cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How does a box work? A study in the qualitative dynamics of solid objects

This paper is an in-depth study of qualitative physical reasoning about one particular scenario: using a box to carry a collection of objects from one place to another. Specifically we consider the plan, plan1 ''Load objects uCargo into box oBox one by one; carry oBox from location l1 to location l2''. We present qualitative constraints on the shape, starting position, and material properties of uCargo and oBox and on the characteristics of the motion that suffice to make it virtually certain that plan1 can be successfully executed. We develop a theory, consisting mostly of first-order statements together with two default rules, that supports an inference of the form ''If conditions XYZ hold, and the agent attempts to carry out plan1 then presumably he will succeed''. Our theory is elaboration tolerant in the sense that carrying out the analogous inference for carrying objects in boxes with lids, in boxes with small holes, or on trays can reuse much of the same knowledge. The theory integrates reasoning about continuous time, Euclidean space, commonsense dynamics of solid objects, and semantics of partially specified plans.
Measuring Ethnic Labour Market Concentration and Segmentation

With the huge influx of immigrants into the United States in recent years, considerable efforts have been devoted to describing the extent and variation of labour market concentration across ethnic groups within or between regions. However, there is no consensus among social scientists on how to measure and identify ethnic labour market concentration patterns. The issues mainly include, firstly, how to define an employment sector—as an industrial or an occupational sector; secondly, how to break down employment categories; and thirdly the extent to which a job sector can be identified as an ethnic-concentrated sector, that is, what index and what threshold value should be used to define a ‘niche’ sector? Using the case of Chinese in the San Francisco Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area, this paper demonstrates how different choices could encourage different evaluation and understanding of multi-ethnic urban labour market segmentation processes.
Text Comprehension Products and Processes in Young, Young-Old, and Old-Old Adults

Aging may be associated with an increase in generalized text processing, particularly in adults older than 75 years. The current study examined text comprehension in young, young-old, and old-old adults. Experiment 1 included a comprehension measure (product) and Experiment 2 examined inferences generated during reading (process). Comprehension scores were lowest in old-old adults. Generalized and elaborative inference scores were highest in old-old adults. Participants over 65 years with the lowest scores on cognitive integrity variables also had significantly lower comprehension scores, but there was no effect of cognitive integrity on inference scores. This dissociation suggests that inferential processes may be maintained even when cognitive integrity and comprehension declines are present. Relevance to cognitive aging theories addressing text processing and self-regulatory processes is addressed.
Signals in Social Supernets

Social network sites SNSs provide a new way to organize and navigate an egocentric social network. Are they a fad, briefly popular but ultimately useless? Or are they the harbingers of a new and more powerful social world, where the ability to maintain an immense network-a social "supernet"-fundamentally changes the scale of human society? This article presents signaling theory as a conceptual framework with which to assess the transformative potential of SNSs and to guide their design to make them into more effective social tools. It shows how the costs associated with adding friends and evaluating profiles affect the reliability of users' self-presentation; examines strategies such as information fashion and risk-taking; and shows how these costs and strategies affect how the publicly-displayed social network aids the establishment of trust, identity, and cooperation-the essential foundations for an expanded social world.
Payer Coverage for Bronchial Thermoplasty: Shifting the Traditional Paradigm for Refractory Asthma Therapy

The advent of bronchial thermoplasty (BT) provides a novel therapeutic option for asthma refractory to traditional medical therapy. Insurance coverage poses significant frustration for centers performing BT. Although clinical research has provided evidence of the usefulness and long-term safety of BT, establishing "reasonability and necessity" remains a daunting challenge in securing private and governmental insurance coverage. As a result, obtaining coverage poses significant frustration for centers capable of performing BT for patients suffering from severe asthma. Until recently, BT had been categorized by a temporary set of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes as an emerging technology, service, or procedure (category 3). Based on increasing implementation of BT nationwide, the American Medical Association CPT Editorial Panel has assigned category 1 CPT codes for BT in their published 2013 professional edition. It is hoped that such a recommendation will reinforce the medical community's belief in the usefulness of BT and help facilitate decisions on insurance coverage. The ability to secure coverage for BT through physician advocacy and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services support will help move the treatment of refractory asthma forward.
Alienated: Immigrant Rights, the Constitution, and Equality in America

Acknowledgments Introduction: The Constitutional Immigration Law Paradox: How Do We Make Unequals Equal?1 Equality for All as a Constitutional Mandate (Noncitizens Included!) 2 Immigrants and the War on Terrorism after 9/113 Automatic Citizens, Automatic Deportees: Parents, Children, and Crimes 4 Building the Floor: Preserving the Fourth Amendment Rights of Undocumented Migrants 5 Hitting the Ceiling: The Right to a College Education 6 A Peek into the Future? Same-Gender Partners and Immigration Law 7 The Equal Noncitizen: Alternatives in Theory and Practice Notes Select Bibliography Index About the Author
Echocardiographic left atrial reverse remodeling after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is predicted by preablation delayed enhancement of left atrium by magnetic resonance imaging

Background Atrial fibrosis is a hallmark of atrial structural remodeling (SRM) and leads to structural and functional impairment of left atrial (LA) and persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study was conducted to assess LA reverse remodeling after catheter ablation of AF in mild and moderate-severe LA SRM. Methods Catheter ablation was performed in 68 patients (age 62 ± 14 years, 68% males) with paroxysmal (n = 26) and persistent (n = 42) AF. The patients were divided into group 1 with mild LA SRM ( 10%, n=37) by delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DEMRI). Two-dimensional echocardiography, LA strain, and strain rate during left ventricular systole by velocity vector imaging were performed pre and at 6 ± 3 months postablation. The long-term outcome was monitored for 12 months. Results Patients in group 1 were younger (57 ± 15 vs 66 ± 13 years, P = .009) with a male predominance (80% vs 57%, P P P P = .2), but it was not statistically significant. Group 2 had more AF recurrences (41% vs 16%, P = .02) at 12 months after ablation. Conclusion Mild preablation LA SRM by DEMRI predicts favorable LA structural and functional reverse remodeling and long-term success after catheter ablation of AF, irrespective of the paroxysmal or persistent nature of AF.
The role of hypothetico-deductive reasoning and physical analogues of molecular interactions in conceptual change

Two hypotheses about theoretical concept acquisition, application, and change were tested. College biology students classified as intuitive, transitional, or reflective (hypothetico-deductive) reasoners were first taught two theoretical concepts (molecular polarity and bonding) to explain the mixing of dye with water, but not with oil, when all three were shaken in a container. The students were then tested in a context in which they misapplied the concepts in an attempt to explain the gradual spread of blue dye in standing water. Next students were taught another theoretical concept (diffusion), with and without the use of physical analogues. They were retested to see which students acquired the concept of diffusion and which students changed from use of the incorrect polarity and bonding concepts (i.e., the misconceptions) to use of the diffusion concept to correctly explain the dye's gradual spread. As predicted, the experimental/analogy group scored significantly higher than the control group on a posttest question that required the definition of diffusion. Also as predicted, hypothetico-deductive reasoning skill was significantly related to correct application of the diffusion concept and to a change from the misapplication of the polarity and bonding concepts to the correct application of the diffusion concept to explain the gradual spread of the blue dye. Thus, the results support the hypotheses that physical analogues are helpful in theoretical concept acquisition and that hypothetico-deductive reasoning is needed for successful concept application and change. Educational implications are drawn.
Velocity Concepts and Prices

I. Introduction. Three concepts of velocity defined. — Various senses in which the term price level is used, 36. — II. Turnover of Media. Use of the turnover concept by Irving Fisher, J. M. Keynes, and R. G. Hawtrey, 37. — The neutralization of changes in turnover of media by changes in turnover of commodities, services, and securities, 44. — Support for this a priori contention found in the statistical studies of Carl Snyder, 48. — III. The Balance Concept of Velocity. Use of the concept by Irving Fisher, J. M. Keynes, and R. G. Hawtrey, 52. — Objections to the use of the concept, 55. — IV. The Expenditure Ratio. The relative merits of the expenditure ratio concept and the balance concept, 59. — The probability of the practical occurrence of changes in the expenditure ratio, 61. — Antithetical movements of consumers' and the business expenditure ratio, 63. — Exact neutralization of changes in expenditure ratios by changes in the other factors of the equation possible but improbable, 65.
Encapsulation of titanium dioxide in styrene/n‐butyl acrylate copolymer by miniemulsion polymerization

Miniemulsion copolymerization of styrene/ n-butyl acrylate was investigated as a means of encapsulat- ing hydrophilic titanium dioxide (TiO2) in a film-forming polymer. Dispersion studies of the TiO2 were first carried out to determine the choice of stabilizer, its concentration, and the dispersion process conditions for obtaining stable TiO2 particles with minimum particle size. Through screen- ing studies of various functional stabilizers and shelf-life stability studies at both room and polymerization tempera- tures, Solsperse 32,000 was selected to give relatively small and stable TiO2 particles at 1 wt % stabilizer and with 20 -25 min sonification. The subsequent encapsulation of the dis- persed TiO2 particles in styrene/n-butyl acrylate copolymer (St/BA) via miniemulsion polymerization was carried out and compared with a control study using styrene monomer alone. The lattices resulting from the miniemulsion encap- sulation polymerizations were characterized in terms of the encapsulation efficiencies (via density gradient column sep- arations; DGC) and particle size (via dynamic light scatter- ing). Encapsulation efficiencies revealed that complete en- capsulation of all of the TiO2 by all of the polymer was not achieved. The maximum encapsulation efficiencies were 79.1% TiO2 inside 61.7% polystyrene and 63.6% TiO2 inside 38.5% St/BA copolymer. As the density of the particles collected from the DGC increased from one layer to another, both the average particle size and the number of the TiO2 particles contained in each latex particle increased. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3479 -3486, 2006
THE GEOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF NUTRIENT–ALLELOCHEMICAL INTERACTIONS: A CASE STUDY USING LOCUSTS

We present the first data that comprehensively quantify the interactive effects on an herbivore of a plant allelochemical and dietary macronutrients. Locusts (Locusta migratoria) were reared across the fifth larval stadium on one of 20 foods with fixed total macronutrient content (42%), but varying in protein:carbohydrate (P:C) ratio (7:35, 14:28, 21:21, 28:14, or 35:7) and tannic acid (TA) content (0, 3.3, 6.7, or 10%). The effects of the allelochemical on consumption, nutrient uptake, body composition, development rate, and survivorship were highly dependent on the balance of macronutrients in the food. Mortality was low and independent of TA on the near-optimally balanced 21:21 food, but rose markedly with increasing TA levels as dietary P:C ratio became more unbalanced. The time course of deaths differed for excess P and excess C foods, suggesting different underlying causes. The major effect of TA in foods of low P:C ratio was to reduce the rate of intake, while TA in foods containing excess protein ...
Low Ubiquinone Content in Escherichia coli Causes Thiol Hypersensitivity

Thiol hypersensitivity in a mutant of Escherichia coli (IS16) was reversed by complementation with a plasmid that carried the ubiX gene. The mutant had low ubiquinone content. Complementation elevated the ubiquinone level and eliminated thiol hypersensitivity. Analysis of chromosomal ubiX genes indicated that both parent and mutant strains were ubiX mutants. The low ubiquinone content of IS16 was possibly caused by a ubiD ubiX genotype. A ubiA mutant also exhibited thiol hypersensitivity. Neither IS16 nor the ubiA mutant strain could produce alkaline phosphatase (in contrast to their parent strains) after 2 h of induction, thus showing Dsb− phenotypes. The phenomena of thiol hypersensitivity and low ubiquinone content may be linked by their connections to the periplasmic disulfide bond redox machinery.
Mr. Sunstein's Neighborhood: Won't You Be Our Co-Author?

In Six Degrees of Cass Sunstein: Collaboration Networks in Legal Scholarship (11 Green Bag 2d 19 (2007)) we began the study of the collaboration network in legal academia. We concluded that the central figure in the network was Professor Cass Sunstein of Harvard Law School and proceeded to catalogue all of his myriad co-authors (so-called Sunstein 1's) and their co-authors (Sunstein 2's). In this small note we update that catalogue as of August 2008 and take the opportunity to reflect on this project and its methodology.
The Solubility of Nickel in Sodium by a Tracer Technique

The solubility of nickel in liquid sodium of known purity under static near isothermal conditions was determined by a radioactive technique using nickel-63 as the tracer. The solubility varied from...
Analyzing Risk Factors for Morbidity and Mortality after Lung Resection for Lung Cancer Using the NSQIP Database.

Background Our goal was to develop a predictive model that identifies how preoperative risk factors and perioperative complications lead to mortality after anatomic pulmonary resections. Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study. The American College of Surgeons NSQIP database was examined for all patients undergoing elective lobectomies for cancer from 2005 through 2012. Fifty-eight pre- and intraoperative risk factors and 13 complications were considered for their impact on perioperative mortality within 30 days of surgery. Multivariate logistic regression and a logistic regression model using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) selection methods were used to identify preoperative risk factors that were significant for predicting mortality, either through or independent of complications. Only factors that were significant under both the multivariate logistic regression and LASSO-selected models were considered to be validated for the final model. Results There were 6,435 lobectomies identified. After multivariate logistic regression modeling, 28 risk factors and 5 complications were found to be predictors for mortality. This was then tested against the LASSO method. There were 7 factors shared between the LASSO and multivariate logistic regressions that predicted mortality based on comorbidity: age (p = 0.007), male sex (p = 0.011), open lobectomy (p = 0.001), preoperative dyspnea at rest (p 145 mEq/L) (p = 0.011), and preoperative anemia (p = 0.002). Of these, 3 variables predicted mortality independent of any complications: dyspnea at rest, dyspnea on exertion, and dysnatremia. Conclusions The clinical factors that predict postoperative complications and mortality are multiple and not necessarily aligned. Efforts to improve quality after anatomic pulmonary resections should focus on mechanisms to address both types of adverse outcomes.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection resulting in very late stent thrombosis

A 58-year-old man with a history of coronary angioplasty done to right coronary artery 6 years back presented to the hospital with sudden-onset chest pain for 1 h. His ECG on admission revealed ST elevation in leads II, III and augmented vector foot (aVF). The patient was thrombolysed with streptokinase, which resulted in resolution of chest pain and ECG changes. Three hours later there was reappearance …
Two New Amycle (Homoptera: Fulgoridae)

At the request of Dr. Edward S. Ross, we hereby validate the Van Duzee selected male lectotype of this species. It is Lectotype, California Academy of Science Ent. Cat. No. 2202, locality, San Diego Co., Calif., May 21, 1913 (E. P. Van Duzee). We are indebted to Dr. Ross for sending a paratype of A. saxatilis for study, as well as three undetermined specimens which are included under the following descriptions.
Abstract 2594: Ciclopirox inhibits lymphatic endothelial cell tube formation by suppressing VEGFR-3-mediated ERK signaling pathway

Ciclopirox olamine (CPX), an off-patent antifungal agent used to treat mycoses of skin and nails, has recently been demonstrated to be a potential anticancer agent. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Here for the first time we show that CPX inhibited lymphangiogenesis in an in vitro model (tube formation). This effect was in part associated with inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) expression, as overexpression of VEGFR-3 conferred partial resistance to CPX inhibitory effect on tube formation in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), whereas downregulation of VEGFR-3 mimicked the effect of CPX, blocking the tube formation. Further study revealed that CPX did not alter mRNA level, but inhibited protein synthesis and promoted protein degradation of VEGFR-3. In addition, we found that CPX inhibited phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), a downstream effector of VEGFR-3. Overexpression of VEGFR-3 attenuated CPX inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, whereas downregulation of VEGFR-3 inhibited extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation in LECs. Ectopic expression of constitutively active mitogen -activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MKK1) resulted in activation of ERK1/2, and partially prevented CPX inhibition of LEC tube formation. The results suggest that CPX inhibits LEC tube formation at least in part through inhibiting VEGFR-3-mediated ERK signaling pathway. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2594. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2594
Common problems and status on drug registration application dossier(1):regulatory information

The dossier completeness and data traceableness of drug registration application are important preconditions for conducting technical review.Through check and analysis on 1450 applications for dosage form change and generic of Traditional Chinese Medicines and chemical drugs,common problems and status on these applications are discussed in aspects of administrative information,CMC,pharmacology and toxicology,and bioequivalence sections.We expect drug registration applicants will attach great importance at application dossier preparing.This paper focuses on regulatory information.
Dreamlet compression of seismic data

For sparse representation of seismic data,simply treating the seismic data as picture is not enough,considering the physical feature of the seismic data in the procedure is needed as well.In this paper,we first study the seismic data sparse representation using the Dreamlet transform.Combining with the dispersion relationship,we then extend the Dreamlet transform to a multi-scale version.The Dreamlet transform is the tensor product of two 1D local harmonic transforms,which can preserve the wave properties in seismic data while providing local information in both time and space domain.2D SEG-EAGE salt model synthetic poststack and prestack data sets are used to demonstrate the validity of both the Dreamlet transform methods.Using the reconstructed data for migration,we can still obtain a high quality image of the sub-salt structure in 2D SEG-EAGE salt model.Meanwhile,numerical tests on 2D SEG-EAGE salt model synthetic prestack data show the potential in propagating the wavefield and imaging directly and efficiently in the Dreamlet domain.The Dreamlet method can outperform the Curvelet method especially for high compression ratios.
Mycoalgae biofilm: development of a novel platform technology using algae and fungal cultures

Microalgae is considered a promising source for biofuel and bioenergy production, bio-remediation and production of high-value bioactive compounds, but harvesting microalgae is a major bottleneck in the algae based processes. The objective of this research is to mimic the growth of natural lichen and develop a novel biofilm platform technology using filamentous fungi and microalgae to form a lichen type of biofilm “mycoalgae” in a supporting polymer matrix. The possibility of co-existence of Chlorella vulgaris with various fungal cultures was tested to identify the best strain combination for high algae harvest efficiency. The effect of different matrices for cell attachment and biofilm formation, cell surface characterization of mycoalgae biofilm, kinetics of the process with respect to the algae-fungi cell distribution and total biomass production was studied. Mycoalgae biofilm with algae attachment efficiency of 99.0 % and above was achieved in a polymer-cotton composite matrix with glucose concentration of 2 g/L in the growth medium and agitation intensity of 150 rpm at 27 °C. The total biomass in the co-culture with the selected strain combination (Mucor sp. and Chlorella sp.) was higher than the axenic cultures of fungi and algae at the conditions tested. The results show that algae can be grown with complete attachment to a bio-augmenting fungal surface and can be harvested readily as a biofilm for product extraction from biomass. Even though, interaction between heterotrophic fungi and phototrophic algae was investigated in solid media after prolonged contact in a report, this research is the first of its kind in developing an artificial lichen type biofilm called “mycoalgae” biofilm completely attached on a matrix in liquid cultures. The mycoalgae biofilm based processes, propounds the scope for exploring new avenues in the bio-production industry and bioremediation.
Identification of Jojoba Seed acyl-CoA:Fatty Alcohol Acyltransferase by Photolabeling with acyl-CoA Analog

The desert shrub jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis, Link) appears to be the only plant system that synthesizes large quantities of liquid wax. Two enzymes are specific to the wax biosynthetic pathway: fatty acyl-CoA reductase, which catalyzes the NADPH-specific reduction of the fatty acyl moiety of acyl-CoA to fatty alcohol, and acyl-CoA:fatty alcohol acyltransferase, which catalyzes the coupling of fatty acid to fatty alcohol.
A Case of Increased C5-OH Acylcarnitine

A 12-day-old male infant was brought to metabolism clinic to follow up an abnormal newborn screening result. The screening laboratory reported a 3-hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine (C5-OH)2 concentration of 170 μmol/L (reference cutoff value, <10 μmol/L). The child was born at term following an uneventful pregnancy. He was breastfeeding and developing normally with no concerns. A urine sample was collected for organic acid analysis by GC-MS. The results are shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1. Organic acid analysis of patient urine using GC-MS. Urine organic acids were extracted into ethyl acetate/ether and converted to TMS derivatives prior to analysis using a GC 6890N/MS 5975 system equipped with a DB-1 column (Agilent). IS, internal standard. There are a total of 7 separate conditions that may result in an increased C5-OH concentration by acylcarnitine analysis using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Because organic acid analysis by GC-MS is …
Surgical risk, functional outcomes, and late survival after lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS): Report of one hundred consecutive surgical cases

Introduction: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) approved lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in 2003. Despite approval, clinical adaption of LVRS has been poor. We describe our experience since the close of the National Emphysema Treatment Trial, reporting on the safety, intermediate efficacy, and late survival of LVRS at a single center. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on 100 consecutive patients who were consented for bilateral LVRS at our institution between 2004 and 2014. Results: Two patients were limited to a unilateral procedure in the OR. Of the 98 bilateral procedures performed, 87% were VATS. Pre-operative characteristics: Age, mean - 62.3, FEV 1 - % of predicted - 25.8, RV - % of predicted - 211.4, DLCO 2 - % of predicted - 28.8, maximal workload (W, mean) - 37.4. Surgical results: surgical mortality (6-month) – 0%, Length of hospital stay- median – 8 days, complications – prolonged air leak: 57 (57%), pneumonia 5(5%), respiratory failure 3 (3%), re-operation 3 (3%). 1, 2, and 5 year survival was .99, .97, and .79. Functional result (1-year, mean change from baseline): FEV1 % of predicted value 11.0, RV % of predicted value -62.6, DLCO % of predicted value 5.4, maximal workload (W) 10.8. Conclusions: These findings confirm that in an experienced center following NETT criteria LVRS carries a negligible mortality risk and can be performed routinely with minimally invasive techniques. Morbidity, with the exception of prolonged air leak, is also low. Furthermore, LVRS results in significant early improvement in both respiratory and functional status. Late survival after LVRS is excellent.
The hippocampus: detailed assessment of normative two-dimensional measurements, signal intensity, and subfield conspicuity on routine 3T T2-weighted sequences

The hippocampus has a critical role in many common disease processes. Currently, routine 3 Tesla structural MRI is a mainstay of clinical diagnosis. The goal of our study is to evaluate the normal variability in size and/or conspicuity of the hippocampal subcomponents in routine clinical 3 Tesla high-resolution T2-weighted images to provide a basis for better defining pathological derangements. Additionally, we utilize diffusion data acquired from a 17.6 Tesla MRI of the hippocampus as a benchmark to better illustrate these subcomponents. The hippocampus was retrospectively assessed on 104 clinically normal patients undergoing coronal T2-weighted imaging. The conspicuity of the majority of hippocampal subcomponents was assessed in each portion of the hippocampus. Additionally, easily applicable cross-sectional measurements and signal intensities were obtained to evaluate the range of normal, as well as inter- and intra-subject variability. The normal range of cross-sectional measurements of the hippocampal subcomponents was calculated. There was minimal side-to-side variability in cross-sectional measurements of hippocampal subcomponents ( L by 8.3%) and the CA4/DG (R>L by 5.8%). The internal architecture showed high variability in visibility of subcomponents between different segments of the hippocampus. Confident clinical assessment of the hippocampus requires a thorough knowledge of hippocampal size and signal, but also the internal architecture expected to be seen. The data provided in this study will provide the reader with vital information necessary for distinguishing a normal from abnormal exam.
Tumor Sequencing and Patient-Derived Xenografts in the Neoadjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) have increased recurrence risk. Molecular characterization, knowledge of NAC response, and simultaneous generation of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) may accelerate drug development. However, the feasibility of this approach is unknown. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 140 breast cancer patients treated with NAC and performed tumor and germline sequencing and generated patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) using core needle biopsies. Chemotherapy response was assessed at surgery. Results: Recurrent “targetable” alterations were not enriched in patients without pathologic complete response (pCR); however, upregulation of steroid receptor signaling and lower pCR rates (16.7%, 1/6) were observed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients with luminal androgen receptor (LAR) vs basal subtypes (60.0%, 21/35). Within TNBC, TP53 mutation frequency (75.6%, 31/41) did not differ comparing basal (74.3%, 26/35) and LAR (83.3%, 5/6); however, TP53 stop-gain mutations were more common in basal (22.9%, 8/35) vs LAR (0.0%, 0/6), which was confirmed in The Cancer Genome Atlas and British Columbia data sets. In luminal B tumors, Ki-67 responses were observed in tumors that harbored mutations conferring endocrine resistance (p53, AKT, and IKBKE). PDX take rate (27.4%, 31/113) varied according to tumor subtype, and in a patient with progression on NAC, sequencing data informed drug selection (olaparib) with in vivo antitumor activity observed in the primary and resistant (postchemotherapy) PDXs. Conclusions: In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of tumor sequencing and PDX generation in the NAC setting. “Targetable” alterations were not enriched in chemotherapy-resistant tumors; however, prioritization of drug testing based on sequence data may accelerate drug development.
Supporting the United Nations’ 2030 sustainable development goals: a call for international HRD action

While globalization is often framed as a positive force for change and development, particularly in the field of Human Resource Development (HRD), some argue that globalization has created an envir...
The City University of New York and the Shaughnessy Legacy: Today's Scholars Talk Back.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the publication of Mina Shaughnessy’s groundbreaking book, Errors and Expectations, a roundtable discussion was held at the March 2007 Conference on College Composition and Communication in New York City. This article, based on the earlier discussion, examines the question of CUNY’s multiple identities within the legacy of Shaughnessy, who coined the term “basic writing” and founded the Journal of Basic Writing in 1975. Composition theory and practice owe much to Shaughnessy’s work at CUNY’s City College in the 1970s against the backdrop of the University’s experiment with Open Admissions. Although much has changed since then, CUNY is still associated with that rich historical moment, and with the questions Shaughnessy and others at the time confronted. These questions, which grapple with the very nature of literacy and democracy, need to be reframed for our times. Contributors to this article include scholars from a number of CUNY’s 17 undergraduate colleges, each of whom begins with a quotation selected to focus attention on an issue of relevance today.
Universal Surface Engineering of Transition Metals for Superior Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution in Neutral Water.

The development of low-cost hybrid water splitting–biosynthetic systems that mimic natural photosynthesis to achieve solar-to-chemical conversion is of great promise for future energy demands, but often limited by the kinetically sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on the surface of nonprecious transition metal catalysts in neutral media. It is thus highly desirable to rationally tailor the reaction interface to boost the neutral HER catalytic kinetics. Herein, we report a general surface nitrogen modification of diverse transition metals (e.g., iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and nickel–cobalt alloy), accomplished by a facile low-temperature ammonium carbonate treatment, for significantly improved hydrogen generation from neutral water. Various physicochemical characterization techniques including synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and theory modeling demonstrate that the surface nitrogen modification does not change the chemical composition of the underlying transition metals. Notably,...
A peptoid supramolecular host for benzo[a]pyrene in water

Studies that identify a new supramolecular host for the highly toxic and prevalent carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BP) are reported here. By monitoring changes to absorption and fluorescence spectra, th...
Chapter 3 – Assessing science understanding: The epistemological vee diagram

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the epistemological vee diagram that can be used to assess the extent to which students are capable of gaining knowledge and value claims in the natural sciences. The V diagrams represent a substantial range of ability and interest levels. It is important to keep in mind that each diagram is a unique and idiosyncratic representation of the learner's understanding of the knowledge-making process. The focus question is the beginning point of any scientific investigation and typically addresses issues of what, when, how, or why. Choosing this question is almost certainly the most important decision a scientist makes and reveals much about his/her values and philosophy or worldviews. It is important for students to understand that science is limited in its reach to those things that humans can sense either directly or indirectly. Concepts are perceived regularities in objects or events that are designated by a sign or symbol. The signs and symbols that make up a language enable a person to communicate these regularities rapidly and succinctly.
Comparative study of sequence aligners for detecting antibiotic resistance in bacterial metagenomes

We aim to compare the performance of Bowtie2, bwa-mem, blastn and blastx when aligning bacterial metagenomes against the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD). Simulated reads were used to evaluate the performance of each aligner under the following four performance criteria: correctly mapped, false positives, multi-reads and partials. The optimal alignment approach was applied to samples from two wastewater treatment plants to detect antibiotic resistance genes using next generation sequencing. blastn mapped with greater accuracy among the four sequence alignment approaches considered followed by Bowtie2. blastx generated the greatest number of false positives and multi-reads when aligned against the CARD. The performance of each alignment tool was also investigated using error-free reads. Although each aligner mapped a greater number of error-free reads as compared to Illumina-error reads, in general, the introduction of sequencing errors had little effect on alignment results when aligning against the CARD. Given each performance criteria, blastn was found to be the most favourable alignment tool and was therefore used to assess resistance genes in sewage samples. Beta-lactam and aminoglycoside were found to be the most abundant classes of antibiotic resistance genes in each sample. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are pollutants known to persist in wastewater treatment plants among other environments, thus methods for detecting these genes have become increasingly relevant. Next generation sequencing has brought about a host of sequence alignment tools that provide a comprehensive look into antimicrobial resistance in environmental samples. However, standardizing practices in ARG metagenomic studies is challenging since results produced from alignment tools can vary significantly. Our study provides sequence alignment results of synthetic, and authentic bacterial metagenomes mapped against an ARG database using multiple alignment tools, and the best practice for detecting ARGs in environmental samples.
First Report of Black Rot Caused by Xanthomonas campestris on Arugula in California

Arugula (Eruca sativa is a leafy crucifer that is grown in coastal California as a fresh market commodity in bagged salad mixes. In January 2016, a foliar disease developed on of commercial produced arugula in the Salinas Valley (Monterey County). Initial leaf symptoms consisted of chlorotic lesions with diffuse margins and black veins; lesions tended to originate from leaf margins and have an angular V-shape. As disease progressed, lesions became tan and dry, resulting in a papery leaf texture. Disease incidence in the affected field reached approximately 5%; however, due to quality standards, sections of the crop that exhibited any symptoms were not harvested, resulting in greater than 5% loss. Bright yellow, mucoid bacterial colonies were recovered when surface sterilized, macerated leaf tissue was streaked onto sucrose peptone agar. Five representative isolates originally from five different plants produced yellow mucoid colonies on yeast extract dextrose calcium carbonate agar and were gram-negative,...
Adequacy of Garrison feeding for Special Forces soldiers during training.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated whether Special Forces (SF) soldiers training in garrison would meet nutrient intake recommendations using the available garrison dining facility. Dietary intakes were obtained by a visual estimation method and selfreported food records from 32 SF and 13 support soldiers for 9 days. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured in nine soldiers from each group using doubly labeled water. Mean (± SD) total energy expenditure of SF (4,099 ± 740 kcal/day) was higher than support soldiers (3,361 ± 939 kcal/day, p < 0.01). Energy intake did not differ between groups. Median energy intake for all soldiers was 3,204 kcal/day. The nutrient intake goals of SF soldiers were not fully met by eating in the dining facility. Extending meal times and providing additional meals or “take out” foods may allow energy needs of SF soldiers (∼4,200 kcal/day) to be met, while reducing the reliance on potentially less nutritious outside foods.
Superresolution DoA Estimation With Circular Arrays Using Signal Segregation Algorithm in Conjunction With a Nulls-Synthesis Method

A method for superresolution direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimation of correlated signals using a circular array is presented. This is accomplished in two steps: 1) the directions of arrival and amplitudes of signals with angular spacing larger than the array beamwidth are detected using the array signal segregation using an iterative approach (ASSIA) and 2) signals with angular proximity smaller than the array beamwidth are separated using a novel closely spaced nulls-synthesis method (CNSM). It is demonstrated that the proposed ASSIA-CNSM is superior to the other superresolution DoA estimation techniques such as maximum-likelihood method. The experimental results indicate that ASSIA-CNSM can be effectively used to distinguish the DoAs of the signals with angular spacing as small as 0.15 BW (where BW is the array half-power beamwidth) and with signal-to-noise ratio as low as 5 dB.
El Crucifijo en las aulas: libertad de religión y libertad frente a la religión

After the case known as «Lautsi versus Italy» (a complaint before the European Court of Human Rights for the removal of crucifixes from Italian state schools), the author offers a reflection on religious freedom and non-denominational state. He compares various European models and shows how the supposed neutrality of secularism is false. This analysis includes the text of the author's oral intervention before the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of several member states.
'My School Is a Big School': Imagined Communities, Inclusion, and Ideology in Indian Textbooks.

This paper investigates the portrayals of schools in various textbooks used by the focal children at an anathashram (orphanage) in suburban New Delhi, India. It draws on data collected in the cours...
MiR expression in ovarian cancer (OvCa) and benign ovarian cystic masses (BOM) point to divergent molecular pathways of proliferation and metastasis.

e16557 Background: It is estimated that over 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed annually. The workup of ovarian mass and diagnosis of cancer present a significant challenge on both pa...
Pharmacist-Managed Inpatient Dofetilide Initiation Program: Description and Adherence Rate Post-Root Cause Analysis:

The aim of this article is to describe the pharmacist-managed dofetilide initiation program at Maine Medical Center (MMC), assess the adherence rate to 8 core clinical metrics, and review adverse e...
ForeWomen: Eunice Kathleen Waymon, Nina Simone, Talib Kweli, DJ Hi Tek, and the Politics of Self-Creation

In June 1954, Eunice Kathleen Waymon performed on an Atlantic City stage for the first time under the name Nina Simone. This performative self-creation is mirrored in the structure and lyrical content of one of her best-known songs, “Four Women,” in which each verse features Simone singing as a different woman. By examining the similarities between the varying accounts of Waymon’s transformation into Simone, and by conducting a close reading of Simone’s performances of “Four Women,” it is possible to understand Simone’s song as challenging representational politics by pluralizing identities. This strategic decision was underscored when the rapper Talib Kweli and DJ Hi Tek recreated “Four Women” as “For Women” on their 2000 record Reflection Eternal. “For Women” reproduces the structure and message of Simone’s original. Mimicking the logic of self-creation that Simone embodied both in her life and in “Four Women,” Kweli and Hi-Tek craft a song where Kweli transitions, often mid-verse, between rapping about each of these four women in the third person and taking on the first-person perspective of each woman. Understanding these two examples together illustrates the power and legacy of “Four Women” and its critique of representational politics and of the rigidity of unique subject positions.
Role of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors in airway reactivity and inflammation in an allergic mouse model of asthma.

Objective: Angiotensin II (Ang II) exerts its effects through two G-protein coupled receptors: angiotensin II type 1 receptors (AT1) and type 2 receptors (AT2). Both these receptor subtypes are poo...
The Bach Doodle: Approachable music composition with machine learning at scale.

To make music composition more approachable, we designed the first AI-powered Google Doodle, the Bach Doodle, where users can create their own melody and have it harmonized by a machine learning model Coconet (Huang et al., 2017) in the style of Bach. For users to input melodies, we designed a simplified sheet-music based interface. To support an interactive experience at scale, we re-implemented Coconet in TensorFlow.js (Smilkov et al., 2019) to run in the browser and reduced its runtime from 40s to 2s by adopting dilated depth-wise separable convolutions and fusing operations. We also reduced the model download size to approximately 400KB through post-training weight quantization. We calibrated a speed test based on partial model evaluation time to determine if the harmonization request should be performed locally or sent to remote TPU servers. In three days, people spent 350 years worth of time playing with the Bach Doodle, and Coconet received more than 55 million queries. Users could choose to rate their compositions and contribute them to a public dataset, which we are releasing with this paper. We hope that the community finds this dataset useful for applications ranging from ethnomusicological studies, to music education, to improving machine learning models.
Experimental Theology: Theological Anthropology and the Psychological Sciences:

The theology and psychology “conversation” is currently constrained by a series of seemingly intractable difficulties, ranging from competing methodological commitments to assumptions about theolog...
Modulating the Immune Response Towards a Neuroregenerative Peri-injury Milieu After Cerebral Hemorrhage

Cerebral hemorrhages account for 15–20 % of stroke sub-types and have very poor prognoses. The mortality rate for cerebral hemorrhage patients is between 40 and 50 %, of which at least half of the deaths occur within the first 2 days, and 75 % of survivors are incapable of living independently after 1 year. Current emergency interventions involve lowering blood pressure and reducing intracranial pressure by controlled ventilations or, in the worst case scenarios, surgical intervention. Some hemostatic and coagulatherapeutic interventions are being investigated, although a few that were promising in experimental studies have failed in clinical trials. No significant immunomodulatory intervention, however, exists for clinical management of cerebral hemorrhage. The inflammatory response following cerebral hemorrhage is particularly harmful in the acute stage because blood–brain barrier disruption is amplified and surrounding tissue is destroyed by secreted proteases and reactive oxygen species from infiltrated leukocytes. In this review, we discuss both the destructive and regenerative roles the immune response play following cerebral hemorrhage and focus on microglia, macrophages, and T-lymphocytes as the primary agents directing the response. Microglia, macrophages, and T-lymphocytes each have sub-types that significantly influence the over-arching immune response towards either a pro-inflammatory, destructive, or an anti-inflammatory, regenerative, state. Both pre-clinical and clinical studies of cerebral hemorrhages that selectively target these immune cells are reviewed and we suggest immunomodulatory therapies that reduce inflammation, while augmenting neural repair, will improve overall cerebral hemorrhage outcomes.
Reclaiming garbage and education: Java memory leaks

The language wars continue: seasoned educators debate the merits and demerits of different languages, especially with respect to teaching CS1; students demand instruction on specific skills, in anticipation of job demands. Java is welcomed by educators because it skirts the complex topic of memory management. Yet Java memory leaks do occur, causing significant performance degradation and failure. Underlying the problem of Java memory leaks is a poor understanding of background tasks such as memory management and the imperfect process of garbage collection. Educators do a disservice to their students when they fail to examine language implementation details. Regardless of the language chosen, introductory courses should cover memory management concepts in sufficient detail. Only then can students recognize software design factors that impact correctness and performance.