cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploiting temporal change of pitch in formant estimation

This paper considers the problem of obtaining an accurate spectral representation of speech formant structure when the voicing source exhibits a high fundamental frequency. Our work is inspired by auditory perception and physiological modeling studies implicating the use of temporal changes in speech by humans. Specifically, we develop and assess signal processing schemes aimed at exploiting temporal change of pitch as a basis for formant estimation. Our methods are cast in a generalized framework of two-dimensional processing of speech and show quantitative improvements under certain conditions over representations derived from traditional and homomorphic linear prediction. We conclude by highlighting potential benefits of our framework in the particular application of speaker recognition with preliminary results indicating a performance gender-gap closure on subsets of the TIMIT corpus.
W. H. Bradley, premier paleolimnologist

Profiles of Rocky Mountain Geologists – a continuing series All those lakes where the stars find themselves night after night, without ever changing: for so long I have thought of them. —William Stafford, 1979 Wherever we look there is a striving for deeper understanding of ever more complex problems and a corresponding realization of how much more we must learn …. —W. H. Bradley, 1963b Wilmot Hyde (“Bill”) Bradley (Fig. 1), son of a generous dentist (Bradley's words), husband of Catrina van Benschoten, father of two daughters and of paleolimnology, died of a stroke on April 12, 1979, eight days after his eightieth birthday. During the forty-eight years (1922–1970) Bradley worked for the U.S. Geological Survey, he achieved a place among the few—one of the very best and most honored geologists in the world. We Rocky Mountain geologists are especially indebted to him for the two dozen or so papers and monographs he wrote on the Green River Formation of Eocene age and for his other research on the region. Figure 1. Photograph of Wilmot H. (“Bill”) Bradley. Source: American Philosophical Society. Bradley's studies of nonmarine aquatic paleoecology and paleolimnology were far ahead of their time, as Erle Kauffman said long ago (McKelvey, 1981, p. 3). More than that, he was a transforming sedimentologist, an original force in marine geology, a paleontologist, a devoted naturalist, an inventive and caring administrator, and an exemplary man. Bill Bradley was born on April 4, 1899 in Westville, Connecticut—twenty-three years after John Wesley Powell (1876) published his Report on the geology of the eastern portion of the Uinta Mountains . It was the third year of William McKinley's presidency, a time of prosperity. Thanks to his mother and his aunt Carolyn, he roamed the meadows, marshes, and woods around Westville, learning to recognize and …
The Reorganization of Work

In recent decades, the bureaucratic organization of work in stable hierarchies of “jobs” and “offices” has come under increasing fire, seen as unresponsive and resistant to innovation. Practice has turned to two major alternatives: freeing individual “stars” to take independent initiative and building cooperative teamwork. Academic research has lagged far behind practice, often stuck in narrow positivist frames that miss the systemic and evolving nature of these organizational shifts. The emerging paradigm is not yet clear, but it certainly involves major modifications of the Weberian principles of bureaucratic efficiency. Keywords: project teams; flexibility; postbureaucratic organization; star systems; autonomous teams; high-performance work systems
Fluctuation of gamma-band phase synchronization within the auditory cortex in schizophrenia

Objective: To study the phase stability of the 40 Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR) in Sz, and in addition, to investigate inter-hemispheric phase synchronization using ipsilateral and contralateral hemisphere gamma band ASSRs. Methods: Whole head magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to detect ASSR from both hemispheres in Sz patients and their control counterparts. Source localization, spatial and temporal filtering were performed to infer gamma band activity from the neural generators of the ASSR. The response gamma band phase stability relative to a reference signal was quantified using the phase synchronization index (PSI). Results: Results indicated reduced phase synchronization of the ASSR and the stimulus reference signal in Sz patients compared to control subjects, in addition to reduced inter-hemispheric phase synchronization between contralateral and ipsilateral hemispheric responses in Sz patients. Conclusions: Greater intra and inter hemispheric fluctuations of ASSR gamma band phase synchronization in Sz add to previous studies suggesting timing deficiencies within neural populations, possibly caused by impairments of neural network parameters. Significance: This study provides experimental support that may aid in understanding the dynamics of neural phase synchrony caused by modifications of underlying neurotransmitter systems, as reflected in disease states such as schizophrenia.
Misattribution in virtual groups : The effects of member distribution on self-serving bias and partner blame

Interest in virtual groups has focused on attribution biases due to the collocation or distribution of partners. No previous research examines self-attributions in virtual groups, yet self-attributions—the acknowledgment of personal responsibility or its deflection— potentially determines learning and improvement. This study reviews research on attributions in virtual groups and the effects of distance on members’ proclivity to blame others or themselves. An experiment involved groups whose members were geographically collocated, distributed, or mixed, working over 2 weeks exclusively using asynchronous computer-mediated communication. Attributions for participants’ own poor performance reflected a self-serving bias in completely distributed groups, whose members eschewed personal responsibility and blamed their partners more than in collocated groups. Mixed groups’ results help distinguish among competing theoretical perspectives. Moreover, an externally imposed observational goal mitigated attributional bias among distributed members by raising awareness of the sociotechnical effects of communication medium among those for whom the goal was successfully induced.
Newly Identified Phosphorylation Site in the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus P Protein Is Required for Viral RNA Synthesis

The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase consists of two viral proteins; the large (L) protein is the main catalytic subunit, and the phosphoprotein (P) is an essential cofactor for polymerase function. The P protein interacts with the L protein and the N-RNA template, thus connecting the polymerase to the template. P protein also binds to free N protein to maintain it in a soluble, encapsidation-competent form. Previously, five sites of phosphorylation were identified on the P protein and these sites were reported to be differentially important for mRNA synthesis or genomic replication. The previous studies were carried out by biochemical analysis of portions of the authentic viral P protein or by analysis of bacterium-expressed, exogenously phosphorylated P protein by mutagenesis. However, there has been no systematic biochemical search for phosphorylation sites on authentic, virus-expressed P protein. In this study, we analyzed the P protein isolated from VSV-infected cells for sites of phosphorylation by mass spectrometry. We report the identification of Tyr14 as a previously unidentified phosphorylation site of VSV P and show that it is essential for viral transcription and replication. However, our mass spectral analysis failed to observe the phosphorylation of previously reported C-terminal residues Ser226 and Ser227 and mutagenic analyses did not demonstrate a role for these sites in RNA synthesis.
Alcohol and eating disorders: implications for alcohol treatment and health services research.

Background: This paper focuses on the co-occurrence of alcoholism and eating disorders and the clinical implications for treating this comorbidity in women with alcohol use disorders. There is substantial literature that supports higher than expected rates of co-occurrence of these two disorders. In addition, there is evidence that the co-occurrence of alcoholism and eating disorders is more likely to occur in the presence of other psychiatric disorders. A critical analysis of the studies on the comorbidity of these disorders is conducted along with a review of the possible etiologic association between the two disorders. Crucial questions related to pharmacological and behavioral treatments for this subgroup of alcoholic women with eating disorders are raised from a health services research perspective. Conclusions: There is substantial evidence that alcoholism and eating disorders co-occur at high rates. However, as this review points out, several important research questions remain regarding both the clinical manifestations of each problem in women who are comorbid for both disorders and the treatment implications.
Relationships Between Spartina alterniflora and Littoraria irrorata in a South Carolina Salt Marsh

Bottom-up factors such as nutrient availability have long been thought to be the primary regulators of plant growth in salt marshes. However, that paradigm has been challenged by investigations showing that grazing by the periwinkle snailLittoraria irrorata regulatesSpartina alterniflora growth through top-down forces. Our investigation was conducted between November 2003 and March 2007 within the North Inlet Estuary (NIE) salt marsh to examine relationships betweenS. alterniflora andL. irrorata. The primary goal was to determine if observed in situ densities ofL. irrorata significantly decreasedS. alterniflora productivity at the study sites. The results indicate thatS. alterniflora productivity positively correlated withL. irrorata snail density during winter. However, no correlation was observed during summer. Hence, there was no inverse relationship between snail density and primary productivity and no support for the hypothesis of ‘top-down’ control of marsh plant production. A significant relationship betweenS. alterniflora stem density andL. irrorata density was observed during summer and winter, suggesting that stem density may play a key role in determining the distribution of periwinkle snails in NIE. These results challenge the applicability of theL. irrorata-S. alterniflora top-down control model as a generalized phenomenon in southeastern salt marshes.
Relating raw rice colour and composition to cooked rice colour

BACKGROUND: The whiter the rice, the more it is preferred by consumers and the more value it has in the market place. The first objective of this study was to determine the interrelationships of raw colour, cooked colour, amylose content and protein content in rice. The second objective was to assess whether or not the colour of cooked rice can be predicted from raw rice colour in conjunction with amylose and protein contents. RESULTS: Protein and amylose contents were not significantly correlated with the colour measurements for raw rice. Protein and amylose showed moderate, significant associations with L ∗ and a ∗ and a ∗ , b ∗ and C ∗ respectively for cooked rice. Only the colour variable a ∗ of cooked rice could be predicted using protein, amylose and raw rice colour with high enough precision to beuseful,andthiswasonlyformodellingusingsamplescookedinthesamemanner(ricecooker).Cookingmethod(ricecooker versus excess water) affected the colour of cooked rice. CONCLUSION: Being able to predict a ∗ in cooked rice is likely of limited value. Only the model that used samples where postharvest handling conditions were controlled (US-grown rice) was able to predict C ∗ , a more useful measure, and then with only moderate ability. L ∗ , a measure of brightness/whiteness, was not predicted well by any of the models. c � 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Agricultural policy for improved nutrition in Africa and Asia: evidence to guide the US Government’s investments in food security

This article represents the views of the authors and not necessarily those of USAID, Feed the Future or the United States Government. The article reports on a roundtable process funded through the USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Nutrition (award # AID-OAA-L-10-00006). In addition to the authors, roundtable participants were Gilles Bergeron (FANTA), Jennifer Chow (USAID), Richard Greene (USAID), Ellen Harris (United States Department of Agriculture), Anna Herforth (independent consultant), David Klurfeld (USDA), Kathryn Kolasa (East Carolina University), Mercy Lung’aho (CIAT-PABRA), Maura Mack (USAID), John McDermott (IFPRI), Mary Murimi (Texas Tech University), Prabhu Pingali (Cornell University), Lori Post (Yale University), Daniel Bruce Sarpong (University of Ghana), Kalidas Shetty (North Dakota State University), Alison Steiber (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics), Anne Swindale (USAID), Jessica Tilahun (SPRING), Patrick Webb (Tufts University), Tassew Woldehanna (Addis Ababa University), Margo Wootan (Center for Science in the Public Interest), and Felicia Wu (Michigan State University). The authors are grateful to them and to Marisol Pierce-Quinonez for their many contributions to the roundtable results summarized here.
Overtime and Undertime: An Analysis of Hours Worked*

Drawing on 1980 Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS), this study compares the determinants of annual hours of work for whites, blacks, and mainland-born Puerto Ricans residing in the New York SMSA in 1979. Two theoretical approaches are tested; a neoclassical specification and an extended structural model. The analysis supports both approaches. Few differences in coefficients exist between white and minority men, but the hours of minority women are less sensitive to family demands than are those of white women. The implications of these and other findings are discussed.
Why many Phytophthora root rots and crown rots of tree and horticultural crops remain undetected.

Of the approximately 50 recognized Phytophthora spp., more than half have not been reported to cause root rot or crown rot. Some well-known phytophthora root and crown rots have still not been diagnosed in many regions or countries in the world. It seems likely that this arises mainly from use of inappropriate isolation media and diagnostic procedures. Thus, various root disorders of tree and horticultural crops have been attributed to other pathogens or to abiotic causes, and found to be due to Phytophthora spp. only when proper isolation techniques involving baiting and selective media were used. These special techniques, however, are still not widely used by many diagnosticians and pathologists today. It seems that most pathologists lack training and specific knowledge on Phytophtohora diseases and tools for their study. They are often unaware of the importance of these fungi in causing below-ground infections, or of the unique nature of their biology, soil ecology and pathology in relation to root and crown rot development. It is hoped that wider use of special isolation techniques in routine diagnoses in the future will result in an increase in the frequency of reports of occurrence of phytophthora root and crown rots of woody perennials around the world.
Cultivating the agent economy

Advances in electronic commerce and agent technology are pushing the world rapidly toward ever-increasing e-business automation. The logical development of this movement is agent based electronic commerce, in which software agents act as autonomous (or semi-autonomous) businesses in their own right, buying and selling information goods and services online. We review some of the foreseeable developments and challenges in the growth of agent based electronic commerce.
Characterization and Mechanism of Action of Soluble Immune Response Suppressor (SIRS)

ABSTRACT Soluble immune response suppressor (SIRS), a product of concanavalin A-activated murine Lyt 2 + T cells, which nonspecifically suppresses immune responses in vitro , is also produced by Lyt 2 + T cells activated with fibroblast Interferon (IFNB). Macrophages, after exposure to SIRS, release a product which is a rapid, potent and reversible inhibitor of cell division by a wide variety of cell types. This accounts for SIRS-mediated immunosuppression. An identical product is recovered after treatment of SIRS with H 2 O 2 ; this active mediator, originally termed macrophagederived suppressor factor (Mϕ-SF), has been renamed SIRS ox to more accurately reflect i t s relationship to SIRS. Further, reagents which block suppression at different points in the pathway, i.e. catalase competes with SIRS for H 2 O 2 , levamisole blocks conversion of SIRS to SIRS ox and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and ascorbic acid inactivate SIRS0X, block suppression by SIRS and the product of IFNβ activated T cells, IFN-SIRS. T cell hybridomas producing SIRS and IFN-SIRS have been prepared. Hybridoma derived SIRS has been purified to biochemical homogeneity and consists of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 21, 500. Tumor cells, like 2-ME or ascorbic acid, inactivate SIRS ox and tumor cells pretreated with sulfhydryl blocking reagents failed to inactivate SIRS ox . Further, cellular protein sulfhydryls were reduced 30-50% by treatment with SIRS ox and reduction in protein sulfhydryl levels paralled inhibition of cell division. Thus, SIRS ox appears to affect the function of protein sulfhydryls essential for cell division.
Sexual Dimorphism in Nymphs of Psylla pyricola (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

During investigations on possible parthenogenesis in the pear psylla, Psylla pyricola Foerster, a means was sought for determining the sex of individual psylla prior to adult emergence. Such information would eliminate the necessity of isolating single nymphs to obtain unmated females. In many species of the Psyllidae the genitalia of the adult individual can be seen through the nymphal integument prior to adult emergence. However, this is possible for a brief period only. Moreover, in the fifth-instar nymph of P. pyricola , the posterior portion of the abdomen is heavily sclerotized and darkly pigmented, so the adult genitalia are difficult to see within the nymph.
Core Concepts: The Biology of Hemoglobin

A consistent and organized transition from embryonic to fetal to adult hemoglobin (Hgb) occurs during human fetal development. Hgb concentrations gradually increase, averaging 18 g/dL (180 g/L) by 40 weeks9 gestation. The ability to deliver oxygen to tissues in the fetus and neonate is primarily determined by the percentage of fetal versus adult Hgb and the concentration of 2,3 diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG). Studies continue to evaluate the relationship between Hgb concentrations and oxygen delivery in neonates to determine what Hgb concentrations best meet the needs of a wide variety of clinical situations from the critically ill extremely low-birthweight infant to the stable growing preterm infant. Biochemical interactions between nitric oxide (NO) and Hgb beyond the production of methemoglobin do occur and may be a source of deliverable NO to the microcirculation under hypoxic conditions.
Continuous Integration for Concurrent MOOSE Framework and Application Development on GitHub

For the past several years, Idaho National Laboratory’s MOOSE framework team has employed modern software engineering techniques (continuous integration, joint application/framework source code repos- itories, automated regression testing, etc.) in developing closed-source multiphysics simulation software (Gaston et al., Journal of Open Research Software vol. 2, article e10, 2014). In March 2014, the MOOSE framework was released under an open source license on GitHub, significantly expanding and diversifying the pool of current active and potential future contributors on the project. Despite this recent growth, the same philosophy of concurrent framework and application development continues to guide the project’s development roadmap. Several specific practices, including techniques for managing multiple repositories, conducting automated regression testing, and implementing a cascading build process are discussed in this short paper. Special attention is given to describing the manner in which these practices naturally synergize with the GitHub API and GitHub-specific features such as issue tracking, Pull Requests, and project forks.
Match between culture and social support: Acculturation moderates the relationship between social support and well-being of Chinese American breast cancer survivors

Social support does not always lead to health benefits; the outcomes depend on the match between the need and the provision of social support. Culture shapes individuals’ preference of social support types (e.g., supportive communication, social companionship, and tangible support). The present study examined how the association between social support and well-being may vary as a function of acculturation among minority cancer survivors. One hundred and twenty-three Chinese American breast cancer survivors were invited to complete a questionnaire package. Findings showed that acculturation moderated the association of social support subtypes with psychological and physical well-being. Higher emotional/information support was associated with better quality of life and less physical symptoms among highly acculturated cancer survivors but more physical symptoms among those who were less acculturated. Tangible support was associated with more physical symptoms among highly acculturated cancer survivors but less physical symptoms among those who are less acculturated. Positive social interaction was associated with better quality of life and less physical symptoms among less acculturated cancer survivors but not associated with quality of life or physical symptoms among their highly acculturated counterparts. The findings pointed to the significance of acculturation in breast cancer experience among minority women, especially its interplay with social support transactions.
Abstract B36: Interrogating cellular metabolism to improve therapy for EGFR mutant NSCLC

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that target the EGFR are the standard of care for patients with EGFR mutant non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). However, TKIs are not curative; most patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC treated with EGFR TKIs develop resistance within 9 to 14 months. The tumor microenvironment is thought to influence the fitness of cancer cells and drive the evolution of a tumor, but the effect of altered environmental conditions on oncogenic signaling and therapeutic response is not well understood. In the present study, we used the Operetta® High Content Imaging System to track cell dynamics over time and found that microenvironmental stress, specifically nutrient starvation, had a differential effect on growth rates of TKIs sensitive and resistant cells. Furthermore, we discovered that TKIs sensitive and resistant cells have differential metabolic signaling in response to this microenvironmental stress. To further interrogate cellular metabolism in TKIs sensitive and resistant cells, we utilized fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), a state-of-the-art live-cell imaging technique to measure the autofluorescence lifetime of metabolic coenzyme NADH, the principle electron acceptor in glycolysis and electron donor in oxidative phosphorylation. Taken together, our data suggest that TKIs sensitive and resistant cells have adopted different metabolic strategies to cope with stressful environmental conditions, and interrogating tumor metabolic adaptations would inform the design of new therapeutic strategies to delay or prevent the outgrowth of resistant clones during treatment of EGFR mutant NSCLC. Citation Format: Chun-Te Chiang, Chi-Li Chiu, Cosimo Arnesano, Scott E. Fraser, David B. Agus, Dan L. Ruderman, Shannon M. Mumenthaler. Interrogating cellular metabolism to improve therapy for EGFR mutant NSCLC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Function of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression; 2016 Jan 7–10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(15 Suppl):Abstract nr B36.
Application of acid treated kaolin clay for conversion of polymeric waste material into pyrolysis diesel fuel

Polymer waste material was subjected to catalytic pyrolysis using acid treated kaolin clay. Waste material was cracked thermally and catalytically in a batch reactor in the temperature range 400-500°C for synthesis of liquid fuel. For this purpose, kaolin clay was first treated with different prepared molar solutions of HCl (1M, 3M and 5 M) under reflux condensation at 100°C and atmospheric pressure in a round bottom flask for 4 hours. The acid treated clay samples were subsequently washed with distilled water and then calcined at 500°C for 4 hours. Cracking activity of untreated kaolin clay was compared with acid treated kaolin clay. It was observed that acid treated kaolin clay performed better than untreated kaolin clay due to high surface area and greater number of acidic sites.
Exploring the bulk in AdS /CFT : A covariant approach

I propose a general, covariant way of defining when one region is ``deeper in the bulk'' than another. This definition is formulated outside of an event horizon (or in the absence thereof) in generic geometries; it may be applied to both points and surfaces, and it may be used to compare the depth of bulk points or surfaces relative to a particular boundary subregion or relative to the entire boundary. Using the recently proposed ``light-cone cut'' formalism, the comparative depth between two bulk points can be determined from the singularity structure of Lorentzian correlators in the dual field theory. I prove that, by this definition, causal wedges of progressively larger regions probe monotonically deeper in the bulk. The definition furthermore matches expectations in pure AdS and in static AdS black holes with isotropic spatial slices, where a well-defined holographic coordinate exists. In terms of holographic renormalization group flow, this new definition of bulk depth makes contact with coarse graining over both large distances and long time scales.
Yellow Fever — Once Again on the Radar Screen in the Americas

Sylvatic transmission cycles of yellow fever continue to occur in endemic tropical regions. If the outbreak in Brazil leads to urban spread, U.S. clinicians should adopt a high index of suspicion for the disease, particularly in travelers returning from affected areas.
The Electromagnetic Field as Oscillations of a Deformable Relativistic Aether

The interpretation of the electromagnetic field Au(x) as the displacement vector of an extensible medium in Minkowski space is discussed.
Using Social Media to Create Customer Value Through Immersive and Satisfying Interactions: An Abstract

This research examines the effects of social media brand-consumer interactions on three types of customer value: customer lifetime value (CLV), customer influence value (CIV), and customer knowledge value (CKV). By examining the differential effects of consumers’ satisfaction and immersion with social media brand interactions on CLV, CIV, and CKV, the authors identify conditions under which interaction satisfaction and interaction immersion create value for brands. Results suggest that whereas interaction satisfaction positively influences both CLV and CIV, interaction immersion impacts both CIV and CKV. The authors identify social media strategies for brands related to interaction satisfaction and immersion that are based on the three types of customer value studied. The findings reported offer important managerial and theoretical implications with respect to the effects of discrete social media interactions on customer value creation.
Numerical Methods for Finite-Time Quadratic Control of Infinite-Dimensional Systems

Abstract An approach based on factorization leads to new approximations for the optimal gain in the finite-time linear quadratic control problem for infinite-dimensional systems. The standard methodology, based on the approximation of the entire semigroup which characterizes the dynamics of the system, leads to a sequence of Riccati equations for the approximating control gains. Convergence of the approximate gains is established but in general no a priori error estimates are derived. Our approach circumvents the need for solving (and analyzing) Riccati equations and provides a more transparent connection between the system dynamics and the optimal gain. Specifically, we are able to characterize the gain in terms of a compact manifold of solutions of the underlying infinite-dimensional system together with a solution to an associated factorization problem. Regularity conditions for the approximation of this manifold combine with regularity conditions for the approximation of the solution to the factorization problem to give asympotolically valid estimates for the error in the approximate gain. The theoretical arguments justifying our approach arc stated in a very general context. Particular emphasis is then given to a class of hyperbolic systems which arise in structural control problems and to a class of retarded functional differential equations which model systems with dynamic delays.
A short D-enantiomeric antimicrobial peptide with potent immunomodulatory and antibiofilm activity against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising therapeutic alternative for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The present study investigates the antimicrobial activity of new, rationally-designed derivatives of a short α-helical peptide, RR. From the peptides designed, RR4 and its D-enantiomer, D-RR4, emerged as the most potent analogues with a more than 32-fold improvement in antimicrobial activity observed against multidrug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Remarkably, D-RR4 demonstrated potent activity against colistin-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa (isolated from cystic fibrosis patients) indicating a potential therapeutic advantage of this peptide over several AMPs. In contrast to many natural AMPs, D-RR4 retained its activity under challenging physiological conditions (high salts, serum, and acidic pH). Furthermore, D-RR4 was more capable of disrupting P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii biofilms when compared to conventional antibiotics. Of note, D-RR4 was able to bind to lipopolysaccharide to reduce the endotoxin-induced proinflammatory cytokine response in macrophages. Finally, D-RR4 protected Caenorhabditis elegans from lethal infections of P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii and enhanced the activity of colistin in vivo against colistin-resistant P. aeruginosa.
Can Oxygen Transport Analysis Tell Us Why People With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Feel So Poorly

Article, see p 148 Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a huge public health problem.1 There is no proven effective treatment. Patients with HFpEF are not able to engage in physical activity without developing symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue. This diminishes quality of life and is associated with increased mortality.1,2 To perform physical activity, we increase O2 consumption (Vo2). Oxygen transport is accomplished through convective and diffusive processes. Convective transport involves 2 steps: introduction of O2 into the lungs (alveolar ventilation) and transport from the lungs to the periphery in the circulation (cardiac output [CO]). Diffusive O2 transport describes 2 additional steps: movement of O2 across the alveolar-pulmonary capillary interface in the lung and unloading of O2 from hemoglobin in skeletal muscle capillaries (DM), where mitochondria consume it to make ATP. Impairments in any or several of these steps can constrain the ability of the body to increase Vo2 and thus perform activity. When patients with HF display low peak Vo2, it is often assumed that this reflects a deficit in CO. However, according to the Fick principle, Vo2 is equal to the product of CO and the arterial-venous O2 content difference (AVO2diff). More than 20 years ago, Wilson and colleagues3 made the remarkable observation that 1/4 of patients with severe HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) actually display normal leg blood flow during exercise. Despite adequate convective O2 delivery, these patients developed profound leg fatigue and an accelerated increase in venous lactate, indicating a switch to anaerobic glycolysis. The patients were less able to increase AVO2diff during exercise, and this drove their low peak Vo2 rather than poor …
Probabilities of having minimum amounts of available soil water at wheat planting

Abstract Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow (WF) remains a prominent cropping system throughout the Central Great Plains despite documentation confirming the inefficiency of precipitation storage during the summer fallow period. Wheat yield is greatly influenced by available soil water at planting, and that quantity is influenced by cropping intensity, tillage intensity, crop grown prior to winter wheat planting, and length of the non-crop period prior to winter wheat planting. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cropping system intensity, tillage, and crop prior to wheat planting on available soil water at planting and the probabilities of having certain minimum amounts of available soil water at wheat planting. Available soil water was measured at wheat planting for nine cropping systems varying in fallow frequency, tillage intensity, and crop prior to wheat over a 25-yr period at Akron, CO. Available soil water at wheat planting was found to be greatest (average 218 mm) for no-tillage (NT) and reduced-tillage (RT) systems in which a fallow period of 12–14 months preceded wheat planting. The lowest amounts of available soil water at wheat planting were found for the continuously cropped rotations (average 100 mm). The cumulative probability exceedance graphs of available soil water at planting fell into three groupings: 1) the five rotations that had a NT or RT fallow period prior to the next wheat crop; 2) the WF (conventional till) rotation; 3) the three rotations with either pea (Pisum sativum L.) or proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) prior to the next wheat crop. These graphs provide a valuable decision support tool for helping farmers assess risk in moving from a WF cropping system to a system of greater cropping intensity and diversity.
SINUS NODE DYSFUNCTION AFTER FONTAN PALLIATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCED ATRIAL ACTIVE EJECTION FRACTION AS MEASURED BY CARDIAC MRI

Sinus node dysfunction (SND) occurs in up to 40% of patients after Fontan palliation and can impair cardiac output secondary to atrioventricular dyssynchrony or chronotropic incompetence and may be an early indicator of future Fontan failure. The relationship between SND and atrial function has not
Order effects in the translation process

This study investigates how the order in which various translation memory match-types occur in a target language version of a text may influence translator behavior and cognition. Empirical research designs often attempt to mitigate for possible confounds from order effects, yet explicit recognition of the time-series nature of data collection can yield a better understanding of the influence that translation technologies have on the translation task. Data are drawn from a previous study that investigated technical, temporal, and cognitive effort in a translation memory environment, and here we analyze the time-series data for potential order effects. Findings show that order effects are present in some instances during the sequential progression through the target text, particularly with respect to technical and cognitive effort. Results are also suggestive of a potential first impression effect.
Chemical Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry of PAF

Elucidation of the exact chemical structure of a biologically active molecule often presents a milestone in the search for understanding of the physiological or pathophysiological role such a molecule may play in biology. While the initial description of the biological activity of a substance provides the necessary interest to focus further investigations, the knowledge of the covalent structure of the substance permits, for the first time, chemical synthesis of quantities of pure material for detailed pharmacological studies, notwithstanding the proof of the identity of the biological substance. Furthermore, the knowledge of the covalent structure permits the development of analytical techniques, based on physicochemical properties, to detect and measure the molecule produced in biochemical reactions. It is this ability to measure a substance like PAF specifically, apart from biological assays, that can be the foundation of a more complete understanding of the role that this substance plays as a lipid mediator of biologic events.
Emergency Care of Battered Women

The numbers of battering victims presenting to emergency settings have increased in the past decade. Currently, there are an estimated 2.8 million battered women in the United States, constituting more than half the married women in this country.1 These figures do not include women who are beaten by boyfriends and lovers, or a staggering number of unreported or unidentified cases. Women who fear the stigma of public humiliation and the very real danger of retaliation by husband or lover are reluctant to identify the actual cause of their injuries or distress and most often present to the emergency room as unwitting victims of accidents, not abuse. This chapter deals with both those women who identify themselves as battering victims and those who deny the assault; in both situations, the general principles of emergency care are described.
Maladaptive behavioral regulation in alcohol dependence: Role of kappa-opioid receptors in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.

Abstract There is an important emerging role for the endogenous opioid dynorphin (DYN) and the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Evidence suggests that the DYN/KOR system in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) contributes to maladaptive behavioral regulation during withdrawal in alcohol dependence. The current experiments were designed to assess dysregulation of the BNST DYN/KOR system by evaluating alcohol dependence-induced changes in DYN/KOR gene expression (Pdyn and Oprk1, respectively), and the sensitivity of alcohol self-administration, negative affective-like behavior and physiological withdrawal to intra-BNST KOR antagonism during acute withdrawal. Wistar rats trained to self-administer alcohol, or not trained, were subjected to an alcohol dependence induction procedure (14 h alcohol vapor/10 h air) or air-exposure. BNST micropunches from air- and vapor-exposed animals were analyzed using RT-qPCR to quantify dependence-induced changes in Pdyn and Oprk1 mRNA expression. In addition, vapor- and air-exposed groups received an intra-BNST infusion of a KOR antagonist or vehicle prior to measurement of alcohol self-administration. A separate cohort of vapor-exposed rats was assessed for physiological withdrawal and negative affective-like behavior signs following intra-BNST KOR antagonism. During acute withdrawal, following alcohol dependence induction, there was an upregulation in Oprk1 mRNA expression in alcohol self-administering animals, but not non-alcohol self-administering animals, that confirmed dysregulation of the KOR/DYN system within the BNST. Furthermore, intra-BNST KOR antagonism attenuated escalated alcohol self-administration and negative affective-like behavior during acute withdrawal without reliably impacting physiological symptoms of withdrawal. The results confirm KOR system dysregulation in the BNST in alcohol dependence, illustrating the therapeutic potential of targeting the KOR to treat alcohol dependence.
Mitral valve repair versus replacement for patients with preserved left ventricular function without heart failure symptoms

Abstract Objective The purposes of this study are to compare outcomes of mitral valve repair (MV-repair) and mitral valve replacement for patients with severe mitral regurgitation with preserved ventricular function and no congestive heart failure (CHF) symptoms and to examine variations in surgeon choice of procedure and outcomes by surgeon volume. Methods In total, 2259 consecutive patients in 42 New York State hospitals with the characteristics mentioned previously who underwent mitral valve repair (1801, 79.7%) or replacement between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2014, were identified from a mandatory statewide clinical registry. Propensity-matching was used to compare mortality and competing risk analyses were used to compare nonfatal outcomes. Median follow-up was 4.0 years. The use of mitral repair and risk-adjusted mortality for surgery were also examined as a function of individual surgeon mitral case volume. Results Propensity-matched patients who underwent MV-repair experienced a significantly lower mortality rate at 4 years (3.5% vs 12.1%, P Conclusions Patients with chronic severe primary mitral valve regurgitation with preserved ventricular function and no CHF symptoms who underwent MV-repair experienced lower mortality and no different reoperation, CHF, or stroke readmission rates than patients who underwent replacement. Greater-volume surgeons were more likely than their lower volume counterparts to choose mitral repair. Repair should be considered as the surgical option for these patients whenever possible.
Exposure–response analysis of blinatumomab in patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and comparison with standard of care chemotherapy

Aims The relationship between blinatumomab exposure and efficacy endpoints (occurrence of complete remission [CR] and duration of overall survival [OS]) or adverse events (occurrence of cytokine release syndrome [CRS] and neurological events) were investigated in adult patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (r/r ALL) receiving blinatumomab or standard of care (SOC) chemotherapy to evaluate appropriateness of the blinatumomab dosing regimen. Methods Exposure, efficacy and safety data from adult patients (n = 646) with r/r ALL receiving stepwise (9 then 28 μg/day, 4-week cycle) continuous intravenous infusion (n = 537) of blinatumomab or SOC (n = 109) chemotherapy were pooled from phase 2 and 3 studies. The occurrence of CR, neurological and CRS events, and duration of OS were analysed using Cox proportional hazards models or logistic regression, as appropriate. Confounding factors were tested multivariately as needed. Results Blinatumomab steady-state concentration following 28 μg/day dosing was associated with the probability of achieving CR (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval: 1.073 [1.033-1.114]), and a longer duration of OS compared to SOC (hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval: 0.954 [0.936-0.973], P .05). Conclusions Blinatumomab step-dosing regimen of 9/28 μg/day provided treatment benefit in achieving CR and increasing the duration of OS over SOC and was appropriate in management of CRS and neurological events in patients with r/r ALL.
Abstract P421: Cardiovascular Death Trends in Minnesota From 2000-2017

Background: The decline in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in the United States noted since the mid 1970s has recently leveled off. This has generated concern and a need for further analyses...
Multiscale quantification of tumor microarchitecture for predicting therapy response using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer with 1 million cases globally. A current clinical challenge is to determine which patients will respond to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as effective delivery of the embolic material may be influenced by the tumor vascular supply. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel image processing algorithm for improved quantification of tumor microvascular morphology features using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images and to predict the TACE response based on these biomarkers before treatment. A temporal sequence of CEUS images was corrected from rigid and non-rigid motion artifacts using affine and free form deformation models. Subsequently, a principal component analysis based singular value filter was applied to remove the clutter signal from each frame. A maximum intensity projection was created from high-resolution images. A multiscale vessel enhancement filter was first utilized to enhance the tubular structures as a preprocessing step before segmentation. Morphological image processing methods are used to extract the morphology features, namely, number of vessels (NV) and branching points (NB), vessel-to-tissue ratio (VR), and the mean vessel length (VL), tortuosity (VT), and diameter (VD) from the tumor vascular network. Finally, a support vector machine (SVM) is trained and validated using leave-one-out cross-validation technique. The proposed image analysis strategy was able to predict the patient outcome with 90% accuracy when the SVM was trained with the three features together (NB, NV, VR). Experimental results indicated that morphological features of tumor microvascular networks may be significant predictors for TACE response. Reliable prediction of the TACE therapy response may help provide effective therapy planning.
Abstract A31: High aneuploidy levels are linked to a reduced immune-cell abundance in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer

Single-agent immunotherapeutic approaches are promising for treating castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients; however, to date no significant improvement in survival has been reported. Mixed response to therapy occurs because metastatic lesions are highly heterogeneous. These lesions exhibit distinct genomic changes that are linked to a tumor microenvironment that is often poorly populated by immune cells. In other tumor types, a high percent genome altered (e.g., aneuploidy) associates with an overall reduction in immune response in the primary tumor microenvironment. However, the association between genomic changes and immune cell composition is poorly understood in metastatic prostate cancers. Thus, we quantified the abundance of 22 immune cell types in 330 tumors from two independent public domain CRPC cohorts and 491 primary prostate tumors from TCGA using the Absolute Mode from CIBERSORT. The estimation in CRPC was performed using whole-transcriptome data from West Coast Dream Team (Abida et al., 2019; n=212) and East Coast Dream Team (Robinson et al., 2015; n=117) samples. We did not identify any significant correlations between mutational load and immune cell abundance in the three investigated cohorts. In primary tumors, aneuploidy was weakly negatively correlated with CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell abundance (R=-0.14 and R=-0.09, P Citation Format: Thiago Vidotto, Daniela C. Salles, Tamara L. Lotan. High aneuploidy levels are linked to a reduced immune-cell abundance in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A31.
Shedding light on heart failure

Optogenetic stimulation of vagal preganglionic neurons preserved left ventricular ejection fraction in an experimental heart failure model.