cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inducible suppression of Fgfr2 and Survivin in ES cells using a combination of the RNA interference (RNAi) and the Cre-LoxP system.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a simple and powerful tool widely used for studying gene function in a number of species. Recently, inducible regulation of RNAi in mammalian cells using either tetracycline- or ecdysone-responsive systems has been developed to prevent potential lethality or non-physiological responses associated with persistent suppression of genes that are essential for cell survival or cell cycle progression. Here we show that the inducible regulation of RNAi also can be achieved by using a Cre–LoxP approach. We demonstrate that the insertion of a loxP-flanked neomycin cassette into RNA polymerase III promoter, which controls a vector-based RNAi unit, impairs the promoter activity. However, the expression of RNAi construct can be completely restored upon the removal of the neo cassette using a tamoxifen inducible Cre construct. We show that this system works with high efficiency in suppression of two endogenous genes, Fgfr2 and Survivin, in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, as evidenced by the decrease of levels of gene expression, reduced cell proliferation and colony formation. This system provides a potentially important yet simple approach to establish mutant mouse strains for functional study at defined stages upon turning on the inducible switches controlled by the Cre–LoxP system.
The basic helix-loop-helix protein upstream stimulating factor regulates the cardiac ventricular myosin light-chain 2 gene via independent cis regulatory elements.

Abstract Previous studies have documented that 250 bp of the rat cardiac ventricular myosin light-chain 2 (MLC-2v) promoter is sufficient to confer cardiac muscle-specific expression on a luciferase reporter gene in both transgenic mice and primary cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells. Utilizing ligation-mediated PCR to perform in vivo dimethyl sulfate footprinting, the present study has identified protein-DNA interaction within the position from -176 to -165. This region, identified as MLE1, contains a core sequence, CACGTG, which conforms to the consensus E-box site and is identical to the upstream stimulating factor (USF)-binding site of the adenovirus major late promoter. Transient assays of luciferase reporter genes containing point mutations of the site demonstrate the importance of this cis regulatory element in the transcriptional activation of this cardiac muscle gene in ventricular muscle cells. The protein complex that occupies this site is capable of binding to HF-1a and PRE B sites which are known to be required for cardiac muscle-specific expression of rat MLC-2v and alpha-myosin heavy-chain genes, respectively. This study provides direct evidence that USF, a member of the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper family, binds to MLE1, HF-1a, and PRE B sites and suggests that it is a component of protein complexes that may coordinately control the expression of MLC-2v and alpha-myosin heavy-chain genes. The current study also provides evidence that USF can positively and negatively regulate the MLC-2v gene via independent cis regulatory elements.
MapReduce in MPI for Large-scale graph algorithms

We describe a parallel library written with message-passing (MPI) calls that allows algorithms to be expressed in the MapReduce paradigm. This means the calling program does not need to include explicit parallel code, but instead provides ''map'' and ''reduce'' functions that operate independently on elements of a data set distributed across processors. The library performs needed data movement between processors. We describe how typical MapReduce functionality can be implemented in an MPI context, and also in an out-of-core manner for data sets that do not fit within the aggregate memory of a parallel machine. Our motivation for creating this library was to enable graph algorithms to be written as MapReduce operations, allowing processing of terabyte-scale data sets on traditional MPI-based clusters. We outline MapReduce versions of several such algorithms: vertex ranking via PageRank, triangle finding, connected component identification, Luby's algorithm for maximally independent sets, and single-source shortest-path calculation. To test the algorithms on arbitrarily large artificial graphs we generate randomized R-MAT matrices in parallel; a MapReduce version of this operation is also described. Performance and scalability results for the various algorithms are presented for varying size graphs on a distributed-memory cluster. For some cases, we compare the results with non-MapReduce algorithms, different machines, and different MapReduce software, namely Hadoop. Our open-source library is written in C++, is callable from C++, C, Fortran, or scripting languages such as Python, and can run on any parallel platform that supports MPI.
Will the Making of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Vitro Help Unravel Their Mysteries

In this issue, two papers describe the in vitro generation of an intriguing subset of human dendritic cells (DCs), the plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs [([1][1]), ([2][2])]). For nearly 20 years after their discovery ([3][3]), DCs had to be painstakingly isolated from tissues ([4][4]). Progress was rather
Isolation of Cell Membranes From Ascites Tumors

Various methods are described in the literature for the isolation of membranes of nucleated cells. The procedure described in this exercise is based on the method of Boone et al. (1973) with minor modifications as applied to the isolation of TA3-Ha murine ascites tumor membrane in the author’s laboratory (Nowotny et al., 1976).
Phenologies of North American Grasslands and Grasses

Inquiry into the phenologies of grasslands and grasses in North America has progressed substantially in the past decade. Four themes of the recent phenological research are surveyed: (1) the role of exotic and invasive species in affecting grasslands phenology; (2) the role of water and belowground dynamics on phenologies; (3) how experimental manipulations of grasslands have affected constitutive phenologies; and (4) advances in the remote sensing of grasslands. The phyllochron concept used in ontogenetic studies of grass species is discussed in light of grasslands phenology and its link between daylength and thermal time.
Empirical Chemicals Ltd. (B): Merseyside and Rotterdam Projects

The B case extends the analysis in the A case (UVA-F-1020) to the next level, where the executive must choose between two mutually exclusive plant-renovation projects. Net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return rank the projects differently, affording an opportunity to (IRR) discuss the classic "cross-over" problem in capital investment analysis. Operational flexibility is a significant factor, permitting a discussion of the role of real options in investment analysis. The last element is politics as managers jockey for project approval. A student worksheet file is available for use with this case.
Comparative Experimental Infection Study in Dogs with Ehrlichia canis, E. chaffeensis, Anaplasma platys and A. phagocytophilum

Dogs acquire infections with the Anaplasmataceae family pathogens, E. canis, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, A. platys and A. phagocytophilum mostly during summer months when ticks are actively feeding on animals. These pathogens are also identified as causing diseases in people. Despite the long history of tick-borne diseases in dogs, much remains to be defined pertaining to the clinical and pathological outcomes of infections with these pathogens. In the current study, we performed experimental infections in dogs with E. canis, E. chaffeensis, A. platys and A. phagocytophilum. Animals were monitored for 42 days to evaluate infection-specific clinical, hematological and pathological differences. All four pathogens caused systemic persistent infections detectible throughout the 6 weeks of infection assessment. Fever was frequently detected in animals infected with E. canis, E. chaffeensis, and A. platys, but not in dogs infected with A. phagocytophilum. Hematological differences were evident in all four infected groups, although significant overlap existed between the groups. A marked reduction in packed cell volume that correlated with reduced erythrocytes and hemoglobin was observed only in E. canis infected animals. A decline in platelet numbers was common with E. canis, A. platys and A. phagocytophilum infections. Histopathological lesions in lung, liver and spleen were observed in all four groups of infected dogs; infection with E. canis had the highest pathological scores, followed by E. chaffeensis, then A. platys and A. phagocytophilum. All four pathogens induced IgG responses starting on day 7 post infection, which was predominantly comprised of IgG2 subclass antibodies. This is the first detailed investigation comparing the infection progression and host responses in dogs after inoculation with four pathogens belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family. The study revealed a significant overlap in clinical, hematological and pathological changes resulting from the infections.
Sexual Self-Schemas of Bisexual Men: A Qualitative Investigation

This qualitative study investigated the sexual self-schemas and masculinity ideologies of 20 bisexual men. Sexual self-schema was defined as a cognitive generalization about sexual aspects of the self, as derived from past experience and sociocultural context, which guides current experiences and facilitates the processing of sexual information. In-depth interviews, a focus group, documentary evidence, and grounded theory analysis were used. Categories were coded and analyzed, revealing two models. The first, the sexual self-schema of bisexual men, is an eight-category model of the bisexual male sexual self-schema describing men’s relationships with other men and with women, as well as attitudes about themselves. The second model, the process of emerging awareness of bisexual attraction, outlines how sexual and romantic relationship experiences lead to bisexual sexual orientation identity. The two theoretical models depict how bisexual men understand their own sexual self-schemas. Implications for counsel...
Lymphocytic alveolitis in primary HIV infection.

Primary infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) has been associated with a self-limited illness resembling acute infectious mononucleosis. Pulmonary manifestations have been notably absent in published reports. The authors describe a 28-year-old homosexual male who presented with primary HIV-1 infection associated with CD8+ lymphocytic alveolitis. Diagnosis was delayed because HIV antibody was not detected by the Abbott ELISA, although the same and subsequent specimens were later found to be positive by Genetic Systems’ ELISA and Western blot analysis. Lymphocytic alveolitis must be added to the expanding clinical spectrum of acute HIV-1 infection. The time to detection of serocon-version may vary with different immunoassays.
Inflatable and Rigidizable Wings for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Recent shifts in tactical defense operations have led to a need for improved capabilities in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Several vehicle types such as the Predator are currently operational, and numerous smaller specialized vehicles are under development. Many of the vehicles under development require the ability to stow their wings and control surfaces into very small volumes to permit gun launch or packaging into aircraft mounted aerial drop assemblies. One technology that has shown promise in achieving this goal is the inflatable wing. Inflatable wings have been demonstrated in many applications over the past five decades, including aircraft, UAVs, airships, and missile stabilization surfaces. Recent advancements in high strength fibers and rigidizable materials have enabled higher performance designs for modern application. The inclusion of “smart materials” has provided the opportunity to impart a multi-functional capability to inflatable wings. Such materials include electronictextiles, which provide the potential for the integration of numerous functions directly into the structure of the wing such as shape modification for control and morphing, power generation and storage, antennas, and sensing.
Enhancing cultural competency in home care nurses caring for hispanic/latino patients

The Latino population is the fastest growing ethnically diverse group in the United States, but U.S. healthcare studies report poorer health status in this population than in non-Latinos. Using Campinha-Bacote's Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence Among Healthcare Professionals-Revised (IAPCC-R, 2003), a single-session pilot educational program to enhance culturally responsive home care nursing to Latinos resulted in a 27% increase in the nurse participant cultural competency levels.
Perspectives from family caregivers receiving home nursing support: findings from a qualitative study of home care patients with heart failure.

Many heart failure (HF) patients depend on a family caregiver and many families need additional home care nursing support. This qualitative study identified perspectives of being a HF caregiver for families receiving home care nursing. Eleven caregivers of homebound HF patients were interviewed on w
Benchmark Schedules for Subcontracted Operations: Decentralization Inefficiencies that Arise from Competition and First-Come-First-Served Processing*

Subcontracting has become a prominent business practice across many industries. Subcontracting of industrial production is generally based on short-term need for additional processing capacity, and is frequently employed by manufacturers to process customer orders more quickly than using only in-house production. In this article, we study a popular business model where multiple manufacturers, each capable of processing his entire workload in-house, have the option to subcontract some of their operations to a single third party with a flexible resource. Each manufacturer can deliver customer orders only after his entire batch of jobs, processed in-house and at the third party, is completed. The third party facility is available to several manufacturers who compete for its use. Current business practice of First-Come-First-Served (FCFS) processing of the subcontracted workloads as well as the competitive Nash equilibrium schedules developed in earlier studies result in two types of inefficiencies; the third party capacity is not maximally utilized, and the manufacturers incur decentralization cost. In this article, we develop models to assess the value created by coordinating the manufacturers' subcontracting decisions by comparing two types of centralized control against FCFS and Nash equilibrium schedules. We present optimal and/or approximate algorithms to quantify the third party underutilization and the manufacturers' decentralization cost. We find that both inefficiencies are more severe with competition than they are when the third party allocates capacity in an FCFS manner. However, in a decentralized setting, a larger percentage of the players prefer Nash equilibrium schedules to FCFS schedules. We extend our analysis to incomplete information scenarios where manufacturers reveal limited demand information, and find that more information dramatically benefits the third party and the manufacturers, however, the marginal benefit of additional information is decreasing. Finally, we discuss an extension wherein each manufacturer's objective takes into account asymmetries in subcontracting, in-house processing, and delay costs.
Evaluation of kinematics and injuries to restrained occupants in far-side crashes using full-scale vehicle and human body models.

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of the current study was to perform a parametric study with different impact objects, impact locations, and impact speeds by analyzing occupant kinematics and injury estimations using a whole-vehicle and whole-body finite element–human body model (FE-HBM). To confirm the HBM responses, the biofidelity of the model was validated using data from postmortem human surrogate (PMHS) sled tests.Methods: The biofidelity of the model was validated using data from sled experiments and correlational analysis (CORA). Full-scale simulations were performed using a restrained Global Human Body Model Consortium (GHBMC) model seated on a 2001 Ford Taurus model using a far-side lateral impact condition. The driver seat was placed in the center position to represent a nominal initial impact condition. A 3-point seat belt with pretensioner and retractor was used to restrain the GHBMC model. A parametric study was performed using 12 simulations by varying impact locations, impacting object, an...
Characterization of Nur77+ Cells in Murine Peripheral Blood.

Abstract 1361 Poster Board I-385 The expression of Nur77/NR4A1, one member of the Nur Orphan Nuclear Receptor family, is tightly regulated in many cell types, including myeloid and lymphoid lineages, and can change rapidly in response to a variety of external stimuli. Best known for its role in regulating apoptosis by either transcribing lethal genes or by initiating mitochondrial production of cytochrome c, Nur77 may also play other non-apoptotic roles. In an effort to understand the fate and function of cells that upregulate Nur77, we developed a transgenic Nur77-eGFP reporter mouse. Our analysis of cells in the peripheral blood of these mice reveals two populations of circulating cells that express GFP (Nur77) ‘constitutively’: T lymphocytes and a subset of monocytes. Our preliminary data suggest that the GFP+ T cells, which, interestingly are enriched for regulatory T cells, are recent thymic emigrants that have upregulated Nur77 as a consequence of TCR stimulation during maturation. Our observations also indicate that the GFP+ monocytes define a subpopulation of ‘patrolling’ cells that may ultimately differentiate into splenic dendritic cells. Understanding the identity of these circulating GFP+ cells should provide us with insights into the regulation and function of Nur77 itself. The analysis may also clarify the significance of phenotypic differences among blood cell subtypes by providing additional information about cell origin and activity. We thank the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation (HH), HHMI (TB), and NSF (#MCB-0744570 (JP and NC)) for their support for this work. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Design and Evaluation of Adverb Palette: A GUI for Selecting Tradeoffs in Multi-objective Optimization Problems

An important part of expressing human intent is identifying acceptable tradeoffs among competing performance objectives. We present and evaluate a set of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), that are designed to allow a human to express intent by expressing desirable tradeoffs. The GUIs require an algorithm that identifies the set of Pareto optimal solutions to the multi-objective decision problem, which means that all the solutions are equally good in the sense that there are no other solutions better for every objective. Given the Pareto set, the GUIs provide different ways for a human to express intent by exploring tradeoffs between objectives; once a tradeoff is selected, the solution is chosen. The GUI designs are applied to interactive human-robot path-selection for a robot in an urban environment, but they can be applied to other tradeoff problems. A user study evaluates GUI designs by requiring users to select a tradeoff that satisfies a specified mission intent. Results of the user study suggest that GUIs designed to support an artist's palette-metaphor can be used to express intent without incurring unacceptable levels of human workload.
An Overlooked 1853 List of Iowa Plants by a Pseudonymous Botanist: Who Was “Flores”?

Abstract The Iowa Farmer and Horticulturist was an agricultural and horticultural journal that began publication in 1853 at Burlington, Iowa. An article serialized in its second, third, fourth, and seventh issues listed 252 native plants of horticultural merit that grew in the vicinity; for 79 of the species, it was the first report for Iowa. The author of this article was identified only by the pseudonym “Flores.” The article evinces numerous similarities of topic and phraseology with an address delivered to the Southern Iowa Horticultural Society in October 1852 by Dr. John Henry Rauch (1828–1894). The previous year, Rauch had published the first checklist of the state's flora at the behest of the Iowa State Medical and Chirurgical Society, and it is suggested that he was the author of the 1853 article as well.
FINE TUNING THE PEPPERED MOTH PARADIGM

The trouble with classic examples of evolution is that they continue to evolve. Once an example of a major principle becomes widely accepted, it gets put into a museum cabinet for public display. Ineluctably, new information accumulates outside the cabinet, but it can't get in because the cabinet is locked. Ultimately the new information demands attention. Interested parties call for revisions. To follow that route requires understanding the true nature of the problems and the remedies. Curators of museum displays, working with limited resources, may decide that some of the old classics have been around long enough, and rather than adjust to vague controversies, it is simpler to replace a flawed display entirely than to fix it, much like discarding an old car that needs too much work to keep it running. Let's get a new one. Such are the prescriptions, at least from some quarters (e.g., Coyne 1998; Sargent et al. 1998), about the classic textbook example of evolution by natural selection: industrial melanism in peppered moths. Sargent et al. subvert the traditional explanation for industrial melanism by presenting an equivocal analysis of the evidence. Coyne laments that our "prize horse" of examples is in bad shape in his review of a recent book, Melanism: Evolution in Action, by Michael E. N. Majerus (1998). Although Majerus assesses the bulk of the literature and controversy that has accumulated since Kettlewell's (1973) The Evolution of Melanism, he could hardly agree less with Coyne or with Sargent et al. that the basic story is built on a house of cards. Majerus argues convincingly that industrial melanism in the peppered moth remains among the most widely cited examples of evolution by natural selection for two reasons: First, the basic story is easy to understand. Second, the evidence in support of the basic story is overwhelming. Majerus has done considerably more than write a book about industrial melanism. His ambitions were broader, although more modest than the title suggests. The book is divided into 10 chapters with some general features of melanism, genetics, and evolution spread across the first four. The last four chapters catalog examples of melanism in various Lepidoptera, and in ladybird beetles, with a call for future research as the book's climax. Readers interested specifically in industrial melanism in peppered moths, however, can skim or skip all of those chapters and focus on the middle two. Indeed, chapters 5 and 6 should be read carefully by all teachers of evolutionary biology. Certainly not all active
Sibling Delinquency as a Risk Factor for Future Offending: An Exploratory Analysis

Prior research has identified parents and peers as salient risk factors for delinquency. The purpose of the current investigation was to determine whether sibling delinquency might not also serve a...
Patient predictors of weight loss following a behavioral weight management intervention among US Veterans with severe obesity.

Identification of patient characteristics that are associated with behavioral weight loss success among bariatric surgery candidates could inform selection of optimal bariatric surgery candidates. We examined the associations between psychosocial characteristics and weight loss in a group of Veterans with severe obesity who participated in a behavioral weight loss intervention. The MAINTAIN trial involved a 16-week weight loss program followed by randomization among participants losing at least 4 kg to a maintenance intervention or usual care. This secondary analysis was performed on Veterans who participated in the 16-week weight loss program and met NIH criteria for bariatric surgery (body mass index [BMI] 35.0–39.9 with at least 1 obesity-related comorbidity or BMI ≥ 40). Unadjusted and adjusted associations between baseline patient characteristics and weight loss during the 16-week induction phase were evaluated with linear regression. Missing weight measurements were multiply imputed, and results combined across ten imputations. Among the 206 patients who met inclusion criteria, mean initial BMI was 40.8 kg/m2 (SD 6.0), and mean age was 59.2 years (SD 9.4). Approximately 20% of participants were female, 51.5% were Black, and 44.7% were White. Estimated mean 16-week weight loss was 5.16 kg (SD 4.31). In adjusted analyses, greater social support and older age were associated with greater weight loss (p < 0.05). None of the nine psychosocial characteristics we examined were associated with greater weight loss. Understanding and strengthening the level of social support for bariatric surgery candidates may be important given that it appears to be strongly correlated with behavioral weight loss success. Level II, Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01357551 http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01357551 .
The canon and the mushroom

This essay focuses on a paradoxical transformation that happened within Soviet ideological discourse at the very end of perestroika, around 1990–91. The Party’s attempts to revitalize Soviet ideology by returning to the original word of Lenin unexpectedly produced the opposite result. The unquestionable external Truth from which Soviet ideological discourse drew its legitimacy—and that had always been identical with Lenin’s word—suddenly could no longer be known. This shift launched a rapid unraveling of the Soviet communist project. At the center of this unexpected transformation was the search for the true Lenin—a kind of Lenin that Soviet party theorists, bureaucrats, historians, and scientists hoped was still hidden in the midst of his unpublished texts and unknown facts of his biology, life, and death.
Crosslinked polyurea-co-polyurethane aerogels with hierarchical structures and low stiffness

Abstract Resilient poly(urethane urea) aerogels are synthesized from aromatic diisocyanates, aromatic diamines, aliphatic polyols, and a trifunctional amine crosslinker. Polyurethane prepolymers are synthesized with isocyanate end groups by reacting the polyol with 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate in anhydrous N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The isocyanate-capped polyurethane segments are reacted with 4,4′-oxydianiline to obtain isocyanate end-capped poly(urethane urea) copolymers which are then crosslinked using 1,3,5 triaminophenoxylbenzene (TAB) to obtain the gel networks. The gel networks are tailored by the choice of the polyol and by varying the crosslink density. The gels are dried under supercritical condition after exchanging NMP with acetone and acetone with liquid carbon dioxide. The resulting aerogels show density between 0.20 and 0.35 g/cm3, porosity between 71 and 85%, and surface area between 47 and 163 m2/g. The data suggest that the polyol weight fraction can be used as a parameter to control the shrinkage of aerogel specimens. The shrinkage data also correlate well with the extent of hydrogen bonding involving urea and urethane groups. A reduction of the amount of TAB leads to reduction of the extent of urea hydrogen bonding and an increase of urethane hydrogen bonding. These materials exhibit an onset of thermal decomposition at about 300 °C and offer compressive moduli between 12 and 52 MPa. The compressive modulus shows strong dependence on aerogel density.
Metabolism of cortisol-4-C14 in the dog heart-lung preparation.

The metabolism of cortisol-4-C14 has been studied at physiologic, concentrations in two dog heart-lung preparations. The first preparation survived for TOO min. and the second for 75 min. An average of 68% of the radioactivity added was recovered from the heart-lungs. An average recovery of 79% was obtained from blood specimens to which cortisol-4-C14 was added to produce a concentration similar to that in specimens from the heart-lungs. No evidence of metabolism of cortisol was seen in control blood specimens incubated 100 min. at room temperature or at 37° C. Approximately 10% of the radioactivity added to the heart-lung preparations was recovered in a fraction which appears to be 11β, 17α, 20β, 21-tetrahydroxy-Δ4-pregnenc-3-one. The remainder of the recovered radioactivity appears to be unaltered cortisol-4- C14. LIVER has the ability to degrade cortisol rapidly as demonstrated by in J vitro studies with acellular preparations (1, 2, 3, 4), liver slices (5), liver perfusions (6, 7, 8), and by in situ e...
Tumor Progression and the Clonal Evolution of Neoplasia

Tumor progression has for many years been recognized as an important stage in the development of malignant neoplasia. In 1935, Peyton Rous1 first used the term progression to describe the development in rabbits of carcinoma from viral-induced cutaneous papillomas. However, it was Leslie Foulds in the late 1940s who first generalized the concept of tumor progression. 2–4 According to Foulds, “the concept of progression is one of stepwise neoplastic development through qualitatively different stages.”5 In particular, he has stated that tumors gain or lose characters such as growth rate, invasiveness, powers of metastasis, hormone responsiveness, and morphologic characteristics independently. Furthermore, these changes were considered by Foulds to be essentially irreversible and to result in an increased autonomy.4 That such changes may in fact undergo apparent reversibility is discussed at the end of this chapter.
Improving lyrical intelligibility in live music and concert settings: Evaluating the application of alternative sound reinforcement techniques

Thirteen individuals were asked to listen to eight short passages of music from two songs containing sung lyrics. They compared the music as it was presented at 94dBA through three different systems; one control emulating a standard live music performance, another with the vocal channel assisted by digital effects (Compression, an Adaptive Limiter, EQ and a Harmonic Exciter), and a third where vocals were removed from the left and right speakers and instead played through a single center speaker of the same make while instruments remained in the left and right speakers. This third design is similar to common mixing of 5.1 theatrical audio. Participants indicated their perception of lyrical intelligibility and pleasurability of the sound for each passage and were asked to ignore artistic choices. Responses indicated that the use of effects processing for vocals somewhat improved lyrical intelligibility and pleasurability for one song, while slightly decreasing these values for the other. The center speaker system for vocals greatly improved (in one case almost doubled) listeners’ ability to perceive the lyrics as well as their overall enjoyment of the sound. This improvement is likely linked to spatial hearing; a musical extension of the Cocktail party effect. Thirteen individuals were asked to listen to eight short passages of music from two songs containing sung lyrics. They compared the music as it was presented at 94dBA through three different systems; one control emulating a standard live music performance, another with the vocal channel assisted by digital effects (Compression, an Adaptive Limiter, EQ and a Harmonic Exciter), and a third where vocals were removed from the left and right speakers and instead played through a single center speaker of the same make while instruments remained in the left and right speakers. This third design is similar to common mixing of 5.1 theatrical audio. Participants indicated their perception of lyrical intelligibility and pleasurability of the sound for each passage and were asked to ignore artistic choices. Responses indicated that the use of effects processing for vocals somewhat improved lyrical intelligibility and pleasurability for one song, while slightly decreasing these values for the other. The center speaker...
Enhancement of the word2vec Class-Based Language Modeling by Optimizing the Features Vector Using PCA

Neural word embedding, such as word2vec, produces very large features' vectors. In this paper, we are investigating the length of the feature vector aiming to optimize the word representation results, and also to speed up the algorithm by addressing noise impact. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has a proven record in dimensionality reduction as we selected it to achieve our objectives. We also selected class based Language Modeling as extrinsic evaluation of the features vectors and are using Perplexity (pp) as our metric. K-means clustering is used as words classification. The execution time of the classification is also computed. As a result, we concluded that for a given test data, if the training data is of same domain then large vector size can increase the precision of describing word relations. In contrast, if the training data is from different domain and contains large amount of contexts not expected to occur in the test data then a small vector size will give a better description to help reducing the noise effect on clustering decisions. Two different data training domains were used in this analysis; Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) broadcast news and reports, and Iraqi phone conversations with testing data of the same Iraqi data domain. Depending on this analysis, same domain training data and test data have execution times reduced by 61% while keeping same representation efficiency. In addition, for different domain training data i.e. MSA, pp reduction ratio of 6.7% is achieved with time reduced by 92%. This implies the importance of carefully choosing feature vector size on the overall performance.
Perceptions of intentional wrongdoing and peer reporting behavior among registered nurses.

How a person perceives a wrongdoing being committed by a coworker will affect whether the incident is reported within the organization. A significant factor that may influence the decision to report a wrongdoing is the perceived intentionality of the wrongdoer. This study sought to examine if differences in perceptions of a wrongdoing could affect the disclosure of unethical behavior. Three hundred seventy-two registered nurses (N = 372) responded to a survey consisting of both intentional and unintentional wrongdoings that could occur by a nurse. Results of a paired t-test were as predicted. More wide ranging revelations found that respondents were more likely to discuss the unintentional wrongdoings with the wrongdoer in lieu of officially reporting to an immediate supervisor, or a member of upper management. Discussion, limitations, and suggestions for future research are provided.
Developing a contemporary operating systems course

The objective of this tutorial is to foster innovation in the teaching of operating systems (OS) at the undergraduate level as part of a three-year NSF- funded IUSE (Improving Undergraduate STEM Education) project titled "Engaged Student Learning: Re-conceptualizing and Evaluating a Core Computer Science Course for Active Learning and STEM Student Success" (2017--20).
Von Willebrand factor as a thrombotic and inflammatory mediator in critical illness

The endothelial exocytosis of high-molecular-weight multimeric von Willebrand factor (vWF) may occur in critical illness states, including trauma and sepsis, leading to the sustained elevation and altered composition of plasma vWF. These critical illnesses involve the common process of sympathoadrenal activation and loss of the endothelial glycocalyx. As a prothrombotic and proinflammatory molecule that interacts with the endothelium, the alterations exhibited by vWF in critical illness have been implicated in the development and damaging effects of downstream pathologies, such as disseminated intravascular coagulation and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Given the role of vWF in these pathologies, there has been a recent push to further understand how the molecule may be involved in the pathophysiology of related diseases, such as trauma-induced coagulopathy and acute renal injury, which are also known to develop secondarily to critical illness states. Elucidation of the role of vWF across the broader spectrum of generalized pathologies may provide a basis for the development of novel preventative and restorative measures, while also bolstering the scaffold of more widely used treatments, such as the administration of plasma-containing blood products.
Voles light up when visiting their mate

![Graphic][1] Seeing a loved one, even virtually during this period of quarantine and social distancing, can make our faces light up with joy. But how does our brain light up when we see someone we care about? One area that may get excited is the nucleus accumbens, a pleasure-activated brain
Seminário de Práticas Corporais: Uma Proposta de Ampliação da Cultura Corporal para Alunos do Ensino Médio Integrado

Trata-se de um relato de experiencia sobre um projeto complementar ao ensino nas aulas de educacao fisica, para alunos do 2o ano dos cursos tecnicos integrados ao ensino medio do Instituto Federal do Espirito Santo, campus Aracruz. Tem como referencial teorico a perspectiva da cultura corporal e objetivou ampliar essa cultura dos participantes. Os alunos foram organizados em grupos, os quais deveriam escolher e apresentar durante o ano uma pratica corporal nao convencional na escola. O projeto atingiu seu objetivo na medida em que os alunos perceberam a ampliacao do conhecimento sobre o universo das praticas corporais.
Characterization of Analgesics-related Medication Errors Reported to U.s. Poison Control Centers, 2000-2012

Purpose: Analgesics are the most commonly used class of medications in the United States and account for the highest number of calls to National Poison Control Centers annually. We wanted to investigate trends and to describe the epidemiology associated with unintentional medication errors involving analgesics. Methods: Retrospective review of analgesics-related medication errors reported to the National Poison Data System (NPDS) from 2000 through 2012. Results. …
Adaptation of Clinical Pharmacy Services to Meet Patient Care Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has challenged health systems to find innovative ways of delivering patient care while protecting staff from infection with the virus As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to evolve establishing ?hot spots? in various areas of the country, clinicians have learned more about caring for these patients This has required the Department of Pharmacy at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to constantly update the approach it has taken during this time, and the guidance which is provided for the pharmaceutical care of these patients Because Philadelphia was in the initial stages of the pandemic within the United States, operations within the Department of Pharmacy at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital needed to be redesigned This brief report provides an example of the swift changes that were made in the pharmacy practice model at a large academic medical center Herein we describe the impact of the pandemic on the Department of Pharmacy at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with a focus on clinical and operations aspects The areas that will be highlighted in this report represent areas that required rapid and transformational change to the operations and/or clinical care in order to protect the health of pharmacists and allow them to continue to provide the necessary level of patient care This article is protected by copyright All rights reserved
SARS-CoV-2 Associated Viral Encephalitis with Mortality Outcome

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019; apart from common conditions such as cough, fever, and severe respiratory complications, difficulty in breathing, including tachypnea, new studies on neurological manifestations have gained public interest. Case report An 89-year-old man was admitted to the neurocritical care department in a specialized hospital with headache, dizziness, hyperpyrexia, myalgia, rash, and tremors. MRI showed viral encephalitis near to basal ganglia and thalami. Discussion Coronaviruses interfere with target cells by membrane-bound spike proteins. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 was identified as an input receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Due to its wide pattern of expression, COVID-19 was shown to affect several organs, including the central nervous system, where the receptor is mainly expressed as neurons. Conclusions In the current pandemic, there is a rising number of global infections, the aim of our case to increase the awareness about SARS-CoV-2 possible complications, even if there are possible further mutations for the virus, especially in the central nervous system.
Viruses, Underestimated Drivers of Ecology and Evolution of Life

Viruses are the most understudied microbial agents on our planet; their polyphyletic origin is still shrouded in mysteries. At least some RNA viruses appear to have evolved from self-replicating molecules in the so-called RNA-world that researchers believe to have existed before DNA evolved billions of years ago. Many theories of viral origin and evolution are debated and, even though the fossil record of viruses is basically non-existent in the traditional sense, modern phylogenetic sequencing and electron microscopy have revealed astonishing secrets of viral diversity regarding genome, shape, and size and elucidated many sophisticated mechanisms behind their ability to thrive and replicate as obligate parasites, enslaving their host’s replication machinery for their own purposes. Furthermore, evidence exists that many proviruses have evolved with their host, some being part of the so-called junk DNA that we find in prokaryotes and eukaryotes alike, whereas others shaped the evolution of multicellular species becoming even necessary for the survival of the host. With the detection of giant viruses with large genomes including genes coding for replication, one might consider a fourth domain of life for these agents. Ignored and despised, these representatives of the microbial world have been significantly involved in shaping the evolution and ecology of all living species on Earth, in the past, currently, and will continue so in the future. Therefore, viruses, as well as viroids, deserve to be considered as being part of the foundation stone of Earth’s biosphere.
Computational features of TIL architecture are differentially prognostic of uterine cancer between African and Caucasian American women.

5585Background: Although the vast majority of endometrial cancer (EC) is early-stage and thus, curable by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy (with at least 85% 5-year OS), a fraction of them a...
Vaginal leukocyte counts for predicting sexually transmitted infections in the emergency department.

Abstract Background The use of vaginal white blood cell (WBC) counts to predict sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the emergency department (ED) is incompletely characterized. Objectives Our objective was to assess the relationship between vaginal wet preparation WBC counts and STIs and to determine whether WBC counts of at least 11 WBCs per high-power field (HPF) could be useful for identifying STIs in women in the ED. Methods Female ED patients 18 years or older who were evaluated in a single health system between April 18, 2014, and March 7, 2017, and had a genital wet preparation WBC result were retrospectively examined using univariable and multivariable analysis. Results Vaginal wet preparation WBC counts were examined for 17,180 patient encounters. Vaginal WBC counts of at least 11 WBCs/HPF were associated with increased odds of having gonorrhea, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis. When this threshold was used for the diagnosis of each STI, sensitivity ranged from 48.2% to 53.9%, and specificity ranged from 67.2% to 68.8%. Conclusion Women with STIs are more likely to have higher vaginal WBC counts. However, higher vaginal wet preparation WBC counts in isolation have limited diagnostic utility for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. Incorporation of age, urine leukocyte esterase results, and vaginal WBC counts provided a better predictor of an STI than vaginal WBC counts alone.
Shifting proteomes: Limitations in using the BioID proximity labeling system to study SNARE protein trafficking during infection with intracellular pathogens

We hypothesize that intracellular trafficking pathways are altered in chlamydial infected cells to maximize the ability of Chlamydia to scavenge nutrients while not overtly stressing the host cell. Previous data demonstrated the importance of two eukaryotic SNARE proteins, VAMP4 and syntaxin 10 (Stx10), in chlamydial growth and development. Although, the mechanism for these effects is still unknown. To interrogate whether chlamydial infection altered these proteins' networks, we created BirA*-VAMP4 and BirA*-Stx10 fusion constructs to use the BioID proximity labeling system. While we identified a novel eukaryotic protein-protein interaction between Stx10 and VAPB, we also identified caveats in using the BioID system to study the impact of infection by an obligate intracellular pathogen on SNARE protein networks. The addition of the BirA* altered the localization of VAMP4 and Stx10 during infection with Chlamydia trachomatis serovars L2 and D and Coxiella burnetii Nine Mile Phase II. We also discovered that BirA* traffics to and biotinylates Coxiella-containing vacuoles and, in general, has a propensity for labeling membrane or membrane-associated proteins. While the BioID system identified a novel association for Stx10, it is not a reliable methodology to examine intracellular trafficking pathway dynamics during infection with intracellular pathogens.
Intravenous fosphenytoin therapy for rescue of acute trigeminal neuralgia crisis in patients awaiting neurosurgical procedures: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Few treatments exist for acute attacks of trigeminal neuralgia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of an intravenous fosphenytoin therapy protocol in a trigeminal neuralgia crisis. We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study of the records of 20 patients with trigeminal neuralgia who received intravenous fosphenytoin therapy (15 mg/mL in normal saline at 50 mg/min for 15 min, total 750 mg) during hospitalization between September 2015 and August 2020. Serum phenytoin concentration was measured 30 min post-infusion. Pain severity was evaluated using a numerical rating scale and was analyzed for statistical significance. The mean age of the patients was 67.5 years (female, 50.0%). The median numerical rating scale score (interquartile range) of pain severity was 2.35 (0–10), 0.65 (0–5), 0.15 (0–1), 2.00 (0–8), and 4.30 (0–10) at 15, 30, and 60 min, and 12 and 24 h, respectively (p
How Do We Design

The design of systems foreshadows the outcome of human efforts in many fields. Many successful designs (e.g., the U.S. Constitution, automobile, airplane, telephone, Internet, electric power, electric grid system, a banking system, university, refrigeration, atomic bomb, computer, microelectronics, new materials) have altered the course of human history. This chapter describes how a system can be designed, following the design process outlined in Chaps. 1 and 2.
SOCIAL NORMS AND THE RULE OF LAW: AN APPLICATION TO FAILED STATES

Failed states are terrible places to live. They have the lowest levels of development as measured by literacy, child mortality, clean water, miles of paved road, and most other quality-of-life indicators. They suffer from ongoing economic stagnation1, central banks fail to control inflation, governments are unable to collect taxes, the police and military languish, and these nations tend to be highly-dependent upon foreign aid. The citizens of failed states are frequently harassed, or worse, by armed non-state and state actors.