cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heterogeneous chemistry of glyoxal on acidic solutions. An oligomerization pathway for secondary organic aerosol formation.

The heterogeneous chemistry of glyoxal on sulfuric acid surfaces has been investigated at various acid concentrations and temperatures, utilizing a low-pressure fast flow laminar reactor coupled to an ion drift-chemical ionization mass spectrometer (ID-CIMS). The uptake coefficient (γ) of glyoxal ranges from (1.2 ± 0.06) × 10–2 to (2.5 ± 0.01) × 10–3 for 60–93 wt % H2SO4 at 253–273 K. The effective Henry’s Law constant (H*) ranges from (98.9 ± 4.9) × 105 to (1.6 ± 0.1) × 105 M atm–1 for 60–93 wt % at 263–273 K. Both the uptake coefficient and Henry’s Law constant increase with decreasing acid concentration and temperature. Our results reveal a reaction mechanism of hydration followed by oligomerization for glyoxal on acidic media, indicating an efficient aqueous reaction of glyoxal on hygroscopic particles leading to secondary organic aerosol formation.
Comparison of the cephalin-cholesterol flocculation test with various criteria of liver function

1. The results of the cephahn-cholesterol flocculation test in 100 patients with clinical evidence of mild and moderate grades of liver disease are compared with the bromsulphthalein and hippuric acid tests, serum albumin and globulin fractions, prothrombin time, icterus index and serum cholesterol partition. 2. The cephalin-cholesterol flocculation test gave by far the best correlation with the clinical observations, and was positive in 98 of the 100 patients. In 10 patients the flocculation test was positive when all the other tests or combinations of tests were negative. Analysis of our results indicates that the flocculation test is an index of active parenchymal damage, rather than a measure of residual function. The interpretation of negative and slight flocculation reactions is discussed in the light of these observations. 3. Bromsulphthalein retention was found in 68 per cent of the cases; decreased hippuric acid excretion in 25 per cent; hyperexcretion of hippuric acid in 39 per cent; hypoalbuminemia in 47 per cent; decreased prothrombin in 37 per cent; elevated icterus index in 34 per cent; and decreased cholesterol esters in 20 per cent. 4. The many instances of hyperexcretion of hippuric acid observed in our cases of mild to moderate forms of liver disease indicate that this is not a normal phenomenon. It may be regarded as a manifestation of the hyperirritability of the liver, which is the earliest accompaniment of liver damage.
Quality Improvement of Hard Cooked Eggs

Abstract Eggs were held at 15 C with circulating air for 4 days to obtain albumen pH values of 8.8 or higher. With such eggs, over 90% of all hard cooked eggs peeled easily and yielded a smooth peeled egg. Cooking times of about 25 min in 85 C water resulted in minimal yolk discoloration and shell cracking with large eggs. Using eggs that were over 1 week old, it was found that a slow rotation of the egg during coagulation of the albumen resulted in a more nearly centered yolk. Yolk centering increased the yield of top quality peeled eggs. Most packers of hard cooked eggs are using a citric acid solution with an added mold inhibitor. Reducing the citric acid from 2 to 1% resulted in more tender albumen in the stored hard cooked eggs. Flavor was improved by using a tripolyphosphate salt in combination with sodium chloride as additions to citric acid and potassium sorbate. Further flavor improvement was achieved by adding 1% lactose. The reduced acidity resulted in more tender whites.
Analysis of a bicyclic, triple disulphide molecular nanopropeller

The bicyclic, triple disulphide molecule, HC(S2)3CH called propellerdisulphide (PS), has been quantum chemically shown in this work to be a stable, isolated molecule with potential applications to nanoparticle transportation for biomedical uses. The desire of hydrogen disulphide to twist in its lowest energy conformation is exploited to create a bicyclic compound that has non-zero τ(C–S–S–C) dihedral angles and is, consequently, also optically active. This angle creates an inclined plane or screw-like pattern within the molecule that can direct particles in a way similar to that of a macroscopic screw. The barrier to rotation for directly linking PS to a model fullerene surface is 6.00 kcal mol−1 while linking it through a pyrrolidine bridging group is nearly double this. It is suggested herein that pulsed THz energy could excite the low-lying PS twisting vibrational frequency relative to the nanoparticle surface over several quanta. This action could overcome the barrier to rotation such that the PS ligand will spin and give propeller-like properties for enhancing the movement of fullerene nanoparticles. Applications of this behavior stretch into medicine since endohedral fullerene nanoparticle cages can encapsulate imaging or therapeutic compounds, and directing the nanoparticles to the desired site more efficiently could make a significant impact on treatment.
A Novel DC Voltage Control Strategy for VSC-MTDC Systems

This paper focuses on the direct current(DC) voltage control strategy in the voltage source converter suitable for multi-terminal DC(VSC-MTDC) systems.The demerits of the most recognized DC voltage margin control strategy and DC voltage droop control strategy are analyzed.And by referring to the merits of the two strategies,a novel DC voltage control strategy named the DC voltage margin droop control strategy is proposed.The DC power tracking of the converter station is achieved by applying the margin property,while the droop property helps with its dynamic response speed.Finally,steady state and transient state simulations are performed with PSCAD/EMTDC to validate the feasibility of the proposed strategy.The results show that by applying the DC voltage margin droop control strategy,the VSC-MTDC system runs stably and reliably.
Prescription pain reliever misuse and levels of pain impairment: 3-year course in a nationally representative outpatient sample of US adults.

Background The primary aim of this work was to present the prevalence data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a representative 3-year longitudinal survey (ages 18+ years) that captured information on patterns of self-reported pain interference and prescription pain reliever misuse. A second aim was to assess the degree to which the risk of various types of opioid misuse (onset, desistance, and incidence of dependence) was related to the longitudinal course of self-reported pain interference over the 3-year period. Methods We used a two-wave, nationally representative sample of adults (aged 18+ years) in which the baseline data were collected during 2001-2002 and a single follow-up was obtained ~3 years later (2004-2005 with 34,332 respondents with complete data on study variables for both waves). Results Our findings indicated that ~10% reported high pain interference in the past month at each wave. There was tremendous stability in levels of pain, with ~5% reporting consistent levels of high impairment over the 3-year study, a proxy for chronic pain. Levels of pain were more strongly associated with prescription pain reliever misuse concurrently rather than prospectively, and the association was largely linear, with the likelihood of misuse increasing with levels of pain. Finally, health service factors were also prominent predictors of onset, but not the outcomes, of desistance or transitions to problem use. Conclusion This study is the first to use a nationally representative sample with measures of pain and drug use history collected over an extended period. These results may help provide clinicians with an understanding that the risk of misuse is greatest when pain is active and may help guide the selection of appropriate intervention materials and monitor strategies for those at greatest risk.
Spontaneous and Enhanced Raman Spectra of Aerosol Particles

Investigate the use of Raman spectroscopy enhanced by metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) to determine the chemical composition of individual aerosol particles suspended in a linear electro-dynamic quadrupole trap.
La Reforma de la Educación Superior del Gobierno Santos

Este articulo es una reflexion acerca de la situacion actual de la educacion en Colombia, que muestra de una manera clara los procesos a los cuales se ven avocadas las instituciones de educacion superior gracias a las politicas del Estado.
ATPS-55INFLUENCE OF MAPK AND PI3K PATHWAY MUTATIONS ON RESPONSE TO TARGETED INHIBITORS

RTK/MAPK/PI3K pathway genes are mutated in 90% of glioblastomas. It remains unclear whether targeted inhibitor response is predicted by mutation status. We addressed this issue using isogenic, immortalized mouse and human astrocytes with and without MAPK and/or PI3K mutations. MEK inhibitors showed variable potency (GSK1120212 > PD0325901 > AZD6244) in vitro. Efficacy was independent of MAPK mutations, but increased 2–66 fold with PI3K mutations. In contrast, PI3K inhibitor efficacy (BKM120 > LY294002) was increased 1.5-5 fold when MAPK, PI3K, or both were mutated. We used multiplexed inhibitor bead-mass spectrometry kinome profiling to show that monotherapy efficacy is limited by adaptive kinome responses, including inhibited pathway reactivation and bypass pathway activation. BKM120 induced sustained inhibition of proximal PI3K in mouse astrocytes with mutated MAPK/PI3K (TRP), but distal PI3K reactivation and MAPK activation limited its efficacy. Conversely, AZD6244 induced sustained MAPK inhibition, but also activated PI3K. These findings suggested that MAPK and PI3K were reciprocal, bypass pathways that promote monotherapy resistance. However, dual AZD6244/BKM120 therapy was synergistic in vitro at therapeutic concentrations in cells with mutated MAPK, PI3K, or both. Next, we examined efficacy in an orthotopic, TRP astrocyte allograft model of glioblastoma using maximum tolerated doses of AZD6244 (37 mpk), BKM120 (30 mpk), or both (reduced to 18 and 25 mpk due to toxicity). AZD6244 delayed tumor growth and improved survival compared to control, but BKM120 and dual treatment did not (doubling time 4.1, 2.2, 2.3 vs. 2.3 days; median survival 27, 24, 21 vs. 25 days). Only AZD6244 inhibited targeted pathway signaling in treated tumors, suggesting that BKM120 or dual therapy efficacy was limited by drug bioavailability or potency. Taken together, these results indicate that dual therapy, particularly in tumors with genetically activated MAPK and PI3K signaling, may prove beneficial if sufficient drug bioavailability and potency is achieved.
A partilha secreta do segredo: uma discussão de "A causa secreta" através de sua fortuna crítica

Em “A causa secreta”, Machado de Assis narra a amizade de dois homens, Fortunato e Garcia, marcada por encontros fortuitos e um cenario de adulterio e violencia. A fortuna critica em volta do conto desafia a revelacao apresentada pelo narrador e mostra horizontes nao contemplados pela mente do analista: Paul Dixon ressalta a funcao do olhar que recai sobre os eventos; Abel Barros Baptista se debruca sobre o papel do analista; Silviano Santiago desconfia das verdadeiras motivacoes dos encontros fortuitos; Baptista, outra vez, relaciona a arbitrariedade da solucao do relato com a arbitrariedade da construcao do conto e Eliane Robert Moraes investiga as conexoes entre a prosa Machadiana e a do Marques de Sade. Este movimento de desconfianca mimetiza a crise do narrador em geral, e a do narrador machadiano em particular, mas tambem delimita o segredo da alteridade.
Age-related differences pre-, intra-, and postcholecystectomy: A retrospective cohort study of 6,868 patients.

Abstract Background Cholecystectomy (CCY) is increasingly performed in older individuals. We sought to examine age-related differences in pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors at a community hospital, using a very large, single-institution cholecystectomy database. Materials and methods A retrospective review of 6868 patients who underwent CCY from 2001 to 2013 was performed. ROC analysis identified the optimal age cutoff when complications reached a significant inflection point ( Results Older patients had significantly higher rates of comorbidities and underwent more extensive preoperative imaging. Intraoperatively, older patients had more blood loss, longer operative times, and more open operations. Postoperatively, older patients experienced more complications and had significantly different pathological findings. While holding age and gender constant, regression analyses showed that preoperative creatinine level, blood loss and history of previous operation were the strongest predictors of complications. The risk for developing complications increased by 2% per year of life. Conclusion Older patients have distinct pre-, intra-, and postoperative characteristics. Their care is more imaging- and cost-intensive. CCY in this population is associated with higher risks, likely due to a combination of comorbidities and age-related worsened physiological status. Pathologic findings are significantly different relative to younger patients. While removing the effect of age, preoperative creatinine levels, blood loss, and history of previous operation predict postoperative complications. Quantifying these differences may help to inform management decisions for older patients.
Applying reduced generator models in the coarse solver of parareal in time parallel power system simulation

The development of high-performance computing techniques and platforms has provided many opportunities for real-time or even faster-than-real-time implementation of power system simulations. One approach uses the Parareal in time framework. The Parareal algorithm has shown promising theoretical simulation speedups by temporal decomposing a simulation run into a coarse simulation on the entire simulation interval and fine simulations on sequential sub-intervals linked through the coarse simulation. However, it has been found that the time cost of the coarse solver needs to be reduced to fully exploit the potentials of the Parareal algorithm. This paper studies a Parareal implementation using reduced generator models for the coarse solver and reports the testing results on the IEEE 39-bus system and a 327-generator 2383-bus Polish system model.
Characterization of novel preclinical dose distributions for micro irradiator

This work explores and demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing new 3D printing techniques to implement advanced micro radiation therapy for pre-clinical small animal studies. 3D printed blocks and compensators were designed and printed from a strong x-ray attenuating material at sub-millimeter resolution. These techniques enable a powerful range of new preclinical treatment capabilities including grid therapy, lattice therapy, and IMRT treatment. At small scales, verification of these treatments is exceptionally challenging, and high resolution 3D dosimetry (0.5mm3) is an essential capability to characterize and verify these capabilities, Here, investigate the 2D and 3D dosimetry of several novel pre-clinical treatments using a combination of EBT film and Presage/optical-CT 3D dosimetry in rodent-morphic dosimeters.
Learning to be winners and losers: agonistic behavior in crayfish

Publisher Summary Most investigations of agonistic behavior in crustaceans have focused on crayfish, which are especially easy to maintain in the laboratory. Animals that have recently won aggressive interactions may often be more likely to win against new opponents that have not had recent winning experience; that is, winners keep winning. This phenomenon has been found in a variety of taxa, including juncos, chickens, paradise fish, red deer, and spiders. Crustaceans have been widely used in agonistic behavioral investigations and are excellent candidates for a test of this hypothesis. Many species are relatively large and easy to observe and measure, have well-described aggressive behaviors, are hardy, and readily interact with conspecifics. Agonistic behavior in crustaceans have examined species-specific ritualized displays inter- and intrasexual agonistic interactions and how fighting behavior is influenced by predation risk and time of day. Similarly, crabs have been used in studies considering the energetic costs of fighting the influence of relative and absolute body size on strategic decision making during agonistic encounters and the behaviors associated with the initiation and resolution of aggressive disputes.
Hybridization between Mottled Ducks (Anas fulvigula maculosa) and Mallards (A. platyrhynchos) in the western Gulf Coast region

ABSTRACT Hybridization between species that do not normally interbreed has increased due to human impacts on natural environments, such as habitat alteration or introductions of nonnative species. In particular, the introduction of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) globally has led to hybridization with many duck species. In the southeastern United States, hybridization with Mallards is a potential threat to the genetic identity of Mottled Ducks (A. fulvigula), a nonmigratory, coastal duck species. Hybridization between Mallards and Mottled Ducks has been examined in South Carolina and Florida, but not extensively in the remaining part of the Mottled Duck range. Mottled Ducks introduced into South Carolina show considerable admixture with Mallards, whereas in Florida, the hybridization rate between Mallards and Mottled Ducks is ∼9%. Given these results, hybridization in the western Gulf Coast region is of potential concern and should be examined to determine the potential impact on the Mottled Duck lineage. I...
Case study and apprenticeship pedagogy for training construction engineering students

The guide to professional development via apprenticeship promotes the following initiatives: improved delivery of educational material and alternate methods for evaluation of the learning objectives. The research herein will focus on utilizing the industry professional based apprenticeship with case study instruments in the classroom improving student motivation, the professional development and critical thinking skills of the student. A byproduct of the research will include providing the instructor with scholarly reflection to meet the aforementioned objectives. Objectives considered in this study are answering to the questions such as, how should we prepare construction engineering students for professional practice? How can we link technical skills together with applied (experiential learning) and professional skills (soft skills) to produce the best construction engineering professional possible? Can we train students to develop the skill sets to determine cause-effect with supporting claims and have the imagination to develop solutions with impact in mind? The results offer the baseline insight that was sought relative to the student critical thinking related to the case study pedagogy. The research provides an opportunity for the researcher to self-evaluate the manner in which the instruction is developed and delivered.
Historical Disaster and the New Urban Crisis

Conventional studies of urban poverty largely blame African Americans for their impoverished situation and the consequent social difficulties that arise there from. This paper confronts and indicts that perspective. Examining the historic dehumanization process that shaped African America, the present study argues that it served as the framework for how whites justified their racist and violent treatment of slaves and their African American descendants. It was this same racist theory and practice that led to the construction of racialized oppressive urban ghettos that became the economically impoverished domicile for urban black people. Therefore, poor African Americans have been caught in a cauldron of circumstances not of their own making, but with which they have had to cope and struggle.
PHENOTHIAZINES: NEUROCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF THEIR MODE OF ACTION

Since a term such as tranquilizer has neither specific nor useful neurochemical connotation, and since phenothiazines induce sedation without hypnosis, the term antipsychotic phenothiazines,* will be used throughout to distinguish these compounds from psychic sedatives (psycholeptics), neuroleptics, etc. This distinction, admittedly more relevant to the intended clinical use and perhaps not the most meaningful, would, however, be more descriptive as to the role of these agents affecting neurobiological processes by their presumed pharmacological mechanism. Under this heading are subsumed phenothiazines, particularly chlorpromazine and its congeners, which have proved most useful in treatment of psychotic patients with aggressive, disturbed, or overactive behavior—most of them suffering from schizophrenias, mania, or other functional psychoses.
SPECTRIN ASSEMBLY IN IRREVERSIBLY SICKLED CELL MEMBRANES: ROLE OF CALCIUM AND ATP

Irreversibly sickled cell (ISC) shape results from a permanent membrane deformation which may be related to a reorganization of a spectrin-actin cytoskeleton. We have evaluated the role of decreased red cell (rbc) ATP and increased Ca in the ISC shape lesion by comparing membrane protein arrangement of ISCs and ATP depleted-Ca enriched rbcs. We employed cross-linking by a spontaneous or catalytic oxidation (CuSO 4 + o-phenanthroline) of nearest membrane protein neighbor SH-groups and a two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. ATP depleted or Ca enriched normal rbcs subjected to crosslinking contained a >1,000,000 daltons spectrin rich polymer which was cleavable by dithiothreitol (DTT) reduction. This suggested spectrin rearrangement into closer contacts or aggregation. Another >1,000,000 daltons complex was produced in fresh rbcs by high (>0.5 mM) Ca concentration and ionophore A23187; this was not cleavable with DTT. This was associated with a decrease of both spectrin and band 3, the major integral membrane protein, and was presumably due to crosslinking of these proteins catalyzed by an endogenous transglutaminase. ISCs exhibiting a 3–4 fold increase in Ca were separated on a discontinuous stractan gradient into 3 fractions (>80% ISCs) of increasing densities which all failed to exhibit such polymers. However, ISCs had an increased propensity to form a spectrin rich, cleavable polymer during a subsequent ATP depletion and Ca accumulation and this was associated with a transformation of ISCs into spheroechinocytes. We conclude that neither Ca, ATP dependent spectrin aggregation nor an irreversible cross-linking underlie the membrane lesion of ISCs. However, accelerated calcium gain and ATP depletion in ISCs subsequently leads to spectrin rearrangement and transformation of ISCs into spheroechinocytes which presumably may represent an end stage ISC lesion resulting in an ISC removal from circulation.
Cor triatriatum dexter

Cor triatriatum dexter (CTD) is an extremely rare finding (<0.01%), resulting from the persistence of the right valve of sinus venosus. Echocardiography with color Doppler is the first-line tool for diagnosis and decision making.
SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (malignant rhabdoid tumor of the uterus): a clinicopathologic entity distinct from undifferentiated carcinoma

Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type is a rare, aggressive malignancy which usually occurs in young women and is characterized by mutations in SMARCA4, with few other alterations. We recently encountered uterine tumors with morphologic, immunohistochemical, and genetic similarities to small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type. Herein we report the clinicopathologic and molecular features (using a targeted massively parallel sequencing [MPS] assay) of these tumors. The cases were diagnosed on cervical and endometrial biopsies (n = 2, 34, and 29 years) or hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (n = 3, 25, 33, and 58 years). The tumors were composed of sheets of large atypical epithelioid cells with prominent rhabdoid morphology, indistinguishable from the “large cell” variant of small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type. In three cases, the ovaries were pathologically examined to exclude a primary ovarian malignancy. Immunohistochemically, four of four cases showed SMARCA4 loss, and were negative or only focally positive for keratins, EMA, and claudin-4. One of three cases was positive for WT-1. Targeted MPS was successfully performed on 4 of 5 tumors, and showed recurrent mutations in SMARCA4, with few other alterations. Of the cases diagnosed on hysterectomy, all had extensive lymphovascular invasion, extra-uterine spread, and marked infiltrative growth. These tumors were uniformly aggressive; all patients died of disease (median survival 7 months, range 1–43 months). We propose this entity be called “SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (malignant rhabdoid tumor of the uterus)”, a term which describes both the tumor’s underlying molecular abnormality and its morphology. Its unique clinicopathologic and molecular features differentiate it from other related malignancies, including undifferentiated endometrial carcinoma, small cell carcinoma of the ovary (hypercalcemic type), and epithelioid sarcoma. We review and discuss previously reported “rhabdoid tumors of the uterus;” while they are a heterogenous group of tumors, some of them are likely examples of this entity. Correctly identifying cases of SMARCA4-deficient uterine sarcoma from histologic mimics is important as it may have prognostic, predictive, and germline implications.
Information fusion strategies for collaborative radio SLAM

Information fusion strategies for navigation using signals of opportunity (SOPs) in a collaborative radio simultaneous and mapping (CoRSLAM) framework are studied. The following problem is considered. Multiple autonomous vehicles (AVs) with access to global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals are aiding their on-board inertial navigation systems (INSs) with GNSS pseudoranges. While navigating, AV-mounted receivers draw pseudorange measurements on ambient unknown terrestrial SOPs and collaboratively estimate the SOPs' states. After some time, GNSS signals become unavailable, at which point the AVs use the SOPs to aid their INSs in a CoRSLAM framework. Two information fusion strategies are studied: (i) sharing time-of-arrival (TOA) measurements from SOPs and (ii) sharing time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) measurements taken with reference to an SOP. Experimental results are presented demonstrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) navigating with the CoRSLAM framework, reducing the final localization error after 30 seconds of GPS unavailability from around 55 m to around 6 m.
Focused Ultrasound Enabled Trans-Blood Brain Barrier Delivery of Gold Nanoclusters: Effect of Surface Charges and Quantification Using Positron Emission Tomography

Focused ultrasound (FUS) technology is reported to enhance the delivery of 64 Cu-integrated ultrasmall gold nanoclusters (64 Cu-AuNCs) across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) as measured by positron emission tomography (PET). To better define the optimal physical properties for brain delivery, 64 Cu-AuNCs with different surface charges are synthesized and characterized. In vivo biodistribution studies are performed to compare the individual organ uptake of each type of 64 Cu-AuNCs. Quantitative PET imaging post-FUS treatment shows site-targeted brain penetration, retention, and diffusion of the negative, neutral, and positive 64 Cu-AuNCs. Autoradiography is performed to compare the intrabrain distribution of these nanoclusters. PET Imaging demonstrates the effective BBB opening and successful delivery of 64 Cu-AuNCs into the brain. Of the three 64 Cu-AuNCs investigated, the neutrally charged nanostructure performs the best and is the candidate platform for future theranostic applications in neuro-oncology.
Tonicity‐Regulated Gene Expression

Abstract Hypertonicity activates several different transcription factors, including TonEBP/OREBP, that in turn increase transcription of numerous genes. Hypertonicity elevates TonEBP/OREBP transcriptional activity by moving it into the nucleus, where it binds to its cognate DNA element (ORE), and by increasing its transactivational activity. This chapter presents protocols for measuring the transcriptional activity of TonEBP/OREBP and determining its subcellular localization, its binding to OREs, and activity of its transactivation domain.
Normal and Cryptorchid Castration

Surgical exploration of the horse that has presumably had a normal castration or a previously successful cryptorchid surgery remains a distinct challenge. No hard and fast rules dictate a proper course of action for each case. If a horse was anesthetized for routine castration, discovered to have only one scrotal testis, had a brief exploratory on the nondescended side and was recovered, trauma to the inguinal region would probably be sufficiently minimal that an inguinal approach could be used at subsequent exploratory surgery. If the inguinal canal was extensively manipulated and the tail of the epididymis was inadvertently removed, however, one of the alternate approaches would be advisable. Where previous history is unknown, external and rectal palpation, hormonal assays, and careful evaluation of the scrotal/inguinal scars under anesthesia are advisable prior to proceeding with a specific course of action. As previously cited, "one hopes for the best but prepares for the worst." Where inguinal canals are being explored in the supposedly previously castrated horse that still has aggressive male behavior, the surgeon is searching for vaginal process and contents or the stump of the spermatic cord. If the stump is identified to suggest complete previous castration, the stump should contain cremaster muscle, parietal vaginal tunic, testicular vessels, and ductus deferens. If a second nonvascular tubular structure is found but no testicular vessels are found, the tail of the epididymis was inadvertently removed and assumed to be hypoplastic testis. This determination can be difficult to make on gross observation of the stump. Again, a thorough case workup helps one plan in advance for what should be found at surgery.
Functional Organization of Brainstem-Basal Ganglia Interactions as Viewed from the Pedunculopontine Region

Basal ganglia pathways to the brainstem pedunculopontine (PPN) region have been implicated in the pathophysiology of abnormal waking and nocturnal movement. This region may influence movement either via its output to basal ganglia nuclei, or by relay of basal ganglia influences to medullary and/or spinal motor systems. Many details concerning the normal anatomy and physiology of these pathways are yet to be elucidated. Degeneration of these pathways occurs in Parkinson’s disease (PD) (Hirsch et al., 1987; Zweig et al., 1987; Jellinger, 1988; Gai et al., 1991), progressive supranuclear palsy (Zweig et al., 1987), and torsion dystonia (Zweig et al., 1988), yet it is not clear what significance this has to the symptomatology of these disorders.
Succession and herbivory in monsoonal wetlands

This paper considers the applicability of the Gleasonian succession model to monsoonal wetlands, particularly those in Australia and India. The similarities in climate and taxa shared among these wetlands produce a setting in which successional cycles may be replicated. The Gleasonian succession model was first designed to describe cyclic changes in prairie pothole wetlands in response to water flux and herbivore activity over 5–25 year intervals. However, monsoonal wetlands change over an annual cycle. The Gleasonian succession may therefore be faster in these wetlands than in temperate ones. Herbivores create openings in flooded vegetation during the wet season in India by killing emergent species. During the dry season, Paspalum distichum revegetates these openings via the sprouting of vegetative fragments (VS-I; establishment by vegetative means in drawndown conditions). In Australia, in those monsoonal wetlands dominated by the annual Oryza meridionalis (AS-II; establishment by seed germination in flooded conditions), revegetation is from the seed bank during the wet season. The Gleasonian succession model can help to explain the invasion of exotics in monsoonal wetlands; in Australia, sites dominated by Oryza meridionalis (wet season annual) can be invaded during the dry season by Mimosa pigra (PS-I; perennial, establishment by seed germination in drawndown conditions). Thus the role of herbivores in succession is more complicated than current predictive models of vegetation change encompass. Herbivores select specific habitats over plant species, and also can form symbiotic relationships with plants as seed dispersers. Nonetheless, if appropriately modified with respect to the life history requirements of these plant species, the Gleasonian succession model is useful in describing annual and long-term changes in the vegetation of monsoonal wetlands.
Research Approaches of Education, Applied Psychology, and Behavioral Science and Their Application to Behavioral Medicine

This chapter describes the range of different research strategies, designs, and methods derived from education, applied psychology, and behavioral science that are used in behavioral medicine. Section one examines seven key questions that are typically addressed in behavioral medicine and illustrates how the research and program evaluation methods, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, are utilized in answering each of these questions. Section two discusses community engagement in the research process as an integral element of conducting research and evaluation in behavioral medicine, including both the basic concepts and principles of community-based participatory research. Section three explores the concepts and issues in the translation of research into practice, a topic of growing interest as a next-generation challenge to those working in both the public health and behavioral medicine communities. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the emerging challenges of conducting behavioral medicine research and their implications for the future.
Lorenz number in relation to estimates based on the Seebeck coefficient

Abstract Separation of thermal conductivity (κ) into its electronic, lattice and other parts is of great importance in understanding heat transport. Commonly, the Wiedemann–Franz relation is used to obtain the electronic thermal conductivity based on the electrical conductivity and a Lorenz number that is either set to the standard value for metals or using an approximate formula based on the Seebeck coefficient. We used the Boltzmann transport theory to test this formula for realistic electronic structures of thermoelectrics in different scattering regimes. We find that this expression can give values of the Lorenz number that differ infstantially from Boltzmann theory for the range of doping levels important in thermoelectrics. This happens for materials with complex non-parabolic band structures, which are common in high performance thermoelectrics. The results imply that caution should be exercised in the use of this formula in thermoelectrics and other materials that may have complex electronic structures.
AN ANTIFUNGAL CYCLODEPSIPEPTIDE, CYCLOLITHISTIDE A, FROM THE SPONGE THEONELLA SWINHOEI

A novel antifungal cyclic depsipeptide, cyclolithistide A (1), was isolated from a marine sponge, Theonella swinhoei. The structure of cyclolithistide A, which contains the unique amino acids 4-amino-3, 5-dihydroxyhexanoic acid, formyl-leucine, and chloroisoleucine, was elucidated through a combination of spectroscopic techniques. Thirteen additional specimens of T. swinhoei and three of Theonella conica were examined in this study. Many contained the two cyclic peptides, motuporin (2) and theonellapeptolide 1d (3), as major components, but none of these were a source of 1. The rationale behind this study and some additional aspects of these unusual results are presented.
The Increased Use of Statistical Concepts in Economic Analysis

Publisher Summary The most conspicuous role of statistical theory in economics is that of a link between economic theory and data. These data are used to test the validity of an economic theory and/or to estimate the parameters of relations that are implied by this theory. This chapter focuses on the increased use of statistical concepts in economic analysis. It describes applications of information theory concepts to the measurement of income inequality, intergenerational occupational mobility, and several other topics in the social sciences. It explores economic applications of first- and second-order moments of univariate and bivariate distributions, including the measurement of the cost of living and of real income. The chapter also presents an outline of microeconomic theory from a statistical point of view. It describes a fundamental independence transformation in microeconomic theory, which can be viewed as a constrained principal component transformation.
Definitive hyperfractionated, accelerated proton reirradiation for patients with pelvic malignancies

Abstract Introduction Pelvic reirradiation (re-RT) presents challenges due to concerns for late toxicity to tissues-at-risk including pelvic bone marrow (PBM). We routinely utilize a hyperfractionated, accelerated re-RT for recurrent rectal or anal cancer in the setting of prior radiation. We hypothesized that proton beam radiation (PBR) is uniquely suited to limit doses to pelvic non-target tissues better than photon-based approaches. Materials and methods All patients who received hyperfractionated, accelerated PBR re-RT to the pelvis from 2007 to 2017 were identified. Re-RT was delivered twice daily with a 6 h minimum interfraction interval at 1.5 Gray Relative Biological Effectiveness (Gy(RBE)) per fraction to a total dose of 39–45 Gy(RBE). Concurrent chemotherapy was given to all patients. Comparison photon plans were generated for dosimetric analysis. Dosimetric parameters compared using a matched-pair analysis and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Survival analysis was performed Kaplan Meier curves. Results Fifteen patients were identified, with a median prior pelvic RT dose of 50.4 Gy (range 25–80 Gy). Median time between the initial RT and PBRT re-RT was 4.7 years (range 1.0–36.1 years). In comparison to corresponding photon re-RT plans, PBR re-RT plans had lower mean PBM dose, and lower volume of PBM getting 5 Gy, 10 Gy, 20 Gy, and 30 Gy (p With median 13.9 months follow-up after PBR re-RT, five patients had developed local recurrences, and four patients had developed distant metastases. One-year overall survival following PBR re-RT was 67.5% and one-year progression free survival was 58.7%. No patients developed acute or late Grade 4 toxicity. Conclusion PBR re-RT affords improved sparing of PBM compared with photon-based re-RT. Clinically, PBR re-RT is well-tolerated. However, given modest control rates with definitive re-RT without subsequent surgical resection, a multidisciplinary approach should be favored in this setting when feasible.
Evidencing STEM Content Knowledge Transfer: Abstraction in Technological/Engineering Design Challenges

This study outlines the development of the Design Log Instrument (DLI), which is intended for use in identifying moments of abstraction as evidence of STEM content knowledge transfer. The DLI prompts participants to be reflective during technological/engineering design challenges. During the development of this instrument, a three-phase, multiple-case, embedded design was used. Three distinct phases accommodated the collection and analysis of data necessary for this investigation: (1) pilot case study, (2) establishing content validity, and (3) establishing construct validity. During Phase 3, data from the DLI were collected at each of seven work sessions from two undergraduate design teams working through different engineering problems. At the end of Phase 3, a comparison of abstractions found in DLI responses and observation data (audio/video transcripts) indicated the extent to which the DLI independently reflected the abstractions revealed in observations (audio/video transcripts). The results of this comparison showed that the DLI has the potential to be 68% reliable in revealing abstracted knowledge.
Epigenetic regulation of anterior segment diseases and potential therapeutics

In recent years, technological advances in sequencing have accelerated our understanding of epigenetics in ocular development and ophthalmic diseases. We now know that epigenetic modifications are necessary for normal ocular development and biological processes such as corneal wound healing and ocular surface repair, while aberrant epigenetic regulation underlies the pathogenesis of a wide range of ocular diseases, including cataracts and various diseases of the ocular surface. As the epigenetics of the eye is a constantly changing field of medicine, this comprehensive review focuses on innovations and scientific discoveries related to epigenetic control of anterior segment diseases that were published in the English literature in the past five years. These recent studies attempt to elucidate therapeutic targets for the anterior segment pathological processes. Already, recent studies have shown therapeutic potential in targeting epigenetic mechanisms of ocular diseases, and new epigenetic therapies are on the verge of being introduced to clinical practice. New drug targets can potentially emerge as we make further discoveries within this field.
Molecular Genetics of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive condition caused by loss of function of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR). Many different DNA sequence variants can cause CF by affecting a variety of molecular mechanisms. Identifying, classifying, and understanding the mechanistic consequences of pathogenic CFTR variants have long been the primary goals of CF molecular genetics research. The functional consequences of many CFTR variants have been studied utilizing epidemiological studies, detailed clinical studies, and various model organisms and model systems. Capitalizing on the mechanistic understanding of specific pathogenic variants enabled development of small molecule modulators of mutant forms of CFTR. Future modulators will likely also rely on understanding the functional consequences of pathogenic variants to deliver effective molecular therapies to more individuals with CF. At the same time, research into gene therapy continues to progress with the promise of delivering long-term treatment for all individuals with CF. However, CF can be highly variable and individuals with the same CFTR genotype may present with differing severity of phenotype or therapeutic response. Thus, a significant portion of the variability underlying CF lies separate from the disease-causing variant, hidden among cis variation within CFTR as well as trans variation at genetic loci distinct from CFTR. Understanding the total variation contained in the genome of CF patients will allow for a complete understanding of their phenotype, enabling development and delivery of precise medical care for every individual living with CF.
Behavioral, Mental Health Issues and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Without support, developmental tasks can be demanding for the growing child and adolescent. While certain behaviors and emotional reaction can be appropriate and developmentally normal, other concerning behaviors may point to a psychiatric condition that needs to be detected and addressed with appropriate interventions. The focus of this chapter is to provide the pediatrician a basic understanding of common presentations related to mental health in children and adolescents.
Kinetic studies of alkaline-pretreated corn stover co-digested with upset dairy manure under solid-state

Abstract Prolonged lag phase and reactor instability make methane yield description and prediction challenging in upset solid-state anaerobic digestion (SSAD). Seven kinetic models (first-order (FOM), modified first-order (MFOM), Fitzhugh (FzM), logistic (LM), modified logistic (MLM), Cone (CM), and modified Gompertz (MGM) were employed for treatment evaluation. The treatments were dairy manure blended with calcium pretreated stover (8% Ca CSDM) or sodium pretreated corn stover (4% Na CSDM) or 2% aqueous ammonia pretreated corn stover (2% NH4 CSDM), or 4% aqueous ammonia pretreated corn stover (4% NH4 CSDM). The LM, CM, MLM with MGM, and MGM best described methane yield for 4% Na CSDM, 2% NH4 CSDM, 4% NH4 CSDM, and 8% Ca CSDM, respectively. Optimal hydraulic retention time predicted for the least inhibited treatment, 8% Ca CSDM, was 60 days. Therefore, non-hydrolysis rate limiting models (LM, MLM, FzM, MGM, and CM) could simulate methane yield, design of reactor’s volume, and develop degradation rate models in full-scale SSAD.
Increasing risk of another Cape Town “Day Zero” drought in the 21st century

Three consecutive dry winters (2015-2017) in southwestern South Africa (SSA) resulted in the Cape Town "Day Zero" drought in early 2018. The contribution of anthropogenic global warming to this prolonged rainfall deficit has previously been evaluated through observations and climate models. However, model adequacy and insufficient horizontal resolution make it difficult to precisely quantify the changing likelihood of extreme droughts, given the small regional scale. Here, we use a high-resolution large ensemble to estimate the contribution of anthropogenic climate change to the probability of occurrence of multiyear SSA rainfall deficits in past and future decades. We find that anthropogenic climate change increased the likelihood of the 2015-2017 rainfall deficit by a factor of five to six. The probability of such an event will increase from 0.7 to 25% by the year 2100 under an intermediate-emission scenario (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 2-4.5 [SSP2-4.5]) and to 80% under a high-emission scenario (SSP5-8.5). These results highlight the strong sensitivity of the drought risk in SSA to future anthropogenic emissions.
Mestizaje/Hybridity (Mesti-bridity) as Struggle, Contest and Subversion in Plácido (1982) by Gerardo Fulleda León

The major objective of this paper is to investigate the extent to which the author, Gerardo Fulleda Leon, problematises the concept of hybridity in his 1989 dramatic work, Placido . It aims to identify the different ways in which race, class, nationhood, and even gender, all come to figure nineteenth-century Cuba as a hybrid state enduring struggle and contest. It uses Homi K. Bhabha’s understanding of hybridity as a “third space” that constantly dialogues and clashes with its constituent selves, alongside Peter Wade’s similar reasoning of the term as precisely a process of “struggle and contest”. It finds that Fulleda Leon carries out multiple acts of subversion in the text primarily through juxtaposition and irony in order to privilege an Afrocentric discourse and restore the dignity of Afro-Cuban subjectivity. It concludes that, by way of revisiting a controversial event—the killing of the mulatto poet Placido—etched in Cuban history, the author achieves the feat of denouncing Cuba’s racist past and memorialising the lifework and values of the tragic figure of Placido.