cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can an accounting-based duration model effectively measure interest rate sensitivity?

I examine whether a duration transformation of financial accounting information adequately captures interest rate sensitivity in financial institutions. First, I calculate an ex-ante measure of interest rate sensitivity in complex banking institutions based upon a model developed by bank supervisors at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors; the duration measure is a combination of financial accounting information and duration proxies. Second, I test for an association between this ex-ante measure of interest rate sensitivity and both accounting and capital market ex-post measures of interest rate sensitivity. The results show a predictable relationship between ex-ante modeled interest rate sensitivity and banks’ ex-post accounting performance and stock returns given observed changes in market interest rates. I conclude that an interest rate sensitivity model based upon a combination of financial accounting information and duration proxies can be used to predict interest rate sensitivity in complex banks, including publicly-traded bank holding companies. The issue is important because interest rate risk management is integral to financial institutions, and its reliable measurement using publicly-available accounting data is relevant to bank managers, researchers, market participants, and regulators.
ICA and PLS modeling for functional analysis and drug sensitivity for DNA microarray signals

The DNA microarray technique offers an ability to analyze the expression profile of a genome. The complex correlation between the large number of genes present in the genome undermines straightforward understanding of their functionality. In this paper, we have proposed a pair of modeling schemes to recognize the functional identities of the known genes. In Independent Component Analysis (ICA), each of the microarray signals is modeled as a linear combination of some underlying independent components having specific biological interpretation. The second algorithm, Partial Least Squares (PLS) is proposed to identify the latent functional units contributing to drug sensitivity from the microarray data. Applications of this research include prediction of drug responses based on gene expressions, and also to identify the function(s) of a new gene. We consider the Rosetta compendium data set with yeast gene profiles, and the NCI-60 data set of human gene expressions as a function of drug type (cancer drugs are considered).
Enteroviral Testing and Length of Hospital Stay for Children Evaluated for Lyme Meningitis

Abstract Background In Lyme disease–endemic areas, many children with aseptic meningitis are hospitalized while awaiting Lyme serology results. Although Lyme serology takes several days, an enteroviral polymerase chain reaction (EV PCR) test takes only a few hours to return results. Objective Our aim was to measure the impact of EV PCR testing on duration of stay for children evaluated for Lyme meningitis. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed with children evaluated for Lyme meningitis at 3 Emergency Departments located in Lyme disease–endemic areas. We defined Lyme meningitis using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria (either positive Lyme serology test result or an erythema migrans rash). The duration of stay was compared by EV PCR test result (positive, negative, and not obtained). Results There were 423 study patients identified, 117 (28%) of whom had Lyme meningitis and 209 (49%) had an EV PCR test performed. Median length of stay varied by the EV PCR test status: children with a positive EV PCR test (n = 103; 28 h; interquartile range 17–48 h), those with a negative EV PCR test (n = 106; 72 h; interquartile range 48–120 h), and those who did not have an EV PCR test obtained (n = 214; 48 h; interquartile range 24–96 h; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions Rapid EV PCR testing could assist clinical decision making by Emergency Physicians, avoiding potentially unnecessary hospitalization and parenteral antibiotics for children at low risk of Lyme meningitis.
Application of Failure Mode and Effect Analysis in a Radiology Department

With increasing deployment, complexity, and sophistication of equipment and related processes within the clinical imaging environment, system failures are more likely to occur. These failures may have varying effects on the patient, ranging from no harm to devastating harm. Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is a tool that permits the proactive identification of possible failures in complex processes and provides a basis for continuous improvement. This overview of the basic principles and methodology of FMEA provides an explanation of how FMEA can be applied to clinical operations in a radiology department to reduce, predict, or prevent errors. The six sequential steps in the FMEA process are explained, and clinical magnetic resonance imaging services are used as an example for which FMEA is particularly applicable. A modified version of traditional FMEA called Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis, which was introduced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Patient Safety, is briefly reviewed. In conclusion, FMEA is an effective and reliable method to proactively examine complex processes in the radiology department. FMEA can be used to highlight the high-risk subprocesses and allows these to be targeted to minimize the future occurrence of failures, thus improving patient safety and streamlining the efficiency of the radiology department.
The Effects of Interleukin 2, Gamma Interferon, and B Cell Differentiation Factor on the Differentiation of Human B Cells

It has been well known that in the human system, SAC-activated B cells proliferate and differentiate in response to helper T cell factors. Among many factors included within the broad category of helper T cell factors, three distinct factors (interleukin 2 IL-2, gamma interferon γ-IFN, and B cell differentiation factor BCDF) were reported to be involved in B cell differentiation. Recent progress in recombinant DNA technology has made highly purified IL-2 and γ-IFN available, and even though BCDF is not yet cloned by molecular biological techniques, two kinds of BCDFs derived from the supernatants of newly established cell lines have been recently reported. In the present study, employing normal B cells or EBV-transformed B cell lines, we have investigated the effects of these factors on human B cells.
Obesity increases free thyroxine proportionally to nonesterified fatty acid concentrations in adult neutered female cats

The obese cat is a model for the study of the progression toward type 2 diabetes. In this study, the impact of obesity on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis was examined in 21 domestic shorthair cats before and after the development of obesity, which significantly increased body mass index (BMI), % body fat (BF), and girth (P<0.0001 for all). Serum total thyroxine (TT(4)), tri-iodothyronine, free T(4) (FT(4)) by direct dialysis, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), and leptin were measured, and FT(4) fraction (FFT(4)) was calculated. Serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations were measured in nine animals by validating a heterologous canine TSH assay with recombinant feline TSH as a standard. FT(4), FFT(4), NEFAs, and leptin were significantly higher in obese cats. FT(4) had the strongest positive correlation with obesity indices BF, BMI, girth, NEFA, and leptin. Fatty acids oleate and palmitate were shown to inhibit T(4) binding to pooled cat serum in vitro, suggesting the possibility that this mechanism was also relevant in vivo. Serum TT(4) and TSH did not rise significantly. The implications for thyroid hormone (TH) action are not yet clear, but fatty acids have been proposed to inhibit the cellular uptake of TH and/or pituitary TH receptor binding, leading to TH resistance. Increased leptin may also alter sensitivity to negative feedback of TH. In conclusion, feline obesity is associated with a significant increase in FT(4) within the normal range; future investigation into the cellular thyroid status will be necessary to establish cause and effect in this obesity model.
Evaluation of Inhibition Selectivity for Human Cytochrome P450 2A Enzymes

Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are mixed-function oxidases that catalyze the metabolism of xenobiotics and endogenous biochemicals. Selective inhibitors are needed to accurately distinguish the contributions of individual P450 enzymes in the metabolism of drugs and the activation of procarcinogens in human tissues, but very frequently these enzymes have substantial overlapping selectivity. We evaluated a chemically diverse set of nine previously identified CYP2A6 inhibitors to determine which are able to discriminate between human CYP2A enzymes CYP2A6 and the 94%-identical CYP2A13 enzyme. Inhibitor binding to recombinant purified enzyme was evaluated, and affinities were determined. Ki values were determined for inhibition of p-nitrophenol 2-hydroxylation, a reaction accomplished by CYP2A13 and CYP2A6 with more similar catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km 0.19 and 0.12 μM−1 · min−1, respectively) than hydroxylation of the classic substrate coumarin (0.11 and 0.53 μM−1 · min−1, respectively). Of the nine compounds assayed, only tranylcypromine and (R)-(+)-menthofuran had a greater than 10-fold preference for CYP2A6 inhibition versus CYP2A13 inhibition. Most compounds evaluated [tryptamine, 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, phenethyl isothiocyanate, β-nicotyrine, (S)-nicotine, and pilocarpine] demonstrated only moderate or no preference for inhibition of one CYP2A enzyme over the other. However, 8-methoxypsoralen has a 6-fold lower Ki for CYP2A13 than for CYP2A6. This information is useful to inform reinterpretation of previous data with these inhibitors and to guide future studies seeking to determine which human CYP2A enzyme is responsible for the in vivo metabolism of compounds in human tissues expressing both enzymes.
Evidence for a Diffuse Interfacial Region at the Dichloroethane/Water Interface

The 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE)/water interface is important because of its suitability as an electrochemical interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). An issue of particular interest is whether the interfacial region is molecularly sharp or whether the interface is comprised of a diffuse mixed interfacial region. These studies using vibrational sum-frequency spectroscopy as a probe of the structure, orientation, and bonding of interfacial water show that the interface is molecularly disordered with properties similar to a mixed phase interfacial region. It does not have the characteristics of a sharp interface that have been shown to occur at other liquid/liquid interfaces such as CCl4/H2O and alkane/H2O.
Links Between the Quantum Hall Effect, Chiral Boson Theories and String Theory

Chiral boson theory is introduced and its relevance to the quantum Hall effect is explained. It is shown that the chiral boson theory admits mode expansions which are essentially those which appear and are made use of in bosonic string theories. This immediately leads to a way of quantizing the theory. Restrictions on various parameters appearing in the model can be imposed in a natural way. Finally, it is suggested that some of these ideas have important applications to other geometries which could give rise to new types of physical behavior.
CTLA-4 Blockade: Unveiling Immune Regulation

To maintain tissue homeostasis under the duress of infection or injury, the immune system is endowed with a diverse repertoire of soluble and cellular effectors. The innate response, composed of granulocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and complement, is rapidly triggered into action, detecting tissue disturbance through a set of germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors. The adaptive reaction, consisting of antibodyproducing B cells and T lymphocytes, is slower to develop, but manifests exquisite specificity and memory. These attributesreflecttherequirementforexpansionofrareclones harboring somatically rearranged immunoglobulin molecules or T-cell receptors specific for foreign proteins or processed peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. These innate and adaptive responses are carefully orchestrated through soluble and membrane-bound regulators, resulting in the deployment of the most suitable effectors for containing the disorder, while minimizing tissue damage. Cancercellssimilarlyprovokeimmunerecognition.In one pathway, innate effectors detect tumor cells directly. 1 Natural killer cells and phagocytes express NKG2D moleculesthatfunctionasreceptorsforstress-relatedgenessuch
A Polarized Environment: The Effect of Partisanship and Ideological Values on Individual Recycling and Conservation Behavior

Political polarization is often analyzed at the mass level through examination of attitudinal differences, but little attention is devoted to how polarization might be manifested through difference...
The Effects of Lidocaine Pretreatment on Cocaine Neurotoxicity and Lethality in Mice

Objective: To evaluate the effects of an antiarrhythmic dose of lidocaine on cocaine-induced ataxia, seizures, and death in mice. Methods: A randomized, controlled, blinded investigation was conducted using 220 female Swiss albino mice. Groups of 20 animals received intraperitoneal (IP) administration of either 31.6 mg/kg of lidocaine hydrochloride in 0.9% NaCl (ten animals) or an equal volume of 0.9% NaCl solution (ten animals). After 5 minutes, all the animals received IP cocaine in incremental doses ranging from 40 to 110 mg/kg. The animals were observed for ataxia, seizures, and death. The animals pretreated with lidocaine were compared with the control animals for the number of adverse effects from cocaine at each dose tested. Results: Lidocaine significantly increased the overall incidences of cocaine-induced ataxia (p = 0.02) and seizures (p < 0.001). However, pretreatment with lidocaine offered protection against cocaine lethality (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: In this preexposure model, lidocaine protects mice against cocaine-induced lethality. These effects seem to be independent of convulsive activity. Further study is required to determine the safety and efficacy of lidocaine for the management of cocaine-induced arrhythmias.
Calcium Signaling in Taste Cells: Regulation Required

Peripheral taste receptor cells depend on distinct calcium signals to generate appropriate cellular responses that relay taste information to the central nervous system. Some taste cells have conventional chemical synapses and rely on calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels. Other taste cells lack these synapses and depend on calcium release from stores to formulate an output signal through a hemichannel. Despite the importance of calcium signaling in taste cells, little is known about how these signals are regulated. This review summarizes recent studies that have identified 2 calcium clearance mechanisms expressed in taste cells, including mitochondrial calcium uptake and sodium/calcium exchangers (NCXs). These studies identified a unique constitutive calcium influx that contributes to maintaining appropriate calcium homeostasis in taste cells and the role of the mitochondria and exchangers in this process. The additional role of NCXs in the regulation of evoked calcium responses is also discussed. Clearly, calcium signaling is a dynamic process in taste cells and appears to be more complex than has previously been appreciated.
Early Childhood Adversity and its Associations With Anxiety, Depression, and Distress in Women With Breast Cancer

Background Certain vulnerability factors have been found to place patients at risk for depression and anxiety, especially within the context of medical illness. Objectives We sought to describe the relationships among early childhood adversity (ECA) and anxiety, depression and distress in patients with breast cancer. Methods Patients with breast cancer (stages 0–IV) were assessed for ECA (i.e., the Risky Families Questionnaire subscales include Abuse/Neglect/Chaotic Home Environment), distress (i.e., Distress Thermometer and Problem List), anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety), depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression), meeting standardized cut-off thresholds for distress (Distress Thermometer and Problem List ≥4 or ≥7)/anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety ≥8)/depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression ≥8) and demographic factors. Results A total of 125 participants completed the study (78% response rate). ECA was associated with depression ( p p = 0.001), and distress ( p = 0.006), meeting cut-off threshold criteria for distress ( p = 0.024), anxiety ( p = 0.048), and depression ( p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, only depression ( p = 0.04) and emotional issues (i.e., component of Distress Thermometer and Problem List) ( p = 0.001) were associated with ECA. Neglect, but not Abuse and Chaotic Home Environment, was associated with depression ( β = 0.442, p β = 0.342, p = 0.002), and self-identified problems with family ( β = 0.288, p = 0.022), emotion ( β = 0.345, p = 0.004), and physical issues ( β = 0.408, p Conclusion ECA and neglect are associated with multiple psychologic symptoms, but most specifically depression in the setting of breast cancer. ECA contributes to psychologic burden as a vulnerability factor. ECA may help to explain individual patient trajectories and influence the provision of patient-centered care for psychologic symptoms in patients with breast cancer.
Antithrombotics in Tumor Growth and Metastasis

Metastasis of cancer cells from a primary site involves a sequence of events, including the extravasation of the tumor cells into circulation and the interactions with platelets and other components of the hemostatic system (1,2). These interactions, in turn, result in the adhesion and penetration of these metastatic cells and subsequent intravasation into the tissue. Several studies demonstrated that tumor cells form complexes with platelets, fibrin, and leukocytes in the vasculature, forming microemboli (3,4). Thrombin is a key final common pathway that plays a significant role in activating platelets and generating fibrin for enhanced tumor metastasis.
Susceptibility of Life Stages of Sitophilus oryza to Various Fumigants

Results are given of the susceptibility of the egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryza (L.), in infested wheat fumigated with acrylonitrile, carbon bisulfide, chloropicrin, ethylene dibromide, ethylene dichloride, and methyl bromide. If the egg stage is omitted, the order of decreasing susceptibility to all fumigants except ethylene dichloride is larva, adult and pupa. In comparison with the other stages, the eggs are resistant to carbon bisulfide and relatively resistant to methyl bromide.
Time-of-flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry method development for high-sensitivity analysis of acid dyes in nylon fibers.

A minimally destructive technique for the determination of dyes in finished fibers provides an important tool for crime scene and other forensic investigations. The analytical power and the minimal sample consumption of time-of-flight-secondary ion mass spectrometric (TOF-SIMS) analysis provides the ability to obtain definitive molecular and elemental information relevant to fiber identification, including identification of dyes, from a very small volume of sample. For both fiber surface analysis and, with the aid of cryomicrotomy, fiber cross-section analysis, TOF-SIMS was used to identify various dyes in finished textile fibers. The analysis of C.I. Acid Blue 25 in nylon is presented as a representative example. The molecular ion of C.I. Acid Blue 25 with lower than 3% on weight-of-fiber (owf) dye loading cannot be identified on dyed nylon surfaces by TOF-SIMS using a Bi3+ primary ion beam. Sputtering with C60+ provided the ability to remove surface contamination as well as at least partially remove Bi-...
Exploiting synthetic aperture radar imagery for retrieving vibration signatures of concealed machinery

It has been demonstrated that the instantaneous acceleration associated with vibrating objects that are directly imaged by synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can be estimated through the application of the discrete fractional Fourier transform (DFrFT) using the information contained in the complex SAR image. In general, vibration signatures may include, for example, the number of chirped sinusoids as well as their respective base frequencies and chirp rates. By further processing the DFrFT-processed data for clutter-noise rejection by means of pseudo- subspace methods, has been shown that the SAR-vibrometry method can be reliable as long as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) of the slow-time SAR signal at the range-line of interest exceeds 15dB. Meanwhile, the Nyquist theorem dictates that the maximum measurable vibration frequency is limited by half of the pulse-repetition frequency. This paper focuses on the detection and estimation of vibrations generated by machinery concealed within buildings and other structures. This is a challenging task in general because the vibration signatures of the source are typically altered by their housing structure; moreover, the SNR at the surface of the housing structure tends to be reduced. Here, experimental results for three different vibrating targets, including one concealed target, are reported using complex SAR images acquired by the General Atomics Lynx radar at resolutions of 1-ft and 4-in. The concealed vibrating target is actuated by a gear motor with an off-balance weight attached to it, which is enclosed by a wooden housing. The vibrations of the motor are transmitted to a chimney that extends above the housing structure. Using the SAR vibrometry approach, it is shown that it is possible to distinguish among the three vibrating objects based upon their vibration signatures.
Molecular Approaches, Models, and Techniques in Pharmacogenomic Research and Development

Abstract Clinical response to therapeutic treatments may vary among patients. An individual’s response to prescribed medicines is likely to be a complex trait that is influenced by a variety of genetic and nongenetic (e.g., environment, diet) factors. Pharmacogenomics holds the promise for personalized medicine based on a patient’s genetic makeup by investigating the relationships between genetic variation and therapeutic phenotypes. In particular, human genetic variation provides the basis for dissecting the genetic architecture of complex traits including drug response. We introduce the general strategies and data analysis approaches utilized in the current pharmacogenomic research and development. The traditional candidate gene approach aims at pharmacology-related genes with a priori knowledge. In contrast, the advances in genome-wide profiling technologies open the possibility of genome-wide scans for genetic determinants responsible for drug response. In addition, several important bioinformatic resources for pharmacogenomic research are also introduced.
&You: Design of a Sensor-Based Wearable Device for Use in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy treatment that trains an individual to adjust negative patterns of thinking and behavior associated with their disorder. In this paper, we present &You, a low-cost nonintrusive wearable device for use in CBT to assist patients with anxiety disorders. Our device reinforces habit forming processes by passively detecting measurable stress symptoms and notifying the user before a stimulus elicits a severe anxiety attack. Notifications are delivered as a series of brief vibrating pulses that can be stopped by tapping the device, which is strategically placed at the nape of the user’s neck. The gesture of deactivating the notification forces the wearer into a body position that naturally expands their chest and increases lung capacity, which directly calms the user and disrupts the user’s negative thought pattern.
Dynamic Application Rotation Environment for Moving Target Defense

Owing to the ubiquity of web applications in modern computing, the server software that delivers these applications is an attractive attack vector for would-be malicious actors in cyberspace. Recently, Moving Target Defense (MTD) strategies have grown in popularity in the computer security community because of their ability to enhance resilience and force attackers into uncharacteristic behavior. The MTD prototype discussed in this paper acts as a proactive defense strategy that offers increased protection against an attacker's ability to probe for and exploit vulnerable web server software. The testing shows that web server diversity in an MTD reduces the ability to exploit vulnerabilities in a web server, reduces impacts of successfully exploited vulnerabilities, and increases the resilience of the protected application.
Neuropathies of Stüve-Wiedemann Syndrome due to mutations in leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) gene.

Stuve-Wiedemann syndrome (STWS; OMIM #610559) is a rare disease that results in dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary processes such as breathing rate and body temperature. In infants, this can result in respiratory distress, feeding and swallowing difficulties, and hyperthermic episodes. Individuals may sweat excessively when body temperature is not elevated. Additionally, individuals have reduced ability to feel pain and may lose reflexes such as the corneal reflex that normally causes one to blink, and the patellar reflex resulting in the knee-jerk. STWS usually results in infant mortality, yet some STWS patients survive into early adulthood. STWS is caused by a mutation in the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) gene, which is inherited in an autosomal-recessive pattern. Most LIFR mutations resulting in STWS cause instability of the mRNA due to frameshift mutations leading to premature stop codons, which prevent the formation of LIFR protein. STWS is managed on a symptomatic basis as no treatment is currently available.
Genomic analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in the context of enzalutamide therapy.

65 Background: Given the evolving treatments available in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), predictive biomarkers are desirable that maximize benefit and minimize harms and costs.The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of DNA copy number and whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from men with mCRPC receiving enzalutamide. Methods: We collected CTCs from men with mCRPC in the context of enzalutamide therapy. CTCs were isolated from EDTA blood through red cell lysis, CD45 depletion, and flow sorting on EpCAM/CD45 expression. Whole genomic amplification and array based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was performed using Qiagen Repli-Gene Single Cell kit, multiple displacement amplification, and Agilent microarray analysis. CTC copy number changes were compared with patient leukocyte DNA and reference metastatic PC datasets. CTC AR amplification and PTEN loss was confirmed with FISH. WES on REPLI-g amplified CTC and leukocyte DNA...
Debating the Question of Undervaluation in Chapter 11

One of the most complex and contentious aspects of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process is making accurate valuation of the company in order to determine the final recovery for various claimholders. Valuation hearings are often lengthy affairs involving expert testimony from various constituents. Despite this robust process, some observers believe that firms in bankruptcy are generally undervalued because their normal value has been driven down by negative circumstances. This paper examines the reasons why a firm's valuation must be explored in a relative, not absolute, context. It describes how, when the valuations of bankrupt companies are viewed from the perspective of prevalent market conditions at the time of plan confirmation, the historical record suggests that companies filing for Chapter 11 actually are overvalued more often than not.
Plastic Naturecultures: Multispecies Ethnography and the Dangers of Separating Living from Nonliving Bodies

A jellyfish surrounds a plastic fragment, merging the synthetic material with its body; a water agency poster warns of dangerous plastic bottle ‘fish’ in the Mediterranean; marine organisms take sh...
Co-mention network of R packages: Scientific impact and clustering structure

Abstract Despite its rising position as a first-class research object, scientific software remains a marginal object in studies of scholarly communication. This study aims to fill the gap by examining the co-mention network of R packages across all Public Library of Science (PLoS) journals. To that end, we developed a software entity extraction method and identified 14,310 instances of R packages across the 13,684 PLoS journal papers mentioning or citing R. A paper-level co-mention network of these packages was visualized and analyzed using three major centrality measures: degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and PageRank. We analyzed the distributive patterns of R packages in all PLoS papers, identified the top packages mentioned in these papers, and examined the clustering structure of the network. Specifically, we found that the discipline and function of the packages can partly explain the largest clusters. The present study offers the first large-scale analysis of R packages’ extensive use in scientific research. As such, it lays the foundation for future explorations of various roles played by software packages in the scientific enterprise.
Optical and structural development of the crystalline lens in childhood

PURPOSE. TO document the development of key optical and structural parameters of the crystalline lens throughout childhood and examine possible mechanisms by which lens power remains coordinated with the growth of the eye to maintain emmetropia. METHODS. Using cycloplegic autorefraction, video-based phakometry, and ultrasonography, the authors measured refractive error and crystalline lens parameters in 994 children in the first through eighth grades, who participated in the Orinda Longitudinal Study of Myopia, between one and five times from 1989 through 1993- Polynomial growth curves were fit to the data by maximum likelihood estimation. The average annual rates of change in each parameter from each subject's longitudinal data were also estimated. RESULTS. The lens radii of curvature flattened throughout childhood, yet decreases in lens equivalent power stopped after 10 years of age. This indicates that the refractive index of the lens increased during later childhood. Lens thinning in early childhood also ceased after 10 years of age. The spherical volume of the lens showed no appreciable net increase, but the axial length of the eye continued to grow throughout childhood. The prevalence of myopia in our data increased sharply at age 10 years, reaching 21.3% by the age of 14 years. CONCLUSIONS. Concurrent thinning and flattening of the crystalline lens imply that the lens is mechanically stretched by the equatorial growth of the eye during childhood. Changes in the patterns of lens development near the age of 10 years, concurrent with the onset of myopia, suggest that forces arise which interfere with equatorial growth. Such forces might diminish the decreases in lens power and amplify axial elongation to promote myopia. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1998; 39:120-133)
Factors associated with post-operative sepsis following surgery for spinal tumors: An analysis of the ACS-NSQIP database.

Abstract Objectives Sepsis is a rare but potentially devastating complication when it occurs after surgery for spinal tumors. Given the morbidity associated with sepsis, we sought to collate evidence using a large national surgical database to identify the incidence, pre-operative predictors and post-operative factors associated with sepsis following spinal tumor surgery. Patients and Methods The 2005–2014 ACS-NSQIP database was queried for patients undergoing surgery for spinal tumors using ICD-9 codes for primary (170.2, 170.6, 213.2, 213.6) or secondary (198.3, 198.4 and 198.5) spinal tumor. Data were then filtered to include patients who underwent a laminectomy, corpectomy and/or spinal fusion for the tumor. A total of 1468 patients were included in the final cohort. Pre-operative risk factors were assessed using univariate regression models while adjusting for the occurrence of missing variables. Post-operative infectious sources such as urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia and surgical site infection were assessed for any association with the occurrence of sepsis. Results A total of 44 patients (3.0%) had an episode of sepsis within 30 days after surgery. Independent pre-operative factors significantly associated with the occurrence of sepsis were history of prior systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (OR 2.89 [95% CI 1.3–6.2]), presence of Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) (OR 3.52 [95% CI 1.4–8.7] and a length of stay>8 days (OR 2.5 [95% CI 1.0–6.2]). Independent infectious sources associated with occurrence of sepsis were surgical site infection (SSI) (OR 23.3 [95% CI 8.6–63.7]), pneumonia (OR 5.8 [95% CI 2.2–15.2]) and urinary tract infection (UTI) (OR 14.7 [95% CI 5.96–36.1]). Up to 52% of the cases of sepsis were associated with at least one source of infection (UTI, pneumonia or SSI) with UTI being the most common (29.5%) followed by pneumonia (22.7%) and SSI (18%). Conclusion Three percent of patients following surgery for spinal tumor experience an episode of sepsis within 30 days. The most likely sources of sepsis include UTI, pneumonia and SSI. Pre- and post-operative targeted interventions in these high risk patients will be most beneficial in reducing the incidence, morbidity and mortality from sepsis after surgery for spinal tumors.
Splenic Sequestration of Red Blood Cells: A Computerized Approach Using Two Radionuclides

The current method for measurement of red blood cell sequestration by the spleen is subject to many inaccuracies. Because of the poor imaging properties of /sup 51/Cr, the exact size and location of the areas of interest, the spleen, liver, and precordium, cannot be identified. Similarly, total organ information cannot be obtained using the currently used scintillations probe because of its limited crystal size. The authors developed a simple, rapid, and accurate method which overcomes these obstacles by utilizing a second radiopharmaceutical, /sup 99m/Tc sulfur colloid for organ/site localization and the use of dedicated clinical camera/computer system for data collection and analysis from regions of interest.
The Emerging Problems of Alcohol and Substance Abuse in Late Life

Treatment of substance abuse among older adults will become increasingly important as the number of aged Americans increases. The abuse of psychoactive substances is a major contributor to excess morbidity, mortality, and homelessness among persons of all ages and socioeconomic strata regardless of race or ethnicity. Alcohol and tobacco account for the majority of substance abuse-related death and disability in the United States; the former through cerebrovascular and hepatic disease, accidents and violence, the latter through chronic pulmonary disease and malignancy. Patterns of substance abuse in late life are substantially different from those observed among younger adults. However, treatment may be less challenging. Effective diagnosis and treatment requires a nonpunitive, supportive, but persistent approach. This means the capacity to collect a substance intake history and the ability to formulate a treatment plan or referral strategy to an addiction specialist or residential treatment setting. It is also important for the practitioner to manage negative feelings toward patients who decline treatment or who are chronic abusers.
Biochemical characterization of GSK1070916, a potent and selective inhibitor of Aurora B kinase with an extremely slow off-rate.

5649 Aurora kinases (Aurora A, B and C) are serine/threonine protein kinases that play essential roles in mitosis and cytokinesis. Among them, AurB is required for maintaining proper chromosome alignment, separation and segregation during mitosis, and for regulating a number of critical processes involved in cytokinesis. AurB gene amplification and protein overexpression have been observed in a variety of cancer cell lines and inhibition of AurB has been shown to induce tumor regression in the mouse xenograft model. Here we report the enzymatic characterization of a potent and selective AurB inhibitor. GSK1070916 is a reversible and ATP competitive inhibitor of the AurB/INCENP enzyme. It selectively inhibits AurB/INCENP (Ki* = 0.38 ± 0.29 nM) and AurC/INCENP (Ki* = 1.5 ± 0.4 nM) over AurA/TPX2 (Ki* = 490 ± 60 nM). It inhibits AurB/INCENP and AurC/INCENP in a time-dependent fashion with an enzyme-inhibitor dissociation half life of > 480 min and 270 ± 28 min, respectively. The extremely slow rate of dissociation from the AurB & C enzymes distinguishes GSK1070916 from two other Aurora inhibitors in the clinic, AZ1152 and VX-680 (also known as MK0457).
RNA Splicing in the Transition from B Cells to Antibody-Secreting Cells: The Influences of ELL2, Small Nuclear RNA, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

In the transition from B cells to Ab-secreting cells (ASCs) many genes are induced, such as ELL2, Irf4, Prdm1, Xbp1, whereas other mRNAs do not change in abundance. Nonetheless, using splicing array technology and mouse splenic B cells plus or minus LPS, we found that induced and "uninduced" genes can show large differences in splicing patterns between the cell stages, which could influence ASC development. We found that ∼55% of these splicing changes depend on ELL2, a transcription elongation factor that influences expression levels and splicing patterns of ASC signature genes, genes in the cell-cycle and N-glycan biosynthesis and processing pathways, and the secretory versus membrane forms of the IgH mRNA. Some of these changes occur when ELL2 binds directly to the genes encoding those mRNAs, whereas some of the changes are indirect. To attempt to account for the changes that occur in RNA splicing before or without ELL2 induction, we examined the amount of the small nuclear RNA molecules and found that they were significantly decreased within 18 h of LPS stimulation and stayed low until 72 h. Correlating with this, at 18 h after LPS, endoplasmic reticulum stress and Ire1 phosphorylation are induced. Inhibiting the regulated Ire1-dependent mRNA decay with 4u8C correlates with the reduction in small nuclear RNA and changes in the normal splicing patterns at 18 h. Thus, we conclude that the RNA splicing patterns in ASCs are shaped early by endoplasmic reticulum stress and Ire1 phosphorylation and later by ELL2 induction.
Lectura escolar, canon y nación: Machado en la antología de Montero Alonso

En 1928 el prestigioso Premio Nacional de Literatura recayo en La antologia de poetas y prosistas espanoles de Manuel Montero Alonso. La convocatoria para ese ano requeria hacer una antologia para las escuelas nacionales que sirviera como libro de lectura infantil. La coleccion ganadora, publicada dos anos mas tarde, ofrece una panorama historico de los autores mas importantes de la literatura espanola y, entre ellos, incluye una seleccion de poemas de Antonio Machado. El proposito de este articulo es analizar esta compilacion de clara intencion nacionalista, asi como estudiar la semblanza y la seleccion machadiana. Partiendo de las teorias de Guillory sobre la ensenanza y el capital cultural que se transmite por medio del material didactico, mi tesis es que los textos seleccionados del poeta andaluz presentan un perfil paradojico. Desde el punto de vista del prestigio, a Machado le favorecio que sus versos figuraran junto a fragmentos del Poema del Cid, el Quijote, el Lazarillo o la poesia mistica de San Juan de la Cruz. En este sentido, su inclusion le situa en el Panteon sagrado del canon. Asimismo, se beneficio del capital cultural de la transmision a la imaginacion infantil y de su propagacion a las nuevas generaciones. Sin embargo, propongo que el estudio de la seleccion machadiana es enigmatica pues los poemas escogidos se alejan claramente de los propositos patrioticos de la antologia.
Tracking chemical alteration in magmatic zircon using rare earth element abundances

Abstract Trace elements in magmatic zircon provide a wealth of petrogenetic information about host magmas. However, they are susceptible to alteration through post-magmatic interaction with hydrothermal fluids. Trace element analyses can also be biased by the inadvertent inclusion of exotic materials, such as mineral or glass inclusions, in analyzed volumes of zircon. In order to screen out samples with altered chemical signatures, zircons with high, flat light rare earth element (LREE) patterns are typically considered to be altered. However, visual selection of such patterns is qualitative and does not address ambiguous cases. The light rare earth element index (LREE-I = Dy/Nd + Dy/Sm) provides an approach for quantitative screening for aqueous alteration and contamination of zircon by exotic materials and was used to assess secondary processes in the greenschist facies Jack Hills detrital zircon suite. However, in addition to aqueous alteration, the LREE-I is also sensitive to melt compositional evolution, and its applicability to alteration in settings other than the Jack Hills quartzite is thus far undetermined. We investigate igneous zircon populations from a variety of geologic settings that show evidence for alteration by contact metamorphism during magma intrusion and deuteric fluid interactions during pluton crystallization. In suites with a high proportion of texturally altered zircons, low LREE-I values are common and this parameter correlates well with other contamination indicators (based on the observed secondary phases deposited in the zircons during fluid flow). Filtering zircon trace element compositions based on the LREE-I appears to remove the majority of chemically altered zircon, in many cases revealing previously obscured magmatic signals.
Parting ways: Sex-based differences in premedical attrition.

Abstract Despite women's greater propensity to enter college aspiring to careers in medicine, they are less likely than men to persist in these ambitions. Past research suggests that students' experiences in coursework strongly influence their decision to continue along or depart from the premedical track, yet it remains unclear whether women and men have differential experiences in coursework that contribute to sex-based disparities in premedical attrition. To gain insight into whether and how premeds' experiences in coursework contribute to gendered patterns of attrition, this study employs a mixed methods design that combines longitudinal survey data collected from premedical students at a large state university with in-depth interview data collected from a subset of respondents. Survey results (n = 268) demonstrate that while women report more stress from premedical coursework than men, these differences do not help to explain the female-male gap in attrition. Rather, it is women's lower levels of affinity for premedical coursework—specifically, their less positive evaluations of premed coursework, and greater enjoyment of non-premed courses—that contribute most notably to the gender gap in attrition. Qualitative results (n = 39) suggest that women's affinity for premed coursework is diminished by more frequent, negative interactions with faculty, and a tendency to interpret low grades in premedical coursework as a sign that this career track is a ‘poor fit’ for their strengths and aptitudes. These findings broadly align with scholarship on the role of self-expressive decision-making in curricular sex segregation. Interview data also point to a critical factor for sustaining women's medical career aspirations: clinical experiences. Ranging from shadowing, to volunteer experiences, to jobs in local hospitals, these experiences allow women to ‘try on’ the role of doctor and inspire resilience in the face of academic adversity. The implications of findings for future research on premedical education are discussed.
Medical schools, primary care and family medicine: clerkship directors’ perceptions of the current environment

Background The culture at a medical school and the positive experiences in primary care clerkships influence student specialty choice. This choice is significant if the demand for primary care physicians is to be met. The aim of this study was to examine family medicine clerkship directors' perceptions of the medical school environment. Methods Data were collected as part of the 2015 Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance Family Medicine Clerkship Director survey. Questions asked included how clerkship directors perceived the environment of their medical school towards family medicine, has the environment towards family medicine changed between 2010 and 2015, do they take action to influence student attitudes towards family medicine and whether faculty members in other departments make negative comments about family medicine. Results The response rate was 79.4%. While most respondents indicated the environment of their medical school has become more positive towards family medicine, a majority of clerkship directors perceived the environment to be either very much against, slightly against or indifferent towards family medicine. Nearly one-half (41.4%) of the clerkship directors were notified more than once a year that a faculty member of another department made a negative comment about family medicine. Results varied among regions of the USA and between schools located in the USA and Canada. Conclusion Family medicine clerkship directors often perceived negativity towards family medicine, a finding that may limit the effectiveness of academic health centres in their mission to better serve their community and profession.
Serine and 1-carbon metabolism are required for HIF-mediated protection against retinopathy of prematurity

We determined which metabolic pathways are activated by hypoxia-inducible factor 1-mediated (HIF-1-mediated) protection against oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) in newborn mice, the experimental correlate to retinopathy of prematurity, a leading cause of infant blindness. HIF-1 coordinates the change from oxidative to glycolytic metabolism and mediates flux through serine and 1-carbon metabolism (1CM) in hypoxic and cancer cells. We used untargeted metabolite profiling in vivo to demonstrate that hypoxia mimesis activates serine/1CM. Both [13C6] glucose labeling of metabolites in ex vivo retinal explants as well as in vivo [13C3] serine labeling of metabolites followed in liver lysates strongly suggest that retinal serine is primarily derived from hepatic glycolytic carbon and not from retinal glycolytic carbon in newborn pups. In HIF-1α2lox/2lox albumin-Cre-knockout mice, reduced or near-0 levels of serine/glycine further demonstrate the hepatic origin of retinal serine. Furthermore, inhibition of 1CM by methotrexate blocked HIF-mediated protection against OIR. This demonstrated that 1CM participates in protection induced by HIF-1 stabilization. The urea cycle also dominated pathway enrichment analyses of plasma samples. The dependence of retinal serine on hepatic HIF-1 and the upregulation of the urea cycle emphasize the importance of the liver to remote protection of the retina.
Distinct Fecal Microbiota and Serum Metabolite Profiles in Male Rat Exposed to Aluminum Oxide and Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles

The widely application of aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3 NPs) in industry and personal care products has been raising concerns about their potential adverse consequences. However, the knowledg...