cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Results of a medication reconciliation survey from the 2006 Society of Hospital Medicine national meeting

BACKGROUND: The status of implementation of medication reconciliation across hospitals is variable to date; the degree to which hospitalists are involved is not known. METHODS: To better describe the current state of medication reconciliation implementation, we conducted a survey of attendees of the 2006 Society of Hospital Medicine national meeting. RESULTS: We identified a lack of uniformity across hospitals with respect to the degree of process implementation. Hospitalists were involved in design and implementation in a majority of cases, and felt that medication reconciliation would likely have a positive impact on patient safety. Tertiary care academic centers were more likely to use physicians to perform medication reconciliation, whereas community hospitals were more likely to involve nurses as well. Pharmacist participation in the medication reconciliation process was found to be quite low. Process and outcome measures were used infrequently. Patients' lack of medication knowledge and absence of preadmission medication information were cited most frequently as barriers to implementation of medication reconciliation. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of medication reconciliation is complex and challenging. Medication information is often incomplete, and elements of the medication reconciliation process result in increased time demands on providers. Current implementation efforts often have physicians and nurses “share” responsibility for compliance, and pharmacists are underutilized in medication reconciliation processes. Hospitalists have thus far played a substantial role in process design and implementation, and should continue to lead the way in advancing efforts to successfully implement medication reconciliation. © 2008 Society of Hospital Medicine. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2008;3(6):465–472. © 2008 Societyof Hospital Medicine.
Ontogeny of gene expression in the gonadotroph of the developing female rat.

During the infantile period of the female rat (8-21 postnatal days [PND] of age), there is a dramatic increase in plasma FSH, which is thought to be important in initiating ovarian activity and, perhaps, the onset of puberty. To begin to understand the regulation of this FSH surge, we determined the ontogenetic development of LHP, FSHI, and GnRH receptor (GnRH-R) mRNA levels in the pituitary gland throughout the infantile period of the female rat. Steady-state mRNA levels were determined by an external standard quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. FSHPI and GnRH-R mRNA levels increased to peak on PND 12 (p < 0.03). LHPI mRNA levels remained relatively constant until rising on PND 18. A GnRH antagonist (10-100 g/animal) was administered daily from PND 8-11 or PND 11-13, and animals were killed on PND 12 or PND 14, respectively. FSHI, LHP, and GnRH-R mRNAs were not affected by GnRH antagonist treatment. Plasma FSH was selectively reduced in the first group, whereas both plasma LH and FSH were suppressed in the second group. These data indicate that gene expression of LHI, FSHPI, and GnRH-R are differentially regulated in the infantile female rat pituitary. GnRH is involved in regulating the secretion of FSH and LH during the infantile period but not in regulating FSHPI, LHP, or GnRH-R mRNA gene expression.
Status of Fishery Chemicals in 1985

Abstract A summary list of registered or approved products is provided for fishery uses, effective June 1985. The current status of efforts to register others and a discussion of the need for new products is presented.
Transcriptome assembly and isoform expression level estimation from biased RNA-Seq reads

Motivation: RNA-Seq uses the high-throughput sequencing technology to identify and quantify transcriptome at an unprecedented high resolution and low cost. However, RNA-Seq reads are usually not uniformly distributed and biases in RNA-Seq data post great challenges in many applications including transcriptome assembly and the expression level estimation of genes or isoforms. Much effort has been made in the literature to calibrate the expression level estimation from biased RNA-Seq data, but the effect of biases on transcriptome assembly remains largely unexplored. Results: Here, we propose a statistical framework for both transcriptome assembly and isoform expression level estimation from biased RNA-Seq data. Using a quasi-multinomial distribution model, our method is able to capture various types of RNA-Seq biases, including positional, sequencing and mappability biases. Our experimental results on simulated and real RNA-Seq datasets exhibit interesting effects of RNA-Seq biases on both transcriptome assembly and isoform expression level estimation. The advantage of our method is clearly shown in the experimental analysis by its high sensitivity and precision in transcriptome assembly and the high concordance of its estimated expression levels with quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction data. Availability: CEM is freely available at http://www.cs.ucr.edu/~liw/cem.html. Contact: liw@cs.ucr.edu Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Analyzing feature generation for value-function approximation

We analyze a simple, Bellman-error-based approach to generating basis functions for value-function approximation. We show that it generates orthogonal basis functions that provably tighten approximation error bounds. We also illustrate the use of this approach in the presence of noise on some sample problems.
IL-7 Functionally Segregates the Pro-B Cell Stage by Regulating Transcription of Recombination Mediators across Cell Cycle

Ag receptor diversity involves the introduction of DNA double-stranded breaks during lymphocyte development. To ensure fidelity, cleavage is confined to the G(0)-G(1) phase of the cell cycle. One established mechanism of regulation is through periodic degradation of the RAG2 recombinase protein. However, there are additional levels of protection. In this paper, we show that cyclical changes in the IL-7R signaling pathway functionally segregate pro-B cells according to cell cycle status. In consequence, the level of a downstream effector of IL-7 signaling, phospho-STAT5, is inversely correlated with cell cycle expression of Rag, a key gene involved in recombination. Higher levels of phopho-STAT5 in S-G(2) correlate with decreased Rag expression and Rag relocalization to pericentromeric heterochromatin. These cyclical changes in transcription and locus repositioning are ablated upon transformation with v-Abl, which renders STAT5 constitutively active across the cell cycle. We propose that this activity of the IL-7R/STAT5 pathway plays a critical protective role in development, complementing regulation of RAG2 at the protein level, to ensure that recombination does not occur during replication. Our data, suggesting that pro-B cells are not a single homogeneous population, explain inconsistencies in the role of IL-7 signaling in regulating Igh recombination.
Activation of endothelial NADPH oxidase during normoxic lung ischemia is KATP channel dependent

Previous studies have shown endothelial cell membrane depolarization and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in endothelial cells with abrupt reduction in shear stress (ischemia). This stud...
An integrated microprocessor support software system

As the commercial use of microprocessors increases, the need for various support software tools arises. These tools include assemblers to aid in the creation of programs, and digital simulators to aid in their checkout. Raytheon's Automatic Micro Processor Support (RAMPS) system is an integrated set of support software programs designed to take advantage of the microprogrammable aspect of the target processor.There are three main components of the RAMPS system - a micro-assembler, a macro-assembler, and a digital simulator. In addition there is a control system, through which the user communicates with all parts of the system. RAMPS is designed to be independent of the particular macro-instruction set determined by the micro-program, insofar as is possible. Thus, it is a versatile system which can be used with any of the various macro-instruction sets developed for the target machine.The RAMPS system is written in FORTRAN and runs on the CDC 6700 computer under the KRONOS 2. 1 Operating System. Designed to support a Raytheon-built microprocessor, its flexibility has already been demonstrated by adaptation to two new, architecturally similar, microprocessors.
A FUZZY SUPERSYMMETRIC NON-LINEAR SIGMA MODEL

We present the ideas leading to the construction of non-linear sigma model on the fuzzy supersphere $S_F^{(2,2)}$. In a recent article1 Bott projectors have been used to obtain the fuzzy ${\mathbb C}P^1$ model. Here we obtain the supersymmetric extensions of these projectors and their fuzzy versions. The latter are then used to construct the non-linear sigma model on $S_F^{(2,2)}$. We discuss the interpretation of the resulting model as a finite-dimensional matrix model.
Imperfect Oriented Attachment: Dislocation Generation in Defect-Free Nanocrystals

Dislocations are common defects in solids, yet all crystals begin as dislocation-free nuclei. The mechanisms by which dislocations form during early growth are poorly understood. When nanocrystalline materials grow by oriented attachment at crystallographically specific surfaces and there is a small misorientation at the interface, dislocations result. Spiral growth at two or more closely spaced screw dislocations provides a mechanism for generating complex polytypic and polymorphic structures. These results are of fundamental importance to understanding crystal growth.
Minimum energy transmission over a wireless fading channel with packet deadlines

We address transmission of data with deadline constraints over a wireless fading channel. Specifically, the system model consists of a wireless transmitter with data packets arriving to its queue having strict deadline constraints. The transmitter can control the transmission rate over time and the expended power depends on both the chosen rate and the present channel state. The objective is to obtain a rate-control policy that serves the data to meet the deadline constraints while also minimizing the transmission energy expenditure. Using a novel approach based on cumulative curves methodology and continuous-time stochastic control formulation, we obtain the optimal transmission policy under various specific scenarios. Utilizing these results, we then present an energy-efficient policy for the case of arbitrary packet arrivals and deadline constraints, and also give simulation results comparing its performance with a non-adaptive scheme.
EXTRAOCULAR SENSITIVITY TO POLARIZED LIGHT IN AN ECHINODERM

This study tests the hypotheses that the birefringent calcite and stereom structure of the brittlestar (Ophiuroidea, Echinodermata) endoskeleton polarizes light and that certain brittlestars respond to polarized light. The first hypothesis was tested in Ophioderma brevispinum by examining ossicles from freshly killed specimens under polarized light. This analysis revealed that the lateral arm shields, oral arm shields, arm spines and aboral disk ossicles are dichroic and thus polarize light. The second hypothesis was tested in two orientation experiments under polarized light. The results from the first orientation experiment showed (1) that, under polarized light, animals oriented significantly and unimodally, (2) that, under polarized light with the e-vector perpendicular to that in 1, animals oriented significantly and unimodally to within 18 degrees of the bearing of the animals in 1, and (3) that, under unpolarized light, animals did not orient significantly. The results from the second orientation experiment showed that, under polarized light, animals oriented significantly and unimodally to within 17 degrees of an individual preference previously established under polarized light; but under unpolarized light, animals did not orient significantly to an individual preference established under polarized light. Thus, O. brevispinum orients under polarized, but not unpolarized, light. The unimodal orientation and lack of consistent alignment with the e-vector suggest that polarized light is not used as a directional cue but instead as a signal to sustain oriented behavior. The dichroism of the ossicles of O. brevispinum and the animal's capacity (though eyeless) to discriminate between polarized and unpolarized light suggest that the mechanism of polarization sensitivity may rely on polarizing filters built from the animal's skeleton.
Avoidance behavior in two sympatric planaria species: effects of conspecific and heterospecific chemical alarm cues

In many aquatic animals, predator avoidance can be stimulated by chemical cues, including those released by injured prey (alarm cues). Alarm cues of both conspecific and heterospecific origin have been identified within several fish taxa, where phylogenetic conservation of the cue-response complex is common. Turbellarian flatworms (planaria) are among the simplest animals known to respond to chemical cues released by injured conspecifics. We examined how two locally sympatric planaria species respond to conspecific and heterospecific chemical cues using macerated tissue suspensions. Brown (Girardia tigrina) and black (Dugesia dorotocephala) planaria both exhibited avoidance behavior when presented conspecific cues. Despite a significant twofold difference in body size (black > brown), stimulus prepared from a single (1×) individual of either species elicited avoidance. Increasing brown planaria cue concentration by macerating two individuals (2×) produced a significant increase in conspecific avoidance. H...
Is a Three-Tier Reading Intervention Model Associated With Reduced Placement in Special Education?

Patterns of identification for special education services across three cohorts of students in kindergarten through third grade before and after implementation of a schoolwide, three-tier reading prevention model in one large school district are reported. The first cohort of students represents a historical control group that did not participate in the three-tier prevention model. The second and third cohorts of students represent successive cohorts of students who participated in the three-tier model from kindergarten to third grade. The data indicate a trend in the direction of a decreased percentage of students identified for special education through each cohort of students; however, there were no statistically significant differences in the overall percentages of students identified for special education across cohorts. Practical implications and further research are discussed.
Adjusted Benefit-Cost Ratios for Six Recent Reclamation Projects

The Bureau of Reclamation' benefit-cost estimates for six single-purpose projects are reviewed, major sources of bias are identified, and adjustments are made where the required data are readily available. The principal sources of bias in the Bureau's benefit-cost estimates are using a low discount rate, counting secondary benefits, using overoptimistic projections of prices, not counting the opportunity cost of farm labor, and not counting the opportunity cost of water. Adjustments using available data can be made for all but the last. After adjustment, revised benefit-cost ratios are less than one for five of the six projects studied. A comparison of the Bureau's estimated project construction costs with realized costs is favorable.
A Waste-to-Energy Power Plant With CO2 Sequestration

This paper assesses the technical and economic feasibility of a novel idea: Reducing the emission of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas contributing to global warming, by combusting solid wastes with industrial oxygen mixed with recirculated flue gas. The process gas, consisting mostly of carbon dioxide, would be compressed and used in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) projects. By using municipal and other organic wastes that are currently landfilled as a fuel and sequestering the carbon dioxide product of combustion underground, such a process would provide the maximum environmental advantages possible, by producing electricity renewably without emitting greenhouse gases. The results of this preliminary analysis indicate that this may be a good opportunity to reduce carbon emissions at a lower cost than other methods of carbon sequestration.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Sexual Identity Disparities in Smoking and Secondhand Smoke Exposure in California: 2003-2013.

Objectives. To determine smoking prevalence, smoking behavior, and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB)–identified Californians; compare these with that of heterosexuals; and analyze changes over time.Methods. We analyzed self-reported variables from 111 965 heterosexual, 1667 lesbian, and 1706 bisexual women, and 79 881 heterosexual, 2505 gay, and 911 bisexual men, aged 18 to 70 years, in the 2003–2013 California Health Interview Surveys.Results. Sexual minority women had higher smoking prevalence, and female bisexual smokers were less likely to be light smokers, than heterosexuals. Smoking prevalence was higher among sexual minority men, and gay smokers were more likely to be daily smokers than were heterosexuals; and male bisexual smokers were more likely to be light smokers than were gay or heterosexual smokers. Sexual minority adults were more likely to have SHS exposure at home than were heterosexuals. Current smoking prevalence decreased annually 4% and 7% for lesbian...
Indications of an Electronic Phase Transition in Two-Dimensional Superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 − x Thin Films Induced by Electrostatic Doping

We successfully tuned an underdoped ultrathin YBa2Cu3O(7-x) film into the overdoped regime by means of electrostatic doping using an ionic liquid as a dielectric material. This process proved to be reversible. Transport measurements showed a series of anomalous features compared to chemically doped bulk samples and a different two-step doping mechanism for electrostatic doping was revealed. The normal resistance increased with carrier concentration on the overdoped side and the high temperature (180 K) Hall number peaked at a doping level of p∼0.15. These anomalous behaviors suggest that there is an electronic phase transition in the Fermi surface around the optimal doping level.
Acute Kidney Injury With Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in the U.S.: Can We Reduce the Risk?

Acute kidney injury (AKI) with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the incidence and outcomes of AKI with TAVR in U.S. clinical practice. Retrospective analysis of 12,422 TAVR patients in STS/ACC TVT Registry 2012
Determination of the frequency response of a constant-voltage hot-wire anemometer

The dynamic response of the CVA system was investigated both analytically and experimentally. The frequency response functions of the CVA system for a number of different circuit parameters and operating conditions (Re, r) were determined via laser-based radiative heating of the hot-wire sensor. A 2-order linear systems model of the CVA was developed to provide insight to the dynamic response and to help interpret the experimental results. With the use of properly selected circuit components, a bandwidth in excess of 100 kHz can be achieved (« 350 kHz in this study). The qualitative variations in the frequency response function with changes in circuit parameters are in agreement with the 2-order model. The frequency-response functions of the CVA systems used in this study were found to have little dependence on the operating conditions of the wire.
Feasibility of Immunoisolation Based on Porous Titanium

Porous titanium is used as a new method on immunoisolation in order to overcome defects of immunoisolation membrane based on polymer such as water swelling and low mechanical strength. The feasibility was studied on the immu- noisolation based on porous titanium through permeable experiments,immunoisolation experiments, etc. Porous titanium was prepared by the powder metallurgy. Raw powders of 400 mesh were pressed at 320 MPa with the desired weight. And then sintered process was performed by argon protection under 980 ℃ for 4 hours. The aperture sizes of sintered porous titanium are less than 3 μm and its porosity is about 35.6%. The experiment results show that porous titanium with the thick- ness of membrane of about 200 μm can withstand above the pressure of 2 kN. Porous titanium membranes possess selec- tively permeability, i.e. the immunocyte, such as natural killer(NK) cells can be hindered the passage by the kind of mem- branes, at the same times, small molecules can relatively freely pass the membranes, for example, geglucose and amino acid. The experiment results proved that porous titanium can be used as semipermeable membrane for immunoisolation.
Analysis on Epidemiological Trend of Notifiable Communicable Diseases in Luohu District of Shenzhen from 2005 to 2010

Objective To analyze the epidemiological trend of notifiable communicable diseases in Luohu District of Shenzhen from 2005 to 2010,and to provide the evidence for prevention and control of communicable diseases. Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was used to statistically analyze the data of communicable diseases(Classes A,B and C) occurred in Luohu District during the period of 2005-2010. Results No Class A communicable diseases were reported in Luohu District from 2005 to 2010,but 36,063 cases in 27 kinds of Classes B and C communicable diseases were reported,including 18 kinds of Class B communicable diseases and 9 kinds of Class C communicable diseases.The average annual morbidity was 693.61/100,000.And 21 death cases were reported,with the annual mortality rate of 4.89‰. The major infectious diseases included other types of infectious diarrhea,syphilis,hand-foot-and-mouth disease,pulmonary tuberculosis,gonorrhea and dysentery. Conclusions The incidence of communicable diseases increased continuously in Luohu District during the 6-year period.To make the communicable diseases under control,it is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of common communicable diseases with high incidence on the one hand,and pay more attention to the emergence of novel communicable diseases on the other hand.
Topical corticosteroids in dermatologic disorders.

To ensure optimal use of topical corticoids, it is necessary to keep in mind the relationship of potency to the drug vehicle and, in turn, to the varying skin permeability that is dependent on the site being treated.
Paper-Based RNA Extraction, in Situ Isothermal Amplification, and Lateral Flow Detection for Low-Cost, Rapid Diagnosis of Influenza A (H1N1) from Clinical Specimens

The 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic disproportionately affected the developing world and highlighted the key inadequacies of traditional diagnostic methods that make them unsuitable for use in resource-limited settings, from expensive equipment and infrastructure requirements to unacceptably long turnaround times. While rapid immunoassay diagnostic tests were much less costly and more context-appropriate, they suffered from drastically low sensitivities and high false negative rates. An accurate, sensitive, and specific molecular diagnostic that is also rapid, low-cost, and independent of laboratory infrastructure is needed for effective point-of-care detection and epidemiological control in these developing regions. We developed a paper-based assay that allows for the extraction and purification of RNA directly from human clinical nasopharyngeal specimens through a poly(ether sulfone) paper matrix, H1N1-specific in situ isothermal amplification directly within the same paper matrix, and immediate visual...
The Glory that was Rome

In any discussion of empires in the Western world, it seems sensible to start with the history and experience of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire wasn’t the first to dominate significant parts of what is now the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin, but it was the first to establish its dominance over a long period, and it was the first to leave a huge shadow on empires (and indeed on nations) that were to follow. Since the United States is among those nations, it is worth asking how much of the glory that was Rome is now being replicated in Washington, DC, and how much of that replication is something worth having.
Optimized circuit for EMG signal processing

An optimized circuit for processing of EMG signals has been designed and presented in this paper. This circuit acquires EMG signals from surface of the skin using bipolar electrodes and enables the amputee to control the prosthetic hand in an efficient manner. EMG can be defined as the electrical potential produced due to the contraction of muscle. It can be picked from the residual portion of muscles of an amputee. EMG signal requires the processes of amplification, band limiting and rectification, before it can be fed to an analog to digital converter (ADC) and subsequently to motors driving the prosthetic device.
Virtual teams in organizations

Abstract Organizations continue to widely adopt virtual teams as a primary way to structure work and the recent growth in utilization has outstripped theory and research on virtual teams. The explosive growth in virtual team use by organizations and the inherent challenges of virtual teams highlight the need for theory and research to inform organizations in designing, structuring and managing virtual teams. Therefore, the purpose of this special issue is to (a) advance theory and research on virtual teams, (b) offer new directions for research on the topic, and (c) contribute to efforts to enhance the effectiveness of virtual teams in organizations. Toward this end, in this introduction we provide a brief overview of virtual teams and present an input-process-output framework to contextualize and organize the eight papers appearing in this special issue.
Cheshire charge in (3+1)-dimensional topological phases

The authors examine the phenomenon of ``Cheshire charge'' in topological phases of matter in three spatial dimensions. A looplike excitation is said to carry Cheshire charge if the charge is not locally detectable, that is, it can only be observed by a nonlocal process such as shrinking the loop to a point. The authors show that ``Cheshire charge'' is a generic feature of three-dimensional topological phases. They relate it to other features of these phases, such as three-loop braiding, as well as to higher-category theory that is hypothesized to be the general mathematical framework describing three-dimensional topological phases.
Observations on Uncertainty

I discuss three phenomena which appear important for modelling the impact of uncertainty on growth. The first is international spillovers in uncertainty, which arise even in large countries like the United States and particularly in smaller countries like Australia. Second, that the main channel for uncertainty to impact gross domestic product growth is through investment, which responds much more strongly and rapidly than consumption expenditure. This is possibly because firms are more forward-looking than consumers, so respond more strongly to changes in future expectations of business conditions. Third, I discuss how recently uncertainty has spiked in three waves: the great recession of 2008–2009, the fiscal crises in the United States and Europe from 2010 to 2012 and recently after the Brexit and Trump votes.
Redefining Security Around the Baltic: Environmental Issues in Regional Context

NATO expansion has drawn renewed attention to regional security questions around the Baltic Region. Contemporary security debates raise, but leave answered, many questions of identity, membership and institutional configuration in the region. Fundamentally, the debate centers on what constitutes “security” in the Baltic region. Environmental issues have “made it onto the table” within the dynamic security debates in the Baltic region. Environmental change and security are increasingly, but often implicitly, linked around the Baltic. Only be exploring these links can both environmental issues and security issues in the region be properly understood. Foreign policy-makers, inside and outside of the region, are advised to better integrate their rhetorical “environmental” pronouncements with tangible policy actions that reflect their stated priority as security issues. A concern for stability as a primary goal of environmental security suggests that traditional political-military considerations continue to dominate interest considerations. Environmental remediation matters on many levels, but it has not achieved equal footing with stability goals. As illustrated by fears of the many ecological dangers emanating from Russia, “environmental” threats are increasingly recognized as critical factors affecting the desired stability. However, Russians and their interests are not yet well integrated into the regional environmental and security organizations.
Rolipram-loaded polymeric micelle nanoparticle reduces secondary injury after rat compression spinal cord injury

Abstract Among the complex pathophysiological events following spinal cord injury (SCI), one of the most important molecular level consequences is a dramatic reduction in neuronal cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels. Many studies shown that rolipram (Rm), a phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor, can protect against secondary cell death, reduce inflammatory cytokine levels and immune cell infiltration, and increase white matter sparing and functional improvement. Previously, we developed a polymeric micelle nanoparticle, poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-graft-polyethylenimine (PgP), for combinatorial delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids and drugs for SCI repair. In this study, we evaluated PgP as an Rm delivery carrier for SCI repair. Rolipram's water solubility was increased ∼6.8 times in the presence of PgP, indicating drug solubilization in the micelle hydrophobic core. Using hypoxia as an in vitro SCI model, Rm-loaded PgP (Rm-PgP) restored cAMP levels and increased neuronal cell survival of cerebellar gra...
Tumor oxygenation and cancer therapy—then and now

In 2012, cancer affected 14.1 million people worldwide and was responsible for 8.2 million deaths. The disease predominantly affects aged populations and is one of the leading causes of death in most western countries. In tumors, the aggressive growth of the neoplastic cell population and associated overexpression of pro-angiogenic factors lead to the development of disorganized blood vessel networks that are structurally and functionally different from normal vasculature. A disorganized labyrinth of vessels that are immature, tortuous and hyperpermeable typifies tumor vasculature. Functionally, the ability of the tumor vasculature to deliver nutrients and remove waste products is severely diminished. A critical consequence of the inadequate vascular networks in solid tumors is the development of regions of hypoxia [low oxygen tensions typically defined as oxygen tensions (pO2 values) < 10 mm Hg]. Tumor cells existing in such hypoxic environments have long been known to be resistant to anticancer therapy,...
Through laughter and through tears: emotional narratives to antiracist pedagogy

If as a collective society we desire to challenge oppression as it exists, we must individually commit to learning about race, in all its facets, and racism as an institution at an emotional level....
Exclusion and rehabilitation: how multilateral development banks address corrupt behaviour

This article considers administrative sanctions used by multilateral development banks in response to corruption in development projects. The paper covers the backgrounds, purposes, and current practices of these similar but non-identical systems, and searches for lessons to be learned as the MDBs continue to tackle the problem of corruption through sanctions of private companies and individuals. A particular focus is the institutions’ balanced approach to risk management that uses both exclusion and tools of rehabilitation with respect to culpable companies and individuals.
Stabilizing displayed proteins on vegetative Bacillus subtilis cells

Microbes engineered to display heterologous proteins could be useful biotechnological tools for protein engineering, lignocellulose degradation, biocatalysis, bioremediation, and biosensing. Bacillus subtilis is a promising host to display proteins, as this model Gram-positive bacterium is genetically tractable and already used industrially to produce enzymes. To gain insight into the factors that affect displayed protein stability and copy number, we systematically compared the ability of different protease-deficient B. subtilis strains (WB800, BRB07, BRB08, and BRB14) to display a Cel8A-LysM reporter protein in which the Clostridium thermocellum Cel8A endoglucanase is fused to LysM cell wall binding modules. Whole-cell cellulase measurements and fractionation experiments demonstrate that genetically eliminating extracytoplasmic bacterial proteases improves Cel8A-LysM display levels. However, upon entering stationary phase, for all protease-deficient strains, the amount of displayed reporter dramatically decreases, presumably as a result of cellular autolysis. This problem can be partially overcome by adding chemical protease inhibitors, which significantly increase protein display levels. We conclude that strain BRB08 is well suited for stably displaying our reporter protein, as genetic removal of its extracellular and cell wall-associated proteases leads to the highest levels of surface-accumulated Cel8A-LysM without causing secretion stress or impairing growth. A two-step procedure is presented that enables the construction of enzyme-coated vegetative B. subtilis cells that retain stable cell-associated enzyme activity for nearly 3 days. The results of this work could aid the development of whole-cell display systems that have useful biotechnological applications.
A Usability Review of the Learning Master Serious Game in Support of the US Army Jumpmaster’s Course

The use of serious games for training can promote engagement and encourage curiosity. While there is controversy over how to assess the effectiveness of using serious games for training, research efforts have linked instructional effectiveness to instructional objectives and game characteristics. This paper describes these components in relations to a serious game for students in the United States Army Jumpmaster course. The authors collected data on usability through user feedback from surveys after the use of a serious game called Learning Master. From the data collected, users perceived the serious game to be simple to use, function appropriately, and have an intuitive design. A majority of the users expressed confidence in using the system. The user responses called for improvements in the visual display and simplified access to the application. The design team plans to use this information to enhance and finalize the serious game for future testing.
Trends and challenges in VLSI technology scaling towards 100nm

Summary form only given. Moore's Law drives VLSI technology to continuous increases in transistor densities and higher clock frequencies. This tutorial will review the trends in VLSI technology scaling in the last few years and discuss the challenges facing process and circuit engineers in the 100nm generation and beyond. The first focus area is the process technology, including transistor scaling trends and research activities for the 100nm technology node and beyond. The transistor leakage and interconnect RC delays will continue to increase. The tutorial will review new circuit design techniques for emerging process technologies, including dual Vt transistors and silicon-on-insulator. It will also cover circuit and layout techniques to reduce clock distribution skew and jitter, model and reduce transistor leakage and improve the electrical performance of flip-chip packages. Finally, the tutorial will review the test challenges for the 100nm technology node due to increased clock frequency and power consumption (both active and passive) and present several potential solutions
THE MATHEMATICS AND GEOGRAPHY OF MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE U.S., 1982-2017

The authors use simple bilinear regression to assess changes in the geographical movement (latitude and longitude) of mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and 2017. The path taken by the location of the ninety-five mass shootings over the 36-year period has shifted south. An analysis of differences by census region and blue/red state distinctions within each census region reveals disproportionately many mass shootings in Midwestern states between 2000 and 2008, and disproportionately many in red Southern states over the past three-plus decades.
Dasatinib‐induced hypoglycemia in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors can cause significant hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes on other antihyperglycemic medications. These patients should be monitored, and their medications adjusted accordingly.
Transcription factors Aryl hydrocarbon receptor and TGF-inducible early gene are involved in an axis modulating immune response in mosquitoes

Abstract Immune homeostasis balances effective defense against pathogens with avoiding the adverse effect of immune overactivation. AhR is a ligand activated transcription factor that transduces chemical signals into transcription of a variety of target genes. In this study, we demonstrate that mosquito AhR and TIEG mediate a transcriptional axis modulating immune response negatively. When AhR was activated by diet delivery of agonist kynurenine, the anti-bacterial immunity was compromised with a reduced survival at 24hr post bacterial challenge. In contrast, when AhR was inhibited by antagonists, CH223191 or SR1, the immunity was enhanced with increased survival. The observed immune enhancement via AhR antagonist was corroborated by AhR gene silencing via RNAi, which resulted in increased survival upon the infection. Exploration of transcriptomes following AhR inactivation, either pharmacologically or genetically, highlighted a set of genes that are infection inducible and AhR dependent, including genes that may mediate immune suppressive functions. One of the genes, TIEG (TGF-β inducible early gene), a member of the Kruppel -like factor family of transcription factors, was further studied. TIEG is required for AhR mediated immune suppression. Silencing TIEG increased the survival and reversed the immune suppression mediated by kynurenine activation of AhR. Moreover, the mosquito cohorts with AhR or TIEG knockdown demonstrated similar transcriptomic responses upon infection. There were co-expression patterns shared between the respective cohorts treated with AhR antagonist or AhR and TIEG silencing. In the naive mosquitoes where the IMD pathway was overactivated by silencing the inhibitor gene Caspar, co-silencing Caspar with AhR or TIEG resulted in a reduced survival, indicating the AhR-TIEG axis is required to prevent the adverse effect of overactivation of IMD without an infection. Together, AhR and TIEG are involved in a transcriptional axis that is critical for maintaining immune homeostasis.
Rotational remapping between differently prioritized representations in visual working memory

Abstract How does the brain prioritize among the contents of working memory to appropriately guide behavior? Using inverted encoding modeling (IEM), previous work (Wan et al., 2020) showed that unprioritized memory items (UMI) are actively represented in the brain but in a “flipped”, or opposite, format compared to prioritized memory items (PMI). To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying the UMI-to-PMI representational transformation, we trained recurrent neural networks (RNNs) with an LSTM architecture to perform a 2-back working memory task. Visualization of the LSTM hidden layer activity using Principle Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the UMI representation is rotationally remapped to that of PMI, and this was quantified and confirmed via demixed PCA. The application of the same analyses to the EEG dataset of Wan et al. (2020) revealed similar rotational remapping between the UMI and PMI representations. These results identify rotational remapping as a candidate neural computation employed in the dynamic prioritization within contents of working memory. Author Summary Our flexible behavior relies on the successful prioritization among the many pieces of information that may be held in working memory (WM). However, the computations underlying prioritization remain poorly understood. The current work investigated computational bases of prioritization by training recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to perform a 2-back WM task. Dimensionality reduction techniques revealed that a remembered item undergoes a rotational transformation in multi-dimensional representational space as its priority status changes. Prompted by this finding, we next asked if a similar mechanism might be applied by the human brain. Applying analogous analyses to an empirical EEG dataset of 2-back WM performance, we found a similar pattern of priority-based rotational remapping of working memory representations. This work highlights the power of artificial neural networks in generating mechanistic hypotheses for empirical work in understanding brain and cognition.
Is Continuing Anticoagulation or Antiplatelet Therapy Safe Prior to Kidney Transplantation

BACKGROUND Patients undergoing kidney transplantation are often placed on anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy, and their perioperative management is often challenging. This study aimed to determine the safety of continuing anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy prior to kidney transplantation. The primary outcome was bleeding after transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients who underwent kidney transplantation between January 2017 and July 2019 were included and divided into 3 groups: pretransplant anticoagulation with warfarin (WARF; n=23); pretransplant antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel/aspirin (ASA/CLOP; n=32); and control (CTL; n=197). Patients received kidneys from live or deceased donors. Preoperative INRs and platelet counts were compared to ensure therapeutic anticoagulation in the warfarin group and no significant platelet count variation among groups. The primary outcome was graft exploration for bleeding at 3 and 6 months after transplantation. Secondary outcomes included perioperative transfusion requirements, prolonged length of stay (>7 days), and outcomes at 3 and 6 months after transplantation, including hemodialysis and rejection rates and creatinine levels. RESULTS Pretransplant INR was significantly greater in the warfarin group (CTL 1.1, WARF 2.2, ASA/CLOP 1.2; P<0.01). There were no differences in pretransplant platelet count (CTL 202×10³, WARF 186×10³, ASA/CLOP 194×10³; P=0.31), graft exploration for bleeding at 3 (CTL 3%, WARF 0%, ASA/CLOP 3%; P=0.69) and 6 months after transplantation (CTL 1%, WARF 4%, ASA/CLOP 0%; P=0.12), or perioperative blood transfusion requirements (CTL 4%, WARF 4%, ASA/CLOP 14%; P=0.13). Prolonged length of stay was similar (CTL 24%, WARF 26%, ASA/CLOP 44%; P=0.08). There were no significant differences among groups at 3 months in dialysis (CTL 2%, WARF 0%, ASA/CLOP 0%; P=0.71), creatinine (CTL 1.5 mg/dL, WARF 1.7 mg/dL, ASA/CLOP 1.7; P=0.13), or rejection (CTL 6%, WARF 0%, ASA/CLOP 0%) or at 6 months in dialysis (CTL 3%, WARF 0%, ASA/CLOP 0%; P=0.49), creatinine (CTL 1.5 mg/dL, WARF 1.7 mg/dL, ASA/CLOP 1.5; P=0.49), or rejection (CTL 1%, WARF 0%, ASA/CLOP 3%). CONCLUSIONS Continuing anticoagulation or antiplatelet was safe in not increasing bleeding complications or perioperative transfusion requirements. Outcomes were similar at 3 and 6 months among groups. This strategy avoids exposing patients to risk of thrombosis if treatment is held and simplifies proceeding to transplantation.
Rilonacept for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis.

INTRODUCTION Recurrent pericarditis (RP) is a debilitating disease that has an underlying autoinflammatory pathophysiology mediated by cytokine interleukin (IL)-1. Rilonacept, a recombinant dimeric fusion protein that blocks IL-1α and IL-1β signaling has emerged as a valuable therapeutic option of RP. Rilonacept has been evaluated in Phase 2 and 3 clinic trials and was recently approved for RP treatment. AREAS COVERED This article reviews available clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of rilonacept for the treatment of RP. EXPERT OPINION Findings from Rhapsody (Rilonacept inHibition of interleukin-1 Alpha and beta for recurrent Pericarditis: a pivotal Symptomatology and Outcomes stuDY) phase 2 and 3 trials suggest that rilonacept represents a promising new therapy for those patients with colchicine resistant or glucocorticoid-dependence disease. Treatment leads to rapid clinical response, with a median resolution of symptoms in 5 days, normalization of C-reactive protein (CRP) in a median of 7 days, and successful weaning from glucocorticoids. This novel therapy also reduces recurrence rates compared with placebo. Rilonacept has also demonstrated a good safety profile, with the most common adverse events including injection-site reactions and upper respiratory tract infections. This anti-IL 1 agent has emerged as an efficacious treatment for RP, with potential use for glucocorticoid-free regimens and as monotherapy. Future trials are needed to explore these treatment options and to clarify the appropriate therapy duration.
The Nature of Asian Politics

1. Introduction 2. State and society 3. Development 4. Democracy 5. Governance 6. Public policy.
Sleep fragmentation and sepsis differentially impact blood–brain barrier integrity and transport of tumor necrosis factor-α in aging

The factors by which aging predisposes to critical illness are varied, complex, and not well understood. Sepsis is considered a quintessential disease of old age because the incidence and mortality of severe sepsis increases in old and the oldest old individuals. Aging is associated with dramatic changes in sleep quality and quantity and sleep increasingly becomes fragmented with age. In healthy adults, sleep disruption induces inflammation. Multiple aspects of aging and of sleep dysregulation interact via neuroimmune mechanisms. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF), a cytokine involved in sleep regulation and neuroimmune processes, exerts some of its effects on the CNS by crossing the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In this study we examined the impact of sepsis, sleep fragmentation, and aging on BBB disruption and TNF transport into brain. We used the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis in young and aged mice that were either undisturbed or had their sleep disrupted. There was a dichotomous effect of sepsis and sleep disruption with age: sepsis disrupted the BBB and increased TNF transport in young mice but not in aged mice, whereas sleep fragmentation disrupted the BBB and increased TNF transport in aged mice, but not in young mice. Combining sleep fragmentation and CLP did not produce a greater effect on either of these BBB parameters than did either of these manipulations alone. These results suggest that the mechanisms by which sleep fragmentation and sepsis alter BBB functions are fundamentally different from one another and that a major change in the organism’s responses to those insults occurs with aging.