cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GeneTopics - interpretation of gene sets via literature-driven topic models

Annotation of a set of genes is often accomplished through comparison to a library of labelled gene sets such as biological processes or canonical pathways. However, this approach might fail if the employed libraries are not up to date with the latest research, don't capture relevant biological themes or are curated at a different level of granularity than is required to appropriately analyze the input gene set. At the same time, the vast biomedical literature offers an unstructured repository of the latest research findings that can be tapped to provide thematic sub-groupings for any input gene set. Our proposed method relies on a gene-specific text corpus and extracts commonalities between documents in an unsupervised manner using a topic model approach. We automatically determine the number of topics summarizing the corpus and calculate a gene relevancy score for each topic allowing us to eliminate non-specific topics. As a result we obtain a set of literature topics in which each topic is associated with a subset of the input genes providing directly interpretable keywords and corresponding documents for literature research. We validate our method based on labelled gene sets from the KEGG metabolic pathway collection and the genetic association database (GAD) and show that the approach is able to detect topics consistent with the labelled annotation. Furthermore, we discuss the results on three different types of experimentally derived gene sets, (1) differentially expressed genes from a cardiac hypertrophy experiment in mice, (2) altered transcript abundance in human pancreatic beta cells, and (3) genes implicated by GWA studies to be associated with metabolite levels in a healthy population. In all three cases, we are able to replicate findings from the original papers in a quick and semi-automated manner. Our approach provides a novel way of automatically generating meaningful annotations for gene sets that are directly tied to relevant articles in the literature. Extending a general topic model method, the approach introduced here establishes a workflow for the interpretation of gene sets generated from diverse experimental scenarios that can complement the classical approach of comparison to reference gene sets.
Twentieth century North Atlantic climate change. Part II: Understanding the effect of Indian Ocean warming

Ensembles of atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) experiments are used in an effort to understand the boreal winter Northern Hemisphere (NH) extratropical climate response to the observed warming of tropical sea surface temperatures (SSTs) over the last half of the twentieth Century. Specifically, we inquire about the origins of unusual, if not unprecedented, changes in the wintertime North Atlantic and European climate that are well described by a linear trend in most indices of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The simulated NH atmospheric response to the linear trend component of tropic-wide SST change since 1950 projects strongly onto the positive polarity of the NAO and is a hemispheric pattern distinguished by decreased (increased) Arctic (middle latitude) sea level pressure. Progressive warming of the Indian Ocean is the principal contributor to this wintertime extratropical response, as shown through additional AGCM ensembles forced with only the SST trend in that sector. The Indian Ocean influence is further established through the reproducibility of results across three different models forced with identical, idealized patterns of the observed warming. Examination of the transient atmospheric adjustment to a sudden “switch-on” of an Indian Ocean SST anomaly reveals that the North Atlantic response is not consistent with linear theory and most likely involves synoptic eddy feedbacks associated with changes in the North Atlantic storm track. The tropical SST control exerted over twentieth century regional climate underlies the importance of determining the future course of tropical SST for regional climate change and its uncertainty. Better understanding of the extratropical responses to different, plausible trajectories of the tropical oceans is key to such efforts.
High-temperature annealing of amorphous silicon using tight-binding forces

We present a simulation of high-temperature annealing of a model of amorphous silicon, computed using a molecular dynamics method with forces from a tight-binding total energy model, to approach a structure that is only dependent on tight-binding energetics. The annealing begins with a perfectly four-fold coordinated continuous random network structure. The annealing process is maintained for about 1 ns at 1300 K. We monitor the structure during the annealing, and confirm that it retains the coordination and radial distribution structure of the amorphous solid, rather than those of a liquid. We also monitor the change in network connectivity, to determine how much of the original bonding network remains. We find that most of the atoms have changed most of their neighbours, and nearly all of the rings in the original structure have been eliminated. The annealed structure is then cooled and relaxed to an energy minimum.
The Problem: Forms in the Parmenides

“But if anyone, seeing all these difficulties, should refuse to grant that there are forms of things or should not define a form for each one, he will have nowhere to direct his thought, not granting that there is a form of each thing which is always the same; and thus he will completely destroy the power of philosophic argument.”
Synthesis of single/dual-rail mixed PTL/static logic for low-power applications

We present single- and dual-rail mixed pass-transistor logic (PTL) synthesis method based on genetic search and compared the results with their conventional static CMOS counterparts synthesized using a commercial logic synthesis tool in terms of area, delay, and power in an experimental 0.1- and 0.13-/spl mu/m CMOS technologies as well as a 0.13-/spl mu/m floating-body partially depleted silicon-on-insulator (PDSOI) process. The proposed synthesis method first performs a search for possible matches between a logic structure and a set of predefined PTL/static logic gates using binary decision diagrams (BDDs). The unique contribution of our approach is the use of a genetic algorithm to determine the best mixture of PTL and static cells based on area and power. Our experimental results demonstrate that both single- and dual-rail mixed PTL circuits synthesized using the proposed mixed PTL/CMOS synthesis method outperforms their static counterparts in delay and power in bulk CMOS as well as silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS technologies. The average power of single- and dual-rail mixed PTL/Static ISCAS'85 benchmark circuits using the proposed method in the 0.1-/spl mu/m bulk CMOS process are 73% and 50% better than their static counterparts with performance gains of 5% and 10%, respectively.
Top 10 Tips for Responding to Reviewer and Editor Comments

Like it or not, many aspects of our lives involve a review process. In college, your professors were reviewers who evaluated and graded your work. When you apply for a loan, the bank uses appraisers and accountants to review your application. When a US senator writes a new piece of legislation, there are many other reviewers who will want to change the document. When a company wants to apply for a patent, an army of attorneys reviews the application to find any reason to decline the request. So it should be no surprise to anyone who submits a scientific paper for publication that the editor and several reviewers will nearly always find problems or want to see changes in the paper. It is a normal part of the path to publication. You cannot control what the reviewers say. But you can control how you respond to their comments. So here are my Top 10 Tips to help you navigate through the response process. The rare scientific paper is the one accepted without any need for revision. So, as an author you should expect that your submitted papers, if they make it past the first peer review cycle, will require some sort of modification to satisfy the critiques of the reviewers. It is both the editor's and the peer reviewer's job to make sure, on behalf of the journal, that your paper is scientifically sound, factual, clear, complete, and original. To do so, these individuals must often point out what is wrong with your paper. And for you as the author, that hurts. When you see the criticisms that the reviewers have about your paper, go ahead and get mad. Go ahead and vent your frustration to a colleague. Then get over it before you take any future action to revise …
Protecting your practice.

Abstract Background and Overview Dentists have much invested in their practices. They need to protect their practices from fraud and noncompliance. The author provides practical suggestions for how to significantly reduce the risk of fraud and theft in the practice without disrupting day-to-day operations. Conclusions By adhering to nonintrusive policy and procedure changes, dental practice owners can reduce inherent risks of fraud and theft, while increasing financial and human resource knowledge regarding their practice. Practical Implications Practice owners with the appropriate policies and procedures benefit from significantly lower risk of loss from fraud and theft. Furthermore, they have a better understanding of their practice's finances and human resources.
A Case of Sclerosing Polycystic Adenosis of Parotid Gland

38세 남자 환자가 1개월 전부터 발생한 우측 이하선 부위의 종물을 주소로 내원하였고, 이학적 검사상 우측 이하선 부위 에 약 1×1 cm 크기의 압통이 없는 원형의 비고정성 종괴가 촉지되었다. 세침흡인검사상 황색의 삼출액 내에 타액관 상피 세포로 추정되는 양성 소견의 세포군집이 관찰되었다. 또한 파파니콜로염색하에 호산성의 세포질이 보이는 과염색된 근 육 상피세포가 관찰되고, 이형성 세포가 관찰되지 않아 양성 이하선 종양으로 추정하였다. 이하선 컴퓨터단층촬영상 조영 증강 되지 않은 균질한 연부조직 음영의 1×1 cm 크기의 종괴 가 우측 이하선 내에서 관찰되었다(Fig. 1). 방사선학적으로 주변 조직의 침윤이나, 임파선 전이를 의심할만한 소견은 보 이지 않았다. 저자들은 양성 이하선 종물 의심하에 이하선 천 엽절제술을 시행하였다. 수술시 약 1×1 cm 크기의 피막이 잘 보존된 종괴가 발견되었고, 주위조직의 침습은 관찰되지 않 았다. 조직 검사에서 섬유화된 소엽 내에는 과증식성의 상피 조직이 동반된 타액선관이 관찰되었다. 타액선관은 확장되어 낭성 변화를 보이고, 관 내에는 호산성 과립이 체 모양으로 채 워져 있었으며, 이형성 변화는 보이지 않았다. 조직검사 상에서 A Case of Sclerosing Polycystic Adenosis of Parotid Gland
A coarse-grained normal mode approach for macromolecules: An efficient implementation and application to Ca2+-ATPase

A block normal mode (BNM) algorithm, originally proposed by Tama et al., (Proteins Struct. Func. Genet. 41:1-7, 2000) was implemented into the simulation program CHARMM. The BNM approach projects the hessian matrix into local translation/rotation basis vectors and, therefore, dramatically reduces the size of the matrix involved in diagonalization. In the current work, by constructing the atomic hessian elements required in the projection operation on the fly, the memory requirement for the BNM approach has been significantly reduced from that of standard normal mode analysis and previous implementation of BNM. As a result, low frequency modes, which are of interest in large-scale conformational changes of large proteins or protein-nucleic acid complexes, can be readily obtained. Comparison of the BNM results with standard normal mode analysis for a number of small proteins and nucleic acids indicates that many properties dominated by low frequency motions are well reproduced by BNM; these include atomic fluctuations, the displacement covariance matrix, vibrational entropies, and involvement coefficients for conformational transitions. Preliminary application to a fairly large system, Ca(2+)-ATPase (994 residues), is described as an example. The structural flexibility of the cytoplasmic domains (especially domain N), correlated motions among residues on domain interfaces and displacement patterns for the transmembrane helices observed in the BNM results are discussed in relation to the function of Ca(2+)-ATPase. The current implementation of the BNM approach has paved the way for developing efficient sampling algorithms with molecular dynamics or Monte Carlo for studying long-time scale dynamics of macromolecules.
Science, Individualism, and Attitudes Toward Deviance: The Influence of Modernization and Rationalization

Sociologists have long been interested in determinants of deviant behavior. Multiple researchers have concluded that attitudes toward deviance are good predictors of deviant behavior. However, little research has focused on the causes of these attitudes. This research offers an explanation and empirical test of potential causes of tolerant attitudes toward deviant behavior. We hypothesize that a secular worldview and individualism lead to an increased tolerance of deviance. Using 1998 GSS data, results offer support for the hypotheses. These results hold true even when controlling for religiosity and other factors known to be related to deviant behavior.
Improving anesthesiologist performance through profiling and incentives.

Abstract Study objective To determine the influence of profiling and incentives on anesthesiologist behavior in relation to several key indicators of performance. Design Prospective collection and analysis of operational data before and after implementation of a physician profiling, reporting, and incentive program. Setting University hospital. Measurements An intervention consisting of two components was studied with the intent of stimulating a high level of performance in relation to a peer group. The first component, a monthly report of physician performance via an individualized performance report, was provided to each physician for each of 6 months. The second component consisted of a financial incentive. For each month in the study, physicians were eligible to receive a variable financial incentive of between $0 and $500 per month depending on individual performance based scoring in relation to each other. Physician performance was tracked in five areas: 1) percentage of first cases of the day in the room at or before the scheduled in-room time, 2) percentage of cases with an anesthesia prep time less than a target, 3) percentage of cases delayed due to waiting for an anesthesiology patient evaluation, 4) percentage of cases delayed during the anesthesiology controlled time, and, 5) percentage of cases delayed due to waiting for the anesthesiology attending. Results were reported to each physician on a monthly basis, by e-mail distribution, of an individualized perioperative efficiency summary report. A monthly financial incentive was awarded to the top performing physicians in the form of a credit to the physician's personal CME/expense account. Also, all physicians received a rank order list of their performance on each indicator at the end of each month. Main results 31 anesthesiologists, comprising the multispecialty division, and covering all services with the exception of obstetrics, pediatrics, and cardiothoracic anesthesia were tracked for 6 months. Compared to the first month, the percent of first cases of the day in the room at or before the scheduled start time and the percent of cases with an anesthesiology prep time less than target increased significantly (19 ± 4.6%, vs. 61 ± 6.5%, 95% CI, p vs. 73 ± 5.1%, 95% CI, p vs. 3.3 ± 1, p Conclusion Tracking and rewarding physician performance with monthly profiling and a financial incentive given to the best in a peer group improves anesthesiologist performance in several key areas.
Call for Papers: Aging Versus Disease

Along-lasting and extensive literature has conceptualized the aging process as a universal and unavoidable process of physiological decline that is associated with increased global vulnerability to diseases and death. On the contrary, diseases occur in some individuals and not in others, are connected with specifi c exogenous risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms, and may not increase the risk for death. These characteristics make diseases preventable ( 1 ). As a consequence of this view, efforts to understand aging have emphasized the need to distinguish aging from disease. Indeed, the need to study aging separate from diseases was a fundamental premise of the fi rst large-scale study of aging, the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging ( 2 ), which required all participants to undergo a careful physical examination to exclude diseases as possible causes of the observed age-related changes. Beyond theoretical models, chronic diseases accumulate with aging, and together, aging and diseases show mutual interactions in causing deterioration in health, physical and cognitive function, and premature death. Thus, it remains unclear as to whether we can truly distinguish the secondary effects of disease from those of aging per se. In animal models of aging, researchers have begun to characterize aging processes by manipulating diet and genes to change life span ( 3 ), although the effect of modifying these genes on disease susceptibility has not been fully explored. Intermediate phenotypes to longevity have also been examined using measures of physical function. Motility in worms ( 4 ) and gait speed in humans ( 5 ) are perhaps the strongest predictors of mortality even in individuals who are genetically identical. Thus, mobility can be considered to be a proxy phenotype for aging, a sort of universal parameter that can be used to relate the rate of aging across multiple species. Although the pathology of worms has not been studied in depth, it is unlikely that worms suffer from the extreme heterogeneous patterns of disease that contribute to the loss of mobility in humans. Hence, understanding what aspects of mobility loss in humans are due to universal aging processes independent of disease represents a true challenge.
Direct synthesis of H-aryl and H-heteroarylphosphinic esters via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkylphosphinates

Abstract Aryl, heteroaryl, and benzylic electrophiles can be coupled to in situ-generated alkylphosphinates (ROP(O)H2) in moderate to good yields using palladium catalysis. For the first time, electrophiles other than simple aryl iodides can be employed in an experimentally straightforward, one-pot reaction. The direct formation of H-phosphinic esters avoids the separate esterification of H-phosphinic (phosphonous) acids and is particularly useful in the case of nitrogen-containing heteroaromatics. The reaction significantly expands the scope of related palladium-catalyzed phosphorus-carbon bond-forming reactions. To cite this article: Z. Huang et al., C. R. Chimie 7 (2004).
Report of the ESA Standing Committee on Systematic Resources in Entomology: Fee Charges for Identification

There are several reasons for discussing the concept of charging fees for identifications. The subject is important to both users and suppliers, but has seldom been treated in professional journals. There is a great increase in demand for identification services from governmental, academic, and commercial sources to satisfy ecological, environmental, biological control, and other requirements. Furthermore, as part of the Entomological Society of America's (ESA) National Plan for Systematic Resources to establish service centers to provide identifications, it is necessary to know whether fees might pay for a significant portion of the costs of operating the service center. The amount of anticipated revenues from fees would be a factor in determining the location of a facility, the number of personnel, the specializations needed at the location, and the kinds of equipment and resources needed. On the other hand, if the activity is primarily subsidized by long-term grants or contracts with user agencies, then fees are less important.
Influence of Cupric Sulfate on the “Growth-Promoting” Effect of Penicillin and Streptomycin in Turkey Diets,

Abstract Seven experiments were conducted with Large White turkeys to further study the influence of cupric sulfate in diets with and without either penicillin, streptomycin or penstrep (1:3). Technical grade (CuSO4.5H2 O was fed at levels of 0, 500 and 1,000 parts per million (p.p.m.); dietary antibiotic levels ranged from 0 to 33 p.p.m. One experiment was conducted with turkeys from day-old to 24 weeks of age. Six experiments were conducted under battery brooder conditions with poults day-old to 28 days of age. A positive response in body weight gain was observed with 500 and 1,000 p.p.m. of cupric sulfate in the diet of turkeys to 24 weeks of age under practical rearing conditions (floor-pen brooder house to 9 weeks and range conditions thereafter). Feeding pen-strep (1:3) did not increase body weight gain, but did improve feed efficiency (feed/gain). A significant (P When poults were reared to four weeks of age in battery brooders, high levels of cupric sulfate were associated with depressed body weight gains at 28 days. Reduced body weight gains associated with 500 to 1,000 p.p.m. of cupric sulfate were of greater magnitude in groups where the response (increased gains) to either penicillin or pen-strep (1:3) was good. There was no interaction of streptomycin with cupric sulfate relative to body weight gains. The absence of an interaction between cupric sulfate and streptomycin may have been due to the relatively small growth response to the antibiotic.
The Direct Plasmodicidal Effect of Quinine, Atabrine and Plasmochin on Plasmodium lophurae.

Considerable difference of opinion exists regarding the action of drugs which are effective in malaria. It has been difficult to demonstrate a direct action of these drugs 'in vitro, since no method is available for cultivating the parasites outside the host. The work of Borchardt' and Chopra, Das Gupta and Roy2 has shown that it is possible to kill malarial parasites in a test tube by exposing them to high concentrations of quinine, plasmochin and atabrine. However, it is generally conceded that the concentrations of these drugs necessary to produce such an effect could not be maintained in the blood stream for any length of time. Maxcy3 reviewed the hypotheses which have been presented to explain the role of quinine in malaria, and concluded that the simple chemotherapeutic conception of Ehrlich does not explain adequately all the known facts. This viewpoint is expressed in many modern textbooks not only with regard to quinine but also with regard to atabrine, plasmochin and other synthetics which are effective in the treatment of malaria. Experiments have been devised in attempts to demonstrate that quinine activates the normal defense mechanisms; that it makes the red cells impervious to penetration by merozoites; or that the drug is in some way changed in the body of the host so that it becomes more active than the original chemical structure. As pointed out by Kikuth,4 however, it has not been possible thus far to demonstrate that the action of any of the drugs used in malaria is indirect. Similarly, Lourie5 expressed the belief that it is not necessary to postulate any stimulation by quinine of the normal defense mechanisms. Although the coincident operation of immune reactions and quinine cannot be ignored, such reactions must be of only subsidiary importance to the effects exercised directly upon the parasites. Findlay' and Marshall' likewise stated that all of the available evidence in the case of quinine, atabrine and plasmochin points to a direct chemotherapeutic effect against the malarial parasites. In studying the action of various new compounds on Plasmodium lophurae in ducks, as well as the standardization of dosage for quinine, atabrine and plasmochin in this host-parasite relationship we have been impressed particularly by the degenerative changes which occur in the parasites at various times after the administration of effective drugs, not only the general nature of these changes but also the specific changes produced by each drug. Morphological changes following treatment with drugs have been described in several other species of avian plasmodia (Roehl,8 Hegner and Received for publication, December 28, 1942. The work described in this paper was done under a contract, recommended by the Committee on Medical Research, between the Office of Scientific Research and Development and the University of Tennessee. 1. Archiv f. Schiffsu. Tropen-Hyg. 34: 360, 1930.
The Acts of Thomas: Analyzed

New Testament scholars generally agree that 'The Acts of Thomas' was originally written in the Syriac dialect sometime around 225 CE. They note that a Greek version of the text was produced soon after the original was completed. The text as it appears to modern readers is composed of 13 Praxies (set of examples or Acts), which have undergone a number of obvious revisions making it difficult to recreate in its original form. Nevertheless, 'The Acts of Thomas' in its current appearance reveals the emergence of distinct theological changes that contrasts earlier products of the Thomas community.
Unrelated bone marrow donor transplants for children with leukemia or myelodysplasia

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is the treatment of choice for many childhood leukemias. The donor of choice-an HLA matched sibling-is only available about 30% of the time. Unrelated donors are an alternative choice. In this report, we describe the results of unrelated donor bone marrow transplants (BMT) in 50 children with leukemia (25 acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL], 3 acute myeloid leukemia [AML], 3 juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia [JCML], 10 chronic myeloid leukemia [CML]) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; 9). The median age of the 31 male and 19 female patients was 9 years (range 2 to 18). Only 13 patients were serologically matched at HLA-A, B, DR, and DQ with their donors; 6 of these were reactive in mixed lymphocyte culture. The other 37 patients were mismatched for one (36 patients) or more (1 patient) HLA antigens. Pretransplant conditioning included cytosine arabinoside, cyclophosphamide, fractionated total body irradiation (TBI) (with lung, liver, and more recently, kidney shielding), and methylprednisolone. High-risk patients also received busulfan. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of T-cell depletion with IgM monoclonal antibody T10B9 plus complement and posttransplant cyclosporine-A. Forty-nine patients (98%) engrafted. Median times to greater than 500 polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN)/microL and greater than 25,000 platelets/microL were 18 and 20 days, respectively. Acute GVHD > or = grade II occurred in 16 patients (33%); 13 (81%) of these died. Chronic GVHD developed in 30 of 40 patients at risk, but was extensive in only 5. Event-free survival (EFS) for all patients was 44% +/- 7% (median follow-up was 49 months), and overall survival was 50 +/- 7%. Patients with low-risk disease (ALL or AML in first or second remission and CML in chronic phase) had a better EFS than children with high-risk disease (60% v 34%, P = .07). There was no significant difference in EFS between patients who were serologically matched with their donors (46%) and those who were partially mismatched (43%) (P = .97). These data compare favorably with published reports for children transplanted with HLA-matched sibling donors and should encourage earlier consideration of unrelated donor BMT in children with leukemia or myelodysplasia.
Amplification of 1-ns pulses in Nd:glass followed by compression to 1 ps

We reported earlier amplification of 1-ps pulses to the terawatt level using the chirped pulse amplification (CPA) technique with an extremely compact system.1,2 The Imperfect match existing between the dispersive properties of fibers and gratings3 imposes a maximum ratio of ~300 between the duration of the chirped pulse and the duration of the compressed pulse. Pessot et al.4 demonstrated a technique which overcomes this limitation by using gratings to both stretch and compress the pulse. We report here the implementation of this technique with the CPA Nd:glass laser system.4
An alternative splicing program promotes adipose tissue thermogenesis

Alternative pre-mRNA splicing expands the complexity of the transcriptome and controls isoform-specific gene expression. Whether alternative splicing contributes to metabolic regulation is largely unknown. Here we investigated the contribution of alternative splicing to the development of diet-induced obesity. We found that obesity-induced changes in adipocyte gene expression include alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Bioinformatics analysis associated part of this alternative splicing program with sequence specific NOVA splicing factors. This conclusion was confirmed by studies of mice with NOVA deficiency in adipocytes. Phenotypic analysis of the NOVA-deficient mice demonstrated increased adipose tissue thermogenesis and improved glycemia. We show that NOVA proteins mediate a splicing program that suppresses adipose tissue thermogenesis. Together, these data provide quantitative analysis of gene expression at exon-level resolution in obesity and identify a novel mechanism that contributes to the regulation of adipose tissue function and the maintenance of normal glycemia.
Surgical Considerations and Emergencies in the Cancer Patient Receiving Immunotherapy

The increasing clinical use of immunotherapies among various malignancies, predominated by immune checkpoint inhibitors, has increased the potential for unique toxicities a practicing surgeon should be aware of. These manifestations are predominated by gastrointestinal toxicities due to immune cell infiltration which mimic autoimmune conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. Patients may present with diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, and abdominal pain typically managed with immunosuppressive strategies such as high-dose corticosteroids. However, cases refractory to such measures or the rare cases presenting with up-front gastrointestinal perforation require urgent surgical intervention. The goal of this chapter is to provide an overview of immunotherapeutic strategies, with a focus on immune checkpoint inhibitors, and their respective gastrointestinal toxicities reported in the literature, and provide guidelines to assist the practicing surgeon in this rapidly growing field.
Observations of Surface Wave–Current Interaction

AbstractWave–current interaction can result in significant inhomogeneities of the ocean surface wave field, including modulation of the spectrum, wave breaking rates, and wave statistics. This study presents novel airborne observations from two experiments: 1) the High-Resolution Air–Sea Interaction (HiRes) experiment, with measurements across an upwelling jet off the coast of Northern California, and 2) an experiment in the Gulf of Mexico with measurements of waves interacting with the Loop Current and associated eddies. The significant wave height and slope varies by up to 30% because of these interactions at both sites, whereas whitecap coverage varies by more than an order of magnitude. Whitecap coverage is well correlated with spectral moments, negatively correlated with the directional spreading, and positively correlated with the saturation. Surface wave statistics measured in the Gulf of Mexico, including wave crest heights and lengths of crests per unit surface area, show good agreement with seco...
Bone Mineral Density and the Risk of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project

Objectives: To address knowledge gaps regarding the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and incident hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA); specifically, lack of information regarding hip OA or symptomatic outcomes. Methods: Using data (N=1,474) from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis (JoCo OA) Project's first (1999-2004) and second follow-up (2005-2010) of participants aged ≥45 years we examined the association between total hip BMD and both hip and knee OA. Total hip BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and participants were classified into sex-specific quartiles (low, intermediate low, intermediate high, and high). Radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) was defined as development of Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥2. Symptomatic ROA (sROA) was defined as onset of both ROA and symptoms. Weibull regression modeling was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: Median follow-up time was 6.5 (range=4.0-10.2) years. In multivariate models, and compared with participants with low BMD, those with intermediate high and high BMD were less likely to develop hip sROA (HR (95% CIs) 0.52 (0.31- 0.86) and 0.56 (0.31 - 0.86), respectively; p-trend = 0.024); high BMD was not associated (0.69 (0.45-1.06)) with risk of hip ROA. Compared with participants with low BMD, those with intermediate low and intermediate high total hip BMD were more likely to develop knee sROA (2.15 (1.40-3.30) and 1.65 (1.02-2.67), respectively; p-trend=0.325); similar associations were seen with knee ROA. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that higher BMD may reduce the risk hip sROA, while intermediate levels may increase the risk of both knee sROA and ROA. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Potential Role of IMiDs and Other Agents as Therapy for Myeloma Bone Disease

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy characterized by the frequent development of bone lesions (Lentzsch et al. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 21:1035–1049, 2007). The development of osteolytic lesions is attributable to increased bone resorption caused by stimulation of osteoclast formation and activity (Barille-Nion and Bataille Leuk Lymphoma 44:1463–1467, 2003), (Giuliani et al. Exp Hematol 32:685–691, 2004), and (Roodman Blood Cells Mol Dis 32:290–292, 2004). The increased osteoclast activity is accompanied by decreased osteoblast function resulting in imbalanced bone remodeling, which increases bone resorption and decreases bone formation (Bataille et al. J Clin Oncol 7:1909–1914, 1989) and (Bataille et al. Br J Haematol 76:484–487, 1990). Bisphosphonate therapy targets the inhibition of osteoclast activity. But unfortunately bisphosphonates are associated with side effects such as renal toxicity and osteonecrosis of the jaw. Therefore new drugs capable of targeting activated osteoclasts without completely arresting bone resorption and remodeling are needed. In this chapter, the author discusses potential new drugs which target osteoclast formation and activity and which also lack severe side effects and provide a potential effective treatment for bone disease in MM.
Book Review of Healing in the Gospel of Matthew: Reflections on Method and Ministry by Walter T. Wilson

Walter Wilson, a professor of New Testament at Candler School of Theology, wrote this book to help us gain new insights on the topic of healing by using a number of different forms of gospel criticism to help us look at the healing miracles in Matthew chaptres 8-9. Wilson challenges us to think more broadly and in new categories in our reading of these healing narratives in Matthew.
Model-Based Recovery and Adaptation Connectors: Design and Experimentation

This paper describes the design of model-based Recovery and Adaptation Connectors (RAC) that handle recovery and adaptation concerns of services in service-oriented architectures. When a service needs to be dynamically adapted, RAC ensures that the service first transitions to a quiescent state before it is replaced with a new service. When a service recovers from a run-time failure, RAC ensures that transactions that have been interrupted due to service failure are aborted and then restarted with the recovered service. Thus, RAC ensures that no transactions are lost due to dynamic service adaptation or failure. The design of the RAC is based on the autonomic computing MAPE-K loop model and handles both stateless and stateful services. Our approach has been validated through experimentation of planned failure and adaptation scenarios.
Murine and Human 3′ IgH Regulatory Sequences

Mouse plasmacytomas and human Burkitt lymphomas are marked by characteristic chromosomal translocations involving the c-myc gene on one chromosome (murine chromosome 15, human chromosome 8) and the IgH locus on a second chromosome (murine chromosome 12, human chromosome 14). These result in the conversion of the c-myc gene from a normal cellular gene into the c-myc oncogene (reviewed in [1]). The formation of the myc oncogene is generally brought about by divorce of c-myc coding sequences, located in its exons 2 and 3, from exon 1 and upstream regulatory regions, coupled with the juxtaposition of myc coding sequences o immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene sequences (Fig. 1). (The reciprocal product, involving myc exon 1 and its upstream regulatory sequences, is not required for malignant transformation). Thus, the formation of the myc oncogene involves not only loss of its normal regulatory elements but also the acquisition of different regulatory influences associated with its new, immunoglobulin-associated, chromosomal environment. The focus of this paper is on the nature of IgH associated sequences that impact upon the c-myc oncogene in B cell malignancies.
U.S. Army Professional Filler System nursing personnel: do they possess competency needed for deployment?

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to identify the perceived readiness of U.S. Army Professional Filler System personnel in regard to nursing competency and readiness for deployment. A purposive sample of research participants (N = 131) from two military treatment facilities assigned to Great Plains Regional Medical Command responded to an electronic Readiness Estimate and Deployability Index (READI). The READI measures self-reported competencies in six dimensions of nursing readiness. Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. Although the research surveyed three levels of nursing skills (registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, and certified nursing assistant), the study results were noted to be quite parallel across the groups. Significant differences were noted throughout the six dimensions of the READI and between the two military treatment facilities in the dimensions of operational nursing competencies and personal and psychological readiness. Fi...
Do Weaker Patents Induce Greater Research Investments

Can weakening patent protection incentivize innovation? I investigate the effects of weakened patent protection on innovation at public firms by exploiting differential exposure to the Supreme Court decision Alice v. CLS bank. I employ a difference-in-differences design to measure the impact of the Supreme Court decision on firms exposed to the Alice decision relative to control firms that are less exposed. I provide causal evidence that innovation, measured by R&D, responds positively to weakened patent protection. Going further, I compare the impact of the Supreme Court decision on R&D investment and patent applications across the cross section of differentially exposed firms to further support my hypothesis. My estimates suggest that overly broad intellectual property rights play a significant role in deterring innovation through the accumulation of patents as weapons in legal arms races amongst productive firms.
Increasing Hospitalizations for DKA: A Need for Prevention Programs.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a diabetes emergency associated with high morbidity in patients with diabetes (1). In patients with type 1 diabetes, DKA can occur at new onset of diabetes but can also recur due to lack of insulin use and precipitating causes such as infection. DKA is a hallmark of type 1 diabetes; however, DKA is increasingly recognized in patients with type 2 diabetes (2). In contrast to patients with type 1 diabetes who require life-long insulin therapy, most patients with type 2 diabetes who present with DKA can recover insulin secretion and maintain glycemic control with oral antidiabetes medications (3). While inpatient mortality rates for DKA are generally very low, <1% in the U.K. (4) and in the U.S. (5), DKA is the leading cause of mortality among children and young adults with type 1 diabetes, accounting for ∼50% of all deaths in this population (1). In addition, rates vary substantially based on health care setting; a recent analysis conducted in India reported that up to 30% of hospitalized DKA cases result in inpatient death (6). The article by Zhong et al. (7) in this issue of Diabetes Care examines temporal trends of DKA according to the diagnosis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes between the years 1998 and 2013 in the U.K. This report used the Clinical Practice Research Datalink and the Hospital Episode Statistics databases. Overall, the authors found that hospitalizations for DKA increased in the U.K. for patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Most cases of DKA were associated with type 1 diabetes, but one in five cases of DKA were associated with a patient history of type 2 diabetes. For patients with type 1 diabetes, DKA admissions increased from 1998 to 2007 and then the rate stabilized from 2007 …
Progress on optical-clock-based time scale at NIST: Simulations and preliminary real-data analysis

This paper describes the recent National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) work on incorporating an optical clock into a time scale. We simulate a time scale composed of continuously operating commercial hydrogen masers and an optical frequency standard that does not operate continuously as a clock. The simulations indicate that to achieve the same performance of a continuously operating Cs-fountain time scale, it is necessary to run an optical frequency standard 12 minutes per half a day, or 1 hour per day, or 4 hours per 2.33 day, or 12 hours per week. Following the simulations, a Yb optical clock at NIST was frequently operated during the periods of 2017 March – April and 2017 late October – late December. During this operation, comb-mediated measurements between the Yb clock and a hydrogen maser had durations ranging from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the experimental arrangements. This paper analyzes these real data preliminarily and discusses the results. More data are needed to make a more complete assessment.
Reasoned Choice or Performative Care? Women’s Transformative Peacebuilding Identities in Manipur, India

Countering the inevitability of communal violence, Amartya Sen defines identities as the product of individual, reasoned choice. Although he acknowledges that such choices are constrained, I argue ...
Multidimensional high-resolution NMR structural characterization of a carborane cluster derivative: The case of 2-amino-3-(1,7-dicarba-closo-dodecaboranyl-1-thio)propanoic acid

Abstract Carbon-bearing boron hydrides, also known as carboranes, are polyhedral clusters composed of hydrogen, boron, and carbon and are closely related to boranes. Because of their esthetically pleasing symmetry as well as unusual chemical properties, carboranes have attracted immense interest. Studies over the past 40 years have revealed them to have chemical features that make them useful in a number of specialized applications such as conducting organic polymers, nuclear waste remediation, and as liquid crystalline materials. It has also been shown that carboranes can be used as boron delivery agents for boron neutron capture therapy against cancer. While a number of strides have been made in synthesizing these molecules, their characterization by NMR spectroscopy is challenging due to boron–boron and boron–hydrogen coupling. This gives rise to broad and unresolved peaks and makes peak assignment difficult and often based on best guesses. NMR structural characterization studies of carborane compounds are sparse, dated, and often performed at low resolution. This report provides a detailed structural characterization of an m-carborane derivative, featuring high-resolution multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy (2-D 1H–1H, 2-D 11B–11B, 2-D 11B–1H, and 2-D 13C–1H). The asymmetry of the carborane cluster (a consequence of substitution at one of the two cluster carbons) adds a dimension of complexity to the spectra, whose peaks could be assigned nevertheless due to their high resolution.
Cardiac remodeling in morbidly obese women and its association with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Abstract Objectives To determine the association of cardiac remodeling in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes among women with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2. Study design We performed a retrospective cohort study including women with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 without known cardiac disease. Women who underwent screening transthoracic echocardiography prior to gestational age 24 weeks were included. Women were analyzed by group with normal or abnormal geometry, including concentric remodeling, eccentric hypertrophy, and concentric hypertrophy. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of abnormal geometry with perinatal outcomes. We had 80% power with alpha 0.05 to detect a 3.0-fold increase in the primary outcome among women with abnormal geometry. Main outcome measures Our primary outcome was a composite of adverse perinatal outcomes including any 1 of the following: preterm birth ( Results Of 140 women, 53 (37.9%) had abnormal geometry. The average BMI was similar between those with normal and abnormal geometry (44.7 vs. 44.2 kg/m2, p = 0.53). The primary outcome occurred in 20.7% with normal geometry and 30.2% with abnormal geometry (p = 0.20). After adjustment for parity, chronic hypertension, and tobacco use, abnormal cardiac geometry was not associated with the composite primary outcome (adjusted OR 2.01 [95% CI 0.84–4.78]) but was associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (adjusted OR 2.82 [95% CI 1.03–7.78]). Conclusions Cardiac remodeling early in pregnancy is associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Critical Care and Postoperative Management of the Head and Neck Patient

Head and neck surgical patients, at times, can represent a challenging population to manage in the intensive care unit postoperatively. Close interaction between the critical care and surgical teams, awareness of potential surgery-specific complications, and utilization of protocol-driven care can reduce risk of morbidity significantly in this population and enhance outcomes. Given the relative complexity of otolaryngologic surgery and the unique risk that head and neck pathologies can pose to patient airway, breathing, and circulation, these collective circumstances warrant detailed discussion in the interest of minimizing patient morbidity and mortality.
Embodying Japanese Heritage: Consumer Experience and Social Contact at a Historical Themed Park

This article analyses the experiential consumption of heritage that is staged for paying visitors to a historical themed park. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted at a Japanese historical the...
DNA-induced assembly of gold nanoprisms and polystyrene beads into 3D plasmonic SERS substrates

The utilization of nanoparticle-polymer bead hybrid nanostructures as a SERS substrate depends on the control of the deposition, density, and distribution of nanoparticles on the bead surface. Here we demonstrate the fabrication of a large area SERS substate via a two- step DNA mediated assembly of gold nanoprisms and polystyrene (PS) beads into a large ensemble of beads that are densely coated with nanoprisms. First, nanoprisms are loaded on PS beads through DNA hybridization. The close packed arrangement of anisotropic nanoprisms in different orientations on a bead surface results in a plasmonic substrate with a variable nanogap size ranging 1-20 nm. Nanoprisms-coated beads are then assembled into a large stack or aggregate of beads using a DNA-induced crystallization approach. Each aggregate consists of 20-50 nanoprisms-coated beads, leading to the formation a large area of three-dimensional SERS substrate with a high-density of hot spots for SERS enhancement. An excellent enhancement factor (EF) of [Formula: see text] and a very high detection sensitivity (up to 10-10 M) are observed for the analysis of a probe molecule (Methylene blue) using the SERS substrate.