cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrophoresis-tutor: an image-based personal computer program that teaches clinical interpretation of protein electrophoresis patterns of serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid.

High-resolution protein electrophoresis of serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can aid in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, macroglobulinemia, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases. Electrophoresis-Tutor is a personal computer program based on approximately 150 digital images that teaches the clinical interpretation of agarose gel electrophoretic patterns. The program is divided into the following sections: introduction, CSF, serum, urine, review of disease states, program navigator, and final exam. The CSF section describes normal and abnormal CSF findings with emphasis on oligoclonal banding, as seen in the CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis. The serum section emphasizes monoclonal gammopathy patterns but also has detailed descriptions of inflammation, liver disease, protein-losing disorders, genetic deficiencies, and other patterns. Monoclonal gammopathy is described in the context of specific associated clinical conditions (e.g., myeloma, amyloidosis). For each monoclonal gammopathy example, results of standard electrophoresis, densitometry, and immunofixation are presented. The review of disease states uses animation to illustrate the development and remission of a variety of pathological patterns. The program navigator allows the user to jump quickly to any place in the program. The optional exam contains 20 questions, and detailed feedback is given after each question. Electrophoresis-Tutor can be used as a stand-alone teaching tool, a companion to traditional instruction, or a reference source.
The fecundity and oviposition behavior of a South Indian strain of Callosobruchus maculatus

Abstract The fecundity of the South India strain of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) (Bruchidae: Coleoptera) is 73 eggs for females developing in 31 days and increases to 94 eggs for females emerging after 41 days. Fed females lay 45–55 more eggs which is the egg-equivalent of the reserves unfed females had to sacrifice for activity. Competition as a larva did not reduce a female's fecundity. Oviposition is inhibited when females are given 25 or fewer beans for oviposition and it is reversed if females find fresh beans. Oviposition is generally released by beans carrying a below average number of eggs, thus, the eggs are almost uniformly distributed over the beans. Eggs are preferentially placed on the largest egg-free beans as expected if oviposition is released when a beetle goes from a smaller to a larger bean. The cues regulating host preferences, cowpea > mung » igeonpea » chickpea, are secondary to the cues producing hyperdispersion and the selection of larger beans. We present a model for the oviposition behavior that accounts for the observed responses to species, size, and egg load of oviposition sites. Resume Fecondite et comportement de ponte de souches de Callosobruchus maculatus du Sud de l'Inde La fecondite de femelles isolees avec un mâle, sans aliment ni eau, et laissees sans perturbation avec 50 graines au moins sert de fecondite standard. Elle augmente avec le temps de developpement de l'œuf a Fadulte de 73 œufs (32 j) a 94 œufs (44 j). La fecondite potentielle, obtenue avec des femelles alimentees sur sucre est de 125 œufs. Des femelles maintenues avec moins de 25 graines reduisent leur fecondite. Plus de la moitie des femelles distribuent leurs œufs uniformement jusqu'a une densite de 1,5 œuf. L'uniformite peut provenir de l'induction de reactions de ponte par les graines portant moins d'œufs que l'effectif moyen. L'hyperdistribution au dessus des densites de 3 œufs/graine revele l'aptitude a distinguer les graines avec 3 œufs des graines avec 4 œufs. Il y a moins d'ecarts par rapport a l'uniformite (erreurs) avec des graines a surface rugueuse. Des femelles avec 10 graines font moins d'erreurs que des femelles avec 50 ou 100 graines. Les œufs sont ajoutes aux plus grosses graines sans œufs; ainsi, plus il y a de graines qui portent des œufs, plus le poids des graines avec œufs diminue. Un tel schema est previsible si la ponte est induite par des graines plus grosses que les graines rencontrees precedemment. Les femelles presentent un ordre de preference clair quand elles sont en rapport avec leurs hotes classiques: Vigna unguiculata > V. radiata > Cajanus cajan > Cicer arietinum Les caracteres specifiques de l'hote, plutot que la taille ou la texture de la surface servent a la distinction entre les graines d'un meme hote. Ces resultats experimentaux peuvent etre utilises pour la modelisation du comportement de ponte d'une femelle.
Generalized Beta Mixtures of Gaussians

In recent years, a rich variety of shrinkage priors have been proposed that have great promise in addressing massive regression problems. In general, these new priors can be expressed as scale mixtures of normals, but have more complex forms and better properties than traditional Cauchy and double exponential priors. We first propose a new class of normal scale mixtures through a novel generalized beta distribution that encompasses many interesting priors as special cases. This encompassing framework should prove useful in comparing competing priors, considering properties and revealing close connections. We then develop a class of variational Bayes approximations through the new hierarchy presented that will scale more efficiently to the types of truly massive data sets that are now encountered routinely.
Bortezomib paradigm shift in myeloma

Bortezomib's unprecedented antitumor activity in myeloma has long been attributed to NF-κB inhibition. A new study from the group that put the drug on the map directly challenges this assumption.
Clonal evolution, genomic drivers and effects of therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Purpose: The identification of gene mutations and structural genomic aberrations that are critically involved in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) pathogenesis is still evolving. One may postulate that genomic driver lesions with effects on CLL cell proliferation, apoptosis thresholds, or chemotherapy resistance should increase in frequency over time when measured sequentially in a large CLL cohort. Experimental Design: We sequentially sampled a large well-characterized CLL cohort at a mean of 4 years between samplings and measured acquired copy number aberrations (aCNA) and LOH using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 6.0 array profiling and the mutational state of TP53 , NOTCH1 , and SF3B1 using Sanger sequencing. The paired analysis included 156 patients, of whom 114 remained untreated and 42 received intercurrent therapies, predominantly potent chemoimmunotherapy, during the sampling interval. Results: We identify a strong effect of intercurrent therapies on the frequency of acquisition of aCNAs in CLL. Importantly, the spectrum of acquired genomic changes was largely similar in patients who did or did not receive intercurrent therapies; therefore, various genomic changes that become part of the dominant clones are often already present in CLL cell populations before therapy. Furthermore, we provide evidence that therapy of CLL with preexisting TP53 mutations results in outgrowth of genomically very complex clones, which dominate at relapse. Conclusions: Using complementary technologies directed at the detection of genomic events that are present in substantial proportions of the clinically relevant CLL disease bulk, we capture aspects of genomic evolution in CLL over time, including increases in the frequency of genomic complexity, specific recurrent aCNAs, and TP53 mutations. Clin Cancer Res; 19(11); 2893–904. ©2013 AACR .
The Mobile School: Digital Communities Created by Mobile Learners

Mobile technologies are beginning to interface with Web 2.0 tools, immersive virtual worlds, and online environments to present educational opportunities for traditional and nontraditional learners within communities of learners. The use of Web 2.0 tools to build new community learning ecosystems by today’s students using cell phones, mp3 players, and iPod devices to stay connected will be discussed in the context of digital citizenship. The use of simulations and virtual environments to build learning spaces that provide connections to students globally will be explored. How these 21st century digital interfaces will challenge the educational institutions of K-12 to create a more rigorous, immersive, and differentiated learning environments will be presented.
Impact of Nonoptimal Intakes of Saturated, Polyunsaturated, and Trans Fat on Global Burdens of Coronary Heart Disease

Background: Saturated fat (SFA), x-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fat (PUFA), and trans fat (TFA) influence risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but attributable CHD mortalities by country, age, sex, and time are unclear. Methods and Results: National intakes of SFA, n-6 PUFA, and TFA were estimated using a Bayesian hierarchical model based on country-specific dietary surveys; food availability data; and, for TFA, industry reports on fats/oils and packaged foods. Etiologic effects of dietary fats on CHD mortality were derived from meta-analyses of prospective cohorts and CHD mortality rates from the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases study. Absolute and proportional attributable CHD mortality were computed using a comparative risk assessment framework. In 2010, nonoptimal intakes of n-6 PUFA, SFA, and TFA were estimated to result in 711 800 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 680 700-745 000), 250 900 (95% UI 236 900-265 800), and 537 200 (95% UI 517 600-557 000) CHD deaths per year worldwide, accounting for 10.3% (95% UI 9.9%-10.6%), 3.6%, (95% UI 3.5%-3.6%) and 7.7% (95% UI 7.6%-7.9%) of global CHD mortality. Tropical oil-consuming countries were estimated to have the highest proportional n-6 PUFA- and SFAattributable CHD mortality, whereas Egypt, Pakistan, and Canada were estimated to have the highest proportional TFA-attributable CHD mortality. From 1990 to 2010 globally, the estimated proportional CHD mortality decreased by 9% for insufficient n-6 PUFA and by 21% for higher SFA, whereas it increased by 4% for higher TFA, with the latter driven by increases in low- and middle-income countries. Conclusions: Nonoptimal intakes of n-6 PUFA, TFA, and SFA each contribute to significant estimated CHD mortality, with important heterogeneity across countries that informs nation-specific clinical, public health, and policy priorities.
WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE

I analyze changes in the target efficiency of the federal minimum wage over the past 25 years. Using static simulation methods I find that minimum wage target efficiency is currently close to its 25-year peak—of the total monetary benefits generated by a 12% increase in the federal minimum wage, 16.8% would flow to workers in poverty. This exceeds the least target efficient year over this period by 4.7 percentage points and is only 0.6 percentage points below the peak. Furthermore, I find a very strong positive relationship between minimum wage target efficiency and the real federal minimum wage. The implication is that, from an efficiency standpoint, a good time to raise the minimum wage is when it is already high. This discovery raises the possibility that the minimum wage increases the employment of low-skilled poor individuals relative to the employment of low-skilled non-poor individuals. Moreover, this discovery may bolster the rationale for an indexed minimum wage whereby it is prevented from falling to less efficient levels. (JEL J21, J31, J38)
Fluorescence of Nafion Dispersed Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Water and in Silica Composite

The fluorescence of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) dispersed in a Nafion―water system is studied by means of reversible oxidative quenching with H 2 O 2 and I 2 at room temperature. The system is sustainable in alcohol and in salt solutions. A simple one-step method for encapsulating a SWNT/Nafion suspension in silica via the alcohol condensation process is described. Quenching of SWNT fluorescence in the silica composite by H 2 O 2 and by I 2 either in water or in air with respect to their concentration and composite dimension is discussed.
Cycles in graphs with large independence ratio

where α(X) is the independence number of the subgraph of G induced by X. The independence ratio is a relaxation of the chromatic number χ(G) in the sense that χ(G) ≥ ι(G) for every graph G, while for many natural classes of graphs these quantities are almost equal. In this paper, we address two old conjectures of Erdős on cycles in graphs with large chromatic number and a conjecture of Erdős and Hajnal on graphs with infinite chromatic number.
Quantitation of Productively Infected Monocytes and Macrophages of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Macaques.

ABSTRACT Despite the success of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a lifelong infection because of latent viral reservoirs in infected patients. The contribution of CD4 + T cells to infection and disease progression has been extensively studied. However, during early HIV infection, macrophages in brain and other tissues are infected and contribute to tissue-specific diseases, such as encephalitis and dementia in brain and pneumonia in lung. The extent of infection of monocytes and macrophages has not been rigorously assessed with assays comparable to those used to study infection of CD4 + T cells and to evaluate the number of CD4 + T cells that harbor infectious viral genomes. To assess the contribution of productively infected monocytes and macrophages to HIV- and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected cells in vivo , we developed a quantitative virus outgrowth assay (QVOA) based on similar assays used to quantitate CD4 + T cell latent reservoirs in HIV- and SIV-infected individuals in whom the infection is suppressed by ART. Myeloid cells expressing CD11b were serially diluted and cocultured with susceptible cells to amplify virus. T cell receptor β RNA was measured as a control to assess the potential contribution of CD4 + T cells in the assay. Virus production in the supernatant was quantitated by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Productively infected myeloid cells were detected in blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lungs, spleen, and brain, demonstrating that these cells persist throughout SIV infection and have the potential to contribute to the viral reservoir during ART. IMPORTANCE Infection of CD4 + T cells and their role as latent reservoirs have been rigorously assessed; however, the frequency of productively infected monocytes and macrophages in vivo has not been similarly studied. Myeloid cells, unlike lymphocytes, are resistant to the cytopathic effects of HIV. Moreover, tissue-resident macrophages have the ability to self-renew and persist in the body for months to years. Thus, tissue macrophages, once infected, have the characteristics of a potentially stable viral reservoir. A better understanding of the number of productively infected macrophages is crucial to further evaluate the role of infected myeloid cells as a potential viral reservoir. In the study described here we compared the frequency of productively infected CD4 + T cells and macrophages in an SIV-infected macaque model. We developed a critical assay that will allow us to quantitate myeloid cells containing viral genomes that lead to productive infection in SIV-infected macaques and assess the role of macrophages as potential reservoirs.
Abstract 699: PIK3CA/BRAF mutations negatively affect outcome of patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer treated with front line anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies: Meta-analysis results

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA BACKGROUND:The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of PIK3CA and BRAF mutations in patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer receiving an EGFR monoclonal antibody (anti-EGFR) inhibitor in the first line therapy. METHODS:literature search was performed to identify studies exploring the association between PIK3CA/BRAF mutations and clinical outcomes of KRAS wild mCRC patients treated with anti-EGFR as a first line therapy. The primary clinical outcome is response rate (RR). The secondary outcomes include progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). The pooled relative risk (RR) or hazard ratio (HR) was estimated by using fixed effect model or random effect model according to heterogeneity between studies. RESULTS:Ten studies with 1,470 mCRC patients (357 for PI3K studies and 1,113 from BRAF studies) met selection criteria. We observed a trend towards lower RR in patients with PIK3CA mutations (2 studies, 137 patients; RR = 14.3% versus 52.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.12-0.02; P = 0.13). Patients with mutant-type PI3K have significant shorter PFS (3.8 vs 4.15 mos, HR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.04-1.77; P = 0.02), and OS (14.17 Vs 16.3 mos., HR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.14-1.97; P = 0.004) compared to those with wild PI3K. For BRAF, patients with mutant type have significant lower RR [4 studies, 416 patients; RR = 33% versus 39%; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.16- 0.01; P = 0.03], shorter PFS (6 studies, 893 pts., 3.9 Vs 5.7 mos., HR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.47- 2.01; P = 0.00001), and shorter OS (6 studies, 1065 pts., 9.1 Vs 18.9 mos., HR = 1.22; 95% CI 1.04-1.44; P = 0.01) compared to those with wild type. CONCLUSION:These analyses suggest that patients with colorectal cancer and either PIK3CA or BRAF mutation have worse outcome when treated with anti-EGFR in the first line. Given their worse outcome, trials evaluating novel agents are needed in this group of patients. | Meta-analyses on BRAFF and PIK3CA mutations in KRAS wild mCRC | || | | BRAF Wild | BRAF Mutant | HR (95% CI) | p-value | PI3K Wild | PI3K Mutant | HR (95% CI) | p-value | | RR (%) | 39% | 33% | -0.16 - 0.01 | 0.03 | 52.4% | 14.3% | -0.12 - 0.02 | 0.13 | | PFS (mos) | 5.7 | 3.9 | 1.47 - 2.01 | 0.00001 | 4.15 | 3.8 | 1.04 - 1.77 | 0.02 | | OS (mos) | 18.9 | 9.1 | 1.04 - 1.44 | 0.01 | 16.3 | 14.7 | 1.14 - 1.97 | 0.004 | Citation Format: Amr Mohamed, Kelly Schrapp, Taraq Attumi, Nabil F. Saba, Bassel F. El-Rayes. PIK3CA/BRAF mutations negatively affect outcome of patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer treated with front line anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies: Meta-analysis results. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 699. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-699
Müllerian anomaly in a woman with Hirschsprung's disease

Mullerian anomalies are usually isolated or found in association with abnormalities of the renal tract. Rarely, they are encountered with coexisting Ggastrointestinal anomalies. Similarly, Hirschsprung9s disease may coexist with additional somatic abnormalities, yet only a single case report has reported a mullerian anomaly coexisting with Hirschsprung9s. A 35-year-old woman with long-standing dysmenorrhoea and infertility and history of Hirschsprung9s disease and some components of VATER syndrome (vertebral anomalies, anal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal anomalies) underwent operative laparoscopic exploration for pelvic pain and was found to have an incidental finding of a unilateral segmentally hypoplastic uterine horn (variation of an ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) type 2C mullerian anomaly). The genetics of mullerian anomalies and Hirschsprung9s disease have been extensively studied with certain loci and candidate genes theorised as being causative. An established familial relationship and heritability exists with both syndromes; however, no genetic foci have been found to connect mullerian abnormalities and Hirschsprung9s disease.
Exchangeable Markov survival processes and weak continuity of predictive distributions.

We study exchangeable, Markov survival processes – stochastic processes giving rise to infinitely exchangeable non-negative sequences $(T_{1},T_{2},\ldots)$. We show how these are determined by their characteristic index $\{\zeta_{n}\}_{n=1}^{\infty}$. We identify the harmonic process as the family of exchangeable, Markov survival processes that compose the natural set of statistical models for time-to-event data. In particular, this two-dimensional family comprises the set of exchangeable, Markov survival processes with weakly continuous predictive distributions. The harmonic process is easy to generate sequentially, and a simple expression exists for both the joint probability distribution and multivariate survivor function. We show a close connection with the Kaplan-Meier estimator of the survival distribution. Embedded within the process is an infinitely exchangeable ordered partition. Aspects of the process, such as the distribution of the number of blocks, are investigated.
Homilies for Applied Geographers

The idea of applied geography seems especially alluring, both theoretically and practically. Theoretically, it seems to lend an immediacy and robustness to geographical study. As Hare put it: Geography for its own sake does little for my personal satisfaction. Geography conceived as a guide to sensible human action does a great deal (1977, p. 262).
Chronology of the Acheulean to Middle Stone Age transition in eastern Africa

The origin of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) marks the transition from a highly persistent mode of stone toolmaking, the Acheulean, to a period of increasing technological innovation and cultural indicators associated with the evolution of Homo sapiens . We used argon-40/argon-39 and uranium-series dating to calibrate the chronology of Acheulean and early MSA artifact–rich sedimentary deposits in the Olorgesailie basin, southern Kenya rift. We determined the age of late Acheulean tool assemblages from 615,000 to 499,000 years ago, after which a large technological and faunal transition occurred, with a definitive MSA lacking Acheulean elements beginning most likely by ~320,000 years ago, but at least by 305,000 years ago. These results establish the oldest repository of MSA artifacts in eastern Africa.
Impact of psychiatric comorbidities on outcomes of elderly liver transplant recipients.

Abstract Objectives This study evaluated the impact of psychiatric comorbidities in liver transplant (LT) recipients aged ≥65 years (elderly) on length of hospital-stay (LOS), death, and a composite outcome of graft loss or death. Methods This retrospective study assessed impact of psychiatric comorbidities in 122 elderly LT recipients and a matched group of 122 LT recipients aged Results Among elderly, median age at LT was 68 years, most were males (62%), white (85%) and 61.7% had a history of any psychiatric diagnosis. Among younger, median age was 55, most were males (67.2%), white (77.5%) and 61.5% had any psychiatric diagnosis. Median LOS was 8 days for both groups. Among elderly, after a median follow-up of 5 years, 25.4% died and 29.5% experienced graft loss or death. History of adjustment disorder, history of depression, past psychiatric medication use, and pain prior to LT were associated with an increased risk of death or the composite graft loss or death. Perioperative use of SSRIs and lack of sleeping medication use were associated with longer LOS. Among aged Conclusion Six out of 10 patients among both elderly and younger cohorts had pre-LT psychiatric comorbidities, some of which adversely affected outcomes after LT.
Abstract 17546: Electrocardiography and Holter Insight Into Sudden Cardiac Death Risk in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: While multiple studies have evaluated risk factors for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), risk stratification and clinical decision-making regarding impl...
Unsettled: Exhibiting the Greater West

Unsettled Exhibition schedule: The Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, Nevada, August 26, 2017—January 21, 2018; Anchorage Museum, Anchorage, Alaska, April 6, 2018—September 9, 2018; Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, California, October 27, 2018—February 18, 2019
Confronting Hate: Ideas for Art Educators to Address Confederate Monuments

In 2015, the mass murder of nine people in a South Carolina church by a White supremacist led to greater public questioning of symbols of the Confederacy.1 This questioning led to action in the spr...
Engagement on the Defensive: From the Mismatched Grand Bargain to the Emerging US–China Rivalry

Facing powerful challenges from both China and the US, the long-standing engagement policy is on the defensive. Focusing on advancing American economic and security interests rather than its ideals...
Environmental control system analysis to investigate the indoor air quality of an aircraft

Environmental control system (ECS) in aircraft provide comfortable environment for people and goods. The temperature, pressure and humidity are vital properties of indoor air in aircraft. In this study, the systems used for conditioning the indoor air of the aircraft are considered. The hot and pressurised air that came from the compressor of the engine is transferred to the cabin by changing some of its characteristics. Thus, the indoor air quality is controlled. This study analyses the ECS in aircraft. Some of these systems are cabin air conditioning, pressurisation, humidity control and temperature control. When investigating these systems, some important values were obtained for ensuring the comfort and safety in the aircraft. Fresh air renewal period, strength for the skin panel, humidity formed in the cabin and heating demand were found to be 443 s, 84.8 kN/m2, 0.6 g/kg and 106.2 kW, respectively.
Entangled Things and Deposits in Early Colonial Native New England

We consider the entanglement of objects and deposits at an early colonial-period Native American site in New England’s middle Connecticut River valley. We examine the acquisition, circulation, and deposition of archaeological materials and consider the obligations, reciprocities, and networks maintained and reworked by Pocumtuck people and their native and nonnative neighbors. The archaeological evidence indicates increasingly circumscribed networks as stone, copper, clay, shell, and glass created debts, obligations, and duties between individuals and communities. The Pocumtuck, along with their kin and allies, were entangled in colonialism as active co-producers of social transformation.
The Role of Transformative Use: Revisiting the Fourth Circuit’s Fair Use Opinions in Bouchat v. Baltimore Ravens

The Fourth Circuit opinions in Bouchat v. Baltimore Ravens illustrate the important role of the doctrine of transformative use in copyright fair use. A secondary use of a copyrighted work is transformative if the work was employed in a different manner or for a different purpose. The majority opinion found the use of plaintiff’s work in documentary films of the Ravens to be not transformative and a copyright infringement, whereas the dissenting and district court judges found the use to be transformative and a fair use. To determine which opinion is more persuasive, this article reviews the history of transformative use, its application in recent caselaw, and two alternative fair use tests proposed by copyright scholars. This article concludes that Bouchat was decided incorrectly because the dissenting opinion properly characterized the plaintiff’s work as a historical artifact, which the defendants used out of necessity in order to create accurate documentaries.
Limits of using oligonucleotides for allele-selective inhibition at trinucleotide repeat sequences – targeting the CAG repeat within ataxin-1

Trinucleotide repeats are responsible for many genetic diseases. Previous studies have shown that duplex RNAs (dsRNAs) can be used to target expression of a mutant repeat allele while leaving expre...
SSD failures in the field: symptoms, causes, and prediction models

In recent years, solid state drives (SSDs) have become a staple of high-performance data centers for their speed and energy efficiency. In this work, we study the failure characteristics of 30,000 drives from a Google data center spanning six years. We characterize the workload conditions that lead to failures and illustrate that their root causes differ from common expectation but remain difficult to discern. Particularly, we study failure incidents that result in manual intervention from the repair process. We observe high levels of infant mortality and characterize the differences between infant and non-infant failures. We develop several machine learning failure prediction models that are shown to be surprisingly accurate, achieving high recall and low false positive rates. These models are used beyond simple prediction as they aid us to untangle the complex interaction of workload characteristics that lead to failures and identify failure root causes from monitored symptoms.
The effect of insulin dependent diabetes on bone metabolism and growth after spinal fusion.

Abstract STUDY DESIGN Experimental animal model. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) will inhibit the formation of a solid bony union after spinal fusion surgery via an alteration of the microenvironment at the fusion site in a rat model. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Previous studies report diabetes mellitus (DM) and specifically IDDM as a risk factor for complications and poor surgical outcomes following spinal fusion. METHODS Twenty control and 22 diabetic rats were obtained at 5 weeks of age. At 20 weeks of age, all animals underwent posterolateral lumbar fusion surgery using a tailbone autograft with diabetic rats receiving an implantable time release insulin pellet. A subset of rats was sacrificed 1-week postsurgery for growth factor (PDGF, IGF-I, TGF-β, and VEGF) and proinflammatory cytokine ELISA analysis. All other rats were sacrificed 3-months postsurgery for fusion evaluation via manual palpation and micro CT. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured at surgery and sacrifice on all animals. RESULTS Compared with healthy rats undergoing spinal fusion, rats with IDDM demonstrated a significant reduction in manual palpation fusion rates (16.7% vs. 43%, p CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that rats with IDDM demonstrate a reduced rate and quality of spinal fusion with increased local levels of inflammatory cytokines. Targeted modalities are required to improve bone healing in this growing, high-risk population. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This is the first translational animal model of IDDM to evaluate the rate and quality of spinal fusion while controlling for other surgical and patient-related risk factors. Our findings demonstrate the complex nature by which IDDM impairs bone healing and highlight the need for additional basic science research to further elucidate this mechanism in order to develop more effective therapeutic interventions.
Exploring the selenium-over-sulfur substrate specificity and kinetics of a bacterial selenocysteine lyase

Selenium is a vital micronutrient in many organisms. While traces are required for microbial utilization, excess amounts are toxic; thus, selenium can be regarded as a biological double-edged sword. Selenium is chemically similar to the essential element sulfur, but curiously, evolution has selected the former over the latter for a subset of oxidoreductases. Enzymes involved in sulfur metabolism are less discriminate in terms of preventing selenium incorporation; however, its specific incorporation into selenoproteins reveals a highly discriminate process that is not completely understood. We have identified SclA, a NifS-like protein in the nosocomial pathogen, Enterococcus faecalis, and characterized its enzymatic activity and specificity for l-selenocysteine over l-cysteine. It is known that Asp-146 is required for selenocysteine specificity in the human selenocysteine lyase. Thus, using computational biology, we compared the bacterial and mammalian enzymes and identified His-100, an Asp-146 ortholog in SclA, and generated site-directed mutants in order to study the residue's potential role in the l-selenocysteine discrimination mechanism. The proteins were overexpressed, purified, and characterized for their biochemical properties. All mutants exhibited varying Michaelis-Menten behavior towards l-selenocysteine, but His-100 was not found to be essential for this activity. Additionally, l-cysteine acted as a competitive inhibitor of all enzymes with higher affinity than l-selenocysteine. Finally, we discovered that SclA exhibited low activity with l-cysteine as a poor substrate regardless of mutations. We conclude that His-100 is not required for l-selenocysteine specificity, underscoring the inherent differences in discriminatory mechanisms between bacterial NifS-like proteins and mammalian selenocysteine lyases.
Mapping the Dark Matter through the CMB Damping Tail

The lensing of CMB photons by intervening large-scale structure leaves a characteristic imprint on its arcminute-scale anisotropy that can be used to map the dark matter distribution in projection on degree scales or ~100 Mpc/h comoving. We introduce a new algorithm for mass reconstruction which optimally utilizes information from the weak lensing of CMB anisotropies in the damping tail. It can ultimately map individual degree scale mass structures with high signal-to-noise. To achieve this limit an experiment must produce a high signal-to-noise, foreground-free CMB map of arcminute scale resolution, specifically with a FWHM beam of < 5' and a noise level of < 15 (10^-6-arcmin) or 41 (uK-arcmin).
Aspirin Use and Misuse for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases

Introduction Daily aspirin use for primary cardiovascular disease prevention is common among adults. Numerous clinical trials observe reduced cardiovascular disease with regular low-dose aspirin. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in 2016 published guidelines for aspirin use, but controversy exists about the side effects, and overuse or underuse may be common despite the guidelines. Using the Task Force recommendations, this paper describes the prevalence of appropriate aspirin use and physician advice in a population sample. Methods A random sample of men and women (aged 50-69 years) living in the Upper Midwest in 2017-2018 were surveyed, collecting demographic data, health history, and aspirin use. Appropriate primary prevention with aspirin was defined as having ≥10% cardiovascular disease risk (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking) with daily or every other day aspirin use. Those with prevalent cardiovascular disease were labeled as secondary prevention. Results A total of 1,352 adults were surveyed (697 women, 655 men). The criteria for secondary prevention were fulfilled in 188 participants, and these were eliminated from the analysis. In the remaining group, aspirin was indicated in 32.9% (383 of 1,164). Among those, 46.0% (176 of 383) were appropriate users, and 54.0% (207 of 383) were nonusers despite indications. Overuse, where aspirin is not indicated, was common at 26.9% (210 of 781). Discussion with a physician, although reported in 29% of subjects, was associated with some improvement in the appropriate use but also with overuse and underuse. Conclusions Aspirin use for primary cardiovascular disease prevention is common. However, many adults are medicating without indication (overuse) or are not using aspirin despite guidelines (underuse).
The Complete Score for Assessment of Donor Lungs: A Comprehensive Evaluation System in Clinical Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion

Purpose Evaluating marginal donor lungs for transplant suitability in acellular ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) can be challenging. Relying on a single parameter for evaluation can be misleading and may result in unfavorable outcomes following lung transplantation (LTx). This study aimed to establish a comprehensive scoring system incorporating important evaluation parameters in a simple reproducible way. Methods The comp rehensive l ung e valua t ion E VLP ( COMPLETE ) score is the composite result of ten evaluation parameters including: lung weight measurement, ultrasound evaluation, airway pressure, lung compliance, P/F ratio, lactate level, deflation, palpation, bronchoscopy, and x-ray. Each parameter is scored from 0 to 3, 3 being the worst, then the COMPLETE score is calculated by the summation of the individual parameter scores. Data was collected prospectively, then analyzed retrospectively utilizing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to inform the cut off values for each parameter scoring. Results Seventy-three EVLP cases were performed resulting in 48 lung transplants with 100% 30-day survival and 96% 1-year survival. Median time to extubation was 1 day and median ICU stay was 7 days. The incidence of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) grades 0, 1, 2, and 3 at 72 hours were 23%, 61%, 9%, and 7%, respectively. The COMPLETE score was significantly higher in lungs non-suitable for LTx compared to transplanted lungs (17 [15-20] vs 7 [4-8], P Conclusion The COMPLETE scoring system is a comprehensive system that can facilitate decision making in EVLP in a protocolized manner. The COMPLETE score was significantly higher in EVLP lungs deemed non-suitable for transplant and, in those transplanted after EVLP, the COMPLETE score had a significant correlation with time to extubation, ICU stay, and incidence of PGD3. Consideration should be given to the routine use of the COMPLETE score during EVLP evaluation.
Liposomal bupivacaine versus bupivacaine hydrochloride: are we changing the outcomes?

Hanns-Christian et al [1][1] conducted a literature review with the objective of determining whether there is a difference in postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption between patients who received liposomal bupivacaine and patients who received bupivacaine hydrochloride. The authors
Experiential learning of categorical perception

Categorical perception can be a complicated topic for undergraduate students to grasp. In this presentation, I will share how I use experiential learning to help students understand categorical perception by allowing them to 'participate' in the original Liberman et al. (1957) study.
A Qualitative Study of Implementing Universal Hepatitis C Screening Among Adults at an Urban Community-Based Health Provider in Delaware.

Objectives We conducted a qualitative study of primary care providers to assess the challenges and opportunities in implementing a universal screening program for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) at an urban community-based health center serving a largely disadvantaged population. Methods Qualitative semi-structured interviews of prescribing providers took place pre- and post-educational intervention, at a single federally qualified health center in Wilmington, Delaware, between September 2018 and July 2019. The intervention included a two-day didactic session and shadowing specialist providers. Data captured provider perspectives on universal screening and treatment. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, then grouped into codes, then finally, themes. Results Emergent themes included hesitancy in managing universal screening programs in the primary care environment, positive attitudes surrounding treatment, fewer HCV cases than expected, and concern with both patient-level barriers and practice-level barriers. Pre-intervention and post-intervention themes were similar. Conclusions Implementation programs exploring universal HCV screening in the primary care environment should include educational opportunities that are available to all individuals in the practice, sustained organizational support, and available patient literature targeted to patients with varying health literacy and in languages other than English. In short, universal HCV screening and treatment is feasible in the primary medical environment but requires ongoing support and education for providers to ensure success.
Characterization and Analysis of Large-Area h-BN on Sapphire

Extensive post-growth microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations are performed to leverage true potentials of high-quality hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). Compressive residual strain between h-BN and sapphire is estimated and corroborated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Raman spectroscopy also supported the result.
Post-prenylation-processing enzymes as new targets in oncogenesis

RAS and many other oncogenic proteins undergo a complex series of post-translational modifications that are initiated by the addition of an isoprenoid lipid through a process known as prenylation. Following prenylation, these proteins usually undergo endoproteolytic processing by the RCE1 protease and then carboxyl methylation by a unique methyltransferase known as isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (ICMT). Although inhibitors that have been designed to target the prenylation step are now in advanced-stage clinical trials, their utility and efficacy seem to be limited. Recent findings, however, indicate that the inhibition of these post-prenylation-processing steps--particularly that of ICMT-catalysed methylation--might provide a better approach to the control of cancer-cell proliferation.
Competencies for public library managers: diversity in practice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify competencies in common across public library managers. Design/methodology/approach – The request for public library managers to participate in this survey was posted to the public listserve. Participants were asked about the tasks they do regularly, to identify the skills currently seen as most important in their work. They were then given a list of competencies, and asked to identify those they felt were most important for current public library managers, for those in future managers. Findings – Some commonalities emerged, but there was not a substantial amount of overlap between skills identified by directors and non-director managers as important now or into the future. Research limitations/implications – Further research into managerial competencies focussed on specific job titles is necessary to see what kinds of skills each may value. Likewise, a broader look at public library managers may provide a better set of common competencies that will be use...
Identification of bile acid-CoA: amino acid N-acyltransferase in rat kidney

A novel location of the bile-acid-conjugating enzyme bile acid-CoA:amino acid N-acyltransferase (BAT) has been discovered in the cytosolic fraction of rat kidney. Both taurine and glycine were utilized as substrates. Formation of bile acid N-acyl amidates was verified by h.p.l.c. by comparison with authentic standards and by specific hydrolysis using cholylglycine hydrolase. Immunoblot analysis using a human liver anti-BAT polyclonal antibody indicated that rat kidney BAT has the same molecular mass as rat liver BAT. These findings suggest that the kidney has a role in bile acid metabolism and physiology.
Dynamics in Development of Experimental Streptococcal Immunity in Mice

The interrelation between the humoral and cellular factors in the development of immunity to experimental streptococcal infection was investigated. Early resistance to infection was caused by stimulating the phagocytic cells to function efficiently in the absence of opsonins. Subsequently, the appearance of cytophilic antibodies provided further means for elimination of streptococci. Thus, in the early stages of specific antistreptococcal immunity, resistance was observed in the absence of circulating anti-M antibodies. The type-specific antibodies that appeared in the later stage did not seem to improve clearance of streptococci in the splanchnic tissues. After an intravenous lethal challenge of mice with virulent streptococci, these antibodies did not provide increased protection. The circulating anti-M antibodies were shown to play a beneficial, indeed, a crucial, role when the infection occurred in a region in which the phagocytic cells were present in a rather limited number.
Dancing literacy: Expanding children’s and teachers’ literacy repertoires through embodied knowing

This paper explores dance as literacy. Specifically, it examines qualitative case study research findings and student examples from a dance artist-in-residence that explored curricular content using dance as its primary mode of enquiry and expression. Throughout the residency, students constructed meaning through their dance experiences in dynamic and autonomous ways, exhibiting complex literacy practices of enquiry and communication. Focusing on the kindergarten student participants’ experiences, the authors highlight three themes in their dance literacy practices: (a) artistic autonomy, (b) embodied knowledge and (c) multimodality. As embodied knowledge, dance innately allowed for integrative literacy possibilities in the dance residency. The dance experiences observed and referenced in this research illustrate the complexities of dance as literacy, as both a unique literacy and in meaning making across literacies. Drawing on the findings of this study, the authors seek to inspire teachers to foster sim...
Mach-Zehnder 17-GHz bandwidth modulator

Over the past few years, a number of guided-wave modulators and switches have been demonstrated.1–3 We report here the demonstration of a traveling-wave Mach-Zehnder modulator (Fig. 1) for 0.83-μm wavelength with an Improved 3-dB bandwidth and a lower P/Δf figure than previously achieved. Intensity modulation up to 18 GHz was directly measured using a very high-speed detector. Measurements using an indirect swept frequency technique were also made for comparison.
Effect of alloyed Re on the critical pitting potentials of 18%Cr/10%Ni stainless steels

Abstract Stainless steels of the 18-8 variety at 25°C in 0·1N NaCl or 0·1N NaBr show increasingly noble critical pitting potentials, but at 0°C decreasingly noble critical potentials with added per cent Re. A likely cause is temperature-sensitive hydration effects within the double layer.
Z-Package Infrared Focal Plane Simulations

This paper describes methods used to simulate the performance of Z-package infrared focal plane arrays. Signal generation and transfer, noise generation, and bandpass filtering are discussed for nonspecific (generic) Z-packaged focal plane arrays.
Relative effectiveness of titles, abstracts, and subject headings for machine retrieval from the COMPENDEX services

We have investigated the relative merits of searching on titles, subject headings, abstracts, free-language terms, and combinations of these elements. The COM- PENDEX data base was used for this study since it contained all of the data elements of interest. In general, the results obtained from the experiments indi- cate that, as expected, titles alone are not satisfactory for efficient retrieval. The combination of titles and abstracts came the closest to 100% retrieval, with searching of abstracts alone doing almost as well. Indexer input, although necessary for 100% retrieval in almost all cases, was found to be relatively unimportant.
Immunohistochemical Localization of Xanthine Oxidase in Human Retina

Xanthine oxidase has been established as an important source of oxygen free radicals in ischemia-reperfusion injury. It has been localized in many different tissues such as heart and intestine, but it has not yet been localized in the eye. Xanthine oxidase was detected using immunohistochemistry on paraformaldehyde/glutaraldehyde fixed cryosections. Antibodies used included rabbit antibovine xanthine oxidase antibody and rabbit antihuman xanthine oxidase antibody. Xanthine oxidase was detected in the capillary endothelium cells of blood vessels in the retina of bovine and post mortem human eyes. Whole mount preparation of human retinas showed xanthine oxidase present throughout the small capillary network. Furthermore, whole mounts showed that xanthine oxidase was present in cones. This was confirmed by using mouse anticalbindin antibody for co-labelling. It is possible that xanthine oxidase can be a source of oxidative damage in the retina following ischemia-reperfusion injury.