cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Herpes simplex virus type 1 vector mediated gene transfer to muscle.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has a broad host range although in natural human infections the virus is neurotropic, establishing latent infections in sensory neurons where the viral DNA persists as an intact episome. The establishment of latency does not depend on viral replication functions, suggesting that infection of non-neuronal cells, including tissue of myogenic origin, by replication defective mutants may result in genome persistence in a similar episomal state. In this report a replication defective HSV-1 recombinant vector containing the beta-galactosidase reporter gene under transcriptional control of the strong human cytomegalovirus immediate-early gene promoter (HCMV IEp-lacZ) was used to infect muscle cells in vitro and in vivo. This replication defective mutant virus (d120), deleted for both copies of the essential immediate-early gene (ICP4) and thus incapable of expressing early and late viral genes, displayed highly reduced cytotoxicity in myogenic cells. This vector infected both myoblasts and myotubes in culture with transgene expression persisting for at least 8 days. The transduction efficiency in myotubes was similar to myoblasts at several multiplicities of infection (MOIs), suggesting that HSV could infect differentiated muscle fibers and that myoblast differentiation would neither prevent expression of the cellular receptor(s) for the virus nor inhibit viral penetration. Direct inoculation of mouse muscle fibers in vivo with 10(6) to 10(8) plaque forming units (p.f.u.) of vector was sufficient to transduce significant numbers of muscle fibers in newborn mice and some fibers in adult normal and mdx mice. These results suggest that recombinant HSV-1 vectors may be useful for gene transfer to muscle.
Does the average cost of home health care vary with case mix

The relationship between the average cost of home health care and the case mix of patients served by the home health agency is investigated using 1983 data from Wisconsin's home health care agencies. In contrast to previous work, case mix is shown to have a significant effect on the home health agency's average costs. The methods used in the previous work are evaluated, and differences between the earlier study and the present study are discussed to explain the divergent results. Also, average costs are shown to decrease with output, to increase with the proportion of private patients served by the agency, and to be higher if the home health agency is located in an urban area or if it has a proprietary charter. The implications of this research for the design of an appropriate home health reimbursement policy are discussed. Primarily, it is argued that, although future research might confirm the relationship between average costs and case mix for home health agencies, we cannot necessarily conclude that reimbursement rates must be adjusted to account for differences in case mix as many States are now doing for nursing home reimbursement. Policies must take into account the fundamental differences between home health agencies and nursing homes, and their respective markets, in order to be effective.
The Effect of the APOE4 Gene on Accumulation of Aβ40 After Brain Injury Cannot Be Reversed by Increasing apoE4 Protein.

The apolipoprotein E (apoE) protein is involved in clearance of β-amyloid (Aβ) from the brain; and the APOE4 gene is associated with Aβ plaque formation in humans following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Here, we examined the association between apoE and Aβ40 after experimental TBI and the effects of APOE alleles on this relationship. We report a biphasic response of soluble apoE protein after TBI with an acute reduction at 1 day postinjury followed by an increase at 7 days postinjury. TBI-induced Aβ40 levels decreased as soluble apoE levels increased. In APOE4 mice there was a diminished apoE response to TBI that corresponded to prolonged accumulation of TBI-induced Aβ40 versus that in APOE3 mice. Amyloid precursor protein processing was similar in APOE3 and APOE4 mice suggesting that impaired clearance was responsible for the abnormal accumulation of Aβ40 in the latter. Treatment of APOE4 mice with bexarotene for 7 days increased apoE4 protein levels but was not sufficient to reduce TBI-induced Aβ40. Thus, rapid clearance of TBI-induced Aβ40 occurs in mice but these pathways are impaired in APOE4 carriers. These data may help explain the deposition of Aβ in APOE4 carriers and the increased incidence of brain Aβ plaques following TBI.
Learning Identity: Tyisha Becoming an Outcast

In Mrs. Bailey and Mr. Smith's class, teachers and students developed two sets of overlapping metapragmatic/cognitive models during the year. Each involved an analogy between the classroom and one of the curricular themes, plus a series of participant examples that became important resources through which the analogy was established. Across each series of examples, together with other events, teachers and students developed metapragmatic/cognitive models that they used both to identify particular students and learn about a curricular theme. The metapragmatic and cognitive models were distinct in some respects, but they co-developed and came to overlap significantly as teachers and students used the same categories to identify students and to construe the curriculum. The first such overlapping, local metapragmatic/cognitive model has already been introduced. The curricular theme involved the appropriate relation between an individual and society, with an analogy between society in general and the social organization of the classroom itself. The most salient category of identity in this model became the “disruptive outcast” category that was inhabited by Tyisha. This chapter traces in detail how Tyisha came to be a disruptive outcast and how a local cognitive model contributed to her emerging identity. The second model involved the curricular question of when an individual should accept the authority of those in power and when he or she should resist. Teachers and students developed an analogy between power relations in society and those in the classroom.
Cell Motility: I Cytoplasmic Movements

One important cell function with which microtubules and microfilaments are closely associated is the movement of cytoplasm. Such movement can take a number of different forms, in addition to those endo- and exocytotic processes already described (Chapter 1, Section 1.2.1); however, these activities reappear here in various guises. Furthermore, there are three other major types of this basic function—amoeboid movement, microvillus production, and cytoplasmic streaming—which, in that same sequence, provide the main topics for discussion.
Understanding the Relationship between VIX and the S&P 500 Index Volatility

We study the VIX Index, often referred to as “the investor’s fear gauge,” relative to the observed volatility of the S&P 500 Index to investigate the relationship between these two measures of financial markets variability and to understand the directionality of their influence on one another. Calculated as a weighted average of put and call options on the S&P 500 Index, the VIX is considered as a forecasting indicator of the S&P 500 Index’s volatility over a one-month period. We examine the daily VIX and S&P 500 Index volatility data for the 20-year period between 1990 and 2009 and find that VIX lags the S&P 500 one-month volatility for the period that we study. Furthermore, we analyze the VIX Index and the S&P 500 volatility for different time periods, when the financial markets exhibit: (i) higher level of stability with volatility below two standard deviations from the mean and (ii) lower stability regimes, with volatilities above two standard deviations from the mean. We find that in general, the VIX overestimates the S&P 500 Index volatility during the stable financial market regimes, and underestimates the S&P 500 Index volatility throughout high volatility periods.
Biobased Plastics and Elastomers from Renewable Rosin via “Living” Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Utilization of biomass for commodity polymers has gained tremendous interest. We report a method to prepare high molecular weight renewable homopolymers and block copolymers derived from natural rosin. Monomers with high renewable content (70 wt %) were prepared via a simple esterification reaction between dehydroabietic alcohol and 5-exo-norbornenecarboxylic acid. Living and controlled polymerization of these monomers were achieved by ring-opening metathesis polymerization to obtain polymers with molecular weight up to ∼500 kg/mol. These homopolymers exhibit structure-dependent glass transition temperatures, excellent thermal stabilities, and thermoplastic properties. Chain entanglement molecular weight was determined via rheological assessments for such polymers with bulky side moieties. Using the living ROMP, dehydroabietic-based homopolymer was chain-extended with a soybean oil-derived norbornene monomer to yield triblock copolymers, which showed behaviors of thermoplastic elastomers.
Comparison of network architectures for a telemetry system in the solar car project

A solar car is an electric vehicle that runs entirely on solar energy. Designing, building and racing solar cars has been a longstanding worldwide challenge for engineering and computer science students, with the overarching goal being to design devices that use sustainable energy sources. This article describes our experience and educational outcomes (the modeling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the trade-offs involved in design choice) attained while designing the network architecture for a solar car project.
The Western Case for Monogamy Over Polygamy

Taking a page from the late Justice Antonin Scalia, John Witte’s perfectly timed book, The Western Case for Monogamy over Polygamy, questions whether Obergefell v. Hodges 1 foreshadows a fight over...
Mechanisms and Biological Consequences of STAT Signaling by Cytokines that Share the Common Cytokine Receptor γ Chain, γc

The activation of STAT proteins by cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21, all of which share the common cytokine receptor γ chain (γc), is one of the earliest signaling events that rapidly transduces signals by these cytokines from membrane to the nucleus. Together with other transcription factors and co-factors, the STAT proteins activated determine cytokine-specific gene expression profiles. In normal human T lymphocytes, the genes that are regulated by IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15, which all activate Stat5, are very similar but differ from the genes regulated by IL-4, which primarily activates Stat6. STAT proteins regulate the expression of cytokine target genes by binding to GAS motifs. Cooperative binding of Stat5 tetramers is crucial in regulating transcription of certain cytokine target genes. For example, IL-2-induced IL-2Rα transcription is regulated by two spatially separated positive regulatory regions and each of which binds Stat5 tetramers as well as other essential transcription factors. Stat5 proteins play vital roles in lymphoid development and function, and for example, these proteins critically regulate NK cell development and function and CD8+ memory T cells homeostasis in vivo. Furthermore, development of lymphoma in Stat5 transgenic mice demonstrates that dysregulated expression of Stat5 proteins, even without detectable constitutive activation, can predispose to malignant transformation in mice. In this chapter, we will describe how Stat5 proteins regulate their target genes in response to γc family cytokines, the roles of Stat5 in T-cell development and function, and the potential role of Stat5 in oncogenesis.
Complementary safeguards for robust regional watershed governance in a federation: New York City and its municipal water supply

Abstract In federations such as the United States, governments at various levels are experimenting with new watershed governance arrangements to protect water quality for both ecosystem health and human consumption. Such arrangements may bring previously uncooperative governments together to credibly commit to resource protection under the auspices of new and intricate formal institutions. Given the risks of cooperation, theory indicates that a robust arrangement will contain means of holding governing actors accountable to each other. This paper examines a purportedly successful case, the New York City watershed governance arrangement, to identify how safeguards against intergovernmental opportunism promote lasting cooperation. Using the qualitative method of process tracing, this paper finds that the New York City watershed governance arrangement uses structural, judicial, and popular safeguards against opportunistic behaviors by governing actors that might threaten the resource or the arrangement. The results indicate that such safeguards are present and interact with other safeguards and rule institutions at the state and federal level to maintain compliance.
Variable virulence of biotype 3 Vibrio vulnificus due to MARTX toxin effector domain composition

ABSTRACT Vibrio vulnificus is an environmental organism that causes septic human infections characterized by high morbidity and mortality. The annual incidence and global distribution of this pathogen are increasing as ocean waters warm. Clinical strains exhibit variations in the primary virulence toxin, suggesting a potential for the emergence of new strains with altered virulence properties. A clonal outbreak of tilapia-associated wound infections in Israel serves as a natural experiment for the sudden emergence of a new V. vulnificus strain. The effector domain content of the multifunctional autoprocessing RTX (MARTX) toxin of the outbreak-associated biotype 3 (BT3) strains was previously shown to harbor a modification generated by recombination. The modification introduced an actin-induced adenylate cyclase effector domain (ExoY) and an effector domain that disrupts the Golgi organelle (DmX). Here, we report that the exchange of these effector domains for a putative progenitor biotype 1 toxin arrangement produces a toxin that slows the lysis kinetics of targeted epithelial cells but increases cellular rounding phenotypes in response to bacteria. In addition, replacing the biotype 3 toxin variant with the putative progenitor biotype 1 variant renders the resulting strain significantly more virulent in mice. This suggests that the exchange of MARTX effector domains during the emergence of BT3 generated a toxin with reduced toxin potency, resulting in decreased virulence of this outbreak-associated strain. We posit that selection for reduced virulence may serve as a route for this lethal infectious agent to enter the human food chain by allowing it to persist in natural hosts. IMPORTANCEVibrio vulnificus is a serious infection linked to climate change. The virulence capacity of these bacteria can vary by gene exchange, resulting in new variants of the primary virulence toxin. In this study, we tested whether the emergence of an epidemic strain of V. vulnificus with a novel toxin variant correlated with a change in virulence. We found that restoring the biotype 3 toxin variant to the putative progenitor-type toxin resulted in dramatically increased virulence, revealing that the emergence of the biotype 3 strain could be linked to virulence reduction. This reduced virulence, previously found also in the biotype 1 strain, suggests that reduced virulence may stimulate outbreaks, as strains have greater capacity to enter the human food chain through reduced impact to environmental hosts.
Testing the time-of-flight model for flagellar length sensing

Cilia and flagella are microtubule-based organelles that protrude from the surface of most cells, are important to the sensing of extracellular signals, and make a driving force for fluid flow. Maintenance of flagellar length requires an active transport process known as intraflagellar transport (IFT). Recent studies reveal that the amount of IFT injection negatively correlates with the length of flagella. These observations suggest that a length-dependent feedback regulates IFT. However, it is unknown how cells recognize the length of flagella and control IFT. Several theoretical models try to explain this feedback system. We focused on one of the models, the "time-of-flight" model, which measures the length of flagella on the basis of the travel time of IFT protein in the flagellar compartment. We tested the time-of-flight model using Chlamydomonas dynein mutant cells, which show slower retrograde transport speed. The amount of IFT injection in dynein mutant cells was higher than that in control cells. This observation does not support the prediction of the time-of-flight model and suggests that Chlamydomonas uses another length-control feedback system rather than that described by the time-of-flight model.
To trach or not to trach, that is the question

Progressive neuromuscular disease requires increasing degrees of respiratory support to sustain life. Each step from intermittent to continuous-and noninvasive to invasive-ventilation requires thoughtful consideration based on the goals of the patient and family, and the inherent benefits and burdens of the treatment. Tracheostomy, in particular, should not be viewed as an inevitable next step when less permanent or invasive methods prove insufficient. Like other modes of respiratory support, tracheostomy may represent a bridge to recovery of pulmonary function, or a stabilizing action in the hope that novel therapies may prove beneficial. In other situations, tracheostomy represents a destination therapy, necessitating consideration of the implications of chronic mechanical ventilation. Institutional, social, and financial considerations may affect decisions related to tracheostomy, as may implicit bias regarding quality of life. The complexity of such care and decisions highlight the need for optimal palliative care throughout the patient's life.
Barrier Lyapunov Functions and Constrained Model Reference Adaptive Control

In classical model reference adaptive control, the closed-loop system’s ability to track a given reference signal can be tuned by choosing the adaptive rates and parameterizing the solution of an algebraic Lyapunov equation that appears in the adaptive law. The projection operator can be employed to impose user-defined constraints on the adaptive gains. However, using the projection operator and quadratic Lyapunov functions to certify uniform ultimate boundedness of the trajectory tracking error, the bounds on the trajectory tracking error can only be estimated, but not explicitly imposed a priori . In this letter, we provide an adaptive control law for the same class of nonlinear dynamical systems as classical model reference adaptive control. A barrier Lyapunov function guarantees that user-defined constraints on both the trajectory tracking error and the adaptive gains are verified.
THE LINEARIZED THEORY OF ELASTICITY

This chapter presents a summarization of three-dimensional equations governing isothermal linearized elasticity of a homogeneous isotropic medium. The general system of equations governing the three-dimensional motion of an elastic body in the material description is strongly nonlinear. Many wave propagation effects in elastic solids are described by a linearized theory. The chapter further presents a summarization of the basic equations of the linearized theory of elasticity and the linearized equations in rectangular, spherical, and cylindrical coordinates. The governing equations for an ideal fluid are also discussed in the chapter. A fluid at rest or in uniform flow cannot sustain shear stresses. Hence, the state of stress is purely hydrostatic. An ideal—nonviscous—fluid is a fluid that cannot sustain shear stresses even when it is in motion.
An Evaluation of the Plutonium Denaturing Concept as an Effective Safeguards Method

The effectiveness of denaturing plutonium with a /sup 238/Pu heat spike was evaluated as a safeguards deterrent for light water reactor (LWR) fuel. The aspects examined include the percentage of /sup 238/Pu denaturant required to sufficiently protect reactor-grade plutonium from national and subnational diversion attempts, the production rate of denaturant in LWRs, and logistics requirements. 12 refs.
Molecular Nature of T Cell Recognition of Antigen

This presentation summarizes two of our recent lines of research on antigen presentation by macrophages. The first deals with the issue of antigen processing, the second with the role of interleukin-1. Recently published papers have dealt with these two issues (1, 2, 3). The reader is referred to them for full presentation of the data, discussion, and references.
Impulse Disorders Associated with Cerebral Dysfunction: A Development Perspective

This Unit concludes with a consideration of the association of impulse disorders with cerebral dysfunction. Two specific disorders, hyperactivity or minimal brain dysfunction (MBD) and Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome, will be presented as useful examples. The state of knowledge about these disorders is by no means complete, and we stress the complexity and uncertainty of interactions of nature-nurture and organic-psychological factors in understanding aggressive behavior. Our intention is to develop an awareness of the influence of cerebral factors in manifestations of impulse disorders. We will consider briefly what is known about etiology and manifestation of impulse disorders and the implications for management.
Deep learning methods aid in predicting risk of interval cancer

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to apply a neural net to a dataset of women who later experienced either screening detected or interval cancers and determine if it aids in classifying risk of interval cancer compared to using BI-RADS density. Materials and Methods: Full-field digital screening mammograms acquired in our clinics were reviewed from 2006-2015. Interval cancers were matched to screening-detected cancers based on age, race, exam date, and time since last imaging examination. A deep learning architecture (ResNet50) was trained on this dataset with the goal to classify between interval and screen detected cancers. Network weights were initialized from ImageNet training and the final fully connected layers were retrained. Prediction loss, prediction accuracy, and ROC curves were calculated using this deep learning architecture and compared to predictions from conditional logistic regression using BI-RADS density. Results: 182 interval and 173 screening-detected cancers were found in our study group. The prediction accuracy improved from 63% using only BI-RADS density to 78% after including predictions from the deep learning model. The area under the ROC curve improved from 0.65 using only BI-RADS density to 0.84 after including the deep learning network as a predictor. Conclusions: We conclude that deep learning methods may be useful in identifying individuals at risk of interval cancer and that these methods can provide additional risk information not contained in breast density alone.
The RhoGAP HUM-7/Myo9 integrates signals to modulate RHO-1/RhoA during embryonic morphogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans

ABSTRACT During embryonic morphogenesis, cells and tissues undergo dramatic movements under the control of F-actin regulators. Our studies of epidermal cell migrations in developing Caenorhabditiselegans embryos have identified multiple plasma membrane signals that regulate the Rac GTPase, thus regulating WAVE and Arp2/3 complexes, to promote branched F-actin formation and polarized enrichment. Here, we describe a pathway that acts in parallel to Rac to transduce membrane signals to control epidermal F-actin through the GTPase RHO-1/RhoA. RHO-1 contributes to epidermal migration through effects on underlying neuroblasts. We identify signals to regulate RHO-1-dependent events in the epidermis. HUM-7, the C. elegans homolog of human MYO9A and MYO9B, regulates F-actin dynamics during epidermal migration. Genetics and biochemistry support that HUM-7 behaves as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for the RHO-1/RhoA and CDC-42 GTPases. Loss of HUM-7 enhances RHO-1-dependent epidermal cell behaviors. We identify SAX-3/ROBO as an upstream signal that contributes to attenuated RHO-1 activation through its regulation of HUM-7/Myo9. These studies identify a new role for RHO-1 during epidermal cell migration, and suggest that RHO-1 activity is regulated by SAX-3/ROBO acting on the RhoGAP HUM-7.
Overview of the Uses of Cognitive-Behavioural Training

I am sure that you will have already concluded that I am very much a psychophysiologist at heart and that my approach to the solution of a problem lies in dealing with the whole person; no doubt that is another reason why I am teaching ‘Human Factors Engineering’. So the contents of this last chapter will come as no surprise. I believe most strongly that many, if not most, stressors can best be dealt with by using the various component techniques that lie within the cognitive-behavioural training concept that I have described. I am equally sure that many of you, if you so desire, will find that you will be as successful as I have been, or more so, in dealing with a wide variety of psychophysiological problems. In this last chapter, I shall sum up briefly and in addition, I propose to describe some of my experiences with these techniques other than in the realm of motion sickness. You will find that I have used many of my cognitive-behavioural training strategies quite successfully during sessions of high altitude decompression training at altitude in a decompression chamber, as well as in a clinical setting, while performing coronary arteriography and implanting cardiac pacemakers. I have also included some information from a different field on a relatively recent neurophysiological approach, which others have described, for the management of tinnitus. I am sure that you will be interested to note the similarity with my motion sickness prevention training programme.
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey: Status and Prospects

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is a project to definitively map $\pi$ steradians of the local Universe. An array of CCD detectors used in drift-scan mode will digitally image the sky in five passbands to a limiting magnitude of $r' \sim 23$. Selected from the imaging survey, $10^6$ galaxies and $10^5$ quasars will be observed spectroscopically. I describe the current status of the survey, which is due to begin observations early in 1997, and its prospects for constraining models for dark matter in the Universe.
Assessing historical and future habitat models for four conservation‐priority Mojave Desert species

AIM: Modelling and quantifying habitat changes using three historical field surveys for four Mojave Desert species and projecting future scenarios. LOCATION: Newberry Mountains, southern Nevada, USA. METHODS: Three vegetation field surveys were conducted, ending in 1979, 2008 and 2016, respectively. Field data collection across three time steps resulted in a unique dataset with 100 re‐surveyed 0.06‐ha plots. Using Maxent ecological niche modelling and 800‐m resolution Parameter Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) temperature and precipitation data, habitat was assessed for four high‐elevation species. Recognizing that missing location data is a common challenge in species distribution modelling, sensitivity analysis was conducted utilizing three high‐elevation plots that species inhabited during the first two field surveys but that were unable to be sampled in 2016. Area under the curve for three species’ model runs exceeded 0.95, while one wider‐distributed species exceeded 0.79 for all runs. Future scenarios were also modelled under temperature increases and 16% and 0% reductions in precipitation. RESULTS: The number of presence locations and densities for Juniperus californica, Pinus monophylla, Quercus turbinella and Yucca schidigera decreased from 1979 to 2016, while their average elevational distribution increased. Using the 100 plots measured each of the three study years, models for all four species indicated decreases in potential suitable habitat ranging from 10% to 45%. When including the three highest elevation plots not re‐sampled in 2016, but likely still containing the modelled species, modelled habitat loss ranged from 0% to 29%. Future model projections show drastic reductions in the suitable habitat of all four modelled species. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: While many Maxent ecological modelling studies have been conducted, few have incorporated repeat surveys of identical plots as in our study. Model projections using a unique 100‐plot dataset suggest that suitable habitat area is contracting for the species studied, and this correlated with climatic warming and drying in the Mojave Desert. Despite model projections that show nearly complete loss of suitable habitat in 2053, care should be taken given uncertain estimates of the velocity of climate change and the slower pace of habitat contractions measured in the field.
Topographic Effects on the Luzon Diurnal Cycle during the BSISO

AbstractCloud-resolving simulations are used to evaluate the importance of topography to the diurnal cycle (DC) of precipitation (DCP) over Luzon, Philippines, and surrounding ocean during the July...
KOPTIC: A novel approach for in silico prediction of enzyme kinetics and regulation

Kinetic models of metabolism (kMMs) provide not only a more accurate method for designing novel biological systems but also characterization of system regulations; however, the multi- omics data required is prohibitive to their development and widespread use. Here, we introduce a new approach named Kinetic OPTimization using Integer Conditions (KOPTIC), which can circumvent the omics data requirement and semi-automate kMM construction using in silico reaction flux data and metabolite concentration estimates derived from a metabolic network model to return plausible reaction mechanisms, regulations, and kinetic parameters (defined as reactomics) using an optimization-based approach. As a benchmark for the performance of KOPTIC, a previously published, four-tissue (leaf, root, seed, and stem) metabolic model of Arabidopsis thaliana was used, consisting of major primary carbon metabolism pathways, named p-ath780 (1015 reactions, 901 metabolites, and 780 genes). Data required for KOPTIC was derived from an Arabidopsis lifecycle of 61 days. Nine separate regulator restriction sets (allowing multiple solutions) defining KOPTIC runs hypothesized 3577 total regulatory interactions involving metabolic, allosteric, and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms (with nearly 40 verified by existing literature) with a median fit error of 13.44%. Flux rates of most KOPTIC fits were found to be significantly correlated with (93.6% with p < 0.05) and approximately 1:1 (r = 0.775, p << 0.001) to the input time-series data. Thus, KOPTIC can hypothesize maps the regulatory landscape for a specific reaction, out of which the most relevant regulatory interaction(s) can be defined by the desired growth/stress conditions or the desired genetic interventions for use in the creation of kMMs.
Counteracting Othering in the Community College Setting: Increasing Belonging and Curiosity to Improve Student Success

ABSTRACTThis exploratory, phenomenological qualitative study explored how a single, relational micro-intervention focused on respectful conversation across difference might influence sense of belon...
Integration of immuno-oncology with stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of brain metastases.

Brain metastases traditionally carried a poor prognosis with treatment being a combination of surgery, whole-brain radiation therapy, and glucocorticoids; however, this treatment paradigm carried a significant amount of morbidity. In recent years, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), which involves the delivery of a highly conformal dose of radiation over a single session, has been shown to be an effective alternative to WBRT with excellent rates of local control and improved quality of life; however, a survival benefit has not been demonstrated. Recent developments have challenged the traditional view of the central nervous system being “immunologically privileged” which has led to a greater focus on treating these patients with systemic therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have been shown to improve survival in multiple malignancies. As a result, there has been increased utilization in combining these therapies in this setting. We conducted a literature search of medical databases (e.g. PubMed) for articles involving the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and stereotactic radiosurgery in managing brain metastases. Published evidence utilizing SRS and ICI is largely limited to single institution and retrospective in nature with the most common histology being melanoma. Combination therapy with SRS and ICI appears to improve survival in patients with brain metastases. The available data are largely retrospective; therefore, ongoing and planned prospective studies are needed to further validate these findings.
Cutibacterium subtype distribution on the skin of primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty patients

Background The skin of healthy shoulders is known to harbor multiple different subtypes of Cutibacterium (formerly Propionibacterium) acnes at the same time. C acnes can often be isolated from deep tissue and explant samples obtained during revision of a failed shoulder arthroplasty, presumably because the shoulder was inoculated with organisms from the patient's skin at the time of the index arthroplasty. It is possible that specific subtypes or distributions of subtypes may be associated with an increased pathogenic potential and that the skin of patients undergoing revision arthroplasty contains different distributions of the subtypes than in patients undergoing primary arthroplasty. We analyzed the subtype distribution of Cutibacterium from the skin of shoulders undergoing revision arthroplasty vs. primary arthroplasty. Methods Preoperative skin swabs were collected from 25 patients who underwent primary shoulder arthroplasty and 27 patients who underwent revision shoulder arthroplasty. The results of semiquantitative cultures of the skin and deep tissues were reported as specimen Cutibacterium values, and scores from all deep tissue samples were added to report the total shoulder Cutibacterium score. Single-locus sequence typing (SLST) of C acnes from the skin swabs was used to determine the subtype distribution for each patient. The percentage of each subtype for each patient was averaged in patients undergoing revision arthroplasty and then compared with that in patients undergoing primary arthroplasty. Results The C acnes subtype distribution on the skin of revision arthroplasty patients was different from that of primary shoulder arthroplasty patients, with a significantly higher percentage of SLST subtype A (36.9% vs. 16.0%, P = .0018). The distribution of SLST subtypes was similar between revision arthroplasty patients with strongly positive culture findings vs. those with weakly positive or negative culture findings. Conclusions Significant differences in the skin Cutibacterium subtype distributions were found between shoulders undergoing revision shoulder arthroplasty and those undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty. Future studies are needed to determine whether certain Cutibacterium subtype distributions are associated with an increased risk of arthroplasty revision.
Structural identifiability of the generalized Lotka-Volterra model for microbiome studies.

Population dynamic models can be used in conjunction with time series of species abundances to infer interactions. Understanding microbial interactions is a prerequisite for numerous goals in micro...
Hobbes’ God is Hidden and Idle

This article argues that Hobbes’ contradictory references to God can be resolved if viewed through the lens of two prominent conceptualizations of God – the Reformist hidden God (deus absconditus) ...
Giant pilomatricoma with angiomyxoid stroma: Unusual presentation of a benign tumor

Pilomatricomas, or benign calcifying epitheliomas of Malherbe, are the most common hair follicle tumors. Rarely, these tumors may exceed 5 cm and are referred to as giant pilomatricomas. We report the case of an otherwise healthy 18-year-old Hispanic man with a firm, itchy, painful, and ulcerated tumor on the anterior aspect of the chest.
Examining the Consequences of Instability in State Government Partisan Composition

One of the central theoretical concepts within the study of state politics has been the degree of competitiveness state political systems exhibit. A rich history of thought posits the consequences of such competitiveness from the work of V.O. Key to the present. Measures of this concept have also been prominently used, from the Ranney index to that created by Holbrook and Van Dunk. However, these measures of state competitiveness miss one important aspect of electoral competition: what is the probability that party control of a legislative chamber or for the governor will switch in an upcoming election? This paper presents such a measure. A pooled model of state legislative and gubernatorial elections is utilized to create point estimates for each state legislative district’s election outcome as well as the outcome for gubernatorial elections. Simulations are utilized to yield the probability that any particular configuration of partisan control will exist after an election. Carsey, Berry, Niemi, Powell and Snyder’s State Legislative Election Returns database for 1968-2003 is utilized to construct the new measure. The consequences of this type of competitiveness are then assessed.
The Common Thread: Diversion in the Jurisprudence of a Century of Juvenile Justice

A central objective of those who created the juvenile court was to protect young delinquents from the destructive punishments of the criminal justice system. This promotion of juvenile court as a diversion from criminal justice is distinct from more ambitious programs of child saving intervention because avoiding harm can be achieved even if no effective crime prevention treatments are available. This essay shows diversion has been an important motive in juvenile justice from the beginning, and the dominant purpose of a separate juvenile court since In Re Gault in 1967. The past thirty years have been the juvenile court's finest hour as a diversion project; the rate of juvenile incarceration has been stable, while incarceration of young adults has soared.
Corticosteroid-binding globulin as a biologic assay for endogenous estrogen in patients with and without endometrial carcinoma

Abstract Serum corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) concentrations in blood respond to endogenous or exogenous estrogens in a dose-response manner and serve as a biologic assay for estrogens. Because endometrial carcinoma is associated with unopposed or excessive estrogen stimulation, the CBG binding capacity of sera of patients with endometrial cancer was compared to that of normal premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The mean ± SEM values for CBG concentrations in patients with endometrial cancer (28.3 ± 1.3 mg/L) were significantly greater than CBG concentrations in premenopausal women (21.4 ± 0.9 mg/L, p
Java Examples in a Nutshell: A Tutorial Companion to Java in a Nutshell

This companion volume to "Java in a Nutshell" picks up where that book leaves off, providing a suite of example programs for novice Java programmers and experts alike. It delivers working examples that should help users explore the wide range of what is possible with Java 1.1. Each chapter concludes with programming exercises that suggest further avenues for building on what has been learned. In addition there are programming examples for remote method invocation, database connectivity, and security important elements of the Java Enterprise APIs. Finally, the book offers a glimpse of the features of "Swing", the set of new components that are part of the forthcoming Java Foundation Classes (JFC).
Abstract T P14: In-Hospital Cost Analysis of the Addition of Hyperacute MRI for Selection of Patients for Endovascular Stroke Therapy

Background: Patient selection is important for acute endovascular stroke therapy. We previously reported that a hyperacute MRI protocol for patient selection was associated with decreased utilization of endovascular stroke therapy and improved outcomes. A cost analysis comparing the pre and post-MRI protocol periods was performed to determine if the previous findings translated into cost savings. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients considered for endovascular stroke therapy from January 2008 to August 2012 who were ≤8 hours from stroke symptoms onset. Prior to April 30, 2010 selection was based on results of the CT/CTA alone (pre-hyperacute), whereas afterwards selection was based on results of MRI (hyperacute MRI). Demographic, outcomes and financial information was collected. Log-transformed average daily direct costs were regressed on time period. The regression model included demographic and clinical covariates as potential confounders. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing data. Results: We identified 267 patients, 88 in pre-hyperacute MRI and 179 in hyperacute MRI protocol. Length of stay was not significantly different in both groups (10.6 vs. 9.9 days; p Conclusions: Use of the hyperacute MRI protocol translated into reduced costs, in addition to reduced utilization of the invasive therapy and better outcomes. MRI selection of patients is an effective strategy, both for patient and hospital systems.
Interpretive Risk and Contract Interpretation: A Suggested Approach for Maximizing Value

The Article offers a theory of judicial intervention and interpretation in Contracts. It posits that the principal objective of courts interpreting, supplementing, or overriding terms is to ask whether such intervention can serve the broad objective of maximizing gains from trade while minimizing transaction costs and the costs of opportunism, collectively, an interpretive risk. It offers an economic rationale for a broad approach to interpretation It explores several examples from Contract law where courts depart from the parties’ textual choices and follow the theory suggested in this Article. These examples directly challenge the theory of the new formalists.
Purification and immunological characterization of a major low-molecular-weight lipoprotein from Borrelia burgdorferi.

Abstract Borrelia burgdorferi resembles gram-negative bacteria in having both cellular and outer membranes. We previously showed that a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-like material could be extracted from B. burgdorferi with phenol-chloroform-petroleum ether (PCP). The PCP extract of B. burgdorferi exhibited biological activity in several in vitro assays (e.g., mitogenicity, pyrogenicity, and cytokine release). These activities suggested the presence of endotoxin. The PCP extract of B. burgdorferi, however, also contained a small amount of protein. Preliminary studies showed that monoclonal antibody prepared against this protein inhibited the mitogenic activity of the PCP extract toward murine spleen cells. The current study was therefore undertaken to characterize this protein and to establish methods for its separation from the LPS. The PCP-extracted protein consisted of a single, low-molecular-weight lipoprotein (apparent M(r), 10,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) (SDS-PAGE). By protein analysis, it accounted for 2% of the dry weight of defatted cells, thus making it a major constituent of the spirochete. It was purified from the LPS by initial extraction into 10% Triton X-100 followed by immunoaffinity chromatography in the presence of detergent. On removal of the LPS, the purified lipoprotein formed aggregates stable to SDS-PAGE which were detectable on Western blots (immunoblots) probed with either the monoclonal antibody or polyclonal antiserum. From a plot of the aggregate molecular weight versus aggregate size, a monomer molecular weight of 7,500 was obtained. Indirect immunofluorescence with the monoclonal antibody showed that the lipoprotein was exposed at the surface of the spirochete in only a small percentage of cells. The lipoprotein was present in several strains of B. burgdorferi but absent in other Borrelia spp., treponemes, and gram-negative human pathogens, indicating species specificity.
The structure and dynamics of reacting plane mixing layers

The reacting two-dimensional plane mixing layer has been studied in two configurations: a rearward facing step and a two-stream mixing layer. Observations have been made of the steady state behavior, and the unsteady behavior when the flow was forced by a specific acoustic frequency. The steady behavior of the mean properties of the reacting flows is similar to that of non-reacting free shear flows except for the global effects of thermodynamic property changes. The structure of these flows is qualitatively similar to that of non-reacting flows. Vortices form by the two-dimensional Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and grow by subharmonic combination until the mixing layer interacts with the walls. Entrainment is dominated by the two-dimensional vortex motion. Three-dimensional instabilities give rise to secondary vortices which are coherent over several Kelvin-Helmholtz structures and dominate the fine scale mixing process. The mixing transition corresponds to a loss of coherence in the layer. Unsteady behavior occurs when there are resonant interactions with the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability or the instability associated with the recirculation vortex in the rearward facing step flow. Modeling efforts are reported which show promise of simulating the essential features of plane mixing layers.
Virtually the Same: Comparing the Effectiveness of Online Versus In-Person Library Tours

ABSTRACT The use of virtual or Web-based tours is on the rise in academic libraries, but with the loss of face-to-face contact and direct experience with the library's physical spaces, questions abound about this format's efficacy. Do online tour experiences measure up to those of a guided, face-to-face tour? Do online tours help mold students' perceptions of the library, while imparting important practical knowledge about the library's resources and services? Librarians at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, recently confronted these questions, as they added an option for an online library tour to a large library tour program for freshman that had previously been offered strictly through guided, librarian-led tours. This paper presents the results of a preliminary study comparing the efficacy of learning and affective outcomes between face-to-face library tours and online library tours at Kent State University.
Oregon's contribution to career information delivery, 1972–1987

What was only an idea 15 years ago is now accepted practice and an essential component of career guidance programs. Quality information, flexible delivery systems, and active user services are fundamental components of systematic career information development, delivery, and use. In Oregon, a consortium management structure has made it possible for the Career Information System to serve a varied user base.
Development of mineral resources, economics of mining and rural employment generation

Dr. B.P. Radhakrishna in his Anthology of Editorials (Memois 51, 61 and 81) had covered wide range of topics such as Geoscience, Mineral Exploration & Exploitation, Mining Industry, Science, Impending Water Crisis in Bengaluru city, Climate and Monsoon, Natural Disasters, Extra-terrestrial Phenomena, outstanding contributions of some eminent persons and important subjects like rural employment, sanitation, environment and human waste disposal. On these subjects he had listed our failures with analysis of what went wrong. In the following pages I have tried to summarize and highlight with occasional comments on mineral exploration, resources, reserves, mining environment, economics of mining and on policy matters related to Acts and Rules published in JGSI.