cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an American Indian population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although reports of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections without healthcare exposure are increasing, population-based data regarding nasal colonization are lacking. We assessed the prevalence of and risk factors for community-associated MRSA nasal carriage in patients of a rural outpatient clinic. DESIGN: A cross-sectional population survey was conducted through random sample and stratification by community of residence. Recent healthcare exposure (ie, hospitalization, dialysis, or healthcare occupation) and other risk factors for MRSA carriage were assessed. Cultures of the nares were performed. Community-associated MRSA was defined as MRSA carriage without healthcare exposure. SETTING: A predominantly American Indian community in Washington. PATIENTS: Those receiving healthcare from an Indian Health Service clinic. RESULTS: Of 1,311 individuals identified for study, 475 (36%) participated. Unsatisfactory culture specimens resulted in exclusion of 6 participants. In all, 128 (27.3%) of 469 participants had S. aureus. Nine (1.9%) of 469 had MRSA carriage; of these, 5 had community-associated MRSA (5 of 469; overall community-associated MRSA carriage rate, 1.1%). MRSA carriage was associated with antimicrobial use in the previous year (risk ratio [RR], 7.2; P = .04) and residence in a household of more than 7 individuals (RR, 4.5; P = .03). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis indicated that 5 (55%) of 9 MRSA carriage isolates were closely related, including 3 (60%) of 5 that were community associated. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of community-associated MRSA colonization was approximately 1% in this rural, American Indian population. Community-associated MRSA colonization was associated with recent antimicrobial use and larger household.
An eye movement analysis of multiple object tracking in a realistic environment

To study multiple object tracking under naturalistic conditions, observers tracked 1–4 sharks (9 in total) swimming throughout an underwater scene. Accuracy was high in the Track 1–3 conditions (>92%), but declined when tracking 4 targets (78%). Gaze analyses revealed a dependency between tracking strategy and target number. Observers tracking 2 targets kept their gaze on the target centroid rather than individual objects; observers tracking 4 targets switched their gaze back-and-forth between sharks. Using an oculomotor method for identifying targets lost during tracking, we confirmed that this strategy shift was real and not an artifact of centroid definition. Moreover, we found that tracking errors increased with gaze time on targets, and decreased with time spent looking at the centroid. Depending on tracking load, both centroid and target-switching strategies are used, with accuracy improving with reliance on centroid tracking. An index juggling hypothesis is advanced to explain the suboptimal tenden...
Feasible parameter space characterization with adaptive sparse grids for nonlinear systems biology models

Mathematical models are commonly used to interrogate and control biological systems. However, such models are often uncertain and sloppy, with multiple parameter sets equally capable of reproducing the experimental data. These features make systems biology models unreliable when used to support a model-based control strategy. Multi-scenario control can help account for this uncertainty, but a computationally feasible method for characterizing all data-consistent regions of the global parameter space is necessary. Herein, we propose a tool for multi-scenario control in which sparse grid-based optimization is paired with a grid focusing algorithm to characterize acceptable regions of the uncertain parameter space. The grid focusing algorithm is first demonstrated on a test function before being applied within a multi-scenario control framework to an uncertain model of cell differentiation. The results show the algorithm's ability to identify disparate low-cost regions of the parameter space and selectively increase the grid resolution in these areas to help determine appropriate model scenarios for the multi-scenario controller. While particularly relevant to biological systems, this approach is broadly applicable to the control of any uncertain system.
Treemaps for workload visualization

The author uses treemaps to present the state of work in a grid or other distributed computing environments, providing users with a view of overall performance and allowing performance analysts to explore data in a creative manner.
Effects of Seasonal Prescribed Fires on Residual Overstory Trees in Oak-Dominated Shelterwood Stands

A study was initiated in 1994 to evaluate the degree of bole damage and crown decline residual overstory trees would experience because of prescribed burning of shelterwood stands. Three oak-dominated shelterwood stands, partially harvested 2 to 4 yr earlier, were divided into four treatments (unburned control, spring burn, summer burn, and winter burn). Fifteen permanent sampling points were systematically located in each 5 to 12 ac treatment area, and overstory trees were selected from these points with a 10 BAF prism. Before burning, each tree was evaluated for lower bole and crown condition and reevaluated two growing seasons after the fires. Hickory, oak, and yellow-poplar were largely unaffected by the winter and summer prescribed fires but displayed bole damage and crown decline following spring burning. American beech and red maple declined after all fire treatments. Fire damage to oak, hickory, and yellow-poplar was strongly associated to presence of logging slash near a tree's base. Directional felling or moving slash should minimize injury to these trees. This research will aid resource managers wishing to use prescribed fire in shelterwood stands to favor oak regeneration while minimizing damage to residual overstory oaks. South. J. Appl. For. 23(2):88-93.
Poxvirus Proteomics and Virus-Host Protein Interactions

Studies of the functional proteins encoded by the poxvirus genome provide information about the composition of the virus as well as individual virus-virus protein and virus-host protein interactions, which provides insight into viral pathogenesis and drug discovery. Widely used proteomic techniques to identify and characterize specific protein-protein interactions include yeast two-hybrid studies and coimmunoprecipitations. Recently, various mass spectrometry techniques have been employed to identify viral protein components of larger complexes. These methods, combined with structural studies, can provide new information about the putative functions of viral proteins as well as insights into virus-host interaction dynamics. For viral proteins of unknown function, identification of either viral or host binding partners provides clues about their putative function. In this review, we discuss poxvirus proteomics, including the use of proteomic methodologies to identify viral components and virus-host protein interactions. High-throughput global protein expression studies using protein chip technology as well as new methods for validating putative protein-protein interactions are also discussed.
Nuclear Pulse Propulsion: Orion and Beyond

The race to the Moon dominated manned space Fight during the 1960's. and culminated in Project Apollo. which placed 12 humans on the Moon Unbeknownst to the public at that time, several U.S. Government agencies sponsored a project that could have conceivably, placed 150 people on the Moon and eventually sent crewed expeditions to Mars and the outer Planets. These feats could have possibly been accomplished during, the same period of time as Apollo. and for approximately the same cost. The project. code-named Orion. featured an extraordinary propulsion method known n as Nuclear Pulse The concept is probably as radical today as t was at the down of the space age. However its development appeared to he so promising that it was only by Political and non-technical considerations that it was not used to extend humanity reach throughout the solar system and quite possible to the stars. This paper discusses the rationale for nuclear pulse propulsion and presents a general history of the concept. focusing particularly on Project Orion. It describes some of the reexaminations being done in this area and discusses some of the new ideas that could mitigate many of the political and environmental issues associated with the concept.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Separation Systems

Abstract Separation systems mainly involve interfacial mass and heat transfer as well as mixing. Distillation is a major separation system by means of heat supplied from a higher temperature level at the reboiler and rejected in the condenser at a lower temperature level. Therefore, it resembles a heat engine producing a separation work with a rather low efficiency. Lost work (energy) in separation systems is due to irreversible processes of heat, mass transfer, and mixing, and is directly related to entropy production according to the Gouy‐Stodola principle. In many separation systems of absorption, desorption, extraction, and membrane separation, the major irreversibility is the mass transfer process. In the last 30 years or so, thermodynamic analysis had become popular in evaluating the efficiency of separation systems. Thermodynamic analysis emphasizes the use of the second law of thermodynamics beside the first law, and may be applied through (i) the pinch analysis, (ii) the exergy analysis, and (iii...
Inline Visualization of Concerns

Code modularization provides benefits throughout the software life cycle; however, the presence of crosscutting concerns (CCCs) in software hinders its complete modularization. This paper describes IVCon, a tool with a novel approach for completely modularizing CCCs. IVCon enables users to create, examine, and modify their code in two different views: the woven view and the unwoven view. The woven view displays program code in colors that indicate which CCCs various code segments implement. The unwoven view displays code in two panels, one showing the core of the program and the other showing all the code implementing each concern in an isolated module. IVCon aims to provide an easy-to-use interface for conveniently creating, examining, and modifying code in, and translating between, the woven and unwoven views.
NF-κB2/p52:c-Myc:hnRNPA1 Pathway Regulates Expression of Androgen Receptor Splice Variants and Enzalutamide Sensitivity in Prostate Cancer

Castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remains dependent on androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Alternative splicing of the AR to generate constitutively active, ligand-independent variants is one of the principal mechanisms that promote the development of resistance to next-generation anti-androgens such as enzalutamide. Here, we demonstrate that the splicing factor heterogeneous nuclear RNA-binding protein A1 (hnRNPA1) plays a pivotal role in the generation of AR splice variants such as AR-V7. HnRNPA1 is overexpressed in prostate tumors compared to benign prostates and its expression is regulated by NF-kappaB2/p52 and c-Myc. CRPC cells resistant to enzalutamide exhibit higher levels of NF-kappaB2/p52, c-Myc, hnRNPA1, and AR-V7. Levels of hnRNPA1 and of AR-V7 are positively correlated with each other in PCa. The regulatory circuit involving NF-kappaB2/p52, c-Myc and hnRNPA1 plays a central role in the generation of AR splice variants. Downregulation of hnRNPA1 and consequently of AR-V7 resensitizes enzalutamide-resistant cells to enzalutamide, indicating that enhanced expression of hnRNPA1 may confer resistance to AR-targeted therapies by promoting the generation of splice variants. These findings may provide a rationale for co-targeting these pathways to achieve better efficacy through AR blockade.
Traditional predictors of academic performance in a medical school's independent study program.

PURPOSE To provide predictive information as an initial screening device for admission decisions, generalizable to the population of students opting for the Independent Study Program (ISP) at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. METHOD A stepwise multiple-regression technique was used to generate predictor-criterion relationships. A priority code was developed as an applicant screening device. The code is a numeric value based on a combination of applicant grade-point average (GPA) and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores that provides a prediction of first-year performance in medical school. The study sample consisted of the 596 first-year students in the ISP track from 1980 through 1989. The measure of their academic performances was the average score on three National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) subject ("shelf") examinations in the basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry). RESULTS The largest multiple correlations were found between averaged scores on the NBME subject examinations and undergraduate GPAs (R = 34.20; F = 16.79; p = .0001) and scores on the MCAT Biology Knowledge (R = 13.24; F = 47.64; p = .0001), MCAT Chemistry Knowledge (R = 7.86; F = 17.39; p = .0001), and MCAT Skills Analysis: Quantitative (R = 1.39; F = 3.93; p = .0479). CONCLUSION The predictive value of traditional predictors of preclinical academic performance was established for the nontraditional program at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Admission officers at other schools may find the priority code helpful as a sorting tool. It may further serve as an "early warning" system for students with marginal academic preparation.
Las reformas de salud neoliberales en América Latina: una visión crítica a través de dos estudios de caso

Neoliberal reforms have promoted privatization and decentralization as strategies to improve equity, efficiency, and the quality of health services. In this piece the impact of these reforms in Latin America is critically analyzed, and the impacts of privatization in Colombia and of decentralization in Mexico are detailed. These two cases show that after 10 years of privatization in Colombia and 20 years of decentralization in Mexico the reforms have had the opposite of the desired effect: They have not improved equity, have increased health expenditures, have not increased efficiency, and have not shown a positive impact on quality. Public health programs in Colombia have deteriorated, while decentralization in Mexico has had a very high cost, without achieving the proposed objectives. It is officially accepted that decentralization in Mexico has increased inequity, and that new reforms implemented in 2003 promote vertical programs. Health systems based on regulated competition are not the most suitable ones for Latin America. Latin American countries should improve their health systems in line with the principles stated in the Declaration of Alma Ata and according to their own national experiences.
Merger Premia and National Differences in Accounting for Goodwill

We examine the effects of international accounting diversity on the market for corporate control with particular reference to whether national differences in the treatment of purchased goodwill are associated with differences in premia offered by U.K. as opposed to U.S. acquirers of U.S. targets. We find merger premia associated with U.K. acquisitions to be consistently higher than those for U.S. acquisitions. Moreover, higher premiums offered by U.K. acquirors appear to be associated with not having to amortize goodwill to earnings. The evidence provided here suggests that national differences in accounting impact differentially on managerial behavior.
The Marginal and Average Propensities to Consume

I. The weakness of existing theories, 83. — II. An alternative theoretical model, 85. — III. Synthesis and a comparison with the facts, 91.
FOSSIL LEMMISCUS CURTATUS (RODENTIA, ARVICOLINAE) FROM HAGERMAN FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, IDAHO

Abstract We describe molars that represent the 1st fossils of Lemmiscus curtatus from Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (HAFO), Idaho. This species figures prominently in the biochronology of North American terrestrial deposits, so the possible ages of these records are discussed in detail. Most fossils from HAFO are from the middle Blancan (middle Pliocene), but these molars are likely from the Pleistocene or Holocene epoch, which is consistent with the temporal distribution of L. curtatus elsewhere.
Dynamic exercise training prevents exercise pressor reflex overactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The study demonstrates that the exercise pressor reflex overactivity manifest in hypertension is attenuated by dynamic exercise training. Moreover, training normalizes the dysfunction of the mechan...
EDA III: Advanced Graphics

In this chapter, we show several methods for increasing the usability and aesthetic quality of graphics in R. Random number generators and color spaces are also introduced as tools for creating quality graphics.
Medical Therapy for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is pulmonary hypertension (PH) secondary to chronic emboli, obstructing the pulmonary arteries. This results in increased pulmonary vascular re...
Stimulation of Escherichia coli adenylate cyclase by lactose in strains carrying mutations in lactose permease.

When a wild-type strain ofEscherichia coli contains lactose permease, the accumulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) by intact cells isinhibited by lactose. This inhibitory effect of lactose is observed in a strain with a mutant cAMP phosphodiesterase and therefore involves a regulation of adenylate cyctase activity. Some E. coli strains carrying mutations in lactose permease show an effect opposite to that of the wild-type strain; the accumulation of cAMP by intact cells isstimulated by lactose, but only when the mutant permease is present. Insertion of lactose permease into the membrane of ceils can produce a change in the specific activity of adenylate cycIase; induction of the wild-type transporter is correlated with a decrease in the specific activity, while implantation of a mutant form of lactose permease can lead to an increase in the specific activity. From these data, it is suggested that the state of the lactose transporter in the cell membrane influences the activity of adenytate cyclase.
A Quantitative Assessment of Microbiological Contributions to Corrosion of Candidate Nuclear Waste Package Materials

The U.S. Department of Energy is contributing to the design of a potential nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. A system to predict the contribution of Yucca Mountain (YM) bacteria to overall corrosion rates of candidate waste package (WP) materials was designed and implemented. DC linear polarization resistance techniques were applied to candidate material coupons that had been inoculated with a mixture of YM-derived bacteria with potentially corrosive activities, or left sterile. Inoculated bacteria caused a 5- to 6-fold increase in corrosion rate of carbon steel C 1020 (to approximately 7-8μm/yr), and an almost 100-fold increase in corrosion rate of Alloy 400 (to approximately μm/yr) was observed due to microbiological activities. Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) rates on more resistant materials (CRMs: Alloy 625, Type 304 Stainless Steel, and Alloy C22) were on the order of hundredths of micrometers per year (μm/yr). Bulk chemical and surfacial endpoint analyses of spent media and coupon surfaces showed preferential dissolution of nickel from Alloy 400 coupons and depletion of chromium from CRMs after incubation with YM bacteria. Scanning electron microscopy also showed greater damage to the Alloy 400 surface than that indicated by electrochemical detection methods.
Lego-based Case Studies for Teaching Software Engineering Concepts throughout the Curriculum (Abstract Only)

Lego Serious Play (LSP) is an experiential and highly creative process designed to facilitate strategic planning, team building, and problem solving using Lego bricks. In the LSP methodology, team members use their intelligence both as individuals and as a group to build simple models representing various concepts in response to a question posed by the faculty facilitator. Discussing the models helps students communicate valuable aspects of their own understanding and interpretation of the problem at hand, explore the team dynamics, and reduce the complexity of many projects. This workshop is intended for faculty interested in teaching undergraduate and graduate software engineering and related courses. This workshop will also benefit all other faculty (including high school teachers) looking for ways to supplement their course material with engaging and playful hands-on activities aimed to strengthen the teamwork, oral communication, problem solving, and design skills of students. LSP-based hands-on activities discussed during the workshop focus on a single software engineering topic including requirements engineering, architectural design, software testing, software dependability, project planning and management, design patterns, etc.Workshop participants will learn the basic principles of LSP and participate in two hands-on activities illustrating how LSP can be used to teach software engineering concepts in an engaging context. Participants will receive the necessary Lego kits, which they can keep after the workshop. Laptop is not required for this workshop.This work is supported in part by a 2015 ACM SIGCSE Special Project grant. More information at http://www.cs.ccsu.edu/~stan/sigcse2016/.
Allosteric activation and contrasting properties of L-serine dehydratase types 1 and 2.

Bacterial l-serine dehydratases differ from mammalian l- and d-serine dehydratases and bacterial d-serine dehydratases by the presence of an iron–sulfur center rather than a pyridoxyl phosphate prosthetic group. They exist in two forms, types 1 and 2, distinguished by their sequence and oligomeric configuration. Both types contain an ASB domain, and the type 1 enzymes also contain an ACT domain in a tandem arrangement with the ASB domain like that in type 1 d-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenases (PGDHs). This investigation reveals striking kinetic differences between l-serine dehydratases from Bacillus subtilis (bsLSD, type 1) and Legionella pneumophila (lpLSD, type 2). lpLSD is activated by monovalent cations and inhibited by monovalent anions. bsLSD is strongly activated by cations, particularly potassium, and shows a mixed response to anions. Flouride is a competitive inhibitor for lpLSD but an apparent activator for bsLSD at low concentrations and an inhibitor at high concentrations. The reaction product...
The cost of preventable comorbidities on wound complications in open ventral hernia repair.

Abstract Background Patients with complex ventral hernias may benefit from preoperative optimization. This study evaluates the financial impact of preventable comorbidities (PCM) in elective open ventral hernia repair. Methods In this single institution prospectively collected data from 2007-2011, hospital charges (included all hernia-related visits, interventions, or readmissions) and wound-related complications in patients with PCM—diabetes, tobacco use, and obesity—were compared to patients without such risks using standard statistical methods. Results Within the study period, there were 118 patients with no PCM; of those, 33 had complications, and 85 did not. In the 131 patients with two or more PCM, 81 had complications; 89 of 251 patients had complications in the group with only 1 PCM; groups with PCM were significantly more likely to have complications compared to the no PCM group (62% versus 35.4% versus 28%, P 2 (interquartile range, 50-283 cm 2 ). Body mass index was higher in PCM group with complications than in PCM without complications (40 versus 36 kg/m 2 , P P = 0.038). Hospital charges in those with PCM without complications compared to no PCM with complications were equivalent ($65,453 versus $55,444, P = 0.55). Even when no complications occurred, patients with PCM incurred higher charges than No PCM for inpatient ($61,269 versus $31,236, P versus $552, P versus $31,788, P ≤ 0.001). Those patients without complications but with a single PCM incurred larger charges than those with no PCM during follow-up ($3578 versus $552, P = 0.04), but there was no difference in hospital or overall total charges ( P > 0.05). Interestingly, patients without complications, both hospital ($38,333 versus $61,269, P = 0.02) and total charges ($41,911 versus $65,453, P = 0.01) were increased for patients with 2+ PCM compared to those with only a single PCM. If complications occurred, no difference between the single PCM group compared to the two or more PCM groups existed for hospital, follow-up, or overall charges ( P > 0.05). Conclusions Patients with PCM undergoing open ventral hernia repair are more likely to have complications than patients without comorbidities. Patients with PCM generate higher hospital charges than those without PCM even when no complications occur; furthermore, the more PCM, the patient has the more significant the impact. Interestingly, patients with multiple PCM and no complications had equivalent hospital costs compared to patients with no PCM and with complications. Aggressive risk reduction may translate into significant savings. Preoperative preparation of patients before elective surgery is indicated.
Big-Data Tensor Recovery for High-Dimensional Uncertainty Quantification of Process Variations

Fabrication process variations are a major source of yield degradation in the nanoscale design of integrated circuits (ICs), microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs), and photonic circuits. Stochastic spectral methods are a promising technique to quantify the uncertainties caused by process variations. Despite their superior efficiency over Monte Carlo for many design cases, stochastic spectral methods suffer from the curse of dimensionality, i.e., their computational cost grows very fast as the number of random parameters increases. In order to solve this challenging problem, this paper presents a high-dimensional uncertainty quantification algorithm from a big data perspective. Specifically, we show that the huge number of (e.g., $1.5 \times 10^{27}$ ) simulation samples in standard stochastic collocation can be reduced to a very small one (e.g., 500) by exploiting some hidden structures of a high-dimensional data array. This idea is formulated as a tensor recovery problem with sparse and low-rank constraints, and it is solved with an alternating minimization approach. The numerical results show that our approach can efficiently simulate some IC, MEMS, and photonic problems with over 50 independent random parameters, whereas the traditional algorithm can only deal with a small number of random parameters.
The Consequences of Ignoring Item Parameter Drift in Longitudinal Item Response Models

ABSTRACTUtilizing a longitudinal item response model, this study investigated the effect of item parameter drift (IPD) on item parameters and person scores via a Monte Carlo study. Item parameter recovery was investigated for various IPD patterns in terms of bias and root mean-square error (RMSE), and percentage of time the 95% confidence interval covered the true parameter. The simulation results suggest that item parameters were not recovered well when IPD was ignored, especially if there was a larger number of IPD conditions. In addition, coverage was not accurate in all IPD conditions when IPD is ignored. Also, the results suggest that the accuracy of person scores (measured by bias) is potentially problematic when the larger number of IPD items is ignored. However, the overall accuracy (measured by RMSE) and coverage were unexpectedly acceptable in the presence of IPD as defined in this study.
Mechanism and Stereochemistry of Polyketide Chain Elongation and Methyl Group Epimerization in Polyether Biosynthesis

The polyketide synthases responsible for the biosynthesis of the polyether antibiotics nanchangmycin (1) and salinomycin (4) harbor a number of redox-inactive ketoreductase (KR0) domains that are implicated in the generation of C2-epimerized (2S)-2-methyl-3-ketoacyl-ACP intermediates. Evidence that the natural substrate for the polyether KR0 domains is, as predicted, a (2R)-2-methyl-3-ketoacyl-ACP intermediate, came from a newly developed coupled ketosynthase (KS)-ketoreductase (KR) assay that established that the decarboxylative condensation of methylmalonyl-CoA with S-propionyl-N-acetylcysteamine catalyzed by the Nan[KS1][AT1] didomain from module 1 of the nanchangmycin synthase generates exclusively the corresponding (2R)-2-methyl-3-ketopentanoyl-ACP (7a) product. In tandem equilibrium isotope exchange experiments, incubation of [2-2H]-(2R,3S)-2-methyl-3-hydroxypentanoyl-ACP (6a) with redox-active, epimerase-inactive EryKR6 from module 6 of the 6-deoxyerythronolide B synthase and catalytic quantities o...
Part-Time Faculty Involvement in Decision-Making

ABSTRACTDrawing from a survey of 1,239 part-time community college faculty, this analysis investigates their views about being involved in departmental and campus-wide decision-making. The adjuncts had somewhat of a voice in instructional decisions pertaining to their area of expertise, but virtually no involvement in personnel or broader organizational matters. In all domains, they expressed desire to have a stronger voice. However, they also noted barriers to inclusion of part-time faculty in decision-making, including schedule constraints, compensation, and respect from their full-time counterparts.
Enantioselective Hydrogen Atom Transfer: Discovery of Catalytic Promiscuity in Flavin-Dependent ‘Ene’-Reductases

Flavin has long been known to function as a single electron reductant in biological settings, but this reactivity has rarely been observed with flavoproteins used in organic synthesis. Here we describe the discovery of an enantioselective radical dehalogenation pathway for α-bromoesters using flavin-dependent ‘ene’-reductases. Mechanistic experiments support the role of flavin hydroquinone as a single electron reductant, flavin semiquinone as the hydrogen atom source, and the enzyme as the source of chirality.
The determinants of portfolio investment in offshore financial centers

Abstract An offshore financial center (OFC) is generally defined as a jurisdiction in which the financial sector is disproportionately larger than the domestic economy. We examine what national level push factors determine a country's investment in OFCs using a panel data set covering 78 source countries investing in over 200 foreign jurisdictions. OFCs are defined using an existing method based on institutional characteristics and fiscal policies as well as with a novel data-driven method based on actual financial positions relative to GDP. We find that OFC investment is driven by various aspects of low profitability in the source country. Source country factors such as inefficient labor markets, weak infrastructure, and competitive markets drive investments toward OFCs. These factors have an even larger impact on OFC investment than corporate tax rates in the source country. This suggests that a country seeking to reduce utilization of OFC's should focus on policies like improving domestic infrastructure and the efficiency of labor markets.
Before Mestizaje : The Frontiers of Race and Caste in Colonial Mexico

This book opens new dimensions on race in Latin America by examining the extreme caste groups of colonial Mexico. In tracing their experiences, a broader understanding of the connection between mestizaje (Latin America's modern ideology of racial mixture) and the colonial caste system is rendered. Before mestizaje emerged as a primary concept in Latin America, an earlier precursor existed that must be taken seriously. This colonial form of racial hybridity, encased in an elastic caste system, allowed some people to live through multiple racial lives. Hence, the great fusion of races that swept Latin America and defined its modernity, carries an important corollary. Mestizaje, when viewed at its roots, is not just about mixture, but also about dissecting and reconnecting lives. Such experiences may have carved a special ability for some Latin American populations to reach across racial groups to relate with and understand multiple racial perspectives. This overlooked, deep history of mestizaje is a legacy that can be built upon in modern times.
Molecular, Neuronal, and Behavioral Effects of Ethanol and Nicotine Interactions

Ethanol and nicotine can modulate the activity of several neurotransmitter systems and signalling pathways. Interactions between ethanol and nicotine can also occur via common molecular targets including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These effects can induce molecular and synaptic adaptations that over time, are consolidated in brain circuits that reinforce drug-seeking behavior, contribute to the development of withdrawal symptoms during abstinence and increase the susceptibility to relapse. This chapter will discuss the acute and chronic effects of ethanol and nicotine within the mesolimbic reward pathway and brain circuits involved in learning, memory, and withdrawal. Individual and common molecular targets of ethanol and nicotine within these circuits are also discussed. Finally, we review studies that have identified potential molecular and neuronal processes underlying the high incidence of ethanol and nicotine co-use that may contribute to the development of ethanol and nicotine co-addiction.
Bioinspired materials and systems for neural interfacing

Abstract Brain-implanted devices have a number of applications with significant potential. Widespread adoption hinges on the ability to produce an interface that can engage with neural tissue over long periods of time. Biomimetic approaches can help camouflage implants by altering their characteristics to better reflect the neural environment, which may promote an attenuated inflammatory response, improving integration into native tissue, and ultimately improve device performance. Additionally, as new neural interfacing technologies are developed, unexpected challenges can arise, requiring novel tools to enable their implementation. Unlikely inspiration from the mechanically-dynamic sea-cucumber-dermis, mechanism of a mosquito bite, squid beak mechanics, and the woodpecker's dynamic control of intracranial pressure represent some of the exciting bioinspired systems that may lead to unique solutions to recent challenges in neural interfacing.
AmpliTaq DNA Polymerase, FS Dye-Terminator Sequencing: Analysis of Peak Height Patterns

Taq DNA polymerases in which the phenylalanine is substituted by a tyrosine at position 667 (Taq F667Y) are members of a new class of DNA polymerases that incorporate chain-terminating dideoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (ddNTPs) much more efficiently than the wild-type Taq DNA polymerase. Improved incorporation of ddNTPs into DNA during cycle sequencing using AmpliTaq DNA polymerase, FS (Taq-FS, a member of the Taq F667Y family), and dye-labeled primers results in nearly uniform peak heights in the sequencing trace. This is not the case when dye-labeled ddNTPs are used in Taq-FS cycle sequencing reactions. While the rate of dye-terminator incorporation is more efficient with Taq-FS, the peak pattern is still highly variable and different from that produced by the wild-type enzyme. We have systematically examined pairs of sequence-tagged sites that vary at only a single nucleotide to determine how base changes influence the peak heights of neighboring bases in sequencing traces generated by the Taq-FS dye-terminator chemistry. In 31 of 64 possible 3-base windows (48%), we find that the peak height of a particular base can be predicted by knowing just one or two bases 5' to the base in question. We have also compared and contrasted the peak patterns produced by the Taq-FS enzyme with those previously identified for the wild-type enzyme. Establishing the patterns in peak heights within local sequence contexts can improve the accuracy of base-calling and the identification of polymorphisms/mutations when using the Taq-FS dye-terminator cycle-sequencing chemistry.
Robust Nonlinear PI Control

Thus far we have represented system uncertainty by a disturbance input w allowed to have an arbitrarily fast time variation. Its only constraint was the pointwise condition w ∈ W where W was some known set possibly depending on the state x and control u. We now address a more specific situation in which our system contains some uncertain nonlinearity φ(x). Suppose that all we know about φ is a set-valued map Φ(x) such that φ(x) ∈ Φ(x) for all x ∈ χ. We could assign w ≔ φ(x) and W(x) ≔ Φ(x) and proceed as in Chapters 3–6, but we would be throwing away a crucial piece of information about the uncertainty φ, namely, that φ(x) does not explicitly depend on time t. Our goal in this chapter is to illustrate how we can take advantage of this additional information to design less conservative robust controllers.
Interstitial brachytherapy of malignant gliomas: the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center experience.

Malignant gliomas remain incurable primary brain tumors despite the dedicated efforts over many decades of hundreds of clinical scientists worldwide. Any new procedure that offers a rationale for better tumor control is seized upon and applied in the hope that theory can be translated into practice, and that treatment can be translated into longer survival. One of these new techniques is interstitial brachytherapy, the stereotactic implantation of radioactive seeds directly into the tumor. In Europe this technique has been most widely applied to the treatment of low-grade gliomas, as discussed by Dr. Ostertag at this symposium. In North America the emphasis during the past 10 years has been on the application of this method to the treatment of malignant gliomas. In 1990 at least 50 institutions in North America were licensed by the manufacturer of 125I seeds to treat patients with brain tumors. This chapter reviews the experience with interstitial brachytherapy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center since 1986.
Role of Clinical and Imaging Risk Factors in Predicting Breast Cancer Diagnosis Among BI-RADS 4 Cases.

Abstract Purpose To analyze women with suspicious findings (assessed as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System [BI-RADS] 4), examining the value of clinical and imaging predictors in predicting cancer diagnosis. Patients and Methods A set of 2138 examinations (1978 women) given a BI-RADS 4 with matching pathology results were analyzed. Predictors such as patient demographics, clinical risk factors, and imaging-derived features such as BI-RADS assessment and qualitative breast density were considered. Independent predictors of breast cancer were determined by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Results In univariate analysis, age, race, body mass index, age at first live birth, BI-RADS assessment, qualitative breast density, and risk triggers were found to be independent predictors. In multivariate analysis, age, BI-RADS score, breast density, race, presence of a lump, and number of risk triggers were the most predictive. An integrative logistic regression model achieved a performance of 0.84 cross-validated area under the curve. No variable was a constant independent predictor when stratifying the population on the basis of the BI-RADS score. Conclusion While BI-RADS assessment remains the strongest predictor of breast cancer, the inclusion of clinical risk factors such as age, breast density, presence of a lump, and number of risk triggers derived from guidelines improves the specificity of identifying individuals with imaging descriptors associated with BI-RADS 4A and 4B that are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Comparison of physicians, nurses' and patients' assessment of overall symptom burden.

e18123Background: In cancer clinical trials, the safety of new drugs are conventionally assessed using outcomes obtained from clinicians. Recently, there has been a growing interest to incorporate ...
Women: Better White than Male

America is a patriarchal culture, wherein women have been traditional second-class citizens. As a result, all women regardless of race, class, or immigrant status are members of an oppressed victim-group population. That membership defines women as a victimized out-group minority, whose quality of life is contingent upon and directed for the most part by men. In the development of policy, law, and overall behavior, men act foremost in the best interest of other men, generally at the expense of women. However, the implications of victim-group discrimination regarding race by skin color are no less dramatic for women than within the so-called races. As a nation dominated by European.
Among Adolescents, BDNF and Pro-BDNF Lasting Changes with Alcohol Use Are Stage Specific.

Adolescent alcohol use demonstrates distinct developmental trajectories with dissimilar times of onset and trajectories. Given the importance of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mature BDNF) in this development stage, the current study investigated its relationship with alcohol use. It also extends the literature by assessing the role of its precursor (pro-BDNF). Therefore, over the span of 5 years, we enrolled and followed participants to define age-related changes in BDNF levels in healthy adolescents. Then, the onset and frequency of alcohol use from ages 11 to 18 were collected to determine how the relationship between alcohol, pro-BDNF, and m-BDNF unfolds over time. With respect to development, analyses demonstrated that BDNF concentration slowly increases throughout adolescence. However, despite having similar basal BDNF levels, compared to controls, adolescents that started drinking before 15 years of age always exhibited lower BDNF levels. They also had a significant decrease in pro-BDNF levels. On the other hand, levels of mature BDNF steadily increased ( ) in those starting alcohol use after the age of 15. Similar to the younger users, a significant drop in pro-BDNF levels was observed over the course of the study. Our results suggested that both pathways may participate in the complex processes of alcohol dependence. The findings highlight the relevance of assessing alcohol-associated changes across the different phases of this vulnerable developmental period. This is the first study evidencing that m-BDNF changes associated with drinking behaviors differed between young and older adolescents. It is also the first article, documenting that drinking during adolescence leads to long-term decreases in pro-BDNF. These results have important implications for policies and programs targeting alcohol use disorders.
Impact of deprescribing AChEIs on aggressive behaviors and antipsychotic prescribing.

INTRODUCTION We evaluated the impact of deprescribing acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) on aggressive behaviors and incident antipsychotic use in nursing home (NH) residents with severe dementia. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of Medicare claims, Part D, Minimum Data Set for NH residents aged 65+ with severe dementia receiving AChEIs in 2016. Aggressive behaviors were measured using the aggressive behavior scale (ABS; n = 30,788). Incident antipsychotic prescriptions were evaluated among antipsychotic non-users (n = 25,188). Marginal structural models and inverse probability of treatment weights were used to evaluate associations of AChEI deprescribing and outcomes. RESULTS The severity of aggressive behaviors was low at baseline (mean ABS = 0.5) and was not associated with deprescribing AChEIs (0.002 increase in ABS, P = .90). Incident antipsychotic prescribing occurred in 5.1% of residents and was less likely with AChEI deprescribing (adjusted odds ratio = 0.52 [0.40-0.68], P <.001]). DISCUSSION Deprescribing AChEIs was not associated with a worsening of aggressive behaviors or incident antipsychotic prescriptions.
Chronic Arterial Ischemia of the Upper Extremity: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Surgical Management

Chronic ischemia of the upper extremity reflects progression of occlusive disease, vasos-pastic disease, or both—vaso-occlusive disease. In contrast to the lower extremity, vasospastic disease is more common and critical in the upper extremity. Although less common in the upper extremity, atherosclerotic disease is functionally more problematic.
Relevance of Electrical Light on Circadian, Neuroendocrine, and Neurobehavioral Regulation in Laboratory Animal Facilities

Light is a key extrinsic factor to be considered in operations and design of animal room facilities. Over the past four decades, many studies on typical laboratory animal populations have demonstrated impacts on neuroendocrine, neurobehavioral, and circadian physiology. These effects are regulated independently from the defined physiology for the visual system. The range of physiological responses that oscillate with the 24 hour rhythm of the day include sleep and wakefulness, body temperature, hormonal secretion, and a wide range of other physiological parameters. Melatonin has been the chief neuroendocrine hormone studied, but acute light-induced effects on corticosterone as well as other hormones have also been observed. Within the last two decades, a new photosensory system in the mammalian eye has been discovered. A small set of retinal ganglion cells, previously thought to function as a visual output neuron, have been shown to be directly photosensitive and act differently from the classic photoreceptors of the visual system. Understanding the effects of light on mammalian physiology and behavior must take into account how the classical visual photoreceptors and the newly discovered ipRGC photoreceptor systems interact. Scientists and facility managers need to appreciate lighting impacts on circadian, neuroendocrine, and neurobehavioral regulation in order to improve lighting of laboratory facilities to foster optimum health and well-being of animals.
Time-resolved imaging of settling mineral dust aerosols with digital holography

A method is described to approximate the 3D form and distribution of mineral dust (MD) aerosol particles based on digital in-line holographic imaging. The concept involves constructing a 3D geometrical hull of a particle defined by image-perimeter curves from a sequence of 2D images. Measuring holograms every ten milliseconds results in a video revealing the flow of the MD particles in 3D. Examples of two MD samples of different mean particle-size are presented.
Extracting Shallow-Water Bathymetry from Lidar Point Clouds Using Pulse Attribute Data: Merging Density-Based and Machine Learning Approaches

To automate extraction of bathymetric soundings from lidar point clouds, two machine learning (ML1) techniques were combined with a more conventional density-based algorithm. The study area was fou...
Truly Smart Growth

Editors Note: The following articles by Professor Mills and Ed LeClear, a Cornell graduate student, both address a very contentious issue currently in debate among real estate developers, planners, and governments: Smart Growth and Suburban Sprawl. In the Graduate Program in Real Estate at Cornell, every student Is tasked with completing two major project developments, one in the first year, and the other in the second. This years first year students planned a development on 858 acres in Pennsylvania. An undercurrent of discussion among the students was whether this relatively large property in a basically rural environment should be developed or if the development of it simply contributed to more sprawl. This question was made more poignant by the fact that the city of Philadelphia, was the only major city in the country to experience a decline in population during the 90's, as more and more individuals moved to the inner and outer suburbs consequently expanding suburban development boundaries. Professor Mills' article addresses this very issue in the first article from a decided viewpoint. Ed LeClear presents a different perspective on the issue. We encourage you to respond.