Bok deletion significantly reduces mitochondrial fusion rate, resulting in mitochondrial fragmentation. This phenotype is reversed by exogenous wild-type Bok and by an IP3R binding-deficient Bok mutant, and may result from a decrease in mitochondrial motility. Bok deletion also enhances mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity and membrane potential. Finally, Bok does not play a major role in apoptotic signaling, since Bok deletion does not alter responsiveness to various apoptotic stimuli. Overall, despite binding to IP3Rs, Bok does not alter IP3R-mediated Ca2+ signaling, but is required to maintain normal mitochondrial fusion, morphology, and bioenergetics.
MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE GRADE II LATERAL ANKLE SPRAINS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LIGAMENT PROTECTION: A DESCRIPTIVE CASE SERIES.

Background and purpose Lateral ankle sprain the most common injury in physically active populations. Individuals who sustain an acute lateral ankle sprain may not receive timely formal rehabilitation and are at an increased risk to have subsequent sprains which can lead to chronic pain and instability. Attention to essential factors for ligament protection and healing while preserving ankle movement, may result in a more stable yet mobile ankle offering improved outcomes. The purpose of this case series was to describe the methods and observe the outcomes associated with a comprehensive strategy for managing acute first episode grade II lateral ankle sprains. Study design Prospective case series. Case descriptions and interventions Ten patients (mean age 26.7 years, range 16-51 years, mean 2.3 days from injury) with acute grade II lateral ankle sprain were treated with an approach to protect the injured ligament, prevent impairments to movement, restore strength and proprioception, and progress to full function. Patient outcomes were assessed at four, eight and 12 weeks. Follow-up interviews at six and 12 months assessed injury recurrence. Outcomes Patients were treated for an average of eight sessions over a mean of seven weeks. Rapid change in self-reported function, ankle ROM, and pain were observed in the first four weeks of care. Clinically meaningful improvements in function and ankle ROM were also noted at eight weeks and maintained at 12-week follow-ups. All patients returned to desired physical activity with only a single re-sprain event within one year after injury. Conclusion The results of this prospective case series suggest that a treatment approach designed to protect the injured ligament, maintain and restore normal ankle motion, and provide a tailored functional pathway to return to run and sport demonstrated resolution of symptoms and improvement in reported functional outcomes in a group of patients following grade II acute primary ankle sprain. Level of evidence Level IV, Case Series.
Tissue immunity broadcasts near and far.

Research advances in tissue immunology have begun to decipher how organ physiology is integrated with resident immune cells during tissue development, healthspan and disease states. Here, we review a selection of studies from 2019 that highlight how resident lymphocytes communicate with epithelia, neurons and stromal cells in tissues to coordinate regional and systemic remodelling in response to local perturbations. Several studies from 2019 have highlighted emerging routes of communication between tissue-resident immune cells and local neurons, stromal cells, endothelial cells and epithelial cells to exert effects beyond the local tissue.
Statistical Evaluation of Person-Oriented Mediation Using Configural Frequency Analysis

Mediation analysis helps explain how and why two variables are related, providing information for investigating causal processes useful for theoretical and applied research (MacKinnon 2008). Inference from mediation analysis typically applies to the population, but researchers and clinicians are often interested in making inference to individual clients or small sub-populations of people. Person-oriented approaches focus on the differences between people, or latent groups of people, to ask how individuals differ across variables. A recently proposed method allows for the analysis of person differences as part of mediation. The method from configural frequency analysis, which we call configural frequency mediation, is based on log-linear modeling of contingency tables. The complexity of configural frequency mediation and its use of a causal steps mediation method, may contribute to the lack of application and study of this promising method since its introduction in the literature a decade ago (von Eye et al. 2009, 2010) In this paper we clarify the steps used for configural frequency mediation and report the results of a large statistical simulation study evaluating the method and comparing it to the variable-oriented traditional method using logistic regression analysis. Overall, configural frequency mediation analysis tended to have excessive type I error rates but we describe an alternative approach to configural mediation analysis based on a joint significance test that had adequate performance. We also clarify the decision rules that define configural mediation analysis and develop a test for configural frequency mediation using a joint significance mediation method.
Erdogan’s Empire: Turkey and the Politics of the Middle East, by Soner Cagaptay

The political dynamics of the Middle East that existed at the dawn of the millennium no longer are present. Yet, while the upheaval wrought by the Iraq War and Arab Spring absorbed most of the anal...
A Review of Factors Affecting Patient Satisfaction With Inflatable Penile Prosthesis.

Abstract Introduction A variety of factors that can influence patient satisfaction after inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery, including patient expectations before surgery, intraoperative complications, and perceived penile shortening and partner satisfaction after surgery. While patient satisfaction rates with IPP are high, there are several reported methods to further improve patient satisfaction with IPP. Objective Identifying factors responsible for patient satisfaction after IPP surgery from preoperative counseling, intraoperative techniques, and postoperative care and identifying ways to improve overall patient satisfaction. Methods A PubMed search was performed of all articles available on the database relating to penile prosthesis and patient satisfaction. Results The main outcome measure is patient satisfaction after IPP surgery. Patient satisfaction has been reported to be as high as 90%. Factors affecting postoperative satisfaction include preoperative counseling and expectations, patient comorbidities, partner satisfaction, and postoperative complications. One of the most common complaints is decreased penile length postoperatively. It is critical to accurately measure penile length before surgical intervention. Preoperative strategies to improve penile length with IPP include the use of penile traction therapy and vacuum erection device (VED). Several adjuvant procedures have been described and shown to safely increase penile length with concomitant IPP surgery, including ventral phalloplasty, suprapubic fat pad excision, and modified sliding technique—multiple slice technique. Postoperative penile rehabilitation program has been shown to improve penile length. The use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in the postoperative period leads to increased glans engorgement and improved patient satisfaction. Conclusion Patient satisfaction with IPP is influenced by many factors, which can be categorized into 3 distinct patient care stages: preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative. There are several techniques described in each patient care stage to improve perceived penile length including preoperative counseling and correct penile length measuring, preoperative penile stretching, the use of adjuvant surgical procedures, and postoperative penile rehabilitation. Shah T, Wang R, A Review of Factors Affecting Patient Satisfaction With Inflatable Penile Prosthesis. Sex Med 2021;9:350–357.
Outbreak news production as a site of tension: Journalists’ news-making of global infectious disease

News media play a crucial role during infectious disease outbreaks because they shape people’s understanding of not only the disease itself but also the meaning of living in a ‘risk society’, which...
Expanded beamforming models for high dynamic range scenarios

Delay-and-sum (DAS) and many other beamformers struggle with accurately sizing targets in an ultrasound image. We previously showed that aperture domain model image reconstruction (ADMIRE) and its iterative variant (iADMIRE) can improve image quality by reducing reverberation and off-axis clutter, but they do not substantially improve upon resolution compared to DAS. Therefore, we introduce an expanded model design for the ADMIRE framework that allows for improved resolution by reducing sidelobes and show that this improved model allows iADMIRE to reach similar or better performance in terms of lateral resolution compared to minimum variance (MV). We show that this improved sidelobe performance results in improved sizing accuracy of simulated cysts compared to DAS and normal ADMIRE and iADMIRE.