cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Students’ interpretations of mathematical statements involving quantification

Mathematical statements involving both universal and existential quantifiers occur frequently in advanced mathematics. Despite their prevalence, mathematics students often have difficulties interpreting and proving quantified statements. Through task-based interviews, this study took a qualitative look at undergraduate mathematics students’ interpretations and proof-attempts for mathematical statements involving multiple quantifiers. The findings of this study suggest that statements of the form “There exists … for all …” (which can be referred to as EA statements) evoked a larger variety of interpretations than statements of the form “For all … there exists …” (AE statements). Furthermore, students’ proof techniques for such statements, at times, unintentionally altered the students’ interpretations of these statements. The results of this study suggest that being confronted with both the EA and AE versions of a statement may help some students determine the correct mathematical meanings of such statements. Moreover, knowledge of the structure of the mathematical language and the use of formal logic may be useful tools for students in proving such mathematical statements.
Efficient temporal shaping of ultrashort pulses with birefringent crystals

We report on a simple and robust technique to temporally shape ultrashort pulses. A number of birefringent crystals with appropriate crystal length and orientation form a crystal set. When a short pulse propagates through the crystal set, the pulse is divided into numerous pulses, producing a desired temporal shape. Flexibility in the final pulse shape is achieved through varying initial pulse duration, divided-pulse number, the polarization-mode delay, and energy distribution of the divided pulses. The energy efficiency of the technique is near 100% for a pulse train of alternating polarizations, and 50% for a linearly polarized pulse train.
Morphological, nanomechanical and cellular structural characterization of human hair and conditioner distribution using torsional resonance mode with an atomic force microscope

Characterization of the cellular structure and chemical and physical properties of hair are essential to develop better cosmetic products and advance the biological and cosmetic sciences. Although the morphology of the fine cellular structure of human hair has traditionally been investigated using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy can be used for characterization in ambient conditions without requiring specific sample preparations and surface treatment. In this study, the tapping and torsional resonance modes in an atomic force microscope are compared for measurements of stiffness and viscoelastic properties. The materials were mapped using amplitude and phase angle imaging. The torsional resonance mode showed advantages in resolving the in-plane (lateral) heterogeneity of materials. This mode was used for investigating and characterizing the fine cellular structure of human hair. Various cellular structures (such as the cortex and the cuticle) of human hair and fine sublamellar structures of the cuticle, such as the A-layer, the exocuticle, the endocuticle and the cell membrane complex were easily identified. The distribution and thickness of conditioner on the treated hair surface affects the tribological properties of hair. The thickness of the conditioner was estimated using force distance measurements with an atomic force microscope.
Computational Analysis of Adhesion Dynamics in the Eustachian Tube During Inflammatory Otitis Media

Otitis Media (OM) is an inflammation of the middle ear (ME) that is the most commonly diagnosed childhood illness and the cost of treating OM has been estimated at four billion dollars annually. [1] The onset of OM is typically due to bacterial/viral infections that cause tissue swelling, rapid ME gas exchange and painful sub-ambient ME pressures. Normally, periodic openings of the ET are used to relieve ME pressures. However, the up-regulation of various adhesion proteins within the ET lumen make it difficult for the surrounding muscles to open the ET. The goal of this study is to use computational models to investigate how changes in adhesion dynamics during inflammation influence ET function in three different patient populations: healthy adults, normal children, and CP infants. We have developed a multi-scale computational models of the ET based on histo-morphological data obtained in each population. Adhesive forces within the lumen are modeled as non-linear, reputable spring elements. These models indicate that tissue morphology and mechanics can significantly influence the ET’s response to inflammatory adhesion forces. Specifically, changes in mucosal tissue stiffness and TVP muscle forces are most effective in overcoming inflammatory adhesion forces.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Requirements for accurate manometric recording of pharyngeal and esophageal peristaltic pressure waves.

The frequency characteristics and wave form of peristaltic pressure complexes occurring in the pharynx and esophagus of normal subjects were studied. For each of five subjects, five peristaltic waves were selected for analysis from the proximal and distal pharynx as well as the proximal, middle, and distal esophagus. Thus, 25 peristaltic waves were analyzed from each of the five regions studied, giving a total of 125 in all. After digitization of the peristaltic waves, pressure values were entered into a computer algorithm that performed a Fourier transformation to determine frequency content and wave slope. The computer analysis revealed that a frequency response flat to 5 Hz was adequate to record 98% of esophageal peristaltic waves with 98% accuracy. In contrast, recording accuracy up to 48 Hz was needed for high-fidelity recording in the pharynx. Rates of pressure change were substantially greater for pharyngeal peristaltic pressure complexes compared with esophageal peristaltic complexes. The results suggest that appropriately designed infused-catheter systems can readily meet the requirements for accurate recording of peristaltic pressure waves in the esophagus but not in the pharynx. Consequently, different instrumentation, such as an intralum-inal strain gauge probe, is needed for accurate manometric recording of pharyngeal peristalsis.
Septal lesions and aggressiveness in the cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus

Septal lesions resulted in a significant increase in the number of interanimal contacts made by cotton rats, but produced no consistent increase in social rank. Thresholds for both attack and escape responses were lower and these responses were poorly timed and directed. The data are consistent with a disinhibition hypothesis of septal lesion effects.
The Influence of Dietary Nitrate on Nitrate Concentration in Egg Yolk and Albumen

Abstract Sodium nitrate (from 0 to 2,000 p.p.m.) was added to the drinking water of 32-week old S.C. White Leghorn pullets. Eggs collected once a week for 8 weeks were analyzed for nitrate content. Increasing levels of nitrate in the drinking water resulted in increasing levels of nitrate in albumen and yolk. Higher levels of nitrate were found in the yolk than in the albumen. When birds were started on the experiment, nitrate in the drinking water was reflected by immediate increases in nitrate content of the eggs. The nitrate content of eggs from birds receiving 1,000 p.p.m. NaNO3 (728 p.p.m. NO3−) exceeded the 45 p.p.m. permissible level of nitrate in drinking water for human beings.
Charging of Ceramic Coatings in Space

[Abstract] Conventional materials used for spacecraft thermal protection are conductive, thereby preventing the buildup of differential charge, as it can dissipate across the entire surface assuming proper grounding. The extremely high temperatures that NASA’s Solar Probe will encounter during solar approach require the use of refractory ceramic materials as a component of the passive thermal management system. Since ceramics are typically electrically insulating and therefore tend to collect surface charge, special attention has been devoted to understanding how ceramics’ electronic properties vary at selected points along the spacecraft trajectory and how their interaction with the radiation environment could potentially affect the overall spacecraft charging. These studies are relevant for any mission encountering extreme environments. Spacecraft charging can be investigated and characterized using a combination of modeling and experimental measurements. Charging behaviors of three ceramic materials in near-solar radiation environments were studied: alumina, pyrolytic boron nitride, and barium zirconium phosphate. Charging simulations were performed, as well as electron emission studies in order to more accurately model the charging-relevant material properties. Mild differential charging of approximately tens of volts is predicted for thin (~100 micron) ceramic coatings between Earth and approximately 0.3 AU. As the spacecraft moves nearer to the sun and its temperature increases, the charging behavior changes from differential to very mild absolute charging of a few volts. These results depend sensitively on spacecraft geometry, material properties, and radiation environment.
Understanding the Effects of Stimulant Medications on Cognition in Individuals with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Decade of Progress

The use of stimulant drugs for the treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most widespread pharmacological interventions in child psychiatry and behavioral pediatrics. This treatment is well grounded on controlled studies showing efficacy of low oral doses of methylphenidate and amphetamine in reducing the behavioral symptoms of the disorder as reported by parents and teachers, both for the cognitive (inattention and impulsivity) and non-cognitive (hyperactivity) domains. Our main aim is to review the objectively measured cognitive effects that accompany the subjectively assessed clinical responses to stimulant medications. Recently, methods from the cognitive neurosciences have been used to provide information about brain processes that underlie the cognitive deficits of ADHD and the cognitive effects of stimulant medications. We will review some key findings from the recent literature, and then offer interpretations of the progress that has been made over the past decade in understanding the cognitive effects of stimulant medication on individuals with ADHD.
The Subset Keys and Identity Tickets (SKIT) Key Distribution Scheme

Probabilistic key predistribution schemes (P-KPSs) which place modest demands on hardware are good candidates for securing interactions between resource limited computers. Collusion susceptible P-KPSs are trade-offs between security and complexity. Some facets of complexity include computation, bandwidth, and storage overhead. Metrics for security include resistance to passive eavesdropping attacks, and active message injection attacks. The contributions of this paper are three-fold: 1) a novel P-KPS, the subset keys and identity tickets (SKIT) scheme; 2) a generic KPS model to facilitate comparison of various facets of the complexity of key predistribution schemes; and 3) a new security model to describe the resistance of P-KPSs to active message-injection attacks. The two models are used to show why SKIT has many compelling advantages over existing P-KPSs in the literature. In particular, while placing lower demands on computation, bandwidth and storage overhead, SKIT realizes substantial improvements in resistance to passive and active attacks.
From genome-wide to candidate gene: an investigation of variation at the major histocompatibility complex in common bottlenose dolphins exposed to harmful algal blooms

The role the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays in response to exposure to environmental toxins is relatively poorly understood, particularly in comparison to its well-described role in pathogen immunity. We investigated associations between MHC diversity and resistance to brevetoxins in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). A previous genome-wide association study investigating an apparent difference in harmful algal bloom (HAB) resistance among dolphin populations in the Gulf of Mexico identified genetic variation associated with survival in close genomic proximity to multiple MHC class II loci. Here, we characterized genetic variation at DQA, DQB, DRA, and DRB loci in dolphins from central-west Florida and the Florida Panhandle, including dolphins that died during HABs and dolphins presumed to have survived HAB exposure. We found that DRB and DQB exhibited patterns of genetic differentiation among geographic regions that differed from neutral microsatellite loci. In addition, genetic differentiation at DRB across multiple pairwise comparisons of live and dead dolphins was greater than differentiation observed at neutral loci. Our findings at these MHC loci did not approach the strength of association with survival previously described for a nearby genetic variant. However, the results provide evidence that selective pressures at the MHC vary among dolphin populations that differ in the frequency of HAB exposure and that the overall composition of DRB variants differs between dolphin survivors and non-survivors of HABs. These results may suggest a potential role of MHC diversity in variable survival of bottlenose dolphins exposed to HABs.
GENDER, ETHNICITY, DEVELOPMENT, AND RISK: MENTORING AND THE CONSIDERATION OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Individual differences shape the needs and characteristics of proteges, the processes through which mentoring may influence proteges' developmental trajectories, and the social networks into which the mentors enter. The literature on the influences of gender, ethnicity, and age on mentoring is reviewed and discussed as examples of how mentoring programs may have different influences on, and outcomes for, specific groups of youth. A focus on individual differences will help facilitate the development of mentoring programs that create a close fit between the needs of proteges and the services offered by the programs, as well as greater insight into what are the key elements of program effectiveness. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
How Geographic Maps Increase Recall of Instructional Text.

This article reviews research on how geographic maps influence the recall of associated text. Drawing on literature from cartography and educational, experimental, and cognitive psychology, the authors describe a model of map-text learning based on dual-coding theory and focused on activities that take place during working memory operations. The instructional implications of the model are explored, and recommendations for instructional applications are given.
Ketone enolization by lithium hexamethyldisilazide: structural and rate studies of the accelerating effects of trialkylamines.

Mechanistic studies of the enolization of 2-methylcyclohexanone mediated by lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS; TMS2NLi) in toluene and toluene/amine mixtures are described. NMR spectroscopic studies of LiHMDS/ketone mixtures in toluene reveal the ketone-complexed cyclic dimer (TMS2NLi)2(ketone). Rate studies using in situ IR spectroscopy show the enolization proceeds via a dimer-based transition structure, [(TMS2NLi)2(ketone)]⧧. NMR spectroscopic studies of LiHMDS/ketone mixtures in the presence of relatively unhindered trialkylamines such as Me2NEt reveal the quantitative formation of cyclic dimers of general structure (TMS2NLi)2(R3N)(ketone). Rate studies trace a >200-fold rate acceleration to a dimer-based transition structure, [(TMS2NLi)2(R3N)(ketone)]⧧. Amines of intermediate steric demand, such as Et3N, are characterized by recalcitrant solvation, saturation kinetics, and exceptional (>3000-fold) accelerations traced to the aforementioned dimer-based pathway. Amines of high steric demand, such as...
A minmax approach to adaptive matched field processing in an uncertain propagation environment

Adaptive array processing algorithms have achieved widespread use because they are very effective at rejecting unwanted signals (i.e., controlling sidelobe levels) and in general have very good resolution (i.e., have narrow mainlobes). However, many adaptive high-resolution array processing algorithms suffer a significant degradation in performance in the presence of environmental mismatch. This sensitivity to environmental mismatch is of particular concern in problems such as long-range acoustic array processing in the ocean where the array processor's knowledge of the propagation characteristics of the ocean is imperfect. An adaptive minmax matched field processor is formulated which combines adaptive matched field processing and minmax approximation techniques to achieve the effective interference rejection characteristic of adaptive processors, while limiting the sensitivity of the processor to environmental mismatch. An efficient implementation and alternative interpretation of the processor are developed. The performance of the processor is analyzed using numerical simulations. >
Utility of provocative discography

Discogenic back pain remains a controversial entity. Many spinal surgeons believe that certain instances of nonradicular back pain are caused by an abnormal intervertebral disc. The usefulness of surgery, however, to effectively treat this condition, is unclear, with mixed results reported in the literature. Central to the difficulty in effectively treating discogenic back pain is the difficulty of accurate diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating the classic “black disc” appearance is usually suggestive, but provocative discography has been also used as a method of further confirmation. Reproduction of the patient’s typical pain after injection of contrast into the disc is considered to implicate the disc as the pain generator. In this study, Smith et al. retrospectively compare outcomes of patients undergoing surgical and nonsurgical management of back pain after provocative discography. The groups are similar in age, pain, body mass index, smoking, and number of levels. Clinical outcomes, using a range of standardized pain and functional scores, and with good length of follow-up, were similar between both groups. Smith et al. then perform a regression analysis demonstrating similar outcomes in patients undergoing surgical and nonsurgical management.
Upgrading, uneven development, and jobs in the North American apparel industry

Globalization is changing the nature of work and business in the contemporary world economy. Debate today revolves around the implications of globalization’s transformative influence for firms and workers, particularly in the developing world. While capital is increasingly mobile, workers remain relatively place bound, and this tension between the global and the local demands new tools for policymakers studying labor issues, as well as new strategies for labor activists. The International Labor Office has focused on the relationship between globalization and employment in numerous studies, which explore a range of issues from working conditions in maquiladoras to the impact of information and communication technologies on the quantity, quality, and location of jobs (see ILO, 2001). Many of these studies have focused on the cross-border production and trade networks that are at the heart of economic globalization, asking about the impact of these networks in the communities where they touch down. The consensus that emerges from this literature is that cross-border networks can have positive as well as negative developmental consequences: “Globalization in a regional framework can boost development opportunities, but it may also undermine established local networks of backward and forward linkages” (ILO, 1996: 120).
Refactorings for Fortran and high-performance computing

Not since the advent of the integrated development environment has a development tool had the impact on programmer productivity that refactoring tools have had for object-oriented developers. However, at the present time, such tools do not exist for high-performance languages such as C and Fortran; moreover, refactorings specific to high-performance and parallel computing have not yet been adequately examined. We observe that many common refactorings for object-oriented systems have clear analogs in procedural Fortran. The Fortran language itself and the introduction of object orientation in Fortran 2003 give rise to several additional refactorings. Moreover, we conjecture that many hand optimizations common in supercomputer programming can be automated by a refactoring engine but deferred until build time in order to preserve the maintainability of the original code base. Finally, we introduce Photran, an integrated development environment that will be used to implement these transformations, and discuss the impact of such a tool on legacy code reengineering.This work is being funded by IBM under the PERCS project.
Glioblastoma Mimicking an Arteriovenous Malformation

Abnormal cerebral vasculature can be a manifestation of a vascular malformation or a neoplastic process. We report the case of a patient with angiography-negative subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) who re-presented 3 years later with a large intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Although imaging following the intraparenchymal hemorrhage was suggestive of arteriovenous malformation, the patient was ultimately found to have an extensive glioblastoma associated with abnormal tumor vasculature. The case emphasizes the need for magnetic resonance imaging to investigate angiography-negative SAH in suspicious cases to rule out occult etiologies, such as neoplasm. We also discuss diagnostic pitfalls when brain tumors are associated with hemorrhage and abnormal vasculature.
Definitional and Research Issues in the Common Factors Approach to Psychotherapy Integration: Misconceptions, Clarifications, and Proposals

This paper focuses on two common misconceptions of common factors in therapy. The first misconception entails the confusion between common factors and therapeutic factors, and thus the inappropriate and misleading use of the term “therapeutic common factors” in various situations. The second misconception is the mixing of commonalities of different kinds and levels in proposed lists and studies of common factors. These areas are discussed and clarified, and recommendations designed to facilitate conceptual and methodological improvements relative to each misconception are offered. The selection of best levels and kinds of common factors to be studied are further explored (i.e., the study of client change events and antecedent therapist behaviors across different therapies), and specific proposals for their research are outlined.
Portrait of a crack: rapid fracture mechanics using parallel molecular dynamics

How do materials fracture? The molecular dynamics methods used to model this important problem parallelize well, allowing bigger and more realistic computational experiments. Simulations of how materials crack at the atomic level are yielding surprising results that sometimes contradict existing theory, but that may explain recent physical experiments.
The Therapeutic Challenge of Targeting HER2 in Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, diagnosed in more than 50,000 women annually. While the majority of women present with low-grade tumors that are cured with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy, a significant subset of women experience recurrence and do not survive their disease. A disproportionate number of the more than 8,000 annual deaths attributed to endometrial cancer are due to high-grade uterine cancers, highlighting the need for new therapies that target molecular alterations specific to this subset of tumors. Numerous correlative scientific investigations have demonstrated that the HER2 (ERBB2) gene is amplified in 17%–33% of carcinosarcoma, uterine serous carcinoma, and a subset of high-grade endometrioid endometrial tumors. In breast cancer, this potent signature has directed women to anti-HER2-targeted therapies such as trastuzumab and lapatinib. In contrast to breast cancer, therapy with trastuzumab alone revealed no responses in women with recurrent HER2 overexpressing endometrial cancer, suggesting that these tumors may possess acquired or innate trastuzumab resistance mechanisms. This review explores the literature surrounding HER2 expression in endometrial cancer, focusing on trastuzumab and other anti-HER2 therapy and resistance mechanisms characterized in breast cancer but germane to endometrial tumors. Understanding resistance pathways will suggest combination therapies that target both HER2 and key oncogenic escape pathways in endometrial cancer.
An End-to-End Measurement-Based Admission Control Policy for VoIP over Wireless Networks

In this paper, we present a new policy for admitting voice over IP (VoIP) sessions over wireless networks. Our proposed policy receives the admission information advertised by the VoIP gateway on the wired network, and uses it to decide whether a new VoIP session can be admitted or not. The proposed policy can be easily integrated with the current call admission control algorithms used in wireless networks. We show that implementing the proposed policy increases the number of successful VoIP sessions admitted to the access point polling list, thus improving the wireless network utilization.
Formal Treatment of Aggregate Mortality Data

As an example of a population with a single source of variation, let us consider that of a fixed territory subject only to death. (One could consider birth as the alteration of condition, but it seems more natural to take the births as the absolute starting point of the elements). The proposed treatment is valid also for the presentation of any other kind of alteration of condition of those born.
The microbiota-derived metabolite indole decreases mucosal inflammation and injury in a murine model of NSAID enteropathy

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most frequently used classes of medications in the world. Unfortunately, NSAIDs induce an enteropathy associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although the pathophysiology of this condition involves the interaction of the gut epithelium, microbiota, and NSAIDs, the precise mechanisms by which microbiota influence NSAID enteropathy are unclear. One possible mechanism is that the microbiota may attenuate the severity of disease by specific metabolite-mediated regulation of host inflammation and injury. The microbiota-derived tryptophan-metabolite indole is abundant in the healthy mammalian gut and positively influences intestinal health. We thus examined the effects of indole administration on NSAID enteropathy. Mice (n = 5 per group) were treated once daily for 7 days with an NSAID (indomethacin; 5 mg/kg), indole (20 mg/kg), indomethacin plus indole, or vehicle only (control). Outcomes compared among groups included: microscopic pathology; fecal calprotectin concentration; proportion of neutrophils in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes; fecal microbiota composition and diversity; small intestinal mucosal transcriptome; and, fecal tryptophan metabolites. Co-administration of indole with indomethacin: significantly reduced mucosal pathology scores, fecal calprotectin concentrations, and neutrophilic infiltration of the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes induced by indomethacin; modulated NSAID-induced perturbation of the microbiota, fecal metabolites, and inferred metagenome; and, abrogated a pro-inflammatory gene expression profile in the small intestinal mucosa induced by indomethacin. The microbiota-derived metabolite indole attenuated multiple deleterious effects of NSAID enteropathy, including modulating inflammation mediated by innate immune responses and altering indomethacin-induced shift of the microbiota.
Three-Phase Time-Multiplexed Planar Power Transmission to Distributed Implants

A platform has been presented for wireless powering of receivers (Rx’s) that are arbitrarily distributed over a large area. A potential application could be powering of small Rx implants, distributed over large areas of the brain. The transmitter (Tx) consists of three overlapping layers of hexagonal planar spiral coils (hex-PSC) that are horizontally shifted to provide the strongest and most homogeneous electromagnetic flux coverage. The three-layer hex-PSC array is driven by a three-phase time-division-multiplexed power Tx that takes the advantage of the carrier phase shift, coil geometries, and Rx time constant to homogeneously power the arbitrarily distributed Rx’s regardless of their misalignments. The functionality of the proposed three-phase power transmission concept has been verified in a detailed scaled-up high-frequency structure simulator Advanced Design System simulation model and measurement setup, and compared with a conventional Tx. The new Tx delivers 5.4 mW to each Rx and achieves, on average, 5.8% power transfer efficiency to the Rx at the worst case 90° angular misalignment, compared with 1.4% by the conventional Tx.
Elements of a Graduate Course in Computational Fluid Dynamics: Successful Assimilation and Implementation

While a course in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a common offering in many universities and for several decades, the author of this paper learnt interesting patterns from the students’ assimilation of the principles and implemented the pedagogical build-up for positive experiences during the recent offering in winter 2012–13. With precise assignments that highlight the appropriate concepts to be learnt and put to coding, the students have progressed in gaining the confidence to tackle a variety of flow problems. Students felt that they could always learn using software and solve problems but the intricate details in understanding and applying the governing fluid dynamics equations was what they were able to gain from the course. The topical treatment given, the problems solved, the techniques applied, the software used are presented in this paper as an example of successful implementation of and enhanced student learning in a graduate course in CFD. Industry-relevant course projects culminated the positive experience, as confirmed by the course evaluation results.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The Use of Disparate Impact Analysis in Subjective Criteria Employment Decisions: All that Glitters Isn't Gold?

Disparate impact analysis had always been used for objective screening devices until this case came along and allowed its use for subjective criteria such as supervisor evaluations.
New Late Eocene and Oligocene Remains of the Flightless, Penguin-Like Plotopterids (Aves, Plotopteridae) from Western Washington State, U.S.A.

ABSTRACTWe describe new plotopterids (Aves, Plotopteridae) from late Eocene and Oligocene strata in western Washington State, U.S.A. The specimens belong to four new species of these flightless, wing-propelled seabirds, three of which are named and assigned to two new supraspecific taxa, Olympidytes, gen. nov., and Klallamornis, gen. nov. We confirm previous observations on a high diversity of plotopterids in the Paleogene of North America, but because the fossils are from different formations, it remains elusive how many of the six currently recognized species from western Washington actually coexisted. Tonsala, the only previously described plotopterid taxon from the Olympic Peninsula, is likely to occupy a more basal phylogenetic position than the other plotopterids of this geographic area. Olympidytes and Klallamornis may be successive sister taxa of Copepteryx and Hokkaidornis from the late Oligocene of Japan, but a determination of the exact affinities of the new taxa requires the discovery of furth...
NHERF1/EBP50 and NF2 as diagnostic markers for choroid plexus tumors

The adaptor protein NHERF1 (Na/H exchanger-3 regulatory factor-1) and its associated ezrin-radixin-moesin-merlin/neurofibromin-2 (ERM-NF2) family proteins are required for epithelial morphogenesis and have been implicated in cancer progression. NHERF1 is expressed in ependymal cells and constitutes a highly sensitive diagnostic marker for ependymoma, where it labels membrane polarity structures. Since NHERF1 and ERM-NF2 proteins show polarized expression in choroid plexus (CP) cells, we tested their diagnostic utility in CP neoplasms. NHERF1 immunohistochemistry in 43 adult and pediatric tumors with papillary morphology revealed strong apical plasma membrane staining in CP papilloma (WHO grade I) and cytoplasmic expression in CP carcinoma (WHO grade III). Ezrin and moesin showed similar but less distinctive staining. NHERF1 also labeled papillary tumors of the pineal region in a microlumen and focal apical membrane pattern, suggestive of a transitional morphology between CP papilloma and ependymoma. CP tumors of all grades could be differentiated from metastatic carcinomas with papillary architecture by NF2, which showed polarized membranous staining in CP tumors. NHERF1 and NF2 immunohistochemistry showed enhanced sensitivity and specificity for CP tumors compared to commonly used markers, including cytokeratins and Kir7.1, emerging as reliable diagnostic tools for the differential diagnosis of papillary tumors of the central nervous system.
Prioritization of therapeutic targets of inflammation using proteomics, bioinformatics, and in silico cell-cell interactomics.

Protein-protein interactions play key roles in leukocyte extravasation process into the brain and have been attractive therapeutic targets for inhibiting brain inflammation using blocking (or neutralizing) antibodies. These targets include protein-protein interactions between cytokines (or chemokines) and their receptors on leukocytes and between adhesion molecules of leukocyte and brain endothelium. While a number of therapeutics against these targets are currently used in clinic for treatment of brain autoimmune and inflammatory disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis), they are associated with side effects partly due to the off-target actions (i.e., nonspecific targets). There is a need for novel targets involved in the leukocyte extravasation process that are specific to leukocyte subsets or to individual inflammatory disorder and are amenable for drug development (i.e., druggable). We recently described the blood-brain barrier (BBB) Carta Project as a comprehensive collection of molecular "maps" consisting of multiple experimental omics (including RNA sequencing, proteomics, glycoproteomics, glycomics, metabolomics) and in silico informatics analyses on a number of mammalian species from hundreds of internal, publically available, or curated datasets. Utilizing the datasets and tools from the BBB Carta Project, we describe a methodology to identify novel "druggable" targets involving protein-protein interactions between activated leukocytes and brain endothelial cells using a combination of proteomics, bioinformatics, and in silico interactomics. The result is a prioritized list of protein-protein interactions in a network consisting of leukocyte-brain endothelial cell communication and contacts. These interactions can be further pursued for development of therapeutics such as neutralizing antibodies and their validation through preclinical testing. In addition to targeting brain inflammation, the method described here is applicable for peripheral inflammation and provides the opportunity to target important cell-cell interactions and communications that are more specific/selective for inflammatory disorders and improve currently available therapies.
Operative laparoscopy in gynecology oncology

Because of the poor sensitivity and accuracy of noninvasive nonsurgical methods of detection of occult pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes, as well as the cost and discomfort of surgical staging, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital introduced laparoscopic procedures in the staging of cervical cancer from May 1992. Since then, 112 such surgical procedures have been undertaken, including 36 pelvic lymphadenectomies, 20 para-aortic lymphadenectomies, 6 infrarenal paraaortic lymphadenectomies, 22 simple hysterectomies, 6 extended hysterectomies, 2 Schauta's radical hysterectomies, 4 omentectomies, 5 appendectomies, 3 ovarian transpositions, and 8 second look operations for ovarian cancer. All patients tolerated the procedures smoothly except for one who had hemostasis. There was also one complication of tumor seeding at the laparoscopic skin site. Our preliminary experience shows the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic procedures for gynecology and oncology patients. The potential application of laparoscopy in managing gynecologic malignancies is highly appreciated in our institute. The birth of operative laparoscopy in the subspecialty of gynecologic oncology has taken place.
Civil War in Europe, 1905–1949: Civil Strife and Dictatorship, 1930???1935

In 1924, Soviet policy recognized that prospects for “universal civil war” had vanished, at least for the time being. The Comintern announced the beginning of the “Second Period” in world revolution, recognizing that capitalism had achieved temporary stability, marking a temporary “transitional stage between revolutions.” Comintern leaders declared that promotion of violent revolution must be deferred in favor of building strength through the “united front from above,” forming alliances with other worker groups. As Iosif Stalin began to win the struggle for power after the death of Lenin, he developed his own revolutionary strategy, based on the slogan “Socialism in One Country.” In 1928, he unveiled his twin strategies of immediate collectivization of agriculture and the ruthless prioritization of large-scale state industry in order to turn the Soviet Union into a major industrial and military power. This required renewal of internal conflict and repression. The Stalin-style creation of an eventual superpower was possible only in a country with the large population and abundant natural resources of the Soviet Union, for altogether it suffered nearly twenty-five million deaths as the direct and indirect results of state policy between 1917 and 1934.
Primary-Productivity Determination

Whether it be in terrestrial or aquatic environments, primary production, the base of the food web, relates to the production of organic compounds from inorganic carbon and water through the process of photosynthesis. In aquatic systems, investigators are concerned with community composition and dynamics of primary producer communities, the green algae and higher aquatic plants that through the process of photosynthesis form sugar from light energy and carbon dioxide plus water.
Abstract 4525: Distinctive chromatin organization of p53 binding sites in normal and cancer cells

The tumor suppressor p53 is arguably one of best known proteins in humans, which induces or represses hundreds of genes to prevent tumor development. Now, it becomes clear where p53 binds across the human genome and how it regulates gene expression. Recent studies have established that p53 can access its target sites on the nucleosomal DNA and the rotational positioning of a nucleosome is critical to determine the accessibility of p53 sites. We have found that p53 response elements (REs) associate with cell cycle arrest such as p21 REs are likely to be exposed on the nuclesomal surface. However, it remains unclear if other chromatin elements such as histone modifications and DNA methylation affect p53 in vivo binding and if such chromatin organization differs in normal cells versus cancer cells. We analyzed the pre-existing chromatin landscape of thousands of p53 binding sites identified so far in normal (GM12878) and cancer (K562) cells. The p53 sites derived from the normal cells are often found in the vicinity of the transcription start sites (TSSs) of nearby genes, characterized with relative low nucleosome occupancy, high levels of transcriptionally active histone marks such as H3K4me3 and low levels of DNA methylation. By contrast, the p53 sites found in the cancer cells are located remotely from TSSs, with relatively high nucleosome occupancy, low levels of H3K4me3 and DNA methylation. The shift in p53 genomic binding patterns in the normal and cancer cells reflects the cancer-associated epigenetic dysregulation. Overall, in contrast to most of DNA-binding transcriptional factors, p53 binding sites occur in nucleosome-enriched regions. These findings indicate that p53 belong to a set of transcription factors including the pluripotency factors Oct4, Sox2 and Klf4 that can directly interact with nucleosomes in the context of chromatin. Citation Format: Feng Cui, Peter LoVerso, Feifei Bao. Distinctive chromatin organization of p53 binding sites in normal and cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4525.
The Six-Day War and Israeli Self-Defense: Who Was to Blame and Why It Matters

Responsibility for wars of the past may seem an inconsequential matter. But the consequences of wars need to be sorted out, and how a war started may be key to an appropriate resolution. Beyond the particular conflict, the manner in which one war is fought may set a precedent for future wars. A war may be rationalized in a way that stretches the legal basis for military action. The UN Charter indicates that when the UN Security Council takes military action, it should be by national forces seconded to the UN operating under UN command. But in 1950, leading member states wanted military action in support of South Korea but were unwilling to second troops to UN control. So the Security Council adopted a resolution in which it “recommended” to member states that they provide assistance to South Korea. No command structure or method of coordination was specified. That same technique of, in effect, farming the operation out to individual member states was used again in 1990 for military action against Iraq, following its occupation of Kuwait, and again in 2011 for military action in Libya. While one can agree or disagree with the Security Council's approach, the effect was to broaden the bases on which military action might be taken under UN auspices. The June 1967 Middle East war was fought not under UN auspices but on the strength of the power of individual states to resort to war. Under the UN Charter, states may not initiate war against another. Force may, however, be used in defense in the event of an “armed attack.” Egypt, as we shall see, charged aggression, and self-defense was invoked by Israel. According to Israel, Egypt had attacked by land and by air on the morning of June 5, 1967, and Israel responded. Eventually, however, as we shall also see, the propriety of the war's initiation came to be contested on defending not against an actual attack, but against an anticipated attack. Israel would make the legal claim that force may be used in anticipation of an attack by the other state, and the factual claim that Egypt was about to attack it.
Circulating Plasma Levels of MicroRNA-21 and MicroRNA-221 Are Potential Diagnostic Markers for Primary Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers in various malignancies. We aim to characterize miRNA expression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and identify circulating plasma miRNAs with potential diagnostic and prognostic utility. Methods Using deep-sequencing techniques, miRNA expression between tumor samples and non-neoplastic liver parenchyma were compared. Overexpressed miRNAs were measured in plasma from an independent cohort of patients with cholangiocarcinoma using RT-qPCR and compared with that healthy volunteers. The discriminatory ability of the evaluated plasma miRNAs between patients and controls was evaluated with receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Small RNAs from 12 ICC and 11 tumor-free liver samples were evaluated. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering using the miRNA expression data showed clear grouping of ICC vs. non-neoplastic liver parenchyma. We identified 134 down-regulated and 128 upregulated miRNAs. Based on overexpression and high fold-change, miR21, miR200b, miR221, and miR34c were measured in plasma from an independent cohort of patients with ICC (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 7). Significant overexpression of miR-21 and miR-221 was found in plasma from ICC patients. Furthermore, circulating miR-21 demonstrated a high discriminatory ability between patients with ICC and healthy controls (AUC: 0.94). Conclusion Among the differentially expressed miRNAs in ICC, miR-21 and miR-221 are overexpressed and detectable in the circulation. Plasma expression levels of these miRNAs, particularly miR-21, accurately differentiates patients with ICC from healthy controls and could potentially serve as adjuncts in diagnosis. Prospective validation and comparison with other hepatobiliary malignancies is required to establish their potential role as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
On Testing Symmetry and Unimodality

Likelihood ratio tests of the null hypothesis that a parameter set is both unimodal and symmetric against the alternatives that it is unimodal but not symmetric and vice versa are studied. The parameter set could be multinomial, a set of normal means, or parameters indexing members of an exponential family. Null hypothesis distributions are found for these tests.
Abstract P114: Fallacy of Same-Hospital Readmission Rates

Background: It is unknown to what extent same-hospital readmission rates for patients with heart failure (HF) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI) underestimate a more robust assessment of readmiss...
Studying the effects of emerging infections on the fetus: Experience with West Nile and Zika viruses

Emerging infections have the potential to produce adverse effects on the pregnant woman or her fetus; however, studying these effects is often challenging. We review our experiences with investigating the prenatal effects of two mosquito-borne infections that emerged in the past 2 decades, West Nile virus (WNV) and Zika virus. Concerns regarding teratogenicity were raised about both viruses; Zika virus has been confirmed to be teratogenic, while WNV appears not to increase the risk for adverse outcomes, although teratogenicity has not been excluded. Study designs used to examine the effects of both viruses include case reports and series, pregnancy registries, and cohort studies. Case-control studies and birth defects surveillance systems are being used to study the effects during pregnancy of Zika virus, but not the effects of WNV, because a specific phenotype was observed among infants with congenital Zika infection, but not among infants with congenital WNV infection. Experimental data that demonstrated that Zika virus was neurotropic have also been useful because they provided biologic plausibility for Zika virus's teratogenic effects: these findings were consistent with observations in congenitally infected infants. Challenges encountered with studies to evaluate the effects of these infections include the broad range of possible adverse outcomes, the inability to include all infected pregnant women in studies because many infections are asymptomatic, and the difficulty with interpretation of diagnostic testing of infants (WNV and Zika) and pregnant women (Zika). This review might be helpful to guide future studies of the effects of emerging infections during pregnancy. Birth Defects Research 109:363-371, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.