cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
WindowMasker: window-based masker for sequenced genomes

Motivation: Matches to repetitive sequences are usually undesirable in the output of DNA database searches. Repetitive sequences need not be matched to a query, if they can be masked in the database. RepeatMasker/Maskeraid (RM), currently the most widely used software for DNA sequence masking, is slow and requires a library of repetitive template sequences, such as a manually curated RepBase library, that may not exist for newly sequenced genomes. Results: We have developed a software tool called WindowMasker (WM) that identifies and masks highly repetitive DNA sequences in a genome, using only the sequence of the genome itself. WM is orders of magnitude faster than RM because WM uses a few linear-time scans of the genome sequence, rather than local alignment methods that compare each library sequence with each piece of the genome. We validate WM by comparing BLAST outputs from large sets of queries applied to two versions of the same genome, one masked by WM, and the other masked by RM. Even for genomes such as the human genome, where a good RepBase library is available, searching the database as masked with WM yields more matches that are apparently non-repetitive and fewer matches to repetitive sequences. We show that these results hold for transcribed regions as well. WM also performs well on genomes for which much of the sequence was in draft form at the time of the analysis. Availability: WM is included in the NCBI C++ toolkit. The source code for the entire toolkit is available at ftp://ftp.ncbi.nih.gov/toolbox/ncbi_tools++/CURRENT/. Once the toolkit source is unpacked, the instructions for building WindowMasker application in the UNIX environment can be found in file src/app/winmasker/README.build. Contact: richa@helix.nih.gov Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at ftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/agarwala/windowmasker/windowmasker_suppl.pdf.
Costs and Benefits of Vendor Sponsored Learning Materials in Information Technology Education

The demand for qualified information technology professionals remains high despite the lackluster economy. It is imperative to provide students with a curriculum that provides a broad foundation in information technology knowledge, skills, and abilities. However, students also need access to specialized technologies and learning materials to develop the skills that will be needed to drive growth in companies across all sectors of the economy. The dilemma faced by administrators of information technology degree programs is the lack of resources needed to provide students with these specialized learning opportunities. Cisco, VMWare, NetApp, and other information technology vendors offer learning materials that can be used by higher education programs. The potential costs and benefits of using these resources and how they have been incorporated into the undergraduate Computer Technology program at Ball State University will be discussed.
Is Unsolicited Support Protective or Destructive in Collectivistic Culture? Receipt of Unsolicited Job Leads and Depression in Urban China:

Is receipt of unsolicited support—aid that is passively obtained without asking—protective or destructive in collectivistic culture? This study focuses on receipt of unsolicited job leads and exami...
Video Motion for Every Visible Point

Dense motion of image points over many video frames can provide important information about the world. However, occlusions and drift make it impossible to compute long motion paths by merely concatenating optical flow vectors between consecutive frames. Instead, we solve for entire paths directly, and flag the frames in which each is visible. As in previous work, we anchor each path to a unique pixel which guarantees an even spatial distribution of paths. Unlike earlier methods, we allow paths to be anchored in any frame. By explicitly requiring that at least one visible path passes within a small neighborhood of every pixel, we guarantee complete coverage of all visible points in all frames. We achieve state-of-the-art results on real sequences including both rigid and non-rigid motions with significant occlusions.
Avoidance conditioning of the GSR: nature of the response.

The effects of avoidance conditioning of the GSR on HR responses were investigated. Seven Ss were allowed to avoid a shock if their GSR during a preceding 5.0 sec light was greater than a criterion magnitude. Each avoidance S had a yoked-control partner who received exactly the same series of shocked and nonshocked trials, regardless of his own GSR behavior. Sixty trials were given. Avoidance Ss gave significantly larger GSRs and cardiac deceleration took place at a significantly greater rate in the avoidance group. The results were interpreted as supporting the conclusion that when an avoidance paradigm is used to modify a particular autonomic response, the effects extend to other autonomic arousal or anticipatory responses. Each S was questioned in a post-training interview about his awareness of means of avoiding the shock. No S was able to verbalize any method that could be used to prevent shock from occurring.
On Critical Engagement with the Mainstream: Introduction

This Special Issue foregrounds a need for critical reflection on the assumptions, biases, goals and effectiveness of the subdiscipline 'theo- retical and philosophical psychology.' Pivotal to the Issue is a contrast devel- oped between criticism of and critical engagement with 'mainstream' psychology. Contributions address a range of evaluative themes relating to theoretical and philosophical psychology's identity, representative breadth, impact, instrumentality, accuracy, fairness and flexibility. Themes include reflection on changes in the mainstream and on theoretical psychology's response. The aim is to offer a variety of perspectives rather than to seek definitive answers to any questions relating to the evaluative themes. Thus both pessimistic and optimistic accounts are given of the potential of theo- retical and philosophical psychology to engage mainstream psychology crit- ically. An additional organizing principle of the Issue is the representative inclusion of traditional branches of psychological research: cognitive, clini- cal, developmental, neuroscience, personality and social psychology. Within this structure, reflections on the status and efficacy of theoretical and philo- sophical psychology are both prospective and retrospective. Through its range of essays the Issue strives to make clear that 'engagement with' is not equivalent to alliance or compliance, and that the relation of theoretical and philosophical psychology to the psychological community at large is a mat- ter for continual and regular reappraisal.
Incretin-Based Therapies in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Context: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide are incretins secreted from enteroendocrine cells postprandially in part to regulate glucose homeostasis. Dysregulation of these hormones is evident in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Two new drugs, exenatide (GLP-1 mimetic) and sitagliptin [dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) 4 inhibitor], have been approved by regulatory agencies for treating T2DM. Liraglutide (GLP-1 mimetic) and vildagliptin (DPP 4 inhibitor) are expected to arrive on the market soon. Evidence Acquisition: The background of incretin-based therapy and selected clinical trials of these four drugs are reviewed. A MEDLINE search was conducted for published articles using the key words incretin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, GLP-1, exendin-4, exenatide, DPP 4, liraglutide, sitagliptin, and vildagliptin. Evidence Synthesis: Exenatide and liraglutide are injection based. Three-year follow-up data on exenatide showed a sustained weight loss and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction of 1%. Nausea and vomiting are common. Results from phase 3 studies are pending on liraglutide. Sitagliptin and vildagliptin are orally active. In 24-wk studies, sitagliptin reduces HbA1c by 0.6–0.8% as monotherapy, 1.8% as initial combination therapy with metformin, and 0.7% as add-on therapy to metformin. Vildagliptin monotherapy lowered HbA1c by 1.0–1.4% after 24 wk. Their major side effects are urinary tract and nasopharyngeal infections and headaches. Exenatide and liraglutide cause weight loss, whereas sitagliptin and vildagliptin do not. Conclusions: The availability of GLP-1 mimetics and DPP 4 inhibitors has increased our armamentarium for treating T2DM. Unresolved issues such as the effects of GLP-1 mimetics and DPP 4 inhibitors on β-cell mass, the mechanism by which GLP-1 mimetics lowers glucagon levels, and exactly how DPP 4 inhibitors lead to a decline in plasma glucose levels without an increase in insulin secretion, need further research.
Integrated depot environment for avionics support (IDEAS)

The classical Air Force Organic Depot for avionics support is a paper intensive environment with a limited degree of automation that is not fully integrated with other levels of maintenance. In addition, with decreased DoD funding for support of avionics systems, the Air Logistics Centers (ALCs) will be tasked to do more with less budget. The C-17 Integrated Depot Environment for Avionics Support (IDEAS) concept offers a solution for improving the efficiency of maintenance personnel while greatly improving the reliability and maintainability of the C-17 Airlifter through the use of a networked computer system and a paperless environment. IDEAS explores off-the-shelf computer hardware, automatic test equipment, and integrated state-of-the-art systems software that would link to existing ground based maintenance systems such as G081 and G0868 and existing C-17 development tools. >
Effects of the spatial pattern of leaf damage on growth and reproduction: nodes and branches

Summary 1 We assessed the influence of the spatial pattern of leaf damage on growth and reproduction (through both male and female functions) of the wild gourd, Cucurbita pepo L. ssp. texana at three structural levels of the plant (nodes, primary branches and entire branch systems). 2 We applied concentrated or dispersed leaf damage treatments (removing 5% of original leaf area in both), and compared their effects on 12 traits, ranging from the production of new nodes through flower production to pollen performance and seed number/size. 3 Only one of the traits was affected by the spatial pattern of damage, and then only at the primary branch level, where pollen performance was greater in the concentrated than in the dispersed treatment. 4 Regardless of the spatial pattern of damage, we found that low to moderate levels of foliar damage significantly affected very few traits. This indicates a high tolerance of simulated herbivory. Overcompensation for one trait (pollen performance) occurred at the node and primary branch levels. 5 The results suggest that compensatory resources can be translocated within damaged branches.
Micrometastasis of Melanoma to Sentinel Lymph Nodes

Micrometastasis of melanoma to sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) is consistent with the spectrum theory of cancer progression in that cancer cells spread in an orderly fashion from the primary site to the regional SLNs in most of the time, where additional proliferation results in further spread of cancer cells to the non-SLNs and then becoming disseminated. It is important to define the extent of tumor burden in the SLNs being associated with further progression to non-SLNs and distant sites so that more rational therapy may be tailored to patients according to the tumor burden in the SLNs.
Predicting Fine-grained Social Roles with Selectional Preferences

Selectional preferences, the tendencies of predicates to select for certain semantic classes of arguments, have been successfully applied to a number of tasks in computational linguistics including word sense disambiguation, semantic role labeling, relation extraction, and textual inference. Here we leverage the information encoded in selectional preferences to the task of predicting fine-grained categories of authors on the social media platform Twitter. First person uses of verbs that select for a given social role as subject (e.g. I teach ... for teacher) are used to quickly build up binary classifiers for that role.
Preventing the Tragedy of the CO2 Commons: Exploring China's Growth and the International Climate Framework

Under reasonable assumptions, China could achieve parity in living standard with Western Europe by 2100, and India by 2150. Climate change, however, may be a key obstacle preventing such a convergence. The business-as-usual (BAU) growth path of the world economy might increase concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases to unsafe levels and cause significant negative environmental feedback before China achieves parity in living standards with the OECD countries. We use a dynamic multi-country general equilibrium model (the G-Cubed Model) to project a realistic BAU trajectory of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and we find it to be even above the CO2 emissions from the high-growth scenario estimated by the Energy Information Agency in 2007. This outcome is a reminder that it has been usual so far to underestimate the growth in China energy consumption. We compare the merits of the different market-based CO2 reduction mechanisms like a carbon tax, a cap-and-trade scheme, and the McKibbin-Wilcoxen Hybrid (MWH) approach. Unexpected developments cause the different CO2 reduction mechanisms to create very different costs. Both the international carbon tax and the MWH approach are more economically efficient responses to uncertainty than the cap-and-trade scheme of the Kyoto Protocol. We use the G-Cubed Model to study the economic outcomes under each CO2 reduction mechanism, and under the deployment of advanced green energy. The reduction of CO2 emissions would only delay, not stop, the increase in CO2 concentrations toward the danger level. As the only long-term solution is likely to be shifting to non-fossil emitting energy, it is important to combine a market-based CO2 reduction mechanism with an ambitious program to accelerate the development of green technology. Such a program would probably have a higher chance of success if some important parts of it were based on international collaboration. We conclude the paper with recommendations about the form of future international climate agreements and how China could be encouraged to participate.
Art Practice as Research in the Classroom: Creative Inquiry for Understanding Oneself and the World

The article describes Art Practice Research (APR), an art pedagogy in which students independently investigate and interpret a theme of their choice. Based on the concept that art practice is a form of research, this approach blends inquiry and thinking skills associated with the natural and social sciences with interpretive and inventive methods linked to art. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education, APR calls for a structured yet open-ended inquiry-based curriculum. Equally inspired by the International Baccalaureate Program in Art, it stresses in-depth, prolonged investigations by students using "Research Workbooks" as tools to develop and record their inquiry. In emphasizing critical inquiry, creative visual interpretation, and text-based reflection, two important goals are achieved. Students construct deep, personal, and fresh understandings of ideas and issues that are particularly significant to them, and also become acutely aware of their creative research processes. This is evidenced in the work of one typical student from Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California.
The air quality forecast rote: Recent changes and future challenges

ABSTRACTAir quality forecasting is a recent development, with most programs initiated only in the last 20 years. During the last decade, forecast preparation procedure—the forecast rote—has changed dramatically. This paper summarizes the unique challenges posed by air quality forecasting, details the current forecast rote, and analyzes prospects for future improvements. Because air quality forecasts must diagnose and predict several pollutants and their precursors in addition to standard meteorological variables, it is, compared with weather forecasts, a higher-uncertainty forecast. Forecasters seek to contain the uncertainty by “anchoring” the forecast, using an a priori field, and then “adjusting” the forecast using additional information. The air quality a priori, or first guess, field is a blend of past, current, and near-term future observations of the pollutants of interest, on both local and regional scales, and is typically coupled with predicted air parcel trajectories. Until recently, statistica...
Effects of Soil-applied Imazapic on Pecan Production

A persistent problem was identified in pecan (Carya illinoinensis) orchards throughout southern Georgia in which pecan trees growing in rows immediately adjacent to peanut (Arachis hypogaea) fields developed hollow pecans. In-shell nut size and appearance was normal; however, the kernels failed to develop. In 2008 and 2009, research was conducted to evaluate the influence of imazapic on pecan nut development in two pecan orchards located at the University of Georgia Ponder Research Farm located near Tifton, GA. Three herbicide treatments were evaluated, including imazapic at 0.17 kg ha, imazapic at 0.30 kg ha, and a nontreated control. Imazapic inhibited pecan kernel production and shuck split during both years of study. In 2009, leaf potassium was reduced by the low rate of imazapic.
FIFTY YEARS OF WAVE GROWTH CURVES

It has been over fifty years since the public release of the well-known monograph of Navy H.O. 601, prepared by Sverdrup and Munk (1947) during World War II. In celebrating 50th anniversary of the International Coastal Engineering Conference that was started in 1948, it is of interest to revisit the wave growth curves developed in H.O. 601 and compare them with a recent study on wave growth curves (Donelan et a1. 1992). It is clear that while significant progress has been made over the last 50 years, Sverdrup and Munk's original idea still prevails in light of modern developments.
Choline oxidase activity in young rats.

Summary(1) Choline oxidase activity is low in the livers of newborn rats and increases to only one-third of the adult level by weaning, in contrast to the rapid attainment of adult levels of succinoxidase activity. (2) Choline oxidase activity is low in the kidney cortex of newborn rats and also rises to adult levels very slowly. (3) The slow increase in the choline oxidase activity of rat liver as a function of the weight of the animal is demonstrated.
Prophylactic Efficiency and Longevity of Polyvinyl Chloride Strips Containing Permethrin for Control of Northern Fowl Mites (Acari: Macronyssidae) on Caged Chickens

Cockerels in cages, each treated with two polyvinyl chloride (PVC) strips containing 9.7% permethrin, were resistant to infestation by northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago) for at least 64 days. The protection offered by such strips was greater than that afforded by a single treatment with 0.25% permethrin dust. Northern fowl mite populations on laying hens in commercial facilities were effectively controlled for more than 14 months by two, four, or six PVC-permethrin strips in each cage. Over the 439-day trial, ca. 12% of the total permethrin available was released from the experimental PVC strips. The mite control observed resulted from average total doses of permethrin ranging from 31.1 to 112.1 mg per hen.
Utilization of Innovative Spectral Imaging Technique for New Development of the Spectral Discrimination Filter and Light Detector in High Spectral Resolution Lidar

The utilization of Doppler Michelson and the spatial heterodyne spectrometer to replace the Fabry-Perot as spectral discrimination filter in high spectral resolution lidars is presented to meet the needs of remote sensing for climate study.
Schrödinger eigenbasis on a class of superconducting surfaces

In this work we focus on the efficient representation and computation of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the surface Schrodinger operator ( i ? + A 0 ) 2 that governs a class of nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau (GL) superconductivity models on rotationally symmetric Riemannian 2-manifolds S. We identify and analyze a complete orthonormal system in L 2 ( S ; C ) of eigenmodes having a variable-separated form. For the unknown functions in this ansatz, our analysis facilitates the identification of approximate spectral problems whose eigenvalues lie arbitrarily near corresponding eigenvalues of the Schrodinger operator. We then develop and implement an arbitrary order finite element method for the efficient numerical approximation of the eigenvalue problem. We also demonstrate our analysis, algorithm and its convergence rate using parallel computations performed on a variety of choices of smooth and non-smooth surfaces S.
Rapid Prototyping of a Smart Device-Based Wireless Reflectance Photoplethysmograph

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a wireless heart rate (HR) monitoring device based on photoplethysmography (PPG) and smart devices. PPG sensors use infrared (IR) light to obtain vital information to assess cardiac health and other physiologic conditions. The PPG data that are transferred to a computer undergo further processing to derive the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) signal, which is analyzed to generate quantitative markers of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). The HRV signal has numerous monitoring and diagnostic applications. To this end, wireless connectivity plays an important role in such biomedical instruments. The photoplethysmograph consists of an optical sensor to detect the changes in the light intensity reflected from the illuminated tissue, a signal conditioning unit to prepare the reflected light for further signal conditioning through amplification and filtering, a low-power microcontroller to control and digitize the analog PPG signal, and a Bluetooth module to transmit the digital data to a Bluetooth-based smart device such as a tablet. An Android app is then used to enable the smart device to acquire and digitally display the received analog PPG signal in real-time on the smart device. This article is concluded with the prototyping of the wireless PPG followed by the verification procedures of the PPG and HRV signals acquired in a laboratory environment.
Fluorescence-assisted cytological testing (FACT): Ex Vivo viral method for enhancing detection of rare cancer cells in body fluids

Cytological analysis of body fluids is currently used for detecting cancer. The objective of this study was to determine if the herpes virus carrying an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) could detect rare cancer cells in body fluids against millions of normal cells. Human cancer cells suspended with normal murine cells were infected with NV1066 at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.5 and 1.0 for 18 h. Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry were used for EGFP detection of cancer cells. EGFP-expressing cells were confirmed as cancer cells with specific markers by immunohistochemistry staining. Limits of detection of cancer cells in body fluid were measured by serial dilutions. Applicability of technique was confirmed with samples from patients with malignant pleural effusions. NV1066 expressed EGFP in 111 human cancer cell lines detected by fluorescent microscopy at an MOI of 0.5. NV1066 selectively infected cancer cells and spared normal cells as confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Sensitivity of detecting fluorescent green cells was 92% (confidence interval [CI] 83% to 97%) at a ratio of 1 cancer cell to 1 million normal cells. EGFP-positive cells were detected by fluorescent microscopy in patients' malignant pleural effusion samples. Our data show proof of the concept that NV1066-induced EGFP expression allows detection of a single cancer cell against a background of 1 million normal cells. This method was demonstrated to be a reliable screening tool for human cancer cells in a suspension of normal murine cells as well as clinical specimens of malignant pleural effusions.
Computer Evacuation Models for Buildings

With the rapid increase in computer capability and the increase in egress model development, there is a need for guidance on evacuation modeling, specifically the process involved and the models available. This chapter provides general guidance to users on the first three steps of the evacuation modeling process, namely, (1) identifying project requirements, (2) selecting the appropriate model (including a review of 26 current building evacuation models), and (3) configuring the model scenarios. In addition, an example of evacuation modeling configuration is provided to identify the factors to consider when configuring the building, the population, and the procedures. The chapter briefly reviews the final three steps of the evacuation modeling process, which are applying the model, obtaining output, and analyzing results. These final steps are important but only briefly mentioned due to the fact that these are often specific to the evacuation model chosen and the goals of the project. Overall, this chapter aims to provide necessary guidance that is general enough to be model independent and specific enough to be valuable to the model user.
The Quality of Quantitative Economic Policy-making when Targets and Costs of Change are Mis-specified

In a series of well-known works [3], [4], [5], [6], Tinbergen has made pioneering and outstanding contributions to the theory and application of quantitative economic policy-making (Q.E.P.).Tinbergen’s approach to Q.E.P. involves the following elements: (a) a criterion or welfare function that depends on certain economic variables, (b) a classification of variables into categories, target and non-target endogenous variables and instrumental and non-instrumental exogenous variables, (c) an econometric model involving relationships for variables and (d) boundary conditions for selected variables. Within this framework, which resembles closely the framework of modern control theory, Tinbergen provided simple, operational procedures for solving for values of policy instrument variables at a time when modern control theory was in its infancy.
Isotopic constraints on the genesis and evolution of basanitic lavas at Haleakala, Island of Maui, Hawaii

Abstract To understand the dynamics of solid mantle upwelling and melting in the Hawaiian plume, we present new major and trace element data, Nd, Sr, Hf, and Pb isotopic compositions, and 238U–230Th–226Ra and 235U–231Pa–227Ac activities for 13 Haleakala Crater nepheline normative basanites with ages ranging from ∼900 to 4100 yr B.P. These basanites of the Hana Volcanics exhibit an enrichment in incompatible trace elements and a more depleted isotopic signature than similarly aged Hawaiian shield lavas from Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Here we posit that as the Pacific lithosphere beneath the active shield volcanoes moves away from the center of the Hawaiian plume, increased incorporation of an intrinsic depleted component with relatively low 206Pb/204Pb produces the source of the basanites of the Hana Volcanics. Haleakala Crater basanites have average (230Th/238U) of 1.23 (n = 13), average age-corrected (226Ra/230Th) of 1.25 (n = 13), and average (231Pa/235U) of 1.67 (n = 4), significantly higher than Kilauea and Mauna Loa tholeiites. U-series modeling shows that solid mantle upwelling velocity for Haleakala Crater basanites ranges from ∼0.7 to 1.0 cm/yr, compared to ∼10 to 20 cm/yr for tholeiites and ∼1 to 2 cm/yr for alkali basalts. These modeling results indicate that solid mantle upwelling rates and porosity of the melting zone are lower for Hana Volcanics basanites than for shield-stage tholeiites from Kilauea and Mauna Loa and alkali basalts from Hualalai. The melting rate, which is directly proportional to both the solid mantle upwelling rate and the degree of melting, is therefore greatest in the center of the Hawaiian plume and lower on its periphery. Our results indicate that solid mantle upwelling velocity is at least 10 times higher at the center of the plume than at its periphery under Haleakala.
Does Rapid Sequence Induction Have a Role in Pediatric Anesthesia

A 5-year-old male presents to the emergency department (ED) with a right supracondylar fracture after falling from the monkey bars. He has no other injuries, no notable past medical history, and no past surgical history. He ate lunch about an hour prior to his fall and arrived in the ED approximately 30 min later. He has a 22-gauge IV in his left upper extremity and a splint to his right upper extremity. He is noticeably upset and tucked into his mother’s arms. The pediatric orthopedic surgeon would like to take him urgently to the operating room (OR) for a closed reduction with percutaneous pinning (CRPP), and possible open reduction with internal fixation if needed. The surgeon anticipates 20–30 min operative time and minimal blood loss for the case.
Abstract 373: The Association of 9p21.3 Locus with Coronary Atherosclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background The association between the 9p21-3 locus and coronary heart disease (CHD) is well known. We performed a systematic review of the literature to assess whether this locus was associated with severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Data Sources Multiple relevant electronic databases were searched through September 2012 for English language studies with comparative design. Data extraction We tested the association of the 9p21-3 locus: 1) measures of severity of coronary atherosclerosis [number of diseased vessels, Gensini Score, Duke CHD Prognostic Index (Dc.PI)]. 2) angiographic outcomes [change in minimum lumen diameter ([[Unable to Display Character: ∆]]MLD) and number of new lesions at follow-up] and 3) key clinical outcomes (all-cause mortality, recurrent myocardial infarction and need for coronary revascularization). Genotypes were classified either as homozygous low risk (Lo) or homozygous high risk (Hi). Data Synthesis Relative risks (RR) were pooled using the random effects model. Seventeen distinct data sets that included 15,826 participants were analyzed. Ten studies (n=9807) reported number of diseased vessels at baseline. Hi genotype was associated with a 33.7% increased risk of triple vessel disease (95% CI 1.08-1.65; p=0.01). The Hi genotype was associated 0.27 higher baseline Gensini Score (95% CI 0.04-0.48; p=0.01) in 3787 individuals. The locus was not associated with Dc.PI [RR=0.21 (95% CI -0.14-0.55; p=0.25)]. The high risk genotype did not predict [[Unable to Display Character: ∆]]MLD or number of new lesions at follow-up. There was no difference between Hi and Lo genotypes in terms of all-cause mortality [RR=1.13 (95%CI 0.90-1.41;p=0.28)], recurrent myocardial infarction (95%CI 0.92-1.40; p=0.24) or frequency of coronary revascularization [RR=1.101 95% CI (0.78-1.57); p=0.56]. Conclusion An association between 9p21-3 and greater baseline severity of coronary atherosclerosis was seen in this meta-analysis. However no association was seen between 9p21-3 and adverse angiographic and clinical outcomes which may be due to diminishing genetic risk following dietary modification and statin therapy.
Measurement of plasma cell-free DNA concentrations in dogs with sepsis, trauma, and neoplasia.

Objectives To determine if cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was identifiable in canine plasma, to evaluate 3 techniques for the measurement of plasma cfDNA concentrations in dogs presented to an emergency service, and to compare the plasma cfDNA concentrations of healthy dogs to those with sepsis, trauma, and neoplasia. Design Retrospective study of banked canine plasma samples collected between May 2014 and December 2014. Setting Dogs presented to the emergency service of a university veterinary teaching hospital. Animals Plasma cfDNA was measured on residual plasma samples obtained from 15 dogs with sepsis, 15 dogs with moderate-severe trauma, 15 dogs diagnosed with a sarcoma. Plasma cfDNA was also measured in 15 healthy dogs. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Assay linearity, repeatability, and reproducibility were evaluated. Quantification of cfDNA was performed in duplicate on diluted citrated plasma and following DNA purification using 2 fluorescence assays (SYBR-Gold; Quant-iT) and by ultraviolet absorbance spectroscopy. Fluorescence intensities (FIs) were converted to cfDNA concentrations using standard curves. Median FI values and cfDNA concentrations were compared to healthy controls using the Kruskal–Wallis test, with adjustment for multiple comparisons. Alpha was set at 0.05. Both assays had excellent linearity, and acceptable repeatability and reproducibility. Compared to controls, plasma cfDNA concentrations were significantly increased in dogs with sepsis or moderate-severe trauma with both assays (P ≤ 0.003). Dogs with neoplasia had significantly increased cfDNA concentrations with the Quant-iT assay only (P = 0.003). When measurements were performed on purified DNA, only dogs with moderate-severe trauma had significantly increased cfDNA concentrations (P < 0.001; SYBR-Gold assay). Conclusions cfDNA can be readily identified in canine plasma using 2 fluorescence assays. DNA extraction offers no advantage over direct measurement. Compared to healthy controls, dogs with sepsis or moderate-severe trauma have significantly increased plasma cfDNA concentrations.
Beyond the algorithm: Implementation of a hospitalist-led pre-operative clinic assessment before cardiac surgery

Abstract With the growth of dedicated pre-operative clinics in recent decades, patients have access to formalized and rigorous assessments in the days to weeks before surgery. The hallmark of pre-operative evaluations is cardiac risk stratification before non-cardiac surgery, yet any organ system has the potential to be addressed or further optimized before surgery. A formal, global clinic-based risk assessment before cardiac surgery seems to be a novel pre-operative clinic practice pattern, especially for a hospitalist-led preoperative medicine clinic. In July 2014, the Pre-Operative Medicine Clinic (PMC) within the Division of Hospital Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University began to formally assess patients before cardiac surgery. Here, we aim to describe our first year's experience with this patient population and report on its efficacy and practicality.
Near-simultaneous intravital microscopy of glucose uptake and mitochondrial membrane potential, key endpoints that reflect major metabolic axes in cancer

While the demand for metabolic imaging has increased in recent years, simultaneous in vivo measurement of multiple metabolic endpoints remains challenging. Here we report on a novel technique that provides in vivo high-resolution simultaneous imaging of glucose uptake and mitochondrial metabolism within a dynamic tissue microenvironment. Two indicators were leveraged; 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1, 3-diazol-4-yl) amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-NBDG) reports on glucose uptake and Tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) reports on mitochondrial membrane potential. Although we demonstrated that there was neither optical nor chemical crosstalk between 2-NBDG and TMRE, TMRE uptake was significantly inhibited by simultaneous injection with 2-NBDG in vivo. A staggered delivery scheme of the two agents (TMRE injection was followed by 2-NBDG injection after a 10-minute delay) permitted near-simultaneous in vivo microscopy of 2-NBDG and TMRE at the same tissue site by mitigating the interference of 2-NBDG with normal glucose usage. The staggered delivery strategy was evaluated under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions in normal tissues as well as in a murine breast cancer model. The results were consistent with those expected for independent imaging of 2-NBDG and TMRE. This optical imaging technique allows for monitoring of key metabolic endpoints with the unique benefit of repeated, non-destructive imaging within an intact microenvironment.
Typification of the Endemic Malagasy Species Mediusella bernieri (Sarcolaenaceae)

Mediusella bernieri (Baill.) Hutch. [≡ Leptolaena bernieri Baill.] has long been recognized as a distinct species, but its typification has remained inadequate up until now. To address this issue, a lectotype is designated here from among the most suitable original material.
Integral accuracy and experimental evidence for the stability of time domain integral equations

In the analysis of time domain integral equations for the solution of electromagnetic problems, experience is the primary guide to choosing simulation parameters (such as integration rules and orders for the computation of kernel elements) that ensure stability. To improve this state of affairs, previous work examined the effects of integration orders on stability. In this work, adaptive quadrature will be used so that impact of integration accuracy on stability can be more finely assessed. Numerical results show that numerical integrals are not as reliable as practitioners often assume, and that high accuracy in the near field integration must be employed to achieve stability.
Pairing Organizational and Individual Factors to Improve Employees’ Risk Responsiveness:

Scholars and practitioners have established various mechanisms and processes that help safeguard employee health and safety. Extant literature emphasizes the importance of training workers to respo...
Opposite Extremes: How Two Editors Portrayed a Civil War Atrocity

Abstract The Battle of Poison Spring was one of the greatest Confederate successes of the Civil War in Arkansas. On the other hand, it was one of the greatest Confederate excesses in the state. One historian has referred to the battle as the Poison Spring Massacre, the “worst war crime ever committed on Arkansas soil.” This article examines how two Arkansas newspapers covered the incident. One newspaper, the fledgling Fort Smith New Era, was pro-Union. The other newspaper, the Washington Telegraph, was pro-Confederacy. These newspapers are notable because the New Era, represented a strong Republican voice in Arkansas during the last two years of the Civil War and for 20 years thereafter, while the Telegraph was, by the time of the battle, the voice of Confederate Arkansas. Examining these newspapers' coverage provides an opportunity to compare how the same event was reported from sharply contrasting perspectives and to add to the body of scholarly research devoted to journalism as practiced in Arkansas du...
Blastocyst development rate influences implantation and live birth rates of similarly graded euploid blastocysts.

Objective To determine whether the blastocyst development rate, as assessed by the day of trophectoderm biopsy (day 5 vs. day 6), affects the live birth rate (LBR) of similarly graded euploid blastocysts. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Patients who underwent frozen-thawed single euploid blastocyst transfers from 2013 to 2016 were included. Blastocyst morphologic grading was performed on day 5 or day 6 before the biopsy, with embryos designated into the following groups: good (3–6AA, 3–6AB, and 3–6BA), average (2–6BB), and poor (2–6BC and 2–6CB). Intervention(s) Frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Main Outcome Measure(s) Implantation rate (IR) and LBR. Result(s) A total of 701 frozen-thawed single euploid blastocyst transfer cycles were included. Cycles in which day 5 blastocysts were transferred (n = 366) were associated with a significantly higher LBR than those in which day 6 blastocysts were transferred (n = 335; 60.4% vs. 44.8%). The odds ratio remained significant after controlling for all confounders, including the blastocyst grading. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in LBRs between good-quality, average-quality, and poor-quality blastocysts (67.8%, 53.4%, and 29.5%, respectively). Embryos reaching good-quality blastocysts on day 5 yielded significantly higher LBR (72.8% vs. 56.5%) and IR (77.7% vs. 58.7%) compared with those reaching similar quality blastocysts on day 6. Similarly, day 5 average-quality embryos conveyed a significantly higher IR compared with day 6 embryos of the same quality (64.4% vs. 53.4%). Conclusion(s) In addition to aneuploidy assessment, the speed of embryo development to the blastocyst stage and an evaluation of blastocyst morphology are critical to selecting the best embryo.
Double Complexes and Euler L-Factors

In this paper we take into consideration a conjecture of Bloch equating in a suitable range and under some standard conjectures, the rank of the motivic cohomology of the special fiber of a semistable degeneration over the ring of integers of a number field with the order of zero of the local Euler factor of the L-function over the semistable prime corresponding to the special fiber. We then develop, following the philosophy that the fiber ‘at infinity’ of an arithmetic variety should be considered as ‘maximally degenerate’, a construction that goes in parallel to the one we use for the non-archimedean fiber. Namely, a definition of a double complex and a weighted operator N on it that plays the role of the logarithm of the (local) monodromy map at infinity. We like to see this archimedean theory as the analogue of the limiting mixed Hodge structure theory of a degeneration of projective varieties over a disc. In particular, this yields to a description of the (motivic) Deligne cohomology as homology of the mapping cone of N. The main result arising from this construction is the proof of a conjecture of Deninger. Namely we show that the archimedean Γ-factor of the Zeta-function of the archimedean fiber can be seen as the characteristic polynomial of an archimedean Frobenius acting on the subgroup of the invariants of N into the hypercohomology of our double complex.
Immigration Enforcement, Older Latino Immigrants, and Implications for Health

The passage of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) and other subsequent restrictive immigration policies have escalated deportations and created stress and fear among Latino immigrants. In this article, we conceptualize migration as a process that can negatively affect the physical or mental health of immigrants during their journeys and long after they settle in a foreign land. Using Pew Research Center data and regression analyses, we find that the predicted probabilities of fearing immigration enforcement among foreign-born individuals aged 50 and over without citizenship or permanent residence are not negligible. Moreover, we find evidence of a direct association between the disapproval of enforcement measures and fear of immigration enforcement. We discuss the implications of fear of immigration enforcement for the wellbeing of older immigrants.
Matrix mechanical plasticity regulates cancer cell migration through confining microenvironments

Studies of cancer cell migration have found two modes: one that is protease-independent, requiring micron-sized pores or channels for cells to squeeze through, and one that is protease-dependent, relevant for confining nanoporous matrices such as basement membranes (BMs). However, many extracellular matrices exhibit viscoelasticity and mechanical plasticity, irreversibly deforming in response to force, so that pore size may be malleable. Here we report the impact of matrix plasticity on migration. We develop nanoporous and BM ligand-presenting interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogels in which plasticity could be modulated independent of stiffness. Strikingly, cells in high plasticity IPNs carry out protease-independent migration through the IPNs. Mechanistically, cells in high plasticity IPNs extend invadopodia protrusions to mechanically and plastically open up micron-sized channels and then migrate through them. These findings uncover a new mode of protease-independent migration, in which cells can migrate through confining matrix if it exhibits sufficient mechanical plasticity.
South Vietnamese Soldiers: Memories of the Vietnam War and After

History may be written by the winners of great military and political struggles, but the defeated also have tales and memories to tell. In the case of the Vietnam War, the contrast between grand na...
Direct Oral Anticoagulants: An Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy in Cardiothoracic Transplant Recipients

Purpose The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has not been fully adopted by the solid organ transplant (SOT) community due to several transplant-specific factors including, fluctuating renal function, drug-drug interactions, routine biopsies, and the limited availability of reversal agents. In addition, there is limited data evaluating the safety and efficacy of using DOACs in SOT recipients. The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of apixaban versus non-apixaban DOAC (NA-DOAC) therapy in cardiothoracic transplant recipients (CTRs). Methods A single center, retrospective chart review of heart, heart-kidney, and lung transplant recipients who received DOAC therapy between 1/1/2011-6/31/2018. Patients lost to follow-up or receiving a DOAC for less than one month were excluded. Results A total of 38 CTRs were included in the study with 26 (68.4%) receiving apixaban and 12 (31.6%) receiving NA-DOAC therapy (dabigatran n=2; rivaroxaban n=10). Baseline demographics were similar between the two cohorts (Table 1). There were numerically lower bleeding (12% vs. 25%, p = 0.35) and thromboembolic (15% vs. 33%, p=0.23) events in the apixaban vs. the NA-DOAC group. Potential risk factors for bleeding events in CTRs included age ≥72 (p=0.02), single-lung transplant recipients (p=0.006), and a HAS-BLED score ≥3 (p=0.03). There were no statistically significant risk factors for thromboembolic events, however, patients with events (n=8) were dosed below the recommended package insert dosing (50% vs. 27%, p=0.71). Conclusion Apixaban appears to be the more favorable DOAC in SOT patients due to decreased rates of bleeding and thromboembolic events. Patient-specific characteristics should be taken into consideration when initiating DOAC therapy in SOT patients.