cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the Fructosyltransferase Gene of Actinomyces naeslundii WVU45

Oral actinomycetes produce fructosyltransferase (FTF) enzymes which convert sucrose into polymers of d-fructose, known as levans, and these polymers are thought to contribute to the persistence and virulence of the organisms. A gene encoding FTF was isolated from Actinomyces naeslundii WVU45; the deduced amino acid sequence showed significant similarity to known levansucrases of gram-negative environmental isolates but was less similar to FTFs from gram-positive bacteria. A transcriptional start site was mapped by primer extension 70 bp 5′ from the putative start codon. Promoter fusions to a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene were used to confirm that there was a functional promoter driving ftf expression and to show that sequences located 86 to 218 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site were required for optimal ftf expression. Quantitative slot blot analysis against total RNA from cells grown on different sugars or from different growth phases revealed that ftf was constitutively transcribed. Thus, the A. naeslundii FTF is more similar in primary sequence and the regulation of expression to levansucrases of gram-negative bacteria than gram-positive bacteria.
Identification of a Major QTL That Alters Flowering Time at Elevated [CO2] in Arabidopsis thaliana

Background: The transition from vegetative to reproductive stages marks a major milestone in plant development. It is clear that global change factors (e.g., increasing [CO2] and temperature) have already had and will continue to have a large impact on plant flowering times in the future. Increasing atmospheric [CO2] has recently been shown to affect flowering time, and may produce even greater responses than increasing temperature. Much is known about the genes influencing flowering time, although their relevance to changing [CO2] is not well understood. Thus, we present the first study to identify QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci) that affect flowering time at elevated [CO2 ]i nArabidopsis thaliana. Methodology/Principal Findings: We developed our mapping population by crossing a genotype previously selected for high fitness at elevated [CO2] (SG, Selection Genotype) to a Cape Verde genotype (Cvi-0). SG exhibits delayed flowering at elevated [CO2], whereas Cvi-0 is non-responsive to elevated [CO2] for flowering time. We mapped one major QTL to the upper portion of chromosome 1 that explains 1/3 of the difference in flowering time between current and elevated [CO2] between the SG and Cvi-0 parents. This QTL also alters the stage at which flowering occurs, as determined from higher rosette leaf number at flowering in RILs (Recombinant Inbred Lines) harboring the SG allele. A follow-up study using Arabidopsis mutants for flowering time genes within the significant QTL suggests MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (MFT) as a potential candidate gene for altered flowering time at elevated [CO2]. Conclusion/Significance: This work sheds light on the underlying genetic architecture that controls flowering time at elevated [CO2]. Prior to this work, very little to nothing was known about these mechanisms at the genomic level. Such a broader understanding will be key for better predicting shifts in plant phenology and for developing successful crops for future environments.
Phase I clinical trial of lenalidomide in combination with sorafenib in patients with advanced cancer

Background Preclinical data have shown that lenalidomide and sorafenib target endothelial cells, inhibiting growth of ocular melanoma cells in a xenograft model. We conducted a Phase I study of lenalidomide and sorafenib in patients with advanced cancer. Methods During the escalation phase, lenalidomide (days 1–21) and sorafenib (days 1–28) were given orally once daily at the following respective doses: level 1 (10 mg, 200 mg); level 2 (10 mg, 400 mg); level 3 (20 mg, 400 mg); and level 4 (25 mg, 400 mg) (1 cycle = 28 days). A “3 + 3” study design was used. Results Forty-one patients were treated (median age: 50 years). The most common diagnoses were adenoid cystic carcinoma (N = 9), ovarian adenocarcinoma (N = 7), and melanoma (N = 6); 142 cycles (median: 3) were administered. No dose-limiting toxicities were noted. The maximum tested dose (dose level 4) was used in the expansion phase. Grade 3–4 treatment-related toxicities were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, skin rash, and thromboembolism. Of 38 patients who were evaluable for response, stable disease (SD) was noted in 53 % of patients (SD ≥6 months: 16 %). Tumor types with SD ≥ 6 months were as follows: ocular melanoma, 2/2 (100 %); other melanoma, 1/4 (25 %); adenoid cystic carcinoma, 2/9 (22 %); and ovarian cancer, 1/6 (17 %). The median progression-free survival duration was 3.5 months (95 % CI, 1.9–5.0), and the median overall survival duration was 12.3 months (95 % CI, 10.1–14.5). Conclusions Lenalidomide and sorafenib was well tolerated and associated with disease stabilization for ≥6 months in patients with melanoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and ovarian adenocarcinoma.
Changes and bugs — Mining and predicting development activities

Software development results in a huge amount of data: changes to source code are recorded in version archives, bugs are reported to issue tracking systems, and communications are archived in e-mails and newsgroups. We present techniques for mining version archives and bug databases to understand and support software development. First, we introduce the concept of co-addition of method calls, which we use to identify patterns that describe how methods should be called. We use dynamic analysis to validate these patterns and identify violations. The co-addition of method calls can also detect cross-cutting changes, which are an indicator for concerns that could have been realized as aspects in aspect-oriented programming. Second, we present techniques to build models that can successfully predict the most defect-prone parts of large-scale industrial software, in our experiments Windows Server 2003. This helps managers to allocate resources for quality assurance to those parts of a system that are expected to have most defects. The proposed measures on dependency graphs outperformed traditional complexity metrics. In addition, we found empirical evidence for a domino effect, i.e., depending on defect-prone binaries increases the chances of having defects.
Modeling the effects of forest management on in situ and ex situ longleaf pine forest carbon stocks

Assessment of forest carbon storage dynamics requires a variety of techniques including simulation models. We developed a hybrid model to assess the effects of silvicultural management systems on carbon (C) budgets in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) plantations in the southeastern U.S. To simulate in situ C pools, the model integrates a growth and yield model with species-specific allometric and biometric equations and explicitly accounts for the impacts of both thinning and prescribed fire. To estimate the ex situ C pool, the model used the outputs of merchantable products from the growth and yield model with current values of forest product conversion efficiencies and forest product decay rates. The model also accounts for C emissions due to transportation and silvicultural activities. Site productivity (site quality) was the major factor controlling stand C density followed by rotation length. Thinning reduced C sequestration, as the slow growth rate of longleaf pine reduced the potential of C sequestration in forest products. Prescribed burning reduced average C stock by about 16–19%, with the majority of the reduction in the forest floor. In a comparison of longleaf pine C dynamics with slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.), both species reached a similar average C stock at age 75 years, but when averaged across the whole rotation, slash pine sequestered more C. Nevertheless, for medium quality sites, C sequestration was similar between thinned 75-year rotation longleaf pine and unthinned 25-year rotation slash pine. This longleaf pine plantation C sequestration model, based on empirical and biological relationships, provides an important new tool for developing testable research hypotheses, estimating C stocks for regional assessments or C credit verification, and for guiding future longleaf pine management.
Effect of Zinc-Reversible Growth-Inhibitory Activity in Human Empyema Fluid on Antibiotic Microbicidal Activity

Abscess fluid supernatants have zinc-reversible microbial growth-inhibitory activity that is mediated by calprotectin, a zinc-binding protein. Because it inhibits microbial growth, this activity might interfere with killing by antibiotics that require their target organisms to be proliferating. In the present study, we cultured bacteria in human empyema fluid and used zinc to overcome the growth-inhibitory effect of calprotectin. We then compared the effect of zinc on killing by the beta-lactams ampicillin and cefazolin with that of the fluoroquinolone trovafloxacin, since the latter may be better able to kill nonproliferating organisms. In empyema fluid diluted 1:5 in normal saline, addition of zinc (30 μM) increased growth of two strains of Staphyloccocus aureus and two strains of Escherichia coli but did not affect the MICs or MBCs of the three antibiotics in Mueller-Hinton broth. For one strain of S. aureus, no effect of zinc was found on killing by either ampicillin or cefazolin. However, with the other strain of S. aureus and both strains of E. coli, significant enhancement of killing by both drugs was observed with zinc addition. On the other hand, no effect on the killing of any of the organisms was observed for trovafloxacin when zinc was added. These results suggest that the zinc-reversible growth-inhibitory activity of abscess fluid may interfere with the microbicidal activity of antibiotics requiring proliferating target organisms, although antibiotics better able to kill nonproliferating organisms may be less affected by this phenomenon.
BotMosaic: Collaborative network watermark for the detection of IRC-based botnets

Recent research has made great strides in the field of detecting botnets. However, botnets of all kinds continue to plague the Internet, as many ISPs and organizations do not deploy these techniques. We aim to mitigate this state by creating a very low-cost method of detecting infected bot host. Our approach is to leverage the botnet detection work carried out by some organizations to easily locate collaborating bots elsewhere. We created BotMosaic as a countermeasure to IRC-based botnets. BotMosaic relies on captured bot instances controlled by a watermarker, who inserts a particular pattern into their network traffic. This pattern can then be detected at a very low cost by client organizations and the watermark can be tuned to provide acceptable false-positive rates. A novel feature of the watermark is that it is inserted collaboratively into the flows of multiple captured bots at once, in order to ensure the signal is strong enough to be detected. BotMosaic can also be used to detect stepping stones and to help trace back to the botmaster. It is content agnostic and can operate on encrypted traffic. We evaluate BotMosaic using simulations and a testbed deployment.
Query indexing and velocity constrained indexing: scalable techniques for continuous queries on moving objects

Moving object environments are characterized by large numbers of moving objects and numerous concurrent continuous queries over these objects. Efficient evaluation of these queries in response to the movement of the objects is critical for supporting acceptable response times. In such environments, the traditional approach of building an index on the objects (data) suffers from the need for frequent updates and thereby results in poor performance. In fact, a brute force, no-index strategy yields better performance in many cases. Neither the traditional approach nor the brute force strategy achieve reasonable query processing times. This paper develops novel techniques for the efficient and scalable evaluation of multiple continuous queries on moving objects. Our solution leverages two complimentary techniques: Query Indexing and Velocity Constrained Indexing (VCI). Query Indexing relies on 1) incremental evaluation, 2) reversing the role of queries and data, and 3) exploiting the relative locations of objects and queries. VCI takes advantage of the maximum possible speed of objects in order to delay the expensive operation of updating an index to reflect the movement of objects. In contrast to an earlier technique that requires exact knowledge about the movement of the objects, VCI does not rely on such information. While Query Indexing outperforms VCI, it does not efficiently handle the arrival of new queries. Velocity constrained indexing, on the other hand, is unaffected by changes in queries. We demonstrate that a combination of Query Indexing and Velocity Constrained Indexing enables the scalable execution of insertion and deletion of queries in addition to processing ongoing queries. We also develop several optimizations and present a detailed experimental evaluation of our techniques. The experimental results show that the proposed schemes outperform the traditional approaches by almost two orders of magnitude.
The interaction of the potential-sensitive molecular probe merocyanine 540 with phosphorylating beef heart submitochondrial particles under equilibrium and time-resolved conditions

The interaction of the potential-sensitive extrinsic molecular probe merocyanine 540 ( M540 ) with phosphorylating submitochondrial particles has been investigated under equilibrium and time-resolved conditions. The addition of ATP to a M540 -membrane suspension produces oligomycin and CCCP-sensitive spectral changes with absolute maxima near 490, 530, and 565 nm; a 1- to 2-nm red shift of the dye absorption spectrum is also evident in the longer-wavelength region of the spectrum. In fixed-wavelength work, the energy-dependent optical signals were increased by the addition of nigericin and NH4Cl, and could be subsequently restored to the control level by valinomycin or KSCN, respectively. These observations suggest that M540 is specifically sensitive to the membrane-potential portion of the electrochemical gradient presumably present in the submitochondrial particle system in the presence of substrate. Binding analyses based on the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the direct linear method indicate that the M540 dissociation constant is decreased by the presence of ATP with little or no change in the maximum number of binding sites. The M540 dissociation constant was markedly decreased when 0.1 M NaCl was present in the medium, suggesting that the association of this probe with the membrane may be subject to considerable surface charge repulsion. Results from the binding analyses indicate that the origin of the energy-dependent spectral changes may be an enhanced association of M540 with the submitochondrial particle membrane resulting from the transfer of dye from the aqueous phase to membrane-binding sites. The time course of the NADH-, ATP-, or succinate-induced signal developed slowly, on a time scale of tens of seconds, and follows a second-order rate law, suggesting that the rate-limiting step in the development of the ATP-induced M540 signal may be the transfer of dye from the aqueous phase to membrane-binding sites. The enhanced passive binding of M540 to the submitochondrial particle membrane in the presence of NaCl reduces the concentration of free dye apparently available to redistribute to the membrane when substrate is present, with a concomitant reduction in the observed pseudo-first-order and the second-order rate constants. If the effective free dye concentration is estimated from binding data and used in the plot from which the latter rate constant is obtained, the value of this constant compares favorably with the obtained in the absence of the electrolyte.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Designing stimulating programming assignments for an algorithms course: a collection of exercises based on random graphs

The field of random graphs contains many surprising and interesting results. Here we demonstrate how some of these results can be used to develop stimulating, open-ended exercises for courses in algorithms and data structures or graph theory. Specifically, we provide problems for algorithms that compute minimum spanning trees, connected components, maximum flows, and all-pairs shortest paths.
XMAP: a differential algebra tool generating accelerator maps

The authors describe XMAP, a Fortran program which produces the map across an accelerator beam line, in the form of a truncated power series expansion, by calling the DA (differential algebra) package algorithms. This beam line, for example, could be one complete turn of the SSC. The expansion variables are a free mixture of any or all of the six phase space coordinates and of optical parameters, like the length or strength of a set of quadrupoles. The scope of applications for XMAP is quite broad. For example, applications which have been considered for the SSC include: lattice design, dependence of resonance widths on optical parameters, parametric dependence of smear and tune shifts, and parametric maps for operational simulations. The performance of XMAP is illustrated by means of a simple example, the expansion of a FODO cell. >
Acquisition of doxorubicin resistance in human leukemia HL-60 cells is reproducibly associated with 7q21 chromosomal anomalies.

Abstract Tumor cell resistance to doxorubicin (DOX 3 ) is usually associated with the overexpression of P-glycoprotein (PGP) in model systems. We have characterized the karyotypic changes in two sublines of HL-60 cells which differ in the induction of differentiation by retinoic acid. The parental sublines, designated HL-60A/S and HL-60Y/S, were selected in increasing concentrations of 0.025-0.1 μg/mL DOX. Monosomy 8 in HL-60Y/S was the only karyotypic difference prior to DOX exposure. Both sublines acquired 7q+ markers upon exposure to DOX. In HL-60Y/S, an add(7)(q21) replaced one homologue at 0.025 μg/mL DOX, and an add(7)(q32) appeared which replaced the other normal 7 at 0.05 μg/mL DOX. The HL-60A/S cells acquired an add(7)(q21) at 0.025 μg/mL DOX. The 7q+ abnormalities involved breakpoints in the midregion of 7q. The overexpression of phosphorylated PGP in immunoprecipitates with C-219 antibody was identified in both sublines of DOX-resistant HL-60 cells with 7q+ abnormalities, and this is consistent with the location of mdr-1 sequences to 7q21-21.1. Also, analysis of RNA from parental-sensitive and DOX-resistant sublines by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction revealed: a) comparable expression of multidrug resistance related protein (MRP) in sensitive and resistant sublines; and b) overexpression of mdr-1 only in the DOX-resistant sublines. Thus, the selection of DOX resistance in two sublines of HL-60 cells which differ in their response to retinoicacid-induced myeloid differentiation is reproducibly associated with overexpression of mdr-1 versus MRP.
Convergence properties of learning in ART1

We consider the ART1 neural network architecture. It is shown that in the fast learning case, an ART1 network that is repeatedly presented with an arbitrary list of binary input patterns, self-stabilizes the recognition code of every size-l pattern in at most l list presentations.
Cell-Based Small-Molecule Compound Screen Identifies Fenretinide as Potential Therapeutic for Translocation-Positive Rhabdomyosarcoma

A subset of paediatric sarcomas are characterized by chromosomal translocations encoding specific oncogenic transcription factors. Such fusion proteins represent tumor specific therapeutic targets although so far it has not been possible to directly inhibit their activity by small-molecule compounds. In this study, we hypothesized that screening a small-molecule library might identify already existing drugs that are able to modulate the transcriptional activity of PAX3/FOXO1, the fusion protein specifically found in the pediatric tumor alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS). Towards this end, we established a reporter cell line based on the well characterized PAX3/FOXO1 target gene AP2s. A library enriched in mostly FDA approved drugs was screened using specific luciferase activity as read-out and normalized for cell viability. The most effective inhibitor identified from this screen was Fenretinide. Treatment with this compound resulted in down-regulation of PAX3/FOXO1 mRNA and protein levels as well as in reduced expression of several of its direct target genes, but not of wild-type FOXO1, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, fenretinide induced reactive oxygen species and apoptosis as shown by caspase 9 and PARP cleavage and upregulated miR-9. Importantly, it demonstrated a significant anti-tumor effect in vivo. These results are similar to earlier reports for two other pediatric tumors, namely neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma, where fenretinide is under clinical development. Our results suggest that fenretinide might represent a novel treatment option also for translocation-positive rhabdomyosarcoma.
A Blueprint for (Im)possible Places: Narrative Crisis in Antonioni's L'Eclisse (1962)

This work reexamines the narrative significance of the final sequence in Michelangelo Antonioni's L'Eclisse (1962). Chatman (1985), Deleuze (1989), and Brunette (1998) have described the final sequence - occurring at an intersection in a new suburban district in Rome - as producing an extradiegetic space, where the camera's exploration of the setting seems disconnected from the story of the protagonists. However, by comparing a concept of 'narrative truth' in Antonioni's screenwriting philosophy, 'narrative nuclei' with various notions of 'architectural truth' (Lefebvre, 1991; Le Corbusier, 2007), I suggest that theories of narrative space where human subjects remain at the center of spatial construction are inadequate for an analysis of the final sequence. In response to this limitation, this work combines aspects of Deleuze's film philosophy (1986; 1989), Heath's theory of narrative suture (1981), and Tschumi's discussion of architectural narrativity (1996) to propose an original framework for spatial analysis, where a key concept is the 'contact zone' or a Deleuzian concept-image localized in narrative space. An application of contact zone analysis to the protagonists' first meeting at the intersection suggests that the final sequence may be interpreted as a scene not where the couple never shows up, but where both characters are so late, that neither appears within the narrative time. Having shown that the final sequence constitutes an exploration of space within a freed narrative â€œinterval,â€ an analysis of the logic by which contact zones are constructed in this sequence and a comparison with Le Corbusierâ€™s notion of the architectural plan demonstrate how space is reoriented and reconfigured into multiple â€œnarrative nucleiâ€ through deterritorialization. Thus, rather than a radical disruption of narrativity, the final sequence draws a â€œblueprintâ€ for new modes of relation that transcend an excessively rationalized social space, ultimately liberating multiple narrative possibilities from a socially alienating setting.
A regularized sampling algorithm for reconstructing non-bandlimited signals

In this paper the reconstruction of non-bandlimited sampling is discussed and a regularized sampling algorithm for non-bandlimited signals is presented. The error of the regularized sampling algorithm is presented and compared with the previous algorithm based on Shannon's sampling theorem and compared with the Tikhonov regularization method in the noisy case.
RATES OF SOIL FORMATION FROM BEDROCK OR CONSOLIDATED SEDIMENTS

Current rates for the conversion of bedrock or consolidated sediments to soil, or regolith, cart be determined by measuring the chemical composition of the bedrock or consolidated parent material, the composition of soil formed from it, and the efflux of dissolved constituents. Few studies have been designed for this purpose. The literature has been reviewed to find other studies that could be adapted for estimating rates of soil formation from lithic or paralithic materials. Rates of chemical denudation and soil formation increase with increases in temperature, precipitation, and runoff but decrease as soil depth increases from shallow or moderately deep to deep. The quantitative effects of temperature are obscured by the dominating effects of runoff volume. Soil formation from bedrock or consolidated sediments is on the order of 0.5 Mg ha-1 yr-1. Estimated values range from < 0.1 for plutonic rocks and limestone to 1.0 Mg ha-1 yr-1 or more for calcareous clastic sedimentary rocks.
Novel Infection Site and Ecology of Cryptic Didymocystis sp. (Trematoda) in the Fish Scomberomorus maculatus

Abstract An undescribed, cryptic species of Didymocystis, as determined from sequences of 2 ribosomal genes and superficially similar to Didymocystis scomberomori (MacCallum and MacCallum, 1916), infected the skin of the Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus, in the north-central Gulf of Mexico (GOM). An analysis of 558 fish from 2011 to 2013 from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle showed the prevalence of the trematode varied both spatially and temporally but not with sex of the fish host. Month, year, and geographic location were identified by a negative binomial generalized linear model as indicators of the abundance and intensity of infection. Prevalence, abundance, and intensity of infection were greatest in spring and fall months off the Florida panhandle. Furthermore, the abundance and intensity of infection correlated negatively with fork length, weight, and gonad weight of mature fish but positively with longitude. Therefore, smaller adult fish tended to be more infect...
Photochromic molecular gyroscope with solid state rotational states determined by an azobenzene bridge.

We describe the synthesis, characterization, photochemical isomerization, and rotational dynamics of a crystalline molecular gyroscope containing an azobenzene bridge (trans-2) that spans from one end of the stator to other, with the intention of exploring its function as a molecular brake. While single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of a photochemically inactive dichloromethane solvate was used to confirm the molecular and packing structures of trans-2, a nanocrystalline pseudopolymorph was shown to be photoactive, and it was analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy, and variable temperature solid state 2H NMR before and after photoisomerization. It was shown that the nanocrystalline suspension irradiated with λ = 340 nm reaches a photostationary state with 34% of cis-isomer, as compared to that observed in solution where the corresponding value is 74%. Line shape analysis of solid state 2H NMR spectra of a phenylene-d4 isotopologue, obtained as a function of temperat...
The Evolution of Sustainability in a Global Firm and Its Supply Chain

Firms typically go through an evolutionary process in development of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. This paper traces the development of CSR initiatives and the incorporation of sustainability into the corporate culture and business model of a large global firm in the electronics industry. The process at this firm involves several distinct stages and extends over a period of more than ten years. The organizational and managerial factors facilitating the broadening and deepening of CSR penetration and the institutional barriers encountered are discussed. The importance of fitting CSR initiatives to a company’s core competencies is evident at this firm where their most successful programs, in both a business and societal benefits sense, have used the firm’s networking expertise to provide communication services and training in both developing and developed countries. At its current stage of evolution, CSR at the firm has achieved penetration into most functional areas and is a decision criterion for many operational and strategic decisions. The firm is currently extending its sustainability efforts to its supply chain partners across the globe collaborating with them to improve their performance and build their capabilities in CSR. However, the expansion into the supply chain has not been without its hurdles. The company’s sustainability programs are discussed in the context of the theoretical and empirical literature on CSR. Implications for other firms undergoing a similar evolutionary process are highlighted. The next stage in this firm’s evolutionary process of expanding CSR into its global supply chains is discussed in the terms of its potential and challenges.
Genotyping of Acinetobacter baumannii causing ventilator-associated pneumonia

Objective To evaluate the molecular epidemiological features of Acinetobacter baumannii(Ab) causing ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP).Methods Seven strains of Ab isolated from lower respiratory tract secretion of VAP patients were typied by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE),and drug-resistance of strains were detected. Results The similarity of PFGE electrophoresis strips of 7 strains was 57%- 100%,there were 4 PFGE patterns (A,B,C and D),2(28.57%) strains were for pattern A,B and D respectively,1(14.29%) strain was for pattern C.Ab had different drug-resistance to 13 kinds of antimicrobial agents(ceftazidime,imipenem,tobramycin, etc.),all were pan-drug-resistant strains,pattern C strain was all-drug-resistant strain.Conclusion PFGE typing can accurately and quickly trace the homology of nosocomial infection caused by Ab.
Fourth annual mobile application development with IBM Bluemix and IBM mobile first platform

Cloud environments have become the next generation computing platform because they allow companies of all sizes to build application solutions quickly and easily scale when customer demands increase. Cloud computing platforms provide Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) capabilities that deliver infrastructure and platform services in a self-service fashion at lower costs than hosting and managing infrastructure in-house. Enterprises engaging in a digital transformation are competing aggressively in the market to obtain the mindshare of their customers. They are looking to cloud platforms to enable them to build their next generation applications and quickly deliver value to their customers.
The Impact of XBRL on Financial Statement Structural Comparability

The quality of corporate financial reporting has long been an important interest of financial reporting users, including investors, financial analysts, and regulators. Comparability is a key qualitative characteristic of accounting information that facilitates the comparison of financial statements. However, various reporting formats and accounting taxonomy standards result in inconsistent reporting structures that indirectly affect comparability. To improve information comparability, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandated the adoption of the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), a search-facilitating technology, to reduce the costs of information search and improve the efficiency of information processing. Leveraging on the XBRL adoption enforced by the SEC, this study investigates whether the comparability of financial statement structure has improved in the post-mandate XBRL period. The results show a significant, consistent comparability improvement in the post-XBRL adoption period, providing empirical evidence of the positive impact of XBRL on enhancing financial statement structural comparability.
Medical Complications of Pregnancy/Headache

Headache is a common presenting symptom during pregnancy. Most headaches are benign. Women with preexisting headache disorders such as migraine may experience a transient worsening most likely during the first trimester. More ominous presentations, such as an AVM, venous thrombosis, or idiopathic intracranial hypertension, may be seen. The obstetrician must be aware of changing descriptions of a typical prepregnant headache and should recognize when to seek neurologic consultation. In this chapter, three case examples illustrate presentation and management of concerning headaches that present during pregnancy.
Historia económica en el Antropoceno: cuatro modelos

Under the global threat of the Anthropocene, environmental history and economic history are coming together to understand our predicament. This new field of “eco-economic history” traces the ecological impact of the startling rise in global economic productivity over the last two centuries. No longer is nature treated as an externality and damage to non-renewable resources discounted. I identify four basic eco-economic models emerging in this literature. The one I call retro-modernist returns us to a Euro-centered world for both the problem’s origins and its remedies. Three more convincing models, double-layered modernity, parallel modernities, and multi-scalar approaches, expand our understanding of how we arrived at this catastrophic juncture and what we might do about it.
Priapism: An Unusual Presentation

A patient with an unusual form of priapism is described. Only the corpora cavernosa proximal to the suspensory ligament were erect. A well defined membrane was found in each corpus cavernosum at the penoscrotal junction, separating turgid and flaccid erectile tissue. When these membranes were removed the erect proximal corpora drained into the flaccid distal corpora and the entire penis remained flaccid 6 weeks later.
Abstract 4776: Circulating clusters in breast cancer express cancer stem cell phenotypes

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women and its metastatic spread to distant organs is responsible for over 90% of these deaths. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) implicated in the metastatic process occur when cancer cells undergo cytoskeletal and phenotypic transitions that enhance motility, then penetrate into the blood circulation. While CTC dissemination has typically been considered as the spread of single cells, recent evidence suggests that collective migration results in polyclonal circulating clusters that are the main drivers of metastasis. To study circulating clusters we have developed a dual microfiltration system employing two stages of antigen-independent mechanical cell isolation. As whole blood is passed through the system, circulating clusters are trapped by the first stage while single CTCs are retained by the second stage. Characterization experiments using cell lines demonstrated a capture efficiency of 87.1% for clusters and 85.7% for single cells on their respective microfilters. This system was used to investigate circulating cells in the metastatic MMTV-PyMT syngeneic mouse breast cancer model. Both clusters and single CTCs were detected in mice with histological evidence of lung metastases (14-16 weeks old), but not in mice that had not yet developed metastatic tumors ( 50% of circulating clusters. The presence of cancer stem cells was correlated to cluster size, with smaller clusters containing a greater percentage of CD90+/CD24+ cells. Isolated clusters will be further analyzed to quantify expression levels of cancer stem cell markers in each individual constituent cell. The analysis of circulating clusters may provide crucial insight into the mechanisms of metastatic disease and provide the means to discover novel targets for therapeutic intervention. Citation Format: Ramdane Harouaka, Gabrielle Hodges, Allison David, Rishika Polasani, Spencer Freeman, Katherine Sanchez, Kaitlin Harvey, Max S. Wicha. Circulating clusters in breast cancer express cancer stem cell phenotypes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4776. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4776
RAGE-dependent VCAM-1 expression in the pulmonary endothelium mediates IL-33 induced asthma pathogenesis

Background: The receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) has been implicated as a critical molecule in the pathogenesis of experimental asthma/allergic airway inflammation (AAI). It has previously been shown that RAGE acts both upstream and downstream of interleukin-33 (IL-33) release and via IL-33 induced accumulation of type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) in the lungs, which perpetuate type 2 inflammation and mucus metaplasia. However, the mechanism by which RAGE promotes ILC2 accumulation in the lung in response to allergens or rIL-33 remains unknown. Objective: this study tests the hypothesis that ILC2s are recruited to the lungs via RAGE-dependent VCAM1 expression in the pulmonary endothelium. Methods: House dust mite extract, Alternaria alternata extract or rIL-33 were used to induce AAI/VCAM1 expression in WT and RAGE-KO mice. Intravenous anti-VCAM1 blocking antibody administration was used to determine the role of VCAM-1 in IL-33 induced AAI. Results: Enhanced VCAM-1 expression in the lungs by HDM, AA, or rIL-33 exposure was found to be RAGE dependent. In addition, stimulation of primary mouse lung endothelial cells with IL-33 induced VCAM1 expression in WT but not RAGE-KO cells. Administration of VCAM1 blocking antibody prevented IL-33-induced airway eosinophilia, peribronchiolar eosinophilic inflammation, as well as mucus metaplasia. Blocking VCAM1 also diminished ILC2-derived type 2 cytokine production. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that RAGE mediates pulmonary ILC2 accumulation, eosinophilic inflammation and mucus metaplasia, by promoting VCAM-1 expression on pulmonary endothelial cells.
Transplant Buccaneers: P.K. Sen and India's First Heart Transplant, February 1968

On 17 February 1968, Bombay surgeon Prafulla Kumar Sen transplanted a human heart, becoming the fourth surgeon in the world to attempt the feat. Even though the patient survived just three hours, the feat won Sen worldwide acclaim. The ability of Sen's team to join the ranks of the world's surgical pioneers raises interesting questions. How was Sen able to transplant so quickly? He had to train a team of collaborators, import or reverse engineer technologies and techniques that had been developed largely in the United States, and begin conversations with Indian political authorities about the contested concept of brain death. The effort that this required raises questions of why. Sen, who worked at a city hospital in Bombay that could not provide basic care for all its citizens, sought a technology that epitomized high-risk high-cost, health care. To accomplish his feat, Sen navigated Cold War tensions and opportunities, situating his interests into those of his hospital, municipal authorities, Indian nationalism, Soviet and American authorities, the Rockefeller Foundation, and others. The many contexts and interests that made Sen's work possible created opportunities for many different judgments about the success or failure of medical innovation.
Environmental exposure to peanut and the risk of an allergic reaction.

Abstract Objective To review the evidence of the risk of environmental exposure to peanut to a peanut allergic individual. Data Sources and Study Selection A narrative review was performed using a PubMed search of relevant articles involving peanut environmental distribution, environmental peanut abatement, and public policy regarding peanut restriction. Results Data from 4 studies have shown that peanut butter vapors and smeared peanut butter on skin do not cause systemic reactions, that peanut can be abated from hands and surfaces using appropriate cleaning agents, and that shelled peanut dust does not become airborne. Studies have recently confirmed dose of 1.5 mg of peanut protein would be generally tolerated by approximately 95% of the peanut-allergic population based on objective symptoms in challenge-based studies, affirming earlier research. Restrictive policies that focus on bans (or restricted presence in certain areas) of peanuts or peanut-containing products in environments such as schools or on commercial aircraft are not backed by evidence that such measures work, which may raise an uncomfortable clash between accommodations that lack any medical evidence of necessity and a desire to provide measures that comfort our patients. Conclusion There is little risk posed from non-oral exposure to peanut in the environment, from casual contact, proximity, or inhalation. If 5% of the population may tolerate a threshold of approximately 1.5 mg of peanut protein, this may help liberate behavior and situational-decision making regarding the necessity of certain avoidances and restrictions. Continued work is needed to dispel myths about the mechanisms of how peanut may induce an allergic reaction.
Age of Menarche in a Longitudinal US Cohort.

Abstract Study Objective Menarche is a critical milestone in a woman's life, and historically has been determined using several approaches. The goals of this study were to: (1) determine age at menarche from multiple reports of parents and adolescent participants in a prospective study; (2) examine factors affecting age at menarche; and (3) determine correlates of menarche and pubertal tempo. Design Longitudinal observational study. Setting Three sites of the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program. Participants Girls enrolled at 6-8 years of age. Interventions and Main Outcome Measures Parental and participant reported age of menarche, and tempo of puberty. Results There were 946 girls who were assigned an age of menarche. The correlation between parent and participant reports was high (Spearman R = 0.799, P Conclusion Parental and adolescent reports of menarche are highly correlated. Earlier breast maturation was associated with slower tempo through puberty. Body mass index had a greater effect on age at menarche than did race and ethnicity.
Howell-Jolly body-like inclusions in the neutrophils of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The authors have observed discrete, densely basophilic inclusions in the peripheral blood neutrophils of 10 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and two additional patients without documented evidence of human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity. These inclusions were seen in 3 of 25 (12%) patients with AIDS in a retrospective review. Gram, periodic acid-Schiff, and Gomori methenamine silver stains failed to demonstrate staining of these bodies; however, the Feulgen reaction was positive. The inclusions may represent "apoptotic" nuclear fragments and thus may be similar to Howell-Jolly bodies of normoblasts in abnormal erythropoiesis. An association of these inclusions with nucleoside analogue antiviral therapy is indicated. These inclusions must be differentiated from intracytoplasmic infectious agents, Dohle bodies, and inclusions of inherited disorders.
Pharmacology of Analgesia Due to Descending Control Systems

Prior to 1964, there was little reason to doubt that opiate analgesies, such as morphine, had a rather generalized action on the CNS. Furthermore, the fact that electrical Stimulation of a focal region of the brain could prevent pain was not known until 1969. Opiate receptors were first convincingly demonstrated in brain tissue in 1973, and endogenous opioid peptides were first isolated from brain in 1975. With such a short time-frame, it should not be surprising that our understanding of the details of the Organization of the neural systems responsible for producing the various forms of analgesia described in Section 2 is still very fragmentary, and that there are many apparently conflicting pieces of evidence in the literature on this subject. This problem is particularly notable with respect to the pharmacological evidence considered in this section. The first topic to be considered is the possible relationship between the neural mechanism responsible for SPA and that responsible for opiate analgesia. After this, evidence will be reviewed concerning the view that SPA can involve monoaminergic synaptic transmission. Next, the possible role of the monoamines in opiate analgesia will be discussed. Then, hints that other synaptic transmitters or “modulators” may be involved in the analgesia systems will be noted in a somewhat anecdotal fashion. Finally, the pharmacology of analgesia due to acupuncture and transcutaneous nerve Stimulation will be considered briefly.
Application of Ultra-High Throughput Sequencing and Microarray Technologies in Pharmacogenomics Testing

The past decade has seen monumental advances in genomics technologies. Improvements in the sensitivity and precision of DNA microarrays coupled with the emergence of massively parallel sequencing techniques have redefined how we investigate the human genome. The complete sequence of many individual human genomes and the availability of detailed information on polymorphic genetic variations are providing the prerequisite markers necessary to decipher the genetic variability associated with drug responses. These advances have the potential to significantly enhance healthcare management by improving disease diagnosis and personalizing molecular therapeutics. Pharmacogenetic approaches which are gaining in use today will become an integral part of future therapeutic monitoring and health management, permitting patient stratification in advance of treatments, with the potential to eliminate adverse drug reactions. In this chapter, the evolution of microarray technology and the emergence of next-generation sequencing are discussed. Recent applications of these technologies and their applicability to clinic diagnostics are explored.
Atherogenic Activity caused by Excess Membrane Cholesterol in Arterial Smooth Muscle: Role of Calcium Channels

The concept of elevated serum cholesterol level as a principal risk factor in the etiology of atherosclerotic lesions has evolved from several large-scale epidemiological studies (1,2,3). These studies clearly link increased serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels to mortality due to myocardial infarction. LDL is a cholesterol-rich, apo B100 containing particle which has been implicated in the forward transport of cholesterol to peripheral cells, including the smooth muscle cells of the arterial wall, by way of the classical LDL receptor (4). While the role of this particle, and its ligand (apo B100)-receptor complex, in the central hepatic metabolism of cholesterol has been well studied, little is known of the mechanism by which elevated LDL levels initiate and maintain lesion development and progression in the arterial wall.
Inverses and Composites

Associated with every function f, from X to Y, say, there is a function from \(\wp (X)\) to \(\wp (Y)\), namely the function (frequently called f also) that assigns to each subset A of X the image subset f(A) of Y. The algebraic behavior of the mapping A → f(A) leaves something to be desired. It is true that if {A i } is a family of subsets of X, then \(f\left( {\bigcup {_i A_i } } \right) = \bigcup {_i f\left( {A_i } \right)}\)(proof?), but the corresponding equation for intersections is false in general (example?), and the connection between images and complements is equally unsatisfactory.
Genetic Analysis of Morphine Effects: Activity, Analgesia, Tolerance and Sensitization

The question of individual variability in response to narcotic drugs is of major importance in the clinical evaluation of analgesic agents. Lasagna & Beecher (1954) found that 30 to 35% of several groups of post-operative patients did not experience any pain relief after the double blind administration of morphine sulfate, 10 mg per 70 kg. Even when the dose was raised to 15 mg, 25% of the patients reported no analgesia.