cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LOOKING FOR AN HONEST MAN

Among the astonishing variety of sources mentioned in Martin Jay's new book on lying in politics the reader will find ancient Greek philosophical dialogues, pamphlet controversies between eighteenth-century philosophers, post-structural literary theories and, resting easily among the likes of these, a familiar old joke. “How can you tell when a politician is lying?” Jay asks. “He moves his lips” is the answer my grandfather used to give, and that is the punch-line that Jay recounts here. But my grandfather told the joke as part of a syllogism whose unstated premise was “lying is bad” and whose common-sense conclusion was that politics is corrupt. Jay is not satisfied with that conclusion. His book, The Virtues of Mendacity: On Lying in Politics, puts forward a very different argument: He assumes that politics is worthwhile, suggests that it is unavoidably linked to lying, and concludes that lying must not be as bad as we think it is. There are a host of complications and caveats, so many that one could spend a whole review admiring the virtuosity involved in constructing such a rich pastiche of historical episodes and texts touching on mendacity. But the frisson that the book provokes comes almost entirely from its willingness to flirt with the endorsement of vice, so any serious engagement with it cannot avoid responding in some way to that flirtation.
Role of conserved cis-regulatory elements in the post-transcriptional regulation of the human MECP2 gene involved in autism

The MECP2 gene codes for methyl CpG binding protein 2 which regulates activities of other genes in the early development of the brain. Mutations in this gene have been associated with Rett syndrome, a form of autism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of evolutionarily conserved cis-elements in regulating the post-transcriptional expression of the MECP2 gene and to explore their possible correlations with a mutation that is known to cause mental retardation. A bioinformatics approach was used to map evolutionarily conserved cis-regulatory elements in the transcribed regions of the human MECP2 gene and its mammalian orthologs. Cis-regulatory motifs including G-quadruplexes, microRNA target sites, and AU-rich elements have gained significant importance because of their role in key biological processes and as therapeutic targets. We discovered in the 5′-UTR (untranslated region) of MECP2 mRNA a highly conserved G-quadruplex which overlapped a known deletion in Rett syndrome patients with decreased levels of MeCP2 protein. We believe that this 5′-UTR G-quadruplex could be involved in regulating MECP2 translation. We mapped additional evolutionarily conserved G-quadruplexes, microRNA target sites, and AU-rich elements in the key sections of both untranslated regions. Our studies suggest the regulation of translation, mRNA turnover, and development-related alternative MECP2 polyadenylation, putatively involving interactions of conserved cis-regulatory elements with their respective trans factors and complex interactions among the trans factors themselves. We discovered highly conserved G-quadruplex motifs that were more prevalent near alternative splice sites as compared to the constitutive sites of the MECP2 gene. We also identified a pair of overlapping G-quadruplexes at an alternative 5′ splice site that could potentially regulate alternative splicing in a negative as well as a positive way in the MECP2 pre-mRNAs. A Rett syndrome mutation with decreased protein expression was found to be associated with a conserved G-quadruplex. Our studies suggest that MECP2 post-transcriptional gene expression could be regulated by several evolutionarily conserved cis-elements like G-quadruplex motifs, microRNA target sites, and AU-rich elements. This phylogenetic analysis has provided some interesting and valuable insights into the regulation of the MECP2 gene involved in autism.
A university-timetabling problem and its solution using Benders’ partitioning—a case study

In this paper, we address a university-timetabling problem and present a methodology that relies on Benders’ partitioning for its solution. This partitioning results from the special nature of the underlying integer programming formulation for this problem. We have used our methodology to schedule courses offered by the College of Engineering as well as to those offered university-wide at Virginia Tech. The results clearly depict an improvement in the quality of course schedules obtained by our methodology over those currently used, when the performance of a timetable is measured by the total distance traveled by the faculty members from their offices in respective departments to the classrooms, where the courses are offered.
Central-Bank ‘Distress’ and Hyperinflation in Argentina, 1989–90

The essential explanation of Argentina's 1989 hyperinflations is that the stabilisation programmes immediately preceding them drove the public sector in particular, the central bank – into ‘debt distress.’ These stabilisation programmes sought to anchor prices on an appreciated exchange rate, sustained by tight monetary policies that maintained high interest rates. The problem was that the government and the central bank had heavy domestic-debt burdens, and their combined interest bill far exceeded their non-interest surplus. To finance the interest without creating money, the government and central bank had to add continually to the outstanding debt stock as they capitalised the interest due. The debt swelled, and interest rates were pressured upward. Heavy pressure against the exchange rate, devaluation and hyperinflation then ensued when the public-sector debt stock exceeded what financial markets could be persuaded to hold at reasonable interest rates.
The Short-Run Pricing Behavior of Closed-End Funds: Bond vs. Equity Funds §

This paper investigates the short-run relationship between closed-end fund prices and their net asset values. In particular, we document three systematic differences between the short-run pricing behaviors for stock and bonds funds. For equity funds, we show that returns processes for both prices and asset values have characteristics of a random walk, while bond funds returns are more predictable. Similarly, multivariate GARCH analysis establishes the existence of stronger news and volatility spillover effects between the fund price and the net asset value for bond funds than for stock funds. Finally, we find significantly weaker dynamic conditional correlations between the fund price and its fundamental value for bond funds after the Lehman Brothers failure, whereas no such evidence is found for stock funds. To explain these findings, we propose a mechanism based on bond market illiquidity.
α-, γ- and δ-tocopherol effects on chlorophyll photosensitized oxidation of soybean oil

The effects of 0, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 (x 10−3 M) α-, γ- or δ-tocopherol on chlorophyll b photosensitized oxidation of soybean oil in methylene chloride were studied by peroxide values and headspace oxygen. As concentrations of tocopherols increased, peroxide values decreased and headspace oxygen increased (P 0.05) at 4.0 × 10−3 M. α-Tocopherol quenched singlet oxygen to reduce the photosensitized oxidation of oil. The quenching rate constants of α-tocopherol were 2.7 × 107M−1sec−1 by peroxide value and 2.6 × 107 M−1sec−1 by headspace oxygen.
In newly diagnosed breast cancer, is a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy necessary following a negative MRI?

627 Background: With more centers using MRI to aid in initial staging, there is apprehension that the highly sensitive MRI exam may lead to “unnecessary” mastectomies. We evaluated whether a negati...
Correlates of Facebook usage patterns

Greater social anxiety symptoms were associated with more time spent on Facebook.Greater social anxiety symptoms were associated with passively using Facebook.Brooding mediated the association between passive Facebook use and social anxiety.Results have implications for the cognitive-behavioral model of social anxiety. Facebook (FB)1Facebook=FB.1 is a popular platform for interacting with others to establish or maintain relationships. Compared to other interpersonal exchanges, FB does not require in-person interactions. Therefore, FB may represent an important social sphere for individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD).2Social anxiety disorder=SAD.2 Examining the relationship between social anxiety symptoms and FB activity could inform future research on the benefits or consequences of FB use in SAD individuals. This study examined the relationship between social anxiety symptoms and different FB usage patterns. We also considered the role of brooding-a known risk factor for SAD. 75 nonclinical FB users completed questionnaires about psychological symptoms, FB usage, and brooding. Greater social anxiety symptoms were associated with spending more time on FB and passively using FB (i.e., viewing other's profiles without interacting). Brooding mediated the relationship between passive FB use and social anxiety symptoms. An alternative model demonstrated that social anxiety symptoms mediated the association between passive FB use and brooding. This study was limited by its cross-sectional, self-report design. Future research should assess FB use with objective, real-time data and use experimental designs. Results have implications for the cognitive-behavioral model of SAD.
Non Performing Loans and the Macroeconomy

The boom-bust cycle in CESEE countries has left a legacy of non-performing loans (NPLs) in the region. In some countries NPLs reach levels comparable to those seen in the wake of earlier financial crises. Although the problem is serious, there are important differences in its gravity across countries and sectors and it is not found to be on a scale where it would imperil financial stability or where it would be symptomatic of a generalized debt overhang in the countries of the region. Rather, the danger lies in lingering NPLs becoming a drag on economic growth as they weigh on credit growth, which remains subdued in most of the region. More generally, unresolved NPLs tend to mute activity of overextended borrowers and hinder the reallocation of their assets to more productive uses. The clouded economic outlook for CESEE countries suggests that “growing out of the NPL problem” is probably not a realistic option for the region. Instead, a more pro-active and cooperative approach to NPL resolution is needed. This holds the promise of improved growth performance, with positive knock-on effects on banks’ asset quality and credit demand.
Meta Aircraft Connection Dynamics

A meta aircraft is an air vehicle comprised of a set of independent aircraft that are connected together in flight to a form a larger composite aircraft. These individual aircraft are connected main wing tip to main wing tip with passive magnets mounted on the wingtips. This paper explores connection flight dynamics for this type of configuration with a particular focus on modeling the connection event between aircraft in a practical environment with vehicle uncertainty, sensor errors and atmospheric winds. It is shown that a multi-element connection control law with an augmented GPS and Visual Navigation sensor yields adequate connection in a statistical sense even with realistic sensor errors and atmospheric winds. These results were obtained using a standard rigid body aircraft simulation extended with a detailed magnet model for magnetic interaction forces and moments and a soft contact model for contact loads associated with connecting body contacts.
Surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: A history of early strides toward curing a cancerous acrimony

The pain of trigeminal neuralgia is considered one of the worst in human experience. Therefore, its treatment has been of special importance in the history of medicine and surgery. Long after physicians began prescribing various herbs and medication for trigeminal neuralgia, surgeons attempted to relieve it by cutting out parts of the nervous system they deemed responsible for the pain. Between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, several surgeons pioneered surgical procedures aimed at the peripheral and central nervous system. Harvey Cushing contributed the most to increase the safety of these neurosurgical techniques. Due to Dr Cushing's meticulous clinical observation and operative record keeping, we are able to selectively review his newly discovered patient records at Johns Hopkins and Peter Bent Brigham Hospitals and provide insight into the early history and evolution of trigeminal neuralgia surgery. We also review the contributions of other surgeons from the same period.
Die Bedeutung von Eicosanoiden bei glomerulären Erkrankungen

Eicosanoide sind Syntheseprodukte der Zyklooxygenase und Lipoxygenase, Enzymkomplexe, die in fast allen Korperzellen vorkommen und ihr Hauptsubstrat, die mehrfach ungesattigte Arachidonsaure (AS), verstoffwechseln. Prostaglandine (PG) E2, I2 und Thromboxan (Tx) A2 sind Zyklooxygenaseprodukte mesangialer und epithelialer Zellen des Glomerulus, die direkte und indirekte vasodilatatorische und vasokonstriktorische Effekte am Glomerulus ausuben. Vasodilatatorische Prostaglandine E2 und I2 sind verantwortlich fur die Aufrechterhaltung der GFR bei kritischer renaler Perfusion. Diese Prostanoide (PGE2 und PGI2) vermitteln daruberhinaus aber auch die glomerulare Hyperperfusion nach experimenteller Nierenablation und bei Patienten mit chronischen Glomerulopathien. Die Induktion verschiedener tierexperimenteller Glomerulonephritiden steigert die glomerulare PG- und Txsynthese. Der stimulatorische Einflus auf den vasokostriktorischen Metaboliten TxA2 ist ausgepragter als auf die Synthese der vasodilatatorischen PGE2 und I2. Einige Befunde weisen darauf hin, das die erhohte glomerulare TxA2 Produktion mitverantwortlich ist fur die reduzierte GFR, die bei experimentellen Nephritiden beobachtet wird. Bei einer Reihe von Glomerulopathien des Menschen ist die Produktion vasodilatatorischer Prostaglandine gesteigert. Die Gabe eines Zyklooxygenasehemmers fuhrt bei diesen Patienten zur Reduktion der Proteinurie. Neben hamodynamischen Effekten scheint die erhohte vasodilatatorische PG Produktion bei diesen Patienten auch die Permselektivitat der glomerularen Filtrationsbarriere zu beeinflussen. Hauptsyntheseorte fur Lipoxygenaseprodukte sind Granulozyten und Monozyten. Pharmakologische Untersuchungen zeigen, das Lipoxygenaseprodukte (Leukotriene) vasokonstriktorische Effekte am Glomerulus haben. Leukotriene beeinflussen daruberhinaus das Wachstum mesangialer Zellen in Kultur und erhohen die Adhasion von Monozyten an mesangiale Zellen. Sie konnen deshalb bei zellvermittelten Glomerulonephritiden von Bedeutung sein.
Affective and cognitive predictors of affective response to exercise: Examining unique and overlapping variance

Abstract Objectives Affective response to exercise has been suggested as an important factor in determining regular exercise. However, it is unclear the extent to which anticipatory affect factors (affective attitudes, implicit associations, and affective associations), anticipated affect factors (anticipated regret, anticipated pride), and cognitive factors (self-efficacy, intentions) explain overlapping or unique variance in affective response to exercise. Design We systematically examined the extent to which these various affective and cognitive factors relevant to exercise predict affective response, and determined the extent to which these factors account for unique or overlapping variance in affective response. Method Healthy young adults (N = 69) completed measures of affective attitudes, affective associations, implicit associations, anticipated affect, self-efficacy, and exercise intentions. Participants then exercised for 20-min at moderate intensity on a treadmill, during and after which they reported their affective response. Using variables that were independent predictors, we conducted multivariate analyses to determine which factors account for unique variance in affective response to exercise. Results In three of four multivariate models, both anticipated and anticipatory affect variables explained unique variance in affective response during exercise. Only anticipatory affect variables accounted for unique variance in affective response immediately post-exercise. Finally, the association between exercise self-efficacy and affective response during-exercise was rendered non-significant after controlling for affective factors in all three multivariate models. Conclusions The unique associations between affective response to exercise and affective, but not cognitive, factors elucidate key predictors of affective response during- and post-exercise.
Phonological and Metrical Variation across Genres

In this study, we asked whether standard phonological and metrical constraints proposed by phonologists and metricists are useful in identifying arbitrary lines of text as metered verse vs. unmetered prose, focusing on five English-language and five Finnish-language authors. To analyze the dataset we used Prosodic (Heuser, Falk, and Anttila 2010), a software package that provides a phonological analysis and a metrical scansion for raw text. We discovered that phonologically prose and verse differ in the same way in both languages, suggesting that the phonology of genre is universal, whereas metrically the two languages turned out to differ in the expected ways.
Hipster racism and sexism in charity date auctions: individualism, privilege blindness and irony in the academy

ABSTRACTThis paper follows one small, Christian university’s five-year experience with student charity date auctions. The contemporary re-emergence of date auctions represents a backlash against gender and racial progress. Student leaders believe that in a post-racial and post-sexist society, race and gender are decontextualised neutral elements of identity. Students see their expressions of racist or sexist practices as quaint or ironic, as markers that they have sufficient cultural capital to reference historical events or practices. This perceived mastery of cultural signs is what marks these expressions as hipster racism and sexism. The date auction is difficult to unpack and challenge as it rests on privilege blindness, individualism, and the powerful rhetoric of irony. Using a close reading of the student newspaper, we analyse the discourse surrounding the date auction revealing the maintenance of patriarchy and white supremacy within the academy.
Aging-associated changes in microRNA expression profile of internal anal sphincter smooth muscle: Role of microRNA-133a

A comprehensive genomic and proteomic, computational, and physiological approach was employed to examine the (previously unexplored) role of microRNAs (miRNAs) as regulators of internal anal sphinc...
Intentions to Use the Yelp Review Website and Purchase Behavior after Reading Reviews

Yelp is a popular online consumer review website. The limited scholarly literature on Yelp indicates that under certain conditions consumers will value the review and recommend the reviewed vendor to others. We study a number of variables to determine associations with intentions to use Yelp and also behavior of use of a service or purchase of a product after reading Yelp reviews. College students (n=617) were surveyed about demographics, trust, knowledge about online review fraud, and Internet experience. Our results found that increased brand trust and increased number of reviews read were each associated with both increased intentions and behavior. Correct knowledge of online review fraud and those who previously wrote Yelp reviews were each associated with increased behavior. We recommend that companies can benefit by claiming the website of their company on Yelp. Brand managers or e-commerce managers should respond to the negative reviews posted on Yelp in order to reassure those who read the reviews about the trustworthiness of the company. Companies should consider trust-building approaches when responding to negative comments to reassure the consumer that the company is a reputable company and would not engage in fraudulent practices of posting fraudulent positive reviews.
The Role of Parental Support and Family Variables in L1 and L2 Vocabulary Development of Japanese Heritage Language Students in the United States

This study investigated the role of parental support and selected family variables in the first (L1) and second language (L2) vocabulary development of Japanese heritage language (JHL) high school students in the United States. Eighty-two JHL students ages 15–18 from eight hoshuukoo (i.e., supplementary academic schools for Japanese-speaking children) were assessed for their L1 Japanese and L2 English vocabulary knowledge. Simultaneously, the students’ parents, at least one of whom was a Japanese native, completed a family background questionnaire. An exploratory factor analysis identified five components that the parents considered effective for supporting their children's language development: Japanese pop culture, reading for pleasure in Japanese, use of Japanese at home, reading to the child, and family conversation. Regression analyses revealed that reading for pleasure in Japanese positively predicted the students’ L1 Japanese vocabulary and that Japanese pop culture negatively predicted their L2 English vocabulary. L1 Japanese vocabulary was also predicted by students’ dominant language and parents’ goals for their children's achievement, whereas L2 English vocabulary was predicted by future residency plan, mother's self-rated English proficiency, and home language use. In short, JHL students’ L1 Japanese and L2 English vocabulary development involves different family factors. Consequently, different approaches should be recommended to support HL students’ L1 and L2 development.
Subsystem symmetry protected topological order

In this work, we introduce a new type of topological order that is protected by subsystem symmetries that act on lower-dimensional subsets of lattice many-body system, e.g., along lines or planes in a three-dimensional system. The symmetry groups for such systems exhibit a macroscopic number of generators in the infinite-volume limit. We construct a set of exactly solvable models in $2D$ and $3D$, which exhibit such subsystem SPT (SSPT) phases with one-dimensional subsystem symmetries. These phases exhibit analogs of phenomena seen in SPTs protected by global symmetries: gapless edge modes, projective realizations of the symmetries at the edge, and nonlocal order parameters. Such SSPT phases are proximate, in theory space, to previously studied phases that break the subsystem symmetries and phases with fracton order, which result upon gauging them.
Memory, War, and Mnemonical In/Security: A Comparison of Lithuania and Ukraine

This chapter analyzes the interaction of discourses associated with World War II and its aftermath and the formation of related cultural, social, and political practices in Ukraine in comparison with Lithuania. The focus is on what can be considered a hegemonic war memory in the two countries—discourses about the anti-Soviet partisans and their memorialization. Political developments described as “revolutions” (Sąjūdis in Lithuania, the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan in Ukraine) have coincided with major discursive changes regarding memory politics. It is during those times that narratives extolling the virtues of anti-Soviet partisans and dwelling on losses associated with national tragedies, described as genocides, have attracted more supporters willing to “defend history” in both countries.
Mobile Trust Negotiation

We examine several architectures for extending the nascent technology of automated trust negotiation to bring nonidentity-based authentication and authorization to mobile devices. We examine how the location of trust agents and secure repositories affects such a system. We also present an implementation of one of these models. This protocol leverages software proxies, autonomous trust agents, and secure repositories to allow portable devices from different security domains (i.e., with no pre-existing relationship) to establish trust and perform secure transactions. This proposed system is called surrogate trust negotiation as the sensitive and resource-intense tasks of authentication are performed vicariously for the mobile device by a surrogate trust agent.
Imprecision, Inaccuracy, and Frustration: The Tale of Touch Input

Touch and multi-touch technologies have generated a great deal of excitement. In this chapter we focus on addressing the fundamental limitations associated with the use of touch as the primary input mechanism. We discuss seven problems facing the users of touch-based interfaces and offer a set of possible solutions from the available research so far. In particular, we address issues such as the lack of haptic feedback and hover, as well as problems with precision, occlusion, capture and physical constraints which plague this technology. We then describe two case studies from our own work, which provide complementary solutions to all of the issues discussed in this chapter. By discussing these projects in detail, we aim to expose the reader to the complexity of the issues at hand, to various design considerations, and to the intricate implementation details necessary for implementing such solutions.
Some Vector Field Equations

Systems of the type −Δu i = g i (u), with u = (u 1 ,…,u n ) and g i (u) = ∂G/∂u i on R d , d ≥ 2 are studied. Under suitable conditions on G and g it is shown that there is a solution of the system that also minimizes the action, S(u) = ∫|∇u| 2 − ∫G(u) within the class of all nontrivial finite action solutions of the system.
Spiders in wheat: First quantitative data for North America

Spiders were sampled quantitatively, by vacuum insect net (D-vac) followed by hand search, in Russian wheat aphid-resistant and -susceptible cultivars of winter wheat in Colorado. Spider densities were unaffected by cultivar, aphid density or wheat tiller density. Compared to other parts of the world, spider densities were one to two orders of magnitude lower, and the fauna more evenly dispersed over families rather than being dominated by the Linyphiidae. Given their very low densities, unmanipulated spider populations may be incapable of exerting significant biological control on cereal aphids in this system. Habitat manipulations such as those that have increased spider populations in wheat in Europe are under investigation.
Pathogenesis of Marek's disease virus infection.

The term pathogenesis is most simply defined as the development of disease. Many uncomplicated infectious diseases proceed in a direct fashion from infection to a specific pathologic expression. However, other diseases are relatively complex in terms of pathogenesis; Marek’s disease (MD) most certainly belongs in this category. This chapter will concern itself with the spectrum of sequential events triggered by infection with MD virus (MDV), and the consequences of those events at both the cellular and host level. It will also consider the many factors that affect the potential manifestations of MD. Attention will be given to mechanisms and interactions associated with those factors. Major emphasis will be placed on the lymphomagenic nature of the disease.
Identification of an extensive system of nitric oxide-producing cells in the ciliary muscle and outflow pathway of the human eye.

Purpose. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important intracellular and intercellular regulator in nerve tissue as well as in vascular endothelium, smooth muscle, and certain other cell types. In the ocular anterior segment, studies in rat have revealed a comparatively restricted distribution of the NO synthetic enzyme, NO synthase (NOS-1). Recent physiological studies, however, have shown that NO-mimicking nitrovasodilators can alter intraocular pressure in monkeys through an action (at least in part) on outflow resistance. The current studies, which determine the sites of NO synthesis in the human outflow pathway, were performed to provide an anatomic and biochemical explanation for these observations. Methods. The occurrence and distribution of sites of ocular NO production in postmortem human eyes were determined using the isozyme-independent NO-indicator marker, NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d), together with direct biochemical assay and immunocytochemical localization of specific NO synthase (NOS) isoforms. Results. The ciliary muscle (CM) and outflow pathway of normal human eyes were found to be substantially enriched in NADPH-d, the majority of which, by immunological analysis, consisted not of NOS-1 (brain or bNOS) but rather of NOS type 3 (endothelial cell or ecNOS). Biochemical analysis confirmed the NADPH-dependent production of NO and, unlike the primarily soluble distribution of bNOS, activity was found in both particulate and soluble fractions. NO reactivity was enriched in major sites of outflow resistance (trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal) as well as in collecting channels and was particularly prominent in the CM, especially in the anatomically distinct longitudinal subgroup of CM fibers that insert near (and may normally play a role in regulating resistance in) the trabecular meshwork. Conclusion. The human outflow pathway and CM are enriched sites of NO synthesis. These sites are anatomically distributed in such a manner as to suggest that one possible role for NO in the anterior segment may be to modulate outflow resistance either directly at the level of the trabecular meshwork, Schlemm's canal and collecting channels, or indirectly through alteration in the tone of the longitudinal CM. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995 ; 36 :1765-1773.
Evaluating the effects of immigrant integration policies in Western Europe using a difference-in-differences approach

ABSTRACTIn recent years, several European countries have adopted mandatory language and civic education requirements for immigrants with the hope that they will lead to improved integration outcome...
Captioned Media in Foreign Language Learning and Teaching: Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing as Tools for Language Learning . Edited by Robert Vanderplank

Captioned Media in Foreign Language Learning and Teaching: Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing as Tools for Language LearningEdited by Robert VanderplankLondon: Palgrave MacmillanUS $100.00ISBN 9781137500441 (Hardback)269 pages2016
Outcomes in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma With the Introduction of New Chemotherapeutic Drugs: 10-Year Experience of a Single NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Objectives:Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas represents the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Drug combinations, FOLFIRINOX (5-FU, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, showed a clinically meaningful benefit when compared with single-ag
Somatic loss of PIK3R1 may sensitize breast cancer to inhibitors of the MAPK pathway

The PI3K pathway, which includes the PI3K catalytic subunits p110α (PIK3CA) and the PI3K regulatory subunit p85α (PIK3R1), is the most frequently altered pathway in cancer. We encountered a breast cancer patient whose tumor contained a somatic alteration in PIK3R1. Some commercial sequencing platforms suggest that somatic mutations in PIK3R1 may sensitize cancers to drugs that inhibit the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). However, a review of the preclinical and clinical literature did not find evidence substantiating that hypothesis. The purpose of this study was to knock out PIK3R1 in order to determine the optimal therapeutic approach for breast cancers lacking p85α. We created an isogenic cellular system by knocking out both alleles of the PIK3R1 gene in the non-tumorigenic human breast cell line MCF-10A. Knockout cells were compared with wild-type cells by measuring growth, cellular signaling, and response to drugs. We observed hyperphosphorylation of MEK in these knockouts, which sensitized PIK3R1-null cells to a MEK inhibitor, trametinib. However, they were not sensitized to the mTOR inhibitor, everolimus. Our findings suggest that breast cancers with loss of p85α may not respond to mTOR inhibition, but may be sensitive to MEK inhibition.
Apodized Volume Bragg Gratings in Photo-Thermo-Refractive Glass

Uniform refractive index modulation causes sidelobes in diffraction spectra of volume Bragg gratings (VBGs). Sequential recording two slightly different interference patterns and cutting specimen at zeros of moire envelope produces apodized VBGs with suppressed sidelobes.
Shining Light on Triboelectric Phenomena

In this issue of Matter, two independent papers (Liu et al. and Hao et al.) describe tunable materials interfaces that convert mechanical and light energy to electricity via a novel "photo-tribo-electric" effect.
Health status changes with transitory disability over time.

Abstract Rationale The six-question disability set from the American Community Survey serves as the national standard for measuring disability across all surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These questions are intended to identify people who experience a long-term disability, and data from these questions are frequently interpreted as capturing discrete groups of individuals. Recent research has shown that a significant proportion of individuals respond to these questions inconsistently over time, possibly indicating that the six-question set also identifies transitory disability. However, it is unclear if these inconsistent responses are associated with changes in health status. We begin to test the validity of these observations by exploring how changes in health related quality of life correspond to changes in disability status. Methods We recruited 525 participants to complete a longitudinal paper and pencil survey four times over 18 months that included the six disability questions, measures of health related quality of life, and mobility equipment use. We computed within person changes in health related quality of life variables to investigate how changes in disability status are associated with changes in health status. Results Among respondents who reported disability, half or less consistently reported the same disability. Additionally, respondents who changed disability responses also reported changes in health related quality of life. For example, when individuals transition into walking disability, their health-related quality of life index decreases by, on average, 0.18 s.d. (p Conclusion The six-question set identifies people who experience both enduring and transitory disability. Changes in health related characteristics correlate with changes in disability status. This suggests that observed transitions in disability reflect real changes in perceived health and impairment.
Effects Upon Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Prediction of Varied Observation Time Windows

Post-operative atrial fibrillation (PoAF) occurs in 20-40% patients undergoing cardiac bypass graft surgery, but predicting its occurrence is a known challenge. Onset time of PoAF varies from one day to a few weeks after the cardiac surgery. We hypothesize that some of the difficulty in predicting PoAF and the inconsistency reported in previous studies stems from this variation, as patients with different time of onset after surgery also have different characteristics, and predictive models vary based on the window of observation after surgery. Here, we illustrate temporal dynamics in demographics and risk factors of AF incidence by developing models to predict PoAF onset day by day after surgery. In our results, age and prior AF remain associated with PoAF across different time observation windows (i.e. 0–7 days). The effect of gender, smoking, diabetes, and pre-operative beta blocker use differed with the length of post-surgery observation for AF.
Do strategic cost policies lead to more sustainable practices? Evidence from county governments

We contribute to social responsibility research by expanding its scope to include government-level actors and their stakeholders - citizens. We use county-level fiscal policy (strategic cost management) to investigate the public sector's role in maximising citizens' value through sustainability efforts. To date, inquiries of public sector sustainability take place mostly at the national level. Evidence suggests national-level inquiries are relatively poor indicators of public or private sustainability efforts and that investigations of sustainability at the local public sector-level may be more informative. Accordingly, we assess the link between strategic cost management and citizen-stakeholder value via panel analysis of 66 counties in Florida between 2005 and 2014. Contrasting prior literature, our results indicate a strategic cost management strategy that increased total aggregate county spending results in a reduction of emission levels. Further, when total spending is held constant while simultaneously allocating resources to social-public spending, county emission levels are reduced.
Neutrophilic drug reactions.

Neutrophilic drug reactions are unique eruptions that can affect hospitalized patients and share a common pathophysiology with neutrophils as the key mediators of inflammation. They range in clinical presentation from papules and plaques to bullae and erosions to pustules. Although there is some overlap in presentation, each has distinguishing features that aid the clinician in differentiation from one another and from other drug hypersensitivity reactions. Much of the data on these reactions are from case reports and series or retrospective review studies. There are limited prospective observational studies dedicated to these adverse drug reactions. We review the more common and life-threatening neutrophilic drug reactions, their proposed mechanism of action, and their management.
Genetic interactions among native and introduced stocks of Oncorhynchus mykiss in the upper Willamette River, Oregon

First recognized as threatened with extinction in 1999, native winter steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss from Oregon’s Upper Willamette River (UWR) declined to a record-low 543 adult fish in 2017. This anadromous species has been seriously affected by habitat loss caused by impassable dams, intense predation from pinnipeds, and water pollution. Genetic and ecological risks posed by non-native hatchery steelhead may also limit recovery. Here we used 15 microsatellite markers to investigate the genetic composition of naturally-produced juvenile O. mykiss, collected from the most downstream UWR location and other sites throughout the upper basin. Our results, based on 1012 individuals, identified some natural production by summer steelhead released by ongoing hatchery programs, but even greater influence from discontinued non-native winter steelhead hatchery programs. Genetic influence from hatchery programs was nearly absent in above-dam habitats, but concentrated in below-dam habitats and rivers stocked with hatchery steelhead. Although informative, our microsatellite data lacked sufficient power to assign individual fish to hybrid classes, and we urge caution when interpreting similar results from few loci. Taken together, our findings suggest that fish sorting facilities can assist with the conservation of steelhead populations reintroduced above dams, and that hatchery programs can have a lasting genetic influence over naturally-spawning populations, even after stocking has ceased. To conserve the genetic integrity of native UWR steelhead, we recommend that managers consider the lineage of steelhead used for reintroductions, continue to implement policies that limit genetic risks from existing hatchery programs and explore ways to alleviate persistent risks from discontinued programs.
Two Cases of Thyrotoxicosis due to Redotex Ingestion, a Mexican Weight Loss Drug.

Abstract Background Redotex™ is a Mexican weight-loss supplement that is not U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved. It consists of the following five ingredients: tri-iodothyronine 75 μg, atropine 0.36 mg, diazepam 8 mg, aloin 16 mg, and d-norpseudoephedrine 50 mg per tablet. There are few case reports with clinically severe ingestions. We report two cases of clinical thyrotoxicosis due to use of Redotex. Case Reports A 29-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) with anxiety and palpitations. She reported taking Redotex daily for 1 week. Her temperature was 37.1°C, blood pressure (BP) was 166/104 mm Hg, and heart rate (HR) was 140 beats/min. Laboratory analysis was significant for a bicarbonate level of 20 mmol/L (reference 22–29 mmol/L), free T4 0.75 ng/dL (reference 0.93–1.70 ng/dL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 0.05 uIU/mL (reference 0.27–4.20 uIU/mL). She was treated with 2 mg i.v. lorazepam and 20 mg oral propranolol. A 37-year-old woman presented with chest pain, palpitations, and nausea after taking Redotex 1 to 2 tablets daily for 6 weeks. Her HR was 134 beats/min and BP was 130/66 mm Hg. Thyroid function tests on initial presentation showed a TSH of 0.013 uU/mL, free T4 of 0.24 ng/dL, and free T3 of >30 pg/mL. She was treated with propranolol 1 mg i.v. twice per day and 2 doses of lorazepam 1 mg. Both patients had resolution of their symptoms. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? When taken chronically and at recommended doses, Redotex can present with clinically significant T3 thyrotoxicosis. This has not been seen in prior reports.
Planar Antenna-Coupled SIS Devices for Detection and Mixing

In order to avoid the difficulties associated with waveguide and cat-whisker contacts at frequencies above 100GHz, a planar integrated circuit combining lead-alloy SIS junctions and a receiving antenna has been developed. A novel tuning device for the planar circuit will also be described.
Electrocautery-induced molten metal particle generation from total joint replacements: Morphology and chemistry.

Electrosurgical techniques are used during surgery to cauterize, and their damaging effects have primarily been documented in terms of tissue necrosis, charring, and localized heat accumulation. Metallic implants as well as the surgical blade can experience incidental electrosurgical current arcing that results in the generation and transfer of melted metallic particles. This work examines the composition, particle size distribution, and chemical state of the melted alloy surfaces and particles produced in vitro. Using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, a flash-melting particle generation phenomenon between source 304 SSL blades and polished cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) and titanium-6-aluminum-4-vandaium (Ti6Al4V) surfaces was documented where 304 SSL mixed heterogeneously with the CoCrMo and Ti6Al4V ejecting "splatter" particles from the cautery site. The spherical micron-sized particles were embedded with sub-micron-sized particles with 42% of the total sample population measuring between 0.25 and 0.35 μm in diameter. CoCrMo-304 SSL particles were principally made of high concentrations of iron, oxygen, and nickel with embedded sub-micron-sized particles containing oxygen, chromium, and cobalt with lower concentrations of iron and molybdenum. Ti6Al4V-304 SSL interactions resulted in similar micron-sized particles made up of high concentrations of iron, nickel, and chromium with embedded sub-micron-sized particles containing titanium, oxygen, and small amounts of aluminum. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of damaged CoCrMo surfaces confirmed the presence of chromium (VI) following dry electrocautery contact in coagulation mode. The structural effects of electrocautery-induced damage are becoming visible in retrieval analysis, but the long-term physiological implications during the lifetime of the implant from this damage mode have yet to be defined.
A universal, open-source, high-performance tool for automated sleep staging

Abstract The creation of a completely automated sleep-scoring system that is highly accurate, flexible, well validated, free and simple to use by anyone has yet to be accomplished. In part, this is due to the difficulty of use of existing algorithms, algorithms having been trained on too small samples, and paywall demotivation. Here we describe a novel algorithm trained and validated on +27,000 hours of polysomnographic sleep recordings across heterogeneous populations around the world. This tool offers high sleep-staging accuracy matching or exceeding human accuracy and interscorer agreement no matter the population kind. The software is easy to use, computationally low-demanding, open source, and free. Such software has the potential to facilitate broad adoption of automated sleep staging with the hope of becoming an industry standard.
In search of lost time: Examining the duration of growth-reducing sudden stops

Abstract This paper investigates the duration of sub-par growth spells associated with sudden stops in private capital flows. Our key finding is that countries featuring floating exchange rate regimes experience shorter growth-reducing sudden stops than countries with more rigid regimes. The estimated effect is large: countries with flexible exchange rate regimes are at least 50 percent more likely to exit a growth-reducing sudden stop. Our results withstand a number of robustness checks, including: controlling for banking crises and initial levels of debt, and introducing unobserved heterogeneity. The paper revisits the heated policy debate of the 1990s on fixed vs. flexible exchange rate regimes from a different angle and uncovers another important shock absorber role of flexible exchange rates.
A Low-power Dry Electrode-based ECG Signal Acquisition with De-noising and Feature Extraction

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is widely used by physicians to detect heart ailments. The multi-resolution analysis offered by the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) coupled with its noise-removal capability makes it a suitable tool for ECG signal analysis. In this paper, a DWT-based approach is presented for ECG signal decomposition and noise removal. The algorithm is tested on two ECG signals acquired using dry electrodes and a low-power on-chip amplifier designed in a standard 130-nm CMOS process. It is also tested on four ECG signals acquired from the MIT-BIH database; these measure the subject both at rest and in motion. For the ECG signal acquired using the dry electrode, the DWT-based denoising algorithm shows a 53.1% higher SNR compared to the Savitzky Golay de-noising algorithm. It outperforms the same algorithm and is effective in motion-artifact removal for ECG signals while walking, jogging, and exercising by 33%, 25%, and 16.1%. The proposed DWT-based feature extraction algorithm augmented with a minimum R-R interval threshold check feature enhances the performance and improves the feature extraction by 36.5%. The peak values of P, Q, R, S, and T, as well as the average RR, QRS, PP, and TT intervals of the ECG signals, are extracted and compared with the typical values for healthy adults. In case of any abnormalities in the detected features, the subject is recommended to consult the physician for further diagnosis. Comparison between the DWT and the Pan-Tompkins algorithm yields F1 score metric to be equal to one for both methodologies.