cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mass Distributions Implying Flat Galactic Rotation Curves.

The rotational speeds of stars in the disc of a spiral galaxy are virtually independent of the distances of the stars from the centre of the galaxy. In common parlance, the stellar speed versus distance plot known as a galactic rotation curve is by observation typically nearly flat. This observation provides strong evidence that most galactic matter is dark, i.e. undetectable through luminosity measurements. This article is intended to serve the pedagogical purpose of using the dark matter problem as the basis of exercises accessible to university students. Gauss's law is first used to explain why luminosity measurements lead to the prediction of incorrect speed distributions for disc stars in spiral galaxies. The question of how mass can be distributed within a galaxy to enable flat rotation curves is then considered. Gauss's law concisely answers this question for an idealized galaxy with spherical symmetry. For an idealized planar galaxy with circular symmetry, constructing and evaluating an integral for the gravitational field as a function of distance from the centre of the galaxy provides the answer to the question.
The Associated Press Antitrust Suit: A Philosophical Clash over Ownership of First Amendment Rights

In this article Professor Blanchard examines the Associated Press antitrust suit of the early 1940s in terms of its protagonists, Chicago newspaper leaders Robert McCormick and Marshall Field. The analysis avoids traditional antitrust terms and instead examines the suit as part of an effort by the federal government to use the antitrust law to implement a public-interest interpretation of the First Amendment. Professor Blanchard also looks at McCormick's attempt to obtain special legislation from Congress to void the Supreme Court's decision in favor of Field. She concludes that, although the government's efforts to use the First Amendment to force the news agency to serve a broader public interest were successful, the Associated Press emerged from the suit stronger than before the legal action.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE ARMY SELECTION AND CLASSIFICATION PROJECT (PROJECT A)

This paper serves as an introduction and background for the remaining papers in this issue, which describe in somewhat more detail the major pieces in the Army's Selection and Classification Project (Project A). The principal objectives, the methods being used, and the basic research design of Project A are outlined. Project A was a 7-year effort conducted by the Army Research Institute and a consortium of three research firms. The overall objective was to generate the instrumentation and validity information data base that are necessary for modeling and developing an organization-wide selection and classification system. Both the scientific and practical implications of the project are noted.
New results on the blind identification of FIR channels based on second order statistics

The authors propose a new blind channel identification method based on second order statistics of the channel output. It is shown that the new blind identification method can be used for any FIR channel satisfying the identifiability condition (L. Tong et al. 1991, 1992). The authors implement this identification method through an iteration algorithm. Finally, they present computer simulation results to demonstrate the performance of the method. >
Steady-State Measurement of the Turnover of Amino Acid in the Cellular Proteins of Growing Escherichia coli: Existence of Two Kinetically Distinct Reactions

Turnover of cellular protein has been estimated in Escherichia coli during continuous exponential growth and in the absence of extensive experimental manipulation. Estimation is based upon the cumulative release into carrier pools of free leucine-1-(14)C over a number of time intervals after its pulsed incorporation into protein. Breakdown rates obtained with other labeled amino acids are similar to those obtained with leucine. Two kinetically separate processes have been shown. First, a very rapid turnover of 5% of the amino acid label occurs within 45 sec after its incorporation, most likely indicating maturative cleavages within the proteins after their assembly. A slower heterogeneous rate of true protein turnover follows, falling by 39% in the remaining proteins for each doubling of turnover time. At 36 C, the total breakdown rate of cellular protein is 2.5 and 3.0% per hr over a threefold range of growth rate in glucose and acetate medium, respectively. This relatively constant breakdown rate is maintained during slower growth by more extensive protein replacement, one fifth of the protein synthesized at any time in the acetate medium being replaced after 4.6 doubling times. Intracellular proteolysis thus appears to be a normal and integral reaction of the growing cell. The total rate equals minimal estimates obtained by others for arrested or decelerated growth but is kinetically more heterogeneous. Quantitatively proteolysis is not directly affected by growth arrestment per se as caused by alpha-methylhistidine, chloramphenicol, or uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, but qualitatively it can gradually become more homogeneous kinetically as a secondary event of starvation. Under more extreme conditions as with extensive washing, prolonged phosphorylative uncoupling, or acidification of the growth medium, the proteolytic rate can increase severalfold.
59-Year-Old Woman With Progressive Dyspnea on Exertion

© 2004 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research A 59-year-old woman with long-standing seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, with symptoms of dyspnea on exertion that had worsened gradually during the past year. The patient was previously extremely active but currently had difficulty walking up a flight of stairs. Her dyspnea was persistently present with exertion, and she had noted no other exacerbating or relieving factors. She had episodic wheezing and an infrequent nonproductive cough but no chest pain, pleurisy, orthopnea, or pedal edema. She had a 5-pack-year history of smoking and had quit smoking 30 years previously. Her local physician had treated her empirically with inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids, which were not helpful. She had taken methotrexate for RA diagnosed 20 years previously; however, her arthritis had been quiescent in recent years. The patient was taking no immunosuppressants. She had taken no systemic corticosteroids within the past year and had never taken penicillamine or any other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. She had no personal or family history of thrombophilia, pulmonary disease, or cardiac disease. The patient worked as an educator and had not traveled outside the midwestern United States. Examination of the patient’s lungs revealed diffuse expiratory wheezing with no crackles or dullness on percussion. Her extremities showed evidence of chronic symmetrical synovial inflammation in the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, and wrist joints bilaterally with mild fixed deformities compatible with RA. She had no clubbing, cyanosis, elevated jugular venous pressure, or hepatojugular reflux. Findings on examination of the patient’s heart and abdomen were unremarkable, as were findings on the rest of her physical examination. Posteroanterior and lateral chest radiography revealed no masses, infiltrates, effusions, pneumothorax, or evidence of parenchymal disease. 1. Which one of the following would be most helpful in the initial evaluation of our patient? a. Pulmonary function testing b. Echocardiography c. Rheumatoid factor titer d. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage e. Corticotropin-stimulation testing
Hydrocephalus in Hamsters: Induction by Natural and Attenuated Mumps Viruses

Recently, Johnson et al. [1] reported the induction of hydrocephalus in suckling hamsters by intracerebral (IC) inoculation with mumps virus obtained from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with mumps. The present report confirms and extends Johnson's findings. Here, the effects of IC inoculation of a low-passaged virulent mumps strain, and a higher-passaged strain which is known to be altered as determined by tissue culture marker studies and by vaccination in humans [2], were studied and compared.
The impact of alternative rebuilding strategies to rebuild overfished stocks

Ending overfishing and rebuilding fish stocks to levels that provide for optimum sustainable yield is a concern for fisheries management worldwide. In the United States, fisheries managers are legally mandated to end overfishing and to implement rebuilding plans for fish stocks that fall below minimum stock size thresholds. Rebuilding plans should lead to recovery to target stock sizes within 10 years, except in situations where the life history of the stock or environmental conditions dictate otherwise. Federally managed groundfish species along the US West Coast have diverse life histories where some are able to rebuild quickly from overfished status, while others, specifically rockfish (Sebastes spp.), may require decades for rebuilding. A management strategy evaluation which assumed limited estimation error was conducted to evaluate the performance of alternative strategies for rebuilding overfished stocks for these alternative US West Coast life histories. Generally, the results highlight the trade-off between the reduction of catches during rebuilding vs. the length of rebuilding. The most precautionary rebuilding plans requiring the greatest harvest reduction resulted in higher average catches over the entire projection period compared with strategies that required a longer rebuilding period with less of a reduction in rebuilding catch. Attempting to maintain a 50% probability of rebuilding was the poorest performing rebuilding strategy for all life histories, resulting in a large number of changes to the rebuilding plan, increased frequency of failing to meet rebuilding targets, and higher variation in catch. The rebuilding plans that implemented a higher initial rebuilding probability (≥60%) for determining rebuilding fishing mortality and targets generally resulted in fewer changes to the rebuilding plans and rebuilt by the target rebuilding year, particularly for stocks with the longer rebuilding plans (e.g. rockfishes).
SU-G-TeP1-13: Reclined Total Skin Electron Treatment Technique

Purpose: The purpose is to describe a new reclined technique for treatment of weakened patients that require total skin electron irradiation. Methods: This technique is a modification of a previously published reclined technique differing in that all six patient positions are treated with the gantry angled 60° from vertically down. The patient is located at a treatment distance of 330 cm SSD along the CA of the beam. The 3/8′ thick Lexan beam spoiler is placed 25 cm from the most proximal surface of the patient for all patient treatment positions. To produce a flat, uniform field of ∼190 cm length, the patient was moved longitudinally by an experimentally determined distance. Kodak EDR2 and EBT3 Radiochromic film were placed around the periphery of the phantom, and OSLs were placed every 30° around the phantom periphery to determine output and surface dose uniformity. A piece of Kodak EDR2 was sandwiched between the two slabs of the 30 cm diameter phantom to determine beam penetration. Results: Field uniformity shifting the patient ±75 cm was ±5% over a treatment span of 190 cm. The dose variation around the periphery of the 30 cm diameter phantom varied by <±5% with the maximum values observed at the 0°-300°, 60° locations with the minimum values at the 30°-330°, 60° locations. Results obtained using Kodak EDR2, EBT3 Radiochromic film, and OSLs agreed to within ±5%. Conclusion: This technique provides a very efficient and convenient means by which to treat the entire skin surface of patients incapable of standing for treatment. It provides a treatment field that is both large and uniform enough for adults along with a convenient way to treat four of the six patient treatment positions. The beam spoiler lies to the side of the patient allowing easy access for patient positioning.
Detection of Biological Agents and Biosensor Design

All living things interact with their external environment by using a variety of mechanisms to recognize critical stimuli such as nutrients or light, and to respond to these stimuli. Sensory systems must therefore perform the two key functions of detection and identification. Detection functions, in turn, require the organism to collect the stimulus, in some cases to concentrate it, and to present it to the appropriate receptor. A cascade of molecular recognition, signal transduction, and data fusion and analysis events then performs identification. The environmental stimulus may be “physical” (e.g., light, sound waves) or “chemical” (e.g., odorants); in either case, the basic sensory functions of detection and identification must be carried out by the organism.
Natural Science Pedagogy and Anarchist Communism: Developing a Radical Curriculum for Physical Geography in the US:

Natural sciences typically enjoy generous institutional support and are regarded as authoritative knowledge. At the point of institutionalised knowledge distribution, as with university classrooms,...
Modular adaptive phased-locked fiber array controller platform

Fiber array optical systems that are used for free-space optical communications and phased laser beam projection applications depend on fast, closed-loop adaptive control to efficiently compensate for optical distortion caused by atmospheric turbulence. Current off-the-shelf systems are limited in performance, fiber array control channels, and flexibility. In this research project, we built a scalable and versatile platform for closed-loop controlling fiber-arrays with high update rate and rapid algorithm development. The controller platform consists of two parts: (I) an analysis and simulation software framework that is used for algorithm development and finding optimal parameters. Code written and simulated can then be directly ported to (II), a real-time hardware engine that can execute the algorithm in a real system and has the capability of controlling a large number of fiber arrays for testing and deployment in field conditions. The analysis and simulation software framework is used to simulate and predict how well the hardware will perform the implemented algorithm with a certain set of parameters and visualize the results of software or hardware runs. The optimized algorithms can be easily transferred back and forth to the hardware engine to run in real-time. The hardware platform is capable of standalone operation and is based on a System on chip (SoC) which has an ARM Central Processor Unit (CPU) and a floating-point Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), custom hardware modules that has large array of digital to analog convertors (DACs) and amplifiers for controlling fiber arrays, and another custom hardware module that has amplified ADC channels for reading back the quality metric value. Test results from the prototype system with 19 DAC channels and two analog to digital convertor (ADC) channels are presented and compared with simulated results.
Mediators of the Relationship Between Dispositional Mindfulness and Psychological Well-Being in Female College Students

Mindfulness has been associated with a range of positive mental health outcomes, including psychological well-being. Less well-understood, however, are the mechanisms by which mindfulness may improve psychological health and which specific aspects of mindfulness may be associated with psychological health. The present study examined emotion regulation and thought suppression as possible mediators of the association between four components of dispositional mindfulness (i.e., describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreacting) and psychological well-being. One hundred eighty-five healthy female college students completed a series of self-report questionnaires measuring dispositional mindfulness, difficulties with emotion regulation, thought suppression, and psychological well-being. Overall, higher levels of mindfulness were associated with fewer difficulties with emotion regulation and less thought suppression, which in turn were inversely related to psychological well-being. Specifically, difficulties with emotion regulation and thought suppression together partially mediated the relationship between the acting with awareness mindfulness subscale and psychological well-being. Difficulties with emotion regulation and thought suppression together fully mediated the relationships between the describing mindfulness subscale and psychological well-being, as well as between the nonreacting mindfulness subscale and psychological well-being. These findings suggest that female college students exhibiting greater dispositional mindfulness skills demonstrate heightened emotional awareness and control, as well as a better ability to tolerate negative thoughts, skills which may improve psychological health.
Infantile Spasms and NF-1

Two patients, ages 7 and 2 years, with neurofibromatosis type 1 complicated by infantile spasms are reported from the Pediatric Institutes, Siena and Catania, Italy.
Economics of Home Monitoring for Apnea in Late Preterm Infants.

BACKGROUND: Apnea of prematurity affects a small proportion but large absolute number of late preterm infants, with out-patient management variably utilized despite relative clinical equipoise and potential for improved cost-effectiveness. METHODS: Over a 5-y period, from 2009 to 2013, infants born at ≥34 weeks gestational age at a level IIIB academic center in Boston, Massachusetts, with discharge-delaying apnea, bradycardia, and desaturation (ABD) events were identified. In-patient costs for discharge-delaying ABD events were compared with hypothetical out-patient management. Out-patient costs took into account 4–10 d of in-patient observation for ABD events before caffeine initiation, 3–5 d of additional in-patient observation before discharge, daily caffeine until 43 weeks corrected gestational age, home pulse oximetry monitoring until 44 weeks corrected gestational age, and consideration of variable readmission rates ranging from 0 to 10%. RESULTS: A total of 425 late preterm and term infants were included in our analysis. Utilization of hypothetical out-patient management resulted in cost savings per eligible patient ranging from $2,422 to $62, dependent upon variable periods of in-patient observation. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated few instances of decreased relative cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Out-patient management of discharge-delaying ABD events in a late preterm and term population was a cost-effective alternative to prolonged in-patient observation.
The Complicated Partisan Effects of State Election Laws

Conventional political wisdom holds that policies that make voting easier will increase turnout and ultimately benefit Democratic candidates. We challenge this assumption, questioning the ability o...
Spectrum of Valosin Containing Protein (VCP)-opathy: A Case Series (P7.050)

OBJECTIVE: To describe the phenotype of six VCP-opathy patients from four families. BACKGROUND:VCP mutations cause hereditary inclusion body myopathy and can affect bone and brain tissue with variable penetrance leading to Paget disease of bone (PDB) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). They can also cause motor neuron disease and peripheral neuropathy. DESIGN/METHODS: Review of clinical, serological, electrophysiological, and myopathological findings. RESULTS: Muscle weakness manifested between 40 and 53 years of age. All patients presented with asymmetric limb girdle weakness involving mainly the upper extremities. Distal weakness was mild in the upper and of various severities in the lower extremities. There was no facial or axial weakness at initial presentation. None had cardiac involvement. One patient was found to have PDB; another patient developed FTD in his late 50s and a third unrelated patient had impaired verbal ability at age 47. Creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase were elevated in two and three subjects, respectively. In addition to myopathic motor unit potentials (MUPs), Electromyographic studies showed neurogenic MUPs in proximal upper and lower extremity muscles in five patients, and diffuse fibrillation potentials in all patients. Myotonic discharges were recorded in three subjects. Two patients had co-existing axonal peripheral neuropathy. Muscle biopsy showed few rimmed vacuoles, which were extremely infrequent in one biopsy, muscle fiber size variability, rare regenerating fibers; congophilic inclusions, groups of atrophic fibers of ether histochemical type and fiber type grouping of various severities were also present in all but one biopsy. Sparse endomysial inflammatory cells were noticed in one biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: VCP-opathy manifests with a spectrum of clinical presentations. Vacuolar changes can be very infrequent; electrophysiological and histological changes suggestive of denervation/reinnervation can be very prominent raising the question of co-existing lower motor neuron involvement. Peripheral neuropathy occurred in a third of our cases. Disclosure: Dr. Kazamel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sorenson has nothing to disclose. Dr. McEvoy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Engel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jones has nothing to disclose. Dr. Leep stands to received royalty payments. Dr. Mauermann has nothing to disclose. Dr. Milone has nothing to disclose.
Coros de semillas y sirenas: cine quita-sueño. Indisciplina y territorios transitables en guaraní, quechua, rarámuri, wichi y otras lenguas

Reflections and thoughts were made about a cinema looking for an activist spectator. She is able to leave her own world behind and cross linguistic and cultural borders. This is a cinema which does not negotiate with neoliberal and mono-linguistic States where heard voices, stories, and tensions in diminished or ignored Amerindian tongues reclaim a dignified existence. This map may be incomplete, but it aims to considerthe contribution of visual anthropology and filmmaking in Latin America by showing some examples of it. It is also a reassessment of Peruvian cinema in which Quechua language is spoken.
DSMB case study:: decision making when a similar clinical trial is stopped early

Two similarly designed, placebo-controlled clinical trials are fully accrued and following patients for safety and outcome data. One trial is stopped at a planned interim analysis by its data safety and monitoring board (DSMB) due to a statistically significant treatment benefit. The statisticians and DSMB of the other trial are informed of these results. What are the responsibilities of the statistical center? How should the DSMB deal with the situation if the data do not support the stopped trial? What should the patients be told concerning the results of the two trials when one trial continues and the other is stopped? This DSMB case study reports on such a situation for two randomized clinical trials of oral ganciclovir for the prevention of cytomegalovirus disease in HIV/AIDS patients.
Materials for heat-assisted magnetic recording

Increasing the density of data storage is crucial to the future of inexpensive digital technology. The large majority of storage in the “Cloud” consists of magnetic hard-disk drives. The continued evolution of this USD$30 billion industry depends on the commercial introduction of heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). This technology uses heat from a laser beam confined well below the diffraction limit, <50-nm wide, to write to media near 450°C with high magnetic anisotropy that would normally be unwriteable under available magnetic fields. This high anisotropy guarantees thermal stability even for grain sizes around 5-nm diameter, which are necessary for major increases in storage density. In this article and in the articles in this issue, we introduce HAMR requirements and discuss its numerous interdisciplinary materials challenges, including high-temperature/efficient plasmonic materials, low-loss optical materials, highly ordered/thermally anisotropic nanoscale magnetic grains, block copolymers for directed assembly below 10 nm, high-temperature nanometer-thick coatings/lubricants, materials/interfaces to control heat flow at nanometer length scales, and advanced spintronic materials.
Effect of Concomitant pH‐Elevating Medications with Pazopanib on Progression‐Free Survival and Overall Survival in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background Pazopanib is an oral tyrosine-kinase inhibitor that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Pharmacokinetic data have shown that concomitant administration of pazopanib and esomeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), leads to decreased area under the curve and thus decreased exposure of pazopanib by 40%. Despite the pharmacokinetic data published to date, the clinical significance and impact on patient outcomes resulting from decreased pazopanib exposure remains unknown. Materials and methods In this retrospective, observational, cohort study, 90 patients with mRCC who either received pazopanib in combination with a PPI or histamine 2 receptor antagonist (H2RA; concurrent PPI/H2RA group) or who did not take concurrent pH-elevating medications (no PPI/H2RA group) were compared to determine if there was an impact on progression-free survival (PFS), the primary endpoint, and secondary endpoints, overall survival (OS) and safety. Results The differences between the PFS of 9.0 months and OS of 28.0 months for the concomitant PPI/H2RA group versus 11.0 months and 30.1 months, respectively, for the no PPI/H2RA group were not statistically significant. Rates of adverse events were similar between the concomitant PPI/H2RA and no PPI/H2RA groups. Conclusion Concomitant PPI or H2RA usage was not shown to be associated with a reduction in PFS or OS for patients receiving pazopanib for mRCC, with a similar toxicity profile in each group. Based on the results of this retrospective cohort study and the palliative nature of the treatment of patients with mRCC, clinicians should consider allowing patients to remain on concomitant pazopanib and acid-reducing therapy. Implications for practice Pazopanib is a preferred category-one first-line treatment for predominant clear cell metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). However, because of an aging demographic, coupled with patients with mRCC presenting with multiple comorbidities, including symptomatic dyspepsia or gastroesophageal reflux disease, patients are commonly required to take pazopanib concomitantly with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or a histamine 2 receptor antagonist (H2RA). Despite earlier pharmacokinetic reports suggesting that an alkaline pH may result in poorer absorption, this institutional retrospective study found no effect on clinical outcomes. These data suggest that concurrent treatment of mRCC with pazopanib and a PPI or H2RA may be safe in everyday practice.
Do L chondrites come from the Gefion family

IRTF TAC; National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NNH14CK55B]; NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Grants [NNX14AN05G, NNX14AM94G]; NASA Planetary Astronomy Grant [NNX14AJ37G]; NASA Undergraduate Space Grant Consortium
In vivo quantification of plant starch reserves at micrometer resolution using X-ray microCT imaging and machine learning.

Starch is the primary energy storage molecule used by most terrestrial plants to fuel respiration and growth during periods of limited to no photosynthesis, and its depletion can drive plant mortality. Destructive techniques at coarse spatial scales exist to quantify starch, but these techniques face methodological challenges that can lead to uncertainty about the lability of tissue-specific starch pools and their role in plant survival. Here, we demonstrate how X-ray microcomputed tomography (microCT) and a machine learning algorithm can be coupled to quantify plant starch content in vivo, repeatedly and nondestructively over time in grapevine stems (Vitis spp.). Starch content estimated for xylem axial and ray parenchyma cells from microCT images was correlated strongly with enzymatically measured bulk-tissue starch concentration on the same stems. After validating our machine learning algorithm, we then characterized the spatial distribution of starch concentration in living stems at micrometer resolution, and identified starch depletion in live plants under experimental conditions designed to halt photosynthesis and starch production, initiating the drawdown of stored starch pools. Using X-ray microCT technology for in vivo starch monitoring should enable novel research directed at resolving the spatial and temporal patterns of starch accumulation and depletion in woody plant species.
Expression of fungal chitinolytic enzymes in transgenic apples confers high levels of resistance to scab.

The overall goal of this research is to develop scab resistance in apples by transforming them with genes coding for chitinolytic enzymes from the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum. Agrobacterium- mediated transformation was used to transfer an endochitinase (ThEn-42) gene into Marshall Mcintosh (MMc) apples. Varying levels of expression of ThEn-42 were found in different lines. Transgenic MMc lines expressing ThEn-42 were more resistant to apple scab than the parental lines as indicated with both grafted and own-rooted plants. There was a negative correlation between level of ThEn-42 expression and plant vigor. However, plants with intermediate levels of expression were substantially less susceptible than nontransgenics and some plants with intermediate levels of resistance had good vigor. Recently, we cloned an exochitinase gene encoding N-acetyl-s-D-glucosaminidase (ThNag-70) from T. harzianum, and obtained ThNag-70 transgenic-MMc lines. A very high efficiency of transformation was obtained using the Agrobacterium strain EHA105-PCH32. Previous reports have demonstrated a strong in vitro synergistic activity between ThEn-42 and ThNag-70 against fungal pathogens. Both ThEn-42 and ThNag-70 were cloned into a single construct, and transgenic lines expressing both these enzymes were obtained. Presently the ThNag-70 transgenic lines and the lines expressing both ThEn-42 and ThNag-70 are being tested for scab resistance. We hypothesize that plants with “pyramided” genes, that express more than one synergistic protein, will be resistant to diseases even at relatively low levels of enzyme production and also have good vigor.
Magnitude of beta-adrenoceptor-mediated responses of dog epicardial coronary arteries: inverse relation to diameter.

Regional blood flow patterns vary within myocardium to suggest that intrinsic regional differences occur in vasoregulation. Accordingly, we used standard in vitro methodology (isometric force transducer) to study adrenergic responses in epicardial left anterior descending (LAD) artery and right coronary arteries (RCA) obtained from dogs (n = 9). In the presence of propranolol (10(-6) M) and blockers of uptake 1 and 2, norepinephrine (NE) elicited minimal, if any, constriction. After preincubation with phentolamine (10(-6) M) and preconstriction with prostaglandin (PG)F2 alpha or a thromboxane (Tx)A2 analogue, maximum NE relaxation (as % of induced tone) for the RCA was 61 +/- 3 (SE) %, which was significantly greater than the LAD (46 +/- 5%, P < 0.01). ED50 values were not different. Endothelial removal and forskolin relaxations did not change the sensitivity or maximal response between arteries. Expressing beta-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation as a function of vessel diameter revealed a common regression...
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia in clonal b-cell disorders: A review

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) have been associated with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Here, we review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of these autoimmune disorders, specifically in the setting of B-cell malignancies. AIHA and ITP are classically associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) but have also been reported in plasmacytic and lymphoproliferative disorders. AIHA includes both warm AIHA and cold agglutinin disease, the latter of which is strongly associated with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. The pathogenesis of these cytopenias varies with the underlying disease, but malignant cells serving as antigen-presenting cells to T lymphocytes, with the generation of autoreactive lymphocytes, may be involved. The diagnosis requires the presence of hemolysis and a positive direct antiglobulin test result. In a minority of cases, the direct antiglobulin test result is negative, and more specialized testing may be required. Data on the prognostic effect of these comorbidities are conflicting, and the prognosis may vary depending on when in the B-cell malignant process the cytopenia(s) develops. The treatment of AIHA and ITP in the setting of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders often involves treatment of the underlying disorder, although in some cases of CLL, treatment of the underlying disorder is not indicated, and management is similar to that for idiopathic AIHA or ITP.
Association of Anti–Programmed Cell Death 1 Cutaneous Toxic Effects With Outcomes in Patients With Advanced Melanoma

This cohort study of patients with advanced melanoma treated with anti–programmed cell death 1 with or without ipilimumab assessed whether cutaneous toxic effects were associated with superior clinical outcomes.
m5C Goes Viral.

In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Courtney et al. (2019a) find that HIV-1 genomic RNA has much more m5C than cellular mRNA. Deleting the m5C “writer” NSUN2 decreases HIV-1 m5C levels, promotes translation of the HIV-1 5′ gag gene, and alters splicing at the A2 site.
An Evaluation of Estimation Capacity Under the Conditional Main Effect Parameterization

The conditional main effect (CME) parameterization system can enable more informative analyses of regular two-level fractional factorial designs compared to the traditional orthogonal components system. However, formal evaluations of estimation capacities for designs under CME models have yet to be performed. We establish a necessary and sufficient condition for a model consisting of all of the main effects and a selection of CMEs to be estimable in a regular two-level design of resolution at least III. Our condition illuminates the implications of the maximum estimation capacity criterion for analyses of such traditional and conditional effects. A novel aspect of our evaluations is the direct derivation of D-efficiencies for regular designs of resolution at least III with respect to CME models in which the selected CMEs are not siblings or family members, and their corresponding two-factor interactions are not completely aliased with a main effect.
Women’s land activism and gendered citizenship in the urbanising Pearl River Delta:

In light of the unequal access to urban citizenship resulting from the household registration system (hukou), an increasing number of scholarly works have pointed out how a system of citizenship st...
A role for the Fem-1 gene of Drosophila melanogaster in adult courtship

The Fem family of genes influences sex determination and/or the development of sex-specific characteristics in a wide variety of organisms. Here, we describe the first mutational analysis of the Fem-1 gene of Drosophila melanogaster. The amino acid sequence of the two Drosophila Fem-1 transcripts are moderately conserved compared to that of both Fem-1 in C. elegans and the two Fem-1 transcripts in humans, with multiple ankyrin repeats. Using two transposon-induced mutations of Drosophila Fem-1, we observed striking defects in adult courtship behavior that are attributed to defects in male courting as opposed to female receptivity. Specifically, viable Fem-1 mutant males courted Fem-1 females more vigorously with an increased amount of chasing and singing than pairs of control flies. Nevertheless, Fem-1 males did not copulate at a higher frequency than controls. The above courtship defects persisted when Fem-1 males courted control females, but no phenotypes were observed when control males courted Fem-1 females. Our results indicate that Drosophila Fem-1 may interact with other genes involved in courtship and sex determination. Additional analyses of these Fem-1 alleles will help address the nature of these mutations, deepen our molecular understanding of courtship, and contribute to the evolutionary relationships among this highly conserved gene family.
Risk-Adapted Preemptive Tocilizumab Decreases Severe Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) after CTL019 CD19-Targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy for Pediatric B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL)

Background Patients (pts) receiving CTL019 (tisagenlecleucel) for B-ALL with high tumor burden (HTB) are at high risk for developing severe CRS. Tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor antibody, is a vital component of severe CRS management; however, its role in preventing severe CRS is not known. We sought to determine the effectiveness of preemptive tocilizumab (PT) administration in decreasing the rate of grade (gr) 4 CRS in HTB pts. Methods We conducted a pilot trial of risk-adapted PT after CTL019 (NCT02906371). HTB pts, defined as ≥40% bone marrow (BM) blasts immediately before infusion, received a single dose of PT for high persistent fever (2 temperatures ≥38.5C in 24hr). The primary endpoint was frequency of gr4 CRS (Penn scale), with an observed rate of ≤5/15 predefined as clinically meaningful. Secondary endpoints included complete remission (CR) rate and ICU length of stay (LOS). A comparator cohort with HTB who received standard CRS management (stdCRS) was identified from the initial CTL019 trial (NCT01626495). Results Characteristics of the PT (n=15) and stdCRS (n=26) HTB cohorts are shown in Table 1. All pts developed gr≥2 CRS; median time to fever was longer in the PT cohort [PT, 3d (IQR 2-9); stdCRS, 2d (IQR 1-7), p=0.03]. Gr4 CRS was observed in 4/15 (27%) pts in the PT cohort vs. 13/26 (50%) in the prior stdCRS cohort [RR 0.53 (95% CI, 0.21-1.34), p=0.18]. In the stdCRS cohort, gr4 CRS was associated with earlier onset of fever (p=0.04). In patients with earlier CRS onset (fever by day +4), gr4 CRS was observed in 4/9 (44%) vs. 13/21 (62%) in the PT and stdCRS cohorts [RR 0.72 (95% CI, 0.32-1.60), p=0.42]. Except for a trend toward fewer vasoactive days in the PT cohort, ICU LOS and resource utilization were not significantly different (Table 2). The CR rate at day 28 was similar in the PT and stdCRS cohorts (87% vs. 85%, p=1.00). Conclusion Risk-adapted PT administration reduced gr4 CRS, meeting the predefined study endpoint, without impacting the CR rate. A secondary comparison to a prior trial showed a clinically meaningful decrease in the rate of gr4 CRS from 50% to 27%; however, the analysis was not powered to detect a statistically significant difference. Ongoing analyses will evaluate CAR T cell expansion, duration of remission, and additional safety endpoints, including rates of neurotoxicity.
Realistic Organ Models for Simulation and Training

Simulation platforms incorporating realistic organ models, with high fidelity and validity, are an increasingly important component of surgical training. Rehearsals using such platforms prior to actual surgical cases have the potential to improve surgical performance, not only for trainees learning an index procedure but also for experienced surgeons embarking on complex cases. In this chapter, using robot-assisted partial nephrectomy as an illustrative example, we describe the rationale, process of creation of 3D printed hydrogel models, and methods of multi-metric validation of the model and its use within the simulation platform.
Seizing the Teachable Moment - Lessons from Eisenhower's Heart Attack.

Seizing the Teachable Moment In the face of President Trump’s hospitalization for Covid-19, what can we learn — about trust, humility, integrity, transparency, optimism, and public health education...
Infiltrating Tumor Border Configuration is a Poor Prognostic Factor in Stage II and III Colon Adenocarcinoma.

Tumor border configuration (TBC) is a prognostic factor in colorectal adenocarcinoma; however, the significance of TBC is not well-documented in colon adenocarcinoma alone. Our aim was to study the effect of TBC on overall and disease-free survival in stage II and III colon adenocarcinoma. We included patients with stage II and III colon adenocarcinoma who were surgically treated at a tertiary medical center between 2004 and 2015, to ensure long-term follow-up. Patients were stratified into four groups based on stage and TBC. A Cox regression was used to model the relationship of groups while accounting for relevant confounders. The cohort consisted of 700 patients (371 stage II and 329 stage III). Infiltrating TBC was statistically significantly associated with stage (p < 0.001) and extramural vascular invasion (p < 0.001), but not histologic grade (p = 0.7). Compared with pushing TBC, infiltrating TBC increased the hazard of death by a factor of 1.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–2.4; p < 0.001] and 1.7 (95% CI 1.3–2.2; p < 0.001). The hazard of death in patients with stage II disease (infiltrating TBC) or stage III disease (pushing TBC) was not significantly different (adjusted hazard ratio 1.1, 95% CI 0.7–1.7; p = 0.8). Infiltrating TBC is a high-risk feature in patients with stage II and III colon adenocarcinoma. Stage II disease patients with infiltrating TBC and who are node-negative should be considered for adjuvant chemotherapy.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome After Re-introduction of Atypical Antipsychotics in a COVID-19 Patient

We present a case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) in a 46-year-old white female from a state psychiatric hospital who also tested positive for coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2) infection after re-introduction of her home antipsychotics medication. She presented with confusion and altered mental status likely secondary to delirium from COVID-19 infection. Clozapine and risperidone were initially held on admission and restarted after continuing agitation on day two. She began to have increased restlessness with rising creatinine kinase (CK) levels, peaking on day seven with sudden fever, hypertension, and tachycardia. The diagnosis of NMS was confirmed, antipsychotic medication was held, and appropriate treatment was administered. The mechanism explaining the occurrence of NMS in COVID-19 patients is still unclear, but COVID-19 infection may be a risk factor for this presentation. The mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 as a risk factor for NMS is still uncertain and needs to be investigated further. However, if their infection status is known, patients should be given neuroleptics with caution and carefully considered for the development of this rare condition.
Effects on the Prime Interest Rate in Keynesian Models of Loanable Funds and M1

This chapter examines the relationship variation in the prime interest rate to variation in M1. In Taylor Rule models, M1 was not significant in most periods sampled. But it may be because the inflation variable in Taylor models is already affected by M1; hence adding it separately may be redundant, and the reason it is found insignificant. We show that even though loanable funds and M1 are significantly related, and M1 and the prime rate are also significantly related, that it is possible the regression of loanable funds on the prime rate will be insignificant because both relationships, though significant, have low R2s, but that doesn’t mean they are not linked. It just means that many other factors affect them, too. By comparison, Keynesian models show significant liquidity effects and, after a lag, inflation effects of a change in M1 on interest rates are found in all time periods sampled. The same was true for total LF and its two parts.
Life Science Research Facility Materials Management Requirements and Concepts

The Advanced Programs Office at NASA Ames Research Center has defined hypothetical experiments for a 90-day mission on Space Station to allow analysis of the materials necessary to conduct the experiments and to assess the impact on waste processing of recyclable materials and storage requirements of samples to be returned to earth for analysis as well as of nonrecyclable materials. The materials include the specimens themselves, the food, water, and gases necessary to maintain them, the expendables necessary to conduct the experiments, and the metabolic products of the specimens. This study defines the volumes, flow rates, and states of these materials. Process concepts for materials handling will include a cage cleaner, trash compactor, biological stabilizer, and various recycling devices.
Isotopic Probes of Biological Catalysis

This chapter describes some of the ways in which kineticists exploit isotopically labeled substrates to investigate enzyme-catalyzed reaction, focusing mainly on their use in discovering otherwise hidden steps in catalysis. The application of isotopic rate methods to investigate enzyme catalysis seems to be limited only by an investigator's creativity. The field of kinetic isotope effects often relies on comparisons of isotope effects for enzyme and corresponding chemical reactions. A major issue is whether enzymes alter the transition state from that observed in the corresponding solution reaction, or whether enzymes greatly stabilize the solution transition state without significantly altering its nature. They stress that meaningful comparison between the nature of the transition state for the enzymatic and the nonenzymatic reactions will relate to the extent of bond formation and bond breaking and the electron distribution in the transition states for analogous reactions (i.e., those following the same reaction pathway). There is also a growing appreciation for the idea that enzyme efficiency, as measured by kinetic isotope effects, may be influenced by enzyme structural changes (e.g., local rearrangements of the active-site residues, induced fit conformational changes, active-site loop motions, and even distal movements of atoms, hinge regions, or even entire domains). In as much as nearly all transition-state barriers are narrow near their summits, enzyme dynamics is an attractive way to lower the activation energy by altering the shapes of transition-state barriers.
A NEAT Way to Control Weight

Why do some people remain slimmer than others? The answer may be in the amount of time lean individuals spend fidgeting, standing and walking around compared with sitting still. As [Ravussin][1] explains in a Perspective, a followup study by [ Levine et al .][2] now pinpoints sitting as an important culprit of weight gain. Just sitting for 2.5 hours less each day would result in an extra energy expenditure of 350 kcal/day, which the authors calculate could translate into preventing the gain of extra pounds. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/307/5709/530 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/307/5709/584