cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Loss of heterozygosity of selected tumor suppressor genes in parathyroid carcinoma.

Background The histologic diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is challenging. We evaluated a large PC series for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of selected tumor suppressor genes with histopathologic correlation. Methods Among 2,238 patients explored for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP), the cytoarchitectural parameters of 60 patients with surgical and/or pathologic suspicion for PC were examined by 1 pathologist. PC was diagnosed with ≥1 of the following: extracapsular, thyroidal, perineural, or angiolymphatic invasion; atypical mitoses; or metastasis. LOH was determined for PC or parathyroid adenoma (PA) using a panel of 12 tumor suppressor gene loci. Fractional allelic loss (FAL) was calculated as the percentage of loci with LOH divided by the number of informative loci. Results PC occurred in 0.8% of patients with PHP. Angiolymphatic (68%) and soft tissue (47%) invasion were the most common histologic findings. For PC, mean FAL was 32% vs 14% for PA (P = .03). Among informative cases, LOH was found at the HRPT2 locus in 7 of 14 (50%) PC vs 0 of 7 (0%) PA; the Rb locus in 4 of 15 (27%) PC vs 0 of 8 (0%) PA; the MEN1 locus in 6 of 15 (40%) PC vs 1 of 8 (13%) PA; and the 1p35.2–36.2 (including p21) locus in 8 of 13 (62%) PC vs 2 of 6 (33%) PA. Conclusion In PC diagnosed by strict histologic criteria, LOH for a selected tumor suppressor gene panel was common. Specific tumor suppressor genes such as HRPT2 demonstrated LOH in up to 50% of PC, while not seen in any PA. Evaluation of LOH may be useful for the definitive diagnosis of PC.
Hippocampal temporal-parietal junction interaction in the production of psychotic symptoms: a framework for understanding the schizophrenic syndrome

A framework is described for understanding the schizophrenic syndrome at the brain systems level. It is hypothesized that over-activation of dynamic gesture and social perceptual processes in the temporal-parietal occipital junction (TPJ), posterior superior temporal sulcus (PSTS) and surrounding regions produce the syndrome (including positive and negative symptoms, their prevalence, prodromal signs, and cognitive deficits). Hippocampal system hyper-activity and atrophy have been consistently found in schizophrenia. Hippocampal activity is highly correlated with activity in the TPJ and may be a source of over-excitation of the TPJ and surrounding regions. Strong evidence for this comes from in-vivo recordings in humans during psychotic episodes. Many positive symptoms of schizophrenia can be reframed as the erroneous sense of a presence or other who is observing, acting, speaking, or controlling; these qualia are similar to those evoked during abnormal activation of the TPJ. The TPJ and PSTS play a key role in the perception (and production) of dynamic social, emotional, and attentional gestures for the self and others (e.g., body/face/eye gestures, audiovisual speech and prosody, and social attentional gestures such as eye gaze). The single cell representation of dynamic gestures is multimodal (auditory, visual, tactile), matching the predominant hallucinatory categories in schizophrenia. Inherent in the single cell perceptual signal of dynamic gesture representations is a computation of intention, agency, and anticipation or expectancy (for the self and others). Stimulation of the TPJ resulting in activation of the self representation has been shown to result a feeling of a presence or multiple presences (due to heautoscopy) and also bizarre tactile experiences. Neurons in the TPJ are also tuned, or biased to detect threat related emotions. Abnormal over-activation in this system could produce the conscious hallucination of a voice (audiovisual speech), a person or a touch. Over-activation could interfere with attentional/emotional gesture perception and production (negative symptoms). It could produce the unconscious feeling of being watched, followed, or of a social situation unfolding along with accompanying abnormal perception of intent and agency (delusions). Abnormal activity in the TPJ would also be predicted to create several cognitive disturbances that are characteristic of schizophrenia, including abnormalities in attention, predictive social processing, working memory, and a bias to erroneously perceive threat.
Fast Matching for All Pairs Similarity Search

All pairs similarity search is the problem of finding all pairs of records that have a similarity score above the specified threshold. Many real-world systems like search engines, online social networks, and digital libraries frequently have to solve this problem for datasets having millions of records in a high dimensional space, which are often sparse. The challenge is to design algorithms with feasible time requirements. To meet this challenge, algorithms have been proposed based on the inverted index, which maps each dimension to a list of records with non-zero projection along that dimension. Common to these algorithms is a three-phase framework of data preprocessing, pairs matching, and indexing. Matching is the most time-consuming phase. Within this framework, we propose fast matching technique that uses the sparse nature of real-world data to effectively reduce the size of the search space through a systematic set of tighter filtering conditions and heuristic optimizations. We integrate our technique with the fastest-to-date algorithm in the field and achieve up to 6.5X speed-up on three large real-world datasets.
Morphine tolerance is associated with elevated levels of an uncharacterized endorphin (peak B) in mouse brain with no change in 3H-dihydromorphine binding

A partially characterized mouse brain endorphin was shown to be elevated (p 0.01 U-Test) in ICR strain mice that had been made tolerant but not dependent upon morphine (5 mg/kg sc., given for 32 days). The animals were tolerant to the antinociceptive effect of morphine as judged by the tail immersion assay (48 degrees C) but showed no detectable dependence or withdrawal syndrome effects following the administration of naloxone (writhing, jumping, diarrhea or hypermotility) on day 33. No significant changes were seen in any other mouse brain endorphins (p 0.05 U-Test). Also there was no apparent change in the number of binding properties of 3H-dihydromorphine (3H-DHM) receptors (mu-receptors) in chronic morphine (CM) treated, as compared with chronic saline (CS) treated animals.
Herbivory: effects on plant abundance, distribution and population growth.

Plants are attacked by many different consumers. A critical question is how often, and under what conditions, common reductions in growth, fecundity or even survival that occur due to herbivory translate to meaningful impacts on abundance, distribution or dynamics of plant populations. Here, we review population-level studies of the effects of consumers on plant dynamics and evaluate: (i) whether particular consumers have predictably more or less influence on plant abundance, (ii) whether particular plant life-history types are predictably more vulnerable to herbivory at the population level, (iii) whether the strength of plant–consumer interactions shifts predictably across environmental gradients and (iv) the role of consumers in influencing plant distributional limits. Existing studies demonstrate numerous examples of consumers limiting local plant abundance and distribution. We found larger effects of consumers on grassland than woodland forbs, stronger effects of herbivory in areas with high versus low disturbance, but no systematic or unambiguous differences in the impact of consumers based on plant life-history or herbivore feeding mode. However, our ability to evaluate these and other patterns is limited by the small (but growing) number of studies in this area. As an impetus for further study, we review strengths and challenges of population-level studies, such as interpreting net impacts of consumers in the presence of density dependence and seed bank dynamics.
A Top-Down Approach to Identification and Documentation of Critical Accounting Application Controls

SUMMARY: PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 5 prescribes assessing internal controls over financial reporting using a “top-down” approach. This paper describes a method for documenting internal controls that aligns the documentation for application controls to the overall top-down audit approach. This method identifies critical data flow paths by beginning with the general ledger and tracing data backward (down) through the system to its origin, effectively focusing on the critical data repositories in the financial reporting process. It also directs attention to the processes that affect critical financial data and to where controls related to those processes should exist based on management assertions about financial statement account balances. The approach is both more efficient and effective than traditional bottom-up documentation approaches.
Cost Effectiveness of Tympanic Thermometry in the Pediatric Office Setting

This study was designed to see if tympanic thermometry might be more cost effective than cheaper more traditional methods of thermometry when office staff time saved is taken into account. There were 224 patients enrolled from three private pediatric practices. Patients were alternately assigned to have their temperature taken with either a tympanic thermometer or with a rectal or oral thermometer depending on the patient's age. For each child enrolled in the study a nurse was asked to time the temperature taking process. Items included in the cost analysis: a) thermometer costs; b) disposable supply costs; c) personnel costs; d) equipment service costs. The mean duration of temperature taking was 35.2 seconds using tympanic thermometers, 73.4 seconds using electronic predictive thermometers, and 247.2 seconds using glass thermometers. In practices taking an average of 10 temperatures per day, tympanic thermometry saved $2,316/year when compared to glass thermometers and $442/year when compared to electronic predictive thermometers. The data presented in this study show that when nursing time is taken into account, tympanic thermometry is less expensive to perform than traditional methods of thermometry despite the initial higher cost of the thermometer.
Exaggerated Pressor Response in Relation to Attenuated Muscle Temperature Response during Contraction in Ischemic Heart Failure

It is known that muscle temperature (Tm) increases with exercise. The purpose of this study was to examine if contraction-induced increase in Tm was altered in rats with heart failure (HF) induced by chronic myocardial infraction (MI) as compared with healthy control animals. A temperature probe was inserted in the triceps surae muscle to continuously measure Tm throughout experiments. Static muscle contraction was induced by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve for 1 min. As baseline Tm was 34 °C, contraction increased temperature by 1.6±0.18 °C in nine health control rats and by 1.0±0.15 °C in ten MI rats (P<0.05 vs. control). Note that there were no differences in developed muscle tension and muscle weight between the two groups. In addition, muscle contraction increased mean arterial pressure by 23±3 mmHg in control rats and by 31±3 mmHg in MI rats (P<0.05 vs. control). A regression analysis further shows that there is an inverse liner relationship between the pressor response and static contraction-induced increase in Tm. Our data suggest that Tm increase evoked by contraction is impaired in MI rats. The abnormal alteration in Tm likely modifies the reflex cardiovascular responses in MI via mechanisms of temperature sensitive receptors on muscle afferent nerves.
Estrogen and Antiestrogen Effects on Neonatal Ovine Uterine Development

Abstract Postnatal development of the ovine uterus between birth and Postnatal Day (PND) 56 involves differentiation of the endometrial glandular epithelium from the luminal epithelium followed by tubulogenesis and branching morphogenesis. These critical events coincide with expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) by nascent endometrial glands and stroma. To test the working hypothesis that estrogen and uterine ERα regulate uterine growth and endometrial gland morphogenesis in the neonatal ewe, ewes were treated daily from birth (PND 0) to PND 55 with 1) saline and corn oil as a vehicle control (CX), 2) estradiol-17β (E2) valerate (EV), an ERα agonist, 3) EM-800, an ERα antagonist, or 4) CGS 20267, a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor. On PND 14, ewes were hemihysterectomized, and the ipsilateral oviduct and ovary were removed. The remaining uterine horn, oviduct, and ovary were removed on PND 56. Treatment with CGS 20267 decreased plasma E2 levels, whereas EM-800 had no effect compared with CX ewes. Uterin...
REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE THINNING FOLLOWING TREATMENT WITH FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION TRAINING

We evaluated four methods for increasing the practicality of functional communication training (FCT) by decreasing the frequency of reinforcement for alternative behavior. Three participants whose problem behaviors were maintained by positive reinforcement were treated successfully with FCT in which reinforcement for alternative behavior was initially delivered on fixed-ratio (FR) 1 schedules. One participant was then exposed to increasing delays to reinforcement under FR 1, a graduated fixed-interval (FI) schedule, and a graduated multiple-schedule arrangement in which signaled periods of reinforcement and extinction were alternated. Results showed that (a) increasing delays resulted in extinction of the alternative behavior, (b) the FI schedule produced undesirably high rates of the alternative behavior, and (c) the multiple schedule resulted in moderate and stable levels of the alternative behavior as the duration of the extinction component was increased. The other 2 participants were exposed to graduated mixed-schedule (unsignaled alternation between reinforcement and extinction components) and multiple-schedule (signaled alternation between reinforcement and extinction components) arrangements in which the durations of the reinforcement and extinction components were modified. Results obtained for these 2 participants indicated that the use of discriminative stimuli in the multiple schedule facilitated reinforcement schedule thinning. Upon completion of treatment, problem behavior remained low (or at zero), whereas alternative behavior was maintained as well as differentiated during a multiple-schedule arrangement consisting of a 4-min extinction period followed by a 1-min reinforcement period.
Effects of γ-Tubulin Complex Proteins on Microtubule Nucleation and Catastrophe in Fission Yeast

Although γ-tubulin complexes (γ-TuCs) are known as microtubule (MT) nucleators, their function in vivo is still poorly defined. Mto1p (also known as mbo1p or mod20p) is a γ-TuC–associated protein that recruits γ-TuCs specifically to cytoplasmic MT organizing centers (MTOCs) and interphase MTs. Here, we investigated γ-TuC function by analyzing MT behavior in mto1Δ and alp4 (GCP2 homologue) mutants. These cells have free, extra-long interphase MTs that exhibit abnormal behaviors such as cycles of growth and breakage, MT sliding, treadmilling, and hyperstability. The plus ends of interphase and spindle MTs grow continuously, exhibiting catastrophe defects that are dependent on the CLIP170 tip1p. The minus ends of interphase MTs exhibit shrinkage and pauses. As mto1Δ mutants lack cytoplasmic MTOCs, cytoplasmic MTs arise from spindle or other intranuclear MTs that exit the nucleus. Our findings show that mto1p and γ-TuCs affect multiple properties of MTs including nucleation, nuclear attachment, plus-end catastrophe, and minus-end shrinkage.
FIRST-COLLISION PROBABILITY OF AN INFINITE RECTANGULAR CYLINDER

(1965). First-Collision Probability of an Infinite Rectangular Cylinder. Nuclear Science and Engineering: Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 120-120.
Recycling continuations

If the continuations in functional data-structure-generating programs are made explicit and represented as records, they can be "recycled." Once they have served their purpose as temporary, intermediate structures for managing program control, the space they occupy can be reused for the structures that the programs produce as their output. To effect this immediate memory reclamation, we use a sequence of correctness-preserving program transformations, demonstrated through a series of simple examples. We then apply the transformations to general anamorphism operators, with the important consequence that all finite-output anamorphisms can now be run without any stack- or continuation-space overhead.
The merits of using experts or consumers as members of planning groups: a field experiment in health planning.

A field experiment is described which compared the innovativeness and quality of solutions from health planning groups made up of health services users—“activists” or professional consumers—and exp...
Build America Bonds: An Empirical Analysis of Characteristics and Issuer Benefits

We provide a comprehensive empirical analysis of the Build America Bonds (BABs) program. We show that the program benefits issuers in the form of lower yields relative to tax-exempt municipal debt for both general obligation and revenue issues. Our analysis suggests no differences in underwriter gross spreads for BABs issues at issuance relative to tax-exempt debt, and that issuance of BABs did not significantly affect prices of other tax-exempt bonds of the BABs issuers. Our analysis also examines characteristics of BABs issuers and factors influencing yields and gross spreads, and suggests that the BABs program was effective in achieving its objectives.
Pollination of the Passion Fruit in Hawaii

Preliminary observations made prior to this study showed that in certain areas the passion fruit ( Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener) plants did not set fruit satisfactorily. The present study indicated that the failure to set fruit was due to blossom rather than immature fruit drop. The percentage of blossom drop was found to vary from 21.6 to 64.4%. The passion fruit, a plant with perfect flowers, is self-sterile and insects are the principal pollinators. Among the 15 insect species found to be associated with the flowers, the carpenter bee ( Xylocopa varipuncta Patton) and the honey bee ( Apis mellifera L.) are the most important pollinators. The efficiency of pollination by natural pollinators acting together varied with locality. Lack of fruit set was found to be due not only to lack of pollination but also to other unidentified factors.
Selecting Cases for Intensive Analysis A Diversity of Goals and Methods

This study revisits the task of case selection in case study research, proposing a new typology of strategies that is explicit, disaggregated, and relatively comprehensive. A secondary goal is to explore the prospects for case selection by algorithm, aka ex ante, automatic, quantitative, systematic, or model-based case selection. We lay out a suggested protocol and then discuss its viability. Our conclusion is that it is a valuable tool in certain circumstances, but should probably not determine the final choice of cases unless the chosen sample is medium-sized. Our third goal is to discuss the viability of medium-n samples for case study research, an approach closely linked to algorithmic case selection and occasionally practiced by case study researchers. We argue that medium-n samples occupy an unstable methodological position, lacking the advantages of efficiency promised by traditional, small-n case studies but also lacking the advantages of representativeness promised by large-n samples.
Research Progress of Differentiation and Hybrid Breeding between Indica and Japonica Rices

Indica and Japonica rice hybrids easy to produce ultra-parents variations and heterosis,with vast reservoir of genetic potential.The rice yield further enhance hopes on the direct use of the subspecific heterosis,but achieving this goal still faces many difficulties,solution depends on the in-depth study of the mechanism of indica and japonica differentiation and hybrids heterosis.It was reviewed and prospected that origin and differentiation of Asian cultivated rice,classification methods and evaluation of the indica and japonica,history of hybrid breeding between indica and japonica,the main problems and solution in hybrid breeding between indica and japonica,the relationship between degree of differentiation of indica and japonica and heterosis of cross between indica and japonica,the relationship of subspecies characteristics and economic characters and the effects of ecological environments on the filial generation of cross between indica and japonica rice,to provide a scientific basis and references for direct use of the heterosis of cross between indica and japonica subspecies in super rice breeding.
Surveillance of Geohelminthes Disease in Menghai County in 2007

Objective To understand the epidemic trend and infection situation of soil-transmitted nematodes in Menghai County.Methods According to the regulation of National Monitoring Scheme of soil-transmitted Nematode Disease,surveillance site was established and soil transmitted nematode egg in feces was detected using the Kato-Katz tick smears method.Parasite eggs from the infected subjects were collected using adhesive tape.Ascarid eggs in soil were tested by the saturated sodium nitrate flotation method.Results Stool samples from 985 subjects were examined and the infection rate was 80.51%.The infection rates of ascarid,whipworm,hookworm and cestode were 61.62%,54.21%,33.20% and 0.71%,respectively.Twenty soil samples were tested,and 30% of the samples were positive for ascarid eggs.Conclusion The rate of nematodes infection is still high.A large quantity of ascarid eggs can be found in soil.
Research on Prediction of Cascade Performance Based on Fleld Calcation

Through optimizing and correcting the loss and the deviation angle model,the combination of the loss and the deviation angle model is developed which based on the calculation results of the S1 surface applied for the prediction of subsonic cascade performance.Meanwhile,the influence of the axial density flow ratios(AVDR)to the performance of cascade is considered and the relations between AVDR and deviation angle in the references is verified in the research.Through comparison and analysis of calculation and experiment result,the result verified the validity of the loss and deviation angle model,and provides the numerical prediction technology for the cascade of the blades.
How to Classify Tutorial Dialogue? Comparing Feature Vectors vs. Sequences.

A key issue in using machine learning to classify tutorial dialogues is how to represent time-varying data. Standard classifiers take as input a feature vector and output its predicted label. It is possible to formulate tutorial dialogue classification problems in this way. However, a feature vector representation requires mapping a dialogue onto a fixed number of features, and does not innately exploit its sequential nature. In contrast, this paper explores a recent method that classifies sequences, using a technique new to the Educational Data Mining community – Hidden Conditional Random Fields [Quattoni et al., 2007]. We illustrate its application to a data set from Project LISTEN's Reading Tutor, and compare it to three baselines using the same data, crossvalidation splits, and feature set. Our technique produces state-of-the-art classification accuracy in predicting reading task completion. We consider the contributions of this paper to be (i) introducing HCRFs to the EDM community, (ii) formulating tutorial dialogue classification as a sequence classification problem, and (iii) evaluating and comparing dialogue classification.
With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility: Keeping a Human Finger on the Killer Robot's Trigger

During the 23rd Human Rights Council Session in June 2013, nations, non-governmental organizations, and campaigns debated on whether the international community should ban “killer robots,” or autonomous machines such as Star Wars’ Battle Droids, from future war zones. Admittedly, everyone present at Geneva brought science fiction into reality for the first time. In this essay, I will look into what the arguments were for both sides. On one side, NGOs and campaigns urged the international community to ban killer robots for the sake of mankind and put them back into the toy box, where they forever belong. On the other side, countries currently producing predecessors of the killer robots argued that these robots would become a soldier’s new best friend, for they would save the lives of soldiers and civilians. But in the end, both sides failed to mention a simple phrase: with great power, comes great responsibility.
Food Passage and Intestinal Nutrient Absorption in Hummingbirds

Etude de l'adaptation de la physiologie digestive permettant a Selasphorus rufus et Calypte anna d'absorption des aliments sucres rapidement et efficacement
Notes on a Source for John Foxe's Account of the Marian Persecution in Kent and Sussex

Les quelques notes ecrites au dos de la lettre de John Hall par son frere Roger relatant les martyrs de quatre adeptes du culte marial dans le Kent et le Sussex apportent de precieux indices sur la facon dont John Foxe a compose son oeuvre «Acts and Monuments»
Myelopathy in Infantile Myofibromatosis

Infantile myofibromatosis (IMF) is a congenital disease characterized by formation of benign tumors either single or multiple, arising form cells supporting and binding the tissues of the body as well as smooth muscle tissues. The potentially massive tumors arise from the skin, subcutaneous tissues, muscles, bones, and viscera.
Parallel evolutionary optimization for neuromorphic network training

One of the key impediments to the success of current neuromorphic computing architectures is the issue of how best to program them. Evolutionary optimization (EO) is one promising programming technique; in particular, its wide applicability makes it especially attractive for neuromorphic architectures, which can have many different characteristics. In this paper, we explore different facets of EO on a spiking neuromorphic computing model called DANNA. We focus on the performance of EO in the design of our DANNA simulator, and on how to structure EO on both multicore and massively parallel computing systems. We evaluate how our parallel methods impact the performance of EO on Titan, the U.S.'s largest open science supercomputer, and BOB, a Beowulf-style cluster of Raspberry Pi's. We also focus on how to improve the EO by evaluating commonality in higher performing neural networks, and present the result of a study that evaluates the EO performed by Titan.
Production of low energy spread ion beams with multicusp sources

Abstract The use of multicusp sources to generate ion beams with narrow energy spread has been investigated. It is found that the presence of a magnetic filter can reduce the longitudinal energy spread significantly. This is achieved by creating a uniform plasma potential distribution in the discharge chamber region, eliminating ion production in the extraction chamber and in the sheath of the exit aperture and by minimizing the probability of charge exchange processes in the extraction chamber. An energy spread as low as 1 eV has been measured.
Education for Democracy and Resistance in Mississippi: Critical Pedagogy and Liberation in Southern Adult and Higher Education

This chapter includes a review of concepts central to critical pedagogy. We then describe how hegemony, domination, and social reproduction play out in Mississippi. We give attention to the ways in which the dominant ideology of White supremacist heteropatriarchy filters into everyday concepts of knowledge, vocabulary, and representational systems. We then describe models of emancipatory or liberatory education that have been proposed by critical pedagogues and others. We attempt to trace how resistance efforts in Mississippi map onto those models, and the ways in which they diverge. We close this chapter by theorizing how critical pedagogy might inform future efforts at liberation and resistance in Mississippi, as well as in other locations.
ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Chronic Ankle Pain.

Radiographs are indicated as the first imaging test in all patients with chronic wrist pain, regardless of the suspected diagnosis. When radiographs are normal or equivocal, advanced imaging with MRI (without or without intravenous contrast or following arthrography), CT (usually without contrast), and ultrasound each has a role in establishing a diagnosis. Furthermore, these examinations may contribute to staging disease, treatment planning, and prognostication, even when radiographs are diagnostic of a specific condition. Which examination or examinations are best depends on the specific location of pain and the clinically suspected conditions. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.
Longitudinal study of HIV protease mutations in oral tissues of selected patients

Twenty-nine HIV-1 infected patients from New Orleans were enrolled as a cohort for this study over a four and one half year period. HIV-1 protease gene (pro) sequences were amplified using DNA isolated from oral tissues (gingival cuff, buccal mucosa, tongue, palate) as well as saliva and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PCR products were directly sequenced using a combination of manual and automated methods, and nucleotide sequences were translated using the universal genetic code. Protein sequences obtained from independent amplifications of a particular patient at a given time were consolidated into a single consensus sequence and compared to HIV-1LAI to determine amino acid replacements. The major findings were: 1) each patient had a signature sequence that probably represented the predominant HIV–1 quasispecies; 2) over periods of 19 to 1673 days mutation patterns remained relatively stable within a given patient; and 3) although nearly 40% of the initial nonsynonymous replacements in the protease signature sequences were mutations known to impart resistance to protease inhibitors (PI), over time patients did not accumulate additional PIR mutations.
Diverse mitotic functions of the cytoskeletal cross-linking protein Shortstop suggest a role in Dynein/Dynactin activity

Proper assembly and orientation of the bipolar mitotic spindle is critical to the fidelity of cell division. Mitotic precision fundamentally contributes to cell fate specification, tissue development and homeostasis, and chromosome distribution within daughter cells. Defects in these events are thought to contribute to several human diseases. The underlying mechanisms that function in spindle morphogenesis and positioning remain incompletely defined, however. Here we describe diverse roles for the actin-microtubule cross-linker Shortstop (Shot) in mitotic spindle function in Drosophila Shot localizes to mitotic spindle poles, and its knockdown results in an unfocused spindle pole morphology and a disruption of proper spindle orientation. Loss of Shot also leads to chromosome congression defects, cell cycle progression delay, and defective chromosome segregation during anaphase. These mitotic errors trigger apoptosis in Drosophila epithelial tissue, and blocking this apoptotic response results in a marked induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker MMP-1. The actin-binding domain of Shot directly interacts with Actin-related protein-1 (Arp-1), a key component of the Dynein/Dynactin complex. Knockdown of Arp-1 phenocopies Shot loss universally, whereas chemical disruption of F-actin does so selectively. Our work highlights novel roles for Shot in mitosis and suggests a mechanism involving Dynein/Dynactin activation.
Solving 0–1 semidefinite programs for distributionally robust allocation of surgery blocks

We allocate surgery blocks to operating rooms (ORs) under random surgery durations. Given unknown distribution of the duration of each block, we investigate distributionally robust (DR) variants of two types of stochastic programming models using a moment-based ambiguous set. We minimize the total cost of opening ORs and allocating surgery blocks, while constraining OR overtime via chance constraints and via an expected penalty cost in the objective function, respectively in the two types of models. Following conic duality, we build equivalent 0–1 semidefinite programming (SDP) reformulations of the DR models and solve them using cutting-plane algorithms. For the DR chance-constrained model, we also derive a 0–1 second-order conic programming approximation to obtain less conservative solutions. We compare different models and solution methods by testing randomly generated instances. Our results show that the DR chance-constrained model better controls average and worst-case OR overtime, as compared to the stochastic programming and DR expected-penalty-based models. Our cutting-plane algorithms also outperform standard optimization solvers and efficiently solve 0–1 SDP formulations.
Multifield reheating after modular j-inflation

Abstract In the inflationary framework of cosmology the initial phase of rapid expansion has to be followed by a reheating stage, which is envisioned to end in a radiation dominated big bang. Key parameters that characterize this big bang state are the temperature at the end of the reheating stage and the baryon asymmetry. For general interacting theories these parameters are difficult to obtain analytically because of the involved structure of the potential. In this paper multifield reheating is considered for interacting theories in which the inflaton trajectory is weakly curved. This scenario is realized in the model of j-inflation, a particular example of modular inflation, allowing an estimate of the reheat temperature.
Environmental quenching of low-mass field galaxies.

In the local Universe, there is a strong division in the star-forming properties of low-mass galaxies, with star formation largely ubiquitous amongst the field population while satellite systems are predominantly quenched. This dichotomy implies that environmental processes play the dominant role in suppressing star formation within this low-mass regime (M_* ∼ 10^(5.5–8) M_⊙). As shown by observations of the Local Volume, however, there is a non-negligible population of passive systems in the field, which challenges our understanding of quenching at low masses. By applying the satellite quenching models of Fillingham et al. (2015) to subhalo populations in the Exploring the Local Volume In Simulations suite, we investigate the role of environmental processes in quenching star formation within the nearby field. Using model parameters that reproduce the satellite quenched fraction in the Local Group, we predict a quenched fraction – due solely to environmental effects – of ∼0.52 ± 0.26 within 1 < R/R_(vir) < 2 of the Milky Way and M31. This is in good agreement with current observations of the Local Volume and suggests that the majority of the passive field systems observed at these distances are quenched via environmental mechanisms. Beyond 2R_(vir), however, dwarf galaxy quenching becomes difficult to explain through an interaction with either the Milky Way or M31, such that more isolated, field dwarfs may be self-quenched as a result of star-formation feedback.
A Mobile Health Intervention to Reduce Pain and Improve Health (MORPH) in Older Adults With Obesity: Protocol for the MORPH Trial.

Background: Chronic pain is a complex, age-related health issue that affects both physical functioning and quality of life. Because the impact of chronic pain is worsened by obesity and inactivity, nonpharmacological interventions that promote movement, reduce sitting, and aid in weight loss are needed to help manage pain symptoms among older adults with chronic pain. Objective: The Mobile Intervention to Reduce Pain and Improve Health (MORPH) pilot trial aims to develop and test the feasibility and acceptability of a novel, patient-centered intervention to reduce chronic pain and improve physical functioning in older adults, leveraging the combination of telecoaching and individually adaptive mHealth tools to decrease both body mass and sedentary behavior. Methods: MORPH comprises 2 phases, including a 1-year iterative development phase, and a 1-year pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). During the development phase, representative participants will engage in one-on-one structured interviews and a 1-week field test. The resulting feedback will be used to guide the development of the finalized MORPH intervention package. During the second phase, the finalized intervention will be tested in a pilot RCT (N=30) in which older adult participants with chronic pain and obesity will be assigned to receive the 12-week MORPH intervention or to a waitlist control. Primary outcomes include self-reported pain symptoms and physical function. Results: Phase 1 recruitment is ongoing as of December 2017. Conclusions: The MORPH intervention brings together a strong body of evidence using group-based behavioral intervention designs with contemporary mHealth principles, allowing for intervention when and where it matters the most. Given the ubiquity of smartphone devices and the popularity of consumer activity and weight monitors, the results of this study may serve to inform the development of scalable, socially driven behavioral pain management interventions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03377634; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03377634 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6yj0J5Pan) Registered Report Identifier: RR1-10.2196/9712
RNAi-based Approaches to the Treatment of Brain Tumors

The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) as an alternate mode of gene regulation utilized by eukaryotes has greatly expanded the arsenal of molecular tools that a biomedical researcher can employ to target tumors. Thus, it will be natural to extend this methodology from bench to the bedside as a novel mode of clinical intervention against intracranial tumors, as these are frequently refractive to conventional therapies, i.e. surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Induction of RNAi in the targeted tumor can be multifaceted, with two primary modes of therapeutic intervention postulated to date; delivery of in silico designed and in vitro synthesized non-coding RNA molecules to the tumor, or the pharmacological perturbation of non-coding RNA molecules that are endogenously expressed by the tumor. Both modes silence gene expression, but via somewhat different molecular pathways. Two key non-coding RNA molecules that are known to impart RNAi are small interfering RNA and microRNA. Both are currently under investigation in pre-clinical and clinical settings for their potential utility against tumors, with small interfering RNA already proving their efficacy in several small-scale clinical trials. However, despite demonstration of excellent potential as an anti-cancer therapy at the bench, the current inability to deliver therapeutically significant levels of RNAi into the diseased tissue remains a primary hurdle that needs to be overcome for widespread utility at the bedside. This chapter presents an update on both the latest methodologies that have been utilized for induction of RNAi in brain tumors, both in pre-clinical and clinical settings, as well as descriptions of the molecular pathways that have been targeted via RNAi. The pioneering RNAi-based clinical trials that have been tested against brain tumors are also described to illustrate both the utility and the impact of this novel mode of brain tumor therapy at the bedside.
Post-Socialism: Political Economy

This article focuses on the political economy of the reforms undertaken in the contentious climate of fragile democratic transition following the collapse of Soviet-style communism in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It first surveys the enormity of the tasks facing the reformers and the historical and political domestic context that shaped the initial debates about reform, and, ultimately, forged the reform pathways. The article then turns to the strong external pressures influencing economic reform, most significantly to those of the European Union. Collectively, these external pressures facilitated structural changes that resulted in highly liberalized and globally integrated CEE economies.
Assessment of a novel radiation reduction protocol for pediatric and adult congenital device implantation.

Device implantation requires fluoroscopic guidance, which carries inherent risks of ionizing radiation. We evaluated the impact of a low-dose fluoroscopic protocol on radiation exposure during device implantation. All patients who underwent pacemaker or ICD implantation with new transvenous leads from July 2011 to January 2018 were included. A novel ALARA protocol consisting of ultra-low frame rates (2–3 frames/s), low dose/frame (6–18 mGy/frame), and use of the “air-gap” technique in patients < 20 kg was employed. Demographics, procedural data, and radiation exposure levels were collected and analyzed. Thirty patients underwent device implantation without additional catheterization, electrophysiology study, or ablation procedure (median age 15 years; range 5–50) with a total of 43 leads placed. Forty-seven percent of patients had a primary rhythm disturbance, 33% had cardiomyopathy, and 20% had congenital heart disease. Fifty percent were pacemakers (53% dual-chamber, 27% ventricle, 20% atrial) and 50% of devices implanted were ICDs (87% single-chamber). All implants were acutely successful with acceptable atrial and ventricular sensing and capture thresholds. The median fluoroscopy time was 11.5 min (inter-quartile range (IQR) 8.0–18.2), median air kerma dose 4.0 mGy (IQR 2.5–19.5), and median dose-area product 27.8 μGy/m2 (IQR 17.1–106.5). Median implant procedure time was 133 min. One patient required revision secondary to device migration without lead derangement 2 days post-procedure. Use of a novel fluoroscopic protocol may help decrease radiation exposure to patients and staff without affecting efficacy or risk. These data may represent benchmarks against which future device implantation procedures can be compared.
Recognizing and Questioning the CT Education Paradigm

In 1962, Thomas Kuhn changed our understanding of scientific progress through his explanation of scientific paradigms and attribution of scientific advances to paradigm shifts. According to Kuhn, a discipline's paradigm drives research, provides explanations, and directs the accumulation of discipline-specific knowledge. In 2006 and 2008 Jeanette Wing authored articles that reignited interest in computational thinking (CT) education and CT education research. Wing's articles, arguably, set in place the conceptual foundations of the paradigm currently guiding CT education and paved the way for a fruitful decade of CT education research. We are concerned, however, that the present direction of CT education and research will not support CT as an integral part of K-12 education. In its current form, CT instruction focuses almost exclusively on teaching students to program and isolates CT from disciplinary content; perpetuating the persistent misconception that programming = CT. This approach to CT education may deprive students of the opportunity to adequately develop foundational CT skills (e.g. systems thinking, abstraction and generalization, data collection and utilization, solution evaluation) and may prevent teachers from persistently and meaningfully integrating CT into their curriculum. Through this talk, we identify features of the current CT paradigm, question their alignment with Wing's ideal of "computational thinking for everyone," and propose specific recommendations for expanding the current CT paradigm.
Effects of physiologic and pharmacologic agents on serum prolactin concentrations in the nonpregnant mare.

Four studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of several physiologic and pharmacologic agents on serum prolactin concentrations in the nonpregnant mare. An increase in prolactin measured in response to administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH; 50 micrograms, iv) was found not to vary (P = .20) in mares in estrus compared with mares in diestrus (5 to 10 d post-ovulation). Administration in the dopamine receptor blocker, metoclopramide (25 or 100 mg, im), rapidly increased serum prolactin, and the response was dependent on dose administered (total prolactin measured for 420 min was 3,362.7 +/- 182.1 ng for 25 mg, and 4,485.7 +/- 212.6 ng for 100 mg administered im; P less than .05), but not on route of injection (3,026.3 +/- 492.3 ng prolactin with 25 mg, iv; P less than .05). Similarly, sulpiride, a D-2 dopamine receptor blocker, induced an increase in serum prolactin, which appeared to be maximal at a dose of 25 mg (6,556.3 +/- 636.9 ng prolactin/420 min compared with 6,594.5 +/- 169.3 ng prolactin/420 min with 100 mg sulpiride; P less than .10). Finally, bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist, decreased serum prolactin compared with vehicle-injected controls, but the inhibitory effect was found only when basal levels of serum prolactin were highest (in May). These data suggest that mechanisms controlling prolactin secretion in the mare are similar to those described in other mammalian species, and that the seasonal decline in serum prolactin is not the result of increased sensitivity to the proposed prolactin-inhibiting factor, dopamine.
Activity of polygalacturonase produced by Cryphonectria parasitica in chestnut bark and its inhibition by extracts from American and Chinese chestnut

Abstract A purified polygalacturonase (PG) from culture filtrates of a virulent strain of Cryphonectria parasitica , Ep 155, caused browning of the inner bark of American chestnut. The enzyme also hydrolysed isolated cell wall materials from both American and Chinese chestnut bark in vitro . PG activity was detected in infected chestnut bark by a cup-plate assay, and by isoelectric focusing (IEF) and overlay-gel activity staining. A hypovirulent strain of C. parasitica , Ep 713, induced small cankers on American chestnut, and produced small amounts of PG in vivo as compared to its isogenic virulent strain Ep 155. Lower PG activity was also detected in cankers on resistant Chinese chestnut as compared to those on susceptible American chestnut, IEF and immunoblotting of the PG from infected bark against antibodies raised against the purified PG produced in vitro indicated that these enzymes were the same. Tannin isolated from the bark of American chestnut inhibited this PG more than tannin isolated from Chinese chestnut bark. A proteinaceous extract from Chinese chestnut bark, however, was about 15 times more inhibitory to the C. parasitica PG than a similar protein extract from American chestnut. This PG inhibitor was active also against the PG of C. lindemuthianum , but not the PG from Rhizopus sp. The high level of this nominally specific PG inhibitor in the resistant host lends further support to the hypothesis that PG is a virulence factor for C. parasitica and that its inhibition may contribute to the resistance of Chinese chestnut.
Craniofacial Cleft: A Case of Tessier 10 Cleft With a Novel Method to Repair Large Bilateral Colobomas.

Objective:To describe a reliable method utilizing large, rotation flaps to reconstruct a number 10 Tessier cleft.Design:This is a descriptive clinical case report.Setting:Pediatric teaching hospita...