cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HER2 Inhibition: From Discovery to Clinical Practice

In this issue of Clinical Cancer Research, Buzdar et al. ([1][1]) report on the success of trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against the proto-oncogene HER2 (c-erbB2, HER-2/ neu ), when administered with 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) and paclitaxel chemotherapy,
Detecting Pitch Accent Using Pitch-corrected Energy-based Predictors

Previous work has shown that the energy components of frequency subbands with a variety of frequencies and bandwidths predict pitch accent with various degrees of accuracy, and produce correct predictions for distinct subsets of data points. In this paper, we describe a series of experiments exploring techniques to leverage the predictive power of these energy components by including pitch and duration features – other known correlates to pitch accent. We perform these experiments on Standard American English read, spontaneous and broadcast news speech, each corpus containing at least four speakers. Using an approach by which we correct energy-based predictions using pitch and duration information prior to using a majority voting classifier, we were able to detect pitch accent in read, spontaneous and broadcast news speech at 84.0%, 88.3% and 88.5% accuracy, respectively. Human performance at pitch accent detection is generally taken to be between 85% and 90%. Index Terms: prosodic analysis, spectral emphasis
Molecular diagnosis of a benign proliferative nodule developing in a congenital melanocytic nevus in a 3-month-old infant

Small and intermediate congenital melanocytic nevi have a lifetime risk of developing melanoma estimated to range from 0% to 5%. Secondary benign melanocytic proliferations commonly arise in congenital melanocytic nevi; however, some are difficult to definitively distinguish from malignant melanoma based on clinical features and conventional histology. Herein, we describe the use of comparative genomic hybridization in supporting the diagnosis of a deep penetrating nevus developing within a congenital melanocytic nevus of a 3-month-old infant.
Propidium Iodide Staining of Cells for FACS Analysis

[Abstract] Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) is used to study DNA cell content. Propidium iodide (PI) intercalates into double-stranded nucleic acids and fluoresces. It is excluded by viable cells but can penetrate cell membranes of dying or dead cells. Thus PI staining is included in immunofluorescent staining protocols to identify dead cells. DNA staining can be used to study the cell cycle. Relative DNA content shows the proportion of cells in G1, G2 and S phases. Apoptotic cells show characteristic smear on DNA staining. Here a protocol to stain cells by PI is described.
THE UTILITY OF AN APOSTLE: ON PHILEMON 11

A recent round of scholarship has focused on Paul’s language of utility in Philemon, his characterization of the enslaved Onesimus as ἄχρηστος or eὔχρηστος. In this context, it is helpful to consider idiomatic connotations of both terms. Commonly associated with servility, the term ἄχρηστος idiomatically connotes expendability or disposability. The term eὔχρηστος has a particular place in Stoic thought, as the wise person understands the usefulness of all things. Remaining within the lexicon of utility, Paul’s pairing of ἄχρηστος and eὔχρηστος in v. 11 thus shifts between two registers of connotation. Philemon is invited to see the enslaved member of his household whom he had written off as a broken vessel as instead useful, invited to construe unhappy circumstances of separation from that slave as a source of personal benefit. Onesimus, in turn, is seen to have his own sense of utility. Finally, it is noted that in improving his own precarious situation, the enslaved Onesimus seems to have found the apostle Paul to be most useful.
Youth-Adult Partnership in Community Organizing

Abstract This paper presents a case study of a campaign developed around sexuality education policy by a national youth-focused organization, Advocates for Youth, and its network of youth activists. The paper provides an overview of the national sexuality education debate and the specific strategies youth and adults use in partnership to advocate for a comprehensive approach to the education. The case study of the My Voice Counts!Campaign provides insight into the creation and evolution of a youth-adult partnership approach to community organizing, beginning with an online activism campaign and resulting in local youth-led projects to improve sex education policies and curricula. Following an analysis of the Campaign's accomplishments, the paper lays out recommendations for action and research to demonstrate the positive effects of this form of community practice.
Autoimmune lpr and gld mice: models of abnormal adhesion molecule regulation and defective lymphocyte traffic.

Mice of the MRL-lpr/lpr strain develop at several months of age a massive generalized lymphadenopathy and severe SLE-like autoimmune disease with autoantibody production and glomerulonephritis. The Ipr gene has been bred into other mouse strains and, when homozygous, leads to similar lymphoproliferation but a somewhat attenuated autoimmunity. The genetically unrelated gld mutation causes a nearly identical autoimmune and lymphoproliferative syndrome.1 The lpr genetic defect has recently been identified as the fas gene, which is involved with the regulation of programmed cell death in lymphocytes.2 The gld gene has not yet been identified, although it is genetically linked to the gene coding for murine L-selectin (I. Weissman, personal communication). In both lpr and gld mice, the cells that accumulate are abnormal T cells that are relatively anergic and have the same unusual phenotype. The majority of them express both the Thy-1 and B220 antigens and are CD4- and CD8-, but several other minor populations of defective cells are also present, as are some residual normal B and T cells. These abnormal lpr and gld cells proliferate very slowly in lymphoid tissues, but in the case of lpr mice, the cells replicate rapidly in the liver.3 One remarkable feature of both lpr and gld mice is that the lymphoproliferative disorder involves primarily the lymph nodes, while Peyer’s patches and the lamina propria are virtually unaffected. This is similar to the distribution of cells observed with certain LN-homing lymphomas which also spare PP. These lymphomas express L-selectin, the lymph node homing receptor, which facilitates the entry of normal or malignant cells from the bloodstream into the LN parenchyma.
Book Review: Tax-Free Like-Kind Exchanges, by Bradley T. Borden

Bradley T. Borden's Tax-Free Like-Kind Exchanges, a treatise on transactions governed by section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, is as comprehensive and useful as one could hope for. As a guide for legal practitioners, the treatise is unlikely to be surpassed, and it also contains interesting essays that go far beyond the nuts-and-bolts of like-kind exchanges. Among other things, the book has some fascinating historical background on section 1031. All Tax-Free Like-Kind Exchanges lacks is a few good jokes, and the review helps point Professor Borden in the right direction to remedy that defect.
Climate change impacts on endemic, high-elevation lichens in a biodiversity hotspot

Previous studies of the impacts of climate change on lichens and fungi have focused largely on alpine and subalpine habitats, and have not investigated the potential impact on narrowly endemic species. Here, we estimate the impacts of climate change on high-elevation, endemic lichens in the southern Appalachians, a global diversity hotspot for many groups of organisms, including lichens. We conducted extensive field surveys in the high elevations of the region to accurately document the current distributions of eight narrowly endemic lichen species. Species distribution modeling was used to predict how much climatically suitable area will remain within, and north of, the current range of the target species under multiple climate change scenarios at two time points in the future. Our field work showed that target species ranged from extreme rarity to locally abundant. Models predicted over 93 % distributional loss for all species investigated and very little potentially suitable area north of their current distribution in the coming century. Our results indicate that climate change poses a significant threat to high-elevation lichens, and provide a case study in the application of current modeling techniques for rare, montane species.
Comparing Construction Manager–General Contractor and Federal Early Contractor Involvement Project Delivery Methods

Past studies of the construction manager–general contractor (CMGC) project delivery method have focused on its use by state and municipal departments of transportation. The literature also includes the approach to the CMGC delivery method based on Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) termed early contractor involvement (ECI), which the literature classifies as merely a different term for CMGC. The desire to use CMGC project delivery by the Federal Lands Highway Divisions stimulated a deeper study of the restrictions placed on federal agencies by the FAR and found that although CMGC and ECI project delivery are indeed similar, they are not identical. The findings of that study are reported. A comparative analysis of the two project delivery models is presented, and it is found that ECI delivery is substantially different from CMGC delivery because of FAR-based limitations on preconstruction services and pricing methodology. It is concluded that the use of an incentive–disincentive scheme and the bidding of...
Study Of Interfaces In XDTM Al/TiCp Metal Matrix Composites

The metal-ceramic interface in an XD TM Al/TiC p metal matrix composite has been characterized in as-extruded, recrystallized, and high temperature heat-treated conditions. In both the as-extruded and recrystallized composite, the interface is atomically abrupt. Localized orientation relationships exist between Al and Tic that lead to some degree of coherency at the interface. Recrystallization produces semicoherent interfaces by formation of subgrains in the Al adjacent to the Tie particles. Few interfaces show cracking, even after extensive deformation. Lack of cracking together with the direct contact down to atomic level, observed between the two phases are evidence for excellent bonding between the carbide particles and the aluminum matrix. Heat treating samples at 913 k for 24 hours produces reaction products like Al 3 Ti and Al 4 C 3 . These reactions are explained on the basis of thermodynamic data.
The determinants of perceptual unity in infancy

The central place of the problem of perceptual unity in perceptual theory is outlined and attemps to handle it at a theoretical level described. An investigation of the relative effectiveness of three of the classic Gestalt determinants, common fate, proximity and good continuation with 4–40 week old human infants indicates that only the first of these is initially effective, the others becoming more effective with age. These results are in accord with Brunswik’s (1956) theory.
Using the Risk and Resilience Approach to Predict Psychopathy in an Emerging Adult Sample

Psychopathy has been shown to be a risk factor for antisocial behavior, aggression, violence, and criminal offending. Elucidating the variables that predict the likelihood of psychopathy, therefore...
The Role of the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract in Gustatory Processing

Devoted exclusively by gustatory processing, The Role of the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract in Gustatory Processing offers an in-depth review of one of the most important central relay stations in the brain.Combining widely dispersed research into a single comprehensive volume, it presents a thorough historical background, documents the anatomy of the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNST), and explores the properties of synaptic transmitters and neurons within that tract. The book examines the role of reflex activities and considers factors that influence how gustatory rNST neurons respond to taste stimuli. It describes the development and maturational changes the rNST undergoes and considers the challenge involved with identifying rNST neural circuitsThe Role of the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract in Gustatory Processing serves as a standard reference for those involved in the field, providing ready access to past investigations and inviting practitioners to create new approaches that will advance knowledge about the central processing of gustatory information.
New Mandated Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Requirements for Sepsis Reporting: Caution from the Field

Abstract Background The release of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service's (CMS) latest quality measure, Severe Sepsis/Septic Shock Early Management Bundle (SEP-1), has intensified the long-standing debate over optimal care for severe sepsis and septic shock. Although the last decade of research has demonstrated the importance of comprehensive bundled care in conjunction with compliance mechanisms to reduce patient mortality, it is not clear that SEP-1 achieves this aim. The heterogeneous and often cryptic presentation of severe sepsis and septic shock, along with the multifaceted criteria for the definition of this clinical syndrome, pose a particular challenge for fitting requirements to this disease, and implementation could have unintended consequences. Objective Following a simulated reporting exercise, in which 50 charts underwent expert review, we aimed to detail the challenges of, and offer suggestions on how to rethink, measuring performance in severe sepsis and septic shock care. Discussion There were several challenges associated with the design and implementation of this measure. The ambiguous definition of severe sepsis and septic shock, prescriptive fluid volume requirements, rigid reassessment, and complex abstraction logic all raise significant concern. Conclusions Although SEP-1 represents an important first step in requiring hospitals to improve outcomes for patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, the current approach must be revisited. The volume and complexity of the currently required SEP-1 reporting elements deserve serious consideration and revision before they are used as measures of accountability and tied to reimbursement.
Nanocarrier-Based Anticancer Therapies with the Focus on Strategies for Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment

In the past couple of decades, advanced knowledge of cancer biology has revealed the predominant role of tumor microenvironment in tumor growth and progression. Different components in tumor microenvironment release sets of biological signals, which contribute to cell growth and survival, epithelial-mesenchymal transition during metastases, angiogenesis, and development of drug resistance. The new understanding about the cancer cell-stroma interactions has been utilized to design various nanocarriers targeting the tumor environment for drug delivery. This can be achieved passively by using differential physiological features in the tumor microenvironment (e.g. different blood flow patterns or fenestrations in the tumor endothelium) or actively by recognizing specific molecular signatures on the cells in the tumor microenvironment. This chapter will discuss the biology of the tumor microenvironment and identify various cells and extracellular components that can be exploited to enhance cancer therapies and efficiently target nanotherapies to tumor loci.
Shear-thinning of molecular fluids in Couette flow

We use non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, the Boltzmann equation, and continuum thermomechanics to investigate and characterize the shear-thinning behavior of molecular fluids undergoing Couette flow, interacting via a Lennard-Jones (LJ) potential. In particular, we study the shear-stress under steady-state conditions and its dependency on fluid density and applied shear-strain rate. Motivated by kinetic theory, we propose a rheological equation of state that fits observed system responses exceptionally well and captures the extreme shear-thinning effect. We notice that beyond a particular strain-rate threshold, the fluid exhibits shear-thinning, the degree of which is dependent on the density and temperature of the system. In addition, we obtain a shear-rate dependent model for the viscosity which matches the well established Cross viscosity model. We demonstrate how this model arises naturally from the Boltzmann equation and possesses an inherent scaling parameter that unifies the rheologic...
Proximal Occlusion Scale for Rapid Triage of Potential Endovascular Therapy Candidates (S47.002)

Background: Early endovascular reperfusion of ischemic stroke can benefit patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large proximal vessel occlusion. Methods to rapidly identify strokes with a pre-imaging high probability of a proximal arterial thrombosis are needed. Though an NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) ≥6 has been recommended, this cutoff does not discriminate between anterior and posterior circulation or proximal or distal location of thrombus. We describe a proximal occlusion score to rapidly identify patients most likely to benefit from rapid evaluation for endovascular therapy. Methods: A database of successive patients with ischemic from 2005-2015 was evaluated, individuals were screened for presence or absence of proximal arterial occlusion. Components of the presenting neurological exam and NIHSS were evaluated individually by multivariate analysis to determine predictors of proximal occlusion. Results: There was a high correlation between exam findings of gaze deviation, aphasia, and right sided hemiparesis with left M1 occlusions and gaze deviation with left hemiparesis for right M1 occlusions (r>0.2, p<0.05). This correlation was stronger than NIHSS score to identify proximal occlusion. There was moderate correlation between findings of ataxia and decreased consciousness with basilar occlusion. Compared to the NIHSS the score for proximal occlusion required significantly less time to complete by physicians. Conclusions: We report a proximal occlusion score to rapidly identify and triage patients most likely to benefit from urgent evaluation for endovascular therapy. Using multivariate analysis selected features of the presenting neurological exam were predictive of proximal arterial occlusion significantly better that that achieved by an NIHSS cutoff. The proximal occlusion scale could be performed faster than the NIHSS. Utilization of this tool in community hospitals without direct neurologist support may aid in the triage of stroke patients in need of endovascular therapy. Further evaluation in larger cohorts is required. Disclosure: Dr. Holder has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jickling has nothing to disclose.
Humidity-mediated changes in an orb spider's glycoprotein adhesive impact prey retention time.

ABSTRACT Properties of the viscous prey capture threads of araneoid orb spiders change in response to their environment. Relative humidity (RH) affects the performance of the thread9s hygroscopic droplets by altering the viscoelasticity of each droplet9s adhesive glycoprotein core. Studies that have characterized this performance used smooth glass and steel surfaces and uniform forces. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that these changes in performance translate into differences in prey retention times. We first characterized the glycoprotein contact surface areas and maximum extension lengths of Araneus marmoreus droplets at 20%, 37%, 55%, 72% and 90% RH and then modeled the relative work required to initiate pull-off of a 4 mm thread span, concluding that this species9 droplets and threads performed optimally at 72% RH. Next, we evaluated the ability of three equally spaced capture thread strands to retain a house fly at 37%, 55% and 72% RH. Each fly9s struggle was captured in a video and bouts of active escape behavior were summed. House flies were retained 11 s longer at 72% RH than at 37% and 55% RH. This difference is ecologically significant because the short time after an insect strikes a web and before a spider begins wrapping it is an insect9s only opportunity to escape from the web. Moreover, these results validate the mechanism by which natural selection can tune the performance of an orb spider9s capture threads to the humidity of its habitat.
Modeling Cultural Evolution with Metadata Collections

Descriptive metadata is typically used to record information about digital artifacts. Collections of descriptive metadata records can also be used to study institutional attributes of the cultures that produce, use, and cooperate in provisioning digital artifacts. In this poster we describe an approach to modeling cultural evolution, phylomemetic analysis, using collections of metadata records that describe digital artifacts.
Investigating Protein Function in Biomineralized Tissues Using Molecular Biology Techniques

We describe modern molecular biology methods currently used in the study of biomineralization. We focus our descriptions on two areas of biomineralization research in which these methods have been particularly powerful. The first area is the use of modern molecular methods to identify and characterize the so-called occluded matrix proteins present in mineralized tissues. More specifically, we describe the use of RNA-seq and the next generation of DNA sequencers and the use of direct protein sequencing and mass spectrometers as ways of identifying proteins present in mineralized tissues. The second area is the use of molecular methods to examine the function of proteins in biomineralization. RNA interference (RNAi), morpholino antisense, and other methods are described and discussed as ways of elucidating protein function.
Oligocene to Quaternary Ostracods of the Central Equatorial Pacific (Leg 85, DSDP-IPOD)

This study reports on the taxonomic, stratigraphical, biogeographical and palaeoceanographical significance of Oligocene to Quaternary ostracod faunas from the central equatorial Pacific (Leg 85, DSDP). A Lower Ecozone (Oligocene-lower Miocene) contains relatively diverse faunas characterised by the high frequencies of Bradleya, Poseidonamicus, Henryhowella and Krithe . Taxonomic affinity with coeval deep-sea faunas in the Caribbean is high. Low turnover rates suggest that stable oceanographical conditions were maintained by the circum-equatorial flow of warm, saline bottom-waters. The Upper Ecozone (middle Miocene-Quaternary) contains a lower subunit (middle-upper Miocene) in which local range terminations, speciation events and the immigration of new taxa are prevalent. A depauperate “psychrospheric” post-Miocene assemblage, dominated by Bradleya, Krithe, Brachycythere and Thallasocythere , was adapted to the corrosive bottom-waters present in equatorial regions during this interval. Stratigraphic trends in carbonate accumulation rate and ostracod number show an approximate, non-linear but generally positive correlation. This suggests that the availability of food has governed the density of the ostracod population in the Leg 85 area.
Interdisciplinary information for achieving water security

Abstract Water supply security can be threatened in hydrologic (water quantity and quality), engineering, economic, financial, environmental, social, political, and legal dimensions. Consequently, its protection requires interdisciplinary coverage monitoring all eight dimensions for trends threatening structural and nonstructural measures. This goal can be achieved with observatories that record time series of data on variables from all eight dimensions to confirm continuing acceptable performance, economic justification, acceptable risks, sustainability, and stakeholder expectations. We suggest parameters for covering socio-political and physical–chemical components and methodology for searching for feedbacks and applying principles from artificial intelligence to understand decisions recorded in case studies of past resolutions of diverse issues. Academic and management communities must join to establish observatories for measuring the significant parameters.
Are minimum volume standards appropriate for lung and esophageal surgery

Abstract Background Several medical systems have adopted minimum volume standards for surgical procedures, including lung and esophageal resection. We sought to determine whether these proposed hospital cutoffs are associated with differences in outcomes. Methods Analyzing the State Inpatient Databases and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, we evaluated all patients (aged ≥ 18 years) who underwent lobectomy/pneumonectomy or esophagectomy for cancer in California, Florida, and New York (2009-2011). Hospitals were defined as low volume for each procedure per proposed minimum volume standards by year: Results During the time period, 20,138 patients underwent lobectomy/pneumonectomy of which 12,432 operations (61.7%) were performed at low-volume hospitals (n = 456) and 7706 operations were performed at high-volume hospitals (n = 48). Of 1324 patients undergoing esophagectomy, 1087 operations (82.1%) were performed at low-volume hospitals (n = 184), whereas only 237 operations were at high-volume hospitals (n = 6). After propensity matching (lung 1:1 and esophagus 2:1), no major differences were apparent for in-hospital mortality nor major complications for either lung or esophageal resection. Length of stay was longer in low-volume hospitals after lung resection (median 6 vs 5 days; P Discussion Although several groups have publicly called for minimum volume requirements for surgical procedures, the majority of patients undergo lung and esophageal resection at hospitals below the proposed cutoffs. The proposed standards for lung and esophageal resection are not associated with a difference in outcomes in this large administrative database. Efforts should be made to determine more meaningful minimum volume requirements and to determine whether such standards are appropriate.
Impact of Distributed Caching on Video Streaming Quality in Information Centric Networks

The increasing demand of global video traffic presents a grand challenge for Internet service providers. This is particularly important for Smart Cities, where the citizens will be surrounded by various multimedia services. The Information Centric Networking (ICN) paradigm has been proposed to handle the vast amount of data, mobility of users, and provide better scalability and efficiency in terms of bandwidth demand. However, the distributed caching mechanism in ICNs brings new challenges in maintaining satisfactory Quality of Experience (QoE) for video streaming applications. Because of the caching capability of ICN routers, streaming from multiple sources will be common, and switching between content sources might affect QoE by inducing delays and consequently stalls in video playback. This paper investigates the impact of content source switching, which is brought by distributed in-network caching, on the QoE for video streaming in ICNs. Human subjective tests are conducted using videos generated from an ICN emulation platform, in which the videos are streamed to human users under different caching strategies and available bandwidths. Test results indicate that, as the number of source switches increases, the satisfaction with stalling decreases and thus resulting in lower QoE scores. The impact of stalling on the overall QoE is further quantified under different video clarity levels through several statistical methods.
Phase determination using chromosomal microarray and fluorescence in situ hybridization in a patient with early onset Parkinson disease and two deletions in PRKN

Background Mutations in the parkin gene (PRKN) are the most commonly identified genetic factors in early onset Parkinson disease (EOPD), with biallelic mutations, resulting in a clinical phenotype. However, normal variation is also common in PRKN, particularly in the form of copy number variation (CNV), challenging interpretation of genetic testing results. Here we report a case of a 29-year-old male with EOPD and two deletions in PRKN detected by chromosomal microarray (CMA). Methods The proband was clinically examined by a neurologist for postural instability with frequent falls, bradykinesia, gait freezing with festination, and hypophonia. Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) was performed on the proband and his parents using the Affymetrix CytoScan HD microarray. Subsequent fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on the proband and both parents. Results Chromosomal microarray detected the presence of two deletions of PRKN in the proband. Parental CMA analysis was performed to determine the clinical significance of this finding, as well as to demonstrate phase of these deletions. Parental CMA revealed that one deletion was paternally inherited and one deletion was de novo. A custom FISH approach was then successfully used to phase the deletions. Conclusion Chromosomal microarray and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of this trio identified two deletions in PRKN occurring in trans, providing a genetic etiology for the clinical diagnosis of EOPD. The determination of inheritance and phase of the deletions was critical to the proper interpretation of these results. These findings highlight the utility of CMA in the detection of clinically relevant CNVs in cases of EOPD, and also serve to emphasize the importance of follow-up FISH and parental testing.
A Mirror for the Modern Man: The Siyar Šaʿbiyya as Advice Literature in Tunisian Judeo-Arabic Editions

Historically, the siyar saʿbiyya (sing. sīra ) corpus—a collection of popular, orally-performed Arabic chivalric legends—have been cast as being outside of the ambit of adab ( belles-lettres ). Rather, scholars and critics both classical and modern have tended to regard them as tall tales and pseudo-histories. In closing his 1887 Judeo-Arabic edition of Sīrat Sayf b. Ḏī Yazan ( Sīrat al-azaliyya ), the Tunisian-Jewish litterateur Rabbi Eliezer (Lazarro) Farḥī provides a seven-point list detailing the practical benefits of reading a sīra . In doing so, he opens a different pathway for approaching the text, in the manner of a mirror-for-princes. Examining Farḥī’s framework in its historical context as well as with reference to scholarship on other popular works such as the 1001 Nights and on the nature of adab and wisdom literature, I offer a model for re-envisioning the sīra s as principally didactic texts, rather than sources for entertainment. This I do in accordance with the terms of the sīra s’ fin-de-siecle publisher, who casts them as a mirror for the modern Jewish man aspiring to keep apace with life in French colonial Tunis. I conclude not only that Farḥī’s approach to the sīra was likely widespread, but that his work testifies to sustained interest among Jewish audiences in the sīra s into modern times, making this minority group’s use of these texts integral to the sīra s’ diachronic reception history.Historiquement, le corpus des siyar saʿbiyya (sing. sīra ) – une collection de legendes populaires de la chevalerie arabe transmises par voie orale – a ete considere comme ne relevant pas du domaine de l’ adab (belles-lettres). Au contraire, les savants et les critiques classiques et modernes ont tendance a les considerer comme de grandes epopees et des pseudo-histoires. En achevant son edition judeo-arabe de Sīrat Sayf b. Ḏī Yazan ( Sīrat al-azaliyya ) en 1887, le litterateur juif tunisien Rabbi Eliezer (Lazarro) Farḥī donne une liste en sept points detaillant les avantages pratiques de la lecture d’une sīra . Ce faisant, il ouvre une voie differente pour aborder le texte, a la maniere d’un miroir des princes. En examinant le cadre propose par Farḥī dans son contexte historique et en se referant aux etudes sur d’autres œuvres populaires telles que les Mille et une nuits et sur la nature de l’ adab et de la litterature sapientielle, je propose un modele pour relire les sīra s comme des textes principalement didactiques, plutot que comme sources de divertissement. Ceci correspond aux termes de l’editeur de sīra s de la fin du siecle, qui en faisait un miroir pour l’homme juif moderne aspirant a poursuivre sa vie dans la ville coloniale francaise de Tunis. Je conclus non seulement que l’approche de la sīra par Farḥī etait probablement repandue, mais que son travail temoigne d’un interet soutenu du lectorat juif pour les sīra s dans les temps modernes, rendant l’utilisation de ces textes par un groupe minoritaire intrinseque a l’histoire de la reception des sīra s.This article is in English.
Optimal defence, kin conflict and the distribution of furanocoumarins among offspring of wild parsnip

The factors influencing the allocation of chemical defences to plant offspring have largely been unexplored, conceptually and experimentally. Because evolutionary interactions between maternal plants and their progeny can affect resource allocation patterns among sibling offspring, we suggest that kin conflict as well as herbivore–plant interaction theories need to be considered to predict chemical defence allocation patterns. Optimal defence theory predicts that maternal plants should defend more heavily those offspring in which resources have been disproportionately invested. In contrast, kin conflict theory predicts that natural selection will favour genotypes that can compete successfully for maternal defences irrespective of their quality, even at the expense of the fitness of siblings and the maternal plant. Evidence for these defence patterns were evaluated by examining the allocation of furanocoumarins to seeds of the wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa, Apiaceae). Furanocoumarins are toxins that are localized within the oil tubes of the maternal tissues of seeds. We evaluated the role of offspring investment (endosperm mass) and seed genotype on furanocoumarin allocation by mating an array of pollen donors with pollen recipients. Furanocoumarins were found to be positively correlated with endosperm mass on one side of the seed, a result consistent with optimal defence theory; however, on the other side of the seed, furanocoumarin content was influenced by seed genotype and was unrelated to endosperm mass. These effects varied with maternal plant. Further experiments demonstrated that nearly 80% of furanocoumarin production occurs after pollination, when fertilization products are active. Although the amount of furanocoumarin influenced by the seed genotype is small relative to the total quantity in the seed, these furanocoumarins are the first line of defence against important predators, such as the parsnip webworm, Depressaria pastinacella (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae). We found that parsnip webworm larvae were able to discriminate among genotypes within an inflorescence. In line with previous studies, these results suggest that a genotype's ability to influence furanocoumarin defence may affect its probability of survival. We conclude that the distribution of defences among plant offspring in wild parsnip is probably influenced by competition among seed genotypes that conflicts with maternal optimal defence.
Von Eiff v. Azicri: An Important Step in the Refinement of Grandparent Visitation Analysis

This article examines the effect of the Florida Supreme Court's opinion in Von Eiff v. Azicri, 720 So.2d 510 (Fla. 1998) on grandparent visitation law, both in Florida and nationally. It explores Von Eiff's conceptualization of the parental privacy rights at stake in a grandparent visitation suit, and details the evolution of logic and caselaw that led inexorably to its conclusions. This article also focuses on Von Eiff's explication of a clear and workable "harm standard" that both protects parental privacy and also harmonizes grandparent visitation law with other areas of family law. Finally, the article notes Von Eiff's practical significance in light of the incomplete guidance provided by the United States Supreme Court's decision in Troxel v. Granville. Von Eiff's analysis provides a thoughtful model of how constitutional standards may be applied to grandparent visitation statutes - and why those statutes must inevitably fail.
Numerical evidence invalidating finite-temperature many-body perturbation theory

Abstract Low-order perturbation corrections to the electronic grand potential, internal energy, chemical potential, and entropy of an ideal gas of noninteracting, identical molecules at a nonzero temperature are determined numerically as the λ-derivatives of the respective quantity calculated exactly (by thermal full configuration interaction) with a perturbation-scaled Hamiltonian, H ˆ 0 + λ V ˆ . The data thus obtained from the core definition of any perturbation theory serve as a benchmark against which analytical formulas can be validated. The first- and second-order corrections from finite-temperature many-body perturbation theory discussed in many textbooks disagree with these benchmark data. This is because the theory neglects the variation of chemical potential with λ, thereby failing to converge at the exact, full-interaction (λ = 1) limit, unless the exact chemical potential is known in advance. The renormalized finite-temperature perturbation theory (Hirata and He, 2013) (15) is also found to be incorrect.
Shortchanging complexity: discourse, distortions, and diversity policy in the age of neoliberalism

With this paper we explore the practical materialization of select diversity policies in the United States via an analysis of their implementation at different institutional levels. Specifically, using a cultural studies framework that is guided by Stuart Hall’s (1993) concept of distortions , we investigate how discursive conceptualizations of diversity have been translated into educational policy at the federal and state levels. We contend that the complexity of diversity is often inconsistent with existing neoliberal reform trends that embrace standardization and accountability, making meaningful practical applications exponentially more challenging (Manna, 2011; Wong, 2008). Finally, we look to how these analyses might inform future iterations of diversity policy in a time where rapid changes in education policy and characteristically partisan political agendas have become the norm .
Cultural Responsiveness and K-12 English Learners: Exploring Policy and Implementation Fidelity

This policy analysis, informed by ethnographic techniques, reviewed 12 Florida school district ESOL policies. A priori coding of these policies was conducted using criteria pulled from the literatu...
Transterritorialidad e identidad en la literatura norteafricana de expresión en castellano

This essay intends to study the representation of identity in North African literature in Spanish or Maghrebian literature in Spanish with focus on both the cultural production and the literary historiography of North African or Maghrebian writers in Spanish. The study will analyze works by authors such as Sukina Aali-Taleb, Liman Boicha, Zahra El Hasnaui from the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) , Abderrahman El Fathi, Ahmed Daoudi, y Mohammed Lahchiri (Morocco) y Ridha Mami, (Tunisia), among others.
Leadership Mentoring Needed

iNecesitamos tutoria en liderazgo! Precisamos de assessoria em lideranca! Leadership mentoring is needed in nursing to nurture nurse leaders globally. It requires the selfless giving of our time and insight while encouraging us to be open to a new generation of nurses and nursing vision. In addition, leadership mentoring provides us with opportunities for advocacy for our profession and its worldwide mission. Virtual mentoring communities have been developed through Sigma Theta Tau International (Sigma) and the Roy Adaptation Association (RAA). These engage emerging nurse leaders to contribute to their organizations and to the profession of nursing. From frontline clinical practice, to nursing organizational leadership, to health policy development, leadership mentoring means engaging nursing voice. It means investing the time and talent to nurture and teach leadership in new ways with the next generation. Seeking out opportunities for leadership mentoring is the first step! Para citar este editorial / To reference this editorial / Para citar este editorial Buckner EB . Leadership Mentoring Needed! Aquichan. 2019;19(4):e1941. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5294/aqui.2019.19.4.1 Publicado: 30/01/2020
Perfluoroalkyl substances exposure and hearing impairment in US adults

Abstract Background Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely applied in consumer and industrial products such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging materials, and fire-fighting foams. These “forever chemicals” are hypothesized to impact neurobehavioral functions. Yet no previous study has explored the role of PFAS on audiometrically determined hearing impairment (HI). Objectives To investigate the associations of serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances with low-frequency HI (LFHI) and high-frequency HI (HFHI) in US adults. Methods We evaluated the cross-sectional associations in 2371 adults aged 20–69 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2004, 2011–2012 and 2015–2016; and 449 adults aged ≥70 years from NHANES 2005–2006 and 2009–2010. Serum concentrations of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), were measured using solid-phase extraction coupled to High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Turbo Ion Spray ionization-tandem Mass Spectrometry. LFHI was defined as a pure-tone average (PTA) of thresholds across 0.5-1-2 kHz >25 dB; HFHI defined as a PTA across 3-4-6 kHz >25 dB in the worse ear. Survey-weighted logistic regression models were used to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with adjustment for age, age-squared, sex, race/ethnicity, education, poverty-to-income ratio, body mass index, smoking status, exposures to occupational, recreational and firearm noises, and NHANES cycles. Results There were no significant associations when perfluoroalkyl variables were fitted as a linear (log-transformed) term. However, statistically significant associations of HFHI with PFNA (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.13–2.56) and PFDA (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.00–3.05) were observed when comparing participants with serum concentrations ≥90th vs. Conclusions Our study does not provide strong evidence to support the ototoxicity of PFAS exposure. Non-linear threshold dose-response associations between serum concentrations of PFNA and PFDA and HFHI need further investigation.
Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Formation and Structure Change in TCS-08 and TCS-08 Field Experiment Support

Abstract : The long-term goal of this project is to develop a better understanding of mesoscale and synoptic-scale processes associated with the entire life cycle of tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific. The inability to correctly identify tropical cyclone formation over the period of 24-48 hours poses a threat to shore and afloat assets across the western North Pacific. Furthermore, once a tropical cyclone has formed, the predictability of structure changes during intensification of the cyclone is very low, which is due to complex physical processes that vary over a wide range of space and time scales. Periods of reduced predictability occur throughout the tropical cyclone life cycle, which includes the decaying stage. Because decaying tropical cyclones often transition to a fast-moving and rapidly-developing extratropical cyclone that may contain gale-, storm-, or hurricane-force winds, there is a need to improve understanding and prediction of the extratropical transition phase of a decaying tropical cyclone. The structural evolution of the transition from a tropical to extratropical circulation involves rapid changes to the wind, cloud, and precipitation patterns that potentially impact maritime and shore-based facilities. The research being conducted on the comprehensive data sets gathered during the TCS-08 field program will result in increased accuracy associated with the prediction of tropical cyclone formation, intensification, and structural changes.
The Virtual Pivot: Transitioning Computational Thinking PD for Middle and High School Content Area Teachers

In 2018 and 2019, Infusing Computing offered face-to-face summer PD workshops to support middle and high school teachers in integrating computational thinking into their classrooms through week-long summer PD workshops and academic-year support. Due to COVID-19, 151 teachers attended the Summer 2020 PD workshops in a week-long virtual conference format. In this paper, we describe Virtual Pivot: Infusing Computing, which employed emerging technology tools, pre-PD training, synchronous and asynchronous sessions, Snap! pair programming, live support, and live networking. Drawing on findings from participant interviews and post-PD surveys, we argue that three categories of changes (digital tools, formats, and supports for teacher engagement and collaboration) were effective in increasing participants' self-efficacy in teaching CT, supporting collaboration, and enabling participants to design CT-infused content-area lessons. We conclude by discussing how elements of this virtual PD can be replicated to increase teacher and student access to CT practices in middle and high school classrooms
Sarah Balkin, Spectral Characters: Genre and Materiality on the Modern Stage

Sarah Balkin’s Spectral Characters: Genre and Materiality on the Modern Stage persuasively expands the temporal and generic boundaries of modern characters to include the supernatural, the imaginar...
Avoiding Common Prehospital Errors

"Avoiding Common Prehospital Errors", will help you develop the deep understanding of common patient presentations necessary to prevent diagnostic and treatment errors and to improve outcomes. Providing effective emergency care in the field is among the most challenging tasks in medicine. You must be able to make clinically vital decisions quickly, and perform a wide range of procedures, often under volatile conditions. Written specifically for the prehospital emergency team, this essential volume in the "Avoiding Common Errors Series" combines evidence-based practice with well-earned experience and best practices opinion to help you avoid common errors of prehospital care. Look inside and discover: concise descriptions of each error are followed by insightful analysis of the "hows" and "whys" underlying the mistake, and clear descriptions of ways to avoid such errors in the future; "Pearls" highlighted in the text offer quick vital tips on error avoidance based on years of clinical and field experience; and focused content emphasizes "high impact" areas of prehospital medicine, including airway management, cardiac arrest, and respiratory and traumatic emergencies.