cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Perils of Trumping Science in Global Health - The Mexico City Policy and Beyond.

Scientific evidence indicates that the Mexico City Policy, or global gag rule, that President Trump has reinstated and extended actually increases abortion rates and is likely to result in increases in maternal deaths and to endanger children’s health around the world.
Using Metaphors to Explain Molecular Testing to Cancer Patients.

Background Molecular testing to identify targetable molecular alterations is routine practice for several types of cancer. Explaining the underlying molecular concepts can be difficult, and metaphors historically have been used in medicine to provide a common language between physicians and patients. Although previous studies have highlighted the use and effectiveness of metaphors to help explain germline genetic concepts to the general public, this study is the first to describe the use of metaphors to explain molecular testing to cancer patients in the clinical setting. Methods Oncologist-patient conversations about molecular testing were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded. If a metaphor was used, patients were asked to explain it and assess its helpfulness. Results Sixty-six patients participated. Nine oncologists used metaphors to describe molecular testing; 25 of 66 (38%) participants heard a metaphor, 13 of 25 (52%) were questioned, 11 of 13 (85%) demonstrated understanding and reported the metaphor as being useful. Seventeen metaphors (bus driver, boss, switch, battery, circuit, broken light switch, gas pedal, key turning off an engine, key opening a lock, food for growth, satellite and antenna, interstate, alternate circuit, traffic jam, blueprint, room names, Florida citrus) were used to explain eight molecular testing terms (driver mutations, targeted therapy, hormones, receptors, resistance, exon specificity, genes, and cancer signatures). Conclusion Because metaphors have proven to be a useful communication tool in other settings, these 17 metaphors may be useful for oncologists to adapt to their own setting to explain molecular testing terms. The Oncologist 2017;22:445-449Implications for Practice: This article provides a snapshot of 17 metaphors that proved useful in describing 8 complicated molecular testing terms at 3 sites. As complex tumor sequencing becomes standard of care in clinics and widely used in clinical research, the use of metaphors may prove a useful communication tool, as it has in other settings. Although this study had a small sample, almost all of the patients who were exposed to metaphors in explaining molecular testing reported it as being helpful to their understanding. These 17 metaphors are examples of potentially useful communication tools that oncologists can adapt to their own practice.
Mutations that Allow SIR2 Orthologs to Function in a NAD+-Depleted Environment

Sirtuin enzymes depend on NAD+ to catalyze protein deacetylation. Therefore, the lowering of NAD+ during aging leads to decreased sirtuin activity and may speed up aging processes in laboratory animals and humans. In this study, we used a genetic screen to identify two mutations in the catalytic domain of yeast Sir2 that allow the enzyme to function in an NAD+-depleted environment. These mutant enzymes give rise to a significant increase of yeast replicative lifespan and increase deacetylation by the Sir2 ortholog, SIRT1, in mammalian cells. Our data suggest that these mutations increase the stability of the conserved catalytic sirtuin domain, thereby increasing the catalytic efficiency of the mutant enzymes. Our approach to identifying sirtuin mutants that permit function in NAD+-limited environments may inform the design of small molecules that can maintain sirtuin activity in aging organisms.
Electromigration and transport reversal in copper-silver thin films

Abstract Grain boundary electrotransport of copper and silver atoms in copper + 1·2 at.% silver thin film conductors has been found to take place in opposite directions; the copper atoms migrate against the direction of electron flow, while the silver atoms migrate along this direction. It is shown that both the transport directions of the copper and the silver atoms can be qualitatively interpreted in terms of the existing theories of electromigration.
RUBCN/rubicon and EGFR regulate lysosomal degradative processes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the eye.

Macroautophagy/autophagy is an intracellular stress survival and recycling system whereas phagocytosis internalizes material from the extracellular milieu; yet, both pathways utilize lysosomes for ...
New insights into the flow and microstructural relaxation behavior of biphasic cellulose nanocrystal dispersions from RheoSANS

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) have been studied as nanostructured building blocks for functional materials and function as a model nanomaterial mesogen for cholesteric (chiral nematic) liquid crystalline phases. In this study, both rheology and small angle neutron scattering (RheoSANS) were used to measure changes in flow-oriented order parameter and viscosity as a function of shear rate for isotropic, biphasic, liquid crystalline, and gel dispersions of CNC in deuterium oxide (D2O). In contrast to plots of viscosity versus shear rate, the order parameter trends showed three distinct rheological regions over a range of concentrations. This finding is significant because the existence of three rheological regions as a function of shear rate is a long-standing signature of liquid crystalline phases composed of rod-like polymers, but observing this trend has been elusive for high-concentration dispersions of anisotropic nanomaterials. The results of this work are valuable for guiding the development of processing methodologies for producing ordered materials from CNC dispersions and the broader class of chiral nanomaterial mesogens.
2 to 18 GHz ultra-wideband dual-linear polarized phased array with 60° scanning

In this paper, we present for the first time a novel dual-linear polarized phase array based on tightly coupled dipole topology. The array operates across an impressive 9:1 impedance bandwidth spanning 2–18GHz with scanning capability down to 60o from boresight. Importantly, the array is extremely low profile, with a total height less than 12mm (λ low /10). The overall geometry consists of cross-located tightly coupled dipoles integrated with a folded Marchand balun that serves as an impedance transformer and a feeding network. The traditional dielectric superstrate is replaced with double layers of frequency selective surfaces (FSS) to enable scanning down to 60o in both E and H plan across the entire band. Notably, the polarization and port-to-port isolations are kept at least 40dB at broadside and 30dB with scanning cases. Such high isolation makes this array great candidate for Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STAR) systems.
Distributed Filtering for Time-Delayed Deployment to Multiple Sites

We address the synthesis of distributed control policies for a homogeneous robot ensemble assigned to monitor multiple locations. Our approach uses an appropriate macroscopic description of the ensemble dynamics to first identify spurious behaviors exhibited by the ensemble as a result of robot-robot interactions that arise from operating within a shared environment. This macroscopic analysis is then used to design and improve the agent-level control policies and enhance the overall team performance. In particular, we consider the time-delayed task assignment problem where deterministic (or near deterministic) task execution times result in extraneous robot-robot interactions which degrades the ensemble efficiency. The main contribution is a novel approach towards synthesizing distributed filters to smooth out spurious interactions. We validate our distributed filter both in simulation and in actual robotic experiments.
Application of Bayesian Graphical Models to Iris Recognition

Abstract Recognition of humans based on their biometric signatures is becoming of increasing importance because of its applications in access security, reliable identification for benefits distribution and homeland security among others. Popular biometric modalities include face images, fingerprints, iris images, palm prints, gait patterns, voice, etc. Iris images are of significant interest because of the excellent recognition rates they offer in controlled image acquisition conditions where the image quality is expected to be good enough to capture the details of the iris. However, in more realistic scenarios, iris images may not be of necessary quality because of image distortions and occlusions due to eyelids and eyelashes and the recognition rates provided by standard approaches may not be sufficient. In this chapter, we discuss how Bayesian graphical models can be used to achieve improved iris recognition in the presence of image impairments such as nonlinear deformations and occlusions. We illustrate the performance of these methods on sample iris image data sets.
Coherence, Circularity and Consistency: Lehrer Replies

The essays in this volume on my epistemology are a testimony to the way in which first rate philosophers have involved themselves with my published work in the theory of knowledge stretching over four decades. It is extremely gratifying to me, for the contributors to this volume are among the most talented philosophers of the present day. The contributors to this volume have concentrated on both the general coherence theory I have presented and the analytical details of it. Though they often disagree with the theory and raise objections to it, sometimes in a quite critical manner. I consider their careful examination of the theory as an important contribution to the study of what I have done. Where they disagree most avidly is where I suspect from my own study of the history of philosophy, especially the criticism of Reid against Hume, I have probably made the most important contribution to epistemology even if they are successful in refuting what I have written. Moreover, if they are definitive in their refutation, I shall claim part of the credit in formulating a theory with sufficient clarity and precision so that it admits of definitive refutation. Having expressed my admiration, my genuine admiration, for the philosophical acumen of my critics, I do wish to reply to what they have said. I hope that I shall reply fairly and do justice to their insights. I am afraid that in the fray of debate, it is difficult to decide whether one has been fair or not, but I shall do my best.
Design of the Alcator OCT Tokamak at M.I.T.

Alcator DCT is an experimental tokamak proposed to be built at M.I.T. It features extremely long pulses, RF heating and current drive, and an all superconducting magnet system. The toroidal magnets produce a field on-axis of 7 T, permitting current drive at high density and ion heating with existing power supplies. The device is designed to maximize the use of existing facilities at M.I.T. in order to build a machine large enough for simultaneous heating and current drive at low cost. This report concentrates on a design option with 24 circular toroidal field (TF) magnets, which represents the second iteration in the conceptual design of this machine. This design is a modification of the HESTER concept developed by the authors. The DCT design is an advance over the HESTER design, in that it has adequate horizontal port space for human access and for tangential viewing of the plasma at the geometric center. This was achieved by decreasing the number of TF coils from 36 to 24, increasing the magnet bore from 52 to 62 cm and shaving diagonals from noncritical areas of the case in the lead and header region. Recent perceptions of the requirements of the tokamak program inmore » the areas of impurity control and in-vessel component screening indicate that a third significant iteration of the DCT concept is necessary. The Alcator DCT uses pumped limiters for long term impurity control. Doubts about the efficacy of pumped limiters and a desire to concentrate on long-term impurity control issues led to the recommendation that DCT be modified to include expanded boundary and simplified poloidal divertor operation. Early work on these options is described briefly.« less
Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Disease

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is broadly defined as any disruption of brain function arising from some pathological condition related to the blood vessels (Walsh, 1987). In lay terms, it is more commonly referred to as stroke and is one of the most common neurologic diseases of adult life (Adams & Victor, 1989). Stroke represents the third leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease and cancer (American Heart Association, 1988), and accounts for at least 50% of the neurological disorders present in a general hospital setting (Adams & Victor, 1989). In general, there has been an increased awareness and understanding of stroke during the second half of the 20th century (Wiebe-Velazquez & Hachinski, 1991).
Spatio-spectral characterization of broadband fields using multispectral imaging

Spatio-temporal coupling in the field of ultrashort optical pulses is a technical enabler for applications but can result in detrimental effects such as increased on-target pulse duration and decreased intensity. Spectrally resolved spatial-phase measurements of a broadband field are demonstrated using a custom multispectral camera combined with two different wavefront sensors: a multilateral spatial shearing interferometer based on an amplitude checkerboard mask and an apodized imaged Hartmann sensor. The spatially and spectrally resolved phase is processed to quantify the commonly occurring pulse-front tilt and radial group delay, which are experimentally found to be in good agreement with models.
Bibliography of Press Criticism By Robert Benchley (Guy Fawkes) for The New Yorker

(1993). Bibliography of Press Criticism By Robert Benchley (Guy Fawkes) for The New Yorker. Journalism History: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 26-27.
Longitudinal Assessment of Adult Cases Performed by Graduating Urology Residents in the United States: 2010–2018

AbstractIntroduction:This study analyzed longitudinal growth trends, intra-resident variability and adult case volume performed at the completion of urology residency training.Methods:National case...
Sugarcane Biofuel Production in the USA

Initial feasibility evaluations of utilizing sugarcane as a renewable fuel source was fostered by high fossil fuel prices in the 1970s. Ethanol production from corn grain, however, was found to be more economical than from sugarcane feedstocks. Despite an effort made by the federal government to create a favorable environment for research and development into the use of sugarcane and energy cane feedstocks for biofuel production, the US Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture list no production in 2018 of either conventional or second-generation biofuel derived from these crops in the USA. Currently, the principal energy provided by sugarcane is from the combustion of bagasse to produce steam and electricity to power the sugar factory with some excess cogenerated electricity supplied to the electric grid.
Scapular Spine Dimensions and Suitability as a Glenoid Bone Graft Donor Site.

Background:Current structural bone graft options used for glenoid augmentation in glenohumeral instability have known drawbacks. The scapular spine may be a possible alternative graft choice, but i...
Exploring the role of decision-making factors in international student marketing engagement

ABSTRACTThis study applies the pre-purchase decision-making model for services to higher education context in order to understand international students' post-acquisition marketing engagement. The ...
Determination of the Minimum Exposure Time for Effecting Cytoprotection in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) for Caffeic Acid Phenylethyl Ester (CAPE) and Amide (CAPA)

We have previously shown that CAPE and CAPA protect HUVEC from oxidant stress.1 This activity was correlated with the production of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). The objective of this study was to deter...
Adaptive tracking control for real-time hybrid simulation of structures subjected to seismic loading

Abstract Real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) is an interesting method for studying the performance of structures subjected to dynamic loading. RTHS decomposes a structure into partitioned physical and numerical sub-structures that are coupled together through actuation systems. The sub-structuring approach is particularly attractive for studying large-scale problems since it allows for setting up large-scale structures with thousands of degrees of freedom in numerical simulations while specific components can be studied experimentally. Due to the RTHS system dynamics, there is an inevitable time delay that affects accuracy and stability of the simulation. Several tracking control algorithms have been proposed to compensate time delay and improve the accuracy, however, robustness still presents challenges to obtain successful simulation results. In this paper, a Conditional Adaptive Time Series (CATS) compensator is proposed based on the principles of the Adaptive Time Series compensator (ATS) for a benchmark problem that consists of a three-story shear frame with one degree of freedom (DOF) in a virtual RTHS (vRTHS) that considers numerical and experimental models subjected to earthquake loading. A recursive least square (RLS) algorithm is adopted for the parameter estimation of the controller to reduce computational efforts in the simulation. The performance and robustness of a first-order CATS controller is evaluated for different partitioned cases. It is shown that an adaptive compensation strategy is an effective approach for RTHS based on nine performance criteria due to its simple implementation and accuracy.
Integrated use of cardiac MRI and the CardioMEMS™ HF system in PAH: the utility of coincident pressure and volume in RV failure-the NHLBI-VITA trial.

Background: This study aims to study the feasibility and safety of measuring volumetric and pressure parameters noninvasively using simultaneous cardiovascular magnetic resonance (cMR) volumetric data and time-resolved pressure waveforms from previously implanted CardioMEMS devices in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients. Opportunities to intervene during clinically occult phases in PAH promise to herald a key transformation in our current practice for treating this complex population. Currently, it is possible and convenient to monitor daily pulmonary arterial (PA) pressures in PAH patients using the CardioMEMS device to determine clinically silent progression. Supplementation of these pressures with other prognostic measurements of right ventricular (RV) contractility, PA resistance and RV/PA coupling could add further predictive capabilities. Methods: PAH patients (n=17) with New York Hospital Association (NYHA) class III or IV heart failure (HF) and recent HF related hospitalizations were implanted with the CardioMEMS device as part of a NHLBI sponsored Trial. Implanted patients were then assessed using cMR imaging of the right ventricle (RV) along with measurement of pulmonary artery flow. Patients were imaged at one-month post implant (baseline) and at 4-month follow-up time (n=12). At baseline, patients were studied at rest and then under three different physiologic conditions: inhaled nitric oxide (INO), dobutamine (Dob) stress and volumetric stress (Vol), using a multiple slice short-axis imaging and a rapid imaging protocol. Results: All patients were safely imaged, with no artifacts obscuring the cMR images. RV volumes were measured successfully at rest and under each stress condition using a reduced scan approach that required calibration for each patient which achieved a correlation r2 of 0.98. Variables measured included the maximal pulmonary artery elastance (Ea), maximal RV myocardial elastance (Emax) and ventricular-vascular coupling ratio (VVC). The response to stressors was determined on a patient basis. No complications occurred during the cMRI examination. Conclusions: It is safe and feasible to perform cMR imaging with simultaneous pulmonary artery pressure readings from the CardioMEMS device. A reduced scan approach was developed to allowed measurement of RV volumes during stress conditions. Volumetric and pressure measurements can be combined to assess fundamental myocardial properties (e.g., Emax, Ea and VVC) in PAH patients serially over time. In the future, these parameters can be tested as serial predictors of outcome and response to therapies in PAH.
Reflexión y funciones ejecutivas: Bases para el aprendizaje y el desarrollo saludable

Executive function (EF) refers to the neurocognitive processes involved in the deliberate, goal-directed modulation of thought, action, and emotion. Individual differences in EF measured in childhood predict key developmental outcomes, and interventions designed to foster the healthy development of EF have the potential to help children at risk for a wide range of difficulties. This article briefly describes a theoretical model of EF and its development, the Iterative Reprocessing model that spans levels of analysis and characterizes self-regulation as the product of a dynamic interaction between top-down (reflective) and bottom-up (reactive) influences.
THE DIFFERENT RESPIRATORY EFFECTS OF INSPIRATORY AND EXPIRATORY STIMULATIONS OF THE CAROTID SINUS NERVE AND CAROTID BODY

In the half-century since the discovery of the chemoreceptor function of the carotid bodies, a great deal has been learned about their function and effects on respiration. However, the organization of their afferent input to the central nervous system is still not well defined. In the past it had been assumed that if carotid body afferent impulses reached the brain they would always have the expected excitatory effect, i.e., i f they arrived during expiration they would somehow be stored and remembered until the next breath where their effect would b e manifested. Over the past few years, however, it has become apparent that afferent input does not act on the central neural respiratory controller in such a simple manner. In the case of peripheral chemoreceptors the respiratory response appears to depend not only on the characteristics of the source but also on the time in the respiratory cycle that the stimulus occurs1–6, 8, 9. This finding has several important implications: (l) it suggests that carotid body signals are not well “stored and remembered” in the central control system and thus has implications for the understanding of its organization; (2) since the chemical signal at the carotid body is varying in an oscillating manner, the timing of the peak of that oscillation with relation to the respiratory cycle could be an important variable affecting respiratory output.
Operator Resilience to Cyber Interdictions in Nuclear Power Plants

This paper reviews the role of reactor operators in detecting and mitigating cyber attacks in nuclear power plants. While the authors maintain the importance of defense in depth as the first strategy to protect against cyber intrusion in control systems, the authors review the importance of operators in preventing disruption to plant operations and ensuring the safety and integrity of the plant in the face of such incursions. This paper introduces the idea of a cyber concept of operations, in which operators treat cyber intrusions much the way they would other hardware faults at the plant. A recent pilot study is presented in which reactor operators were successful in navigating the plant to a safe state despite cyber spoofing across multiple scenarios. This paper concludes that dedicated operator aids would help ensure operator and plant resilience to cyber attacks.
Lung Volume Reduction Surgery Prior to Lung Transplantation: A Propensity-Matched Analysis

Purpose Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is a therapeutic option in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the most common indication for lung transplantation (LTx). LVRS prior to LTx is controversial. Single institution studies report contradicting results, and the impact of undergoing LVRS prior to LTx on outcomes after LTx is unclear. We performed a propensity-matched analysis of outcomes after LTx in patients who underwent LVRS using a national database of LTx. Methods We reviewed the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients for all adults (age>18) who underwent first-time LTx for COPD in the Lung Allocation Score (LAS) era. We used patient demographics and LAS to match patients who did and did not undergo LVRS. The primary exposure was prior LVRS. We used multivariate logistic regression modeling to evaluate the primary outcome, one-year mortality, and secondary outcomes, chronic rejection by one year requiring treatment and prolonged ventilation (>5 days). Long-term survival was compared using Kaplan Meier testing. Results A total of 5,061 patients underwent LTx between January 2005 and March 2017. The average patient age at transplant was 60.7±6.0 years, and 2,591 (51.2%) patients were male. The mean LAS at transplant was 34.9±6.1. A total of 111 (2.2%) patients underwent LVRS prior to LTx. Propensity matching generated 111 matches. Multivariate logistic regression modeling in this group revealed a 16% increased risk of mortality at one year among patients who underwent LVRS prior to LTx (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01-1.32, p=0.03). There was no statistically significant difference in risk of chronic rejection by one year requiring treatment (p=0.5) or prolonged ventilator support (p=0.5) among the two groups. The Kaplan Meier survival analysis demonstrated a significant survival deficit between patients who received LVRS and those who did not at five years post-transplant (52.3% vs. 66.3% p=0.01). Conclusion In this national, propensity matched analysis of LVRS prior to LTx, we show that LVRS is associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality. Patients who undergo LVRS and remain in need of LTx should be carefully assessed and followed post-operatively. Further studies are necessary to identify why these patients may be at increased risk of adverse outcomes after LTx.
Exceptional Inclusion: Understanding the PKK’s Gender Policy

The PKK’s gender policy, which includes maintaining a fighting force that is 40% female and the promotion of women’s liberation as a key component of its political platform, makes the PKK an outlie...
Multiple-Layer Integrated Interleaved Codes: A Class of Hierarchical Locally Recoverable Codes.

The traditional definition of Integrated Interleaved (II) codes generally assumes that the component nested codes are either Reed-Solomon (RS) or shortened Reed-Solomon codes. By taking general classes of codes, we present a recursive construction of Extended Integrated Interleaved (EII) codes into multiple layers, a problem that brought attention in literature for II codes. The multiple layer approach allows for a hierarchical scheme where each layer of the code provides for a different locality. In particular, we present the erasure-correcting capability of the new codes and we show that they are ideally suited as Locally Recoverable (LRC) codes due to their hierarchical locality and the small finite field required by the construction. Properties of the multiple layer EII codes, like their minimum distance and dimension, as well as their erasure decoding algorithms, parity-check matrices and performance analysis, are provided and illustrated with examples. Finally, we will observe that the parity-check matrices of high layer EII codes have low density.
An anticolonial future: reassembling the way we do rhetoric

This essay is organized around four claims, which when taken together, demonstrate that it is time for the field of Communication Rhetoric in the United States to rethink the way it does rhetoric: ...
Unifying statistically autonomous and mathematical explanations

A subarea of the debate over the nature of evolutionary theory addresses what the nature of the explanations yielded by evolutionary theory are. The statisticalist line is that the general principles of evolutionary theory are not only amenable to a mathematical interpretation but that they need not invoke causes to furnish explanations. Causalists object that construction of these general principles involves crucial causal assumptions. A recent view claims that some biological explanations are statistically autonomous explanations (SAEs) whereby phenomena are accounted for statistically and which prescind from micro-causal details. I raise three major problems for this account and then advance a view which unifies SAEs as mathematical explanations: the MSAE view. The MSAE view not only resolves the issues bedeviling the original SAE account but serves to importantly broaden the class of non-causal explanations in population biology.
Abstract PL03-02: (Re)emerging principles of cancer therapy

It is likely that some of the mutations that occur late during evolution, whether passenger mutations or passenger mutations, are likely only tolerated (let alone advantageous to the cancer cell) because of the mutations that preceded them. If so, targeting mutations that occur early during tumor evolution should selectively kill cancer cells by unmasking the otherwise deleterious effects of subsequent mutations. There are now many precision cancer drugs that target such early mutations, including EGFR inhibitors for lung cancer, c-Kit mutations for GI stromal tumors, and B-Raf inhibitors for B-Raf mutant melanomas. Inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL) is an early event in kidney cancer. Inactivated proteins can sometimes be tackled by exploiting epistatic relationships or synthetic lethality. For example, pVHL suppresses the HIF2 transcription factor, which in turn regulates VEGF. VEGF inhibitors are now mainstays of kidney cancer treatment. HIF2 was viewed as “undruggable”, but undruggable proteins can sometimes be targeted by allosteric modulators or degraders. A first-in-class allosteric HIF2 inhibitor has advanced to phase 3 trials based on promising early data. Most cancer drugs work better in the frontline setting, and a recent study of previously untreated von Hippel-Lindau disease patients strongly suggests this will be true for the HIF2 inhibitor. Combination therapy will be required to cure most cancer. It is tempting to combine drugs that have interdependent actions in an attempt to achieve synergy, but this increases the risk of cross-resistance. The classical way to prevent resistance is to combine drugs that have distinct mechanisms of action (to minimize toxicity and cross-resistance). In this regard, immunotherapy has emerged as a powerful modality to treat cancer cells, and complements therapies aimed at inducing cancer cell death. Both kidney cancer and melanomas are highly immunogenic and can respond to immune checkpoint blockade, yet kidney cancer has a much lower mutational burden than melanoma. Recent work suggests that kidney cancers promiscuously express endogenous retroviruses, which might serve as a source of neoantigens. If true, it might be possible to pharmacologically enhance ERV expression to augment immunotherapy. Citation Format: William George Kaelin. (Re)emerging principles of cancer therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr PL03-02.
Comparison of Aortobifemoral Bypass to Aortoiliac Stenting with Bifurcation Reconstruction for TASC II D Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease.

Abstract Objectives Long-segment stenting of the infrarenal aorta and bilateral iliac arteries, with or without femoral endarterectomy for diffuse disease, has been adopted for treatment of severe aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). The objective of this study was to compare outcomes of this reconstruction, termed aortoiliac stenting with bifurcation reconstruction (AISBR), to aortobifemoral bypass (ABF) in patients with comparable TASC II D lesions. Methods This is a single-center, retrospective review of patients treated with ABF or AISBR for comparable TASC II D lesions between 2010 and 2018. ABF patients were included only if they were deemed anatomic candidates also for AISBR after review of preoperative imaging. Patients treated for acute limb ischemia and bypass graft infection were excluded. Statistics included Fisher exact test, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results There were 24 ABF and 75 AISBR included in the study. The primary indication for treatment was claudication in 55 (55.6%) patients, rest pain in 28 (28.3%), and tissue loss in 16 (16.2%). Patients undergoing AISBR were more likely to be female. Femoral endarterectomies were performed in 37/75 (49.3%) AISBR and 14/24 (58.3%) ABF (p=0.44). AISBR were performed percutaneously in 34/75 (45.1%). No AISBR required conversion to ABF. Intraoperative blood loss, procedure time and hospital length of stay (LOS) were significantly less for AISBR compared to ABF. Surgical site infections (SSI) were less common in patients undergoing AISBR (AISBR: 6/75 (8.0%) vs. ABF: 9/24 (37.5%), (p 30 days postoperatively. The reductions in blood loss, LOS and SSI remained significant after excluding percutaneous AISBR from the analysis. Five-year primary patency was 50.8% (95% CI: 33.3, 68.4%) for AISBR and 88.1% (72.7, 100.0%) for ABF (p=0.04). Five-year survival was 76.5% (95% CI: 63.6, 89.5) for AISBR and 100% (95% CI: 100.0, 100.0) for ABF (p = 0.07). Five-year primary assisted patency, secondary patency, freedom from reintervention and major adverse limb events did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions AISBR is a viable option for management of TASC II D AIOD, with lower morbidity and acceptable durability when compared to traditional ABF.
The Effects of Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors on the Frog Rod Receptor Potential

The events that link the absorption of light by rhodopsin to the initiation of visual excitation are not fully understood. Hagins and coworkers (1,2) and Tomita and coworkers (3,4) have shown that the electrical signal from the photoreceptors presumably responsible for visual excitation is a voltage transient produced when light turns off a current of sodium ions flowing in the dark. Thus it seems that light reduces the sodium permeability of the rod outer segment. The driving force for this current would be the difference in resting potential between the inner and outer segments, due to differences in ionic permeabilities (and perhaps ionic concentrations).
The GovStat content delivery template (CDT) for creating explanatory animations

In this demonstration we present an advanced prototype of a content delivery system that we have developed to assist in the explanation of government statistical terms. We describe the structure of the content template, its parts, and the context in which the template may be used. We conclude with an explanation and brief discussion of the technical requirements and restrictions of the system. We will demonstrate the use of the system for organizing and presenting glossary definition animations and other content presentations.
THE NONVASCULAR METABOLIC MYOCARDIAL VULNERABILITY FACTOR IN "CORONARY HEART DISEASE". FUNDAMENTALS OF PATHOGENESIS, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION.

Abstract Common use of the cliche “coronary heart disease” has created a disproportionately one-sided preoccupation with the vascular anatomic aspects of degenerative heart disease to the detriment of interest in those metabolic and neuroregulatory factors which determine the degree of myocardial vulnerability. Myocardial oxygen economy and health depend equally on vascular oxygen supply and myocardial oxygen consumption. The latter is dominated by sympathetic neurohormonal (catecholamine) activity. Myocardial cell vulnerability in the presence of an impaired compensatory dilatability of the coronary arteries (coronary sclerosis) is maximal in certain hemodynamically “handicapped” areas of the left ventricle. It is augmented by sympathogenic catecholamine action through (a) an increase in cardiac oxygen consumption, (b) shortening of diastolic coronary flow, (c) systolic compression of coronary ramifications, especially in the subendocardial layers, (d) presumable losses of potassium from anoxic myocardial cells. Adrenal corticoids and the thyroid hormone intensify catecholamine-induced myocardial vulnerability. The oxygen requirements of cardiac external work per se seem to be less responsible for the occurrence of myocardial anoxia than are the specifically oxygen-“wasting” and unfavorable microcirculatory effects of associated catecholamine liberation, e.g., during emotional excitement, exercise, and other stresses. Most of the procedures and agents designed for the treatment of the clinical manifestations of ischemic heart disease act by decreasing adrenergic metabolic myocardial vulnerability. Civilization-connected augmentation of primary myocardial vulnerability seems to be caused by emotional and environmental plus nicotine-mediated stimulations of the catecholamine-liberating sympatho-adrenal system, combined with a physical-inactivity-induced deterioration of sympathoinhibitory and vagal counterregulation. These pathogenic neurovegetative mechanisms are reversible and, therefore, of outstanding importance from the point of view of active prevention. Mass preventive cardiac-reconditioning systems, aimed at restoring the myocardial neuroregulatory equilibrium of fatigued, tense, and sedentary individuals, are organized abroad on a large scale by governments and private corporations. No such programs exist yet in the United States.
Antileukemic drugs increase death receptor 5 levels and enhance Apo-2L-induced apoptosis of human acute leukemia cells

In present studies, treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL, also known as Apo-2 ligand [Apo-2L]) is shown to induce apoptosis of the human acute leukemia HL-60, U937, and Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the maximum effect seen following treatment of Jurkat cells with 0.25 μg/mL of Apo-2L (95.0% ± 3.5% of apoptotic cells). Susceptibility of these acute leukemia cell types, which are known to lack p53wt function, did not appear to correlate with the levels of the apoptosis-signaling death receptors (DRs) of Apo-2L, ie, DR4 and DR5; decoy receptors (DcR1 and 2); FLAME-1 (cFLIP); or proteins in the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAP) family. Apo-2L–induced apoptosis was associated with the processing of caspase-8, Bid, and the cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c as well as the processing of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Apo-2L–induced apoptosis was significantly inhibited in HL-60 cells that overexpressed Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL. Cotreatment with either a caspase-8 or a caspase-9 inhibitor suppressed Apo-2L–induced apoptosis. Treatment of human leukemic cells with etoposide, Ara-C, or doxorubicin increased DR5 but not DR4, Fas, DcR1, DcR2, Fas ligand, or Apo-2L levels. Importantly, sequential treatment of HL-60 cells with etoposide, Ara-C, or doxorubicin followed by Apo-2L induced significantly more apoptosis than treatment with Apo-2L, etoposide, doxorubicin, or Ara-C alone, or cotreatment with Apo-2L and the antileukemic drugs, or treatment with the reverse sequence of Apo-2L followed by one of the antileukemic drugs. These findings indicate that treatment with etoposide, Ara-C, or doxorubicin up-regulates DR5 levels in a p53-independent manner and sensitizes human acute leukemia cells to Apo-2L–induced apoptosis.
The direction of developing country trade: Empirical evidence of differences between South-South and South-North trade

Abstract Declining market opportunities in Northern markets led to views that greater South-South trading might provide an alternative growth stimulus. This paper analyses the characteristics of South-South trade in manufactures and recent changes in the level of such trade to help clarify the potential of greater self-reliance within the South. South-South trade is found to be more intensive in the use of both physical and human capital, hence less rational from the static comparative advantage viewpoint than South-North trade. There is indirect but strong evidence that exporting countries with greatest orientation towards the South are those with greater distortions, less rapid movements up the ladder of comparative advantage, and weaker export performance. Finally, it is observed that the recent boom in South-South trade is largely explained by simple market size effects: very rapid growth of rich oil-exporters and the faster GNP growth of developing compared to developed countries. The paper concludes that while South-South trade of about the present magnitude-one of greater developing country exports - is certainly rational, there is little evidence to support views that greater South-South trade should be especially promoted. Arguments of dynamic comparative advantage may favor South-South trade, but so far these have been more speculative and not yet well researched empirically.
Competitive prospects in Eastern Europe

Among the former CMEA countries, some are moving faster and more radically toward the market system than others. Prof. Winiecki shows that the former will in future be in a better position to compete on world markets than those countries whose transition to the market system is incomplete or distorted.
MPLS-over-GRE based VPN architecture: a performance comparison

MPLS VPNs are one of the most widely deployed VPN architectures in the global Internet. However, a major prerequisite for MPLS VPN is the support for MPLS in all the provider core routers. The situation becomes complicated when service providers themselves use a backbone carrier to bring connectivity to their networks since the ability of the backbone to support MPLS connectivity would be crucial to the service provider. MPLS-over-GRE (generic routing encapsulation) tunnels is a new concept that has been proposed to bring MPLS connectivity between networks that are connected by an IP-only network. The aim of the current paper is to evaluate the performance of MPLS carrier supporting carrier configuration with and without MPLS-over-GRE tunnels.
In situ x-ray scattering study of PbTiO3 chemical-vapor deposition

We present in situ surface x-ray scattering measurements of PbTiO3 epitaxy by metal–organic chemical-vapor deposition. Oscillations in crystal truncation rod intensity corresponding to layer-by-layer growth are observed under a variety of growth conditions. At lower PbO overpressures, we observe a transition to step-flow growth and an increased rate of recovery after growth, indicating a higher surface mobility.
Sudden ionospheric delay decorrelation and its impact on the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)

[1] In the absence of selective availability, the ionosphere represents the largest source of positioning error for single-frequency users of the Global Positioning System (GPS). In differential GPS systems such as the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), vertical ionospheric delays are modeled at regularly spaced intervals in geographic latitude and longitude. The broadcast bound on the error at each of these points is designated the grid ionospheric vertical error (GIVE). Higher performance standards planned for future implementations of WAAS require a reduction in the magnitude of the GIVE broadcast under nominal conditions. Achieving this reduction depends upon a better understanding of the decorrelation of ionospheric delay, in both space and time. In this paper we focus on temporal decorrelation. We report a methodology for assessing the impact on WAAS posed by a sudden increase in the level of ionospheric disturbance. The methodology is based upon forming an estimate of the probability PD that a WAAS user will confront a sudden increase in the level of ionospheric disturbance following a period of relative calm. We have determined a limiting upper bound of PD to be 4 × 10−7, which lies well within the margin needed to meet WAAS integrity requirements.
Postfire Vegetation Recovery in Highland Pine Forests of the Dominican Republic

We surveyed postfire vegetation at five sites at high elevations (> 2000 m) in the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic. Highlands of the Cordillera Central are dominated by a single pine species, Pinus occidentalis, but plant communities are rich with endemics and conservation and fire management efforts in these systems are ongoing. The burns were 2‐7 yr in age and had consumed nearly all shrub crowns. Pines suffered high mortality (> 50%, all sites combined), but shrubs resprouted at high rates (88%, N = 957) after fire. All shrub taxa produced basal resprouts; eight of 11 shrub taxa measured had resprouting rates > 90 percent, while Baccharis myrsinites had the lowest (56%). Most taxa grew to prefire height quickly (within 5‐7 yr), with regrowth of stem diameters lagging behind. Patterns and rates of shrub recovery resembled those documented in high elevation shrublands in Costa Rica and Brazil. Pinus occidentalis does not resprout, but larger individuals can survive fire. Survival increases dramatically when trees attain > 13-cm dbh, when bark becomes thick enough to protect cambial tissue. Overall, pines are regenerating much more slowly than shrubs, but seedling establishment varied considerably between sites. Frequent fires may cause a decline in pines and an increas ei n shrubor grass-dominated communities. Succession in these high elevation fire-dependent pine forests favors taxa already present in the preburn vegetation, with woody composition changing little after fire, in contrast to lower-elevation cloud forest, where postfire vegetation has been shown to bear little resemblance to mature forest even after several years.
Twisting into shape

Although the mechanisms of antibody diversity and speci- ficity are quite well understood at the genetic level, the physical chemical basis of antibody-antigen recognition is still under investigation [ 1 ] . Of particular interest is the extent to which conformational changes are involved in producing the observed complementarity of the interact- ing surfaces. At the two extremes are the lock and key mechanism of Paul Ehrlich, in which the proteins fit to- gether perfectly without any conformational change, and the instructional mechanism of Linus Pauling, in which the antibody conformation is determined through in- teraction with the antigen. The picture that is gradually emerging from numerous X-ray diffraction studies of the structures of isolated antibodies and of their complexes with antigen is that conformational changes resulting from induced fit usually accompany antibody-antigen in- teraction. A variety of small conformational changes has now been reported in several recent papers on the three- dimensional structure of antibody-antigen complexes [2-51. The antigens, complexed with antibodies, that have been studied range in size from small haptens, such as phos- phorykholine, fluorescein and trinucleotides, through oligopeptides and oligosaccharides to proteins, of which lysozyme and the influenza virus neuraminidase have been the most studied. In the earliest studies
Facial Attractiveness Is Appraised in a Glance.

Those who are physically attractive reap many benefits--from higher average wages to a wider variety of mate choices. Recent studies have investigated what constitutes beauty and how beauty affects explicit social judgments, but little is known about the perceptual or cognitive processing that is affected by aesthetic judgments of faces and why beauty affects our behavior. In this study, the authors show that beauty is perceived when information is minimized by masking or rapid presentation. Perceiving and processing beauty appear to require little attention and to bias subsequent cognitive processes. These facts may make beauty difficult to ignore, possibly leading to its importance in social evaluations.