cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonimmunoglobulin precipitin lines between intestinal fluids and antisera in immunodiffusion studies: an explanation for their occurrence and how they can be avoided.

Abstract Often, in immunodiffusion studies of human intestinal fluids, nonimmunoglobulin precipitates are formed between the fluids and antisera. These troublesome nonspecific precipitates produce multiple precipitin rings in radial immunodiffusion studies, obscuring the ring formed by immunoglobulins and specific antisera; in agar-gel double immunodiffusion, the precipitates have been misinterpreted as antigen-antibody lines. In this study, human duodenal fluids formed 2 kinds of nonspecific lines in gel double diffusion with sera or antisera: a nonprotein line with human and several animal sera, and a line with sera from goats or sheep that stained positively for protein. The protein line could be explained by the formation of insoluble complexes between trypsin and chymotrypsin in the intestinal fluids and an alpha globulin in the sera. Purified bovine pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin and human duodenal fluid formed lines of identity against goat serum, and goat serum absorbed with trypsin or chymotrypsin no longer formed the protein line with duodenal fluids. Moreover, in fractions of duodenal fluid that had been electrophoresed or separated by gel filtration, proteolytic activity and ability to form a precipitate with goat serum were closely correlated. Intestinal fluids did not form nonimmunoglobulin precipitates, protein or nonprotein, with the immune globulin fractions prepared from goat or rabbit antisera by 33 per cent saturation (1.3M) with ammonium sulfate. Therefore, only the immune globulin fractions of these antisera should be used in immunodiffusion studies of intestinal secretions in order that nonspecific precipitin lines may be avoided.
Misregulation of pre-mRNA alternative splicing in cancer.

Alternative splicing of mRNA precursors enables one gene to produce multiple protein isoforms with differing functions. Under normal conditions, this mechanism is tightly regulated in order for the human genome to generate proteomic diversity sufficient for the functional requirements of complex tissues. When deregulated, however, cancer cells take advantage of this mechanism to produce aberrant proteins with added, deleted, or altered functional domains that contribute to tumorigenesis. Here, we discuss aspects of alternative splicing misregulation in cancer, focusing on splicing events affected by deregulation of regulatory splicing factors and also recent studies identifying mutated components of the splicing machinery. Significance: An increasing body of evidence indicates that aberrant splicing of mRNA precursors leads to production of aberrant proteins that contribute to tumorigenesis. Recent studies show that alterations in cellular concentrations of regulatory splicing factors and mutations in components of the core splicing machinery provide major mechanisms of misregulation of mRNA splicing in cancer. A better understanding of this misregulation will potentially reveal a group of novel drug targets for therapeutic intervention. Cancer Discov; 3(11); 1228–37. ©2013 AACR .
Identification of short stature caused by SHOX defects and therapeutic effect of recombinant human growth hormone

Point mutations or complete deletions of SHOX, the short-stature homeobox-containing gene on the pseudoautosomal region of the sex chromosomes (Xp22 and Yp11.3), were recently reported in one family with idiopathic short stature and in several families with Leri-Weill syndrome (dyschondrosteosis). The missing SHOX is also thought to attribute to the growth failure in Turner syndrome. For testing the frequency of defects of SHOX in unexplained growth failure and recombinant human GH (rhGH) as a possible growth-promoting agent, we selected 68 children with idiopathic short stature. These probands had heights below -2.0 SD score for age, normal target heights, no significant bone age retardations, no endocrine abnormalities, no skeletal diseases, and no other organic diseases. No mutations were detected by single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of the PCR-amplified SHOX. The analysis of three microsatellite DNA markers of the pseudoautosomal region, including one located on the 5' untranslated region of SHOX-exon 1, identified a 15-yr-old girl who carried a mutation in the form of a complete SHOX deletion. This girl who had a normal karyotype presented with mild mesomelic shortening of the forearms and lower legs. We treated two children with short stature on the basis of a SHOX point mutation (C674T) with rhGH at a dose of 1.0 IU/kg body weight-week in accordance with the regimen used in Turner syndrome. During the first 12 months of treatment, these two children (5.9- and 8.4-yr-old) showed an excellent growth spurt with a growth rate of 9.5 and 9.4 cm/yr, respectively. Growth of the lower extremities was weaker than in the trunk and arms. Our data suggest that short stature due to SHOX deletions is not a rare entity. Growth-promoting therapy with rhGH was effective with regard to height gain, but a tendency to disproportionate growth was apparent. In cases of unexplained growth failure, especially if associated with any mild skeletal disproportions, genetic analysis of SHOX should be considered.
Development of a broad-host-range sacB -based vector for unmarked allelic exchange

Although genome sequences are available for an ever-increasing number of bacterial species, the availability of facile genetic tools for physiological analysis have generally lagged substantially behind traditional genetic models. Here I describe the development of an improved, broad-host-range "in-out" allelic exchange vector, pCM433, which permits the generation of clean, marker-free genetic manipulations. Wild-type and mutant alleles were reciprocally exchanged at three loci in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 in order to demonstrate the utility of pCM433. The broad-host-range vector for marker-free allelic exchange described here, pCM433, has the advantages of a high copy, general Escherichia coli replicon for easy cloning, an IncP oriT enabling conjugal transfer, an extensive set of restriction sites in its polylinker, three antibiotic markers, and sacB (encoding levansucrase) for negative selection upon sucrose plates. These traits should permit pCM433 to be broadly applied across many bacterial taxa for marker-free allelic exchange, which is particularly important if multiple manipulations or more subtle genetic manipulations such as point mutations are desired.
A Method of Scaling with Applications to the 1968 and 1972 Presidential Elections

A method of scaling is proposed to estimate the positions of candidates and voters on a common issue dimension. The scaling model assumes that candidates occupy true positions in an issue space and that individual level perceptual data arise from this in a two step process. The first step consists of a stochastic component, satisfying the standard Gauss Markov assumptions, which reflects true misperception. The second step consists of a linear distortion which is introduced in the survey situation. Estimates of the parameters of the model are developed by applying the least squares criterion, and distributions of the estimates are investigated by Monte Carlo methods.The scaling technique is applied to the seven-point issue scales asked in the 1968 and 1972 SRC survey. The resulting ideal point estimates are related to candidate positions in 1968 to test a simple Downsian voting model.
Urethral advancement and glanuloplasty (UGPI): a modification of the MAGPI precedure for distal hypospadias

A modification of the meatal advancement and glanuloplasty technique (MAGPI), the urethral advancement and glanuloplasty (UGPI), is described. Forty-seven patients, who had this operation from 1985 to 1994, have been reviewed. The overall complication rate was low with a 2.1% fistula rate and a 6.4% incidence of meatal retraction. Only one patient required secondary surgery.
Knowledge on Demand: Human Language Technology for Knowledge and Expertise Discovery

For several years we have been pursuing a vision of knowledge on demand, the ability for all users to access knowledge regardless of time, location, device or level of expertise. This paper overviews the central role human language technology can play in several areas of knowledge on demand. After motivating the importance of this area, we describe several implemented examples of human language technology applied to knowledge management functions including discovery of knowledge and discovery of experts.
Enabling Facility Re-Use for 300mm Semiconductor Manufacturing via Integration of Automated Material Handling System and Facility Design

This paper describes issues faced by Intel during planning for its first conversion of an existing high volume 200mm semiconductor factory to manufacturing on 300mm wafers. A summary of the constraints and challenges, analysis of alternatives, and description of the adopted solution for modifying AMHS and facility design to allow re-use of an existing 200mm semiconductor fab for manufacturing semiconductors on 300mm wafers is discussed
Vascular endothelial growth factor promotes proliferation and migration of cavernous smooth muscle cells.

Purpose: We investigated whether cavernous smooth muscle cells secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), how they respond to VEGF and how age affects their ability to secrete and respond to VEGF.Materials and Methods: Corpus cavernous tissues were isolated from rats of various ages and grown as monolayer cell cultures. Smooth muscle identity was determined by immunofluorescence staining. Secreted VEGF was measured with a VEGF enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Cell proliferation was assayed with a cell titer kit. Cell migration was measured with Transwell chambers. VEGF receptor (VEGFR) messenger RNA and proteins were identified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting, respectively.Results: Cavernous smooth muscle cells from young (age 1 week) and old (age 28 months) rats secreted the least amounts of VEGF and those from 16-week-old rats secreted the most. VEGF stimulated the growth of cavernous smooth muscle cells at an optimal concentration of 12.5 ng./ml. At t...
Burst generating and regular spiking layer 5 pyramidal neurons of rat neocortex have different morphological features

Intracellular recordings were obtained from pyramidal neurons in layer 5 of rat somatosensory and visual cortical slices maintained in vitro. When directly depolarized, one subclass of pyramidal neurons had the capacity to generate intrinsic burst discharges and another generated regular trains of single spikes. Burst responses were triggered in an all-or-none manner from depolarizing afterpotentials in most bursting neurons. Regular spiking cells responded to electrical stimulation of ascending afferents with a typical EPSP-IPSP sequence, whereas IPSPs were hard to detect in bursting cells. Orthodromic activation of the latter evoked a prominent voltage-dependent depolarization that could trigger a burst response. Intracellularly labelled bursting and regular spiking cells were located in layer 5b, but had distinctly different morphologies. Bursting neurons had a large pyramidal soma, a gradually emerging apical dendrite, and an extensive apical and basal dendritic tree. Their axonal collateral arborization was predominantly limited to layers 5/6. In contrast, regular spiking cells had a more rounded soma with abruptly emerging apical dendrite, a smaller dendritic arborization, and 2 to 8 ascending axonal collaterals that arborized widely in the supragranular layers. Both bursting and regular spiking cells had main axons that entered the subcortical white matter. These data show that some subgroups of pyramidal neurons within the deeper parts of layer 5 of rat cortex are morphologically and physiologically distinct and have different intracortical connections. Bursting cells presumably function to amplify and synchronize cortical outputs, whereas regular spiking output neurons provide excitatory feedback to neurons at all cortical levels and receive a more effective orthodromic inhibitory input. These data support the hypothesis that differences in gross neuronal structure, perhaps even the subtle differences that distinguish subclasses of neurons in a given lamina, are predictive of underlying differences in the type and distribution of ion channels in the nerve cell membrane and connections of cells within the cortical circuit.
Nearly parallel vectors

There are four exceptional pairs of vectors making a small angle. The minimal angles achieved by pairs of vectors of small norm are listed in Table 1. Notice that for ^3 4 < r < ^3 7 we have two essentially different ways of realizing 6(r). We take up this phenomenon of ties in §5. Some computation suggests that the minimizing vectors belong to class 1 for about 3/4 the values of r, to class 2 for about 1/5 the values of r, and to class 3 and class 4 each for about 1/50 the values of r. We ask whether each of the four cases actually provides a minimal angle for a sequence of r's tending to infinity. We answer this question in the
GSK-3β Targets Cdc25A for Ubiquitin-Mediated Proteolysis, and GSK-3β Inactivation Correlates with Cdc25A Overproduction in Human Cancers

Summary The Cdc25A phosphatase positively regulates cell-cycle transitions, is degraded by the proteosome throughout interphase and in response to stress, and is overproduced in human cancers. The kinases targeting Cdc25A for proteolysis during early cell-cycle phases have not been identified, and mechanistic insight into the cause of Cdc25A overproduction in human cancers is lacking. Here, we demonstrate that glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) phosphorylates Cdc25A to promote its proteolysis in early cell-cycle phases. Phosphorylation by GSK-3β requires priming of Cdc25A, and this can be catalyzed by polo-like kinase 3 (Plk-3). Importantly, a strong correlation between Cdc25A overproduction and GSK-3β inactivation was observed in human tumor tissues, indicating that GSK-3β inactivation may account for Cdc25A overproduction in a subset of human tumors.
Impact and dynamic response of high-density structural foams used as filler inside circular steel tube

Abstract Structural foams have good energy absorption properties and are effective in reducing the vulnerability of sandwich structures. This research investigated the impact and dynamic response of three different high-density polymeric structural foams; designated A, B and C for proprietary reasons. Foam-C had the lowest density out of the three; density of foam-B was approximately twice the density of foam-C, while the density of foam-A was about three times the density of foam-C. The cylindrical foam samples were initially impacted at different velocities in a DYNATUP Model 8250 instrumented impact test machine and their energy absorption was characterized from the resulting load–deflection data. Each of the three foams was then modeled as filler inside a circular steel tube of 0.8 mm thickness. Non-linear finite element analysis was performed under displacement controlled quasi-static compressive monotonic loading using PATRAN as pre-processor and ABAQUS Standard commercial software. The area under the load–deflection curve was calculated to obtain the absorbed energy and the crush loads for the three foam fillers were compared. Results indicate that foam-A having the highest density was more effective as filler inside the circular steel tube, with the intermediate density foam-B performing equally well under uni-axial compressive loading. Foam-C, which had the lowest density, was found to be ineffective as filler in this application due to large differences in stiffness between this foam and the enclosed steel tube. A TA Instruments Model 983 DMA (dynamic mechanical analyzer) was used for obtaining the storage and loss modulus along with the damping and glass transition properties of the different density structural foams. Frequency multiplexing was also used in conjunction with the time–temperature superposition principle for characterizing the long-term behavior of these viscoelastic foams.
An Art and Technology Approach to Actively Engage Students in the Mathematics of the Regular Polyhedra

The goal of the present work is two folded: At first the author demonstrates a step-by-step problem solving approach, to prove the (convex) Regular Polyhedra Theorem using Zome tools. Then the geometric constructions of some patterns for the decoration of solids using utilities such as the Geometer's Sketchpad will be presented.
Causes and solutions for schedule slippage: a survey of software projects

Research works were conducted previously to identify the root causes of schedule slippage and the solutions to reducing development cycle time. However, the data used was collected in the early 90s. The purpose of this research is to assist software managers to identify the causes of schedule slippage and recognize the effective solutions for today's projects in a timely manner. In order to obtain more current data, this research conducted a survey from 1998 to 1999. The correlation among various project factors, especially the correlation between the causes of schedule slippage, the project status, the development environment, and the effective solutions has been identified. A knowledge base has been built to store the correlation and facilitate software managers to make responsive decisions that have positive impact on the schedule.
Charge transport processes in organic light-emitting devices

The luminous efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes depends on the recombination probability of electrons injected at the cathode and holes at the anode. We have developed a numerical model to calculate the recombination profile in single- and multilayer structures, taking into account the built-in electric field, the charge injection process at each electrode, hopping transport with field-dependent mobilities, charge diffusion, trapping and Langevin recombination. By comparison of the simulation results, as well as approximate analytic solutions, with experimental data on MEH-PPV-based devices, we find that injection is thermionic with Schottky barriers for some electrode metals that are low enough to be considered Ohmic. Except at voltages close to threshold, diffusion and trapping effects are negligible. Both electrons and holes are mobile, with a field dependence that is independently confirmed both by single-carrier space-charge-limited current measurements and transient time-of-flight techniques.
Frictional-collisional equations of motion for particulate flows and their application to chutes

Measurements of the relation between mass hold-up and flow rate have been made for glass beads in fully developed flow down an inclined chute, over the whole range of inclinations for which such flows are possible. Velocity profiles in the flowing material have also been measured. For a given inclination it is found that two different flow regimes may exist for each value of the flow rate in a certain interval. One is an ‘energetic’ flow, and is produced when the particles are dropped into the chute from a height, while the other is relatively quiescent and occurs when entry to the chute is regulated by a gate. At some values of the inclination jumps in the flow pattern occur between these branches, and it is even possible for both branches to coexist in the same chute, separated by a shock. A theoretical treatment of chute flow has been based on a rheological model of the material which takes into account both collisional and fractional mechanisms for generating stress. Its predictions include most aspects of the observed behaviour, but quantitative comparison of theory and experiment is difficult because of the uncertain values of some parameters appearing in the theory.
Dietary Acid Load and Incident Chronic Kidney Disease: Results from the ARIC Study.

Background: Higher dietary acid load can result in metabolic acidosis and is associated with faster kidney disease progression in patients with chronic kidney dis
Mothering a Black Son Who Dreams of Another Country

This narrative traces the experiences of mothering a Black child coming to consciousness about the role and place of Blackness in the United States. Working from a pedagogy of pain and love, Pillow...
Field Tests of Visual and Chemical Lures for Apple Maggot Flies12

n -Butyl acetate, one of the principal components of apple aroma, was attractive to Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) in orchard tests. Twenty other apple volatiles, which included 10 esters, 8 alcohols, and 2 aldehydes, were unattractive. A 9-cm red spot painted on both surfaces of a Pherocon® AM trap increased fly catch by 4.5 times over that obtained with a plain Pherocon® AM trap. Ammonium acetate, a food lure, nullified the attractiveness of the red spot, suggesting that flies must receive stimuli in the proper sequence or combinations to be responsive.
Evaluate Impact of Catalyst Type on Oil Yield and Hydrogen Consumption from Mild Hydrotreating

Bio-oil derived by fast pyrolysis of biomass represents a potentially attractive source of hydrocarbon transportation fuels. Raw bio-oil, however, is unsuitable for application as a fuel due primarily to high organic oxygen content, which imparts a number of undesirable properties including high acidity and low stability. These problems can be overcome by catalytic hydrodeoxygenation; however, removing oxygen to very low levels by hydrotreating carries a strong economic penalty. Mild hydrotreating (where moderate levels of deoxygenation take place) coupled with coprocessing in a petroleum refinery represents an alternative to deep hydrotreating which may improve the economics of manufacture of hydrocarbon transportation fuels from biomass. This study reports on the effect of catalyst type on the quality of bio-oil produced via mild hydrotreating in a semibatch reactor at three severities. Sulfided Ni–Mo/Al2O3, Pd/C(activated), Pd/char, Pt/char, and Ru/char were compared. Speciation of oxygen functional gr...
Islam, Law, and Equality in Indonesia: The contours of the courts

Islam, shari'a, fiqh, hukum – these several ways of referring to God's path or law provide a second set of resources drawn on by Indonesian Muslims. Strikingly, the path along which Islam has been reformulated as a national legal resource in Indonesia parallels the path followed by adat: from a treasury of examples and sayings, brought to bear on a particular case, each has been transformed into a set of rules, an explicit code to be applied by judges. But this codification masks the ways in which Muslims draw on the Islamic discursive tradition to evaluate, justify, or critique specific events. Over the next four chapters, I consider the ways in which judges, jurists, historians, and ordinary Muslims have sought ways to justify or critique social norms on the basis of Islamic tenets, and to reinterpret Islam on the basis of other social norms. This succession of analyses begins in the courts of Takengen, with the reasoning processes of judges who live close to everyday Gayo social life. In succeeding chapters, I consider the relationship between social change and justificatory argumentation over a period of forty years in these courts, and the parallel national debates about how to understand Islamic history and law. In these chapters, we shift our societal focus from village processes to the legal institutions situated in towns and cities. Village life does not disappear from our view, of course; it is conflicts over land and succession that drive people to court.
A comprehensive assessment of the correlations between field crop yields and commonly used MODIS products

Abstract An exploratory assessment was undertaken to determine the correlation strength and optimal timing of several commonly used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) composited imagery products against crop yields for 10 globally significant agricultural commodities. The crops analyzed included barley, canola, corn, cotton, potatoes, rice, sorghum, soybeans, sugarbeets, and wheat. The MODIS data investigated included the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR), Leaf Area Index (LAI), and Gross Primary Production (GPP), in addition to daytime Land Surface Temperature (DLST) and nighttime LST (NLST). The imagery utilized all had 8-day time intervals, but NDVI had a 250 m spatial resolution while the other products were 1000 m. These MODIS datasets were also assessed from both the Terra and Aqua satellites, with their differing overpass times, to document any differences. A follow-on analysis, using the Terra 250 m NDVI data as a benchmark, looked at the yield prediction utility of NDVI at two spatial scales (250 m vs. 1000 m), two time precisions (8-day vs. 16-day), and also assessed the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI, at 250 m, 16-day). The analyses spanned the major farming areas of the United States (US) from the summers of 2008–2013 and used annual county-level average crop yield data from the US Department of Agriculture as a basis. All crops, except rice, showed at least some positive correlations to each of the vegetation related indices in the middle of the growing season, with NDVI performing slightly better than FPAR. LAI was somewhat less strongly correlated and GPP weak overall. Conversely, some of the crops, particularly canola, corn, and soybeans, also showed negative correlations to DLST mid-summer. NLST, however, was never correlated to crop yield, regardless of the crop or seasonal timing. Differences between the Terra and Aqua results were found to be minimal. The 1000 m resolution NDVI showed somewhat poorer performance than the 250 m and suggests spatial resolution is helpful but not a necessity. The 8-day versus 16-day NDVI relationships to yields were very similar other than for the temporal precision. Finally, the EVI often showed the very best performance of all the variables, all things considered.
Propagating and Localized Graphene Surface Plasmon Polaritons on a Grating Structure

The general dispersion characteristics of the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) modes for graphene on a grating structure are studied. It is shown that the dispersion of the excited SPP modes highly depends on the size of the gap of the grating. The dispersion of the SPP modes for such a complex grating system can be well approximated by using the photonic crystal model, and therefore, a full simulation is not needed. The fact that for a large gap size the dispersion of the SPP modes can be found by regarding the grating structure as a series of Fabry–Perot cavities suggest strong reflection of propagating plasmons at the gap edges; the excited SPP modes become highly localized in contrast to the propagating SPPs when the gap is small.
Narrative research in communication: key principles and issues

A great deal of recent research on communication has been developed in the general area of narrative or narrative effects. The majority of this work has brought in older communication concepts without reconciling those concepts with what has been learned about narrative in other social sciences. This review covers some of the major points from research on narrative to help expand the knowledge base and suggest directions for additional work in the field of communication.
Using Zebrafish to Model Liver Diseases-Where Do We Stand?

The liver is the largest internal organ and performs both exocrine and endocrine function that is necessary for survival. Liver failure is among the leading causes of death and represents a major global health burden. Liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for end-stage liver diseases. Animal models advance our understanding of liver disease etiology and hold promise for the development of alternative therapies. Zebrafish has become an increasingly popular system for modeling liver diseases and complements the rodent models. The zebrafish liver contains main cell types that are found in mammalian liver and exhibits similar pathogenic responses to environmental insults and genetic mutations. Zebrafish have been used to model neonatal cholestasis, cholangiopathies, alcoholic liver disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It also provides a unique opportunity to study the plasticity of liver parenchymal cells during regeneration. In this review, we summarize the recent work of building zebrafish models of liver diseases. We highlight how these studies have brought new knowledge of disease mechanisms. We also discuss the advantages and challenges of using zebrafish to model liver diseases.
Use of Diuretics in the Treatment of Heart Failure in Older Adults

Diuretics are the most commonly prescribed class of drugs in patients with heart failure, and in the short term they remain the most effective treatment for relief from fluid congestion. This article reviews the mode of action of the various diuretic classes and the physiologic adaptations that follow and sets up the basis for their use in the treatment of volume-retaining states, particularly as applies to the elderly. In addition, the article reviews the common side effects related to diuretics.
Localization of the Ethylene-Receptor Signaling Complex to the Endoplasmic Reticulum: Analysis by Two-Phase Partitioning and Density-Gradient Centrifugation

Ethylene receptors and other elements of the ethylene-signal transduction pathway localize to membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). New players in the ethylene signaling pathway continue to be discovered and so it is important to have methods by which to diagnose their cellular localization. Two methods for microsome isolation and fractionation are described here that can assist in determining if a protein localizes to the ER: aqueous two-phase partitioning and equilibrium density-gradient centrifugation. Two-phase partitioning serves to purify plasma membrane away from other cellular membranes and can thus discriminate whether a protein is localized to the plasma membrane or not. Equilibrium density-gradient centrifugation is particularly useful for resolving if a protein is localized to the ER. Ribosomes are associated with the rough ER in the presence of Mg2+ but are stripped away when Mg2+is removed from the medium, resulting in a reduction in the ER membrane density and a diagnostic shift in migration when analyzed by equilibrium density-gradient centrifugation. A method for growing plants in liquid culture is also provided because these microsomal membranes exhibit consistent fractionation by both two-phase partitioning and density-gradient centrifugation.
Resilience of Benthic Foraminifera in the Northern Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon Event (2011–2015)

Abstract Benthic foraminifera (BF) have been commonly used as marine petroleum contamination indicators. The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) released 4.0 million barrels of petroleum into the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM) over 87 days in 2010, causing Marine Oil Snow Sedimentation and Flocculent Accumulation (MOSSFA). Previous BF studies have documented region-specific impacts associated with contaminant input and sediment redox conditions. This study determined benthic resilience as measured by BF test density, species richness and heterogeneity. Surface sediment samples (0–42 mm) from seven sites throughout the nGoM (2011–2015) showed a continuous increase in mean species richness (27.2% ±3.6%) and heterogeneity (19.8% ±0.2%). The greatest increase occurred from 2011 to 2013, followed by consistent values from 2013 to 2015, which suggested a resilience rate on the order of three years. This study demonstrated the importance of long-term time-series studies following events such as DWH and exemplified necessity for broad baseline measurements prior to the next marine petroleum accident.
Diagnosing Diagnostic Models: From Von Neumann’s Elephant to Model Equivalencies and Network Psychometrics

This article critically reviews how diagnostic models have been conceptualized and how they compare to other approaches used in educational measurement. In particular, certain assumptions that have...
An Overview of Global Markets and Policies

Following the oil crisis of the 1970s, countries looked to biofuels to substitute the use of fossil fuel in transportation. Brazil and the United States (US) governments impelled national programs for ethanol production (Worldwatch 2007) around 1979; meanwhile, some countries (e.g. China, Kenya, and Zimbabwe) acted in response to the oil crisis but were not able to sustain biofuel production (Liu 2005; Karekezi et al. 2004). When oil prices decreased again, the impetus for alternative fuels retreated—except in Brazil. Current drivers of the alternative energy supply include issues of energy supply security, oil price volatility, climate change, production costs, and more. Subsidy is the main policy instrument to incentivize production, although production costs are dropping.
Experience with uncrossmatched blood refrigerator in emergency department.

Background Uncrossmatched packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion is fundamental in resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock. Ready availability of uncrossmatched blood can be achieved by storing uncrossmatched blood in a blood bank refrigerator in the emergency department (ED), but could theoretically lead to inappropriate uncrossmatched use. Methods This retrospective study was performed at a level I trauma center from January 2013 to March 2014. Possibly inappropriate transfusion was defined as patients who received at least one unit of blood from the ED refrigerator and no more than two units of PRBC in the first 24 hours. Deaths within the first 24 hours were excluded. Patients who received blood from the ED refrigerator who received ≤2 units total in 24 hours were compared with those who received >2 units. Results 158 adults received blood from the ED refrigerator. 140 (88.6%) were trauma patients. 37 (23.4%) received massive transfusion (MT). 42 (26.6%) deaths were excluded. 29 patients received ≤2 units and 87 received >2 units in the first 24 hours. The ≤2 units group had a higher systolic blood pressure (116 mm Hg vs. 102 mm Hg, p=0.042), lower base deficit (6.4 mEq/L vs. 9.4 mEq/L, p=0.032), higher hematocrit (34% vs. 30%, p=0.024), lower rate of MT protocol activation (27.6% vs. 58.6%, p=0.005), and lower rates of transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (17.2% vs. 54.0%, p=0.001) and platelets (13.8% vs. 39.1%, p=0.012). Appropriately transfused patients were more likely to have evidence of shock with active, non-compressible hemorrhage. Potentially inappropriate uses were more likely in patients either without evidence of hemorrhage or without signs of shock. Discussion Storing uncrossmatched blood in the ED is an effective way to get PRBCs transfused quickly in hemorrhaging patients and is associated with a low rate of unnecessary uncrossmatched transfusion. Provider education and good clinical judgment are imperative to prevent unnecessary use. Level of evidence Level III, therapeutic.
Disorders of the Visual System

C ongenital and acquired visual impairments in children are often associated with neurological disorders. The most common visual disorders are uncorrected refractive errors, amblyopia, strabismus, cataracts, and genetic disorders. Two conditions that are increasing in frequency are retinopathy of prematurity and retinal hemorrhage caused by child abuse.
Defeats, Humiliation, Islamic Fundamentalism, and Political Violence

In this brief chapter, I will explore some of the themes of humiliation that Salafi-Jihadists repeatedly disseminate in their discourses. Humiliation in this case is not an outcome of a particular or single event, such as defeat in wars, but rather a product of long historical trends of decline, decay, and loss. What made this ‘humiliation’ so potent is its combination with a grandiose and inflated self-image. This chapter applies the framework presented in the introductory chapter to the question of Islamist violence and demonstrates that humiliation itself is not sufficient to cause violence but rather has to be combined with an inflated self-image.
A landscape model of variable social-ecological fire regimes

Abstract Fire regimes are now recognized as the product of social processes whereby fire on any landscape is the product of human-generated drivers: climate change, historical patterns of vegetation manipulation, invasive species, active fire suppression, ongoing fuel management efforts, prescribed burning, and accidental ignitions. We developed a new fire model (Social-Climate Related Pyrogenic Processes and their Landscape Effects: SCRPPLE) that emphasizes the social dimensions of fire and enables simulation of fuel-treatment effects, fire suppression, and prescribed fires. Fire behavior was parameterized with daily fire weather, ignition, and fire-boundary data. SCRPPLE was initially parameterized and developed for the Lake Tahoe Basin (LTB) in California and Nevada, USA although its behavior is general and could be applied worldwide. We demonstrate the behavior and utility of our model via four simple scenarios that emphasize the social dimensions of fire regimes: a) Recent Historical: simulated recent historical patterns of lightning and accidental fires and current patterns of fire suppression, b) Natural-Fire-Regime: simulated wildfire without suppression, accidental fires, or prescribed fires, holding all other factors the same as Recent Historical, c) Enhanced Suppression: simulated a doubling of the effectiveness of suppression, holding all other factors the same as Recent Historical, and d) Reduced Accidental Ignitions: within which the number of accidental fires was reduced by half, holding all other factors the same as Recent Historical. Results indicate that SCRPPLE can recreate past fire regimes, including size, intensity, and locations. Furthermore, our results indicate that the ‘Enhanced Suppression’ and ‘Reduced Accidental Ignitions’ scenarios had similar capacity to reduce fire and related tree mortality over time, suggesting that within the broad outlines of the scenarios, reducing accidental fires can be as effective as substantially increasing resources for suppression.
A Latent Class Typology of Justice-Involved Youth Victims and Exploration of Trauma-Related Psychological Symptoms

Justice-involved youth witness and experience disproportionately high levels of violence and abuse, yet our understanding of trauma-related symptoms and exposure to violence (ETV) in this group rem...
Applications of Digital Image Enhancement Techniques for Improved Ultrasonic Imaging of Defects in Composite Materials

Several standard digital image enhancement techniques have been applied to digitized ultrasonic C-scan images of defects in graphite/epoxy composites. Features in the computer enhanced images are much more distinct than those in the original images. In some cases, cracks which are too close together to be visually resolved in the original images are clearly resolved in the enhanced images. Noisy images have been improved by first smoothing the original data and then edge enhancing the smoothed data. The resulting sharpened edges improve the visualization of features in the images. The application of digital image enhancement techniques has allowed the imaging of defects in composite materials at frequencies as low as 3.5 MHz. This use of these lower frequencies permits better imaging of defects in thick composite materials.
Immigration legal status and use of public programs and prenatal care.

This study assessed impacts of immigrants' legal status on utilization of prenatal care and public programs by non-citizen women. Interviews and chart reviews of 171 women were conducted less than 48 hours after delivery at an urban hospital. Among non-citizens, 67% were legally documented. No differences in prenatal care adequacy by legal status were detected among non-citizens, who as a group had less health insurance, worse socioeconomics, and less program use compared to U.S. citizens. Non-citizens also were less aware of newborn's citizenship and eligibility for public programs and benefits. Non-citizens utilized fewer programs while reporting greater economic hardship than citizens; however, non-citizens selectively used programs important for pregnancy. Given changes in eligibility for federal programs and high rates of reported food insecurity and socioeconomic hardship among non-citizens, monitoring for adverse effects on utilization of prenatal care and birth outcomes is needed.
Predictors of Latinx Youth Health and Emotional Well-being: Social Determinants of Health Perspective

Latinx youth disproportionately experience numerous negative social determinants of health (SDOH) that can have deleterious impacts on health outcomes. Yet, limited research is available on the role of SDOH on the well-being of Latinx adolescents. Utilizing data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study examined the association between variables representing five discrete domains of SDOH and health and emotional well-being outcomes among youth of Latinx mothers (N = 745). The study included 15-year-old youth of Latina mothers who were retained in the most recent wave of data collection (wave 6). Using Mplus8, we performed structural equation modeling to determine whether exogenous indicators of five domains of SDOH (economic stability, education, neighborhood and built environment, social and community context, and health care access) predicted adolescent health status and emotional well-being. SDOH specific to social, educational, and neighborhood factors emerged as significant predictors of health and well-being. Yet, variation existed in regard to which SDOH were most important for each outcome variable. Findings suggest that several SDOH, including economic stability, education, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context, are particularly important for Latinx adolescent well-being. Implications for social work practice and policy are presented. Future studies should examine the longitudinal impact of SDOH and should examine Latinx youth by nativity.
Decreasing Time to Extubation Following Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Introduction: Prolonged mechanical ventilation time after congenital cardiac surgery is associated with longer length of hospital stay, more frequent pulmonary complications, and greater expense. Early extubation (within 6 to 8 hours) following congenital heart surgery can safely be achieved with subsequent clinical and financial benefits. We embarked on a quality improvement (QI) project to decrease mechanical ventilation time for congenital heart (CHD) patients operated in our moderate volume CHD center. Methods: Two opportunities for practice change and QI in the area of …
De Novo Synthesis of an l-Lemonose Thioglycoside Donor from d-Threonine.

Abstract A short de novo synthesis of an l -lemonose thioglycoside donor is described starting from d -threonine. The synthesis leverages a Dieckmann condensation and Stork-Danheiser transposition to arrive at a key vinylogous ester intermediate on gram scale. Ensuing 1,2-addition diastereoselectively establishes the C3 tetra-substituted center and subsequent glycal hydration allows for anomeric functionalization to the thioglycoside. 1H and NOESY NMR analyses reveal that the major α-anomer of the thioglycoside deviates from the expected 1C4 conformation.
Walking, knowing, and the limits of the map: performing participatory cartographies in Indigenous landscapes:

Post-representational cartography views maps as inherently unstable and unfinished, always in the making and thus singularly open for refolding and re-presentation. This perspective on maps calls f...
Benefits of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Elderly Myeloma Patients in the Last Quarter of Life.

Abstract Although survival outcomes have improved dramatically over the last few decades in newly diagnosed myeloma patients, elderly patients have not yielded the same magnitude of benefit as evidenced by higher rates of reported myeloma-related deaths in patients over the age of 75. This is of particular importance given this cohort comprises a large proportion of myeloma patients with the median age of diagnosis being 70 years. One contributor to this discrepancy is reduced use of high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT/ASCT) in this population because of concerns for increased toxicity and safety. The objective of this retrospective analysis is to evaluate survival and safety outcomes in 53 newly diagnosed patients ≥74 years of age who underwent HDT/ASCT at our institution in comparison to 122 control patients in the same age bracket who did not undergo stem cell transplantation during this same time period. Patients treated at our institution were identified in our institutional myeloma database by age. They were all treated between November 2006 and October 2016 at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Fifty-three patients were identified who had undergone HDT/ASCT, and, to assess the relative benefit of ASCT, 122 control patients in the same age range were also identified who did not undergo HDT/ASCT during the same time period. The median age for the entire cohort was 77 years (74 years in the ASCT group versus 78 in the non-ASCT group). Median time to ASCT was 6 months (range 2-57 months). There were no gender or race differences between the 2 groups, although a higher proportion of high-risk patients underwent HDT/ASCT. Ninety-three percent of ASCT patients received triplet induction therapy with a proteasome inhibitor and immunomodulatory agent backbone in comparison to only 55% of patients the non-ASCT group. The median progression-free survival (PFS) for the ASCT group was 50 months versus 30 months in the non-ASCT group. The median overall survival (OS) was 80 months versus 40 months, respectively. In high-risk patients, the median PFS was 60.8 months, and the median OS was 77.8 months in the ASCT group compared to 26 months and 38 months in the non-ASCT group, respectively. There were no transplant-related deaths within the first 100 days in the ASCT group. This study offers real-world perspective and data on the safety and survival benefit of ASCT in the elderly population with a near doubling of OS when compared to those treated with similar regimens and modern agents without ASCT. These data provide a rationale for offering ASCT in elderly patients pending a thorough pretransplantation evaluation.