cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Boundary conditions on a finite grid: Applications with pseudospectral wave propagation

A new method for calculating boundary conditions at the free surface and along absorbing boundaries of a finite grid is presented. A finite, twice differentiable reduction function that achieves a 99% reduction over three wavelengths is proposed and tested. In the context of pseudospectral wave propagation, this implies a boundary layer of at least six grid nodes. The method is analyzed in one and two dimensions and the problems of waves impinging on corners are addressed. The reduction function recommended is γR=α(1+cosπx)2 where α is a parameter to be determined by optimization. Tests of the performance of the new method versus other common schemes are presented and analyzed. We provide a strategy for determining the optimal parameter in the reduction function. Synthetic Rayleigh waves are observed at the free surface of the simulation. Experiments with a vertical fault plane show the presence of direct, reflected, transmitted, and head waves. The presence of head waves may be used to analyze velocity c...
Association of Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with Increased Blood Urea Nitrogen and BUN/Creatinine Ratio in Dogs: A Literature Review and Retrospective Study

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatine concentrations were recorded from the medical records of 52 dogs with clinical evidence for upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGH) at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 1988 and 1995. Eighteen of the dogs had melena, 11 dogs had hematemesis, and 23 dogs had both melena and hematemesis. Compared with age-matched control dogs, dogs with suspected UGH had a significantly higher BUN concentration (31.0 mg/dL vs. 16.5 mg/dL), creatinine concentration (1.2 mg/dL vs. 1.1 mg/dL) and BUN/creatinine ratio (27.6 vs. 14.4). The increase in BUN/creatinine ratio suggested that the increased BUN concentration in dogs with evidence for UGH primarily was associated with increased gastrointestinal absorption of nitrogenous compounds, and hepatic ureagenesis.
The Highly Conserved COPII Coat Complex Sorts Cargo from the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Targets It to the Golgi

Proteinegressfromtheendoplasmicreticulum(ER)isdrivenbyaconservedcytoplasmiccoat complex called the COPII coat. The COPII coat complex contains an inner shell (Sec23/ Sec24)thatsortscargointoER-derivedvesiclesandanoutercage(Sec13/Sec31)thatleadsto coat polymerization. Once released from the ER, vesicles must tether to and fuse with the target membrane to deliver their protein and lipid contents. This delivery step also depends on the COPII coat, with coat proteins binding directly to tethering and regulatory factors. Recent findings have yielded new insight into how COPII-mediated vesicle traffic is regulated.HerewediscussthemolecularbasisofCOPII-mediatedER‐Golgitraffic,focusingonthe surprising complexity of how ER-derived vesicles form, package diverse cargoes, and correctly target these cargoes to their destination.
Azimuthal seismic anisotropy constrains net rotation of the lithosphere

[1] Net rotation (NR) of the lithosphere is found in hot spot reference frames, important for tectonics and plume models, but difficult to constrain. Using mantle flow and crystallographic texture modeling, I show that NRs lead to mantle shearing which is recorded in azimuthal seismic anisotropy. The NR amplitude in some hot spot models is so large that it degrades the model fit to anisotropy significantly. Smaller NRs, such as predicted by flow models with stiff continental keels, are consistent with seismology, however.
Narcolepsy with cataplexy.

Narcolepsy with cataplexy is a serious chronic neuropsychiatric disorder that typically begins at an early age. It has the potential to greatly disrupt social, educational, and vocational development. Because of the nature of its symptoms (e.g., excessive daytime sleepiness), narcolepsy provides insights into the mechanisms regulating human sleep. Its universal symptom of daytime sleepiness probably contributes most substantially to the resulting impaired quality of life that has been documented (1). A specific and intriguing sign of narcolepsy is cataplexy, a transient muscle weakness triggered by emotions. Other classic but nonspecific symptoms include sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations. Disturbed nocturnal sleep is the most recent addition to the classic symptom complex.
Epigenetic Control of Angiogenesis via DNA Methylation

Why some patients develop limb- and life-saving collaterals but others do not constitutes one of the great challenges that face patients with peripheral vascular and coronary artery disease. A longstanding goal in vascular disease is the establishment of therapies that enhance angiogenesis in compromised tissue beds. To achieve this goal, however, it is essential to define and understand the underlying mechanisms that control angiogenesis and may distinguish individual patient capacity for collateral formation. In this issue of Circulation , Rao and colleagues1 report that ischemic injury increases DNA methylation in several genes critical for angiogenesis. The methyl-CpG–binding domain 2 (MBD2) protein senses DNA methylation and mediates transcriptional repression of genes involved in angiogenesis and endothelial cell survival. This seminal report mechanistically links epigenetic changes in vascular cells to angiogenesis, paving the way for new therapies that could improve perfusion in patients with vascular disease. Article see p 2964 In mammals, cytosine methylation (5-methylcytosine) is a common epigenetic modification, occurring primarily in regions of DNA where a cytosine nucleotide is adjacent to a guanine nucleotide (so-called CpG sites). Up to 5% of cytosines are methylated, and nearly 60% of genes have CpG-rich islands in their 5′ regions.2 During embryonic development, DNA methylation dramatically declines by ≈30% in mice.3 Somatic cells and cancer cells also exhibit alterations in DNA methylation based on environmental stimuli. Because CG dinucleotides base pair to GC, methylation in 1 strand is mirrored by methylation in the other. During replication, methylation in the parent strand targets newly replicated DNA for methylation by recruiting DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). In this way, stable transfer of gene methylation patterns to progeny lines is accomplished.4 DNA methylation is often present …
Gastrointestinal parasites of cougars (Felis concolor) in Washington and the first report of Ollulanus tricuspis in a sylvatic felid from North America

Gastrointestinal helminths including two species of cestodes (Taenia omissa and T. ovis krabbei) and three species of nematodes (Toxocara cati, Cylicospirura subequalis and Ollulanus tricuspis) are reported from two free-ranging cougars (Felis concolor) in Washington (USA). Ollulanus tricuspis is reported for the first time from cougars and represents the first occurrence of this parasite in a sylvatic felid from North America.
Differential sensitivity of the WMS to the effects of IQ and brain damage.

Abstract The sensitivity of the Wechsler Memory Scale with Russell's Revision to the effects of IQ and brain damage was assessed in groups of brain-damaged (N = 64) and nonbrain-damaged (N = 64) subjects. Brain-damaged and nonbrain-damaged subjects were divided into subgroups equated on age and IQ for each of three IQ ranges (80–89, 90–99, 100–109). Some Wechsler Memory Scale subtests were affected only by IQ, others were affected by IQ and brain-damage status, and still others were affected only by brain-damage status. Measures of recall efficiency were most useful in discriminating brain-damaged and nonbrain-damaged subjects. We concluded that specific Wechsler Memory Scale subtests are useful in assessing memory deficits in brain-damaged patients.
The effect of heat treatments on dietary fiber as assessed by scanning electron microscopy.

Samples of apple fiber, corn fiber, oat bran, and soy fiber were heat processed in the autoclave and by microwave heat to determine the processing effect on the physical structure of the fiber. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate these processing effects. Results showed the two processing methods yielded fiber that had a much greater surface area, as reflected by increased furrowing and cracking on the surface of the heat treated fiber. the increased surface area exposed to enzymes and microorganisms may influence the physiological role of these fibers in animals.
Not Just a Paper Doll: How Models Manage Bodily Capital and Why They Perform Emotional Labor

Modeling is a challenging occupation because employment is irregular, the physical demands are great, and competition is fierce. Success as a model requires the careful management of bodily capital and the performance of emotional labor. Drawing on participant observations and interviews with models in the Atlanta fashion industry, the authors examine how they do the former and why they do the latter. They manage their bodily capital by subjecting themselves to intense self-regulation. Models perform emotional labor to sell themselves to clients and agents, to create illusions for observers and the camera, and to find dignity in a job that is often degrading and humiliating.
Regional Advocacy Networks and the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa

While there has been a significant amount of research on transnational feminist activism at the global level, many feminist transnational advocacy networks are mobilizing within world regions. The lack of attention to the regional level has created a considerable imbalance in research on transnational activism. This article's first objective is to define regional advocacy networks (RANs) as a collection of individuals and organizations from the same world region working together toward a common goal. The article's second objective is to explore the conditions under which RANs are influential. We investigate conditions for RAN success through a case study of an African network that helped create one of the world's most progressive treaties on women's rights, the African Union Protocol to the Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. From an analysis of primary sources and interviews with key participants, we suggest that three factors are crucial for network success: whether a RAN builds alliances with key politicians and civil servants, whether a RAN is able to participate in the decision-making process, and whether a RAN's goals overlap with the target institution's priorities. The broader implication of our study is that scholars seeking to understand the creation of women's rights commitments, the diffusion of women's rights norms, and compliance with women's rights treaties need to look beyond the international and domestic levels of action to include the regional level in their analyses.
A Conflict of Analysis: Analytical Chemistry and Milk Adulteration in Victorian Britain

This article centres on a particularly intense debate within British analytical chemistry in the late nineteenth century, between local public analysts and the government chemists of the Inland Revenue Service. The two groups differed in both practical methodologies and in the interpretation of analytical findings. The most striking debates in this period were related to milk analysis, highlighted especially in Victorian courtrooms. It was in protracted court cases, such as the well known Manchester Milk Case in 1883, that analytical chemistry was performed between local public analysts and the government chemists, who were often both used as expert witnesses. Victorian courtrooms were thus important sites in the context of the uneven professionalisation of chemistry. I use this tension to highlight what Christopher Hamlin has called the defining feature of Victorian public health, namely conflicts of professional jurisdiction, which adds nuance to histories of the struggle of professionalisation and public credibility in analytical chemistry.
Hybrid adaptive grid algorithm for wave packet propagation

A three-stage hybrid adaptive algorithm is applied to wave packet scattering from a repulsive barrier. As the packet approaches the barrier during the first stage, quantum hydrodynamic equations (QHE) are integrated on a moving equally-spaced grid. In the second stage, when nodes form in the reflected wave packet, the wavefunction is integrated on a fixed grid while the transmitted part is still treated using the QHE. In the third stage, when ripples have replaced the nodes, the QHE are integrated separately for the reflected and transmitted components. The method is stable for long propagation times (1 ns).
Emergent endovascular treatment of a spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection with pseudoaneurysm.

Purpose To report the use of a coronary stent-graft for the endovascular treatment of a spontaneous internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection complicated by a large pseudoaneurysm. Case report A 68-year-old man presented to an outside hospital with complaints of headache, severe left-sided neck pain, fever, chills, and vomiting. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a large (3.5x3 cm) extracranial aneurysm of the left ICA. The patient was emergently transferred to our facility for endovascular treatment of the carotid aneurysm. Via a percutaneous access in the right common femoral artery, 2 Jostent coronary stent-grafts were deployed across the aneurysm with no evidence of a residual pseudoaneurysm. The patient was hemodynamically stable throughout the procedure. Duplex examination at 9 months revealed no evidence of a residual pseudoaneurysm, dissection, or endoleak. Conclusions Covered coronary stents may have a role in the treatment of spontaneous ICA dissection with pseudoaneurysm formation.
Respiration in a future, higher‐CO2 world

Cet article de synthese traite des effets directs ou indirects de la concentration en CO 2 dans l'atmosphere sur la respiration et des mecanismes proposes en explication a ces effets
Reply to Lester et al.: Microbial translocation and HIV pathogenesis in Africa

Lester et al. (1) suggest that the data presented in our recent report (2) “are not sufficient to conclude that microbial translocation is not an important contributor to HIV disease in Africa.” The authors support this statement by first claiming that our study did not examine levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in HIV-uninfected subjects. However, this is incorrect because our study examined LPS levels in HIV seroconverters from preinfection (HIV antibody and RNA negative) to either death or long-term nonprogression and found no consistent changes in LPS levels related to HIV infection or HIV disease progression (2). In contrast, Lester et al. (3) observed in a cross-sectional analysis of female commercial sex workers in Kenya slightly increased LPS levels in HIV-positive women when compared to uninfected women. However, it is difficult to directly compare these results with ours because they did not examine their subjects in a longitudinal manner, making it impossible to infer any causal relationship between LPS levels and HIV disease.
Trajectory Generation in High-Speed, High-Precision Micromilling Using Subdivision Curves

Motion control in high-speed micromilling processes requires fast, accurate following of a specified curvilinear path. The accuracy with which the path can be followed is determined by the speed at which individual trajectories can be generated and sent to the control system. The time required to generate the trajectory is dependent on the representations used for the curvilinear trajectory path. In this study, we introduce the use of subdivision curves as a method for generating high-speed micromilling trajectories. Subdivision curves are discretized curves which are specified as a series of recursive refinements of a coarse mesh. By applying these recursive properties, machining trajectories can be computed very efficiently. Using a set of representative test curves, we show that with subdivision curves, trajectories can be generated significantly faster than with NURBS curves, which is the most common method currently used in generating high-speed machining trajectories. Trajectories are computed efficiently with subdivision curves as they are natively discretized, and do not require additional evaluation steps, unlike in the case of NURBS curves. The reduced trajectory generation time allows for improved performance in high-speed, high-precision micromilling. We discuss the use of several metrics to quantify the quality of the subdivision interpolation, and apply them in calculating the error during trajectory generation for the test curves.
Gene flow from imidazolinone-resistant domesticated sunflower to wild relatives

Abstract Gene flow from imidazolinone (IMI)-resistant domestic sunflower to IMI-susceptible common sunflower and prairie sunflower was studied. Under greenhouse conditions, pollen from IMI-resistant domesticated sunflower was applied to flower heads of IMI-susceptible common and prairie sunflower. In addition, field studies were conducted in 2000 and 2001 near Manhattan, KS, to evaluate IMI-resistant gene flow from IMI-resistant domesticated sunflower to common and prairie sunflower under natural conditions. Common and prairie sunflower were planted in concentric circles at distances of 2.5, 5, 15, and 30 m around a densely planted IMI-resistant domesticated sunflower species. For both greenhouse and field studies, IMI-resistant gene flow was determined by treating the progeny of both wild species with 40 g ai ha−1 of imazamox. Greenhouse crosses made by hand showed that 94% of common sunflower and 79% of prairie sunflower were resistant or moderately resistant. The resistant plants were allowed to grow i...
Safeguards and Investigations

We characterize the optimal safeguard policy for a small country under two types of safeguard mechanisms: one in which tariff changes are triggered by changes in import prices or import volumes and one in which an investigation is required to obtain increased protection. We assume the government uses a weighted social welfare function to evaluate policies, and that an investigation represents the use of resources to reveal the value of private information regarding income of producers. The safeguards we consider correspond to the WTO's special safeguard mechanism for agricultural and the WTO's safeguard agreement, respectively.
Low NO concentrations inhibit osteoclast formation in mouse marrow cultures by cGMP-dependent mechanism

High concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) inhibit bone resorption by mature osteoclasts. We examined the effects of low NO concentrations on osteoclast formation in mouse bone marrow cultures. The NO releasers sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine inhibited the formation of multinucleated cells expressing tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (a marker for osteoclasts) when administered during the last 3 days of 6-day cultures (differentiation stage) but not during the first 3 days (proliferation stage). SNP (1 microM) completely inhibited pit formation on dentine wafers when added to cultures during osteoclast formation, but 100 microM SNP was required to inhibit pitting by mature osteoclasts. Conversely, the NO synthase inhibitors aminoguanidine and nitro-L-arginine methyl ester both increased osteoclast formation. Inhibition of osteoclast formation by NO likely was guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) dependent, as SNP increased cGMP in marrow cultures, and 1 mM 8-bromo-cGMP or dibutyryl-cGMP reduced osteoclast formation when administered during the differentiation stage. The cGMP-specific type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor, zaprinast (M & B 22948) also inhibited osteoclast formation (half-maximal inhibitory constant, 100 microM) only when added during the differentiation stage. We conclude that the differentiation stage of osteoclast formation is inhibited by increases in cGMP levels elicited by NO.
Commutative Schur rings over symmetric groups

We study commutative Schur rings over the symmetric group $$S_n$$Sn that contain the sum of the transpositions in $$S_n$$Sn, by determining the possibilities for the partition of the class of transpositions that such a Schur ring gives. We note a connection with Gallai colorings of complete graphs.
Attachment, Interaction, and Synchronization: How Innate Mechanisms in Attachment Give Rise to Emergent Structure in Networks and Communities

Discoveries in social neuroscience over the last 30 years have led to startling new knowledge about innate mechanisms associated with the bonding and attachment of newborns and their mothers. This chapter presents a formal theoretical model of the part played in attachment by endogenous opioid peptides and related hormonal and neurotransmitter systems. In these models we see the coupling of two neurosocial oscillators. One is stimulated by attachment and induces activity in the opioid system, and the other is stimulated by separation and raises arousal levels. Central to the optimal functioning of these controls is interpersonal synchronization. We show that synchronization plays a part beyond dyads in generating social networks and in augmenting the integration of whole communities, and conclude by arguing that attachment and interaction function as extensions of the human immune system.
Adolescent Women's Contraceptive Decision Making*

women's consistent use of oral contraceptives (OCs) over a six-month period. Data are taken from a panel study of 308 clients of an inner-city family planning clinic. Expected OC use was computedfor each subject on the basis of subjective expected utility (SEU) theory, and is found in multivariate analyses to be a significant predictor of actual OC use. In addition, variables representing baseline and follow-up partner influences, the salience of pregnancy for the subject, and positive side effects of OCs during the first months of use are found to predict OC use. Partner's support of OC use during follow-up and positive side effects of OCs are found to predict OC use among subjects for whom OC use was not the expected decision according to baseline SEU. Implications of the findings for models of adolescents' contraceptive behavior and for clinicians are discussed. Understanding how adolescents make decisions regarding contraception is important for designing educational programs and health services to assist adolescents in preventing unwanted pregnancies and childbearing. Because promotion of more effective contraceptive use is an important prevention strategy, a number of researchers have studied correlates of adolescents' consistent use of contraception over time. Much of this research is based on rational decision models focusing on the
Proton-Conducting Perovskites as Supports for Cr Catalysts in Short Contact Time Ethane Dehydrogenation

Proton-conducting oxides, BaZrO3 (BZ) and BaCeO3 (BC), were investigated as potential support materials for Cr catalyst (0.2–0.6 wt % Cr, Cr/BZ or BC) in ethane dehydrogenation at short contact times. The catalytic activity, selectivity in ethane dehydrogenation, and carbon formation were determined. A higher ethylene formation rate was obtained on Cr/BZ in comparison to Cr/BC: 1.4 × 10–7 and 6.2 × 10–8 mol/m2 s at 575 °C at 1 min on stream for 1 g of 0.2 Cr/BZ and 0.2 Cr/BC, respectively. The selectivity was maintained above 94% over all samples in the temperature range 475–575 °C. The catalytic activity toward ethane dehydrogenation was more than 1 order of magnitude higher for the proton-conducting supports when in comparison to a Cr/γ-Al2O3 catalyst with similar surface Cr coverage. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed an initially higher concentration of Cr6+ on Cr/BC in comparison to Cr/BZ, corresponding to a plateau of relatively high activity at short times on stream. This plateau is at...
Enhanced guest affinity and enantioselectivity through variation of the Gd3+ [15-metallacrown-5] side chain.

Supramolecular hosts that bind guests reversibly are investigated for potential catalysis and separations applications. Chiral Ln3+[15-Metallacrown-5] metallocavitands bind carboxylate guests in hydrophobic cavities generated by their ligand side chains. A thermodynamic study on Gd3+[15-metallacrown-5] hosts with ligands bearing phenyl side chains containing 0, 1, and 2 methylene spacers (1-pgHA, 1-pheHA, 1-hpheHA, respectively) is presented to quantitatively assess how guest affinity and chiral selectivity can be enhanced through changes to the ligand side chain. Guest binding affinity was measured with cyclic voltammetry using ferrocene carboxylate as a redox probe. Ka values between ferrocene carboxylate and 1-pgHA and 1-pheHA were 4800 ± 400 M–1 and 4400 ± 700 M–1, respectively. Significantly stronger binding affinity of 12100 ± 700 M–1 was measured with 1-hpheHA, a result of the longer side-chains more completely encapsulating the guest. A similar trend was observed with benzoate. The side chain also...
Improved electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation activity in acidic and alkaline electrolytes using size-controlled Pt-Sn nanoparticles.

The promotion of the electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) on extended single-crystal Pt surfaces and dispersed Pt nanoparticles by Sn under acidic conditions is well known. However, the correlation of Sn coverage on Pt nanoparticle electrocatalysts to their size has proven difficult. The reason is that previous investigations have typically relied on commercially difficult to reproduce electrochemical treatments of prepared macroscopic electrodes to adsorb Sn onto exposed Pt surfaces. We demonstrate here how independent control over both Sn coverage and particle size can yield a significant enhancement in EOR activity in an acidic electrolyte relative to previously reported electrocatalysts. Our novel approach uses electroless nanoparticle synthesis where surface-adsorbed Sn is intrinsic to Pt particle formation. Sn serves as both a reducing agent and stabilizing ligand, producing particles with a narrow particle size distribution in a size range where the mass-specific electrocatalytic activ...
VITAMIN E AND OTHER ENDOGENOUS ANTIOXIDANTS IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

The nervous system is protected from free-radical-induced oxidative damage by a number of antioxidants. These include small-molecular-weight substances such as vitamins C and E as well as the large protein molecules superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and others. These antioxidants are often localized in specific portions of the cell. They also show considerable biological interactions with one another. These factors modulate their antioxidant activity. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of some disorders of the brain; hence, antioxidants have become attractive therapeutic agents. Among the antioxidants, vitamin E has shown some promise in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease. No investigations have been conducted to examine whether vitamin E or other nutritional antioxidants can be used prophylactically to prevent the incidence of degeneration or other pathologic processes in the brain.
Relationships between two levels of aureomycin-sulphamethazine supplementation and acquisition of resistance to ovine coccidiosis.

SUMMARY Two levels, 100 and 500 mg/lamb/day, of aureomycin-sulphamethazine supplementation fed to lambs in two trials of a prophylactic regimen successfully inhibited development of mixed coccidial populations in lambs. There was a development of partial resistance against the coccidia in the infected, challenged and non-medicated lambs. The smaller dose of the drug did not interfere with such resistance. The higher dose permitted marked suppression of coccidial growth and multiplication but did not permit the development of acquired resistance. Lambs that were infected and later challenged and which were medicated daily until day 35 when the 100 mg dose was withdrawn lived till the end of the trial on day 70. Lambs that were similarly exposed but medicated daily until day 35 when the 500 mg dose was withdrawn died between two and three weeks after the withdrawal. The drug seemed to act by interfering with the development of the coccidia and by reducing the severity of their pathological effects to such an extent that the development of acquired resistance was prevented by the higher amount of the drug.
10 – Ecosystem Responses to Rising Atmospheric CO2: Feedbacks through the Nitrogen Cycle

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the mechanisms through which elevated CO2 can cause changes in soil nitrogen cycling. Rising atmospheric CO2 could alter soil nitrogen (N) cycling, shaping the responses of many terrestrial ecosystems to elevated CO2. Increased carbon input to soil through increased root growth, altered litter quality, and increased soil water content through decreased plant water use in elevated CO2 can all affect soil N transformations and thus, N availability to plants. Nitrogen limits net primary productivity (NPP) in many terrestrial ecosystems, so changes in N availability to plants will influence NPP in an elevated CO2 environment. Furthermore, changes in NPP will alter carbon uptake by the terrestrial biosphere, and thus, feed back to rising atmospheric CO2. Elevated CO2 could also influence the processes that regulate N inputs to and losses from ecosystems —N fixation, gaseous N losses, and N leaching. Such changes could alter ecosystem nitrogen stocks and thus, nitrogen available to support NPP. Additionally, soil emissions of N20 contribute to the greenhouse effect and stratospheric ozone destruction, and emissions of NOx contribute to photochemical smog and acid rain. Thus, by altering soil nitrogen cycling, elevated CO2 could cause other changes in atmospheric chemistry.
Abstract 3271: Gene expression changes underlying glioblastoma resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy

Introduction: Despite positive pre-clinical and clinical trials, treatment of glioblastoma with bevacizumab has been limited by acquired resistance and transient response. To study gene expression changes underlying tumor resistance and progression during bevacizumab therapy, we performed microarray gene expression analysis on a novel multigenerational xenograft model of acquired bevacizumab resistance. Methods: Using a two-component normal mixture model, we identified a set of genes exhibiting significant inter-generational variance. Protein-protein interaction scores among these genes were extracted from the String 10 database and used as undirected edge weights in a network representation of the significant gene set. Gene set over-representation (GSO) analysis via ConsensusPathDB of gene clusters identified biologically meaningful clusters and subnetworks mediating distinct functions and molecular pathways. Results: Gene set enrichment analysis revealed significant overexpression across generations of previously identified gene signatures of the mesenchymal subtype, as well as a tumor mesenchymal metabolic signature. Key mesenchymal markers, including putative tumor-stemness marker CD44, NT5E, SNAI2, and ZEB2, were found to be upregulated across generations. These results suggest tumor progression under bevacizumab challenge to be accompanied by a shift in gene expression towards the mesenchymal subtype, a subtype of GBM associated with enhanced invasiveness, resistance, and worse outcome. Our analysis also revealed expression changes in pathways related to angiogenesis. Pro-angiogenic genes FGF2, MMP1, HIF1A, UGCG, LPAR1, and ITGB3 were found to be upregulated. Furthermore, GSO analysis identified angiogenesis as a significantly enriched ontology within the inflammatory response and ECM remodeling subnetworks identified by spectral clustering. Angiogenesis related genes identified via GSO included highly upregulated inflammatory mediators such as COX2, IL6, IL1A, upregulated pro-angiogenic factors TGFA, WNT5A, FGF2, and a downregulated anti-angiogenic gene, SPARC. Conclusions: These results suggest a mesenchymal and pro-angiogenic response to bevacizumab treatment supported by multiple converging pathways involving inflammation, hypoxia, and ECM remodeling. Strategies preventing the evolution of these responses should be developed and tested in the context of our novel xenograft model in order to improve the durability of response to these therapies and allow them to fulfill their therapeutic promise. Citation Format: William C. Chen, Arman Jahangiri, Garima Yagnik, Maxim Sidorov, Jonathan Rick, Ruby Kuang, Michael DeLay, Manish K. Aghi. Gene expression changes underlying glioblastoma resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3271.
America's Dirty Wars: The Banana Wars, 1898–1930s

I fervently hope that we will have no more elections in Latin America to supervise. – American diplomat, 1928 History tends to remember well the Punitive Expedition because of the inimitable character of Pancho Villa and his revolutionary bandits. Yet, as we have seen, the expedition was an atypical dirty war in that it was a limited expedition rather than a broader pacification or counterinsurgency operation. This is not to say, though, that the United States did not deal with more “orthodox” dirty wars during this era. In fact, the so-called Banana Wars of the 1910s and 1920s in nations such as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua were quintessential dirty wars of the American imperial variety. Here were all the trappings of America’s involvement in irregular conflict throughout its history: occupation and nation-building, jungles and mountains, elusive and sometimes charismatic rebels, atrocities, and bitter controversy back in the United States. The imperial Banana Wars of the early twentieth century were also some of America’s first experiences with nation-building defined as establishing government ministries and holding elections, however imperfect or ephemeral these “indigenous” institutions often proved. In later decades, Vietnam and El Salvador and, subsequently, Iraq and Afghanistan would become the germane examples, but before these more recent efforts, the massive undertakings in the United States’ own hemisphere involved many of the same strategies and obstacles of guerrilla and counterinsurgency warfare that the U.S. military is still learning to deal with today.
A Note on Universal Operators

An operator T is called universal for the complement of the ideal A if T does not belong to A, and factors through every element of the complement of A. We show that the complements of many ideals (such as the ideal of strictly (co)singular operators, or any maximal normed ideal) have no universal operators. On the other hand, the complement of the ideal of finitely strictly singular operators has a universal operator. Moreover, we show that, for many ideals A, any positive operator which factors positively through any positive member of the complement of A must be compact.
Properties of compatibilized nylon 6/ABS blends. Part II. Effects of compatibilizer type and processing history

Abstract The effects of processing history on the morphological, rheological, and mechanical behavior of blends of nylon 6 and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) using an imidized acrylic (IA) polymer and a styrene/acrylonitrile/maleic anhydride (SANMA) terpolymer as compatibilizing agents have been investigated. Both compatibilizers yield blends that are super tough at room temperature; however, there are distinct differences in their effects on low temperature impact properties. For blends containing the IA polymer and a 1:1 ratio of nylon 6 to ABS, the low-temperature ductility compromises multiple extrusion steps. In general, the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature of blends containing high IA contents increase more rapidly with the number of extrusions than at lower IA contents. High IA content blends exhibited significant changes in morphology with increased number of extrusion steps; some of the ABS domains became larger, leading to a poorer dispersion of rubber particles. The ductile-to-brittle transition temperature is relatively insensitive to the number of extrusions for blends with less than 1 wt.% IA content or a higher ratio of nylon 6 to ABS. The morphology and low-temperature toughness of blends containing the SANMA terpolymer were generally unaffected by the number of extrusion passes during melt processing. The differences in low temperature toughness with respect to the processing history appear to stem from differences in the reactive nature of these two types of compatibilizers. Blends containing the IA polymer developed higher melt viscosities than blends containing the SANMA polymer (particularly at higher IA contents), since the nylon 6/IA reaction appears to continue with increasing processing time, whereas the nylon 6/SANMA reaction does not. Potential causes for these fundamental differences in blend rheology are considered in terms of the reactive functionality of the IA versus SANMA compatibilizer. When issues of processability, regrind, and recycling are considered, the SANMA material is a more attractive compatibilizer than the IA polymer, particularly at higher compatibilizer contents.
Pancake Kidney With Obstructed Moiety: A Rare Renal Fusion Anomaly

Renal fusion abnormalities are rare. Even more rare is pancake kidney. We present a case of a 28-year-old male with symptomatic obstruction of a non-functioning moiety of a pancake kidney. He underwent ureterectomy with a finding of only atretic renal parenchyma at exploration. He recovered well and had resolution of his pain at 3-month follow-up.
Task alters category representations in prefrontal but not high-level visual cortex.

Abstract A central question in neuroscience is how cognitive tasks affect category representations across the human brain. Regions in lateral occipito-temporal cortex (LOTC), ventral temporal cortex (VTC), and ventro-lateral prefrontal cortex (VLFPC) constitute the extended “what” pathway, which is considered instrumental for visual category processing. However, it is unknown (1) whether distributed responses across LOTC, VTC, and VLPFC explicitly represent category, task, or some combination of both, and (2) in what way representations across these subdivisions of the extended ‘what’ pathway may differ. To fill these gaps in knowledge, we scanned 12 participants using fMRI to test the effect of category and task on distributed responses across LOTC, VTC, and VLPFC. Results reveal that task and category modulate responses in both high-level visual regions, as well as prefrontal cortex. However, we found fundamentally different types of representations across the brain. Distributed responses in high-level visual regions are more strongly driven by category than task, and exhibit task-independent category representations. In contrast, distributed responses in prefrontal cortex are more strongly driven by task than category, and contain task-dependent category representations. Together, these findings of differential representations across the brain support a new idea that LOTC and VTC maintain stable category representations allowing efficient processing of visual information, while prefrontal cortex contains flexible representations in which category information may emerge only when relevant to the task.
A Comparison of Longevity Between Sexes of Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Comprehension of the lifecycle and life expectancy of Cochliomyia homnivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae), the primary and secondary screwworm, respectively have historically been of the utmost concern to researchers in medical, livestock and entomological research fields. As a notoriously detrimental agricultural pest, C. homnivorax has been strictly monitored for decades since its eradication in the United States, and the less dangerous Cochliomyia macellaria has taken the place of C. macellaria for research purposes given that the two species share markedly similar life histories. In order to develop a thorough compilation of data regarding the primary screwworm, life history must be assessed extensively. This being said, this experiment was designed to determine lifespan differences between the sexes of C. macellaria, and results obtained showed no significant difference between the lifespans of males and females when exposed to laboratory conditions. Given this information, researchers can logically deduce that similar lifespans between the sexes are most conducive to maximized efficiency of C. macellaria, and potentially C. homnivorax.Keywords: Cochliomyia macellaria, myiasis, Cochliomyia homnivorax, longevity, life history
Assessments of Opportunities to Improve Antibiotic Prescribing in an Emergency Department: A Period Prevalence Survey

Approximately 30% of all outpatient antimicrobials are inappropriately prescribed. Currently, antimicrobial prescribing patterns in emergency departments (ED) are not well described. Determining inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing patterns and opportunities for interventions by antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) are needed. A retrospective chart review was performed among a random sample of non-admitted, adult patients who received an antimicrobial prescription in the ED from January 1 to December 31, 2015. Appropriateness was measured using the Medication Appropriateness Index, and was based on provider adherence to local guidelines. Additional information collected included patient characteristics, initial diagnoses, and other chronic medication use. Of 1579 ED antibiotic prescriptions in 2015, we reviewed a total of 159 (10.1%) prescription records. The most frequently prescribed antimicrobial classes included penicillins (22.6%), macrolides (20.8%), cephalosporins (17.6%), and fluoroquinolones (17.0%). The most common indications for antibiotics were bronchitis or upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) (35.1%), followed by skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) (25.0%), both of which were the most common reason for unnecessary prescribing (28.9% of bronchitis/URTIs, 25.6% of SSTIs). Of the antimicrobial prescriptions reviewed, 39% met criteria for inappropriateness. Among 78 prescriptions with a consensus on appropriate indications, 13.8% had inappropriate dosing, duration, or expense. Consistent with national outpatient prescribing, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in the ED occurred in 39% of cases with the highest rates observed among patients with bronchitis, URTI, and SSTI. Antimicrobial stewardship programs may benefit by focusing on initiatives for these conditions among ED patients. Moreover, creation of local guideline pocketbooks for these and other conditions may serve to improve prescribing practices and meet the Core Elements of Outpatient Stewardship recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mapping for accessibility: A case study of ethics in data science for social good.

Ethics in the emerging world of data science are often discussed through cautionary tales about the dire consequences of missteps taken by high profile companies or organizations. We take a different approach by foregrounding the ways that ethics are implicated in the day-to-day work of data science, focusing on instances in which data scientists recognize, grapple with, and conscientiously respond to ethical challenges. This paper presents a case study of ethical dilemmas that arose in a "data science for social good" (DSSG) project focused on improving navigation for people with limited mobility. We describe how this particular DSSG team responded to those dilemmas, and how those responses gave rise to still more dilemmas. While the details of the case discussed here are unique, the ethical dilemmas they illuminate can commonly be found across many DSSG projects. These include: the risk of exacerbating disparities; the thorniness of algorithmic accountability; the evolving opportunities for mischief presented by new technologies; the subjective and value- laden interpretations at the heart of any data-intensive project; the potential for data to amplify or mute particular voices; the possibility of privacy violations; and the folly of technological solutionism. Based on our tracing of the team's responses to these dilemmas, we distill lessons for an ethical data science practice that can be more generally applied across DSSG projects. Specifically, this case experience highlights the importance of: 1) Setting the scene early on for ethical thinking 2) Recognizing ethical decision-making as an emergent phenomenon intertwined with the quotidian work of data science for social good 3) Approaching ethical thinking as a thoughtful and intentional balancing of priorities rather than a binary differentiation between right and wrong.
MethyLight and Digital MethyLight

MethyLight is a quantitative, fluorescence-based, real-time PCR method to sensitively detect and quantify DNA methylation of candidate regions of the genome. MethyLight is uniquely suited for detecting low-frequency methylated DNA regions against a high background of unmethylated DNA, as it combines methylation-specific priming with methylation-specific fluorescent probing. The quantitative accuracy of real-time PCR and the ability to design bisulfite-dependent, DNA methylation-independent control reactions together allow for a quantitative assessment of these low frequency methylation events. Here we describe the experimental steps of MethyLight analysis in detail. Furthermore, we present principles and design examples for three types of quality control reactions. QC-1 reactions are methylation-independent reactions to monitor sample quantity and integrity. QC-2 reactions are bisulfite-independent reactions to monitor recovery efficiencies of the bisulfite conversion methodology used. QC-3 reactions are bisulfite-independently primed reactions with variable bisulfite-dependent probing to monitor completeness of the sodium bisulfite treatment. We show that these control reactions perform as expected in a time course experiment interrupting sodium bisulfite conversion at various timepoints. Finally, we describe Digital MethyLight, in which MethyLight is combined with Digital PCR, for the highly sensitive detection of individual methylated molecules, with use in disease detection and screening.
Proficiency of data interpretation: identification of signaling SNPs/specific loci for coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a complex disorder involving both genetic and non-genetic factors. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified hundreds of single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) tagging over > 40 CAD risk loci. We hypothesized that some non-coding variants might directly regulate the gene expression rather than tagging a nearby locus. We used RegulomeDB to examine regulatory functions of 58 SNPs identified in two GWAS and those SNPs in linkage disequilibrium (LD) (r2 ≥ 0.80) with the GWAS SNPs. Of the tested 1200 SNPs, 858 returned scores of 1–6 by RegulomeDB. Of these 858 SNPs, 97 were predicted to have regulatory functions with RegulomeDB score of < 3. Notably, only 8 of the 97 predicted regulatory variants were genome-wide significant SNPs (LIPA/rs2246833, RegulomeDB score = 1b; ZC3HC1/rs11556924, CYP17A1-CNNM2-NT5C2/rs12413409, APOE-APOC1/rs2075650 and UBE2Z/rs46522, each with a RegulomeDB score = 1f; ZNF259-APOA5-APOA1/rs964184, SMG6/rs2281727 and COL4A1-COL4A2/rs4773144, each with a RegulomeDB score = 2b). The remainder 89 functional SNPs were in linkage disequilibrium with GWAS SNPs. This study supports the hypothesis that some of the non-coding variants are true signals via regulation of gene expression at transcription level. Our study indicates that RegulomeDB is a useful database to examine the putative functions of large number of genetic variants and it may help to identify a true association among multiple tagged SNPs in a complex disease, such as CAD. Database URLs http://www.regulomedb.org/; https://www.broadinstitute.org/mpg/snap/