cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biasing Simulations of DNA Base Pair Parameters with Application to Propellor Twisting in AT/AT, AA/TT, and AC/GT Steps and Their Uracil Analogs

An accurate and efficient implementation of the six DNA base pair parameters as order parameters for enhanced sampling simulations is presented. The parameter definitions are defined by vector algebra operations on a reduced atomic set of the base pair, and correlate very well with standard definitions. Application of the model is illustrated by umbrella sampling simulations of propeller twisting within AT/AT, AA/TT, and AC/GT steps and their uracil analogs. Strong correlations are found between propeller twisting and a number of conformational parameters, including buckle, opening, BI/BII backbone configuration, and sugar puckering. The thymine methyl group is observed to notably alter the local conformational free energy landscape, with effects within and directly upstream of the thymine containing base pair.
Mirror image FDG localization in a patient with Situs inversus totalis and malignancy of the right lung

1054 Objective: Situs solitus is the normal anatomic position, and Situs inversus is the mirror image of Situs solitus. In the U.S. Situs inversus is present in 0.01% of the population. In this exhibit we illustrate a case with Situs inversus totalis and malignancy of the right lung. The lack of proper understanding of the reversed anatomy in this condition can produce errors while reporting the findings and in patient management. Situs inversus is congenital and no racial or sex variation exists. Cardiac situs is determined by the location of the atria. In Situs inversus, the morphologic right atrium is on the left and left atrium is on the right. The normal pulmonary anatomy is also reversed. The left lung is in the patient’s anatomic right side and vice-versa. The liver and gallbladder are located on the left, while the spleen and stomach are located on the right. The remaining internal organs are also mirror images of the normal. The splenic flexure of the colon is on the right and the hepatic flexure is on the left. Situs inversus can be classified further into Situs inversus with dextrocardia or Situs inversus with levocardia. In levocardia, the base-to-apex axis points to the left, and in dextrocardia, the axis is reversed and points to the right. Another term for Situs inversus with dextrocardia is Situs inversus totalis. Situs inversus with dextrocardia is more common. A 3-5% incidence of congenital heart disease is observed in situs inversus with dextrocardia, usually with transposition of the aorta and inferior vena cava. About 80% of patients with congenital heart disease have a right-sided aortic arch. Situs inversus with levocardia is rare and is almost always associated with congenital heart disease. Approximately 20% of patients with Situs inversus have Kartagener syndrome. The components of this syndrome include bronchiectasis, sinusitis, and Situs inversus. Only one half of patients with Situs inversus have Kartagener syndrome. The illustrated patient has Situs inversus totalis or Situs inversus with dextrocardia. As the CT and PET images illustrate, the location of the internal organs are the mirror image of the normal anatomy. Abnormal uptake is seen in the upper and lower lobes of the right lung but is seen on the patient’s left side.
Online Teacher Work to Support Self-Regulation of Learning in Students with Disabilities at a Fully Online State Virtual School

Students with disabilities represent a growing number of learners receiving education in K-12 fully online learning programs. They are, unfortunately, also a large segment of the online learning population who are not experiencing success in these environments. In response, scholars have recommended increasing instruction in self-regulation skills for these students, but whether teachers are able to promote self-regulation as part of their instruction and how they will do so remains unknown. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how practicing teachers provided self-regulation strategies to students with disabilities in a fully online learning environment. In this context, the teachers intended to offer self-regulation strategies to students, but they were largely unable to do so. This work has the potential to influence professional development programs for online teachers in the hopes that students with disabilities will be able to learn self-regulation strategies and ultimately be more successful.
Abstract 89: MitoTimer Mouse: a Novel Tool for the Study of Mitochondrial Turnover in vivo

In order to study mitochondrial turnover at the level of a single mitochondrion, our laboratory has developed the MitoTimer protein. Timer is a mutant of DsRed fluorescent protein developed by Terskikh et al. The Timer protein transitions from green fluorescence to a more stable red conformation as it matures over a span of 48 h. Furthermore, the protein is very stable under physiological conditions, insensitive to variations in ionic strength, and changes in pH between 7.0 and 8.0. Notably, Timer maturation from green to red is significantly slowed in deoxygenated buffer, suggesting that molecular oxygen plays a part in fluorophore maturation. We fused the Timer protein with the mitochondrial signal sequence from the cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIII (COX8) to target the protein to the inner membrane of the mitochondria, and further cloned the protein into a construct with a cardiac-restricted α-myosin heavy chain promoter. This construct was used to create the α-MHC MitoTimer mice. Surprisingly, initial analysis of the hearts from these mice reveals a remarkable degree of heterogeneity in the ratio of red-to- green fluorescence of MitoTimer in cardiac tissue. Furthermore, individual mitochondria within cardiomyocytes display a higher red-to-green fluorescence, implying a block in import of newly synthesized MitoTimer that would be caused by the lack of a high membrane potential, indicative of older, dysfunctional mitochondria. Initial studies suggest that these mice represent an elegant tool for the investigation of mitochondrial turnover in the heart.
Choriocarcinoma with brain, lung and vaginal metastases successfully treated without brain radiation or intrathecal chemotherapy: A case report

•There is no consensus on optimal treatment for GTN and brain metastases.•Brain metastasis treated with craniotomy and intravenous, EMA-CO chemotherapy•Intravenous high-dose methotrexate may be adequate to treat brain metastases.
The Importance of Investigating Abuser Characteristics in Elder Emotional/Psychological Abuse: Results from Adult Protective Services Data.

OBJECTIVES Elder emotional/psychological abuse is the infliction of mental anguish on older adults through verbal or non-verbal acts. Using indicators based on existing literature, theoretically important abuser characteristics and victim vulnerabilities were collected using the Elder Abuse Decision Support System (EADSS) to test a theory of emotional/psychological abuse. METHOD Eight-hundred-and-ten alleged emotional/psychological abuse cases were investigated by caseworkers in six Illinois adult protective services (APS) agencies; 466 individuals endorsed at least one item on the Older Adult Psychological Abuse Measure (OAPAM). RESULTS Bivariate ordinary linear regression results established that all abuser characteristics were predictive of emotional/psychological abuse scores. In the hierarchical regression model where abuser characteristics were entered after victim vulnerabilities, abuser characteristics predicted emotional/psychological abuse above and beyond victim vulnerabilities (ΔR2 = 0.349, p < .001). Abuser risk and abuser's negative attitudes towards victims remained as significant predictors in the final model. Post hoc analysis identified significant items of abuser risk and negative attitudes, including: an emotionally draining relationship between abuser and victim, abuser's poor temper control, and abuser's angry feelings towards victims. DISCUSSION Abuser weaknesses and strengths as highlighted in the theoretical framework should be further investigated for future prevention and intervention in cases of emotional/psychological abuse.
Amore Frozen Foods (a): Macaroni and Cheese Fill Targets

Amore must set the fill target for its 8-ounce macaroni and cheese pie. Unless five sample pies taken every 20 minutes average more than 8 ounces, the entire 20-minute batch must be rejected. This case and the B case (UVA-QA-0318) provide enough information to make an economic decision on the fill target. The cases may be used to introduce the distribution of a sample average.
When signals get crossed: the consequences of dual allergen- and influenza-mediated signaling in mast cells

Despite the many advances in our understanding of viral infections, influenza A virus (IAV) continues to impose a significant heath burden and presents a serious threat for a worldwide pandemic. Severe IAV infection is characterized by a cytokine storm. Recent evidence indicates mast cell activation is a key initiator of this cytokine storm during severe IAV infection. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, asthma was the most common co-morbidity among hospitalized individuals suggesting a potential interplay between pre-existing mast cell disease and IAV infection. Experimental data examining the cross-talk that can occur during dual FcɛRI and IAV stimulation of mast cells is lacking. Here we show that signaling through FcɛRI concurrent with IAV infection (A/WSN/33) augments the mast cell response resulting in a highly synergist enhancement of cytokine synthesis and release by these cells in vitro . Surprisingly, while IAV induced cytokine production by A/WSN/33 is dependent on the MAVS pathway, using bone marrow cultured mast cells from MAVS and STING knockout mice, we determined this synergistic effect can occur independent of MAVS signaling and the STING adaptor. Furthermore, the synergy can be observed as early as 1 hour PI, prior to significant viral replication. These data suggest an early signaling event is responsible for the synergy. Our data supports a role for the lipid mediator sphingosine-1-phosphate, which is known to be important during allergen stimulation, and as our data demonstrates, is essential for proper IAV activation of mast cells. Taken together, our data suggest that IAV may incite asthmatic exacerbation through enhanced cytokine production from mast cells receiving two distinct stimuli simultaneously.
Man-in-the-barrel’ syndrome with Delayed Diffusion-weighted MRI Findings (P3.072)

Objective: We review a 31-year-old right handed male with past medical history significant for hypertension and Wilm’s tumor who presented to the emergency department with chief complaint of proximal upper limb weakness worse on the left side (Man in a Barrel Syndrome). Background: This occurred after a night of heavy alcohol intake where he performed an unusual sex act involving strangulation. Later in the evening, he fell asleep for 12 hours and on awakening he could not move his left side. Design/Methods: Upon presentation to the emergency room patient was noted to be hypotensive and he was immediately evaluated for stroke. Results: CT Head on admission was unremarkable and CT-angiogram showed no large vessel occlusive disease or dissection. MRI brain was performed at 12h post-symptom onset which did not show any acute infarct. But given he had pyramidal weakness on exam and it was abrupt onset we believed in a central cause for his symptoms and therefore performed a second MRI Brain at 36h post presentation. This interestingly showed new subtle restricted diffusion in both cerebral hemispheres involving the subcortical white matter including centrum semiovale bilaterally in the ACA/MCA watershed zones, more prominent on the right. Conclusions: DWI has a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Nevertheless, false negative results often occur because of small infarct size, early imaging, and brainstem locations. The rate of false negative results with DWI has been estimated to be 17%. We argue it may be advisable to repeat MRI in certain cases were stroke is highly suspected up to 72 hours post symptoms. Often false negative DWI occur in posterior circulation strokes making our case unique, given it is in the anterior circulation. One possible explanation for this, is differences in cerebral reserve between a young patient versus an older patient during an episode of acute bilateral carotid stenosis. Disclosure: Dr. Magun has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ching has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sawyer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mowla has nothing to disclose.
Ornamental Grass Demonstration Planting

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the performance of ornamental grasses in the turfgrass industry. For several years, feedback from the annual Turfgrass Field Day has been that attendees want to see various ornamental grasses at the field day. This planting was designed to give those interested in ornamental grass performance an idea of how the grasses look at various times of the year, the spread of the grasses, and to demonstrate their winter hardiness. It also was designed for classroom purposes, specifically for plant identification and landscape design classes.
In Vivo Measurements of Facial Tissue Thicknesses in American Caucasoid Children

Ultrasonic determinations were made of facial tissue thicknesses in 50 healthy American caucasoid children, ranging in age from 4 to 15. Twenty measurements were taken at sites along the median, right sagittal, and right lateral planes. A static scanner was used in the B-mode. Three measurements significantly increased with age, the mid-philtrum (rs = 0.43, p
Health Risk Behaviors and Their Relationships to Health Care Utilization Among Veterans Receiving Primary Medical Care

This paper reports the findings of a behavioral health risk screening form and examines the interrelationships among behavioral risk factors and health care utilization. Participants were 1,000 veterans who completed a brief self-report questionnaire assessing affective distress and behavioral health risk factors while they waited to see their primary care provider. Participants reported a mean level of affective distress in the mild range on a scale of 0 to 20 (M = 6.4, SD = 4.95), and 22.4% reported moderate or high levels of affective distress. Fifty percent of the sample denied alcohol use; 5% of the men and none of the women reported a pattern of use that met established criteria for at-risk drinking. Twenty-six percent of the sample reported current tobacco use, 45% acknowledged concerns about diet and/or weight, and 54% reported concern about pain. These factors were largely significantly intercorrelated and several were related to indices of health care utilization. It was concluded that veterans receiving health care in primary care settings report significant levels of affective distress and other health risk behaviors and that the presence of these factors is associated with increased use of the health care system. These data encourage increased efforts to identify these factors and to develop behavior change interventions.
Analysis of Teacher Responses to the Conners Abbreviated Symptoms Questionnaire (ASQ).

Reliability and construct validity, including confirmatory factor analysis, of the Abbreviated Symptoms Questionnaire-Teacher Version (ASQ-T; Connors, 1989) were examined.
Impact of TSV Scaling on 3D IC Design Quality

TSVs incur two major kinds of overhead in the design of 3D ICs. First, TSVs lead to significant silicon area overhead. In addition, the non-negligible TSV parasitic capacitance causes delay overhead in 3D signal paths. Therefore, the possibility of obtaining all the benefits such as wirelength reduction and better performance from 3D ICs is highly dependent on TSV size and TSV capacitance. Meanwhile, TSVs are getting smaller to minimize their negative effects and sub-micron TSVs are expected to be fabricated in the near future. At the same time, the device size is also being downscaled beyond 32 and 22 nm, so it is highly likely that future 3D ICs are built with sub-micron TSVs and advanced device technologies. In this chapter, we study the impact of sub-micron TSVs on the quality of today and future 3D ICs. For future process technologies, we develop 22 and 16 nm libraries. Using these future process libraries as well as a 45 nm library, we generate 3D IC layouts with different TSV sizes and capacitances and study the impact of sub-micron TSVs thoroughly.
Exploring the use of machine learning for risk adjustment: A comparison of standard and penalized linear regression models in predicting health care costs in older adults.

Background Payers and providers still primarily use ordinary least squares (OLS) to estimate expected economic and clinical outcomes for risk adjustment purposes. Penalized linear regression represents a practical and incremental step forward that provides transparency and interpretability within the familiar regression framework. This study conducted an in-depth comparison of prediction performance of standard and penalized linear regression in predicting future health care costs in older adults. Methods and findings This retrospective cohort study included 81,106 Medicare Advantage patients with 5 years of continuous medical and pharmacy insurance from 2009 to 2013. Total health care costs in 2013 were predicted with comorbidity indicators from 2009 to 2012. Using 2012 predictors only, OLS performed poorly (e.g., R2 = 16.3%) compared to penalized linear regression models (R2 ranging from 16.8 to 16.9%); using 2009–2012 predictors, the gap in prediction performance increased (R2:15.0% versus 18.0–18.2%). OLS with a reduced set of predictors selected by lasso showed improved performance (R2 = 16.6% with 2012 predictors, 17.4% with 2009–2012 predictors) relative to OLS without variable selection but still lagged behind the prediction performance of penalized regression. Lasso regression consistently generated prediction ratios closer to 1 across different levels of predicted risk compared to other models. Conclusions This study demonstrated the advantages of using transparent and easy-to-interpret penalized linear regression for predicting future health care costs in older adults relative to standard linear regression. Penalized regression showed better performance than OLS in predicting health care costs. Applying penalized regression to longitudinal data increased prediction accuracy. Lasso regression in particular showed superior prediction ratios across low and high levels of predicted risk. Health care insurers, providers and policy makers may benefit from adopting penalized regression such as lasso regression for cost prediction to improve risk adjustment and population health management and thus better address the underlying needs and risk of the populations they serve.
Experimental test of maximum likelihood thresholds based on Kalman filter estimates in on–off keyed laser communications in atmospheric turbulence

A new approach for mitigating atmospheric turbulence effects on free-space laser communication performance is presented. The method is based on evaluating Maximum Likelihood Thresholds using Kalman filter estimates in on-off keyed laser communications in atmospheric turbulence. Experimental results presented in this chapter clearly demonstrate the usefulness of the method. Although the results are shown for low data rate of 6.3 Kbps, the concept is valid for much higher data rate taking advantage of the higher bandwidth capability of laser communications. When looking at the table of the comparison of various threshold approaches, it is shown clearly that the anticipatory a posteriori processing of 50 data points provides a very good bit error performance, if the extra computational burden of processing 50 prior data points for every likelihood ratio test at every sample point is acceptable. The next best approach is the use of the dual Kalman filters which yields a BER that is within a factor of two of a posteriori approach, but without having to reprocess 50 prior data points before each threshold decision. Clearly, this is an acceptable alternative to the a posteriori approach with its more extensive processing and its unavoidable delays. Because the required update rates of h is determined by the slowly varying atmospheric turbulence, high data rate links using the dual Kalman approach will allow many more times the number of data samples and bits to be tested against and validated by the most up-to-date h. The dual Kalman approach is a new approach that is expected to give better BER performance in low and high data rate atmospheric optical links and to simplify the necessary processing in the receiver. The central issue addressed in this chapter is whether Kalman Filtering is helpful in dealing with atmospheric turbulence, and this chapter shows that it is within the bounds of statistical approximations.
Negative selection on complex traits limits genetic risk prediction accuracy between populations

Accurate genetic risk prediction is a key goal for medical genetics and great progress has been made toward identifying individuals with extreme risk across several traits and diseases (Collins and Varmus, 2015). However, many of these studies are done in predominantly European populations (Bustamante et al., 2011; Popejoy and Fullerton, 2016). Although GWAS effect sizes correlate across ancestries (Wojcik et al., 2019), risk scores show substantial reductions in accuracy when applied to non-European populations (Kim et al., 2018; Martin et al., 2019; Scutari et al., 2016). We use simulations to show that human demographic history and negative selection on complex traits result in population specific genetic architectures. For traits under moderate negative selection, ~50% of the heritability can be accounted for by variants in Europe that are absent from Africa. We show that this directly leads to poor performance in risk prediction when using variants discovered in Europe to predict risk in African populations, especially in the tails of the risk distribution. To evaluate the impact of this effect in genomic data, we built a Bayesian model to stratify heritability between European-specific and shared variants and applied it to 43 traits and diseases in the UK Biobank. Across these phenotypes, we find ~50% of the heritability comes from European-specific variants, setting an upper bound on the accuracy of genetic risk prediction in non-European populations using effect sizes discovered in European populations. We conclude that genetic association studies need to include more diverse populations to enable to utility of genetic risk prediction in all populations.
Effects of dietary energy intake by gilts and heat stress from days 3 to 24 or 30 after mating on embryo survival and nitrogen and energy balance.

Bred gilts were used in two experiments (n = 140) to study the interaction and main effects of dietary energy intake and heat stress on embryo survival and nitrogen (N) and energy balance from d 3 to slaughter on d 30 (Exp. 1) or d 24 (Exp. 2) after mating. In both experiments, the ME treatments were 5.4 or 8.1 Mcal of ME/(gilt.d). Temperatures were either a constant thermoneutral of 23 +/- 1 degrees C or a heat stress regimen, making four treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Gilts were allotted directly to one of the treatments on d 3 after mating. In Exp. 1, the 24-h cyclic heat stress regimen consisted of an increase from 25 degrees C at 0800 to 34 degrees C at 1400, 34 degrees C from 1400 to 1700, then a decline to 25 degrees C at 2000, with 25 degrees C until 0800. In Exp. 2, heat stress was constant at 33 +/- 1 degrees C. No energy x temperature treatment interactions occurred (P > .2 to .8) for the variables measured in Exp. 1 and 2. Heat stress reduced (P < .05 or .01) diet and ME intake/day, ME retained/day, and ME/GE compared with the thermoneutral controls in Exp. 1 and 2. Heat stress reduced (P < .05) N digestibility in Exp. 1 and reduced (P < .01) N retained/day and N retention/N intake in Exp. 2. Rectal temperature and respiration rate were increased (P < .01) by heat stress in Exp. 1 and 2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A New Role for SMCHD1 in Life’s Master Switch and Beyond

Structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge-domain containing protein 1 (SMCHD1) has emerged as a key regulator of embryonic genome function. Its functions have now extended well beyond the initial findings of effects on X chromosome inactivation associated with lethality in female embryos homozygous for a null allele. Autosomal dominant effects impact stem cell properties as well as postnatal health. Recent studies have revealed that SMCHD1 plays an important role as a maternal effect gene that regulates the master switch of life, namely embryonic genome activation, as well as subsequent preimplantation development and term viability. These discoveries mark SMCHD1 as a major regulator linking developmental processes to adult disorders including a form of muscular dystrophy.
Structure of a trapped radical transfer pathway within a ribonucleotide reductase holocomplex

Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) are a diverse family of enzymes that are alone capable of generating 2'-deoxynucleotides de novo and are thus critical in DNA biosynthesis and repair. The nucleotide reduction reaction in all RNRs requires the generation of a transient active site thiyl radical, and in class I RNRs, this process involves a long-range radical transfer between two subunits, α and β. Because of the transient subunit association, an atomic resolution structure of an active α2β2 RNR complex has been elusive. We used a doubly substituted β2, E52Q/(2,3,5)-trifluorotyrosine122-β2, to trap wild-type α2 in a long-lived α2β2 complex. We report the structure of this complex by means of cryo-electron microscopy to 3.6-angstrom resolution, allowing for structural visualization of a 32-angstrom-long radical transfer pathway that affords RNR activity.
Brief, Non-Pharmacological, Interventions for Pediatric Anxiety: Meta-Analysis and Evidence Base Status

In 1998, Ost published [One-session treatment of specific phobias–a rapid and effective method] [in Swedish] giving rise to the idea that brief, intensive, and concentrated psychosocial interventio...
4 – Nuclear Reactions

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on nuclear reactions, which are processes in which some change in the character of a nucleus takes place, either spontaneously as in radioactivity, or as the result of bombardment by a particle or ray. There are many similarities between the nuclear and chemical reactions, even though they occur in quite different energy regions and with different mechanisms. Individual particles are involved in each case—nucleons in nuclei and atoms in molecules, respectively. Conservation laws apply to each—that of charge, number of particles involved, and mass-energy. Reactions are similar in appearance. In contrast with charged particles, the neutron as a neutral particle need not have a high energy to penetrate the nucleus. Thus, neutrons are especially effective as projectiles for inducing nuclear reactions. The conservation of mass-energy is a firm requirement for any valid nuclear reaction. The total energy is made up of the rest energy—corresponding to a particle's mass at rest, and the kinetic energy of motion.
Restoring glucose uptake rescues neutrophil dysfunction and protects against systemic fungal infection in mouse models of kidney disease

Disseminated candidiasis caused by the fungus Candida albicans is a major clinical problem in individuals with kidney disease and accompanying uremia; disseminated candidiasis fatality is twice as common in patients with uremia as those with normal kidney function. Many antifungal drugs are nephrotoxic, making treatment of these patients particularly challenging. The underlying basis for this impaired capacity to control infections in uremic individuals is poorly understood. Here, we show in multiple models that uremic mice exhibit an increased susceptibility to systemic fungal infection. Uremia inhibits Glut1-mediated uptake of glucose in neutrophils by causing aberrant activation of GSK3β, resulting in reduced ROS generation and hence impaired killing of C. albicans in mice. Consequently, pharmacological inhibition of GSK3β restored glucose uptake and rescued ROS production and candidacidal function of neutrophils in uremic mice. Similarly, neutrophils isolated from patients with kidney disease and undergoing hemodialysis showed similar defect in the fungal killing activity, a phenotype rescued in the presence of a GSK3β inhibitor. These findings reveal a mechanism of neutrophil dysfunction during uremia and suggest a potentially translatable therapeutic avenue for treatment of disseminated candidiasis.
How to Make Porous Piezoelectrics? Review on Processing Strategies

Ferroelectric ceramics are a technologically important class of materials that are currently exploited in actuators, sensors, transducers, and memory devices. The introduction of porosity into these materials has been proved to be an effective tool for tuning functional properties for specific applications, such as piezoelectric and pyroelectric devices and energy harvesters. In this review, a comprehensive description of the most widely used processing techniques able to produce porous ferroelectric ceramics is reported. In particular, the state-of-the-art production strategies including replica technique, direct foaming, sacrificial template method, and additive manufacturing used up to now for the realization of porous piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-based structures are critically reviewed and rationalized. Moreover, this work aims to give concrete indications on the more effective and actual production strategies that should be exploited for the development of porous PZT-based materials for the specific applications. Finally, two case studies are reported to remark the critical importance of material–processing–microstructure correlations on the functional properties of the designed devices.
Wavelet estimation in OFBM: Choosing scale parameter in different sampling methods and different parameter values

Abstract Operator fractional Brownian motion (OFBM) is a multivariate extension of fractional Brownian motion and has operator self-similarity. The dependence structure across the components of OFBM is determined by the Hurst matrix H and E ( X H ( 1 ) X H ( 1 ) ′ ) . In this paper, the estimators of H with wavelet method is compared in continuous sample path and discrete sample path. It is proved that with a discrete sample path, the wavelet estimator has asymptotic bias that reveals the delicate dynamic within the Hurst parameters of H , scale parameter of wavelet function, and covariance structure of X H ( 1 ) . The scale parameter of wavelet function should be chosen differently to estimate Hurst parameters when Hurst index is greater than .5 than when it is less than .5 in discrete sample cases, whereas the largest scale parameter should be chosen regardless of the values of Hurst parameter when a continuous sample path is given.
Lack of the t(2;5) or other mutations resulting in expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase catalytic domain in CD30+ primary cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders and Hodgkin's disease

The t(2;5) (p23;q35) chromosomal translocation has been found in a high proportion of lymph node-based CD30+ large cell lymphomas of T-cell lineage. This translocation is believed to result in the expression of a fusion protein containing the catalytic domain of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) under the control of the promoter for nucleophosmin, a nucleolar phosphoprotein. Expression of ALK activity, which does not normally occur in lymphocytes, is postulated to be involved in the pathogenesis of lymphomas bearing the t(2;5) translocation. Several primary cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders and Hodgkin's disease are also known to contain CD30+ large lymphoid cells. To determine the role of the t(2;5) translocation in these diseases, we developed a DNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/Southern blot assay to detect this translocation at the genomic level in lymphomatoid papulosis (14 cases), primary cutaneous CD30+ large cell lymphoma of T-lineage (10 cases) and Hodgkin's disease (13 cases). Two cases of pityriasis lichenoides were also studied. The t(2;5) translocation was not present in any of these specimens. To determine if some other somatic mutation might have resulted in inappropriate expression of ALK catalytic domain, we devised an RNA-based reverse transcriptase-PCR assay to detect transcripts encoded by this ALK region. None were found in the six additional cases of lymphomatoid papulosis that were studied. In aggregate, these results strongly suggest that inappropriate expression of ALK is not involved in the pathogenesis of these CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders, and that lymph node-based CD30+ large cell lymphoma is a disease that is biologically distinct from skin-based CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders and Hodgkin's disease. Using methods developed for this report, we also cloned and sequenced the t(2;5) genomic junctional sequences present in the SUP-M2 and SU-DHL-1 cell lines. These intron sequences will be useful for mapping t(2;5) breakpoint clusters.
Preoperative anthropomorphic radiographic measurements can predict postoperative pancreatic fistula formation following pancreatoduodenectomy.

Abstract Background Postoperative pancreatic fistulae (POPF) are a major contributing factor to pancreatoduodenectomy-associated morbidity. Established risk calculators mostly rely on subjective or intraoperative assessments. We hypothesized that various objective preoperatively determined computed tomography (CT) measurements could predict POPF as well as validated models and allow for more informed operative consent in high-risk patients. Methods Patients undergoing elective pancreatoduodenectomies between January 2013 and April 2018 were identified in a prospective database. Comparative statistical analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were generated to predict POPF development. Model performance was tested with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. Pancreatic neck attenuation (Hounsfield units) was measured in triplicate by pancreatic protocol CT (venous phase, coronal plane) anterior to the portal vein. A pancreatic density index (PDI) was created to adjust for differences in contrast timing by dividing the mean of these measurements by the portal vein attenuation. Total areas of subcutaneous fat and skeletal muscle were calculated at the L3 vertebral level on axial CT. Pancreatic duct (PD) diameter was determined by CT. Results In the study period 220 patients had elective pancreatoduodenectomies with 35 (16%) developing a POPF of any grade. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that demographics (age, sex, and race) were not associated with POPF, yet patients resected for pancreatic adenocarcinoma or chronic pancreatitis were less likely to develop a POPF (10 vs. 24%; p = 0.004). ROC curves were created using various combinations of gland texture, body mass index, skeletal muscle index, sarcopenia, PDI, PD diameter, and subcutaneous fat area indexed for height (SFI). A model replacing gland texture with SFI and PDI (AUC 0.844) had similar predictive performance as the established model (p = 0.169). Conclusion A combination of preoperative objective CT measurements can adequately predict POPF and is comparable to established models relying on subjective intraoperative variables. Validation in a larger dataset would allow for better preoperative stratification of high-risk patients and improve informed consent among this patient population.
Mortality in atrial fibrillation. Is it changing

Abstract Patients with atrial fibrillation experience higher mortality rates than those without this condition. Recent studies have explored whether mortality rates in atrial fibrillation patients and the overall impact of atrial fibrillation on mortality has changed. Overall, mortality in atrial fibrillation has decreased over the last few decades, with no strong differences between men and women. These improvements could be caused by advances in preventing thromboembolic complications of atrial fibrillation or better management of comorbidities in these patients. Understanding the mechanisms for these changes and developing novel approaches to improve survival in AF patients are areas deserving of future research.
“A Program of Complete Disorder”: The Black Iconoclasm Within Fanonian Thought

This essay examines the scholarship of revolutionary theorist Frantz Fanon and the debate surrounding his conception of decolonization and “new humanism.” Across a multitude of fields, Black and cultural studies among them, Fanon has been heralded as an iconic thinker who offers us a path toward an alternative humanity. Working against the grain of this popular form of Fanonism, I suggest that there is a Black iconoclasm—a deep desire to unsettle the very rendering of a systematic path toward decolonization—that pervades Fanonian thought. Accordingly, the essay examines and unsettles various forms of Fanonism by suggesting that their teleological narratives of redemption ultimately end up serving anti-Fanonian pursuits. Through an extended meditation on Fanon’s claim that decolonization is “a program of complete disorder,” I explore what it might mean to embrace a Black iconoclastic approach to Fanon and the pursuit of Black liberation.
Temporal Stability of Moral Dilemma Judgments: A Longitudinal Analysis Using the CNI Model.

Although moral dilemma judgments are influenced by a variety of situational factors, there is evidence for considerable disagreement between individuals. Using the CNI model to disentangle (a) sens...
How Leaders with Divergent Visions Generate Novel Strategy: Navigating the Paradox of Preservation and Modernization in Swiss Watchmaking

How do leaders with divergent visions for their organization come together to create a novel strategy? This paper employs paradox as a lens to investigate how leader-dyads can integrate opposing st...
Relative Performance of Real Estate Exchange-Traded Funds

This paper examines the performance of 34 real estate exchange-traded funds (REETFs) over the period of May 2003 through September 2019. We construct equally-weighted REETF portfolios every month a...
STAT Proteins as Molecular Targets for Cancer Therapy

Constitutive activation of the STAT family members, Stat3 and Stat5, occurs at very high frequency in diverse human cancers. Persistent STAT signaling in tumor cells has been shown to increase the expression of genes critical for cell proliferation and survival. Stat3 is also a key regulator of VEGF expression and increased Stat3 activity enhances tumor angiogenesis, thereby promoting tumor growth. More recently, persistent Stat3 activity in tumor cells has been shown to inhibit both the production and sensing of inflammatory signals, facilitating tumor immune evasion. Based on these findings, we propose that constitutive Stat3 activation contributes to malignant progression by subversion of cellular processes that are regulated by Stat3 signaling under normal physiological conditions. Here, we summarize recent progress in our understanding of how activated STAT proteins participate in oncogenesis and propose potential therapeutic strategies based on disruption of constitutive STAT signaling in tumor cells.
Electrophoretic stabilization of freestanding pristine graphene foams with carbon nanotubes for enhanced optical and electrical response

Abstract Graphene materials, including three-dimensional foams, are commonly transferred from growth substrates using polymer stabilization processes. Even after harsh chemical and annealing treatments to remove the polymer, residues remain which compromise the electronic, thermal, gravimetric, and chemical properties of the graphene. To overcome this, we present a scalable, clean approach to stabilize graphene foams by conformal electrophoretic deposition of web-like networks of surfactant-free single-walled carbon nanotubes directly from polar solvents. We demonstrate these coatings to yield a pristine stabilized graphene material exhibiting 50x lower electrical resistance and a 10 cm−1 optical red-shift in the Raman G′ double resonance mode in comparison to polymer-stabilized graphene. This approach enables the formation of three-dimensional architectures of nanomaterials without the adverse effects associated with residual impurities from polymer and chemical processing.
Blood Pressure Measurement

An appreciation in the 18th century that blood in the arterial system is under considerable pressure was cited at the beginning of the previous chapter. In the subsequent two centuries techniques emerged for both the direct and indirect measurement of arterial blood pressure. Today, there is a continuing appraisal of these methods since indirect methods are vulnerable to error while the direct techniques require invasive procedures. The question of exactly what values for pressure should be considered abnormal has not yet been settled. Use of “mmHg” and “cm H2O” as standard units of pressure is slowly being replaced by the more scientific “Pascal.”
TOR signaling in S-phase protects cells from DNA topoisomerase I poisons

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 2562 The TOR (target of rapamycin) kinase regulates cellular responses to wide ranging environmental stresses, including conditions of restricted nutrients, growth factors or oxygen. In wild-type p53 cells, rapamcin inhibition of TOR-raptor complex (TORC1) signaling is associated with the accumulation of cells in G1-phase of the cell cycle, obviating a function for TORC1 in S-phase. Yet, the induction of DNA damage in S-phase induces a p53-dependent suppression of TORC1. These findings led us to consider the consequences of continued TORC1 signaling in the presence of DNA damage. Since the TOR pathway is conserved from yeast to human, we first used budding yeast as a genetically tractable model of a eukaryotic cell that lacks functional p53, yet retains wild-type cell cycle regulatory and S-phase checkpoint pathways. In synchronized cell populations exposed to the methylating agent MMS in S-phase, rapamycin inhibition of TORC1 both enhanced MMS-induced cytotoxicity and suppressed MMS-induced mutagenesis. An analysis of replication intermediates demonstrated that TORC1 signaling was required to maintain replication fork stability in cells exposed to DNA damage. Indeed, rapamycin also enhanced yeast cell sensitivity to the DNA toposiomerase I poison camptothecin. TORC1 signaling was required to sustain Rad53 checkpoint-mediated induction of the large RNR1 and RNR3 subunits of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the production of DNA precursor dNTPs. Thus, TORC1 signaling also maintained sufficient dNTPs necessary for translesion DNA synthesis, effectively promoting the acquisition of MMS-induced mutations. To determine if TORC1 signaling served a similar function in protecting human cells from DNA damaging agents in S-phase, we examined the activity of rapamycin in combination with the camptothecin class of chemotherapeutics, in several cell lines defective for p53 in vitro and a panel of pediatric tumor xenografts in vivo. Since the cytotoxicity of camptothecins requires on-going DNA replication, this combination obviated the need to use synchronized cells. As in yeast, we found that rapamycin enhanced the cytotoxicity of topotecan in HEK293 and rhabdomyosarcoma Rh30 cells as demonstrated by the loss of clonogenic survival and enhanced phosphorylation of histone H2AX. Even more surprising, we observed additive or greater than additive activity of rapamycin in combination with irinotecan in a panel of rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma xenograft mouse models. Contrary to predictions that rapamycin-induced G1 arrest would antagonize the S-phase-dependent toxicity of camptothecins, our findings suggest that TORC1 signaling protects cells from genotoxic stress in S-phase and, in the absence of a functional p53 pathway, may actually promote the acquisition of drug resistance as a consequence of DNA-damage induced mutagenesis. Supported by ALSAC and NIH CA23009
From Ontology to Relational Databases

The semantic web envisions a World Wide Web in which data is described with rich semantics and applications can pose complex queries. Ontologies, a cornerstone of the semantic web, have gained wide popularity as a model of information in a given domain that can be used for many purposes, including enterprise integration, database design, information retrieval and information interchange on the World Wide Web. Much of the current focus on ontologies has been on the development of languages such as DAML+OIL and OWL that enable the creation of ontologies and provide extensive semantics for Web data, and on answering intensional queries, that is, queries about the structure of an ontology. However, it is almost certain that the many of the semantic web queries will be extensional and to flourish, the semantic web will need to accommodate the huge amounts of existing data that is described by the ontologies and the applications that operate on them. Given the established record of relational databases to store and query large amounts of data, in this paper we present a set of techniques to provide a lossless mapping of an OWL ontology to a relational schema and the corresponding instances to data. We present preliminary experiments that compare the efficiency of the mapping techniques in terms of query performance.
Do Federal and State Courts Differ in How They Handle Civil Trial Litigation: A Portrait of Civil Trials in State and Federal District Courts

Using data from the Civil Justice Survey of State Courts and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, this article compares general civil (tort, contract, and real property) jury trials concluded in a sample of state courts and all federal district courts in 1992, 1996, and 2001. The study's key findings are: (1) that the types of civil cases coming before state and federal juries differ substantially; (2) that overall plaintiff win rates are nearly the same in both state and federal courts; (3) that the damages awarded to plaintiffs in federal courts are substantially higher compared to their state counterparts; (4) that although the vast majority of jury trials take place in the state courts, the federal courts account for a substantial portion of damage awards, especially for product liability cases; (5) that state courts took substantially longer to dispose of civil jury trials than federal courts; and (6) that trend data show similar patterns of declining trials and stable plaintiff win rates in both court systems.
Urban Imaginaries: Locating the Modern City

U rban Imaginaries focuses on how the city is imagined as a once indefinite and a singular space, and on how this space is shared by a population with various cultural commitments and translocal at...