cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Equality and Nondiscrimination Through the Eyes of an International Religious Organization: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Response to Women’s Rights

This article is the first of a two part series that draws on women‘s rights and sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) to explore how the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) represents, interprets and seeks to impact the right to equality and protection against discrimination as enshrined under international human rights law. The study is a novel one inasmuch as the OIC is neither a state nor a religious group per se. Rather, the OIC stands out as the only contemporary intergovernmental organization unifying its member states around the commonality of a single religion. In this capacity, the organization maintains no direct obligations or rights under key instruments such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) or the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).Nevertheless, as part of its mandate representing 57 predominantly Muslim states, the OIC has increasingly asserted a role for itself on the international stage as "the collective voice of the Muslim world." This new assertiveness is particularly evident in the context of debates surrounding the content of human rights norms in international fora such as the United Nations, where the OIC has sought to develop common policy positions and encourage its members to vote as a bloc on issues of concern. Against this backdrop, the article concludes that supporters of universal human rights norms need to better understand how the OIC‘s mission to "protect and defend the true image of Islam" may impact international debates over the substance of equality and nondiscrimination norms, and develop appropriate responses to these efforts as a means to ensure that universality is not undermined.This article begins with a brief introduction to the OIC, and proceeds to explore its relationship with the principles of equality and nondiscrimination by examining its founding document and other relevant primary sources. With this understanding in place, the paper turns to examine the OIC‘s contemporary handling of these principles as manifested in debates surrounding women‘s rights as well as the relevance and impact of "Islamic family values" on the scope of those rights. This article‘s exploration of "family values" also serves as a pivot point to begin framing rights issues related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) individuals and related SOGI issues. Throughout this examination, the role of the OIC‘s newly established Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) is considered as a means of appraising whether a shift in the OIC‘s position may be forthcoming.
The use of the AMS-AS800 artificial sphincter for continent urinary diversion. I. Investigations, including pressure-flow studies, using rabbit intestinal loops.

Abstract The AS 800 genitourinary artificial sphincter was implanted in 40 New Zealand rabbits to evaluate its possible use for continent urinary diversion. This evaluation included the effects of varying closing pressures of the cuff implanted around isolated bowel loops. Six-weeks postoperative investigations included pressure/flow studies, autopsies, microangiographies and histologic evaluations. The sphincter was able to achieve continence during perfusion of the intestinal loop, maximum pressures being dependent on cuff pressures. Consistent changes were: 1) the formation of a thin fibrous capsule around the subcutaneously implanted pump, 2) the development of a fibrous sheath around the bowel beneath the cuff, and 3) fibrous and peritoneal reactions at the cuff site. In uncomplicated cases, the bowel wall tolerated the cuff pressure well, without macroscopic signs of atrophy. However, sphincter-related complications (1. infection, 2. erosion, 3. reduction of bowel circumference beneath the cuff) were pressure dependent and seen mainly in high pressure groups. Based on these results, the application of the sphincter for continent urinary diversion should include: low pressure urinary reservoirs, low pressure cuffs and most essentially, strict avoidance of infection.
Neighborhood Environment Measurements and Anthropometric Indicators of Obesity: Results From the Women and Their Children’s Health (WaTCH) Study:

We compared geographic information system (GIS)- and Census-based approaches for measuring the physical and social neighborhood environment at the census tract-level versus and audit approach on associations with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Data were used from the 2012-2014 Women and Their Children's Health (WaTCH) Study (n=940). Generalized linear models were used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) for BMI (≥30 kg/m2), WC (>88 cm), and WHR (>0.85). Using an audit approach, more adverse neighborhood characteristics were associated with a higher odds of WC (OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.15) and WHR (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.14) after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, income, and oil spill exposure. There were no significant associations between GIS- and Census- based measures with obesity in adjusted models. Quality aspects of the neighborhood environment captured by audits at the individual-level may be more relevant to obesity than physical or social aspects at the census-tract level.
Observer templates in 2D and 3D localization tasks

In this study we examine search performance for 3D forced-localization tasks in Gaussian random textures in which subjects are able to freely scroll through the image as part of their search for the target. We also evaluate a 2D single-slice version of the same task for comparison. We analyze these experiments using both efficiency with respect to the Ideal Observer and the classification image technique, which directly estimates the weighting function used by observers for a task. We are particularly interested in whether subjects can efficiently integrate across multiple slices in depth as part of performing the localization task. In the 3D tasks, the image display we use allows subjects to freely scroll through a volumetric image, and a localization response is made through a mouse-click on the image. The search region has a relatively modest size (approx. 8.8° visual angle). Localization responses are considered correct if they are close to the target center (within 6 voxels). The classification image methodology uses noise fields from the incorrect localizations to build an estimate of the weights used by the observer to perform the task. The basic idea is that incorrect localizations occur in regions of the image where the noise field matches the weighting profile, thereby eliciting a strong internal response. The efficiency results indicate differences between 2D and 3D search tasks, with lower efficiency for large target in the 3D task. The classification images suggest that this finding can be explained by the lack of spatial integration across slices.
Letting Students Lead: Preservice Teachers' Experiences of Learning in Online Discussions

The purpose of this article is to investigate preservice teachers' (PSTs') perceptions about the features that facilitated their learning and engagement in asynchronous online discussions. Particip...
Electroreceptors and Magnetoreceptors

Many animals have the ability to detect electric and magnetic fields. Although many species respond and orient to magnetic stimuli, only recently were putative vertebrate receptor systems identified. All organisms generate weak electric fields in water, due to an uneven distribution of ions between the interior of the organism and the external aqueous environment. Ampullary electroreceptors are an ancestral vertebrate trait that allows for the passive detection of these electric fields, which is useful for detecting prey, predators and mates. Although ampullary electroreceptors were lost during vertebrate evolution, they subsequently re-evolved several times independently. In two groups of teleost fishes, both ampullary and tuberous electroreceptors evolved, the latter specialized for the detection of actively generated electric organ discharges, or EODs. These fish generate EODs to communicate in the electrosensory domain, as well as actively to sense their environment by detecting distortions in the self-generated EOD. Many physiological mechanisms involved in electrosensory processing are unique.
Defense-related gene expression in soybean leaves and seeds inoculated with Cercospora kikuchii and Diaporthe phaseolorum var. meridionalis

Soybean leaves and detached seeds were inoculated with either Cercospora kikuchii or Diaporthe phaseolorum var. meridionalis in order to characterize the defense responses of these tissues to fungal infection. By comparing and contrasting the expression of 15 soybean defense-related genes in the two tissues during a 48 h post infection period, we found that pathogen concentrations and gene expression patterns were substantially different for inoculated leaves and seeds of the susceptible cultivar Holladay, but for each tissue a generally similar pattern of expression was observed with either pathogen treatment. In leaves inoculated with C. kikuchii or D. phaseolorum, 14/15 or 8/15 defense-related genes were significantly upregulated, respectively, including the notably strong upregulation of PR3 (chitinase 1) and PR10 (ribonuclease-like protein) by both pathogens. In leaves, the pathogen concentrations declined during the 48 hpi period. In seeds inoculated with either C. kikuchii or D. phaseolorum, 7/15 or 6/15 genes were significantly upregulated, but PR3 and PPO (polyphenol oxidase) were not significantly upregulated or not detected with either pathogen treatment, while PR10 was significantly upregulated only in seeds inoculated with D. phaseolorum. Pathogen concentrations in seeds did not decline, but increased over the 48 hpi period. Our results suggest that differences between the numbers and types of defense genes upregulated in the two inoculated tissues may explain, at least partially, the decline in leaves and the increase in seeds of the pathogen quantities.
The Effect of Interactions among Metal, Support and Atmosphere on the Behaviour of Supported Metal Catalysts

The paper is mainly concerned with wetting and spreading in catalyst-substrate systems and with the roles played by the interactions among catalyst, atmosphere and substrate in the above phenomena. The first part of the paper analyzes the thermodynamics of spreading, using three different approaches. The first of these considers a thick film on a substrate, the second one improves on the first by considering the film thickness to be smaller than the range of the interaction forces between a catalyst atom and the substrate across the film, and the third one starts from a given loading of the catalyst and tries to obtain information, for given interaction forces, on the organization of the catalyst atoms on the substrate. The analysis indicates when a two-dimensional phase of single atoms of catalyst dispersed over the surface of the substrate exists alone, and when it is in equilibrium with a large crystallite. The Ostwald ripening mechanism of sintering occurs only when a two-dimensional surface phase can exist, while migration and coalescence of the crystallites is the mechanism of sintering. when such a phase does not exist. Conditions are identified under which the crystallites spread over the surface of the substrate to extended planar shapes with a steep variation of angle near the leading edge. This happens when the interactions with the substrate are moderately strong and is a consequence of the fact that the wetting angle at the leading edge is larger than the thermodynamic macroscopic wetting angle which is reached at a distance of a few nanometers from the leading edge. This means that total spreading can occur at some distance from the leading edge, while the atoms near the leading edge still have a finite wetting angle with the substrate. When the above interactions are strong, the crystallite will disintegrate and disperse over the surface of the substrate. The second part of the paper contains an explanation of the higher mobility of the catalyst atoms on the surface of the crystallites above the so called Tammann temperature. The third part presents a selection of experimental results obtained in this laboratory which provide evidence for the extension of the crystallites during heating in O2 followed by contraction during subsequent heating in H2, as well as on their splitting and change in shape.
Reporting Standards for Chronic Pancreatitis by Using CT, MRI, and MR Cholangiopancreatography: The Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer

Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas with clinical manifestations ranging from abdominal pain, acute pancreatitis, exocrine and/or endocrine dysfunction, and pancreatic cancer. There is a need for longitudinal studies in well-phenotyped patients to ascertain the utility of cross-sectional imaging findings of chronic pancreatitis for diagnosis and assessment of disease severity. CT and MR cholangiopancreatography are the most common cross-sectional imaging studies performed for the evaluation of chronic pancreatitis. Currently, there are no universal reporting standards for chronic pancreatitis. Several features of chronic pancreatitis are applied clinically, such as calcifications, parenchymal T1 signal changes, focal or diffuse gland atrophy, or irregular contour of the gland. Such findings have not been incorporated into standardized diagnostic criteria. There is also lack of consensus on quantification of disease severity in chronic pancreatitis, other than by using ductal features alone as described in the Cambridge classification. The Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC) was established by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Cancer Institute in 2015 to undertake collaborative studies on chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. CPDPC investigators from the Adult Chronic Pancreatitis Working Group were tasked with development of a new consensus approach to reporting features of chronic pancreatitis aimed to standardize diagnosis and assessment of disease severity for clinical trials. This consensus statement presents and defines features of chronic pancreatitis along with recommended reporting metrics. © RSNA, 2018 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Megibow in this issue.
Treatment of oil-in-saltwater emulsions by in-situ production of magnetic FeOx nanoparticles

Abstract Oil-in-saltwater emulsions produced to simulate contaminated bilge water were successfully treated by electrochemical oxidation of iron anodes (electrocoagulation). Turbidity measurements of the as-prepared emulsions before and after treatment show a reduction in turbidity of over 98%, while application of a permanent magnet was found to be effective in reducing the settling time for the Fe-oxide containing sludge. Solution temperature was found to be the most critical parameter for influencing the efficiency of the electrocoagulation process, while electrode separation and solution contents (i.e. the presence of surfactants and oil) had less of an influence, especially for a solution temperature of 45 °C. Characterization of the Fe-oxide precipitates by electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and vibrating sample magnetometry confirmed that the products were nano-sized crystallites assignable to either Fe3O4 or γ-Fe2O3. All measurements indicated that a secondary phase was present which appeared as a varied particle morphology, a weak diffraction peak in some samples, and a reduced magnetic saturation. These results indicate that further optimization of the electrocoagulation process may be possible which could further improve the magnetic response of the Fe-oxide containing sludge.
What’s Next for Student Veterans? Moving from Transition to Academic Success: DiRamio, D. (Ed.). (2017). What’s next for student veterans? Moving from transition to academic success. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina, National Resource Center for The First Year Experience and Students in Transition. 219 pp. ISBN: 978-1-942072-10-2 (paperback) $30.00.

Changes to the GI Bill in 2008 catalyzed an unprecedented increase of student veterans entering higher education. Scholars have illustrated the ways contemporary student veterans resemble and diffe...
Postseptic Cognitive Impairment and Expression of APOE in Peripheral Blood: The Cognition After SepsiS (CASS) Observational Pilot Study:

Background:Cognitive impairment after sepsis is an important clinical problem. Determinants of postseptic cognitive impairment are not well understood. We thus undertook a systems biology approach ...
Interfacial properties of pure and doped CdS/graphene composites: CdS(0001)/graphene and a CdS/graphene bilayer

Abstract The photocatalytic performance of CdS can be improved by pairing it with graphene, and new CdS/graphene nanoarchitectures offer the potential to optimize this enhancement. In this work, we explore the interfacial properties of CdS(0001)/graphene and a novel CdS/graphene bilayer using density functional theory (DFT), and examine whether doping with B and N can strengthen interfacial adhesion. We first determine an appropriate DFT method for bulk CdS and graphene, and study the properties of the isolated components. The CdS/graphene bilayer is then optimized and found to exhibit high interplanar distances and low adhesion energies, which are indicative of interfacial adhesion via dispersion. Doping the graphene layer with B and N does not significantly modify the strength of adhesion, but doping does enable modulation of the band edge and Fermi level alignments, which affect the driving force for photoexcited charge transfer. The CdS(0001)/graphene interface is also optimized and found to be similarly adhered via dispersion interactions. Here, doping with B considerably strengthens adhesion in the interface, due to chemical interactions between B and a surface Cd atom, while doping with N had no effect.
scAI: an unsupervised approach for the integrative analysis of parallel single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic profiles

Simultaneous measurements of transcriptomic and epigenomic profiles in the same individual cells provide an unprecedented opportunity to understand cell fates. However, effective approaches for the integrative analysis of such data are lacking. Here, we present a single-cell aggregation and integration (scAI) method to deconvolute cellular heterogeneity from parallel transcriptomic and epigenomic profiles. Through iterative learning, scAI aggregates sparse epigenomic signals in similar cells learned in an unsupervised manner, allowing coherent fusion with transcriptomic measurements. Simulation studies and applications to three real datasets demonstrate its capability of dissecting cellular heterogeneity within both transcriptomic and epigenomic layers and understanding transcriptional regulatory mechanisms.
Structure of human ATG9A: how holey art thou?

Several studies have provided insight into the unique intracellular localization, dynamic trafficking and diverse repertoire of binding partners of Atg9/ATG9, but structural details of the protein have remained elusive. Guardia and colleagues now report the structure of human ATG9A to a resolution of 2.9 A, revealing, among other features, an elaborate system of tunnels permeating the ATG9A protein complex.
KeV Astrophysics With GeV Beams; Blazing a New Trail on the Summitt of Nuclear Astrophysics

GeV beams of light ions and electrons are used for creating a high flux of real and virtual photons, with which some problems in Nuclear Astrophysics are studied. GeV 8B beams are used to study the Coulomb dissociation of 8B and thus the 7Be(p,gamma)8B reaction. This reaction is one of the major source of uncertainties in estimating the 8B solar neutrino flux and a critical input for calculating the 8B Solar neutrino flux. The Coulomb dissociation of 8B appears to provide a viable method for measuring the 7Be(p,gamma)8B reaction rate, with a weighted average of the RIKEN1, RIKEN2, GSI1 and MSU published results of S17(0) = 18.9 +/- 1.0 eV-b. This result however does not include a theoretical error estimated to be +/- 10 %. GeV electron beams on the other hand, are used to create a high flux of real and virtual photons at TUNL-HIGS and MIT-Bates, respectively, and we discuss two new proposals to study the 12C(alpha,gamma)16O reaction with real and virtual photons. The 12C(alpha,gamma)16O reaction is essential for understanding Type II and Type Ia supernova. It is concluded that virtual and real photons produced by GeV light ions and electron beams are useful for studying some problems in Nuclear Astrophysics.
Impact of anesthesia technique on post-operative opioid use in open gynecologic surgery in an enhanced recovery after surgery pathway

Objective To examine the effect of anesthesia technique in an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway on post-operative opioid use. Methods Patients undergoing open gynecologic surgery under an ERAS pathway from November 2014 through December 2018 were included retrospectively. All patients received pre-operative analgesia consisting of oral acetaminophen, pregabalin, celecoxib, and tramadol extended release, unless contraindicated. Patients received local wound infiltration with bupivacaine; the post-operative analgesic regimen was standardized. Patients were categorized by anesthesia technique: (1) inhalational, (2) total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), and (3) combined technique. The primary outcome was post-operative opioid consumption measured as morphine equivalent dose, recorded as the total opioid dose received post-operatively, including doses received through post-operative day 3. Results A total of 1184 patients underwent general anesthesia using either inhalational (386, 33%), TIVA (349, 29%), or combined (449, 38%) techniques. Patients who received combined anesthesia had longer surgery times (p=0.005) and surgical complexity was higher among patients who underwent TIVA (moderate/higher in 76 patients, 38%) compared with those who received inhaled anesthesia (intermediate/higher in 41 patients, 23%) or combined anesthesia (intermediate/higher in 72 patients, 30%). Patients who underwent TIVA anesthesia consumed less post-operative opioids than those managed with inhalational technique (0 (0–46.3) vs 10 (0–72.5), p=0.009) or combined anesthesia (0 (0–46.3) vs 10 (0–87.5), p=0.029). Similarly, patients who underwent the combined technique had similar opioid consumption post-operatively compared with those who received inhalational anesthesia (10 (0–87.5) vs 10 (0–72.5), p=0.34). Conclusions TIVA technique is associated with a decrease in post-operative consumption of opioids after open gynecologic surgery in patients on an ERAS pathway.
Gestational form of Selenium in Free-Choice Mineral Mixes Affects Transcriptome Profiles of the Neonatal Calf Testis, Including those of Steroidogenic and Spermatogenic Pathways

In areas where soils are deficient in Selenium (Se), dietary supplementation of this trace mineral directly to cattle is recommended. Because Se status affects testosterone synthesis and frequency of sperm abnormalities, and the form of Se supplemented to cows affects tissue-specific gene expression, the objective of this study was to determine whether the form of Se consumed by cows during gestation would affect the expression of mRNAs that regulate steroidogenesis and/or spermatogenesis in the neonatal calf testis. Twenty-four predominantly Angus cows were assigned randomly to have individual, ad libitum, access of a mineral mix containing 35 ppm of Se in free-choice vitamin-mineral mixes as either inorganic (ISe), organic (OSe), or a 50/50 mix of ISe and OSe (MIX), starting 4 months prior to breeding and continuing throughout gestation. Thirteen male calves were born over a 3-month period (ISe, n = 5; OSe, n = 4; MIX, n = 4), castrated within 2 days of birth, and extracted testis RNA subjected to transcriptomal analysis by microarray (Affymetrix Bovine 1.0 ST arrays) and targeted gene expression analysis by real-time reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) of mRNAs encoding proteins known to affect steroidogenesis and/or spermatogenesis. The form of dam Se affected (P < 0.05) the expression of 853 annotated genes, including 17 mRNAs putatively regulating steroidogenesis and/or spermatogenesis. Targeted RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of mRNA encoding proteins CYP2S1 (cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily S, polypeptide 1), HSD17B7 (hydroxysteroid (17β) dehydrogenase 7), SULT1E1 (sulfotransferase family 1E, estrogen preferring, member 1), LDHA (lactate dehydrogenase A), CDK5R1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5, regulatory subunit 1), and LEP (leptin) was affected (P < 0.05) by form of Se consumed by dams of developing bull calves, while AKR1C4 (aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C4) and CCND2 (cyclin D2) tended (P < 0.09) to be affected. Our results indicate that form of Se fed to dams during gestation affected the transcriptome of the neonatal calf testis. If these profiles are maintained throughout maturation, then the form of Se fed to dams may impact bull fertility and the development of Se form-dependent mineral mixes that target gestational development of the testis are warranted.
Energy balance in human beings: the problems of plenitude.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the energy balance in human beings. The controls of food intake and energy expenditure in human beings are not simple; they are interdependent and are subject to many influences. It is unlikely that change in any single component can explain the major disturbances of energy balance in human beings. There is a facultative component in the thermogenic responses to cold, excess caloric intake, and other stimuli of normal subjects, which originally had survival value. There is a direct relationship between degree of insulin sensitivity and facultative response to overfeeding. A likely sequence is increase in effective serum insulin → central stimulation and activation of the sympathetic nervous system → increased turnover of norepinephrine → increased activity of substrate cycles, electrolyte pumping, and protein turnover, and possibly uncoupling of mitochondrial phosphorylation in brown fat. The composition of the diet is important for energy balance and fat storage, independent of the total caloric content and palatability. Increase in the fraction of carbohydrate in the diet increases the dietary thermogenic response. Increase in the fraction of fat in isocaloric diets, at least in experimental animals, leads to a greater increase in body fat.
Association of prostate cancer risk alleles with unfavourable pathological characteristics in potential candidates for active surveillance

Study Type – Prognosis (cohort) Level of Evidence 2a What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Men fail active surveillance for a variety of reasons; however, no single reliable biomarker has been found to date which will identify these men from the outset. We know that there are about 35 prostate cancer risk alleles which have been discovered to influence risk of prostate cancer, from large-scale genome-wide association studies. Some of these have been associated with aggressive prostate cancer. Nobody has examined the potential for these risk alleles to predict men who might fail active surveillance. This study adds to the growing evidence that single nucleotide polymorphisms may be able to identify men who have aggressive prostate cancers, and that this could be part of a risk algorithm used in active surveillance protocols. OBJECTIVE • To assess whether the carrier status of 35 risk alleles for prostate cancer (CaP) is associated with having unfavourable pathological features in the radical prostatectomy specimen in men with clinically low risk CaP who fulfil commonly accepted criteria as candidates for active surveillance. PATIENTS AND METHODS • We studied men of European ancestry with CaP who fulfilled the commonly accepted clinical criteria for active surveillance (T1c, prostate-specific antigen <10 ng/mL, biopsy Gleason ≤6, three or fewer positive cores, ≤50% tumour involvement/core) but instead underwent early radical prostatectomy. • We genotyped these men for 35 CaP risk alleles. We defined ‘unfavourable’ pathological characteristics to be Gleason ≥7 and/or ≥ pT2b in their radical prostatectomy specimen. RESULTS • In all, 263 men (median age 60 [46–72] years) fulfilled our selection criteria for active surveillance, and 58 of 263 (22.1%) were found to have ‘unfavourable’ pathological characteristics. • The frequencies of three CaP risk alleles (rs1447295 [8q24], P= 0.004; rs1571801 [9q33.2], P= 0.03; rs11228565 [11q13], P= 0.02) were significantly higher in men with ‘unfavourable’ pathological characteristics. • Two other risk alleles were proportionately more frequent (rs10934853 [3q21], P= 0.06; rs1859962 [17q24], P= 0.07) but did not achieve nominal statistical significance. • Carriers of any one of the significantly over-represented risk alleles had twice the likelihood of unfavourable tumour features (P= 0.03), and carriers of any two had a sevenfold increased likelihood (P= 0.001). • Receiver–operator curve analysis demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.66, suggesting that the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms carried provided discrimination between men with ‘favourable’ and ‘unfavourable’ tumour features in their prostatectomy specimen. CONCLUSION • In potential candidates for active surveillance, certain CaP risk alleles are more prevalent in patients with ‘unfavourable’ pathological characteristics in their radical prostatectomy specimen.
Integrated Networks: National and International Online Experiences

There is an increasing impression among online geography educators that interaction can be developed based on specific teaching and learning methods. The authors developed a practical research study to investigate this issue. The study was based on advanced graduate courses in geography at Beijing Normal University and Texas State University. International interaction was complemented by online collaboration among the US local group. Both synchronous and asynchronous communication systems were used, which spanned two platforms. Results of this experience indicate that teaching and learning methods must be enhanced by a flexible online learning model and extensive organizational support in order to increase interaction and reach a certain level of cooperation.
Evolutionary Morphology, Innovation, and the Synthesis of Evolutionary and Developmental Biology

One foundational question in contemporarybiology is how to `rejoin’ evolution anddevelopment. The emerging research program(evolutionary developmental biology or`evo-devo’) requires a meshing of disciplines,concepts, and explanations that have beendeveloped largely in independence over the pastcentury. In the attempt to comprehend thepresent separation between evolution anddevelopment much attention has been paid to thesplit between genetics and embryology in theearly part of the 20th century with itscodification in the exclusion of embryologyfrom the Modern Synthesis. This encourages acharacterization of evolutionary developmentalbiology as the marriage of evolutionary theoryand embryology via developmental genetics. Butthere remains a largely untold story about thesignificance of morphology and comparativeanatomy (also minimized in the ModernSynthesis). Functional and evolutionarymorphology are critical for understanding thedevelopment of a concept central toevolutionary developmental biology,evolutionary innovation. Highlighting thediscipline of morphology and the concepts ofinnovation and novelty provides an alternativeway of conceptualizing the `evo’ and the `devo’to be synthesized.
Hippocampal mossy fiber LTP is independent of postsynaptic calcium

We tested a proposal that postsynaptic calcium and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are involved in the induction of hippocampal mossy fiber long-term potentiation (LTP)1. We found that blockade of mGluRs with a range of antagonists, or dialysis of the postsynaptic cell with 50 mM BAPTA, had no effect on mossy fiber LTP. Therefore, we concluded that mossy fiber LTP is independent of postsynaptic calcium.
Long Term Contracting with Private Information

This paper explores the possibility for efficient long term contracts among traders with changing and privately known incentives for exchange. We analyze a negotiation process that enables parties to adapt the default rules of exchange to changes in their preferences for trade. The selection of control rights and default options is delegated to the traders themselves, who collectively are best informed as to which investments and exchanges are efficient. The paper demonstrates how contracts with flexible and endogenous default options are tailored to maximize the gains from exchange. Applications of our findings for contract theory, the design of commercial contracts, and the need for legal support are discussed.
Age-stratified outcomes of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.

Objective To present the first age-stratified assessment of outcomes after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms resulting from prostate enlargement. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analysed and compared the morbidity, and the peri-operative and functional outcomes of patients aged 50–59, 60–69, 70–79 and ≥80 years. Complications at 30 days were stratified using the Clavien system. Functional outcomes were assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual urine volume (PVR) and urinary continence. Results A total of 311 patients underwent HoLEP for obstructive voiding symptoms from August 2007 to June 2011, of whom 22 patients were aged 50–59 years, 91 were aged 60–69 years, 153 were aged 70–79 years, and 45 were aged ≥80 years. The overall morbidity rates were similar among the age groups (20, 24.4, 21.6 and 22.1% for groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively), as were the incidence of significant complications (Clavien grade ≥ III), change in serum haemoglobin level, and length of hospital stay. Patients ≥80 years did have a longer catheterization time (3.4 days) than patients aged 50–59 years (1.68 days). By 1 year there were no significant differences in urinary continence, IPSS, Qmax, or PVR among the age groups. Conclusions Overall morbidity, hospital stay, and 1-year functional outcomes of HoLEP were similar among all age groups. This study shows that HoLEP is a safe and effective treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia regardless of age.
The star formation history and accretion-disc fraction among the K-type members of the Scorpius–Centaurus OB association

We present results of a spectroscopic survey for new K- and M-type members of Scorpius-Centaurus (Sco-Cen), the nearest OB Association (~100-200 pc). Using an X-ray, proper motion and color-magnitude selected sample, we obtained spectra for 361 stars, for which we report spectral classifications and Li and Halpha equivalent widths. We identified 156 new members of Sco-Cen, and recovered 51 previously published members. We have combined these with previously known members to form a sample of 493 solar-mass (~0.7-1.3 Msun) members of Sco-Cen. We investigated the star-formation history of this sample, and re-assessed the ages of the massive main-sequence turn-off and the G-type members in all three subgroups. We performed a census for circumstellar disks in our sample using WISE infrared data and find a protoplanetary disk fraction for K-type stars of 4.4$^{+1.6}_{-0.9}$% for Upper Centaurus-Lupus and Lower Centaurus-Crux at ~16 Myr and 9.0$^{+4.0}_{-2.2}$% for Upper Scorpius at ~10 Myr. These data are consistent with a protoplanetary disk e-folding timescale of ~4-5 Myr for ~1 Msun stars, twice that previously quoted (Mamajek 2009), but consistent with the Bell et al. revised age scale of young clusters. Finally, we construct an age map of Scorpius-Centaurus which clearly reveals substructure consisting of concentrations of younger and older stars. We find evidence for strong age gradients within all three subgroups. None of the subgroups are consistent with being simple, coeval populations which formed in single bursts, but likely represents a multitude of smaller star formation episodes of hundreds to tens of stars each.
Predictors of carotid atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at increased risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, even after adjustment for traditional risk factors. We examined the association of traditional risk factors, novel markers of cardiovascular disease (C-reactive protein, homocysteine, lipoprotein(a), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, fibrinogen), and markers indicative of SLE activity (including C3, C4, anti-dsDNA, and prednisone use) with the presence of significant plaque on carotid duplex imaging. METHODS: Six hundred five patients with SLE enrolled in the Hopkins Lupus Cohort Study (92% female, 38% African-American) underwent carotid duplex testing. Prospectively gathered clinical, laboratory, and serologic data from their quarterly followup visits in the Hopkins Lupus Cohort were used in the analyses. For predictors that varied over time, such as cholesterol, the mean values during cohort participation were calculated for the analysis. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. RESULTS: The presence of carotid plaque was strongly associated with age, ranging from 1% among those less than 30 years of age to 61% among those 60 years or older. After adjusting for age, there were moderate or strong associations of carotid plaque with male gender (age-adjusted risk 25% vs 13%; p = 0.051), hypertension (age-adjusted risk 18% vs 8%; p = 0.0001), diabetes mellitus (age-adjusted risk 19% vs 13%; p = 0.075), C3 > 120 mg/dl (age-adjusted risk 18% vs 11% and 14% for normal and low C3, respectively; p = 0.046), serum creatinine > 1.3 (age-adjusted risk 32% vs 13%; p = 0.039), and mean systolic blood pressure > 140 (age-adjusted risk 23% vs 13%; p = 0.028). There was no strong evidence of an association between plaque and SLE disease activity (age-adjusted risk 14% among those with adjusted mean SLEDAI > 3 vs 14% among those with lower SLEDAI) or with time since SLE diagnosis (age-adjusted risk 12%, 14%, and 16% among those with SLE for 8 years, respectively; p = 0.49). CONCLUSION: Traditional cardiovascular risk factors were associated with carotid plaque in SLE. However, SLE disease activity and duration of SLE are not strongly associated with carotid plaque. A "lupus factor" separate from traditional risk factors remains unidentified.
The Effect of Decision-Making Styles and Contextual Experience On Executives' Descriptions of Organizational Problem Formulation*

This study investigated the sensitivity of executives' descriptions of the problem-formulation process to decision styles, to the decision functions that comprise decision styles, and to executive experience. to refine previous research in this area, four types of organizational problem were included for comparison: strategic, operating, human relations, and technical. In addition, the study included executive experience with each problem type, rather than general management experience. the results indicated that decision functions explained more of the variation in problem descriptions for all four of the problem types than did either decision styles or experience. Particularly, the sensing perceptual function related to problem descriptions of the illstructured problem types, strategic and human-relations, and the thinking judgemental function related to problem descriptions of the well-structured problem types, operating and technical. Though this offered support for the premise suggested by Ramaprasad and Mitroff (1984) regarding the usefulness of decision functions, it also raised concern about the available technology for measuring executives' experience in particular contexts.
Context switching system and architecture for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

Given the increasing utilization and dependence on ISR information, operators and imagery analysts monitoring intelligence feeds seek a capability to reduce processing overload in transformation of ISR data to actionable information. The objective they seek is improvement in time critical targeting (TCT) and response time for mission events. Existing techniques addressing this problem are inflexible and lack a dynamic environment for adaptation to changing mission events. This paper presents a novel approach to ISR information collection, processing, and response, called the ISR Context Switching System (ISR-CSS). ISR-CSS enables ground, sea, and airborne sensors to perform preliminary analysis and processing of data automatically at the platform before transferring actionable information back to ground-base operators and intelligence analysts. The on-platform processing includes a catalogue of filtering algorithms concatenated with associated compression algorithms that are automatically selected based on dynamic mission events. The filtering algorithms employ tunable parameters and sensitivities based on the original mission plan along with associated Essential Elements of Information (EEI), data type, and analyst/user preferences. As a mission progresses, ISR-CSS incorporates adaptive parameter updates (model-based, statistics-based, learning-based, and event-driven), providing increased tactical relevant data. If a mission transforms dramatically, where unexpected manual guidance is required, then ISR-CSS allows tactical end-user direct-to-sensor tasking. To address information overload, ISR-CSS provides the provision to filters and prioritize data according to end-user preferences. ISR-CSS dispenses mission-critical and timely actionable information for end-user utilization, enabling faster response to a greater range of threats across the mission spectrum.
Marketing in India.

This article describes the role of marketing in the Indian economy and explains the activities of manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Specific weaknesses in the marketing system are pointed ...
Space use and social structure in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus

Free-ranging, sexually mature meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) were tracked by using radiotelemetry from June through August in Front Royal, Virginia, U.S.A. Estimates of intraspecific spacing were derived from the concurrent movements of up to 16 voles. Positions were recorded hourly for 24 h, twice per week. A total of 16 male and 15 female voles were studied during sixteen 24-h sessions. The daily ranges of males (192.3±109.7 m2) were larger and more variable than those of females (68.6±39.4 m2). Males also changed locations more frequently (Fig. 2). Adult females usually maintained territories free of other females; males overlapped considerably among themselves (Fig. 2). Males temporarily moved into the areas occupied by estrous females, indicating intrasexual competition among males for access to receptive females (Fig. 3). M. pennsylvanicus appears to be promiscuous, is socially organized into territorial, maternal-young units during the breeding season, and fits the female territorial model of population regulation.
Extraction of Aluminum from High Iron Bauxite by Carbothermal Reduction-Ammonium Sulfate Roasting

A new preparation of alumina from high iron bauxite, which has not been being made reasonably use of yet, has been studied. Iron in high iron bauxite was removed by carbothermal reduction and aluminum-rich slag could be obtained. Then aluminum was extracted from aluminum-rich slag by ammonium sulfate roasting. After leaching, Al2(SO4)3 was obtained, which can be used for preparation of alumina. The effects of roasting temperature, roasting time, ammonium sulfate/aluminum-rich slag mass ratio were investigated. Optimum roasting conditions from aluminum-rich slag by ammonium sulfate were found as roasting temperature:400°C;roasting time:120min;ammonium sulfate/aluminum-rich slag mass ratio:6. Approximately 98% of aluminum was effectively extracted.
Structure of Thermotoga maritima TM0439: implications for the mechanism of bacterial GntR transcription regulators with Zn2+-binding FCD domains.

The GntR superfamily of dimeric transcription factors, with more than 6200 members encoded in bacterial genomes, are characterized by N-terminal winged-helix DNA-binding domains and diverse C-terminal regulatory domains which provide a basis for the classification of the constituent families. The largest of these families, FadR, contains nearly 3000 proteins with all-α-helical regulatory domains classified into two related Pfam families: FadR_C and FCD. Only two crystal structures of FadR-family members, those of Escherichia coli FadR protein and LldR from Corynebacterium glutamicum, have been described to date in the literature. Here, the crystal structure of TM0439, a GntR regulator with an FCD domain found in the Thermotoga maritima genome, is described. The FCD domain is similar to that of the LldR regulator and contains a buried metal-binding site. Using atomic absorption spectroscopy and Trp fluorescence, it is shown that the recombinant protein contains bound Ni2+ ions but that it is able to bind Zn2+ with K d < 70 nM. It is concluded that Zn2+ is the likely physiological metal and that it may perform either structural or regulatory roles or both. Finally, the TM0439 structure is compared with two other FadR-family structures recently deposited by structural genomics consortia. The results call for a revision in the classification of the FadR family of transcription factors.
Direct renin inhibition: An analysis of possible benefits

The US Food and Drug Administration's approval in March 2007 of aliskiren, the first commercially available direct renin inhibitor, for the treatment of hypertension met with great enthusiasm. Clinical trials have demonstrated it to be as effective as other commonly prescribed antihypertensive agents with few side effects. Preclinical studies in genetically manipulated rats have shown it to be effective in reversing angiotensin II-induced cardiac and renal damage. Despite the notable absence of human clinical data for this agent, many clinicians have touted aliskiren as the ideal agent to achieve additional suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) as a means to reduce the morbidity and mortality of chronic diseases of the cardiovascular and renal systems. Clinical studies are ongoing and future studies are planned to prove its effectiveness in several chronic diseases known to be related to RAAS activation.