cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Homeodomain Protein HOXB13 Regulates the Cellular Response to Androgens

HOXB13 is a member of the homeodomain family of sequence-specific transcription factors and, together with the androgen receptor (AR), plays a critical role in the normal development of the prostate gland. We demonstrate here that, in prostate cancer cells, HOXB13 is a key determinant of the response to androgens. Specifically, it was determined that HOXB13 interacts with the DNA-binding domain of AR and inhibits the transcription of genes that contain an androgen-response element (ARE). In contrast, the AR:HOXB13 complex confers androgen responsiveness to promoters that contain a specific HOXB13-response element. Further, HOXB13 and AR synergize to enhance the transcription of genes that contain a HOX element juxtaposed to an ARE. The profound effects of HOXB13 knockdown on androgen-regulated proliferation, migration, and lipogenesis in prostate cancer cells highlight the importance of the observed changes in gene expression.
Modeling Software Contention Using Colored Petri Nets

Commercial servers, such as database or application servers, often attempt to improve performance via multi-threading. Improper multi-threading architectures can incur contention, limiting performance improvements. Contention occurs primarily at two levels: (1) blocking on locks shared between threads at the software level and (2) contending for physical resources (such as the cpu or disk) at the hardware level. Given a set of hardware resources and an application design, there is an optimal number of threads that maximizes performance. This paper describes a novel technique we developed to select the optimal number of threads of a target-tracking application using a simulation-based colored Petri nets (CPNs) model. This paper makes two contributions to the performance analysis of multi-threaded applications. First, the paper presents an approach for calibrating a simulation model using training set data to reflect actual performance parameters accurately. Second, the model predictions are validated empirically against the actual application performance and the predicted data is used to compute the optimal configuration of threads in an application to achieve the desired performance. Our results show that predicting performance of application thread characteristics is possible and can be used to optimize performance.
Review of current research at Boston Children's Hospital

Both clinical and laboratory studies are being undertaken to investigate the deleterious neurologic and developmental effects associated with cardiopulmonary bypass, hypothermia, and circulatory arrest in the neonate and infant. A prospective, randomized clinical study of 171 neonates and young infants compared circulatory arrest with low-flow bypass (50 mL.kg-1.min-1). Circulatory arrest was associated with a higher incidence of early postoperative seizures as well as greater release of creatine kinase-BB. There was a strong correlation between duration of circulatory arrest and seizures (p = 0.004). The late consequences of these findings will be known at the completion of developmental assessment of all patients at 1 and 4 years of age. Laboratory studies have used a miniature piglet model that closely replicates clinical circulatory arrest. High-energy phosphate stores determined by magnetic resonance spectroscopy were maintained in animals undergoing 1 hour of low-flow bypass but became undetectable after 32 minutes of a 1-hour period of circulatory arrest. However, they returned to baseline within 3 hours of reperfusion as did cerebral blood flow and metabolism determined by microsphere studies. Piglets undergoing 1 hour of circulatory arrest showed more rapid recovery of cerebral adenosine triphosphate content and intracellular pH when managed with the pH-stat strategy during hypothermic bypass than with the more alkaline alpha-stat strategy. Other laboratory studies have examined pharmacologic methods of reducing cerebral injury associated with circulatory arrest including aprotinin, anti-CD18, neuronal receptor antagonists (MK801, NBQX), and blockade of glutamate release with adenosine in a cerebroplegia solution. These studies have suggested a number of promising approaches to improving the technique of circulatory arrest.
Predation byIridomyrmex humilis [Hym.: Formicidae] on eggs ofChrysoperla carnea [Neu.: Chrysopidae] released for inundative control ofIllinoia liriodendri [Hom.: Aphididae] infestingLiriodendron tulipifera

In an effort to suppress the tuliptree aphidIllinoia liriodendri (Monell), approximately 2,000 eggs ofChrysoperla carnea (Stephens) from a commercial insectary were released 4 times on each of 8 tuliptreesLiriodendron tulipifera L. in Berkeley, California, during the spring of 1984.
Role of Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 2 in Experimental Bacillus cereus Endophthalmitis

Bacillus cereus causes a uniquely rapid and blinding intraocular infection, endophthalmitis. B. cereus replicates in the eye, synthesizes numerous toxins, and incites explosive intraocular inflammation. The mechanisms involved in the rapid and explosive intraocular immune response have not been addressed. Because Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are integral to the initial recognition of organisms during infection, we hypothesized that the uniquely explosive immune response observed during B. cereus endophthalmitis is directly influenced by the presence of TLR2, a known Gram-positive pathogen recognition receptor. To address this hypothesis, we compared the courses of experimental B. cereus endophthalmitis in wild type C57BL/6J mice to that of age-matched homozygous TLR2-/- mice. Output parameters included analysis of bacterial growth, inflammatory cell (PMN) infiltration, cytokine/chemokine kinetics, retinal function testing, and histology, with N≥4 eyes/assay/time point/mouse strain. B. cereus grew at similar rates to108 CFU/eye by 12 h, regardless of the mouse strain. Retinal function was preserved to a greater degree in infected TLR2-/- eyes compared to that of infected wild type eyes, but infected eyes of both mouse strains lost significant function. Retinal architecture was preserved in infected TLR2-/- eyes, with limited retinal and vitreal cellular infiltration compared to that of infected wild type eyes. Ocular myeloperoxidase activities corroborated these results. In general, TNFα, IFNγ, IL6, and KC were detected in greater concentrations in infected wild type eyes than in infected TLR2-/- eyes. The absence of TLR2 resulted in decreased intraocular proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine levels and altered recruitment of inflammatory cells into the eye, resulting in less intraocular inflammation and preservation of retinal architecture, and a slightly greater degree of retinal function. These results demonstrate TLR2 is an important component of the initial ocular response to B. cereus endophthalmitis.
Ontogenetic scaling of the morphology and biomechanics of the feeding apparatus in the Pacific hagfish Eptatretus stoutii

The form and function of the support skeleton, musculature and teeth were examined in an ontogenetic series of Pacific hagfish Eptatretus stoutii spanning about a six-fold range in total length (L(T)). Tooth area, feeding apparatus length, basal plate size, theoretical dental plate retractile force, penetration force and applied tooth stress were measured relative to body size. Morphological variables (e.g. tooth area and basal plate size) scaled with positive allometry and functional variables (e.g. retractile force and applied tooth stress) scaled isometrically with L(T). These results suggest that juveniles do not undergo ontogenetic dietary changes and consume functionally equivalent prey to adults, although adults can grasp proportionally larger portions of food. Low tooth stress in juveniles and adults imposes mechanical constraints to puncturing and tearing, which are circumvented by a preference for softer prey tissue or the inclusion of knotting behaviours for reducing tougher prey.
Head‐to‐head polymers

Head-to-head (H–H) linkages were observed in addition and condensation polymers. Pure H–H polymers of polyolefins, poly(vinyl halides), and polyacrylates were prepared, and the fundamental polymer properties were determined. They included mechanical, spectral, thermal, and degradation behaviors. These properties were compared with those of the traditional head-to-tail polymers. Blends of H–H polymers were also studied. The thermal and thermal-degradation behaviors of the blends were also investigated. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4013–4022, 2000
DNA modifying agents as tools for studying chromatin structure

DNA modification leads to mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and cytotoxicity. Because the majority of cellular DNA exists as chromatin, histone and other proteins may mediate DNA binding and bonding reactions in vivo. Chromatin modification by a wide variety of agents, including intercalators, groove binders, cross-linkers, and strand cleavers, is reviewed. Although the majority of agents demonstrate a preference for linker over core DNA, the sequence preference appears to be retained in most cases, suggesting that both the major and minor grooves in chromatin are quite accessible to small molecules. Furthermore, only a handful of agents demonstrate the 10-11 base pair periodicity of hydroxyl radical, strongly supporting a dynamic model of nucleosome structure.
TV viewing and BMI by race/ethnicity and socio-economic status.

Objective To assess the association between TV viewing and obesity by race/ethnicity and socio-economic status. Design Cross-sectional analysis of 5,087 respondents to the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a nationally representative sample of US adults. Multivariate regression models were computed to assess the association between quartiles of TV viewing and BMI, stratified by race/ethnicity, educational attainment, employment and health insurance status. Results Findings indicate that increased TV viewing was associated with higher odds for being overweight/obese in the entire sample, while adjusting for physical activity and other confounders. After stratification by race/ethnicity, increased odds for overweight/obesity in the 3rd and 4th quartiles of TV viewing (e.g., 3rd quartile- cumulative OR = 1.43, 95%CI 1.07–1.92) was observed in non-Hispanic whites, with statistical significance. In non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics, the odds were similar to whites, but did not reach statistical significance. Significant relations between greater TV viewing and increased BMI were observed in college graduates and non-graduates, those with health insurance and the employed. Conclusions This study extends previous research by examining potential inconsistencies in this association between various racial/ethnic groups and some socio-economic variables, which primarily were not found.
Determination of optimal reactor system configuration for polymerization reactions. I. Free‐radical polymerization at constant temperature

A systematic procedure was developed for selecting the type of reactors or a reactor system configuration for polymerization reactions. Two different mechanisms were investigated, and the “best” reactor system to give the desired quality of the product was determined using a systems synthesis technique. The behavior of the system in the neighborhood of the optimal solution was explored, and the effect of variation in the rate constants and the initial concentrations of the catalyst and the monomer on the optimal reactor system was examined. Recycle streams were introduced and their effect on the system performance was investigated, and finally the applicability of the systems synthesis technique to other polymer reactor design problems was discussed.
The Vanishing Protestant Majority

Since colonial times, the United States has been a majority Protestant nation. But the proportion Protestant in the population has been falling for over a decade, and Protestants are poised to lose their majority status. This decline results from a decline in the intergenerational retention rate for Protestants and from the attrition of Protestants among the youngest cohorts. Shifts in immigration also contribute to the Protestant decline. We also consider the role of an increasing share of people identifying as generic Christians and as inter- or nondenominational.
Effects of immunotherapy on the early, late, and rechallenge nasal reaction to provocation with allergen : changes in inflammatory mediators and cells

We investigated the effects of immunotherapy (IT) on the early (ER), late (LPR), and rechallenge reactions (RCRs) to nasal challenge with antigen as well as on the cutaneous ER and LPR to intradermal skin challenge. Our expectation was that IT would have a preferential effect on the LPR, and our aim was to understand the mechanism. Twenty-one ragweed hay fever-sensitive subjects were treated with a moderate dose of antigen extract (maintenance dose of 1.94 micrograms of antigen E (Amb a I)) during a period of 8 months (total dose equivalent to 24 micrograms of antigen E), and 20 matched subjects received placebo injections in a double-blind manner. Both groups underwent identical nasal challenges and intradermal skin tests with ragweed-antigen extract both before (1985) and during (1986) IT. Symptom and medication diaries, recorded during seasonal exposure, and changes in specific serum IgE and IgG antibodies confirmed the efficacy of the administered IT dose. Between-group analysis revealed that IT significantly reduced the levels of histamine, TAME-esterase activity, and kinins, as well as symptoms of rhinorrhea and congestion generated during the ER to nasal challenge. Within-group paired analysis demonstrated ER, LPR, and RCR mediators and symptoms also to be reduced by IT. Surprisingly, the placebo-treated group demonstrated an increase in the ER. There was no decrease of the LPR without an antecedent decrease of the ER. IT did not clearly change the late cellular inflammatory response. In the case of skin challenge, IT significantly reduced the cutaneous ER. The reduction of the cutaneous LPR was more pronounced. We speculate that moderate-dose IT ameliorates seasonal symptoms of allergic rhinitis by reducing the ER, LPR, and RCR to antigen challenge but does not preferentially reduce the nasal LPR.
The Demise of the Blockbuster

For decades, blockbuster drugs have nourished Big Pharma, but it is increasingly uncertain whether they can be counted on to support the industry in the future. David Cutler writes that trends suggest that the blockbuster model may not be sustainable.
Understanding the causes and consequences of animal movement: a cautionary note on fitting and interpreting regression models with time-dependent covariates

Summary New technologies have made it possible to simultaneously, and remotely, collect time series of animal location data along with indicators of individuals' physiological condition. These data, along with animal movement models that incorporate individual physiological and behavioural states, promise to offer new insights into determinants of animal behaviour. Care must be taken, however, when attempting to infer causal relationships from biotelemetry data. The possibility of unmeasured confounders, responsible for driving both physiological measurements and animal movement, must be considered. Further, response values may be predictive of future covariate values . When this occurs, the covariate process is said to be endogenous with respect to the response variable, which has implications for both choosing statistical estimation targets and also estimators of these quantities. We explore models that attempt to relate = log(daily movement rate) to = log(average daily heart rate) using data collected from a black bear (Ursus americanus) population in Minnesota. The regression parameter for was 0·19 and statistically different from 0 (P < 0·001) when daily measurements were assumed to be independent, but residuals were highly autocorrelated. Assuming an autoregressive model (ar(1)) for the residuals, however, resulted in a negative slope estimate (-0·001) that was not statistically different from 0. The sensitivity of regression parameters to the assumed error structure can be explained by exploring relationships between lagged and current values of x and y and between parameters in the independence and ar(1) models. We hypothesize that an unmeasured confounder may be responsible for the behaviour of the regression parameters. In addition, measurement error associated with daily movement rates may also play a role. Similar issues often arise in epidemiological, biostatistical and econometrics applications; directed acyclical graphs, representing causal pathways, are central to understanding potential problems (and their solutions) associated with modelling time-dependent covariates. In addition, we suggest that incorporating lagged responses and lagged predictors as covariates may prove useful for diagnosing when and explaining why some conclusions are sensitive to model assumptions.
The vacuum state in quantum field theory

We wish to show that in a local quantum field theory which describes zero-mass particles the existence of a vacuum state is neither derivable from nor contradicted by the field equations and commutation relations which define the theory. It is an independent postulate which can be added for convenience or left off without changing the essential physical content of the theory.
MRI of hemorrhagic choroid plexus cyst

An unusual case of hemorrhage within a cyst in the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle is presented. Choroid plexus cysts are commonly found incidentally on imaging studies, particularly MRI, where their characteristic appearance produces little diagnostic difficulty. In this case, high signal intensity of the cyst contents on T1-weighted images and apparent hemosiderin deposition in the cyst wall, not previously described, represented a dramatic change from a study 10 weeks previously and allowed a presumptive diagnosis of hemorrhage into the cyst, a presumption further supported by the changes in signal 20 weeks later.
Concept Representation and Database Structures in Fuzzy Social Relational Networks

We discuss the idea of fuzzy relationships and their role in modeling weighted social relational networks. The paradigm of computing with words is introduced, and the role that fuzzy sets play in representing linguistic concepts is described. We discuss how these technologies can provide a bridge between a network analyst's linguistic description of social network concepts and the formal model of the network. We then turn to some examples of taking an analyst's network concepts and formally representing them in terms of network properties. We first do this for the concept of clique and then for the idea of node importance. Finally, we introduce the idea of vector-valued nodes and begin developing a technology of social network database theory.
Activity Patterns of Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula) and Great Egrets (Ardea alba): A Seasonal Comparison

Abstract. Studies must be performed throughout the year to determine how the seasonal energy requirements of Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula) and Great Egrets (Ardea alba) change. Foraging behavior was quantified during the breeding season in Kansas and during the non-breeding season in Florida using energetic algorithms and scan sampling. Fifty-eight percent (n = 287) of breeding Snowy Egrets were observed ambulating while 51% (n = 271) of non-breeding Snowy Egrets were observed loafing. Standing foraging was the most commonly observed behavior among Great Egrets in both the breeding (54%, n = 91) and non-breeding (38%, n = 164) seasons. Behavior was dependent on season for both Snowy Egrets (χ2 = 200.1, P < 0.001) and Great Egrets (χ2 = 187.4, P < 0.001). During the breeding season, Snowy Egrets expended 0.13 ± 0.06 W (Watts) in rivers and 0.08 + 0.02 W at weirs. During the non-breeding season Snowy Egrets expended 0.06 ± 0.01 W. During the breeding season Great Egrets expended 0.11 + 0.02 W at both weirs a...
Property rights enforcement and no-till adoption in crop-livestock systems

Abstract In developing country agriculture property rights over crop residue left on privately farmed land are often poorly enforced, resulting in common grazing. The introduction of no-till agriculture, a technology that presents an alternative use for residue, may sufficiently increase its value so that farmers enforce property rights over this resource. Enforcement of property rights diminishes the amount of common residue available for grazing, and consequently makes the adoption of no-till by other farmers more costly. Using a model of property rights enforcement and technology adoption in a mixed crop-livestock system calibrated with data from Morocco, I demonstrate how one farmer’s no-till adoption can prevent other farmers from adopting and present some welfare implications of technology induced property rights enforcement.
Learning a Small Mixture of Trees

The problem of approximating a given probability distribution using a simpler distribution plays an important role in several areas of machine learning, for example variational inference and classification. Within this context, we consider the task of learning a mixture of tree distributions. Although mixtures of trees can be learned by minimizing the KL-divergence using an EM algorithm, its success depends heavily on the initialization. We propose an efficient strategy for obtaining a good initial set of trees that attempts to cover the entire observed distribution by minimizing the α-divergence with α = ∞. We formulate the problem using the fractional covering framework and present a convergent sequential algorithm that only relies on solving a convex program at each iteration. Compared to previous methods, our approach results in a significantly smaller mixture of trees that provides similar or better accuracies. We demonstrate the usefulness of our approach by learning pictorial structures for face recognition.
Flow inside a coral colony measured using magnetic resonance velocimetry

The velocity field within scale models of branching coral Stylophora pistillata colonies was measured using magnetic resonance velocimetry (MRV). The models were based on digital representations of real coral skeletons derived using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and constructed using rapid-prototype manufacturing. Two morphologies of S. pistillata from the Red Sea grown in different flow regimes were used. To simplify visualization of the data, velocities were parsed into a series of spherical shells, giving the velocity distributions as functions of distance from coral center for both morphologies. The low-flow morphology distributed flow velocity relatively evenly throughout the interior. In contrast, the high-flow morphology showed a wider range of velocities with regions of flow channeling and flow stagnation.
Epicardial access for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias

Since the introduction of percutaneous epicardial access for the purpose of mapping and ablation of cardiac arrhythmias, this technique has become an important adjunct and at times the preferred approach to treat certain cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, this approach is currently also being considered for a number of other cardiovascular applications such as epicardial pacing, left atrial appendage ligature occlusion, etc. The focus of this review is to discuss relevant aspects of pericardial anatomy, and various methods of epicardial access.
Animation support in a user interface toolkit: flexible, robust, and reusable abstractions

Animation can be a very effective mechanism to convey information in visualization and user interface settings. However, integrating animated presentations into user interfaces has typicadly been a difficult task since, to date, there has been little or no explicit support for animation in window systems or user interface toolkits. This paper describes how the Artkit user interface toolkit has been extended with new animation support abstractions designed to overcome this problem. These abstractions provide a powerful but convenient base for building a range of animations, supporting techniques such as simple motion-blur, “squash and stretch”, use of arcing trajectories, anticipation and follow through, and “slow-in / slow-out” transitions. Because these
Veganism Is a Viable Alternative to Conventional Diet Therapy for Improving Blood Lipids and Glycemic Control

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) have each outlined a set of dietary recommendations aimed at improving glycemic control and blood lipids, respectively. However, traditional vegan diets (low-fat diets that proscribe animal product consumption) are also effective at improving glycemic control, and dietary portfolios (vegan diets that contain prescribed amounts of plant sterols, viscous fibers, soy protein, and nuts) are also effective at improving blood lipids. The purpose of this review was to compare the effects of traditional vegan diets and dietary portfolios with ADA and NCEP diets on body weight, blood lipids, blood pressure, and glycemic control. The main findings are that traditional vegan diets appear to improve glycemic control better than ADA diets in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while dietary portfolios have been consistently shown to improve blood lipids better than NCEP diets in hypercholesterolemic individuals.
Copolymerization of aldehydes

Copolymerization of aldehydes has been carried out in the presence of anionic and cationic catalysts. Triisobutylaluminum gave an elastic copolymer of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde which did not melt until above 300°C. and did not dissolve in any organic solvents. The rate of the copolymerization of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde at −78°C. was very rapid, the reaction going to completion within 30 min. The thermal stability of the copolymer of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde was better than that of polyacetaldehyde but was inferior to that of polyformaldehyde; it reaches a minimum in the composition range of 40/60 to 60/40 of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.
Optical studies of electron and hole trapping levels in quartz

Abstract Illumination with monochromatic light into various color-center absorption bands of quartz at liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT) after previous X-ray irradiation at room temperature (RT) re-excites some glow peaks of the “usual” glow-curve in the region between LNT and RT. Re-excitation can also be performed for peaks above the temperature at which the crystal was X-irradiated. The effect has been investigated in detail for crystals doped with various impurities and under various conditions. The results are in agreement with the generally accepted models for the electronic processes in Quartz.
Comprehensive study of DNA copy number analysis using Sigma filter

DNA copy number aberrations are characteristic of many genomic diseases including cancer. Microarray-based Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) is a recently developed high-throughput technique used to detect DNA copy number (DCN) aberrations. Unfortunately, the observed copy number changes are corrupted by noise, making aberration boundaries hard to detect. In the first part of this paper, we propose a novel technique to analyze DCN aberrations based on the Sigma filter algorithm. We establish its superior performance for denoising DCN data and low computational complexity as compared to previous techniques. We present a comparison study between our approach and other smoothing and statistical approaches, the wavelet-based, LookA-head, CGH segmentation and HMM. We provide examples using real data to illustrate the performance of the algorithms. In the second part of this paper, we extend our algorithm by considering the effect of nonuniform physical distance between the probes in the aCGH data. Finally, we provide simulated and real data examples to study this effect.
A positive role for Short gastrulation in modulating BMP signaling during dorsoventral patterning in the Drosophila embryo

Positional information in the dorsoventral axis of the Drosophila embryo is encoded by a BMP activity gradient formed by synergistic signaling between the BMP family members Decapentaplegic (DPP) and Screw (SCW). short gastrulation (sog), which is functionally homologous to Xenopus Chordin, is expressed in the ventrolateral regions of the embryo and has been shown to act as a local antagonist of BMP signaling. Here we demonstrate that SOG has a second function, which is to promote BMP signaling on the dorsal side of the embryo. We show that a weak, homozygous-viable sog mutant is enhanced to lethality by reduction in the activities of the Smad family members Mad or Medea, and that the lethality is caused by defects in the molecular specification and subsequent cellular differentiation of the dorsal-most cell type, the amnioserosa. While previous data had suggested that the negative function of SOG is directed against SCW, we present data that suggests that the positive activity of SOG is directed towards DPP. We demonstrate that Chordin shares the same apparent ligand specificity as does SOG, preferentially inhibiting SCW but not DPP activity. However, in Drosophila assays Chordin does not have the same capacity to elevate BMP signaling as does SOG, identifying a functional difference in the otherwise well conserved process of dorsoventral pattern formation in arthropods and chordates.
Considerations and Activities Preceding the Onsite Visit

The utility of onsite evaluation visits will typically vary in direct proportion to the thoroughness and care that went into the evaluators’ preparations for those visits. The several issues and activities that should be considered in preparing for onsite evaluations are discussed in the following sections.
Cosolvent preferential molecular interactions in aqueous solutions.

We extend the application of Kirkwood–Buff (KB) solution theory integrals to calculate cosolvent preferential interaction parameters from molecular simulations by deriving from a single simulation trajectory the excess chemical potential of the solute in addition to the solute–solvent molecular distribution functions. The solute excess chemical potential is derived from the potential distribution theorem (PDT) and used to define the local solvent domain around the solute, as distinguished from bulk solution. We show that this KB/PDT characterization of preferential molecular interactions resolves the problem of convergence of the preferential interaction parameter in the bulk solution limit, and as such, gives reliable estimates of preferential interaction parameters for methanol, ethanol, glycerol, and urea in aqueous cosolvent solutions with neopentane or tetramethyl ammonium ion as the solute. Preferential interaction parameters that are also calculated on the basis of cosolvent proximal distributions ...
Training, Cost Containment, and Practice: Effect on Infectious Diseases

In 1978 the statement was made that if any more infectious disease specialists were trained they would be culturing one another. The increase in infectious disease consultants continues unabated. The number of training programs in infectious disease is rising in proportion to the number of fellows being trained; one-third of these training programs are in New York, California, and Texas, and a number of them are not associated directly with medical schools. It is often argued that there is no reason to restrict the number of infectious disease consultants because there is plenty for them to do. There are an equal number of arguments against unbridled growth, including the fact that the existence of specialists in most community hospitals with lead to fewer referrals to the teaching centers and the resulting lack of patients will lead training programs to atrophy. Infectious disease is destined to function best as an academic specialty whose trainees should pursue careers primarily as investigators. The number of clinicians leaving training should be reduced and not further glut the marketplace; they should be based in academic divisions and devote their clinical time and effort to the care of complex referral and to indigent patients.
The Crusade for Honest Weight: The Origins of an Overlooked Progressive Movement

For all its typically Progressive Era characteristics and national scope, the “honest weight movement” has long been hidden in plain sight. Seemingly ubiquitous and mundane, the common grocery scale was the intersecting borderland of industry, government, marketplace, and consumer. On the one hand, the regulation of weights and measures, being one of the first forms of governmental regulation of the marketplace dating back to the ancient world, seems so unobjectionable and commonplace that the Progressive Era movement for its more rigorous and efficient administration does not seem like it could have been a very controversial proposal. Who, after all, could object to clear and consistent standards of measurement and their universal application? Thus, the appearance of a movement to reform the ubiquitous and the mundane has not elicited the same historical attention that novel forms of government regulation have.
ZrFe, a Sextuply-Bonded Diatomic Transition Metal?

Diatomic ZrFe has been spectroscopically investigated for the first time, with the optical spectrum recorded in the range from 13890 cm–1 to 18870 cm–1. In the region from 13890 to 17500 cm–1, a single exceptionally weak vibrational progression is found. Band origins, excited state vibrational frequencies and anharmonicities, excited state lifetimes, and the ground state vibrational interval, ΔG″1/2, are reported for the five most abundant isotopomers. For the most abundant species, 90Zr56Fe (47.2%), these values are: T0 = 13931.9(1.2) cm–1, ω′e = 325.05(54) cm–1, ω′ex′e = 1.589(40) cm–1, and ΔG″1/2 = 452.2 cm–1. Rotationally resolved studies have revealed ground and excited state rotational constants and Ω values, bond lengths and rotation-vibration constants, giving B0″ = 0.138786(30) cm–1 and r0″ = 1.87685(20) A for 90Zr56Fe. The ground state and all observed excited states have Ω = 0. On the basis of the short bond length, the ground state of ZrFe is assigned as a nominally sextuply bonded 1Σ+ (Ω = 0+...
Association of HbA1c to BOLUS Scores Among Youths with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract Background: Frequency of mealtime insulin bolusing (BOLUS) is a promising new objective assessment of adherence in youths with type 1 diabetes (T1D). As further confirmation of the validity of BOLUS, we compare the associations of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values of T1D youths with the original scoring of BOLUS and two alternative scoring procedures: mean mealtime boluses within a 2-h meal window (2h-BOLUS) and total daily frequency of boluses (TOTAL-BOLUS). In addition, we assess HbA1c associations of these three procedures, including interaction terms for mealtime boluses plus correction boluses. Subjects and Methods: Blood glucose meter data, insulin pump records, and HbA1c levels were collected from a combined clinical and research database for a random sample of 100 youths (mean age, 12.7 ± 4.6 years). Youths' pump records were scored using the published methodology and alternative procedures for evaluating insulin use. Results: Youths' BOLUS, TOTAL-BOLUS, and mealtime boluses within a 2-h...
Generic Vector Bundle Maps

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the theorem relating the singularities of a generic vector bundle map from one vector bundle to another with the characteristic classes of the two vector bundles. The proof that is presented is because of Mather; it is more elegant and conceptually simpler than the original proof. The stress is on the main ideas that could be used to study homological properties of generic singularities of other structures as well. The chapter discusses the various techniques to prove a stronger result with no genericity assumptions for analytic maps including the present theorem as a special case. It presents the definition and discusses the main properties of vector bundle maps.
A retrospective comparison of programmed intermittent epidural bolus with continuous epidural infusion for maintenance of labor analgesia

AbstractObjective: To assess whether maintenance of labor epidural analgesia using programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) is associated with reduced local anesthetic (LA) consumption, patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) use, and rescue analgesia requirements compared to continuous epidural infusion (CEI).Research design and methods: This is a retrospective study at an academic university medical center. Women receiving epidural labor analgesia from March to July of 2015 were identified and categorized into three groups: 1) CEI 5 mL/hr, 2) PIEB 5 mL/60 minutes, 3) PIEB 3 mL/30 minutes. The LA consisted of bupivacaine 0.125 mg/mL and fentanyl 2 μg/mL. All patients had similar PCEA settings. Data were collected on pattern of LA usage, obstetric outcomes and Bromage scores.Main outcome measures: The primary endpoint was total volume of LA consumed per hour. Secondary outcomes included need for clinician boluses, pattern of PCEA use, degree of motor blockade and delivery mode.Results: We includ...
Direct applications of a nanocomposite resin system: Part 1--The evolution of contemporary composite materials.

UNLABELLED The delivery of functional, aesthetic restorations has been simplified by the introduction of contemporary composite materials. The most recent innovation in composite resin technology is the revolutionary application of nanocomposite theories in restorative materials. Contemporary nanocomposite materials deliver increased aesthetics, strength, and durability, combining scientific principles for increased longevity. This article discusses the application of nanocomposite resin systems and demonstrates the historical perspective of composite resin technologies in restorative treatment. The second installment to this series will address the clinical applications of such a system in the anterior region. LEARNING OBJECTIVES This article addresses material selection considerations that must be addressed when selecting an appropriate direct restorative material. Upon reading this article, the reader should: Understand the historical background and application of nanocomposite materials. Be aware of the clinical implications of a nanocomposite resin system.
Risk-Informed Design Changes in a Passive Decay Heat Removal System

The failure probability of a passive decay heat removal (DHR) system after a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) is evaluated as part of a risk-informed design process for a helium-cooled fast reactor....
Vaccine-Induced Antibodies that Neutralize Group 1 and Group 2 Influenza A Viruses

Antibodies capable of neutralizing divergent influenza A viruses could form the basis of a universal vaccine. Here, from subjects enrolled in an H5N1 DNA/MIV-prime-boost influenza vaccine trial, we sorted hemagglutinin cross-reactive memory B cells and identified three antibody classes, each capable of neutralizing diverse subtypes of group 1 and group 2 influenza A viruses. Co-crystal structures with hemagglutinin revealed that each class utilized characteristic germline genes and convergent sequence motifs to recognize overlapping epitopes in the hemagglutinin stem. All six analyzed subjects had sequences from at least one multidonor class, and—in half the subjects—multidonor-class sequences were recovered from >40% of cross-reactive B cells. By contrast, these multidonor-class sequences were rare in published antibody datasets. Vaccination with a divergent hemagglutinin can thus increase the frequency of B cells encoding broad influenza A-neutralizing antibodies. We propose the sequence signature-quantified prevalence of these B cells as a metric to guide universal influenza A immunization strategies.
Protest in the city: Urban spatial restructuring and dissent in New York, 1960–2006:

Accessible space is a necessary component of urban protest. Little research, however, has examined the spatial evolution of protest activity over time. Much of the existing research emphasises the legal right to protest, however, less effort has been made to examine how micro-contexts may facilitate or impede dissent. This research focuses on how the built environment of cities can serve as either attractors or detractors of protest using a unique geocoded sample of 6217 protest events taking place in New York City between 1960 and 2006. I use a spatial count model to examine the relationship between the built environment and protest intensity. The results point to significant shifts in where protests have occurred over time. Protests become increasingly spatially concentrated, with a disproportionate amount of activism taking place on or in close proximity to privately owned public spaces. Spaces in close proximity to powerful organisational or institutional targets also experience heightened protest act...
The Habits of Oil Rule

Ecuador’s northern Amazon was indelibly changed starting from 1967, when a large discovery by a Texaco–Gulf consortium led to the exploitation of the first commercial oil fields in the nation. While a standard narrative asserts that international processes and actors—namely, multinational energy companies like Texaco, now Chevron—powerfully determine the fate of passive, primary material exporting countries, we instead explore the habits of oil rule that characterize contemporary Ecuador. Those habits reveal the nuanced functioning of oil-based political economy in the current conjuncture of recently adopted leftist/populist ideologies combined with reliance on long-held models of political economic growth. From the Aguinda lawsuit to neoliberal policies and economic crisis, we trace the habits of oil rule pre-2006, contrasting them with the subsequent shifts the Correa administration instituted, namely, a humanist and environmentalist agenda under the indigenous cosmological concept of Sumak Kawsay or Buen Vivir. The Revolucion Ciudadana is based on such an ideological and practical restructuring of the relationships between citizens, institutions of all types (e.g., juridical, economic, educational), and the state. Although framed in post-neoliberal discourse invoking a non-Western ethos, Correa’s plan entails a developmentalist agenda and continued dependence on the exploitation of non-renewable natural resources, especially oil.
Anxiolytic benzodiazepines and zopiclone increased road traffic crashes

Source Citation Barbone F, McMahon AD, Davey PG, et al. Association of road-traffic accidents with benzodiazepine use. Lancet. 1998 Oct 24;352:1331-6.
Marcos y marcas, dispositivos disciplinarios y transgresión: la textualidad fronteriza en El deseo del lápiz de Eduardo Lalo

Este estudio examina El deseo del lapiz. Castigo, urbanismo, escritura de Eduardo Lalo ( 2010 ) para develar su impulso indocil y anti-consensual. Con este proposito, exploro, por un lado, los marcos y limites que el foto-texto de Lalo (re)presenta como estructuras de disciplinamiento que buscan contener; y, por el otro, la escritura, las marcas y la escritura-marca, como gestos de trasgresion y “expresion de incontinencia”. Sostengo que Lalo propone en El deseo del lapiz una estetica de quiebres, descolocaciones, tensiones y herejias que resiste a la cultura de la obviedad, obligando a cruzar las fronteras de lo aceptado y acostumbrado y reorganizando las (in)visibilidades. Palabras clave: foto(textualidad), racionalidad disciplinaria, transgresion, (in)visibilidad, ensayo This study examines El deseo del lapiz. Castigo, urbanismo, escritura , by Eduardo Lalo ( 2010 ), in order to reveal its defiant and anti-consensual drive. With this purpose in mind, on one hand I explore frames and limits that are (re)presented in Lalo’s photo-text as disciplining and containing structures; and, on the other, writing, marks and writing-as-mark are interpreted as expressions of defiance and incontinence. I contend that Lalo proposes in El deseo del lapiz an aesthetic of fractures, dislocations, tensions, and heresy that resists a culture of the evident, compelling the reader to cross the boundaries of what is accepted and habitual, and reorganizing the order of the (in)visible. Keywords: photo(textuality), disciplinary rationality, transgression, (in)visibility, essay
Measuring the effect heterogeneity of police enforcement actions across spatial contexts

Abstract Purpose This study tests whether the effect of police actions is influenced by similar crime generators and attractors (CGAs) that influence crime. Said differently, in recognition that the presence of CGAs presents higher risk of crime at certain places, we test whether CGAs similarly create a situation where specific police enforcement actions are more effective at certain types of places than others. Methods Using longitudinal logistic regression models incorporating panel data, we measure the effect of various police enforcement actions on gun violence in Newark, NJ. Risk Terrain Modeling (RTM) was further used to test whether the effect of the enforcement activities vary across spatial contexts. Results When considered on their own, police enforcement actions were associated with increased likelihood of gun violence. However, certain types of enforcement actions conducted where CGAs highly co-locate, as identified through RTM, were associated with decreased likelihood of gun violence. Conclusions Findings suggest that where officers conduct enforcement activities may be as important as what precise enforcement activities they enact. This has implications for the place-based policing tactics. Understanding the spatial context of high-crime areas can help police design strategies in a manner that maximizes their crime prevention utility.
Ethical Decision Making of Future Mexican Managers

A study to measure ethical decision making of Mexican business students compared to their US counterparts. Results suggest that Mexican students’ ethical decision-making frameworks differ from those documented by Keller et al. (2007) in their study of US students. Mexican students were not found to be highly religious, but subscribed more to utilitarian, deontological and hermeneutical frameworks for their ethical values. It is suggested that multinational firms doing business in Mexico might want to schedule ethics training of managers and to have a set of standards that employees can follow.
D-Penicillamine-induced Goodpasture's-like syndrome in primary biliary cirrhosis--successful treatment with plasmapheresis and immunosuppressives.

Abstract A 36-yr-old woman with primary biliary cirrhosis developed a Goodpasture's-like syndrome while on d-penicillamine treatment. She responded dramatically to plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive agents. Her illness was felt to be induced by d-penicillamine. This case illustrates the potential toxicity of d-penicillamine in primary biliary cirrhosis. We suggest that this drug be used only in controlled trials until efficacy is demonstrated.