cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE USE OF INDENE FOR THE WAVENUMBER CALIBRATION OF INFRARED SPECTROMETERS

Abstract New values are reported for the positions of the absorption maxima in the infrared spectrum of indene containing 0·8% by weight of both camphor and cyclohexanone. The personal error in locating the maxima has been reduced by fitting polynomial series of the second, third and fourth degrees through five points in the neighborhood of the maxima, and computing the roots of the first derivatives, using a computer technique previously described. The peak values are compared with independent measurements made by P. J. Krueger on a different spectrometer. The peaks most suitable for calibration purposes have been selected on the basis of their distribution in the spectrum and the low r.m.s. variation in the computed positions of the maxima.
Simultaneous Exposure to Escherichia coli Heat-Labile and Heat-Stable Enterotoxins Increases Fluid Secretion and Alters Cyclic Nucleotide and Cytokine Production by Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a significant cause of diarrheal disease and death, especially in children in developing countries. ETEC causes disease by colonizing the small intestine and producing heat-labile toxin (LT), heat-stable toxin (ST), or both LT and ST (LT+ST). The majority of ETEC strains produce both ST and LT. Despite the prevalence of LT+ST-producing organisms, few studies have examined the physiologic or immunologic consequences of simultaneous exposure to these two potent enterotoxins. In the current report, we demonstrate that when LT and ST are both present, they increase water movement into the intestinal lumen over and above the levels observed with either toxin alone. As expected, cultured intestinal epithelial cells increased their expression of intracellular cyclic GMP (cGMP) when treated with ST and their expression of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) when treated with LT. When both toxins were present, cGMP levels but not cAMP levels were synergistically elevated compared with the levels of expression caused by the corresponding single-toxin treatment. Our data also demonstrate that the levels of inflammatory cytokines produced by intestinal epithelial cells in response to LT are significantly reduced in animals exposed to both enterotoxins. These findings suggest that there may be complex differences between the epithelial cell intoxication and, potentially, secretory outcomes induced by ETEC strains expressing LT+ST compared with strains that express LT or ST only. Our results also reveal a novel mechanism wherein ST production may reduce the hosts' ability to mount an effective innate or adaptive immune response to infecting organisms.
On dual-complementary variational principles in mathematical physics

Abstract In this paper a theory of dual-complementary variational principles is developed in connection with problems characterized by the equations of the form T ∗ ETu + f = 0 . A canonical triple of equations associated with this equation is developed and are shown to be Euler equations for a certain functional. Correspondingly, a dual triple of canonical equations is developed which give rise to a system of equations of the type S E −1 S χ + η = 0. A variety of applications in mathematical physics is discussed.
Natural Polyploidization within Tetraploid and Hexaploid Populations of the Desert Shrub Atriplex confertifolia

ABSTRACT. Shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia) is a wind-pollinated dioecious shrub of western North America with an unusual development of apparently autoploid races, showing all even ploidy levels from 2x to 12x (base x = 9). Of these, tetraploid races are the most frequently encountered, with octoploids the next most common, and hexaploids being much less common. In this study, the occurrence of neopolyploid individuals within tetraploid and hexaploid populations of shadscale was examined at natural sites in order to investigate the pathways by which octoploids may be formed and to find a possible explanation for the predominance of octoploids over hexaploids. The frequencies of apparent neopolyploid individuals among adults and the frequencies of their backcrosses were tabulated, as was the occurrence of neopolyploidy among seeds of female plants from some of the same populations. The neopolyploids encountered in these surveys were almost exclusively those expected from unions involving single unreduced...
The use of simulation techniques in dynamic input-output modeling

This paper describes a combined continuous-discrete simula tion model of an economy. The simulation model "solves" a dynamic input-output model (a system of differential equations) by numerically tracing the level of state variables through time. An analytic solution to this system, while possible, is imprac tical because of discontinuities in the state equations due to in dustry capacity constraints and irreversibilities in investment levels. The model is fitted with data for the Grant County Oregon economy and used to measure the dynamic impacts of an in crease in allowable timber harvest in the county. This study dem onstrates the advantages of the dynamic model over its static counterpart and explores its potential application to various economic impact problems.
Intertidal “trees”: consequences of aggregation on the mechanical and photosynthetic properties of sea-palms Postelsia palmaeformis Ruprecht

Sea-palms Postelsia palmaeformis Ruprecht are annual brown algae that grow on wave-swept rocky shores, oRen forming dense stands. Unlike most macroalgae, Postelsia stands upright in air- like trees. The stipe flexibility that permits Postelsia to withstand waves is provided by the low elastic modulus (5-10 MPa) of stipe tissue; in spite of the weakness (low breaking stress, ~ 1 MPa) of this tissue, a large amount of energy ( ~ 100 kJ/m 3) is required to break a stipe because they can be extended by 20-25 % before breaking. Although made of such easily deformed tissue, Postelsia can stand upright in air due to the width (high second moment of area) and resilience of their stipes, but the brittleness (low work of fracture, 400-900 J/m 2) that accompanies this resilience renders them susceptible to bre~age if they sustain deep scratches. Although wave-induced stresses experienced by individuals in aggregations are not lower than those experienced by isolated sea-palms, photon flux densities of photosynthetically active radiation within these dense groves are less than 10% of those above Postelsia canopies. A number of morphological features differ between canopy, understory, and isolated individuals. Canopy plants in dense aggregations are taller than isolated individuals and may exceed limiting proportions for elastic stability. Postelsia shows photo- synthetic characteristics of"shade-adapted" plants, understory individuals being especially effective at using low light. Despite this, blade growth rates of understory plants are lower than those of either canopy or isolated individuals.
Soil bacterial and fungal community responses to nitrogen addition across soil depth and microhabitat in an arid shrubland

Arid shrublands are stressful environments, typified by alkaline soils low in organic matter, with biologically-limiting extremes in water availability, temperature and UV radiation. The widely-spaced plants and interspace biological soil crusts in these regions provide soil nutrients in a localized fashion, creating a mosaic pattern of plant- or crust-associated microhabitats with distinct nutrient composition. With sporadic and limited rainfall, nutrients are primarily retained in the shallow surface soil, patterning biological activity. We examined soil bacterial and fungal community responses to simulated nitrogen (N) deposition in an arid Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa field experiment in southern Nevada, USA, using high-throughput sequencing of ribosomal RNA genes. To examine potential interactions among the N application, microhabitat and soil depth, we sampled soils associated with shrub canopies and interspace biological crusts at two soil depths (0-0.5 cm or 0-10 cm) across the N-amendment gradient (0, 7 and 15 kg ha-1 yr-1). We hypothesized that localized compositional differences in soil microbiota would constrain the impacts of N addition to a microhabitat distribution that would reflect highly localized geochemical conditions and microbial community composition. The richness and community composition of both bacterial and fungal communities differed significantly by microhabitat and with soil depth in each microhabitat. Only bacterial communities exhibited significant responses to the N addition. Community composition correlated with microhabitat and depth differences in soil geochemical features. Given the distinct roles of soil bacteria and fungi in major nutrient cycles, the resilience of fungi and sensitivity of bacteria to N amendments suggests that increased N input predicted for many arid ecosystems could shift nutrient cycling toward pathways driven primarily by fungal communities.
Teaching participants with developmental disabilities to comply with self-instructions.

Abstract Four adults with mild mental retardation were taught to sort based on what two pictures had in common and to name each object and common features of two pairs as well as to comply with a series of instructions to sort the pictures selectively. The criterion task was to inspect a sample pair, sort through a deck of 15 pictures to find those showing what the sample pair had in common, and to repeat a series of pairs. They failed this task and continued to fail even after a supposedly relevant self-instruction. After being taught to act on what they told themselves, they self-instructed correctly and sorted accordingly. Imperfect generalization by 2 participants was remediated by re-evoking self-instructions. They were taught to act on what they told themselves; thereafter, they self-instructed correctly and sorted accordingly. Imperfect generalization by 2 participants was remediated by re-evoking the relevant self-instructions.
Stimulus rate determines regional brain blood flow in striate cortex

Intravenous bolus administration of oxygen 15-labeled water and positron emission tOmography were used to measure changes in brain blood flow induced by two modes of photic stimuli over a wide range of repetition rates. These stimuli (patterned-flash and reversing checkerboard) were chosen in order to determine whether stimulus lumi'ilance or stimulus frequency was responsible for previously observed increases in blood flow in the striate cortex during photic stimulation. The response curves of blood flow change as a function of stimulus rate were nearly identical for both stimuli. These results suggest that elementary stimulus variables, such as repetition rate, can have a major effect on local cerebral responses, as measured with positron emission tOmography and other radiotracer methods.
Functionally diverse dendritic mRNAs rapidly associate with ribosomes following a novel experience

Dendritic protein synthesis is implicated in synaptic plasticity and memory storage. Ainsley et al., develop a method for collecting ribosome-bound mRNAs from mouse brain dendrites, and use RNA sequencing to characterize dendritic mRNAs that bind to ribosomes after mice experience a novel environment.
Impact of interconnect variations on the clock skew of a gigahertz microprocessort

Due to the large die sizes and tight relative clock skew margins, the impact of interconnect manufacturing variations on the clock skew in today's gigahertz microprocessors can no longer be ignored. Unlike manufacturing variations in the devices, the impact of the interconnect manufacturing variations on IC timing performance cannot be captured by worst/best case corner point methods. Thus it is difficult to estimate the clock skew variability due to interconnect variations. In this paper we analyze the timing impact of several key statistically independent interconnect variations in a context-dependent manner by applying a previously reported interconnect variational order-reduction technique. The results show that the interconnect variations can cause up to 25% clock skew variability in a modern microprocessor design.
Immunology of Enteroviruses

Enteroviruses include over 60 identifiable serotypes. Although several well-defined groups of enteroviruses are known today, their discovery and subsequent immunological characterization are largely a by-product of the intensive investigative effort directed toward characterization of polioviruses and the development of polio vaccines. Poliomyelitis was identified as a distinct clinical entity almost 100 years ago (Bulow-Hansen and Harbitz, 1899). The etiology of this disease was clearly established by Landsteiner and Popper (1909), who provided the first evidence of experimental transmission in monkeys by intracerebral inoculation of extracts of poliomyelitis-infected human spinal cord. The techniques for quantitation of the virus and serological responses to infection became available in 1939, with the adaption of Lansing strain poliovirus to cotton rats (Armstrong, 1939). Finally, the development of tissue culture techniques and the subsequent in vitro cultivation of poliovirus (Enders et al., 1949) provided for the immunological and biochemical characterization of polioviruses as well as for the development of poliovirus vaccines and the virtual elimination of the disease in many parts of the world.
Coordination dynamics of (a)symmetrically loaded gait

Asymmetries in the resonant frequency of limbs/effectors lead to changes in coordination dynamics, including deviations in relative phase at ϕ = 0 or π rad and reduced stability. These effects have been successfully modeled by the extended Haken-Kelso-Bunz (HKB) coupled oscillator model (Kelso et al. in Attention and performance XIII. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, pp 139-169, 1990), and supported in laboratory tasks of rhythmic limb motions. Efforts to apply the HKB model to walking have supported the predicted deviations in phase, but not the expected decreases in coordination stability. The lack of stability effects arising from asymmetries may be due to the stabilizing influence of a treadmill or may be obscured by the balance requirements and ground impacts in gait. This study examined these possibilities by investigating walking overground with ankle weights of 3 or 6 kg to create asymmetries between the legs, as well as symmetrical loads. Participants walked without a metronome and separately with a metronome to control speed and cadence. Coordination dynamics between the legs were quantified through mean and standard deviation (SD) of ϕ, while individual leg local dynamic stability was calculated as maximum Lyapunov exponent (λ (MAX)). Irrespective of the condition, asymmetrical loads led to deviations in phase from antiphase with the loaded leg lagging behind the other, and both SDϕ and λ (MAX) increased (i.e., stability decreased). Symmetrical loads had no effect on phase deviations, but decreased stability. Overall, these findings indicate that the HKB model captures coordination dynamics in walking, but also highlights limitations in modeling the influence of loads on an individual limb.
“Why Would Anyone Sell Paradise?”: The Islamic State in Iraq and the Making of a Martyr

This article examines the battlefield associated with the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI; now the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria [ISIS]) suicide attack “Operation Rabi bin Amir.” In examining the ISI-produced recruitment video, many features of extremist rhetoric become apparent including the constitutive, instrumental, and mythic functions of battlefield videos. By focusing on the account of one attack, this rhetorical analysis shows the transformation of actual events into a mythic account of martyrdom that can be circulated on the Internet ad infinitum in order to recruit members to ISIS.
Bacteriological Observations on a Case of Meningo-Encephalitis.∗:

On December 12, 1933, a nurse became suddenly ill and repeatedly vomited bile stained material. The following morning she had a severe chill, a temperature of 101 °F., severe headache, some rigidity of the neck and a doubtful Kernig's sign. A day later her temperature reached 105.3°F. and the meningeal symptoms were more marked. During the first 10 days of her illness the more prominent symptoms were: fever, headache, occipital tenderness, rigidity of the neck, strabismus, ptosis of left eyelid, diplopia, twitching muscle fasciculi and lethargy from which she could be fairly easily roused. There was gradual improvement after about the tenth day. Ten weeks after the onset there remained some speech defect, difficulty in feeding herself, dysmetria, sprawling gait, slight nodding of head, emotional instability and impaired memory.Spinal fluid obtained December 15 was hazy and contained 812 cells per cu. mm. (95% small lymphocytes). The sugar content was 37 mg. per 100 cc. and the gold curve 0023321111. Subse...
Moral Credibility and Crime

We are in a crime panic. Clear-headed commentators point out the lack of justification for the panic: crime rates have not in fact increased recently, they correctly note. But a complete picture of our crime situation includes two other important pieces of information. First, one reason that crime has not increased recently is because we have increasingly altered our life style to avoid it. We no longer go out at night. We no longer let our children walk to a friend's house to play. We install locks, carry mace, and gladly pay more for apartment buildings with security. Private expenditures on security in 1983 were $21.7 billion, considerably more than the $13.8 billion of public spending. By 1990, private annual expenditures had risen to $52 billion.2 The rate of crime has stabilized because we increasingly diminish the quality of our lives to avoid it. The injury of crime escalates even where its incidents do not. Another important piece of the crime picture is the fact that crime has dramatically increased over the longer term, albeit in sufficiently small increments that no single reported increase alone justified panic. In 1955, there were 46 robberies annually per 100,000 population; for equal population today we have over 270 robberies annually, a six fold increase. Rape rates have more than tripled. Burglary rates have almost quadrupled. Murder per capita has more than doubled. The aggravated assault rate has increased more than sixfold. Overall the major crime rate is more than four times what it was four decades ago, including both urban and rural areas. Perhaps the current crime panic is not born of new data but of realized frustration, like the monkey who works methodically to free himself from a trap and goes berserk only when he realizes there is no escape. It is frustration, not crime, that has boiled over.
Ugly-Gentle-Wise——the Comparison and Analysis of the Chinese Image in the West at the end of the 19th Century and at the beginning of the 20th Century

Between the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century,three English works,which aim to introduce Chinese people to the West,have portrayed three different images of China in the West: ugly,gentle and wise.Not only do the three works interact with each other in the description of China,but the images of China in these three books also enjoy clear-cut characteristics.By studying and comparing the three typical Chinese images,the paper hopes to reveal the reasons behind these three different images and find out the underlying rule which guides the transition of Chinese image in the West.
SOURCES AND CONTROL OF INCLUSIONS IN BILLETS

By means of metallographic, EPMA and SEM observation and electrolysis, the inclusions in billets produced by Nanjing Steel have been investigated. The variations of content, size, composition, distribution and type of inclusions during casting have been examined. The measures for enhancing the cleanness of billet are proposed.
Analysis and Improvement on Power on/off Safety Technique of Enclosed HV Switchgear

Safety assessment is made on the technical measure for power on/off safety of various enclosed switchgears.In view of the existing problems,corresponding anti-accident measures are presented,which include the interlock of equipment at different locations,the defect inspection,evaluation and summary of lock out device,and the development of display device for live part verification.
Algae: A Way of Life and Health

Macroalgae (seaweeds) are a diverse group of predominantly marine, multicellular, photosynthetic, chlorophyll “a”-containing, eukaryotic organisms found from the intertidal zone to 300-m deep. The approximately 10,000 described macroalgal species are segregated by photosynthetic pigment content, carbohydrate food reserve, cell wall components, and flagella construction and orientation. This eclectic group has evolved over the last 600–900 million years occupying a variety of ecological niches. The diverse utilization of seaweeds for medicinal purposes include: goiter, intestinal afflictions, cancer, cervix dilation, laxative, wound dressing, cholesterol reduction, bleeding control, vermifuge, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, breast infections, tuberculosis, breaking of fevers, headaches, scabies, cardiovascular disease, and fungal infections. The editors have assembled a group of contributors, dedicated to the advancement of algae, experts in their fields of endeavor bringing seaweeds and their role in health and disease prevention to a diverse group of readers.
Writing about Islam for Youth : A Study of Two Authors and Two World Views

ABSTRACTThis is a study of two authors who wrote about Islam for youth: Florence Mary Fitch and Reza Aslan. Fitch's book, Allah, the God of Islam: Moslem Life and Worship (1950), and Aslan's No God but God: The Origins, Evolution of Islam (2011b) offer both historical and current views of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad. Although they wrote some 61 years apart, a review of their works reveals similar views, especially concerning the need for reform in Islam. This study reveals two different worldviews about the development of Islam. Fitch's views, although generally supportive of Islam, reflect Western society's view of Islam and Mohammad over half a century ago, while Aslan, a Muslim-reformist, emphasizes current democratic and humanitarian aspects of Islam that are well-suited for the modern world. Subjects discussed include Mohammad's revelations from Allah, the conquering of Mecca by Mohammad and the ending of idolatry, the beginning of Islam as a dominant religion, the role of women in Islam, the hija...
Division of Labor: ER-Resident BiP Co-Chaperones Match Substrates to Fates Based on Specific Binding Sequences.

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Behnke et al. (2016) describe a novel cell-based peptide-binding assay and use it to analyze the binding specificities of the endoplasmic reticulum Hsp70 chaperone and its co-chaperones and to probe their different roles in protein quality control.
Heterogeneous catalysis: More than skimming the surface

The high temperatures and pressures used in heterogeneous catalysis make it difficult to observe catalysts using conventional techniques. Now, adsorbed product molecules on the surface of a single-crystal model catalyst have been observed during catalysis using a custom-built scanning tunnelling microscope that can work in situ.
Abstract CT114: A phase II trial of exemestane and ruxolitinib for aI-resistant ER+ breast cancer: Interim safety, efficacy, and biomarker analysis

Resistance to aromatase inhibitors in ER+ breast cancer leads to recurrence and progression in the metastatic setting. JAK/STAT pathway activation is a resistance mechanism that could potentially be overcome with the use of JAK inhibitor therapy. Methods: We performed a phase II trial of exemestane, 25 mg daily, and ruxolitinib, 25 mg BID, in postmenopausal women with advanced, ER+ breast cancer who had progressed on a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor and had either measureable or bone-only disease. A Simon 2-stage design was employed. A “go” decision to second stage would occur if fewer than 5/15 patients experienced any grade 3/4 toxicity requiring discontinuation from the study within the first treatment cycle. Results: Fifteen patients were enrolled; during cycle 1, no patient discontinued for toxicity and 1 patient went off study for progression of bone disease. 36 grade 3 events occurred; anemia was most common (n = 5), requiring transfusion in all patients. 47% required dose reduction. No partial or complete responses occurred; 3/15 (20%) had stable disease ≥6 months (clinical benefit, CB). Baseline CRP ≥8 was significantly associated with CB (3/3 CB vs. 1/11 non-CB; p = 0.011); other markers, including baseline ESR, IL-6 genotype status and primary tumor phosphoSTAT3 expression were not associated with CB in this small sample, though high tumoral pSTAT3 was seen in 66% of CB and 33% of non-CB. A novel pharmacodynamic (PD) assay to assess STAT3 phosphorylation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after ruxolitinib exposure demonstrated differential effects in patients with CB vs. those without CB. Conclusions: The combination of exemestane and the JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib met safety criteria for continued enrollment. Anemia, an expected toxicity of R, was common and the high rate of severe anemia and need for dose reductions has led to a decision to reduce the starting dose of ruxolitinib to 15 mg BID moving forward. Promising predictive markers, including CRP, tumor pSTAT3 and a novel PD assay for pSTAT3 will be further evaluated. Citation Format: Angela M. DeMichele, Christopher B. Colameco, Anna Kalota, Andrea B. Troxel, Robin Holmes, Rebecca Cimildoro, Kelly Zafman, Kevin R. Fox, Susan M. Domchek, Keerthi Gogineni, Angela R. Bradbury, Jennifer M. Matro, Natalie Shih, Michael D. Feldman, Amy S. Clark, Elizabeth O. Hexner, Jacqueline F. Bromberg. A phase II trial of exemestane and ruxolitinib for aI-resistant ER+ breast cancer: Interim safety, efficacy, and biomarker analysis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr CT114. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-CT114
Joint Inference for Event Coreference Resolution.

Event coreference resolution is a challenging problem since it relies on several components of the information extraction pipeline that typically yield noisy outputs. We hypothesize that exploiting the inter-dependencies between these components can significantly improve the performance of an event coreference resolver, and subsequently propose a novel joint inference based event coreference resolver using Markov Logic Networks (MLNs). However, the rich features that are important for this task are typically very hard to explicitly encode as MLN formulas since they significantly increase the size of the MLN, thereby making joint inference and learning infeasible. To address this problem, we propose a novel solution where we implicitly encode rich features into our model by augmenting the MLN distribution with low dimensional unit clauses. Our approach achieves state-of-the-art results on two standard evaluation corpora.
Latent tuberculosis infection: the final frontier of tuberculosis elimination in the USA

Summary Since 1989, the USA has been pursuing the goal of tuberculosis elimination. After substantial progress during the past two decades, the rate of tuberculosis cases in the USA each year has now levelled off and remains well above the elimination threshold. Both epidemiological data and modelling underline the necessity of addressing latent tuberculosis infection if further progress is to be made in eliminating the disease. In this Personal View we explore next steps towards elimination. Given the estimated prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection, compared with the limited testing and treatment that currently occur, a major new effort is required. This effort should consist of a surveillance system or registry to monitor progress, scale-up of targeted testing for latent tuberculosis infection in at-risk populations, scale-up of short-course treatment regimens, engagement of affected communities and medical providers who serve those communities, and increased public health staffing for implementation and oversight. Such an effort would benefit greatly from the development of new tools, such as tests that better indicate reactivation risk, and even shorter latent tuberculosis infection treatment regimens than currently exist.
Attention Restoration Theory: Exploring the Role of Soft Fascination and Mental Bandwidth:

Soft fascination is a key but underexamined element of Attention Restoration Theory (ART). According to ART, attending to softly fascinating stimuli not only requires little effort but also leaves ...
On Determination of Leaf Primordia in Osmunda Cinnamomea L

Leaf primordia in the vascular plants are formed at regular intervals at the flanks of the shoot apex. The primordia arise as the result of divisions in groups of cells of the surface and subsurface cell layers at the flanks of the apex. In the ferns, the primordium develops a leaf apical cell characteristic of the species, assumes a dorsiventral symmetry, and by rapid growth quickly overtops the apical meristem.
Host IDO2 gene status influences tumor progression and radiotherapy response in KRAS-driven sporadic pancreatic cancers

Purpose: Heritable genetic variations can affect the inflammatory tumor microenvironment, which can ultimately affect cancer susceptibility and clinical outcomes. Recent evidence indicates that IDO2, a positive modifier in inflammatory disease models, is frequently upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). A unique feature of IDO2 in humans is the high prevalence of two inactivating single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), which affords the opportunity to carry out loss-of-function studies directly in humans. In this study, we sought to address whether genetic loss of IDO2 may influence PDAC development and responsiveness to treatment. Experimental Design: Transgenic Ido2+/+ and Ido2−/− mice in which oncogenic KRAS is activated in pancreatic epithelial cells were evaluated for PDAC. Two patient data sets (N = 200) were evaluated for the two IDO2-inactivating SNPs together with histologic, RNA expression, and clinical survival data. Results: PDAC development was notably decreased in the Ido2−/− mice (30% vs. 10%, P Conclusions: The results of this study provide genetic support for IDO2 as a contributing factor in PDAC development and argue that IDO2 genotype analysis has the immediate potential to influence the PDAC care decision-making process through stratification of those patients who stand to benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy.
The effects of gamma radiation on digital micromirror devices

Digital micromirror devices (DMDs) are well suited for highly multiplexed spectroscopy applications. In astronomy, DMDs can be used as a programmable slit mask in a multi-object spectrometer (MOS). There is strong interest in utilizing DMDs for space-based MOS instruments. Over the past several years, we have carried out a program to evaluate the viability of XGA DMDs for operation in space, including their ability to survive the launch environment. The DMDs we tested did not show any failures or adverse effects after mechanical vibration and shock testing. Using heavy ion irradiation, we found that DMDs are susceptible to single event upsets (SEUs), though all SEUs are non-destructive and can be cleared by loading a new pattern. The estimated SEU rate for ”worst week” conditions in interplanetary space was 5.6 upset micromirrors (out of 786,432) per 24 hours. Using high energy protons, we found that DMDs started to show failures at a total ionizing dose of 30 krad(Si) (which is well above the estimated total-dose for a 4 year mission). In this work, we present the total ionizing dose testing performed using gamma rays from a Co-60 source at NASA GSFC. We tested 14 XGA devices and found that individual micromirrors began failing after the devices accumulated a total dose of 16-19 krad(Si). Devices recovered after annealing at room temperature in as little as 24 hours. Devices subjected to the most severe radiation testing conditions were completely recovered after 18 weeks of annealing at room temperature. We also tested unbiased (powered off) devices, which showed no effects up to a dose of 76 krad(Si) (which is the highest TID we achieved during our testing). This work concludes our efforts to space-qualify XGA DMDs, and shows that these devices are well-suited for deployment in space, except in the harshest radiation environments.
Implementing Survey-Based Changes and Analyzing Usage in an Online Curriculum for Surgical Interns.

Abstract Background To improve the online curriculum at the authors' program, study habits and learning resources of surgical interns were evaluated. Based on the results, changes were implemented to align with their teaching conferences. We sought to determine utilization and satisfaction with the new materials. Methods At the end of the 2017 academic year, surgical interns at a single institution voluntarily responded to an Institutional Review Board–approved survey regarding new and established learning material use and study habits. Responses were deidentified. Descriptive statistics were performed on demographics. Likert responses underwent Mann–Whitney analysis (α = 0.05). Results The response rate was 52.9% (n = 9). The internet was the most-used resource (P Conclusions Overall, materials organized based on pilot study feedback were not widely used, and satisfaction was limited. The statistically significant increase in use of internet resources warrants attention. Focusing changes in future curricular design may help create a more effective learning environment.
Modeling and Simulation of Quasi-Ballistic III-Nitride Transistors for RF and Digital Applications

This paper presents a self-consistent analytic model to describe the current-voltage (I-V) and charge-voltage (Q-V) behavior of quasi-ballistic III-nitride transistors. We focus on two types of tra...
The full-length structure of Thermus scotoductus OLD defines the ATP hydrolysis properties and catalytic mechanism of Class 1 OLD family nucleases.

OLD family nucleases contain an N-terminal ATPase domain and a C-terminal Toprim domain. Homologs segregate into two classes based on primary sequence length and the presence/absence of a unique UvrD/PcrA/Rep-like helicase gene immediately downstream in the genome. Although we previously defined the catalytic machinery controlling Class 2 nuclease cleavage, degenerate conservation of the C-termini between classes precludes pinpointing the analogous residues in Class 1 enzymes by sequence alignment alone. Our Class 2 structures also provide no information on ATPase domain architecture and ATP hydrolysis. Here we present the full-length structure of the Class 1 OLD nuclease from Thermus scotoductus (Ts) at 2.20 A resolution, which reveals a dimerization domain inserted into an N-terminal ABC ATPase fold and a C-terminal Toprim domain. Structural homology with genome maintenance proteins identifies conserved residues responsible for Ts OLD ATPase activity. Ts OLD lacks the C-terminal helical domain present in Class 2 OLD homologs yet preserves the spatial organization of the nuclease active site, arguing that OLD proteins use a conserved catalytic mechanism for DNA cleavage. We also demonstrate that mutants perturbing ATP hydrolysis or DNA cleavage in vitro impair P2 OLD-mediated killing of recBC-Escherichia coli hosts, indicating that both the ATPase and nuclease activities are required for OLD function in vivo.
Spatial analysis of American Eel (Anguilla rostrata), fish passage and land use in Chesapeake Bay tributaries

Catadromous eels are found in more habitats than any other fish and are capable of inhabiting marine, brackish and freshwater environments. In this study we used the American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) as a bioindicator organism to create a novel method of using spatial analysis to study species conservation over landscape scales. We built a model of the subwatersheds of the Chesapeake Bay using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and overlaid eel density data (> 1 million eels sampled), dam density data and land use in ArcGIS. Dam construction in the study area peaked between 1955 and 1975, possibly as a result of flood control measures. Effects of land use were localized and most pronounced in areas around Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia, USA. Results indicate the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers appear to be areas of lesser concern while the upper James and York rivers are ideal for follow-up studies, since these area rank poorly in both eel density and barriers to fish passage. Because these rivers have high eel density downstream, the dams appear to be the limiting factor. Sampling methods have been inconsistent over time, making it is difficult to determine where eel densities are low vs. the area having had little sampling effort. This is partially resolved with catch per sampling event (CPSE), which appears to show a relationship between eels sampled and the number caught per sample. Potential strategies for improving watersheds include dam removal, fish passage and habitat restoration.
Chapter 2 – Data Structures: Classifying the Various Types of Data Sets

Data can come to you in several different forms, and it will be useful to have a basic catalog of the different kinds of data so that you can recognize them and use appropriate techniques for each. A data set consists of observations on items, typically with the same information being recorded for each item. We define the elementary units as the items themselves (eg, companies, people, households, cities, TV sets) in order to distinguish them from the measurement or observation (eg, sales, weight, income, population, size). This chapter shows that data sets can be classified in five basic ways: One: By the number of pieces of information (variables) there are for each elementary unit. Univariate data have just one variable, bivariate data have two variables (eg, cost and number produced), and multivariate data have three or more variables. Two: By the kind of measurement (numbers or categories) recorded in each case. Quantitative data consist of meaningful numbers, while categorical data are categories that might be ordered (“ordinal data”) or not (“nominal data”). Three: By whether or not the time sequence of recording is relevant. Time-series data are more complex to analyze than are cross-sectional data due to the way in which measurements change over time. Four: By whether or not the information was newly created or had previously been created by others for their own purposes. If you (or your firm) control the data-gathering process, the result is called “primary data” while data produced by others is “secondary data.” Five: By whether the data were merely observed (an “observational study”) or if some variables were manipulated or controlled (an “experiment”). Advantages of an experiment include the ability to assess what is causing the reaction of interest.
The Role of Nonattorney Representation in the SSDI Determination Process: A Case Study of One Prominent Intermediary:

Intermediary organizations that provide nonattorney representation services to people applying for Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits are a prominent but understudied part of ...
Management of Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections in the Era of Rapid Diagnostic Testing: Impact With and Without Antibiotic Stewardship

Background Verigene Blood-Culture Gram-Negative is a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) that detects gram-negatives (GNs) and resistance within hours from gram stain. The majority of the data support the use of RDTs with antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) intervention in gram-positive bloodstream infection (BSI). Less is known about GN BSI. Methods This was a retrospective quasi-experimental (nonrandomized) study of adult patients with RDT-target GN BSI comparing patients pre-RDT/AMS vs post-RDT/pre-AMS vs post-RDT/AMS. Optimal therapy was defined as appropriate coverage with the narrowest spectrum, accounting for source and co-infecting organisms. Time to optimal therapy was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Results Eight-hundred thirty-two patients were included; 237 pre-RDT/AMS vs 308 post-RDT/pre-AMS vs 237 post-RDT/AMS, respectively. The proportion of patients on optimal antibiotic therapy increased with each intervention (66.5% vs 78.9% vs 83.2%; P < .0001). Time to optimal therapy (interquartile range) decreased with introduction of RDT: 47 (7.9-67.7) hours vs 24.9 (12.4-55.2) hours vs 26.5 (10.3-66.5) hours (P = .09). Using multivariable modeling, infectious diseases (ID) consult was an effect modifier. Within the ID consult stratum, controlling for source and ICU stay, compared with the pre-RDT/AMS group, both post-RDT/pre-AMS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.34; 95% CI, 1.04-1.72) and post-RDT/AMS (aHR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.01-1.64), improved time to optimal therapy. This effect was not seen in the stratum without ID consult. Conclusions With the introduction of RDT and AMS, both proportion and time to optimal antibiotic therapy improved, especially among those with an existing ID consult. This study highlights the beneficial role of RDTs in GN BSI.
Cyber School Is a Marker of Youth with High-Risk Diabetes.

Objective To explore the health characteristics of youth with diabetes in cyber school compared with peers with diabetes in traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Study design This was a single-center cross-sectional study of youth with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in K-12 education during academic year 2017-2018. Youth enrolled in cyber school were matched with traditional school peers by age, sex, race, diagnosis, and diabetes duration. Comparisons included insurance status, hemoglobin A1c, treatment, coexisting conditions, screening, and healthcare use. Results Of 1694 participants, 5% (n = 87) were enrolled in cyber school. Youth enrolled in cyber school were predominantly white (89%), female (60%), adolescents (median 15.2 years) with type 1 diabetes (91%). Youth with type 2 diabetes were excluded from analyses owing to the small sample (n = 7). Public insurance was more common among youth enrolled in cyber school (P = .005). Youth in cyber school had higher mean hemoglobin A1c, 9.1 ± 1.8% (76 ± 20 mmol/mol) vs 8.3 ± 1.2% (67 ± 13 mmol/mol) (P = .003), lower insulin pump use (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.18-0.73), and more mental health conditions (OR, 4.48; 95% CI, 1.94-10.35) compared with peers in traditional schools. Youth in cyber school were less likely to have recommended vision (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.75) and dental (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15-0.75) evaluations. The relationship between hemoglobin A1c and cyber school persisted after adjusting for insurance status, pump use, and mental health conditions (P = .02). Similar trends were observed for participants with type 2 diabetes. Conclusions Youth with diabetes in cyber school may be a high-risk population. Understanding the potential impact of cyber school-related factors on health may encourage additional provider/system/school supports for these patients.
Fantasy Football and the Discourse Surrounding Violence against Women

The discourse surrounding professional football players and violence against women developed alongside an evolving NFL that increasingly valued fantasy sports participants for their heightened enga...
Integrated Photonics Technology for Space-Based Remote-Sensing

We review integrated photonics technology and the applications for space-based remote-sensing. We cover the state of the technology and its advantages in a variety of sensing applications, discussing some active programs implementing integrated photonic solutions and showing the potential for improved systems performance.
A Case of Functional Adrenal Insufficiency Secondary to COVID-19 Infection

Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, over seventy million cases have been reported worldwide. Patients present with various symptoms, including extra-pulmonary manifestations. However, manifestations on adrenal glands have not been reported extensively. Here, we present a case of functional adrenal insufficiency in a COVID-19 patient. A 61-year-old male with a history of hyperlipidemia presented with fatigue, cough, and dyspnea, subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. His blood pressure (BP) on admission was 128/68 mmHg with 86% oxygen saturation on room air. Dexamethasone 6mg daily was started for ten days. Remdesivir was contra-indicated, considering the ALT of 246 and AST of 248. On day seven of hospitalization, he had progressively worsening respiratory symptoms and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit with BP of 105/63 mmHg. Within 48 hours, he showed positive orthostatic vitals with BP of 85/54 mmHg. Despite intravenous hydration, his BP was consistently low on subsequent days with 88/53 mmHg and 99/66 mmHg. His serum total cortisol level was 9.2 μg/dL, and he showed a positive response to IV Hydrocortisone 50mg as well as oral prednisone 10 mg the following day. We did not obtain a cosyntropin stimulation test because of recent corticosteroid therapy. Midodrine 2.5mg three times daily (TID) was started, then increased to 10 mg to maintain BP and alleviate orthostatic symptoms. However, symptomatic positive orthostatic vitals were persistent. He was discharged on midodrine 7.5 mg TID and Fludrocortisone 0.1 mg daily for suspicion of functional adrenal insufficiency. Additionally, a HDL level of 22 mg/dL was recorded (vs 56 mg/dL six months ago). At three months follow-up, he was off fludrocortisone and midodrine with improved orthostatic symptoms. Hypotension and orthostatic symptoms in COVID-19 could be due to IL-1, IL-6, or tumor necrosis factor-mediated reduction in ACTH secretion. Acute illnesses, including COVID-19, may also increase cortisol demand, causing adrenal insufficiency. Decreased HDL noted in our patient could be another etiology. "Critical Illness-Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency" (CIRCI) is a functional adrenal insufficiency that is not strictly dependent on cortisol level for diagnosis but mostly on the inadequacy of cortisol for inflammation control or supplying the raised metabolic demand. Decreased cortisol complex cleavage, increased activity of an enzyme responsible for cortisol inactivation, and decreased numbers and affinity of cortisol receptors were postulated to play a role. Therefore, adrenal insufficiency as a cause of hypotension following COVID-19 infection should not be overlooked despite normal cortisol levels.
Chronic pain and COVID-19: The association of delay discounting with perceived stress and pain severity.

The coronavirus disease pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19) is a worldwide threat to public health that has significantly affected the United States. The pandemic poses a variety of health risks including stressful disruptions in social and economic activity. Understanding the pandemic's effects on already vulnerable populations, such as individuals with chronic pain, may inform healthcare preparation for future catastrophic events. Given the association between excessive discounting of delayed rewards and chronic pain, this study examined relationships between delay discounting, pain severity, and COVID-19 perceived stress in individuals with chronic pain. Individuals reporting chronic pain (N = 180; 41% female; 86% white; 59% with a college degree) were recruited via the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform in this cross-sectional study. Measures of pain severity, delay discounting, probability discounting, and COVID-19 perceived stress were collected. Delay discounting was a significant predictor of overall pain severity (p .05). These findings highlight the importance of excessive discounting of delayed rewards as a potential determinant of pain severity as well as predictor of perceived stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the discounting of delayed rewards is of particular therapeutic importance for individuals with chronic pain in the context of stressful events. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).