cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bisecting and trisecting the arc of the lemniscate

In this paper we will discuss the lemniscate curve and show that its arc length can be bisected and trisected using classical ruler and compasses construction. The method dates back to 1718 when Count Giulio Fagnano (1682-1766) first published these constructions [1]. Fagnano was self-educated in mathematics and treated the subject as a hobby. Euler was impressed by his work on this topic and recommended his admission to the Berlin Academy of Science. Euler then generalised Fagnano's work on integrals. In addition, Fagnano was employed to assist in reinforcing the dome of Saint Peter's which was in danger of collapse. Pope Benedict IV rewarded him for his work by publishing his mathematical papers. Fagnano achieved considerable international fame as a mathematician, and rightly so given the outstanding contributions which he made on a number of different topics.
Frascati , a Mitochondrial Solute Transporter, and Its Role in Vertebrate Erythropoiesis.

Acquired and congenital defects in iron metabolism from either deficiency or excess are one of the most common human diseases. Here we present the characterization of the zebrafish frascati mutation, which results in a profound hypochromic anemia and a developmental arrest at the pro-erythroblast stage. Using a positional cloning strategy, we have identified the gene disrupted frascati in mutants as a novel member of the mitochondrial solute transporter family. Members of this family of solute carriers have related tripartite sequence and structure. They function in transporting various metabolites and substrates across the inner mitochondrial membrane. We have verified the identity of the gene in zebrafish by the following criteria: (a) tissue-restricted expression in erythroid progenitors, (b) identification of missense mutations from the frascati five alleles, (c) rescue of anemia by over-expression frascati of cRNA in mutant embryos, and (d) mimicry of anemia using inactivating antisense morpholinos in wildtype embryos. We have also identified the functional ortholog in the mouse which has an analogous tissue and developmental expression pattern. The frascati ortholog in the mouse is highly expressed in fetal liver and adult bone marrow and spleen. The murine frascati transcript and protein are induced during terminal erythroid differentiation in MEL cells treated with either DMSO or HMBA. The over-expression of the mouse frascati cRNA in zebrafish frascati mutant embryos rescued their anemia with equal efficacy as the zebrafish clone. Given the identity of the gene and the requirement for iron in heme biosynthesis in the mitochondria of the developing erythron, we injected exogenous iron-dextran into frascati embryos. The embryos injected with iron-dextran were allowed to develop to 3 days post-fertilization, then stained for hemoglobinized cells with o-dianisidine and genotyped. Using this assay, the anemia caused by frascati the mutation could be partially rescued with exogenous iron supplementation. We therefore propose that the frascati gene functions as the essential transporter for iron importation into the mitochondria for heme biosynthesis and subsequent hemoglobin production in developing erythroid progenitors. Insight into the function of frascati the gene will be directly relevant to our understanding of human disorders of iron deficiency anemia and iron-overload sideroblastic anemia.
Prevalence of Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder with Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance in Patients Undergoing Kidney Transplantation.

Abstract Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) represents one of the most serious consequences of immunosuppression in patients with solid organ transplantation. The incidence of PTLD is related to the organ transplanted and is dependent on the duration of follow-up. In various publications, the incidence of PTLD in renal transplantation ranges between 0.8% to 1.2%. In a previous study, the development of monoclonal (M) protein following liver transplantation is associated with the development of PTLD. In this study, we investigate this relationship in the kidney transplant population. Methods: A total of 3518 patients underwent kidney transplantation between 1963 to March 2006. These patients were cross referenced with the Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) database. Results: We identified 97 patients who had a monoclonal gammopathy either before or after transplantation. Patients with amyloidosis, multiple myeloma, heavy and light chain deposition disease and multi-organ transplantation were excluded from the analysis. A total of 69 patients met the inclusion criteria. Ten of the 69 (14.5%) patients developed PTLD. Median follow-up was 14.8 years. Twenty three patients had pretransplant MGUS, 20 patients developed MGUS following the transplant, and the other 26 did not have a monoclonal protein study prior to the transplant. Of the 23 patients who had a positive MGUS prior to the transplant, 4 patients (17.3%) developed PTLD, 1 patient developed EBV positive diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL), 1 developed EBV negative DLCL, 1 developed Hodgkin's lymphoma and 1 developed increased plasma cells in bone marrow (20%) with stable M protein with no evidence of progression to multiple myeloma. None of these patients had a quantifiable M-protein prior to transplantation. The mean duration from diagnosis of MGUS to PTLD was 8.2 years (range 3 to 14 years). Of the 20 patients with a negative pre-transplant study for para proteniemia, 2 (10%) developed PTLD (T cell lymphoproliferative disorder). Two patients developed MGUS after the transplant at 1 and 12 years post transplant. It took an average of 15 years to develop PTLD after the diagnosis of MGUS. Four of the 26 patients who did not have a pretransplant study for MGUS developed PTLD. These included an EBV positive gamma delta type T cell lymphoproliferative disorder, an EBV positive plasmablastic lymphoma, one multiple myeloma and a plasmacytoma. The latter two patients had M-protein > 3g/dL. It took an average of 14 years after their transplant for these patients to develop PTLD. Conclusion: Our study showed that the development of a monoclonal protein in patients undergoing kidney transplantation is a strong risk factor for PTLD. Monoclonal protein study should be performed pretransplant and monitored post transplant as a surveillance of PTLD. Those who are positive or convert should be monitored closely for development of lymphoproliferative disorder.
Sociodemographic and Clinical Risk Factors Associated With Tuberculosis Mortality in the United States, 2009-2013.

Objectives:The objectives of our study were (1) to determine risk factors associated with tuberculosis (TB)–specific and non–TB-specific mortality among patients with TB and (2) to examine whether risk factors for TB-specific mortality differed from those for non–TB-specific mortality.Methods:We obtained data from the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System and included all patients who had TB between 2009 and 2013 in the United States and its territories. We used multinomial logistic regression analysis to determine the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of each risk factor for TB-specific and non–TB-specific mortality.Results:Of 52 175 eligible patients with TB, 1404 died from TB, and 2413 died from other causes. Some of the risk factors associated with the highest odds of TB-specific mortality were multidrug-resistant TB diagnosis (aOR = 3.42; 95% CI, 1.95-5.99), end-stage renal disease (aOR = 3.02; 95% CI, 2.23-4.08), human immunodeficiency virus infection (aOR = 2.63; 95% CI, 2.02-3.42), age 45-64 years (aO...
Subjective social status and premedical students' attitudes towards medical school.

Abstract Although students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to depart from the medical education pipeline, little is known about how premedical students' social origins influence the adversities they face, the resources they possess, or the internal struggles they confront in deciding whether or not to pursue a career in medicine. Using original data collected from premedical students at a flagship state university in the Midwest (N = 364), this study explores how subjective social status shapes students' reservations about medical school attendance and their perceptions of external pressure to pursue a career in medicine. Status-based discrepancies in financial strains, social capital, and interpersonal stressors—and the degree to which variation across these measures mediates status differences in medical school outlook—are also explored. Net of objective measures of social class, results suggest that doubts about attending medical school and feeling that not attending medical school will let down one's community are more prevalent among premeds who identify as lower status. These group differences are explained—at least in part—by lower status premedical students' perceptions of financial hardships, more limited reserves of social capital, and more frequent encounters with class-based discrimination and with educators who discourage their career aspirations.
Unlock Intel GPUs for High Performance Compute, Media and Computer Vision with Intel OpenCL Extensions

The keys to unlocking the full performance potential of Intel GPUs for emerging workloads in general compute, media, computer vision, and machine learning are in the rich suite of Intel OpenCL™ extensions. This tutorial builds step-by-step with multiple examples to describe a recipe to achieve disruptive performance gains and improve quality and accuracy to meet the difficult demands of today's marketplace.
Monohalogenated acetamide-induced cellular stress and genotoxicity are related to electrophilic softness and thiol/thiolate reactivity

Haloacetamides (HAMs) are cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic byproducts of drinking water disinfection. They are soft electrophilic compounds that form covalent bonds with the free thiol/thiolate in cysteine residues through an SN2 reaction mechanism. Toxicity of the monohalogenated HAMs (iodoacetamide, IAM; bromoacetamide, BAM; or chloroacetamide, CAM) varied depending on the halogen substituent. The aim of this research was to investigate how the halogen atom affects the reactivity and toxicological properties of HAMs, measured as induction of oxidative/electrophilic stress response and genotoxicity. Additionally, we wanted to determine how well in silico estimates of electrophilic softness matched thiol/thiolate reactivity and in vitro toxicological endpoints. Each of the HAMs significantly induced nuclear Rad51 accumulation and ARE signaling activity compared to a negative control. The rank order of effect was IAM>BAM>CAM for Rad51, and BAM≈IAM>CAM for ARE. In general, electrophilic softness and in chemico thiol/thiolate reactivity provided a qualitative indicator of toxicity, as the softer electrophiles IAM and BAM were more thiol/thiolate reactive and were more toxic than CAM.
Top-attack modeling and automatic target detection using synthetic FLIR scenery

A series of experiments have been performed to verify the utility of algorithmic tools for the modeling and analysis of cold-target signatures in synthetic, top-attack, FLIR video sequences. The tools include: MuSES/CREATION for the creation of synthetic imagery with targets, an ARL target detection algorithm to detect imbedded synthetic targets in scenes, and an ARL scoring algorithm, using Receiver-Operating-Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, to evaluate detector performance. Cold-target detection variability was examined as a function of target emissivity, surrounding clutter type, and target placement in non-obscuring clutter locations. Detector metrics were also individually scored so as to characterize the effect of signature/clutter variations. Results show that using these tools, a detailed, physically meaningful, target detection analysis is possible and that scenario specific target detectors may be developed by selective choice and/or weighting of detector metrics. However, developing these tools into a reliable predictive capability will require the extension of these results to the modeling and analysis of a large number of data sets configured for a wide range of target and clutter conditions. Finally, these tools should also be useful for the comparison of competitive detection algorithms by providing well defined, and controllable target detection scenarios, as well as for the training and testing of expert human observers.
Working with Homosexuals of the Older Population

Lesbian women and gay men are segments of the older population served by clinical social workers. Issues unique to them include the effects of harmful stereotypes, concealment problems, relationshi...
Learning director agent strategies: an inductive framework for modeling director agents

Interactive narrative environments offer significant potential for creating engaging narrative experiences that are tailored to individual users. Increasingly, applications in education, training, and entertainment are leveraging narrative to create rich interactive experiences in virtual storyworlds. A key challenge posed by these environments is devising accurate models of director agents' strategies that determine the most appropriate director action to perform for crafting customized story experiences. A promising approach is developing an empirically informed model of director agents' decision-making strategies. In this paper, we propose a framework for learning models of director agent decision-making strategies by observing human-human interactions in an interactive narrative-centered learning environment. The results are encouraging and suggest that creating empirically driven models of director agent decision-making is a promising approach to interactive narrative.
Immunomodulating effects of microorganisms and their products on the immune response mechanisms.

The immune defense system of an individual depends on a complex series of interactions among cells and molecules following exposure of lymphoid cells to specific antigen. Much is now known about the major mechanisms of antibody responses and cell mediated immunity at both the humoral and cellular levels. The magnitude and range of the immune response to a specific antigen are regulated by a wide variety of factors, including soluble mediators derived from various cell types which serve as additional signals to the immune response mechanisms. In this regard, microorganisms and their products, including those derived from Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, are known to exert marked influences on the immune response system of animals and man, both in vivo and in vitro2,8,11. Microbial products have been shown to either enhance or suppress the immune response as well as to modify the nature of the response. In addition, many microbial agents, especially viruses, are now known to have the ability to markedly influence the immune response mechanisms, both at the cellular and humoral levels1,3,4,7,9,10. In addition, all other microbial classes, including fungi and yeasts, rickettsiae, and single or multiple cellular parasites, are also known to affect immune competence.
Multiplicity estimates, interpolation, and transcendence theory

We discuss the problems of interpolation and multiplicity estimates on compactifications of commutative algebraic groups. We consider two extremal cases: one where multiplicity is imposed at a single point and the other where the conditions are imposed on an asymptotically growing set of points. Some conjectures and new results are given in both cases.
Fluid—solid interaction analysis using ANSYS/multiphysics

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a loosely coupled fluid-solid interaction (FSI) algorithm implemented in ANSYS/Multiphysics. The simulation of FSI problems is of great importance for engineering applications. FSI in ANSYS provides a fully implicit time accurate staggered solution approach with both conservative and nonconservative load transfer across dissimilar mesh interface. Analysis supports fluid flow analysis using ANSYS/FLOTRAN and structural/thermal/coupled field analysis using ANSYS elements with geometric and material non–linearities. Mesh motion is accounted for using an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian formulation and elasticity based morphing in the fluid region and allows fluid element birth and death, allowing contact between moving surfaces. Results are provided for three examples representing multidisciplinary application of FSI using ANSYS. The algorithm provides a generalized framework for solving coupled field problems between fluid and the solid domains that can be extended to couple ANSYS with third party fluid/solids code through mesh-based parallel Code Coupling Interface for multidisciplinary applications.
Prescription trends of everolimus in non-elderly cancer patients with private insurance in the United States.

e18016Background: The use of targeted oral cancer medications has increased significantly since 2001. Everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor was first approved for cancer treatment by FDA as second line for...
Phase II trial of palbociclib in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer after failure of first-line chemotherapy

The majority of urothelial cancers (UC) harbor alterations in retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway genes that can lead to loss of Rb tumour suppressor function. Palbociclib is an oral, selective inhibitor of CDK 4/6 that restores Rb function and promotes cell cycle arrest. In this phase II trial, patients with metastatic platinum-refractory UC molecularly selected for p16 loss and intact Rb by tumour immunohistochemistry received palbociclib 125 mg p.o. daily for 21 days of a 28-day cycle. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 4 months (PFS4) using a Simon’s two-stage design. Next-generation sequencing including Rb pathway alterations was conducted. Twelve patients were enrolled and two patients (17%) achieved PFS4 with insufficient activity to advance to stage 2. No responses were seen. Median PFS was 1.9 months (95% CI 1.8–3.7 months) and median overall survival was 6.3 months (95% CI 2.2–12.6 months). Fifty-eight percent of patients had grade ≥3 hematologic toxicity. There were no CDKN2A alterations found and no correlation of Rb pathway alterations with clinical outcome. Palbociclib did not demonstrate meaningful activity in selected patients with platinum-refractory metastatic UC. Further development of palbociclib should only be considered with improved integral biomarker selection or in rational combination with other therapies.
Molecular mechanisms of long noncoding RNAs‐mediated cancer metastasis

Cancer metastasis is a multistep process that requires cancer cells to leave the primary site, survive in the blood stream, and finally colonize at a distant organ. It is the major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. The organ-specific colonization requires close interaction and communication between cancer cells and host organs. Noncoding RNAs represent the majority of the transcriptome, with long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) making up a significant proportion. It has been suggested that lncRNAs play a key role in all stages of tumorigenesis and metastasis. This review will provide an overview of how lncRNAs are involved in cancer cell colonization in specific organ sites and the underlying mechanisms as well as therapeutic strategies.
Neutron Scattering Investigations of Hydride Species in Heterogeneous Catalysis

In heterogeneous catalysis, hydrides on the surface or in the bulk play a critical role as either active components or reaction intermediates in many hydrogen-involving reactions, but characterization of the nature and structure of these hydride species remains challenging. Neutron scattering, which is extremely sensitive to light elements, such as hydrogen, has shown great potential in meeting this challenge. In this Minireview, recent advances in neutron studies of hydride species, mainly over the two most typical classes of catalysts-metals and oxides-are surveyed. Findings on catalysts outside these categories are raised if they are considered to be relevant for contextualization in the present Minireview. The adsorption, dissociation, spillover, and reactivity of hydrogen, especially hydride species over supported metal and oxide catalysts, have been successfully investigated, mostly by means of neutron vibrational spectroscopy. Insights from these neutron studies, which are otherwise not possible with other techniques, shed light on the interaction mechanism of hydrogen with solid surfaces and reaction mechanisms in which hydrogen is involved. Future research challenges on neutron scattering studies of hydrides, as well as catalysis in general, are also highlighted, and more operando-type neutron studies need be conducted to advance the field.
Original Swingers: Hollywood's Postwar Bachelor-Pad Cycle

A cycle of romantic comedies made in the post-World War II era took the swinging “bachelor pad” as its subject and setting, using the metaphor to initiate consideration of other pertinent issues of...
Complexities of Care in Klinefelter Syndrome: An APRN Perspective

47,XXY (Klinefelter Syndrome) is associated with a spectrum of complex clinical needs that are associated with variable physical, neurocognitive and psychosocial aspects. For patients and families affected by this sex chromosome trisomy, navigation of health care services is difficult due to lack of 47,XXY awareness among many health care providers and little evidence to support endocrine and additional treatment plans. While endocrine management of androgen deficiency has been the mainstay of treatment for patients from puberty through adulthood, testosterone replacement, alone, fails to mitigate many symptoms and issues. Prior to the onset of puberty, boys with 47,XXY often do not receive interdisciplinary evaluations and treatment. Since multiple health and ancillary therapeutic services are required for the management of 47,XXY, patients and families often experience disjointed and uncoordinated care. We discuss complexities of caring for patients with 47,XXY and the benefit of integrating advanced practice nursing and medical perspectives to improve care delivery.
Evidence for diversity in the activation of the melanocortin 2 receptor: A study on gar, elephant shark and stingray MC2Rs.

Abstract The melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R) is a critical component of the HPI and HPA axes of cartilaginous fishes, teleosts and tetrapods. Studies on teleost and tetrapod orthologs suggest two contact sites between ACTH and the receptor involving the following motifs on ACTH: H6F7R8W9 and K15K16R17R18P19. Using spotted gar (g) MC2R as a representative bony fish MC2R ortholog, we found that activation of gMC2R in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells was diminished following stimulation of the transfected cells with hACTH(1–24) analogs substituted with alanine at either the H6F7R8W9 or K15K16R17R18P19 motifs compared to stimulation with hACTH(1–24). This observation suggests two ligand contact sites necessary for activation of the gMC2R. The same experiments were done with elephant shark (es) MC2R, however only the H6F7R8W9 analogs blocked activation, pointing to a single contact on esMC2R. Conversely, the red stingray (sr) MC2R activation was blocked by both the H6F7R8W9 and K15K16R17R18P19 alanine-substituted analogs. Together these results build a picture of the evolution of the ligand and receptor interaction between ACTH and MC2R orthologs of different taxa. These results will be discussed in light of the parallel evolution of MC2R orthologs in cartilaginous fishes and bony vertebrates.
The value of reproduction: multiple livelihoods, cultural labor, and immigrants in Iowa and North Carolina

In the US South and Midwest, early immigrant populations consisted primarily of young, Latinos recruited to work in low-wage jobs. After six or seven years, family members from Mexico and Central A...
The Essential Local Muscle Flaps for Lower Extremity Reconstruction.

Background Lower extremity reconstruction is often a challenging prospect with major implications on a patient’s quality of life. For complex defects of the lower extremity, special consideration must be given to ensure suitable and durable coverage. In the following article, we present the essential local muscle flaps for lower extremity reconstruction and discuss guiding principles for the reconstructive surgeon to consider. Methods A thorough literature review was performed using PubMed to identify commonly used local muscle flaps for lower extremity reconstruction. Common considerations for each identified flap were noted. Results The essential local muscle flaps for lower extremity reconstruction were identified and classified based on anatomical region of the defect to be reconstructed. General considerations and postoperative management were discussed to aid in operative decision making. Conclusion While many factors must be taken into account when performing lower extremity reconstruction, there are numerous reliable local muscle flaps which can be used to successfully provide durable coverage for a variety of soft tissue defects of the lower extremity.
The Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) represents the involuntary system that innervates smooth muscle and glands and controls bodily functions without conscious thought including respiration, cardiac output, vascular tone, digestion and elimination. The ANS is composed both anatomically and functionally of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems that work mostly in opposition to each other to maintain homeostasis, yielding ergotropic and trophotropic responses, respectively. Many drugs are available that either stimulate or inhibit sympathetic or parasympathetic activity, thereby leading to autonomic nervous system alterations such as changes in heart rate, blood pressure or renal function. Drugs that stimulate or mimic sympathetic nervous system responses are known as adrenomimetics, while those that inhibit this system are referred to as adrenolytics. Similarly, drugs that activate or mimic parasympathetic responses are known as cholinomimetics, and those that inhibit this system are referred to as cholinolytics.
Persistent detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in patients and healthcare workers with COVID-19.

Abstract Background Current guidelines for returning health care workers (HCW) to service after a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test and ceasing of transmission precautions for patients is based on two general strategies. A test-based strategy that requires negative respiratory RT-PCR tests obtained after the resolution of symptoms. Alternatively, due to the limited availability of testing, many sites employ a symptom-based strategy that recommends excluding HCW from the workforce and keeping patients on contact precautions until a fixed period of time has elapsed from symptom recovery. The underlying assumption of the symptom-based strategy is that waiting for a fixed period of time is a surrogate for negative RT-PCR testing, which itself is a surrogate for the absence of shedding infectious virus. Objectives To better understand the appropriate length of symptom based return to work and contact precaution strategies. Study Design We performed an observational analysis of 150 patients and HCW that transitioned from RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 positive to negative over the course of 2 months at a US academic medical center. Results We found that the average time to transition from RT-PCR positive to negative was 24 days after symptom onset and 10 % remained positive even 33 days after symptom onset. No difference was seen in HCW and patients. Conclusions These findings suggest until definitive evidence of the length of infective viral shedding is obtained that the fixed length of time before returning to work or ceasing contract precautions be revised to over one-month.
The mental, reproductive, and physical health impacts of female children's association with armed forces and groups.

Abstract Background Globally, over 300,000 children are being used in armed groups, including young girls some as young as eight years old. These young girls often called female children associated with armed groups and armed forces (CAAFAG), are exposed to high levels of violence and experience extensive abuse. Objective This review aimed to understand the unique health consequences of association on female CAAFAG and the factors associated with their increased health vulnerability. Methods The research utilized a review protocol, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards. The search yielded 449 unique articles, 53 (12 %) of which were included for final analysis to identify health concerns for female CAAFAG. Qualitative literature was also analyzed using thematic analysis to identify factors and experiences associated with female CAAFAG’s increased risk of experiencing adverse health outcomes. Results Internalizing and functional impairment presented unique challenges for females, largely due to their distinct experiences with stigma upon return to communities and returning with children. Conclusions Based on the findings of this review, female CAAFAG are at a unique risk for internalizing, functional impairment, and reduced adaptive behaviors. This review also highlights girls’ post-conflict experiences of stigma, internal tensions, and returning with a child as modifiable risk factors for poor mental health.
IDENTIFICATION OF SIDE-CHAIN PROTECTED L-PHENYLTHIOHYDANTOINS ON CYANO HPLC COLUMNS: AN APPLICATION TO GAS-PHASE MICROSEQUENCING OF PEPTIDES SYNTHESIZED ON SOLID-PHASE SUPPORTS

Recent advances in microsequencing procedures using gas-phase methods have provided for the sequence determination of relatively small amounts (50–1000 pmol) of proteins and large polypeptides (1, 2), and the efficient sequence analysis of very small amounts (10–100 pmol) of short peptides containing 10 to 50 amino acids (3, 4). Developments in improved High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) instrumentation have increased the sensitivity of detection (less than 5 pmol) of the phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) amino acids derived from Edman degradation (5, 6).
On the use of convolutional Gaussian processes to improve the seasonal forecasting of precipitation and temperature

Abstract This study examines the potential improvement in seasonal predictability of monthly precipitation and temperature using a novel machine learning approach, the convolutional Gaussian process (CGP). This approach allows us to take into account multiple quantities and their interdependencies simultaneously. We use one global climate model (FLORb01) part of the North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) project and quantify its skill in reproducing precipitation and temperature in March and July across Iowa (central United States) for lead times from one month to one year. As a first step we train the CGP over the 1985–2005 period, and then apply it out of sample from 2006 to 2019. Over the validation period, our results indicate that the CGP is able to increase the skill (i.e., increased correlation coefficient and reduced root mean squared error) in predicting precipitation and temperature compared to both the raw outputs and after standard bias correction. These statements are consistent across different lead times and target month (i.e., March or July). These encouraging findings provide a new potential path towards improved predictability of the regional climate at the seasonal scale.
Full Duplex Multiuser MIMO MAC Protocol (FD-MUMAC)

A new medium access control (MAC) protocol for full-duplex multiuser multi input multi output (FD-MUMAC) is proposed. FD-MUMAC is an 802.11 infrastructure-based MAC protocol where the communication in the network is moderated by a full-duplex access point (AP) that can handle multiple simultaneous uplink and downlink streams from half-duplex users. FD-MUMAC is the first MAC protocol that jointly determines the selection of uplink and downlink users and controls the transmission rate by considering transmit and receive beamforming, channel states, and multiuser-interferences. To demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed protocol, we introduce a joint fairness selection algorithm that ensures that each user obtains a fair allocation of time to utilize the channel and balances its traffic between the uplink and downlink directions. In one specific instantiation, FD-MUMAC achieves a throughput gain of 59%, 177% and 94% compared with a single antenna FD MAC protocol and two half-duplex MU-MIMO protocols, respectively.
Semi-clean group rings

Abstract Recall that a ring is said to be a clean ring if every element can be expressed as the sum of a unit and an idempotent. In one variant of this definition, a ring is said to be a semi-clean ring if every element can be expressed as the sum of a unit and a periodic element. Ye's Theorem [12] states that the group ring Z ( p ) [ C 3 ] is semi-clean, where p is a prime integer and C 3 is a cyclic group of order 3. In this article, we generalize Ye's Theorem by demonstrating that, if R is a local ring, then the group ring R [ G ] is semi-clean if and only if G is a torsion abelian group .
Targeting Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in CTNNB1-mutant endometrial cancer

Objectives: CTNNB1 (gene encoding for beta-catenin) mutations convey increased rates of recurrence in early stage, low grade endometrial cancer (EC). The role of beta-catenin/TCF transcriptional activity in EC recurrence is not well understood. We aim to assess the impact of Wnt/beta-catenin inhibition in in vitro and in vivo EC models. Methods: Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) of Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (PanCancer Atlas), we evaluated CTNNB1-mutant vs -wildtype tumors in a low-risk population. We studied CTNNB1-wildtype (HEC1B, Ishikawa) and CTNNB1-mutant (HEC108, HEC265, HEC1B-S33Y, Ishikawa-S33Y) EC cell lines. CTNNB1-S33Y cell lines were created via retroviral transduction. Dose response curves were determined for 5 Wnt/beta-catenin pathway inhibitors (Wnt-C59, XAV-939, PyrPam, PRI-724, SM04690). Cell viability was assessed with Licor Cell Staining. TCF transcriptional activity was determined via TOP/FOP reporter assay. Apoptosis following treatment with SM04690 was evaluated via Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI). HEC1B, HEC1B-S33Y and HEC265 tumor-bearing athymic nude mice were treated with vehicle or SM04690 25mg/kg. Tumor size was measured using calipers. Tumors were evaluated with immunohistochemistry for proliferation (Ki67) and apoptosis (cl-caspase 3). Results: TCGA analysis confirmed that CTNNB1 mutations are enriched in recurrent low-risk EC and showed that aberrant Wnt/beta-catenin pathway activation is associated with disease recurrence. In vitro, XAV939, Wnt-C59 and PyrPam inhibited function upstream of beta-catenin transcriptional activity and were ineffective at inhibiting EC cell viability. In contrast, PRI724 and SM04690 indirectly inhibited beta-catenin transcriptional activity and significantly reduced cell viability in CTNNB1-mutant EC cell lines. Treatment with SM04690 reduced cell viability in all EC cell lines, but was significantly lower in HEC108, HEC265 and HEC1B-S33Y compared to HEC1B (24.2%, 32.3%, 44.4%, vs. 71.4%, p Conclusions: Targeting the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in CTNNB1-mutant EC effectively inhibited proliferation and beta-catenin/TCF transcriptional activity. Further, the inhibitor SM04690 blunted tumor progression in in vivo models. These studies suggest beta-catenin transcriptional inhibitors are effective in EC and have a more significant effect in CTNNB1-mutant than -wildtype EC. These findings highlight a potential therapeutic vulnerability for treatment of CTNNB1-mutant EC.
Broke: How Debt Bankrupts the Middle Class

About 1.5 million households filed bankruptcy in the last year, making bankruptcy as common as college graduation and divorce. The recession has pushed more and more families into financial collapse-with unemployment, declines in retirement wealth, and falling house values destabilizing the American middle class. Broke explores the consequences of this unprecedented growth in consumer debt and shows how excessive borrowing undermines the prosperity of middle class America. While the recession that began in mid-2007 has widened the scope of the financial pain caused by overindebtedness, the problem predated that large-scale economic meltdown. And by all indicators, consumer debt will be a defining feature of middle-class families for years to come. The staples of middle-class life-going to college, buying a house, starting a small business-carry with them more financial risk than ever before, requiring more borrowing and new riskier forms of borrowing. This book reveals the people behind the statistics, looking closely at how people get to the point of serious financial distress, the hardships of dealing with overwhelming debt, and the difficulty of righting one's financial life. In telling the stories of financial failures, this book exposes an all-too-real part of middle-class life that is often lost in the success stories that dominate the American economic narrative.Authored by experts in several disciplines, including economics, law, political science, psychology, and sociology, Broke presents analyses from an original, proprietary data set of unprecedented scope and detail, the 2007 Consumer Bankruptcy Project. Topics include class status, home ownership, educational attainment, impacts of self-employment, gender differences, economic security, and the emotional costs of bankruptcy. The book makes judicious use of illustrations to present key findings and concludes with a discussion of the implications of the data for contemporary policy debates.
SNP alleles in human disease and evolution

In two randomly selected human genomes, 99.9% of the DNA sequence is identical. The remaining 0.1% of DNA contains sequence variations. The most common type of such variation is called a single-nucleotide polymorphism, or SNP. SNPs are highly abundant, stable, and distributed throughout the genome. These variations are associated with diversity in the population, individuality, susceptibility to diseases, and individual response to medicine. Recently, it has been suggested that SNPs can be used for homogeneity testing and pharmacogenetic studies and to identify and map complex, common diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Consistent with this proposal is the identification of the patterns of SNPs in conditions such as diabetes, schizophrenia, and blood-pressure homeostasis. Although these studies have provided insight into the nature of human sequence variation, it is not known at present whether these variations are truly significant toxicologically and pharmacologically. Moreover, it is possible that most complex, common disorders are caused by the combined effects of multigenes and nongenetic environmental factors (multifactorial). Therefore, it is likely that sequence variation alone is not sufficient to predict the risk of disease susceptibility, particularly in homeostatic organisms like humans. Nevertheless, these variants may provide a starting point for further inquiry.
Subclass restriction of murine antibodies. V. The IgG plaque-forming cell response to thymus-independent and thymus-dependent antigens in athymic and euthymic mice.

Abstract Antigens differ in their abilities to stimulate antibodies of various isotypes. Many thymus-independent (TI) polysaccharide antigens stimulate largely IgG3 and IgM antibodies while thymus-dependent (TD) protein antigens stimulate predominantly IgG1 and smaller amounts of other isotypes. Here we determine whether thymus dependence or independence is a property of antigens which is expressed equally by all isotypes. To do this nu /+ and nu/nu mice were immunized with several TI and TD antigens and antibody responses of IgM and the four IgG subclasses measured. We found that, within the conditions of these experiments, all IgG isotypes were influenced equally by the presence or absence of T lymphocytes. Second, in agreement with J. L. Press ( J. Immunol. 126 , 1234, 1981), we propose a division of TD antigens into two types based upon the ability to stimulate responses in the CBA/N mouse.
The role of troponin in the Ca(2+)-regulation of skeletal muscle contraction.

Vertebrate skeletal muscle contraction is activated by the binding of Ca2+ to the low affinity Ca2+-pecific (regulatory) sites of troponin C (TnC), the Ca2+-binding subunit of troponin, which together with troponin I (TnI), troponin T (TnT) and tropomyosin (Tm) form the regulatory system of the contractile apparatus (Zot and Potter 1987; Moss 1992; Gergely 1998). TnC is necessary for force development in skinned muscle fibers and its selective extraction from muscle fibers results in a permanent relaxation at all Ca2+ concentrations. This process is fully reversible and reconstitution of the TnC-depleted fibers with exogenous TnC restores Ca2+-dependent contraction (Zot and Potter 1982; Szczesna et al. 1996). The structure of TnC has been solved to atomic resolution by X-ray crystallography (Herzberg and James 1985, 1988; Houdusse et al. 1997). TnC consists of two globular domains corresponding to the NH2-and COOH-termini and each domain contains two EF-hand divalent cation-binding sites. The low affinity sites of TnC, called the Ca2+-specific sites (I and II) (Potter and Gergely 1975), are located in the NH2-terminal domain of TnC and are separated from the COOH-terminal domain of TnC by a single nineturn α-helix comprising helices D and E (Herzberg and James 1985, 1988). The COOH-terminal region of TnC contains two high affinity Ca2+-binding sites designated as sites III and IV and referred to as the Ca2+-Mg2+ sites (Potter and Gergely 1975). Sites I and II bind Ca2+ specifically with KCa2+ ≅ 3 × 105M−1, whereas sites III and IV bind Ca2+ with KCa2+ ≅ 2 × 107M−1 and Mg2+ with KMg2+ ≅ 2 × 103M−1 (Potter and Gergely 1975; Grabarek et al. 1992).
S-Nitrosoglutathione is a substrate for rat alcohol dehydrogenase class III isoenzyme

An enzyme isolated from rat liver cytosol (native molecular mass 78. 3 kDa; polypeptide molecular mass 42.5 kDa) is capable of catalysing the NADH/NADPH-dependent degradation of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). The activity utilizes 1 mol of coenzyme per mol of GSNO processed. The isolated enzyme has, as well, several characteristics that are unique to alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) class III isoenzyme: it is capable of catalysing the NAD+-dependent oxidations of octanol (insensitive to inhibition by 4-methylpyrazole), methylcrotyl alcohol (stimulated by added pentanoate) and 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid, and also the NADH/NADPH-dependent reduction of octanal. Methanol and ethanol oxidation activity is minimal. The enzyme has formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity in that it is capable of catalysing the NAD+/NADP+-dependent oxidation of S-hydroxymethylglutathione. Treatment with the arginine-specific reagent phenylglyoxal prevents the pentanoate stimulation of methylcrotyl alcohol oxidation and markedly diminishes the enzymic activity towards octanol, 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid and S-hydroxymethylglutathione; the capacity to catalyse GSNO degradation is also checked. Additionally, limited peptide sequencing indicates 100% correspondence with known ADH class III isoenzyme sequences. Kinetic studies demonstrate that GSNO is an exceptionally active substrate for this enzyme. S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine and S-nitrosated human serum albumin are not substrates; the activity towards S-nitrosated glutathione mono- and di-ethyl esters is minimal. Product analysis suggests that glutathione sulphinamide is the major stable product of enzymic GSNO processing, with minor yields of GSSG and NH3; GSH, hydroxylamine, nitrite, nitrate and nitric oxide accumulations are minimal. Inclusion of GSH in the reaction mix decreases the yield of the supposed glutathione sulphinamide in favor of GSSG and hydroxylamine.
BFC: correcting Illumina sequencing errors

Summary: BFC is a free, fast and easy-to-use sequencing error corrector designed for Illumina short reads. It uses a non-greedy algorithm but still maintains a speed comparable to implementations based on greedy methods. In evaluations on real data, BFC appears to correct more errors with fewer overcorrections in comparison to existing tools. It particularly does well in suppressing systematic sequencing errors, which helps to improve the base accuracy of de novo assemblies.
Evaluation of twin growth status at birth using individualized growth assessment: Comparison with conventional methods

Objective: We sought to evaluate the growth status of twins at birth using individualized growth assessment methods and to compare this assessment with that obtained with conventional methods. Study design: Twenty twin pregnancies were studied longitudinally with ultrasound. Measurements of the head and abdominal cubes (A, B), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), thigh circumference (ThC), and femur diaphysis length (FDL) made in the 2nd trimester were used to specify Rossavik growth models for each parameter in each fetus. These models were used to predict weight (WT), HC, AC, ThC, and crown–head length (CHL) at birth. Actual birth measurements made within 24 hours of delivery were compared to predicted values, the latter corrected using singleton [corrects for both technical problems (TP)] or twin [corrects for both technical problems (TP) and decreased soft-tissue deposition (DSTD)] correction factors where appropriate. Two sets of growth potential realization index (GPRI) values and their corresponding neonatal growth assessment scores (NGAS) were calculated and compared to previously established normal values. Birth measurements were compared with appropriate population age-specific size curves. These data were used to characterize and classify the growth status of each twin neonate. Results: Individualized growth assessment identified five primary types of growth outcomes: normal (Group I, 45%); primarily DSTD (Group II, 22.5%); IUGR (Group III, 15%); above average soft-tissue deposition (Group IV, 5%); and growth acceleration (Group V, 7.5%). Within Group I was a subgroup with evidence of DSTD (Group Ib, 33.3% of Group I). Group II could be divided into two subgroups, one with only DSTD (Group IIa, 44.4% of Group II) and one with both DSTD and other growth abnormalities (Group IIb, 55.6% of Group II). Group III had multiple growth abnormalities which were more severe than those seen in Group II. All normal neonates were AGA and had virtually all anatomic parameters within their respective normal ranges. Of the neonates with definite evidence of IUGR (Groups IIb and III), only 4 of 11 (36.4%) were SGA and only 6 of 11 (54.5%) had any of the five anatomic parameters below their respective normal ranges. Only 1 of 3 (33.3%) of neonates with growth acceleration was LGA and none (0%) of the five anatomic parameters were above their respective normal ranges. Conclusions: Individualized growth assessment methods provide a more comprehensive assessment of growth outcome in twins and detect a decrease in soft-tissue deposition not identifiable with conventional growth assessment procedures. The latter procedures are also less sensitive in the detection of both IUGR and growth acceleration. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.