cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiclass Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential Frequency Evaluation Using Chirp-Modulated Stimuli

Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) are oscillations of the electroencephalogram (EEG) which are mainly observed over the occipital area that exhibits a frequency corresponding to a repetitively flashing visual stimulus. SSVEPs have proven to be very consistent and reliable signals for rapid EEG-based brain–computer interface (BCI) control. While a subject-specific SSVEP stimulus frequency optimization is ideal, this can be a tedious and time-consuming process. Thus, many studies select SSVEP stimulation frequencies somewhat arbitrarily. There is no standardized set of SSVEP stimulus frequencies or frequency selection method, and some studies even claim conflicting frequency ranges for optimal performance. In this work, 17 subjects were stimulated with an LED array that flashed according to a chirp-modulated signal having a frequency that varied linearly over the typical functional range of SSVEP. The resulting EEG was analyzed using canonical correlation analysis and a genetic algorithm was implemented to determine generalized stimulation frequency sets over a continuum of simulated multiclass BCI classification scenarios. The results show that distinct frequency feature groupings exist over the different multiclass scenarios, and that these groupings result in different information transfer rates. These offline results can provide a guide for generalized stimulus frequency selection for SSVEP-based BCIs with an arbitrary number of targets.
Study on Control Capability of Black-start in VSC-HVDC System

IGBT in VSC-HVDC system has turn-off capability,can control the turn-off time,and also can connect with passive system.The control ability of black-start in VSC-HVDC system is studied as to the fast recovery control ability of VSC without additional commutation voltage in the passive inverter mode.In the process of black-start,constant DC voltage / constant reactive power control strategy is used as to control VSC-HVDC rectifier converter,and constant AC voltage / constant frequency control strategy is used as to control VSC-HVDC inverter converter.In addition,the impact of coordination and optimization of control strategy on black-start is studied when generations are connected to power grid.By taking Kunder's four-machine two-area system as an example,the entire process of black-start is simulated by using of PSCAD/EMDTC,and simulation study shows that the proposed control strategies has excellent voltage and frequency characteristics during the realization of black-start.
Results of otologic referrals in an industrial hearing conservation program

Baseline and periodic audiometry was performed on noise-exposed workers in 21 industrial plants. Workers showing moderate hearing loss, asymmetry, or significant threshold shifts were referred for otologic evaluation. The overall referral rate was 2.76%. Of 107 referrals, 53% had otologic diagnoses other than noise-induced hearing loss, or required specific intervention, or both. The results support the use of criteria at least as stringent as those used in this study.
Toward resolving the debate surrounding slippery slope versus licensing behavior: The importance of individual differences in accounting ethical decision making

Abstract A great deal of attention, research and print space has been devoted to the role of the “slippery slope” in corporate malfeasance. Slippery slope refers to a pattern of behavior in which small unethical infractions lead to more egregious behaviors over time. In accounting, this escalation can relate to increasing dollar amounts or engaging in different behaviors reflecting increasing degrees of ethical grayness. Much of corporate malfeasance indeed relates accounting practices: theft fraud (Wells 2000, 2001a, 2001b, 2002) or fraudulent financial reporting (e.g., AIG, 2005; Bernie Madoff, 2008; Enron, 2001; Diamond Foods, 2012; HealthSouth, 2003; Lehman Brothers, 2008; Saytam, 2009; WorldCom, 2002). More recent research on compensatory ethics in psychology and business, however, has shown conflicting findings: that performing an initial unethical act can create an internal incentive to end or curtail subsequent unethical behavior; this behavior has also been referred to as a “licensing effect”, in which bad behavior is limited in how much individuals can license and still preserve their reputation or moral identity (Beaman et al., 1983; Brown, Rennekamp, Seybert, & Zhu, 2014; Freedman and Fraser, 1966; Gino and Bazerman, 2009; Joosetn et al., 2014; Murphy & Dacin, 2011; Zhong et al., 2010). It is our belief that both theories may be found to co-exist in accounting practice depending on individual characteristics. We conduct two studies to examine the role of individual differences in instances of malfeasance specifically related to accounting practices, heretofore largely ignored in the accounting literature. In Study One, we investigate the role of locus of control (Rotter, 1966) and negative affect (Crawford and Henry, 2004; Lowe and Reckers, 2012; Watson and Tellegen, 1985). In Study Two, we examine narcissism (Johnson et al., 2013; Little et al., 1992; Young et al., 2015) and moral disengagement (Bandura, 1999; Detert et al., 2008). Findings confirm hypotheses that both slippery slope and licensing patterns of behavior will manifest depending on individual differences among the participants.
From Repression to Democratic Reforms in Kenya and Uganda

This chapter is divided into two main sections. The first section of this chapter provides a description of the political developments in Kenya and Uganda prior to the onset of transnational mobilization against authoritarian rule. Differences in the initiation of regime change are the result of variation of authoritarian rule emerging after political independence. Transnational mobilization against authoritarian rule targeted both countries with similar strength, but produced a fundamental regime change in Uganda in 1986 and more limited political reforms in Kenya in 1991. Transnational mobilization and domestic conditions create distinct paths of political change.
Ultrasound for Patient Positioning in Radiation Therapy

Ultrasound has been used in many applications in radiotherapy to determine anatomy. Even before the advent of CT, ultrasound was used to map organs and to illustrate isodose lines on treatment plans.[1,2] It is well documented that the prostate and bladder can be seen in the transabdominal ultrasound images. The ability to relate this information to the linear accelerator coordinate system and to obtain reliable position information for the prostate would allow the use of ultrasound as a positioning device. This could also be applied to other cases such as bladder, pancrease, kidney and liver.
Nontraumatic "isolated" posterior interosseous nerve palsy: Reinterpretation of electrodiagnostic studies and MRIs.

Summary Introduction Different hypotheses have been proposed for the pathophysiology of posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) palsy, namely compression, nerve inflammation, and fascicular constriction. We hypothesized that critical reinterpretation of electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies and MRIs of patients with a diagnosis of PIN palsy could provide insight into the pathophysiology and treatment. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed patients with a diagnosis of nontraumatic PIN palsy and an upper extremity EDX and MRI. The original EDX studies and MRIs were reinterpreted by a neuromuscular neurologist and musculoskeletal radiologist, respectively, both blinded to our hypothesis. Results Fifteen patients met the inclusion criteria, i.e., having an "isolated" PIN palsy. Four patients (27%) had a defined mass compressing the PIN. The remaining 11 patients (73%) presented with at least one finding incompatible with the compression hypothesis: physical examination revealed that weakness in muscles was not innervated by the PIN in 4 patients (36%); EDX abnormalities not related to the PIN were found in 4 patients (36%); and reinterpretation of the MRIs showed muscle atrophy or nerve enlargement beyond the territory of the PIN in 9 patients (82%), without any evidence of compression of the PIN in the proximal forearm. Conclusion The eleven patients in our series with presumed isolated and idiopathic PIN palsy had evidence of a more diffuse nerve–muscle involvement pattern, without any radiologic signs of nerve compression of the PIN itself. These data would favor an inflammatory pathophysiology when a structural lesion compressing the nerve is ruled out with imaging.
Yangzhou: A Place in Literature, The Local in Chinese Cultural History

Writing in the mid-seventeenth century, Dong Yining 董以寧 explained how renowned literary figures made a place significant: “The fame of mountains and rivers is mostly due to outstanding people. Befo...
Clinical, Biochemical, and Genetic Characterization of North American Patients With Erythropoietic Protoporphyria and X-linked Protoporphyria

Importance Autosomal recessive erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) are rare photodermatoses presenting with variable degrees of painful phototoxicity that markedly affects quality of life. The clinical variability, determinants of severity, and genotype/phenotype correlations of these diseases are not well characterized. Objective To describe the baseline clinical characteristics, genotypes, and determinants of disease severity in a large patient cohort with EPP or XLP. Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective observational study was conducted among patients with confirmed diagnoses of EPP or XLP from November 1, 2010, to December 6, 2015, at 6 academic medical centers of the Porphyrias Consortium of the National Institutes of Health Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network. Detailed medical histories, including history of phototoxicity and treatment, were collected on standardized case report forms. Patients underwent baseline laboratory testing, total erythrocyte protoporphyrin (ePPIX) testing, and molecular genetic testing. Data were entered into a centralized database. Main Outcomes and Measures Results of biochemical and genetic tests were explored for association with clinical phenotype in patients with EPP or XLP. Results Of the 226 patients in the study (113 female and 113 male patients; mean [SD] age, 36.7 [17.0] years), 186 (82.3%) had EPP with a FECH (OMIM612386) mutation and the common low-expression FECH allele IVS3–48T>C, and only 1 patient had 2 FECH mutations. Twenty-two patients had XLP (9.7%; 10 male and 12 female patients), and 9 patients (4.0%) had elevated ePPIX levels and symptoms consistent with protoporphyria but no detectable mutation in the FECH or ALAS2 (OMIM301300) gene. Samples of DNA could not be obtained from 8 patients. Patients’ mean (SD) age at symptom onset was 4.4 (4.4) years. Anemia (107 [47.3%]), history of liver dysfunction (62 [27.4%]), and gallstones (53 [23.5%]) were commonly reported. Higher ePPIX levels were associated with earlier age of symptom onset (median ePPIX levels for those who developed symptoms before vs after 1 year of age, 1744 vs 1567 µg/dL; P = .02), less sun tolerance (median ePPIX levels for those reporting symptoms before vs after 10 minutes of sun exposure, 2233 vs 1524 µg/dL; P ≤ .001), and increased risk of liver dysfunction (median ePPIX levels for those with liver dysfunction vs normal liver function, 2016 vs 1510 µg/dL; P = .003). Patients with EPP and FECH missense mutations had significantly lower ePPIX levels than those with other mutations (1462 vs 1702 µg/dL; P = .01). Male patients with XLP had significantly higher ePPIX levels, on average, than did patients with EPP (3574 vs 1669 µg/dL; P Conclusions and Relevance These data suggest that higher ePPIX levels are a major determinant of disease severity and risk of liver dysfunction in patients with EPP or XLP. These findings provide a framework for clinical monitoring and management of these disorders.
Knowledge Based Systems in Modeling, Simulation and Identification

Abstract System identification generally has been based on mathematical models of system behavior. This paper considers the increasing importance of symbolic, non-numerical models of physical systems and their usefulness in simulation and identification. Symbolic models are contrasted with mathematical models. The use of AI methods in the design of intelligent simulation systems is presented, followed by a discussion of the desirable properties of a knowledge-based system for identification. Two examples of knowledge-based models are discussed.
Metabolic Surgery for Type 2 Diabetes with BMI <35 kg/m2

Is bariatric surgery as primary therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with body mass index (BMI) <35 kg/m2 justified? Open-label studies have shown that bariatric surgery causes remission of diabetes in some patients with BMI <35 kg/m2. All such patients treated had substantial weight loss. Diabetes remission was less likely in patients with lower BMI than those with higher BMI, in patients with longer than shorter duration and in patients with lesser than greater insulin reserve. Relapse of diabetes increases with time after surgery and weight regain. Deficiencies of data are lack of randomized long-term studies comparing risk/benefit of bariatric surgery to contemporary intensive medical therapy. Current data do not justify bariatric surgery as primary therapy for T2DM with BMI <35 kg/m2.
Impact of Transcriptomics on Our Understanding of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal fibrotic lung disease characterized by aberrant remodeling of the lung parenchyma with extensive changes to the phenotypes of all lung resident cells. The introduction of transcriptomics, genome scale profiling of thousands of RNA transcripts, caused a significant inversion in IPF research. Instead of generating hypotheses based on animal models of disease, or biological plausibility, with limited validation in humans, investigators were able to generate hypotheses based on unbiased molecular analysis of human samples and then use animal models of disease to test their hypotheses. In this review, we describe the insights made from transcriptomic analysis of human IPF samples. We describe how transcriptomic studies led to identification of novel genes and pathways involved in the human IPF lung such as: matrix metalloproteinases, WNT pathway, epithelial genes, role of microRNAs among others, as well as conceptual insights such as the involvement of developmental pathways and deep shifts in epithelial and fibroblast phenotypes. The impact of lung and transcriptomic studies on disease classification, endotype discovery, and reproducible biomarkers is also described in detail. Despite these impressive achievements, the impact of transcriptomic studies has been limited because they analyzed bulk tissue and did not address the cellular and spatial heterogeneity of the IPF lung. We discuss new emerging technologies and applications, such as single-cell RNAseq and microenvironment analysis that may address cellular and spatial heterogeneity. We end by making the point that most current tissue collections and resources are not amenable to analysis using the novel technologies. To take advantage of the new opportunities, we need new efforts of sample collections, this time focused on access to all the microenvironments and cells in the IPF lung.
Canine, feline, and equine corneal vascular neoplasia: A retrospective study (2007-2015)

Corneal vascular neoplasms (hemangioma and hemangiosarcoma) are rare in all species. Reported cases are single case reports in a single species. Archived cases of corneal hemangioma and hemangiosarcoma from dogs, cats, and horses were obtained from the Comparative Ocular Pathology Lab of Wisconsin (COPLOW, Madison, WI), tabulated, and examined. This retrospective study describes the breeds, ages, tumor types, and characteristics of vascular neoplasms that appeared to be primarily corneal in location, in feline, canine, and equine patients, with gross and histologic images. There is a discussion of predisposing factors and speculated association with chronic ocular surface disease.
Designing Experiential Learning Projects for Teaching Marketing Courses

Business schools are putting more emphasis on the improvement of teaching and learning methods to better prepare their graduates and meet the industry demands. This improvement has been sought through the use of face to face teaching approach blended with industry projects and experiential exercises. This study reports on a similar effort initiated in teaching the international marketing course in an undergraduate business program. An experiment is conducted in which a combination of face to face classroom and experiential learning project is used. Through this experiment, the author describes a semester-long, international marketing project that is structured to elicit active student engagement with international marketing course material and promote hands-on, real-world experience. Students learning enhanced tremendously as reflected in their papers and reports. The managers of the participating firms also appreciated the students’ efforts. The participating firms benefited by getting objective views of some of their international marketing problems and issues. Keywords-Experiential Learning; International Marketing; Industry Projects; Face-to-Face Lectures. Relevance to Marketing Educators, Researchers and/or PractitionersThe exercise can be appropriate for a variety of undergraduate marketing courses and is especially beneficial in teaching international marketing. Instructors can promote better students satisfaction and consequently achieve good scores in student evaluations that are very crucial in decision regarding the promotion and tenure. Overall, this course delivery format is an attempt to meet the industry demands currently confronting marketing educators.
Metabolic Epoxidation of Aflatoxin B 1 and its Metabolites: Patterns of DNA Adduct Formation and Removal in Relation to Biological Effects

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most toxic and carcinogenic member of a family of difuranocoumarins produced as secondary metabolites by strains of Aspergillus flavus and related fungi1. Exposure to aflatoxin is a public health hazard in technologically developing areas of the world, where AFB1-producing fungi are distributed widely and where food production and storage conditions are conducive to mold spoilage and consequent mycotoxin production. In most animals, the main target for the biological effects of AFB1 is the liver, although the relative sensitivity of different animal species varies markedly; the rat, rainbow trout and duck are highly sensitive whereas the mouse is resistant. The liver is also apparently a target in humans, in that a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma has been observed in chronically exposed populations2. Additional factors may act in concert in initiating the putative carcinogenic effects of AFB1 in humans; these include abnormal nutritional status or concomitant pathological conditions such as viral hepatitis.
A Hardware Instrumentation Approach for Performance Measurement of a Shared-Memory Multiprocessor

Performance measurement requires a mechanism (tool) to obtain performance information (raw samples). The performance information can be placed into two orthogonal categories: (1) trace measurement, and (2) resource utilization. Trace measurement is concerned with the activities of the application or system processes, and provides information such as program execution time, execution path, response time, etc. Resource utilization is concerned with the detailed operation of the hardware, and provides information such as cache hit ratios, access delays, duty cycles, etc. Roberts [ROB86] provides a more complete discussion on performance information to be measured.
Loss of TXNIP enhances peritoneal metastasis and can be abrogated by dual TORC1/2 inhibition.

// Douglas Spaeth-Cook 1 , Mark Burch 2 , Robin Belton 1 , Bryce Demoret 1 , Nicholas Grosenbacher 1 , Jason David 2 , Colin Stets 1 , David Cohen 4 , Reena Shakya 5 , John L. Hays 3, 6, * and James L. Chen 1, 3, * 1 Department of Biomedical Informatics, Division of Bioinformatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA 2 Department of Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA 4 Department of Pathology, Anatomic Pathology Division, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA 5 James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA 6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210 OH, USA * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: James L. Chen, email: James.Chen@osumc.edu Keywords: carcinomatosis; sarcomatosis; TXNIP; peritoneal disease Received: July 05, 2018 Accepted: October 06, 2018 Published: November 02, 2018 ABSTRACT Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is a debilitating consequence of multiple cancers. As cancer cells lose tonic signaling related to attachment dependence, critical morphologic shifts result in alteration of the transcriptome. Identifying key genes associated with this transformation may lead to targeted therapies for this devastating complication. TC71, CHLA9, PANC1, YOU and HEYA8 cell lines were grown as tumor spheroids in polyHEMA coated plates. Temporal profiling of transcriptomic alterations over 72 hrs was used to develop a comprehensive PM model. We identified transcriptomic outliers using Gaussian mixtures model clustering to identify drivers of spheroid formation. Outliers were validated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and an ovarian tissue microarray (TMA) and by modulation in ovarian cancer models in vitro and in peritoneal xenograft models. Outlier analysis of PM genes identified the gene TXNIP and the TORC signaling as central to PM. Ovarian cancer spheroids isolated from patient ascites had significantly higher TXNIP than their attached counterparts ( p = 0.047). TXNIP levels predicted progression-free (log-rank p = 0.026) survival in stage 1/2 ovarian cancer and overall survival (log rank p = 0.047) in stage 3/4 ovarian cancer. In vitro , TXNIP silencing was associated with increased mTOR signaling and enhanced spheroid development which could be overcome by TAK228, a TORC1/2 inhibitor. Similarly, in vivo peritoneal xenograft models of carcinomatosis were prevented by TAK228. PM is driven by TXNIP-associated TORC1/2 signaling. This work provides the first evidence that TORC1/2 inhibition may prevent PM.
Voices of Innovation: Fulfilling the Promise of Information Technology in Healthcare

We can all point to random examples of innovation inside of healthcare information technology, but few repeatable processes exist that make innovation more routine than happenstance. How do you create and sustain a culture of innovation? What are the best practices you can refine and embed as part of your organization's DNA? What are the potential outcomes for robust healthcare transformation when we get this innovation mystery solved? Loaded with numerous case studies and stories of successful innovation projects, this book helps the reader understand how to leverage innovation to help fulfill the promise of healthcare information technology in enabling superior business and clinical outcomes.
W. E. B. Du Bois: Ethiopia and Pan-Africanism:

This article examines Du Bois’s interactions with Ethiopian government representatives who were sent to America during the first half of the 20th century, and identifies numerous ways in which Du B...
A combined PPAC-RCCE-ISAT methodology for efficient implementation of combustion chemistry

Probability density function (PDF) methods are now well established and can be used to accurately simulate flames with strong turbulence chemistry interactions. A pre-partitioned adaptive chemistry...
Diastereoselective One-Pot Synthesis of Oxazolines Using Sulfur Ylides and Acyl Imines

This work describes an extended version of the Corey-Chaykovsky reaction to access oxazolines using sulfur ylides and stable precursors of acyl imines. The reaction proceeds through a mixture of aziridines and oxazolines, which provides the trans-oxazolines following in situ Heine-type aziridine ring expansion upon treatment with BF3·OEt2. Following the same one-pot procedure, amidine imides react with the sulfur ylides to provide imidazolines.
On the joint decoding of LDPC codes and finite-state channels via linear programming

In this paper, the linear programming (LP) decoder for binary linear codes, introduced by Feldman, et al. is extended to joint-decoding of binary-input finite-state channels. In particular, we provide a rigorous definition of LP joint-decoding pseudo-codewords (JD-PCWs) that enables evaluation of the pairwise error probability between codewords and JD-PCWs. This leads naturally to a provable upper bound on decoder failure probability. If the channel is a finite-state intersymbol interference channel, then the LP joint decoder also has the maximum-likelihood (ML) certificate property and all integer valued solutions are codewords. In this case, the performance loss relative to ML decoding can be explained completely by fractional valued JD-PCWs.
Infant sleep moderates the effect of infant temperament on maternal depressive symptoms, maternal sensitivity, and family functioning

Observed infant temperamental difficulty and infant sleep efficiency and sleep variability were examined as predictors of maternal depressive symptoms, maternal sensitivity, and family functioning. Eight observations at 8-months postpartum were used to assess infant temperament, and actigraphy was used to measure infant sleep for 1-week at the time of the 8-month assessment. Structured clinical interviews were used to assess maternal depressive symptoms between 5 and 12 months postpartum and at 15 months postpartum, and observational assessments were used to assess maternal sensitivity and family functioning at 15 months postpartum. Variability in infant sleep moderated the effect of infant temperament on maternal depressive symptoms, maternal sensitivity, and family functioning. Infant temperament was positively associated with maternal depressive symptoms when variability in infant sleep efficiency was high, but not when variability in infant sleep efficiency was low. Likewise, infant temperament was negatively associated with maternal sensitivity and family functioning when variability in infant sleep efficiency was high, but not when variability in infant sleep efficiency was low. Results underscore the importance of infant sleep for maternal and family health.
Adaptational lag to temperature in valley oak (Quercus lobata) can be mitigated by genome-informed assisted gene flow

Climate change over the next century is predicted to cause widespread maladaptation in natural systems. This prediction, as well as many sustainable management and conservation practices, assumes that species are adapted to their current climate. However, this assumption is rarely tested. Using a large-scale common garden experiment combined with genome-wide sequencing, we found that valley oak (Quercus lobata), a foundational tree species in California ecosystems, showed a signature of adaptational lag to temperature, with fastest growth rates occurring at cooler temperatures than populations are currently experiencing. Future warming under realistic emissions scenarios was predicted to lead to further maladaptation to temperature and reduction in growth rates for valley oak. We then identified genotypes predicted to grow relatively fast under warmer temperatures and demonstrated that selecting seed sources based on their genotype has the potential to mitigate predicted negative consequences of future climate warming on growth rates in valley oak. These results illustrate that the belief of local adaptation underlying many management and conservation practices, such as using local seed sources for restoration, may not hold for some species. If contemporary adaptational lag is commonplace, we will need new approaches to help alleviate predicted negative consequences of climate warming on natural systems. We present one such approach, “genome-informed assisted gene flow,” which optimally matches individuals to future climates based on genotype–phenotype–environment associations.
Wildlife surveillance for emergent disease.

Monkeypox, a zoonotic disease that is marked in humans by a smallpox-like rash, may present as a rash-less respiratory disease in wild chimpanzees.
Microfluidic Systems with Embedded Cell Culture Chambers for High-Throughput Biological Assays

The ability to generate chemical and mechanical gradients on chips is important for either creating biomimetic designs or enabling high-throughput assays. However, there is still a significant know...
Left Ventricular Assist Device Outflow Cannula Obstruction: Importance of Multimodality Imaging.

Abstract One of the dreaded complications of left ventricular assist device implantation is mechanical obstruction of the device secondary to pump thrombosis or mechanical outflow cannula obstructi...
Phylogenomics of the Epigenetic Toolkit Reveals Punctate Retention of Genes across Eukaryotes

Epigenetic processes in eukaryotes play important roles through regulation of gene expression, chromatin structure, and genome rearrangements. The roles of chromatin modification (e.g., DNA methylation and histone modification) and non-protein-coding RNAs have been well studied in animals and plants. With the exception of a few model organisms (e.g., Saccharomyces and Plasmodium), much less is known about epigenetic toolkits across the remainder of the eukaryotic tree of life. Even with limited data, previous work suggested the existence of an ancient epigenetic toolkit in the last eukaryotic common ancestor. We use PhyloToL, our taxon-rich phylogenomic pipeline, to detect homologs of epigenetic genes and evaluate their macroevolutionary patterns among eukaryotes. In addition to data from GenBank, we increase taxon sampling from understudied clades of SAR (Stramenopila, Alveolata, and Rhizaria) and Amoebozoa by adding new single-cell transcriptomes from ciliates, foraminifera, and testate amoebae. We focus on 118 gene families, 94 involved in chromatin modification and 24 involved in non-protein-coding RNA processes based on the epigenetics literature. Our results indicate 1) the presence of a large number of epigenetic gene families in the last eukaryotic common ancestor; 2) differential conservation among major eukaryotic clades, with a notable paucity of genes within Excavata; and 3) punctate distribution of epigenetic gene families between species consistent with rapid evolution leading to gene loss. Together these data demonstrate the power of taxon-rich phylogenomic studies for illuminating evolutionary patterns at scales of >1 billion years of evolution and suggest that macroevolutionary phenomena, such as genome conflict, have shaped the evolution of the eukaryotic epigenetic toolkit.
Characterization of attributes and in vitro performance of exenatide-loaded PLGA long-acting release microspheres.

Abstract Bydureon® (Bdn) is a once-weekly injectable long-acting release (LAR) product for adults with type 2 diabetes based on PLGA microspheres encapsulating the glucagon like peptide (GLP-1) analog, exenatide. Despite its widespread use in type 2 diabetes treatment, little information has been published concerning the physical-chemical aspects and exenatide stability in this product. Here, we developed and validated methods to evaluate attributes and performance of Bdn such as particle size/size distribution and residual levels of moisture and organic solvent(s). The reverse engineering of the exenatide LAR was also performed to identify and quantify principal components in the product. Stability-indicating UPLC and LC-MS methods were applied to characterize exenatide degradation (such as oxidation, deamidation and acylation products) during in vitro release evaluation. The 55-μm volume-median Bdn microspheres slowly released the exenatide in vitro over two months with a very low initial burst release to avoid unwanted side effects. Residual organic solvent levels (methylene chloride, ethanol, heptane, and silicon oil) also met the USP criteria. Peptide acylation was the most prominent peptide reaction during both encapsulation and in vitro release, and the acylated peptide steadily increased during release relative to parent exenatide, becoming the most abundant peptide species extracted from the microspheres at later release stages. The presence of peptide impurities during the release period, which are not extractable in the polymer and likely insoluble in water, might be one potential cause for immunogenicity. Further evaluation will be needed to confirm this hypothesis. Release of peptide was minimal over the first 2 weeks before the microspheres steadily released peptide for more than 28 days. The rigorous technical approach discussed in this paper may provide critical information for both companies and the FDA for developing generic exenatide-PLGA formulations and other important PLGA microsphere products.
Perceived Motivators and Constraints among Regular Players of Pick-Up Basketball Games: 經常參加籃球運動群體的動機與障礙

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese. The purpose of this study was to examine perceived motivators and constraints among regular players of pick-up basketball games. Sixty-five basketball players were invited to participate in the study. The instrument assessing participants’ perceived motivators and constraints of participating in pick-up basketball games was adapted from the works on leisure motivators and constraints. Results indicated that the primary motivators for the players playing pick-up basketball games were having fun (77.9%), improving physical fitness (55.9%), becoming fit (52.9%), and improving basketball skills (41.2%). The major constraints the players perceived were lack of leisure time (55.9%), lack of basketball courts (45.6%), hard to find friends to play with (17.6%), and too much work (16.2%). The findings of the study may imply that in order to promote physical activity policy-makers should help create better physical environments such as the access to the basketball courts. Additionally, physical education professionals must help young people develop motor skills to enjoy the activity. 本文旨在揭示經常參加籃球運動群體的動機與障礙。六十五位經常參加籃球運動的人士應邀參加本研究。結果顯示經常參加籃球運動主要的動機包括有興趣(77。9%) 、提高體能(55。9%) 、改進健康 (52。1%) 、提高籃球技術 (41。2%) 。主要障礙包括缺少休閒時間(55。9%) 、缺乏場地 (45。6%) ，難以找到朋友一起參與 (17。6%) 、太多工作 (16。2%) 。本研究結果表明為了更好促進大眾體育鍛煉﹐決策者須考慮改善體育鍛煉的環境，同時體育專業人士應幫助青少年發展運動技能。
Substance-Targeted Choice-of-Law Clauses

Recent cases highlight two persistent problems in U.S. litigation: the frequency with which parties seek to validate an otherwise unenforceable provision through a choice-of-law clause, and the disparate results courts have reached in such cases. These problems, while not wholly new, have recently become more troublesome and widespread. Courts, however, have not grown more consistent in their approach to them. On the contrary, they increasingly reach varied results on highly similar facts, resulting in endless legal uncertainty, forum shopping, and doubts about judicial impartiality. These effects are all the more problematic because, as most conflicts scholars would agree, parties should not be allowed to choose a jurisdiction’s law solely for the purpose of validating a contested contractual provision; indeed, permitting them to do so is at odds with most purposes of contractual choice-of-law enforcement. For this reason, this Article proposes that, rather than fall back on complicated public policy exceptions to contractual choice-of-law, courts should instead identify and refuse to apply choice-of-law clauses that are adopted for the purpose of making a separate contractual provision enforceable. This Article refers to such clauses as “substance-targeted.” Courts typically do not distinguish between targeted and non-targeted choice-of-law clauses. As a result, targeted clauses are often treated as if they represent an ordinary instance of allowing contracting parties autonomy to choose the law applicable to their dispute. Yet they involve meaningfully different considerations, both because of the reasons that parties choose to include them and because of their ultimate effects. Unlike conventional choice-of-law clauses, substance-targeted clauses are neither aimed at achieving predictability nor likely to result in it. Their frequent use encourages litigation, disadvantages weaker parties, and fosters fears about results-oriented reasoning when their enforceability is tested. These pernicious effects call for a fundamentally different choice-of-law approach.
Evaluation of microbial qPCR workflows using engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Aims We describe the development and interlaboratory study of modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a candidate material to evaluate a full detection workflow including DNA extraction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
Reversible Growth Models on Zd: Some Examples

In a recent paper [3], a class of reversible growth models on a fairly general set of sites was introduced and studied. These models are generalizations of the finite reversible nearest particle systems on the integers, which have been considered in several papers in recent years (see [1] and [2], for example). The focus of attention in these growth models is the probability of survival of the system. Typically there are natural one parameter families of models, and one wishes to determine the critical value for that parameter, which is the point at which survival with positive probability begins to occur. Once this is done, it is of interest to determine the manner in which the survival probability approaches its limit (which is usually zero) as the parameter approaches the critical value from above.
The Benefit Corporation: Corporate Governance and the For-profit Social Entrepreneur

The adoption by 19 states and the District of Columbia of a new variant of the business corporation form—known as the benefit corporation—presents several issues for legislatures, for entrepreneurs electing to organize as benefit corporations, for existing corporations that are converting to the new form, and for the stakeholders (other than shareholders) who are intended to be considered in benefit corporation governance. The article presents the history and structure of the new business form and a discussion of what has become its predecessor—the constituency statute. The model benefit corporation statute provisions are reviewed, which many states have adopted in toto. The authors address the obstacles that should be overcome by legislatures, businesses, and stakeholders before further legislative adoptions occur, as well as considerations for effective implementation by government, corporations, and stakeholders under existing and proposed variations of the statute.
Comparison of neural network optimization approaches for studies of human genetics

A major goal of human genetics is the identification of susceptibility genes associated with common, complex diseases. The preponderance of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions comprising the genetic architecture of common diseases presents a difficult challenge. To address this, novel computational approaches have been applied to studies of human disease. These novel approaches seek to capture the complexity inherent in common diseases. Previously, we developed a genetic programming neural network (GPNN) to optimize network architecture for the detection of disease susceptibility genes in association studies. While GPNN was a successful endeavor, we wanted to address the limitations in its flexibility and ease of development. To this end, we developed a grammatical evolution neural network (GENN) approach that accounts for the drawbacks of GPNN. In this study we show that this new method has high power to detect gene-gene interactions in simulated data. We also compare the performance of GENN to GPNN, a traditional back-propagation neural network (BPNN) and a random search algorithm. GENN outperforms both BPNN and the random search, and performs at least as well as GPNN. This study demonstrates the utility of using GE to evolve NN in studies of complex human disease.
Adolf Berle and Revolution in the Modern Corporation

Adolf Berle is best known as co-author of "The Modern Corporation and Private Property," one of the most cited works in the corporate governance literature. This paper discusses the significance of "The Modern Corporation" in shaping current corporate governance debates and also examines other Berle works for their insight into broader changes in the widely held corporation in society today, changes Berle characterized as a revolution.
Chlorhexidine mouthwash-induced fixed drug eruption: Case report and review of the literature

Various adverse reactions including anaphylactic shock have already been reported after the topical application of chlorhexidine. This article reports for the first time a hypersensitivity reaction in the form of fixed drug eruption after the use of a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine. This report should bring an increased awareness of the possibility of systemic hypersensitivity reaction to chlorhexidine in a previously sensitized person. The report also will add fixed drug eruption to the list of skin hypersensitivity reactions caused by chlorhexidine.
l-Carnitine therapy in home parenteral nutrition patients with abnormal liver tests and low plasma carnitine concentrations

Persistent abnormalities of liver function tests occur in approximately 15% of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) patients and are associated with steatosis, steatohepatitis, and, rarely, fibrosis or cirrhosis. Approximately one-third of patients with gut failure on long-term HPN have low total and free plasma carnitine concentrations, and it has been suggested that a deficiency of L-carnitine may be responsible for the steatosis and steatohepatitis in HPN patients. To determine whether administration of L-carnitine is capable of reversing steatosis in HPN patients, 4 adult women on HPN for a mean of 53 mo (range 21-80 mo) were studied before and after 1 mo of intravenous L-carnitine supplementation (1 g/day). All patients had abnormalities in standard liver function tests and low total and free plasma carnitine values. The mean total and free plasma carnitine concentrations and the mean total hepatic carnitine concentration were reduced before supplementation and rose to normal values after treatment (27.4 +/- 2.3 to 35.5 +/- 3.1 nmol/ml, 19.4 +/- 2.8 to 25.7 +/- 2.5 nmol/ml, and 3.5 +/- 0.65 to 6.5 +/- 1.2 nmol/mg of noncollagen protein, respectively). However, there were no significant changes in mean serum aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels (65 +/- 21 vs. 54 +/- 12 IU and 429 +/- 220 vs. 472 +/- 224 IU, respectively), plasma free fatty acids, plasma triglycerides, hepatic free fatty acid and triglyceride concentrations, or the grade of hepatic steatosis on light microscopy. These results suggest that carnitine deficiency is not a major cause of steatosis and steatohepatitis in patients receiving HPN.
Multivisceral resection for advanced rectal cancer: outcomes and experience at a single institution.

Abstract Background Multivisceral resection is often required in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancers. Such resections are relatively rare and oncologic outcomes, especially when sphincter preservation is performed, are not fully demonstrated. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of patients who underwent multivisceral resection for locally advanced rectal cancer with and without sphincter preservation. Results Sixty-one patients underwent multivisceral resection for rectal cancer from 2005 to 2013 with a median follow-up of 27.8 months. Five-year overall and disease-free survival were 49.2% and 45.3%, respectively. Thirty-four patients (55.7%) had sphincter-sparing operations with primary coloanal anastomosis and temporary stoma. There was no significant difference in overall or disease-free survival, or recurrence with sphincter preservation compared with those with permanent stoma. Conclusions Multivisceral resection for locally advanced rectal cancer has acceptable oncologic and clinical outcomes. Sphincter preservation and subsequent reestablishment of gastrointestinal continuity does not impact oncologic outcomes and should be considered in many patients.
Schistosoma mansoni: A comparison of male and female muscle physiology

Surface electrical activity and membrane potentials recorded from male and female Schistosoma mansoni are similar. Surface electrical activity and responses to electrical stimulation are slightly higher in females. Contractures induced by praziquantel, 60 mM K+, ouabain or 5 degrees C are slightly less in females but responses to putative neurotransmitters (5-HT, dopamine and carbachol) are the same in both sexes. Females are more susceptible to the removal of Ca2+ and to the increase of Mg2+ in the medium. These differences may be due to anatomical differences in the sexes or to the recording methods used.
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF HALOPHILIC NON-CHOLERA VIBRIO INFECTIONS

Abstract Three cases which illustrate the clinical spectrum of infection with halophilic non-cholera vibrios are presented. These organisms which are widespread in marine waters cause infections sporadically. Diarrhœa is probably most common, but the diagnosis is not made because of difficulty in identifying the infecting organisms. Sepsis presumably followed tissue invasion in the gut. Soft-tissue infections may result from direct inoculation or from localisation after sepsis. Intense swelling and compromised blood-supply necessitate a combined medical and surgical approach to treatment.
Equivalence Tests for Interchangeability Based on Two One-Sided Probabilities

A test treatment is considered to be interchangeable with its reference treatment if they are equivalent and expected to produce the same clinical result in any given patient. To assess interchangeability, FDA Draft Guidance (1999) and Guidance for Industry (2001, 2003) recommend using individual bioequivalence (IBE) and population bioequivalence (PBE) procedures. Chow (1999) and Chow and Liu (1999) gave a discussion on the limitation of the aggregate criteria of the IBE and PBE proposed therein. They mentioned that it is not clear whether IBE or PBE can imply average bioequivalence. Alternative approaches have been proposed to address the weakness of IBE and PBE. Dong et al. (2014) discuss the tolerance interval method and an approximate test for interchangeability defined by a two-sided probability. These tests may not be able to test for the two one-sided tests (TOST) with asymmetric margins around the true mean difference. In addition, the tests of two-sided probability provide no direction when failing the equivalence in interchangeability. Thus, we reexamine the statistical properties of the two one-sided tolerance interval approaches proposed by Tsong and Shen (2007, 2008). In this project, we extend their approach for parallel arms trials and paired/crossover data without the assumption of equal sample sizes and variances. We also develop the exact power function and assess the type I error rate of our proposed approach. In addition, we study the sample size determination based on the interchangeability testing utilizing the tolerance interval method.