cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-2: Its rationale and role in the treatment of patients with cancer

In 1976, Morgan, Ruscetti, and Gallo described a factor produced by PHA-stimulated lymphocytes that supported the long-term growth and expansion of bone marrow-derived cell suspensions [1]. They further characterized the cells proliferating in response to this growth factor as T cells [2]. Helper and cytotoxic T cells expanded in this T-cell growth factor maintained their in vitro and in vivo activity [3–6]. The gene for this T-cell growth factor was subsequently cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, providing an abundant supply of what we now call interleukin-2 (IL-2) [7,8]. As a result of its manifold immunomodulatory effects, IL-2 has become the cornerstone of many immunotherapy efforts. This review will focus on the basic biology of IL-2, its pharmacologic properties, and its role as an anticancer agent.
Later Life and Legacy of Ronald Fisher

There are but a few scholars in any discipline who are simultaneously claimed by multiple disciplines as their own. The Great Mind John von Neumann is one such scholar. The major award in computer science is a tribute to his leadership and scholarship in the development of computers and their programming. Physicists remember him for his contributions, and the Manhattan Project relied on his expertise in chemical engineering. He was a disciple of David Hilbert and an extraordinary mathematicians, and he was perhaps the most significant father of game theory that added so much to so many disciplines. Finally, he is recognized as one of the cleverest economists who also made significant contributions to finance theory. Ronald Fisher shares with von Neumann this unique characteristic of recognition by scholars from many disciplines.
Attributes of successful actions to restore lakes and estuaries degraded by nutrient pollution.

As more success is achieved in restoring lakes and estuaries from the impacts of nutrient pollution, there is increased opportunity to evaluate the scientific, social, and policy factors associated with achieving restoration goals. We examined case studies where deliberate actions to reduce nutrient pollution and restore ecosystems resulted in ecological recovery. Prospective cases were identified from scientific literature and technical documents for lakes and estuaries with: (1) scientific evidence of nutrient pollution; (2) restoration actions taken to mitigate nutrient pollution; and (3) documented ecological improvement. Using these criteria, we identified 9 estuaries and 7 lakes spanning countries, climatic regions, physical types, depths, and watershed areas. Among 16 case studies ultimately included, 8 achieved improvements short of stated restoration goals. Five more were successful initially, but condition subsequently declined. Three of the case studies achieved their goals fully and are currently managing to maintain the restored condition. We examined each case to identify both common attributes of nutrient management, grouped into ‘themes’, and variations on those attributes, which were coded into categorical variables based on thorough review of documents associated with each case. The themes and variables were organized into a broad conceptual model illustrating how they relate to each other and to nutrient management outcomes. We then explored relationships among the themes and variables using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). Results of the MCA suggested that the attributes most associated with achieving restoration goals include: (1) leadership by a dedicated watershed management agency; (2) governance through a bottom-up collaborative process; (3) a strategy that set numeric targets based on a specific ecological goal; and (4) actions to reduce nutrient loads from all sources. While our study did not provide a comprehensive road map to successful nutrient management, it suggested attributes that could be emulated in future efforts. The quantitative approach that was applied could be used to provide ongoing analysis as new examples of nutrient management success emerge.
Fruit weight is controlled by Cell Size Regulator encoding a novel protein that is expressed in maturing tomato fruits

Increases in fruit weight of cultivated vegetables and fruits accompanied the domestication of these crops. Here we report on the positional cloning of a quantitative trait locus (QTL) controlling fruit weight in tomato. The derived allele of Cell Size Regulator (CSR-D) increases fruit weight predominantly through enlargement of the pericarp areas. The expanded pericarp tissues result from increased mesocarp cell size and not from increased number of cell layers. The effect of CSR on fruit weight and cell size is found across different genetic backgrounds implying a consistent impact of the locus on the trait. In fruits, CSR expression is undetectable early in development from floral meristems to the rapid cell proliferation stage after anthesis. Expression is low but detectable in growing fruit tissues and in or around vascular bundles coinciding with the cell enlargement stage of the fruit maturation process. CSR encodes an uncharacterized protein whose clade has expanded in the Solanaceae family. The mutant allele is predicted to encode a shorter protein due to a 1.4 kb deletion resulting in a 194 amino-acid truncation. Co-expression analyses and GO term enrichment analyses suggest association of CSR with cell differentiation in fruit tissues and vascular bundles. The derived allele arose in Solanum lycopersicum var cerasiforme and appears completely fixed in many cultivated tomato's market classes. This finding suggests that the selection of this allele was critical to the full domestication of tomato from its intermediate ancestors.
INTERACT in VA Community Living Centers (CLCs): Training and Implementation Strategies

Studies have shown that hospitalizations of nursing home (NH) residents lead to complications and poorer quality of life. The Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers (INTERACT) Quality Improvement (QI) Program assists licensed NH staff in avoiding such hospitalizations. INTERACT aims to improve the management of acute changes in residents' conditions by providing tools to help staff recognize subtle changes in condition, improve communication, and implement QI strategies. INTERACT has been vetted by national clinical leaders and experts in long term care (LTC). Multiple NHs have implemented INTERACT and it has been adopted in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. QI initiatives involve adaptation to the organizational context in which it is being implemented. We report adaptation of the INTERACT QI program and implementation training into Veteran Affairs (VA) Community Living Centers (CLCs) (VA equivalent NH) and summarize the efforts to introduce and train nursing leadership to integrate the intervention into selected CLCs.
A New Perspective on Polyploid Fragaria (Strawberry) Genome Composition Based on Large-Scale, Multi-Locus Phylogenetic Analysis.

The subgenomic compositions of the octoploid (2n = 8× = 56) strawberry (Fragaria) species, including the economically important cultivated species Fragaria x ananassa, have been a topic of long-standing interest. Phylogenomic approaches utilizing next-generation sequencing technologies offer a new window into species relationships and the subgenomic compositions of polyploids. We have conducted a large-scale phylogenetic analysis of Fragaria (strawberry) species using the Fluidigm Access Array system and 454 sequencing platform. About 24 single-copy or low-copy nuclear genes distributed across the genome were amplified and sequenced from 96 genomic DNA samples representing 16 Fragaria species from diploid (2×) to decaploid (10×), including the most extensive sampling of octoploid taxa yet reported. Individual gene trees were constructed by different tree-building methods. Mosaic genomic structures of diploid Fragaria species consisting of sequences at different phylogenetic positions were observed. Our findings support the presence in octoploid species of genetic signatures from at least five diploid ancestors (F. vesca, F. iinumae, F. bucharica, F. viridis, and at least one additional allele contributor of unknown identity), and questions the extent to which distinct subgenomes are preserved over evolutionary time in the allopolyploid Fragaria species. In addition, our data support divergence between the two wild octoploid species, F. virginiana and F. chiloensis.
Localization and Definitive Control of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding with Angiography and Embolization

Angiography has long been a mainstay of lower gastrointestinal bleeding localization. More recently, angioembolism has been used therapeutically for bleeding control, but there are limited data on its efficacy. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of angiography and embolization for localizing and treating lower gastrointestinal bleeding as well evaluate the occurrence of bowel ischemia after embolization. This study is a retrospective descriptive review of all patients undergoing mesenteric angiography at a tertiary hospital over an eight-year period. Clinical data were recorded including patient demographics, causes of bleeding, procedures, and outcomes. Patients were excluded if the cause of bleeding was upper gastrointestinal bleeding or the medical record was missing data. Localization and definitive control of bleeding was the primary end point. One hundred fifty-nine angiograms were performed on 152 patients. Mean age was 72 years. Angiographic localization was successful in 23.7 per cent of patients. Although embolization after angiographic localization achieved definitive control of bleeding in 50 per cent of patients, the success rate was only 8.6 per cent of all patients who had angiography. One patient developed postembolization ischemia requiring laparotomy. Angiographic localization of lower gastrointestinal bleeding is successful in only 23.7 per cent of patients. Definitive hemostasis through embolization was successful in only 8.6 per cent of patients who underwent angiography for lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
O MARXISMO LIBERTÁRIO DE MICHAEL LÖWY

Neste ensaio, originalmente proferido como conferencia, Enzo Traverso analisa algumas das linhas de forca da trajetoria intelectual de Michael Lowy, dos seus primeiros trabalhos sobre Marx, Lukacs e Goldmann as suas reflexoes mais recentes sobre Benjamin ou sobre o romantismo. Aplicando a analise do autor o mesmo metodo que ele utilizara para compreender os autores sobre os quais investigou, Traverso defende a hipotese de que, embora nascido no Brasil, Lowy pode ser visto como um “intelectual frances que combina e supera duas tradicoes que marcaram profundamente a historia, a cultura e a politica do seculo XX: a do judaismo da Europa Central de antes da Schoah e a da esquerda latino-americana posterior a revolucao cubana”. THE LIBERTARIAN MARXISM OF MICHAEL LOWY In this essay, originally delivered as a conference, Enzo Traverso analyzes some of the strengths of Michael Lowy’s intellectual trajectory, from his early work son Marx, Lukacs, and Goldmann to his more recent reflection son Benjamin or on Romanticism. Applying to the author’s analysis the same method that he used to understand the authors he investigated, Traverso defends the hypothesis that, although born in Brazil, Lowy can be seen as a “French intellectual who combines and surpasses two traditions that marked deeply history, culture and politics of the twentieth century: that of Central European Judaism before Schoah and that of the Latin American left after the Cuban revolution.” Keywords: Intellectuals. Judaism. Central Europe. Latin America. Libertarian Marxism. LE MARXISME LIBERTAIRE DE MICHAEL LOWY Dans cet essai, a l’origine livre comme une conference, Enzo Traverso analyse certains des fils conducteurs du parcours intellectuel de Michael Lowy, depuis ses premiers travaux sur Marx, Lukacs et Goldmann a ses reflexions plus recentes sur Benjamin ou sur le romantisme. Appliquant a l’analyse de l’auteur la meme methode qu’il avait utilisee pour comprendre les auteurs sur lesquels il a travaille, Traverso soutient l’hypothese selon laquelle, bien que ne au Bresil, Lowy peut etre considere comme un “intellectuel francais unissant et depassant deux traditions qui ont profondement marque l’histoire, la culture et la politique du XXe siecle: celle du judaisme d’Europe centrale d’avant la Schoah et celle de la gauche latino-americaine d’apres la revolution cubaine”. Mots-cles: Intellectuels. Judaisme. Europe centrale. Amerique latine. Marxisme libertaire.
Patient-Specific Parameters Associated With Traction in Primary and Revision Hip Arthroscopic Surgery.

Background:Distraction of the hip joint is a necessary step during hip arthroscopic surgery. The force of traction needed to distract the hip is not routinely measured, and little is known about wh...
A material point method for simulation of viscoelastic flows

A novel variant of the Material Point Method is proposed to solve flow problems for incompressible viscoelastic fluids. As in the original spirit of the method, material points possess all necessary information about the material constitutive behavior and move with the flow. They are additionally employed as integration points, whose weights are computed as the system evolves in order to ensure exact integration of the discretized conservation equations. The method is shown to achieve quadratic convergence for transient start-up flow of the Oldroyd-B fluid. In addition, we apply the method to flow of a Giesekus fluid in concentric rotating cylinders, and in flow through an abrupt 4:1 contraction, comparing favorably to available analytical, experimental, and simulation results as appropriate.
Projected day/night temperatures specifically limits rubisco activity and electron transport in diverse rice cultivars

Abstract Ambient temperature has a profound effect on agricultural production. Generally, sub- and supra-optimal temperatures have a negative effect on growth/yield, provided the deviation for optimal is large enough. On average, mean global temperatures are projected to increase by 0.3 to 0.6 °C per decade over the next century. Nighttime temperatures (TN) are projected to increase faster (20%–40% by 2100) than day maximum temperatures (TD). Therefore, an experiment was conducted to determine the effects of projected sub- and supra-optimal day/night temperatures on two diverse rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars, IR6 and Rex, during reproductive growth. At flowering, nine different day/night temperature treatments (TTs) were imposed and maintained until harvesting using sunlit growth chambers (SPAR units). Alterations to plant metabolism were evaluated using CO2 response functions, also, to survey gas exchange readings under ambient conditions. Net photosynthesis (AN) declined under both TD and TN effects. The decline in maximum carboxylation rate allowed by Rubisco (Vcmax) and maximal rate of electron transport allowed by the thylakoid reactions (Jmax), with increasing TN mainly contributed to the decline in AN. Dark respiration rates (RD) declined with increasing temperatures could be a cultivars acclimation mechanism to prevent excessive carbon losses. Cultivars varied mainly for primary photochemistry, with cultivar Rex exhibited significantly higher RD, and pigment contents but lower Jmax than IR6 across TTs. The information on genetic, biochemical and physiological processes in these two diverse cultivars under varied temperature regimes could be useful for developing breeding tools to enhance thermotolerance in US rice cultivars for future climatic conditions.
Associations of Unhealthy Food Environment With the Development of Coronary Artery Calcification: The CARDIA Study.

Background While prior studies have linked the neighborhood environment and development of subclinical atherosclerosis, it is unknown whether living in neighborhoods with greater availability of “u...
Paraneoplastic scleroderma in the setting of CD30+ large cell transformation of mycosis fungoides.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a malignant non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma, with mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome being the most common subtypes. In patients with MF, transformation to large cell histology is associated with worse prognosis. Paraneoplastic scleroderma has been reported arising within the context of lung, breast, and hematologic malignancies,1 but its association with T-cell lymphomas is exceedingly rare.2, 3, 4, 5 We present the case of a woman with MF with CD30+ large cell transformation who also had the progressive sclerodermoid skin changes of paraneoplastic scleroderma.
RF Waveform Synthesizers With Quantum-Based Voltage Accuracy for Communications Metrology

We review our development of Josephson-junction-based programmable reference sources to synthesize spectrally pure waveforms with quantum-based voltage accuracy for characterizing and improving future communication devices and systems. The goal is to provide sources that together span the entire radio frequency band, equivalent to seven orders of magnitude in frequency (20 kHz to 300 GHz). To synthesize waveforms in the microwave frequency band, we are extending the existing Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer (JAWS) technology used for ac voltage metrology at audio frequencies (<;20 kHz). Using new microwave circuits and experimental techniques, we demonstrate JAWS-based synthesis of single-tone waveforms at 1 GHz, with -49 dBm output power and 79 dBc spur-free dynamic range (SFDR). To synthesize waveforms in the millimeter-wave frequency band, we are exploiting single flux quantum (SFQ) superconducting digital technology to design circuits that amplify SFQ pulses using a network of pulse splitters. With our initial SFQ-based circuit, we demonstrate synthesis of a 4-GHz sine wave with -74 dBm output power and 70 dBc SFDR.
Drug testing in child welfare: A systematic review

Abstract Although its true prevalence is unknown, drug testing is a common practice with child welfare-involved parents. In fact, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (2010) suggests that “some child welfare agencies have decided to conduct drug tests on all parents under court jurisdiction” (p. 6). Unfortunately, researchers have largely overlooked this practice. This paper presents findings from a systematic review of the studies that measured drug testing and utilized a child welfare-involved sample. Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria and were analyzed according to seven research questions, including drug test operationalization, testing frequency, and implications of testing. Reviewed studies reported using drug tests to measure an array of concepts beyond substance abstinence. Proportion of parents required to provide drug tests ranged from 29% to 88% across samples. Disparities in mandates to drug test were observed for parent gender and race/ethnicity. Reports of test frequency ranged from 1 to 10 tests over 15 months to three times per week. Non-compliance rates ranged from 23% to 62%. Drug test results were associated with a variety of outcomes, including maltreatment substantiation and parent-child reunification. Our findings suggests that best practices for drug testing found in family treatment court, criminal justice, and substance use treatment literatures are infrequently, if at all, implemented in traditional child welfare settings. Given the lack of generalizable existing studies, implications of test results at various time points in the child welfare trajectory for various child-welfare involved populations are unknown. Future child welfare-specific research is needed to fill the many gaps in knowledge identified in this review.
The Unintended Consequences of Democratic Reforms: Electronic Voting and Criminal Violence in Brazil

This paper studies the impact of democratic reforms on the levels of criminal violence. Focusing on Brazil, we exploit the staggered implementation of electronic voting technology in 1998 and provide strong empirical evidence that democratizing reforms may significantly reduce local levels of conflict even in contexts of weak institutions and criminal structures. We argue that electronic voting decreased the levels of criminal conflict by invigorating political accountability and eroding the hegemony of political parties more likely to establish pacts with organized criminal groups. By implementing a regression discontinuity that exploits a population-based threshold, we find that violence diminished by 0.5 standard deviations in municipalities that adopted electronic voting. Moreover, these same municipalities experienced a 0.3 standard deviation decrease in electoral violence, but only in electoral years. Our paper shows how relatively cheap institutional reforms may curb violence and contributes to debates on democratic reforms, election violence, and criminal groups.
Cs4Cd1–xMnxBi2Cl12—A Vacancy-Ordered Halide Perovskite Phosphor with High-Efficiency Orange-Red Emission

The structural, optical, and magnetic properties of the vacancy-ordered quadruple perovskites Cs4CdBi2Cl12 and Cs4MnBi2Cl12 and their solid solution have been investigated. Both compounds crystalli...
Effect of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors on the Comparative Nephrotoxicity of NSAIDs and Opioids during Hospitalization.

Background Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are increasingly important alternatives to opioids for analgesia during hospitalization as health systems implement opioid-minimization initiatives. Increasing NSAID use may increase AKI rates, particularly in patients with predisposing risk factors. Inconclusive data in outpatient populations suggests that NSAID nephrotoxicity is magnified by renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RAS-I). No studies have tested this in hospitalized patients. Methods Retrospective, active-comparator cohort study of patients admitted to four hospitals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To minimize confounding by indication, NSAIDs were compared to oxycodone, and RAS-I were compared to amlodipine. We tested synergistic NSAID+RAS-I nephrotoxicity by comparing the difference in AKI rate between NSAID versus oxycodone in patients treated with RAS-I to the difference in AKI rate between NSAID versus oxycodone in patients treated with amlodipine. In a secondary analysis, we restricted the cohort to patients with baseline diuretic treatment. AKI rates were adjusted for 71 baseline characteristics with inverse probability of treatment-weighted Poisson regression. Results The analysis included 25,571 patients who received a median of 2.4 days of analgesia. The overall AKI rate was 23.6 per 1000 days. The rate difference (RD) for NSAID versus oxycodone in patients treated with amlodipine was 4.1 per 1000 days (95% CI, −2.8 to 11.1), and the rate difference for NSAID versus oxycodone in patients treated with RAS-I was 5.9 per 1000 days (95% CI, 1.9 to 10.1), resulting in a nonsignificant interaction estimate: 1.85 excess AKI events per 1000 days (95% CI, −6.23 to 9.92). Analysis in patients treated with diuretics produced a higher, albeit nonsignificant, interaction estimate: 9.89 excess AKI events per 1000 days (95% CI, −5.04 to 24.83). Conclusions Synergistic nephrotoxicity was not observed with short-term NSAID+RAS-I treatment in the absence of concomitant diuretics, suggesting that RAS-I treatment may not be a reason to choose opioids in lieu of NSAIDs in this population. Synergistic nephrotoxicity cannot be ruled out in patients treated with diuretics.
The unchosen ones: Diaspora, nation, and migration in Israel and Germany: by Jannis Panagiotidis, Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 2019, xvii, 363 pp., 40$ (paperback), ISBN: 9780253043627

Scholars of Israel have long identified the benefits of comparative analysis, although this methodology has been more prevalent in the work of social scientists than historians.1 Regardless of the ...
Notes toward an untimely Soviet comedy: Eisenstein’s MMM

Between 1932 and 1933, in the context of a new mandate for cheerfulness in Soviet cinema, Sergei Eisenstein, recently returned from a frustrating sojourn abroad, undertook an exercise in genre: the...
Neonatal Lung Disease: Mechanisms Driving Sex Differences

The newborn lung exhibits many sex-specific differences during development, post-natal transition, and in the manifestation of neonatal lung diseases. These differences are evident during fetal lung development and are mainly related to maturity in surfactant production. The male sex disadvantage is prominently manifested in premature neonates, in whom many morbidities are skewed toward the male sex. Respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) show a higher incidence in premature boys. Despite the well-established sex-specific differences in the incidence of BPD and impaired lung function in males, the molecular mechanism(s) behind them are not completely understood. The recovery in lung function following neonatal lung injury in infants with BPD is better in females. Differential modulation of genes related to inflammation, antioxidant pathways, and sex-chromosome-associated genes and epigenetic pathways including miRNAs may play a role in this sexual dimorphism. Cellular sex also plays a role in dictating the cell fate under stress and sex-based differences have been reported in lung endothelial cells and fibroblasts. The neonatal lung may thus be modulated by hormone-dependent and -independent mechanisms that lead to sex differences both at baseline and after injury exposure.
Achieving Both Efficiency and Fairness in Risk-Based Cross-State Air Pollution Controls

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its gaseous precursors travel long distances, crossing state boundaries. The “good neighbor” provisions of the Clean Air Act require the U.S. EPA and States to address the cross-state transport of air pollution that affects states’ ability to attain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. While the Act does not explicitly consider the public health beneﬁts of such plans, a socially desirable policy would address interstate transport while both maximizing beneﬁts to public health and achieving a more equitable distribution of air pollution. However, designing such a policy is difficult. Analysts must evaluate a large number of emission control strategies, which is made time- and resource-intensive by computationally complex photochemical air quality models. I employed two reduced-form and spatially resolved models to develop a risk-based optimization method that achieves equity and efficiency. I applied this method to 4405 electric generating units regulated for their crossregional concerns by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to explore alternative plans that maximize health beneﬁts while reducing cross-state transport of air pollutants. A scenario considering only efficiency resulted in 30% less monetized health costs ($17B/yr) compared to the historical reductions. Alternative scenarios with cross-state controls produced 9–12% less health costs while reducing the largest transports by a factor of 4 to 14 and narrowing the distributions of cross-state health effects. The results suggest that policies reducing cross-state air regulations can achieve multiple policy goals, including both equity and efficiency.
Complexity of Medication Regimens for Children With Neurological Impairment.

Importance Parents of children with severe neurological impairment (SNI) manage complex medication regimens (CMRs) at home, and clinicians can help support parents and simplify CMRs. Objective To measure the complexity and potentially modifiable aspects of CMRs using the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) and to examine the association between MRCI scores and subsequent acute visits. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020, at a single-center, large, hospital-based, complex care clinic. Participants were children with SNI aged 1 to 18 years and 5 or more prescribed medications. Exposure Home medication regimen complexity was assessed using MRCI scores. The total MRCI score is composed of 3 subscores (dosage form, dose frequency, and specialized instructions). Main Outcomes and Measures Patient-level counts of subscore characteristics and additional safety variables (total doses per day, high-alert medications, and potential drug-drug interactions) were analyzed by MRCI score groups (low, medium, and high score tertiles). Associations between MRCI score groups and acute visits were tested using Poisson regression, adjusted for age, complex chronic conditions, and recent health care use. Results Of 123 patients, 73 (59.3%) were male with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 9 (5-13) years. The median (IQR) MRCI scores were 46 (35-61 [range, 8-139]) overall, 29 (24-35) for the low MRCI group, 46 (42-50) for the medium MRCI group, and 69 (61-78) for the high MRCI group. The median (IQR) counts for the subscores were 6 (4-7) dosage forms per patient, 7 (5-9) dose frequencies per patient, and 5 (4-8) instructions per patient, with counts increasing significantly across higher MRCI groups. Similar trends occurred for total daily doses (median [IQR], 31 [20-45] doses), high-alert medications (median [IQR], 3 [1-5] medications), and potential drug-drug interactions (median [IQR], 3 [0-6] interactions). Incidence rate ratios of 30-day acute visits were 1.26 times greater (95% CI, 0.57-2.78) in the medium MRCI group vs the low MRCI group and 2.42 times greater (95% CI, 1.10-5.35) in the high MRCI group vs the low MRCI group. Conclusions and Relevance Higher MRCI scores were associated with multiple dose frequencies, complicated by different dosage forms and instructions, and associated with subsequent acute visits. These findings suggest that clinical interventions to manage CMRs could target various aspects of these regimens, such as the simplification of dosing schedules.
Difference between arterial and end-tidal carbon dioxide and adverse events after non-cardiac surgery: a historical cohort study.

The difference between arterial and end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (ΔCO2) is a measure of alveolar dead space, commonly evaluated intraoperatively. Given its relationship to ventilation and perfusion, ΔCO2 may provide prognostic information and guide clinical decisions. We hypothesized that higher ΔCO2 values are associated with occurrence of a composite outcome of re-intubation, postoperative mechanical ventilation, or 30-day mortality in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. We conducted a historical cohort study of adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery with an arterial line at a single tertiary care medical centre. The composite outcome, identified from electronic health records, was re-intubation, postoperative mechanical ventilation, or 30-day mortality. Student’s t test and Chi-squared test were used for univariable analysis. Logistic regression was used for multivariable analysis of the relationship of ΔCO2 with the composite outcome. A total of 19,425 patients were included in the final study population. Univariable analysis showed an association between higher mean (standard deviation [SD]) intraoperative ΔCO2 values and the composite outcome (6.1 [5.3] vs 5.7 [4.5] mm Hg; P = 0.002). After adjusting for baseline subject characteristics, every 5-mm Hg increase in the ΔCO2 was associated with a nearly 20% increased odds of the composite outcome (odds ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 1.28; P < 0.001). In this patient population, increased intraoperative ΔCO2 was associated with an increased odds of the composite outcome of postoperative mechanical ventilation, re-intubation, or 30-day mortality that was independent of its relationship with pre-existing pulmonary disease. Future studies are needed to determine if ΔCO2 can be used to guide patient management and improve patient outcomes.
Impact of Laser Spectroscopy on Chemistry

It is not true that laser techniques affect all practitioners of chemistry, just most! To gauge some idea of how widespread laser use is in chemistry I turned to my own faculty and conducted a poll. I found that 11 of the 19 active members of the Stanford University Chemistry Department use lasers in their daily research — all physical chemists except one theorist, two of the four inorganic chemists, two of the six organic chemists, and one of the two biochemists. I believe this situation is fairly typical across the U.S. Several conclusions follow: (1) the use of lasers confers, alas, no great distinction among research chemists; and (2) lasers have become an integral part of modern chemistry finding expression in a diverse set of activities but with little application to the synthesis of chemical compounds.
Antiprotozoal/Antiparasitic Agents

Collectively, diseases caused by parasitic protozoa, including human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas' disease and leishmaniasis, threaten more than 550 million people worldwide and cause nearly 150,000 deaths annually. The causative organisms for these diseases are unicellular trypanosomatid parasites of the genera Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania sp., respectively. Drug therapies available for these diseases have not changed significantly in the past 50 years, and currently used agents are far less than satisfactory due to extreme toxicity, and because resistant parasitic strains are becoming more prevalent. These diseases are confined to impoverished or rural areas of Mexico, Central America, South America, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Indonesia, and India. As such, drug discovery efforts against trypanosomatid diseases are limited because patients in underdeveloped areas cannot afford therapy, and because the infected population is too small to justify the required research expenditures. In addition, antiparasitic research in Third World nations is often hampered by economic issues and political turmoil, virtually assuring that the world's most impoverished people will continue to bear the major burden of parasitic disease. Clearly, there is a need for new anti-infective agents that are potent, nontoxic and inexpensive to manufacture. In this chapter, the etiology of these diseases and their current treatment are described. The chapter also deals with medicinal chemistry aspects of efforts to identify new drug targets for parasitic diseases, and to produce novel inhibitors of trypanosomatid growth for use as antiparasitic agents. Keywords: amidine; antiparasitic; Chaga's disease; chemotherapy; cutaneous leishmaniasis; cysteine protease; glucose metabolism; glucose transport; glycosome; guanidine; human African trypanosomiasis; Leishmania donovani; life cycle; lipid metabolism; nucleotide transporter; polyamines; protozoa; Trypanosoma brucei; Trypanosoma cruzi; visceral leishmaniasis
The Effects of Exposure to Practice Risk on Tax Professionals' Judgments and Recommendations

Tax professionals are responsible for objectively evaluating tax authorities and evidence relevant to their application and for serving as client advocates. We predict that practice risk, i.e., exposure to monetary and nonmonetary costs of making inappropriate recommendations, will affect tax professionals' ability to meet these responsibilities by influencing the manner in which they process information about a tax situation as well as their resulting recommendations for clients. We conduct an experiment in which we manipulate practice risk through client characteristics. We also manipulate provision and nature of outcome information. We find that tax professionals process information differently for clients of different risk levels. Specifically, tax professionals weight negative outcome information more when forming likelihood assessments underlying recommendations for a high-risk client, relative to a low-risk client. Further, risk directly affects recommendations in that tax professionals more strongly recommend an aggressive position for a low-risk client. Differential processing of information for clients with identical transactions but different risk levels may protect the tax professional from the higher expected costs of making inappropriate recommendations to high-risk clients. However, it indicates that tax professionals do not evaluate evidence objectively for all types of clients.
Second Pyridine Nucleotide-Independent l-α-Glycerophosphate Dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli K-12

A soluble l-α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, which is stimulated by FAD and is independent of added pyridine nucleotides, functions during anaerobic catabolism of glycerol and l-α-glycerophosphate by Escherichia coli.
Quasi-dielectrically isolated bipolar junction transistor with sub-collector fabricated using silicon selective epitaxy

A quasi-dielectrically isolated bipolar junction transistor (QDI-BJT) was developed for intelligent power ICs. Using a combination of junction and dielectric isolation, the QDI-BJT was achieved by selective epitaxial growth (SEG) of single-crystal silicon in an oxide lined trench. Buried collectors formed by ion implantation and in-situ doped SEG silicon drastically reduce collector resistance while having no detrimental effects on transistor performance. The emitter-base and collector-base ideality factors at 1.10 and 1.09, respectively, were very close to those of similar devices fabricated in the substrate in the same die, indicating the excellent crystal quality of the SEG silicon. Due to the use of a trench structure to facilitate isolation and control of the SEG thickness, the QDI process can be used for any application where the thickness and resistivity of the control and power areas are independently optimized. >
Ca2+ priming during vitamin D-induced monocytic differentiation of a human leukemia cell line.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) induces monocytic differentiation of the human promyelocytic leukemia line, HL-60, and enhances Ca2+ transport in target cells of the mineral metabolism system. Hence, we determined whether the steroid's maturational effect on HL-60 involves alterations of intracellular calcium [(Ca2+]i). We found that, as detected by indo-1 fluorescence, [Ca2+]i increases in a slow tonic manner from 99 +/- 11 nM in virgin HL-60 to 182 +/- 19 nM (p less than 0.001) in those treated with 1,25-(OH)2D3 for 24 h. The first apparent rise in [Ca2+]i occurs at between 6 and 12 h and parallels expression of alpha-thrombin and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) receptors. This increase in [Ca2+]i is derived from extracellular calcium as its reduction abolishes the effect. The increase in [Ca2+]i is associated with an increase in inositol trisphosphate-stimulated Ca2+ flux from intracellular stores. Interestingly, 1,25-(OH)2D3-mediated HL-60 differentiation as manifest by expression of the macrophage-specific antigen, 63D3, is not blocked by low extracellular calcium. In contrast, the fMLP-induced superoxide ion generation is diminished if the increase in [Ca2+]i is prevented. Furthermore, fMLP-stimulated signal transduction is also reduced by limiting the stimulation of [Ca2+]i during 1,25-(OH)2D3 treatment. Thus, although differentiation of HL-60 to the monocytic phenotype by 1,25-(OH)2D3 is Ca2+-independent, expression of response to regulatory stimuli requires priming of cellular Ca2+ stores. The latter appears to be induced by 1,25-(OH)2D3 via stimulated Ca2+ entry through the plasma membrane.
An examination of successful soldier postdeployment transition from combat to garrison life.

Previous studies have shown that combat exposures and deployment-related stressors have negative implications on soldiers’ postdeployment health and well-being. The current study aimed to examine the individual and combined effects of organizational and social support on the success of soldiers’ postdeployment reintegration. In this study, 2,922 U.S. soldiers were surveyed from a brigade combat team at 90–120 days postdeployment, measuring soldiers’ perceptions of postdeployment transition home, occupational and social support, stigma and barriers associated with accessing behavioral health care, and previous behavioral health care. Logistic regression analysis indicated that soldiers reporting a positive postdeployment transition home (n = 1,776; 61%) was significantly associated with leadership perceptions, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.02, 1.39], unit cohesion, AOR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.09, 1.53], personal support, AOR = 1.37, 95% CI [1.23, 1.52], perceived levels of stigma, AOR = 0.73, 95% CI [0.65, 0.82] barriers to accessing care, AOR = 0.86, 95% CI [0.76, 0.97], and previously accessing behavioral health care, AOR = 0.34, 95% CI [0.28, 0.43]. These findings suggest redeploying soldiers may benefit from programs aimed at improving self-efficacy and coping through fostering occupational and social support, with special concern taken to reduce stigma and barriers to care across the Army. Traditional and Simplified Chinese Abstracts by AsianSTSS 標題：檢視如何成功地把士兵從戰鬥過渡到駐軍 撮要：昔日研究顯示戰鬥經歷及出征相關的壓力對派駐後身心健康有着壞影響。本文旨在檢討組織和社會支援的個別及綜合因素如何影響士兵派駐後融合的成功。樣本是一旅戰鬥部隊中2922名士兵，在派駐後90至120日評估他們對派駐後回歸家庭、職業和社會支援、標籤和尋求心理健康服務的阻礙各方面的觀感，亦評估往日心理健康服務的使用情況。邏輯回歸分析顯示有正面派駐後回歸家庭的士兵(n=1776；61%)與：領導觀念，調整後奇偶比(AOR)=1.19，95%)置信區間(CI)[1.02,1.39]，部隊團結，AOR=1.29,95%CI[1.09,1.53]，個人支援，AOR=1.37,95%CI[1.23,1.52]，標籤的感知水平，AOR=0.73,95%CI[0.65,0.82]，尋求心理健康服務的阻礙，AOR=0.86,95%CI[0.76,0.97]，和往日使用這些服務，AOR=0.34,95%CI[0.28,0.43]等有顯著關係。結果建議對重新調配的士兵可能需要提供一些促進自我效能及應對的計劃(包括在軍中加強職業和社會支援，特別是減少標籤和接受心理健康服務的障礙)。 标题：检视如何成功地把士兵从战斗过渡到驻军 撮要：过往研究显示战斗经历及出征相关的压力对派驻后身心健康有着坏影响。本文旨在检讨组织和社会支持的个别及综合因素如何影响士兵派驻后融合的成功。样本是一旅战斗部队中2922名士兵，在派驻后90至120日评估他们对派驻后回归家庭、职业和社会支持、标签和寻求心理健康服务的阻碍各方面的观感，亦评估以往心理健康服务的使用情况。逻辑回归分析显示有正面派驻后回归家庭的士兵(n=1776；61%)与：领导观念，调整后奇偶比(AOR)=1.19，95%)置信区间(CI)[1.02,1.39]，部队团结，AOR=1.29,95%CI[1.09,1.53]，个人支持，AOR=1.37,95%CI[1.23,1.52]，标签的感知水平，AOR=0.73,95%CI[0.65,0.82]，寻求心理健康服务的阻碍，AOR=0.86,95%CI[0.76,0.97]，和往日使用这些服务，AOR=0.34,95%CI[0.28,0.43]等有明显关系。结果建议对重新调配的士兵可能需要提供一些促进自我效能及应对的计划(包括在军中加强职业和社会支持，特别是减少标签和接受心理健康服务的障碍)。
Molecular cloning and expression of a rat kappa opioid receptor.

At least three types of opioid receptors have been identified in the nervous system. In this paper we report molecular cloning and expression of a rat kappa opioid receptor. PCR was performed on double-stranded cDNA derived from poly(A)+ RNA of the rat striatum with primers similar to those of Libert and co-workers [Libert, Parmentier, Lefort, Dinsart, Van Sande, Maenhaut, Simons, Dumont and Vassart (1989) Science 244, 569-572]. One of the PCR products, which had 65% sequence similarity to the mouse delta opioid receptor, was used to screen a rat striatum cDNA library. Two positive clones were isolated and found to be identical. The clone had a 2.1-kb insert, which was termed RKOR-1. RKOR-1 has an open reading frame of 1140 bp and encodes a 380-amino-acid protein. Hydropathy analysis indicates that RKOR-1 has seven putative transmembrane domains with short intra- and extra-cellular loops. Membranes of Cos-7 cells transfected with RKOR-1 exhibited high specific binding for [3H]diprenorphine ([3H]DIP), a non-selective opioid ligand. Naloxone inhibited [3H]DIP binding with stereospecificity. [3H]DIP binding was potently inhibited by selective kappa opioid ligands, with Ki values in the nanomolar or subnanomolar range, but much less potently inhibited by drugs selective for mu or delta receptors. Thus, RKOR-1 represents an opioid receptor with kappa characteristics. Images
Environmental effects in NiTi-based alloys

Environmental embrittlement has been identified as one of the major causes for low ductility and poor fracture toughness in a number of ordered intermetallics containing reactive element,s such as Al, Ti, Si, Mn, V or Mo, when tested in moisture-containing environments at room temperature. This is believed to be a hydrogen embrittlement process which involves the reaction of reactive elements in intermetallic alloys with water vapor in air, and subsequent generation of atomic hydrogen that is transported into the interior of the specimen, leading to brittle crack propagation and fracture along grain boundaries and/or cleavage planes. In this communication, the authors report the tensile properties in different environments of two NiTi-based alloys with ordered B19 and B2 structures. The alloys were tested under controlled environments to observe the effects of moisture and hydrogen gas on the ductility of the alloys. The fracture surface observation shows that, consistent with the tensile test properties, the fracture mode doe snot change when tested in different environments. All the alloys showed ductile fracture, consistent with the good ductility of the materials.
Performance Analysis and Evaluation of InfiniBand FDR and 40GigE RoCE on HPC and Cloud Computing Systems

Communication interfaces of high performance computing (HPC) systems and clouds have been continually evolving to meet the ever increasing communication demands being placed on them by HPC applications and cloud computing middleware (e.g., Hadoop). The PCIe interfaces can now deliver speeds up to 128 Gbps (Gen3) and high performance interconnects (10/40 GigE, InfiniBand 32 Gbps QDR, InfiniBand 54 Gbps FDR, 10/40 GigE RDMA over Converged Ethernet) are capable of delivering speeds from 10 to 54 Gbps. However, no previous study has demonstrated how much benefit an end user in the HPC / cloud computing domain can expect by utilizing newer generations of these interconnects over older ones or how one type of interconnect (such as IB) performs in comparison to another (such as RoCE).In this paper we evaluate various high performance interconnects over the new PCIe Gen3 interface with HPC as well as cloud computing workloads. Our comprehensive analysis done at different levels, provides a global scope of the impact these modern interconnects have on the performance of HPC applications and cloud computing middleware. The results of our experiments show that the latest InfiniBand FDR interconnect gives the best performance for HPC as well as cloud computing applications.
Prediction of regulatory networks in mouse abdominal wall

Sequence specific transcription factors are essential for pattern formation and cell differentiation processes in mammals. The formation of the abdominal wall depends on a flawless merge of several developmental fields in time and space. The absence of Pitx2 leads to an open abdominal wall in mice, while mutations in humans result in umbilical defects, suggesting that a single homeobox transcription factor coordinates the formation and patterning of this anatomical structure. Gene expression analysis from abdominal tissue including the abdominal wall after removal of the major organs, of wild type, Pitx2 heterozygote and mutant mice, at embryonic day 10.5, identified 275 genes with altered expression levels. Pitx2 target genes were clustered using the "David Bioinformatics Functional Annotation Tool" web application, which bins genes according to gene ontology (GO) key word enrichment. This provided a way to both narrow the target gene list and to start identifying potential gene families regulated by Pitx2. Target genes in the most enriched bins were further analyzed for the presence and the evolutionary conservation of Pitx2 consensus binding sequence, TAATCY, on the -20 kb, intronic and coding gene sequences. Twenty Pitx2 target genes that passed all the above criteria were classified as genes involved in cell transport and growth. Data from these studies suggest that Pitx2 acts as an inhibitor of protein transport and cell apoptosis contributing to the open body wall phenotype. This work provides the framework to which the developmental network leading to abdominal wall syndromes can be built.