cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Policy Domain Emergence and Interest Group Agendas

Does the emergence of a new policy domain shift the focus of well-established organized interests or does it initiate the mobilization of new ones? Because issues emerge and recede from the public agenda as a function of the political process, and because government attention creates a demand for the mobilization of interests, I hypothesize that the advent of a new policy domain will initially shift the attention of long-established interests, but activate new interests as the domain develops over time. Moreover, the newly mobilized groups will concentrate their attention on the newly defined conflict, whereas established groups’ commitment to existing domains limits their ability to prioritize new issues. The emergence of the homeland security policy image in reaction to 9/11 represents an identifiable punctuation in government attention, allowing me to test the impact of this intervention on lobbying activities. Using disclosure reports from 1,782 interest groups reporting activity between 1998 and 2008, I compare groups’ establishment of a presence in DC to their entry into the new Homeland Security issue area. Organizations with an established presence in DC are twice as likely to become engaged in homeland security issues as the domain emerges, but those with a short-term or no prior presence are nearly three times as likely to enter the domain after it becomes institutionalized. Moreover, controlling for organizational advantages and stakeholder interests, the relative time that an organization has had a presence in Washington has the strongest impact on its prioritization of homeland security issues.
Small-chip Attachment on Copper Leadframe with Sintered Nanosilver Paste

Sintered nanoscale silver paste provides a low-temperature alternative to solder for die attachment. Unlike solder, the sintered attachment does not melt upon reaching the original attachment temperature and therefore may be used at higher temperatures. Higher electrical and thermal conductivities mean less Joule heating and better heat dissipation characteristics and the porous microstructure imparts low elastic modulus for lower thermomechanical stress and enhanced reliability. The state of the technology has reached a point where it is now possible to obtain die-shear strengths comparable to solder at sintering temperatures between 250°C and 280°C with little or no applied pressure, depending on the chip size. In addition to attachments on silver or gold-coated surfaces, it is possible to form bonds on bare copper if done under inert or slightly reducing atmosphere. Because attainment of a strong bond depends on the paste being in contact with a clean (oxide-free or untarnished) surface, a study was ma...
An Evaluation of OpenSHMEM Interfaces for the Variable-Length Alltoallv Collective Operation

Alltoallv is a collective operation which allows all processes to exchange variable amounts of data with all other processes in the communication group. This means that Alltoallv requires not only $$ON^2$$ communications, but typically also additional exchanges of the data lengths that will be transmitted in the eventual Alltoallv call. This pre-exchange is used to calculate the proper offsets for the receiving buffers on the target processes. However, we propose two new candidate interfaces for Alltoallv that would mitigate the need for the user to set up this extra exchange of information at the possible cost of memory efficiency. We explain the new interface variants and show how a single call can be used in place of the traditional Alltoall/ Alltoallv pair. We then discuss the performance tradeoffs for overall communication and memory costs, as well as both software and hardware-based optimizations and their applicability to the various proposed interfaces.
Interaction of Selected Cholinergic Effector Molecules with Acetylcholinesterase in Physiological Eel Ringer's Solution

Interaction of cholinergic effectors with eel acetylcholinesterase was investigated in physiological eel Ringer9s solution, pH 7. The acceleration of methanesulfonation of the soluble enzyme by the cholinergic agonists decamethonium and trimethylbutylammonium ions was indistinguishable from that observed with the membrane-bound enzyme. Maximum acceleration of the methanesulfonation reaction by decamethonium and succinylcholine with the particulate acetylcholinesterase was essentially the same. A limited acceleration caused by trimethylbutylammonium ion is attributed to its partial overlap with the esteratic site, in contrast to the postulated "exo" mode of binding for the bisquaternary accelerator, decamethonium. Kinetic studies with trimethylbutylammonium and decamethonium ions using acetylcholine and phenyl acetate as substrates, as well as equilibrium binding studies to the enzyme, support the "exo" mode of binding for decamethonium, the "endo" mode of binding for 3-hydroxyphenyltrimethylammonium ion, and an intermediate mode of binding for trimethylbutylammonium ion. The effects produced by the quaternary nitrogen agonists on acetylcholinesterase in physiological eel Ringer9s solution can be explained on the basis of binding of the effectors to the anionic subsite of the active center.
A phase I/II double-blind, placebo-controlled study of recombinant human interleukin-11 for mucositis and acute GVHD prevention in allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) decreases cytokine release and increases survival in murine BMT models. In these systems, it reduces gut permeability, partially polarizes T cells to a Th2 phenotype, down-regulates IL-12, prevents mucositis, and accelerates recovery of oral and bowel mucosa. We conducted a randomized double-blind pilot study of rhIL-11 administered with cyclosporine/MTX prophylaxis after cytoxan/TBI conditioning and allogeneic stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies. Patients received rhIL-11, 50 microg/kg subcutaneously daily or placebo in a 3:1 ratio. Treatment was administered prior to the start of conditioning and continued up to 21 days. The study was designed to assess safety with stopping rules for cardiac arrhythmias and mortality. Although projected to accrue 20 patients, only 13 patients (10 IL-11, three placebo) were enrolled because the early stopping rule for mortality was triggered. Of 10 evaluable patients who received IL-11, four died by day 40 and one died on day 85. Deaths were attributable to transplant-related toxicity. One of three placebo recipients died of suicide, the other two are alive. Patients receiving IL-11 had severe fluid retention and early mortality, making it impossible to determine whether IL-11 given in this schedule can reduce the rate of GVHD. Grade B-D acute GVHD occurred in two of eight evaluable patients on IL-11 and one of three patients on placebo. The primary adverse events of the study were severe fluid retention resistant to diuresis (average weight gain 9 +/- 4%) and multiorgan failure in five of 10 evaluable patients. The use of IL-11 as GVHD prophylaxis in allogeneic transplantation cannot be recommended as administered in this trial.
A Geometric Approach to Fibrous Structures for Biological Soft Tissue Replacement

The use of artificial (man-made) materials to replace lost or damaged biological soft tissue has drawbacks, because the mechanical behavior of artificial materials fails to adequately mimic that of soft tissue such as ligaments, tendons, and skin. These natural materials exhibit large initial extension at small load, followed by a change to relatively little additional extension at rapidly increasing load, giving a J-shaped load versus extension curve. We have found that fibrous assemblies based on circular rings as a repeat unit can give both the J-shaped load versus extension curve and the high overall extension of many biological soft tissues. In addition, we have developed a criterion for design of and materials selection for the fibrous assembly. This criterion, which relates inherent properties of the material to the dimensions and extension ratio of the repeat unit, predicts the mechanical stability and recoverability of the repeat unit, and therefore of the fibrous structure composed of the repeat...
An efficient ab-initio quasiharmonic approach for the thermodynamics of solids

Abstract A first-principles approach called the self-consistent quasiharmonic approximation (SC-QHA) method is formulated to calculate the thermal expansion, thermomechanics, and thermodynamic functions of solids at finite temperatures with both high efficiency and accuracy. The SC-QHA method requires fewer phonon calculations than the conventional QHA method, and also facilitates the convenient analysis of the microscopic origins of macroscopic thermal phenomena. The superior performance of the SC-QHA method is systematically examined by comparing it with the conventional QHA method and experimental measurements on silicon, diamond, and alumina. It is then used to study the effects of pressure on the anharmonic lattice properties of diamond and alumina. The thermal expansion and thermomechanics of Ca 3 Ti 2 O 7 , which is a recently discovered important ferroelectric ceramic with a complex crystal structure that is computationally challenging for the conventional QHA method, are also calculated using the formulated SC-QHA method. The SC-QHA method can significantly reduce the computational expense for various quasiharmonic thermal properties especially when there are a large number of structures to consider or when the solid is structurally complex. It is anticipated that the algorithm will be useful for a variety of fields, including oxidation, corrosion, high-pressure physics, ferroelectrics, and high-throughput structure screening when temperature effects are required to accurately describe realistic properties.
Eukaryotic DNA Polymerases in Homologous Recombination

Homologous recombination (HR) is a central process to ensure genomic stability in somatic cells and during meiosis. HR-associated DNA synthesis determines in large part the fidelity of the process. A number of recent studies have demonstrated that DNA synthesis during HR is conservative, less processive, and more mutagenic than replicative DNA synthesis. In this review, we describe mechanistic features of DNA synthesis during different types of HR-mediated DNA repair, including synthesis-dependent strand annealing, break-induced replication, and meiotic recombination. We highlight recent findings from diverse eukaryotic organisms, including humans, that suggest both replicative and translesion DNA polymerases are involved in HR-associated DNA synthesis. Our focus is to integrate the emerging literature about DNA polymerase involvement during HR with the unique aspects of these repair mechanisms, including mutagenesis and template switching.
Application of ObjectARX in Parametric Drawing of Overhead Transmission Tower Foundation

Engineering drawings for overhead transmission tower foundations have to be revised and optimized;and the design efficiency is low.The transmission line software used VB,VC and ObjectARX as the programming language was researched.How the software can realized automated AutoCAD drawings was analyzed.Key innovation and technology include:how to automatically turn on AutoCAD and implement the drawing commands at the opening moment;select different versions of AutoCAD;customize the drawing type,content and frame;selectively draw the tower in the different environment as the engineering unit.This application established a real-time interactive system between VB software and AutoCAD software,which improved the design efficiency and the running speed.
Evidence-Based Guideline for Treatment of Neurocysticercosis

The Guideline Development Subcommittee of the AAN conducted a literature search and review of 10 Class I or Class II trials of treatment for parenchymal neurocysticercosis.
SU-G-206-07: Dual-Energy CT Inter- and Intra-Scanner Variability Within One Make and Model

Purpose: It can be logistically quite difficult to scan patients on the same exact device for their repeat visits in multi-scanner facilities. The reliability between dual-energy CT scanners’ quantitative results is not known, nor is their individual repeatability. Therefore, we evaluated inter- and intra-scanner variability with respect to several key clinical quantitative metrics specific to dual-energy CT. Methods: Eleven identical GE HD-750 CT scanners in a busy clinical environment were used to perform dual-energy (DE) CT scans of a large elliptical quality control (QC) phantom (Gammex, Inc.; Middleton, WI) which contains many standard insert materials. The DE-QC phantom was scanned bi-weekly during 2016; 3 to 4 scans were obtained from each scanner (a total of 35 data sets were used for analysis). Iodine accuracy for the 2mg/ml, 5mg/ml and 15mg/ml rods (from the Iodine(Water) image set) and soft tissue HU (40 HU based on NIST constants) from the 50keV data set were used to assess inter- and intra-scanner variability (standard deviation). Results: Intra-scanner variability average for 2mg/ml Iodine was 0.10 mg/ml (range 0.05–0.15 mg/ml), for 5mg/ml Iodine was 0.12 mg/ml (range 0.07–0.16 mg/ml), for 15 mg/ml Iodine was 0.25 mg/ml (range 0.16–0.37 mg/ml), and for the soft tissue inserts was 2.1 HU (range 1.8–2.6 HU). Inter-scanner variability average for 2mg/ml Iodine was 0.16 mg/ml (range 0.11–0.19 mg/ml), for 5mg/ml Iodine was 0.18 mg/ml (range 0.11–0.22 mg/ml), for 15 mg/ml Iodine was 0.35 mg/ml (range 0.23–0.44 mg/ml), and for the soft tissue inserts was 3.8 HU (range 3.1–4.5 HU). Conclusion: Intra-scanner variability for the iodine and soft tissue inserts averaged 3.1% and 5.2% respectively, and inter-scanner variability for these regions analyzed averaged 5.0% and 9.5%, respectively. Future work will include determination of smallest measurable change and acceptable limits for DE-CT scanner variability over longer time intervals. This research has been supported by funds from Dr. William Murphy, Jr., the John S. Dunn, Sr. Distinguished Chair in Diagnostic Imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Aneurysmal disease of the aorta affects 5% of the adult population in the United States and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are responsible for approximately 20,000 deaths per year, making it the 10th most common cause of death in males over age of 60 (Prisant and Mondy 2004; Scott et al. 1991; Spurgeon 2004). The majority of aneurysms are asymptomatic, most being diagnosed incidentally during physical examination or when undergoing abdominal imaging for an unrelated cause. Early diagnosis and treatment will dramatically improve the outcome of this lethal disease, since the mortality of an elective operation is approximately 2% (Blum et al. 1996).
A charge transfer-based high performance, ultra-low power CMOS charge pump for PLLs

This paper presents a novel high performance, ultra-low power scalable CMOS charge pump (CP) design for analog phase-locked loops (PLLs) fabricated in all-digital nanoscale IC processes. The compact CP circuit uses four minimally-sized transistor switches and a relatively small capacitor for transferring charge within the PLL to adjust the voltage controlled oscillator frequency in the PLL control loop. Unlike the state of the art designs, the proposed CP topology does not use current mirrors, nor does it suffer from traditional mismatch errors due to its unique structure. Additionally, this charge transfer-based CP has the ability to operate at very low supply voltages well below 1 V. The fast switching action of the proposed CP allows for the use of a no-added delay D-flip flop-based phase-frequency detector resulting in a reduced PLL control loop delay and very low reference spurs in the overall PLL design. The proposed CP has been placed in a 0.5---10 GHz PLL, fabricated, and physically tested in an all-digital 40 nm TSMC CMOS process. Additionally, post-silicon measurements of the CP circuit have been completed with a variable 0.2---1.2 V supply and a 50 MHz---1 GHz reference frequency. The proposed CP has an active area of 0.0004 mm2, consumes on average 250 pW power, and has a 0.1°---0.3° phase error, dependent on the PLL frequency of operation.
Nyangatom Livelihood and the Omo Riverine Forest

Nyangatom agropastoralists settled along the Omo River to the north of the Dasanech rely primarily on flood recession agriculture on riverside flats, with subsidiary fishing and exploitation of forest resources. These Omo River dependent communities maintain complex social and material exchange with other Nyangatom settlements in both the Kibish River-Koras Mountain area at Ethiopia’s western border and in the Ilemi Triangle-South Sudan, where they share lands with the Toposa ethnic group. Nyangatom pastoralists and agropastoralists frequently clash with Dasanech and Turkana herders over grazing lands and water resources. The extensive Omo riverine forest—the last such pristine forest within semi-arid Sub-Saharan Africa—requires substantial soil moisture retention from the Omo River’s annual flood. Cessation of the flood would quickly promote the death of the forest and destruction of its abundant wildlife and resources essential to Nyangatom survival. Thousands of Nyangatom living along the river would suffer immediate disaster from the effects of Gibe dam closure and dam enabled irrigated agricultural enterprises. Like the Dasanech, the Nyangatom also are subjected to major expropriation and repression by the Ethiopian government, as well as major cutting of their forest by the Ethiopian government and its allied development interests.
Germ line mutations associated with leukemias

Several genetic syndromes have long been associated with a predisposition to the development of leukemia, including bone marrow failure syndromes, Down syndrome, and Li Fraumeni syndrome. Recent work has better defined the leukemia risk and outcomes in these syndromes. Also, in the last several years, a number of other germ line mutations have been discovered to define new leukemia predisposition syndromes, including ANKRD26, GATA2, PAX5, ETV6, and DDX41 In addition, data suggest that a substantial proportion of patients with therapy related leukemias harbor germ line mutations in DNA damage response genes such as BRCA1/2 and TP53 Recognition of clinical associations, acquisition of a thorough family history, and high index-of-suspicion are critical in the diagnosis of these leukemia predisposition syndromes. Accurate identification of patients with germ line mutations associated with leukemia can have important clinical implications as it relates to management of the leukemia, as well as genetic counseling of family members.
Playing and laughing among the molecules

Chris Toumey reflects on the fun, and not only, provided by nanotechnology in the digital world, as illustrated by Colin Milburn in Mondo Nano.
The Gambit: Chess and the Art of Competition in The Luzhin Defense

This article argues that Vladimir Nabokov's 1929 novel The Luzhin Defense demonstrates the importance of literary competition, rivalry, and co-creation to the Russian interwar emigration, 1920–40. I look at the function of the novel in Nabokov's career, placing it in relation to his contemporaneous articles and reviews, demonstrating how it can be understood as a strategic move effecting his transition, in publishing terms, from Berlin to Paris, and from relative obscurity to broad acclaim. Furthermore, The Luzhin Defense, though often considered to be a literary chess problem, in fact focuses on the notion of artistic careers in exile. I examine two such threads: the underappreciated artistic communion between the protagonist Luzhin and his great rival Turati; and the parodic portrayal of Luzhin's father, who fails at length to write the kind of novel within which Nabokov places him. I propose the concept of underwriting to explain the role of Luzhin's father, whose conspicuous failure (or underwriting) guarantees (or underwrites) Nabokov's own successful entry into the premier journal of the emigration, Contemporary Annals in Paris. In my interpretation of Luzhin and Turati's chess match, I introduce a little-known 1929 text comparing chess problems and chess competition by the contemporary (1927–35) chess world champion Alexander Alekhine, a fellow-Russian emigre. In so doing, I show how Nabokov's sympathetic yet wary portrayal of art as a sporting competition reflects his own broader strategy of co-creative opposition to his fellow writers in exile.
Why Image the Velopharyngeal Portal

This book deals mainly with the applications and interpretations of a radiographic technique, multiview videofluoroscopy of the velopharyngeal (VP) portal. This procedure is used to evaluate the effectiveness of velopharyngeal closure in patients with speech evidence of velopharyngeal insuffiency1 (VPI), and in so doing, provides precise anatomic and physiologic information as to how the VP portal functions during phonation. The data derived by this technique are useful in assisting clinicians to determine the most appropriate course of therapy for each patient.
Teaching economics using ‘Cases’ – Going beyond the ‘Chalk-And-Talk’ method

Abstract This paper describes the adoption of ‘case-method’ teaching technique in two economics elective courses taught by the same instructor in a small liberal arts college. A questionnaire was administered among the students to obtain a qualitative assessment of their learning experiences using this alternative pedagogy. In both the classes, students ranked ‘learning how to use economics to solve real problems’ as the most important aspect of the case-method among the given choices. Furthermore, each of these classes was compared with two other sections taught by the same instructor without cases to perform quantitative assessments. In addition to a pooled OLS regression for each course studying the impact of the ‘case’ on final exam score, a difference in difference analysis was performed to test the difference in test grades before and after the introduction of the case method and between the two classes for each course. Both the methods gave statistically significant results, implying the adoption of the case-method to be effective in making the students active learners.
Cellular Assays for Studying the Fe–S Cluster Containing Base Excision Repair Glycosylase MUTYH and Homologs

Abstract Many DNA repair enzymes, including the human adenine glycosylase MUTYH, require iron–sulfur (Fe–S) cluster cofactors for DNA damage recognition and subsequent repair. MUTYH prokaryotic and eukaryotic homologs are a family of adenine (A) glycosylases that cleave A when mispaired with the oxidatively damaged guanine lesion, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (OG). Faulty OG:A repair has been linked to the inheritance of missense mutations in the MUTYH gene. These inherited mutations can result in the onset of a familial colorectal cancer disorder known as MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP). While in vitro studies can be exceptional at unraveling how MutY interacts with its OG:A substrate, cell-based assays are needed to provide a cellular context to these studies. In addition, strategic comparison of in vitro and in vivo studies can provide exquisite insight into the search, selection, excision process, and the coordination with protein partners, required to mediate full repair of the lesion. A commonly used assay is the rifampicin resistance assay that provides an indirect evaluation of the intrinsic mutation rate in Escherichia coli (E. coli or Ec), read out as antibiotic-resistant cell growth. Our laboratory has also developed a bacterial plasmid-based assay that allows for direct evaluation of repair of a defined OG:A mispair. This assay provides a means to assess the impact of catalytic defects in affinity and excision on overall repair. Finally, a mammalian GFP-based reporter assay has been developed that more accurately models features of mammalian cells. Taken together, these assays provide a cellular context to the repair activity of MUTYH and its homologs that illuminates the role these enzymes play in preventing mutations and disease.
Hierocles and the Stoic Theory of Blending

In Stoic physics, blending (κρᾶσις) is the relation between active pneuma and passive matter; natural bodies from rocks and logs to plants, animals and the cosmos itself are blends of pneuma and matter. Blending structures the Stoic cosmos. I develop a new interpretation of the Stoic theory of blending, based on passages from Hierocles. The theory of blending, I argue, has been misunderstood. Hierocles allows us to see in detail how the theory is supposed to work and how it fits into Stoic physics.
Conceptualizing Student Engagement in Virtual Hands-on Lab: Preliminary Findings from a Computer Network Security Course (Abstract Only)

Engaged students are more likely to spend longer time on study, and obtain a better academic performance. Previous studies investigated the role of student engagement in virtual learning environments (e.g., online course, online discussion forum, and intelligent tutoring systems). However, it is still challenging to engage students on a virtual hands-on lab system. Comparing to other virtual learning environment, students have a unique learning model -- learning by doing in virtual hands-on lab. To successfully engage students in a large hands-on lab in cybersecurity education, instructors need to understand how students engage in a lab session, and how their engagement affect lab learning outcome in this specific educational setting. In this paper, we developed a conceptual model, especially for virtual hands-on lab education, to describe student engagement during learning processes in working on virtual hands-on lab tasks. This model adopts two existing educational models on engagement behavior. Preliminary data was collected from 109 students' lab project in a computer network security course at Arizona State University in 2016 Fall semester. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis results reveal two statistically significant preliminary results: the longer time a student spends on reading lab instructional material, the more likely the student works longer time on lab tasks (p
Crosstalk between type I and II interferons in regulation of myeloid cell responses during bacterial infection

Type I and type II interferons (IFNα/β and IFNγ) are cytokines that play indispensable roles in directing myeloid cell activity during inflammatory and immune responses. Each IFN type binds a distinct receptor (IFNAR or IFNGR) to transduce signals that reshape gene expression and function of myeloid and other cell types. In the context of murine models and human bacterial infections, production of IFNγ generally promotes resistance while production of IFNα/β is associated with increased host susceptibility. Here, we review mechanisms of crosstalk between type I and II IFNs in myeloid cells and their impact on myeloid cell activation and anti-microbial function.
Prevalence, Associated Risks, and Treatment Patterns of Insomnia

Insomnia, the most commonly reported sleep problem, affects about one third of the adult American population. Insomnia impairs the individual's functioning, diminishes his or her quality of life, and contributes to accidents, health care costs, and problems at work. Insomnia is frequently comorbid with physical and mental illness, as either a consequence or a contributing factor. In particular, considerable research supports a strong association between insomnia and depression. Because the majority of individuals who have trouble sleeping attempt to treat the problem independently using over-the-counter medications or alcohol, insomnia is undertreated by health care providers, despite its serious consequences.
Economics of Nonpoint Pollution

Nonpoint source pollution poses distinctive challenges to theoretical analysis as well as practical policy formulation and implementation These challenges stem in part from a defining characteristic of nonpoint pollution – the inability to meter nonpoint emissions from individual nonpoint polluters routinely at a reasonable cost. They are also the result of the inherent stochasticity of nonpoint pollution and the complex, heterogeneous, nonlinear relationships that exist between human activities that cause nonpoint emissions and the environmental impacts of those emissions. Economists have proposed innovative instruments for nonpoint pollution that have good efficiency properties in theory, but which may be highly impractical in real-world settings. Policy advances that are essential to manage nonpoint pollution efficiently are problem-specific computational investigations that integrate economic models with biophysical models of environmental processes to explore second best designs and mixtures that explicitly address not only incentive structures to induce efficient abatement but also the information and administrative costs that emerge from the inherent spatial, temporal, and technological complexity of the problem.
Use and Opinions of Prescription Opioids Among Older American Adults: Sociodemographic Predictors

Objectives This study identifies sociodemographic predictors of prescription opioid use among older adults (age 65+) during the peak decade of U.S. opioid prescription, and tests whether pain level and Medicaid coverage mediate the association between low wealth and opioid use. Predictors of prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and of opinions of both drug classes, are also examined. Method Regressions of opioid and NSAID use on sociodemographic characteristics, pain level, and insurance type were conducted using Health and Retirement Study 2004 core and 2005 Prescription Drug Study data (n = 3,721). Mediation analyses were conducted, and user opinions of drug importance, quality, and side effects were assessed. Results Low wealth was a strong, consistent predictor of opioid use. Both pain level and Medicaid coverage significantly, but only partially, mediated this association. Net of wealth, there were no significant associations between education and use of, or opinions of, either class of drugs. Discussion Among older American adults, the poorest are disproportionately likely to have been exposed to prescription opioid analgesics. Wealth, rather than education, drove social class differences in mid-2000s opioid use. Opioid-related policies should take into account socioeconomic contributors to opioid use, and the needs and treatment histories of chronic pain patients.
Risk Recall of Complications Associated with Vestibular Schwannoma Treatment.

ObjectiveTo assess the risk recall of complications among patients who underwent different vestibular schwannoma (VS) treatments.Study DesignPatients with VS completed a voluntary and anonymous sur...
Sexual Victimization and Sexual Harassment among College Students: a Comparative Analysis

Sexual victimization, defined as non-contact unwanted sexual experiences (e.g., sexual harassment), unwanted sexual contact, sexual coercion, forcible rape, or alcohol- or drug-facilitated assault or rape, is nontrivial among the college study population. This study explores how the situational contexts, which include self-reported consequences and responses to victimization, compare between incidents of non-contact sexual harassment (SH) and contact sexual victimization (CSV) (e.g., unwanted sexual contact, sexual coercion, and rape). Conjunctive analyses compare the commonality and variation among situational contexts of incidents of SH and incidents of CSV from a sample of survivors from 24 different colleges. Both forms of sexual violence negatively impact college students. Respondents who experienced SH only (i.e., did not also experience CSV) in the past year and those who experienced contact CSV only (i.e., did not also experience non-contact SH) in the past year both reported negative outcomes associated with the victimization, but it was more common for survivors of SH only to report being intimidated and feeling uncomfortable in their environment at the college. The implications of this study are twofold. First, scholars should ensure that research on the negative effects of CSV does not come at the expense of other forms of sexual victimization. Second, practitioners, campus services, and prevention programs should acknowledge both contact and non-contact sexual victimization in programming and services in order to buffer the negative effects resulting from victimization.
Increasing Energy Flux to Maintain Diet-Induced Weight Loss

Long-term maintenance of weight loss requires sustained energy balance at the reduced body weight. This could be attained by coupling low total daily energy intake (TDEI) with low total daily energy expenditure (TDEE; low energy flux), or by pairing high TDEI with high TDEE (high energy flux). Within an environment characterized by high energy dense food and a lack of need for movement, it may be particularly difficult for weight-reduced individuals to maintain energy balance in a low flux state. Most of these individuals will increase body mass due to an inability to sustain the necessary level of food restriction. This increase in TDEI may lead to the re-establishment of high energy flux at or near the original body weight. We propose that following weight loss, increasing physical activity can effectively re-establish a state of high energy flux without significant weight regain. Although the effect of extremely high levels of physical activity on TDEE may be constrained by compensatory reductions in non-activity energy expenditure, moderate increases following weight loss may elevate energy flux and encourage physiological adaptations favorable to weight loss maintenance, including better appetite regulation. It may be time to recognize that few individuals are able to re-establish energy balance at a lower body weight without permanent increases in physical activity. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for more research to better understand the role of energy flux in long-term weight maintenance.
Abstract A094: MSIClass - Identification and classification of microsatellite unstable tumors using cell-free DNA from ultra low pass sequencing

The acquisition of mismatch repair deficiency is common in many tumor types. A unique subtype of mismatch repair deficient tumors, called tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI), has been recently approved for treatment with PD-1\PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy. Therefore, developing a quick, inexpensive, and easy-to-implement technique for classifying tumors as MSI is of utmost importance. Here, we describe such a method using next-generation sequencing data, and show that it can detect MSI from cell-free DNA (cfDNA), even when there is low fraction of tumor DNA in the cfDNA. We first analyzed the unique mutational features of MSI vs. microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors. Using our SignatureAnalyzer tool, we analyzed the signatures of the different insertions and deletions within microsatellite loci (MS-indels), and found that MSI tumors harbor elevated MS-indels of certain types, which we further validated using whole genome sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We next used this information to develop a method (MSIClass) that analyzes the WGS data of a given sample by capturing the features unique to MSI tumors. This method assigns each sample a score based on aggregating information from all MS loci simultaneously; since MSIClass is a sample-based tool, it can call the MSI status of tumor samples that have no patient-matched normal sample. We further demonstrate that MSIClass requires minimal genomic information; indeed, sequencing coverage as low as 0.05x (current sequencing cost of ~$2/sample) is sufficient for accurate classification by MSIClass. Using in silico and in vitro DNA mixing we show that MSIClass can accurately identify MSI cases in very low purity cases, at 0.1% tumor DNA (using 0.5x sequencing coverage). We show that MSIClass, applied on cfDNA, could accurately classify 29 colon cases -- 22 MSS and 7 MSI cases, 3 of which are early stage disease and with low tumor content. We then applied MSIClass to ~2000 cfDNA samples from various tumor types and found MSI cases in tumors that are not associated with MSI such as breast. These results demonstrate that MSIClass is an inexpensive MSI test that can be applied in various cases: bulk sequencing where a matched normal is not available, cases of very low purity tumors, and even using cfDNA from blood in cases a biopsy is not available or possible. Finally, this methodology can be the basis for monitoring minimal residual disease, and potential be used for early detection of MSI tumors. Citation Format: Yosef E. Maruvka, Ruslana Frazer, Jonna Grimsby, Emily E Van Seventer, Carrie Cibulskis, Viktor Adalsteinsson, Ryan Corcoran, Gad Getz. MSIClass - Identification and classification of microsatellite unstable tumors using cell-free DNA from ultra low pass sequencing [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A094. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-A094
Comparative modeling and docking of chemokine-receptor interactions with Rosetta.

Abstract Chemokine receptors are a subset of G protein-coupled receptors defined by the distinct property of binding small protein ligands in the chemokine family. Chemokine receptors recognize their ligands by a mechanism that is distinct from other class A GPCRs that bind peptides or small molecules. For this reason, structural information on other ligand-GPCR interactions are only indirectly relevant to understanding the chemokine receptor interface. Additionally, the experimentally determined structures of chemokine-GPCR complexes represent less than 3% of the known interactions of this complex, multi-ligand/multi-receptor network. To enable predictive modeling of the remaining 97% of interactions, a general in silico protocol was designed to utilize existing chemokine receptor crystal structures, co-crystal structures, and NMR ensembles of chemokines bound to receptor fragments. This protocol was benchmarked on the ability to predict each of the three published co-crystal structures, while being blinded to the target structure. Averaging ensembles selected from the top-ranking models reproduced up to 84% of the intermolecular contacts found in the crystal structure, with the lowest Cα-RMSD of the complex at 3.3 A. The chemokine receptor N-terminus, unresolved in crystal structures, was included in the modeling and recapitulates contacts with known sulfotyrosine binding pockets seen in structures derived from experimental NMR data. This benchmarking experiment suggests that realistic homology models of chemokine-GPCR complexes can be generated by leveraging current structural data.
Acute Flaccid Myelitis: A Clinical Review.

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is an emerging disorder primarily affecting children that is characterized by acute flaccid paralysis accompanied by abnormalities of the spinal cord gray matter on magnetic resonance imaging. In most cases, prodromal fever or respiratory symptoms occur, followed by acute-onset flaccid limb weakness. Respiratory, axial, bulbar, facial, and extraocular muscles may also be affected. The clinical manifestations have been described as “polio-like,” due to striking similarities to cases of poliomyelitis. The primary site of injury in AFM is the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord, resulting in a motor neuronopathy. Seasonal peaks of cases have occurred in the United States every 2 years since 2012. However, AFM remains a rare disease, which can make it challenging for physicians to recognize and differentiate from other causes of acute flaccid paralysis such as Guillain–Barre syndrome, spinal cord stroke, and transverse myelitis. Epidemiological evidence suggests that AFM is linked to a viral etiology, with nonpolio enteroviruses (in particular enterovirus D68) demonstrating a plausible association. The epidemiology, possible etiological factors, clinical features, differential diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of AFM are discussed in this review.
Pathophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Excess Risk for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in South Asians: The Perfect Storm.

Background South Asians are at a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), are diagnosed at relatively younger ages, and exhibit more severe disease phenotypes as compared with other ethnic groups. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying T2D and CVD risk in South Asians are multifactorial and intricately related. Method Narrative review of the pathophysiology of excess risk of T2D and CVD in South Asians. Result T2D and CVD have shared risk factors that encompass biological factors [early life influences, impaired glucose metabolism, and adverse body composition] as well as behavioral and environmental risk factors (diet, sedentary behavior, tobacco use, and social determinants of health). Genetics and epigenetics also play a role in explaining the increased risk of T2D and CVD among South Asians. Additionally, South Asians harbor several lipid abnormalities including high concentration of small-dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, elevated triglycerides, low highdensity lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels, dysfunctional HDL particles, and elevated lipoprotein(a) that predispose them to CVD. Conclusion In this comprehensive review, we have discussed risk factors that provide insights into the pathophysiology of excess risk of T2D and CVD in South Asians.
Posture App (version 2.1.66).

Posture App by MuscleM yoga asanas; core training; and an e-book. The app is for students, faculty, and professionals in the fields of personal training, coaching, dance, kinesiology, anatomy, and others.
Tuttle mealybug Brevennia rehi (Pseudococcidae)

The Tuttle mealybug, Brevennia rehi (Lindinger), is a pest of many grass species and occurs nearly worldwide, especially where rice and sugarcane are grown. Because Bermuda and zoysia are important lawn grasses, especially in the southern United States, infestation by Tuttle mealybug should be considered whenever dieback is noticed, especially if the grass blades show white wax or are sticky from honeydew secretion. Both Bermuda and zoysia lawns are commonly installed as sod or plugs, which provide a ready route for the spread of infestations should the pest control practices of the grower fail to maintain a pest-free production environment. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Ian Stocks, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, April 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in989
A simple mathematical model of skin diffusion of nerve agent VX in vitro

Abstract A simple compartmental mathematical model has been used to describe the penetration of VX, a relatively non-volatile, persistent organophosphorus nerve agent, through pig and guinea pig skin in vitro. Rate constants were derived by fitting the mathematical model to the experimentally measured accumulation of agent in the receptor fluid of Franz type diffusion cells over 24 h following application of a small drop (10 µL) to the surface of the skin and left uncovered. The predictive capability of the model was tested by using these rate constants to predict diffusion when the cells were covered to restrict evaporation and when the agent was applied diluted in a solvent. For guinea pig skin, rate constants derived from the uncovered condition produced reasonable predictions of diffusion in occluded diffusion cells and when small amounts of VX were applied in a volatile solvent. The slightly under-predicted VX absorption under occlusion was consistent with the effects of hydration of the skin. Differences between predicted and experimental values were larger for diffusion through pig skin, possibly due to the lower absorption rates in this species. The model is recommended for use as a relatively simple method of analysis of in vitro diffusion cell data that enhances understanding of the results and eliminates the need to assume abstract mathematical relationships between time and amount absorbed. Assumptions made in the modelling have highlighted areas where further research is required.
Agent Causation, Realist Metaphysics of Powers, and the Reducibility Objection

To address what I call the “Uniformity”, “Capriciousness”, and “Reducibility” objections, recent agent-causation theories hold that agent-causation is a type of substance causation. Substance causation consists in substances producing effects by exercising or manifesting their powers. Importantly, these versions of agent-causation assume a realist metaphysics of powers, where powers are properties of substances that can exist unmanifested. However, the realist theories of powers that agent-causal theories have relied upon explicitly hold that powers—rather than their substances—are causes. Substances are merely derivative causes, as the bearers of powers. Critics therefore argue that agent-causation is reducible to causation by the agent’s powers. In this paper, I argue that agent-causation is reducible to causation by the agent’s powers only if powers are self-exemplifying properties. I also offer reasons for why powers—especially agent-causal powers—are non-self-exemplifying properties, in support of the irreducibility of agent-causation.
Sunshine Laws and the Smokescreen of Confidentiality

The implementation of confidentiality is one of the most dysfunctional aspects of federal research misconduct regulations. The paragraphs on confidentiality refer to protection of informants and respondents derived from the Privacy Act. There is no enforcement mechanism. Nor is there any punishment for violating confidentiality. In practice, universities have seized upon the concept of confidentiality to keep the entire process secret, not just during the investigation, but for all time. Universities will often refuse to release any public records citing confidentiality. General Counsel at university 1 denied me access to evidence prior to my testimony before the investigation committee, stating the evidence was part of the personnel file of one of the respondents. When respondents wrote letters to journal editors making false counter-allegations about me, a clear violation of my confidentiality, no action was taken to protect my reputation. The Chancellor wrote in a letter to a Congressman that I had violated confidentiality by contacting the Congressman to ask his help in mediating a discussion of the refusal of the university to follow its own rules. These examples serve to illustrate a legal interpretation that has turned the meaning of confidentiality on its head. In the end, the NSF FOIA office states that all documents in a research misconduct case should be released to the public subject to redaction. Will universities abide by that policy? Scientists were worried about the overreach of the federal government when they contributed to regulations. It turns out that the overreach from university administrations was the greater threat.
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Abstract The article provides a brief account of what a mentally ill patient experienced during an intake in a university psychiatric hospital. The experience was disruptive and almost led the patient to commit suicide. The story illustrates how the context, but especially the caregiver’s behavior can aggravate the patient’s situation rather than alleviate it, in this case during the gatekeeping intake procedure.