cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of antiplatelet medications in angiogram-negative subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background The use of antiplatelet medications has greatly expanded and this has been associated with an increased rate of complications after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The influence of antiplatelet medications on outcomes after non-aneurysmal SAH is unknown. Objective To analyze the frequency and impact on outcome of antiplatelet medication use among patients with angiogram-negative SAH. Methods An analysis of patients within the Columbia University SAH Outcomes Project database was performed. All patients who underwent catheter cerebral angiography after presenting with nontraumatic SAH between 1996 and 2013 were included. Outcomes were assessed by using the modified Rankin Scale. Results A total of 1351 patients underwent catheter angiography for evaluation of SAH. Of these, 173 (13%) were designated angiogram-negative. The fraction of patients presenting with angiogram-negative SAH as well as the frequency of antiplatelet use among these patients significantly increased during the study period. Antiplatelet use was more commonly associated with angiogram-negative SAH than with angiogram-positive SAH (27% vs 14%, P = .001). At 14 days after presentation, poor outcome was significantly more frequent among patients who took antiplatelet agents than among those who did not (38% vs 20%, P = .017). This effect was also seen after multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 2.58; P = .034), although no difference was observed by 12 months (P > .05). Conclusion Antiplatelet medication use is associated with poor early, but not late, outcomes after angiogram-negative SAH. Corresponding increased rates of antiplatelet medication use and angiogram-negative SAH may be related. Additional studies are needed to confirm this association.
The effect of the patient protection and Affordable Care Act on the Medicare Part D coverage gap as reflected in diabetes medication adherence.

This dissertation involves an evaluation of the effect of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) on diabetic medication adherence for mail order utilizers over 6 years as the Medicare Part D coverage gap begins to close. The study had 3 objectives: 1) to evaluate diabetes medication adherence of health plan members before they reach the coverage gap and then while they are in the coverage gap, 2) to compare diabetes medication adherence between two similar groups with differing benefit structures, one group with a gap in coverage as opposed to a group with no benefit changes within the year and 3) to examine diabetes medication adherence trend over multiple years as the coverage gap is closed. A retrospective, pre-post cohort analysis with control group study design was used to assess the study objectives. The control group consisted of low- income subsidy (LIS) members with no gap in coverage. The results of this study indicate that being in the coverage gap was a significant indicator of a decrease in adherence for health plan members on brand diabetic medications. While the study findings showed a decrease rather than an increase in the treatment group medication adherence year over year, the results did indicate no significant changes in the control group. The expectation would be that once the coverage gap is fully closed in 2020, the treatment group would exhibit similar behavior. Both groups exhibited high adherence overall suggesting the mail order dispensing channel could have an effect on adherence.
Rachmaninoff’s complete songs: a companion with texts and translations

Sergei Rachmaninoff is known first and foremost as a legendary pianist, the author and performer of spectacular preludes, etudes-tableaux, and concertos. Few music lovers in the West, save for the ...
Current situation of human resources in disease control and prevention institutions in Haigang District of Qinhuangdao City

[Objective]To understand the current situation of human resources of Haigang center for disease control and prevention of Qinhuangdao City,provide the reference for the rational allocation of human resources in the future. [Methods]The archives of staff in Haigang center for disease control and prevention till June 2011 were arranged and analyzed,and the personnel structure was described from five aspects of gender,age,professional title,education background and major. [Results]There were 78 employees in Haigang center for disease control and prevention till June 2011,and the male-to-female ratio was 0.32∶1.39.74% were people aged 25-35 years old,which accounted for the highest proportion.The employees with middle professional title accounted for 51.22%,which was the largest proportion.The employees with senior professional titles were not enough,and most of employees had junior professional titles or no professional titles.The first record of formal schooling was dominated by secondary school,the highest record of formal schooling was dominated by junior college,and the educational background of employees was not good generally.The majority of their majors,no matter the first record of formal schooling or the highest record of formal schooling,were non-medical major(including law and accountancy),and the proportion of preventive medicine and laboratory medicine was low. [Conclusion]The personnel allocation of Haigang center for disease control and prevention is insufficient,sex ratio is not balanced,most of employees are middle-aged and youth,the educational background is not good generally,and there are fewer employees with senior professional titles.The majority of their majors are non-medical major,and personnel structure is not reasonable.It is necessary to speed up to supplement the personnel,update the professional technical training,and recruit the professional talent with good ability,in order to adapt to the needs of the development of disease control and prevention.
Endocardial and epicardial interstitial purines and lactate during graded ischemia

The purpose of this study was to compare interstitial fluid (ISF) levels of purine metabolites and lactate in the endocardium and the epicardium during graded regional myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Anesthetized dogs were subjected to 60 min of regional myocardial ischemia induced by either partial or complete occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), followed by 60 min of reperfusion. To sample ISF, cardiac microdialysis probes were implanted in the LAD-perfused myocardium; dialysate levels served as indexes of ISF concentrations. During severe ischemia, dialysate adenosine increased transiently in both the endocardium and epicardium, reaching maximal values at approximately 20 min of ischemia. Inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and lactate increased most rapidly during the first 30 min of severe ischemia, after which the rate of increase was diminished. The ISF profiles of these metabolites were qualitatively similar during moderate ischemia, although the ISF levels achieved during ischemia were not as great. With both severe and moderate ischemia, ISF purines and lactate were greater in the endocardium than epicardium, consistent with a greater energy imbalance in the endocardium during ischemia. ISF total purines (the sum of the individual purine metabolites) were relatively stable until myocardial blood flow was reduced below 50 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1, after which ISF total purines increased in proportion to the severity of the blood flow deficit. These data suggest that functional and metabolic adaptations keep the myocardium in energy balance until blood flow is reduced below approximately 50% of control, and they attest to the usefulness of cardiac microdialysis for establishing transmural profiles of ISF metabolites.
The interstitial lung diseases: a pathologist's view.

SUMMARY The accurate diagnosis of the interstitial lung diseases requires that the pathologic features, whether they be derived from routine light microscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage material, ultrastructural or immunologic studies, be interpreted in the light of the clinical, roentgenographic, and physiologic presentations. The clinician must ensure that representative tissue is sampled and that the pertinent clinical data are supplied to the pathologist. Furthermore, the clinician should gain some appreciation of the pathologic changes commonly encountered. Such knowledge facilitates clinicopathologic correlations. The pathologist must ensure that the sampled tissue is handled in the most appropriate and efficient manner in order to realize the greatest diagnostic yield. In addition, the pathologist must convey to the clinician his confidence in the diagnosis as to whether the observed pathologic changes are diagnostically specific or nonspecific, in light of the clinical data. The diagnosis of interstitial disease in the immunocompromised patient entails even more intensive efforts, which must be accomplished in a very limited period of time. Only the close cooperation between clinician and pathologist can ensure diagnostic success.
Bioengineered Breast: Concept, Technique, and Preliminary Results.

UNLABELLED Breasts reconstructed with implants, following mastectomy, lack the soft-tissue envelope of natural breasts. Further implant-related complications such as implant visibility, rippling/wrinkling, and/or hollowing/depression of the skin that often appear in the vicinity of the upper pole may be attributed to soft-tissue deficits. To address these shortcomings, the authors have developed the "bioengineered breast" concept that uses a combination of biological matrix and/or autologous fat grafting at the upper pole to augment the soft-tissue volume of breasts at the second stage of a two-stage breast reconstruction procedure. Enhancing the soft-tissue cover not only supplements volume and shape but further alters how the recipient's host tissue responds to the foreign body implant. The authors have used the bioengineered breast concept in over 500 reconstructions, with good outcomes and low complication rates. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, V.
SU-G-BRC-03: A Novel Multi-Criteria Optimization Method for Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) Treatment Planning

Purpose: To present a novel multi-criteria optimization (MCO) solution approach that generates treatment plans for VMAT. Methods: We demonstrate our method with generating double-arc VMAT plans for 10 locally advanced head-and-neck cancer cases retrospectively. In our MCO formulation, we defined an objective function for each structure in the treatment volume. This resulted in 9 objective functions, including 3 distinct objectives for primary, high-risk and low-risk target volumes, 5 objectives for each of the organs-at-risk (OARs) (two parotid glands, spinal cord, brain stem and oral cavity), and one for the non-target non-OAR normal tissue. Conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) constraints were utilized to ensure at least certain fraction of the PTVs receiving the prescription doses. Besides formulating the problem as MCO, our approach directly generated weight and aperture for each control point considering MLC connectivity constraints, leaf speed, gantry speed, gantry speed change and dose rate utilizing column generation algorithm. Final dose distributions for all plans were compared after a Monte Carlo kernel-superposition dose calculation. Results: We compared our method with clinical VMAT plans and segment weight optimization (SWO) of the clinical plans. At least 95% target coverage was achieved by all plans. However, the average of the conformity indices for MCO was 1.28 comparing to clinical VMAT 1.83 (30% reduction, p<0.01) and SWO 1.63 (22% reduction, p<0.01). MCO method achieved reduction in right parotid mean dose of 17% (p<0.01) and 10% (p=0.03), oral cavity mean dose of 23% (p<0.01) and 6% (p=0.34) and spinal cord maximum dose of 20% (p<0.01) and 10% (p<0.01), brain stem maximum dose of 59% (p<0.01) and 57% (p<0.01), and normal tissue maximum dose of 4% (p<0.01) and 5% (p<0.01), comparing to clinical VMAT and SWO respectively. Conclusion: We demonstrated that the proposed MCO method was able to obtain VMAT plans with significant improvement in dosimetric plan quality.
John Manly and the Waberski Cipher Solution

The high point of John Manly’s service in MI-8 was his decipherment of the “Pablo Waberski” cipher message and his subsequent testimony at Lothar Witzke’s court martial in August 1918. This chapter contains Manly’s own report of the decipherment. It is a fascinating tale and a very good explanation of the decipherment of a double transposition cipher message.
Reinforcement: Facts and theory

This chapter explores whether there is any valid theory that acknowledges every attribute of reinforcement. Stimulus-quality theorists contend that certain stimuli are innately preferred. Their presentation is reinforcing. Response theorists of reinforcement argue that consummatory responses are reinforcing. Making a response is presumed to be reinforcing, regardless of what is consumed or what tension states are reduced. Premack's variation on this theme argues that if one of two responses is more likely to occur, the occurrence of the less likely one may be increased by reinforcing it with the opportunity to perform the more likely one. At present, none of these theories is any more valid than the others. Each probably has something to contribute to the overall picture of reinforcement, and each can account for many of the data such as the free food effect. Although behavioral and physiological theorizing is an ongoing process, it is unlikely that one will obtain a full understanding of reinforcement in the near future.
Performance Analysis Tool for HPC and Big Data Applications on Scientific Clusters

Big data is prevalent in HPC computing. Many HPC projects rely on complex workflows to analyze terabytes or petabytes of data. These workflows often require running over thousands of CPU cores and performing simultaneous data accesses, data movements, and computation. It is challenging to analyze the performance involving terabytes or petabytes of workflow data or measurement data of the executions, from complex workflows over a large number of nodes and multiple parallel task executions. To help identify performance bottlenecks or debug the performance issues in large-scale scientific applications and scientific clusters, we have developed a performance analysis framework, using state-of-the-art open-source big data processing tools. Our tool can ingest system logs and application performance measurements to extract key performance features, and apply the most sophisticated statistical tools and data mining methods on the performance data. It utilizes an efficient data processing engine to allow users to interactively analyze a large amount of different types of logs and measurements. To illustrate the functionality of the big data analysis framework, we conduct case studies on the workflows from an astronomy project known as the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) and the job logs from the genome analysis scientific cluster. Our study processed many terabytes of system logs and application performance measurements collected on the HPC systems at NERSC. The implementation of our tool is generic enough to be used for analyzing the performance of other HPC systems and Big Data workflows.
Demonstrating the Effect of Surfactant on Water Retention of Waxy Leaf Surfaces

We report here the development of an inexpensive and engaging laboratory-based activity that can help students learn about the scientific method and the role of plant epicuticular waxes and surfactant function on waxy plant leaves as real life example in the agricultural industry. Three each of nontreated collard leaves (Brassica oleraceae L. Acephala group) and brushed-leaves were sprayed with water to demonstrate hydrophobicity of epicuticular waxes. Another set of three nontreated collard leaves was sprayed with Tween 20 containing water to demonstrate function of surfactant. Then, water retention rate was calculated by subtracting between before and after spray treatments. Water contact angles were measured by ImageJ software from nontreated and brushed-leaves from pictures taken by students’ smartphone. This lab activity provides a foundation for instruction on the importance of the plant epicuticular waxes that is the outermost hydrophobic barrier in agrochemical applications and the function of sur...
Cell-based Fluorescence Complementation Reveals a Role for HIV-1 Nef Protein Dimerization in AP-2 Adaptor Recruitment and CD4 Co-receptor Down-regulation

The HIV-1 Nef accessory factor enhances viral infectivity, immune evasion, and AIDS progression. Nef triggers rapid down-regulation of CD4 via the endocytic adaptor protein 2 (AP-2) complex, a process linked to enhanced viral infectivity and immune escape. Here, we describe a bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay to visualize the interaction of Nef with AP-2 and CD4 in living cells. Interacting protein pairs were fused to complementary non-fluorescent fragments of YFP and co-expressed in 293T cells. Nef interactions with both CD4 and AP-2 resulted in complementation of YFP and a bright fluorescent signal by confocal microcopy that localized to the cell periphery. Co-expression of the AP-2 α subunit enhanced the Nef·AP-2 σ2 subunit BiFC signal and vice versa, suggesting that the AP-2 α-σ2 hemicomplex interacts cooperatively with Nef. Mutagenesis of Nef amino acids Arg-134, Glu-174, and Asp-175, which stabilize Nef for AP-2 α-σ2 binding in a recent co-crystal structure, substantially reduced AP-2 interaction without affecting CD4 binding. A dimerization-defective mutant of Nef failed to interact with either CD4 or AP-2 in the BiFC assay, indicating that Nef quaternary structure is required for CD4 and AP-2 recruitment as well as CD4 down-regulation. A small molecule previously shown to bind the Nef dimerization interface also reduced Nef interactions with AP-2 and CD4 and restored CD4 expression to the surface of HIV-infected cells. Our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for previous observations that dimerization-defective Nef mutants fail to down-regulate CD4 and validate the Nef dimerization interface as a target site for antiretroviral drug development.
4.23 – Sex Differences in Autoimmune Diseases

For decades it has been known that females are more susceptible than males to most autoimmune diseases. These include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), primary biliary cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, to name a few. This increased susceptibility in females, as compared to males, has also been observed in animal models of autoimmune diseases, such as spontaneous SLE in (NZB × NZW) F1 and NZM.2328 mice, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in SJL mice, thyroiditis, Sjogren's syndrome in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice, and diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice. Sex hormones and/or sex-linked gene inheritance may be responsible for the enhanced susceptibility of females to these autoimmune diseases. In general, it has been documented that females have more robust immune responses than males. This difference in immune response is thought to be responsible, at least in part, for the greater susceptibility of females to a variety of autoimmune diseases. An effect of sex on the immune response does not, however, preclude additional effects of sex on the target organs of these autoimmune diseases, such as the central nervous system in MS. In this chapter, we consider the sex bias in autoimmune disease with respect to pathophysiologic processes in both the immune system and in the target organ.
A Brief Summary of Teacher Recruitment and Retention in the Smallest Illinois Rural Schools

Teacher recruitment and retention factors were identified in the smallest public school districts in Illinois. Findings were compared to a previous study of Montana rural teacher recruitment and retention conducted by Davis (2002). A quantitative survey instrument was administered to teachers employed in the 24 smallest Illinois school districts. The survey consisted of Likert-type items measuring recruitment, retention, and job satisfaction factors and was based on the Boylan (1993) four spheres of influence for teacher recruitment and retention: 1) within classroom activities, 2) whole school level activities, 3) community level activities, and 4) family/personal factors. Results were similar to the Davis study with the family/personal and whole school level spheres most important to teacher recruitment and the community and within classroom spheres most important to teacher retention. Teachers were also asked to identify the recruitment and retention strategies they perceived as being most important for rural school districts and to respond to three professional satisfaction questions. The study concluded with recommendations for both educational practitioners and researchers.
Pain in the Spasticity Rehabilitation Patient

Spasticity is a common condition seen in most patients who suffer injury to the central nervous system, which includes stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, brain injury, or multiple sclerosis. There are many effective treatment strategies including oral medications, focal injection therapy, splinting, physical and occupational therapy, intrathecal baclofen, or as a last resort, surgery.
Engagement with climate change and the environment: a review of the role of relationships to place

A growing body of literature examines how human bonds with place influence engagement with climate change and other environmental issues. Yet, studies in this vein derive from a number of disconnec...
Post-truth: why we have reached peak bullshit and what we can do about it

Including responses to the twin 2016 crises of Brexit and the American election, Post-truth by broadcaster and economist, Evan Davis, is about why ‘bullshit’ is everywhere in public discourse, why ...
Creating a Warm Climate?: The Influence of Demography on Class Participation

Among the many recent criticisms of management education is the need for business schools and business school faculty to build a more inclusive learning environment that better supports leadership ...
Metabolomic analysis revealed dose-dependent effects of algae feeding on redox balance, lipid, and microbial metabolism in mouse

Algae have been investigated and developed as a source of food, dietary supplement, and biofuel, due to their chemical and nutrient composition. However, the metabolic events in algae-elicited effects were not examined in details in spite of the fact that these benefits are largely based on the metabolic interactions between algal components and the biological system. In this study, the influences of consuming green algae (Scenedesmus sp.) on the metabolic status of young mice was investigated through growth performance, blood chemistry, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics. Compared to the control diet, 5% algae promoted growth performance while 20% algae suppressed it. Serum glucose, triacylglycerols (TAG), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were not affected by both treatments, but serum cholesterol level was dramatically decreased by 20% algae feeding. Metabolomic analysis of liver, serum, feces and urine samples indicated that algae feeding greatly affected the metabolites belonging to amino acid, lipid, microbial metabolism and antioxidant system. The growth promotion effect of 5% algae feeding was associated with the increased levels of hepatic reduced glutathione, niacinamide, dephophocoenzyme A, and adenylsuccinic acid. In contrast, the growth suppression effects of 20% algae feeding was correlated to the increased level of oxidized glutathione and carnitine in the liver, increased EPA and DHA in liver and serum, and increased acyl-glycine in the urine. Overall, multiple correlations between metabolite markers and growth performance in algae feeding were established in this study and could serve as a foundation for further mechanistic investigations on the biological effects of algae feeding.
Effect of gantry rotation speed and scan mode on peristalsis motion artifact frequency and severity at abdominal CT

The purpose of the study was to understand the effect of CT gantry speed and axial vs. helical scan mode on the frequency and severity of bowel peristalsis artifacts. We retrospectively identified 150 oncologic abdominopelvic CT scans obtained on a 256 slice CT scanner: 50 scans obtained with Axial mode and 0.5-s gantry rotation time (Slow-Axial); 50 with Axial mode and 0.28-s gantry rotation time (Fast-Axial); and 50 scans with Helical mode and 0.28-s gantry rotation time (Fast-Helical). The patients included 74 women and 76 men with a mean age of 61 years (range 22–85 years). Two readers viewed all CT scans to record the presence and severity of bowel peristalsis artifact, location of artifact (stomach, duodenum/jejunum, ileum, and colon) and artifact location relative to bowel interface (gas-bowel, fluid-bowel, and gas-fluid). The severity of artifacts was recorded subjectively on a 3-point scale, and objectively based on maximum length of the artifact. Peristalsis artifact was more commonly seen with Slow-Axial scan acquisition (37 of 50 patient scans, or 74%) than Fast-Axial (15 in 50 patient scans, or 30%, p < 0.001) and Fast-Helical (22 of 50 patient scans, or 44%, p < 0.005). The bowel segment distribution and severity of peristalsis artifacts were not significantly different between scan techniques. Peristalsis artifacts are common at abdominopelvic CT scans. Fast gantry rotation speed significantly reduces the frequency of bowel peristalsis artifacts and should be a consideration when imaging of bowel and structures near bowel is critical.
A New Approach to Predict Cyclic Response and Fracture of Shear Links and Eccentrically Braced Frames

In eccentrically braced frames subjected to large lateral demands, inelastic actions are mostly concentrated in shear links. The links vary in size and, when employed in frames, are known to be subjected to combined tension/compression and shear stress states that influence their strength, low-cycle fatigue behavior, and fracture characteristics. Despite their significance as the main energy dissipation elements in a structure subjected to seismic demand, simulating their full response, including the number of cycles to failure, of these links as individual components, or when employed in full frames, is lacking. This is primarily because until recently, most low-cycle fatigue models did not allow link failures under complex stress states to be captured. In this study, by means of a well-established ultra-low cycle fatigue criterion, the behavior of these links is fully assessed. The focus is on short shear links since they are widely used in comparison to intermediate or long links. Results of the simulations are compared with their experimental equivalents and excellent comparisons are achieved, confirming the validity of the simulation methodology and providing, for the first time, a framework for simulating the ultra-low cycle fatigue behavior of shear links. The verified response prediction methodology is then applied at the structural level, and nonlinear pushover analysis on eccentrically braced frames are conducted. Unlike existing numerical approaches where failure is indicated through a prescriptive target performance, such as 5% inter-story drift for collapse prevention, the pushover analysis is conducted until complete fracture of the links and failure of the system. Seismic design parameters, such as deign and elastic base shears as well as force reduction factors, are also determined based on the pushover curves. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can reliably predict the performance of eccentrically braced frames and can potentially be used in future design and analysis of such frames.
Hybridized graphene materials

The integration of graphene and 2D materials into device technologies requires a detailed understanding of how intrinsic and extrinsic forces impact their properties, as well as the development of engineering strategies to vary their properties for a specific response. In this paper we describe and review our efforts for hybridizing graphene in different ways so as to modify or enhance a range of properties. This hybridization comes in the form of chemical or electronic modification for use in applications ranging from chem/bio sensors to nanoelectronics. We discuss results on exploiting chemistry and defects in graphene for chemical vapor sensing, on hybridizing graphene with fluorine atoms for potential use in nanoelectronics, and on electronically hybridizing graphene in multilayer stacks that give rise to new optical and surface properties.
Pulsed Electric Field Induced Reverse Electron Transfer from Ground State Bchl2 to the Cytochrome c Hemes in Rps. viridis

Energy storage and utilization by living organisms is intimately linked to the transfer of reducing equivalents from a reductant to an oxidant through a series of membrane-bound redox proteins. The chemiosmotic mechanism of energy transduction [1] relies upon two essential geometric constraints: the separation of aqueous compartments by electrically tight and proton impermeant membranes, and the asymmetric arrangement of redox components across these membranes. The bioenergetic membranes of mitochondria, chloroplast and microorganisms convert redox potential free-energy into a transmembrane electric potential (ΔΨ) when electrons are transferred alone, into a concentration gradient (ΔpH) when electron transfers are coupled neutrally to proton movement across the membrane, and into both ΔΨ and ΔpH when electron transfers are coupled to H+ ion movement. This complementary action of the electron transfer chains builds up an electrochemical free energy gradient of protons (ΔµH+ = Δµ +RT logΔpH) which is used to drive ATP synthesis and transport. The reversible nature of these coupled reactions has long been recognized in vivo by phenomenon of “reversed electron flow” [2] concomitant with ATP hydrolysis or ΔΨ or ΔpH dissipation.
Levels and Functions of Symbolism

In the example, the dream images are associated with strong feelings. In giving the images a concrete form in reality through painting, the images and feelings are transformed and personalized. The fearful aspects of the images are transformed into something known, and therefore not threatening. The unknown quality is relegated to a less threatening object than the original image. What is common to these images? They all have a form, they are associated with feelings, and they possess aspects which are not fully known, but are represented symbolically.
The Welfare Concept of the East German Transformation

It will be argued in this chapter that — according to the findings in previous chapters (in particular chapters 3 and 4) — a specific welfare concept has been employed in the process of East German transformation. Any analysis of welfare implications of structural transformation is linked with several conceptional problems. However, such modelling is relevant because it can be argued that a particular social welfare function was pursued within the East German process of transformation. The model which will be presented is a very static and neoclassical approach. The approach is deliberately designed in this form (because the previous findings suggest that the transformation approach was designed in this way) and can be justified because it portrays the particular short-term concept of East German transformation, and in particular the short-term effects the privatisation policy has aimed to achieve. This East German transformation model is very limited and its limitations will be exposed in the concluding chapter (section 8.4). This model helps to identify the major weaknesses of the chosen approach of transformation which supplement particular weaknesses of the transformation which have been pointed out in the previous chapter. Specific assumptions are set to allow a modelling of the approach and allow a comparison of different points in time. It is suggested that this is achieved by limiting the model to comparisons of situations postliberalisation.
Processing of nanotube-based nanocomposites

Abstract: With the continuing developments in materials synthesis and characterization at the nanoscale the potential of true materials tailoring has been enhanced substantially. In general this class of materials involves structures that have at least one dimension at the nanometer scale (usually taken to be up to 100 nanometers). The utilization of nanoscale fibers in polymer composites not only enables the development of uniquely created structures but also provides a means for the development of unique properties and functionalities at levels not possible with conventional fiber reinforced composites. It is the goal of this chapter to introduce the advances in carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposite research with specific emphasis on processing routes used to disperse, align and fabricate carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposites for enhanced physical and mechanical properties. Acknowledging that the potential for CNTs as reinforcement and conductive media has not yet been fully realized, a discussion on future trends is also given.
Regional-Metro Optical Networks

Regional and metropolitan networks are undergoing rapid transformations, propelled by shifting bandwidth and market paradigms. These evolutions have revealed some serious limitations with legacy SONET/SDH infrastructures and opened up many new avenues for the application of new, maturing optical technologies. This chapter presents a critical look at some of the major evolutions and challenges shaping this vital networking space.
Clinical and molecular features predicting long-term response (LTR) to anti-PD-(L)1 based therapy in patients with NSCLC.

9022Background: The transcendent feature of response to anti-PD-(L)1 therapy is durable, long-term responses, which can last up to years. Much effort in biomarkers has focused exclusively on initia...
Not Just a Technical Problem: The Intersections of STEM and Social Science in Addressing Global Poverty

Although there are limitations to the measurement of global poverty, it is a large enough indicator to draw the interest of global and regional development banks, bilateral and unilateral aid from governments, and research initiatives from companies, think tanks, and universities. Concerning global poverty research, there are eight development labs (at seven universities) funded by USAID. In this chapter, the role of interdisciplinary work at university development labs will be focused on. The larger work of the USAID funded development labs shows an impressive body of outcomes and evidence. The connection between the diverse knowledges required to solve complex problems and the ability for universities to play a role in global development was quite profound. The concept of interdisciplinary work in STEM and global development should be expanded further to poly-epistemologies to prevent falling into the traps of tyrannical expertise.
Availability of study protocols for randomized trials published in high-impact medical journals: A cross-sectional analysis:

Background:To improve reporting transparency and research integrity, some journals have begun publishing study protocols and statistical analysis plans alongside trial publications. We sought to as...
Association Between Forced Sexual Initiation and Health Outcomes Among US Women

Importance The #MeToo movement has highlighted how frequently women experience sexual violence. However, to date, no recent studies have assessed the prevalence of forced sex during girls' and women’s first sexual encounter or its health consequences. Objective To estimate the prevalence of forced sexual initiation among US women and its association with subsequent reproductive, gynecologic, and general health outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants A cross-sectional analysis of the 2011-2017 National Survey of Family Growth was conducted, including a population-based sample of 13 310 US women. The study was conducted from September 2011 to September 2017. Exposures Self-reported forced vs voluntary first sexual intercourse. Main Outcomes and Measures Prevalence of forced sexual initiation, age of woman and partner/assailant at first sexual encounter, and odds ratios (ORs) (adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics) for having an unwanted first pregnancy or abortion, development of painful pelvic conditions, and other reproductive and general health measures. Results A total of 13 310 women between the ages of 18 and 44 years were included in the study. After survey weights were applied, 6.5% (95% CI, 5.9%-7.1%) of respondents reported experiencing forced sexual initiation, equivalent to 3 351 733 women in this age group nationwide. Age at forced sexual initiation averaged 15.6 (95% CI, 15.3-16.0) years vs 17.4 (95% CI, 17.3-17.5) years for voluntary sexual initiation (P Conclusions and Relevance Forced sexual initiation in women appears to be common and associated with multiple adverse reproductive and general health outcomes. These findings highlight the possible need for public health measures and sociocultural changes to prevent sexual violence, particularly forced sexual initiation.
Addressing Quantitative and Qualitative Hypotheses Using Regression Models with Equality Restrictions and Predictors Measured in Common Units.

In regression, some or all of the predictors may be measured in common units: e.g. X1 = carbohydrate calories, X2 = protein calories, X3 = fat calories. Such predictors can occur in disciplines as ...
Spaceflight induces novel regulatory responses in Arabidopsis seedling as revealed by combined proteomic and transcriptomic analyses

Understanding of gravity sensing and response is critical to long-term human habitation in space and can provide new advantages for terrestrial agriculture. To this end, the altered gene expression profile induced by microgravity has been repeatedly queried by microarray and RNA-seq experiments to understand gravitropism. However, the quantification of altered protein abundance in space has been minimally investigated. Proteomic (iTRAQ-labelled LC-MS/MS) and transcriptomic (RNA-seq) analyses simultaneously quantified protein and transcript differential expression of three-day old, etiolated Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings grown aboard the International Space Station along with their ground control counterparts. Protein extracts were fractionated to isolate soluble and membrane proteins and analyzed to detect differentially phosphorylated peptides. In total, 968 RNAs, 107 soluble proteins, and 103 membrane proteins were identified as differentially expressed. In addition, the proteomic analyses identified 16 differential phosphorylation events. Proteomic data delivered novel insights and simultaneously provided new context to previously made observations of gene expression in microgravity. There is a sweeping shift in post-transcriptional mechanisms of gene regulation including RNA-decapping protein DCP5, the splicing factors GRP7 and GRP8, and AGO4,. These data also indicate AHA2 and FERONIA as well as CESA1 and SHOU4 as central to the cell wall adaptations seen in spaceflight. Patterns of tubulin-α 1, 3,4 and 6 phosphorylation further reveal an interaction of microtubule and redox homeostasis that mirrors osmotic response signaling elements. The absence of gravity also results in a seemingly wasteful dysregulation of plastid gene transcription. The datasets gathered from Arabidopsis seedlings exposed to microgravity revealed marked impacts on post-transcriptional regulation, cell wall synthesis, redox/microtubule dynamics, and plastid gene transcription. The impact of post-transcriptional regulatory alterations represents an unstudied element of the plant microgravity response with the potential to significantly impact plant growth efficiency and beyond. What’s more, addressing the effects of microgravity on AHA2, CESA1, and alpha tubulins has the potential to enhance cytoskeletal organization and cell wall composition, thereby enhancing biomass production and growth in microgravity. Finally, understanding and manipulating the dysregulation of plastid gene transcription has further potential to address the goal of enhancing plant growth in the stressful conditions of microgravity.
Key considerations for comprehensive validation of an RNA fusion NGS panel

Abstract Objectives Validation of RNA-based NGS assays for the detection of therapeutically targetable gene fusions is challenging. Here, we report systematic validation and quality control monitoring of our targeted fusion panel for the detection of 17 clinically relevant fusion transcripts across several tumor types. We implemented this RNA Fusion Panel as a reflex test for tumors lacking DNA driver mutations. Design Forty-four formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) or fresh-frozen lung, brain, soft tissue and skin tumors were used to determine the accuracy of the assay. Additional fusion-positive specimens and a calibrated reference standard were used to establish the precision, reproducibility and sensitivity of the assay. All aspects of the validation, including quality control metrics, were performed according to New York State guidelines. Results For the RNA fusion panel, accuracy, reproducibility and precision studies were above 99%. Reproducibility and sensitivity studies with the reference standard were helpful in identifying inconsistencies. The limit of detection for most RNA fusion transcripts was 50 copies. Application of the RNA fusion assay as a reflex test to 450 tumor samples lacking DNA driver mutations resulted in a 10% increase in diagnostic yield with minimal additional processing time. Conclusions The validated RNA fusion panel provides clinical utility in therapy selection for patients with solid tumors. By using a sequential testing approach, the RNA fusion assay complements the DNA hotspot assay in identifying clinically relevant variants across many tumor types with minimal additional increase in processing time.
Zebrafish follistatin-like 1b regulates cardiac contraction during early development

Extracellular glycoprotein Follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) has been reported to be involved in multiple signaling pathways and biological processes during development and disease. In addition, some mouse studies have suggested an inhibitory role of FSTL1 in BMP signaling, in certain context. Yet, whether FSTL1 has biological functions in early heart development are largely unknown. In our functional studies, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing was used to create fstl1a and fstl1b insertion/deletion mutations in zebrafish and our results suggest that fstl1b is important in regulating heart development during early embryogenesis. in situ hybridization revealed that fstl1b transcripts are expressed in the developing zebrafish heart, and fstl1b homozygous (-/-) mutant exhibited pericardial edema and showed significantly reduced contractility in the ventricle, with incomplete penetrance. We found that zebrafish fstl1b (-/-) mutant hearts formed a collapsed ventricle with strong reductions in the sarcomere structure protein alpha-actinin, although the number of cardiomyocytes was comparable to wild type control siblings. Further, normal levels of fstl1b seems to prevent the expansion of Bmp signaling into ventricular myocytes, which is consistent with the previously established model of Bmp-dependent cardiac contraction. Together these results reveal the zebrafish ortholog fstl1b regulates sarcomere structure and cardiac contractile function. In vertebrate developing heart, it might function as a key component in a novel pathway that constrains Bmp signaling from ventricular myocytes.
Pachytene piRNAs as beneficial regulators or a defense system gone rogue

Pachytene Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are abundant small non-coding RNAs expressed in mammalian germ lines. A new study indicates that, among the diverse pool of piRNA sequences, a small number act as highly selective guides that induce cleavage of coding and non-coding transcripts, thus promoting piRNA generation and regulating gene expression.
The abatement of particulate matter 2.5 in Los Angeles County: a counterfactual evaluation

The ambient PM2.5 concentration in Los Angeles (LA) County has been on a decreasing trend since LA County was designated as a nonattainment area in 2005. However, whether the nonattainment assignment is the underlying cause of the county’s reductions in PM2.5 requires further empirical investigation. Traditional statistical approaches used to study the impact of nonattainment designation on air quality present problems involving indeterministic covariates, confoundedness, model misspecification, and undetected effects at the aggregate level. Our study successfully uses the Panel Data Approach for Program Evaluation (PAMPE) to compare the differences between the actual outcomes and counterfactual outcomes to reveal the treatment effects associated with nonattainment assignment without the burden associated with previous studies. Our results show that, at the monitor level, the air quality improvements obtained by the more-polluted areas were greater after LA County was designated as a nonattainment area. On average, the counterfactual reduction rates derived in our study range from − 0.01 to − 0.15%. Cases in which PM2.5 levels increased occurred at two monitors that were fully or partially compliant during the study period, suggesting the regulatory oversight is indeed spatially heterogeneous.
A Limited Defense of Talent as a Criterion for Access to Educational Opportunities.

In recent work, Joseph Fishkin has helpfully enriched understandings of equality of opportunity as a feature of distributive justice schemes. One branch of his argument focuses upon the degree to w...
Modeling the impact of genetic heterogeneity on immunotherapy

A panel of genetically engineered mouse models recapitulates genotype-driven responses to immunotherapy and uncovers a driver of immunotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer.
Hearing Music while Checking a Pulse.

Hearing Music while Checking a Pulse A 65-year-old man who had previously undergone bilateral hip arthroplasty presented with a dislocated hip after a fall. When a handheld Doppler device used to a...
Infection fatality rate of COVID-19 inferred from seroprevalence data

Objective To estimate the infection fatality rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from seroprevalence data. Methods I searched PubMed and preprint servers for COVID-19 seroprevalence studies with a sample size ≥ 500 as of 9 September 2020. I also retrieved additional results of national studies from preliminary press releases and reports. I assessed the studies for design features and seroprevalence estimates. I estimated the infection fatality rate for each study by dividing the cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths by the number of people estimated to be infected in each region. I corrected for the number of immunoglobin (Ig) types tested (IgG, IgM, IgA). Findings I included 61 studies (74 estimates) and eight preliminary national estimates. Seroprevalence estimates ranged from 0.02% to 53.40%. Infection fatality rates ranged from 0.00% to 1.63%, corrected values from 0.00% to 1.54%. Across 51 locations, the median COVID-19 infection fatality rate was 0.27% (corrected 0.23%): the rate was 0.09% in locations with COVID-19 population mortality rates less than the global average ( 500 COVID-19 deaths/million people. In people younger than 70 years, infection fatality rates ranged from 0.00% to 0.31% with crude and corrected medians of 0.05%. Conclusion The infection fatality rate of COVID-19 can vary substantially across different locations and this may reflect differences in population age structure and case-mix of infected and deceased patients and other factors. The inferred infection fatality rates tended to be much lower than estimates made earlier in the pandemic.