cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of Abnormal Mammary Growth by Large Amounts of Estrogenic Hormone

Purified estrogenic hormones (theelin and theelol)∗ induced a growth of the mammary duct system (Turner, et al.1) Theelin stimulated a growth of the mammary duct system of male mice (Turner and Gomez2; Gardner, Diddle, Allen, and Strong3). The extent and type of development were comparable with that observed in mature virgin female mice or male mice bearing ovarian grafts (Gardner4).The water soluble hormone (theelin) in daily doses of 1 to 5 rat units administered subcutaneously in 2 injections induced a localized excessive development of lobules of alveoli along the mammary ducts of male mice of one strain (C3H). A high percentage of females of this strain developed mammary cancer. Similar lobules of alveoli have been found in the mammary glands of male mice from one other cancer susceptible and one cancer resistant strain when theelin had been administered for periods of several months.The present observations were made on male mice from 2 cancer susceptible strains (A and C3H), which were given weekly...
Entomology in the Pacific Branch—Plus and Minus Fifty Years: Insecticides and Acaricides

I was indeed pleased and flattered to be asked to give this address. I have always maintained a keen interest in history—particularly the events pertinent to Entomology. To prepare this paper was no chore—it was a joy. I become somewhat vexed at times when youngsters do not share my enthusiasm for history. So often doctoral candidates know virtually nothing of the early developments of the biological sciences and less about their own specialty.
Participant Retention in a Clinical Study of Early Childhood Caries

Evaluate retention efforts in an ongoing longitudinal multi-site study to develop a self-administered, simple-to-score caries risk tool to identify young children at risk of developing dental caries through medical settings. Preliminary study data had suggested that expected retention rates within a year of follow up, without any intermediate contact, would be approx. 75% in the target population. 1,326 primary caregiver/infant (1 year ± 3 months) pairs were enrolled at baseline across three study sites (Duke University, Indiana University, University of Iowa). Children were …
Diphenylphosphino Styrene-Containing Homopolymers: Influence of Alkylation and Mobile Anions on Physical Properties

Conventional free radical polymerization and post-alkylation of 4-diphenylphosphino styrene (DPPS) generate a new class of high-molecular-weight phosphonium-containing homopolymers with tunable thermal, viscoelastic, and wetting properties. Post-alkylation and subsequent anion exchange provide an effective method for tuning Tg values and thermal stability as a function of alkyl chain length and counteranion selection (X(-) , BF4 (-) , TfO(-) , and Tf2 N(-) ). Rheological characterization facilitates the generation of time-temperature-superposition (TTS) pseudomaster curves and subsequent analysis of frequency sweeps at various temperatures reveals two relaxation modes corresponding to long-range segmental motion and the onset of viscous flow. Contact angle measurements reveal the influence of counteranion selection on wetting properties, revealing increased contact angles for homopolymers containing nucleophilic counteranions. These investigations provide fundamental insight into phosphonium-containing polymers, aiming to guide future research and applications involving electro-active polymeric devices.
Human upper esophageal sphincter. Response to volume, osmotic, and acid stimuli.

Abstract Upper esophageal sphincter responses to stimuli of intraesophageal infusion were studied in 9 normal human subjects. Upper esophageal sphincter pressures were measured utilizing a water-perfused multilumen catheter with radially oriented pressure-recording orifices. The central core of the catheter opened distally for infusion of test solutions. The six test solutions (distilled water, 0.9% NaCl, 1.8% NaCl, 3.6% NaCl, 0.1 n HCl, 0.2 n HCl) and sham infusion were administered in a randomized double blind manner on 3 to 9 different days in each subject. Tracings were read and data calculated before the code was broken. Infusion with all solutions increased upper esophageal sphincter resting pressure above sham. The upper esophageal sphincter thus responds to the presence of intraesophageal fluid, a volume response. Pressures during 0.1 n HCl infusion were greater than those during 0.9% NaCl infusion, which demonstrates that the upper esophageal sphincter responds to an acid stimulus. Any pressure response to solutions of varying osmolalities was indistinguishable from the volume effect alone in 6 subjects studied. Upper esophageal sphincter pressures were increased further by increases in the rate of infusion of 0.1 n HCl in the upper esophagus in 7 subjects studied. In addition, the closer to the upper esophageal sphincter the infusion was administered, the greater was the pressure response. The onset of the upper esophageal sphincter response to the presence of intraluminal fluid occurred at a mean time of 2.7 sec after the initiation of a bolus injection into the esophagus in 4 subjects studied. The mean duration of the upper esophageal sphincter pressure elevation, after cessation of the bolus injection, was 33.5 sec. We suggest that the human upper esophageal sphincter functions as a dynamic barrier to esophageal-pharyngeal reflux and possible subsequent tracheobronchial aspiration.
The role of beverages in a healthy diet: Key issues and guidelines

Abstract: Caloric beverage intake is not associated with energy compensation and is linked with increased energy intake, particularly of refined carbohydrates. This is a review of the health effects of all beverages, caloric and non-caloric and includes a ranking. The rankings placed drinking water as the preferred beverage to fulfill daily water needs, followed by tea and coffee, low-fat (1.5% or 1%) and skim (non-fat) milk and soy beverages, non-calorically sweetened beverages, a set of beverages with some nutritional benefits (fruit/vegetable juices, whole milk, alcohol, and sports drinks), and ending with the lowest priority for calorically sweetened, nutrient-poor beverages.
Photo-assisted adsorptive desulfurization of hydrocarbon fuels over TiO2 and Ag/TiO2

Abstract Photo-assisted adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) of hydrocarbon fuels using TiO2 and Ag/TiO2 adsorbents under mild conditions has been investigated. UV irradiation (λ = 365 nm) was directly introduced into the adsorbent packed bed. Typical UV flux at 1 cm from the UV lamp was 1.8–2.0 mW/cm2. Sulfur removal performance was evaluated by breakthrough experiments in the presence of UV and H2O. Results indicated that the sulfur removal capacity of TiO2 was increased by 50% during UV-assisted ADS. Ag/TiO2 adsorbents showed the highest UV-assisted capacity which was 6.35 mg S/g adsorbent using a model fuel containing 3500 ppmw sulfur (benzothiophene in n-octane) and 1000 ppmw H2O. In situ IR analysis were applied to study the effects of H2O and UV molecules on surface OH groups. The chemical state change of Ag caused by UV irradiation was characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS). Based on IR data, the enhanced desulfurization capacity of TiO2 under UV irradiation was attributed to the increase in the total number of terminal Ti(IV) OH groups. Multi-cycle experiments will be carried out later to study the stability of UV-activated sulfur removal sites and the photo-assisted sulfur removal mechanism will be investigated in the future.
Problems in the Analysis of Environmental Monitoring Data

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses problems in the statistical analysis of data that monitors the environmental effects of planned human alterations. “Alteration” indicates a long-term change like the installation of a power plant, sewage outfall or oil platform, rather than a short-term change like an accident or the temporary effects of building the power plant. “Planned” indicates that data are available from both before and after the alteration. The goal of this chapter is to compare the value of some biological parameter at the affected site before the alteration to the value after. This chapter argues that the right questions in impact assessment have only approximate and possibly multiple answers, requiring informal combinations of formal results. It follows with a theoretical treatment of the Before–After-Control-Impact (BACI) type designs, which extends and generalizes the research on Before–After-Control-Impact Paired Series (BACIPS) and concludes with the use of a control site as a covariate that may make acceptable effect estimates and variance estimates possible.
Estimation of Response Amplitude Operators for Ships via the Circular-Hyperbolic Decomposition

The frequency-domain analysis is commonly used to determine ship-motion characteristics, such as transfer functions and Response Amplitude Operators (RAOs). The Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) has been the most widely used technique to conduct such an analysis. Nevertheless, application of the DFT is not always desirable because of leakage. This problem cannot be eliminated unless the frequency content of a signal is known and all frequency components are rational multiples of each other. In this paper, we apply a recently developed closed-form decomposition technique, called the circular-hyperbolic decomposition (CHD), to estimate the RAOs of coupled heave and pitch motions using evenly sampled discrete ship-motion data. We show the advantages of the new technique over the DFT when leakage is present. We also introduce enhancements to the CHD in terms of a decimation parameter and a generalization for multiple signals. The results show that it is a promising technique.
Development and implementation of a standardized pathway in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for children with severe traumatic brain injuries

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. In 2003 and 2012, the Brain Trauma Foundation established and refined evidence-based guidelines for management of severe TBI in children. A recent multicenter study demonstrated an association between TBI guideline adherence and improved discharge survival. However, this study also showed large variation in adherence to pediatric TBI management at our level 1 pediatric trauma center, where overall adherence to fourteen pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) TBI clinical indicators was 64%. The aim of this quality improvement project was to increase TBI guideline adherence by implementing a standard care pathway for PICU management of children with severe TBI. A multi-disciplinary approach was utilized to develop the Pediatric Guideline Adherence and Outcomes (PEGASUS) care pathway, and iterative PDCA cycles were performed. Over an 18 month period following pathway implementation, overall PICU clinical guideline adherence rate increased to 80%.
Islamic Politics, Muslim States, and Counterterrorism Tensions

The US Global War on Terror and earlier US counterterrorism efforts prompted a variety of responses from Muslim states despite widespread Islamic opposition. Some cooperated extensively, some balked at US policy priorities, and others vacillated between these extremes. This book explains how differing religion-state relationships, regimes' political calculations, and Islamic politics combined to produce patterns of tensions and cooperation between the United States and Muslim states over counterterrorism, using rigorous quantitative analysis and case studies of Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. The book combines recent advances in the study of political institutions with work on religion and politics to advance a novel theory of religion and international relations that will be of value to anyone studying religion, terrorism, or Islamic politics. It also provides numerous insights into current events in the Middle East by extending its analysis to the Arab Spring and the rise of the Islamic State.
Quantile planes without crossing via nonlinear programming.

Abstract Background and objective: In this note we propose a nonlinear programming approach for simultaneous fitting of quantile regression models for two or more quantiles. The approach is straightforward, flexible and practical. We apply this approach to a dataset of lactic acid values from a screening dataset in childhood malaria. Methods: We carry out the fitting of simultaneous quantile regression models using a specific definition of a quantile as an expectation via nonlinear programming methods given certain monotonicity constraints. Results: We illustrate through simulations and examples that are new approach to simultaneous quantile regression is practical and feasible. The approach is supplemented by providing a bootstrap framework for confidence interval estimation. Conclusions: Our nonlinear programming approach towards solving the simultaneous quantile regression fitting is shown to be a practical approach that should appeal to statistical practitioners.
Integrins: Integrating the Biology and Therapy of Cell-cell Interactions.

Abstract Purpose Although the role of integrins has been described in a variety of diseases, these roles seem to be distinct. To date, no study has attempted to provide links to the various pathways by which such integrins can be involved in these diverse disease settings. The purpose of this review was to address this gap in our knowledge with the hypothesis that there is, in fact, a common pathway by which integrins may function. Methods This article provides an in-depth perspective on the discovery, development, and design of therapeutics that modulate cellular function by targeting integrin:ligand interactions by reviewing the literature on this subject; the review included the most recent results of clinical and subclinical studies. A MEDLINE search was conducted for articles pertaining to the various issues related to integrins, and the most relevant articles are discussed (ie, not only those published in journals with a higher impact factor). Findings It seems that the ligation of the integrins with their cognate ligands plays a major role in translating membrane dialogue into biological function. In addition, they also seem to play a major regulatory role that can enhance or inhibit biological function depending on the context within which such receptor:ligand interactions occur and the organ and tissues at which interactions occurs and is manipulated. Those studies that used statistical analyses have been included where appropriate. Implications Our findings show that anti-integrin treatment has the potential to become a valid coadjuvant in the treatment of several diseases including cancer, inflammatory diseases, HIv infection and cardiovascular diseases.
Ovarian Hormones Contribute to High Levels of Binge-Like Drinking by Female Mice.

Background Recently, the incidence of binge drinking by women has increased. Binge drinking is detrimental to women's health, yet the biological mechanisms that promote excessive drinking by women are not well understood. One method of assessing binge-like ethanol (EtOH) consumption in mice is the drinking in the dark (DID) test, in which mice drink sufficient EtOH to achieve intoxication. In this study, we directly compared male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) mice for DID and tested whether 17β-estradiol (E2) contributes to DID. We also measured whether DID varies throughout the estrous cycle and whether repeated intermittent DID impacts the estrous cycle. Methods Male, female, and OVX C57BL/6J mice were tested for DID for 2 hours per day on days 1 to 3 and for 4 hours on day 4 using a single bottle containing 20% EtOH. To measure the effects of E2 on DID, OVX mice were treated with estradiol benzoate (EB) or vehicle daily starting 2 weeks prior to the drinking test and throughout the DID procedure. In a separate group of experiments, EtOH consumption and estrous cycle phase were measured in freely cycling mice that were drinking EtOH or water 5 days per week for 2 or 6 weeks. Results Female mice consumed more EtOH than male and OVX mice. Treatment with EB increased EtOH consumption by OVX mice compared with vehicle-treated controls. However, EtOH intake did not vary across the estrous cycle, nor did long-term DID alter the estrous cycle. Conclusions These results demonstrate that ovarian hormones, specifically E2, contribute to increased EtOH consumption by female mice in the DID test. Although ovarian hormones contribute to this behavior, EtOH consumption is not affected by estrous cycle phase in freely cycling mice. This study provides a framework for understanding the factors that contribute to binge drinking in females.
Astatotilapia burtoni: A Model System for Analyzing the Neurobiology of Behavior

Most biomedical research is performed using a very limited number of “model” species. In part, this has resulted from a combination of full genomes, manipulation of genes, and short generation times in these species. However, the advent of low-cost sequencing and gene editing in any organism has increased the use of nontraditional organisms. Many scientists have paraphrased the adage by Krogh [Krogh, A. (2018) Science 70, 200−204] that for many biological problems some species will prove to be most convenient and useful to study. In particular, using organisms most suited to the specific research question can lead to novel insights about fundamental physiological, neurobiological, immunological, and neuroendocrine systems that can advance our understanding of the well-being and health of humans. In addition, such studies have led to new ideas about the evolution and mechanisms that control social behavior. Fishes constitute about 50% of all vertebrate species and are the most diverse vertebrate radiation....
Effect of Moisture and Graded-Layer Mechanical Properties on Deformation and Interfacial Adhesion

Controlling material properties over nanometer length scales is crucial for current and emerging high-density microelectronic device packages. Miniaturization of devices is increasingly limited by the ability to “connect” to the device, and the required packaging structures must be fabricated where layer thickness and feature sizes approach micron size scales while achieving the required mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Second phase additions such as sub-micron sized particles are often added to locally adjust the material properties of constituent layers in the complex package structure. This results in significant variation of mechanical properties over sub-micron length scales. Such manipulation of material structure and its effects on mechanical and interfacial fracture behavior are addressed using experimental and modeling studies. Underfill layers consisting of an epoxy matrix with dispersed silica beads are shown to exhibit variations of elastic and flow properties in excess of three-fold across the layer thickness. Mechanical properties are not only affected by the distribution of second-phase fillers, but also by the adhesion properties of the filler/matrix interface. Interfaces are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking associated with moisture which can lead to progressive debond growth at loads much lower than that required to exceed the critical interface fracture energies. Subcritical debonding is affected by temperature, humidity, and the bond chemistry of the interface. The effects of these variations are considered on the adhesive and subcritical debonding behavior of interfaces between model epoxy underfills and SiN x chip passivation. Implications for other constrained complex layered structures are considered.
Accountability in Paramilitary Operations

This chapter discusses the domestic legal basis of covert action and the accountability mechanisms that are in place to make covert action an effective aspect of U.S. foreign policy. The chapter provides an overview of key legislation and regulation and how it was historically put into place. It summarizes how Congress has interfered with PMOs over the years. It is argued that although no administration can hide a major PMO from Congress, there are also substantial congressional oversight limitations. First of all, there are a variety of evasive measures an administration can take to reduce the possibility and effectiveness of congressional interference into ‘secret wars.’ Secondly, there are often no strong incentives for the congressional oversight committees to rock the boat by interfering with an administration’s covert foreign policy.
Maximum life expectancies: revisiting the best practice trends

In this paper, we investigate maximum remaining life expectancy, a conditional measure of longevity that combines information about survival improvements and the ages at which they occur. Comparing across countries, we also examine the time trend in record remaining life expectancy and record total expected longevity. A substantial difference between life expectancy at birth and the maximum remaining life expectancy existed throughout most of the 19 th and 20 th centuries both for national and record measures, though the same group of countries holds the various record measures. The rising trend in the maximum and record life expectancy measures during this period shows that in addition to the well-known declines in early-childhood mortality, survival improvements were simultaneously taking place at other ages. The convergence of life expectancy at birth with the maximum life expectancy in the 1960s suggests that mortality selection at younger ages has decreased substantially, allowing the full population to anticipate a longer life. By combining information about mortality reductions and the ages at which they occur, our results present a link between demographic and epidemiologic transitions and highlight the temporal connection between childhood and adult influences on the historical trajectory of rising life expectancy.
Molecular Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis on Metal-Oxide Surfaces

The supported metals used widely in catalysis are aggregates or crystallites of various sizes, shapes, and compositions dispersed on stable large-surface- area metal oxides such as γ-Al2O3. Much has been learned about the structures of the metals in these materials from characterization techniques such as high- resolution electron microscopy (Chap.15) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) [4.1], and a strong foundation of quantitative catalytic reaction kinetics has been laid down [4.2], but there is still a gaping void in our understanding of how catalyst structure at the atomic and molecular level is related to performance. Progress has been made in filling this void from the foundation of molecular surface science of single metal crystals with simple adsorbates; these have yielded to structural determination by high-vacuum techniques such as low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS), and have been investigated as catalysts at high pressures in the same apparatus [4.3].
Evidence of Repeated Wildfires Prior to Human Occupation on San Nicolas Island, California

Understanding how early humans on the California Channel Islands might have changed local fire regimes requires a baseline knowledge of the frequency of natural wildfires on the islands prior to human occupation. A sedimentary sequence that was recently discovered in a small canyon on San Nicolas Island contains evidence of at least 24 burn events that date to between ~37 and 25 ka (thousands of calibrated 14C years before present), well before humans entered North America. The evidence includes abundant macroscopic charcoal, blackened sediments, and dis- crete packages of oxidized, reddish-brown sediments that are similar in appearance to sedimentary features called "fire areas" on Santa Rosa Island and elsewhere. Massive fine-grained sediments that contain the burn evidence are inter- preted as sheetwash deposits and are interbedded with coarse-grained, clast-supported alluvial sediments and matrix- supported sands, pebbles, and cobbles that represent localized debris flows. These sedimentary sequences suggest that the catchment area above our study site underwent multiple cycles of relative quiescence that were interrupted by fire and followed by slope instability and mass wasting events. Our 14C-based chronology dates these cycles to well before the arrival of humans on the Channel Islands and shows that natural wildfires occurred here, at a minimum, every 300-500 years prior to human occupation.
The $500 Million Question: Are the Democratic and Republican Governors Associations Really State Pacs Under Buckley's Major Purpose Test?

This Article offers a case study of Democratic Governors Association (DGA) and the Republican Governors Association, two central financial actors in recent state elections. Between 2002 and 2010, the period that this Article will cover, the Governors Associations participated in gubernatorial elections in forty-eight of fifty states and spent nearly half a billion dollars, yet they have largely escaped regulation by state elections officials in the very states where they lavish money electing governors. But the simple recipe for how the Governors Associations evade campaign finance regulations is not unique to these two groups. Potentially any multistate group may evade these state anti-­corruption laws in the same way.The Governors Associations are everywhere, but in a real sense, they are regulated almost nowhere. What little regulation falls on them is not imposed by the fifty states, but rather by the IRS, which requires the Governors Associations to report their income and spending. This IRS reporting reveals that much of the money filling the coffers of the Governors Associations is actually corporate. A majority of the corporate contributions (over 65%) comes from publicly traded corporations, which raises corporate governance issues as well as democratic concerns.
Sobolev Spaces and the Variational Formulation of Elliptic Boundary Value Problems in N Dimensions

Let \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^N.\) be an open set and let \(P\in\mathbb{R}\) with \(1 \le p \le \infty .\)
The Effects of Expecting to Teach and Actually Teaching on Motor Learning

Expecting to teach and (actually) teaching has been shown to enhance learning academic information, possibly due to increased motivation and engagement. Recently, expecting to teach has been shown to augment motor learning. The present study investigated whether expecting to teach and teaching enhances motor learning, and whether motivation or engagement could explain this effect. Two groups studied/practiced golf putting with the expectation of teaching the skill via video demonstration at the end of practice, while the other two groups studied/practiced without this expectation. Following studying/practice, half of the participants who expected to teach performed a 2-min video demonstration of golf putting (Expect/Teach group). The other participants who expected to teach simply practiced for an additional 2-min (Expect/No Teach group). Similarly, half of the participants who did not expect to teach performed a 2-min video demonstration (No Expect/Teach group), while the other half engaged in additional...
Insights into Criteria for Statistical Significance from Signal Detection Analysis

What is best criterion for determining statistical significance? In psychology, the criterion has been p < .05. This criterion has been criticized since its inception, and the criticisms have been rejuvenated with recent failures to replicate studies published in top psychology journals. Several replacement criteria have been suggested including reducing the alpha level to .005 or switching to other types of criteria such as Bayes factors or effect sizes. Here, various decision criteria for statistical significance were evaluated using signal detection analysis on the outcomes of simulated data. The signal detection measure of area under the curve (AUC) is a measure of discriminability with a value of 1 indicating perfect discriminability and 0.5 indicating chance performance. Applied to criteria for statistical significance, it provides an estimate of the decision criterion’s performance in discriminating real effects from null effects. AUCs were high (M = .96, median = .97) for p values, suggesting merit in using p values to discriminate significant effects. AUCs can be used to assess methodological questions such as how much improvement will be gained with increased sample size, how much discriminability will be lost with questionable research practices, and whether it is better to run a single high-powered study or a study plus a replication at lower powers. AUCs were also used to compare performance across p values, Bayes factors, and effect size (Cohen’s d). AUCs were equivalent for p values and Bayes factors and were slightly higher for effect size. Signal detection analysis provides separate measures of discriminability and bias. With respect to bias, the specific thresholds that produced maximally-optimal utility depended on sample size, although this dependency was particularly notable for p values and less so for Bayes factors. The application of signal detection theory to the issue of statistical significance highlights the need to focus on both false alarms and misses, rather than false alarms alone.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with end-stage renal disease hospitalized with diabetes ketoacidosis.

INTRODUCTION There is limited evidence to guide management in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on chronic hemodialysis admitted with diabetes ketoacidosis. Thus, we investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with ESRD admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). METHODS In this observational study, we used International Classification of Diseases Ninth/Tenth Revision codes to identify adult (aged 18-80 years) patients admitted to Emory University Hospitals between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2016. DKA and ESRD diagnoses were confirmed by reviewing medical records and by admission laboratory results. RESULTS Among 307 patients with DKA meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22.1% (n: 68) had ESRD on hemodialysis and 77.9% (n: 239) had preserved renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate >60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Compared with patients with preserved renal function, the admission blood glucose was higher (804.5±362.6 mg/dL vs 472.5±137.7 mg/dL) and the mean hemoglobin A1c was lower (9.6%±2.1 vs 12.0%±2.5) in patients with DKA and ESRD, both p<0.001. The rates of hypoglycemia <70 mg/dL (34% vs 14%, p=0.002) and <54 mg/dL (13% vs 5%, p=0.04) were higher in the ESRD group. During hospitalization, more patients with ESRD develop volume overload (28% vs 3%, p<0.001) and require mechanical ventilation (24% vs 3%, p=<0.001). There were no differences in hospital mortality (3% vs 0%, p=0.21), but length of stay (median 7.0 vs 3.0 days, p<0.001) was longer in the ESRD cohort. After adjusting for multiple covariates, patients with DKA and ESRD have higher odds of hypoglycemia (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.51 to 7.21, p=0.003) and volume overload (OR 4.22, 95% CI 1.37 to 13.05, p=0.01) compared with patients with DKA with preserved renal function. CONCLUSIONS Patients with DKA and ESRD on chronic hemodialysis had worse clinical outcomes including higher rates of hypoglycemia, volume overload, need for mechanical ventilation and longer length of stay, compared with patients with preserved kidney function.
Coming Out as an Intelligence Agent

In this chapter, we return to the figure of the individual spy, specifically through analyzing memoirs written by intelligence operatives themselves. Here we consider the ways in which agents have both outed themselves and been outed, and the goals achieved through outing oneself as a member of the intelligence community. The chapter considers the writing of a memoir—by an operative or a family member—as an emancipatory act, aimed at making visible what has been invisible within the intelligence community.
Genomic Analysis of the Only Blind Cichlid Reveals Extensive Inactivation in Eye and Pigment Formation Genes.

Trait loss represents an intriguing evolutionary problem, particularly when it occurs across independent lineages. Fishes in light-poor environments often evolve "troglomorphic" traits, including reduction or loss of both pigment and eyes. Here, we investigate the genomic basis of trait loss in a blind and depigmented African cichlid, Lamprologus lethops, and explore evolutionary forces (selection and drift) that may have contributed to these losses. This species, the only known blind cichlid, is endemic to the lower Congo River. Available evidence suggests that it inhabits deep, low-light habitats. Using genome sequencing, we show that genes related to eye formation and pigmentation, as well as other traits associated with troglomorphism, accumulated inactivating mutations rapidly after speciation. A number of the genes affected in L. lethops are also implicated in troglomorphic phenotypes in Mexican cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus) and other species. Analysis of heterozygosity patterns across the genome indicates that L. lethops underwent a significant population bottleneck roughly 1 Ma, after which effective population sizes remained low. Branch-length tests on a subset of genes with inactivating mutations show little evidence of directional selection; however, low overall heterozygosity may reduce statistical power to detect such signals. Overall, genome-wide patterns suggest that accelerated genetic drift from a severe bottleneck, perhaps aided by directional selection for the loss of physiologically expensive traits, caused inactivating mutations to fix rapidly in this species.
Abstract PO-196: Oral cancer disparity among African Americans

Introduction: Oral cancer caused thousands of deaths every year. The rate of oral cancer death is higher due to the late-stage discovery of oral cancer. Cancer health disparity is prevalent in indifferent racial/ethnic groups. African Americans are the primary victim of cancer health disparity. Here we directed a comprehensive review of available literature to observe the oral cancer disparity in African Americans. Method: We used various databases such as PubMed, Google scholar, and TMC (Texas Medical Center) library in July 2020. Software used to establish literature are EndNote and Zotero software. Search terms and methods used are [Oral Cancer] AND [African Americans], [Cancer Disparity] AND [African Americans], and [Oral Cancer] AND[Racial Disparity]. We found several articles that match our criteria. After reviewing the text, a table has been generated to conclude the articles. Result: Studies show varied results. Some studies showed a higher rate of oral cancer in African Americans, and some studies show a lack of knowledge of oral cancer in African Americans. Some studies also show the decline of oral cancer in African Americans. Discussion: Studies regarding oral cancer in African Americans focus on a different topic. There should be more studies that deal with one consistent question so that we can see the cancer disparity in this population. Cancer researchers should be informed about these issues of research gap in oral cancer so that they can make an appropriate decision where to allocate funding during their investigation. Citation Format: Shabnam Bhuiyan. Oral cancer disparity among African Americans [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-196.
Continuous sensorimotor rhythm based brain computer interface learning in a large population

Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) are valuable tools that expand the nature of communication through bypassing traditional neuromuscular pathways. The non-invasive, intuitive, and continuous nature of sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) based BCIs enables individuals to control computers, robotic arms, wheel-chairs, and even drones by decoding motor imagination from electroencephalography (EEG). Large and uniform datasets are needed to design, evaluate, and improve the BCI algorithms. In this work, we release a large and longitudinal dataset collected during a study that examined how individuals learn to control SMR-BCIs. The dataset contains over 600 hours of EEG recordings collected during online and continuous BCI control from 62 healthy adults, (mostly) right hand dominant participants, across (up to) 11 training sessions per participant. The data record consists of 598 recording sessions, and over 250,000 trials of 4 different motor-imagery-based BCI tasks. The current dataset presents one of the largest and most complex SMR-BCI datasets publicly available to date and should be useful for the development of improved algorithms for BCI control. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14153504
Lower serum 25(OH)D levels associated with higher risk of COVID-19 infection in U.S. Black women.

Objective Limited evidence suggests that higher levels of serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) protect against SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) infection. Black women commonly experience 25(OH)D insufficiency and are overrepresented among COVID-19 cases. We conducted a prospective analysis of serum 25(OH)D levels in relation to COVID-19 infection among participants in the Black Women’s Health Study. Methods Since 1995, the Black Women’s Health Study has followed 59,000 U.S. Black women through biennial mailed or online questionnaires. Over 13,000 study participants provided a blood sample in 2013–2017. 25(OH)D assays were performed in a certified national laboratory shortly after collection of the samples. In 2020, participants who had completed the online version of the 2019 biennial health questionnaire were invited to complete a supplemental online questionnaire assessing their experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including whether they had been tested for COVID-19 infection and the result of the test. We used logistic regression analysis to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of 25(OH)D level with COVID-19 positivity, adjusting for age, number of people living in the household, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and other potential confounders. Results Among 5,081 eligible participants whose blood sample had been assayed for 25(OH)D, 1,974 reported having had a COVID-19 test in 2020. Relative to women with 25(OH)D levels of 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/l) or more, multivariable-adjusted ORs for COVID-19 infection in women with levels of 20–29 ng/mL (50–72.5 nmol/l) and <20 ng/mL (<50 nmol/l) were, respectively, 1.48 (95% CI 0.95–2.30) and 1.69 (95% CI 1.04–2.72) (p trend 0.02). Conclusion The present results suggest that U.S. Black women with lower levels of 25(OH)D are at increased risk of infection with COVID-19. Further work is needed to confirm these findings and determine the optimal level of 25(OH)D for a beneficial effect.
Perturbations in the fibrinolytic pathway abolish cyst formation but not capillary-like organization of cultured murine endothelial cells

Fibrinolytic activity and its relation to morphogenesis was investigated in several transformed murine endothelial cell lines and primary cultures of endothelial cells. Two in vitro systems, fibrin gels and Matrigel (Collaborative Research, Bedford, MA), were used. Fibrin gels model a fibrin-rich extracellular matrix that frequently supports neovascularization in vivo, and Matrigel models the basement membrane surrounding quiescent endothelial cells in vivo. The transformed endothelial cell lines have higher levels of plasminogen activator (PA) mRNA than primary cultures of endothelial cells, and an increased PA-mediated proteolytic activity was correlated with formation of cysts in fibrin gels. Addition of neutralizing anti-urokinase antibodies, plasminogen depletion, or addition of a plasmin inhibitor prevented cyst formation. Addition of plasminogen restored the ability to form cysts in the plasminogen-depleted system. Normal endothelial cells organized into capillary-like structures in fibrin gels regardless of manipulations affecting the fibrinolytic pathway. In Matrigel, both transformed and primary cultures of endothelial cells rapidly formed a capillary-like network that was not affected by plasminogen depletion or addition of plasmin inhibitors. Thus, elements of the fibrinolytic pathway necessary for cyst formation are not critical in capillary-like structure formation on a reconstituted basement membrane. These results suggest that plasmin is essential for hemangioma formation but is not critical to the organizational behavior of normal endothelial cells.
Si / SiO2 Interface Oxidation Kinetics: A Physical Model for the Influence of High Substrate Doping Levels I . Theory

A physical model based on the statistics of silicon point defects is proposed to explain the commonly observed enhanced oxidation rates of heavily doped silicon. The physical effect of the high doping levels on the interface oxidation kinetics is postulated to be primarily electrical in nature. The high doping levels shift the position of the Fermi level toward the conduction band (n‐type) or toward the valence band (p‐type) even at oxidation temperatures, causing an increase in the equilibrium concentration of point defects (vacancies) in the silicon substrate. These point defects may provide reaction sites for the chemical reaction converting Si to and thereby increase the rate at which this reaction occurs. This paper describes the theoretical basis for this model and predicts quantitatively the expected oxidation rates for n+‐ and p+‐doped silicon under a wide range of oxidation conditions.
‘U.S. Asylum Decisions: Who You Face on the Bench is as Important as What You Face at Home’

We engage theoretical debates within two sub-fields of political science in order to understand U.S. asylum decisions. First, there is significant disagreement among international relations scholars over whether U.S. asylum policy is primarily shaped by its strategic and material interests or by international humanitarian norms. Much of the theory and the existing analysis assumes a unitary actor, and focuses on asylum outcomes as annual averages for all applicants from a particular country. However, recent research has undermined this assumption. For example, an individual’s chance of asylum seems to be driven, at least in part, by the geographical location of the court or the particular judge the asylum seeker (see TRAC 2006 and Ramji-Nogales et al. 2007). This paper moves the theoretical exploration beyond the traditional unitary actor assumption of international relations models to the more appropriate micro level of analysis – the individual immigration judges’ decisions. Second, we seek to draw upon the judicial behavior literature which offers insights into the judicial actors, and we join that field’s debate about the extent to which the judges’ policy preferences shape their decisions. Specifically, we examine case outcomes of individual asylum seekers before judges in the U.S. immigration courts during the years 1997-2004 (329,678 case outcomes). Our time period captures the segment of cases that were decided between two significant changes in immigration law: the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of September 1996 and the Real ID Act of May 2005. We conclude that both norms and interests matter in asylum decisions, even at the individual applicant level. Our analysis also suggests that it is does indeed matter which judge hears an applicant’s claims. This analysis suggests that judges’ decisions are influenced by prior socialization through a variety of professional experiences that may shape or reflect their policy preferences or values. The potential combined effect of judicial characteristics can substantially alter the applicants’ odds of a grant or denial, even while controlling for a variety of other factors.
Titration of non-replicating adenovirus as a vector for transducing active TGF-β1 gene expression causing inflammation and fibrogenesis in the lungs of C57BL/6 mice

Investigators have shown that interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can be induced in rats by overexpressing transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) through a replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus vector instilled into the lungs (Sime et al. 1997). We have shown that this vector induces IPF in fibrogenic-resistant tumour necrosis factor alpha-receptor knockout (TNF-alphaRKO) mice (Liu et al. 2001). The object of our studies is to understand how peptide growth factors, such as TGF-beta1, mediate interstitial lung disease (ILD). To do so, we must be able to manipulate the dose of the factor and sort out its effects on multiple other mediators in the lung parenchyma. As a step in this complex process, in the studies reported here, we have determined the concentrations of the recombinant adenovirus vector carrying the gene for porcine active TGF-beta1 (AVTGFbeta1) that have little apparent effect, cause clear induction of disease, or severe disease. The disease largely resolves by 28 days in all cases, thus providing a valuable model to understand the mechanisms of the IPF that is mediated, at least in part, by TGF-beta1. The findings here show that 10(6) plaque-forming units (pfu) of AVTGFbeta1, provide essentially a 'no-effect' dose, but even this amount of TGF-beta1 causes a significant increase in whole-lung collagen by day 28 after treatment. In contrast, 10(8) and 10(9) pfu cause severe IPF in 4 days, whereas 10(7) and 5 x 10(7) are intermediate for all parameters studied, i.e. TGF-beta protein, inflammatory cells, cell proliferation, pro-alpha 1(I) collagen gene expression and whole-lung collagen accumulation, and expression of growth factors such as TGF-beta1, TNF-alpha and PDGF-A and -B. Interestingly enough, TGF-beta1, as a potent blocker of epithelial cell proliferation, appears to suppress airway epithelial cell growth that would be expected during the inflammatory phase of IPF. Thus, this model system helps us to understand some quantitative aspects of TGF-beta1 biological activity and allows us to manipulate this potent factor as a mediator of interstitial fibrogenesis.
Induction of tyrosine phosphorylation by the erythropoietin receptor correlates with mitogenesis.

Abstract A role for tyrosine phosphorylation in the signal-transducing mechanisms of several hematopoietic growth factors has been hypothesized. To extend these observations, we have examined the effects of erythropoietin (Epo) on tyrosine phosphorylation in an Epo-responsive cell that was obtained by transfecting the murine erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) into an interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent cell line. By two-dimensional analysis of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins isolated with a monoclonal antibody (1G2) against phosphotyrosine, Epo and IL-3 were found to rapidly induce tyrosine phosphorylation of comparable substrates of 92, 70, and 56 kDa. In addition, Epo uniquely induced phosphorylation of a 72-kDa substrate while IL-3 uniquely induced phosphorylation of a 140-kDa substrate. Immunoprecipitation and mixing experiments indicated that the 72-kDa substrate may represent a small fraction of the EpoR. To explore the significance of tyrosine phosphorylation, we generated two mutants of the EpoR that lacked 108 or 146 amino acids at their carboxyl termini. In addition we constructed an internally deleted mutant that lacked 20 amino acids in a region of sequence homology with the IL-2 receptor beta chain. Although all mutants were expressed at comparable levels and had comparable binding affinities for Epo, only the mutant lacking 108 amino acids at the carboxyl terminus retained significant mitogenic activity or the ability to induce tyrosine phosphorylation.
ON THE QUANTITATIVE FORMULATION OF THE HUMAN REWARD FUNCTION

An information‐like formulation of the human reward function is shown to be in qualitative agreement with some prominent features of human behavior. Individual events are regarded as “symbols” in a communication theory sense, and their reward for a person depends on their frequency of occurrence in his environment.