cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Induces the ATM and H2AX DNA Damage Response Early during De Novo Infection of Primary Endothelial Cells, Which Play Roles in Latency Establishment

ABSTRACT The DNA damage response (DDR) that evolved to repair host cell DNA damage also recognizes viral DNA entering the nucleus during infections. Here, we investigated the modulation of DDR signaling during de novo infection of primary endothelial cells by Kaposi9s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Phosphorylation of representative DDR-associated proteins, such as ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and H2AX, was induced as early as 30 min (0.5 h) postinfection and persisted during in vitro KSHV latency. Phosphorylated H2AX (γH2AX) colocalized at 30 min (0.5 h) with the KSHV genome entering the nuclei. Total H2AX protein levels also increased, and the increase was attributed to a decrease in degradative H2AX Lys48-linked polyubiquitination with a concomitant increase in Lys63-linked polyubiquitination that was shown to increase protein stability. ATM and H2AX phosphorylation and γH2AX nuclear foci were also induced by UV-inactivated KSHV, which ceased at later times of infection. Inhibition of ATM kinase activity by KU-55933 and H2AX knockdown by small interfering RNA significantly reduced the expression of the KSHV latency-associated nuclear antigen 1 (LANA-1; ORF73) and LANA-1 nuclear puncta. Knockdown of H2AX also resulted in a >80% reduction in the nuclear KSHV DNA copy numbers. Similar results were also observed in ATM-negative cells, although comparable levels of viral DNA entered ATM-negative and ATM-positive cell nuclei. In contrast, knockdown of CHK1 and CHK2 did not affect ORF73 expression. Collectively, these results demonstrate that KSHV induces ATM and H2AX, a selective arm of the DDR, for the establishment and maintenance of its latency during de novo infection of primary endothelial cells. IMPORTANCE Eukaryotic cells mount a DNA damage response (DDR) to sense and repair different types of cellular DNA damage. In addition, DDR also recognizes exogenous genetic material, such as the viral DNA genome entering the nucleus during infections. The present study was undertaken to determine whether de novo Kaposi9s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection modulates DDR. Our results demonstrate that early during de novo infection of primary endothelial cells, KSHV induces a selective arm of DDR signaling, such as the ATM kinase and its downstream target, H2AX, which are essential for KSHV9s latent gene expression and the establishment of latency. These studies suggest that targeting ATM and H2AX could serve as an attractive strategy to block the establishment of KSHV latent infection and the associated malignancies.
Approach and treatment of the adult acquired flatfoot deformity

Adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD), embraces a wide spectrum of deformities. AAFD is a complex pathology consisting both of posterior tibial tendon insufficiency and failure of the capsular and ligamentous structures of the foot. Each patient presents with characteristic deformities across the involved joints, requiring individualized treatment. Early stages may respond well to aggressive conservative management, yet more severe AAFD necessitates prompt surgical therapy to halt the progression of the disease to stages requiring more complex procedures. We present the most current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to AAFD, based on the most pertinent literature and our own experience and investigations.
Amores 2.1.7–8: a programmatic allusion by anagram

Ovid begins his overtly programmatic Amores 2.1 with the claim that Cupid, who had previously interfered with the poet's attempt to write an epic (1.1), has once again ordered him to reject epic subjects (this time, a Gigantomachia) and to compose a book of decadent love-elegies instead. Faced with this new task, the poet dutifully proceeds to warn that his elegiac verses are not suitable for the prudish but hopes that they will be read by lovers. Among the prospective readers are young men who, like Ovid himself, have been shot by Cupid's arrow:
An Iterative Filtering Technique for the Analysis of Copolar Differential Phase and Dual-Frequency Radar Measurements

Abstract Copolar differential phase is composed of two components, namely, differential propagation phase and differential backscatter phase. To estimate specific differential phase KDP, these two phase components must first be separated when significant differential backscatter phase is present. This paper presents an iterative range filtering technique that can separate these phase components under a wider variety of conditions than is possible with a simple range filter. This technique may also be used when estimating hail signals from range profiles of dual-frequency reflectivity ratios.
Functional significance of regular archaeocyathan central cavity diameter; a biomechanical and paleoecological test

Theoretical and experimental biomechanical approaches are used to test the effect regular archaeocyathan central cavity diameter has on the generation of passive flow through the skeleton. These results are then used to predict a correspondence between gross morphology and paleoen- vironmental occurrence. Previous work has demonstrated that regular archaeocyathan morphology generates passive flow, via Bernoulli and viscous entrainment effects, through its porous walls for suspension feeding, a phenomenon that occurs in modern sponges. Efficacy of entrainment depends upon the area of the excurrent pore (i.e., central cavity) over which the ambient flow is moving. Consequently, archaeocyaths should have maximized their central cavity diameters. Five-centimeter-long, conical and cylindrical acrylic pipes with varying end diameters were tested in a flume to document the relative effects of Bernoulli and viscous entrainment. Each pipe was oriented perpendicular to the flow direction in a uniform flow field, and fluorescein dye was injected at the pipe's mid-length for flow visualization. Models with different-sized apertures consistently exhibit dye movement to the larger opening and greater dye entrainment speeds than models with identically sized apertures, thereby suggesting that viscous entrainment effects are significant and operating in concert with Bernoulli effects. To test for similar effects in archaeocyaths, four brass models were constructed with varying central cavity diameters. Both volume flux and excurrent flow speed of the exiting water increased as the central cavity diameter increased. An analysis of the morphologies that occur in nature confirm these results. Regular archaeocyaths most commonly have central cavity diameters close to their outer wall diameter, thereby maximizing the excurrent pore area. These results have implications for archaeocyathan paleoecology. Environments with low-mag- nitude currents should support individuals with larger central cavity diameters than higher energy settings. Data on the occurrence of morphotypes within bioherms of varying flow energies from South Australia support this prediction.
Recent progress in the chemotherapy of schistosomiasis.

In 1851, Theodor Bilharz [1] found schistosome worms during an autopsy examination of an Egyptian peasant. This investigator is generally credited with being the discoverer of the disease, schistosomiasis, which in some areas is called bilharziasis in honor of the discoverer. It was not until 50 years later that the complete life cycle of the schistosome was finally worked out. Eggs from infected patients are excreted either in the urine or faeces, depending on the type of infection, and passed into fresh waters wherein a suitable snail population exists. The eggs hatch into miracidia which enter the snail and undergo a series of transformations in this vector, finally emerging as free- swimming, arrow-shaped cercariae. These penetrate the skin of humans with whom they come in contact and enter the blood stream. The cercariae lose their tails and then undergo a new series of transformations in the pulmonary and intrahepatic portal veins before emerging as sexually mature parasites. In the case of S. haemotobium the worms which mature in 10–12 weeks, inhabit the vesicular and venous plexus of the venous circulation near the bladder and discharge their eggs into that organ.
Ontogenic changes in renal response to alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation in sheep

The present study was designed to examine the effect of direct intrarenal infusion of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine, on urinary flow rate (UFR) and on renal Na and Cl excretion in conscious and chronically instrumented fetal (128-133 days gestation, term 145 days), newborn (6-12 days), and adult sheep. Five different renal concentrations of phenylephrine, varying from 5 +/- 1 to 72 +/- 2 ng/ml, were studied. Low renal phenylephrine concentration (< or = 12 +/- 1 ng/ml) induced a significant renal vasoconstrictor response in fetuses but not in newborn and adult sheep. The effects of intrarenal phenylephrine infusion on UFR and fractional excretion of Na (FENa) was greater (P < 0.05) in newborn lambs than in fetal and adult sheep. At a renal concentration of phenylephrine between 9 +/- 1 and 12 +/- 1 ng/ml, the percent decrease in UFR was greater (P < 0.05) in newborn lambs (-19.1 +/- 4.7%) than in fetal (9.8 +/- 8.9%) and adult sheep (-3.3 +/- 3.9). The percent decrease in FENa at renal concentration of phenylephrine between 18 +/- 1 and 24 +/- 1 ng/ml was also significantly (P < 0.05) larger in newborn lambs (-20.2 +/- 2.8%) than in fetal (-8.0 +/- 3.1%) and adult sheep (-11.2 +/- 2.6%). In summary, the present results indicate that the fetal kidney has a limited ability to increase sodium reabsorption in response to stimulation of alpha-adrenoceptors and that the effect of renal alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation on urinary volume and urinary sodium excretion increases during the newborn period.
Water Resources Planning—Historical Development

Water resources planning in the United States had its origin in efforts to improve waterways for navigation. Early planning was accomplished by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in connection with the construction of projects. Growth and development of the country led to a proliferation of government agencies involved in water resources, and the planning process gradually increased in complexity. The “New Deal” in the 1930’s resulted in increasing centralization of planning, but in the 1960’s an effort was made to regionalize the planning process. Various committees and commissions have made recommendations for improvement of the planning process, and the planning techniques continue to evolve. The point has now been reached where many years of planning are required before a project can be developed to meet a perceived demand for water or water-related services.
Abstract LB-110: Bioinformatic discovery of repositioned drugs to target breast tumor initiating cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Background: We have previously identified a tumorigenic gene signature based on profile features in common in CD44+/CD24−/low cells vs. all other tumor cell subpopulations(13–15), and in cancer-derived mammospheres vs. bulk tumor tumor initiating cells (TICs) (CD44hi/CD24−/low). A novel method to expedite drug development is to reposition FDA-approved known drugs for any medical indication as anti-cancer therapy. By using bioinformatic approaches which combines protein-protein interactions, signaling pathways and drug information on 6000 drugs, we mapped these known drugs to critical pathways identified in our tumorigenic signature in order to target breast tumor initiating cells. Results: This bioinformatic approach identified 10 drugs which were then tested in vitro and in vivo for ability to inhibit tumor initiating cells. These in silico results were first confirmed by in vitro experiments by evaluating the effects of these repositioned drugs on mammosphere forming efficiency. In two “stem cell like” cell lines, SUM159 and BT549 treated with 10nM & 1μM of chloroquine, a dramatic reduction in MSFE was noted after a single treatment dose. Next, we performed limiting dilution transplantation assays, whereupon we treated SUM159 cells with 1μM chlorquine overnight and then transplanted the next day 200,000 cells/mouse (single sided). We observed a reduction in tumor initiation rate with only 1/12 xenografts growing within 10 weeks with chloroquine treatment vs 9/12 in control vehicle treated group. Conclusion: Bioinformatic approaches can be used to identify repositioned drugs against breast tumor initiating cells. This novel approach will allow the rapid translation of repositioned drugs that target breast tumor initiating cells into clinical trials. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-110. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-110
Abstract 1575: Zebrafish embryos as a model for studying the role of estrogen receptor β in cancer metastasis.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) has been reported to impede cancer metastasis while estrogen receptor α (ERα) can promote cancer metastasis. Several splice variants of ERβ exist in humans and they may have different functions in different tissues, but the role of these differently spliced isoforms in cancer metastasis has not been well studied. Various model systems such as xenografting of cancer cells in mice and dogs have been used to study cancer metastasis. However, difficulties in monitoring living cancer cell metastasis in large non-transparent animals have been a limitation in these studies. Zebrafish embryos are transparent and their immune system is not fully developed until several days after post fertilization. These features make zebrafish a useful model for xenografting cancer cells and monitoring their migration. In addition, the large number of offspring and small size of the embryos make the zebrafish model amendable for high throughput screening and anti-metastasis drug discovery. In our studies, we co-microinjected breast cancer cell lines bearing ERβ constructs or control constructs, expressing fluorescent proteins of different colors, into zebrafish embryos at 48 hours post fertilization (hpf). After 2 hours recovery, fish embryos with cells circulating in the blood system were removed. Embryos that contained cells only in the original injection sites were incubated at 32°C to monitor the cancer cell migration daily using a fluorescence microscope. We found that ERβ expressing breast cancer cells were less migratory than the control cells and they remained at the original injection site to a large extent. We also examined the metastasis of prostate cancer cell lines expressing ERβ splice variants in our zebrafish xenograft model and found that cells with different ERβ splice variants exhibited different migration patterns. In conclusion, zebrafish embryos work as an effective model for studying the role of ERβ and its splice variants for cancer metastasis of diverse cancer cell lines. Citation Format: Ruixin Hao, Christoforos Thomas, Prasenjit Dey, Anders Strom, Catherine W. McCollum, Fotis Nikolos, Maria Bondesson, Jan-Ake Gustafsson. Zebrafish embryos as a model for studying the role of estrogen receptor β in cancer metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1575. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1575
Analysis of Fracture Orientation Data From Boreholes

Fracture orientation data from boreholes find widespread use in investigations of the subsurface. These data invariably are biased, with in situ fractures at low angles to a borehole being under-represented. Three statistical measures (mean spherical orientation, spherical variance, and moment of inertia), conventionally used to analyze axial data distributed on a sphere without corrections for borehole bias, are used here to analyze fracture pole orientations distributed on a hemisphere, with borehole bias being accounted for. By assuming a particular model for the in situ distribution of fractures, such as a uniform distribution, and then correcting for borehole bias, one can predict the distribution and statistics of fracture poles a borehole survey would yield. The model can then be modified based on the mismatch between observations and predictions. Geologic information on the kinematics and mechanics of fracturing can be incorporated into the model of the in situ distribution. An analysis of fracture orientation data from a complexly fractured granite at the Stripa mine in Sweden shows that this approach provides a useful and straightforward way to investigate fracture distributions in the subsurface. Moment of inertia diagrams and plots of cumulative distribution functions for fracture poles greatly augment equal area projections in analyzing fracture orientation data from boreholes.
Effects of Carbon and Nitrogen Sources on Sporulation of Sistotrema Brinkmannii

(1973). Effects of Carbon and Nitrogen Sources on Sporulation of Sistotrema Brinkmannii. Mycologia: Vol. 65, No. 4, pp. 972-974.
Abstract 1941: Cancer-driven exhaustion of tumor-reactive γδ-T cells: Relevance to immunosurveillance and immunotherapy

In contrast to antigen-specific αβ-T cells (adaptive immunity), γδ-T cells can recognize and lyse malignantly-transformed cells almost immediately upon encounter in a manner that does not require the recognition of tumor-specific antigens (innate immunity). Given the well-accepted capability of γδ-T cells to innately kill a variety of cancerous cells, efforts are now actively underway to develop and refine the means by which to exploit the antitumor properties of γδ-T cells for clinical purposes. Here, we investigated a critical issue surrounding γδ-T cell-based cancer immunotherapies, which relates to the findings that γδ-T cells are numerically rare in the peripheral blood of some cancer patients, and only in a proportion of patients is it possible to activate and/or expand γδ-T cells either in vivo or ex vivo regardless of the methodology employed. This is in stark contrast to what is observed in healthy individuals, as γδ-T cells reliably respond to proliferative stimuli. Indeed, it is evident that such numerical or functional deficits may greatly hinder attempts to employ γδ-T cells in clinical settings. Therefore, the objective of the studies performed here was to examine the biological underpinnings that may explain the γδ-T cell impairments observed in cancer patients. To this end, we employed murine models of different malignancies (breast cancer, myeloma, and melanoma) and systematically examined γδ-T cell numbers in peripheral circulation, γδ-T cell proliferative capacity, and overall γδ-T viability and apoptosis status in healthy mice and mice bearing different tumors. We found that tumor-bearing mice had fewer γδ-T cells in peripheral blood, and γδ-T cells derived from tumor-bearing mice expanded poorly ex vivo using published expansion regimens. Importantly, we show that tumor cells were responsible for this numerical and functional exhaustion of γδ-T cells. Using both in vitro and in vivo models of different cancers we demonstrate that γδ-T cells undergo apoptosis after encounter with tumor cells and we have identified several putative genes involved in this γδ-T cell exhaustion. We propose that this cancer-associated γδ-T cell impairment could serve as a critical early event leading to impaired γδ-T cell anti-tumor immunosurveillance, which may contribute to the accelerated development or progression of different malignancies. Collectively, these findings will help facilitate the development of the next generation of clinical trials designed to exploit the tumor-reactive properties of γδ-T cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1941.
On Genetic Algorithms for Detecting Frequent Item Sets And Large Bite Sets

This paper introduces the use of genetic algorithms to mine binary datasets for obtaining frequent item sets and large bite item sets, two classes of problems that are important for optimal exposure of item sets to customers and for efficient advertising campaigns. Whereas both problems can be approached in a common framework, we highlight specific features of the fitness functions suitable for each of the problems.
Writing Republicanism: A Betrayal of Entrenched Tribalism in Belfast’s Own Vernacular

Since the complete disbandment of the Provisional IRA in September of 2006, withdrawal of all British military presence in the region in accordance with the Good Friday Peace Agreement and the erection of a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland in May of 2007, the region’s populations now share the challenge of reconciliation after decades of bloodshed and isolation. The journey to this pivotal crossroads has certainly been marked with serious challenges of failed ceasefires, multiple breakdowns in cross-communal talks and very slow economic growth in the late decades of the twentieth century but the region’s political structure is slowly developing into a legitimate democracy. Today’s Northern Ireland continues to distance itself from its historical precedent of a state built on Protestant privilege in the early decades of the twentieth century. If, as Bourke claims, it is a basic precept of modern democracy that “politics should cater to the common good…that a democratic state is supposed to serve not a majority but the totality of its population,” how then can power-sharing in Northern Ireland fare in a society so heavily steeped in colonial traditions of privilege for the few at the expense of the masses and zealot nationalism to counter such traditions?
A Theoretical Investigation of Microwave Irradiation of Seeds in Soil

ABSTRACTThe case for a buried, unimbibed seed exposed to microwave radiation from above the soil is treated theoretically. The effect of this exposure on the germination potential of the seed is computed. It has been assumed that the effect can be attributed to Joule heating and that it is cumulative.It has been found that the seed can be heated to a significantly higher temperature than its soil environment (selective heating) and that this can lead to a saving in the energy necessary to produce germination control. Also, it was found that soil type was a critical factor in determining the effect of the exposure. Lastly, for unimbibed seeds buried in a mineral soil it has been determined that the required energy density for germination control is in excess of 800 joules/cm2.
THE IMPACT OF FOOD RECALL ON THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION ADOPTION

OF THESIS THE IMPACT OF FOOD RECALL ON THIRD PARTY CERTIFICATION ADOPTION Food safety problems have gained national attention, and food recall is one of the most important indications of this concern. Third-party certifications have become a popular way to improve the safety and quality of products for consumers. Publications related to third-party certification usually focus on the motives and benefits of a particular certification. However, to date, no existing research investigates the effects of food recalls on certification adoption. This study uses probit models with a binary endogenous explanatory variable to examine the relationship between food recalls and third-party certification, based on recalls occurring between January 1, 2015 and February 18, 2016. Marginal effects are used to interpret the impact of recalls and companies’ annual net sales on thirdparty certification adoption. Results reveal that past recalls significantly effect a firm’s likelihood of certification adoption.
Recent discoveries in the molecular pathogenesis of the inherited bone marrow failure syndrome Fanconi anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare autosomal and X-linked genetic disease characterized by congenital abnormalities, progressive bone marrow failure (BMF), and increased cancer risk during early adulthood. The median lifespan for FA patients is approximately 33years. The proteins encoded by the FA genes function together in the FA-BRCA pathway to repair DNA damage and to maintain genome stability. Within the past two years, five new FA genes have been identified-RAD51/FANCR, BRCA1/FANCS, UBE2T/FANCT, XRCC2/FANCU, and REV7/FANCV-bringing the total number of disease-causing genes to 21. This review summarizes the discovery of these new FA genes and describes how these proteins integrate into the FA-BRCA pathway to maintain genome stability and critically prevent early-onset BMF and cancer.
Study on Regulatory-Induced Consolidation through Mergers and Acquisitions and its Implication on Banks Performance in Nigeria

This paper examined regulatory-induced consolidation through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and its implications on banks performance in Nigeria. The scope of the paper is from 2000 to 2010 using eight bank performance ratios consisting of pre-merger and post merger periods. Descriptive statistics and the paired t-test tool of analysis were employed. The descriptive statistics showed that the financial performance of the banks after the regulatory–induced M&A deteriorated and they became riskier in terms of profitability, liquidity, and some leverage performance ratios (such as Net worth to total asset and loan to total Deposit ratios) employed except capital adequacy ratio. The t-test results revealed that there is no statistically significant improvement change at 5% level of significance for the profitability, liquidity and leverage performance ratios considered. The study recommends that when contemplating mergers and acquisitions in the future, policy makers and merging firms should sufficiently understand the economic and market conditions prevailing before deciding on any policy to drive consolidation through M&A. Also, sufficient time is proposed if regulatory-induced mergers and acquisitions are favoured as against creating a market- driven M&A. In addition, all merging parties must design an acceptable memorandum of understanding which should be devoid of personal or group gains/interest. This of course will improve the overall banking sector and enable it to play its intermediation role, resource mobilization, resource allocation, facilitating the payment system and enhancing the effectiveness of the nation’s monetary policy.
Updated Recommendations for Athletes with Heart Disease

Professional society recommendations to decrease sudden cardiac death in athletes, including eligibility requirements with disqualification for athletes with diagnosed disease as well as preparticipation screening and emergency preparedness, were updated in 2015. The update includes new sections on aortic disease, channelopathies, and sickle cell trait, as well as a change in format from the previous binary yes/no format to the more nuanced and contemporary "class and level of evidence" format. Eighty-four of the 246 recommendations now carry Class II designation-"reasonable," or "may be considered." New language in the document emphasizes counseling as part of the decision process. New data on athletes with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and on those with long QT syndrome, have led to a change from blanket restriction of competitive sports participation to a Class IIB "may be considered" recommendation.
Context matters: A Bayesian analysis of how organizational environments shape the strategic management of sustainable development

Public administration scholars have argued the need for a ‘general theory’ linking strategic management to the context in which public organizations operate. Understanding the interplay between organizational contexts and strategic management responses to urban sprawl and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remains an underexplored avenue for empirical advancement of this goal. Using 2015 survey data, we employ a novel Bayesian item response theory (IRT) approach to test how land use policy comprehensiveness, organizational capacities, leadership turnover, and environmental complexities affect the strategic management of smart growth policy in local governments. We find that public organizations harness political, administrative, and community capacities in varied combinations to better achieve their policy objectives, but these influences may not be complementary. Also, policy comprehensiveness generally relates to more strategic activity, while municipal executive turnover offers opportunities and threats to some smart growth strategies. Implications of this research are discussed.
Enhancement of bronze alloy surface properties by FSP second-phase particle incorporation

Abstract This paper presents results of an experimental study to evaluate friction stir processing (FSP) with and without hard second-phase particle incorporation as a means to enhance surface properties and wear performance of C86300 manganese bronze alloy. FSP of flat bronze alloy specimens was conducted with hardened H-13 tool steel to create a 3-mm-thick processed surface layer. The process was also used to incorporate B 4 C particles, thereby creating a metal-matrix composite layer on the alloy surface. FSP alone was observed to produce substantial reduction in grain size (from an initial value of 350 μm to 1–5 μm). FSP without particle incorporation resulted in modest surface hardening due to grain refinement and dispersion hardening. Under lubricated contact in block-on-ring testing with a hardened steel counterface, FSP produced substantial reduction (about 3X) in bronze wear after polishing of processing surface roughening. FSP with hard B 4 C second-phase particle incorporation further reduced wear by up to 20X. The improvement in wear behavior is attributed to grain refinement and load shielding by second-phase particles, as determined by wear mechanism analysis.
Sugar Signaling in Higher Plants

Nutrient sensing and signaling are centrally important to an organism’s ability to adjust growth and metabolism in accord to developmental and environmental changes. Carbon and nitrogen are traditionally considered as the two major nutrients for plant growth and development. However, recent studies have suggested that both carbon and nitrogen compounds are also signal molecules which are important in regulating gene expression and a wide variety of responses (1, 2). Sugar signaling is particularly complicated in plants due to their photoautotrophic lifestyle. Unlike animals, plants need to coordinate the production of carbon from photosynthesis with its utilization, mobilization, and allocation in various tissues at different stages. When sugar levels are high, the expression of genes for sugar production is repressed and gene for storage and utilization are induced. Sugar depletion exerts the opposite effects. Although clearly important, very little is known about how sugar signals are perceived and transmitted in plants (1, 3–5).
Factors affecting the pharmacokinetic profile of MS-275, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, in humans

3980 MS-275 is a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor under clinical development as an anticancer agent. In humans, the inter-individual pharmacokinetic variability is substantial, with an apparent oral clearance (CL/F) that varies more than 8-fold. Here, we evaluated elimination pathways of MS-275 in vitro as well as a screen of demographic characteristics that might affect the pharmacokinetic profile of MS-275 in vivo . Substrate specificity of MS-275 for the liver-specific organic anion transporting polypeptides was assessed using Xenopus laevis oocytes, and in vitro metabolism was evaluated using human liver microsomes. Pharmacokinetic data were obtained from 64 adult patients (36 male/28 female; median age, 57 years) receiving MS-275 orally on two independent trials (dose range, Trial 1: 2 -12 mg/m 2 , Trial 2: 4 -10 mg/m 2 ). Patients on Trial 1 had malignant solid tumors or lymphomas while Trial 2 was open to any hematological malignancy. In each patient, serial plasma samples were collected after the first dose, and analyzed for MS-275 by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The relationship between MS-275 CL/F and candidate covariates was assessed using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Accumulation of [ 3 H]MS-275 by oocytes expressing OATP1B1 or OATP1B3 was not significantly different from that by water-injected controls (P = 0.82). Furthermore, no metabolites could be detected after incubation of MS-275 in human liver microsomes, suggesting hepatic phase I metabolism is a minor pathway of elimination. The mean (± SD) CL/F was 38.5 ± 18.7 L/h, with an inter-individual variability (IIV) of 48.7%. When CL/F was adjusted for body-surface area (BSA), the IIV remained similar (50.1%). In addition, in a linear-regression analysis, none of the studied covariates (BSA, lean-body mass, ideal body weight, adjusted ideal body weight, body-mass index, height, weight, age, and serum albumin) was a significant covariate on CL/F (P>0.05). There were no statistically significant sex-dependent differences in CL/F (males, 39.7 ± 17.4 L/h; females, 36.9 ± 20.5 L/h; P = 0.57). In conclusion, the current analysis has eliminated a number of candidate covariates from further consideration as important determinants of MS-275 absorption and disposition. Furthermore, MS-275 can be added to the list of cancer drugs where BSA-based dosing is not more appropriate than flat-fixed dosing. We are currently prospectively exploring the effects of food intake and drug formulation on the clinical pharmacokinetics of MS-275.
Physical Activity in Older Veterans and their Caregivers

Aims: To examine physical activity (PA) of older veterans with functional disability and their caregivers. Methods: Thirty-three older veterans (≥60 years) with functional disability (requiring assistance for activities of daily living) and their caregivers completed standardized questionnaires measuring comorbidity, sleep, depressive symptomatology, pain, caregiver burden, and functional disability. PA activity counts and sleep duration were measured using an activity monitor. Descriptive, analytic, and correlational analyses were performed. Results: PA was associated with sleep (veterans: rs = −0.38, P = 0.03; caregivers: rs = −0.54, P = 0.001) and caregiver burden (rs = 0.45, P = 0.02), but was not associated with the remaining factors of interest. Conclusions: The factors of interest chosen for study are known modifiers of older adult PA. The lack of association with many of the studied factors indicates that older veterans with functional disability and their caregivers may experience unique ...
Neuropsychological Functioning of Endocrinology Disorders: Gonadotropic Hormones and Corticosteroids

The sex hormones and corticosteroids influence neuroelectrophysiology, neuroanatomy, and cognition [1–3] through their interaction with a variety of brain structures, particularly the hippocampus [2, 4]. Normative levels of estrogen and testosterone as well as homeostatic levels of corticosteroids are required for optimal cognitive functioning. The present review will focus on the neuropsychological sequelae of conditions resulting from elevated or insufficient levels of the primary sex hormones and corticosteroids as well as post-treatment neuropsychological response.
LOCALLY DUAL AFFINE GEOMETRIES

Publisher Summary This chapter describes finite geometries that are locally dual affine, that is, in which every subplane is a dual affine plane. A geometry is a finite set of points and a collection of point sets called lines. It is required that lines contain at least two points, that distinct lines have at most one point in common, and that any two points are connected by some path consisting of intersecting lines. A subgeometry is a subset containing all of the lines passing through any two of its points; a plane is a subgeometry generated by two intersecting lines. Two classical geometries can be made from a vector space V of dimension n over the Galois field GF(q). A slightly less classical geometry can be defined on V if V is endowed with a nonzero alternative bilinear form f. The points and lines of the symplectic geometry (relative to f) are one-dimensional subspaces of V that are not in the radical of f and the two-dimensional subspaces on which f is not identically zero. This geometry is determined by the dimension n of V and the dimension k of the radical of f, and so is denoted by Sp(n,k,q).
Recurrent Themes in Mathematical Biology

Organisms have elaborate control systems for the regulation of function, and even whole ecosystems exhibit feedback mechanisms that regulate the flow of materials and energy. The fact that similar control mechanisms and similar patterns exist in a wide variety of biological systems has made it natural to seek to abstract those features that are common and to develop mathematical descriptions that help to catalogue them. This search has drawn many mathematicians, physicists, and cyberneticists to the study of biology. Fittingly, many such individuals are represented in this volume, because Prof. Teramoto has been a central figure in the development of biophysics and mathematical biology in Japan, and in introducing physicists and mathematicians to the complexities and challenges of biology.
Exploring Paths to a More Accessible Digital Future

Advances and proliferation of digital technologies have greatly expanded access to the information society for people with disabilities. Yet when considering which devices, applications, or cutting-edge immersive virtual environments to explore, people with disabilities must still take into account whether our needs will be fully supported. Despite considerable progress over the years, any time we consider educational programs, employment opportunities, online banking, electronic health care portals, artistic endeavors and entertainment options, we still must worry whether we will encounter barriers, and whether we will need to find extra time to address user interface and interoperability problems before addressing the tasks we had originally planned.
Design and Implementation of a Switching Converters Based Power System for Regions Victim to Frequent Power Outage

This paper documents a design and implication of an efficient and low cost power electronic converters based power supply system to the localities which are prone to frequent power outage and poor on-grid voltage regulation. The proposed system offers a grid integrated power circuit producing 230 V ac (mains R.M.S. voltage in Bangladesh and South Asia) from a 12 V dc source. The presented system consists of a grid interfaced battery charging unit which incorporates a 230 V-to-12 V step down transformer and a rectifier fed dc link step up (24 V) converter. The battery charging unit comprises galvanic isolation and a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controlled Boost converter to ensure protection and a suitable charging voltage level respectively. The power inverter has been constructed using semiconductor switches and transformer action for voltage and power transformation. During on-grid condition, the receiving-end utilities and the converter based power unit are fed power by the mains line. During off-grid condition, the customized power unit serves the utilities and the transfer from grid to the customized power unit is automatic and instantaneous. The transfer application has been substantiated by a changeover relay and there is a switching relay circuit to control and prevent the over-charging phenomenon of the battery. The overall system has been implemented on a base power of 250 w and the testbed contains load banks of different ratings varying from 60 w-to-192 w and a CPU+Display unit rated with 250 w respectively. The system is oriented to supply power in case of outage and thereby power supply unit has been tested on the basis of duration of considerable power transfer to the loads. The laboratory assessment and test results corroborate the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the proposed power system.
Sexual Minority Youth Report High-Intensity Binge Drinking: The Critical Role of School Victimization.

Abstract Purpose To examine standard binge drinking (≥4 drinks for females, ≥5 drinks for males) and high-intensity binge drinking (≥8 drinks for females, ≥10 drinks for males) among heterosexual and sexual minority youth in the US and whether reports of school-based victimization mediate this association. Methods Survey data are from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS; n = 10,839, Mage = 16.07). Logistic regression adjusted for race/ethnicity and age compared rates of standard and high-intensity binge drinking among heterosexual and sexual minority youth and whether experiences of school-based victimization mediated this association. Effects were tested in full sample and sex-stratified models. Results Lesbian and bisexual girls and girls with male and female partners were more likely than heterosexual girls to report standard rates of binge drinking. Lesbian girls and girls reporting male and female sexual partners were more likely than heterosexual girls to report high-intensity binge drinking in the past 30 days. Compared with heterosexual boys, gay boys were significantly less likely to participate in high-intensity binge drinking. School-based victimization mediated all significant associations between sexual minority status and standard and high-intensity binge drinking, with the exception of lesbian girls. Conclusion Lesbian and behaviorally bisexual girls have elevated risk for high-intensity binge drinking relative to heterosexual girls. Findings point to the importance of policies that reduce school-based victimization as these experiences are associated with higher rates of standard and high-intensity binge drinking among sexual minority girls.
Expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 and programmed cell death 1 in cutaneous warts

Background Cutaneous warts have high prevalence and cause significant morbidity. Understanding the mechanisms by which warts evade the immune system could lead to targeted and improved treatments. Objective To determine whether cutaneous warts express programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and to characterize the expression of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) within the immune infiltrate of inflamed lesions. Methods In total, 44 biopsies of cutaneous warts were retrieved from the Department of Dermatopathology archives of the University of California, San Francisco. Biopsies were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, and biopsies of inflamed lesions were stained with PD-1 monoclonal antibody. Results PD-L1 was expressed on keratinocytes in cases of verrucae vulgares (12/30, 40%) and myrmecia (7/14, 50%) and was associated with an interface inflammatory reaction. PD-1 was expressed by the inflammatory infiltrate in verrucae vulgares (21/24, 88%) and myrmecia (5/8, 63%). Limitations This was a retrospective observational study conducted at a single institution. Conclusion Many cutaneous warts express PD-L1, suggesting that human papillomavirus might use this pathway to promote immune dysfunction. This discovery helps explain the recalcitrance of warts to current therapies and provides a rationale for investigating anti–PD-1 immunotherapy as a potential treatment for warts.
Rock 'n' Roll Solutions to the Hubble Tension

Local measurements of the Hubble parameter are increasingly in tension with the value inferred from a $\Lambda$CDM fit to the cosmic microwave background (CMB) data. In this paper, we construct scenarios in which evolving scalar fields significantly ease this tension by adding energy to the Universe around recombination in a narrow redshift window. We identify solutions of $V \propto \phi^{2 n}$ with simple asymptotic behavior, both oscillatory (rocking) and rolling. These are the first solutions of this kind in which the field evolution and fluctuations are consistently implemented using the equations of motion. Our findings differ qualitatively from those of the existing literature, which rely upon a coarse-grained fluid description. Combining CMB data with low-redshift measurements, the best fit model has $n=2$ and increases the allowed value of $H_0$ from 69.2 km/s/Mpc in $\Lambda$CDM to 72.3 km/s/Mpc at $2\sigma$. Future measurements of the late-time amplitude of matter fluctuations and of the reionization history could help distinguish these models from competing solutions.
Abstract 470: Computational Identification of NKX2-5 Binding Sites and Downstream Gene Targets Using Transcription Factor Motif and Human Heart-specific Experimental Data

Background: While NKX2-5 plays pivotal roles in human cardiac development and disease, no ChIP-Seq studies of NKX2-5 in human cardiac tissues currently exist, resulting in an incomplete understandi...
Who’s being ‘sheltered?’: How monolingual language ideologies are produced within education policy discourse and sheltered English immersion

This paper critically examines the notion of ‘sheltered’ pedagogies for English language teaching in English-dominant contexts. I specifically explore how the increasingly popular Sheltered English...
Development of a Classification Tree to Predict Implant-Based Reconstruction Failure with or without Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

The aim of this study was to determine the complications, incidence, and predictors of implant-based reconstruction failure (RF) among patients treated with mastectomy for breast cancer. We retrospectively reviewed 108 patients who underwent mastectomy, tissue expander, and implant-based breast reconstruction with or without radiation therapy (RT) at our institution (2000–2014). Descriptive statistics determined complication incidences, with major complications defined as any complications requiring surgical intervention or inpatient management. Chi square and Fisher’s exact tests determined differences in RF incidences, defined as implant loss. Logistic regression analyses identified predictors of RF. Median follow-up was 42.5 months. Sixty patients (55.6%) experienced major complications. Overall, 27 patients (25%) experienced RF. Incidences of RF were significantly increased in patients who had any major complication (43.3% vs. 2.1%; p 70% accuracy for stepwise prediction of RF.
ReCARL: Resource Allocation in Cloud RANs with Deep Reinforcement Learning

Cloud Radio Access Networks (CRANs) have become a key enabling technique for the next generation wireless communications. Resource allocation in CRANs still needs to be further improved to reach the objective of minimizing power consumption and meeting demands of wireless users over a long period. Inspired by the success of Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) on solving complicated control problems, we present a novel framework, ReCARL, for power-efficient resource allocation in CRANs with deep reinforcement learning. Specifically, we define the state space, action space and reward function for the DRL agent, apply a Deep Neural Network (DNN) to approximating the action-value function, and formally formulate the resource allocation problem (in each decision epoch) as a convex optimization problem. Under ReCARL, we propose two different DRL agents: one has a regular DNN structure trained with the basic deep Q-learning method (ReCARL-Basic); while the other has a context-aware DNN structure trained with a hybrid deep Q-learning method (ReCARL-Hybrid). We evaluated the performance of ReCARL along with the two DRL agents by comparing them with two widely-used baselines via extensive simulation. The simulation results show that ReCARL achieves significant power savings while meeting user demands, and it can well handle highly dynamic cases.
Pain anxiety and rehabilitation outcomes after acquired brain injury

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine pain anxiety after acquired brain injury (ABI) and its relationship to rehabilitation outcomes.Materials and Method: Participants consisted of 89 a...