cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SURVIVAL AND CAUSE‐SPECIFIC MORTALITY OF FEMALE NORTHERN PINTAILS IN SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN

Unlike most prairie-nesting ducks, the North American population of northern pintails (Anas acuta) has shown limited response to improved wetland conditions on the U.S. and Canadian prairies during the mid to late 1990s. Because adult female survival is a key parameter affecting waterfowl population dynamics, and a large fraction of annual mortality for some dabbling ducks occurs during the nesting season, we used radiotelemetry to estimate nesting season survival and cause-specific mortality of adult female northern pintails that were monitored during an induced renesting study. We conducted our research in a predominantly agricultural landscape in southern Saskatchewan during 1998–2000, an area that is typical of much of the pintail's prairie breeding range. The survival rate of 140 females for a 75-day interval (30 Apr–14 Jul) during the nesting season was 0.806 ± 0.046. Survival did not vary among years or between ages (second-year, after second-year), nor was it related to female body condition (body mass adjusted for structural size, date, and year of capture). We documented 15 mortalities and found that the 75-day mortality rate due to raptors (0.141 ± 0.040) was greater than that due to red fox (Vulpes vulpes; 0.011 ± 0.011), collisions with power lines (0.011 ± 0.011), or unknown factors (0.039 ± 0.027). Our results differ from prior research that indicated red fox was a major predator of female pintails during the nesting season. Raptors were the primary mortality agent for female pintails, perhaps because of limited exposure during incubation in our study, or the use of open habitats by pintails in southern Saskatchewan. Management programs that provide nesting or wetland habitats with overhead concealment, or that reduce perch sites for raptors in areas with high pintail densities, may decrease the risk of avian predation on female pintails.
An Unusual Structure Implicated in Initiation of DNA Synthesis

Despite the fact that rapid advances have been made in deciphering the detailed molecular mechanism of DNA replication in prokaryotes (1), parallel progress has not been made in eukaryotic systems. This has been due in great part to the inherent complexity of eukaryotic cells, the lack of well characterized enzymes, and the lack of specific mutations, the availability of which has greatly facilitated investigations in prokaryotes. Since the publication in 1968 of the replicon model of eukaryotic DNA replication (2), very little has been established in terms of defining the replicon at the molecular level. In particular, there is almost no knowledge concerning either possible chromosomal determinants or mechanisms involved in the initiation of DNA synthesis at the level of individual replicons. In their 1968 paper (2) Huberman and Riggs state: “It is now well established that, at the level of resolution of whole chromosome auto-radiography, regions of initiation and termination of DNA replication are reproducibly and heritably controlled. However, neither whole chromosome autoradiographic studies nor the studies presented in this paper have been able to determine whether sites of initiation (origins) are reproducible at the atomic level. The
Promoting Counseling Students' Advocacy Competencies through Service-Learning

This article describes an action research evaluation of a service-learning advocacy project implemented in doctoral-level and masters-level classes in a CACREP-accredited counseling program. The project involved students working together (a) to develop public policy guides related to the 2008 Presidential election and (b) to plan and implement an event designed to inform the public about policies relevant to sexuality, career issues, and mental health. The qualitative action research evaluation of the project focused on students’ perceptions of the project throughout its implementation. The results indicate that the project holds value for student learning and service to the community, although students may vary in their perceptions of the project. The authors conclude with future directions for research and counselor education.
Isolation of gravimetrically quantifiable alkali metal arenides using 18-crown-6

Small, polyaromatic radical monoanions, e.g. C10H8−˙, are a valued class of reagents that are routinely used as potent outer-sphere reductants. Owing to their high reactivity, these arenides are typically prepared in solution and used in situ. We have found that treatment of M[arene−˙] (M = Li, Na, K; arene = biphenyl, naphthalene, anthracene, perylene) with the 18-crown-6 polyether readily provides [M(18-c-6)(solvent)n][arene−˙] as thermally stable, easily handled, “bottleable” crystalline solids that can be stored indefinitely under inert conditions.
Tryptophan biosynthesis is important for resistance to replicative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Acute tryptophan depletion is used to induce low levels of serotonin in the brain. This method has been widely used in psychiatric studies to evaluate the effect of low levels of serotonin, and is generally considered a safe and reversible procedure. Here we use the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study the effects of tryptophan depletion on growth rate upon exposure to DNA-damaging agents. Surprisingly, we found that budding yeast undergoing tryptophan depletion were more sensitive to DNA-damaging agents such as methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) and hydroxyurea (HU). We found that this defect was independent of several DNA repair pathways, such as homologous recombination, base excision repair and translesion synthesis, and that this damage sensitivity was not due to impaired S-phase signalling. Upon further analysis, we found that the DNA-damage sensitivity of tryptophan depletion was likely due to impaired protein synthesis. These studies describe an important source of variance in budding yeast when using tryptophan as an auxotrophic marker, particularly on studies focusing on DNA repair, and suggest that further testing of the effect of tryptophan depletion on DNA repair in mammalian cells is warranted. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
My Autobiography

The story of computing is the story of humanity. This is a story of ambition, invention, creativity, vision, avarice, and serendipity, powered by a refusal to accept the limits of our bodies and minds. The Web extra at http://youtu.be/j3RI3dkPCvY is an audio podcast of this column.
The 9E3 protein: immunolocalization in vivo and evidence for multiple forms in culture

The avian gene 9E3/CEF4 belongs to a group of genes whose products are highly conserved and are homologous to inflammatory mediators. These genes, sometimes referred to as the gro family, are also expressed upon wounding or serum-stimulation of quiescent cells, suggesting that they may be important in aspects of growth and/or wound healing. We have used an antibody to the product of the 9E3 gene to show for the first time the distribution in vivo of the protein of one of these genes. The polyclonal antibody was produced against a synthetic peptide, [Cys76], 9E3, (77-103), located at the carboxy end of the molecule. The specificity of the antibody was determined by transfection of the 9E3 cDNA into Cos 7 cells, which do not express this gene. Moreover, despite the high homology between 9E3 and IL-8, the antibody did not crossreact with this molecule. The antibody was used to immuno-precipitate the protein from cultured normal and RSV-transformed chick embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) and to determine its distribution in tissues of newly hatched chicks. The staining was abundant in the cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) of connective tissue and other tissues of mesenchymal origin, such as bone and tendon. Most cells in the granulation tissue of wounds stained, some more intensely than others; the ECM also stained, especially in areas of scar tissue where collagen is abundant. In RSV-induced tumors, the protein was absent except in necrotic areas where a few cells--potentially macrophages--stained. In general, as expected, the protein was present in the cells and tissues that expressed the mRNA, but there were exceptions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Why Bound Amantadine Fails to Inhibit Proton Conductance According to Simulations of the Drug-Resistant Influenza A M2 (S31N)

The mechanisms responsible for drug resistance in the Asn31 variant of the M2 protein of influenza A are not well understood. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed on wild-type (Ser31) and S31N influenza A M2 in the homotetramer configuration. After evaluation of 13 published M2 structures, a solid-state NMR structure with amantadine bound was selected for simulations, an S31N mutant structure was developed and equilibrated, and the native and mutant structures were used to determine the binding behavior of amantadine and the dynamics of water in the two channels. Amantadine is stable in the plugging region of wild-type M2, with the adamantane in contact with the Val27 side chains, while amantadine in S31N M2 has more variable movement and orientation, and spontaneously moves lower into the central cavity of the channel. Free energy profiles from umbrella sampling support this observation. In this configuration, water surrounds the drug and can easily transport protons past it, so the drug binds without blocking proton transport in the S31N M2 channel.
Erythrocyte Inorganic Pyrophosphatase Activity in the Newborn Infant.

SummaryErythrocyte inorganic pyrophosphatase activity was measured on 90 samples of human blood. The enzyme activity was found to be similar in normal newborn infants and normal adults. Erythrocyte pyrophosphatase activity was increased in infants affected with Rh and ABO hemolytic disease. When erythrocytes were separated into light and heavy cell fractions, pyrophosphatase activity was increased in the lighter fraction with higher reticulocyte content.
When Frontline Employee Behavior Backfires Distinguishing Between Customer Gratitude and Indebtedness and Their Impact on Relational Behaviors

Frontline employee behaviors can elicit gratitude, allowing service providers to reap benefits including positive word of mouth. However, research has begun to suggest some behaviors might instead elicit indebtedness, a different emotion not always associated with positive outcomes. Using a qualitative study, we construct a model grounded in the threat to self-esteem theory that delineates differences in employee behaviors that generate these two emotions and the consequences of their elicitation. The model is empirically tested in two studies. Consistent with the threat to self-esteem theory, the findings indicate that customer gratitude arises in supportive employee-customer encounters and drives positive relational behaviors. Conversely, customer indebtedness occurs in threatening employee-customer encounters and possesses the potential to deter positive relational behaviors. As a result, we encourage scholars to appreciate the differences between these two emotions and managers to promote employee beh...
Stakeholder perceptions of water systems and hydro-climate information in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

In the face of changing environmental and socio-economic drivers, access to, understanding of, and the use of probabilistic climate forecasts and other sources of scientific hydro-climate information are important for informed decision making in the water sector. This paper characterizes and compares local perceptions of the water system and hydro-climate information in the seasonally dry province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 40 participants from 7 water-related groups. Interview results were used to compare mental models of the drivers of water systems and water scarcity mitigation/adaptation options, and relate them to stakeholder information needs, accuracy ratings, and use. Our results suggest that: 1) while there appear to be similar perceptions of the drivers of rainfall and groundwater, there is a gap between groups in the use of forecasts, the awareness of management options, and the level of detailed understanding of how the water system works; 2) there are potential mismatches between the information presented in rainfall forecasts and the stated and/or salient information needs of some stakeholders, specifically in the case of groundwater resources; 3) there appear to be different perceptions of forecasts even among groups that rate the accuracy of such forecasts the same; and 4) there appears to be a relationship between the use of forecasts and certain types of management actions such as long-term planning. Our findings warrant further investigation and confirmation and may contribute to the development of communications that help stakeholders make informed decisions about freshwater management in semi-arid regions.
The Coming of the Star-Child: The Reception of the Revelation of the Magi in New Age Religious Thought and Ufology

The Revelation of the Magi is the longest and most complex ancient Christian apocryphal writing devoted to the Magi. In this paper, after discussing the basic issues surrounding the interpretation of this text, I explore the popular reception of the text after my publication of it in 2010. This popular reception has been dominated by New Age and ufological (that is, the theorizing of unidentified flying objects) interpretative perspectives. Rather than viewing these interpretations as anachronistic, the paper argues that they may have far more in common with the circumstances that gave rise to the Revelation of the Magi than might initially be supposed. Ultimately, the Revelation of the Magi can be profitably characterized as a “gnostic” text—despite its lack of a demiurge—because of its strongly countercultural religious outlook, an outlook it shares with much New Age religious thought.
Quantum projection noise limited stability and blackbody radiation shift uncertainty of NRC's Sr + atomic clock

We present the current status of the Sr+ optical atomic ion clock at the National Research Council of Canada including the study of the quantum projection noise (QPN) limited stability and the progress on the evaluation of the blackbody radiation (BBR) shift uncertainty. The latest QPN limited stability of NRC's Sr+ clock is 3 × 10−15 at 1 sec averaging time. The fractional evaluated accuracy of the Sr+ ion clock has reached 1.2 × 10−17 and is now dominated by the BBR shift uncertainty, the improved evaluation of which is currently in progress.
Advances in nonlinear network models and algorithms

Network models with nonlinear objectives occur in numerous economic, engineering and management applications. These areas are described, along with highly specialized nonlinear programming algorithms for solving the resulting large-scale problems. It is shown that nonlinear network models can be handled efficiently using serial or vector processing computers. Extensions to stochastic programs are discussed.
Dysfunction of Inward Rectifier Potassium Channel in Rbm20-/- Rats

Introduction: By positional cloning using a previously characterized rat strain with altered titin mRNA splicing, we have identified a loss-of-function mutation in the gene encoding RNA binding motif protein 20 (Rbm20) as the underlying cause of pathological titin isoform expression. The Rbm20-/- rats exhibit many of the clinical features that are observed in patients with cardiomyopathy, such as, ventricular enlargement, arrhythmia, increased rate of sudden death, and extensive fibrosis. RBM20 has recently been linked to human dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Also recent study have reported that the KCNJ genes which encoding the Kir2.x K+ channels were altered in DCM human hearts. Here we ask if the background inward rectifier, IK1, is changed in the Rbm20-/- rats. Methods and Results: The ventricular myocytes from both wild type (WT) and Rbm20-/- rats were isolated from Langendorf preparations for recording the IK1 by using whole cell voltage clamping method. The cell membrane was clamped from −140 mV to 60 mV in increments of 10 mV for 500 ms from a holding potential of −40 mV. IK1was recorded before and after application of 1 mM BaCl2. IK1 was determined by subtracting the currents recorded with BaCl2 solution and currents recorded without it, as BaCl2 blocks IK1. Our data showed that the Ba2+-sensitive potassium currents, IK1, was significantly reduced in the isolated ventricular cells from Rbm20-/- rats compared to WT over the voltage range of −40 mV ∼ 60 mV. Conclusions: We conclude that the Rbm20-/- rats showed not only the structural and mechanical remodeling but also electrical remodeling in the heart. IK1 contributes to the final repolarization and stabilizes the resting membrane potential in normal cardiac muscle, so its loss from Rbm20-/- rats may lead to the increased incidence of arrhythmias and sudden death seen in these rats.
Managing CKD by Telemedicine: the Zuni Telenephrology Clinic

Telemedicine has significant potential to extend nephrology consultation to rural and isolated communities. We describe a telenephrology clinic that has delivered ongoing consultative care from a nephrologist based at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, to the Zuni Comprehensive Health Center in western New Mexico. Over the past 9 years, the clinic has conducted 1870 patient visits managing patients using a collaborative approach engaging a nurse case manager, nephrologist, primary clinicians, pharmacists, and community health nurses. A significant proportion of the care provided is directed toward patients with advanced kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate
Factors Influencing Management and Outcome in Patients with Occult Breast Cancer with Axillary Lymph Node Involvement: Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Occult breast cancer (OBC) is rare and optimal local–regional (LR) management has not been defined. Using a patient registry database, we examine factors associated with treatment and outcomes in OBC. Female patients with cT0 N1/2 M0 BC were selected from the National Cancer Database (2004–2013) and categorized into four treatment groups: MAST = mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) ± radiation (RT); RT + ALND = RT with ALND, no breast surgery; ALND = ALND alone; OBS = no breast surgery, RT, or ALND. Patient characteristics and overall survival (OS) were compared between groups, and multivariable analysis was used to identify factors associated with treatment and OS. Among 2.03 million BC cases, 1853 females (0.09%) with cT0 N1/2 M0 disease were identified and 1231 patients were categorized into a treatment group: MAST = 592, RT + ALND = 342, ALND = 106, OBS = 191. On logistic regression, care at an academic center was associated with a higher likelihood of RT + ALND compared with MAST (odds ratio 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50–2.74, p < 0.001). Patients treated with RT + ALND had significantly better OS on univariate survival analysis compared with patients treated with MAST (hazard ratio [HR] 0.475, 95% CI 0.306–0.736, p = 0.001). RT + ALND was independently associated with OS on multivariable survival analysis (HR 0.509, 95% CI 0.321–0.808, p = 0.004), after adjusting for covariates. Patients with OBC were more likely to undergo RT + ALND if they received care at an academic center. Patients treated with RT + ALND had significantly better OS compared with patients treated with MAST, after adjusting for covariates. This supports the use of RT + ALND as LR treatment for patients with OBC.
The Endorsed and Spontaneous Reading and Writing Exercises of Students in Early State Normal Schools in Massachusetts (1839–1850)

Official reading exercises connected with a teacher-directed curriculum centered on grammar, natural philosophy, moral philosophy, geography, arithmetic and scriptures. This endorsed curriculum was reviewed by examiners who visited the first state normal schools. Due to controversy that surrounded the early state normal schools related to expense, religious affiliation and political connections, the future of these institutions was not yet determined and they subsequently were monitored closely. In the evenings, however, the normal school students also formed reading circles during which they perused other books that they found of interest. Some of these books, written by authors who composed pieces about women issues, subsequently raised the consciousness of normal school students. One example is Mrs. Sigourney’s Letters to Young Ladies, published in 1837 by Lydia Sigourney. Though these exercises might be considered unofficial or spontaneous, they were meaningful to the students. They helped foster collectivity while also expanding students’ learning experiences. The endorsed writing exercises of early state normal school students included composition and required journal writing. However, the students also engaged in spontaneous writing exercises during which they wrote poetry to each other, letters, and some fictional writing. One group of early state normal school students also developed a document which might be considered an early student newspaper. These shared activities expanded the learning experiences of students, while also creating a sense of autonomy in their studies.
Xylan epitope profiling: an enhanced approach to study organ development-dependent changes in xylan structure, biosynthesis, and deposition in plant cell walls

Xylan is a major hemicellulosic component in the cell walls of higher plants especially in the secondary walls of vascular cells which are playing important roles in physiological processes and overall mechanical strength. Being the second most abundant cell wall polymer after cellulose, xylan is an abundant non-cellulosic carbohydrate constituent of plant biomass. Xylan structures have been demonstrated to contribute to plant biomass recalcitrance during bioenergy applications. A critical understanding of xylan composition, structure, and biosynthesis in developing plant stems will allow an increased understanding of how cell walls are put together in this organ in a basic research, and, in applied research, will improve strategies in xylan engineering to reduce biomass recalcitrance for economically feasible biofuel production. We describe an approach to enable the monitoring of xylan epitope structures in cell walls during the stem maturation process in Arabidopsis. The technique integrates glycome profiling, an in vitro immunoanalytical platform, and in situ immunolocalisation to provide comprehensive details on the presence, relative abundances, and dynamics with which diverse xylan epitope structures are integrated to the cell walls throughout the stem maturation process. Our experimental results and the supporting in silico analysis demonstrated that xylan deposition in stems occurs early on in stem development; however, xylan epitope types (representing substituted and unsubstituted regions on xylan backbone made of β-(1,4)-linked xylose residues) and the strength of their integration into the final wall structure vary during stem maturation. Our novel approach thus provides a method to comprehensively survey the differences in xylan epitope patterning and deposition occurring in stem development and thereby providing a robust tool for characterising altered xylan integration patterns in cell walls during the stem maturation process in diverse plant cell wall biosynthetic mutants. Our findings also suggest that this approach could rapidly and reliably delineate xylan deposition patterns in the cell walls of plants belonging to diverse phylogenetic classes providing novel insights into the functional roles of xylans in overall growth and development.
Invading ethnography: A queer of color reflexive practice:

This article proposes invading ethnography as reflexive practice that disrupts normative representations of gender and sexuality. Writing from the perspective of the queer of color, this reflexive ...
Obstetricians Wanted: No Mothers Need Apply

I was an obstetrician, and then I was a mother, until I had to give up the one for the other.
Microinjection of Xenopus oocytes: An automated device for volume control in the nanoliter range

Abstract Injection of Xenopus oocytes is a technique widely used in studies of gene expression for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of DNA and mRNA. Published methods for controlling and assessing volumes transferred into oocytes are tedious, time consuming, and require considerable expertise. We describe the construction of an apparatus which automatically controls nanoliter injection volumes. For injection volumes from 50 to 10 nl, the mean volume injected into 10 oocytes was within 10% of the expected value and often better, and even for 1-nl injections was within 20% of the expected value. The precision of volume dispensing into individual oocytes decreased with decreasing volume; the standard deviation was about 10–15% of the mean for volumes in the 30- to 50-nl range and about 30–40% of the mean for volumes in the 1- to 2-nl range.
Keynote lecture: strategies for optimal cardiovascular aging

This review summarizes the opening keynote presentation overview of the American Physiological Society Conference on Cardiovascular Aging: New Frontiers and Old Friends held in Westminster, CO, in ...
The Second Century Papers: Looking Ahead in Aeronautics—19: Air Traffic and Navigation in the Second Century

Navigation has been defined as “the business of conducting a craft as it moves about its ways“. This broad definition of navigation encompasses the whole process of handling, steering, control, guidance and operation of the craft in a safe and economic manner. Navigation has a much longer history than aeronautics. As man first began to explore the world and to develop trade, the need for safe and predictable operation of the craft was a spur to the application of the most advanced science and technology of the day.
A Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice Produces Lasting Deficits in Brain Metabolism

Metabolic uncoupling has been well-characterized during the first minutes-to-days after a traumatic brain injury (TBI), yet mitochondrial bioenergetics during the weeks-to-months after a brain injury is poorly defined, particularly after a mild TBI. We hypothesized that a closed head injury (CHI) would be associated with deficits in mitochondrial bioenergetics at one month after the injury. A significant decrease in state-III (adenosine triphosphate production) and state-V (complex-I) driven mitochondrial respiration was found at one month post-injury in adult C57Bl/6J mice. Isolation of synaptic mitochondria demonstrated that the deficit in state-III and state-V was primarily neuronal. Injured mice had a temporally consistent deficit in memory recall at one month post-injury. Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) at 7-Tesla, we found significant decreases in phosphocreatine, N-Acetylaspartic acid, and total choline. We also found regional variations in cerebral blood flow, including both hypo- and hyperperfusion, as measured by a pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling MR sequence. Our results highlight a chronic deficit in mitochondrial bioenergetics associated with a CHI that may lead toward a novel approach for neurorestoration after a mild TBI. MRS provides a potential biomarker for assessing the efficacy of candidate treatments targeted at improving mitochondrial bioenergetics.
Pu’u Kohola: Spatial Genealogy of a Hawaiian Symbolic Landscape

Editors’ Note: This chapter highlights our contention that symbolization is not merely an act of cognition, but rather a process of enactment. Historical events are lived on the basis of how they manifest in the shaping of the present. Experiences of contemporary Native Hawaiians reflect the presence of past layers that are a precognitive witnessing through their body schema, the behaviors that express the meaning of their existential situations. The Pu‘u Kohola commemorative ceremony lends credence that an intellectualist notion of symbolization is anemic, an insufficient constitution of meaning. Hawaiians have taken care to enact a symbolic event that resonates with their experiences, expressive of a lived-history, the sedimentation of layers of existential meaning that needs to be symbolically gestured in the confirmation of identities. The ceremony translates this meaning of the “who—landscape intertwining” into a spatialized/spatializing symbolic incorporation/ek-stasis, intensified and heightened through an embodied participatory sociality.
Epidermolysis Bullosa Registries and the Epidemiology of Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)

Meaningful basic and clinical research is heavily dependent on the availability of large numbers of well-characterized patients, not only for participation in randomized clinical trials but also as a source of tissue samples (blood, DNA, others), the latter of which may be used experimentally to gain further insight into the pathogenesis of the disease in question. This is particularly critical for rare diseases having multiple phenotypes and genotypes, since far too few patients may be identified by any single investigator or within any one institution to permit the proper pursuit of such studies. Disease registries, if properly designed and executed, can overcome this hurdle, especially if population based. Inherited epidermolysis bullosa (EB) serves as the model for such an approach, based on the robust experiences of the National (USA) EB Registry (NEBR) and several smaller EB registries that have subsequently arisen in other countries. A properly designed rare disease registry can serve as far more than just a repository of patients for later clinical study. As well demonstrated by 16 years of continuous data collection by the NEBR, rigorous methodological application of the principles of epidemiological case finding and biostatistical analysis and modeling can permit the determination of not only the prevalence and incidence of each disease subtype but also the characterization of the protean clinical and laboratory findings present in each. As a correlate, longitudinal data collection can lead to accurate prognostication of the natural history of the disease. In this chapter we will discuss in detail the optimal design of rare disease registries, as well as the potential pitfalls and limitations associated with poor study design, and then illustrate these by using the extensive data generated by the NEBR and other EB registries worldwide.
Robotics and Infertility

Surgery in the field of reproduction has traditionally been taught utilizing tradition laparotomy incision. The advantages of the laparotomy approach include depth perception and tactile feedback from the resistance of tissue/organ dynamics. In addition, there is an ease of intraabdominal suturing from the six degrees of freedom afforded from the human wrist. Although a laparotomy is advantageous for the surgeon compared to other surgical techniques, there are disadvantages for the patient, including a large abdominal incision, prolonged hospitalization, increased postoperative analgesic requirements, and increased morbidity.1,2 This has led some surgeons to seek out minimally invasive approaches. The first laparoscopy was described by Ott from Petrograd, who inspected the abdominal cavity using a head mirror and an abdominal wall speculum in 1901, calling the procedure ventroscopy.3 However, it was the first International Symposium of Gynecologic Endoscopy in 1964 that initiated interest in laparoscopic tubal sterilization,4 gamete intrafallopian tubal transfer,5 and other laparoscopic gynecologic procedures in the ensuing four decades.6
Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation in the Management of Patients With Colorectal Cancer

This chapter provides a brief overview of the methods of percutaneous thermal ablation including high-intensity focused ultrasound, interstitial laser, microwave, cryo and radiofrequency currently in use, followed by a discussion of the potential use of these modalities in patients with colorectal cancer. The most common indication for thermal ablation in this group of patients is the treatment of metastatic disease to the liver. Ideal candidates for this therapy will have disease limited to the liver, with no more than three lesions, all less than 3 cm in diameter. Indications may be expanded to treat patients with a single larger lesion, or in other instances where the objective is palliation rather than “cure. ” Technical issues that make some lesions treatable and other similar lesions not are outlined. The use of ablative therapies in other areas of the body such as lung and bone are also discussed.
Madelung lipomatosis presenting as a manifestation of myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERRF) syndrome.

This is a unique case of a patient with a history of myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERRF) syndrome presenting with Madelung or multiple symmetric lipomatosis. We discuss the etiology of MERRF syndrome and its link with Madelung lipomatosis via a common mitochondrial mutation that can be present in both diseases. The appearance of Madelung lipomatosis should prompt physicians to search for other neural, muscular, and pulmonary findings that may lead to a diagnosis of MERRF syndrome.
A Rescheduling Method of Drone Flights under Insufficient Remaining Battery Duration

A rescheduling method is proposed for drone flights to handle insufficient remaining battery duration during flights. The flight of drones is usually affected by strong winds and/or moving obstacles. To keep a planned flight path, drones are imposed to consume more battery to overcome these unexpected external events. It results in insufficient battery duration, which cannot guarantee the safe return of drones and/or the fulfillment of the assigned mission (demands). Hence, the rescheduling method is presented to ensure the safe return of drones and minimize the unmet demand.
Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticle-loaded amorphous calcium phosphate microspheres for dental applications

The goals of this work were (1) to synthesize composite nanostructures comprised of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) loaded with silver nanoparticles using a spray pyrolysis method and (2) to demonstrate their potential for use in dental adhesives. Release of silver ions from these nanostructures could provide antibacterial activity, while release of calcium and phosphate ions could promote tooth remineralization. Precursor solutions were prepared with varying silver concentrations corresponding to 5, 10, and 15 mol% of the calcium content, then sprayed into a furnace (550 °C) as droplets with a mean diameter near 2 μm. In this process, each droplet is converted into a single solid microsphere via rapid heating. The synthesized particles were collected using a polymeric filter installed at the end of the reaction zone. Different quantities (2, 5, and 10 wt%) of the nanocomposite material were mixed with a commercially available dental adhesive (Single Bond, 3M ESPE) which was then polymerized into discs for incubation in a solution simulating cariogenic conditions. Release of silver, calcium and phosphorus ions into the solution was measured for 1 month. The nanostructures of ∼10 nm silver nanoparticles embedded into 100 nm to 2 μm ACP particles demonstrated good dispersion in the adhesive resin blend, which in application would shield surrounding tissues from direct contact with silver. The composite nanoparticles provided a quick initial release of ions after which the concentration of calcium, phosphorous, and silver in the incubation solution remained constant or increased slightly. The dispersibility and ion release of the new nanostructures may offer potential for use in dental materials to achieve anti-bacterial and remineralization effects.
The Rise and Fall of the Military Techno-Thriller

This article, first published in the November 2009 Internet Review of Science Fiction, is a study of the emergence and subsequent decline of the military techno-thriller genre.
Low-power and Compact Microwave RFID Reader for Sensing Applications in Space

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is the driving technology behind many compelling applications, such as internet-of-things (IoT), smart cities, and particle tracking. However, it is always challenging to make small, low-cost transponder with little power consumption. RFID tags are useful for a host of distributed sensing applications because they do not require a wired power source and use very little power to communicate wirelessly. Such tags also have great potential for use in sensing applications onboard spacecraft including spacecraft structural health monitoring and sensitive field measurements. This paper proposed the design and characterization process of a low-power, compact RFID transceiver for sensing applications in space. This reader operates at the 5725-5850 MHz frequency ISM band with 31 dBm equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) and -58 dBm to -82 dBm sensitivity in different conditions.
Repair-deficient 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase homozygous mutant mouse cells have increased sensitivity to alkylation-induced chromosome damage and cell killing.

Abstract In Escherichia coli, the repair of 3-methyladenine (3MeA) DNA lesions prevents alkylation-induced cell death because unrepaired 3MeA blocks DNA replication. Whether this lesion is cytotoxic to mammalian cells has been difficult to establish in the absence of 3MeA repair-deficient cell lines. We previously isolated and characterized a mouse 3MeA DNA glycosylase cDNA (Aag) that provides resistance to killing by alkylating agents in E. coli. To determine the in vivo role of Aag, we cloned a large fragment of the Aag gene and used it to create Aag-deficient mouse cells by targeted homologous recombination. Aag null cells have no detectable Aag transcripts or 3MeA DNA glycosylase activity. The loss of Aag renders cells significantly more sensitive to methyl methanesulfonate-induced chromosome damage, and to cell killing induced by two methylating agents, one of which produces almost exclusively 3MeAs. Aag null embryonic stem cells become sensitive to two cancer chemotherapeutic alkylating agents, namely 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea and mitomycin C, indicating that Aag status is an important determinant of cellular resistance to these agents. We conclude that this mammalian 3MeA DNA glycosylase plays a pivotal role in preventing alkylation-induced chromosome damage and cytotoxicity.
Mining Diversified Shared Decision Tree Sets for Discovering Cross Domain Similarities

This paper studies the problem of mining diversified sets of shared decision trees (SDTs). Given two datasets representing two application domains, an SDT is a decision tree that can perform classification on both datasets and it captures class-based population-structure similarity between the two datasets. Previous studies considered mining just one SDT. The present paper considers mining a small diversified set of SDTs having two properties: (1) each SDT in the set has high quality with regard to “shared” accuracy and population-structure similarity and (2) different SDTs in the set are very different from each other. A diversified set of SDTs can serve as a concise representative of the huge space of possible cross-domain similarities, thus offering an effective way for users to examine/select informative SDTs from that huge space. The diversity of an SDT set is measured in terms of the difference of the attribute usage among the SDTs. The paper provides effective algorithms to mine diversified sets of SDTs. Experimental results show that the algorithms are effective and can find diversified sets of high quality SDTs.
Epidemiology of abusive head trauma in West Virginia children <24 months: 2000-2010.

Abstract Background Few states have published statewide epidemiology of abusive head trauma (AHT). Objective To examine the statewide epidemiology of AHT in West Virginia (WV), with the primary objective of establishing AHT incidence for comparison to national data, and to use as a baseline for comparison to incidence post-implementation of a statewide AHT prevention program. Participants and setting AHT cases in children less than 2 years old were identified from the 3 tertiary pediatric centers in WV. Methods Cases were identified by using ICD-9 codes for initially identifying those with injuries which might be consistent with AHT, followed by medical record review to determine which of these met the criteria for inclusion as a case. Medical examiner data was used to find additional cases of AHT. Using the number of cases identified along with relevant census data, incidence of AHT was calculated. Results There were 120 cases of AHT treated in WV hospitals from 2000 to 2010, 100 of which were WV residents. The incidence was 36.1/100,000 children Conclusions Compared to US national, state and regional figures, the WV incidence of AHT was among the highest. In addition, the incidence of AHT increased significantly over the study period. Possible factors contributing to the rise in incidence are discussed.
CONTROL OF IMMUNOCOMPETENT CELL DIFFERENTIATION AND FUNCTION BY PRODUCTS OF THE MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY GENE COMPLEX

Publisher Summary This chapter presents evidences for the genetic restrictions of T–B cell interactions, including most recent experiments mapping CI genes to the I-A subregion. It also discusses studies on the isolation and characterization of a biologically active T cell factor, which appears to reflect the molecule involved in such regulatory cell interactions. The evidence for the existence of genetic restrictions in T–B cell interactions can be succinctly summarized as follows: Under conditions in which syngeneic lymphoid cells interact together to develop humoral immune responses, cells lacking certain critical identities in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes fail to interact successfully. Based on these observations, it is proposed that genes in the H-2 complex are coded for products involved in the development of effective cell–cell interactions in the immune response. There is a strong evidence that the molecules involved in the differentiation process are the gene products of the MHC, which appear to be phenotypically interrelated on the surface membranes of such cells..
Significance of atypical endometrial cells in women younger than 40 years of age.

Introduction The presence of atypical endometrial cells in the Papanicolaou (Pap) test has been associated with an increased rate of endometrial malignancy, with reported rates ranging from 14% to 47%. However, most reported studies have focused on patients who were aged >40 years. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical significance of identifying atypical endometrial cells in Pap test samples in women aged Materials and methods A search of the cytology Pap test database was performed from 2000 to 2014 using the keywords “atypical endometrial cells” or “atypical glandular cells favor endometrial origin” in women aged Results The database search yielded 63 study cases. Of these 63 patients, 52 had subsequently undergone endometrial biopsy. Of the 52 patients with follow-up biopsy findings available, 9 (17.3%) had premalignant (5 with atypical hyperplasia) or malignant (4 with endometrioid adenocarcinoma) lesions. In addition, 16 patients (30.8%) had other endometrial pathologic features. The 9 patients with premalignant or malignant endometrial lesions (8 white, 1 black) were overweight or obese; 3 of the patients did not have any clinical symptoms. All 4 patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma had negative Lynch syndrome screening findings. Conclusions Our results suggest that it is important to recognize the presence of atypical endometrial cells in the Pap tests from young patients, given its association with the finding of premalignant and malignant pathologic features in subsequent endometrial biopsies.
So You Want to Be a Census Geographer? Five Steps to Becoming Census Savvy

The work of census geographers uncovers the dynamics of changing neighborhoods, businesses, jobs, migration flows, housing, and population patterns that occur in a variety of places where we live. ...
Decomposing Trends in Child Obesity

We unravel the absolute level and relative prominence of two demographic processes that are relevant for childhood obesity, and that will ultimately determine the long-term course and pace of change in child obesity rates. We leverage data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to decompose change in child obesity from 1971 to 2012. We partition change into that attributable to (1) healthier, more nutritionally and economically advantaged cohorts in the population being replaced by cohorts of children who are less advantaged (between-cohort change), and (2) the health habits, nutrition, and social and economic circumstances of all cohorts of children worsening over time (within-cohort change). The rise in obesity among children aged 2 to 19 years is solely due to intracohort change driven by variation in food security composition and in the diet of the population over time. Child obesity in the population rose largely because of individual increases in weight status that are broadly distributed across age and cohort groups. Smaller but significant cohort replacement effects slightly attenuated these intracohort change effects over the study period, leading to a more gradual increase in obesity. Our results provide some reasons for optimism. Given that population estimates of child obesity rose because the typical member of all cohorts became heavier over time at all stages of the early life course, successful policy and health interventions that focus on changing health habits across all ages and generations have the potential to quickly slow or reverse the upward trend in child obesity.
When Does Treatment in Cancer Care Become Futile

Futility in medicine has been defined as excessive medical intervention with very little prospect of altering the clinical outcome in a positive manner. If treatments fail to release our patients from the preoccupation with the illness and do not allow them to pursue their life goals, then perhaps that treatment is futile.
Unpolluted Decisions : Air Quality and Judicial Outcomes in China

Abstract Judicial outcomes should not be influenced by factors that have no bearing on legal decisions, but studies have shown that judges can be affected by extraneous variables such as weather, sports events, and food consumption. Employing the universe of drug offense court decisions in five major Chinese cities between 2014 and 2015, we study whether air pollution and temperature affect sentencing outcomes in China, where air pollution is severe and judges have considerable discretion in sentencing drug cases. We find that Chinese criminal judges are not at all affected by pollution or temperature changes. One standard deviation change in air pollutant PM2.5 level may change the sentence length by no more than 2% of its standard deviation with over 95% probability. Further analysis shows that our results are robust to a variety of specifications and a battery of robustness checks. Our findings suggest that judicial rulings are not always swayed by extraneous factors, and we discuss conditions under which public officials are more likely to be shielded from these non-legal factors.
A holistic perspective of sales research: areas of consideration to develop more comprehensive conceptual and empirical frameworks

Research investigating relationships and phenomena within the professional selling discipline has been on-going for the past 100 years. Within that timeframe, there have been countless conceptual a...