cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biorepository Management and Cost Structure

To be effective, a biorepository facility must have a well-defined organizational structure that encompasses all aspects of biospecimen management from specimen procurement and processing to data annotation, regulatory compliance, and distribution. The personnel represent the biggest asset for a well-functioning biorepository. The scope and type of biospecimens to be banked should be defined in order to establish infrastructure needs. The establishment of well-run biorepositories and its ability to address the needs of the scientific community is limited by significant funding challenges. Development of a business model that adequately incorporates capital investment and operating costs is essential for long-term sustainability.
Trends in the use of breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy in patients with DCIS: A U.S. population-based analysis from 1996 to 2007.

1031 Background: The treatment for patients with DCIS remains controversial. Current guidelines based upon best available evidence suggest that breast conserving surgery (BCS) followed by adjuvant ...
Clinical Medical Librarian Licensure: Pros versus Cons.

AbstractIn hospitals and clinics, anyone who “touches” a patient has a license authorizing them to do so—from the phlebotomist to the cardiologist, from the genetic counselor to the social worker, and so on, except for the clinical medical librarian. This column discusses the intent versus the realities of occupational licensure for clinical medical librarians and provides recommendations for next steps.
Dynamics of Competition and Strategy: A Literature Review of Strategic Management Models and Frameworks

This research reviews a comprehensive and somehow chronological literature in the models and frameworks of competition and strategy. Strategic management research is shaped around a core question that why some firms outperform others; several significant lines of work have emerged in the strategic management field since its infancy. These include industrial organization, the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities. Also, Competition essentially has been the focal point of scholars with diverse perspectives such as industrial economics and structural analysis, strategic groups, game theory, and competitive dynamics. In this research, we represent and summarize different perspectives of scholars in framing competition and strategy that is related to theory of the firm and differential firm performance; also, we show that there is a trend from static to dynamic frameworks of strategy and competition which have tried to find an answer to differential firm performance. Finally, we conclude by addressing the potential for utilizing new dynamic and systemic perspectives regarding theorizing dynamics of strategy and competition.
Wild pollinators improve production, uniformity, and timing of blueberry crops

Abstract Animal pollination is an important input to the global food system, affecting 2/3 of crops and worth more than $100 billion annually. Mounting evidence of pollinators’ importance, and of their decline worldwide, has prompted efforts to conserve and restore wild bees within agricultural regions. To date, however, research on the value of wild pollinators has focused largely on crop productivity per se and on intensely managed landscapes. Here, we combine field experiments, bee observations, and economic methods to estimate the impact of wild pollinators on the quantity and quality of blueberry crops within a low intensity agricultural landscape in Vermont, USA. Visits by wild bees reduced pollination limitation and increased seed set by up to 92%, fruit mass 12%, and fruit set 12%. Visitation also increased the uniformity of fruit size by up to 11% and advanced the timing of harvest by 2.5 days, both of which can increase crop value. For five out of six groups of wild bees, increased visits improved seed set relative to hand-pollinated controls. The potential economic value of relieving pollen limitation (and therefore improving fruit set and fruit mass) varied widely among farms. On most, production could increase 1–6% (representing $500-$4000 per year in additional revenue), but the maximum increase was 36% (representing $137,000 per year). Conserving wild pollinator communities, therefore, can increase crop quantity, quality, and farm revenue, but some farmers will benefit more than others. Farm-specific studies and recommendations are needed to best inform local and regional management decisions.
2n transfer and E2 strengths in 150, 152Sm

Abstract In a simple coexistence model, I have examined 2n transfer ratios of 0 + states in even Sm nuclei. I have performed a unified analysis of 2n and E2 data in 150, 152Sm. Results are in good agreement with the data.
Project HOPE: Sociopolitical Development and SCCT Beliefs of Latinx and White Rural Middle School Students:

This quasi-experimental investigation tested whether adding a sociopolitical development (SPD) component to a social cognitive career theory–based (SCCT) career intervention program, Project health...
The Maximum Principle and Sign-Changing Solutions of the Klein–Gordon Equation with the Higgs Potential in the de Sitter Spacetime

In this chapter, we discuss the maximum principle for the linear equation and the sign-changing solutions of the semilinear equation with the Higgs potential. Numerical simulations indicate that the bubbles for the semilinear Klein–Gordon equation in the de Sitter spacetime are created and apparently exist for all times.
Temperature and light intensity effects on photodegradation of high-density polyethylene

Abstract The photodegradation of polymers poses a serious challenge to their outdoor application, and results in significant financial loss due to early or unexpected system failure. A better understanding of their degradation kinetics aids the improvement of materials and systems. However, most work to date on many polymeric materials focuses on only one or a few exposure conditions which are pertinent to typical environmental ambients. Here the model polyolefin system of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was exposed under controlled laboratory conditions to a range of temperatures (30 °C, 40 °C, 50 °C) and ultraviolet (UV) light intensities (153 W m−2, 61 W m−2, 38 W m−2, 15 W m−2, 8 W m−2, and 0 W m−2). Changes to the mechanical, chemical, and structural properties were monitored by uniaxial tensile testing and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which showed that the rapid embrittlement of HDPE was concurrent with increases in yield strength, stiffness, oxidation, and crystallinity. The rates of change tended to increase under more aggressive exposure conditions, and the photothermal activation energies and UV dose-damage relationships for these properties were determined. A comparison to HDPE under outdoor exposure in southern Florida shows a similar magnitude of material change up to the point of embrittlement, despite the differences in spectral irradiance and the constantly changing outdoor conditions. These results quantify the effect of temperature and UV light intensity on the photodegradation of HDPE and can be utilized to develop stabilization strategies for these and related thermoplastic materials.
Rachel Bloom’s gaping MAAW: Jewish women, stereotypes, and the boundary bending of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

This article uses Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to argue in favour of abandoning the “JAP” as the primary archetype for Jewish women. By looking at both Rebecca and her mother Naomi the article pushes us to ...
A Recyclable, Metal-Free Mechanochemical Approach for the Oxidation of Alcohols to Carboxylic Acids

The oxidation of primary alcohols under mechanochemical conditions in a Spex8000M Mixer/Mill was investigated. To facilitate ease of separation and recyclability, a polystyrene-bound version of a TEMPO catalyst was employed. When paired with Oxone® in a stainless-steel vial with a stainless-steel ball, several primary alcohols were successfully oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acids. The product was isolated using gravity filtration, which also allowed for the polystyrene-bound TEMPO catalyst to be recovered and reused in subsequent oxidation reactions. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the size and steric hindrance of the primary alcohol does not hinder the rate of the reaction. Finally, the aldehyde was selectively obtained from a primary alcohol under ball milling conditions by using a combination of non-supported TEMPO with a copper vial and copper ball.
Parallel evolution of regressive and constructive craniofacial traits across distinct populations of Astyanax mexicanus cavefish

Life in complete darkness has driven the evolution of a suite of troglobitic features in the blind Mexican cavefish Astyanax mexicanus, such as eye and pigmentation loss. While regressive evolution is a hallmark of obligate cave-dwelling organisms, constructive (or augmented) traits commonly arise as well. The cavefish cranium has undergone extensive changes compared with closely-related surface fish. These alterations are rooted in both cranial bones and surrounding sensory tissues such as enhancements in the gustatory and lateral line systems. Cavefish also harbor numerous cranial bone asymmetries: fluctuating asymmetry of individual bones and directional asymmetry in a dorsal bend of the skull. This asymmetry is mirrored by the asymmetrical patterning of mechanosensory neuromasts. We explored the relationship between facial bones and neuromasts using in vivo fluorescent colabeling and microcomputed tomography. We found an increase in neuromast density within dermal bone boundaries across three distinct populations of cavefish compared to surface-dwelling fish. We also show that eye loss disrupts early neuromast patterning, which in turn impacts the development of dermal bones. While cavefish exhibit alterations in cranial bone and neuromast patterning, each population varied in the severity. This variation may reflect observed differences in behavior across populations. For instance, a bend in the dorsal region of the skull may expose neuromasts to water flow on the opposite side of the face, enhancing sensory input and spatial mapping in the dark.
Effect of restriction of energy during lactation on body condition, energy metabolism, endocrine changes and reproductive performance in primiparous sows.

Seventeen Landrace X Large White primiparous sows that farrowed in August 1982 were fed ad libitum (AL, n = 8) or their intakes were restricted (R, n = 9) during lactation. Litter sizes were equalized after farrowing and pigs were not allowed creep feed. Pigs were weaned 23.8 +/- .4 d postpartum. On d 6, 12 and 20 postpartum, all sows were fasted for 16 h and blood samples were collected prior to feeding for analysis of plasma glucose (GLU), urea nitrogen (UN), free fatty acids (FFA), prolactin (PRL) and serum insulin (INS). On d -2, 2 and 4 from weaning, sows were fasted for 16 h and then blood samples were collected hourly from 0 to 6 postprandial for analysis of GLU, UN, FFA, PRL and INS. Serum for analysis of luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone and estradiol was collected every 6 h from 1 d before until 12 d after weaning. Samples for LH were also collected at 15-min intervals for 3 h at -18, -6, 6, 18, 78, 102, 126, 150, 240 and 480 h from weaning. After weaning all sows were fed 1.8 kg X d-1, and were checked for estrus twice daily. Daily intakes of metabolizable energy (ME) during lactation were greater in AL (12,194 +/- 465 kcal) than in R sows (8,144 +/- 90 kcal). Compared with AL sows, R sows lost more weight and backfat during lactation and had higher postprandial UN levels 2 d before and 4 d after weaning. Reproductive performance and reproductive hormones were not affected by restriction of energy, but frequency of episodic release of LH prior to weaning was greater in sows that exhibited estrus after weaning (n = 12) than in anestrous sows (n = 5). After weaning, LH and estradiol concentrations were similar between estrous and anestrous sows until onset of the preovulatory increase in estradiol in the sows that exhibited estrus. Energy intake, body condition and productivity were similar between anestrous sows and sows that exhibited estrus. On d 12 and 20 of lactation, preprandial levels of GLU were greater and FFA were lower in anestrous than estrous sows. We conclude that restriction of feed intake during lactation affected body condition and metabolism of primiparous sows, but reproductive performance and productivity were not affected. Aberrations in partitioning of energy during lactation may predispose primiparous sows to postweaning anestrus, but the mechanisms by which this occurs have yet to be defined.
Monolingual ideologies versus spatial repertoires: language beliefs and writing practices of an international STEM scholar

This paper explores language beliefs and writing practices of an international scholar in Biochemistry working at a large U.S. research university. Although the participant articulated monolingual ...
Considering Work Arrangement as an “Exposure” in Occupational Health Research and Practice

Most occupational health research is conducted with the so-called "standard employment relationship" in mind, which entails ongoing, full-time employment for a single employer. Yet mounting evidence suggests the way work is organized is increasingly deviating from this standard model, and that work arrangements themselves-the terms and conditions of employment such as contract type and the extent of directive control over tasks-are important determinants of worker health and safety. However, a lack of clear conceptual definitions or taxonomic system defining the wide variety of economic work arrangements in the contemporary workplace hampers rigorous investigation of their relationship to health. The various forms of "non-standard" employment arrangements-also called non-traditional, alternative, flexible, fissured, precarious, contingent, temporary, atypical, or gig work-may have overlapping attributes, yet ambiguity regarding the character of these arrangements obscures mechanisms that lead to increased health and safety risks. Here, we attempt to clarify work arrangements as a workplace exposure, deserving of specific attention within occupational health and safety research, practice, and policy. We argue that, at minimum, three key features of work arrangements need to be considered: (1) whether an arrangement is permanent or temporary; (2) whether a worker is a contractor or an employee; and (3) whether an arrangement involves more than one firm. We further propose mechanisms linking work arrangements to increased work-related health risks to better inform strategies aimed at protecting the growing non-standard workforce.
Is the EAVS a Reliable Guide to Voter List Maintenance

This paper examines the reliability of voter registration and list-maintenance data reported in Section A the EAC’s Election Administration and Voting Survey. The EAVS is the most comprehensive nationwide source of such data, and is commonly used in academic studies and legal proceedings. The EAVS project has a long history, tracing its origins to reporting requirements under the National Voter Registration Act in the 1990s. Examining data releases from 2010 to 2016, we show that top-line items tend to be complete, with the greatest amount of missing data pertaining to the removal notification process. Sub-aggregates also tend to be consistent with reported top-line statistics, with notable exceptions. The area where the data are the least consistent is where they can be assessed using a stock-and-flow model of voter registration. Applying data from Section A to a basic stock-and-flow model reveals that the model virtually never balances for any local jurisdiction. That is, the total number of voter registrations at the end of time period t is generally not equal to the number of registrations at the end of period t-1 plus additions and minus removals during the period. The paper concludes by cautioning against taking the Section A data “as-is,” especially in litigation. Challenges to the quality of the data that were first identified in the 1990s persist to this day. The paper’s conclusion also provides some thoughts about improving the quality of Section A data moving forward.
Mapping spatiotemporal variability of the urban heat island across an urban gradient in Worcester, Massachusetts using in-situ Thermochrons and Landsat-8 Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) data

Landsat-8 derived Land Surface Temperature (LST) is used to measure Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) patterns and intensity in Worcester, MA, USA. Additionally, near-surface air temperature variabi...
A Rare Case of Testicular Teratoma Metastasizing to the Right Ventricle.

Abstract We describe a case of testicular teratoma with metastasis to the right ventricle. The mass nearly completely resolved with chemotherapy, obviating the need for upfront surgery. We review t...
Insects Provide Unique Systems to Investigate How Early-Life Experience Alters the Brain and Behavior

Early-life experiences have strong and long-lasting consequences for behavior in a surprising diversity of animals. Determining which environmental inputs cause behavioral change, how this information becomes neurobiologically encoded, and the functional consequences of these changes remain fundamental puzzles relevant to diverse fields from evolutionary biology to the health sciences. Here we explore how insects provide unique opportunities for comparative study of developmental behavioral plasticity. Insects have sophisticated behavior and cognitive abilities, and they are frequently studied in their natural environments, which provides an ecological and adaptive perspective that is often more limited in lab-based vertebrate models. A range of cues, from relatively simple cues like temperature to complex social information, influence insect behavior. This variety provides experimentally tractable opportunities to study diverse neural plasticity mechanisms. Insects also have a wide range of neurodevelopmental trajectories while sharing many developmental plasticity mechanisms with vertebrates. In addition, some insects retain only subsets of their juvenile neuronal population in adulthood, narrowing the targets for detailed study of cellular plasticity mechanisms. Insects and vertebrates share many of the same knowledge gaps pertaining to developmental behavioral plasticity. Combined with the extensive study of insect behavior under natural conditions and their experimental tractability, insect systems may be uniquely qualified to address some of the biggest unanswered questions in this field.
The Social Construction of sub-Saharan Women’s Status through African Proverbs

The continent of Africa, especially the sub-Saharan Africa, is known for its rich oral traditions and practices. Proverbs are themost widely used in this genre of oral arts and practices, and thus their influence is so strong to the point that even the conceptof social construction of women is so persistently carved from it. This paper examines how proverbs serve as storylinesbetween the ways proverbs represent the roles, statuses, and identity of women in traditional sub-Saharan Africa. The paperfocuses on the social construction and patriarchy as conceptsand uses critical discourse asa theoretical framework explainingthe status of women. The study also employed qualitative and the interpretive methods, which underscores the importance ofthe narratives on the lived experiences of the respondents.
In the shadow of the base:Teaching war to the children of soldiers

Abstract The primary objective of this article is to detail how two teachers in the same school site, in the American Southeast, taught war to the children of soldiers. Taken from an extensive qualitative case study involving eight teachers, this article examines the pedagogies engaged in by two teachers who expressed a desire to teach war more critically to their students. Critically here means but is not exclusive to raising student consciousness to issues of war not typically taught including investigating how power, race, gender, and sex operate in war, more closely examining decisions evaluating them for their justness or unjustness. In short a more authentic exploration of war. One teacher engaged a pedagogy of tension the other a pedagogy of facts. Both resulted in a less than critical examination of war. A pedagogy of tension reflected this teacher's reaction to pressure from the community and fear of surfacing or inflicting trauma upon students. A pedagogy of facts reflected the second teachers' beliefs that focusing teaching on facts will allow her to teach a more critical rendition of war. A qualitative empirical study, data was collected through interview and classroom observation.
"Jol" or "Pani"?: How Does Governance Shape a Platform's Identity?

In this paper, we explore how sociotechnical systems support and impede the identity performances and identity expression of communities that have experienced a long history of colonialism, where colonization is the practice through which a foreign power reshapes the social structures and systems of other societies. We conducted a trace ethnography among members of a specific digital platform-Bengali Quora (BnQuora). BnQuora is part of the question and answer (QA identities which were shaped through a long history of colonization in the Global South. In drawing on a conceptual framework that brings together identity performativity, governance, content moderation, and surveillance, we find that the sociotechnical mechanisms of governance that mediate people's performances on the BnQuora platform give rise to a kind of platform identity-certain identities are privileged while others are pushed to the margins based on linguistic practices, nationalities, and religious affiliations. We illustrate this through the themes of moderators as prison guards, collective surveillance as enforcing a majority identity, algorithmic coloniality, and staging as self-imprisonment. Finally, we discuss the ways in which governance shapes a platform's identity and can create, strengthen, and reinforce coloniality.
Patient Adherence With At-Home Hand and Wrist Exercises: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Video Versus Handout Format.

BACKGROUND Patient adherence is important for maximizing patient outcomes. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine patient adherence and confidence in home therapy exercises of the hand and wrist at multiple time points when distributed by either paper handout or video. METHODS Patients were prospectively enrolled and randomized in orthopedic clinics to either the handout or video exercise group. Exclusion criteria included patients less than 18 years old. Questionnaires were electronically distributed each week for 4 weeks following enrollment. Questionnaires assessed the frequency of exercise performance, percentage of exercises utilized, and confidence in performing the exercises correctly. The handout and video groups were compared via 2-sample t tests for continuous data and χ2 tests for categorical data. RESULTS Of the 89 patients enrolled, 71 patients responded to the initial follow-up survey (80% of randomized patients), and 54 of these patients (76%) completed all surveys at each time point. The handout group (37 patients) and the video group (34 patients) had no differences in response rate or demographics. There were no differences in frequency, exercise utilization rate, or confidence in performing exercises between groups at week 1. However, the video group reported higher exercise utilization and confidence than the handout group at subsequent time points. CONCLUSIONS Video-format distribution of home therapy exercises is superior to that of paper handout distribution for the distal upper extremity rehabilitation. Patients in the video group utilized more exercises and had higher confidence in completing them correctly following initiation of the exercise program.
Detection of N-H···N hydrogen bonding in RNA via scalar couplings in the absence of observable imino proton resonances

Hydrogen bond networks stabilize RNA secondary and tertiary structure and are thus essentially important for protein recognition. During structure refinements using either NMR or X-ray techniques, hydrogen bonds were usually inferred indirectly from the proximity of donor and acceptor functional groups. Recently, quantitative heteronuclear J(N,N)-HNN COSY NMR experiments were introduced that allowed the direct identification of donor and acceptor nitrogen atoms involved in hydrogen bonds. However, protons involved in base pairing interactions in nucleic acids are often not observable due to exchange processes. The application of a modified quantitative J(N,N)-HNN COSY pulse scheme permits observation of(2h)J(N,N) couplings via non-exchangeable protons. This approach allowed the unambiguous identification of the A27.U23 reverse Hoogsteen base pair involved in a U-A.U base triple in the HIV-2 transactivation response element-argininamide complex. Despite a wealth of NOE information, direct evidence for this interaction was lacking due to the rapid exchange of the U23 imino proton. The ability to directly observe hydrogen bonds, even in D(2)O and in the presence of rapid exchange, should facilitate structural studies of RNA.
The electrochemical aspects of some biochemical systems. XII. A modification of the coulokinetic technique and its extension to a study of the behavior of E. coli in an alkaline medium.

Abstract The coulokinetic technique for the investigation of the metabolic behavior of cellular systems in the presence of a usable substrate has been modified through use of a redesigned electrochemical cell so as to yield higher current efficiencies, while requiring smaller quantities of substrate and cells. Studies have continued on the pentose phosphate shunt pathway using E. coli harvested in the stationary phase of their growth cycle. It was found that arabinose, although not in itself an intermediate in this pathway, when metabolized at pH 6.7, yielded a coulombie output slightly less than gluconolactone, an intermediate in the shunt pathway. Arabinose has been reported to be isomerized to ribulose, and then phosphorylated to ribulose-5-phosphate, a known intermediate in the pentose phosphate shunt. On this basis then, the fact that with arabinose a coulombic output of similar magnitude as gluconolactone is obtained tends to confirm the validity of earlier reported conclusions. Coulokinetic Studies on glucose and various intermediates in the glycolytic pathway at pH 7.8 gave coulombic outputs twice that of pyruvate. This is in agreement with that expected with the glycolytic pathway and differs from the 1 : 1 relationships obtained in the pH 6.7 medium. The reason for these differences has been primarily attributed to the formation of a higher percentage of the electrochemically inactive lactate in the acidic medium as compared to that obtained at pH 7.8.
Path integrals for a class of p-adic Schr"odinger equations

The theme of doing quantum mechanics on all abelian groups goes back to Schwinger and Weyl. If the group is a vector space of finite dimension over a non-archimedean locally compact division ring, it is of interest to examine the structure of dynamical systems defined by Hamiltonians analogous to those encountered over the field of real numbers. In this letter a path integral formula for the imaginary time propagators of these Hamiltonians is derived.
From Abolition to Rights for All: The Making of a Reform Community in the Nineteenth Century – By John T. Cumbler

In the abolition movement, New England's chapter was the most diverse and produced many leading figures. In this short and legible book, the author seeks to understand these radical reformers on th...
Heat stroke decreases cytokine and chemokine gene expression in the hypothalamus of rats (1104.15)

We showed previously that rats display ~1°C core temperature (Tc) increase during ~4 days of heat stroke (HS) recovery; however, the mechanisms mediating this response remain unidentified. It was s...
Simulation of computer communications networks using Network II.5-without programming

In this tutorial, the author describes a powerful modeling tool which can dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to simulate a computer system. The Network II.5 world view and the class of problems it addresses are discussed. A summary of Network II.5 capabilities is presented. To tie the tutorial concepts together, an example of using Network II.5 is included. >
Symbioses : A Key Driver of Insect Physiological Processes, Ecological Interactions, Evolutionary Diversification, and Impacts on Humans

Symbiosis is receiving increased attention among all aspects of biology because of the unifying themes it helps construct across ecological, evolutionary, developmental, semiochemical, and pest management theory. Insects show a vast array of symbiotic relationships with a wide diversity of microorganisms. These relationships may confer a variety of benefits to the host (macrosymbiont), such as direct or indirect nutrition, ability to counter the defenses of plant or animal hosts, protection from natural enemies, improved development and reproduction, and communication. Benefits to the microsymbiont (including a broad range of fungi, bacteria, mites, nematodes, etc.) often iansport, pfrom antagonists, and protection from environmental extremes. Symbiotic relationships may be mutualistic, commensal, competitive, or parasitic. In many cases, individual relationships may include both beneficial and detrimental effects to each partner during various phases of their life histories or as environmental conditions change. The outcomes of insect-microbial interactions are often strongly mediated by other symbionts and by features of the external and internal environment. These outcomes can also have important effects on human well being and environmental quality, by affecting agriculture, human health, natural resources, and the impacts of invasive species. We argue that, for many systems, our understanding of symbiotic relationships will advance most rapidly where context dependency and multipartite membership are integrated into existing conceptual frameworks. Furthermore, the contribution of entomological studies to overall symbiosis theory will be greatest where preoccupation with strict definitions and artificial boundaries is minimized, and integration of emerging molecular and quantitative techniques is maximized. We highlight symbiotic relations involving bark beetles to illustrate examples of the above trends.
Transcriptional signaling pathways inversely regulated in Alzheimer's disease and glioblastoma multiform

Convincing epidemiological data suggest an inverse association between cancer and neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since both AD and cancer are characterized by abnormal, but opposing cellular behavior, i.e., increased cell death in AD while excessive cell growth occurs in cancer, this motivates us to initiate the study into unraveling the shared genes and cell signaling pathways linking AD and glioblastoma multiform (GBM). In this study, a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis on clinical microarray datasets of 1,091 GBM and 524 AD cohorts was performed. Significant genes and pathways were identified from the bioinformatics analyses – in particular ERK/MAPK signaling, up-regulated in GBM and Angiopoietin Signaling pathway, reciprocally up-regulated in AD – connecting GBM and AD (P < 0.001), were investigated in details for their roles in GBM growth in an AD environment. Our results showed that suppression of GBM growth in an AD background was mediated by the ERK-AKT-p21-cell cycle pathway and anti-angiogenesis pathway.
Using the friedman method of ranks for model comparison in structural equation modeling

Empirical researchers maximize their contribution to theory development when they compare alternative theory‐inspired models under the same conditions. Yet model comparison tools in structural equation modeling—χ2 difference tests, information criterion measures, and screening heuristics—have significant limitations. This article explores the use of the Friedman method of ranks as an inferential procedure for evaluating competing models. This approach has attractive properties, including limited reliance on sample size, limited distributional assumptions, an explicit multiple comparison procedure, and applicability to the comparison of nonnested models. However, this use of the Friedman method raises important issues regarding the lack of independence of observations and the power of the test.
Reproductive behavioral responsiveness to noradrenergic stimulation in developing guinea pigs.

Abstract The stimulatory effects of ovarian hormones on sexual receptivity in guinea pigs may be mediated by norepinephrine. Juvenile females rarely exhibit steroid-induced receptivity and also respond poorly to the lordosis-enhancing action of α-noradrenergic receptor stimulation. This experiment was designed to chart the development of behavioral responsiveness to the α-noradrenergic agonist, clonidine, and to test the hypothesis that higher doses of estradiol and/or clonidine are required to stimulate lordosis in juvenile compared to adult guinea pigs. Ovariectomized females received estradiol benzoate (10 μg or 50 μg SC) 40–48 h before administration of clonidine (1 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg IP) or saline at 14–17-day intervals. Regardless of treatment, few animals (0–36%) displayed lordosis at 20, 34, or 48 days of age. At 65 days of age, in both estradiol dose groups significantly more clonidine- (1 mg/kg) than saline-injected animals displayed lordosis (80–91 vs. 0–33%, respectively). Clonidine (5 mg/kg) was ineffective at all ages. These data do not support the hypothesis that behavioral responsiveness to α-noradrenergic receptor stimulation in immature females can be elicited by increasing the doses of estradiol and/or clonidine. These results suggest the occurrence of a maturational change in the neural systems governing noradrenergic involvement in steroid-induced sexual behavior in guinea pigs.
Ureilite meteorites: Equilibration temperatures and smelting reactions

Abstract We report microprobe analyses for eight ureilite samples (ALH A78019, ALH 82106, ALH 82130, ALH 84136, LEW 85328, LEW 85440, MET A78008, and RKP A80239) and calibrate smelting reactions characteristic of ureilites using the experimental data of Walker and Grove (1993) and the thermochemical models of Sack and Ghiorso (1989, 1994a–c). The quenching temperatures for pyroxenes (1070–1200°C) that we derive using the approach of Sack and Ghiorso (1994b) and our chemical data for augite-orthopyroxene and pigeonite-orthopyroxene assemblages are related to the molar MgO/ (MgO + FeO) ratio (mg#) of olivines and to the Δ 17O of ureilites determined by Clayton and Mayeda (1988). We infer that these ureilites are from three subgroups which are from at least three parent regions, perhaps disconnected on a single parent body or from different parent bodies. Samples from the subgroup with the highest olivine mg#s (subgroup 111) exhibit the most extensive smelting of silicates through reactions with carbonaceous materials, record equilibration temperatures of 1200 ± 15°C, and appear to be derived from near-surface regions of their parent asteroids. Samples from the subgroup with the lowest olivine mg#s (subgroup 1) have undergone the most limited smelting of silicates and record equilibration temperatures in the range 1070–1100°C. The formation depth of this subgroup, hence the minimum radius of the asteroid, was at least 50 km. Samples from the subgroup with intermediate olivine mg#s and Δ 17O values (subgroup 11) record equilibration temperatures of 1230 ± 15°C, do not appear to represent mixtures of the other subgroups. and may require an even larger narent body (ies).
Terminal Modeling of Hardened Integrated Circuits

A technique for device terminal modeling hardened DIICs for TREE has been described. The result provides a methodology which has been successfully applied to 16 ICs described in a previous paper (Ref 1). Because of the inherent flexibility of the modeling technique presented in this paper, the authors have extended the application to include other parts including more advanced Schottky TTL devices. This also includes subroutines for beta degradation, including rapid anneal. The models can be made available through the SYSCAP II program described in Ref (3).
An alternative technique for applying fluoride varnish.

F luoride varnish is a valuable tool in the prevention of tooth decay. Studies have demonstrated its effectiveness at arresting early cavitated lesions, remineralizing interproximal incipient smooth surface lesions and preventing caries. Medical personnel in many public health clinics now are applying these varnishes in an attempt to minimize treatment needs and reduce accessto-care problems. Several authors have reviewed the literature and recommended that fluoride varnishes be incorporated increasingly into preventive dentistry programs. One of the main advantages of fluoride varnish is that it releases fluoride over 24 hours and appears to increase the calcium fluoride reservoirs that aid in long-term fluoride release. In an in vitro model, fluoride was released over five to six months. In addition, SkoldLarsson and colleagues demonstrated that these varnishes are capable of maintaining elevated fluoride levels in the plaque adjacent to fixed orthodontic appliances for up to one week. Fluoride varnish is welltolerated by patients and is relatively easy to apply. The varnish can be purchased in bulk 10-milliliter tubes or in individual prepackaged applicators. The varnishes currently available in the United States are Duraphat (5 percent sodium fluoride/2.26 percent fluoride, Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Canton, Mass.), Duraflor (5 percent sodium fluoride/2.26 percent fluoride, Medicom, Buffalo, N.Y.), Fluor Protector (1 percent difluorosilane/0.1 percent fluoride, Ivoclar Vivadent, Amherst, N.Y.) and CavityShield (5 percent sodium fluoride/2.26 percent fluoride, Omnii Oral Pharmaceuticals, West Palm Beach, Fla.). The application technique recommended by manufacturers is as follows. dDispense approximately 0.5 mL of varnish into a small well. (Prepackaged individualdose systems come with their own well that is filled with varnish.) dLightly dry the teeth with air or gauze. dIsolate the teeth to prevent moisture recontamination. dPaint the varnish onto the teeth with a brush or another type of applicator. The varnish sets on contact with the slightly moist teeth. From a clinical practice perspective, the major limitation of this technique is the need to frequently reload the brush with the varnish. Because the brush can hold only a limited quantity of varnish, much of the time needed to administer this treatment involves multiple reloadings of the brush and re-entry into the mouth to apply the varnish to the teeth. These time and motion inefficiencies are particularly problematic when treating an uncooperative child. The following technique improves the efficiency of applying the varnish in an active pediatric practice, and this procedure can be performed easily in a public health clinic.
Long-term results of fundoplication in hiatus hernia and cardio-esophageal chalasia in infants and children. Report of 112 consecutive cases.

Abstract The main characteristics of malpositions of the esophagogastric junction (chalasia or gaping cardia, hiatus hernia with transitory epiphrenic loculation, hiatus hernia with fixed epiphrenic pouch, upside-down stomach, see Fig. 1) are gastro-esophageal reflux and secondary peptic esophagitis. Therefore, the essential aim of treatment is to prevent gastroesophageal reflux before it has caused irreversible damage. The best reflux preventing operation in our hands is transabdominal fundoplication. 1–6
The gene regulatory logic of transcription factor evolution

A growing debate in evolutionary and developmental biology concerns the relative contribution of cis-regulatory and protein (particularly transcription factor) changes to developmental evolution. Central to this argument are the perceived conservation of transcription factor functions and the modular architecture of cis-regulatory elements. In this paper, we review recent studies on transcription factor proteins that show that transcription factor genes undergo adaptive evolution and evolve novel functions that contribute to the evolution of development. Furthermore, we review experimental work that shows that transcription factor proteins are modular and can evolve with minimal pleiotropic effects. We conclude that changes in the function of proteins are likely directly contributing to developmental evolution.
Toward an experimental analysis of coverant control

Homme's concept of the “coverant” (covert operant) is reviewed with regard to its usefulness in an experimental analysis of covert behavior. After an initial reclarification of its empirical status, some of the methodological problems involved in coverant control are explored. Homme's original strategy for coverant control is reappraised and a methodological alternative is suggested. Several research implications are discussed with regard to coverant control technologies and self-control paradigms in general. It is concluded that, notwithstanding some methodological problems in need of experimental investigation, the area of coverant control has much to offer investigators in behavior modification.
Influence of target clustering on exchange effects in internuclear interaction

Nucleon-exchange effects are examined in the case where one of the nuclei involved exhibits properties of considerable clustering. The results, obtained by analyzing the exponential parts of the exchange-normalization kernel function in a three-cluster resonating-group formulation, indicate that, as in the case of no target clustering, the one-exchange and core-exchange terms are still the terms which make the dominant contribution. The characteristics of the one-exchange term are found to be rather insensitive to the clustering nature of the target nucleus. The core-exchange term, on the other hand, may acquire a rather long range compared to the direct potential when the degree of clustering is appreciable.
Molecular engineering of two-dimensional π-conjugation: expected and unexpected photophysical consequences of a simple particle-in-a-box approach

A highly modular and convergent synthetic route was devised to construct a series of planar π-conjugated molecules with systematically varied structural dimensions and electronic characteristics. High-yielding triple Schiff base condensation reactions between π-extended bulky anilines and 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol furnished a series of pseudo C3-symmetric tris(N-salicylideneamine)s displaying intense absorptions at λmax = 445–475 nm and emissions at λmax = 470–504 nm. X-Ray crystallographic studies revealed that intricate hydrogen-bonding networks sustain the planar conjugation of these discotic molecules, the HOMO–LUMO gaps of which decrease with increasing conjugation area. This reduction in excitation energy is accompanied by a nearly 4-fold enhancement in emission quantum yield (ΦF). Past a structural threshold, however, increasing conjugation area leads to either (i) decrease in ΦF or (ii) development of localized electronic transitions. These findings provide a well-defined structural window for future elaboration of this emerging family of dynamic 2-D conjugation, the luminescence properties of which have already been shown to reversibly change in response to external stimuli.
Functional and Genetic Integration in the Skulls of Lake Malawi Cichlids

The level of integration present among organismal traits is thought to influence evolutionary potential, and this potential should be affected by the type or types of integration displayed (e.g., functional, developmental, or genetic). Morphological integration is generally high among functionally related traits, but whether this is predominantly determined by genetic architecture, or is instead a result of biomechanical remodeling during development remains poorly understood. We examine this question in Lake Malawi cichlid fishes by combining a finite-element analysis (FEA) of bite force transmission with quantitative genetic analyses of skull morphology in order to test the hypothesis that functionally coupled traits share a common genetic basis. FEA modeling indicates that the profile of the neurocranium affects its ability to resist forces transmitted from the jaws during biting, and suggests a novel role for skull shape in fish feeding mechanics. Quantitative trait loci mapping demonstrates that the functional integration between jaw and neurocranial shape has a genetic basis, and that this association is being driven by alleles inherited from the specialized biting species. Notably, the co-inheritance of these two functionally related traits in our F2 matches patterns of covariation within and between Lake Malawi cichlid species. Across species, jaw and neurocranial shapes covary, but the trend appears strongest among biting species. Similarly, within populations of biting species, the dimensions of the jaw and neurocranium are tightly linked, whereas this correlation disappears within populations of omnivorous and suction feeding fish. These data suggest (1) that either pleiotropy, or physical linkage maintained by selection, underlies the phenotypic integration of these two functionally related traits, and (2) that this pattern of integration may have influenced the radiation of craniofacial morphology in Lake Malawi cichlids.
Time trends in the incidence of hospitalized ocular trauma.

• Ocular trauma is an important cause of blindness and visual impairment in the United States. We examined the incidence of hospitalized ocular trauma in Maryland from 1979 through 1986 using hospital discharge abstracts. The annual incidence for those with definite ocular trauma (principal diagnosis) was 13.2 per 100 000 population and for total ocular trauma (principal or secondary diagnoses), 27.3 per 100 000. There was a 25% decline in incidence of definite ocular trauma over this eight-year period; however, this was likely due to changing indications for hospitalization. The pattern of risk by age was bimodal, with peaks in the 15- to 29-year and over-70-year age categories. Males were at higher risk than females except in the oldest age groups, and nonwhites had higher rates than whites.
Expanding the Utility of 4-Cyano-l-Phenylalanine As a Vibrational Reporter of Protein Environments

The ability to genetically incorporate amino acids modified with spectroscopic reporters site-specifically into proteins with high efficiency and fidelity has greatly enhanced the ability to probe local protein structure and dynamics. Here, we have synthesized the unnatural amino acid (UAA), 4-cyano-l-phenylalanine (pCNPhe), containing the nitrile vibrational reporter and three isotopomers (15N, 13C, 13C15N) of this UAA to enhance the ability of pCNPhe to study local protein environments. Each pCNPhe isotopic variant was genetically incorporated in an efficient, site-specific manner into superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) in response to an amber codon with high fidelity utilizing an engineered, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. The isotopomers of 4-cyano-l-phenylalanine permitted the nitrile symmetric stretch vibration of these UAAs to be unambiguously assigned utilizing the magnitude and direction of the isotopic shift of this vibration. The sensitivity of the nitrile symmetric stretching ...
A novel 3D cubic loop antenna with nearly isotropic pattern

A novel three-dimensional cubic loop antenna with nearly isotropic patterns is proposed. The proposed antenna, operates at around 700 MHz, has 6.3 dBi of total realized gain and a nearly isotropic radiation pattern. The proposed antenna can be used for wireless sensors in the field, such as infrastructure monitoring and in energy harvesting from the environment. If needed the antenna can be miniaturized using high dielectric materials. The antenna can be scaled and used at other frequencies. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:1511–1513, 2014