cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbes influencing Mitochindrial Function

The powerhouse of eukaryotic cells or the mitochondrion is a membrane bound organelle with several unique features differentiating it from other organelles. They have their own independent genome, their numbers vary widely by organism and tissue type, and in addition to supplying energy in the form of ATP, mitochondria is also the site of signaling for many cellular processes from growth and differentiation to cell cycle and cell death. Dysfunction of mitochondria has been implicated in many mitochondrial diseases as well as cardiac dysfunction and aging. Liu et al (Ying, Buck et al. 2014) demonstrate novel effects of microbial metabolites on the activation of surveillance pathways in mitochondria in nematode worms in order to initiate mitochondrial repair. Human physiology also relies on complex interactions with multiple species of microbes and perhaps also uses similar tactics to respond and change the behavior of our cells.
Active learning for reducing bias and variance of a classifier using Jensen-Shannon divergence

We consider reducing loss of a classifier by decreasing its bias and variance. Embarking upon classification of scarcely labeled data, we use active learning approach in semi-supervised learning, and show that we can speed up convergence to a desired level of loss. Our focus, in this paper, is on the best instance selection for labeling the unlabeled data; we use Jensen-Shannon divergence as one selection criterion. We show that our single instance selection approaches are superior to multiple selection approach. Empirical results indicate that this method can decrease classification loss significantly.
BAG-1 expression in normal and neoplastic endometrium

Abstract Objective . BAG-1 has anti-apoptotic actions and is known to bind BCL-2 and steroid receptors. High levels of BAG-1 have been implicated as a prognostic indicator in breast cancer. Whether this observation can be generalized to endometrial cancer remains unknown. Methods . IRB permission was obtained for use of human discarded tissue. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on: proliferative endometrium (PEM, 6), secretory endometrium (SEM, 28), "low-grade" neoplastic lesions (complex atypical hyperplasia and grade 1 endometrial adenocarcinomas) (19), and "high-grade" cancers (grade 2 and 3 endometrial adenocarcinomas) (13). The level of total BAG-1 and its isoforms was evaluated by Western blot in lysates from Ishikawa cells (grade 1), MFE 296 cells (grade 2), and SK-UT 2 cells (grade 3). Results . The proportion of "high-grade" cancers with positive cytoplasmic staining for BAG-1 was higher than that of secretory endometrium ( P = 0.006). Additionally, the proportion of specimens with positive staining for nuclear BAG-1 expression was significantly higher among high-grade carcinoma specimens compared to secretory specimens ( P = 0.009). A high proportion (91%) of all specimens were positive for BCL-2, limiting the ability to subcategorize the other variables analyzed. There was no relationship between positive nuclear BAG-1 expression and either estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR) expression. BAG-1 was expressed in the three cell lines evaluated and total BAG-1 level was not different among the different cell lines. Conclusion . BAG-1 is expressed in the endometrium. High-grade cancers stain more frequently than secretory endometrium for both cytoplasmic and nuclear BAG-1 expression, perhaps indicating an association between expression of BAG-1 and prognosis.
Field-plate effects on the breakdown voltage of an integrated high-voltage LDMOS transistor

A 700 V double-resurf LDMOS (DR-LDMOS) with double-metal field plates is successfully integrated monolithically in a 1 /spl mu/ double-level metal (DLM) Bi-CMOS process for use in HV off-line switching applications. The process and device parameters, which determine the best-in-class specific on-resistance of lower than 200 mohm-cm/sup 2/, and a robust breakdown voltage of greater than 700 V, were optimized and addressed in our 1/sup st/ generation DR-LDMOS with single-level metal (SLM) process. It is found, during the DLM process development, that breakdown voltage begins to show significant degradation after stress when a 2/sup nd/ layer of dielectric layer (ILD-1) is added on top of Metal-1, as opposed to no degradation when there was no ILD-1 on top of Metal-1. This paper presents the re-optimization of DR-LDMOS with new Metal-2 field plate designs with respect to Metal-1 and ILD-1 to maintain a stable and robust breakdown voltage (BV) after stress.
Nonrandom Chromosomal Alterations in Nickel-transformed Chinese Hamster Embryo Cells

The purpose of this study was to determine whether nickel-transformed Chinese hamster cells exhibit nonrandom chromosomal alterations involving heterochromatic regions, particularly the heterochromatic long arm (q) of the X-chromosome, since nickel was previously shown to induce acute chromosomal damage predominantly in heterochromatin. Early passage male or female Chinese hamster embryo cells were transformed to anchorage independence in soft agar following treatment with 10 µg/ml NiS, 1 mm NiCl2, or with 10 µg/ml 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA). Nickel treatment of Chinese hamster embryo cells resulted in a 2- to 3-fold higher frequency of male (7 of 13) as compared with female (2 of 12) anchorage independent cultures, whereas MCA treatment resulted in equal proportions of male and female anchorage independent cultures. A single soft agar (SA) clone from each of the nickel- or MCA-transformed cultures was karyotyped. Most of the transformed clones had modal chromosome numbers in the diploid range. Four of the 7 male nickel-transformed SA clones exhibited complete or partial deletions of Xq, while one male and one female nickel-transformed SA clone both had an X;5 translocation. In contrast, all of the MCA-transformed SA clones possessed at least one intact X-chromosome. Anchorage-dependent nickel-treated cultures all displayed normal X-chromosomes, suggesting that the Xq deletion was not merely associated with nickel treatment. Structural chromosome alterations were evident in all but one of the anchorage-independent SA clones. None of the anchorage-dependent nickel-treated cultures had rearrangements, although they were generally trisomic for a combination of chromosomes 3 or 3q, 5, and 8. Trisomy of chromosome 3 or 3q occurred in those clones which were tumorigenic in nude mice. Trisomy of chromosome 4 or 4p was a common change which occurred in four nickel-transformed SA clones and a single MCA-transformed SA clone.
The role of geosynthetics on USA highways

Abstract The highway system of the United States is vital to the Nation's economy. However, restrictions and constraints continuously make the highway professional's job more difficult in delivering an effective highway network to is users. Although geosynthetics have been demonstrated to be cost effective tools to assist in the design, construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of all forms of roads and highways their use could be more widespread. This paper addresses this important question by examining the current trends in the highway system, the complex maze of main streaming technology within the highway community, and lastly identifies some flaws which must be remedied in order to optimize the acceptance of this proven technology.
210Pb dating and the recent geologic history of Crystal Bay, Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota1

Pb dating of five cores from Crystal Bay, Lake Minnetonka, was used to examine the geologic history of the basin during the last century. A lakewide 210Pb budget and the basinwide average cumulative activities of 210Pb within time-stratigraphic units were estimated from multiple cores, Ages of time-stratigraphic markers and sediment accumulation rates of time-stratigraphic units were calculated from a constant-flux 210Pb-dating model. The basinwide bulk-sediment accumulation rate was found to have increased from 0.003 g cm-2 yr-I before settlement to 0.07 g cm-2 yr-i for the period from 1962 to 1983. Since settlement of the surrounding area, profundal sediment became highly calcareous and accumulation of littoral marl began. Intensity of focusing of sediment to the center of Crystal Bay decreased as basinwide sediment accumulation rates increased. Light organic sediment was also found to be more intensely focused than heavier siliceous or calcareous sediment. Accumulation of sediment spread to regions shal- lower than 5 m as the rate of sedimentation exceeded the rate of sediment resuspension at that depth, about 4 mm yr-I.
Master’s and Undergraduate Industrial/Organizational Internships Data-Based Recommendations for Successful Experiences

Internships play a vital role in the education of master’s and undergraduate-level industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology students, providing applied learning experiences in organizational sett...
Evaluation of Epiphyses in the Skeletally Immature Knee Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging A Pilot Study to Analyze Parameters for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background:Questions have been raised concerning the height of the tibial epiphysis as an important factor related to the safety of intra-articular anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in skeletally immature knees. However, normal values for this parameter have yet to be established on cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Purpose:To determine normal values for the height of the tibial epiphysis and width of the lateral femoral condylar epiphysis in children and adolescents by use of MRI.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:An electronic search was conducted for pediatric knee MRI examinations at the authors’ institution from August 2007 to July 2011. The height of the tibial epiphysis was determined on the sagittal T1-weighted image best containing the ACL footplate. Lateral femoral condylar width was recorded on coronal proton-density-weighted images. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to determine interobserver agreement. Knees ...
Left ventricular mass by echocardiographic measures in children and adolescents.

Background Recent evidence in adults suggests that left ventricular mass measured as left ventricular mass/height1.7 predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality better than the two widely used indices, left ventricular mass/body surface area and left ventricular mass/height2.7. Standards of left ventricular mass/height1.7 have not been reported in children, for whom, owing to lack of significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, body mass index has traditionally been used as a potential cardiovascular risk factor. Methods In this retrospective study, 692 clinically normal children aged 1 day to 18 years underwent detailed echocardiographic assessment to assess whether any of the left ventricular mass indices – left ventricular mass/height1.7, left ventricular mass/body surface area, and left ventricular mass/height2.7 – are associated with obesity as measured by body mass index. Correlations, t-tests, and linear regressions were used for statistical testing. Results Left ventricular mass/height1.7 was better correlated (R2 = 0.36) with body mass index than left ventricular mass/body surface area (R2 = 0.179) and left ventricular mass/height2.7 (R2 = 0.006), although all three dependent variables show a significant correlation (p < 0.035). In addition, a higher percentage of obese patients were noted to have elevated left ventricular mass as measured by left ventricular mass/height1.7 than by the other two methods. Conclusions Left ventricular mass/height1.7 is a reliable indicator of obesity-associated left ventricular hypertrophy. Left ventricular mass/height1.7 can be used conveniently during transitions from youth to adults for long-term follow-up. These findings support the importance of including left ventricular mass/height1.7 in future studies of cardiovascular risks and preventive strategies in children and adolescents.
Chromosomal alterations detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in urothelial carcinoma and rarer histologic variants of bladder cancer.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with the UroVysion probe set (Abbott Molecular, Des Plaines, IL) was used to assess 31 bladder cancers for chromosomal abnormalities, including 4 adenocarcinomas, 5 urachal adenocarcinomas, 6 small cell carcinomas, 7 squamous cell carcinomas, and 9 typical urothelial carcinomas. FISH was also used to assess the benign urothelium in 4 cases. There was a significant increase ( P 75%) demonstrating homozygous 9p21 deletion. The data from this study suggest that chromosomal abnormalities detectable by FISH in urothelial carcinoma are also common in rarer histologic variants of bladder cancer.
Hypoxia and halothane metabolism in vivo: release of inorganic fluoride and halothane metabolite binding to cellular constituents.

Fluoride release and covalent binding of halothane metabolites were studied in rats pretreated with phenobarbital and anesthestized with halothane in the presence of high (40 per cent) and low (7 per cent) oxygen tensions. The purpose of producing hypoxia was to promote the reductive path ways invol
Early postoperative outcomes in lumpectomy versus simple mastectomy.

Abstract Background Relatively scarce outcomes research exists that compares early postoperative complications between breast conservation surgery (BCS) and simple mastectomy (SM). Such information would improve a surgeon's ability to provide informed consent when considering treatment options, especially for women with early stage breast cancer who have the option to receive either BCS or SM. Materials and methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from years 2009–2012 was analyzed. For each treatment group, we used Current Procedural Terminology codes specific to the treatment modality with sentinel lymph node biopsy as an inclusion criteria. We excluded patients who received axillary lymphadenectomies, bilateral disease or symmetry procedures, and additional breast reconstructive surgery. We compared each group with chi square and two-sample t-tests to look for preoperative comorbidity differences, then used unadjusted odds ratios to compare postoperative complication rates. Results Inclusion and exclusion criteria provided 6682 patients in the BCS group and 3339 patients in the SM group. Baseline comorbid condition characteristics showed no clinical differences between groups except for diabetes (8.5% in SM versus 6.5% in BCS). Statistical analysis between each treatment modality revealed that the SM group had significantly higher wound complications, bleeding, infections, and overall complications than the BCS group. Conclusions Although both BCS and SM options have low early postoperative complication rates when treating early stage breast cancer, BCS has fewer complications with regard to bleeding, wound complications and infections.
Determination of the Horizontal Pressure Gradient Force Using Global Positioning System on board an Instrumented Aircraft

Abstract The horizontal pressure gradient force is the single most important dynamical term in the equation of motion that governs the forcing of the atmosphere. It is well known that the slope of an isobaric surface is a measure of the horizontal pressure gradient force. Measurement of this force over mesoscale distances using an airborne platform has been attempted for over two decades in order to understand the dynamics of various wind systems. The most common technique has been to use a radar altimeter to measure the absolute height of an isobaric surface above sea level. Typical values of the horizontal pressure gradient force in the atmosphere are quite small, amounting to an isobaric surface slope of 0.0001 for a 10 m s−1 geostrophic wind at middle latitudes. Detecting the horizontal pressure gradient over irregular terrain using an instrumented aircraft has proven to be especially difficult since correction for the underlying terrain features must be made. Use of the global positioning system (GPS...
A multi-objective optimization primary planning model for a POE (Port-of-Entry) inspection

Every year, more than 11 million maritime containers and 11 million commercial trucks arrive in the United States, carrying all types of imported goods. As it would be costly to inspect every container, only a fraction of them are inspected before being admitted into the United States. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization (MOO) model is developed for primary allocation of the scarce inspection resources at a POE, especially a land POE (L-POE). This model minimizes the different costs associated with the inspection process, including those associated with delaying the entry of legitimate imports. The resulting model is exploited in two different ways: One is to construct the efficient frontier of the MOO model or a partial efficient frontier with diversity of the solutions maximized; the other is to evaluate a given inspection plan and provide possible suggestions for improvement. The methodologies are described in detail and a simple case study is provided.
Identification of a binding site on retinal transducin alpha for the phosphodiesterase inhibitory gamma subunit.

Abstract Transducin alpha (T alpha) activates retinal rod cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) by interacting with and removing the inhibitory PDE gamma subunit. A T alpha-PDE gamma complex can be isolated in vitro, and our previous work [Morrison, Rider and Takemoto (1987) FEBS Lett. 222, 266-270; Morrison, Cunnick, Oppert and Takemoto (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 11671-11681] has identified a region of PDE gamma, residues 24-45, that binds to T alpha. The C-terminal region of PDE gamma is the site that interacts with PDE alpha/beta and inhibits catalytic function. The site on T alpha that binds to the PDE gamma 24-45 region has not been identified. Synthetic peptides (15-mers) which span the bovine T alpha sequence were tested for binding to purified recombinant PDE gamma using a solid-phase assay. The peptides were also tested for ability to activate a PDE complex. We have identified a region, residues 250-275 of T alpha, which shows a high affinity of PDE gamma and for the PDE gamma (24-45) binding peptide. The peptide did not bind to the C-terminal residues 50-87 of PDE gamma. Likewise, a region of T alpha, 1-25 did not exhibit high-affinity binding to PDE gamma or to the 24-45 PDE gamma peptide. Specific binding of the 250-275 peptide to PDE gamma was confirmed by its ability to compete with T alpha binding to PDE gamma, although a higher concentration was required (10x). The T alpha-(250-275) peptide activated a fully inhibited PDE alpha beta gamma 2 complex in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that a region on T alpha that recognizes the PDE gamma-binding site is found within residues 250-275 of T alpha.
Patching Logic Vulnerabilities for Web Applications using LogicPatcher

Logic vulnerabilities are an important class of programming flaws in web applications. These vulnerabilities occur when a desired property pertaining to an application's logic does not hold along certain paths in the application's code. Many analysis tools have been developed to find logic vulnerabilities in web applications. Given a web application with logic vulnerabilities, the question is whether one can design methods to patch application code and prevent these vulnerabilities from being exploited. We answer this question by developing an approach and tool called LogicPatcher for patching of logic vulnerabilities. We focus on correct patch placement, i.e. identifying the precise location in code where the patch code can be introduced, based on path profiling. As we show in this paper, finding the appropriate location as well as generating the right patch can get complicated and require deep code analysis. We demonstrate the utility of LogicPatcher by automatically fixing several critical parameter tampering and authorization vulnerabilities in large web applications.
Intelligent Test Equipment for Missile Launcher

A synthetical method between automatic testing and fault diagnosis expert system is presented according to the requirements of automatic test equipment (ATE) for missile launcher.The paper also shows the hardware constituents of ATE,and discusses expert system's construction and reasoning flow.
Clinical Value of High-Frequency Color Doppler Ultrasonagraphy In Diagnosis of Children's Mesentery Lymphadenitis

Objective To explore the value of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasonagraphy in diagnosis of children's Mesentery Lymphadenitis.Methods High-frequency color Doppler ultrasonagraphy was performed on 186 inpatients and outpatients with Mesentery Lymphadenitis, retrospective analysis was made on them. Results Tuberculum echo of oval-shaped tumescence was found in periumbilical and right abdominal cavity of patients with Mesentery Lymphadenitis. The largent length diameter was above 2.5cm.The ratro between length diameter and width diameter was 2.Color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI) show plentiful color Doppler flow signal.Conclusion High-frequency color Doppler ultrasonagraphy maybe the first choice in detecting in diagnosis of children's Mesentery Lymphadenitis. It has important value in clinical diagnosis and treatment ,as well as cases pursuit.
Fungus Identification and Antibiotics Susceptibility Test in Department of Respiration

OBJECTIVE To analyze the results of identification and drug sensitive test of 142 fungal infection samples in the department of respiration,so as to find measures for its therapy and prevention. METHODS Sabouraud′s agar culture medium was used to culture fungi,ID identification strip was employed to identify the fungi and drug sensitive test was performed by disk diffusion test. RESULTS The incidence of Candida albicans infection was the highest (74. 7%). The isolated fungi were relatively sensitive to amphotericin B (AMB), fluconazole (FLU), itraconazole(ITR),and ketoconazole(KET),all were 100%, and the resistant to (5-fluorocytosine) ((5-FC)) C. albicans was 1.9% and Trichosporon beigelii was 50%. CONCLUSIONS Identification and drug sensitivity of fungus test should be used in time. Anti-fungal medicine should be used reasonably according to the result of drug sensitive test so that the incidence of fungal infection especially fungi-resistant infection could be reduced.
Juvenile coho salmon track a seasonally shifting thermal mosaic across a river floodplain

Seasonal variation in river water levels creates a shifting mosaic of habitat conditions associated with variables such as water temperature, chemistry and prey availability to consumers. Previous work has shown that fishes can exploit spatial variation in water temperature, but less is known about how they respond to shifts in the spatial arrangement of habitat conditions through time. Juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) are the numerically dominant fish species in many southwest Alaskan streams, which exhibit seasonal variation in water level and temperature due to changes in precipitation and snowmelt. We assessed the degree to which juvenile coho salmon exploit the associated shifting mosaic of water temperature by monitoring the spatial distribution of water temperatures and juvenile coho salmon in the lake‐influenced reaches of a southwest Alaskan stream. We also monitored the diets of juvenile coho salmon relative to the spatial distribution of prey taxa. Juvenile coho salmon exhibited two scales of movement to track spatiotemporal variation in habitat conditions. First, over the course of 6 weeks, individuals moved among off‐channel units, tracking shifts in the location of warm water habitat caused by receding water level. Second, individuals moved at diel time scales, foraging on benthic macroinvertebrates in the cold thalweg of the stream at night and then digesting prey in warmer off‐channel habitats during the day. Seasonally asynchronous variation in water temperature among off‐channel habitat units produced portfolio effects in habitat conditions, such that coho salmon had continual access to warm habitat for digestion despite its ephemeral availability at discrete locations. Our study demonstrates that behavioural thermoregulation by juvenile fishes can be important throughout the growing season and is not restricted to ephemeral events such as resource pulses or heat stress. Our results have implications for the conservation of highly connected, heterogeneous landscapes, and their ability to support economically and ecologically important species such as coho salmon.
Cultural Sensitivity and Cultural Competence

The two quotations from the well-known cultural anthropologists capture a part of the experience of what it means when one chooses to study and work with people from different cultural and ethnic groups. In her quote, the esteemed anthropologist, Margaret Mead referred to the “psychological” as innate, generic characteristics of the mind while the “cultural” referred to the behavior that one learned in her or his culture. Mead’s quote refers to her experiences as a student with Columbia University’s cultural anthropologist William Fielding Ogburn. In the 1920s, Ogburn maintained that the study of human kind lacked any useful comprehensive psychological theory. Then, and up to recently, psychologists were not at all interested in cultural explanations or explorations of human affect, behavior, and cognition. In fact, most psychologists then firmly believed that “all humans were alike” hence the need to identify and study cultural correlates exceeded what was sufficient to understand the sum total of the conscious and unconscious events that make up an individual’s life. Although many behavioral social scientists would disagree with Ogbura’s contention I take the position that before anyone can begin to apply conventional psychological principles and theories to an ethnic or cultural group, they must understand their unique lifeways and thoughtways.
Predictors of Cell Phone Use in Distracted Driving: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior

ABSTRACTThis study examines the predictors of six distracted driving behaviors, and the survey data partially support Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The data suggest that the attitude variable predicted intention to engage in all six distracted driving behaviors (reading and sending text messages, making and answering cell phone calls, reading/viewing social media, and posting on social media while driving). Extending the model to include past experience and the variable perceived safety of technology yielded an improvement in the prediction of the distraction variables. Specifically, past experience predicted all six distracted driving behaviors, and the variable perceived safety of technology predicted intentions to read/view social media and intention to post on social media while driving. The study provides evidence for the importance of incorporating expanded variables into the original TPB model to predict cell phone use behaviors while driving, and it suggests that it is essential...
Brain metastases, end-of-life medical policies, and controversies surrounding the term "do not resuscitate".

The October 2016 issue of Annals of Palliative Medicine features several notable publications on brain metastases.
Involving students in a human-computer interaction experiment

Student participation in an experiment provides a way to increase understanding and promote interest in the study of human-computer interaction. In this assignment, students collect data on pointing and selection tasks to estimate parameters for Fitt's Law. The assignment is given in a junior level human-computer interaction course.
Cytochrome c peroxidase facilitates the beneficial use of H2O2 in prokaryotes.

A new exciting study reports the discovery of a beneficial function of H2O2 in bacteria (1). Khademian and Imlay show that Escherichia coli can use cytochrome c peroxidase (Ccp) as a respiratory enzyme, wherein H2O2 acts as an electron acceptor under anoxic conditions (Fig. 1 A ). This finding may impact our understanding of microbial metabolism and the role of H2O2 in prokaryotes. The use of molecular oxygen by organisms is often associated with the phenomenon known as oxidative stress, a deleterious state counteracted by an arsenal of specialized enzymes that ensure that this threat is contained and the intracellular milieu is protected (2). This function is supported by oxidation and reduction reactions that alleviate the deleterious effects of partially reduced species of molecular oxygen, also known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). We also know that, in eukaryotes, ROS may not only induce “collateral damage,” but also have fundamental roles in cellular physiology, supporting such processes as the immune response, signal transduction, and cell proliferation (3). Organisms tightly control the levels of ROS and their spatiotemporal characteristics, so that they could be used as second messengers or agents for bacterial killing, yet would not significantly damage cellular components. Mitochondria are considered as a major intracellular source of H2O2, an abundant and physiologically relevant form of ROS in cells that originates from the superoxide anion (O2.−) during aerobic respiration (4). Cells use several types of enzymes to fine-tune the rate of H2O2 release from this compartment to cytoplasm. H2O2 is also a product of various enzymes that use molecular oxygen for two-electron oxidation reactions (5), further supporting the physiological relevance of H2O2 for cellular life. However, because the purposeful … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: vgladyshev{at}rics.bwh.harvard.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Employment and the cyclical cost of worker benefits

Abstract Both aggregate and micro-level data show that the firm-paid quasi-fixed cost of an employee's benefits fluctuates with labor market conditions. It declines when employment growth deteriorates and increases when employment growth improves, a benefit-expenditure-level-to-employment-growth relationship. This paper develops an RBC model to study the impact of this cyclical quasi-fixed labor cost on firms' employment decisions. I find that the cost increases employment volatility and delays employment adjustments when productivity shocks are small. The model reflects the sluggish employment recoveries of the post-1990 period, but not before that. It also generates data-matching volatility for employment and other business cycle variables.
A Case of Ovarian Glomus Tumor and Literature Review

A 42-year-old Chinese female presented with postcoital bleeding and was incidentally found to have a complex mass in the left adnexal region on pelvic ultrasound. A laparoscopic left salpingo-oophorectomy performed showed an 8 cm cystic mass arising from the left ovary with an associated left fallopian tube hydrosalpinx. The mass was composed of epithelioid cells with a vague nested architecture which showed positive smooth muscle actin (SMA) immunohistochemical staining. Features were consistent with a glomus tumor, an extremely rare mesenchymal neoplasm arising in the ovary. Our case is hitherto the largest reported glomus cell tumor of the ovary measuring 8 cm to date. This tumor has uncertain malignant potential requiring close gynecological surveillance. J Med Cases. 2018;9(3):83-85 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc2998w
What can Islamic financing tell us about macro-prudential policies?

Macro-prudential policies are theoretically effective at mitigating a debt deflation crisis by forcing individuals to internalize their impact on aggregate prices reducing systemic risk caused by p...
Student Interpretations of Axioms in Planar Geometry.

This study investigates students’ development of metamathematical understanding of axioms. Based on four semesters of experiments teaching neutral, axiomatic geometry, often through guided reinvent...
Elective Pregnancy Termination

An important part of helping a woman safely through any pregnancy involves knowing how to safely end that pregnancy. Although inducing delivery of a term or preterm infant prompts limited conceptual dissent, inducing abortion to end a medically troubled or undesired pregnancy troubles some physicians and preoccupies many politicians. Meanwhile, half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. 22% of all pregnancies and 40% of unintended pregnancies undergo pregnancy termination. Each year in the United States, 2% of reproductive age women undergo abortion, and one half of those women will have had at least one prior abortion. Nearly one third of all US women will undergo an abortion by age 45.
Fuzzy Interval Inference Utilizing the Checklist Paradigm and BK-Relational Products

Many-valued logic based interval reasoning plays an increasingly important role in fuzzy and other many-valued extensions of two-valued (crisp) logic. It is often overlooked that many-valued logic (MVL) reasoning has a richer inference rule base than the crisp (i.e. classical two-valued) logic. Indeed some rules that are not possible in the crisp logic (which is point-based) do come to existence when we accept intervals as the basic elements of the semantic space ([0, 1] or a more general lattice) into which the logic expressions are valuated [11, 8, 37].
Moving Career Development Upstream: Evaluation of a Course for Internal Medicine Trainees Contemplating Career Pathways in Academic Medicine.

Objectives Despite training in academic medical centers, many residents and fellows lack an understanding of the different career paths in academic medicine. Without this fundamental knowledge, choosing an academic career pathway and transitioning to junior faculty is challenging. We started the Pathways in Academic Medicine course ("Pathways") to introduce residents and fellows to the wide array of academic career pathways and to expose them to the concepts and resources needed to transition successfully from trainee to junior faculty. Results Sixty-nine medicine residents and fellows participated in Pathways programming. Surveys and focus groups revealed high satisfaction with the course sessions. Trainees indicated that Pathways helped them to envision an academic career, clarified the steps needed to pursue an academic career, and normalized common challenges. Conclusions Pathways is an important educational innovation that gives participants experiences to jumpstart successful careers in academic medicine. We hope that our program will serve as an example for other institutions interested in improving the trainee-to-faculty transition.
Influence of environmental friendly multiphase lubricants on the friction and transfer layer formation during sliding against textured surfaces

Abstract Both surface texture and multiphase lubricants (additives in base oil) influence the friction and wear performance during sliding. However, the synergy of their interaction is still unknown. In the present investigation, an effort is made to understand the influence of environmental friendly multiphase lubricants on the friction and transfer layer formation during sliding against various surface textures. In this study, unidirectional surface textures were created and sliding tests were conducted against various grinding angles of the unidirectional texture. The sliding tests were conducted in multiphase lubricants consisting of canola oil (biolubricant) and nano-additives (graphene) at various concentrations. The results showed that the coefficient of friction (COF) and transfer layer formation was influenced by the grinding angle. However, it was found that this influence can be minimized by using an optimum concentration of graphene in canola oil. A minimum COF of 0.05 ± 0.01 could be achieved for various grinding angles by utilizing a specific concentration of graphene. It was found that a high concentration of Gr (3 wt%) was required when sliding at 0° and a low concentration of Gr (1 wt%) was required when sliding at 45° to achieve the minimum COF. This was attributed to the variations in asperity and Gr additive interaction when sliding at different grinding angles. The present study details the observed friction and transfer layer formation results and analyzes the mechanism of multiphase lubrication during sliding at various grinding angles. An asperity interaction model for sliding against various grinding angles and in a multiphase lubricant with varying additive concentrations has also been presented.
A Novel Hybrid BFO-PS Optimized Fuzzy PID Controller for AGC of Interconnected Power System

The controller parameters of automatic generation control (AGC) system have a great impact on the dynamic performance of power system frequency control. The improper parameters of AGC controller may lead to a stability problem of grid frequency when a large load disturbance occurs. This will be even more serious in a high penetration of renewable energy power grid because of the lack of system inertia and regulation reserves. This paper presents a novel hybrid bacteria foraging optimization (BFO) and pattern search (PS) optimized fuzzy PID controller for AGC system of a two-area interconnected power system. The scaling factors of the fuzzy PID controller are optimized using the proposed hybrid BFO and PS (BFO-PS) optimization technique. The superiority of the proposed fuzzy PID controller has been shown by comparing the results with some recently published techniques for the same interconnected power system. Further, sensitivity analysis is carried out which demonstrates the ability of the proposed approach to wide changes in system parameters and operating load conditions.
Interviews with caregivers during acute asthma hospitalisations

Objective: Childhood asthma is complex and poor management of childhood asthma is the leading health reason for pediatric emergency department visits, hospitalizations and missed school days for sc...
Targeted transcriptional modulation with type I CRISPR–Cas systems in human cells

Class 2 CRISPR-Cas systems, such as Cas9 and Cas12, have been widely used to target DNA sequences in eukaryotic genomes. However, class 1 CRISPR-Cas systems, which represent about 90% of all CRISPR systems in nature, remain largely unexplored for genome engineering applications. Here, we show that class 1 CRISPR-Cas systems can be expressed in mammalian cells and used for DNA targeting and transcriptional control. We repurpose type I variants of class 1 CRISPR-Cas systems from Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes, which target DNA via a multi-component RNA-guided complex termed Cascade. We validate Cascade expression, complex formation and nuclear localization in human cells, and demonstrate programmable CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-mediated targeting of specific loci in the human genome. By tethering activation and repression domains to Cascade, we modulate the expression of targeted endogenous genes in human cells. This study demonstrates the use of Cascade as a CRISPR-based technology for targeted eukaryotic gene regulation, highlighting class 1 CRISPR-Cas systems for further exploration.
Product Innovation and Credit Market Disruptions

We provide new evidence that disruptions in firms’ access to credit during the Global Financial Crisis had significant effects on product innovation in the consumer-goods sector. We combine highly-granular retail-scan data with lending data and we find that credit-constrained firms introduced fewer new products, those products were less novel, and the new products sold less well. Overall, these findings suggest that disruptions to credit markets impair firms’ ability to compete for profits through new-product offerings.
Discrete Finite-time Stable Position Tracking Control of Unmanned Vehicles

This paper presents a finite-time stable (FTS) position tracking control scheme in discrete time for an unmanned vehicle. The control scheme guarantees discrete-time stability of the feedback system in finite time. This scheme is developed in discrete time as it is more convenient for onboard computer implementation and guarantees stability irrespective of sampling period. Finite-time stability analysis of the discrete-time tracking control is carried out using discrete Lyapunov analysis. This tracking control scheme ensures stable convergence of position tracking errors to the desired trajectory in finite time. The advantages of finite-time stabilization in discrete time over finite-time stabilization of a sampled continuous tracking control system is addressed in this paper by a numerical comparison. This comparison is performed using numerical simulations on continuous and discrete FTS tracking control schemes applied to an unmanned vehicle model.
Modification of magnetocrystalline anisotropy via ion-implantation

The ability to systematically modify the magnetic properties of epitaxial La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin films is demonstrated through the use of Ar+ ion implantation. With increasing implant dose, a uniaxial expansion of the c-axis of the unit cell leads to a transition from in-plane toward perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Above a critical dose of 3 × 1013 Ar+/cm2, significant crystalline disorder exists leading to a decrease in the average Mn valence state and near complete suppression of magnetization. Combined with lithographic techniques, ion implantation enables the fabrication of magnetic spin textures consisting of adjacent regions with tunable magnetic anisotropy in complex oxide thin films.
Pathways to Immunocontraception: Biochemical and Immunological Properties of Glycoprotein Antigens of the Porcine Zona Pellucida

The zona pellucida (ZP) is an extracellular coat which surrounds the mammalian oocyte and whose macromolecular composition is unique for each species. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of porcine ZP under reducing conditions resolves four major acidic, charge-heterogeneous glycoproteins with apparent molecular weights of 82,000 (ZP1), 61,000 (ZP2), 55,000 (ZP3) and 21,000 (ZP4). Fractionation of heat-solubilized porcine ZP under nondissociative, nonreducing conditions resulted in a preparation, termed purified pig zona antigen (PPZA), substantially enriched in ZP3 and lacking ZP1 and ZP2. PPZA was highly immunogenic in both rabbit and squirrel monkey. Anti-PPZA sera exhibited contraceptive potential as assessed by in vitro inhibition of homologous sperm-zona binding following antibody treatment of human, pig and squirrel monkey oocytes. Alternatively, fractionation of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-dissociated porcine ZP under nonreducing conditions resulted in isolation of two electrophoretically homogeneous antigens with apparent molecular weights of 82,000 (82K antigen) and 55,000 (55K antigen) as judged by non-reducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The 82K antigen exhibited an estimated molecular weight of 345,000 by gel filtration chromatography in nondissociative solvent and was comprised of ZP1 and disulfide-linked heterodimers of ZP2+ZP4 and ZP3+ZP4. The 55K antigen was comprised of ZP3 which was highly aggregated in nondissociative solvent. Each antigen had a characteristic carbohydrate composition and proved to be immunogenic in the rabbit. The effects of active heteroimmunization of squirrel monkeys with 55K antigen on fertility are under investigation.
Data-driven Dynamic Pricing and Ordering with Perishable Inventory in a Changing Environment

We consider a retailer that sells a perishable product, making joint pricing and inventory ordering decisions over a finite time horizon of T periods with lost sales. Exploring a real-life data set from a leading supermarket chain, we identify several distinctive challenges faced by such a retailer that have not been jointly studied in the literature: the retailer does not have perfect information on (1) the demand-price relationship, (2) the demand noise distribution, (3) the inventory perishability rate, and (4) how the demand-price relationship changes over time. Furthermore, the demand noise distribution is nonparametric for some products but parametric for others. To tackle these challenges, we design two types of data-driven pricing and ordering (DDPO) policies for the cases of nonparametric and parametric noise distributions. Measuring performance by regret, i.e., the profit loss caused by not knowing (1)-(4), we prove that the T-period regret of our DDPO policies are in the order of T^{2/3}(logT)^{1/2} and T^{1/2}logT in the cases of nonparametric and parametric noise distributions, respectively. These are the best achievable growth rates of regret in these settings (up to logarithmic terms). Implementing our policies in the context of the aforementioned real-life data set, we show that our approach significantly outperforms the historical decisions made by the supermarket chain. Moreover, we characterize parameter regimes that quantify the relative significance of the changing environment and product perishability. Finally, we extend our model to allow for age-dependent perishability and demand censoring, and modify our policies to address these issues.
Ferrets not infected by SARS-CoV-2 in a high-exposure domestic setting

Abstract Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are mustelids of special relevance to laboratory studies of respiratory viruses and have been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and onward transmission. Here, we report the results of a natural experiment where 29 ferrets in one home had prolonged, direct contact and constant environmental exposure to two humans with symptomatic COVID-19. We observed no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from humans to ferrets based on RT-PCR and ELISA. To better understand this discrepancy in experimental and natural infection in ferrets, we compared SARS-CoV-2 sequences from natural and experimental mustelid infections and identified two surface glycoprotein (Spike) mutations associated with mustelids. While we found evidence that ACE2 provides a weak host barrier, one mutation only seen in ferrets is located in the novel S1/S2 cleavage site and is computationally predicted to decrease furin activity. These data support that host factors interacting with the novel S1/S2 cleavage site may be a barrier in ferret SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and that domestic ferrets are at low risk of natural infection from currently circulating SARS-CoV-2. This may be overcome in laboratory settings using concentrated viral inoculum, but the effects of ferret host-adaptations require additional investigation.
Response to 'Correspondence on 'Prevalence and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with autoimmune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis'' by Shi et al .

We thank Shi et al 1 for their interest and comments on our research article ‘Prevalence and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with autoimmune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis’.2 The following is our point by point reply to their comments. First, in terms of case-controlled study, we included studies with data regarding the prevalence or clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with autoimmune diseases (ADs) and patients without ADs or the general population. We agree that subgroup analysis according to study design can often be useful in identifying heterogeneity. Second, we agree that the risk of bias (RoB) assessment is an important step to conduct systematic review and meta-analysis. As Shi et al suggested, several tools are available to assess the RoB of individual studies included in …