cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An intravascular protein osmometer.

Our purpose was to develop an intravascular osmometer for measuring the colloid (i.e., protein) osmotic pressure (COP) of circulating blood. A semipermeable hollow fiber from a Cordis Dow artificial kidney (C-DAK 4000) was attached to polyethylene tubing on one end, filled with saline, and sealed at the other end. This was small enough to be inserted into the vasculature of research animals. Protein osmotic pressure plus hydrostatic pressure was measured by a Statham pressure transducer attached to the hollow fiber. Simultaneously, a second catheter and transducer was used to measure hydrostatic pressure, which was subtracted from the pressure measured from the fiber with an on-line computer. The system was documented by a variety of tests. The colloid osmotic pressure vs. albumin concentration curve determined with the fiber is identical to the curve determined by standard membrane osmometry. The time constant for 2- and 8-cm fibers was 2.6 +/- 0.6 and 1.5 +/- 0.5 (+/- SD) min, respectively. The reflection coefficient (+/- SD) of the fiber for NaCl is 0.042 +/- 0.019 (n = 38); COP measured at varying temperatures (absolute scale) changed linearly as expected from COP = nCRT (i.e., van't Hoff's law). Finally, hollow-fiber osmometers were inserted into femoral veins of dogs and sheep, and blood COP was continuously recorded during osmotic manipulations. In conclusion, we attempted to develop and document a simple method for continuous measurement of intravascular colloid osmotic pressure.
Influenza Binding Avidity Governed by Sterol-Dependent Ganglioside Dynamics

Influenza virions attach to host membranes by binding cell-surface glycans containing sialic acid, initiating the viral life cycle and infecting cells. While the primary determinant of viral binding is thought to be the glycan chemical structure, single interactions between a viral hemagglutinin binding site and a sialic acid are weak, so binding specificity is presumed to occur via multivalent interactions. Here, we show that target membrane composition can alter influenza binding while total receptor content is held constant. We hypothesize that this effect occurs by changing the spatial distribution of target receptors. Viral binding was quantitated by monitoring individual viruses binding to synthetic supported lipid bilayers using fluorescence microscopy. Adding cholesterol to target bilayers increased binding in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, membranes containing 5-cholesten-3-one, an oxidized variant of cholesterol, displayed significantly higher binding avidity compared to membranes supplemented with an equal amount of cholesterol. When sterol mole fractions were held constant, viral target receptor concentration and binding exhibited a sigmoidal relationship, confirming the multivalent nature of virus receptor binding. The cooperativity required for binding established the potential for local receptor concentration to regulate membrane binding affinity. To develop a physical model for sterol-induced changes in the lateral organization of GD1a receptors, we performed coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations of target lipid bilayers. Irrespective of sterol content, GD1a receptors showed strong tendencies to self-associate. The inclusion of cholesterol in membranes increased pairwise receptor contacts, suggesting that sterol addition stabilized target receptor clustering. This observation supports the hypothesis that sterols can modulate membrane nanoscale organization and thus alter viral binding avidity, illuminating a previously underappreciated mechanism by which target membrane context can influence influenza infectivity.
Anolis lizards as biocontrol agents in mainland and island agroecosystems.

Our knowledge of ecological interactions that bolster ecosystem function and productivity has broad applications to the management of agricultural systems. Studies suggest that the presence of generalist predators in agricultural landscapes leads to a decrease in the abundance of herbivorous pests, but our understanding of how these interactions vary across taxa and along gradients of management intensity and eco-geographic space remains incomplete. In this study, we assessed the functional response and biocontrol potential of a highly ubiquitous insectivore (lizards in the genus Anolis) on the world's most important coffee pest, the coffee berry borer (Hypothalemus hampei). We conducted field surveys and laboratory experiments to examine the impact of land-use intensification on species richness and abundance of anoles and the capacity of anoles to reduce berry borer infestations in mainland and island coffee systems. Our results show that anoles significantly reduce coffee infestation rates in laboratory settings (Mexico, p = .03, F = 5.13 df = 1, 35; Puerto Rico, p = .014, F = 8.82, df = 1, 10) and are capable of consuming coffee berry borers in high abundance. Additionally, diversified agroecosystems bolster anole abundance, while high-intensity practices, including the reduction of vegetation complexity and the application of agrochemicals were associated with reduced anole abundance. The results of this study provide supporting evidence of the positive impact of generalist predators on the control of crop pests in agricultural landscapes, and the role of diversified agroecosystems in sustaining both functionally diverse communities and crop production in tropical agroecosystems.
Normal Epididymal Anatomy in Boys

Abstract It is accepted that a range of epididymal anomalies exists in boys with cryptorchidism, varying from ductal patency aberrations to abnormal attachments of the epididymis to the testes or even complete absence. Despite several series characterizing these variations, there are few studies of normal controls for comparison. We document normal epididymal anatomy in boys. During an 18-month period ending in 1991, 94 boys (mean age 4.8 years, range 1 month to 18 years) underwent inguinal or scrotal exploration unrelated to cryptorchidism. Epididymal anatomy was recorded for all exposed testes. Indications for surgery included hydrocele or hernia in 85 boys, torsion in 8 and varicocele in 1. A total of 112 epididymides was examined and the configurations were recorded as type 1—head and tail attachment with a “looped” body in 94 of 112 cases (83.9%), type 2—complete attachment to the testis in 14 (12.5%), type 3—head attachment only in 3 (2.7%), type 4—tail attachment only in 0 (0%), type 5—nonfusion in 1 (0.9%) and type 6—anomalies of ductal patency in 0 (0%). These data reveal that the most common epididymal configuration in normal boys is a looped epididymis with the head and tail attached (84%) followed by complete fusion with the testes (12.5%). Other variations are rare. Absence of the epididymis was not observed.
S-wave velocity prediction in unconventional shale reservoirs

ABSTRACTIn unconventional reservoirs with significant organic content, the Greenberg-Castagna (GC) S-wave velocity prediction method does not yield accurate S-wave velocity predictions, with observ...
Experimental characterization of compaction wave propagation in cellular polymers

Abstract A great-deal of literature is available in the study of compaction wave propagation in cellular materials. However, experimental investigations concerning the spatial variation of the deformation features of compaction waves are limited. In this study, the formation and propagation of compaction wave in a low density polymeric foam under intermediate velocity projectile impact loading is investigated experimentally. The results are discussed in terms of the compaction wave characteristic parameters such as compaction wave velocity, axial strain, particle velocity, etc. In addition, spatial distribution of inertia stress during compaction wave propagation, and the critical velocity required to form shock are estimated. The stress jump across the compaction wave is also calculated using an inertia stress analysis and compared with the shock theory. It was observed that an elastic precursor propagates, at a velocity of 740 m/s, along the material upon impact, and it decays as it propagates along the specimen. Whereas, the compaction wave formed following the elastic precursor was propagated at a constant velocity much slower than the elastic precursor. Inertia stress calculations shows that the fast moving elastic precursor is reflected from the distal end and reduces the inertia component of the total stress. On the other hand, the compaction thickness is seen to be approximately constant during the entire duration of the compaction wave propagation after the achievement of the quasi-steady condition.
So Tired: Predictive Utility of Baseline Sleep Screening in a Longitudinal Observational Survey Cohort of First-Year Residents.

Sleep impairment is highly prevalent among resident physicians and is associated with both adverse patient outcomes and poor resident mental and physical health. Risk factors for sleep problems during residency are less clear, and no screening model exists to identify residents at risk for sleep impairment. The objective of this study was to assess change in resident sleep during training and to evaluate utility of baseline sleep screening in predicting future sleep impairment. This is a prospective observational repeated-measures survey study. The participants comprised PGY-1 residents across multiple specialties at Partners HealthCare hospitals. Main measures used for this study were demographic queries and two validated scales: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), measuring sleep quality, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), measuring excessive daytime sleepiness. Two hundred eighty-one PGY-1 residents completed surveys at residency orientation, and 153 (54%) completed matched surveys 9 months later. Mean nightly sleep time decreased from 7.6 to 6.5 hours (p < 0.001). Mean PSQI score increased from 3.6 to 5.2 (p < 0.001), and mean ESS score increased from 7.2 to 10.4 (p < 0.001). The proportion of residents exceeding the scales’ clinical cutoffs increased over time from 15 to 40% on the PSQI (p < 0.001) and from 26 to 59% on the ESS (p < 0.001). Baseline normal sleep was not protective: 68% of residents with normal scores on both scales at baseline exceeded the clinical cutoff on at least one scale at follow-up. Greater age and fewer children increased follow-up PSQI score (p < 0.001) but not ESS score. During PGY-1 training, residents experience worsening sleep duration, quality of sleep, and daytime sleepiness. Residents with baseline impaired sleep tend to remain impaired. Moreover, many residents with baseline normal sleep experience sleep deterioration over time. Sleep screening at residency orientation may identify some, but not all, residents who will experience sleep impairment during training.
‘Spaces of Exclusion’ in community water governance: A Feminist Political Ecology of gender and participation in Malawi’s Urban Water User Associations

Abstract Much of the literature on gender dimensions of community-based water governance focuses on irrigation systems in rural areas. Largely overlooked is how gender dynamics influence participation in community-based urban water governance systems. To address this gap, we use insights from Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) to examine whether and how community-based governance of drinking water in an urban context leads to (in)equitable gender participation and decision making. Using household surveys (n = 415), key informant interviews (n = 19), focus-group discussions (n = 14), we explore gender dynamics and power relations underpinning participation, decision making processes, and employment and benefit sharing arrangements among Water User Associations (WUAs) in the urban informal settlements of Lilongwe, Malawi. We find that WUAs do not guarantee equitable gender participation. Rather, inequitable participation is simply reified through: (1) gendered representation in WUA structures; (2) socio-cultural practices and women’s self-exclusion; and (3) community micro-politics and power relations. Our findings contradict the notion that community-based governance of water leads to equitable participation and empowerment of women. The policy implications are that without systematic efforts to incorporate women’s needs, interests, and voices, so-called participatory approaches to water governance will only serve to suppress women’s agency and reinforce existing gender-based inequalities. Future work will explore the pathways to women’s leadership in the WUAs and interrogate how women on the board and executive committees navigate their way up the hierarchy, their experiences in a male-dominated water governance scheme and their recommendations for how WUAs can improve women’s participation.
Cognitive Science: Philosophical Aspects

Three questions have dominated the philosophy of mind in the analytic tradition since Descartes. They are: what are thoughts and thinking? How can the mind represent the world? What is consciousness? Most contemporary analytic philosophers attempt to answer these questions within a broadly materialistic framework since they think that there is overwhelming reason to believe that human beings are biological organisms entirely composed of ordinary matter. Recently the central questions in the philosophy of mind have been given some new twists and partial answers by developments within cognitive science. This article reviews some of the main ideas in cognitive science and its impact on these issues in the philosophy of mind.
The Liability of Physicians and Associated Personnel for Malpractice in Genetic Screening

The topic to be discussed in this paper is narrowly defined: the potential malpractice liability of physicians and personnel associated with them in the conduct of genetic screening. The paper’s title is perhaps inappropriately contracted, since a measure of potential legal liability in the screening context arises from doctrinal bases other than the principles of medical malpractice. Topic titles to the contrary notwithstanding, those additional principles will not be ignored in the discussion that follows.
From Psychophysics to Phenomenalism: Mach and Hering on Color Vision

At the end of his famous 1672 paper in which he presented his new theory of light and colors, Isaac Newton admitted: “But to determine more absolutely, what light is, ... and by what modes or actions it produceth in our minds the phantasms of colours, is not so easie. And I shall not mingle conjectures with certainties.”1 Although Newton later in the Optics would occasionally “mingle conjectures” about how the human eye “sees” color, his theory was primarily a theory of light, a physical theory with light rays, prisms, angles of refraction, lenses and barycentric diagrams as its chief working objects. Not until the nineteenth century did color become a fully subjective phenomenon, an aspect of nature impossible to consider apart from human verbal reports about visual experience. This shift in the conceptual and disciplinary location of color, from the physical to the physiological and psychological, began perhaps with Johann von Goethe’s Zur Farbenlehre (1810) but it became canonical only with the appearance of the second section of Hermann von Helmholtz’s Handbuch der physiologischen Optik (1860). Yet even after 1860, sorting out the relative roles for physical, physiological and psychological language in describing color experiences and in explaining such experiences remained exceedingly controversial.
A COOLING TOWER WIND LOADING MODEL BASED ON FULL-SCALE DATA

Summary During 1973 and 1974 wind pressure-difference data were taken across the shell at the throat (height 313 ft.) of a new, non-operating hyperboloid cooling tower at Martin's Creek, Pennsylvania. Particular interest in the present paper centers on a digitized data set consisting of the time history at each of 16 pressure-difference sensors recorded during a storm of mean wind velocity 41 mph. After a brief outline serving both to interpret the data in the context of a tower submerged in the earth's boundary layer and to suggest how to scale such results for other applications, ARIMA statistical methods are used first to fit, and subsequently to model time-varying pressures around the tower. Rather simple AR models quite satisfactorily represent the pressure loadings in an economical 2-parameter manner and, further, suggest insights into the aerodynamic mechanisms operative around the full tower periphery.
Can a Casualty Loss Be Deducted in the Absence of Physical Damage

ABSTRACT When a casualty event (storm, fire, landslide, etc.) does not cause actual physical damage, can a casualty loss deduction be taken by a taxpayer for a permanent reduction in value? There a...
Exposure to maternal obesity alters gene expression in the preimplantation ovine conceptus

Embryonic and fetal exposure to maternal obesity causes several maladaptive morphological and epigenetic changes in exposed offspring. The timing of these events is unclear, but changes can be observed even after a short exposure to maternal obesity around the time of conception. The hypothesis of this work is that maternal obesity influences the ovine preimplantation conceptus early in pregnancy, and this exposure will affect gene expression in embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. Obese and lean ewe groups were established by overfeeding or normal feeding, respectively. Ewes were then bred to genetically similar rams. Conceptuses were collected at day 14 of gestation. Morphological assessments were made, conceptuses were sexed by genomic PCR analysis, and samples underwent RNA-sequencing analysis. While no obvious morphological differences existed between conceptuses, differentially expressed genes (≥ 2-fold; ≥ 0.2 RPKM; ≤ 0.05 FDR) were detected based on maternal obesity exposure (n = 21). Also, differential effects of maternal obesity were noted on each conceptus sex (n = 347). A large portion of differentially expressed genes were associated with embryogenesis and placental development. Findings reveal that the preimplantation ovine conceptus genome responds to maternal obesity in a sex-dependent manner. The sexual dimorphism in response to the maternal environment coupled with changes in placental gene expression may explain aberrations in phenotype observed in offspring derived from obese females.
Aerobic Fitness Level Moderates the Association Between Cannabis Use and Executive Functioning and Psychomotor Speed Following Abstinence in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Objectives: The high rate of cannabis (CAN) use in emerging adults is concerning given prior research suggesting neurocognitive deficits associated with CAN use in youth. Regular CAN use downregulates endocannabinoid activity, while aerobic exercise upregulates cannabinoid receptor 1 activity and releases endocannabinoids. Here we investigate the influence of regular CAN use on neuropsychological performance, and whether aerobic fitness moderates these effects. Methods: Seventy-nine young adults (37 CAN users) aged 16–26 participated. Groups were balanced for aerobic fitness level. Exclusion criteria included: left-handedness, past-year independent Axis-I disorders, major medical/neurologic disorders, prenatal issues, or prenatal alcohol/illicit drug exposure. After 3 weeks of abstinence, participants completed a neuropsychological battery and a maximal oxygen consumption test (VO2 max). Multiple regressions tested whether past-year CAN use, VO2 max, and CAN*VO2 max interaction predicted neuropsychological performance, controlling for past-year alcohol use, cotinine, gender, and depression symptoms. Results: Increased CAN use was associated with decreased performance on working memory and psychomotor tasks. High aerobic fitness level was related to better performance on visual memory, verbal fluency, and sequencing ability. CAN*VO2 max predicted performance of psychomotor speed, visual memory, and sequencing ability. Conclusions: Following monitored abstinence, increased CAN use was associated with poorer performance in working memory and psychomotor speed. Higher aerobic fitness level moderated the impact of CAN on visual memory, executive function and psychomotor speed, as more aerobically fit CAN users demonstrated better performance relative to low-fit users. Therefore, aerobic fitness may present an affordable and efficacious method to improve cognitive functioning in CAN users. (JINS, 2019, 25, 134–145)
Loss of Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (PECAM-1) in the Diabetic Retina: Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases.

Purpose To test the hypothesis that high glucose and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to the diabetes-induced loss of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) in the retinal microvasculature. Methods PECAM-1 and MMP protein, activity, and interactions with PECAM-1 were assessed using western blotting, zymography, immunofluorescence, or coimmunoprecipitation assays. These assays were conducted using primary rat retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RRMECs) grown either in normal glucose (5 mM) or high glucose (25 mM) conditions and using retinas collected from streptozotocin-induced diabetic or control rats. The broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor GM6001 was administered in vivo and in vitro to ascertain the role of MMPs in the hyperglycemia-induced loss of PECAM-1. Results A dramatic decrease in PECAM-1 (western blotting, immunofluorescence) was observed in both the diabetic retina and in hyperglycemic RRMECs. The decrease in PECAM-1 was accompanied by a significant increase in the presence and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) (but not matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9]) in the diabetic plasma (P < 0.05) and in hyperglycemic RRMECs (P < 0.05). Moreover, RRMEC PECAM-1 significantly decreased when treated with plasma collected from diabetic rats. Several MMP-2 cleavage sites on PECAM-1 were identified using in silico analysis. Moreover, PECAM-1/MMP-2 interactions were confirmed using coimmunoprecipitation. PECAM-1 was significantly decreased in RRMECs treated with MMP-2 (P < 0.05), but became comparable to controls with the MMP inhibitor GM6001 in both the diabetic retina and hyperglycemic RRMECs. Conclusions These results indicate a possible role of MMP-2 in hyperglycemia-induced PECAM-1 loss in retinal endothelial cells.
Hypothalamic Regulation of the Internal Environment

Metabolism in the cells, tissues, and organ systems of the body requires a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, waste removal, and the main- tenance of ionic, osmotic, and temperature conditions within a relatively narrow physiological range. The hypothalamus performs many ongoing computations that are essential to the maintenance (homeostasis) of these internal conditions. It regulates circulation, respiration, digestion, and excretion, as well as body temperature and the relative concentra- tions of extracellular fluid components. It also regulates primal appeti- tive behaviors, such as eating and drinking, that have direct bearing on the internal environment. During development, the hypothalamus influ- ences growth. Finally, the hypothalamus is essential to reproductive functions, such as gamete production, mating, parturition, and mother- ing, which perpetuate not the individual but the species. To accomplish these varied functions, the hypothalamus receives appropriate sensory input (visceral, somatic, olfactory, gustatory, visual) and expresses its output through both synoptic and hormonal routes. The synaptic routes lead, on the one hand, to the preganglionic efferent neurons of the lower visceromotor systems and, on the other, to parts of the brain that control skeletomotor behavior. The hormonal route is a direct regulation of the secretions of the pituitary gland. Most often, the hypothalamus exerts its influence over all three of these avenues simultaneously in a carefully choreographed output.
Position of acetyl groups on anhydroglucose unit in acetylated starches with intermediate degrees of substitution.

Waxy, normal, and high-amylose maize starches were acetylated to various degrees of substitution (DS) in aqueous medium. A stepwise addition of acetic anhydride enhanced reaction efficiency and DS was in the order of high-amylose maize starch (DS 1.72) > waxy maize starch (DS 1.60) > normal maize starch (DS 1.03) when 240% (w/w) acetic anhydride was added. Starch acetates were further fully esterified to DS 3.0 using acetic anhydride-d6 or propionic anhydride to analyze position of acetyl groups on anhydroglucose unit (AGU) by 1H NMR. Regioselective 2-O-acetyl starches were produced when the DS was lower than 0.14. At DS 1, the distribution of acetyl groups was ca. 44%, 32%, and 24% at C-2, C-3, and C-6 positions, respectively, regardless of amylose content. Deuterated acetyl group was a preferred secondary substituent over propionyl group in subsequent 1H NMR analysis because it resulted a clean spectrum without interference from propionyl methyl protons.
Boschi urbani e complessità socio-ambientale: una riflessione sul contributo del sapere geografico

EnglishUrban woods and socioenvironmental complexity: a reflection on the contribution of geographical knowledge - This article advances a reflection on the geographical contribution in the analysis of woods and urban transformations interactions and specifically on related socioenvironmental dimension. Indeed, in the framework of the first World Forum on Urban Forests, hold in Mantova in November 2018 and focused on the relevancy of urban woods in relation to the environment and climate change, scientific debate was predominantly guided by architects, urban and forestry scientists. By proposing a lens which links urban geography and political ecology, and by reflecting on the political and socioenvironmental nature of the reconfiguration of Prati di Caprara wood in Bologna, this contribution highlights the relevancy and the key role of geography in the analysis of these processes. italianoL'articolo propone una riflessione sul contributo del sapere geografico nell'analisi delle interazioni tra boschi e trasformazioni urbane e nello specifico della relativa dimensione socio-ambientale. Nell'ambito del primo World Forum on Urban Forests, tenutosi a Mantova nel novembre 2018 e incentrato sull'importanza dei boschi urbani in relazione all'ambiente ed ai cambiamenti climatici, il dibattito scientifico e stato animato prevalentemente da architetti, urbanisti e scienziati forestali, e contraddistinto da un ruolo marginale della geografia. Proponendo una chiave di lettura che mette in relazione la geografia urbana e l'ecologia politica, e riflettendo sulla natura socio-ambientale e politica della riconfigurazione del bosco dei Prati di Caprara a Bologna, questo contributo evidenza la rilevanza ed il ruolo chiave che il sapere geografico fornisce nell'analisi di questi processi.
Immigration, Integration, and “National Culture”

The philosophical literature on immigration is confusingly abstract. Most prominently, “open borders” advocates are against immigration restrictions, and “national culture” advocates are for them. Yet we are skeptical there is a universal, cogent argument for or against immigration restrictions: too many empirical factors are relevant to just immigration policy under actual circumstances. A prior commitment to either cosmopolitan egalitarianism or nationalist autonomy is not helpful. We defend the view that liberal democratic citizenries may value certain cultural features (e. g., sex non-discrimination, a national language) in reasonable ways that weigh against lowering barriers to entry. But we also argue that appeal to national culture is too vague and inadequately responsive to serious claims of non-members. We conclude that along with rectifying injustices that burden disadvantaged citizens, at least moderately wealthy liberal democratic societies should admit significantly greater numbers of vulnerable immigrants than is now the global norm. Education has a critical role to play in helping citizenries understand their responsibilities of global engagement.
Kinship Matters: An Immodest Proposal

This chapter traces the narrative history of the incest motif used in various mythologies and summarizes anthropological and medieval definitions of incest, which are central to cultural identity, but which can vary across different cultures and historical periods. It also considers incestuous behavior allowed to the elite, as well as the strategic, political uses of claims of incest to exit undesirable, or no longer useful unions, or to denigrate enemies. This discussion informs our analysis of La Manekine and its use of the incest motif to consider such issues as the selection of marriage partners and inheritance.
Effect of privatization and inland infrastructural development on India's container port selection dynamics

Abstract In this study, we present insights on how the privatization of Indian ports is altering the market share of containerized shipments across two key Industrial corridors of India. Using bill of lading dataset, we implement a binary multi-level discrete port choice model that measures the multidimensional attributes that inform the systematic differences in container shipment transport characteristics between the major government ports and private ports in India. The analysis shows that the private port of Mundra has non-trivial effects on the hinterlands of other state-owned ports. This research offers important markers of port selection in developing economies such as India.
Chapter 6 – Deformability

This chapter first presents the typical values of elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of intact rocks and describes the different empirical methods for estimating them. Then the methods for characterizing the deformability of rock discontinuities are presented. Finally the methods for determining the deformation modulus and Poisson’s ratio of rock masses are described and discussed. The effects of different factors such as scale, pressure, water content, and temperature on rock deformability and the anisotropy of rock deformability are also discussed in this chapter.
A Quantitative Synthesis of Intervention Research Published in Flagship EBD Journals: 2010 to 2019:

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs) could be considered some of the most challenging students to serve in schools. The need for effective interventions for these students is eve...
Future Directions of PET and Molecular Imaging and Therapy with an Emphasis on Melanoma and Sarcoma

Although FDG PET imaging has been successful in the staging and follow-up of malignancies, including melanomas and sarcomas, there are still some important areas where it is still limited. Historically, many different tracers were used with SPECT imaging which provided an improvement over other cross-sectional imaging modalities, but certainly FDG PET has replaced most of those prior indications. Nevertheless, there continues to be development of more sophisticated tracers targeting receptors and metabolic processes, which potentially improve overall accuracy of staging. Many of these molecular imaging methodologies are used in different malignancies, but some are more specific for melanomas and sarcomas. Combined with the identification of disease with molecular imaging to identify appropriate targets of disease, the field of radiotheragnostics is emerging as a viable modality in providing another approach to the treatment of advanced disease. Here, the molecular targeting radiopharmaceuticals can be radiolabelled with other radioisotopes, which, when delivered in sufficient quantities, can also provide therapeutic benefit. Other fields such as optical imaging and radiomics are also emerging which could not only improve the initial noninvasive evaluation of patients but also provide in vivo assistance in guiding surgical management. Ultimately these are the basis for photodynamic therapy, which can complement radiotheragnostics and other treatment approaches.
A Randomized Trial of Digitally Delivered, Self-Administered Parent Training in Primary Care: Effects on Parenting and Child Behavior.

Objective To evaluate the effects of a self-administered, digital behavioral parent training program on parent and child behavior for parents of young children. Study design A randomized controlled trial compared ezParent (digital delivery of the evidence-based Chicago Parent Program) with an enhanced usual-care control. Introduction to the study occurred during well-child visits at 4 primary care clinics. In total, 287 parents of children age 2-5 years were randomized to ezParent or the control. Parents responded to surveys evaluating parent behavior, self-efficacy, and stress, and child behavior at baseline, and 3-, 6-, and 12-months postbaseline. Multilevel growth models examined parent and child outcomes for intervention efficacy in intent-to-treat analyses. Secondary moderation analysis explored intervention effects by program use and baseline parenting stress and child behavior problems. Results The intervention main effect was not significant for parent and child behaviors. In exploratory moderation analysis, parents in the ezParent condition with greater baseline parenting stress reported less corporal punishment (P = .044); and greater improvement in parental warmth (P = .008), setting limits (P = .026), and proactive parenting (P = .019). Parents reporting greater baseline child behavior problems reported greater improvements in parental warmth (P = .007), setting limits (P = .003), and proactive parenting (P = .010). There were no differences in outcomes based on program usage. Conclusions Results suggest that ezParent as a self-administered behavioral parent training program may not be intense enough for child and parent behavioral change as a universal prevention model. Parents may require different levels of support for completion based on their level of service seeking, family characteristics, risk profile, and motivation for change. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov : NCT02723916 .
The Epidemiology of Carpal Tunnel Revision Over a 1-Year Follow-Up Period.

Purpose To establish the incidence of revision carpal tunnel surgery within a 1-year postoperative period using a national administrative database. This information has been unknown until this point because of the absence of laterality-specific coding with the International Classification of Diseases , Ninth Edition and earlier coding systems. Methods Data were collected from the Humana insurance database using PearlDiver patient records from 2015 to 2017. Subjects were identified using Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases procedure codes related to carpal tunnel diagnosis and release. Codes were used to identify patients who underwent carpal tunnel release (CTR) and had revision CTR within a 1-year follow-up period. Patient demographic characteristics, including age, sex, medical comorbidities, and smoking status, were collected. In addition, multivariable analysis of the risk of a revision procedure within 1 postoperative year was performed to determine independent risk factors, including the surgical approach , associated with revision CTR. Results Among 4,549 patients who underwent a primary CTR during the study period, 207 patients (4.8%) underwent a revision CTR within 1 year. The average time from the primary CTR to the revision CTR was 135 days (standard deviation, 99.1 days; range, 21–365 days). Primary endoscopic CTR was associated with an increased rate of revision CTR (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–1.6). Patient factors associated with a higher likelihood of requiring revision CTR included diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, psychiatric condition, cervical disease, and history of cubital tunnel release. Conclusions This study identified a rate of revision CTR of 4.8% within the first postoperative year. Both the surgical technique and patient-specific risk factors influence the likelihood of requiring revision surgery. Notably, an endoscopic approach is associated with a higher risk of revision surgery. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic II.
WALANT Hand Surgery Does Not Require Postoperative Opioid Pain Management.

Background Currently, opioids are the standard of care for postoperative pain management. Avoiding unnecessary opioid exposure in patients is of current interest because of widespread abuse. Methods This is a prospective cohort study in which wide-awake, local anesthesia, no-tourniquet (WALANT) technique was used for 94 hand/upper extremity surgical patients and compared to patient cohorts undergoing similar procedures under monitored anesthesia care. Patients were not prescribed opioids postoperatively but were instead directed to use over-the-counter pain relievers. Pain scores on a visual analogue scale were collected from patients preoperatively, and on postoperative days 1 and 14. WALANT visual analogue scale scores were compared to those of the two patient cohorts who either did or did not receive postoperative opioids after undergoing similar procedures under monitored anesthesia care. Electronic medical records and New York State's prescription monitoring program, Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing, were used to assess prescription opioid-seeking. Information on sex, age, comorbidity burden, previous opioid exposure, and insurance coverage was also collected. Results Decreased pain was reported by WALANT patients 14 days postoperatively compared to preoperatively and 1 day postoperatively, with a total group mean pain score of 0.37. This is lower than mean scores of monitored anesthesia care patients with and without postoperative opioids. Only two WALANT patients (2.1 percent) sought opioid prescriptions from outside providers. There was little evidence suggesting factors including sex, age, comorbidity burden, previous opioid exposure, or insurance status alter these results. Conclusion WALANT may be a beneficial technique hand surgeons may adopt to mitigate use of postoperative opioids and reduce risk of abuse in patients. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, II.
SCONCE: A method for profiling Copy Number Alterations in Cancer Evolution using Single Cell Whole Genome Sequencing

Copy number alterations are a significant driver in cancer growth and development, but remain poorly characterized on the single cell level. Although genome evolution in cancer cells is Markovian through evolutionary time, copy number alterations are not Markovian along the genome. However, existing methods call copy number profiles with Hidden Markov Models or change point detection algorithms based on changes in observed read depth, corrected by genome content, and do not account for the stochastic evolutionary process. We present a theoretical framework to use tumor evolutionary history to accurately call copy number alterations in a principled manner. In order to model the tumor evolutionary process and account for technical noise from low coverage single cell whole genome sequencing data, we developed SCONCE, a method based on a Hidden Markov Model to analyze read depth data from tumor cells using matched normal cells as negative controls. Using a combination of public datasets and simulations, we show SCONCE accurately decodes copy number profiles, with broader implications for understanding tumor evolution. SCONCE is implemented in C++11 and is freely available from https://github.com/NielsenBerkeleyLab/sconce.
A series of medium and high copy number arabinose-inducible Escherichia coli expression vectors compatible with pBR322 and pACYC184

The original pBAD24 plasmid and the derived lower copy number (the pBAD322 series) expression vectors have been widely used in Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and related bacteria. However, a flexible pBAD expression system has been available only in pMB1 (ColE1) vectors. We report a series of pBAD vectors that replicate using the origin of plasmid RSF1030 that are compatible with pMB1 (ColE1) and p15A (pACYC) vectors. Both high (≥pBAD24) and medium (~pBAD322) copy number plasmids encoding resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, tetracycline, spectinomycin/streptomycin, gentamycin, or trimethoprim are available.
Dual Careers and Changing Male Roles

That which was first dealt with mockingly in the Women’s Movement as the peccadillo of some aberrant radicals has become a part of our laws, lives, and attitudes. There is and will be a continuing struggle, but from now on the issues addressed will be presented to public awareness as serious legal or moral questions. Despite attempts from some quarters to combat the change by designating it only as a transient deviation from the more natural order of male-female relationships, it is safe to predict that its effect will continue to be felt profoundly in the way men and women interact socially, sexually, and at work. Couples engaged in dual careers will be seen as less of a novelty than previously; yet they will encounter problems different from those inherent in the traditional relationships of man-at-work/woman-at-home. For men, raised by fathers and mothers to see their maleness as inseparable from work habits and traditional attitudes, there will be necessary innovation in relationships with their partners and children. Such shifts will contain the potential for discovery along with the risks attendant on shifts from entrenched styles of interaction.
Cycling of beryllium and carbon through hillslope soils in Iowa

Isotopes of Be and C were used to reconstruct loess accumulation,hillslope evolution, and agricultural modification in soils of western Iowa.While both elements are derived from additions by the atmosphere (via plants inthe case of carbon), the differences in element cycling allow erosional anddepositional processes to be separated from biochemical processing. Based on10Be, loess accumulation likely occurred simultaneously withhillslope degradation. Rates of loess accumulation declined five-fold betweenearly stages (late Pleistocene and early Holocene) and later stages (lateHolocene) of accumulation, but the absolute timing of accumulation requiresindependent dating methods. Based on 14C measurements, plant inputsand decomposition are significant near the surface, but below1–1.5 m carbon inputs are minimal and decompositionisnearly arrested. The amount of carbon below 1.5 m isconstant (0.1%) and is composed of soil organic matter that was buried byloess.Agricultural modification results in a dramatic redistribution of10Be through soil erosion and deposition. By contrast, theredistribution of soil organic matter is masked by the rapid cycling of Cthrough the topsoil as it continually decomposes and is replaced by plantinputs.
Fluctuations in the Distant Geomagnetic Field During Substorms: Ats 1

The initial data from the ATS 1 magnetometer led to the discovery of variations in the magnetic field in the night sector of the synchronous orbit that are characteristic of substorms (Cummings and Coleman, 1968; Cummings et al., 1968). In this paper we will review these previously reported observations and present some results of more recent work.
The role of majority shareholders in publicly held corporations: An exploratory analysis

We analyze 114 NYSE- or AMEX-listed corporations with majority shareholders. Majority shareholders are approximately equally divided between corporations and individuals and are typically both directors and officers. When majority blocks trade, stock prices increase and there is substantial management turnover. Although majority shareholders are typically paid larger salaries than officers in diffusely held firms, the difference is small and of marginal significance. Investment policies, the frequency of corporate-control transactions, accounting return, and Tobin's Q are similar for majority-owned and diffusely held firms. Differences in these dimensions do emerge, however, between firms with corporate and individual majority shareholders.
Studies on the Mechanism of Fatty Acid Synthesis XXIII. THE ACYL BINDING SITES OF THE PIGEON LIVER FATTY ACID SYNTHETASE

Abstract The covalent binding of acetyl, malonyl, and hexanoyl groups to the pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase has been investigated. Performic acid oxidation of the acyl synthetases has revealed that the synthetase possesses two types of acyl binding sites, these being thiol and nonthiol in nature. From studies on radioactive peptic peptides obtained from 14C-acetyl synthetase and 14C-malonyl synthetase, it has been established that there are two thiol binding sites. One of these thiol sites is the sulfhydryl group of the 4'-phosphopantetheine moiety of the synthetase. Both acetyl and malonyl groups bind to this sulfhydryl group. The second thiol binding site is the sulfhydryl group of a cysteine residue. This sulfhydryl binds acetyl groups but not malonyl groups. The nonthiol binding site or sites has been tentatively identified as being the hydroxyl group of a serine residue. Prior treatment of the synthetase with high concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide inhibits all binding of acetyl and malonyl groups, while prior treatment with low concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide results in inhibition of thiol binding but has little effect on the nonthiol binding of these acyl groups. Prior treatment of the synthetase with iodoacetamide has no effect on the binding of acetyl and malonyl groups to the 4'-phosphopantetheine sulfhydryl but inhibits acetyl binding to the sulfhydryl of the cysteine residue. From these studies the order of acetyl binding to the synthetase appears to be binding first at the nonthiol site with successive transfers to the 4'-phosphopantetheine sulfhydryl and the cysteine sulfhydryl. The binding of malonyl groups follows the same sequence, except that malonyl groups are not transferred from the 4'-phosphopantetheine sulfhydryl to the cysteine sulfhydryl.
Children Born from Eggs: African Magic Tales - Texts and Discussions

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Sigrid Schmidt Year: 2007 Pages: 526 Publisher: Rudiger Koppe Verlag ISBN: 978-3-89645-192-7 (soft cover). Prices: € 44,80(soft cover).
A Mass Spectrometry-Based Assay for Improved Quantitative Measurements of Efflux Pump Inhibition

Bacterial efflux pumps are active transport proteins responsible for resistance to selected biocides and antibiotics. It has been shown that production of efflux pumps is up-regulated in a number of highly pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, the identification of new bacterial efflux pump inhibitors is a topic of great interest. Existing assays to evaluate efflux pump inhibitory activity rely on fluorescence by an efflux pump substrate. When employing these assays to evaluate efflux pump inhibitory activity of plant extracts and some purified compounds, we observed severe optical interference that gave rise to false negative results. To circumvent this problem, a new mass spectrometry-based method was developed for the quantitative measurement of bacterial efflux pump inhibition. The assay was employed to evaluate efflux pump inhibitory activity of a crude extract of the botanical Hydrastis Canadensis, and to compare the efflux pump inhibitory activity of several pure flavonoids. The flavonoid quercetin, which appeared to be completely inactive with a fluorescence-based method, showed an IC50 value of 75 μg/mL with the new method. The other flavonoids evaluated (apigenin, kaempferol, rhamnetin, luteolin, myricetin), were also active, with IC50 values ranging from 19 μg/mL to 75 μg/mL. The assay described herein could be useful in future screening efforts to identify efflux pump inhibitors, particularly in situations where optical interference precludes the application of methods that rely on fluorescence.