cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Internal Migration in Industrialized Countries

Internal migration is defined and distinguished as to its causes and consequences. Most migration research deals with causes. Migration rates are compared across industrialized countries (with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States shown to have high rates, but with US rates that have declined considerably in recent years), and various migration patterns are described, especially with respect to age and education. Migration rates are shown to fall with age after the early twenties and to rise sharply with education. Different theoretical perspectives on migration are discussed (namely, the disequilibrium and the equilibrium perspective). Moreover, various theories of migration are noted, with the human capital model singled out for special attention. Empirical findings consistent and inconsistent with this model are discussed. Several pressing questions regarding internal migration are offered, and the state of knowledge regarding the answers to these questions is discussed. The article concludes with a discussion of internal migration policies in Europe and in the United States and notes some critical issues concerning these policies.
Alarm under a Prune Tree

Why is English so ineffectually taught? Blaming the teachers of the earlier grades won't find the answer….
Experimental Validation of the Energy Balance Equation in the Presence of Acoustic Emission

This study attempts to experimentally validate the energy balance equation during a quasi-static loading of polymer composites with explicit consideration of the energy dissipated through acoustic emission (AE). The experimental protocol estimates the various terms of the energy balance equation, namely the external work done EW, the elastic stored energy Ee, the dissipated heat energy EH, and the dissipated acoustic emission energy EAE using in-situ measurements. The elastic stored energy Ee is derived from strain gage data, the dissipated heat energy EH is estimated from the temperature field obtained from quantitative infrared thermography (IT) and surface mounted thermocouples, and the acoustic emission energy EAE is approximated using two surface mounted piezoelectric transducers. The total input energy Ew, i.e. the external work done by the loading system is calculated from the cross-head displacement. The energy balance equation, ignoring inertial forces, is written as EW − Ee − EH − EAE = Constant. The energy approach presented herein may be used to quantify the level of material degradation as well as remaining useful life in primary load carrying structures.
Habitat Conservation, Ethanol, and Recent US Federal Farm Bills: A GIS Study Exploring Conservation Reserve Program Trends Pre- and Post-Ethanol Expansion in the Upper Midwest

Farmland in the Upper Midwest, USA, planted to corn has increased significantly in the past decade due to a rush toward ethanol production for fuel. Much of this increase came from fields that were previously protected under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a Federal land retirement incentive. This Geographic Information Systems (GIS) study quantifies these land changes in Minnesota, a northern state in the U.S. Corn Belt, prior to the past decade using 1997 and 2008 CRP GIS data layers for individual fields. Currently available CRP enrollment data by county masks significant changes occurring on a field-level scale, data which is no longer publicly available. Results suggest that marginal lands better suited for riparian wildlife habitat and surface water protection were plowed under in favor of industrial corn production. This was especially notable with fields in close proximity to refineries or those in drinking water supply management or groundwater contamination susceptibility areas. Federal ethanol mandates, farm bill policies, and high corn prices contribute to the pressure to farm these sensitive lands. Currently, CRP enrollments are capped at 9.7 million hectares, reduced from a long-standing 13-million-hectare cap by the 2014 farm bill. Discussions are now underway in the U.S. Congress to craft the 2018 farm bill and farming and conservation interests are strongly urging the Federal government to restore the 13-million-hectare enrollment cap. Ecosystem functions and benefits are optimized when conservation efforts are maintained over long periods and not interrupted by short-term political or economic trends.
Web compression buckling capacity prediction for unstiffened I-sections with opposite patch loading

Abstract Two web compression buckling capacity prediction methods are introduced for unstiffened steel I-sections subject to opposite patch loading applied to the flanges. The methods are generally posed as a function of loaded width to web depth ratio, and are applicable for opposite patch loading applied at the interior of a wide flange section or at the end of it, where the web has a free edge. The proposed methods include three parts: 1) an expression for predicting the squash load, 2) an expression for predicting the elastic buckling load, and 3) a resistance function. The squash load is calculated using an empirically derived effective width concept based on observations at the ultimate load from an extensive experimental database and validated numerical simulations. Web slenderness is defined as the square root of the ratio of the web squash load to the web critical elastic buckling load. The critical elastic buckling load is defined consistently with that obtained with a plate buckling energy solution for patch loading on infinitely long strips and considers the shortened web buckling half-wavelength resulting from flange rotational restraint provided to the web. The methods are validated with existing experimental data and shell finite element collapse simulations, and are shown to be more accurate and more widely applicable than current American Institute for Steel Construction (AISC) Specification provisions.
Producción de resistencia y conocimiento: movimientos sociales como productores de teoría y praxis

espanolCon base en el trabajo de campo con el Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (MAB), la autora argumenta que la lucha del MAB no se trata solo de los afectados por los proyectos de represas, sino que forma parte de un proyecto mas amplio de “alterglobalizacion”. Laautora postula que el MAB no es simplemente un actor del movimiento social, sino un productor de conocimiento que articula la teoria y la praxis de resistir al sistema imperialista hegemonico mas grande. En este documento, se exploran las siguientes preguntas: ?que puede aprender la academia de los movimientos sociales? ?Como pueden hacer los academicos investigaciones que no refuercen las jerarquias de poder? ?Como creamos investigacion colaborativa? EnglishDrawing on fieldwork with Brazil’s Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (MAB), the author argues that MAB’s struggle is not just around those affected by dam projects; rather it is a part of a larger “alter-globalization” project. The author posits that MAB is not simply a social movement actor but a producer of knowledge that articulates theory and praxis resisting the larger hegemonic imperialist system. In this paper the following questions are explored: What can academia learn from social movements? How do scholars produce research that does not reinforce power hierarchies? And how do we create collaborative research? portuguesCom base no trabalho de campo com o Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (MAB) no Brasil, a autora argumenta que a luta do MAB nao e so contra barragens; e parte de um projeto maior de “alterglobalizacao”. A autora postula que o MAB nao e simplesmente um ator do movimento social, mas ha um produtor de conhecimento que articula teoria e pratica resistindo ao sistema imperialista hegemonico. As seguintes questoes sao exploradas: O que a academia pode aprender com os movimentos sociais? Como os academicos produzem pesquisas que nao reforcam as hierarquias de poder? Como criamos pesquisa colaborativa?
Severe Cerebellar Syndrome Linked With Durvalumab

Durvalumab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) with programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) molecules. It has shown significant survival benefits in various cancers as an immune checkpoint inhibitor. With increased usage of this therapy, there are several cases with a predilection for neurological immune-related adverse effects from checkpoint inhibitor neurotoxicity. We identified an index patient with lung cancer treated with durvalumab, who developed disabling ocular and bulbar symptoms and severe truncal ataxia, and found symptomatic benefit with plasmapheresis (PLEX). A 57-year-old African American woman presented with 3 months of oscillopsia, dizziness, scanning speech, and inability to stand and walk due to severe truncal ataxia. She was found to have stage IIIA lung adenocarcinoma. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated abnormal T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence (T2/FLAIR) signal in bilateral cerebellar hemispheres with lack of enhancement suggestive of paraneoplastic cerebellar involvement. No distinct paraneoplastic antibody was identified. She received combined pulse-dose steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) with no improvement of cerebellar syndrome. A month later, she started inpatient chemotherapy and concurrent radiation therapy with transient cancer regression. Because of subsequent metastatic spread, durvalumab was initiated. She completed four doses that were complicated by worsening cerebellar symptoms and autoimmune colitis. During durvalumab holiday, she received two courses of five PLEX treatments, 2 months apart, along with vigorous physical and speech therapy. Her neurologic symptoms and functional status improved considerably and continued to improve after treatment. At present time, the patient is largely independent for activities of daily living (ADLs) and uses a walker. Repeated brain MRI revealed resolution of previously seen abnormalities. Checkpoint inhibitors may worsen concomitant paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes that develop in association with malignancies potentially responsive to PD-L1 and PD-1 inhibitors. Meticulous coordination and timing of life-saving immune therapies for cancer with effective immune treatments for an underlying or associated neurological syndrome are essential for best outcomes. J Neurol Res. 2020;10(2):44-47 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr571
Optimal breast cancer diagnostic strategy using combined ultrasound and diffuse optical tomography.

Ultrasound (US)-guided near-infrared diffuse optical tomography (DOT) has demonstrated great potential as an adjunct breast cancer diagnosis tool to US imaging alone, especially in reducing unnecessary benign biopsies. However, DOT data processing and image reconstruction speeds remain slow compared to the real-time speed of US. Real-time or near real-time diagnosis with DOT is an important step toward the clinical translation of US-guided DOT. Here, to address this important need, we present a two-stage diagnostic strategy that is both computationally efficient and accurate. In the first stage, benign lesions are identified in near real-time by use of a random forest classifier acting on the DOT measurements and the radiologists’ US diagnostic scores. Any lesions that cannot be reliably classified by the random forest classifier will be passed on to the second stage which begins with image reconstruction. Functional information from the reconstructed hemoglobin concentrations is employed by a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier for diagnosis at the end of the second stage. This two-step classification approach which combines both perturbation data and functional features, results in improved classification, as denoted by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Using this two-step approach, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) is 0.937 ± 0.009, with a sensitivity of 91.4% and specificity of 85.7%. In comparison, using functional features and US score yields an AUC of 0.892 ± 0.027, with a sensitivity of 90.2% and specificity of 74.5%. Most notably, the specificity is increased by more than 10% due to the implementation of the random forest classifier.
Sugammadex Neuromuscular Blockade Reversal Associated With Lower Postoperative Arterial Carbon Dioxide Levels After Congenital Cardiac Surgery.

Objective To compare postoperative arterial blood gas samples and requirement for respiratory support between patients who received sugammadex versus neostigmine reversal before extubation after congenital cardiac surgery. Design Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Setting Single-center, university-based, tertiary care hospital. Participants Patients with congenital heart disease undergoing surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Interventions Chart review. Measurements and Main Results The first postoperative arterial blood gas measurements were abstracted from electronic medical records, and reintubation or use of positive- pressure respiratory support within the first 24 postoperative hours was documented. Of the 237 charts reviewed, 111 (47%) patients received sugammadex reversal and 126 (53%) received neostigmine. Multivariate models showed that patients with 2-ventricle congenital heart disease who received sugammadex had lower postoperative arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) values (coefficient –3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] –5.9 to –0.4; p = 0.026) and required less- noninvasive positive- pressure ventilation (odds ratio 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.8; p = 0.021). Single-ventricle congenital heart disease patients who received sugammadex had higher postoperative pH values (coefficient 0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.06; p = 0.01) and lower PaCO2 values (coefficient –5.2, 95% CI –9.6 to –0.8; p = 0.021). Conclusion Sugammadex reversal was associated with lower postoperative PaCO2 values. In addition, sugammadex reversal was associated with less need for noninvasive positive- pressure ventilation in 2-ventricle patients. The magnitude of the effect appears modest, therefore the clinical significance remains unclear. Additional studies focused on investigating particular patient populations, such as infants, single-ventricle congenital heart disease, or patients with pulmonary hypertension, are needed to identify whether these patients appreciate a greater benefit from sugammadex reversal.
LIN28B/let-7 control the ability of neonatal murine auditory supporting cells to generate hair cells through mTOR signaling

Mechano-sensory hair cells within the inner ear cochlea are essential for the detection of sound. In mammals, cochlear hair cells are only produced during development and their loss, due to disease or trauma, is a leading cause of deafness. In the immature cochlea, prior to the onset of hearing, hair cell loss stimulates neighboring supporting cells to act as hair cell progenitors and produce new hair cells. However, for reasons unknown, such regenerative capacity (plasticity) is lost once supporting cells undergo maturation. Here, we demonstrate that the RNA binding protein LIN28B plays an important role in the production of hair cells by supporting cells and provide evidence that the developmental drop in supporting cell plasticity in the mammalian cochlea is, at least in part, a product of declining LIN28B-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity. Employing murine cochlear organoid and explant cultures to model mitotic and nonmitotic mechanisms of hair cell generation, we show that loss of LIN28B function, due to its conditional deletion, or due to overexpression of the antagonistic miRNA let-7g, suppressed Akt-mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activity and renders young, immature supporting cells incapable of generating hair cells. Conversely, we found that LIN28B overexpression increased Akt-mTORC1 activity and allowed supporting cells that were undergoing maturation to de-differentiate into progenitor-like cells and to produce hair cells via mitotic and nonmitotic mechanisms. Finally, using the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin, we demonstrate that LIN28B promotes supporting cell plasticity in an mTORC1-dependent manner.
High-Intensity Interval Training in Middle-Distance NCAA Division I 800/1500m Collegiate Athletes

Background: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has grown in popularity, with studies demonstrating improvements in aerobic and anaerobic performances within Sedentary and Recreationally active adults. Little research has been comprised on collegiate, middle-distance runners (800m/1500m). Objective: This research study aimed to investigate the impact of four-weeks HIIT cycling training on collegiate 800/1500m runners performance, and determine whether HIIT can be used as an alternative training method for student athletes. Methods: Twelve middle-distance runners were recruited, with six athletes completing the intervention. Athletes completed pre-testing, which included a 1500m time trial, a GXT, stride length and frequency measurements, and MVIC, using Biopac electromyography (EMG). After pre-testing, athletes completed four weeks of HIIT twice per week. The HIIT consisted of four 20-second bouts with 4 minutes recovery. Following the completion of the training intervention, post-testing was performed for all measures. A paired t-test was used to determine differences between pre- and post-performance tests. An ANOVA was used to determine changes in heart rate and RPE during the GXT. Results: Significant changes were demonstrated between the pre- and post-muscle activation tests of the quadriceps (p=0.05). Significant changes were seen with both HR (p<0.05) and RPE (p<0.05) throughout the GXT. No other significant differences were demonstrated between pre- and post-performance tests, concluding four-weeks HIIT does not alter 800/1500m performance. Conclusion: From the results of this study, HIIT could be used as an alternate method for training for 800/1500m runners. Further reasearch should be conducted toto further understand the impacts of HIIT on middle distance athletes.
Excessive Sweating and Heat Intolerance

Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis refers to sweating that is in excess of that required for thermoregulation, and can be generalized or focal. Commonly involved focal sites include the axillae, soles and palms, forehead, and groin, in that order. Hyperhidrosis can be precipitated by certain situations, and by the intake of certain foods, drinks, and medications. Endocrine causes of hyperhidrosis include hyperthyroidism and growth hormone excess, pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, carcinoid, premature ovarian insufficiency, and hypoglycemia. However, there are many other causes of excessive sweating, such as obesity, autonomic dysfunction, lymphomas, leukemia, tuberculosis, sleep disorders, and certain infections and medications. Heat intolerance refers to a greater perception of and inability to tolerate (higher) temperatures well tolerated by others in the same environment and is a feature of hyperthyroidism and certain other conditions. A thorough history and physical examination can help narrow down the work-up that is required, which may include blood tests, imaging studies, and other specialized tests. Management includes avoiding the precipitating event, treating the underlying condition, the use of antiperspirants (particularly with aluminum chloride), the use of local and oral anticholinergics, injections of botulinum A toxin, and surgery.
Navigating the Challenges of Fertility and Reproductive Planning for Terminal Cancer Patients.

Abstract Among the many disruptive effects of a terminal cancer diagnosis in young people is its ability to affect reproductive planning and the opportunity for parenthood. While many reproductive-aged cancer patients receive fertility counseling at diagnosis, ongoing guidance often does not occur during the illness course and associated distress may go unrecognized. Using a case-based framework, this palliative care rounds explores the existential, spiritual, ethical, and logistical challenges that complicate reproductive planning for patients and families as they face a terminal cancer diagnosis. We advocate that palliative care providers should seize currently underrecognized opportunities to screen for distress associated with fertility and reproduction at end of life and utilize an interdisciplinary team approach to provide appropriate support and counseling throughout the illness and bereavement experience.
Comparable Efficacy of Reduced Dose Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Early Stage Gastric Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue

Purpose This study compares reduced (<27 Gy) to standard dose (≥30 Gy) radiation therapy (RT) in the treatment of gastric extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (gMALT lymphoma). Methods and Materials Forty-two patients with stage I or II disease were retrospectively reviewed. Response to RT was assessed with endoscopy after RT. Complete response rate (CR), freedom from treatment failure, and overall survival (OS) were calculated. Results All patients were stage I (n = 40) or II (n = 2). All patients had residual biopsy proven gMALT lymphoma before RT. Twenty-six patients (61.9%) were treated with standard dose RT, 30 to 36 Gy, and 16 (38.1%) with the reduced dose RT, 23.5 to 27 Gy. The median follow-up was 29.5 months (range, 6-85). Thirty-six patients (86%) achieved complete response (CR), and 6 patients (14%) achieved partial response (PR). The complete response rate (CR) at the first endoscopic assessment, median time of 3 months, was 81% (95% confidence interval, 0.61%-0.93%) for standard RT, and 94% (confidence interval, 0.69%-0.99%) for reduced RT. Among CR patients, one patient had locally relapsed disease at 50 months. The 1-year overall survival (OS) was 100% in both groups. The 1-year freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) was 100% in the reduced RT group and 92% in the standard RT group. The 2-year FFTF and OS of the whole cohort were 92% and 96%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the OS, FFTF, and CR between the 2 treatment groups (P = .38, P = .18, and P = .267, respectively). For toxicity, the mean liver dose and the mean V20 heart dose were significantly lower in the reduced RT group (P <.001 and P = .001, respectively). However, incidence and severity of reported toxicities were similar between the 2 groups. Conclusions Reduced dose RT (23.5-27 Gy) achieved excellent complete response rates with minimal toxicity, comparable with standard dose RT (30-36 Gy), for gMALT.
The Limits of Portfolio Primacy

According to a theory that is gaining increasing support, we should expect large asset managers (and, in particular, index fund managers) to become “climate stewards” and force companies to reduce their impact on climate change. According to this theory, by maximizing the value of their entire portfolio (portfolio primacy) rather than the value of the individual company (shareholder primacy), index fund managers are incentivized to reduce climate externalities and therefore to steer companies towards decarbonization. This Article offers the first systematic critique of this theory and identifies four crucial limits that undermine its practical impact: portfolio biases, mispricing of climate mitigation, fiduciary failures, and insulation from index funds’ influence. First, although large index funds are often referred to as “universal owners,” they only invest in subsets of the economy that are relatively less vulnerable to climate change. I show that index fund portfolios are overexposed to the oil & gas sector, to mega-capitalization companies, and to rich countries, and they are underexposed to small companies and to emerging or developing economies. Hence, index funds internalize global climate externalities in a very limited and imperfect way. Second, the stock market underestimates the social benefits of climate mitigation for two main reasons: stock prices do not accurately incorporate climate risk, and private investors discount the distant future at a much higher rate than the social discount rate. As a consequence, index funds should be expected to massively underinvest in climate mitigation. Third, even if index funds’ clients did benefit from climate stewardship, fund managers would have weak incentives to engage in it due to agency problems, collective action problems, and fiduciary conflicts inherent to their business model. Furthermore, to the extent that fund managers act on behalf of their clients, they fail to represent the interests of other constituencies who are even more vulnerable to climate change. Fourth, even if index fund managers undertook the role of climate stewards, most firms across the world would be partially or totally insulated from their influence, whether because they are privately held, are owned by state governments, or have a controlling or influential shareholder. The analysis of this Article reveals the serious limits of portfolio primacy and shows that this approach offers no adequate answer to the crucial threat of climate change. Policymakers, market participants, and concerned citizens should be warned that the promise of portfolio primacy to address climate risk is grossly overstated.
Distribution and Targeting of Glutamate Receptors in the Cochlear Nucleus

Glutamate (or a related excitatory amino acid) is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian cochlear nucleus (for reviews, see Wenthold. 1991; Hunter et al., 1992; Wenthold et al., 1993). Two main excitatory pathways which terminate in the cochlear nucleus, the auditory nerve and the parallel fiber pathway, both use glutamate as a neurotransmitter, and, although the evidence is less compelling, most other excitatory synapses in the cochlear nucleus probably also use glutamate as a neurotransmitter. The dominant role of glutamate in the cochlear nucleus is consistent with its role elsewhere in the CNS where it is thought to be a neurotransmitter at most excitatory synapses (Monaghan et al., 1989). In addition to this major role in neurotransmission, two other properties have also contributed to the intense interest in glutamate: 1) Glutamate and glutamate analogs are potent neurotoxins, and this neurotoxicity is mediated through the same receptors which are involved in neurotransmission (for review, see Choi and Rothman, 1990). Human disorders, such as stroke, may involve a release of glutamate which leads to further neuronal loss through excitotoxicity. Therefore, blocking glutamate receptors would be expected to lessen the damage, and animal studies have indicated this may be a promising approach to treatment. Furthermore, neuronal loss that occurs with some neurodegenerative disorders may involve excitotoxicity suggesting that a similar treatment may be promising. 2) Glutamate receptors are involved in synaptic plasticity such as in learning and memory or synapse formation. In one model it is proposed that long-term potentiation (LTP) results from an increase in functional AMPA receptors at the postsynaptic membrane (Liao et al., 1995). Therefore, knowledge of the mechanisms which regulate the expression of synaptic glutamate receptors will give insights into the general area of synaptic plasticity.
Abstract P330: Video-Conference Shared Medical Appointments Improves Rural Diabetes Care

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend the use of multi-disciplinary care models to improve diabetes outcomes. However, this can be difficult to accomplish in rural areas due to limited access to healthcare specialists. It is unknown whether increased access to multi-disciplinary care through Shared Medical Appointments (SMA) and the use of video-conferencing will improve diabetes outcomes in remote rural settings. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that a non-physician multi-disciplinary SMA care model delivered to a remote rural setting via video-conferencing would improve diabetes outcomes. Methods: A team consisting of a clinical pharmacist and a nurse practitioner from the VA Medical Center in Hawaii delivered video-SMA (vSMA) to a remote clinic on the island of Guam. Veterans with diabetes with hemoglobin A1c >7% or referred by provider were enrolled into the study. The participants attended 4 weekly group sessions followed by 2 bi-monthly booster SMA visits for a total of 5 months. Each session consisted of self-management education and medication management. Patients with diabetes and A1c >7% that had primary care visits but no vSMA intervention were selected from electronic patient records as controls. We compared changes from baseline in A1c, blood pressure, and lipid levels using mixed effect modeling within and between the vSMA and control groups. We also analyzed differences in phone visits, unscheduled visits, emergency room visits and hospitalizations between the vSMA and the control groups. Results and Conclusion: Thirty one patients received vSMA and charts of 69 controls were abstracted for a total of 100 patients in the study. Mean age was 61±8.4, and 93% (93 of 100) were males. Sixty one percent of patients had 6-15 years duration of diabetes and 13% (13 of 100) of patients had diabetes for greater than 15 years. Over the 5 month period, the intervention vSMA group showed a significant decline in A1c vs. the control group (9.1 ± 1.9 to 8.3 ±1.8 vs. 8.6 ± 1.4 to 8.7 ±1.6, respectively, p = 0.03). No significant changes over time in blood pressure or lipid levels were found between the vSMA versus the control group. Although changes were not statistically significant, the vSMA group had a trend towards fewer average phone visits (0.72 vs. 0.10), unscheduled visits (0.28 vs. 0.26 visits),ER visits (0.06 vs. 0.03 visits), and hospitalizations (0.04 vs. 0.03) compared to controls. In conclusion, the SMA model appeared to improve diabetes outcomes with potential to reduce healthcare utilization in a rural setting.
Taxonomic Significance of Phenethyl Alcohol Production by Achromobacter Isolates from Fishery Sources

The formation of phenethyl alcohol from L-phenylalanine and ethanol by achromobacter isolates of fishery origin was found to be taxonomically significant for such organisms. Phenylpyruvate, the direct oxidative deamination product of L-phenylalanine, was found to serve as an intermediate precursor to phenethyl alcohol formation. Among ten Acinetobacter isolates examined, none produced phenethyl alcohol. Among nine Moraxella isolates examined, one produced phenethyl alcohol.
Remote Raman Spectroscopy. Profiling Water Vapor and Aerosols in the Troposphere Using Raman Lidars

The sections in this article are Introduction Water Vapor Aerosols Raman Lidar History and Overview History of the Raman Effect Optical Remote Sensing and Lidar Raman Lidar The First Measurements: Nitrogen and Oxygen Pollution Monitoring Water Vapor Water Temperature Cloud Liquid Water Atmospheric Temperature Extinction/Optical Depth Stratospheric Ozone Theory of Raman Lidar Water Vapor and Aerosol Measurements ARM CART Raman Lidar Examples Example Profiles Evolution of the Water Vapor Field Observation of Atmospheric Boundaries Aerosol Processes Aerosol and Water Vapor Climatologies Upper Tropospheric Humidity Cloud Properties The Future Summary
Cytogenetics of Childhood T-Cell Leukemia

The karyotypes of 57 cases of childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were analyzed to establish the cytogenetic profile in this disease. Three questions were of particular interest. Do the chromosomal changes in T-cell ALL preferentially affect bands where genes encoding the T-cell receptor for antigen (TCR) have been mapped? Do alterations involving the TCR gene regions appear with any notable frequency in B-progenitor ALL? Do chromosomal abnormalities in this disease relate to stage of T-cell ontogeny? A relatively high proportion of cases (65%) had a pseudodiploid karyotype at presentation, the majority (58%) characterized by a translocation. The overall frequency of translocations was 44%, comparable to that among all banded cases of ALL seen in our laboratory. Hypodiploidy and hyperdiploidy were exceedingly rare (only four of 57 cases); 16 cases (28%) had apparently normal karyotypes. In half the cases with a translocation (14 of 24), the breakpoints were in regions to which the alpha and beta chain TCR genes have been mapped. Chromosomal breakpoints that were consistently observed in the vicinity of TCR gene loci were 7q32-q36 (TCR beta chain; n = 8), 14q11-q13 (TCR alpha chain; n = 6); other frequent breakpoints were 9p13-pter (n = 8) and 6q15-qter (n = 9). Chromosomal alterations occurred near TCR gene loci significantly more often in T-cell cases than in a comparison group of 335 patients with B-cell precursor ALL (26% v 1.5%, P = .0001). Stage I thymocyte development (CD7+, CD2+, CD5+, CD1-, CD3-, CD4-, CD8-) was noted in 23 cases, stage II (CD7+, CD2+, CD5+, CD1+, CD3-, CD4 +/-, CD8 +/-) in 25 cases, and stage III (CD9+, CD2+, CD1-, CD5+, CD3+, and either CD4+ or CD8+) in nine cases. The only statistically significant associations between cytogenetic findings and T-cell ontogeny were a higher frequency of normal karyotypes in cases with stage I thymocytes, and of pseudodiploidy in stage II cases. There was no apparent relationship between particular translocations and level of thymocyte maturation. Our findings indicate that most children with T-cell ALL have pseudodiploid karyotypes, although a surprisingly high percentage lack demonstrable abnormal clones. Specific chromosomal changes do not appear to be related to discrete stages of T-cell ontogeny as defined in this study, but they occur preferentially in bands containing TCR genes.
Advances in the management of gastrointestinal cancers—an upcoming role of immune checkpoint blockade

Gastrointestinal cancers are a group of highly aggressive malignancies, and novel therapeutic strategies with higher clinical efficacy are being actively sought. ‘Immunotherapy’ is now emerging as one such promising strategy for the treatment of these tumors. This article briefly reviews the recent advances that utilize targeting of immune checkpoint pathways, in the management of gastrointestinal malignancies.
Catecholestrogens in the Induction of Tumors in the Kidney of the Syrian Hamster

Publisher Summary The estrogen-induced kidney tumor in hamsters has been investigated extensively as a mechanistic model for estrogen-associated cancers in humans, such as breast or uterine cancers. In the hamster model, several synthetic steroidal estrogens like 17 α -ethinylestradiol, 2-fluoroestradiol, and 11 β -methylestradiol have been identified. It has been suggested that estrogens play a dual role as both tumor initiators inducing DNA damage and genetic alterations by metabolic activation and as hormones inducing cell transformation and growth by hormone receptor-mediated pathways. 4-Hydroxyestradiol is known to be a long-acting estrogen because of its slower dissociation from the estrogen receptor compared with estradiol. In mechanistic studies of metabolic activation of catecholestrogens and induction of DNA damage, the increased efficiency of the 4- compared with the 2-hydroxylated catechols pointed to the former metabolites as possible endogenous procarcinogens. A mechanism of metabolic activation of 4-hydroxyestrogens includes redox cycling between the catechol (hydroquinone) and the quinone-reactive intermediate. The induction of DNA damage by 4-hydroxyestradiol is in agreement with its capability to induce tumors. For instance, in Syrian hamsters in vivo , 4-hydroxyestradiol induces DNA single-strand breaks and 8-hydroxylation of guanine bases of DNA. Both processes are initiated by hydroxy radicals. The differential reactivity of 4- versus 2-hydroxyestrogens may be based on the more efficient oxidation of the former catechols to reactive quinone metabolites by microsomal enzymes and, thus, on more efficient metabolic redox cycling. It is possible that particularly high catecholamine concentrations in any organ of any species facilitate induction of tumors by estrogens by way of inhibiting the phase II catabolism of the procarcinogenic 4-hydroxyestrogen metabolites. Tumor modulation by enzyme inhibition also supports the concept of estrogen-induced tumorigenesis mediated by reactive 4-hydroxyestrogen metabolites.
Vortices and sound waves in superfluids

andIssac Newton Institute for Mathemetical SciencesUniversity of Cambridge, 20 Clarkson Rd., Cambridge CB3 0EHWe consider the dynamics of vortex strings and sound waves in superﬂuidsin the phenomenological Landau-Ginzburg equation. We ﬁrst derive the vortexequation where the velocity of a vortex is determined by the average ﬂuid velocityand the density gradient near the vortex. We then derive the eﬀective action forvortex strings and sound waves by the dual formulation. The eﬀective action mightbe useful in calculating the emission rate of sound waves by moving vortex strings.September 1994
Shoulder arthroplasty for atraumatic osteonecrosis of the humeral head.

Background Osteonecrosis (ON) of the humeral head represents Methods Between August 1973 and November 2010, 141 shoulder arthroplasties were performed for operatively confirmed ON of the humeral head; 67 HAs and 71 TSAs were observed for at least 2 years (mean, 9.3 years) or until reoperation. Indications for surgery included imaging-confirmed ON in a patient who had failed to respond to conservative treatment modalities. Results Shoulder arthroplasty provided significant improvements in pain scores ( P P P 75%) and excellent/satisfactory Neer ratings (>65%). Eleven percent of HAs had moderate to severe glenoid erosion at follow-up, and 25% of glenoid components were radiographically at risk. Eight HAs and 11 TSAs underwent reoperation. The most common cause for reoperation was painful glenoid arthrosis in the HA group (7) and aseptic loosening (4) in the TSA group. The estimated 20-year survivorship of HA and TSA was 87% and 79%, respectively. Conclusions In patients with atraumatic ON of the humeral head, both HA and TSA can be expected to provide lasting pain relief and improved range of motion, with HA having longer follow-up. HA should be strongly considered in patients with atraumatic ON of the humeral head and preserved glenoid cartilage.
Asociación entre variables: correlación no paramétrica

A description is made on how to estimate the Spearman correlation coefficient and in what conditions it is appropriate to use it. Also, how to make hypothese...
Studies on the stability of cycloprop-2-ene carboxylate dianions and reactions with electrophiles.

Dianions are generated from alkyllithium reagents and cycloprop-2-ene carboxylic acids, and these dianions can be functionalized by electrophiles at the vinylic position. In a previous report, we described that such dianions could be generated and reacted with electrophiles in Et 2 O or THF. Upon further study, it was found that there were reproducibility issues for those reactions that were carried out in Et 2 O. Working under the assumption that an impurity may have promoted these reactions, a detailed study was undertaken to determine the effect of variables on the generation, stability, and reactivity of cycloprop-2-ene carboxylate dianions. It has been found that certain additives can have a substantial effect on the chemistry of cycloprop-2-ene carboxylate dianions. In particular, it was determined that amine N-oxide additives have a beneficial effect both on the stability of cycloprop-2-ene carboxylate dianions and on the rates that such dianions undergo alkylation. Conditions for reacting dianions with a broad range of electrophiles are described.
Cervical spine collar clearance in the obtunded adult blunt trauma patient: a systematic review and practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

Cervical spine (C-spine) collar clearance or removal is well established for the alert patient with or without symptoms; 1,2 however, for the obtunded adult blunt trauma patient, it is unclear whether primary screening with computed tomography (CT) is sufficient or whether a second diagnostic adjunct is required.3 The imprecise and possible overly broad interpretation of the word obtunded along with continual advances in imaging technology confound the decision to remove the cervical collar after blunt traumatic injury. Despite the multispecialty impact that a guideline directing efficient cervical collar clearance in the obtunded adult blunt trauma patient would have, there is no consensus recommendation available. With the use of the framework advocated by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Working Group,4–6 our aims were to perform a systematic review and to develop evidence-based recommendations that might be used to direct decision making in the removal of a cervical collar from the adult obtunded blunt trauma patient.
LIFE-THREATENING INFANTILE APNEA - RESULTS OF PRIMARY EVALUATION AND LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

Management of the infant with severe infantile apnea remains controversial. Studies have suggested that home cardiorespiratory monitoring failed to prevent subsequent deaths from SIDS in as many as 10% of patients. In order to assess the effectiveness of home cardiorespiratory monitoring upon subsequent outcome in severe infantile apnea, 32 infants were evaluated and prospectively followed. These infants represented 8%(32/396) of the children seen at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia during a two year period. All 32 infants had life-threatening apnea requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation by parents, physicians, or paramedical personnel. Twenty-five (78.1%) were term infants, 7 (21.9%) were pre-term babies. Mean ± SEM G.A. at birth was 37.9 ± 0.3 wks. Age at the time of initial apneic episode was 8.6 ± 1.3 wks. Initial thermistor-pneumocardiogram evaluation revealed respiratory pattern abnormalities in 16 (50%) infants: central apnea - 5 (15.6%); obstructive apnea - 1 (3.2%); periodic breathing - 6 (18.7%); gastroesophageal reflux associated apnea - 4 (12.5%). All infants were treated with home cardiorespiratory monitoring. Mean ± SEM duration of monitoring was 4.7 ± 0.5 months. Ten infants (31.3%) had apnea while monitored which required vigorous stimulation. Two infants (6.25%) required vigorous stimulation including CPR. Infants have been followed for a mean of 21.3 ± 6.3 SEM months. No deaths have occurred. These results suggest that one-third of infants with severe infantile apnea will have subsequent respiratory episodes at home. Home monitoring appears to be an effective therapy in this group of babies at highest risk for continuing apnea.
Trace elements in hydrothermal quartz: Relationships to cathodoluminescent textures and insights into vein formation

High-resolution electron microprobe maps show the distribution of Ti, Al, Ca, K, and Fe among quartz growth zones revealed by scanning electron microscope-cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL) from 12 hydrothermal ore deposits formed between ~100 and ~750 °C. The maps clearly show the relationships between trace elements and CL intensity in quartz. Among all samples, no single trace element consistently correlates with variations in CL intensity. However in vein quartz from five porphyry-Cu (Mo-Au) deposits, CL intensity always correlates positively with Ti concentrations, suggesting that Ti is a CL activator in quartz formed at >400 °C. Ti concentrations in most rutile-bearing vein quartz from porphyry copper deposits indicate reasonable formation temperatures of <750 °C using the TitaniQ geothermometer. Titanium concentrations of <10 ppm in all veins that formed at temperatures <350 °C suggest a broad correlation between Ti concentrations and temperature of quartz precipitation. In quartz from most deposits formed at 2000 ppm, but in high-temperature quartz, Al concentrations are consistently in the range of several hundred ppm. Aluminum concentrations in quartz reflect the Al solubility in hydrothermal fluids, which is strongly dependent on pH. Aluminum concentrations in quartz therefore reflect fluctuations in pH that may drive metal-sulfide precipitation in hydrothermal systems.
RFLP mapping of Brassica napus using doubled haploid lines.

The combined use of doubled haploid lines and molecular markers can provide new genetic information for use in breeding programs. An F1-derived doubled haploid (DH) population of Brassica napus obtained from a cross between an annual canola cultivar (‘Stellar’) and a biennial rapeseed (‘Major’) was used to construct a linkage map of 132 restriction fragment length polymorphism loci. The marker loci were arranged into 22 linkage groups and six pairs of linked loci covering 1016 cM. The DH map was compared to a partial map constructed with a common set of markers for an F2 population derived from the same F1 plant, and the overall maps were not significantly different. Comparisons of maps in Brassica species suggest that less recombination occurs in B. napus (n = 19) than expected from the combined map distances of the two hypothesized diploid progenitors, B. oleracea (n = 9) and B. rapa (n=10). A high percentage (32%) of segregating marker loci were duplicated in the DH map, and conserved linkage arrangements of some duplicated loci indicated possible intergenome homoeology in the amphidiploid or intragenome duplications from the diploid progenitors. Deviation from Mendelian segregation ratios (P < 0.05) was observed for 30% of the marker loci in the DH population and for 24% in the F2 population. Deviation towards each parent occurred at equal frequencies in both populations and marker loci that showed deviation clustered in specific linkage groups. The DH lines and molecular marker map generated for this study can be used to map loci for agronomic traits segregating in this population.
A lower bound for the independence number of a planar graph

A subset of the vertices of a graph is independent if no two vertices in the subset are adjacent. The independence number α(G) is the maximum number of vertices in an independent set. We prove that if G is a planar graph on N vertices then α(G)/N ⩾ 29.
Towards a model of the e-science data environment

Building digital libraries for preserving scientific digital data, ensuring its continued access, has emerged as a major initiative for funding agencies and academic institutions. Understanding the environments in which data is created, quality is assessed, and data is managed is a necessary antecedent to developing appropriate technologies to support the preservation and ongoing access to data. This paper reports on a study of 11 laboratories and research centers at three U.S. universities. Using the grounded theory methodology, this paper develops a new, generalized view of the e-Science data that attempts to explain the environment in which data is created, managed, documented, and preserved.