cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elevated weathering rates in the Rocky Mountains during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum

Silicate weathering reactions remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in carbonate minerals. During the high atmospheric carbon dioxide conditions of the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum, rates of chemical weathering, physical erosion and denudation in the western USA were equivalent to the highest recorded rates in the non-glacial Quaternary. During the chemical weathering of silicate minerals, atmospheric carbon dioxide is incorporated into carbonate minerals and buried. As the rate of silicate weathering is thought to increase in response to increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, this represents an important negative feedback mechanism1. Quaternary records of weathering reflect a narrow range of pCO2 (180–300 p.p.m.v.)2; therefore, the extent of this feedback has been difficult to predict for increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2. However, high CO2 levels of up to 1,125 p.p.m.v. have been suggested for the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (52 to 50 million years ago)3,4,5. Here, we combine 40Ar/39Ar ages6 and the measured volumes of river-derived sediments and sodium-bearing evaporites to determine rates of physical erosion and chemical weathering in the Green River Basin, western United State of America, during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum7. We find physical erosion rates of 420±79 t km2 yr−1 and chemical weathering rates of 62.5±21.9 t km2 yr−1. The calculated denudation rates of 175±30 m Myr−1 rival the highest documented non-glacial Quaternary rates for crystalline bedrock8. We suggest that elevated atmospheric CO2 levels during the Early Eocene epoch led to enhanced silicate dissolution rates9, and thus to increased production of loose rock material and higher rates of physical weathering and denudation.
Ranpirnase as a potential antitumor ribonuclease treatment for mesothelioma and other malignancies

Ranpirnase, originally isolated from oocytes of the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens), is a member of the pancreatic RNase A superfamily of ribonucleases. Ranpirnase exerts antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects in vitro and in vivo and has been shown to act synergistically with different cancer therapeutic agents. The cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of ranpirnase are the consequence of tRNA degradation that results in the disruption of protein translation and the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Ranpirnase has been shown to target malignant cells both in human cancer cell lines and in animal models, and has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of several human cancers in clinical studies. Most clinical studies have been conducted in patients with malignant mesothelioma, and a confirmatory Phase IIIb trial is currently underway for the treatment of this disease. Owing to its selective destruction of malignant cells and favorable toxicology profile, ranpirnase is a promising antitumor agent with ideal attributes that are generally lacking in conventional cytotoxic drugs.
Multiculturalism as a Generic Approach to Counseling

According to a broad definition of culture, the multicultural perspective applies to all counseling relationships. According to this broad definition, multiculturalism may be described as a “fourth force” in counseling from its own theoretical perspective. The broad definition of culture is discussed and applied to the field of counseling. The advantages of defining culture broadly and of understanding multiculturalism as a generic approach to counseling are discussed and supported along with the consequences of alternative perspectives. La perspectiva multicultural se aplica a todas las relaciones consejeriales segun una definicion amplia de cultura. De esta manera el multi-culturalismo, desde su propia perspectiva, se puede describir coma “la cuarta fuerza” en la consejeria. Se trata de la definicion amplia de cultura y se aplica esta definicion al campo deconsejeria. Se discuten las ventajas de definir cultura de esa manera y de entender el multiculturalismo como una via generica a la consejeria junto con las consecuencias de perspectivas alternativas.
When Words Are Not Enough: The Search for the Effect of Pornography on Abused Women

Using data collected from 271 women participating in a battered women’s program, this study examines whether pornography use increases the probability that a battered woman will be sexually abused by her partner. The analysis also examines whether individual and certain disinhibitory factors, such as alcohol use, mediate or exacerbate the effects of pornography on sexual violence. Results of a logistic regression indicate that pornography use significantly increases a battered woman’s odds of being sexually abused. Compared to batterers who do not use pornography and alcohol, the combination of alcohol and pornography does increase the odds of sexual abuse.
Improving the Diversity-Multiplexing Tradeoff with Repetition-Coded Relaying in Wireless Downlink

Repetition-coded relaying using half-duplex relays offers an easy way of achieving cooperative diversity that works well with apparently any source transmission schemes, but at the same time presents a potentially serious problem of inefficient spectrum utilization. Poor diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) is often reported. This paper investigates efficient ways of using repetition-type decode-and-forward relaying to improve the DMT of users in a wireless downlink. We deliberately align the relaying operation of one user with the source transmission for another user and show that the arisen inter-user and inter-relay interference could be efficiently managed without the need of transmit-side channel state information thanks to the downlink network topology and simple user scheduling. The effects of different interfering signal flows are analyzed in detail. We show that interference does not necessarily lead to system performance degradation, which is metric-specific, and good DMT is obtained both with and without the presence of the direct path.
RESEARCH REPORT AGE DEPENDENCE OF SPIRAL GRAIN IN WHITE OAKS (QUERCUS ALBA L.) IN SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS

Dendrochronologists have used the presence of spiral grain as an indicator of old trees for most of the history of the field, although this relationship has been little studied. We examined cross-sections from dead trees and used a 12-mm Haglof Swedish Increment borer to collect cores from living white oak (Quercus alba L.) trees in an Eastern Deciduous Forest stand in southwestern Illinois. Spiral grain is the alignment of wood fibers to the longitudinal axis of trees and is driven by patterns of initial cambial cell division. In this study, we examine environmental factors that may affect spiral grain severity, the usefulness of non-destructive sampling methods (using the 12-mm increment borer), and the relationship between tree age and spiral grain. We tested Brazier’s method (1965) of averaging the spiral grain angle from two radii taken 180 degrees apart (i.e. one diameter in the tree) to get representative grain angles for the whole circumference of a tree at a certain height. The 12-mm increment borer did not produce consistent results in this study; therefore, the collection of cross-sections is advised for the study of spiral grain in white oaks. Brazier’s method should not be used in white oaks and should not be applied universally to all tree species. The severity of spiral grain is expressed in the xylem and may not be expressed in the bark of the tree. Left spiral grain does generally increase in white oaks with age, although this relationship is not always consistent, so a tree without severe spiral grain is not necessarily young.
The Creative Destruction of Decision Research

The most recent wave of decision research goes beyond the usual critiques of linear probability weighting, exponential discounting, and other specialized assumptions, and challenges some of the most basic assumptions of the decision-making paradigm itself. In response to these challenges, decision researchers have proposed alternative accounts of behavior, some of which bear little resemblance to decision making as it is commonly conceived. I provide an overview of some of the challenges confronting the decision-making paradigm, and I present the broad outline of what I see as an emerging alternative perspective.
Wettability of Mississippian Barnett Shale samples at different depths: Investigations from directional spontaneous imbibition

Because of its significant impact on relative permeability, capillary pressure, stimulation methods, and ultimate recovery, the wettability of reservoir rocks is a critical factor of the petroleum recovery process. However, characterizing the wettability of shale with extremely low matrix permeabilities is a challenging task because of the dominant presence of nanopores in shale and high heterogeneity of shale compositions at multiple scales. From spontaneous imbibition behavior that uses two types of imbibing fluid (water and n-decane), the present study examines the wettability characteristics of gas-window Barnett Shale samples taken from four different depths of Texas United 1 Blakely core in Wise County in Texas. Imbibition experiments were conducted in two directions: parallel and transverse to the lamination of the samples. A scaling method was used to analyze imbibition data, and observed imbibition behaviors were interpreted to infer the different wettability conditions of four samples with different mineralogy, total organic carbon content, and pore-throat size distribution. Our results show that wettability significantly affects fluid imbibition behavior and that four tested samples can be divided into three wettability categories: more water wet, mixed wet, and more oil wet. Overall, the variable wettability of Barnett samples will affect hydrocarbon storage, distribution, and production.
Development of a novel large animal model of ischemic heart failure using autologous platelet aggregates.

Background: Current animal models of heart failure lack the biomass of thrombus that occurs in patients undergoing myocardial infarction. We propose a novel animal model of ischemic cardiomyopathy developed by sequential direct injections of autologous platelet aggregates into the coronary circulation resulting in development of ischemic cardiac insufficiency. Methods: Autologous platelets from adult sheep were isolated and aggregated. Aggregated platelets were then injected into the coronary circulation of anesthetized animals under fluoroscopic guidance. Troponin I levels were monitored for first three days after embolization to validate cardiac tissue injury. Progression of heart failure was corroborated by monitoring changes in echo-based assessment of ejection fraction and left ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions. Thrombus-based obstruction of coronary artery was confirmed with histopathology review by mepacrine labeling of pre-aggregated platelets. Results: All experimental animals developed heart failure-like cardiac insufficiency confirmed by elevated levels of troponin I and associated with significant drop in the ejection fraction. Conclusions: Sequential injections of aggregated platelets into coronary circulation lead to progressive development of ischemic cardiac insufficiency. This phenomenon seems to mimic development of ischemic heart failure seen in human patients and opens multiple research opportunities to fill the existing gap between basic research and clinical practice.
Studies of the assembled CMS tracker

During the latter months of 2006 and the first half of 2007, the CMS Tracker was assembled and operated at the Tracker Integration Facility in Building 186 at CERN. At this time, several dedicated studies were carried out to validate the performance of the tracker after assembly, testing general noise performance, looking at a specific problem showing up for part of the tracker [1], and also looking at the performance at high acquisition rates [2]. We report on the the results of these studies and their consequences for operation of the Tracker at the experiment. I. THE CMS SILICON STRIP TRACKER. With its 210 m of silicon, 5.4 m length, 2.4 m diameter and 9.6 million readout channels, the CMS strip tracker is clearly the largest and most complicated silicon detector ever built. It consists of 4 main parts: the endcaps (TEC), the inner barrel (TIB), the outer Barrel (TOB) and the inner disks (TID). All together 15148 modules are distributed amongst these 4 systems. Because of its size and complexity, the collaboration paid meticulous attention to quality control and testing all the way through construction. However, some effects could not be detected during the construction and the final assembly of the subdetectors and the first large-scale tests were needed to point them out. This paper discusses the investigations into the cause of these effects as well as the ramifications for operations at the LHC.
Effect of basolateral acidification on the frog oxynticopeptic cell.

The effects of intracellular acidosis induced by acidification of the basolateral (nutrient) perfusate on the structure and function of the oxynticopeptic cell were studied in in vitro frog gastric mucosa. Changing the pH of the unbuffered nutrient perfusate (UNB) from 7.2 to 3.5 acidified the oxynticopeptic cell with no change in potential difference (PD) or resistance (R). Intracellular pH (pHi), PD, and R were 7.05 +/- 0.01, 16 +/- 1 mV, 165 +/- 7 omega.cm2 before and 6.44 +/- 0.01, 16 +/- 2 mV, 170 +/- 9 omega.cm2 after nutrient acidification. Acid secretion (H+) increased from 0.86 +/- 0.07 to 1.88 +/- 0.18 mu eq.cm-2.h-1. Addition of forskolin to tissues perfused with nutrient pH (pHn) 3.5 decreased PD to 2 +/- 2 mV and further increased H+ to 3.07 +/- 0.19 mu eq.cm-2.h-1. By light and electron microscopy oxynticopeptic cells perfused with UNB, pHn 3.5, appeared normal. Oxynticopeptic cells in tissues pretreated with omeprazole and then exposed to UNB, pHn 3.5, had extensive morphological damage. On increasing the pH of the nutrient perfusate from 3.5 to 7.2 there was prompt recovery of pHi in untreated and forskolin-stimulated mucosae (pHi 6.87 +/- 0.06 and 6.85 +/- 0.04) but no recovery of pHi in tissues pretreated with omeprazole or cimetidine (pHi 6.26 +/- 0.04 and 6.44 +/- 0.06, n = 6, 30 min after reexposure to UNB, pHn 7.2). We conclude that in a secreting mucosa intracellular acidification of the oxynticopeptic cell to pHi 6.4 is associated with normal morphology, PD, R, and increased H+, and that intracellular acidosis is not de facto deleterious.
Management and implications of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak in transnasoseptal transsphenoidal microsurgery.

Background Nonvascularized autologous grafts used for sellar reconstruction in transseptal transsphenoidal surgery are commonly applied in the setting of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and have been shown to be effective in preventing postoperative complications. Objective To assess the clinical implications of intraoperative CSF leak, to evaluate the efficacy of repair techniques using autologous nonvascularized materials, and to analyze the nature and timing of failures. These data may serve as a basis for assessing the utility of innovations in techniques and implant technologies. Methods A review was conducted of 257 consecutive patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery that was complicated by intraoperative CSF leak from 1995 to 2001. Sellar reconstruction was performed with autologous materials except in reoperations in which septal materials were not available; lumbar drain catheters were used selectively. Results Six of the 257 patients (2.3%) developed postoperative CSF rhinorrhea occurring an average of 6.6 days after surgery. All 6 underwent reoperation, with 5 of 6 managed with operative lumbar drainage. Bacterial meningitis developed in 3 of 257 (1.2%). Worsening in visual function occurred in 8 of 257 (3.1%), with 1 of 257 (0.3%) suffering from permanent worsening of visual function. Additional surgery was performed in 2 of these patients, resulting in successful reversal of visual loss. Ten of 257 patients (3.9%) developed a subcutaneous hematoma at the fat graft harvest site, with 1 patient requiring surgical re-exploration. Conclusions Watertight closure of the sella with autologous materials is effective in preventing postoperative rhinorrhea. Complications specific to the technique include graft site hematoma (4%) and rare instances of visual loss caused by optic nerve compression.
Towards the Reduction of Optical Losses in Transition Metal-Based Nanomaterials

Equilibrium geometries and cohesion energies of Ag0.94Cd0.06, Ag0.94In0.06, Au0.94Cd0.06, and Au0.94In0.06 solid alloys have been studied from the first principles within the Density Functional Theory using ab initio pseudopotentials. Equilibrium geometries are obtained by total energy minimization method using the Local Density Approximation and Generalized Gradient Approximation methods. Optical functions are calculated within the independent particles picture. We report essentially different behavior of Cd and In impurity atoms in Au- and Ag-based alloys: the aggregated (or quasi aggregated) phases in In-containing alloys are expected in contrast to the alloys with Cd atom where homogeneous impurity distribution over the bulk should dominate. Study of optical spectra in Ag0.94Cd0.06 and Au0.94Cd0.06 alloys indicate that optical losses in visible and near ultraviolet spectral range remarkably increase at bigger Cd concentrations. In ultraviolet spectral region redistribution of optical oscillator strengths results in both increase and decrease of optical losses in selected spectral regions.
Growth and Characterization of a Combinatorial Array of Mixed-Phase Magnesium-Aluminum Thin-Film Alloys

Combinatorial gradient-controlled sputter deposition has been employed to produce a library of 100 separate thin films with a wide range of Mg-Al alloy compositions. We have successfully isolated the â (Mg17Al12) phase in polycrystalline films for investigation. The presence of the â phase has been found to be desirable for increasing corrosion resistance; however, in structural components under tensile loading and/or at elevated temperatures, the â phase precipitates undergo coarsening which induces poor creep behavior in several common alloys. We have also synthesized amorphous Mg-Al and mixed-phase compositions as identified by X-ray diffraction measurements. Details of the growth procedure as well as structural and compositional characterization are presented.
Growth of InSb/GaAs Layers on YIG-Coated GGG Substrate

We report the first growth of InSb and GaAs epilayers upon a garnet (YIG = Y3Fe5O12) epilayer. The YIG was deposited using liquid phase epitaxy on a garnet (GGG = Gd3Ga5O12) substrate oriented in the {xc111} direction. The growth of the GaAs was carried out using laser ablation and no superlattice was used to buffer the lattice mismatch between YIG and GaAs. The growth of InSb was done by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. From x-ray diffraction analysis it was found that the GaAs and InSb were both (110) monocrystalline epitaxial layers.
A COMPUTER SIMULATION STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF TWO BEHAVIORAL TRAITS ON THE GENETIC STRUCTURE OF SEMI-ISOLATED POPULATIONS.

Until recently the phenomenon of imprinting had only been studied as an early learning mechanism. Kalmus and Smith (1966), Seiger (1967) and Kemperman (1967) considered what the social and genetic consequences of imprinting might be in later life. They constructed theoretical models showing how the frequencies of two alleles in a population could be influenced by imprinting. Three consequences emerged from their studies: (1) Imprinting would result in assortative mating. (2) If the mating preference for a particular phenotype were absolute, eventually gene flow between the two polymorphic types would cease, thus bringing about sympatric speciation. (3) If the mating preference were less than absolute, imprinting would provide a mechanism for the maintenance of polymorphism in the population. The genetic results when imprinting obtains in a population, are of a few types: A stable equilibrium may be achieved when the alternative alleles are maintained at fixed frequencies; a trivial equilibrium might ensue in which one allele becomes fixed and the other becomes lost; the possibility exists that interactions between selection by imprinting and selection due to other forces might lead to the extinction of the population. A computer program was written to gain further insight into the effects of behavioral traits on population dynamics. The decision to construct such a model came with our attempt to analyze the
Nonsterilizing immunity in avian malaria: an antibody-independent phenomenon.

SummaryAgammaglobulinemic chickens died with fulminating parasitemias following infection with P. gallinaceum. When rescued from otherwise fatal infection by means of chloroquine therapy, B-cell deficient chickens resisted challenge infection with the same parasite. The data suggest that nonsterilizing immunity to malaria in chickens is B-cell independent.We wish to thank Drs. Burton J. Landau and E. J. L. Soulsby for their helpful criticism in the preparation of this manuscript. This work was aided in part by US-PHA Grant AI No. 12710-01.
Promoting Family Involvement in Long-term Care Settings: A Guide to Programs that Work, edited by Joseph E. Gaugler

The involvement of families in the lives of their relatives living in long-term care settings continues to occur in spite of the common notion that families abandon their elders to nursing homes. H...
RNA-Seq Experiment and Data Analysis

With the ability to obtain tens of millions of reads, high-throughput messenger RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data offers the possibility of estimating abundance of isoforms and finding novel transcripts. In this chapter, we describe a protocol to construct an RNA-Seq library for sequencing on Illumina NGS platforms, and a computational pipeline to perform RNA-Seq data analysis. The protocols described in this chapter can be applied to the analysis of differential gene expression in control versus 17β-estradiol treatment of in vivo or in vitro systems.
Outsourcing for E-Government

This study offers both an analytical framework of and empirical evidence on the key management strategies and capacities for successful information technology (IT) outsourcing by public agencies. The analytical framework draws insights from studies on IT and public administration, public sector contracting out, and business information systems and IT outsourcing. Using the framework, the research examines IT outsourcing at three federal agencies. Data were collected through interviews and document review, which were analyzed using the variable-oriented comparative case method. In general, this study confIrms the importance of management and capacity building in IT outsourcing. Moreover, the results offer specific guidance on IT outsourcing. First, public agencies need to take a long-term, strategic approach to managing IT outsourcing arrangements. Second, IT outsourcing should be considered a managed relationship rather than a traditional procurement. Last, the use of performance measurement with a servic...
Visualizing workflows in a growing research center

In this paper, we describe the project management systems and workflows of a university research center. Using a feminist approach that values open collaboration, communication, and flattened hierarchies, we generated two distinct project management approaches to address issues of communication and task management.
Formulation and Regulation: Constraints on the Development of Semiochemicals for Insect Pest Management

Formulation, toxicology, and registration fundamentally influence the successful use of semiochemicals. In this context, “successful” implies that the farmer and the manufacturer will benefit economically and that the potential hazards to man and the environment will not be greater than those from current pest management techniques.
Correlating structural properties to sodium release of model solid lipoproteic colloids

Abstract Effect of structure on sodium release of model solid lipoproteic colloids (SLCs) was investigated. The SLCs structures were varied by different levels of protein (8 and 16%, w/w), fat (0, 11, 22, and 33%, w/w), NaCl (1.5% and 3.5%, w/w), and homogenization pressure (14 and 55 MPa). Sodium release was measured while the SLCs were compressed in water. For SLCs with 1.5% and 3.5% NaCl, the porosity correlated positively with the maximum rate of sodium release. For the SLCs with 3.5% NaCl, the particle size of fat correlated negatively with the maximum concentration of released sodium and the area under the curve of sodium release profile. This study revealed that sodium release can be controlled via the convective transfer or diffusive transfer mechanisms by controlling the porosity and particle size of fat, respectively.
Effect of An Interaction Between Age and Ferritin Level on Clinical Outcomes In Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Abstract 4302 Background: The hypothesis that increasing iron burden (assessed by the serum ferritin level) with age contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular (CVD) and other diseases of aging was tested in a 24-hospital, 6-year prospective randomized single blinded clinical trial of iron reduction by calibrated phlebotomy (JAMA 2007;297:603-9; JNCI 2008;100:996-1002). The primary outcome was all cause mortality and the secondary outcome death plus non-fatal MI and stroke (total n = 1,277 patients with PAD). Mean follow-up ferritin levels were significantly reduced in iron reduction patients (p HYPOTHESIS: Iron reduction has beneficial effects on overall CVD outcomes that can be masked by interactions between age and ferritin level. METHODS: Computer randomization to iron reduction (n = 636) versus control (n = 641) groups was stratified by age, ferritin level and other prognostic variables at entry. Data tracked prospectively (including data on compliance with intervention) were subjected to pre-planned, intent-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: Mean follow-up ferritin levels declined with increasing age at entry in control patients. Older age (p = 0.027) and higher ferritin levels (p CONCLUSIONS: Lower body iron burden predicted improved clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease regardless of age or randomization status. Two factors seemed to account for the lack of an effect of intervention in the overall cohort. First, serum ferritin levels decreased with increasing age in control patients, apparently because patients with higher iron stores were more likely to die earlier. Second, younger iron reduction patients were more likely to comply with the phlebotomy intervention. Consequently, iron reduction therapy had less of a potential effect in older compared to younger patients because mean follow-up ferritin levels between groups converged with increasing age. An implication for future studies, and possibly for practice, is that adequate iron reduction targeted to patients with higher ferritin levels is more likely to be effective. These findings suggest cost – effective strategies for improving outcomes in diseases of aging. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
CONCEVOIR UN COURS HYBRIDE EN FRANÇAIS DES AFFAIRES

RESUME. Les nouvelles realites mondiales nous placent dans un contexte d’enseignement/apprentissage heterogene. La recrudescence des mouvements migratoires, la mobilite interuniversitaire, la conciliation etudes-travail-famille, par exemple, modifient le profil des classes qui sont dorenavant constituees d’etudiants aux niveaux de connaissances divers, aux parcours educatifs varies, aux styles d’apprentissage differents. Quelles seraient les solutions didactiques pour gerer l’heterogeneite en classe? Le mode hybride s’en avere une, avec sa flexibilite et son efficacite surtout pour les apprenants adultes. Hyperliens, videos, forums de discussion, collaborations en direct et differe sont quelques-uns des outils multimedias que nous utilisons dans notre cours mixte « Le francais des affaires » de l’Universite Concordia (Canada) et grâce auxquels les participants profitent de la variete des profils presents dans la classe. Ce mode comporte aussi des contraintes : accorder plus de temps tant pour le professeur que pour les etudiants, etablir une complementarite necessaire entre seances en presentiel et a distance, posseder une dexterite technique. Mots-cles : apprentissage/enseignement, etudiant-acteur, formule hybride, heterogeneite, TIC. ABSTRACT. The new global realities create a heterogeneous teaching/learning context. The resurgence of migratory movements, inter-university mobility, and the school-workfamily balance, for example, modify the composition of classes, which are henceforth made up of students with varying levels of knowledge, varied educational backgrounds, and different learning styles. What are the didactic solutions for managing heterogeneity in the classroom? The blended mode, with its flexibility and effectiveness especially for adult learners, is one of them. Hyperlinks, videos, discussion forums, online and offline collaborations are some of the multimedia tools we use in our “Business French” class at Concordia University (Canada), where participants benefit from the variety of student profiles. This mode also has constraints: the need to allow more time for both professor and students, the need to establish complementarity between face-to-face and online sessions, and the requirement of technical skills. Keywords: blended learning, heterogeneity, ICT, learning/teaching, student-actor.
Guidance on the limits to the number of embryos to transfer: a committee opinion

Based on American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology data available through 2014, ASRM's guidelines for the limits on the number of embryos to be transferred in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles have been further refined in continuing efforts to promote singleton gestation and reduce the number of multiple pregnancies. This version replaces the document titled Criteria for number of embryos to transfer: a committee opinion that was published most recently in August of 2013 (Fertil Steril 2013;99:44–6).
Lingual-Alveolar Contact Pressure During Speech in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Preliminary Findings.

Purpose This preliminary study on lingual–alveolar contact pressures (LACP) in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) had several aims: (a) to evaluate whether the protocol induced fatigue...
Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics and ABCA7 Splicing

Both common and rare polymorphisms within ABCA7 have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In particular, the rare AD associated polymorphism rs200538373 was associated with altered ABCA7 exon 41 splicing and an AD risk odds ratio of ~1.9. To probe the role of this polymorphism in ABCA7 splicing, we used minigene studies and qPCR of human brain RNA. We report aberrant ABCA7 exon 41 splicing in the brain of a carrier of the rs200538373 minor C allele. Moreover, minigene studies show that rs200538373 acts as a robust functional variant in vitro. Lastly, although the ABCA7 isoform with an extended exon 41 is predicted to undergo nonsense mediated RNA decay, this was not supported by qPCR analyses, which showed relatively normal ABCA7 mRNA levels in the carrier of the rs200538373 minor C allele. In summary, rs200538373 is a functional polymorphism that alters ABCA7 exon 41 splicing without grossly altering the level of ABCA7 mRNA.
Corticosteroid therapy and severity of vasogenic edema in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

Background Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a variable cerebrovascular syndrome associated with hypertension and autoregulatory failure. Steroids have been reported to both precipitate and treat PRES. We sought to determine the prevalence of steroid therapy at the time of PRES and to assess the relationship between steroid therapy and extent of vasogenic edema.
Prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis is more than just suppositories and stents.

In this issue of the Journal, Professor Elmunzer provides an outstanding overview of the variable methods of prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) (1). We all recognize the importance of this topic given its morbidity for our patients. His review succinctly summarizes a wealth of both old and new data underscoring previously identified risk factors for PEP which have stood the test of time. In addition, newer interventions are appraised and placed in an appropriate context. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Parent-Reported Behavioral and Psychiatric Problems Mediate the Relationship between Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Cognitive Deficits in School-Aged Children.

Background Numerous studies over the past several decades have illustrated that children who suffer from sleep disordered breathing (SDB) are at greater risk for cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric problems. Although behavioral problems have been proposed as a potential mediator between SDB and cognitive functioning, these relationships have not been critically examined. Methods This analysis is based on a community-based cohort of 1,115 children who underwent overnight polysomnography, and cognitive and behavioral phenotyping. Structural model of the relationships between SDB, behavior, and cognition, and two recently developed mediation approaches based on propensity score weighting and resampling were used to assess the mediational role of parent-reported behavior and psychiatric problems in the relationship between SDB and cognitive functioning. Multiple models utilizing two different SDB definitions further explored direct effects of SDB on cognition as well as indirect effects through behavioral pathology. All models were adjusted for age, sex, race, BMI z score, and asthma status. Results Indirect effects of SDB through behavior problems were significant in all mediation models while direct effects of SDB on cognition were not. The findings were consistent across different mediation procedures and remained essentially unaltered when different criteria for SDB, behavior, and cognition were used. Conclusions Potential effects of SDB on cognitive functioning appear to occur through behavioral problems that are detectable in this pediatric population. Thus, early attentional or behavioral pathology may be implicated in the cognitive functioning deficits associated with SDB, and may present an early morbidity-related susceptibility biomarker.
Homologous VapC Toxins Inhibit Translation and Cell Growth by Sequence-Specific Cleavage of tRNA fMet .

Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems play a critical role in the establishment and maintenance of bacterial dormancy. They are composed of a protein toxin and its cognate protein antitoxin. They function to regulate growth under conditions of stress, such as starvation or antibiotic treatment. As cellular proteases degrade the antitoxin, which normally binds and neutralizes the toxin, this frees the toxin to act on its cellular targets and arrest bacterial growth. TA systems are of particular concern in regard to pathogenic organisms, such as nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), as dormancy may lead to chronic infections and failure of antibiotic treatment. Many targets of VapC toxins have not been identified, to date, and this knowledge is crucial to understanding how toxins control the establishment and maintenance of bacterial dormancy. Accordingly, we characterized the target specificity of the VapC toxins from the two paralogous NTHi vapBC TA systems. RNA sequencing and Northern blot analysis revealed that VapC1 and VapC2 cleave tRNAfMet in the anticodon loop. Overexpression of tRNAfMet suppresses VapC toxicity, suggesting that translation inhibition results from the depletion of tRNAfMet These experiments also identified base pairs in the tRNAfMet anticodon stem that play a key role in VapC-specific cleavage of the tRNA. Together these findings suggest the potential for NTHi VapC1 and VapC2 to induce dormancy by sequence-specific cleavage of tRNAfMetIMPORTANCE Bacterial persistence is a significant concern in regard to pathogenic organisms, such as nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, as it can result in recurrent and chronic infections. Toxin-antitoxin systems can lead to persistence by causing bacteria to enter a slow-growing state that renders them antibiotic tolerant. Type II toxin components affect a wide variety of bacterial targets in order to elicit dormancy, and for many toxin-antitoxin systems, these mechanisms are not well understood. Thus, in order to understand how vapBC toxin-antitoxin systems cause dormancy, it is crucial to investigate the substrate specificity of VapC toxins. This study identifies the target of the VapC1 and VapC2 toxins from NTHi and takes important steps toward understanding the specificity of these toxins for their tRNA target.
Association between the American Board of Internal Medicine's General Internist's Maintenance of Certification Requirement and Mammography Screening for Medicare Beneficiaries.

Abstract Background Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in the United States. Continuing medical education programs such as the American Board of Internal Medicine's Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program can increase early detection of cancers by educating physicians about the benefits of screening. Did the imposition of American Board of Internal Medicine's MOC requirement affect guideline-compliant mammography screening? Method To address this question, we took advantage of a natural experiment that occurred when one group of general internists was required to complete MOC by 2001 because they initially certified in 1991 (MOC required) and another group was grandfathered out of this requirement because they initially certified in 1989 (MOC grandfathers). To measure associations with the MOC requirement, we compared mammography screening in the 2 years before and the 3 years after the 2001 MOC requirement among beneficiaries treated by the MOC-required physicians and compared this difference with the same difference in mammography screening among a control group of beneficiaries treated by the MOC-grandfathered physicians. Results We found that the MOC requirement was associated with a regression adjusted 2.8% increase (p Conclusions The MOC requirement was associated with an improvement in guideline-compliant mammography screening with the most pronounced improvements among women who were the least adherent at baseline and therefore might have benefited the most from screening.
Changing incidence of lens extraction over 20 years: the Beaver Dam eye study.

Objective To investigate trends in the incidence of lens extraction over the past 20 years. Design Longitudinal population-based cohort study. Participants Persons who participated in the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Methods Eligible persons 43 to 84 years of age living in the city or township of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, were recruited from 1987 through 1988. Participants were followed up every 5 years from 1993 through 1995, from 1998 through 2000, from 2003 through 2005, and from 2008 through 2010 after the baseline examination from 1988 through 1990. Examinations consisted of ocular examination with lens photography and grading; medical history; and measurements of blood pressure, height, and weight. Adjustments were made for age and gender. Values of risk variables were updated, and the incidence of lens extraction surgery was calculated in each 5-year interval. Main Outcome Measures Incidence of lens extraction with regard to presence of clinically significant lens opacity and visual function. Results Age- and gender-adjusted incidence of lens extraction increased over the 4 intervals from 1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3%–2.5%) in the interval between the first and second study examinations to 11.7% (95% CI, 9.9%–13.8%) in the most recent study interval. The increase in incidence of surgery was significantly higher at successive intervals in persons without clinically significant lens opacity at each preceding examination (interval 1, 0.8% [95% CI, 0.6%–1.1%]; interval 4, 9.4% [95% CI, 7.8%–11.2%]) compared with persons with at least 1 detectable type of opacity (interval 1, 9.2% [95% CI, 6.4%–13.2%]; interval 4, 16.5% [95% CI, 13.4%–20.0%]). Recency of examination was not attenuated by adjusting for additional risk factors. There was no evidence that the increased incidence in surgery was preceded by poorer visual acuity, near vision, or contrast sensitivity at the beginning of each interval. Conclusions The incidence of lens extraction has increased over the past 20 years in persons older than 65 years. The relative increase of surgery is higher in those without any clinically significant lens opacity and in persons with visual acuity better than 20/40 at an examination as measured 5 years before observed incidence of lens extraction.
Intravenous dexamethasone fails to prolong psoas compartment block when assessed by objective pinprick sensory testing: a prospective, randomised, dose-dependent, placebo-controlled equivalency trial

Abstract Background Recent studies have concluded that i.v. dexamethasone can prolong the duration of peripheral nerve blockade. We hypothesized that a 4 mg dose would equally prolong the duration of psoas compartment blocks (PCBs) when compared with 8 mg, and that both doses would prolong the duration when compared with placebo. Methods This was a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-dependent, equivalency trial with 115 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. The patients received a PCB. Subsequently, 15 patients received i.v. normal saline (placebo), 50 patients received i.v. dexamethasone 4 mg, and 50 patients received i.v. dexamethasone 8 mg. The primary outcome was the duration in hours of PCB, determined by serial pinprick assessments. Secondary outcomes included pain scores, time to first analgesic, and opioid consumption. An intention-to-treat-analysis (ITA) and per-protocol analysis (PPA) were performed. Results The ITA showed that block duration in the 4 and 8 mg groups was equivalent [mean (standard deviation), 18.5 h (8.0) vs 18.1 h (7.1)]. However, neither group differed from placebo [19.6 h (6.7), (4 mg vs placebo), P=0.97; (8 mg vs placebo), P=0.77)]. Postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption were not different between groups. Time to first analgesic was not different between the 4 and 8 mg groups, or the 4 mg and placebo groups. The 8 mg group, however, had a longer time to first analgesic (median of 533 vs 432 min, P=0.047) when compared with placebo, although the significance was not observed in the PPA (P=0.058). Conclusions I.V. dexamethasone did not prolong PCB when duration was objectively assessed, or decrease total opioid consumption. However, dexamethasone 8 mg prolonged the time to first analgesic. Clinical trial registration NCT 02464176.
Femtosecond Laser-Inscribed Fiber Bragg Gratings for Sensing Applications

Abstract This chapter presents the state of the art of femtosecond laser–induced fiber Bragg gratings for sensing applications. It summarizes the laser-material processing mechanisms for dielectric modification with femtosecond pulse duration sources, techniques for grating inscription with said sources, and applications of femtosecond laser–induced gratings in waveguides for strain, temperature, and chemical sensing in harsh environments.
Goldilocks Dosing of TKIs: A Dose that Is Just Right Leads to Optimal Outcomes

Higher concentrations of TKIs such as pazopanib are associated with improved outcomes in advanced RCC. A phase 3 trial failed to show disease-free survival benefit to pazopanib in the adjuvant setting, but improved DFS was seen in patients with higher Ctrough levels, supporting adequate drug exposure for optimal clinical outcome.
Designing Art Education

At one point or another, whether in classrooms, art centers, museums, or other locations, art educators determine what they want students to know and do, and then craft assignments in response to t...
Identifying mislabeled and contaminated DNA methylation microarray data: an extended quality control toolset with examples from GEO

Mislabeled, contaminated or poorly performing samples can threaten power in methylation microarray analyses or even result in spurious associations. We describe a set of quality checks for the popular Illumina 450K and EPIC microarrays to identify problematic samples and demonstrate their application in publicly available datasets. Quality checks implemented here include 17 control metrics defined by the manufacturer, a sex check to detect mislabeled sex-discordant samples, and both an identity check for fingerprinting sample donors and a measure of sample contamination based on probes querying high-frequency SNPs. These checks were tested on 80 datasets comprising 8327 samples run on the 450K microarray from the GEO repository. Nine hundred forty samples were flagged by at least one control metric and 133 samples from 20 datasets were assigned the wrong sex. In a dataset in which a subset of samples appear contaminated with a single source of DNA, we demonstrate that our measure based on outliers among SNP probes was strongly correlated (> 0.95) with another independent measure of contamination. A more complete examination of samples that may be mislabeled, contaminated, or have poor performance due to technical problems will improve downstream analyses and replication of findings. We demonstrate that quality control problems are prevalent in a public repository of DNA methylation data. We advocate for a more thorough quality control workflow in epigenome-wide association studies and provide a software package to perform the checks described in this work. Reproducible code and supplementary material are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1172730 .
Management of Soil Biota and Their Processes

This chapter explores the human management of soil microorganisms and the processes that microorganisms control through energetic metabolism. We detail examples of human manipulation of microorganisms to provide beneficial services to humankind, many inadvertent manipulations. Soil microorganisms play a central role in food and fiber production on a worldwide basis. They also play a major role in soil health, including nutrient cycling and aggregation of soil particles. Organic agriculture is particularly reliant on the microbial cycling of nutrients from organic amendments because inorganic plant nutrients are not applied. Other management strategies for soil microorganisms include the introduction of plant-growth promoting organisms, biocontrol agents for pests and weeds, and to control soil-borne pathogens. However, introduced organisms only survive for a period of days to weeks. Thus managing organisms for human benefit may be more up to the soil organism community than mankind.