cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Precarious beauty: migrant Chinese women, beauty work, and precarity

This study focuses on precarious labor, in particular, the experiences of a group of internal migrant women working in a beauty shop in South China. The study aim is to elucidate the ways in which migrant Chinese women negotiate the demands of work and life that help to shape the imaginations and aspirations of modern city dwellers. Women factory workers, it is argued, leave other employment for work in the aspiring Chinese beauty industry, which promises significant facets of modern identity such as urban status, cosmopolitanism, and upward mobility. Their work, nevertheless, remains fundamentally precarious because of not only low wages and limited job security but also the construction and circulation of femininity and assumptions about gender normality in both work and family. The precarious work also indexes the ambivalent relationship between the national affect of hope and the fragility of individual potentiality under neoliberal ethos.
Back to the Future: Current-Mode Processor in the Era of Deeply Scaled CMOS

This paper explores the use of MOS current-mode logic (MCML) as a fast and low noise alternative to static CMOS circuits in microprocessors, thereby improving the performance, energy efficiency, and signal integrity of future computer systems. The power and ground noise generated by an MCML circuit is typically 10– $100 \times $ smaller than the noise generated by a static CMOS circuit. Unlike static CMOS, whose dominant dynamic power is proportional to the frequency, MCML circuits dissipate a constant power independent of clock frequency. Although these traits make MCML highly energy efficient when operating at high speeds, the constant static power of MCML poses a challenge for a microarchitecture that operates at the modest clock rate and with a low activity factor. To address this challenge, a single-core microarchitecture for MCML is explored that exploits the $C$ -slow retiming technique, and operates at a high frequency with low complexity to save energy. This design principle contrasts with the contemporary multicore design paradigm for static CMOS that relies on a large number of gates operating in parallel at the modest speeds. The proposed architecture generates 10– $40\times $ lower power and ground noise, and operates within 13% of the performance (i.e., 1/ExecutionTime) of a conventional, eight-core static CMOS processor while exhibiting $1.6\times $ lower energy and 9% less area. Moreover, the operation of an MCML processor is robust under both systematic and random variations in transistor threshold voltage and effective channel length.
Room Temperature Self-Healing Thermoset Based on the Diels–Alder Reaction

A self-healing epoxy-amine thermoset based on the compatible functionalization of the thermoset and encapsulated healing agent has been successfully developed. Healing of the thermoset resulted from the reaction of furans in the thermoset and multimaleimides (MMIs) in the healing agent solution. The healing agent, MMI dissolved in phenyl acetate, was encapsulated using a urea-formaldehyde encapsulation method. Autonomic healing of the thermoset was achieved by incorporating microcapsules filled with the healing agent solution within a furan-functionalized epoxy-amine thermoset. The resulting self-healing thermoset recovered 71% of its initial load after fracture.
Preparations Containing Rotenone for Use as Insecticides. I. Aqueous Suspensions

Aqueous suspensions of rotenone were prepared by two general methods, namely: the addition of rotenone solutions in water miscible solvents to water and the mixing of powdered preparations of rotenone with water. Numerous solvents and protective colloids were tested. Permanent suspensions containing 0.05 to 0.5 gram of rotenone per liter and having the rotenone in a highly dispersed condition were obtained by the addition of pyridine solutions and acetone solutions containing tannic acid to water. Mixtures of certain dry protective materials with precipitated rotenone also gave satisfactory suspensions, when first made into a paste with water and then diluted to the desired concentration. Permanent suspensions of rotenone were more readily obtainable in slightly alkaline conditions. It was found difficult to obtain lasting suspensions in hard water. Reference is made to entomological tests previously made with these suspensions.
Topical difluprednate for the treatment of retinal vasculitis associated with birdshot chorioretinitis

Abstract Purpose To report a case of retinal vasculitis associated with birdshot chorioretinitis which was responsive to topical difluprednate alone. Observations Two months after initiation of topical difluprednate, fluorescein angiography demonstrated resolution of retinal vasculitis in both treated eyes. Worsening of vasculitis with attempted taper of difluprednate and subsequent control with prior dosing confirmed the response. Conclusions and importance Despite potential adverse effects of steroid-induced glaucoma and cataract formation, topical difluprednate in the treatment of retinal vasculitis and other posterior uveitides may have efficacy.
Exercise and gonadal function

Exercise is associated with release of a number of pituitary and hypothalamic hormones and a decline in the concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH). Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is generally not influenced by exercise. Serum inhibin concentrations, which are reciprocally influenced by serum FSH concentrations, are increased in some animals but are unchanged after acute exercise in human males. Teleologically, the decline in gonadotrophic hormone (LH) secretion after exercise may be geared to enhance individual survival over species propagation in times of stress, analogous to the postulated 'fight or flight' reaction. The decrease in gonadotrophic hormone (LH) secretion is believed to be due to changes in gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse frequency and amplitude, particularly in women, who often develop amenorrhoea. Males have less dramatic changes in their hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, although a significant decrease in serum testosterone in physically conditioned males can usually be demonstrated. In this update possible mechanisms for the decline in gonadotrophin secretion with exercise are briefly discussed.
Management of intraarticular fractures of the metacarpophalangeal joint

Displaced intra-articular fractures of the metacarpal head and of the proximal articular surface of the proximal phalanx often require open reduction and internal fixation, particularly if an articular step off is present. If secure internal fixation can be achieved, early motion may be instituted. Diagnosis may be facilitated by special views and tomography. Secondary reconstructive procedures may include tenolysis, osteotomy, arthroplasty, or tissue transfer from the foot.
Parallel Landscape Driven Data Reduction & Spatial Interpolation Algorithm for Big LiDAR Data

Airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) topographic data provide highly accurate digital terrain information, which is used widely in applications like creating flood insurance rate maps, forest and tree studies, coastal change mapping, soil and landscape classification, 3D urban modeling, river bank management, agricultural crop studies, etc. In this paper, we focus mainly on the use of LiDAR data in terrain modeling/Digital Elevation Model (DEM) generation. Technological advancements in building LiDAR sensors have enabled highly accurate and highly dense LiDAR point clouds, which have made possible high resolution modeling of terrain surfaces. However, high density data result in massive data volumes, which pose computing issues. Computational time required for dissemination, processing and storage of these data is directly proportional to the volume of the data. We describe a novel technique based on the slope map of the terrain, which addresses the challenging problem in the area of spatial data analysis, of reducing this dense LiDAR data without sacrificing its accuracy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever landscape-driven data reduction algorithm. We also perform an empirical study, which shows that there is no significant loss in accuracy for the DEM generated from a 52% reduced LiDAR dataset generated by our algorithm, compared to the DEM generated from an original, complete LiDAR dataset. For the accuracy of our statistical analysis, we perform Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) comparing all of the grid points of the original DEM to the DEM generated by reduced data, instead of comparing a few random control points. Besides, our multi-core data reduction algorithm is highly scalable. We also describe a modified parallel Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) spatial interpolation method and show that the DEMs it generates are time-efficient and have better accuracy than the one’s generated by the traditional IDW method.
Plume dynamics in Hele-Shaw porous media convection

Mass transport in multi-species porous media is through molecular diffusion and plume dynamics. Predicting the rate of mass transport has application in determining the efficiency of the storage an...
CUSUM analysis of mortality following esophagectomy to allow for identification and intervention of quality problems.

203Background: CUSUM analysis is an analytic tool for monitoring institutional quality and clinical outcomes. CUSUM is a summative plot of an event that occurs over time. The slope that is generated can be used to determine rates of occurrence and deviations from an accepted rate. CUSUM can be used to monitor mortality rates following esophagectomy. Methods: A single institution prospectively maintained esophageal disease registry was used to construct CUSUM plots for in-hospital and 30-day mortality. All patients undergoing esophagectomy with reconstruction from 1995-2015 were included for analysis. Time points that deviated from an accepted mortality rate of 5% were evaluated for cause analysis. Results: From 1995-2015, 485 esophagectomies were performed with a cumulative in-hospital mortality rate of 4.7%. In 2008 our institution shifted to a primarily minimally invasive approach. Prior to March 2008 in-hospital mortality was 7.4%. After this time, in-hospital mortality was 2.1%, corresponding with a d...
Evolutionary radiation of earless frogs in the Andes: molecular phylogenetics and habitat shifts in high-elevation terrestrial breeding frogs

The loss of hearing structures and loss of advertisement calls in many terrestrial breeding frogs (Strabomantidae) living at high elevations in South America are common and intriguing phenomena. The Andean frog genus Phrynopus Peters, 1873 has undergone an evolutionary radiation in which most species lack the tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus, yet the phylogenetic relationships among species in this group remain largely unknown. Here, we present an expanded molecular phylogeny of Phrynopus that includes 24 nominal species. Our phylogeny includes Phrynopus peruanus, the type species of the genus, and 10 other species for which genetic data were previously unavailable. We found strong support for monophyly of Phrynopus, and that two nominal species-Phrynopus curator and Phrynopus nicoleae-are junior synonyms of Phrynopus tribulosus. Using X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging, we demonstrate that the absence of external hearing structures is associated with complete loss of the auditory skeletal elements (columella) in at least one member of the genus. We mapped the tympanum condition on to a species tree to infer whether the loss of hearing structures took place once or multiple times. We also assessed whether tympanum condition, body size, and body shape are associated with the elevational distribution and habitat use. We identified a single evolutionary transition that involved the loss of both the tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus, which in turn is correlated with the absence of advertisement calls. We also identified several species pairs where one species inhabits the Andean grassland and the other montane forest. When accounting for phylogenetic relatedness among species, we detected a significant pattern of increasing body size with increasing elevation. Additionally, species at higher elevations tend to develop shorter limbs, shorter head, and shorter snout than species living at lower elevations. Our findings strongly suggest a link between ecological divergence and morphological diversity of terrestrial breeding frogs living in montane gradients.
Greening the Industrial District: Transforming Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley from a Blighted Brownfield into a Sustainable Place to Work and Play

Visions of a sustainable urban future don’t often include conventional manufacturing, given that it is blamed for causing many of our urban environmental ills in the first place. Decades of deindustrialization have resulted in poverty, joblessness, contamination, and visual blight, leading to a general sense that “rusty” old industry is a thing of the past, not the face of a city’s modern future. So it is common for local governments to reenvision a “greener” future for their brownfield districts that typically include parks, condos, retail shops, research centers, and white-collar office jobs, particularly in those locations near the downtown core that are ripe for “higher and better uses.”1 It would seem strange to some then that the city of Milwaukee chose to reindustrialize the Menomonee Valley, a 1,400-acre district of prime land located directly in the heart of the city and visible to all who drive over it on the main interstate. Even more surprising to some was the desire of many stakeholders to make this project a model of sustainability.
Members of a unique histidine acid phosphatase family are conserved amongst a group of primitive eukaryotic human pathogens.

Recently, we identified and characterized the genes encoding several distinct members of the histidine-acid phosphatase enzyme family from Leishmania donovani, a primitive protozoan pathogen of humans. These included genes encoding the heavily phosphorylated/glycosylated, tartrate-sensitive, secretory acid phosphatases (Ld SAcP-1 and Ld SAcP-2) and the unique, tartrate-resistant, externally-oriented, surface membrane-bound acid phosphatase (Ld MAcP) of this parasite. It had been previously suggested that these enzymes may play essential roles in the growth, development and survival of this organism. In this report, to further examine this hypothesis, we assessed whether members of the L. donovani histidine-acid phosphatase enzyme family were conserved amongst other pathogenic Leishmania and related trypanosomatid parasites. Such phylogenetic conservation would clearly indicate an evolutionary selection for this family of enzymes and strongly suggest and support an important functional role for acid phosphatases to the survival of these parasites. Results of pulsed field gel electrophoresis and Southern blotting showed that homologs of both the Ld SAcPs and Ld MAcP were present in each of the visceral and cutaneous Leishmania species examined (i.e. isolates of L. donovani, L. infantum,L. tropica, L. major and L. mexicana, respectively). Further, results of enzyme assays showed that all of these organisms expressed both tartrate-sensitive and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activities. In addition, homologs of both the Ld SAcPs and Ld MAcP genes and their corresponding enzyme activities were also identified in two Crithidia species (C. fasciculata and C. luciliae) and in Leptomonas seymouri. In contrast, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Phytomonas serpens had only very low levels of such enzyme activities. Cumulatively, results of this study showed that homologs of the Ld SAcPs and Ld MAcP are conserved amongst all pathogenic Leishmania sps. suggesting that they may play significant functional roles in the growth, development and survival of all members of this important group of human pathogens.
Saturation and Inversion of the All-Optical Kerr Effect

Recently, it has been shown both, experimentally and theoretically [1–3] that for intensities relevant in femtosecond filamentation, the Kerr refractive index of major air components exhibits a saturation behavior and changes its sign from a focusing to a defocusing nonlinearity, as is shown in Fig. (4.1) taken from [2].
Adverse Effects of Some Food Lipids

During the last several decades extensive epidemiological studies carried out on a worldwide scale have suggested a strong association between certain dietary components and chronic diseases. A number of these associations have been confirmed by experimental studies with animals. Thus, some naturally occurring toxins, or in some instances, compounds added during food processing, have been shown to be carcinogenic; saturated fats and cholesterol became suspect in atherosclerosis; excessive caloric intake has been positively correlated with obesity; an excessive sugar intake has been linked to increased dental caries in children. Under certain conditions, i.e., kidney disease, an excessive protein intake is undesirable and even an excessive intake of fiber, the latest panacea for all ailments, may be quite harmful in that fiber binds essential trace minerals, making them unavailable. Overdosing with vitamins has also been found to be associated with undesirable side effects. In nutritional science the two basic tenets—namely, moderation and variation—still stand true. The advantage of moderation is obvious and it is not difficult to see that a variation of dietary components tends to insure the provision of a multitude of nutrients, while at the same time, it does not overburden the organism with an excessive amount of potentially harmful agents.
Role of PDGF receptor-α during human cytomegalovirus entry into fibroblasts

Human CMV (HCMV) exhibits a broad cell tropism that depends on two virion glycoprotein complexes: a trimeric complex (gH/gL/gO) that facilitates viral infection primarily in fibroblasts and a pentameric complex (gH/gL/pUL128-pUL130-pUL131A) that mediates infection in epithelial and endothelial cells. We performed genome-wide CRISPR screens in which the PDGF receptor-α (PDGFRα) was identified as the most significant cellular gene product essential for infection by HCMV virions containing only trimeric complex (trimer-only virus). Trimer-only virus did not enter PDGFRα knockout fibroblasts. By using knockout fibroblasts, the extracellular domain of PDGFRα required for virus entry was mapped, and the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain was shown to be nonessential. In addition, direct cell-to-cell spread of virus from knockout cells transfected with trimer-only viral DNA was blocked, despite the production of infectious virus in the transfected cells. In contrast to trimer-only virus, wild-type HCMV virions containing both trimeric and pentameric complexes entered PDGFRα knockout cells, reinforcing the view that fibroblasts contain a second, independent receptor for the pentameric complex. Importantly, however, wild-type virus entered the knockout fibroblasts at reduced efficiency compared with parental fibroblasts, arguing that the cellular receptor for the virion pentameric complex is limiting or that virions are produced containing different relative amounts of the two glycoprotein complexes. Finally, ectopic expression of PDGFRα in ARPE-19 epithelial cells and THP-1 monocytic cells, which have little to no endogenous PDGFRα expression, markedly enhanced their susceptibility to trimer-only virions. In sum, our data clarify several key determinants of HCMV tropism.
Red blood cell product utilization in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND The risk of transfusion reactions (TR) and the cost of blood has led to efforts to reduce blood use. We changed our practice to transfuse just one instead of two units of red blood cells (RBC) when hemoglobin ≤8 g/dL due to patient blood management (PBM) recommendations. METHODS AND MATERIALS We compared RBC utilization in patients receiving allogeneic HCT in the 10 months before (control arm) and 13 months after implementation of this new practice (intervention arm). We used regression models to estimate the independent effect of transfusion practice, length of hospitalization, the conditioning regimen, and donor type for patients who received at least one RBC unit. The outcome variable was total number of inpatient transfusions. In addition, a survey assessed the impact of this. RESULTS Cohorts were matched for age, primary diagnosis, graft source, and conditioning regimen. The median number of RBC units transfused/patient was identical in both arms (4; interquartile range 19 units/patient). Using the regression model, only length of stay (relative increase of 1.035 units/day; 95%CI, 1.0271.043) was an independent predictor of the number of RBC units a patient received. When data were normalized/1000 patient days, the control arm received 240 units vs the intervention arm, which received 193 units, resulting in a reduction of 47 units transfused/1000-patient-days, which was not statistically significant (p-value = 0.32). The survey of RNs showed that it positively affected the workflow. CONCLUSIONS There was a modest reduction in RBC utilization based on units transfused/1000-patient-days. There was a positive impact on RN workflow.
Hypertension in Hispanics/Latinos: Epidemiology and Considerations for Management

Hispanic/Latino Americans are among the fastest growing ethnic populations in the United States (US). Hypertension, in particular uncontrolled hypertension, is a significant source of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this population. In this review, we outline the epidemiology of hypertension and certain considerations in the management of hypertension in this heterogeneous population. Substantial variation in hypertension prevalence and control exists among different ethnic subgroups of Hispanics. More specifically, and in the community, outcomes for hypertension management are less favorable, suggesting that suboptimal hypertension control may be the result of social factors. In this regard, community-based interventions have shown promise in addressing these shortfalls. Nonetheless, significant barriers to effective hypertension care exist in the Hispanic community, including the increasing prevalence of comorbidities that impact hypertension such as obesity. Pharmacologic therapies for hypertension have been highly effective in Hispanic subjects participating in clinical trials. Notably, studies that disaggregate Hispanics by their ancestral origin may provide greater insight into the sources of ethnic disparities. Culturally tailored interventions may improve hypertension management and outcomes in Hispanic populations. Additional population and clinical trials in Hispanic patients of different ancestral heritages are needed.
Notes on a Geography of Global Intellectual Property

Written for a special issue on Intellectual Property and Geography, this essay presents three versions of global intellectual property, each framed by a critical geography approach pioneered by the late legal scholar Keith Aoki and others.
Families’ Capacity to Engage in Science Inquiry at Home Through Structured Activities

The role that caregivers can play in their child’s science education is often overlooked within science education research. Few studies have focused on the capacity and abilities of caregivers to guide science activities. The purpose of this study was to describe how families utilize science activity packs at home. Data indicate that the adults encouraged their children to observe, predict, compare and contrast, draw conclusions, and articulate explanations (inquiry behaviors). Families were also observed utilizing provided questions and talk moves (techniques to encourage conversation). The activity also set the stage for families to capitalize on the directions to add their own questions and talk moves. This detailed account of how families used the science activity packs provided valuable information about questions asked, inquiry behaviors and the nature of the discourse and interactions between family members.
[Advances in CRISPR-Cas-mediated Genome Editing System in Plants]

Targeted genome editing technology is an important tool to study the function of genes and to modify organisms at the genetic level. Recently, CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins) system has emerged as an efficient tool for specific genome editing in animals and plants. CRISPR-Cas system uses CRISPR-associated endonuclease and a guide RNA to generate double-strand breaks at the target DNA site, subsequently leading to genetic modifications. CRISPR-Cas system has received widespread attention for manipulating the genomes with simple, easy and high specificity. This review summarizes recent advances of diverse applications of the CRISPR-Cas toolkit in plant research and crop breeding, including expanding the range of genome editing, precise editing of a target base, and efficient DNA-free genome editing technology. This review also discusses the potential challenges and application prospect in the future, and provides a useful reference for researchers who are interested in this field.
Factor 10 Expedience of Monthly Linac Quality Assurance via an Ion Chamber Array and Automation Scripts

Purpose:While critical for safe and accurate radiotherapy, monthly quality assurance of medical linear accelerators is time-consuming and takes physics resources away from other valuable tasks. The...
A Pediatric Palliative Care Program to Meet the Needs of Children with Severe Neurological Impairment and Their Families

Introduction: Pediatric palliative care is a growing field caring for children with severe neurological impairment (SNI). Innovative programs have different specialists to address this group of children’s needs. The Integrated Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care (IP3) team includes specialists who focus on palliative care specific for children with SNI. This includes specialists in genetic counseling, neurologic music therapy and neurology who provide wrap-around services to support inpatient and outpatient transitions as well as care at home. Case Report: Jennifer was an 8-month-old female with a progressive lysosomal storage disease …
An experimental analysis of jackpot reinforcers

Animal trainers and others often recommend the use of jackpot reinforcers, which are disproportionally large and come as a "surprise" to the animals. Because the actual behavioral effects of these jackpots remain uninvestigated, many basic questions about their use and even definition are unanswered. This series of experiments explored the definitions of jackpots using several different behavioral tests with both rats and pigeons. Because the original description of a jackpot resembled the reinstatement of previously reinforced and extinguished responding with response-independent deliveries of reinforcer, reinstatement effects of a jackpot, defined by its quality, were examined with rats in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, response-potentiating effects of response-independent and -dependent deliveries of a jackpot, defined by its quantity, were assessed with pigeons when responding had nearly ceased. The response-potentiating effects of the frequency of jackpot-reinforcer delivery were investigated when responding of pigeons was maintained in single (Experiment 3) or concurrent (Experiment 4) schedules of reinforcement. Effects of jackpots on resistance to change were assessed with rats in Experiment 5. The effects of jackpots in each experiment were either absent or unsystematic across the subjects, casting doubt on their utility in animal training. Possible factors contributing to the negative results are discussed.
Computational experiment design for operations model simulation

Abstract Computer simulations that demonstrate the value of novel approaches are crucial to developing more flexible and robust power systems operations with high penetrations of renewable energy at multiple geographic and temporal scales. However, optimization-based simulations that depend on forecast data often face challenges in evaluating performance, reproducing results, and testing under realistic simulation scenarios. In this paper, we develop scientific computing best-practices for the validation and reproduction of power systems operational models. We then employ two case studies to demonstrate the proposed validation and reproduction framework.
Is New Platform Work Different from Other Freelancing

The rise of freelance work in the online platform economy (OPE) has received considerable media and policy attention in recent years, but freelance work is by no means a new phenomenon. In this paper, we draw on IRS tax records to identify instances when workers begin doing online platform work versus other freelance/independent contractor "gig" work for firms. We find gig work occurs around major reductions in outside income and document usage over the lifecycle. Our results provide suggestive evidence on motivations for entering into each type of work.
Comparison of self and simulated patient assessments of first-year medical students’ Interpersonal and Communication Skills (ICS) during Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE)

Interpersonal and communication skills (ICS) are important core competencies in medical education and certification. In this study, we identified self- and simulated patient (SP)-reported ratings of US first-year medical students’ ICS and the influence of age and gender on performance appraisal during the Objective-Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). OSCE participants, including 172 first-year medical students and 15 SPs were asked to evaluate the students’ ICS using the American Board of Internal Medicine–Patient-Satisfaction Questionnaire (ABIM–PSQ), electronically and via paper, respectively. Self- and SP-reported ratings of students’ ICS were presented as the median on a 5-point Likert-scale and as three categories defined as “good,” “very good,” and “inadequate.” SPs assessed all 172 students in the OSCE, while 43.6% of students assessed their own performance. The majority of students and SPs evaluated the students’ ICS as very good. 23.3% of SPs and 5.3% of students rated the medical students’ ability to encourage patient question-asking and answer questions as inadequate (P < 0.002). Neither age nor gender influenced the medical students’ self-assessment of ICS. Female SPs assigned lower scores to students in regard to respecting patients and encouraging patient question-asking and answering. Older SPs was more likely to assign lower scores on all survey questions. In the present study, self- and SP-reported ratings of first-year medical students’ ICS were mainly “very good” with no influence of students’ age or gender. Older age and female gender among the SPs were associated with a reduction in SP-reported ratings of students’ ICS.
Tedizolid vs Linezolid for the Treatment of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

Background Treatment options for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are limited by the pathogen's intrinsic resistance profile and toxicities. Tedizolid and linezolid display in vitro activity against NTM species. However, safety data and treatment outcomes are limited in the solid organ transplant (SOT) population. Methods This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of adult SOT recipients receiving linezolid or tedizolid for an NTM infection from January 1, 2010, to August 31, 2019. The primary outcome compared the hematologic safety profiles of tedizolid vs linezolid. We also described nonhematological adverse drug events (ADEs) and therapy discontinuation rates. In an exploratory analysis, we assessed symptomatic microbiologic and clinical outcomes in those receiving tedizolid or linezolid for at least 4 weeks. Results Twenty-four patients were included (15 tedizolid, 9 linezolid). No differences were identified comparing the effects of tedizolid vs linezolid on platelet counts, absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs), and hemoglobin over 7 weeks using mixed-effects analysis of variance models. ANC was significantly decreased in both groups after 7 weeks of therapy (P = .04). Approximately 20% of patients in each arm discontinued therapy due to an ADE. Seven of 12 (58%) and 2 of 3 (67%) patients were cured or clinically cured with tedizolid- and linezolid-containing regimens, respectively. Conclusions This study suggests no significant safety benefit of tedizolid over linezolid for the treatment of NTM infections in SOT recipients. Tedizolid or linezolid-containing regimens demonstrated a potential benefit in symptomatic and microbiologic improvement. Larger cohorts are needed to further delineate the comparative role of linezolid and tedizolid for the treatment of NTM infections in SOT recipients.
The Stereochemistry of Actinomycin Binding to DNA and Its Implications in Molecular Biology

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the successful cocrystallization of actinomycin with its DNA substrate, deoxyguanosine, and thus, have solved the three-dimensional structure of the complex by X-ray crystallography. The configuration observed in the crystalline complex explains in a natural way the stereochemistry of actinomycin binding to DNA. The phenoxazone ring system on actinomycin intercalates between the base-paired dinucleotide sequence, dG-dC, while the peptide subunits lie in the narrow groove of the DNA helix and interact with deoxyguanosine residues on opposite chains through specific hydrogen bonds. The chapterexplains that the binding of actinomycin to DNA demonstrates a general symmetry principle that several classes of proteins may utilize in recognizing symmetrically arranged nucleotide sequences on the DNA helix.
The effects of organic ligands on the survival of Daphnia in Zn solution.

Bioassays involving zinc alone and in combinations with two organic ligands, namely histidine and EDTA were conducted on Daphnia longispina over a period of 96 h. The percentage of mortality was recorded and the Median Lethal Concentration (LC50) at 96 h estimated. The 96 h LC50 of D. longispina in zinc solution was 91 micrograms/l whereas no values of LC50 were revealed when D. longispina were exposed to histidine or EDTA alone although the organic ligands seemed to exert harmful effects (e.g. The mortality at 96 h was 18% at a concentration of 10 x 10(-5) M histidine and 16% at a concentration of 6 x 10(-6) M EDTA). However, addition of histidine and EDTA effectively reduced the toxicity of zinc to the test animals. The detoxification effect was the most obvious at the concentration of 100 micrograms/l Zn added with 5 x 10(-5) M histidine and 3 x 10(-6) M EDTA where 7-fold and 5-fold reduction in terms of mortality were noted.
Ion trapping by means of ferroelectric nanoparticles, and the quantification of this process in liquid crystals

Nanoparticles embedded in liquid crystals can trap mobile ions and decrease their concentration. In this paper, we generalize the nanoparticles-based approach and, through the quantitative analysis, identify the ferroelectric micro- and nanomaterials as the most promising “ion traps” that ensure close to 100% liquid crystal purification. We demonstrate that the treatment of liquid crystals with ferroelectric materials leads to a two-order of magnitude decrease in their electrical conductivity. This value exceeds previous data reported for similar systems by a factor of 10. Ferroelectric nanoparticles, when dispersed and stabilized in liquid crystals, act as highly efficient permanent ion traps, solve the problem of uncontrolled ionic contaminations, and eliminate the negative effects caused by ions.
Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma

Twenty-two cases of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SGCA), five of which associated with tuberous sclerosis, were reviewed by conventional neurohistological stains and by peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein, the 68 Kd neurofilament subunit (68 Kd-NF), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Neurohistological stains confirmed the presence of PTAH-positive fibrils and the absence of Nissl bodies and of neurites originating from the tumor cells. GFA protein-positive cells were present in all tumors not associated with tuberous sclerosis. However, the number of positive cells in each tumor was highly variable. GFA protein-positive cells were rare in the two SGCA accompanying tuberous sclerosis and absent in the remaining three. Neurohistological stains showed no differences between GFA protein-positive and negative cells. 68 Kd-NF-positive cells were found in six tumors. In one tumor, associated with tuberous sclerosis, it was present in the large ganglion-like cells only. NSE-positive cells were found in 13 of 18 tumors examined, including four of the five SGCA associated with tuberous sclerosis. The significance of NSE-positivity in central neuroepithelial neoplasms in respect of their possible neuronal origin remains open.
Friendships, Romantic Relationships, and Peer Relationships

This chapter reviews the current state of the literature on children and adolescents' dyadic peer relationships. Particular emphasis is placed on children and adolescents' same-sex friendships and romantic relationships, but research on other-sex friendships, antipathies, passionate friendships, and sexual relationships are covered as well. The chapter uses a unified relational perspective, which has four key points. First, friendships and romantic relationships need to be studied as relationships. They are dyadic phenomena with a history. Second, children and adolescents' friendships, romantic relationships, and other peer relationships all share common features. They have been studied as separate phenomena and typically by different investigators, but the field would benefit by simultaneously considering all of these types of relationships. Third, any particular relationship is embedded in a network of dyadic relationships. Finally, dyadic peer relationships cannot be understood without incorporating the contexts in which they occur, such as the general peer group, family, and culture. Using this unified relational perspective, the chapter reviews research on the development of dyadic relationships, the role of the self and partner and gender. The chapter then discusses the associations with family relationships, the peer group, media, and the cultural context in which they are embedded. The links between relationships and adjustment are also covered. The chapter also outlines a number of definitional, conceptual, methodological, and analytical issues that need to be addressed in future research, and identifies a number of understudied topics. It concludes by discussing the merits of the unified relational perspective. Keywords: dating; friends; friendships; romantic relationships; social networks
Bradycardia-dependent bundle branch block. Relation to supernormal conduction and phase 4 depolarization.

Abstract An electrocardiogram is presented in which spontaneous conversion of 2:1 block with first degree block and incomplete left bundle branch block resulted in 3:2 block with normal conduction of the QRS complex after the short R-R interval. Alternation of rate and block with every second beat is a variation of previously described bradycardia-dependent bundle branch block. Phase 4 depolarization and supernormal conduction are inseparable concepts, and both may play a causal role in bradycardia-dependent bundle branch block. Criteria for recognition of this type of block should not disqualify cases in which supernormal conduction may be present, particularly since proximity of the QRS interval to the preceding T wave may not be an adequate test for supernormal conduction in clinical situations. A knowledge of phase 3 and phase 4 events allows one to relate different types of clinical aberrance, from premature aberrance through early beat “normalization,” as in bradycardia-dependent bundle branch block, to normal rate aberrance as in typical bundle branch block and, finally, to escape beat aberrance.
A Web of Data: Toward the Idea of the Semantic Web

If you are reading this book, chances are that you are a software engineer who makes a living by developing applications on the Web—or, more precisely, on the Web that we currently have.
Crystalline Mammalian l-Amino Acid Oxidase from Rat Kidney Mitochondria

Abstract l-Amino acid oxidase has been crystallized from extracts of rat kidney mitochondria. Purification involved sonic extraction, ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatography on diethylaminoethyl cellulose, and gel filtration through Sephadex G-200. The enzyme revealed a single protein band on starch gel electrophoresis and exhibited a single homogeneous peak (s20, w0 = 10.5 S) in an ultracentrifuge. The enzyme is a flavoprotein in which the prosthetic group appears to be flavin mononucleotide. On the basis of the flavin mononucleotide content of the enzyme (0.92%) and its molecular weight (88,900 ± 1,100), it has been concluded that the enzyme contains 2 moles of flavin mononucleotide per mole. The enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of many α-aminomonocarboxylic and α-hydroxy acids (l configuration) but has no action on optically inactive acids such as glycine and α-hydroxyisobutyric acid. The turnover numbers for the oxidation of l-leucine and of l-lactic acid were 6.3 and 26 moles per min per mole of flavin mononucleotide conjugated with enzyme, respectively.
A Critical Evaluation of the ICJ Report on the Bangladesh Genocide

The International Commission of Jurists (1972) report, The Events in East Pakistan, 1971, is a valuable contemporaneous report on the Bangladeshi genocide. It provides a factual background to the genocide that occurred in East Pakistan amidst Bangladesh's war of national liberation. It also examines various issues related to the genocide and the war of national liberation that are pertinent to contemporary questions, such as humanitarian intervention. This essay provides a critical evaluation of the ICJ report.
Evidence for Brainstem and Supra-Brainstem Contributions to Rapid Cortical Plasticity in Adult Monkeys

Cortical maps can undergo amazingly rapid changes after injury of the body. These changes involve functional alterations in normal substrates, but the cortical and/or subcortical location(s) of these alterations, and the relationships of alterations in different substrates, remain controversial. The present study used neurophysiological approaches in adult monkeys to evaluate how brainstem organization of tactile inputs in the cuneate nucleus (CN) changes after acute injury of hand nerves. These data were then compared with analogous data from our earlier cortical area 3b studies, which used the same approaches and acute injury, to assess relationships of cuneate and cortical changes. The results indicate that cuneate tactile responsiveness, receptive field locations, somatotopic organization, and spatial properties of representations (i.e., location, continuity, size) change during the first minutes to hours after injury. The comparisons of cuneate and area 3b organization further show that some cuneate changes are preserved in area 3b, whereas other cuneate changes are transformed before being expressed in area 3b. The findings provide evidence that rapid reorganization in area 3b, in part, reflects mechanisms that operate from a distance in the cuneate nucleus and, in part, reflects supracuneate mechanisms that modify brainstem changes.
Control of the Synthesis of Macromolecules During Amino Acid and Thymine Starvation in Bacillus subtilis

Studies of Maaloe, Lark, and others with amino acid- and thymine-starved cultures revealed successive steps in the biosynthesis of Escherichia coli chromosomes. In this study, the corresponding mechanisms in Bacillus subtilis 168 were examined. Using a strain requiring both thymine and tryptophan, we found that, 3 hr after the start of amino acid starvation, when the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content of the culture had increased 40 to 50%, DNA synthesis ceased. After 4 to 5 hr, 100% of the cells were immune to thymineless death; their chromosomes had presumably been completed. Immune cultures slowly incorporated 3H-thymine. Thymine incorporation increased 20-fold 30 min after readdition of amino acids, indicating reinitiation of chromosome synthesis. Simultaneous presence of amino acids and thymine was required for reinitiation. If 5-bromouracil (5-BU) was added instead of thymine, newly replicated DNA segments could be separated by centrifugation in CsCl. Analysis of the CsCl fractions by a transformation assay showed that the order in which the markers were synthesized was ade-16, thr-5, leu-8, metB5. Less than half the chromosomes started resynthesis synchronously in 5-BU. Nevertheless, chromosome alignment in the amino acid-starved culture is probably very good: marker frequency analysis of its DNA gives the same normalized frequencies as DNA from “perfectly” aligned spores. Full viability is maintained in the chromosome-arrested culture for 10 hr in thymine-free medium in the absence or presence of amino acids. In the latter condition, protein synthesis proceeds, and the cells filament and become more lysozyme-sensitive. Such cells must be incubated and plated on hypertonic or on slow-growth media; otherwise, they undergo “quasiosmotic” thymineless death. This death is thus apparently not directly attributable to any damage of chromosomal DNA. Further, weakening of the teichoic acid portion of the cell wall is not involved, since 32P incorporation into teichoic acid is normal. Chloramphenicol prevents quasiosmotic thymineless death and also inhibits 32P incorporation into teichoic acid. Chromosome-synthesizing cultures suffer thymineless death of two types: quasiosmotic death, and death insusceptible to osmotic rescue.
Bacterial-Reactive T Regulatory Cells Inhibit Pathogenic Immune Responses to the Enteric Flora

We showed previously that cecal bacterial Ag (CBA)-specific CD4+ T cells induce colitis when transferred into SCID mice. The purpose of this study was to generate and characterize CBA-specific regulatory T cells in C3H/HeJBir (Bir) mice. CD4+ T cells were stimulated with CBA-pulsed APC in the presence of IL-10 every 10–14 days. After four or more cycles, these T cells produced high levels of IL-10, low levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ, and no IL-2, consistent with the phenotype of T regulatory-1 (Tr1) cells. Bir Tr1 cells proliferated poorly, but their proliferation was dependent on CD28-B7 interactions and was MHC class II-restricted. Transfer of Bir Tr1 cells into SCID mice did not result in colitis, and cotransfer of Bir Tr1 T cells with pathogenic Bir CD4+ Th1 cells prevented colitis. Bir Tr1 cells inhibited proliferation and IFN-γ production of a CBA-specific Th1 cell line in vitro. Such inhibition was partly due to IL-10 and TGFβ1, but cognate interactions with either APCs or Th1 cells were also involved. Normal intestinal lamina propria CD4+ T cells had Tr1-like activity when stimulated with CBA-pulsed APCs. We conclude that CD4+ T cells with the properties of Tr1 cells are present in the intestinal lamina propria and hypothesize that these cells maintain intestinal immune homeostasis to the enteric flora.
Impact of Banks Grass Mite1 Damage to Yield and Quality of Maize Silage

Abstract. Banks grass mite, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), is a major pest of maize, Zea mays L., causing significant economic loss of yield of maize grown for grain. However, damage and economic loss to maize grown for silage are not well documented. This study evaluated damage associated with infestation by different numbers of mites (noninfested check, low, medium, and large) and subsequent effects on yield and quality of maize harvested for silage. Mite densities in each of the designated infested treatments steadily increased weekly, but at different level, until after Aug 10. Weekly changes in damage rating level corresponded to the increases of mite densities that occurred in each of the infested treatments. The population decline of mites after this date was associated with increasing predator densities. No significant differences in silage yields were detected between noninfested (80.21 Mt/ha), low (82.38 MT/ha), and medium (78.87 MT/ha) infestations, but significant differences occurred with the...