cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zero‐Base Budgeting Redux in Georgia: Efficiency or Ideology?

Zero-base budgeting reentered the Georgia budgetary process in 2012 after a hiatus of approximately three decades. This article describes the events leading up to the reentry of ZBB, compares the new version of ZBB with the original version implemented during the administration of Governor Jimmy Carter in the 1970s, and assesses the likely impact of this latest budget reform for Georgia and other state governments. Even though the nomenclature, “ZBB,” used to describe the current Georgia budget process is the same as that used to describe the state's budget process during the Carter administration, operationally the Carter-era and new ZBB are not the same. The Carter-era ZBB had a unique and clearly defined terminology and set of procedures, whereas the new ZBB relies mostly on existing performance-budget procedures. The Carter-era ZBB purported to build the budget up from a zero base. The new ZBB is about drilling down into the base or continuation budget. The Carter-era ZBB was a managerial process intended to achieve efficiency and effectiveness. The new ZBB is more ideologically conservative with the aim of cutting the budget and shrinking state government. Claimed budget reductions may be significant at the micro-level, but they probably are not at the macro-level. However, it may not matter what cost reductions are actually realized. The symbolic effect of the ZBB process is what is most important, confirming the fiscal conservative bona fides of state government leaders.
The Far-Anchor Effect: Errors in the Perception of Motion and Implications for Aviation Safety:

The far-anchor effect is responsible for a motion-in-depth illusion that has only recently been recognized. When viewing conditions are limited, motions in depth of a farther target in a two-object display may readily be perceived as opposite motions in depth of the nearer target. The present studies determined whether this error could be avoided through controlled fixation or training with feedback. Under conditions of reduced visibility, participants (college students) viewed 64 two-target presentations varying in the position of the moving target and its direction of motion. Neither fixation instructions nor informational feedback about motion errors affected the occurrence of the basic illusion, nor did a vertical separation of the targets eliminate the main effect, indicating the robustness of the motion illusion under some relatively realistic variations. Such errors in judging motion in depth have significance for both midair collisions between aircraft and ground-incursion accidents under conditions of reduced visibility. Potential applications include the elaboration of examples used in pilot training programs or in training programs for ground personnel.
The effect of Lanthanum on electrophoretic mobility and passive cation movements of the ehrlich ascites tumor cell

We have investigated the effects of La+3 binding to the surface of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells on cell electrophoretic mobility and passive movements of Na+ and K+. Incubation of tumor cells in La+3-containing media results in a La+3 concentration-dependent decrease in net surface charge negativity. At [La+3] greater than 0.5 mM, the net surface charge becomes positive with maximum positivity occurring at [La+3] = 0.9 mM. The effects of La+3 binding on passive Na+ and K+ movements were investigated by following 22Na and K+ losses from ouabain-inhibited cells. Neither low (0.02) nor high (1.0 mM) [La+3] had any effect on the K+ efflux rate coefficient. 22Na losses from control and La+3-treated cells were consistent with washouts from two cellular compartments. Low [La+3] (0.02 mM) was without effect on Na+ losses from the cells. However, higher [La+3] (1.0 mM) resulted in a 48% inhibition of Na+ loss from the more slowly exchanging compartment. These results are not consistent with simple electrostatic interactions exerting a major influence on the passive movements of Na+ and K+. It is suggested that La+3 interacts with sites specific for Na+, perhaps involved in a carrier-mediated exchange system.
Preliminary evaluation of the reliability and validity of the Shame and Stigma Scale in head and neck cancer

Background. Facial disfigurement from head and neck cancer can lead to the development of shame and a perception of stigma. We sought to develop the Shame and Stigma Scale (SSS) to measure this. Methods. Items were administered to 104 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, together with measures of quality of life and adaptation. Exploratory factor analysis and item response theory (IRT) models assessed its psychometric properties. Results. A 20-item SSS had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.94 and 4 factors: shame with appearance, sense of stigma, regret, and speech/social concerns. These factors show satisfactory internal validity, convergent validity with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT-H&N), Demoralization Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) Depression, and divergent validity with the Social Desirability Scale. The items displayed desirable properties in factor-specific (IRT) models. Conclusion. Further validation studies are worthwhile to confirm this factor structure, reliability, and validity, and generalizability to all head and neck cancers. V C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 35: 172- 183, 2013
Development of thrombocytosis in HIV+ drug users: impact of antiretroviral therapy

With the exception of hemolytic anemia, the potential hematological toxicity of antiretrovirals (ARV) and combination treatments in HIV treated individuals has not been well established. We report, for the first time, hematological toxicity defined as thrombocytosis in 9% of the HIV+ patients receiving highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) being followed in a nutritional clinical trial. Participants were evaluated every 6 months during a 2-year period (1998-2000) and blood drawn for biochemical, hematological and immunological parameters. NK cells were negatively correlated with platelet counts in the total cohort (P = 0.018) and persistently elevated with ARVT. Chronic thrombocytosis was associated with significantly lower NK percentages (P = 0.005). Twenty-five percent of the patients with thrombocytosis developed a cardiovascular disease. Together, these results support the proposal that HAART may increase the risk of hematological dysfunction and impact the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Is albumin use SAFE in patients with traumatic brain injury

uid resuscitation in patients with traumatic brain injury. N Engl J Med 2007, 357:874-884 [1]. Background The Saline versus Albumin Fluid Evaluation study suggested that patients with traumatic brain injury resuscitated with albumin had a higher mortality rate than those resuscitated with saline. The SAFE investigators conducted a post hoc follow-up study of patients with traumatic brain injury who were enrolled in the study. Methods Objective: The aims of the study were to document baseline characteristics that are known to infl uence outcomes from traumatic brain injury in the albumin and saline groups and to compare death and functional neurologic outcomes in the two groups 24 months after randomization. Design: A post hoc follow-up study of patients with traumatic brain injury who were enrolled in the SAFE study. Setting: Intensive care units of 16 academic tertiary hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. Subjects: 460 patients 18 years or older with traumatic brain injury (i.e., a history of trauma, evidence of head trauma on a computed tomographic [CT] scan, and a score of ≤13 on the Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS]). Intervention: 231 (50.2%) received four percent albumin and 229 (49.8%) received saline. Outcomes: The primary outcome measures were the mortality rate and functional neurologic outcome 24 months after randomization. Multivariate logistic-regression was used to adjustment for baseline covariates known to be associated with increased mortality from traumatic brain injury (age older than 60 years, GCS score of 8, systolic pressure of <90 mm Hg, and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage). Analyses were conducted in all patients and in subgroups according to severity of traumatic brain injury. Results The subgroup of patients with GCS scores of 3 to 8 were classifi ed as having severe brain injury (160 [69.3%] in the albumin group and 158 [69.0%] in the saline group). Demographic characteristics and severity of brain injury were similar at baseline. At 2 years, 71 of 214 patients in the albumin group (33.2%) had died, as compared with 42 of 206 in the saline group (20.4%) (relative risk, 1.63; 95% confi dence interval [CI], 1.17 to 2.26; P=0.003). Among patients with severe brain injury, 61 of 146 patients in the albumin group (41.8%) died, as compared with 32 of 144 in the saline group (22.2%) (relative risk, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.31 to 2.70; P<0.001); among patients with GCS scores of 9 to 12, death occurred in 8 of 50 patients in the albumin group (16.0%) and 8 of 37 in the saline group (21.6%) (relative risk, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.31 to 1.79; P=0.50). Conclusions In this post hoc study of critically ill patients with traumatic brain injury, flresuscitation with albumin was associated with higher mortality rates than was resuscitation with saline. (Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN76588266.)
Consequences of impaired microcystin production for light-dependent growth and pigmentation of Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806

Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 produces potent inhibitors of eukaryotic protein phosphatases called microcystins, whose function to the organism is presently unknown. Mutants with impaired microcystin biosynthesis should provide a useful tool for investigations of microcystin function. This study has focussed on the comparison of growth and pigment content of strain PCC 7806 and its mcyB− mutant deficient in microcystin biosynthesis, under semicontinuous culture conditions. Both wild-type and mutant are characterised by a very low light demand and low-maximum specific growth rates in comparison to other Microcystis strains studied. While growth of wild-type and mutant were similar under different light conditions, the mutant cells showed significantly higher specific absorbances in the range of photosynthetic active radiance 420–700 nm, under light-limiting conditions. The mutant cells possess lower contents of chlorophyll a, β-carotene, zeaxanthin and echinenone under light limitation and of myxoxanthophyll under saturated light conditions. Though microcystins are clearly not essential for growth, the observed effects of the mutation are a first indication of their involvement in intracellular processes.
Longterm Trends in Nest Counts of Colonial Seabirds in South Carolina, USA

Abstract We analyzed temporal and spatial trends in annual nest counts of Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), Royal Terns (Sterna maxima), and Sandwich Terns (Sterna sandvicensis) throughout South Carolina from 1969 through 2005. There was an increase in the number of active pelican nests from 1969 through the mid 1980s, although this was followed by a steady decline that continued through 2005. Numbers of Royal Tern nests have declined during the study period, especially since 1990. In contrast, annual counts of active Sandwich Tern nests remained relatively stable through the mid 1980s, then increased substantially and have since remained stable. During the early years of the study, a greater proportion of nests from each species occurred on colonies within the Cape Romain region, although this distribution appears to have shifted with a greater proportion of nests now occurring along the southern coast. At the statewide level and at each of the primary colonies, we observed a positive correlation ...
Changes in Plasma Testosterone Levels During the Annual Reproductive Cycle of the Hibernating Bat, Myotis lucifugus lucifugus with a Survey of Plasma Testosterone Levels in Adult Male Vertebrates

Plasma testosterone concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in a wild population of the male hibernating bat, Myotis lucifugus lucifugus, (Chiroptera;Vespertilionidae) throughout the entire annual reproductive cycle. Baseline levels (2.5 ± 0.3-11.7 ± 3.2 ng/ml) occur during the early phases of spermatogenesis (May to mid-July), during the breeding period (September to May) and throughout hibernation (late September to April). These levels are similar to those reported for most adult breeding mammals. During the latter part of spermatogenesis (mid-July to late August) and just prior to maximum hypertrophy of the sex accessory glands, plasma testosterone rises to very high levels with a peak (59.1 ± 9.2 ng/ml) occurring in mid-August. This peak is one of the highest known values for adult mammals. The data suggest that a testosterone surge is required to stimulate the accessory glands fully, but lower levels of androgen are able to support them (as well as epididymal sperm and libido) during the breeding and hibernation seasons. However, these “lower” levels apparently are not sufficient to maintain the accessories when the bats emerge from hibernation in the spring, because these glands involute soon thereafter.
A Case Study Exploration of Faculty/Student Perceptions of a New E-Learning Platform Intended to Promote Transformative Learning

This research study explores the role of mediation in enhancing transformative learning and in fostering an integrative vision for higher online education. Three different models will be explored: 1) Theoretical mediation models facilitate the development of transformative learning skills. 2) Effective mediation and (aml) technology are both equally needed in online graduate programs.3) Transformative learning (defined as: centrality of experience, critical reflection, and rational discourse) is significant to the learning process.The study also focuses on the potential impact of peer mentors, facilitators, and formative assessment tools (such as Knowledge Checks) in online graduate courses. Retention needs of Institutions of Higher Education are served best when students’ motivation can be maintained through continuous connections with at least one instructor and/or one classmate. Empirical studies indicate transformative learning is significant to the learning process. Research suggests ambient intelligence (AML) enhanced by trained, experienced, and effective faculty may foster transformative learning and deepen the relationship between chair, committee members, faculty members, and peers. For the purpose of this study the perception of online faculty on the potential of AML and effective mediation (WICS, SCM) as a vision of 21st century online learning environments will be explored. Insights gained from this study may explain some of the needs and attitudes of online doctoral students and may help online colleges and universities identifying strategies that can address them. Application of this model may improve doctoral students’ transformative learning experience in online graduate classes.
NOVEL APP FOR SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS TO OPTIMIZE AND STANDARDIZE DRUG PRESCRIPTIONS IN NEONATES

Background Neonates in intensive care units (NICU) are highly vulnerable to medication errors. Studies indicate that junior doctors have a prescribing error rate of up to 10%. Prescription errors result in overdosing or underdosing and affect clinical outcomes. Advances in mobile technology have brought opportunities for creating bedside decision support tools, including smartphone applications (apps). Ownership of smartphones and tablets by medical professionals is 80% or higher. The most commonly used apps amongst medical trainees are drug prescription guidelines and calculators. Results Novel drug prescription app based on reference texts such as the British National Formulary for children (BNFc), neonatal formulary seventh edition (NNF7) and the Red Book of the American Academy of Pediatrics. This app permits neonatologists to easily access up-to-date dose information and quickly calculate individual dose based on a patient9s characteristics (e.g. weight, age, serum creatinine value). Conclusion Apps for smartphones and tablets can serve as bedside decision support tools in neonatology. Pharmacometric modeling can be built in such apps to leverage historical and current patient data, individualize dosing strategies, and further optimize treatment benefits for neonates. Furthermore such applications may facilitate standardization of drug prescriptions among the nine NICUs in Switzerland.
Complications after tracheal resection and reconstruction: prevention and treatment

Tracheal resection and reconstruction (TRR) and laryngotracheal resection and reconstruction (LTRR) is commonly performed for post-intubation tracheal stenosis, tracheal tumor, idiopathic laryngotracheal stenosis (ILTS), and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). Ninety-five percent of patients have a good result from surgery. Complications occur in ~20% of patients, of which half are anastomotic complications. Complications include granulation tissue formation, restenosis of the trachea, anastomotic separation, TEF and tracheoinnominate fistula (TIF), wound infection, laryngeal edema, and glottic dysfunction. Risk factors for anastomotic complication include diabetes, reoperation, previous tracheal appliance, and long-segment tracheal resection. Bronchoscopy should be part of the diagnostic workup when a complication is suspected. Anastomotic separation-the most feared complication of tracheal surgery-may present subtly with stridor and wound infection, or with respiratory distress and extremis. Prompt management is required to prevent devastating consequences. The airway should be secured, bronchoscopy should be performed to address the degree of separation, and the anastomosis should be revised if needed, usually with the addition of t-tube or tracheostomy. Anastomotic complications that are managed aggressively typically yield good results. More than half of such patients will eventually have a satisfactory airway. However, an anastomotic complication is associated with a thirteen-fold increase in the risk of death following tracheal resection.
Kinetic analysis of Sp1-mediated transcriptional activation of the human DNA polymerase β promoter

In the present studies, we have examined the effect of Sp1 on the activation of the human DNA polymerase β (β-pol), a TATA-less promoter. A HeLa cell nuclear extract (NE) based in vitro runoff transcription system of core β-pol promoter human DNA (pβP8) three-step kinetic model of transcription initiation were used to describe the kinetic effect of Sp1. The results showed that distal Sp1-binding sites in the core β-pol promoter are important for transcriptional activation of the pβP8 promoter. A detailed kinetic analysis showed that Sp1 stimulates the activity of the pβP8 promoter through distal Sp1-binding sites by increasing the amount of recruitment, instead of stimulating the apparent rate of RPc assembly (k1). There was no significant effect of Sp1 on the apparent rate of open complex (RPo) formation (k2) or on the apparent rate of promoter clearance (k3) of the pβP8 promoter. These studies define the kinetic mechanisms by which Sp1 may regulate the rate of transcript formation of the pβP8 promoter, and these results may have implications for Sp1 regulation of TATA-less promoters.
Routine or selective intraoperative cholangiography in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

ABSTRACT The routine versus selective use of intraoperative cholangiography has been the subject of debate for some time. Most authors currently advocate routine intraoperative cholangiography with...
SAC-1

The SAC-1 program was compiled with the IBM FORTRAN-G Compiler on the IBM 360/65, running under OS-MVT. The amount of core used was 110K words. (Not all this space was used for n = 1,...,11. since available space was exhausted while computering n = 12.)
Research on Site Diagnosis Technology of Electric Energy Data Acquire System

According to the design scheme of different data acquire terminal, this paper studies electric energy data acquisition system site diagnosis method used for construction of smart grid, and presents the second pulse incremental statistical expanding algorithm based on the pulse input unit and a precision timing source, developed a site diagnosis system of portable mobile, and automatic test software used in the test system. The system can provide controllable on-site environment parameters according to the test plan, change the input to the on-site data acquire terminal, analyze the communication content and output. The test results show that the test system can accurately measure the working parameters of data acquire terminal, and meet the system design requirements.
Assessment of Heat Tolerance of Common Plants for Green Roof

Screening of plants suitable for roof greening will help to achieve diversity and stability of roof greening in China.Heat tolerance is one of parameters for green roof plants.4 candidate plant species including Sedum lineare,Dwarf lilyturf,Festuca arundinacea and Trifolium repens Linn.were studied,and their morphological characteristics,visual quality,content of proline,SOD and MDA activity,soluble sugar content as well as chlorophyll content under high temperature conditions were measured.Results showed that all plants growth and physiology index changed under heat stress,and they had significant difference.Results indicated that the order of heat resistance from high to low as Sedum lineare,Dwarf lilyturf,Festuca arundinacea and Trifolium repens Linn.Using the method of grey correlative analysis,the correlation of heat resistance of 4 varieties and 5 heat resistance indexes were analyzed.Results with grey correlative degree analysis showed that the order of correlative degree of heat resistance and index of 4 varieties was MDA,SOD,chlorophyll,Pro and soluble sugar content.
Mathematical and Physical Simulation Study on Flow Field of Molten Steel in Three-Strand Tundish

The flow field of molten steel in the three-strand tundish was studied by the commercial software CFX and the water simulation.After analyzing and comparing the flow state of the original and improved tundish,the results are obtained as follows:The results of numerical simulation are the same as that of hydraulic model.The apparent short road flow is found in the original tundish and the proportion of dead zone is large,which is more than 50%.After transforming the tundish,the flow performance of the molten steel in the tundish has been improved significantly and the dead volume fraction is reduced sharply to less than 20%,the minimum value is only 9.41%.The field experiment shows that the maximum temperature differences of molten steel between middle and side nozzle outlet has been reduced from 5℃ to 2℃.The accident rate has been decreased obviously so as to reach the expected metallurgical results.
Incremental region selection for mini-bucket elimination bounds

Region choice is a key issue for many approximate inference bounds. Mini-bucket elimination avoids the space and time complexity of exact inference by using a top-down partitioning approach that mimics the construction of a junction tree and aims to minimize the number of regions subject to a bound on their size; however, these methods rarely take into account functions' values. In contrast, message passing algorithms often use "cluster pursuit" methods to select regions, a bottom-up approach in which a predefined set of clusters (such as triplets) is scored and incrementally added. In this work, we develop a hybrid approach that balances the advantages of both perspectives, providing larger regions chosen in an intelligent, energy-based way. Our method is applicable to bounds on a variety of inference tasks, and we demonstrate its power empirically on a broad array of problem types.
Algorithms for the densest sub-lattice problem

We give algorithms for computing the densest k-dimensional sublattice of an arbitrary lattice, and related problems. This is an important problem in the algorithmic geometry of numbers that includes as special cases Rankin's problem (which corresponds to the densest sub-lattice problem with respect to the Euclidean norm, and has applications to the design of lattice reduction algorithms), and the shortest vector problem for arbitrary norms (which corresponds to setting k = 1) and its dual (k = n − 1). Our algorithm works for any norm and has running time kO(k·n) and uses 2n poly(n) space. In particular, the algorithm runs in single exponential time 2O(n) for any constant k = O(1).
The Firearm for Protection? A Risky Bet

When a patient threatened to kill me 4 years ago, the experience changed my thoughts and actions about life and death... Language: en
Are social media emancipatory or hegemonic? societal effects of mass media digitization in the case of the SOPA discourse

Mass media digitization is an unfolding phenomenon, posing novel societal opportunities and challenges that researchers are beginning to note. We build on and extend MIS research on process digitization and digital versus traditional communication media to study how and to what extent social media—one form of digital mass media—are emancipatory (i.e., permitting wide-spread participation in public discourse and surfacing of diverse perspectives) versus hegemonic (i.e., contributing to ideological control by a few). While a pressing concern to activists and scholars, systematic study of this issue has been elusive, owing partially to the complexity of the emancipation and hegemony concepts. Using a case study approach, we iteratively engaged with data on the discourse surrounding the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and source literature to identify six facets of interpretive media packages (i.e., competing social constructions of an issue) as measurable constructs pertinent to emancipation and hegemony. These facets included three structural constraints (on authorship, citation, and influence) and three content restrictions (on frames, signatures, and emotion). We investigated propositions regarding effects of social versus traditional media and lean versus rich social media on these interpretive media package facets by comparing the SOPA discourse across two lean traditional and social media (newspapers and Twitter) and two rich traditional and social media (television and YouTube). Our findings paradoxically revealed social media to be emancipatory with regard to structural constraints, but hegemonic with regard to an important content restriction (i.e., frames). Lean social media mitigated structural advantages and exacerbated content problems. These findings suggest that, as with traditional media, some inevitable evils accompany the societal benefits of social media and that mass media is having a detrimental effect on public discourse. We offer practical steps by which private and public institutions may counter this effect, theoretical implications for wider consideration of the six interpretive media package facets proposed here, and encouragement to MIS researchers to increase their efforts to compare different digitized processes so that a more comprehensive theory of the effects of different forms of digitized processes can be developed.
Cough and Allergic Diseases

Cough is an essential mechanism for airway clearance and protection, but it is also a troublesome symptom and one of the most commonly encountered in the outpatient setting across a variety of disciplines. Cough represents a challenge for primary care and specialty physicians alike given its pathophysiologic complexity, broad differential, and sometimes elusive nature. The global impact of cough on healthcare cost is substantial, and it is responsible for more than 30 million outpatient visits per year in the United States alone. This has prompted the development of national guidelines surrounding the diagnosis and management of cough.
Soil heating during the complete combustion of mega-logs and broadcast burning in central Oregon USA pumice soils

The environmental effect of extreme soil heating, such as occurs with the complete combustion of large downed wood during wildfires, is a post-fire management concern to forest managers. To address this knowledge gap, we stacked logs to create ‘mega-log’ burning conditions and compared the temperature, duration and penetration of the soil heat pulse in nine high intensity burned (HB) plots paired with adjacent masticated and broadcast burned low intensity burned (LB) plots at different soil depths (0, 5, 10 and 30 cm) in a Pinus ponderosa stand with volcanic pumice soils. Maximum soil surface temperatures ranges were 424–1168°C with a mean and standard error of 759 ± 9°C in the HB treatment and 42–360°C (107 ± 43°C) in the LB treatment. In the HB treatment, temperatures causing fine root and soil organism mortality (>60°C) penetrated the soil to at least 10 cm, but were not recorded at 30 cm. In the HB treatment, mean duration above 60°C at 0–10 cm persisted for 4–13 h (7.61 ± 1.02 h). Soils in the LB treatment experienced lethal temperatures at the surface for about an hour (1.19 ± 0.70 h) and at 5 cm were mostly well below lethal temperatures with the exception of one at 57°C and another at 100°C that remained above 60°C for 1.4 h. Large areas of high burn severity may affect long-term forest productivity. Our quantification of soil heating establishes conditions for ongoing studies investigating the effects of soil burn severity on tree seedling growth, soil fungi and nutrients.
NS1 Protein Mutation I64T Affects Interferon Responses and Virulence of Circulating H3N2 Human Influenza A Viruses.

ABSTRACT Influenza NS1 protein is the main viral protein counteracting host innate immune responses, allowing the virus to efficiently replicate in interferon (IFN)-competent systems. In this study, we analyzed NS1 protein variability within influenza A (IAV) H3N2 viruses infecting humans during the 2012-2013 season. We also evaluated the impact of the mutations on the ability of NS1 proteins to inhibit host innate immune responses and general gene expression. Surprisingly, a previously unidentified mutation in the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding domain (I64T) decreased NS1-mediated general inhibition of host protein synthesis by decreasing its interaction with cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 30 (CPSF30), leading to increased innate immune responses after viral infection. Notably, a recombinant A/Puerto Rico/8/34 H1N1 virus encoding the H3N2 NS1-T64 protein was highly attenuated in mice, most likely because of its ability to induce higher antiviral IFN responses at early times after infection and because this virus is highly sensitive to the IFN-induced antiviral state. Interestingly, using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected at the acute visit (2 to 3 days after infection), we show that the subject infected with the NS1-T64 attenuated virus has diminished responses to interferon and to interferon induction, suggesting why this subject could be infected with this highly IFN-sensitive virus. These data demonstrate the importance of influenza virus surveillance in identifying new mutations in the NS1 protein, affecting its ability to inhibit innate immune responses and, as a consequence, the pathogenicity of the virus. IMPORTANCE Influenza A and B viruses are one of the most common causes of respiratory infections in humans, causing 1 billion infections and between 300,000 and 500,000 deaths annually. Influenza virus surveillance to identify new mutations in the NS1 protein affecting innate immune responses and, as a consequence, the pathogenicity of the circulating viruses is highly relevant. Here, we analyzed amino acid variability in the NS1 proteins from human seasonal viruses and the effect of the mutations in innate immune responses and virus pathogenesis. A previously unidentified mutation in the dsRNA-binding domain decreased NS1-mediated general inhibition of host protein synthesis and the interaction of the protein with CPSF30. This mutation led to increased innate immune responses after viral infection, augmented IFN sensitivity, and virus attenuation in mice. Interestingly, using PBMCs, the subject infected with the virus encoding the attenuating mutation induced decreased antiviral responses, suggesting why this subject could be infected with this virus.
Modified Rapid AChE Method (MRAM) for Hirschsprung Disease Diagnosis: A Journey from Meier-Ruge Until Now

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) can be diagnosed using a variety of histological and immunohistochemical methods and stains. Because of the nature of the condition and the need for a rapid diagnostic confirmation, those methods with high accuracy and fast turnaround times are preferred. The authors of this paper have used rapid acetylcholinesterase (AChE) immunohistochemistry in conjunction with standard H&E in order to optimize diagnostic accuracy, and present a modified rapid AChE method (MRAM) that has been successfully utilized for over 20 years. The authors also present a list of over 30 different methods and stains that have been proposed for Hirschsprung disease diagnosis.
Race/ethnic comparisons of waist-to-height ratio for cardiometabolic screening: The study of women's health across the nation.

Objective To compare the performance of waist-to-height ratio as a screening tool for cardiometabolic conditions – hypertension, prediabetes/diabetes, dyslipidemia, and subclinical inflammation – in 5 race/ethnic groups of mid-life women. Methods Waist-to-height ratio and 4 cardiometabolic conditions were assessed in 3033 premenopausal midlife women (249 Hispanic, 226 Chinese, 262 Japanese, 1435 European-American, and 861 African American). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) were compared across the five race/ethnic groups using waist-to-height ratio to determine the likelihood of the four cardiometabolic conditions. Results The performance of waist-to-height ratio to detect one or more cardiometabolic conditions was comparable among all race/ethnic groups (AUROC > 0.60, p = 0.252), and was good/fair (AUROC > 0.60) when hypertension, prediabetes/diabetes, dyslipidemia, or subclinical inflammation were analyzed separately. The performance of waist-to-height ratio of 0.50 was skewed towards higher specificity among groups with low prevalence of cardiometabolic conditions and lower median waist-to-height ratio, and towards higher sensitivity among groups with high prevalence of cardiometabolic conditions and higher median waist-to-height ratio. Conclusions Waist-to-height ratio can be used for community-based screening of mid-life women who may need secondary prevention for cardiometabolic conditions. A simple public health message: “Keep your waist to less than half of your height” applies to midlife women.
Analysis and optimization of a microwave switching network using non-uniform transmission lines

This work presents an analysis and optimization of a microstrip wideband switching system for a 16×16 three-dimensional microwave imaging sensor array. Microwave switching system, or RF multiplexer, is necessary for microwave imaging system because of the limited transmitting/receiving port and multiple antenna elements. Using compact RF switches, a switching system selects and connects each of the array elements to the transmitter/receiver one a time in a quick way.
Examples of applied public health through the work of the Epidemic Intelligence Service officers at CDC's National Center for Environmental Health: 2006-2015.

The Epidemic Intelligence Service officers (EISOs) at the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) respond to public health outbreaks, assist public health surveillance, and recommend public health actions. We summarize the breadth of work done by EISOs assigned to NCEH/ATSDR during 2006–2015. We used the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases to identify articles authored by the EISOs, number and types of epidemiologic assistance field investigations (Epi-Aids), and interviewed NCEH/ATSDR programs with EISO assignees. The largest number of NCEH/ATSDR EISO publications (n = 61) and Epi-Aids (n = 110) related to toxic chemicals (23 and 37, respectively), followed by natural disasters and those caused by humans (19 and 25, respectively), extreme temperature-related illness (9), and chronic diseases (8). The investigations raised awareness, identified risk factors and public health needs, and introduced better prevention and protection measures for human health. Through field investigations and other technical assistance, NCEH/ATSDR provided leadership and staff scientists to assist in the field, as well as knowledge transfer to local, state, territorial, and international health departments.
Opioid Self-Administration is Attenuated by Early-Life Experience and Gene Therapy for Anti-Inflammatory IL-10 in the Nucleus Accumbens of Male Rats

Early-life conditions can contribute to the propensity for developing neuropsychiatric disease, including substance abuse disorders. However, the long-lasting mechanisms that shape risk or resilience for drug addiction remain unclear. Previous work has shown that a neonatal handling procedure in rats (which promotes enriched maternal care) attenuates morphine conditioning, reduces morphine-induced glial activation, and increases microglial expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). We thus hypothesized that anti-inflammatory signaling may underlie the effects of early-life experience on later-life opioid drug-taking. Here we demonstrate that neonatal handling attenuates intravenous self-administration of the opioid remifentanil in a drug-concentration-dependent manner. Transcriptional profiling of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) from handled rats following repeated exposure to remifentanil reveals a suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine gene expression, consistent with an anti-inflammatory phenotype. To determine if anti-inflammatory signaling alters drug-taking behavior, we administered intracranial injections of plasmid DNA encoding IL-10 (pDNA-IL-10) into the NAc of non-handled rats. We discovered that pDNA-IL-10 treatment reduces remifentanil self-administration in a drug-concentration-dependent manner, similar to the effect of handling. In contrast, neither handling nor pDNA-IL-10 treatment alters self-administration of food or sucrose rewards. These collective observations suggest that neuroimmune signaling mechanisms in the NAc are shaped by early-life experience and may modify motivated behaviors for opioid drugs. Moreover, manipulation of the IL-10 signaling pathway represents a novel approach for influencing opioid reinforcement.
FDA Approval Summary: Daratumumab for Treatment of Multiple Myeloma After One Prior Therapy

On November 21, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted regular approval to daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. Approval was based on two randomized, open-label trials in which daratumumab was added to these backbone therapies. The MMY3003 trial demonstrated substantial improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) when daratumumab was added to lenalidomide and dexamethasone compared with lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone. The estimated median PFS had not been reached in the daratumumab arm and was 18.4 months in the control arm (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27-0.52; p < .0001), representing a 63% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death. Similar results were observed in the MMY3004 trial comparing the combination of daratumumab, bortezomib, and dexamethasone with bortezomib and dexamethasone. The estimated median PFS was not reached in the daratumumab arm and was 7.2 months in the control arm (HR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.28-0.53; p < .0001), representing a 61% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death. The most frequently reported adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 20%) in MMY3003 were infusion reactions, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, pyrexia, upper respiratory tract infection, muscle spasm, cough, and dyspnea. The most frequently reported adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 20%) in MMY3004 were infusion reactions, diarrhea, peripheral edema, upper respiratory tract infection, and peripheral sensory neuropathy. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia have been added to the Warnings and Precautions of the drug label. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Daratumumab, the first monoclonal antibody targeted against CD38, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration accelerated approval in 2015 based on data from single-agent, single-arm trials that provided response rate information. Results of the MMY3003 and MMY3004 trials established that daratumumab can be combined synergistically with some of the most highly active agents used to treat multiple myeloma, leading to daratumumab's regular approval in 2016. Daratumumab added to lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, provides a substantial improvement in progression-free survival in previously treated patients with multiple myeloma. These combinations will likely improve the survival outlook for patients with multiple myeloma.
Decomposition Reactions of Anode Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) Components with LiPF6

The anode solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on the anode of lithium ion batteries contains lithium carbonate (Li2CO3), lithium methyl carbonate (LMC), and lithium ethylene dicarbonate (LEDC). The development of a strong physical understanding of the properties of the SEI requires a strong understanding of the evolution of the SEI composition over extended timeframes. The thermal stability of Li2CO3, LMC, and LEDC in the presence of LiPF6 in dimethyl carbonate (DMC), a common salt and solvent, respectively, in lithium ion battery electrolytes, has been investigated to afford a better understanding of the evolution of the SEI. The residual solids from the reaction mixtures have been characterized by a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (IR-ATR), while the solution and evolved gases have been investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC-MS). The thermal deco...
Validation of a field-ready handheld meter for plasma β-hydroxybutyrate analysis

Plasma metabolite analysis is frequently used to assess the energetic state and energy intake of birds. Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BUTY) is a common metabolite used in these studies, and is correlated with fasting and mass loss. BUTY is typically quantified in laboratory assays that are costly, time-consuming, and prone to human error. We tested the accuracy and precision of a field-ready handheld BUTY meter. We compared BUTY concentration values obtained in the laboratory and with the handheld meter in plasma samples from 19 Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), and assessed precision with repeat analysis of a single sample. The handheld meter reported BUTY concentrations in < 2 min, was highly precise, and as accurate as the laboratory assay method—all ideal for field conditions. Collecting blood samples for laboratory analysis, particularly from remote field sites, involves a series of risks and challenges for permitting or the logistics of storage and shipping, as well as the associated costs. Analyzing samples on site, whether with the unit we tested or other similar handheld meters, makes plasma metabolite analysis practical and possible in field conditions and for taxa where this technique has been underused due to permitting, transport, or other logistical constraints of laboratory analysis methods. The cost of analysis is similar on a per sample basis, but, without the need to store and transport samples, using handheld meters in the field may be cheaper.
Affective influences on within-person changes in work performance as mediated by attentional focus

A great deal of research has investigated the performance consequences of affective experiences at work, but the mediating mechanisms that explain these consequences remain understudied. In this st...
Defect-engineered epitaxial VO2±δ in strain engineering of heterogeneous soft crystals

The success of strain engineering has made a step further for the enhancement of material properties and the introduction of new physics, especially with the discovery of the critical roles of strain in the heterogeneous interface between two dissimilar materials (for example, FeSe/SrTiO3). On the other hand, the strain manipulation has been limited to chemical epitaxy and nanocomposites that, to a large extent, limit the possible material systems that can be explored. By defect engineering, we obtained, for the first time, dense three-dimensional strongly correlated VO2±δ epitaxial nanoforest arrays that can be used as a novel "substrate" for dynamic strain engineering, due to its metal-insulator transition. The highly dense nanoforest is promising for the possible realization of bulk strain similar to the effect of nanocomposites. By growing single-crystalline halide perovskite CsPbBr3, a mechanically soft and emerging semiconducting material, onto the VO2±δ, a heterogeneous interface is created that can entail a ~1% strain transfer upon the metal-insulator transition of VO2±δ. This strain is large enough to trigger a structural phase transition featured by PbX6 octahedral tilting along with a modification of the photoluminescence energy landscape in halide perovskite. Our findings suggest a promising strategy of dynamic strain engineering in a heterogeneous interface carrying soft and strain-sensitive semiconductors that can happen at a larger volumetric value surpassing the conventional critical thickness limit.
The Conics of Apollonius

In this chapter I explain the concepts and terminology in the extant Books of the Conics of Apollonius (fl. 200 B.C.; DSB 1,179–193) that are needed to understand the text of Ibn al-Haytham’s reconstruction of Book VIII. In §3.3 I shall discuss Book VII in some detail, since this book seems to be related to the lost Book VIII. A more detailed summary of Conics I–VII may be found in Heath, HGM 11,126–174.
Dynamics of tangent

We discuss the dynamics of the family of meromorphic maps z→λ tan z. The Julia sets of these maps have several interesting properties which are strikingly different from those of rational maps. For example, the Julia set is a smooth submanifold of the plane for every λ>1; for families of rational maps, those whose Julia sets are smooth submanifolds are isolated points.