cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 1782: Regulation of ATM-dependent DNA damage signaling in human breast cancer cells by the RhoGEF Net1A .

The Neuroepithelioma transforming gene 1 (Net1) is a RhoGEF that is frequently overexpressed in human cancer, including breast cancer. We have previously reported that DNA damage activates Net1 to control p38 MAPK signaling and protect cells from ionizing radiation (IR) induced apoptosis. However, others have shown that Net1 activation contributes to cell death by activating a RhoB-Bim signaling pathway. Thus, the role of Net1 in controlling IR responses and cell survival is controversial. Here we show that the Net1A isoform is uniquely important for DNA double-strand break (DSB)-induced signaling and DNA repair. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of Net1A in human breast cancer cells reduced IR-stimulated ATM activation and signaling to its substrates Chk2 and H2AX. In addition, suppression of Net1A expression adversely affected cell survival after IR. We also observed that Net1A overexpression significantly reduced γH2AX foci formation after IR, which required the unique N-terminal region of Net1A. Importantly, this effect did not require Rho GTPase activation by Net1A, and was not recapitulated by overexpression of RhoA or RhoB. Using comet assays, we found that Net1A depletion substantially slowed DNA DSB repair in response to IR. Intriguingly, knockdown of Net1A promoted non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) in the absence of DNA damage, and Net1A was found to co-immunoprecipitate with the DNA-PK complex in an IR-regulated manner. Taken together, these data suggest a model in which Net1A functions as a non-catalytic binding protein to control DNA damage response signaling and DNA repair to affect cell survival after IR. Citation Format: Wonkyung Oh, Jeffrey A. Frost. Regulation of ATM-dependent DNA damage signaling in human breast cancer cells by the RhoGEF Net1A . [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1782. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1782
BARRIERS TO GENE EXCHANGE BETWEEN CLOSELY RELATED CRICKET SPECIES. II. LIFE CYCLE VARIATION AND TEMPORAL ISOLATION.

The closely related field crickets Gryllus firmus and Gryllus pennsylvanicus are known to hybridize in a zone of contact that extends over more than 800 km from the Blue Ridge in Virginia to southern Connecticut. Here I present evidence that the extent of temporal reproductive isolation of the two cricket species varies along the length of the zone. Adults of G. firmus and G. pennsylvanicus occur synchronously in Connecticut but G. firmus matures significantly later than G. pennsylvanicus along the Blue Ridge in Virginia. Variation in the extent of temporal isolation is a consequence of intrinsic differences in the egg-to-adult development time of G. firmus from the two localities. In laboratory rearing experiments, there is little variation in development time among crickets from G. pennsylvanicus populations ranging from Vermont to Virginia. However, G. firmus from Virginia takes significantly longer to mature than G. firmus from Connecticut. Comparisons between species from neighboring localities show that lowland Virginia G. firmus take much longer to develop and are larger as adults than montane Virginia G. pennsylvanicus. In Connecticut, crickets of the two species differ very little in development time and body size. Patterns of variation in development time and body size are compared with similar data for frogs along one of the same environmental gradients and for field crickets along similar gradients elsewhere. Although G. firmus and G. pennsylvanicus are temporally isolated in Virginia, adults of the two species do occur together. Examination of Esterase genotypes of field-inseminated females and their progeny from a mixed population on the Blue Ridge suggests that pre-mating barriers other than temporal isolation are not effective in preventing gene exchange.
Modifications of a Larval Diet for Cabbage Loopers

Ascorbic acid, an essential dietary ingredient for development of Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), can be satisfactorily substituted with other ascorbic acid derivatives, such as sodium or calcium ascorbate. Light apparently affected ascorbic acid, probably through oxidation, which in turn affected larval development. In a greenhouse test under natural light conditions, only a diet containing α-toco-pherol produced insect development comparable to that of the control held in the dark.
Epidemiological characteristics and prevention measures for HFRS in Changping District,Beijing

Objective To analyze the epidemic characteristics of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in Changping District,and to provide evidence for prevention and control.Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was applied.Results During 1998-2011,135 cases were reported in the whole district,and no death reported.The incidence rate of HFRS was 1.34 per 100000.Cases were distributed mainly in the rural-urban fringe zone,and most were young adults.The ratio of male to female was 3.50∶1.The majority were migrant workers and farmers;the peak was in spring and winter.Surveillance data of rodents showed that the dominant host was mainly Rattus norvegicus,and antigen positive rate was 1.48%.Conclusion Although the epidemic of HFRS in Changping had been mitigated,vigilance should not be relaxed,surveillance should be further strengthened,rodent control and other measures should still be promoted.
Anaïs, Henry, and June: Reading Nonmonogamy in Literature

ABSTRACTThis article proposes a new reading methodology based on consensual nonmonogamous practices. Such a methodology, applied to texts whose characters engage in extramarital affairs, would shift the discussion from the axis of legitimacy/illegitimacy to an understanding of relationships based instead on mutual consent and sex positivity. Using Anais Nin's famous Journals (and particularly Volume I [1931-1934] and Henry and June: The Unexpurgated Diary (1931-1932) of Anais Nin) as paradigm, the author argues that the story of Henry and June is that of a coming of age of a polyamorous woman. This bold claim allows the author to compare this understanding of Nin with that of scholars and literary critics who read her affairs as illegitimate (notably critics who immediately responded to the scandalous revelations of her affairs with the publication of Henry and June in 1986). Reading Nin as a polyamorist rather than an adulteress transforms our understanding of her actions and even her persona as a writer...
A problem-solving approach to data analysis for economics

Data analysis for formal methods is constrained due to the lengthy dominance of the econometric view within economics. Best practice in statistics suggests a shift in emphasis from making statements about the sampling distribution of numerical data summaries to seeking data summaries that communicate well. The process philosophy perspective informing the original institutionalists and also evident in the tradition of Keynes is amenable to drawing from current developments in the field of statistics toward this goal. Compared to the econometric approach, it emphasizes data analysis over statistical inference, problem- solving over theory testing, and algorithmic over analytic mathematics. In the choice of tools made possible by current technology, it favors general purpose tools that are adaptable. It favors the instrumental efficacy of computational thinking, visualization, exploration, and discovery over the ceremonial aspects of the mathematical rhetoric of economics. It also encourages the attention to...
Distributed mini-batch random projection algorithms for reduced communication overhead

We propose a gossip-based mini-batch random projection (GMRP) algorithm that can reduce communication overhead for a distributed optimization problem defined over a network with a very large number of constraints. We state a convergence result and provide an application of the GMRP, text classification with support vector machines.
Measuring Electrodermal Activity to Capture Engagement in an Afterschool Maker Program

In this paper, we describe a new approach for exploring individual participants' engagement in youth maker activities. Participants were outfitted with wearable first person point-of-view still-image cameras and wrist-based electrodermal sensors. The researchers analyzed the recorded electrodermal data stream for surges in skin conductivity and compared them with the corresponding photographs based on their time-stamp. In following with prior work, these surges were interpreted as moments of engagement. A comparison sample was created to look at moments that lacked this psychophysiological marker. Results indicated that the two participants had both shared and divergent engagement with activities such as soldering, assembling, and programming.
Emergent Bloch Excitations in Mott Matter

We develop a unified theoretical picture for excitations in Mott systems, portraying both the heavy quasiparticle excitations and the Hubbard bands as features of an emergent Fermi liquid state formed in an extended Hilbert space, which is nonperturbatively connected to the physical system. This observation sheds light on the fact that even the incoherent excitations in strongly correlated matter often display a well-defined Bloch character, with pronounced momentum dispersion. Furthermore, it indicates that the Mott point can be viewed as a topological transition, where the number of distinct dispersing bands displays a sudden change at the critical point. Our results, obtained from an appropriate variational principle, display also remarkable quantitative accuracy. This opens an exciting avenue for fast realistic modeling of strongly correlated materials.
A systematic review of mechanisms of gait speed change post-stroke. Part 2: exercise capacity, muscle activation, kinetics, and kinematics.

AbstractBackground: Regaining locomotor ability is a primary goal in stroke rehabilitation and is most commonly measured using changes in self-selected walking speed. However, walking speed cannot identify the mechanisms by which an individual recovers. Laboratory-based mechanistic measures such as exercise capacity, muscle activation, force production, and movement analysis variables may better explain neurologic recovery.Objectives: The objectives of this systematic review are to examine changes in mechanistic gait outcomes and describe motor recovery as quantified by changes in laboratory-based mechanistic variables in rehabilitation trials.Methods: Following a systematic literature search (in PubMed, Ovid, and CINAHL), we included rehabilitation trials with a statistically significant change in self-selected walking speed post-intervention that concurrently collected mechanistic variables. Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. Walking speed changes, mechanistic varia...
Clinical outcomes of intestinal transplant recipients colonized with multidrug-resistant organisms: a retrospective study.

Rates of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) colonization among intestinal transplant (ITx) recipients have not been reported. Colonization rates with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were obtained retrospectively in adults undergoing ITx (isolated or multivisceral) from 1/2009 to 12/2015. We assessed for VRE, CR-GNB, and MRSA bacteremia during the first year post-transplant for patients colonized with VRE, CR-GNB, and MRSA, respectively, and for those who were not colonized. We evaluated whether the number of hospitalization days and one year post-transplant survival were different in MDRO-colonized patients. Forty-five ITx recipients were identified. Twenty-eight (62%) were colonized with MDRO [VRE in 22 (50%) patients, MRSA in seven (16%), and CR-GNB in six (15%)]. VRE and CR-GNB-colonized patients were more likely to develop VRE and CR-GNB bacteremia, respectively, than noncolonized patients [8/22 (36%) vs. 1/23 (4%), and 4/6 (67%) vs. 2/39 (5%), P < 0.05 for both]. There was no difference in one-year survival between MDRO-colonized and noncolonized patients. However, survival was lower among MDRO-colonized patients who developed VRE, CR-GNB, or MRSA bacteremia (P < 0.001). MDRO colonization was common among our ITx recipients. VRE and CR-GNB bacteremia was more common among colonized patients, and survival was lower among MDRO-colonized patients who developed bacteremia.
Immune monitoring of transplant patients in transient mixed chimerism tolerance trials

This review focuses on mechanistic studies performed in recipients of non-myeloablative bone marrow transplant regimens developed at Massachusetts General Hospital in HLA-identical and HLA-mismatched haploidentical combinations, initially as a platform for treatment of hematologic malignancies with immunotherapy in the form of donor leukocyte infusions, and later in combination with donor kidney transplantation for the induction of allograft tolerance. In patients with permanent mixed chimerism, central deletion may be a major mechanism of long-term tolerance. In patients in whom donor chimerism is only transient, the kidney itself plays a significant role in maintaining long-term tolerance. A high throughput sequencing approach to identifying and tracking a significant portion of the alloreactive T cell receptor repertoire has demonstrated biological significance in transplant patients and has been useful in pointing to clonal deletion as a long-term tolerance mechanism in recipients of HLA-mismatched combined kidney and bone marrow transplants with only transient chimerism.
Prevalence and Severity of Off-Centering During Diagnostic CT: Observations From 57,621 CT scans of the Chest, Abdomen, and/or Pelvis.

Purpose To determine distances between patient centroid and gantry isocenter during CT imaging of the chest, abdomen, and/or pelvis, and to evaluate differences based on patient gender, scan region, patient position, and gantry aperture. Materials and Methods A water phantom and an anthropomorphic phantom were imaged in the centered position in the CT gantry and at several off-centered positions. Additionally, data from 57,621 adult chest, abdomen, and/or pelvic CT acquisitions were evaluated. Data were analyzed with an analysis of variance using the centroid-to-isocenter data as the dependent variable and the other parameters as independent variables. Results The majority of patient acquisitions (83.7% (48271/57621)) were performed with the patient’s centroid positioned below isocenter (mean 1.7 cm below isocenter (SD 1.8 cm); range 12.1 cm below to 7.8 cm above isocenter). Off-centering in the x-axis was less severe (mean 0.01 cm left of isocenter (SD 1.6 cm)). Distance between centroid and isocenter in the y-axis did not differ as a function of sex but did differ based on scan region, patient position, and gantry aperture. Conclusion Off-centering is common during CT imaging and has been previously demonstrated to impact dose and image quality.
Africa and Human Rights

Studies of ‘human rights’ as norms that affirm respect for the dignity of individuals and groups tend to devolve into debates over definitions of human rights, or how universal or culturally specific human rights are. This chapter examines some of these debates, but focuses, primarily, on how human rights have been viewed, used, and memorialized in the history of Africa. The chapter argues that human rights are both universal and culturally specific norms that have been used as ideological instruments for contesting and reinforcing oppression. While appeals to human rights norms in the post-Second World War era had a catalytic effect on the transition from colonial statehood to postcolonial nationhood in Africa, the pursuit of human rights as social policy in Africa, after the end of colonial rule, has exposed the contradictory embrace of human rights as an organizing principle in African history.
Stent-Retriever Thrombectomy Across Circle of Willis

Objective Endovascular thrombectomy has become the gold standard for acute ischemic stroke intervention in appropriate patients. Occasionally, thrombectomy through the standard craniocervical artery related to the affected territory is not technically feasible due to patient-specific anatomic issues. Methods This is a retrospective review of cases where intracranial access was achieved via an unaffected circulation across the Circle of Willis. Results A technically successful thrombectomy is described in detail in 3 cases along with technical challenges encountered. Conclusions Thrombectomy across the Circle of Willis is a potential bailout technique for select, complex cases. Further investigation is warranted.
Introduction to Probability

This classroom-tested textbook is an introduction to probability theory, with the right balance between mathematical precision, probabilistic intuition, and concrete applications. Introduction to Probability covers the material precisely, while avoiding excessive technical details. After introducing the basic vocabulary of randomness, including events, probabilities, and random variables, the text offers the reader a first glimpse of the major theorems of the subject: the law of large numbers and the central limit theorem. The important probability distributions are introduced organically as they arise from applications. The discrete and continuous sides of probability are treated together to emphasize their similarities. Intended for students with a calculus background, the text teaches not only the nuts and bolts of probability theory and how to solve specific problems, but also why the methods of solution work.
Growth factor enhancement of the in vitro stem cell assay.

In vitro cultures in which clonal growth of cells was sufficient to form visible colonies in semisolid matrix were first developed for human cells several decades ago (Bradley and Metcalf 1966). These cultures were initially used to grow granulocyte macrophage precursors (GM-CFC and under presently defined conditions colonies of several hundred cells are realized after 7–14 days of culture. An absolute requirement for colony development of GM-CFC growth factors (GFs) are CSAs (colony-stimulating activities) (Metcalf 1977). With the identification of other hematopoietic GFs, it has become possible to clone cells of multilineage potentiality and colonies approximating 1,000 cells are formed in culture, and within these colonies are cells with the ability to form secondary colonies (self-renewal) (Johnson and Metcalf 1977). In these systems GFs are an essential requirement unless cells are cultured in high numbers, in which case colony growth can occur secondary to release of GFs from cells plated (Moore et al. 1973). Furthermore, using lower cell numbers in cultures supplemented with hematopoietic GFs, true clonogeneic growth has been demonstrated by the subsequent reculture in agar of single cells appearing early in cultures (Metcalf 1980). These initial observations stimulated investigations into the identity of GF requirements for leukemic and normal bone marrow cells. Studies showed that in almost all instances colony growth of leukemia cells was dependent on GFs, although in some instances growth was initiated at a lower concentration of these factors (Spitzer et al. 1978; Metcalf et al. 1974).
Proteolysis of platelet glycoprotein Ib by plasmin is facilitated by plasmin lysine-binding regions.

We have characterized the effects of plasmin on glycoprotein Ib (GpIb), a platelet membrane receptor for von Willebrand factor (vWF), and on glycocalicin, a fragment of the alpha chain of GpIb that contains the vWF-binding region. The addition of 4.5 X 10(-7) mol/L plasmin to washed platelets caused a time-dependent decrease in ristocetin- induced, vWF-dependent platelet agglutination. epsilon-Aminocaproic acid (EACA) inhibited plasmin release of glycocalicin-related antigen from washed platelets and preserved vWF-dependent platelet agglutination, thus indicating that the lysine-binding sites on plasmin facilitated its degradation of GpIb. To demonstrate a direct interaction between plasmin and the vWF-binding region of GpIb we incubated purified glycocalicin with plasmin. Plasmin degraded the glycocalicin into two small carbohydrate-poor peptides and into a larger carbohydrate-rich fragment. EACA was able to inhibit plasmin- mediated degra dation of glycocalicin in a concentration-dependent fashion. These studies indicated that plasmin degradation of GpIb was due to a direct interaction between plasmin and GpIb and that this effect was mediated by the lysine-binding region of the plasmin molecule.
Effect of introducing OrbeSeal into a dry cow management programme and the impact on farm economics

Optimal dry cow management is required to reduce the incidence of mastitis in the first 100 days of lactation. OrbeSeal is the only licensed teat sealer in the major EU markets, being used widely for the prevention of new intramammary infections throughout the dry period.
Malpractice Litigation in Brain Tumor Surgery: A 31-Year Analysis of Causative Factors in the United States from the Westlaw Database.

Background Medical malpractice litigation is an issue of major concern in neurosurgery, with 19.1% of neurosurgeons facing a claim annually. Neurosurgery possesses the greatest risk of malpractice of any specialty, likely owing to the complex clinical environment and disease severity. In the present study, we have characterized such litigation to determine the common factors that compel plaintiffs to file these claims. Methods WestLawNext, a prominent legal database, was used to identify all cases from 1985 to 2016 related to brain tumors. A total of 225 cases were identified, and each was analyzed for the cause of litigation (multiple causes were permitted). Because many had >1 ground for litigation, the reported percentages were based on the total counts of litigation rather than the number of cases. Additional information was collected from each case, including location, tumor type, and physician specialty. Results The cases were distributed across 36 states and U.S. territories: California (n = 42; 20%) and New York (n = 28; 13%) had the greatest number of cases. The top reasons for litigation were failure to diagnose (n = 109; 28%), failure to treat (n = 72; 18%), procedural error (n = 63; 16%), and failure to refer for diagnostic tests (n = 55; 14%). The most common diagnoses included pituitary adenoma (n = 26; 12%), acoustic neuroma (n = 27; 12%), and meningioma (n = 23; 10%). Conclusions Malpractice litigation contributes to high overhead and physician burnout and escalates the cost of patient care. We found that benign brain tumors were the most common in litigation and that surgical issues accounted for only a small percentage.
Replicating and Unraveling Performance and Behavioral Differences between an Online and a Traditional CS Course

In January 2017, a major public research university launched an online version of CS1 targeted at on-campus students to address rising enrollments and provide students with flexibility in their schedules. Prior research on this class has found positive outcomes: students in the course achieve the same learning outcomes as those in a traditional course, while reporting a lower time investment to reach those outcomes and a high level of student satisfaction. This research builds on that prior work in two ways. First, it replicates the findings from that earlier semester with an entirely new semester of students. Second, it delves deeper into the student experience within the online course and its traditional counterpart. This deeper analysis focuses specifically on the differing ways in which students in each section allocated their time, whether or not students in either section accessed the opposite section's material, and their future preferences in online vs. residential CS classes.
Counterfactual Reasoning for Process Optimization Using Structural Causal Models

Business processes are complex and involve the execution of various steps using different resources that can be shared across various tasks. Processes require analysis and process owners need to constantly look for methods to improve process performance indicators. It is non-trivial to quantify the improvement of a proposed change, without implementing or conducting randomized controlled trials. In several cases, the cost and time for implementing and evaluating the benefits of these changes are high. To address this, we propose a principled framework using Structural Causal Models which formally codify existing cause-effect assumptions about the process, control confounding and answer “what if” questions with observational data. We formally define an end to end methodology which takes process execution logs and specified BPMN model as inputs for structural causal model discovery and for performing counterfactual reasoning. We show that exploiting the process specification for causal discovery automatically ensures the inclusion of subject matter expertise, and also provides an effective computational methodology. We illustrate the effectiveness of our approach by answering intervention and counterfactual questions on example process models.
Association between CCR5-Δ32 homozygosity and mortality in 37,650 participants from three U.S.-based cohorts

An analysis of 409,693 UK Biobank participants recently published in Nature Medicine identified a relative 21% increase in all-cause mortality among participants who were homozygous for the Δ32 deletion in the C-C motif chemokine receptor 5 gene (CCR5).1 This is a timely and potentially cautionary result in light of He Jiankui’s controversial germline editing of CCR5 to induce mutations that putatively mimic the effects of Δ32, which is known to reduce the risk of HIV infection. To provide additional evidence on the association between the Δ32 deletion and mortality and assess its generalizability, we present results from three large-scale population-based US cohorts: the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS),2 the NHSII and the Health Professional Follow-Up Study (HPFS).3
Generating the Cabibbo angle in flavored gauge mediation models with discrete non-Abelian symmetries

As a next step in the exploration of a class of flavored gauge mediation models of supersymmetry breaking in which the mixing of the Higgs and messenger doublets are connected by a discrete non-Abelian symmetry, we investigate the generation of nontrivial mass hierarchies and mixing angles for the Standard Model matter fields. We consider here the case in which the Higgs-messenger symmetry, which we take for concreteness to be the discrete group ${\mathcal{S}}_{3}$, also plays the role of a (partial) family symmetry. Within the specific implementation of ${\mathcal{S}}_{3}$ studied here, we show that couplings at the renormalizable level can result in hierarchical quark masses, but do not lead to phenomenologically viable quark mixing parameters, requiring the inclusion of higher-dimensional operators. As a concrete exploration of this idea, we show that the Cabibbo angle can be generated within this framework via such nonrenormalizable couplings and explore the phenomenological implications of this scenario.
The 18Th Annual Critical Geography Conference

The 18th Annual Critical Geography Conference: Constructing a Radical Politics in an Age of Crisis took place in November 4–6, 2011, at Clark University, in Worcester Massachusetts. In this report ...
Modeling Small State Diplomacy in East Asia: How ASEANSimulations can Help Students Understand Regional Dynamics

Do small states matter in regional politics? American students often come to an East Asian Politics class with preconceptions about regional dynamics through “national interest” lens, and less genuine interests in smaller states. To challenge these preconceptions, I introduce ASEAN simulations to help students see regional dynamics through the lens of smaller states in the region. Students first establish information literacy on competing theories and country cases earlier in the semester through assigned readings and country presentations. Then they assume the role of country delegates in a series of ASEAN simulations on regional hot topics such as nuclear proliferation, territorial disputes, and humanitarian crisis. By creating an active and collaborative learning environment, students can develop in-depth understanding of how small states pursue foreign policy objectives and seek status collectively, while critically evaluating the role of great powers in the region.
Deconstructing the Complexities of Advance Care Planning Outcomes: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go? A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Advance care planning (ACP) has shown benefit in some, but not all, studies. It is important to understand the utility of ACP. We conducted a scoping review to identify promising interventions and outcomes. DESIGN Scoping review. MEASUREMENTS We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science for ACP randomized controlled trials from January 1, 2010, to March 3, 2020. We used standardized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses methods to chart study characteristics, including a standardized ACP Outcome Framework: Process (e.g., readiness), Action (e.g., communication), Quality of Care (e.g., satisfaction), Health Status (e.g., anxiety), and Healthcare Utilization. Differences between arms of P < .05 were deemed positive. RESULTS Of 1,464 articles, 69 met eligibility; 94% were rated high quality. There were variable definitions, age criteria (≥18 to ≥80 years), diseases (e.g., dementia and cancer), and settings (e.g., outpatient and inpatient). Interventions included facilitated discussions (42%), video only (20%), interactive, multimedia (17%), written only (12%), and clinician training (9%). For written only, 75% of primary outcomes were positive, as were 69% for multimedia programs; 67% for facilitated discussions, 59% for video only, and 57% for clinician training. Overall, 72% of Process and 86% of Action outcomes were positive. For Quality of Care, 88% of outcomes were positive for patient-surrogate/clinician congruence, 100% for patients/surrogate/clinician satisfaction with communication, and 75% for surrogate satisfaction with patients' care, but not for goal concordance. For Health Status outcomes, 100% were positive for reducing surrogate/clinician distress, but not for patient quality of life. Healthcare Utilization data were mixed. CONCLUSION ACP is complex, and trial characteristics were heterogeneous. Outcomes for all ACP interventions were predominantly positive, as were Process and Action outcomes. Although some Quality of Care and Health Status outcomes were mixed, increased patient/surrogate satisfaction with communication and care and decreased surrogate/clinician distress were positive. Further research is needed to appropriately tailor interventions and outcomes for local contexts, set appropriate expectations of ACP outcomes, and standardize across studies.
A rare case of osseous sarcoidosis presenting as lytic lesions 20 years after initial diagnosis.

A 70-year-old African–American woman with a history of biopsy-proven sarcoidosis with pulmonary and cutaneous manifestations diagnosed 20 years ago presented to her primary care physician (PCP) for an evaluation after two recent falls at home. Given the acute nature of these changes, her PCP
Saving Social Security Disability Insurance: Designing and Testing Reforms Through Demonstration Projects

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 partially addressed the poor state of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Trust Fund, over the short run and the medium run. At the time of the act, the fund was roughly one year from depletion. Over the short run, Congress reallocated some portion of the payroll tax funds from the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund to the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund to allow the continued payment of full benefits under the current system through fiscal year 2022. According to the most recent report (2017) of the Social Security Board of Trustees, the DI Trust Fund will be depleted in 2028. Looking toward the longer run, Congress took the opportunity to provide a mandate and resources for program redesign. Sections 821–23 of the Bipartisan Budget Act granted expanded authority for the Social Security Administration to engage in demonstration projects aimed at improving the opportunity for disability beneficiaries to remain attached to the labor force or return to work. In this working paper we build on our earlier writing, which proposes reforms to the SSDI program, and consider demonstration project designs that promote the testing of salient aspects of our proposals. We emphasize both a modular design for demonstration projects and the sequence of projects as important for designing effective demonstrations that speak to both administrative and congressional needs for information in the 2018–2028 time frame. We also consider other critical tenets that project designers should consider before fielding projects in the very near future.
Is China a New Colonial Power

We should not approach China in binary terms, as either friend or foe, but continue to promote human rights and democracy, contain aggression where we encounter it, and compete to help the developing world, rather than seeking to block China while providing little help of our own.
AIAP: A Quality Control and Integrative Analysis Package to Improve ATAC-seq Data Analysis.

Assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) is a technique widely used to investigate genome-wide chromatin accessibility. The recently published Omni-ATAC-seq protocol substantially improves the signal/noise ratio and reduces the input cell number. High-quality data are critical to ensure accurate analysis. Several tools have been developed for assessing sequencing quality and insertion size distribution for ATAC-seq data; however, key quality control (QC) metrics have not yet been established to accurately determine the quality of ATAC-seq data. Here, we optimized the analysis strategy for ATAC-seq and defined a series of QC metrics, including reads under peak ratio (RUPr), background (BG), promoter enrichment (ProEn), subsampling enrichment (SubEn), and other measurements. We incorporated these QC tests into our recently developed ATAC-seq Integrative Analysis Package (AIAP) to provide a complete ATAC-seq analysis system, including quality assurance, improved peak calling, and downstream differential analysis. We demonstrated a significant improvement of sensitivity (20%-60%) in both peak calling and differential analysis by processing paired-end ATAC-seq datasets using AIAP. AIAP is compiled into Docker/Singularity, and with one command line execution, it generates a comprehensive QC report. We used ENCODE ATAC-seq data to benchmark and generate QC recommendations, and developed qATACViewer for the user-friendly interaction with the QC report. The software, source code, and documentation of AIAP are freely available at https://github.com/Zhang-lab/ATAC-seq_QC_analysis.
CT-387: Prognostic Role of Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio in Pts Treated with CAR-T for Aggressive Lymphoma

Background Low absolute lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (ALC/AMC) predicts decreased survival in aggressive lymphoma (NHL) patients (pts) receiving chemotherapy and ASCT. We report the clinical significance of ALC/AMC and associated cellular phenotype changes in pts receiving chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of all pts who received axicabtagene ciloleucel for NHL at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, between 6/2016 and 12/2020. ALC and AMC were obtained from a clinical lab before lymphodepletion chemotherapy (LD). The receiver operator characteristic curve was generated using nominal logistic regression on ALC/AMC to predict complete remission (CR). Survivals were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Blood immune phenotypes were assayed by multiparametric flow cytometry. Results Low ALC/AMC (≤0.8, n=29) prior to LD was associated with a lower CR rate (AUC=0.68, p=0.0004). Baseline characteristics were similar between the low and high ALC/AMC groups (>0.8, n=52), except for the use of prior ASCT and bridging therapy. The low ALC/AMC group also had higher CRP on the day of CAR-T infusion and was associated with shorter EFS and OS (EFS: 2.6 vs 6.4 months, p≤0.0001; OS: 5.3 months vs not reached, p=0.0006). Prognostic association remained statistically significant on multivariate analysis, which included prior ASCT, bridging therapy, and CRP. Compared to the high ALC/AMC group, the low ALC/AMC group had decreased CD4 Tem and increased CD16+CCR2+ monocytes (n=26). In addition, when comparing patients who achieved CR initially and relapsed versus those who maintained durable CR for 6 months or longer, there was a difference in these phenotypes, as well as the number of CD27+CD45RA+CD62L+ CD8 T cells and PD-1+TIGIT+ T cells. Conclusion ALC/AMC is a clinically accessible test that is strongly associated with CAR-T response and survival. Immune characterization revealed that the biological effect is not just associated with cell numbers. Phenotypes, such as monocytes with inflammatory capacity and T-cell subsets, may further distinguish between primary refractory disease, early relapse, and durable response. These data could inform future therapeutic strategies to improve clinical outcomes with CAR-T. This study was supported in part by the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine and Henry J. Predolin Foundation.
SOURCES OF SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATIVE TERM LIMITATIONS IN THE STATES

In the elections of 1990 and 1992 the voters in 15 states approved initiatives imposing term limits on the state legislatures, by margins ranging from 77 to 52 percent. The purpose of this paper is to explain why the term limit initiatives passed and what factors may have caused variations among the states in the level of support. Among the factors considered are the characteristics of the legislatures and the strictness of the proposed limitations, as well as several aspects of the campaigns: the sources of support from within or outside the state, sources of opposition, the role of media, and differences in opinion and voting patterns of various groups in the state. The most important factor appears to have been how extensive an effort was made by opponents of term limitations.
Reply to Beall and Priest

In my “Deep Inconsistency” (Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 2002), I compared my meaning-inconsistency view on the liar with Graham Priest’s dialetheist view, using my view to help cast doubt on Priest’s arguments for his view. Jc Beall and Priest have recently published a reply to my article (Australasian Journal of Logic, 2007). I here respond to their criticisms. In addition, I compare the meaning–inconsistency view with Anil Gupta and Nuel Belnap’s revision theory of truth, and discuss how best to deal with the strengthened liar.
Chaos in Simple Quantum Systems

Chaos in classical systems will be reviewed. A test function for the existence of topological chaos, the Melnikov function, is shown to determine the existence of homoclinic points which imply classical topological chaos. The Melnikov function is generalized to semiclassical quantum ensembles and it is shown that quantum ensembles suppress the appearance of topological chaos. A kinetic equation is shown to exist governing fully quantum chaos. The conditions for its existence are new necessary conditions in the presence of quantum mechanics when classical topological ideas fail.
Rapid recovery of pineal function after partial denervation: a possible role for heteroneuronal uptake of transmitter in modulating synaptic efficacy

The pineal gland is innervated by sympathetic neurons whose cell bodies are located in the two superior cervical ganglia and whose axons reach the gland via the two internal carotid nerves (ICNs). Bilateral decentralization of the superior cervical ganglia, produced by lesioning both cervical sympathetic trunks (CSTs), abolishes the circadian rhythm in the activity of the pineal enzyme serotonin N- acetyltransferase (NAT). We have examined the effects on NAT activity of unilaterally cutting the ICN or the CST. During the first night after either operation, nocturnal NAT activity was reduced by 75% compared to controls. However, during the second night after unilaterally cutting the ICN, NAT activity was restored to control values, and normal enzyme activity was seen in these lesioned animals for up to 1 month after this operation. On the other hand, following unilateral decentralization of one superior cervical ganglion, enzyme activity was reduced for at least 5 months. The high enzyme activity in animals with one ICN cut was abolished by cutting the contralateral CST, indicating that the recovery of NAT activity depended on the remaining intact sympathetic neurons. Electrical stimulation of the intact ICN during the daytime in animals in which the contralateral ICN was cut produced an increase in pineal NAT activity which was greater than the increase seen when similar stimulation was performed in sham- operated animals or in animals in which the contralateral superior cervical ganglion had been decentralized. The time course of the recovery of nocturnal NAT activity after unilateral denervation of the pineal gland was similar to the time course of the decrease in norepinephrine uptake sites in the gland.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Control of Sequence Distribution of Ethylene Copolymers: Influence of Comonomer Sequence on the Melting Behavior of Ethylene Copolymers

New unbridged mixed-ligand zirconocenes were synthesized, characterized, and studied in the copolymerizations of ethylene−propylene (EP) and ethylene−1-hexene (EH). The MAO-activated metallocene [1-benzyl-2-(3‘,5‘-di-tert-butyl)phenylindenyl][2-phenylindenyl]zirconium dichloride (8) catalyzed EP and EH copolymerizations with products of reactivity ratios greater than one (rerp = 2.4, rerh = 2.2) to give rubbery, semicrystalline, high-melting polymers. Crystallinity was detected by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in both EP and EH copolymers containing only 50 mol % ethylene. Solvent fractionation of high ethylene content EH copolymers revealed that these copolymers were composed of a small ether-soluble fraction and heptane-soluble and heptane-insoluble fractions whose compositions and sequence distributions matched closely with those of the unfractionated polymer. Collectively, the reactivity ratios, DSC, and fractionation results gave evidence that these copolymers contained long crystallizable ...
Five year follow-up comparison of borderline and schizophrenic patients

HE TERM BORDERLINE is prevalent in clinical parlance and is often used to suggest a definitive diagnosis rather than a marginal or confusing diagnosis. Whether a specific category should be established for borderline patients in psychiatric nosology is an unsettled question, but borderline is discussed in the literature as though these patients are readily distinguishable in their psychopathologic manifestations, past history, course and outcome when compared to psychotic patients on the one hand, and neurotic or personality disorders on the other. This must, of course, be established by empiric investigation including systematic clinical assessments and the simultaneous evaluation of comparative diagnostic groups. Such studies are conspicuously absent in the literature. In a recent literature review, Gunderson and Singer1 identified certain clinical features which seem to be shared by borderline patients notably: a) superficial social skills and work adjustment; b) impulsivity; c) a variety of intense affects; d) brief ego dystonic psychotic experiences and; e) intense and unstable interpersonal relationships often disrupted by hostility. Since previous investigations of the borderline syndrome have not included systematic comparisons with other diagnostic groups, it cannot be said to what extent these characteristic clinical features are also distinguishing features. In an earlier report we contrasted hospitalized schizophrenic patients with hospitalized borderline patients,2 Having used psychotic symptoms as diagnostic criteria, we compared the patients on a variety of nonpsychotic symptoms, prognostic and outcome measures. There was considerable similarity in the nonpsychotic aspects of the clinical picture, but when dissociative symptoms were present they were more severe in the borderline patients. Affective symptoms were common in both groups, but the borderline patients had more difficulty with anger and less with anxiety than did the schizophrenic patients. The borderline patients had chaotic interpersonal lives (despite superficial adjustment), Surprisingly, we found these two diagnostic groups virtually identical in a battery of past history and prognostic variables. Assessment of two-year outcome in four areas (length of hospitalization, social contact, employment record, and symptom
Statistical separability of spectral classes of blighted corn

A study was conducted to determine the statistical separability of multispectral measurements from corn having varying levels of southern corn leaf blight severity. Multispectral scanner data in twelve spectral channels in the wavelength range 0.4 to 11.7 microns were analyzed for ten selected flightlines of the 1971 Corn Blight Watch Experiment. A total of 168 corn fields having 18,804 sample points were analyzed. The blight rating information for these fields was available from ground observations. Maximum average transformed divergence between spectral classes of all possible pairs of blight levels, maximized over a subset of channels, was computed in each of one, two, three, and four spectral channels for each of ten flightlines. From the statistical analysis of the values of average transformed divergence, it was concluded that the greater the difference between the blight levels, the more statistically separable they are.
Conditional Bayesian networks for action detection

The task of understanding video content has seen great interest from computer vision community with the increase in camera based surveillance at grocery stores, airports, train stations, etc. What makes up a scene (objects) and what happens in the scene (actions) are two important dimensions of video understanding. In this work, we aim to identify both actions and objects in the video, however, we focus only on the objects with which human interacts. We use videos which may have multiple actions taking place during possibly overlapping intervals. Our system can recognize actions having high intra-class variance performed in complex environments using objects of different types, sizes and shapes. We produce structured descriptions for the videos as output. The descriptions identify the subject, the object, the verb and the interval of each activity recognized.
Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Desymmetrization of meso-Aziridines

The enantioselective ring-opening of meso-aziridines with azide nucleophiles proceeded in the presence of a catalytic amount of a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst. The reaction affords the formation of the products in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the active catalytic species is a chiral silane that is generated in situ.