cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
WOODY PLANTS IN GRASSLANDS: POST‐ENCROACHMENT STAND DYNAMICS

Woody plant abundance is widely recognized to have increased in savannas and grasslands worldwide. The lack of information on the rates, dynamics, and extent of increases in shrub abundance is a major source of uncertainty in assessing how this vegetation change has influenced biogeochemical cycles. Projecting future consequences of woody cover change on ecosystem function will require knowledge of where shrub cover in present-day stands lies relative to the realizable maximum for a given soil type within a bioclimatic region. We used time-series aerial photography (1936, 1966, and 1996) and field studies to quantify cover and biomass of velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina Woot.) following its proliferation in a semidesert grassland of Arizona. Mapping of individual shrubs indicated an encroachment phase characterized by high rates of bare patch colonization. Upon entering a stabilization phase, shrub cover increases associated with recruitment and canopy expansion were largely offset by contractions in canopy area of other shrub patches. Instances of shrub disappearance coincided with a period of below-average rainfall (1936-1966). Overall, shrub cover (mean ± SE) on sandy uplands with few and widely scattered shrubs in 1902 was dynamically stable over the 1936-1996 period averaging -35% ± 5%. Shrub cover on clayey uplands in 1936 was 1 7% ± 2% but subsequently increased twofold to levels comparable to those on sandy uplands by 1966 (36% ± 7%). Cover on both soils then decreased slightly between 1966 and 1996 to 28% ± 3%. Thus, soil properties influenced the rate at which landscapes reached a dynamic equilibrium, but not the apparent endpoint. Although sandy and clayey landscapes appear to have stabilized at comparable levels of cover, shrub biomass was 1 .4 times greater on clayey soils. Declines in shrub cover between 1966 and 1996 were accompanied by a shift to smaller patch sizes on both sandy and clayey landscapes. Dynamics observed during the stabilization phase suggest that density-dependent regulation may be in play. If woody cover has transitioned from directional increases to a dynamic equilibrium, biomass projections will require monitoring and modeling patch dynamics and stand structure rather than simply changes in total cover.
Steps and Missteps: Redesigning, Piloting, and Scaling a Developmental Writing Program

This chapter tells a story of course reform, describing in a fresh and candid way the steps taken toward change and the results achieved. The authors emphasize that instructors need considerable support in order to teach differently, as well as underscore the need to consider scalability of reform even at the pilot stage.
A Sparse Marker Extension Tree Algorithm for Selecting the Best Set of Haplotype Tagging Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) play a central role in the identification of susceptibility genes for common diseases. Recent empirical studies on human genome have revealed block-like structures, and each block contains a set of haplotype tagging SNPs (htSNPs) that capture a large fraction of the haplotype diversity. Herein, we present an innovative sparse marker extension tree (SMET) algorithm to select optimal htSNP set(s). SMET reduces the search space considerably (compared to full enumeration strategy), and therefore improves computing efficiency. We tested this algorithm on several datasets at three different genomic scales: (1) gene-wide (NOS3, CRP, IL6 PPARA, and TNF), (2) region-wide (a Whitehead Institute inflammatory bowel disease dataset and a UK Graves' disease dataset), and (3) chromosome-wide (chromosome 22) levels. SMET offers geneticists with greater flexibilities in SNP tagging than lossless methods with adjustable haplotype diversity coverage (ϕ). In simulation studies, we found that (1) an initial sample size of 50 individuals (100 chromosomes) or more is needed for htSNP selection; (2) the SNP tagging strategy is considerably more efficient when the underlying block structure is taken into account; and (3) htSNP sets at 80–90% ϕ are more cost-effective than the lossless sets in term of relative power, relative risk ratio estimation, and genotyping efforts. Our study suggests that the novel SMET algorithm is a valuable tool for association tests. Genet. Epidemiol. 29:336–352, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Development and testing of a large-area underwater survey device

A large-area underwater radioactive survey device was developed for a contamination survey of the Johnston Atoll. A towed device consisting of a single photomultiplier and a single scintillator crystal is described. Results from the development and deployment of the device are presented.
Sons of problem-drinking fathers: Narratives on the father–son relationship

While family relations can at best offer attachment, love, and nurture, at worst they can be enervating, neglectful, and oppressive. In this article, narratives on the father–son relationship in the context of the father’s alcohol problems are identified and discussed. Adult sons who have lived with problem-drinking fathers are given a voice through interviews, and their life stories explored. What kinds of narratives are found in sons’ life stories that deal with the father–son relationship? How has the relationship evolved, including emotionally, during the son’s life? The study data comprise life story interviews (N = 21) with men aged 21–42 years. The narrative analysis yielded four types of story about the father–son relationship during the son’s life course: Narrative of Fondness, Narrative of Irritation, Narrative of Melancholy, and Narrative of Hatred. The study reveals the centrality of different emotions and the dynamic nature of relationships in these narratives on challenging family relations.
A novel multimodal computational system using near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor cerebral oxygenation during assisted ventilation in CDH patients.

Abstract Background/Purpose The aim of this study was to create a computational simulator to serve as an early alert system for cerebral hypoxemia prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. Methods Neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (Jan 2010–Dec 2014) were recruited to collect continuous measurements of cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (cStO 2 ) using a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device (FORE-SIGHT®, CASMED). Clinicians were blinded to NIRS data and treated infants based on pre-established clinical protocols. Charts were reviewed retrospectively to identify clinical events of hypoxemia (spontaneous, sustained decrease in preductal SpO 2 Results Twenty-three of 36 patients enrolled met data criteria. The algorithm anticipated an event at least 15minutes prior to the event in 77% of cases, with an average pre-event detection of 47minutes (range 16–122minutes). Post-event StO 2 (SpO 2 Conclusion We have developed a computational algorithm with an early warning system that has the potential of being translated into a real-time clinical interface that may improve management of neonates.
Design of insulator-based dielectrophoretic devices: Effect of insulator posts characteristics

Insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) is a leading technique for the enrichment and manipulation of target bioparticles by exploiting physical and electrical properties of the particles and the suspending medium. Dielectrophoretic forces are produced by employing insulator posts that distort an otherwise uniform electric field. The optimal design for iDEP devices involves a careful balance between electrokinetics (EK) and dielectrophoresis (DEP) in the DEP-active area, where the design of the insulator posts is crucial for their performance. This contribution demonstrates the selection of a geometrical set of parameters that enhances particle capture and enrichment in an iDEP device. Numerical simulations, comprising an average trapping condition (TC) and the average lateral-to-longitudinal force ratio (FR) experienced by particles, were used to determine improved geometrical parameters (e.g., shape, length and width) and arrangement (e.g., lateral and longitudinal spacing) of the insulator posts. Experiments with polystyrene particles demonstrated the enhancement in particle enrichment, validating the employed key output parameters. The fabrication feasibility of the improved devices by a soft-lithographic process was also explored through numerical simulations and experiments. Optimal designs for this study were selected and their capture capacity was examined, demonstrating a decrease up to 84% in the electric potential necessary to generate a clear band of trapped particles. The findings from this study provide a systematic approach toward the design of high performance iDEP devices for their lab-on-a-chip integration.
Suspension-based differentiation of adult mesenchymal stem cells toward chondrogenic lineage.

ABSTRACTHuman mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are derived from bone marrow and have the ability to differentiate into cartilage and other mesenchymal cell types found throughout the body. Traditionally, the differentiation of hMSCs toward chondrocytes occurs through a combination of pelleted static cell culture and chemical stimuli. As an alternative to these protocols, we developed an in vitro flow through microfluidic method to induce the differentiation of hMSCs into chondrocytes. Suspensions of unattached hMSCs were exposed to a constant shear flow over a period of 20 minutes, which promoted phenotypic and gene expression changes toward the chondrogenic lineage. These internal and external changes of chondrogenic differentiation were then observed over 3 weeks later in culture, as confirmed through fluorescent immunocytochemical staining and real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The increased concentration of Type II collagen on the surface of shear stimulated hMSCs wi...
Recovered Memories and Accusations of Sexual Abuse: A Review of Scientific Research Relevant to Missionary Contexts

Childhood sexual abuse of missionary children is a tragedy that mission organizations are seeking to prevent. A second tragedy concerns missionaries falsely accused of sexual abuse. Psychotherapy that generated false memories of sexual abuse was common in the 1980s and 1990s and still continues to some degree today in Christian circles. This chapter reviews scientific evidence that such false memories exist and provides guidelines that Christian organizations may use to help sort true memories of childhood sexual abuse from false memories of childhood sexual abuse.
Individual Differences in Human Performance: Neural, Genetic, Cognitive, and Psychometric Approaches

This panel discusses the potential of a multi-level approach to the study of individual differences to enhance both theory and practice in human factors. Neural, genetic, cognitive, and psychometric studies are presented, and each panelist describes research using two or more of these approaches. Panelists demonstrate how assessment of individual differences informs cognitive modeling and discuss the implications for selection, training, and the individuation of interface design are discussed.
Pollen flow inPrimula veris (Primulaceae)

Observations on two natural and one artificial distylous populations ofPrimula veris in Britain revealed very high proportions of intramorph pollen on pin stigmas and moderate proportions of intermorph pollen on thrum stigmas. The average ratio of pin: thrum pollen production per flower was 2.4:1. Large amounts of pollen remained in dehisced anthers, perhaps reflecting low levels of pollinator activity. Population size and density had no clear effect on pollen flow patterns, which are asymmetrical for the two morphs.
Zn2+ has a primary hydration sphere of five: IR action spectroscopy and theoretical studies of hydrated Zn2+ complexes in the gas phase

Complexes of Zn2+(H2O)n, where n = 6−12, are examined using infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectroscopy, blackbody infrared radiative dissociation (BIRD), and theory. Geometry optimizations and frequency calculations are performed at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level along with single point energy calculations for relative energetics at the B3LYP, B3P86, and MP2(full) levels with a 6-311+G(2d,2p) basis set. The IRPD spectrum of Zn2+(H2O)8 is most consistent with the calculated spectrum of the five-coordinate MP2(full) ground-state (GS) species. Results from larger complexes also point toward a coordination number of five, although contributions from six-coordinate species cannot be ruled out. For n = 6 and 7, comparisons of the individual IRPD spectra with calculated spectra are less conclusive. However, in combination with the BIRD and laser photodissociation kinetics as well as a comparison to hydrated Cu2+ and Ca2+, the presence of five-coordinate species with some contribution from six-coordinate specie...
Titers of antilymphocytic sera determined by immunofluorescence.

The antibody titers of canine antilymphocytic sera from the horse and rabbit were measured by indirect immunofluorescence by reacting the antilymphocytic sera with canine lymphocytes, then attaching labeled antihorse globulin (IgG) to the lymphocyte-antibody complex. This method is sensitive and specific, and the titers correlate closely with titers obtained by the cytotoxicity test. It has practical advantages. It is complement-independent and obviates the need for viable cells. Many smears can be prepared from a single cell preparation, air-dried, and stored for future use. The membranes, the antigenic parts of the cells, fluoresce light green and are quite distinguishable from the nonfluorescing nuclei when viewed with blue-light fluorescence through either a brightfield or a darkfield condenser. Because this reaction is an expression of an antigen-antibody union in a nonviable state, if adequate controls are used to detect nonspecific reactions, false-positive findings are eliminated. (However, in this study nonspecific reactions were not found.)
Significance of pancreatic stone protein in pancreatic injury and sepsis

Pancreatic stone protein(PSP) is the product of exocrine pancreas mainly synthesized and secreted by the pancreas acinar cells, a small amount secreted by gastrointestinal cells. PSP is one of stress protein family members secreted in the pancreas. PSP increased in acute and chronic pancreatitis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal tumors. In recent years, some studies showed that PSP has potential clinical value in pancreatic injury and sepsis. In this article, we reviewed the progress of pancreatic stone protein in pancreatic injury and sepsis.
An Empirical Analysis of Real Estate Lending and Bank Failures: 1863-2012

As demonstrated during the financial crisis of 2007-8 and several other times throughout history, bank failures can pose a threat to financial system stability and broader economic growth. The importance of real estate lending to banks’ financial viability and the relationship between real estate price swings and specific financial crises throughout American history has been amply demonstrated. In this paper we examine the historical relationship between banks’ real estate portfolios and subsequent bank failures using a novel, long-term dataset ranging from 1863 to 2012. We examine banks’ real estate loans, banks’ total assets and bank failures to test for a relationship between banks’ real estate lending and subsequent bank failures. Using the methodology of Pesaran and Shin (1999) and Pesaran et al. (2001), we conduct an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ADL) “bounds test” to test for a long-run relationship between real estate loans and bank failures. We find evidence of a relationship between banks’ real estate loans as a percentage of total assets and failures in subsequent years.
A fog computing solution for advanced metering infrastructure

With rapid increase in deployment of advanced metering infrastructure, the amount of the data collected increases dramatically. Incorporation of such voluminous data requires wide-ranging transformation of the existing metering infrastructure. However, as the number of smart meters increases to more than hundreds of thousands, it would become increasingly clear that the state-of-the-art centralized information processing architecture will no longer be sustainable under such big data explosion. In this short communication letter, we propose an implantable data storage-and-processing solution for improving the existing smart meter infrastructure. The practicality of the proposed solution is validated on a proof-of-concept testbed.
An aromatic-rich loop couples DNA binding and ATP hydrolysis in the PriA DNA helicase

Helicases couple ATP hydrolysis to nucleic acid binding and unwinding via molecular mechanisms that remain poorly defined for most enzyme subfamilies within the superfamily 2 (SF2) helicase group. A crystal structure of the PriA SF2 DNA helicase, which governs restart of prematurely terminated replication processes in bacteria, revealed the presence of an aromatic-rich loop (ARL) on the presumptive DNA-binding surface of the enzyme. The position and sequence of the ARL was similar to loops known to couple ATP hydrolysis with DNA binding in a subset of other SF2 enzymes, however, the roles of the ARL in PriA had not been investigated. Here, we show that changes within the ARL sequence uncouple PriA ATPase activity from DNA binding. In vitro protein-DNA crosslinking experiments define a residue- and nucleotide-specific interaction map for PriA, showing that the ARL binds replication fork junctions whereas other sites bind the leading or lagging strands. We propose that DNA binding to the ARL allosterically triggers ATP hydrolysis in PriA. Additional SF2 helicases with similarly positioned loops may also couple DNA binding to ATP hydrolysis using related mechanisms.
Beyond naming and shaming: New modalities of information politics in human rights

ABSTRACTHow and why does information become currency in human rights advocacy? Human rights organizations (HROs) produce media content in an increasingly diverse manner today across multiple platforms, for divergent purposes, and for distinct audiences. Advocacy practices are no longer confined to fact-based reporting aimed at exposing abuse. The sheer magnitude of resources expended in communication evidences the early stages of a shift in which HROs widen their broadcast and target mass audiences. However, human rights scholarship has not adequately addressed this new trend, which has the capacity to radically alter the advocacy landscape. Moving beyond the traditionally narrow focus on “naming and shaming,” we contend that a critical, detailed approach to understanding the strategic use of information will reveal a more complete image of how HROs build influence through their communications strategies. Expanding upon Keck and Sikkink's concept of “information politics,” we develop a theoretical framewo...
We know where you are: the ethics of LBS advertising

Privacy is the most significant and complex ethical issue facing LBS. While LBS is more than the combination of e-commerce and telemarketing, we use the ethical failures of those two media to show that consumers will seek legislative action to protect themselves from invasions of privacy using the new medium. The alternative is effective self-regulation by the industry; we conclude with a proposed model for such self-regulation, involving existing trade groups.
A method to derivatize surface silanol groups to Si-alkyl groups in carbon-doped silicon oxides

A carbon-doped silicon oxide (CDO) finds use as a material with a low dielectric constant (k) for copper interconnects in multilayered integrated circuits (ICs). Hydrophilic silanol groups (Si–OH) on its surface, however, can attract moisture, thereby causing an undesirable increase in the dielectric constant. Modification of the exposed hydrophilic surface to a hydrophobic functional group provides one solution to this problem. We report here a strategy for converting surface Si–OH to hydrophobic silicon hydride (Si–H) without affecting the internal oxide network in CDO. The approach involves esterification of the exposed silanol to its triflate (silyltrifluoromethanesulfonate, Si–O–Tf), followed by reduction to Si–H with diisobutylaluminum hydride. Si–H is further modified by a photochemical reaction with an alkene (1-octadecene) to yield Si–R (R = –C18H37) to provide a more moisture resistant, and less polar Si–C as opposed to the Si–O backbone. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), and measurements of the contact angle with water substantiated the successful conversion. The reaction scheme is versatile, transforming silanol groups to silicon hydride in widely varying chemical sites, from small molecules to the surfaces of silica gels, SiOx and CDO wafers. A comparison with the films (self-assembled monolayers) derivatized with the octadecyltrichlorosilane indicated that the new method leads to a thicker (≈5 nm) but more loosely packed hydrocarbon film with slightly lower contact angles.
Model (undocumented) minorities and “illegal” immigrants: centering Asian Americans and US carcerality in undocumented student discourse

AbstractAs the numbers of immigrant apprehensions, detentions, and deportations increase, and in context of anti-immigrant sentiment, education scholars must better contend with the way that carcerality affects undocumented student experiences. Carcerality refers to social and political systems that formally and informally promote discipline, punishment, and incarceration. Guided by Critical Race Theory, I examine interview data from 15 undocumented Asian Americans to show that the portrayal of undocumented student exceptionalism that typically characterizes the discourse on their experiences obscures the centrality of carcerality in shaping how young people with undocumented status navigate their lives. The narratives of undocumented Asian Americans represent a shift in undocumented discourse as these students de-emphasized their academic mobility, demonstrated a hyper-awareness of punitive immigration policies, and were traumatized by and practiced nondisclosure in response to deportation threats. Howev...
Economic Aspects and Issues Along an Urban–Rural Gradient

Economics as often defined is “the allocation of scarce resources.” Because resources are scarce, in differing measure, they must be allocated efficiently. When people move and landscapes become altered, so too does the allocation of resources change, and thus economic concepts come into play. In this chapter, we explore some economic aspects of relevance to urban–rural gradients, paying specific attention to: (i) the changing structure of economies; (ii) shifts in land, labor, and capital as rural areas become urbanized; (iii) taxation and the scope of public sector activities; (iv) the distribution of income and wealth; and (v) shifts in the environment and in the provision of ecosystem services. While these facets by no means exhaust the set of worthy topics, the discussions are compelling because each one is, in the words of the late Nobel Prizewinning economist, George Stigler, “encompassing and of great moment.” That is, the economic topics presented in this chapter touch a lot of peoples’ lives and touch those lives in a meaningful manner.
Pyriproxyfen treatment terminates Halyomorpha halys reproductive diapause, with an indirect mortality effect on its egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus

The success of Halyomorpha halys (Stal) as an invasive species in temperate climates is partly due to its ability to survive winter in a state of reproductive diapause. In H. halys, the termination of juvenile hormone (JH) production by the corpora allata, in response to a decline in day length, leads to the initiation of diapause and suspension of reproductive activity. Results of this study showed that topical application of the JH analog pyriproxyfen at doses of 0.05–100 μg per insect resulted in the resumption of oocyte formation and oviposition in a dose-dependent manner, with the ED50 estimated at 1.14 μg per insect. Eggs induced by pyriproxyfen application had significantly lower hatchability than control eggs. The indirect effects of host exposure to pyriproxyfen on the hymenopteran parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead), a candidate biological control agent of H. halys, were evaluated. When presented with eggs produced by pyriproxyfen-treated females, T. japonicus was observed ovipositing, but no adult parasitoids emerged from host eggs. Exposure to pyriproxyfen has the potential to lower the reproductive potential of H. halys populations by inducing the production of eggs with reduced viability during periods of low resource availability. The complete mortality of T. japonicus developing on pyriproxyfen-induced eggs suggests that insect growth regulators which interfere with host reproduction may exert a strong indirect effect on beneficial egg parasitoids, and may not be compatible with egg parasitoid biological control programs.
Tutte polynomials of hyperplane arrangements and the finite field method

The Tutte polynomial is a fundamental invariant associated to a graph, matroid, vector arrangement, or hyperplane arrangement. This short survey focuses on some of the most important results on Tutte polynomials of hyperplane arrangements. We show that many enumerative, algebraic, geometric, and topological invariants of a hyperplane arrangement can be expressed in terms of its Tutte polynomial. We also show that, even if one is only interested in computing the Tutte polynomial of a graph or a matroid, the theory of hyperplane arrangements provides a powerful finite field method for this computation.
Winner and Loser Effects in Collegiate Baseball and Softball Doubleheaders

Past experiences have a considerable impact on the success of future interactions across the animal kingdom. Known as winner and loser effects, victors of prior contests tend to have an increased chance of future success while losers are likely to experience additional failure. These effects are in part due to differential endocrine responses among competitors following initial bouts, with winners benefiting from subsequent increases in testosterone (T) and losers being disadvantaged by reductions in T and heightened stress hormones. Now well documented across a range of human competitions, sporting events provide an ideal setting to explore this biological phenomenon. This study uses the perspective of winner and loser effects to study the pattern of outcomes observed in consecutive baseball and softball games played in the same day (i.e., doubleheaders) at the collegiate level. Using archival data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), we show that the distribution of winning and losing within these contests is not random. Consistent with a previous report on Major League Baseball (MLB), collegiate baseball and softball doubleheaders are more likely to be swept (i.e., one team winning both games) than split (i.e., each team winning and losing once), and the margin of victory in the first game was positive predictor of this outcome. While there were no differences between the strength of these effects between baseball and softball, both collegiate sports resulted in greater proportion of sweeps than in MLB. A residency effect was also observed, whereby victors of sweeps were more often the home team. This home field advantage was stronger for collegiate baseball compared to softball and the MLB. This report adds to a large comparative literature on winner and loser effects, and provides insight into the dynamics that modulate human performance in high-level athletic competition.
Abstract 17608: Identification of a Tissue-specific Very Long-chain Acyl-CoA Synthetase Involved in the Inhibition of ATP-Citrate Lyase (ACL) by ETC-1002: A Novel Mechanism for Cholesterol Biosynthesis Inhibition in the Liver

ETC-1002 is a first-in-class oral small molecule that significantly lowers levels of low- density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) by 30-40% in hypercholesterolemic patients with reduced potential f...
How we made DRAM

The emergence of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in the 1970s had a huge impact on the future of digital computing. Its inventor, Robert H. Dennard, explains how the drive for simplicity led to this breakthrough.
Femoral Shaft Fractures

Femoral shaft fractures occur in a bimodal distribution, resulting from high energy trauma in young patients and lower energy mechanisms in older patients. In cases of high energy trauma, the orthopedic surgeon must have a high suspicion for associated injuries, some of which may be subtle due to the distracting nature of the femur fracture. Femoral shaft fractures can be temporized in the preoperative period with the use of skeletal traction, which fatigues the thigh musculature and relieves muscle spasm. Typically, intramedullary nailing is used as definitive treatment, while open reduction and internal fixation or external fixation may be used in select cases.
Juvenile Dermatomyositis und Polymyositis

Die juvenile Dermatomyositis ist eine entzundliche Multisystemerkrankung unbekannter Ursache mit chronischer Entzundung der Muskulatur und der Haut und manchmal weiterer Organe. Charakteristisch sind proximale Muskelschwache, schuppende Erytheme uber den Streckseiten der Extremitaten und Gesichtsveranderungen. Spater konnen Verkalkungen hinzutreten.
DUAL CETERIS PARIBUS COMPARISONS: SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS ON LABORATORY ISOLATION OF EQUILIBRIUM FORCES IN AUCTION MARKETS*

A technique is illustrated for isolation of equilibrium forces reputedly present in individual agents’ economic behavior. An example setting arises in a theory of affiliated auctions (MILGROM/ WEBER, 1982), which predicts expected revenue to be increased by seller’s announcement of public information correlated with the item’s unknown common value.
Loss of the tight junction MAGUK ZO-1 in breast cancer: relationship to glandular differentiation and loss of heterozygosity.

Membrane-associated guanylate kinase homologs (MAGUKs) may play a role in cellular functions preventing tumorigenesis as indicated by the neoplastic phenotype caused by genetic loss of the MAGUK Dlg in Drosophila . To test this possibility, we examined the expression and subcellular localization of the tight junction MAGUK ZO-1, as well as the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin, in paraffin-embedded breast cancer samples, using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. As expected, normal tissue showed intense staining for ZO-1 at the position of the epithelial tight junctions, but this staining was reduced or lost in 69% of breast cancers analyzed ( n = 48). In infiltrating ductal carcinomas ( n = 38) there was a reduction in staining in 42% of well differentiated, in 83% of moderately differentiated and 93% of poorly differentiated tumors. ZO-1 staining was positively correlated with tumor differentiation ( P =.011) and more specifically with the glandular differentiation of tumors ( P =.0019). Reduction in ZO-1 staining was strongly correlated with reduced E-cadherin staining ( P = 4.9 × 10 −5 ). The results suggest that down-regulation of ZO-1 expression and its failure to accumulate at cell junctions may be causally related to cancer progression. To detect loss of heterozygosity, the ZO-1 gene tjp-1 was mapped relative to other markers in 15q13 and polymorphic markers flanking tjp-1 were identified. The marker D15S1019 showed loss of heterozygosity in 23% of informative tumors ( n = 13). Loss of a tjp-1 -linked marker suggests that genetic loss may, in some cases, be responsible for the reduction in ZO-1 expression in breast cancer.
Cluster Analysis of West German Towns with Special Reference to Personal Rapid Transit Systems

In view of the present increasingly difficult traffic situation in West German towns and cities, it is very likely that existing urban transportation systems may be unable to cope with future requirements and will become less and less attractive to users.
Educating the Educators

There is one concern common to both the advocates and opponents of sex education. It is a sincere interest in the preparation of the sex educators. The question “Who is going to teach the teacher?” has been frequently raised since sex education went public. Writing in 1915 about progress in sex education in the United States, Dr. Max J. Exner pointed out In the past there has been a shrinking attitude on the part of the public with respect to the subject of sex. Special lectures on the “hard cold facts” or the sentimentality and exaggeration of the moralists marked the next stage of development. The distinguishing characteristic of the present-day attitude is the insistence on the normal side of sex education. The growing demand for the training of teachers in methods of sex education is the most significant trend in recent times. (Exner, 1916) It has taken more than half a century to begin in any significant way to answer the demands and recommendations for effective education for educators that have been voiced since the early 1900s when the idea of incorporating sex education into public education was first promoted. There was no consensus at that time, however, as to what kind of training would prepare educators to handle the new subject matter. In the 1930s it was felt that the educator should be “well versed” and “of good character,” but more attention was focused on the gender and marital status of the teacher and the characteristics of those who should be excluded. The unacceptable were “the embarrassed, the abnormal, the unhappily married, the pessimistic” (Bigelow, 1936).
A Multiple-Agent based System for Forecasting the Ice Cream Demand using Climatic Information

A multiple agent-based system is intended to capture complex behavioral patterns by utilizing a collection of autonomous computer systems (called agents) that can interact with decision makers and then learn, perform, and delegate tasks on their behalf. With its ability to handle a large amount of information from heterogeneous sources in dynamically changing environments, a multiple agent-based system can significantly improve the company’s business intelligence and operational efficiency. Though rarely used in demand planning, this paper proposes a multiple agent-based system for demand forecasting of ice cream which poses unique challenges due to volatility and seasonality of ice cream consumption. To validate the usefulness of the proposed system for demand planning, the forecasting outcomes of the proposed system was compared to those of traditional forecasting techniques. Our experiments showed that the proposed multiple agent-based system outperformed its traditional forecasting counterparts in terms of its accuracy and consistency.
Penile Size Restoration With Nondegloving Approach for Peyronie's Disease: Initial Experience.

Abstract Introduction The sliding technique (ST), commonly done with a subcoronal circumcising incision with penile degloving, has been used to restore penile size in patients with severe Peyronie’s disease (PD) and erectile dysfunction, but with a potential risk of ischemic injury to the glans penis. Aim To provide detailed surgical techniques regarding the nondegloving ventral incision and report our initial experience with this approach to perform the ST and penile prosthesis placement in patients with severe PD. Methods This was a retrospective review of patient outcomes after penile prosthesis placement with penoplasty for severe PD and erectile dysfunction from January 2015 to December 2017. Main Outcome Measures Primary outcomes included straightening rates, penile measurement, along with immediate and late complications. Secondary outcomes include operative time and overall patient satisfaction. Results 12 Patients had significant penile atrophy and/or curvature >60 degrees and underwent inflatable penile prosthesis placement with grafting procedure. Significant penile atrophy was determined by a combination of the patient’s subjective report and the surgeon’s objective assessment through stretched penile length. 7 (58.3%) of those patients underwent ST, of which the last 5 had the procedure performed through a nondegloving ventral incision. Mean degree of curvature prior to ST was 66 degrees (45–90 degrees). Mean penile length gain was 2.6 cm (2.0–3.0 cm). At a mean follow-up of 15.5 months (3–31 months), only 1 patient had minimal residual curvature of 15 degrees. There were no vascular complications. Clinical Implications This nondegloving technique theoretically maintains blood flow continuity to the glans penis by preserving the continuity of the skin, dartos fascia, and neurovascular bundle. Strengths & Limitations Strengths of this study include the novel nature of this approach, no incidence of vascular complications, and adaptability to other grafting procedures during penile prosthesis placement. Limitations include the use of 5-item International Index of Erectile Function scores to assess preoperative erectile function on PD, small population, longer incision, and a possible steep learning curve. Conclusion While ischemic complications of ST and penile prosthesis implantation are rare, there are reports of ischemic injury in patients undergoing a subcoronal circumcising incision with penile degloving. The non-degloving technique with ventral incision provides for an alternative method for ST and penile prosthesis placement to maintain dartos and skin continuity to the glans penis while still allowing for adequate surgical exposure. Clavell-Hernandez J, Wang R. Penile Size Restoration With Nondegloving Approach for Peyronie’s Disease: Initial Experience. J Sex Med 2018;15:1506–1513.
A review of the FDA's 510(k) approvals process for electromagnetic devices used in body contouring.

Introduction: Greater demand for noninvasive techniques to reduce cellulite and contour the body has led to the growth of electromagnetic and radiofrequency devices. In this study, we aimed to char...
Real-Time Localization of a Magnetic Anomaly : A Study of the Effectiveness of a Genetic Algorithm for Implementation on an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

An investigation of the viability of magnetic anomaly localization with an autonomous underwater vehicle using a genetic algorithm (GA) is described. The localization method, first proposed by Sheinker. et al. [1], is optimized for the case of a moving platform. Extensive magnetic field modeling and algorithm simulation have been conducted and suggest that the approach is promising. Field testing of the method was conducted with the use of a self-compensating magnetometer (SCM). Extensive out-of-water field testing was carried out to validate the ability to measure a target signal in a uniform NED frame as well as to validate the effectiveness of the GA. The outcome of the simulation closely matches the results of the conducted field tests. Additionally, the SCM has been integrated on a REMUS 100 AUV and preliminary in-water testing of the system have been conducted.
Pennsylvania's Teachers and the Tenure Law of 1937

While the American teachers’ unions are commonly understood to be guarantors of public school teachers’ job security through their backing of teacher tenure laws, the relationship between tenure and teachers’ organizations is historically contingent. This article shows how in 1937 Pennsylvania teachers pushed their state legislature to pass what was at the time the most empowering teacher tenure law in existence. Using primary documents, the article examines how nonunionized teachers politicized tenure in the early 1930s, before the New Deal reshaped the political environment. Women activists from Philadelphia’s AFT Local 192 successfully lobbied the legislature in Harrisburg in 1937 to pass a far-reaching tenure law that not only guaranteed due-process rights for teachers, but did so without allowing for a probationary period and without exception for married women teachers. Pennsylvania’s teacher unionists fought against efforts to reform the law in the years that followed.
Thoughts About Real Nursing

This essay presents thoughts about what constitutes real nursing and who may be considered a real nurse.
Refining genome-wide associated loci for serum uric acid in individuals with African ancestry.

OBJECTIVE Serum uric acid is the end-product of purine metabolism and at high levels is a risk factor for several human diseases including gout and cardiovascular disease. Heritability estimates range from 0.32 to 0.63. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide an unbiased approach to identify loci influencing serum uric acid. Here, we performed the first GWAS for serum uric acid in continental Africans, with replication in African Americans. METHODS Africans (n = 4126) and African Americans (n = 5007) were genotyped on high-density GWAS arrays. Efficient mixed model association, a variance component approach, was used to perform association testing for a total of ~ 18 million autosomal genotyped and imputed variants. CAVIARBF was used to fine map significant regions. RESULTS We identified two genome-wide significant loci: 4p16.1 (SLC2A9) and 11q13.1 (SLC22A12). At SLC2A9, the most strongly associated SNP was rs7683856 (P = 1.60 × 10-44). Conditional analysis revealed a second signal indexed by rs6838021 (P = 5.75 × 10-17). Gene expression and regulatory motif data prioritized a single-candidate causal variant for each signal. At SLC22A12, the most strongly associated SNP was rs147647315 (P = 6.65 × 10-25). Conditional analysis and functional annotation prioritized the missense variant rs147647315 (R (Arg) > H (His)) as the sole causal variant. Functional annotation of these three signals implicated processes in skeletal muscle, subcutaneous adipose tissue and the kidneys, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This first GWAS of serum uric acid in continental Africans identified three associations at two loci, SLC2A9 and SLC22A12. The combination of weak linkage disequilibrium in Africans and functional annotation led to the identification of candidate causal SNPs for all three signals. Each candidate causal variant implicated a different cell type. Collectively, the three associations accounted for 4.3% of the variance of serum uric acid.
A tale of lineage plasticity: Intense neoadjuvant testosterone lowering therapy in localized prostate cancer (PCa) harboring high-risk genomic signatures.

368Background: PCa is driven by androgen receptor (AR) signaling and neoadjuvant therapy with AR inhibitors offer an opportunity to improve cure rates in high-risk PCa particularly with utilization...
Opioid Naive Surgeons and Opioid-Tolerant Patients: Can Education Alter Prescribing Patterns to Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients?

Patterns of opioid overprescribing following arthroplasty likely developed given that poor pain control can diminish patient satisfaction, delay disposition, and lead to complications. Recently, interventions promoting responsible pain management have been described, however, most of the existing literature focuses on opioid naive patients. The aim of this study was to describe the effect of an educational intervention on opioid prescribing for opioid-tolerant patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). As the start to a quality improvement initiative to reduce opioid overprescribing, a departmental grand rounds was conducted. Prescribing data, for the year before and after this intervention, were retrospectively collected for all opioid-tolerant patients undergoing primary TKA. Opioid prescribing data were standardized to mean morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Segmented time series regression was utilized to estimate the change in opioid prescribing associated with the intervention. A total of 508 opioid-tolerant patients underwent TKA at our institution during the study period. The intervention was associated with a statistically significant decrease of 468 mean MME (23%) from 2,062 to 1,594 (p = 0.005) in TKA patients. This study demonstrates that an educational intervention is associated with decreased opioid prescribing among opioid-tolerant TKA patients. While the effective management of these patients is challenging, surgeon education should be a key focus to optimizing their care.
Spanish Colonization and Subsistence of the Colonized

Against the backdrop of the cultural history reviewed in Chap. 4, the Spanish invasion and conquest of the Central Andes in the sixteenth century represented a stunning upheaval of indigenous life. The two centuries of the Spanish Colonial Period featured violent oppression, epidemic disease, extractive economic policies, and religious imposition, but these processes were not uniform throughout the Andes. Moreover, the north coast lacked its own dedicated chronicler, making archaeological and nuanced ethnohistorical analyses all the more important for understanding the transformative effects of colonization on Lambayeque indigenous peoples. This chapter synthesizes research from the north coast and elsewhere in the Central Andes to characterize indigenous lived experiences in Lambayeque during the tumultuous early decades of the Early Colonial Period, the Toledo reforms, and political economy in the Middle/Colonial Period. Embedded throughout this discussion is a focus on the available evidence of indigenous agency and resilience in the face of demographic collapse, deplorable treatment, and attempts at cultural erasure.
COVID and Camus: Reflections on The Plague, collective experience, and qualitative inquiry during a pandemic

As a social worker and qualitative researcher, I read Albert Camus’s The Plague as I lay recovering from COVID-19. The existential novella documents the experience of the citizens of Oran, Algeria ...
Risk premia in forward foreign exchange rates: a comparison of signal extraction and regression methods

We investigate possible presence of time-varying risk premia in forward pound, yen, and Euro monthly exchange rates versus the US dollar over the last two decades. We study this issue using regression techniques and separately using a signal plus noise model. Our models account for time-varying volatility and non-normality in the observed series. Our regression model rejects the hypothesis that the forward rate is an unbiased predictor of future spot exchange rate, indicating the existence of time-varying risk premium under rational expectations. Our signal plus noise model reveals a time-varying risk premium component in yen and Euro. The same model provides evidence for the presence of risk premium in pound over a shorter sample period, though not over the entire sample. We conclude that risk premia exist, although we may fail to detect these for some currencies over specific time periods.
Assisted Learning for Organizations with Limited Data.

We develop an assisted learning framework for assisting organization-level learners to improve their learning performance with limited and imbalanced data. In particular, learners at the organization level usually have sufficient computation resource, but are subject to stringent collaboration policy and information privacy. Their limited imbalanced data often cause biased inference and sub-optimal decision-making. In our assisted learning framework, an organizational learner purchases assistance service from a service provider and aims to enhance its model performance within a few assistance rounds. We develop effective stochastic training algorithms for assisted deep learning and assisted reinforcement learning. Different from existing distributed algorithms that need to frequently transmit gradients or models, our framework allows the learner to only occasionally share information with the service provider, and still achieve a near-oracle model as if all the data were centralized.