cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leaf lifespan as a determinant of leaf structure and function among 23 amazonian tree species.

The relationships between resource availability, plant succession, and species' life history traits are often considered key to understanding variation among species and communities. Leaf lifespan is one trait important in this regard. We observed that leaf lifespan varies 30-fold among 23 species from natural and disturbed communities within a 1-km radius in the northern Amazon basin, near San Carlos de Rio Negro, Venezuela. Moreover, leaf lifespan was highly correlated with a number of important leaf structural and functional characterisues. Stomatal conductance to water vapor (g) and both mass and area-based net photosynthesis decreased with increasing leaf lifespan (r2=0.74, 0.91 and 0.75, respectively). Specific leaf area (SLA) also decreased with increasing leaf lifespan (r2=0.78), while leaf toughness increased (r2=0.62). Correlations between leaf lifespan and leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were moderate on a weight basis and not significant on an area basis. On an absolute basis, changes in SLA, net photosynthesis and leaf chemistry were large as leaf lifespan varied from 1.5 to 12 months, but such changes were small as leaf lifespan increased from 1 to 5 years. Mass-based net photosynthesis (A/mass) was highly correlated with SLA (r2=0.90) and mass-based leaf nitrogen (N/mass) (r2=0.85), but area-based net photosynthesis (A/area) was not well correlated with any index of leaf structure or chemistry including N/area. Overall, these results indicate that species allocate resources towards a high photosynthetic assimilation rate for a brief time, or provide resistant physical structure that results in a lower rate of carbon assimilation over a longer time, but not both.
Extremely thin, single-crystal films of LiNbO/sub 3/ fabricated using localized He+ ion-implantation

We demonstrate that extremely thin, i.e., /spl sim/2-3/spl mu/m, single-crystal films of LiNbO/sub 3/ can be formed on a wafer using patterned ion-implantation followed by chemical etching. Control of the membrane thickness and its waveguiding properties are demonstrated.
Atrial dimensions in health and left ventricular disease using cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has superior spatial resolution compared with echocardiography, but assessment of normal measurements has lagged behind its increasing clinical application. We assessed atrial size by CMR in healthy and diseased subjects to determine normal adult ranges. Methods: Twenty normal adults and 20 cardiac patients with hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy were studied. Four and two chamber left and four chamber right atrial areas and left and right atrial depths were measured and compared, and a normal range for these measures was proposed. Results: Normal four-chamber left and right atrial systolic areas each averaged 21 cm2. Average depths were 53 and 52 cm, respectively. For both the left and right atrium, a systolic area of < 24 cm2 included the upper 95th percentile of the normal range and (especially for the left atrium) best separated normal from abnormal hearts. For atrial depth, a systolic value of < 58 cm best distinguished normal from abnormal and ...
California perennial crops in a changing climate

Perennial crops are among the most valuable of California’s diverse agricultural products. They are also potentially the most influenced by information on future climate, since individual plants are commonly grown for more than 30 years. This study evaluated the impacts of future climate changes on the 20 most valuable perennial crops in California, using a combination of statistical crop models and downscaled climate model projections. County records on crop harvests and weather from 1980 to 2005 were used to evaluate the influence of weather on yields, with a series of cross-validation and sensitivity tests used to evaluate the robustness of perceived effects. In the end, only four models appear to have a clear weather response based on historical data, with another four presenting significant but less robust relationships. Projecting impacts of climate trends to 2050 using historical relationships reveals that cherries are the only crop unambiguously threatened by warming, with no crops clearly benefiting from warming. Another robust result is that almond yields will be harmed by winter warming, although this effect may be counteracted by beneficial warming in spring and summer. Overall, the study has advanced understanding of climate impacts on California agriculture and has highlighted the importance of measuring and tracking uncertainties due to the difficulty of uncovering crop-climate relationships.
When "Effective" Prevention Agents Fail to Elicit Anticipated Effects: Challenges in Trial Design.

See related article by Jeter et al., [p. 128][1] In this issue of Cancer Prevention Research , Jeter and colleagues report a randomized phase IIB study comparing a combination of topical diclofenac and difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) to each single agent administered to sun-damaged skin in 136
Crustal-scale tilting of the central Salton block, southern California

The southern San Andreas fault system (California, USA) provides an excellent natural laboratory for studying the controls on vertical crustal motions related to strike-slip deformation. Here we present geologic, geomorphic, and gravity data that provide evidence for active northeastward tilting of the Santa Rosa Mountains and southern Coachella Valley about a horizontal axis oriented parallel to the San Jacinto and San Andreas faults. The Santa Rosa fault, a strand of the San Jacinto fault zone, is a large southwest-dipping normal fault on the west flank of the Santa Rosa Mountains that displays well-developed triangular facets, narrow footwall canyons, and steep hanging-wall alluvial fans. Geologic and geomorphic data reveal ongoing footwall uplift in the southern Santa Rosa Mountains, and gravity data suggest total vertical separation of ∼5.0–6.5 km from the range crest to the base of the Clark Valley basin. The northeast side of the Santa Rosa Mountains has a gentler topographic gradient, large alluvial fans, no major active faults, and tilted inactive late Pleistocene fan surfaces that are deeply incised by modern upper fan channels. Sediments beneath the Coachella Valley thicken gradually northeast to a depth of ∼4–5 km at an abrupt boundary at the San Andreas fault. These features all record crustal-scale tilting to the northeast that likely started when the San Jacinto fault zone initiated ca. 1.2 Ma. Tilting appears to be driven by oblique shortening and loading across a northeast-dipping southern San Andreas fault, consistent with the results of a recent boundary-element modeling study.
My Most Favorite Kim Bop Isn't Made Anymore

To me, Korean food is beautiful. Yet, for most non-Koreans, the look of the food is left with much to be desired-the proverbial blind date with the great personality. It is like other Asian cuisine but different, focused on the preparation rather than the presentation. Nevertheless, nothing binds us Koreans more securely than our love for soon doo bu (soft tofu soup in a hot bean paste), bibim naeng myun(thin cold noodles in a spicy sauce topped with vegetables, beef, and egg), and bibim bop (rice mixed with vegetables and beef strips). However, these dishes can be frustrating for a young boy looking to impress his American friends. Much goes into preparing a typical Korean dish but it always seems to arrive at the table betraying those efforts. Nobody understood this better than my mother. I didn't understand this until it was too late.
La institución presidencial en Chile: apropósito de un Sesquicentenario (1826-1976)

Entre las numerosas instituciones que aparecen en el periodo de nuestra anarquia, la mayor parte de las cuales pasan sin dejar apenas rastro, hay algunas que han llegado hasta el presente. Entre ellas destaca la del Presidente de la Republica, titulo que la ley de 8 de julio de 1826 dispuso se diera al jefe del Poder Ejecutivo. Como Blanco Encalada fuera su primer titular, parece acertada asociar el centenario de su muerte con el sesquicentenario de la Presidencia de la Republica.
Preventability and Causes of Readmissions in a National Cohort of General Medicine Patients

Importance Readmission penalties have catalyzed efforts to improve care transitions, but few programs have incorporated viewpoints of patients and health care professionals to determine readmission preventability or to prioritize opportunities for care improvement. Objectives To determine preventability of readmissions and to use these estimates to prioritize areas for improvement. Design, Setting, and Participants An observational study was conducted of 1000 general medicine patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge to 12 US academic medical centers between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013. We surveyed patients and physicians, reviewed documentation, and performed 2-physician case review to determine preventability of and factors contributing to readmission. We used bivariable statistics to compare preventable and nonpreventable readmissions, multivariable models to identify factors associated with potential preventability, and baseline risk factor prevalence and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) to determine the proportion of readmissions affected by individual risk factors. Main Outcome and Measure Likelihood that a readmission could have been prevented. Results The study cohort comprised 1000 patients (median age was 55 years). Of these, 269 (26.9%) were considered potentially preventable. In multivariable models, factors most strongly associated with potential preventability included emergency department decision making regarding the readmission (aOR, 9.13; 95% CI, 5.23-15.95), failure to relay important information to outpatient health care professionals (aOR, 4.19; 95% CI, 2.17-8.09), discharge of patients too soon (aOR, 3.88; 95% CI, 2.44-6.17), and lack of discussions about care goals among patients with serious illnesses (aOR, 3.84; 95% CI, 1.39-10.64). The most common factors associated with potentially preventable readmissions included emergency department decision making (affecting 9.0%; 95% CI, 7.1%-10.3%), inability to keep appointments after discharge (affecting 8.3%; 95% CI, 4.1%-12.0%), premature discharge from the hospital (affecting 8.7%; 95% CI, 5.8%-11.3%), and patient lack of awareness of whom to contact after discharge (affecting 6.2%; 95% CI, 3.5%-8.7%). Conclusions and Relevance Approximately one-quarter of readmissions are potentially preventable when assessed using multiple perspectives. High-priority areas for improvement efforts include improved communication among health care teams and between health care professionals and patients, greater attention to patients’ readiness for discharge, enhanced disease monitoring, and better support for patient self-management.
Wireless NoC for VFI-Enabled Multicore Chip Design: Performance Evaluation and Design Trade-Offs

Multiple Voltage Frequency Island (VFI)-based designs can reduce the energy dissipation in multicore chips. Indeed, by tailoring the voltages and frequencies of each VFI domain, we can achieve significant energy savings subject to specific performance constraints. The achievable performance of VFI-based multicore platforms depends on the overall communication backbone, which relies predominantly on Networks-on-Chip (NoCs). Traditionally mesh-based NoCs have been used in VFI-based systems. However, the mesh-based NoCs have large latency and energy overheads due to their inherently long multihop paths. Emerging paradigms such as the millimeter (mm)-wave small-world wireless Networks-on-Chip (mSWNoCs) have lately been observed to help reduce the impact of the communication backbone on the performance of the multicore chips. In this work, we demonstrate that not only do mSWNoC-enabled VFI designs mitigate some of the full-system performance degradation inherent in VFI-partitioned multicore designs, but they also help in eliminating it entirely for certain applications. We also demonstrate that the VFI-partitioned designs used in conjunction with a novel NoC architecture like mSWNoC can achieve significant energy savings while minimizing the impact on the performance for each application under consideration.
Imaging determinants of clinical effectiveness of lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections

Objective. To examine associations between imaging characteristics of compressive lesions and patient outcomes after lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) stratified by steroid formulation (solution versus suspension). Design/Subjects. Retrospective observational study, academic radiology practice. A 516-patient sample was selected from 2,634 consecutive patients receiving lumbar TFESI for radicular pain. Methods. The advanced imaging study(s) preceding sampled TFESI were reviewed. Compressive lesions were described by a) nature of the lesion [disc herniation, fixed stenosis, synovial cyst, epidural fibrosis, no lesion] b) degree of neural compression [4 part scale], and c) presence of a tandem lesion. Associations between 2-month categorical outcomes (responder rates for pain, functional recovery) and imaging characteristics, stratified by steroid formulation, were examined with chi-squared tests of categorical outcomes and multivariable logistic regression models. Results. Disc herniation patients had more responders for functional recovery than patients with fixed lesions (54% versus 38%, P = 0.01). Patients with fixed lesions receiving steroid solution (dexamethasone) had more responders for pain relief, with a similar trend for functional recovery, than patients receiving suspensions (59% versus 40%, P = 0.01). Outcomes for patients with fixed lesions treated with dexamethasone were not statistically different from those for disc herniation patients. Patients with single compressive lesions had more responders than those with tandem lesions (55% versus 41%, P = 0.03). Conclusion. In the entire sample, outcomes for disc herniations were more favorable than for fixed lesions. However, fixed lesions treated with dexamethasone had outcomes indistinguishable from disc herniations. Single lesions had better outcomes than tandem lesions.
Quantitation of Recombinant Protein in Whole Cells and Cell Extracts via Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

Recombinant proteins (RPs) are commonly expressed in bacteria followed by solubilization and chromatography. Purified RP yield can be diminished by losses at any step with very different changes in methods that can improve the yield. Time and labor can therefore be saved by first identifying the specific reason for the low yield. This study describes a new solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance approach to RP quantitation in whole cells or cell extracts without solubilization or purification. The method is straightforward and inexpensive and requires only ∼50 mL culture and a low-field spectrometer.
Two New Species of Guntheria (Guntheria) (Acari: Trombiculidae) from the Lowland Melomys (Rodentia: Muridae) in New Guinea

Guntheria (Guntheria) melomys and Guntheria (Guntheria) margaretae are described as new from specimens of the Lowland Melomys, Melomys platyops (Rodentia: Muridae), collected in Papua New Guinea and Irian, New Guinea.
The Orthopedic Perspective on Groin Pain: The Native and Prosthetic Hip

Orthopedic surgeons commonly evaluate groin pain. While many times the cause of the pain is the hip joint itself, extra-articular musculoskeletal conditions need to be carefully considered. Accurate history-taking, physical exam findings, and radiographs help distinguish between intra-articular and extra-articular pathology. It is also critical to entertain a broad variety of diagnoses across multiple fields. Discussing cases in person with a specialist, in particular a pelvic or abdominal surgeon, is often helpful when the diagnosis is unclear. Groin pain in a patient with a native hip is worked up differently than after a hip replacement. Interpreting plain radiographs and advanced imaging studies of a prosthetic hip require a set of skills that is unfamiliar to most radiologists and many general orthopedists. Chronic pain after a hip replacement needs to be worked up by an experienced revision surgeon.
HYBRIDIZATION IN MILKWEED BUGS OF THE GENUS ONCOPELTUS (HEMIPTERA: LYGAEIDAE)

Hybridization occurs occasionally in taxonomically well known groups of animals (see reviews by Mayr, 1963; 1970; White, 1973). Most of these reported hybrid forms are sterile or nonreproducing hybrid swarms, and this hybridization has been considered of minor importance in animal evolution (Mayr, 1963, 1970; White, 1973, 1978). However, hybridization does play a major role in evolution particularly if it leads to introgression. Some species of milkweed bugs of the genus Oncopeltus hybridize in nature and possible introgression is occurring. Chaplin (1973) reported that Oncopeltus cingulifer cingulifer Stal commonly interbred with 0. unifasciatellus Slater in Colombia, S. A., and hybrids were laboratory reared. Another species, 0. sandarachatus Say, interbreeds with 0. cingulifer in Trinidad, West Indies (pers. observ.), and hybrids also have been produced between them. Since interbreeding is common between these species in nature and hybrids have been laboratory reared, hybridization may be important in their evolution. This study was initiated to determine the evolutionary significance of hybridization in interbreeding species of Oncopeltus. In the groups of insects thoroughly studied, hybridization is usually associated with habitat disruption often as the result of human interference (see review by Mayr, 1963, 1970). Interbreeding in Oncopeltus is most often observed on their host plants (Asclepias spp.) growing in pastures (Chaplin, 1973; Root and Chaplin, 1976) and along roadsides (pers. observ.); it appears to be associated with disruption caused by agricultural activities
Yin Yang 1 is associated with cancer stem cell transcription factors (SOX2, OCT4, BMI1) and clinical implication

The transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is frequently overexpressed in cancerous tissues compared to normal tissues and has regulatory roles in cell proliferation, cell viability, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis and drug/immune resistance. YY1 shares many properties with cancer stem cells (CSCs) that drive tumorigenesis, metastasis and drug resistance and are regulated by overexpression of certain transcription factors, including SOX2, OCT4 (POU5F1), BMI1 and NANOG. Based on these similarities, it was expected that YY1 expression would be associated with SOX2, OCT4, BMI1, and NANOG's expressions and activities. Data mining from the proteomic tissue-based datasets from the Human Protein Atlas were used for protein expression patterns of YY1 and the four CSC markers in 17 types of cancer, including both solid and hematological malignancies. A close association was revealed between the frequency of expressions of YY1 and SOX2 as well as SOX2 and OCT4 in all cancers analyzed. Two types of dynamics were identified based on the nature of their association, namely, inverse or direct, between YY1 and SOX2. These two dynamics define distinctive patterns of BMI1 and OCT4 expressions. The relationship between YY1 and SOX2 expressions as well as the expressions of BMI1 and OCT4 resulted in the classification of four groups of cancers with distinct molecular signatures: (1) Prostate, lung, cervical, endometrial, ovarian and glioma cancers (YY1(lo)SOX2(hi)BMI1(hi)OCT4(hi)) (2) Skin, testis and breast cancers (YY1(hi)SOX2(lo)BMI1(hi)OCT4(hi)) (3) Liver, stomach, renal, pancreatic and urothelial cancers (YY1(lo)SOX2(lo)BMI1(hi)OCT4(hi)) and (4) Colorectal cancer, lymphoma and melanoma (YY1(hi)SOX2(hi)BMI1(lo)OCT4(hi)). A regulatory loop is proposed consisting of the cross-talk between the NF-kB/PI3K/AKT pathways and the downstream inter-regulation of target gene products YY1, OCT4, SOX2 and BMI1.
Hemoglobin D Iran α2A β222-Glu→Gln in Association With Thalassemia

A 25-yr-old Indian (Asiatic) woman investigated for a life-long anemia was found to have a hitherto undescribed structural hemoglobin variant α2Aβ222-glu→gln, which was found independently and designated Hb D Iran by Rahbar in members of a family from Iran. In the present case, Hb D Iran was found in association with high A2 thalassemia. The replacement of glutamic acid by glutamine at β 22 (helical residue B4) was demonstrated by thin-layer chromatography after automated Edman sequencing. This is the fourth substitution to be described at β 22; the previous substitutions were (1) G Coushatta (ala); (2) E Saskatoon (lys); (3) G Taipei (gly). Helical residue B4 is an external residue, does not participate in α-β or protein-heme contacts and hemoglobin D Iran resembles Hb A in visible spectra, O2 equilibria in dilute solutions and heat stability. Since the propositus and her mother who was also heterozygous for β thalassemia had similar degrees of anemia, no interaction between this variant and β thalassemia was evident. The presence of this Hb variant in Iranians and in Western Indians may reflect the migrations of populations in these areas centuries ago.
Evaluation of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy

Pakistan was born in extremely challenging circumstances. India’s hostility aggravated its internal and external problems, presenting its policy makers with difficult choices. However, its leaders also had their own share of serious mistakes. The evaluation of the past record of Pakistan’s foreign policy reveals that it failed the tests of a sound foreign policy on several counts. In particular, it suffered from a short-term and tactical rather than a long-term and strategic approach to the handling of external affairs. In the process, many avoidable blunders were committed and the country was dismembered. What is needed is an honest and objective appraisal of Pakistan’s foreign policies of the past with a view to identifying its flaws and becoming wiser for the future.
Quantifying energy and water savings in the U.S. residential sector

Stress on water and energy utilities, including natural resource depletion, infrastructure deterioration, and growing populations, threatens the ability to provide reliable and sustainable service. This study presents a demand-side management decision-making tool to evaluate energy and water efficiency opportunities at the residential level, including both direct and indirect consumption. The energy–water nexus accounts for indirect resource consumption, including water-for-energy and energy-for-water. We examine the relationship between water and energy in common household appliances and fixtures, comparing baseline appliances to ENERGY STAR or WaterSense appliances, using a cost abatement analysis for the average U.S. household, yielding a potential annual per household savings of 7600 kWh and 39 600 gallons, with most upgrades having negative abatement cost. We refine the national average cost abatement curves to understand regional relationships, specifically for the urban environments of Los Angeles,...
A slotted ring with distributed buffering to enhance transmission concurrency and facilitate voice/data integration

An innovative local area network is presented which is based on a slotted ring with distributed frame buffering. The structure achieves three goals: efficient integration of circuit switching with packet switching; realization of a significant degree of transmission concurrency; and full utilization of the high bandwidth of optical fiber. Extensive computer simulations of the proposed structure and the token ring are carried out. Simulation results, which confirm expectations, are presented and discussed. >
Controlled nanowire fabrication by PEDAL process

In earlier publications, the authors proposed and successfully demonstrated an unconventional lithographic technique called PEDAL process (planar edge defined alternate layer) to define wafer scale sub 25 nm nanowires and nanoimprint template. In this publication, uniformity analysis of the width and spacing of an array of sixteen line-width structures with approximately 42 nm pitch and twenty four line-width structures with approximately 23 nm pitch, fabricated by PEDAL process, is presented. Results on routing capability of this process along with results of palladium nanowires obtained by PEDAL lift-off process done on the template with 42 nm pitch is also reported. In the case of template with array of sixteen lines, the average pitch of array across the 4 inch wafer was measured to be 40.83 nm with the standard deviation of 2.29 nm where as the average pitch of the lines in an array was found to be 41.5 nm with the standard deviation of 4.64 nm. After Pd liftoff the average pitch in nanowire array was measured to be 41.88 nm with standard deviation of 1.83 nm, close to the values obtained for the template. In the case of array of twenty four line-widths, average pitch of array across the 4 inch wafer was measured to be 21.1 nm with the standard deviation of 5 A where as the average pitch of the line in an array was found to be 22.6 nm with the standard deviation of 9 A. The experimental results presented in this paper prove the efficacy of PEDAL process in making nanowire template of sub-25 nm wide lines with good routing capability
Strangers and Brothers: A Homily on Transracial Adoption

Primarily, family law resolves disputes among individuals about how their lives in families should be organized. But family law also referees the claims of various collectivities to influence people's intimate lives. These collectivities include families, ethnic and religious groups, and the broader community as it is represented by the government. Tensions among these collectivities are so Protean that no stable resolution of them is plausible. Nevertheless, if there is a trend, it is toward favoring the choices of individuals, toward the adage that, in America, all affinities are elective. To be sure, family law attributes special status to "the family" by, for example, exalting "family autonomy." But that principle is at heart a generalization about what best promotes the interests of the individuals within the family and a presumption readily abrogated to protect individuals from the power of families or their dominant members. Furthermore, the primacy of the family has been eroded by developments like no-fault divorce and a mounting willingness to intervene in families to pursue and punish familial violence. Indeed, we have increasingly deinstitutionalized the family and ratified as a family whatever relationships individuals choose to call one. So I repeat: in America, all affinities are elective.
Outcomes of gastroschisis early delivery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background/purpose Elective preterm delivery (EPD) of a fetus with gastroschisis may prevent demise and ameliorate intestinal injury. While the literature on optimal timing of delivery varies, we hypothesize that a potential benefit may be found with EPD. Methods A meta-analysis of publications describing timing of delivery in gastroschisis from 1/1990 to 8/2016 was performed, including studies where either elective preterm delivery (group 1, G1) or preterm gestational age (GA) (group 2, G2) were evaluated against respective comparators. The following outcomes were analyzed: total parenteral nutrition (TPN), first enteral feeding (FF), length of stay, ventilator days, fetal demise, complex gastroschisis, sepsis, and death. Results Eighteen studies describing 1430 gastroschisis patients were identified. G1 studies found less sepsis ( p p =0.03), and 11days less of TPN ( p =0.07) in the preterm cohort. Comparatively, G2 studies showed less days to FF in term GA ( p =0.02).Whereas G1 BWs were similar, G2 preterm had a significantly lower BW compared to controls ( p =0.001). Conclusions Elective preterm delivery appears favorable with respect to feeding and sepsis. However, benefits are lost when age is used as a surrogate of EPD. A randomized, prospective, multi-institutional trial is necessary to delineate whether EPD is advantageous to neonates with gastroschisis. Type of study Treatment study. Level of evidence Level III.
Remote sensing observation of annual dust cycles and possible causality of Kawasaki disease outbreaks in Japan.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a rare vascular disease that, if left untreated, can result in irreparable cardiac damage in children. While the symptoms of KD are well-known, as are best practices for treatment, the etiology of the disease and the factors contributing to KD outbreaks remain puzzling to both medical practitioners and scientists alike. Recently, a fungus known as Candida , originating in the farmlands of China, has been blamed for outbreaks in China and Japan, with the hypothesis that it can be transported over long ranges via different wind mechanisms. This paper provides evidence to understand the transport mechanisms of dust at different geographic locations and the cause of the annual spike of KD in Japan. Candida is carried along with many other dusts, particles or aerosols, of various sizes in major seasonal wind currents. The evidence is based upon particle categorization using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Fine Mode Fraction (FMF) and Angstrom Exponent (AE), the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) attenuated backscatter and aerosol subtype, and the Aerosol Robotic Network’s (AERONET) derived volume concentration. We found that seasonality associated with aerosol size distribution at different geographic locations plays a role in identifying dominant abundance at each location. Knowing the typical size of the Candida fungus, and analyzing aerosol characteristics using AERONET data reveals possible particle transport association with KD events at different locations. Thus, understanding transport mechanisms and accurate identification of aerosol sources is important in order to understand possible triggers to outbreaks of KD. This work provides future opportunities to leverage machine learning, including state-of-the-art deep architectures, to build predictive models of KD outbreaks, with the ultimate goal of early forecasting and intervention within a nascent global health early-warning system.
Crystal Structures of Cystathionine β-Synthase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: One Enzymatic Step at a Time

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is a key regulator of sulfur amino acid metabolism, taking homocysteine from the methionine cycle to the biosynthesis of cysteine via the trans-sulfuration pathway. CBS is also a predominant source of H2S biogenesis. Roles for CBS have been reported for neuronal death pursuant to cerebral ischemia, promoting ovarian tumor growth, and maintaining drug-resistant phenotype by controlling redox behavior and regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics. The trans-sulfuration pathway is well-conserved in eukaryotes, but the analogous enzymes have different enzymatic behavior in different organisms. CBSs from the higher organisms contain a heme in an N-terminal domain. Though the presence of the heme, whose functions in CBSs have yet to be elucidated, is biochemically interesting, it hampers UV–vis absorption spectroscopy investigations of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) species. CBS from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yCBS) naturally lacks the heme-containing N-terminal domain, which makes it a...
Cancer and the environment

(1977). Cancer and the environment. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 22-30.
Evolution of the genomic landscape of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in advanced prostate cancer (aPC) over treatment and time.

5052Background: While men with aPC respond to initial treatment, most will progress and require sequential therapies. Due to advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS), it is feasible to assess t...
Islands as Hotspots for Emerging Mosquito-Borne Viruses: A One-Health Perspective

During the past ten years, an increasing number of arbovirus outbreaks have affected tropical islands worldwide. We examined the available literature in peer-reviewed journals, from the second half of the 20th century until 2018, with the aim of gathering an overall picture of the emergence of arboviruses in these islands. In addition, we included information on environmental and social drivers specific to island setting that can facilitate the emergence of outbreaks. Within the context of the One Health approach, our review highlights how the emergence of arboviruses in tropical islands is linked to the complex interplay between their unique ecological settings and to the recent changes in local and global sociodemographic patterns. We also advocate for greater coordination between stakeholders in developing novel prevention and mitigation approaches for an intractable problem.
Post-userism

HCI is focused on improving the interactions we have with technology and innovating new types of interactions, as well as expanding the types of people for whom those interactions are designed. Central to these efforts is the simultaneously empowering and contested construct of the "user." This paper examines what the construct of the user highlights, as well as what it conceals. We introduce post-userism, a perspective that simultaneously acknowledges the limits of, and proposes alternatives to, the central construct of the user as proxy for the "human" in HCI. Drawing on developments across the historical trajectory of HCI, we articulate how the user is enacted across four different levels of representation-systems, interface, design process, and the ideology and identify situations where the user breaks down. Synthesizing prior work, we offer a series of strategies for grappling with such situations. In doing so, we seek to overcome the limitations imposed by the user and develop a language that will aid in evolving the foundations of HCI by asking what, exactly, we place at the center of our scholarship and design.
Case Study of Interstate 269 Corridor through Mississippi Focusing on Chemically Stabilized Pavement Layers

The Mississippi corridor of Interstate 269 (I-269) is located in northwest Mississippi and construction of this corridor encompassed approximately 27 miles of new Interstate. This study documents I...
An Explanative Basis for the Differential Performance of Students with Low Math Aptitude in General Chemistry.

Students who score within the bottom quartile on cognitive measures of math aptitude have been identified as at-risk for low performance in chemistry courses, with less attention as to why such differential performance persists. At-risk students struggle most differentially on assessment items related to the mole concept and stoichiometry. An exploration as to the nature of the differential performance observed became of great interest as the assessment of these topics rarely progresses beyond multiplication or division, and at-risk students who achieved proficiency with the mole concept and stoichiometry had no noticeable gaps in academic chemistry performance when compared to students scoring in the top three quartiles of math aptitude. Thus, students in first-semester general chemistry were surveyed to describe their solution processes toward assessment items involving the mole concept and stoichiometry. Three hundred and forty-eight students responded to all survey prompts with 101 identified as at-risk. Findings suggest that while all students were observed to struggle in the conceptualization of the algorithms by which they execute solution processes, not-at-risk chemistry students were more likely to achieve correct answers via chemically implausible solution pathways. Rather than suggest the removal of assessment practices involving algorithmic, multiple-choice assessment on these topics, the implications include practical suggestions and opportunities for further research toward improving the equitability of measures used to assess proficiency with stoichiometry.
SUSCEPTIBILITY OF LAUGHING GULLS (LEUCOPHAEUS ATRICILLA) AND MALLARDS (ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS) TO RUDDY TURNSTONE (ARENARIA INTERPRES MORINELLA) ORIGIN TYPE A INFLUENZA VIRUSES

Delaware Bay, US is the only documented location where influenza A virus (IAV) is consistently detected in a shorebird species, the Ruddy Turnstone (RUTU; Arenaria interpres morinella). Although IAV in shorebirds has been well studied at this site for decades, the importance of other species in the avian community as potential sources for the IAVs that infect RUTUs each spring remains unclear. We determined the susceptibility of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and Laughing Gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla), to IAVs isolated from RUTUs in order to gain insight into the potential host range of these viruses. Captive-reared gulls were challenged with RUTU-origin H6N1, H10N7, H11N9, H12N4, and H13N6 IAV, as well as Mallard-origin H6N1 and H11N9. We challenged captive-reared Mallards with the same viruses, except for H13N6. At a biologically plausible challenge dose (104 50% embryo infective doses/0.1 mL), one of five gulls challenged with both H6N1 IAVs shed virus. The remaining gulls were resistant to infection with all viruses. In contrast, all Mallards were infected and shed virus. The H12N4 Mallard challenge group was an exception with no birds infected. These results indicated that Mallards are permissive to infection with viruses originating from a shorebird host and that interspecies transmission could occur. In contrast, host adaptation of IAVs to RUTUs may compromise their ability to be transmitted back to gulls.
Design and on-field testing of wireless sensor network-based air quality monitoring system

The wireless sensor networks (WSN) are increasingly implemented in air quality monitoring with real-time and high spatial-temporal resolution. In this context, current work aimed at designing and testing a cost- and energy-efficient WSN-based air quality monitoring system. The system was assembled principally by wireless sensors, solar cells, microcontroller and network communication. In addition, a new circuit for buck-boost converter was implemented for voltage and current regulations. On-field, testing the proposed air quality monitoring system outdoor and indoor showed efficient real-time readings for the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC). Furthermore, it provided data about ambient temperature, relative humidity and air pressure with good accuracy. In conclusion, our results suggest a reliable and scalable WSN-based system for monitoring ambient air quality.
The virtual body of Christ and embrace of the seriously ill

Since the time of the Apostle Paul, the body of Christ has always been a virtual body, made up of members who were not always physically present to one another but were nevertheless part of the sam...
The Gluten- Grave's Connection: Is There One?

Abstract Objective To describe a case of hyperthyroidism secondary to Graves’ disease (GD), which resolved after initiation of gluten free diet (GFD). Methods Case report and review of literature regarding the role of GFD in GD. Case Description A 40-year-old woman, presented with clinical and biochemical features of thyrotoxicosis from GD. She was treated with methimazole initially, which was subsequently self discontinued. There was resolution of her symptoms and improvement of her thyroid function tests after the initiation of GFD. Conclusion Evidence regarding resolution of autoimmune thyroid disease with GFD is scarce. However, patients often attempt unconventional treatment methods including GFD for GD, with potential benefit as in our case. The role of GFD in GD merits further investigation.
Critical Care and Transport

You receive a call from the hospital transfer system that a school bus has overturned in a nearby city which is 40 miles away. The transfer center is asking for your advice concerning transfer of these patients to your facility. Which of the following regarding regionalized systems in pediatric emergency mass critical care is accurate?
Immune-Mediated Neuropathies.

The immune-mediated neuropathies are a broad category of diseases differentiated by time course, affected nerve fibers, and disease associations. This article spans the common, well-defined inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies (Guillain-Barre syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy) to the rarer, acquired demyelinating neuropathy variants (Miller-Fisher syndrome and multifocal motor neuropathy), vasculitic neuropathies, and sensory neuronopathies (dorsal root ganglionopathies). These case studies illustrate the characteristic clinical patterns of the immune-mediated neuropathies encountered in neurologic practice. Recommendations for diagnostic evaluation and treatment approach accompany each case. Prompt recognition of these disorders is imperative; delays in treatment may result in prolonged morbidity and permanent disability.
Stop making sense

Epistemic emotions, like awe and wonder, involve a recognition that one can neither understand nor exert meaningful control over one's environment. While researchers and writers have emphasized the beneficial consequences of such states, their potentially destructive consequences have been underexamined. The conditions under which these states promote individual well-being and societal flourishing must be specified.
Heme stimulates platelet mitochondrial oxidant production via the activation of toll-like receptor 4 signaling to mediate targeted granule secretion

Hemolysis is a pathological component of many diseases and is associated with thrombosis and vascular dysfunction. Hemolytic products, including cell-free hemoglobin and free heme directly activate platelets. However, the effect of hemolysis on platelet degranulation, a central process in not only thrombosis, but also inflammatory and mitogenic signaling, remains less clear. Our group showed that hemoglobin-induced platelet activation involved the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). However, the molecular mechanism by which extracellular hemolysis induces platelet mtROS production, and whether the mtROS regulate platelet degranulation remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate using isolated human platelets that cell free heme is a more potent agonist for platelet activation than hemoglobin, and stimulates the release of a specific set of molecules from the -granule of platelets, including the glycoprotein thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). We uncover the mechanism of heme-mediated platelet mtROS production which is dependent on the activation of platelet TLR4 signaling and leads to the downstream phosphorylation of complex-V by the serine kinase Akt. Notably, inhibition of platelet TLR4 or Akt, or scavenging mtROS prevents heme-induced granule release in vitro. Further, heme-dependent granule release is significantly attenuated in vivo in mice lacking TLR4 or those treated with the mtROS scavenger MitoTEMPO. These data elucidate a novel mechanism of TLR4-mediated mitochondrial regulation, establish the mechanistic link between hemolysis and platelet degranulation, and begin to define the heme and mtROS-dependent platelet secretome. These data have implications for hemolysis-induced thrombo-inflammatory signaling and for the consideration of platelet mitochondria as a therapeutic target in hemolytic disorders. Key pointsO_LIHeme induces platelet mtROS production by inhibiting complex-V activity via TLR4 signaling. C_LIO_LIHeme stimulated platelet granule secretion is regulated by mtROS. C_LI
Patient-Specific Biomechanics in Marfan Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms

Abstract Background Guidelines for Sinus of Valsalva-thoracic aortic aneurysms (SOV-TAA) in Marfan syndrome recommend size-based criteria for elective surgical repair. Biomechanics may provide a better prediction of dissection risk than diameter. Our aim was to determine magnitudes of wall stress in the aortic root of Marfan patients using finite element analyses. Methods Forty-six Marfan patients underwent patient-specific 3D SOV-TAA geometry reconstruction using imaging data. Finite element analyses were performed to determine wall stress distributions at SOV, sinotubular junction (STJ), and ascending aorta (AscAo) at systole. Results Peak circumferential stresses were 432.8±111kPa, 408.1±88.3kPa, and 321.9±83.8kPa at the SOV, STJ, and AscAo, respectively with significant differences between SOV and AscAo (p Conclusions Peak wall stresses in Marfan SOV-TAA were greatest in SOV than STJ than AscAo. Diameter was poorly correlated to peak stresses such that current guidelines with 5cm cutoff had significant overlap in peak stresses in patients with
Seismic fragility of reinforced concrete bridge columns utilizing ductile fiber-reinforced concrete covers

The seismic resistance of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers reduces over time due to gradual deterioration processes, such as reinforcement corrosion. Using a ductile fiber reinforced concrete ...
Novel Articulated Laparoscopy in Gynecologic Surgery

Study Objective To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of articulated laparoscopy versus conventional laparoscopy. To demonstrate the benefits of a novel articulated laparoscopic device in a cadaveric model. Design Educational video. Setting Cadaver Laboratory and Simulation Center- Laparoscopic surgery performed in a cadaveric model. Patients or Participants We present a novel articulated laparoscopic instrument and our experience with the implementation of this device in a cadaveric model. Interventions Cadaveric laparoscopic wristed dissection including adhesiolysis, retroperitoneal dissection, salpingo-oophorectomy, and hysterectomy. Measurements and Main Results The advantages of robotic surgery include that it represents a less morbid alternative to laparotomy, it gives a minimally invasive surgery option for a broader patient population, and it improves precision with wristed instruments. On the other hand, Limitations of robotic surgery include the absence of haptic or tactile feedback and a higher cost. Additionally, depending on the practice setting, availability may be a problem. We present a novel hand-held articulated laparoscopic device that provides haptic feedback, short set up time, lower cost while improving precision and dexterity with wristed instruments. Conclusion This novel articulated laparoscopic instrument may be an option to offer MIS surgery with potential increased dexterity at a lower cost compared with robotic surgery. This option potentially combines the benefits of conventional laparoscopy and robotic surgery. Future research is needed to determine the learning curve and operative cost of this device.
The Role of Hostages in Establishing Venture Capital Networks

A vital part of the modern equity capital market, venture capital often finances the riskiest, most innovative ventures. It is also among the more primitive segments of the capital market, subject to very little regulatory oversight and precious few formal institutions. Yet somehow, venture capital investors seem to thrive in this environment, cooperating in investment syndicates despite extreme asymmetric information. This paper examines historical venture capital data to understand how informal networks grew and stabilized. The analysis suggests that, as expected, repeated interaction helps hold networks together. But hostage exchange also plays a role; venture capitalists take turns as leader (informed) and follower (uninformed) in successive deals where, as followers, their investments serve as hostages that can be withheld if they cheat, while acting as leader, in other deals. As the self-enforcing mechanism preferred by East Coast venture capitalists, hostage exchange may offer some insight into older, more formal capital market institutions, including stock exchanges. On the other hand, West Coast venture capitalists (just 10% of all venture capitalists in 1970) appear to have had an alternative, possibly social, means for facilitating network formation.
Rationality Assumptions and their Limits

In “Different Cultures, Different Rationalities” (2000) Stephen Lukes weighs in on the controversies concerning the killing of Captain Cook by Hawaiians and what it says about the role of rationali...