cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploration of a rare population of Chinese chestnut in North America: stand dynamics, health and genetic relationships

With the transport of plants around the globe, exotic species can readily spread disease to their native relatives; however, they can also provide genetic resistance to those relatives through hybrid breeding programmes. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was an abundant tree species in North America until its decimation by intro- duced chestnut blight. To restore chestnut in North America, efforts are ongoing to test putative blight-resistant hy- brids of Castanea dentata and Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), but little is known about the ecology of C. mollissima. In a forest in northeastern USA in which C. mollissima has become established, we explored questions of stand dynamics, health and genetic relationships ofC. mollissimaoffspring to an adjacent parent orchard.We found that C. mollissima was adapted and randomly distributed among native species in this relatively young forest. The gen- etics of the C. mollissimapopulation compared with its parents indicated little effect of selection pressure as each of the parent trees contributedat least one offspring. The easewith which this exoticspecies proliferated callstoquestionwhy C.mollissimaisrareelsewhereinforestsofNorthAmerica.Itislikelythatatimewindowoflowanimalpredationallowed seedlings to establish, and the shallow soil at this site limited the maximum forest canopy height, permitting the char- acteristicallyshort-staturedC. mollissimato avoid suppression. Our results indicate that because C. mollissima exhibited pioneerspeciescharacteristics,hybridsbetweenC.mollissimaandC.dentatahavethepotentialtobesuccessfulpioneer species of future forests in North America, and we challenge the paradigm that exotic tree species are wholly detrimen- taltonativebiodiversity.Wecontendthatexotictreespeciesshouldbeassessednotonlybytheirlevelofthreattonative species, but also by their potential positive impacts on ecosystems via hybrid breeding programmes.
Autoregressive moving average modeling of radar target signatures

A method for characterizing radar target signatures with autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models is developed. A parameterization of the model that corresponds directly to the geometric properties of the target is chosen, and an efficient algorithm for estimating these parameters is presented. Procedures for minimizing the effects of unmodeled dynamics are also developed. Experiments on radar measurements obtained from a compact-range are presented to test the effectiveness of the ARMA modeling procedure on scale models of several commercial aircraft. >
SPORANGIAL STRUCTURE AND ZOOSPOROGENESIS IN CHORDA TOMENTOSA (LAMINARIALES)1,2,3

SUMMARY Members of the genus Chorda represent the simplest form of sporophyte in the order Laminariales. The present study deals with reproduction in Chorda tomentosa, involving the initiation, growth, and structure of the sporangium and the process of zoosporogenesis. The simple tube-like sporophyte of Chorda tomentosa grows in diameter by means of repeated anticlinal divisions in a superficial meristematic layer known as the meristoderm. The onset of reproduction is marked by the conversion of the meristoderm from contributing cells to the vegetative plant body to producing 2 new cell types: paraphyses and sporangial mother cells. At the time of initiation, sporangial mother cells are crescent shaped and possess a densely staining cytoplasm. Sporangial mother cells increase in size, become ellipsoid, decrease in staining density, and undergo meiosis. After meiosis, sporangia increase in size while their nuclei undergo successive cycles of synchronous mitotic divisions. Sporangia increase to a maximum length of 120 μ;m at which time they possess the characteristic “cap” found in all members of the order studied thus far. At this stage the protoplast of the sporangium is organized into a peripheral layer of nucleus-chloroplast pairs and a central region of vacuoles. Cleavage furrows begin to form at the cell membrane and are met by furrows developing in the interior of the cytoplasm resulting in the division of the entire protoplast into separate units. Each unit is an individual zoospore. The biflagellate zoospores contain a nucleus, one chloroplast with eyespot, perinuclear Golgi, and several bodies of presumed storage carbohydrate. The occurrence of a small population of early developing sporangia is described. In essential details, the origin, development, and structure of sporangia in Chorda tomentosa are identical to all earlier observations in the Laminariales.
Infectious Complications of Human T Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma Virus Type I Infection

Infection with human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I) has been etiologically associated with two diseases : adult T cell leukemia and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. Increasing evidence suggests that HTLV-I infection may be associated with immunosuppression and, as a consequence, affect the risk and expression of several other infectious diseases, of which the best studied are strongyloidiasis, tuberculosis, and leprosy. In strongyloidiasis, coinfection with HTLV-I appears to result in a higher rate of chronic carriage, an increased parasite load, and a risk of more severe infection. In tuberculosis, a decrease in delayed-type hypersensitivity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been established, but whether this decrease is clinically significant has yet to be determined. In leprosy, an increased risk of disease is suggested, but the published studies are all too poorly controlled to draw definite conclusions.
Obesity, hyperglycemia and endothelial function in inner city Bronx adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Background Along with the rise in obesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become the major cause of death in developed countries. Although overt coronary heart disease rarely manifests during childhood, atherosclerosis can begin by the second decade of life. Therefore, identifying reliable risk markers of early vascular disease in childhood could be important. Alteration in endothelial function (EF) is an early preclinical marker of the atherosclerotic process and can be assessed non-invasively using reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT). The purpose of this study was to investigate if obesity in children is associated with lower EF as measured with RH-PAT, and if obese children with impaired glucose regulation have further impairment in RH-PAT measured EF compared to obese children with normal glucose tolerance.
Normal Form Results for Default Logic

In this paper we continue investigations of proof theory of default logic. It turns out that, similarly to classical logic, default theories can be represented in normal forms.
The Influence of Antigen-Presenting Cell Type and Interferon-γ on Priming and Cytokine Secretion of Leishmania major—Specific T Cells

A Leishmania major-specific primary in vitro system that mimics the immune response of infected mice was used to determine the role that dendritic cells, B cells, and macrophages play in L. major T cell priming. Their relative priming potential (in order) was dendritic cells, B cells, and macrophages. Initiating primary in vitro responses with cell populations depleted of either B or dendritic cells modestly enhanced interferon (IFN)-gamma production; deleting both cells markedly enhanced IFN-gamma production. Thus, macrophages were the most effective cell for eliciting L. major Th1 cells. The effects of exogenously added IFN-gamma or neutralizing anti-IFN-gamma were also studied. With cells from genetically susceptible BALB/c mice, IFN-gamma inhibited proliferation and interleukin-4 secretion by T cells, whereas with resistant C57BL/6 cells, IFN-gamma enhanced IFN-gamma secretion. These results could not be explained by differences in IFN-gamma receptor expression.
When to stop verification?: Statistical trade-off between expected loss and simulation cost

Exhaustive state space exploration based verification of embedded system designs remains a challenge despite three decades of active research into Model Checking. On the other hand, simulation based verification of even critical embedded system designs is often subject to financial budget considerations in practice. In this paper, we suggest an algorithm that minimizes the overall cost of producing an embedded system including the cost of testing the embedded system and expected losses from an incompletely tested design. We seek to quantify the trade-off between the budget for testing and the potential financial loss from an incorrect design. We demonstrate that our algorithm needs only a logarithmic number of test samples in the cost of the potential loss from an incorrect validation result. We also show that our approach remains sound when only upper bounds on the potential loss and lower bounds on the cost of simulation are available. We present experimental evidence to corroborate our theoretical results.
The Present State of Presence in Technology

Over the past several years, education in general and nursing education specifically has implemented a variety of technological formats in which to enhance the teaching-learning environment. As nursing students are exposed to more and more technology as a teaching platform, the question remains whether they are getting enough exposure to actual presence, since it is presence that is often recommended as a large part of nurse-person encounters. This column then explores the existence of presence in technology, while describing the surfacing of presence in several technological formats.
Major themes for 2013 in cardiothoracic and vascular anaesthesia and intensive care.

There has been significant progress throughout 2013 in cardiothoracic and vascular anaesthesia and intensive care. There has been a revolution in the medical and interventional management of atrial fibrillation. The medical advances include robust clinical risk scoring systems, novel oral anticoagulants, and growing clinical experience with a new antiarrhythmic agent. The interventional advances include left atrial appendage occlusion for stroke reduction, generalization of ablation techniques in cardiac surgery, thoracoscopic ablation techniques, and the emergence of the hybrid ablation procedure. Recent European guidelines have defined the organization and practice of two subspecialties, namely general thoracic surgery and grown-up congenital heart disease. The pivotal role of an effective multidisciplinary milieu is a central theme in both these clinical arenas. The anaesthesia team features prominently in each of these recent guidelines aimed at harmonizing delivery of perioperative care for these patient cohorts across Europe. Web-Enabled Democracy-Based Consensus is a system that allows physicians worldwide to agree or disagree with statements and expert consensus meetings and has the potential to increase the understanding of global practice and to help clinicians better define research priorities. This “Democratic based medicine”, firstly used to assess the interventions that might reduce perioperative mortality has been applied in 2013 to the setting of critically ill patient with acute kidney injury. These advances in 2013 will likely further improve perioperative outcomes for our patients.
Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in 2014: The Tale of an Evolving Epidemic

That a patient with Ebola could travel to the United States has created unprecedented media coverage and widespread concern. This commentary emphasizes the importance of clinicians understanding th...
THE NEW CATHOLIC TÜBINGEN THEOLOGY OF WALTER KASPER: FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES

Walter Kasper et le renouveau createur de l'Ecole catholique de Tubingen du XIX s. dont la marche avait ete stoppee par le triomphe du neo-thomisme: une prise en compte serieuse du monde moderne issu du Siecle des Lumieres. L'A. expose la demarche de Kasper, qui prend son elan dans sa these de doctorat sur Schelling: Das Absolut in der Geschichte: Philosophie und Theologie der Geschichte in der Spatphilosophie Schellings (Mainz, 1965). Kaspers adopte en fait la theologie de Luther sur la Revelation et la Parole de Dieu dans l'Ecriture. Sa conception d'une theologie historique lui fait placer les dogmes au second rang, apres l'Ecriture, et les rend parfois obsoletes. Appreciation critique.
Narcissism: An Integrative Synthesis and Dominance Complementarity Model

Narcissism has become an increasingly popular research topic in recent years. We describe why it is beneficial for organizational researchers to study narcissism due to its two strongest organizational correlates: counterproductive work behavior and leadership. We explore why narcissists perform counterproductive work behavior and offer advice on what organizations can do to prevent narcissists' counterproductivity. Subsequently, we discuss narcissism's relationship with leadership effectiveness, and propose a Narcissistic Leaders and Dominance Complementarity Model, which examines the dynamic interaction of narcissistic leaders' characteristics with those of their followers to predict leadership effectiveness. Finally, we suggest four areas of management that may benefit from incorporating narcissism as a determinant of their respective organizational outcomes of interest: international management, social issues in management/corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurship, and negotiation.
SWAFS: shallow water analysis and forecast system

A numerical ocean forecast system has been assembled and applied to several semi-enclosed basins. The modelling system includes a numerical model of ocean circulation, a data assimilation scheme, real-time meteorological forecasts, and data bases of in situ temperature observations and sea-surface temperatures inferred from satellites. Forecast results for the Red Sea are shown. >
Geometry of Gauge Fields

Let G be a Lie group, with Lie algebra g, and let U be an open subset of R n . A gauge field on U is a field A μ , of vectors with lower indices (covectors), taking values in the Lie algebra g. A field with values in a vector space of dimension r can be thought of as an r-tuple of real-valued fields (fields in the familiar sense): thus, if we choose a basis (e l,...,e r ) for g, we can express A μ (x) in the form \({A_u}\left( \chi \right) = A_u^k\left( \chi \right)ek\) where the \(A_u^k\left( \chi \right) \) (for k fixed) specify a real-valued vector field on U.
Chlorite dissolution kinetics at pH 3–10 and temperature to 275°C

Abstract Sheet silicates and clays are ubiquitous in geothermal environments. Their dissolution is of interest because this process contributes to scaling reactions along fluid pathways and alteration of fracture surfaces which could affect reservoir permeability. In order to better predict the geochemical impacts on long-term performance of engineered geothermal systems, we have measured chlorite dissolution and developed a generalized kinetic rate law applicable over an expanded range of solution pH and temperature. Chlorite, (Mg,Al,Fe) 12 (Si,Al) 8 O 20 (OH) 16 , commonly occurs in many geothermal host rocks as either a primary mineral or alteration product. A combination of new rate data from this study (collected using an Mg-rich chlorite variety, at 100–275 °C and pH > 5.5) as well as all available published chlorite dissolution datasets results in a kinetic rate equation that is valid over temperatures of 25–275 °C and 3 ≤ pH ≤ 10: R = 1 ⋅ 10 − 4 ⋅ e − 30 RT ⋅ a H + 0.74 + 4.7 ⋅ 10 − 11 ⋅ e − 13 RT + 1.5 ⋅ 10 − 9 ⋅ e − 15 RT ⋅ a O H − 0.43 ⋅ 1 − e Δ G r RT The form of this equation, which includes a reaction affinity term to slow reaction as equilibrium is approached, can be incorporated into most existing reactive transport codes for use in prediction of rock–water interactions in engineered geothermal systems.
Communication: Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of the tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) anion and accurate determination of the electron affinity of TCNQ.

Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) is widely used as an electron acceptor to form highly conducting organic charge-transfer solids. Surprisingly, the electron affinity (EA) of TCNQ is not well known and has never been directly measured. Here, we report vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) of the TCNQ− anion produced using electrospray and cooled in a cryogenic ion trap. Photoelectron spectrum taken at 354.7 nm represents the detachment transition from the ground state of TCNQ− to that of neutral TCNQ with a short vibrational progression. The EA of TCNQ is measured accurately to be 3.383 ± 0.001 eV (27 289 ± 8 cm−1), compared to the 2.8 ± 0.1 eV value known in the literature and measured previously using collisional ionization technique. In addition, six vibrational peaks are observed in the photoelectron spectrum, yielding vibrational frequencies for three totally symmetric modes of TCNQ. Two-photon PES via a bound electronic excited state of TCNQ− at 3.100 eV yields a broad low kinetic energy peak due to fast internal conversion to vibrationally excited levels of the anion ground electronic state. The high EA measured for TCNQ underlies its ability as a good electron acceptor.
The role of idelalisib in the treatment of relapsed and refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Idelalisib is a first in class, delta isoform specific, PI3-kinase inhibitor. Based on its high level of efficacy and acceptable safety profile, this oral drug has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a single agent for the treatment of relapsed or refractory small lymphocytic lymphoma, and follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and in combination with rituximab for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Adverse effects of particular concern include diarrhea, pneumonitis, and transient elevations of hepatic transaminase levels. Efforts to improve on the activity of this drug have included combinations with standard chemotherapy agents, such as bendamustine, and other targeted therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors. However, other combinations have been associated with life-threatening and fatal toxicities. Thus, the development of such regimens should be conducted carefully in the context of a clinical research study. Idelalisib has a vital role as second-line therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, especially for patients with high-risk disease and multiple comorbidities, and studies are exploring the use of this agent as front-line therapy to improve the outcome of patients with indolent B-cell malignancies.
NEONATAL SCIATIC PALSY FROM INJECTION INTO THE UMBILICAL CORD

1. Three new cases of neonatal sciatic palsy are reported in twins. They received identical treatment after birth; in the case of the first two for identical difficulties occurring after delivery. In twins there is a greater liability to neonatal shock and so a greater incidence of umbilical injections.2. The clinical evidence and the necropsy findings in Case 3 support the hypothesis that intra-arterial thrombosis is caused by the injection of an analeptic into the umbilical artery.3. The clinical picture is described, with a discussion on the pathology, treatment and the reason for recovery in some cases.
"The Esoteric Buddhist": William Sturgis Bigelow and the Culture of Dissent

This article moves beyond Lears' argument and asserts that the white American fascination with the exotic East not only reflected their desire to escape from and to protest against the emerging urban-industrial world but, more importantly, to come to terms with modernization and mechanization in the Gilded Age. In the end, their dissension was a limited one. While conversion to Buddhism seemed to be a revolutionary disengagement from New England traditions and worldviews, Bigelow and other aficionados were, in fact, attempting to redefine cultural meanings and social structures within the very world they appeared to be abandoning. In so doing, they hoped that an understanding of Eastern religious tenets would enable them to better survive the challenges and demands of modernity. Furthermore, historians have all too often dismissed the emergent passion for Asian practices as the proliferation of dilettantism in late nineteenth-century bourgeois culture. This contention, though, neglects the implications of...
Patterns of success in game bird introductions in the United States

Better predictions of the success of species’ introductions require careful evaluation of the relative importance of at least three kinds of factors: species characteristics, characteristics of the site of introduction, and event-level factors such as the numbers of individuals released. (Henceforth, we call this propagule pressure.) The 1644 introductions of 17 Phasianid species released in various US states during the Foreign Game Investigation Program provides a particularly rich source of data to test these ideas. An examination of these records indicates that 13 of these 17 species always failed, despite generally numerous individual releases and large numbers of individuals in each release. Moreover, ten of these species have been successfully introduced elsewhere. Only four of the 17 species were successful in at least one state. Some 20 sets of releases of three of these four species always failed in some states, again given generally numerous individual releases of large numbers of individuals in each release. Simply, the combination of site and species factors explain the lack of successes. This leaves a combination of 18 states where one or more of the four species succeeded. For these, there are significant differences in the numbers of birds introduced from state to state. But only for two species Alectoris chukar and; Tetraogallus himalayensis are there significant differences that show a greater chance of success when more individuals are introduced. These results support the conclusion that the number of individuals released, meaning propagule pressure, is not as important as characteristics of the species and the location to where its introduction occurred.
Extraordinary Hydrogen Evolution and Oxidation Reaction Activity from Carbon Nanotubes and Graphitic Carbons

The hydrogen evolution reaction, 2H(+) + 2e(–) → H2, and its converse, the hydrogen oxidation reaction, H2 → 2H(+) + 2e(–), are central to any realization of a hydrogen economy. Various forms of carbon have been used for decades as the precious metal catalyst support in these reactions. Here we report the unexpected result that single-wall carbon nanotubes and some graphitic carbons, activated by brief exposure to electrochemical potentials that induce hydrogen evolution in intercalating acids combined with extended soak times in such acids, acquire an activity for these reactions that exceeds that of known nonprecious metal catalysts.
HOW AND WHEN SHOULD I RESPOND TO POSTOP FEVER

A Fever affects the immune response in the cells as well as in body fluids. As the temperature rises, lymphocytes responsible for cellular immunity produce lymphokines. These lymphokines release interleukin-1, which in turn lowers serum iron and zinc levels and raises serum copper levels. Bacteria need iron and zinc to survive; limiting these elements helps the host fight infection. Copper is required to produce antibodies and it also has anti-inflammatory properties(1). A rise in temperature of only a few degrees causes a variety of microorganisms, including some viruses, to die. Such a rise is also thought to break down thermosensitive lysosomes in infected cells,
A New ONO3- Trianionic Pincer-Type Ligand for Generating Highly Nucleophilic Metal–Carbon Multiple Bonds

Appending an amine to a C═C double bond drastically increases the nucleophilicity of the β-carbon atom of the alkene to form an enamine. In this report, we present the synthesis and characterization of a novel CF3–ONO3- trianionic pincer-type ligand, rationally designed to mimic enamines within a metal coordination sphere. Presented is a synthetic strategy to create enhanced nucleophilic tungsten–alkylidene and −alkylidyne complexes. Specifically, we present the synthesis and characterization of the new CF3–ONO3- trianionic pincer tungsten–alkylidene [CF3–ONO]W═CH(Et)(OtBu) (2) and −alkylidyne {MePPh3}{[CF3–ONO]W≡C(Et)(OtBu)} (3) complexes. Characterization involves a combination of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, combustion analysis, DFT computations, and single crystal X-ray analysis for complexes 2 and 3. Exhibiting unique nucleophilic reactivity, 3 reacts with MeOTf to yield [CF3–ONO]W═C(Me)(Et)(OtBu) (4), but the bulkier Me3SiOTf silylates the tert-butoxide, which subsequently undergoes isobutylene ex...
Changing Concepts, Opening Running College and Realizing Development of Education and Profession

Motive consistent of keeping education with profession is a successful law of higher vocational education. In order to adapt to it, an opening running college mode was introduced into our country to realize the good relationship between education and profession. Construction double-quality teachers group is a necessary way to realize its aim.
The effect of oral pyridostigmine bromide nerve agent prophylaxis on return of twitch height in persons receiving succinylcholine

Prophylactic pyridostigmine is used for troops under threat of organophosphate exposure and can affect the neuromuscular blocking agent succinylcholine. The purpose of this study was to determine what effect pyridostigmine would have on neuromuscular blockade from succinylcholine. Thirty-nine subjects were enrolled in this double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation and assigned to either the pyridostigmine or the placebo group. All subjects were evaluated for pyridostigmine or placebo side effects and given an anesthesia induction that included the neuromuscular blocking agent succinylcholine. Neuromuscular blockade was measured by twitch height with a nerve stimulator. Interval data were analyzed using the chi 2 test and Student's t test. The pyridostigmine group demonstrated a prolonged recovery time to return of 25% (p = 0.003) and 75% (p = 0.028) of twitch height compared with the placebo group. No differences were noted for any other parameter measured. We conclude that the recovery from neuromuscular blockade after succinylcholine is prolonged while the intubating conditions remain unaffected.
In vitro inactivation of tobramycin by cephalosporins

The in vitro inactivation of tobramycin when combined with each of six cephalosporins in samples of human serum was investigated. Each of six cephalosporins (cefazolin sodium, cefoxitin sodium, cefamandole nafate, moxalactam disodium, cefoperazone sodium, and cefotaxime sodium) was added to human serum samples containing tobramycin sulfate 8 micrograms/mL to produce final cephalosporin concentrations of approximately 250 and 1000 micrograms/mL. Duplicate solutions were prepared and stored at either 0 or 21 degrees C. Solutions containing tobramycin 8 micrograms/mL alone and with carbenicillin disodium in four concentrations were prepared as controls. Samples were assayed using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay (TDX) at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours to determine tobramycin concentration; two of the carbenicillin-tobramycin solutions were frozen immediately for assay 53 hours later. Tobramycin concentrations in the admixtures were compared with those in tobramycin reference samples. At both temperatures, samples containing tobramycin with cefamandole 250 micrograms/mL or cefotaxime 250 micrograms/mL showed less than 10% inactivation of tobramycin for at least 48 hours. At 0 degrees C, tobramycin retained greater than 90% activity when combined with cefoperazone 250 and 1000 micrograms/mL. In samples containing cefazolin 250 micrograms/mL at 0 degrees C and cefoperazone 250 micrograms/mL at 21 degrees C, tobramycin was stable for 24 hours. Only samples containing moxalactam stored at 21 degrees C showed greater than 16% inactivation of tobramycin at 48 hours. Under these study conditions, tobramycin is only moderately inactivated in vitro when combined with clinically achievable concentrations of the tested cephalosporins (excluding moxalactam) and then stored for up to 48 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Glucuronidation of tamoxifen metabolites by UGTs. Potential role UGTs variants in tamoxifen metabolism

A154 Tamoxifen (TAM) is widely used in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. trans-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (4-OH-TAM) and 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyl-TAM (endoxifen) are the major active metabolites of TAM, exhibiting 100-fold higher anti-estrogenic activity than TAM itself, with endoxifen concentrations reaching plasma concentrations that are 6-12-fold higher than that of 4-OH-TAM. One of the major mechanisms of elimination of TAM and its metabolites is by glucuronidation. Previous studies have demonstrated that UGTs 2B7, 1A8 and 1A10 exhibited the highest overall O-glucuronidating activity against trans-4-OH-TAM and trans-endoxifen. While UGT1A10 also exhibited high overall O-glucuronidating activity against cis-4-OH-TAM and cis-endoxifen,UGT2B15 also demonstrated very high activity against these two metabolites. Previous studies demonstrated an association between N-glucuronidation activity against TAM and 4-OH-TAM by UGT1A4 variants; no studies have been performed for O-glucuronidating enzymes, and no studies have been performed on endoxifen. In the present study, the glucuronidating activities of polymorphic variants of these active UGTs were examined in vitro against isomers of both 4-OH-TAM and endoxifen. As compared to wild-type, the UGT1A10139Lys, UGT2B7268Tyr and UGT2B1585Tyr variants exhibited significantly (p
Customer-based strategic brand management: past progress and future challenges

In his seminal Journal of Marketing article, entitled “Conceptualizing, Measuring, and Managing Customer-Based Brand Equity,” Kevin Keller argued persuasively that we can best understand, measure, and manage brands by understanding what consumers know about brands. In this commentary, I discuss the progress we have made in researching several areas of consumer branding, including measuring consumer brand knowledge and leveraging brands through brand extensions. Further, I identify challenges for future research in both areas, including needed developments in measuring brand association networks, researching global differences in consumer response to brand extensions, and understanding how contextual factors such as competitive environments affect brand extension success.
Abstract 4026: Epigenetic changes in T cells in response to immune checkpoint blockade

Immune checkpoint blockade therapy has led to clinical success and have established immunotherapy as one of the primary modality of cancer treatment. It leads to a durable response in around 20% of the patients (responders). Success of immune checkpoint blockade therapy relies on the increase of effector T cells and decrease of regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, the underlying mechanism that govern the ratio of effector and regulatory T cells between responder and non-responder to checkpoint blockade is not understood. Understanding the process could reveal novel mechanisms to boost efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. Differentiation of naive T cells into effector and regulatory phenotype requires lineage-specifying transcription factors and epigenetic modifications that allow appropriate repression or activation of gene transcription. One key epigenetic modification for T cell differentiation is trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3). Loss of H3K27me3 results in increased Th-1 plasticity whereas presence of H3K27me3 on Foxp3 locus is required to maintain the function of T-regulatory cells. We hypothesize that immune checkpoint blockade changes the epigenetic landscape in tumor infiltrating T cells that results in an effector phenotype and epigenetic modification of H3K27me3 could promote an anti-tumor immune microenvironment in tumor bearing mice.We showed that in-vivo inhibition of H3K27me3 in combination with anti-CTLA4 results in reduction of tumor size and also reduction in regulatory T cells in a B16-F10 melanoma mice model compared to anti-CTLA4 treatment alone, suggesting H3K27me3 inhibition could increase the efficacy of checkpoint blockade therapy. Future studies will aim to elucidate epigenetic changes in H3K27me3 and define an epigenetic signature as a result of immune checkpoint therapy by ChIP-sequencing. Data generated in this project will greatly enhance our understanding of epigenetic regulation of T cell differentiation is response to immune checkpoint blockade and aid identifying key changes that could be further modified to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in non-responders. Citation Format: Sangeeta Goswami, Jianfeng Chen, Hao Zhao, Xuejun Zhang, Padmanee Sharma. Epigenetic changes in T cells in response to immune checkpoint blockade. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4026.
Failures of Workplaces in Multiple Competitive Cultures

Values-based, character-defining spiritual leadership strikes a responsive chord in the minds of many coworkers in the modern American workplace. The idea of authentic communications between the leader and each worker seems somehow “right.” And, while not part of the lexicon of leadership until recent times, relating personal factors of values and character to effective leadership also fit the psychology of many work community members in work groups. However, the intrinsic logic of values in leadership does not necessarily smooth its transition to full use in many workplaces. For example, forcing a work community to allow several different and competing subcultural groups to continue to honor their diverse customs—i.e., the unreserved acceptance of the cultural values and behavior of all persons making up a given work community—has complicated the full implementation of this kind of leadership. Indeed, at times it has altogether thwarted implementation of values-based leadership. As leaders learn how to lead effectively in work communities staffed by people of broadly diverse gender foci, multiple ethnicities, and from multiple nationalities they can lead their coworkers to perhaps more effective performance. Before this result can be obtained, however, the problems associated with the modern workplace defined as a compound of many complex convoluted and competitive cultures each with multiple core goals and those of leaders must be identified and removed. Effective understanding of leadership in a multicultural work environment based on the leader’s spiritual self must include inquiry into the nature of multiculturalism per se. Of course leaders have always dealt with worker differences. Indeed, the leader’s key role is to bring unity to a disparate group of workers—to make a work community out of what began as an amorphous group of strangers.
Surface slope effects for ripple orientation on sand dunes in López crater, Terra Tyrrhena region of Mars

Abstract Ripple orientations on small sand dunes (dunes lacking substantial slip faces) at widely distributed sites across Mars have been documented using High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) images, in an effort to determine the last formative aeolian sediment transport direction experienced at these locations. Howard (1977) used field measurements and first principles to derive an expression for determining how much the surface slope on a sand dune deflects the orientation of sand ripples with respect to the formative wind direction. A Digital Terrain Model derived from stereo HiRISE images was used to assess the potential deflection of ripples on sand dunes on the floor of Lopez crater on Mars. Three-quarters of the area covered by sand dunes within the DTM has a surface slope
Epitaxially Intergrown Conformational Polymorphs and a Mixed Water/Methanol Solvate of 5′-Deoxy-5′-iodoguanosine

5′-Deoxy-5′-iodoguanosine (I) crystals deposited from mixtures of water and methanol grow as nonsolvated hybrids of conformational polymorphs (Ia, Ib) and as a mixed solvate (Ic). Some solvent-free crystals are purely Ia, while others have varying amounts of Ib epitaxially intergrown with Ia. In Ia and Ib the conformations differ primarily by torsion about the C4′–C5′ bond (guanosine numbering scheme), which dramatically affects the iodine atom position. Powder diffraction and reconstructed reciprocal-lattice-slice images had small peaks incompatible with Ia. Some solvent-free crystals required lattices for both Ia and Ib to index all observable reflections. Unit-cell dimensions for Ia and Ib suggest the potential for epitaxial intergrowth. Hydrogen-bond networks in Ia and Ib are essentially identical and result in double layers of molecules in the ab plane, with layers of iodine at the layer surfaces. The iodine layers of Ia and Ib are incompatible: in Ia adjacent iodine atom layers interdigitate slightl...
Impact of seawater temperature on growth and recruitment of invasive fouling species at the global scale

Epibenthic fouling communities are dominated by invasive species that are globally distributed and can have substantial ecological and economic impacts in coastal habitats. Little is known about inter-specific differences in life history strategies that cosmopolitan invasive species employ to acquire space and succeed in invaded habitats. The goal of this study was to examine the impact of seawater temperature on recruitment and growth of several cosmopolitan fouling species including the tunicates Botrylloides violaceus, Botryllus schlosseri and Diplosoma listerianum, as well as the bryozoans Bugula neritina and Watersipora subtorquata. To do this, the iBARGE (Invasive Bryozoan and Ascidian Recruitment and Growth Experiment) program was developed, utilizing a global network of collaborators to examine patterns over a broad geographic scale and a wide range of naturally varying seawater temperatures. This project produced a data set of thousands of photographs from 18 marinas in five countries in summer 2014 and 2015, allowing for recruitment and growth to be tabulated at a variety of temperatures. Thermal growth curves were established for five invasive species, and growth was compared among temperatures across sites, revealing a significant thermal effect. Recruitment was linked to temperature, with generally higher recruitment at warmer seawater temperatures and the highest peak recruitment values for the bryozoan Bugula neritina. Temperature also changed the relative importance of growth and recruitment for several species. These results paint a complex picture of the interactions among invasive fouling species as they relate to seawater temperature.
Does timeliness of financial information matter in the governmental sector

Abstract The purpose of our study is to investigate whether the timeliness of annual financial statements included in an official registration statement impacts the initial yield and the initial rating of general obligation municipal bonds. Using hand-collected data from 1058 official registration statements, we find that total information delay, comprised of two component time periods (i.e., audit delay and post audit delay), is significantly associated with higher municipal debt costs and lower bond ratings. Our findings also support the prediction that municipal investors charge a larger risk premium for untimely information when default risk is high. Overall, our results suggest that future municipal bond studies should consider total information delay, rather than solely audit delay, when examining/controlling for the timeliness of governmental financial statements. Our findings also provide important empirical evidence supporting recent SEC and GASB initiatives to improve municipal reporting and disclosure, especially the need to develop interim financial reporting standards.
The Perils of Reification: Identity Categories and Identity Construction in Migration Research

Studies of migration rely heavily on the use of identity categories. Yet the uncritical use of such categories has had serious negative consequences for the understanding of migration and related social processes. This chapter examines the tendency to treat often ill-defined identity categories as reflecting an external reality, and the danger of ignoring the fact that people’s identities are multiple, situational, prone to change, and affected by a variety of political power-holders.
Cost-Effective Conceptual Design Over Taxonomies

It is known that annotating entities in unstructured and semistructured datasets by their concepts improves the effectiveness of answering queries over these datasets. Ideally, one would like to annotate entities of all relevant concepts in a dataset. However, it takes substantial time and computational resources to annotate concepts in large datasets and an organization may have sufficient resources to annotate only a subset of relevant concepts. Clearly, it would like to annotate a subset of concepts that provides the most effective answers to queries over the dataset. We propose a formal framework that quantifies the amount by which annotating entities of concepts from a taxonomy in a dataset improves the effectiveness of answering queries over the dataset. Because the problem is NP-hard, we propose an efficient approximation for the problem. Our extensive empirical studies validate our framework and show the accuracy and efficiency of our algorithm.
Detecting and Monitoring Coral Bleaching Events

Detecting and monitoring coral bleaching is considered across three broad spatial scales: remote sensing; field studies; and individual coral colonies and polyps. Remote sensing observations have limitations, although aerial photography offers sufficient resolution for detecting and quantifying bleaching. Much lower resolution SST anomalies have also proved valuable as short-term predictors of bleaching and in post hoc bleaching likelihood indicators for un-surveyed areas. Field based observations offer reliability at the expense of reduced spatial coverage. Nested sampling may allow for generalised observations across all reef zones, while allowing for more accurate quantification at fixed locations. Methods should be devised to facilitate comparison with other monitoring; and must include measures of mortality, recovery and recruitment over time. At the scale of individual colonies a broad array of techniques are available for in situ and field laboratory observations, strengthening our understanding of underlying mechanisms and supporting better predictive modelling of future impacts.
Methylphenidate Extended-Release Tablets:

Each month, subscribers to The Formulary® Monograph Service receive five to six researched monographs on drugs that are newly released or are in late Phase III trials. The monographs are targeted to your Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. Subscribers also receive monthly one-page summary monographs on the agents that are useful for agendas and pharmacy/nursing in-services. A comprehensive target drug utilization evaluation (DUE) is also provided each month. The monographs are published in printed form and on diskettes that allow customization. Subscribers to the The Formulary Monograph Service also receive access to a pharmacy bulletin board called The Formulary Information Exchange (The F.I.X). All topics pertinent to clinical pharmacy are discussed on The F.I.X.Through the cooperation of The Formulary, Hospital Pharmacy publishes selected reviews in this column. If you would like information about The Formulary Monograph Service or The F.I.X., call The Formulary at 800-322-4349. The December 2000 Form...
The Changing Roles of Urban Influence and Agricultural Productivity in Farmland Price Determination

Between 2000 and 2010, inflation-adjusted U.S. farmland values increased by over 80%. This period of rapid price appreciation coincided with both the agricultural commodity price boom and the broader financial crisis. This paper examines the degree to which the determinants of farmland prices changed over this period, using a panel of farmland transfer declarations from 98 Illinois counties. Hedonic price analysis demonstrates that the relative importance of urban influence decreased over this period, while the relative importance of agricultural productivity increased. The study carries important implications for farmers, farmland owners, and policy makers.
A neuromorphic design using chaotic mott memristor with relaxation oscillation

The recent proposed nanoscale Mott memristor features negative differential resistance and chaotic dynamics. This work proposes a novel neuromorphic computing system that utilizes Mott memristors to simplify peripheral circuitry. According to the analytic description of chaotic dynamics and relaxation oscillation, we carefully tune the working point of Mott memristors to balance the chaotic behavior weighing testing accuracy and training efficiency. Compared with conventional designs, the proposed design accelerates the training by 1.893× averagely and saves 27.68% and 43.32% power consumption with 36.67% and 26.75% less area for single-layer and two-layer perceptrons, respectively.
Just Ground: A Social Infrastructure for Urban Landscape Regeneration

In many aging cities, and disproportionately in New Orleans, children are poisoned by lead in soils. Operation: Paydirt joins art and science for a city-wide initiative to rebuild New Orleans from below the ground up. The proposed strategic infrastructure engages agencies and citizens to make safe landscapes, returning health to their communities.
A lab exercise for rasterizing lines

Line clipping is a fundamental topic in an introductory graphics course. The simplicity and elegance of the classic Cohen-Sutherland 2D Line Clipping Algorithm makes it suitable for implementation by the student in a lab exercise. An understanding of the algorithm is reinforced by having students write actual code and see the results. A code framework is provided that allows an instructor to focus student effort on the algorithm while avoiding the details of the visualization API used to render the results.
Modes of Production

Marxist social theory is often thought of as ‘materialist’ and ‘determinist.’ Just how misleading this characterization can be emerged principally in the 1970s in a wide-ranging conversation about modes of production. This article attempts to summarize the lasting contribution of this intervention by reviewing what modes of production are, how they are structured, and why they change over world history.
RANK Ligand Is a Therapeutic Target in Multiple Myeloma

Osteolytic bone disease is a frequent and severe complication of multiple myeloma (MM). MM cells interact with stromal cells in the bone marrow niche to create an environment that is favorable for tumor growth, in particular by inducing differentiation and activity of bone-resorbing osteoclasts, while concomitantly inhibiting differentiation and activity of bone-depositing osteoblasts. This results in a net loss of bone and subsequent skeletal morbidity including fracture, bone pain, and hypercalcemia. RANK ligand (RANKL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytokine family, is required for differentiation, activation, and survival of osteoclasts and thus plays a critical role in cancer-induced bone disease. Under normal circumstances, RANKL activity is attenuated by its endogenous inhibitor, osteoprotegerin (OPG), a soluble TNF receptor family protein that prevents RANKL from binding to its receptor RANK, expressed on osteoclasts. However, in MM, both RANKL and OPG are dysregulated, resulting in excess RANKL available to stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption. An increased RANKL/OPG ratio is associated not only with the extent of bone disease in patients with MM but also with the prognosis for overall survival. In preclinical models of MM, pharmacologic inhibition of RANKL has been demonstrated to ablate osteoclasts and thus prevent MM-associated bone disease. In addition, RANKL inhibition led to decreased tumor burden in these models, demonstrating the dependence of MM on osteoclast activity. Clinical studies currently underway are evaluating the potential of denosumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting RANKL, to prevent or treat cancer-induced bone disease in MM and other cancer types.