cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation and characterization of the activated B-cell factor 1 homolog in Caenorhabditis elegans

Members of the basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors regulate a wide array of developmental processes in many cell types, including cell fate specification, differentiation and morphogenesis. Our studies describe the cloning of a gene from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that is closely related to the vertebrate-activated B-cell factor (ABF) gene. The nematode gene product CeABF-1 was detected by northern blot analysis from RNA isolated from pooled nematodes representing different developmental stages. The developmental expression profile of CeABF-1 was shown by RT–PCR analysis to be predominantly expressed in the larval stages L3 and L4, with lower levels observed in the L2 larval stage and adult. We also show that CeABF-1 is capable of forming heterodimers with E2A proteins and binding E-box target sites. Mammalian cells transfected with CeABF-1 expression plasmids were capable of blocking E2A-mediated gene transcription, but full repression activity required the presence of two conserved amino acid residues found within the first helix of the CeABF-1 bHLH domain. These results suggest a conserved mechanism of gene repression between certain class II bHLH and class I bHLH proteins found in vertebrates and invertebrates.
Advancements in Radiation Techniques for Gastric Cancer

All but the earliest cases of nonmetastatic gastric cancer represent a therapeutic challenge given the high propensity of these patients to develop locoregional and distant relapse. Neoadjuvant or adjuvant strategies that include chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy have been associated with significant toxicity, but also improvement in patient survival. Technologic advances in the planning and delivery of radiotherapy (RT) have enabled significant progress in the accuracy and conformality of radiation treatment. Four-dimensional CT and image-guided RT improve the accuracy of radiation treatment. Three-dimensional RT and intensity-modulated RT allow increased conformality of radiation dose distribution, sparing of normal organs, and providing opportunity for dose escalation. Initial clinical experience with these technologies shows favorable tolerance and outcomes.
Tumor-targeted Salmonella. Highly selective delivery vectors.

Genetically engineered Salmonella offer an intriguing new approach to selectively target solid tumors, including melanoma, lung, colon, breast, kidney and liver. These bacteria target tumors after systemic administration and selectively replicate within them. Specificity for tumors is often more than 1,000 times greater than for any other tissue. Auxotrophic mutations make these bacteria highly safe and form the basis for maintaining tumor specificity. An altered lipid greatly reduces the potential for septic shock yet also retains the antitumor properties of these bacteria. These bacteria have innate antitumor activity towards both primary and metastatic tumors and the ability to deliver proteins capable of activating chemotherapeutic agents directly within tumors. The delay in tumor growth results in mice that survive up to twice as long. These bacteria are susceptible to a wide range of antibiotics, allowing external control of the vector after administration. The combination of these features within a single vector seems especially surprising considering their unlikely source.
Role of arginine residues in the coagulant activity of high molecular weight kininogen

High molecular weight (HMW) kininogen, the cofactor for activation of the contact system of plasma proteolysis, transports and optimally positions prekallikrein and factor XI on a negatively charged surface, allowing those zymogens to be activated by surface-bound factor XIIa. HMW kininogen circulates in plasma as a procofactor that, after cleavage by kallikrein or factor XIIa, gains ability to bind to the surface. The mechanism responsible for this increased affinity for the surface is unknown. We hypothesized that modification of arginine residues may prevent cleavage of HMW kininogen, since the initial kallikrein-induced cleavage sites on the HMW kininogen molecule are at the NH2 terminal and the COOH terminal of the bradykinin-containing portion of the molecule, each of which contains arginine. We found that modification with butanedione of four arginine residues in the HMW kininogen molecule prevented bradykinin release, which results from cleavage of HMW kininogen. Furthermore, HMW kininogen coagulant activity was lost, in proportion to the degree of arginine modification, until 6.6 residues had been modified. Complex formation with prekallikrein, however, was found to be uneffected by the modification of modified HMW kininogen. To account for the loss of coagulant activity, we also examined the ability of modified HMWKa (active cofactor) to bind to an activating surface. The affinity of modified HMWKa for kaolin was tenfold less than the affinity of unmodified HMWKa. These data suggest that arginine residues play a critical role in the ability of HMW kininogen to function as an activation cofactor, both by preventing the cleavages that produce HMWKa as well as by decreasing the affinity of HMWKa for the surface.
The Resistance of Rubber Compounds to Brittle Crack Propagation

Abstract 1. A theory based on irreversible thermodynamics and minimal entropy production principles is presented. This constitutive model introduces a methodology to describe fatigue-crack propagation behavior in natural rubber vulcanizate over the entire range of the elastic-energy release rate. 2. The utility of this model has been proved and demonstrated in view of the establishment of the damage evolution coefficient μ and the energy barrier μTc−T for one rubber compound. 3. The theory calls for quantitative measurements of the amount of damage associated with crack advance in order to extract the specific enthalpy of damage, γ*. This true material parameter, γ*, which characterizes its resistance to crack propagation (fracture toughness) can be related to the microstructure of the material. Thus a useful microstructure-fracture-toughness relationship based on the present theory can be constructed. Such a relationship can guide the development of rubber compounds with superior fracture toughness.
Expertise, Discretion, and Definite Law: Public Administration in Woodrow Wilson's Presidential Campaign Speeches of 1912

The presidential election of 1912 was the defining political contest of the Progressive Era. Woodrow Wilson's speeches from that campaign produced a remarkable synthesis of political thought and evocative rhetoric. A close look at several key speeches shows that Wilson developed further his thinking about the place and purposes of public administration in a progressive democracy. Careful and precise law as a constraint on the power of expertise and on the reach of administrative discretion was at the heart of Wilson's thinking. Students of public administration should consider what ideas Wilson the politician offers that could help advance current endeavors to refine and enrich the theory and practice of public administration in a liberal-democratic regime. Scholarly scrutiny of Woodrow Wilson's political thought has grown substantially in the past three decades, following in the wake of the serial publication of the complete Wilson papers beginning in 1966. Wilson's ideas about public administration have received substantial attention in this regard. One important component of published findings is that Wilson continued to probe the subject even after publication of "The Study of Administration." Disagreement prevails, however, on whether Wilson extended his ideas or departed from the path-breaking essay, and on whether further development, in Wilson's ideas, have any current relevance to public administration theory and practice. The perspective that appears dominant in the literature is that Wilson's thinking was rather muddled, and not very original (e.g., Miewald, 1984; Stillman, 1973). Furthermore, some scholars not only question attribution of the now discredited politics-administration dichotomy to Wilson, but also his more general influence on administrative theory and practice (e.g., Martin, 1988; Van Riper, 1984; but see Thorsen, 1988). Yet the scholarship on Wilson's ideas about public administration remains incomplete. It has focused almost exclusively on Wilson's views about
IN VITRO REINITIATION OF PITUITARY SOMATOTROPIN RELEASE BY AN ACID EXTRACT OF HYPOTHALAMUS.

SummaryTwo groups of rat anterior pituitaries were cultured on synthetic medium 199 at 35°C in an atmosphere of 95% O2-5% CO2 for 9 days. The medium was changed every 3 days. At the end of the 9-day culture period, the medium from each 3-day period was assayed for growth hormone by the standard tibia test. Both groups of anterior pituitaries released substantial amounts of growth hormone during the first 3 days of culture, but no significant amounts during the second or third 3 days of culture. Addition of a rat hypothalamic extract at the beginning of the third 3 days of culture, reinitiated growth hormone release to 78%
Pattern Shape-Controlled Self-Assembly of Bi0.90Si0.10 Nanocrystallites

Nanometer-sized Bi0.90Sb0.10 has been, for the first time, prepared using a hightemperature organic solution reducing method. With the presence of proper capping and stabilizing agents, we were able to produce Bi0.90Sb0.10 nanoparticles as small as ∼12 nm. Nearly monodisperse distributions were obtained through a size-selective post treatment. Transmission electron microscope characterization reveals that the as-prepared particles have a highly crystalline single rhombohedral phase. Self-assembled patterns of Bi0.90Sb0.10 were successfully achieved upon evaporation of the solvent from the nanoparticle colloids. As a step toward possible applications of these particles in thermoelectric device structures, we have also demonstrated that we are able to control the pattern of Bi0.90Sb0.10 self-assembly from 2D to 1D by employing different solvent systems with varying ratios of polar and non-polar components.
Effect of Temperature on the Susceptibility of Sporothrix schenckii to Amphotericin B

1 Joint 1.56 0.4 NG 1.56 0.78 0.78 2 Lung 0.78 NG 0.4 1.56 0.2 0.4 3 Lung 0.4 NG NG 0.4 0.1 0.4 4 Lung 0.4 NG NG 1.56 0.4 NG 5 Skin 0.78 NG NG 1.56 0.4 NG 6 Skin 0.4 NG NG 1.56 0.4 NG 7 Skin 0.4 NG NG 0.78 0.4 NG
Impacts of climate variability and extremes on global net primary production in the first decade of the 21st century

A wide variety of studies have estimated the magnitude of global terrestrial net primary production (NPP), but its variations, both spatially and temporally, still remain uncertain. By using an improved process-based terrestrial ecosystem model (DLEM, Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model), we provide an estimate of global terrestrial NPP induced by multiple environmental factors and examine the response of terrestrial NPP to climate variability at biome and global levels and along latitudes throughout the first decade of the 21st century. The model simulation estimates an average global terrestrial NPP of 54.6 Pg C yr–1 during 2000–2009, varying from 52.8 Pg C yr–1 in the dry year of 2002 to 56.4 Pg C yr–1 in the wet year of 2008. In wet years, a large increase in terrestrial NPP compared to the decadal mean was prevalent in Amazonia, Africa and Australia. In dry years, however, we found a 3.2% reduction in global terrestrial NPP compared to the decadal mean, primarily due to limited moisture supply in tropical regions. At a global level, precipitation explained approximately 63% of the variation in terrestrial NPP, while the rest was attributed to changes in temperature and other environmental factors. Precipitation was the major factor determining inter-annual variation in terrestrial NPP in low-latitude regions. However, in mid- and high-latitude regions, temperature variability largely controlled the magnitude of terrestrial NPP. Our results imply that projected climate warming and increasing climate extreme events would alter the magnitude and spatiotemporal patterns of global terrestrial NPP.
An Upper Bound on Trilaterating Simple Polygons.

In this work, we introduce the Minimum Trilateration Problem, the problem of placing distance measuring guards in a polygon in order to locate points in the interior. We provide the first non-trivial bounds on trilaterating simple polygons, by showing that b 8N 9 c guards suffice for any non-degenerate polygon of N sides, and present an O(N logN) algorithm for the corresponding placement. We also show how this mapping can be efficiently inverted, in order to determine a point’s location given its distances to the guards which can see it.
Epistasis Analysis Using Information Theory

Here we introduce entropy-based measures derived from information theory for detecting and characterizing epistasis in genetic association studies. We provide a general overview of the methods and highlight some of the modifications that have greatly improved its power for genetic analysis. We end with a few published studies of complex human diseases that have used these measures.
Fission Neutron Radiography with Etch-Track Detectors

Neutrons in a fission spectrum of energies are readily available from the californium-252 isotope in a point-source configuration convenient for radiography. These neutrons, of 1–2 MeV energy, have penetration properties different enough from those of thermal neutrons generally used for radiography to be of interest in special radiographic situations. This article describes the AMMRC Californium Laboratory source facilities and describes our early work in developing etch-track imaging of fission neutrons for radiography.
Flashlamp-pumped regenerative dye-laser amplifier

The design of a single-stage coaxial-flashlamp-pumped dye laser amplifier capable of generating nanosecond duration and tens-of-millijoule output pulses is described. These pulses are continuously tunable over a broad range and relatively narrow band making them suitable for use in lidar, remote sensing, or spectroscopic applications.
The Average MSE

This chapter focuses on the average mean square error (MSE). It discusses explicit forms of the measure of efficiency of the minimax, the Bayes, and the mixed estimators. The measure of efficiency of the linear minimax estimator is the minimum value of the maximum risk of the linear estimators on an ellipsoid. The efficiency of the Bayes estimator is measured by its mean square error averaging over a prior distribution. The mixed estimator's efficiency is measured by its variance. The chapter reviews the mathematical form of these measures. The average MSE of the Bayes estimator (BE) is the difference between the variance of the prior distribution and the average variance of the BE.
Robust near-threshold inverter with improved performance for ultra-low power applications

Near-threshold computing (NTC) is a promising technique for low power applications. In this paper, novel circuit techniques for near-threshold computing are developed for improved power, performance, and robustness to noise. Two separate differential signaling based circuits are proposed which outperform CMOS and current-mode logic (CML) operating at near-threshold. The proposed circuits are described as dynamic current-mode logic (DCML) and latched DCML (LDCML). Characterization of the CMOS, CML, and the proposed DCML logic families is performed for area, power, performance and noise immunity at both the nominal and near-threshold operating voltages. At a near-threshold voltage, the DCML logic family reduces the total power by 32% while improving the performance by 82% as compared to CMOS logic. The use of DCML logic also reduces the total power consumption by 92% while improving the performance by 64% as compared to CML logic operating at near-threshold. In addition, the robustness of the proposed logic families to noise is analyzed. At near-threshold voltages, both the noise margins of LDCML is improved by more than 1.4x as compared to CMOS logic.
Medical Malpractice in Uveitis: A Review of Clinical Entities and Outcomes.

ABSTRACTPurpose: To guide risk management in uveitis.Methods: Retrospective review of malpractice verdicts, rulings, and settlements.Results: The WestLaw® database was reviewed for lawsuits related to uveitis in the United States from 1930–2014. Twenty-five cases met inclusion criteria, and 48% of these were infectious. Overall, 64% of outcomes favored the defendant ophthalmologist. The most common diagnoses were viral retinitis (28%), iritis (12%), syphilis (8%), and toxoplasmosis (8%). Seven suits (28%) were resolved by settlement, with mean adjusted indemnities of $724,302 (median, $409,390; range, $127,837–2,021,887). Two cases (8%) resulted in plaintiff verdict, with adjusted awards of $1,399,800 and $630,799.Conclusions: Despite being a rare diagnosis, viral retinitis (especially acute retinal necrosis) is the most common clinical entity associated with litigation in uveitis and should be considered early. Educating patients about potential adverse events, early testing for syphilis, and maintaining...
Capital and Punishment: A Novel Model of Reoffending

Stafford and Warr’s (1993) reconceptualization of deterrence theory suggests people are deterred from offending through a combination of both personal and vicarious punishment experiences. Receivin...
Mitochondrial-Targeted Catalase: Extended Longevity and the Roles in Various Disease Models

The free-radical theory of aging was proposed more than 50 years ago. As one of the most popular mechanisms explaining the aging process, it has been extensively studied in several model organisms. However, the results remain controversial. The mitochondrial version of free-radical theory of aging proposes that mitochondria are both the primary sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the primary targets of ROS-induced damage. One critical ROS is hydrogen peroxide, which is naturally degraded by catalase in peroxisomes or glutathione peroxidase within mitochondria. Our laboratory developed mice-overexpressing catalase targeted to mitochondria (mCAT), peroxisomes (pCAT), or the nucleus (nCAT) in order to investigate the role of hydrogen peroxide in different subcellular compartments in aging and age-related diseases. The mCAT mice have demonstrated the largest effects on life span and healthspan extension. This chapter will discuss the mCAT phenotype and review studies using mCAT to investigate the roles of mitochondrial oxidative stresses in various disease models, including metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis, cardiac aging, heart failure, skeletal muscle pathology, sensory defect, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. As ROS has been increasingly recognized as essential signaling molecules that may be beneficial in hormesis, stress response and immunity, the potential pleiotropic, or adverse effects of mCAT are also discussed. Finally, the development of small-molecule mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic approaches is reviewed.
Microsphere nanoscopy for imaging of actin proteins

The use of contact microlenses first started being used as a simple method which allows resolving nanometer sized objects using visible light. The resolution beyond the classical diffraction limit has been reported for nanoplasmonic structures. However the mechanism is not fully understood whether it is from photonic nanojets, plasmon-polaritons, localized surface plasmon resonances, coherent modal excitation in metallic objects, or optical resonances in the microspherical lens itself is still debated in the literature. In this work, we applied contact high-index microspheres for fluorescence imaging of actin protein filaments. The microspheres were embedded in elastopolymer slabs. The fact that the filaments have nanometer-scale width, much smaller than the diffraction limit, significantly simplified the resolution analysis. Using microscope objective with a limited numerical aperture (NA=0.6), we achieve a resolution of ∼λ/1.5 for proteins through the microsphere and a resolution of ∼λ/0.5 without a microsphere.
Affordances as Material Communication: How the Spatial Environment Communicates to Organize Cyclists in Copenhagen, Denmark

This article theorizes affordances (possibilities for action in an environment) as organizational communication. Through affordances and the communication of possible actions, organization and organizing can be communicatively constituted. Using the example of cyclists in Copenhagen, Denmark, I show how cyclists are organized as affordances of the spatial infrastructure and therefore communicate. The combination of affordances in Copenhagen represents a spatial grammar that constitutes a particular organizational style. In Copenhagen, this style is a world-class cycling infrastructure that makes biking easy and normal. Affordances describe a type of material communication not yet theorized, but essential for understanding nonhumans in organizational communication.
Erratum to: How Efficiently Can One Untangle a Double-Twist? Waving is Believing!

Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: 10.1007/s00283-017-9728-8 ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Democratizing authority in the built environment

Operating systems and applications in the built environment have relied upon central authorization and management mechanisms which restrict their scalability, especially with respect to administrative overhead. We propose a new set of primitives encompassing syndication, security, and service execution that unifies the management of applications and services across the built environment, while enabling participants to individually delegate privilege across multiple administrative domains with no loss of security or manageability. We show how to leverage a decentralized authorization syndication platform to extend the design of building operating systems beyond the single administrative domain of a building. The authorization system leveraged is based on blockchain smart contracts to permit decentralized and democratized delegation of authorization without central trust. Upon this, a publish/subscribe syndication tier and a containerized service execution environment are constructed. Combined, these mechanisms solve problems of delegation, federation, device protection and service execution that arise throughout the built environment. We leverage a high-fidelity city-scale emulation to verify the scalability of the authorization tier, and briefly describe a prototypical democratized operating system for the built environment using this foundation.
The Process of Celebrity Fan's Constraint Negotiation

Celebrities have become an important source of leisure and recreation for people across the globe. This study conceived celebrity fandom in terms of leisure involvement, and, following the work of ...
The biogenesis of anthocyanins. VII. The requirement for both purines and pyrimidines.

Abstract Previous evidence that anthocyanin formation in Spirodela is dependent on the synthesis of a complex nucleotide or nucleic acid has been extended through a survey of the effects of a variety of purine and pyrimidine analogs. Almost all such compounds have been found to inhibit anthocyanin formation. The group includes analogs of all four bases which make up ribonucleic acid (RNA): 8-azaguanine, 8-azaadenine, 6-azauracil, and 2-thiocytosine, as well as Antrycide (2,6′-dimethyl-6,4′-pyrimidylamino-4, 2′-diaminoquinoline 1,1′-dimethosulfate), an inhibitor of purine incorporation into nucleic acid. The most effective inhibitor is still, as previously reported, 8-azaguanine. It decreases the anthocyanin formation by 50% at 3 × 10 −7 M . Subinhibitory concentrations of azaguanine, azaadenine and Antrycide, but not in general of the natural bases, clearly promote pigment formation. The inhibitions are reversed in each case by the corresponding purine or pyrimidine, or its riboside or ribotide. There is a specific requirement for a purine, not satisfiable by pyrimidines, and conversely a requirement for a pyrimidine, not wholly satisfied by purines. There is indication of a requirement for both uracil and cytosine. Experiments using simultaneously two types of inhibitors, namely, analogs of both purines and pyrimidines, confirm that both purine and pyrimidine cooperate in the synthesis of anthocyanin. It has been demonstrated that the reversing compounds function within the plant, rather than by preventing the absorption of the antagonist. It is concluded that an unstable nucleic acid, which must be continually resynthesized, is the catalyst or limiting factor in the synthesis of anthocyanin in Spirodela .
The Use of Semantic Distance Metrics to Support Ontology Audit

This study explored the possibility that semantic distance metrics can be used to develop methods for auditing biomedical ontologies. We developed and tested an approach using the Foundational Model of Anatomy (FMA) and the body-structure taxonomy of SNOMED CT. We evaluated 190 class pairs in human anatomical structures using three semantic distance metrics: simple edge count, normalized path length, and information content. We applied principal component analysis (PCA) to study relationships between the semantic distance measurements so produced in FMA and SNOMED CT. We found that our application of PCA could detect significant discrepancies, but not necessarily outright mistakes, in the two ontologies. A review of discrepancies revealed that they often relate to multiple design perspectives employed in ontological definitions.
Threshold Aggregate Query in Spatio-temporal Network Databases.

Abstract. Aggregate R-B-tree (aRB-tree) provides a framework for supporting OLAP operations over spatio-temporal data. Although existing aRB-tree implementations process sptio-temporal aggregate queries pretty efficiently, it is hardly applicable for online processing due to the excessive accesses to the aggregate B-trees of the entries in the R-tree and the overlap in the R-tree. This paper addresses these problems by proposing several techniques that completely avoid the overlap in the R-tree and significantly reduce the excessive accesses to the B-trees during the update. We further extended original aRB-tree to aRBB-tree which can process the threshold aggregate queries more efficiently.
Implementing Governance to Measure and Maintain Architecture Quality

We have reserved for this final chapter a discussion of the overarching theme of measuring and preserving the technical quality and integrity of an architecture. We discussed the related topic of architecture validation in Chap. 11. Architecture governance is both vitally necessary and frequently neglected. Systems and enterprises live in a dynamic environment of constant changes in technologies, business goals and processes, user needs, and hostile threats. As a result, an architecture that is initially open, resilient, operationally effective, and affordable may degrade over time unless positive controls are in place to guide decision-making. We begin by discussing the basics of preserving architecture quality and introduce quantitative quality measures. Our goal is to counter the common but erroneous belief that architecture is inherently immeasurable and thus that governance is impractical. We employ Quality Attributes (QAt) as the basic mechanism for achieving this, making architecture governance both feasible and essential. We describe the essential elements of a governance organization and process, and we provide enough examples of effective QAts to guide a system architecture team in devising a sound governance strategy. The key point is that the application of a methodology like MBSAP will ultimately be in vain if it is not accompanied by a long-term commitment to architecture governance. The chapter objective is the reader will be able to define and implement a process for assessment and governance that supports high architecture quality over a system’s lifetime.
Aging increases the expression of vasopressin receptors in both the kidney and urinary bladder.

AIMS The goal of this study was to determine whether aging effects the expression of V1a and V2 vasopressin receptors in the urinary bladder mucosa (UBM) and kidney. METHODS UBM and kidneys were obtained from young (3 months-of-age) and old (25-30 months-of-age) female Fisher 344 rats. Tissue samples were analyzed by western blotting for V1a and V2 receptor expression, and rat plasma levels of vasopressin levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS V1a and V2 receptors were detected in both the UBM and kidneys. Aging significantly (P < 0.05) increased the expression of V2 receptors by 2.80 ± 0.52 and 6.52 ± 1.24-fold in the UBM and kidneys, respectively. Aging also increased V1a receptor expression in the kidneys (5.52 ± 1.05 fold; P < 0.05), but not in the UBM. To the best of our knowledge, because this is the first detection of V2 receptors in the mammalian bladder mucosa, we also probed human UBM for V2 receptors and observed high expression in human UBM. Unlike V1a and V2 receptors, aging had only a minor effect on plasma vasopressin levels (8% increase). CONCLUSIONS V2 receptors are substantially increased in the aging UBM. The role of these receptors in UBM is as yet undefined, but given their presence and action in the kidneys, the possible effect of these receptors in free water regulation should be considered. The large age-related increase in the expression of V2 receptors in both the UBM and kidney may contribute to the effectiveness of desmopressin in age-related nocturia.
Creating safe spaces for children???s voices to be heard: supporting the psychosocial needs of children in times of trauma

This reflection on practice provides a foundation for understanding the impact of Hurricane Harvey on teachers and children across the Texas Gulf Coast. It also documents the emergence of a profess...
Is Acromioplasty Ever Indicated During Rotator Cuff Repair

Based on data from a national healthcare insurance carrier in the United States between 2010 and 2012, orthopedic surgeons performed an acromioplasty procedure on 73 to 76% of their arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs. This has remained a prevalent arthroscopic adjunct despite the controversies disputing the role and etiology of external impingement on symptomatic rotator cuff disease. Within the past decade, several randomized studies have demonstrated negligible benefits with acromioplasty performed alongside rotator cuff repair, with no significant differences in either patient-reported outcome scores or retear rates). Conversely, other authors have suggested higher rates of reoperation with rotator cuff repair alone. Critical shoulder angle, an objective measure of lateral acromion extension and glenoid inclination that is considered a gauge of external impingement, has demonstrated an association with rotator cuff tears; Despite this, patient-reported outcomes do not consistently correlate with critical shoulder angle or other variants in acromial morphology after arthroscopic full-thickness rotator cuff repair. Evidenced-based data is currently lacking to support routine use of acromioplasty in all cases of rotator cuff repair. However, the current available studies do present design flaws, namely statistical underpowering, particularly in type III acromion morphology; inadequate short-term follow-up; lack of imaging data to assess cuff healing; and insensitive outcome measures to capture the theorized benefits of subacromial decompression. Additionally, several relevant merits of acromioplasty have been reported, including decreased abrasive wear with prominent type III acromial morphology, release of natural growth factors to improve rotator cuff healing, and improved visualization during rotator cuff repair. Further evaluation is needed to determine the correct indications for acromioplasty in the setting of cuff repair. Current data would indicate that acromioplasty can be used safely at the discretion of the operating surgeon based on preoperative and intraoperative findings.
Related chromosome binding sites for zeste, suppressors of zeste and Polycomb group proteins in Drosophila and their dependence on Enhancer of zeste function.

Polycomb group genes are necessary for maintaining homeotic genes repressed in appropriate parts of the body plan. Some of these genes, e.g. Psc, Su(z)2 and E(z), are also modifiers of the zeste-white interaction. The products of Psc and Su(z)2 were immunohistochemically detected at 80-90 sites on polytene chromosomes. The chromosomal binding sites of these two proteins were compared with those of zeste protein and two other Polycomb group proteins, Polycomb and polyhomeotic. The five proteins co-localize at a large number of sites, suggesting that they frequently act together on target genes. In larvae carrying a temperature sensitive mutation in another Polycomb group gene, E(z), the Su(z)2 and Psc products become dissociated from chromatin at non-permissive temperatures from most but not all sites, while the binding of the zeste protein is unaffected. The polytene chromosomes in these mutant larvae acquire a decondensed appearance, frequently losing characteristic constrictions. These results suggest that the binding of at least some Polycomb group proteins requires interactions with other members of the group and, although zeste can bind independently, its repressive effect on white involves the presence of at least some of the Polycomb group proteins.
Towards Scalable Video Analytics at the Edge

Breakthroughs in deep learning, GPUs, and edge computing have paved the way for always-on, live video analytics. However, to achieve real-time performance, a GPU needs to be dedicated amongst a few video feeds. But, GPUs are expensive resources and a large-scale deployment requires supporting hundreds of video cameras – exorbitant cost prohibits widespread adoption. To ease this burden, we propose Tetris, a system comprising of several optimization techniques from computer vision and deep-learning literature blended in a synergistic manner. Tetris is designed to maximize the parallel processing of video feeds on a single GPU, with a marginal drop in inference accuracy. Tetris performs CPU-based tiling of active regions to combine activities across video feeds. resulting in a condensed input volume. It then runs the deep learning model on this condensed volume instead of individual feeds, which significantly improves the GPU utilization. Our evaluation on Duke MTMC dataset reveals that Tetris can process 4x video feeds in parallel compared to any of the existing methods used in isolation.
A cylindrical meshing methodology for annual urban computational fluid dynamics simulations

ABSTRACTFor urban CFD simulations, it is considered a best practice to use a box-shaped simulation domain. Box-shaped domains, however, show drawbacks for airflow from several wind directions as re...
Impact of Chlorhexidine Bathing on Antimicrobial Utilization in Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Abstract Background This secondary analysis compared antimicrobial utilization among surgical intensive care unit patients randomized to every other day chlorhexidine bathing (chlorhexidine) versus daily soap and water bathing (soap-and-water) using data from the CHlorhexidine Gluconate BATHing trial. Materials and methods Antimicrobial utilization was quantified using defined daily dose (DDD)/100 patient-days and agent-days/100 patient-days for systemic antimicrobials. Antivirals (except oseltamivir), antiparasitics, and prophylaxis agents were excluded. The 2018 anatomic therapeutic chemical/DDD index was used to calculate DDD. Agent-days were calculated as the sum of calendar days where antimicrobials were administered. Patient-days were defined as time patients were at risk for health care–acquired infections plus up to 14 d. Primary analyses were conducted using linear regression adjusted for baseline Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores. Results Of 325 CHlorhexidine Gluconate BATHing trial patients, 312 (157 in soap-and-water and 155 in chlorhexidine) were included. The median (interquartile range) of total antimicrobial DDD/100 patient-days was 135.4 (75.2-231.8) for soap-and-water and 129.9 (49.2-215.3) for chlorhexidine. The median (interquartile range) of total antimicrobial agent-days/100 patient-days was 155.6 (83.3-243.2) for soap-and-water and 146.7 (66.7-217.4) for chlorhexidine. After adjusting for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, chlorhexidine bathing was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in total antimicrobial DDD/100 patient-days (−3.9; 95% confidence interval, −33.9 to 26.1; P = 0.80) and total antimicrobial agent-days/100 patient-days (−10.3; 95% confidence interval, −34.7 to 14.1; P = 0.41). Conclusions Compared with daily soap and water bathing, every other day chlorhexidine bathing did not significantly reduce total antimicrobial utilization in surgical intensive care unit patients.
Hippocampal Dysconnectivity and Altered Glutamatergic Modulation of the Default Mode Network: A Combined Resting-State Connectivity and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study in Schizophrenia.

Abstract Background Converging lines of evidence point to hippocampal dysfunction in schizophrenia. It is thought that hippocampal dysfunction spreads across hippocampal subfields and to cortical regions by way of long-range efferent projections. Importantly, abnormalities in the excitation/inhibition balance could impair the long-range modulation of neural networks. The goal of this project was twofold. First, we sought to identify replicable patterns of hippocampal dysconnectivity in patients with a psychosis spectrum disorder. Second, we aimed to investigate a putative link between glutamatergic metabolism and hippocampal connectivity alterations. Methods We evaluated resting-state hippocampal functional connectivity alterations in two cohorts of patients with a psychosis spectrum disorder. The first cohort consisted of 55 medication-naive patients with first-episode psychosis and 41 matched healthy control subjects, and the second cohort consisted of 42 unmedicated patients with schizophrenia and 41 matched control subjects. We also acquired measurements of glutamate + glutamine in the left hippocampus using magnetic resonance spectroscopy for 42 patients with first-episode psychosis and 37 healthy control subjects from our first cohort. Results We observed a pattern of hippocampal functional hypoconnectivity to regions of the default mode network and hyperconnectivity to the lateral occipital cortex in both cohorts. We also show that in healthy control subjects, greater hippocampal glutamate + glutamine levels predicted greater hippocampal functional connectivity to the anterior default mode network. Furthermore, this relationship was reversed in medication-naive subjects with first-episode psychosis. Conclusions These results suggest that an alteration in the relationship between glutamate and functional connectivity may disrupt the dynamic of major neural networks.
Perspectives from the frontline: A pharmacy department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created unprecedented strains on healthcare systems around the world. Challenges surrounding an overwhelming influx of patients with COVID-19 and changes in care dynamics prompt the need for care models and processes that optimize care in this medically complex patient population. The purpose of this report is to describe our institution's strategy to deploy pharmacy resources and standardize pharmacy processes to optimize the management of patients with COVID-19. Methods This retrospective, descriptive report characterizes documented pharmacy interventions in the acute care of patients admitted for COVID-19 during the period April 1 to April 15, 2020. Patient monitoring, interprofessional communication, and intervention documentation by pharmacy staff was facilitated through the development of a COVID-19-specific care bundle integrated into the electronic medical record. Results A total of 1,572 pharmacist interventions were documented in 197 patients who received a total of 15,818 medication days of therapy during the study period. The average number of interventions per patient was 8. The most common interventions were regimen simplification (15.9%), timing and dosing adjustments (15.4%), and antimicrobial therapy and COVID-19 treatment adjustments (15.2%). Patients who were admitted to an intensive care unit care at any point during their hospital stay accounted for 66.7% of all interventions documented. Conclusion A pharmacy department's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was optimized through standardized processes. Pharmacists intervened to address a wide scope of medication-related issues, likely contributing to improved management of COVID-19 patients. Results of our analysis demonstrate the vital role pharmacists play as members of multidisciplinary teams during times of crisis.
From Virtues to Volts

Energy transitions, say, from wood to coal to wind, are a central narrative about climate change. The mother of all energy transitions, though, is the one that took us from a world of virtues to a world of volts. This chapter frames this transition as a revaluation of values, one that upended notions of freedom, justice, and excellence. Behind the material abundance of the high-energy life is a gnawing emptiness. This is the paradox of the poverty of the wealthy.
The Blossoming of Economic Epidemiology

Infectious diseases, ideas, new products, and other infectants spread in epidemic fashion through social contact. The COVID-19 pandemic, the proliferation of fake news, and the rise of antimicrobia...
Terrorism Financing: Al-Qaeda and ISIS

Terrorism financing is providing and distributing funds for terrorist operations. Although the cost of an individual terrorist attack may be small, terrorist organizations rely on a steady flow of funds to support their operational costs. These funds can be raised through various sources. Funds can be raised through legitimate sources, such as donations and charitable organizations. Funds can also be raised through criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, smuggling, kidnapping, and extortion. This paper will demonstrate that terrorist organizations, specifically Al-Qaeda and ISIS, are able to adapt and continuously finance themselves regardless of the United States counter-terrorism efforts. First, this paper will first collect information on how Al-Qaeda and ISIS funds themselves. Second, collect information on how the United States combatted funding for Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Third, conduct an analysis and discussion of how Al-Qaeda and ISIS kept adapting to the United States combatting efforts.
Chapter 14 Topographic Display of Cell Surface Components and their Role in Transmembrane Signaling

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the topographic control of cell surface receptors and their role in transmembrane signaling. Complex patterns of embryonic development in higher organisms demand the evolution of special mechanisms to regulate cell–cell interactions, cell communication, cell positioning, cell movement, and cell proliferation. The signals, which bring about and control these phenomena to an overwhelming degree, operate through specific receptors at the cell surface. The receipt of information at the cell surface occurs via interaction of soluble ligands or macromolecular structures borne by adjacent cells, with specific receptors leading to direct or indirect transmembrane-mediated communication. Direct transmembrane-mediated communication is envisioned as an entry of ligands such as ions and small molecules into cells. Because there is a wide body of evidence that indicates that surface receptors can have unique displays, distributions, or mobilities on the cell surface, controlling mechanisms must exist that govern cell surface dynamics and the display of surface receptors. Cell surface receptors are mobile in the membrane; however, their movement can be restricted by several mechanisms. Transmembrane control over the display, topography, and dynamics of cell surface receptors by membrane-associated cytoskeletal assemblages, such as microtubules and microfilaments, is one of the most common mechanisms of cell surface receptor control.
Perceiving the Sublime: A Look at Emerson’s Aesthetics

In “The American Scholar,” Emerson sets forth to describe what he thinks should be the unique shape, task, and approach of a scholar formed in and working for America: “We have listened too long to the courtly muses of Europe.”1 This is not meant to be an insult to the European scholarly traditions — within the essay Emerson praises Goethe, Carlyle, and Wordsworth, among others — but merely to point out that while studying and admiring the traditions of other countries can be useful and inspiring, trying to mimic or fit into those traditions is dishonest and unproductive. The problem is not, as Emerson sees it, in being influenced by a great European mind, but in feeling that one must be: “Men grow up in libraries, believing it their duty to accept the views which Cicero, which Locke, which Bacon, have given; forgetful that Cicero, Locke, and Bacon were only young men in libraries when they wrote those books” (27). Oliver Wendell Holmes would later refer to this speech as “Our Intellectual Declaration of Independence,” emphasizing Emerson’s own sense of the significance of the fact that America is based on revolution.2 While we have broken off from European control and forged a new, unique political system in which new leaders are constantly picking up the reigns of control, intellectually we are still, Emerson is saying, working within the European system of inheriting masters: master thinkers and master texts. It doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t suit, in a country based on constantly reinventing itself, to have an educational system and a scholarly tradition based on inheritance. Emerson is not suggesting that we turn a blind eye to all things foreign or that we throw out the great books from the past; in fact, as mentioned above, he frequently calls on such “old masters” as Plato, Milton, and Shakespeare both here and in his other works. Emerson’s point, however, is that we shouldn’t read Plato because our fathers and mothers thought he was a genius, but rather, if we read Plato we must do so because we have established our own relationship with him and because we have discovered for ourselves the truth and beauty within his work. Just as we constantly reevaluate our political leaders, we must constantly and individually reevaluate works of literature, of art, etc., and decide whether they remain valid. As he tells the graduating class of the Harvard Divinity School in July, 1848: “Truly speaking, it is not instruction, but provocation, that I can receive from another soul. What he announces, I must find true in me, or reject; and on his word, or as his second, be he who he may, I can accept nothing” (30). When a “master text” ceases to provoke me, I must reject it.
Genetics and the Organization of the Basal Ganglia

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the evidence for genetic factors contributing to variability in the functional, neurochemical, and neuroanatomical organization of the basal ganglia. Most of the citations reviewed in the chapter involve comparisons amongst inbred strains of mice or rats. The purpose of many inbred strain studies is not only to establish the existence of genetic differences, but also to test hypotheses about relationships between traits, for example, apomorphine-induced stereotypy and D2 receptor density. Strain similarities on multiple traits suggest a common genetic influence. The chapter reviews the phenotypes (for example, receptor density, drug responses, dopamine neuron number), which are quite complex. When such complex phenotypes are characterized in a large panel of inbred stains or in genetically segregating population, the phenotypic values are usually continuously distributed. To explain this observation, quantitative genetic theory argues that multiple genes, each with a modest effect, combine to produce the phenotypic variance.