cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Methamphetamine on the Production of Free Radicals and Oxidative Stress

The effects of methamphetamine (METH) on pro-oxidant processes and on the production of reactive oxygen species were examined in vivo in the rat brain. The presence of oxidative damage in striatum, as revealed by the oxidation of lipid, also was assessed via the measurement of the lipid peroxidation product malonyldialdehyde. To elucidate further the mechanisms mediating METH-induced oxidative stress, we studied the possible reversal of the long-term METH-induced decrease in striatal dopamine content by antioxidants through iron chelation and trapping of free radicals. The uric acid concentration in the striata of rats killed 1 hr, but not 24 hr, after a four-injection regimen of METH was increased significantly compared with saline-injected control rats. METH increased the in vivo formation of the hydroxylated products of salicylate and d-phenylalanine, as evidenced by the elevated extracellular concentrations of 2,3 dihydroxybenzoic acid and p-tyrosine, respectively. The local perfusion of the striatum with the iron chelator deferroxamine attenuated the long-term depletions of striatal dopamine content produced by METH. In other experiments, malonyldialdehyde concentrations in incubated striatal homogenates were elevated significantly in METH-treated rats. Finally, pretreatment with the spin trapping agent phenylbutylnitrone before the METH injections attenuated the subsequent long-term depletions in striatal dopamine content. Overall, the results illustrate that METH increases pro-oxidant processes and offer supportive evidence that METH produces oxidative damage. These studies also demonstrate that iron may be involved in mediating the long-term damage to dopamine neurons after repeated administrations of METH.
RJ: a Java package providing JR-like concurrent programming

The JR concurrent programming language extends Java with a richer concurrency model, by adding several new types and statements. JR provides dynamic remote virtual machine creation, dynamic remote object creation, remote method invocation, dynamic process creation, rendezvous, asynchronous message passing, semaphores, concurrent invocation, and shared variables. This paper presents RJ, a package for Java that provides JR-like features. The paper gives an overview of RJ and its key features; describes the implications of RJ's design, including how RJ provides additional, useful flexibility; discusses the implementation of RJ; and gives qualitative and quantitative evaluations of our work with respect to feasibility and usability, experimentation, migration, and performance. RJ has been successful in meeting these goals and in providing insight into the trade-offs between using a concurrent programming language versus using the equivalent concurrent package. Our work has yielded a few surprises in dealing with some concurrent programming language features, in understanding the run-time performances of JR versus RJ programs, and in obtaining some additional, useful flexibility for concurrent programming applications. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drug costs and bacterial susceptibility after implementing a single-fluoroquinolone use policy at a university hospital.

SUMMARYThe University of Kentucky Hospital investigated the feasibility of choosing a sole fluoroquinolone for its formulary in an effort to reduce costs without affecting clinical outcomes. A three-step process was used to plan, implement, and monitor the selection program. Based on the range of clinical indications, safety profile, local susceptibility, cost, and dosing convenience, levofloxacin was chosen over ciprofloxacin and gatifloxacin as the sole fluoroquinolone. Since the implementation of the program in May 2001, susceptibility to levofloxacin has been maintained or increased for the most common pathogens. In addition, University Hospital has saved nearly $100,000 in antibiotic acquisition costs during the first 12 months after the switch. This assessment did not take into account effects in clinical outcomes, such as clinical failures (such as readmission rates), mortality, and adverse events, or measure changes in overall medical expenditures beyond drug acquisition costs. In the future, moni...
The role of catecholamines and nerves in ovulation.

The description of innervation of the mammalian ovary is reviewed. Human ovaries are supplied with both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers. Avian ovary innervation is also described. A brief review of denervation and transplantation experiments lead to the conclusion that nerves do have some role in ovulation and other ovarian processes. In rabbits and chickens an injection of an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent dibenzylene (DB) 14 hours before ovulation blocked ovulation. This effect was overcome by injection of the correct ratio of FSH:LH (follicle stimulating hormone:luteinizing hormone). Catecholamines appear to be involved in the process of ovulation; metabolic processes and muscle contraction and hemodynamic changes are suggested areas of influence of catecholamines. There is some evidence linking catecholamines with the release of prostaglandins.
Unstable Angina Is It Time for a Requiem

Stable angina, often referred to as angina of effort, and its principal cause, reduction of the lumen of epicardial coronary arteries, have been recognized for >2 centuries.1,2 Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), its clinical picture, and the importance of coronary thrombosis in its origin were described a century ago.3 These 2 conditions, stable angina and AMI, although manifestations of the same underlying disease process, that is, coronary atherosclerosis, were initially considered to be quite distinct. However, this distinction began to blur in 1937, when Sampson and Eliaser4 and Feil5 described several patients with severe, prolonged anginal pain at rest that differed from stable angina but sometimes preceded AMI. This disorder was variously referred to as preinfarction angina or crescendo angina, and reflecting the belief that it was in a gray zone between stable angina and AMI, it was also called intermediate coronary syndrome. In 1948, Wood6 proposed that this syndrome was caused by “a coronary circulation insufficient to meet the full demands at rest yet sufficient to prevent MI.” Because coronary thrombosis was believed to be a frequent cause of AMI, Wood thought that this same process also could play a role in coronary insufficiency. He reported that the administration of oral anticoagulants was associated with a reduction in the progression of coronary insufficiency to AMI or death. At first, like many newly described conditions, unstable angina (UA) was considered to be quite rare, and as late as the 1950s, some authorities even questioned its existence. In 1956, Friedberg,7 in the leading cardiology textbook of the era, described these patients as “a motley group which are best classified clinically as angina pectoris (more or less severe or prolonged) or as myocardial infarction.” In 1971, 2 important events in the history of acute coronary …
An index of growth due to depreciation

. While factors such as inflation, technological change and growth often have been discussed in connection with the adequacy of provisions for depreciation under a historical cost model, there is another dimension to the capital maintenance problem and it concerns the multiplier effect of depreciation. When an amount equal to depreciation is reinvested, a firm's productive capacity tends to increase. Reinvestment of depreciation also increases a firm's financial capital if book depreciation is more accelerated than economic depreciation. Based on a model developed by Ijiri (1967), this paper derives an index of this growth due to depreciation. The index estimates a bias in conventional depreciation methods that has been overlooked in the literature on the subject. This bias has implications for inflation accounting because if conventional depreciation methods have a built-in growth bias, adjustments for inflation may be a type of double counting. A second implication mentioned concerns the bias in accounting rates of return. Resume. Bien que des facteurs tels l'inflation, les changements technologiques et la croissance ont souvent ete examines a propos de la pertinence des provisions pour depreciation dans le cadre du modele au cout historique, un autre aspect du probleme de preservation du capital subsiste et il concerne l'effet multiplicateur de l'amortissement. Lorsqu'un montant egal a l'amortissement est reinvesti, la capacite d'exploitation de la firme a tendance a s'accroitre. Le reinvestissement de l'amortissement fait aussi augmenter le capital de la firme si l'amortissement comptable est plus accelere que la depreciation economique. En se basant sur un modele elabore par Ijiri (1967), cet article derive un indice de cette croissance attribuable a l'amortissement. L'indice estime un biais des methodes traditionnelles, qui a ete neglige dans les recherches consacrees au sujet. Ce biais a des implications en comptabilite des effets de l'inflation, car si les methodes d'amortissement traditionnelles comportent implicitement ce biais de croissance, les redressements relatifs a l'inflation peuvent etre assimiles a un double comptage. Une deuxieme consequence est signalee, soit le biais relatif aux taux de rendement comptable.
Practical Low Voltage Equipment Ground Fault Protection for Solidly Grounded Systems with Wye-Connected Source Transformers

A low voltage equipment ground fault protection system for solidly grounded radial systems is described. The protection provides primary protection for source substation buses. It is capable of providing selective operation with downstream ground fault trip devices or phase-overcurrent devices set to detect ground faults. It also provides source transformer protection for phase-to-ground through faults to supplement transformer primary phase-to-phase and three-phase through-fault overcurrent protection.
Interview with Louis Bickford: Convergence Towards the Global Middle: 'Who Sets the Global Human Rights Agenda and How'

In the multi-polar world where the international human rights movement operates today, Louis Bickford is able to observe and influence different facets of the human rights landscape from an advantaged viewpoint. Bickford manages the Ford Foundation’s Global Human Rights program, assisting both well-established and emerging groups to bolster the global human rights movement. Prior to joining the Ford Foundation in 2012, he was on the executive leadership team of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and, before that, was a program director at the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ).Bickford’s experience with activism dates back to his time as student activist in the 1980s and then his work in Chile in the early 1990s on issues related to memory and accountability in the Southern Cone. Later in the ICTJ, Bickford’s primary job was to facilitate partnerships with national NGOs in countries as diverse as Bosnia, Burma (Thai border), Ghana, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa, and to collaborate with these partners on peer exchanges and joint field-building activities. These experiences gave him a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that international NGOs can bring to the international human rights field.Making use of this valuable experience, in an interview given to Conectas in September 2014, Bickford offers a critical assessment of the current stage of the international human rights movement. While recognising that international NGOs are seeking to be closer to the ground and national NGOs to participate directly in the international arena, which Bickford calls “convergence towards the global middle”, he conclusively states “international human rights movement has too seldom been able to frame its work in ways that resonate with poor and marginalised communities.”In this sense, in order to keep growing, for Bickford, the “movement needs to be relevant to more people more often in order to thrive”. In his answers, he offers examples of organisations that have been trying to do just that and the challenges they face.Interview conducted in September 2014 by Thiago Amparo (Conectas Human Rights)
Evaluation of drug information in an Internet newsgroup.

Abstract Objective: To determine the accuracy and potential harmfulness of the drug information in a newsgroup on the Internet, sci . med . pharmacy . Design: In this cross-sectional study, two independent reviewers analyzed the nonsubjective drug information in this newsgroup. Drug information was classified as correct, incorrect, or could not verify. Information was determined to have no harm, minor harm, moderate harm, or severe harm. Results: About one-half of the drug information was found to be correct in this newsgroup. Although 680/0 of the drug information was found to result in no harm, 19.4 % was classified as harmful. Conclusions: If drug information on the Internet contains inaccuracies, its ready accessibility may pose a public health problem. With the number of Internet users growing, health professionals need to be aware of the potential for dissemination of misinformation, and need to become familiar with the Internet and the various health information resources available to the public.
Chemical inhibitors of Theiler's virus.

SummaryCertain pyrimidine-related-com-pounds inhibit Theiler's virus, in vitro. Inhibition by 5-hydroxyuridine is partially reversed by uridine-5′-phosphate. Of various other chemicals found to inhibit virus, in vitro, chlorpromazine and polymyxin did not protect mice from viral infection.
Seasonal Patterns of Activity of Adult Leafhopper Vectors of Phony Peach Disease in North Florida

The 5 known leafhopper vectors of phony peach disease, Homalodisca coagulata (Say), H. insolita (Wlk.), Oncometopia orbona (F.), Graphocephala versuta (Say), and Cuerna costalis (F.) were found in a 3-yr study of a north Florida peach orchard using sticky boards. Color of traps and height suspended were found to modify trap efficiency. Seasonal distribution of H. coagulata between habitats differed from that reported for central Georgia.
Strain-rate effects in high-purity alumina

Ultrahigh-strength alumina specimens made from disks produced by vacuum hot pressing high-purity alumina powders were subjected to uniaxial compressive loads at a range of strain rates. It was observed that the material exhibited a failure strength far superior to commercially available alumina. The failure strength was strongly strain-rate dependent and varied from 5.5 GPa at 10-4 s-1 to 8.3 GPa at 103 s-1. Microscopic studies on the fragments of the specimens deformed under uniaxial strain revealed extensive twinning and dislocation activity. Based on the experimental results and microscopic observations, the factors and mechanism responsible for the observed high compressive strength are discussed.
Solitary Splenic Metastasis of an Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

Splenic metastasis of solid tumors is a rare event, most often diagnosed at the time of autopsy. Whereas in cases of widely disseminated cancer, splenic involvement may be fairly common, solitary splenic metastasis in the absence of other metastases is exceedingly rare. The authors report a case of a 63-year-old woman in whom the sole detectable distant metastasis of a lung carcinoma was a splenic mass. The splenic lesion was detected before the resection of the primary lung lesion during a complete metastatic work-up. At that time, however, it was considered unlikely that the mass in the spleen represented a metastasis because of the lack of metastatic disease elsewhere.
Paper 2: Effect of Bending Moments on Nozzles with Forged Transition Pieces

An experimental study has been made of the elastic stress distributions arising in the vicinity of two transition rings of the type used to connect cylindrical ducts with large spherical pressure vessels. The effect of bending moments on the duct was considered and theoretical estimates of the stresses were made by modifying certain well-known analyses. Two of these methods gave results close to the experimental values in a region which included the position of maximum stress. This occurred near the weld between the spherical shell and the transition ring.In a further investigation it was found that, for the order of loads applied, the principle of superposition may be used to calculate the combined effect of a local bending moment and an internal pressure.When allowable bending moments at design pressure are calculated using a limiting stress concentration factor, the heavier transition piece is slightly superior to the other.
Systemic Banking Crises

This paper presents a new database on the timing of systemic banking crises and policy responses to resolve them. The database covers the universe of systemic banking crises for the period 1970-2007, with detailed data on crisis containment and resolution policies for 42 crisis episodes, and also includes data on the timing of currency crises and sovereign debt crises. The database extends and builds on the Caprio, Klingebiel, Laeven, and Noguera (2005) banking crisis database, and is the most complete and detailed database on banking crises to date.
A flattened hierarchical scheduler for real-time virtualization

Migrating legacy real-time software stacks to newer hardware platforms can be achieved with virtualization which allows several software stacks to run on a single machine. Existing solutions guarantee that deadlines of virtualized real-time systems are met but can only accommodate a reduced number of systems. Therefore, this paper introduces ExVM, a new scheduling framework to maximize the number of legacy uniprocessor real-time systems able to run on a single machine. Contrary to most existing solutions, ExVM uses a flattening approach where the host schedules the virtual machine which contains the task with the earliest deadline. The real-time characteristics of tasks are obtained through introspection during the execution. We implemented this framework using Linux's SCHED DEADLINE real-time scheduling policy in the host. Simulations using an exact schedulability test show that ExVM is able to schedule 96% of randomly generated tasksets with a utilization of at least 0.8, while state-of-the-art solutions are only able to schedule 40% of the same tasksets. Experimental evaluations performed using synthetic benchmarks and production real-time applications show that ExVM always outperforms the existing solutions, always meeting more than 80% of deadlines while these solutions fall below 50% when the utilization increases.
Wind and Risk

This paper surveys risk-related issues pertaining to the performance of structures in wind and the estimation of wind-induced losses. We consider risk within the framework of performance criteria, and provide illustrative examples of wind-related performance criteria developed for safe and serviceable designs. We note the role of uncertainties in specifying measures of risk and developing risk estimates, and the fact that this role is not adequately considered in ASCE 7 Standard design criteria applicable to tall buildings. We also discuss the role of wind speed and directionality effects in risk analysis. We review in some detail performance criteria on wind-induced incipient collapse, as well as methods for estimating mean recurrence intervals of incipient collapse for rigid structures. We point out that similar methods need to be developed for flexible structures. We define and compare nominal and effective risk-consistency, and review recent work on risks in multi-hazard situations. We then consider wind-induced losses, and note that large differences among estimates of such losses by various analysts are due to significant uncertainties in the estimation of extreme wind speeds, aerodynamic effects, and ultimate capacities of structural and architectural engineering components, connections, and assemblies. Finally, we discuss the design of structures with acceptably low risks and low consumption of materials/embodied energy. Contact: E. Simiu, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8611, telephone 1 301 975 6076, fax 1 301 869 6275. Wind and risk E. Simiu National Institute of Standards and Technology – emil.simiu@nist.gov – Gaithersburg MD 20899-8611 -USA
A method for measuring total aerosol oxidative potential (OP) with the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay and comparisons between an urban and roadside site of water-soluble and total OP

Abstract. An automated analytical system was developed for measuring the oxidative potential (OP) with the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay of filter extracts that include both water-soluble and water-insoluble (solid) aerosol species. Three approaches for measuring total oxidative potential were compared. These include using methanol as the solvent with (1) and without (2) filtering the extract, followed by removing the solvent and reconstituting with water, and (3) extraction in pure water and performing the OP analysis in the extraction vial with the filter. The water extraction method (the third approach, with filter remaining in the vial) generally yielded the highest DTT responses with better precision (coefficient of variation of 1–5 %) and was correlated with a greater number of other aerosol components. Because no organic solvents were used, which must be mostly eliminated prior to DTT analysis, it was easiest to automate by modifying an automated analytical system for measuring water-soluble OP developed by Fang et al. (2015). Therefore, the third method was applied to the field study for the determination of total OP. Daily 23 h filter samples were collected simultaneously at a roadside (RS) and a representative urban (Georgia Tech, GT) site for two 1-month study periods, and both water-soluble (OPWS-DTT) and total (OPTotal-DTT) OP were measured. Using PM2. 5 (aerodynamic diameter
Mothering-ArtAdemics: Intersecting Identities of Strength

Using personal narratives as a feminist approach to produce knowledge, we explore theoretical positions that acknowledge the interdependency of maternal, artistic, and academic identities. This approach, while critical of societal structures that fail to support working mothers and young children, outlines the benefits of creative practice, teaching, and mothering rather than viewing the experience as a deficit. Through interwoven personal narratives we reflect on our journeys becoming mothers on the tenure-track and reinventing our artmaking practices as academic mothers. Each subtopic outlines individual experiences, offering the reader two different paths toward applying for tenure while creating a family. Through our narratives we illustrate the ways in which our art practices grew when becoming mothers, due in part to time constraints, a desire to work without toxic art materials, and with conceptual shifts that address mothering in our artmaking. In conclusion, we argue for increased structural change to support successful mothering academics that ranges from increasing partner participation around domestic work to federally funded, mandated maternity and paternity leave.
Characterization of Pharmacy Resident Interventions on an Academic Inpatient Internal Medicine Rotation.

Purpose:To characterize the clinical interventions of postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) pharmacy residents on a required, 1-month, inpatient adult internal medicine service at an academic medical center....
Evaluation of the thyroid nodule

Background: Thyroid nodules are common, yet treatment modalities range from observation to surgical resection. Because thyroid nodules are frequently found incidentally during routine physical examination or imaging performed for another reason, physicians from a diverse range of specialties encounter thyroid nodules. Clinical decision making depends on proper evaluation of the thyroid nodule. Methods: The current literature was reviewed and synthesized. Results: Current evidence allows the formulation of recommendations and a general algorithm for evaluating the incidental thyroid nodule. Conclusions: Only a small percentage of thyroid nodules require surgical management. Diagnosis and treatment selection require a risk stratification by history, physical examination, and ancillary tests. Nodules causing airway compression or those at high risk for carcinoma should prompt evaluation for surgical treatment. In nodules larger than 1 cm, fine-needle aspiration biopsy is central to the evaluation as it is accurate, low risk, and cost effective. Subcentimeter nodules, often found incidentally on imaging obtained for another purpose, can usually be evaluated by ultrasonography. Other laboratory and imaging evaluations have specific and more limited roles. An algorithm for the evaluation of the thyroid nodule is presented.
Impact of Myeloproliferative neoplasms on patients' employment status and work productivity in the United States: Results from the living with MPNs survey

Patients with the myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET) are at increased risk for thrombotic and cardiovascular events and experience a variety of burdensome symptoms. However, there is a paucity of data in the biomedical literature about how MPNs impact productivity in the workplace. This analysis of the Living with MPNs survey was conducted to evaluate the impact of MPNs on employment, career potential, and work productivity. This cross-sectional online survey included respondents aged 18–70 years living in the United States with a diagnosis of MF, PV, or ET. The survey consisted of ~ 100 questions related to MPN diagnosis, disease-related medical history, MPN-related symptoms and functional status, changes in employment and work productivity, and impact on daily activities since diagnosis. The MPN Symptom Assessment Form Total Symptom Score (MPN-SAF TSS) was used to assess symptom burden. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Specific Health Problem questionnaire (WPAI-SHP) was used to assess the effects of MPNs on work productivity and activity (7-day recall) among currently employed respondents. Correlations between MPN-SAF TSS and WPAI-SHP scores were calculated using Spearman’s coefficients. Of 904 respondents, 592 were employed (MF, n = 174; PV, n = 248; ET, n = 170) at the time of their MPN diagnosis. Approximately half (50.5%) of the 592 employed survey respondents reported ≥1 change in employment status because of their diagnosis, most commonly “left a job” (30.2%) “went on medical disability leave” (24.8%), and “had reductions in work hours for at least 3 months” (21.8%). Among respondents who remained employed at the time of survey participation (n = 398), mean WPAI-SHP scores were as follows: absenteeism, 6.9%; presenteeism, 27.4%; overall work impairment, 31.1%; and activity impairment, 32.8%. WPAI-SHP scores positively correlated with MPN-SAF TSS (correlation coefficients, 0.37–0.70; P < 0.001). Half of the employed respondents had an employment status change (eg, leaving a job, medical disability leave, early retirement) because of their disease since the diagnosis. Currently employed respondents reported meaningful impairments in work productivity and activities of daily living that were attributable to their MPNs, and the degree of impairments highlighted the severity of symptom burden.
Implementing a Standardized Social Networks Testing Strategy in a Low HIV Prevalence Jurisdiction.

Alternative HIV testing strategies are needed to engage individuals not reached by traditional clinical or non-clinical testing programs. A social networks recruitment strategy, in which people at risk for or living with HIV are enlisted and trained by community-based agencies to recruit individuals from their social, sexual, or drug-using networks for HIV testing, demonstrates higher positivity rates compared to other non-clinical recruitment strategies in some jurisdictions. During 2013–2015, a social networks testing protocol was implemented in Wisconsin to standardize an existing social networks testing program. Six community-based, non-clinical agencies with multiple sites throughout the state implemented the protocol over the 2-year period. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The new positivity rate (0.49%) through social networks testing did not differ from that of traditional counseling, testing, and referral recruitment methods (0.48%). Although social networks testing did not yield a higher new positivity rate compared to other testing strategies, it proved to be successful at reaching high risk individuals who may not otherwise engage in HIV testing.
V.L.F. PROPAGATION—THEORY AND EXPERIMENT

Approximate techniques for solving the v.l.f. modal equation are described. Essentially, the idea is to expand the logarithm of the reflection coefficient in a power series of C, the cosine of the angle of incidence. Using this approach, curves of attenuation rates for a wide variety of conditions are obtained. Both the terrestrial Magnetic field and the earth's curvature are included in the analysis. The results are then compared with experimental data obtained from many sources beginning with the early field strength data of Round et al. [1925] to the most recent “sferics” data of Taylor [1961].
The Mechanism of Blood Anticoagulation by Leech Hementin

Anticoagulation of blood by the leech Hirudo medicinalis is accomplished by hirudin, a potent inhibitor of thrombin. The giant South American leech Haementeria ghilianii also renders blood incoagulable in order to feed and digest the meal. However, the mechanism of blood anticoagulation by the latter leech is different from the former. The anticoagulant, called hementin, is present in both the anterior and posterior salivary glands. It is a metalloproteinase that specifically cleaves fibrinogen rendering it incoagulable by thrombin. The mechanism of degradation by this enzyme involves preferential hydrolysis of three peptide bonds in the coiledcoil connector, resulting in destruction of bivalent function of the fibrinogen molecule. Since the other coagulation factors in human blood are unaffected by hementin, the mechanism of action of this anticoagulant is selectively focused on fibrinogen.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: a review of present management and future considerations

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Although a relatively uncommon disease, the treatment of vulvar cancer has changed considerably over the years and has been under considerable focus due to its past overtreatment and apparent increase in incidence. The purpose of this review is to describe the recommended management of the most commonly encountered vulvar carcinomas based on the most recent available literature.Areas covered: The clinical environment of squamous cell vulvar cancers are illustrated in order to describe the potential pitfalls and limitations of treatment. Then, by examining published data on the treatment efficacy, find those that are best at limiting morbidity and maximizing patient outcomes. In addition, effective prevention of HPV-related disease will be included as its limitation of disease can be considered an aspect of treatment. The benefits and limitations of medical and surgical modalities as well as the evolving discussion surrounding lymph node sampling and the novel role of genomics will al...
Binding of FANCI-FANCD2 Complex to RNA and R-Loops Stimulates Robust FANCD2 Monoubiquitination

Fanconi anemia (FA) is characterized by developmental abnormalities, bone marrow failure, and cancer predisposition. FA cells are hypersensitive to DNA replicative stress and accumulate co-transcriptional R-loops. Here, we use the Damage At RNA Transcription assay to reveal colocalization of FANCD2 with R-loops in a highly transcribed genomic locus upon DNA damage. We further demonstrate that highly purified human FANCI-FANCD2 (ID2) complex binds synthetic single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and R-loop substrates with high affinity, preferring guanine-rich sequences. Importantly, we elucidate that human ID2 binds an R-loop structure via recognition of the displaced ssDNA and ssRNA but not the RNA:DNA hybrids. Finally, a series of RNA and R-loop substrates are found to strongly stimulate ID2 monoubiquitination, with activity corresponding to their binding affinity. In summary, our results support a mechanism whereby the ID2 complex suppresses the formation of pathogenic R-loops by binding ssRNA and ssDNA species, thereby activating the FA pathway.
UNIT 1.9 Using the Tools and Resources of the RCSB Protein Data Bank

The Protein Data Bank (PDB; http://www.pdb.org) is the world-wide repository for three-dimensional structural data determined using various experimental methods. The options and procedures for searching and downloading structural data from the PDB, which is maintained by the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics (RCSB), are described here along with tools for depositing and assessing the quality of structures. Several types of information are associated with each structure deposition including atomic coordinates of the structure, experimental data used to solve the structure, sequences of all macromolecules that constitute the structures, details about the structure solution method, images showing different views of the structure, derived geometric data, and a variety of links to other resources. These data and resources may be used for understanding and designing biochemical, genetic, or other experiments to study the stability or function of the molecule. They can also be used for molecular modeling and drug design. Keywords: query; validation; deposition; macromolecular structures; proteins; nucleic acids
Optical Localization of a Mobile Robot Using Sensitivity-based Data Fusion

Optical communication is of increasing interest as an alternative to acoustic communication for robots operated in underwater environments. Our previous work presented a method for LED-based Simultaneous Localization and Communication (SLAC) that uses the bearing angles, obtained in establishing line-of-sight (LOS) between two beacon nodes and a mobile robot for communication, for geometric triangulation and thus localization of the robot. In this paper, we consider the problem of optical localization in the setting of a network of beacon nodes, and specifically, how to fuse the measurements from multiple pairs of beacon nodes to obtain the target location. A sensitivity metric, which represents how sensitive the target estimate is with respect to the bearing measurement errors, is used for selecting the desired pair of beacon nodes. The proposed solution is evaluated with extensive simulation and preliminary experimentation, in a setting of three beacon nodes and one mobile node. Comparison with an average-based fusion approach and an approach using a fixed pair of beacon nodes demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed approach.
CDS Trading and Non-Relationship Lending Dynamics

We investigate how credit default swaps (CDSs) affect lenders’ incentives to initiate new lending relationships. We predict that CDSs reduce adverse selection that non-relationship lead arrangers face when competing for loans. Consistently, we find that a loan is more likely to be syndicated by a non-relationship lead arranger following CDS trading initiation on a borrower’s debt. We also show that borrowers that obtain loans from non-relationship lead arrangers in the post-CDS trading initiation period are more opaque, in line with the effect of CDSs being more pronounced for borrowers for which adverse selection costs are higher. Further analyses show that relative to relationship lead arrangers, non-relationship lead arrangers have lower monitoring incentives in the post period, as reflected by less restrictive covenants and performance pricing provisions they impose and by the reduced loan shares they retain. Moreover, we find that borrowers of non-relationship lead arrangers following CDS trading initiation have higher growth opportunities and more volatile operations, consistent with such borrowers benefiting to a greater extent from weaker restrictions on their activities imposed by lenders. Lastly, lower monitoring incentives of CDS-protected non-relationship lead arrangers also decrease the propensity of inexperienced participants to join their syndicates. Overall, our findings suggest that CDS trading significantly changes non-relationship lending dynamics.
Current status of the BCR gene and its involvement with human leukemia.

Publisher Summary The almost invariable association of the Ph 1 gene product with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) suggests an important role of both breakpoint cluster region ( BCR ) and abl genes in the manifestation of this disease, as well as other types of Ph 1 -positive leukemias. However, as the clinical phenotype of CML has been reported prior to the appearance of the Ph 1 , it is possible that the chromosomal translocation that generates Ph 1 may be a necessary but not the first step in the generation of leukemic phenotype. In any event, though the molecular aspects of the gene translocation that generates Ph 1 and the P210 BCR/Abl protein have been widely studied, and much new information has been generated, the precise roles of the BCR and abl genes in this leukemic process are yet to be determined. Similarly, the roles of these two genes in normal somatic cell physiology remain unclear. It has been demonstrated that specific quantitative differences exist between BCR/Ab1 gene products with variations in BCR- exon content. Thus, PI85 BCK/Abl in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) has increased tyrosine kinase activity and biological transformation potency compared to P210 BCR/Abl . Changes in the length of the BCR sequences are responsible for the differential potency noted between P210 BCR/Abl and P185 BCR/Abl .
Status and Current Distribution of the Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii) in Florida

We conducted roadside call surveys at 111 historical Hyla andersonii (Pine Barrens Treefrog) sites in 2013–2016. We detected the species at 49 sites (44%), which is consistent with surveys conducted in the early 1980s. We detected the species throughout its historical range except Holmes County, which only has 4 historical sites. We also identified 33 new sites on public lands and 4 new sites on private lands. We used multi-season occupancy models to determine the influence of site and survey covariates on species occupancy and detection rates in Blackwater River State Forest. Species detection was positively associated with air temperature and partial cloud-cover and negatively associated with clear skies. Pine Barrens Treefrog occupancy rates were lower at survey sites surrounded by hardwood-dominated wetlands, suggesting that hardwood encroachment has negatively impacted this species on some areas of Blackwater River State Forest. The best model had an estimated detection probability of 0.43 (95% CI = 0.29–0.47) and an estimated occupancy of 0.63 (95% CI = 0.43–0.79). We recommend that future call surveys include a minimum of 5 visits to each survey site before inferring species absence. Our surveys suggest that the status and distribution of the species remain stable despite some habitat degradation.
Nutrition, microbiome, aging, and cancer

The research aims at linking cancer with age and other biological and dietary factors According to Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results SEER data aging is one of the critical cancer risk factors for both sexes The research employed a stringent approach that confirmed the hypothesis linking acquisition of cancerous infections with age Precisely individuals are more susceptible to cancerous infections at the latter stages of their lifecycle The study utilized qualitative approach to gather relevant information and findings were derived from secondary sources such as books journals and credible websites An in depth acquired knowledge was presented in a narrative form to address the research questions developed from the research objectives While cancer is a Multifactorial disease of the human body two underlying mechanisms were commonly identified in elderly from the literature The fundamental mechanisms are low chronic inflammation and immunosenescence Microbiota mainly probiotics could potentially influence the two mechanisms directly and via microbially produced metabolites Additionally dietary interventions have the potential to modify microbiota and the inflammatory status The phenomenon influences the risk and progression of some chronic diseases including cancer The challenging factors are the identification the subgroups who will benefit from the initiatives the time and duration of each nutrition intervention and early detection of any undesirable effects of those interventions
Cosmopolitan Desire and Profitable Performance in The Dutch Courtesan

The Dutch Courtesan reflects on the uses of seduction and desire in commercial culture. The eponymous courtesan Franceschina circulates among foreign clientele; the native conman Cocledemoy accumulates wealth through a range of foreign disguises. Their cosmopolitan appeal to diverse consumers illustrates the dangers of excessive desire linked to an intensifying fashion for foreign commodities in the period. The commodity that is the play itself also capitalizes on similar fascinations of London audiences. Franceschina and Cocledemoy’s explicitly theatrical performances display and satirize how salesmanship — in the form of seduction and trickery — preys on consumer interests to fuel commerce in the global marketplace.
A One-Step Facile Encapsulation of Zeolite Microcrystallitesin Ordered Mesoporous Microspheres

A facile aerosol-assisted technique was employed for the design of a new class of composite zeolite catalyst material with spherical morphology. This technique enables the one-step encapsulation of...
Adaptive Page Migration for Irregular Data-intensive Applications under GPU Memory Oversubscription

Unified Memory in heterogeneous systems serves a wide range of applications. However, limited capacity of the device memory becomes a first order performance bottleneck for data-intensive general-purpose applications with increasing working sets. The performance overhead under memory oversubscription depends on the memory access pattern of the corresponding workload. While a regular application with sequential, dense memory access suffers from long latency write-backs, performance of a irregular application with sparse, seldom access to large data-sets degrades due to page thrashing. Although smart spatio-temporal prefetching and large page eviction yield good performance in general, remote zero-copy access to host-pinned memory proves to be beneficial for irregular, data-intensive applications. Further, new generation GPUs introduced hardware access counters to delay page migration and reduce memory thrashing. However, the responsibility of deciding what strategy is the best fit for a given application relies heavily on the programmer based on thorough understanding of the memory access pattern through intrusive profiling. In this work, we propose a programmer-agnostic runtime that leverages the hardware access counters to automatically categorize memory allocations based on the access pattern and frequency. The proposed heuristic adaptively navigates between remote zero-copy access to host-pinned memory and first-touch page migration based on the trade-off between low latency remote access and high-bandwidth local access. We show that although designed to address memory oversubscription, our scheme has no impact on performance when working sets fit in the device-local memory. Experimental results show that our scheme provides performance improvement of 22% to 78% for irregular applications under 125% memory oversubscription compared to the state of the art. At the same time, regular applications are not impacted by the framework.
Quantifying the contribution of dust to alpine soils in the periglacial zone of the Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA

Abstract Profiles of alpine soils in the Uinta Mountains (Utah, USA) were investigated to determine how long-term dust deposition has influenced soil properties in this environment. Field studies were focused on four above-treeline sites, all of which were apparently beyond the reach of erosive glacial ice during the Pleistocene. Modern dust, soil A and B horizons, and local bedrock were compared in terms of major and trace element geochemistry, along with Sr and Nd isotope compositions. In all cases, soil samples are a mixture of dust and local bedrock end members, with A horizons more closely resembling dust, and B horizons more similar to bedrock. Calculations estimate that these soil profiles contain ~50 to 80% dust, which is effectively mixed downward into the solum by cryoturbation. Because these landscape positions were not glaciated, the total amount of dust contained within soil profiles is large relative to sites at lower elevation within the glacial limit. In addition to altering physical properties of these soil profiles, including horizonation and texture, deposition of dust rich in base cations positively influences soil fertility.
Adoption of enhanced recovery after surgery and intraoperative transverse abdominis plane block decreases opioid use and length of stay in very large open ventral hernia repairs.

Abstract Background The effect of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway including liposomal bupivacaine transversus abdominus plane (TAP)-blocks for abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) on opioids use is not clear. Methods A prospective, tertiary hernia center database of patients undergoing AWR before and after ERAS and operative TAP-blocks was matched in large ventral hernias. Results In 106 patients, non-TAP-block and TAP-block groups were comparable in mean BMI (p = 0.694), hernia defect size (p = 0.424), components separation (p = 0.610), complete fascial closure (p = 1.0), and panniculectomy (p = 1.0). The total morphine milligram equivalents (MME) used during hospitalization was reduced by 3-fold in the TAP-block group (p Conclusion ERAS and TAP-block in AWR leads to a decrease in mean opioid usage by 65% and decreased LOS by an average of 1 day.
There Was No IS-LM Enigma: Both Keynes’s IS-LM(LP) and D-Z Models of Chapters 20 and 21 Together Make Up Keynes’s General Theory

All of J .M .Keynes’s earlier 1933-1935 versions of his IS-LM(LP) model contained a serious inconsistency. These earlier models all incorporated both actual and expected outcomes in the same model. The units did not match up. Keynes solved this problem by himself by splitting off the D-Z model from the IS-LM(LP) model. The D-Z model incorporated an analysis of expected results, expectations, uncertainty, and confidence.The major result that Keynes made use of in his analysis of the D-Z model was the Aggregate Supply Curve, which is a locus of all possible, expected D=Z outcomes. Only one of these expected outcomes could actually occur. The one outcome that actually occurred was called Y. Keynes then combined the actual Aggregate Income or Demand, Y, with r, the nominal long run rate of interest, to form the IS-LM(LP) model. The misbelief that IS-LM(LP) had to incorporate expectations in order to actually represent what Keynes meant was a catastrophic error made by the Pseudo Keynesians-Joan Robinson, Austin Robinson, Richard Kahn, and Roy Harrod, as well as by the economics profession at large. Unfortunately, no other economist, except Hugh Townshend, had grasped the necessary connections that had to exist between the two models.