cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 466: Role of Janus Kinases and Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription in Interferon-gamma--Induced Insulin Resistance in Human Adipocytes

Obesity induces chronic low-grade inflammation of the adipose tissue, accompanied by an infiltration of cytokine-secreting immune cells, driving adipose and systemic insulin resistance. Circulating levels of interferon-gamma (IFNγ) in obesity correlate with increased adiposity and insulin resistance. Furthermore, IFNγ inhibits insulin signaling in adipocytes. IFNγ receptors signal via the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway, but the specific molecules involved with IFNγ signaling in adipocytes have not been determined. Based on pharmacological data, we hypothesized that JAK1 and STAT1, but not JAK2 and STAT3 would mediate IFNγ signaling in human adipocytes. To test this hypothesis we developed lentivirus-delivered shRNA against JAK1, JAK2, STAT1, and STAT3. Knockdown of JAK1, JAK2, and STAT1 in adipocytes with shRNA significantly inhibited IFNγ-induced suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)1 and SOCS3 expression. IFNγ downregulated insulin-signaling related gene (insulin receptor substrate-1, insulin receptor, and glucose transporter-4), and adipogenic gene (adiponectin, fatty acid synthase, lipoprotein lipase, perilipin, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) expression. JAK1, JAK2, and STAT1 shRNA attenuated IFNγ-induced downregulation of insulin signaling related and adipogenic gene expression, whereas STAT3 shRNA had no significant effect. These findings suggest that, in adipocytes, JAK1 and JAK2 as well as STAT1, but not STAT3, contribute to IFNγ signaling and the subsequent decrease in insulin sensitivity. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which inflammation induces adipose insulin resistance may identify pathways for therapeutic treatment or prevention of obesity induced insulin resistance and diabetes.
Predicting STEM and Non-STEM College Major Enrollment from Middle School Interaction with Mathematics Educational Software.

The worldwide increase in demand for qualified workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields has resulted in a greater focus on preparing students to enroll in postsecondary STEM programs. The processes that lead students to become interested in and equip them for STEM careers begin years earlier. Previous research indicates that family background, financial resources, and prior family academic achievement can be used to predict whether a student will enroll in a STEM major. In this paper, we consider another class of factors that may be predictive while being more actionable. In this paper, we use predictive analytics, based on previously-validated automated detectors of student learning and engagement, to predict which students will choose a STEM major. With data from 363 college students who used ASSISTments during their regular middle school math classes, we develop a model that can successfully distinguish 66% of the time if a student will choose a STEM major or a non-STEM major when they enter college. In doing so, we offer steps towards providing educators with more actionable information on the STEM trajectories of individual students.
Expanding our scientific horizons: utilization of unique model organisms in biological research

During the past century, research studies using animal models have contributed to numerous scientific discoveries and have been vital for the understanding of numerous biological processes, including disease. Over the past decades, the scientific community has defined a small number of model organisms that includes a few mammals, fish (mainly zebrafish), birds (mainly chicken), frogs, flies, and nematodes. Rodents are by far the most commonly employed laboratory animals in biomedical research. Mice share many biological similarities to humans and can be genetically manipulated to express mutations linked to human diseases. Mice and rats reproduce relatively quickly and have a short life span, which allows scientists to study progressive disorders, including aging. A large range of inbred mice strains enables accurate and reproducible experiments by decreasing the variability often associated with animal models and biological systems in general. Finally, mice are cost‐effective, small, and relatively easy to handle, transport, and house. All of these advantages combine to make mice the major species for recapitulating and studying human diseases. However, focusing exclusively on one or very few animal models may lead researchers to lose sight of other species with vastly different biology that might inform and affect our understanding of disease pathogenesis.
Enantiomerically Pure Compounds via Chiral Organoboranes

The ether catalyzed addition of diborane to unsaturated organic molecules -the hydroboration reaction — made organoboranes readily available for the first time. [1,2] Systematic study of these organoboranes has revealed that they are among the most versatile intermediates available to the organic chemist. [3] Indeed, it is possible to utilize organoboranes to synthesize essentially all structural types of organic compounds (Chart 1).
Fast Neutron Total and Scattering Cross Sections of Uranium-238

Neutron total and scattering cross sections of 238U have been interpreted in terms of a local, energy-dependent spherical optical potential with spin orbit coupling. Total cross sections to 10.0 Me...
Enhanced pyruvate dehydrogenase activity improves cardiac outcomes in a murine model of cardiac arrest.

Rationale Post-ischemic changes in cellular metabolism alter myocardial and neurological function. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), the limiting step in mitochondrial glucose oxidation, is inhibited by increased expression of PDH kinase (PDK) during ischemia/reperfusion injury. This results in decreased utilization of glucose to generate cellular ATP. Post-cardiac arrest (CA) hypothermia improves outcomes and alters metabolism, but its influence on PDH and PDK activity following CA are unknown. We hypothesized that therapeutic hypothermia (TH) following CA is associated with the inhibition of PDK activity and increased PDH activity. We further hypothesized that an inhibitor of PDK activity, dichloroacetate (DCA), would improve PDH activity and post-CA outcomes. Methods and results Anesthetized and ventilated adult female C57BL/6 wild-type mice underwent a 12-minute KCl-induced CA followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Compared to normothermic (37°C) CA controls, administering TH (30°C) improved overall survival (72-hour survival rate: 62.5% vs. 28.6%, P<0.001), post-resuscitation myocardial function (ejection fraction: 50.9±3.1% vs. 27.2±2.0%, P<0.001; aorta systolic pressure: 132.7±7.3 vs. 72.3±3.0 mmHg, P<0.001), and neurological scores at 72-hour post CA (9.5±1.3 vs. 5.4±1.3, P<0.05). In both heart and brain, CA increased lactate concentrations (1.9-fold and 3.1-fold increase, respectively, P<0.01), decreased PDH enzyme activity (24% and 50% reduction, respectively, P<0.01), and increased PDK protein expressions (1.2-fold and 1.9-fold, respectively, P<0.01). In contrast, post-CA treatment with TH normalized lactate concentrations (P<0.01 and P<0.05) and PDK expressions (P<0.001 and P<0.05), while increasing PDH activity (P<0.01 and P<0.01) in both the heart and brain. Additionally, treatment with DCA (0.2 mg/g body weight) 30 min prior to CA improved both myocardial hemodynamics 2 hours post-CA (aortic systolic pressure: 123±3 vs. 96±4 mmHg, P<0.001) and 72-hour survival rates (50% vs. 19%, P<0.05) in normothermic animals. Conclusions Enhanced PDH activity in the setting of TH or DCA administration is associated with improved post-CA resuscitation outcomes. PDH is a promising therapeutic target for improving post-CA outcomes.
The Impact of Soft Error Event Topography on the Reliability of Computer Memories

The frequency, nature, and scope of Soft Error Events (SEEs) is becoming an increasingly significant reliability concern as transistors continuously scale down into ever smaller nanometer memory chip geometries. As part of the on-going research efforts required to address this steadily developing situation, two significant research questions were addressed by the research work presented within this paper. The first research question addressed the possibility of crafting a novel methodology whose application would consistently lead to the creation of viable Monte Carlo SEE Simulators. Each of these Monte Carlo SEE Simulators would need to be capable of adequately profiling SEEs as well as simulating and modeling their impacts on the reliability of a variety of simulated 45-nm SRAM computer memories. The Standard 2-Parameter Weibull Soft Error Event (S2P-WSE) Simulator proposed within this paper as a direct application of this novel methodology successfully produced simulation results that were comparatively equivalent both directly and statistically to the results calculated by the empirically validated Weibull Row-Clustered Soft Error Reliability (WRCSER) model. This WRCSER Model was independently developed and empirically validated against proprietary reliability datasets obtained from testing a CISCO 45-nm SRAM computer memory device in a laboratory setting. The S2P-WSE Simulator itself was validated by means of a Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA test and by direct comparison of both the model and the simulator as a function of their respective failure probability and reliability results on 45-nm SRAM simulated computer memory devices subjected to the same SEE impacts over the course of an entire simulation run. The second research question sought to determine the significance of SEE topography versus a Row-Depth-Only bit error severity assumption on the reliability of simulated 45-nm SRAM computer memories shielded from the accumulating impacts of SEEs by variable error-correction codes, row-depth interleaving distances, and periodic scrubbing time intervals. The simulation runs for both the S2P-WSE Simulator and the T2P-WSE Simulator were carefully setup to ensure that only the potentially divergent factor between the results generated by the two simulators was the T2P-WSE Simulator's stochastically estimated topographical shape for each SEE impacting the simulated computer memory device. The work within this paper successfully demonstrated through direct plots of the two simulators’ failure probability and reliability results and the results of the Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA tests that the topography of SEEs does represent a significant impact on the overall failure probability and reliability of 45-nm SRAM computer memory devices.
Tolerance of containerized landscape plants to the postemergence herbicides Stinger, Manage and Basagran

Abstract Stinger (clopyralid), Manage (MON 12051) and Basagran (bentazon) postemergence applications were evaluated for phytotoxicity on five species of landscape plants grown in containers. Stinge...
Open access, power, and privilege: A response to “What I learned from predatory publishing”

In June 2017, Jeffrey Beall published an opinion piece in Biochemia Medica titled “What I Learned from Predatory Publishers.” 1 While there are several elements of this publication that I find inaccurate or problematic, I’m choosing four specific themes within his piece to critique. In the interest of full disclosure, I am Jeffrey Beall’s direct supervisor at the University of Colorado-Denver’s Auraria Library and have been since I began working there in July 2015.
Protein adsorption to monosodium urate crystals: differential responses of human peripheral blood neutrophils.

In order for acute gouty arthritis to occur, neutrophils must interact with monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. As a result of this interaction, enzymes, chemotactic factors, and other mediators of the inflammatory response are released from neutrophil lysosomes [1]. We have observed previously that MSU crystals adsorb gamma globulin, albumin, and other proteins found in serum and joint fluid [2]. This study was designed to demonstrate the effects of coating of MSU crystals with proteins on the phlogistic responses of neutrophils to crystals.
Detailed Unification Equations for Kinetic Parameters: A Case Study on Human Salivary Alpha Amylase

Background There has been an equation which unifies all common kinetic parameters to the exclusion of pseudo first order rate constant Much attention had been paid to rate constant for the production of reducing sugars during amylolysis catalyzed by alpha amylase There seems not be concern for the rate k S of amylolysis of glycosidic bond and making of bonds Modification of active site for therapeutic and scientific reasons can alter the value of k S Objectives The objectives of this research are the formulation of an additional simple and verifiable mathematical models that can be used to determine the parameter exp k t and D S given S where k tand S are the pseudo first order rate constant duration of assay and concentration of the substrate and more importantly the equation for the determination of k S Method The theoretical aspect entailed the derivation of different equations while the experimental aspect entailed the application of Bernfeld method of enzyme assay this was used to determine the molar concentration of reducing sugar produced Results Unpaired t test showed that the usual or conventional equations gave quantitative results that were not statistically different P gt from the quantitative results from the derived equations in this research The value of k S was plusmn min Conclusion Unification quadratic equations were derived and give quantitative results similar to the results obtained from conventional equations The value of k S ndof k this shows that hydrolysis of glycosidic bond and making of new bonds is the rate limiting step Estimation of the duration of assay needed to produce a desired amount of reducing sugar may be for feature investigation
Thermal Property Estimation of Fibrous Insulation: Heat Transfer Modeling and the Continuous Genetic Algorithm

Thermal properties of high-temperature fibrous insulation materials were estimated from transient thermal tests using an inverse heat transfer technique. Transient temperature data from an experimental set up was collected and a simple, one-dimensional numerical model was constructed to replicate the temperatures within the test assembly. The Continuous Genetic Algorithm optimization technique in conjunction with a numerical thermal model and transient test data was used to estimate coefficients of a functional representation of the thermal property. The thermal properties, i.e., thermal conductivity and specific heat, of an alumina insulation felt were estimated over the temperature range of 300 K to 1700 K at various constant static pressures in nitrogen gas and compared with published data. The resulting thermal property estimates were within 10% of published values over the entire temperature range at various pressures. The methodology, application, and results are presented.
Familial Atrial Fibrillation

Interest in familial or genetic heart diseases by cardiologists is often minimal because they are believed to account for only a small proportion of the diseases of the heart. However, there is a great potential to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of acquired diseases from identifying the genetic defect responsible for familial diseases. This was perhaps best illustrated in the recognition and treatment of the role of cholesterol in coronary artery disease. Brown and Goldstein elucidated the receptor responsible for the uptake of cholesterol and subsequently the metabolic pathway in familial hypercholesterolemia. This familial disorder probably accounts for less than 2% of all patients with coronary artery disease. Nevertheless, these studies subsequently led to others which proved that cholesterol is a major etiological factor in acquired coronary artery disease and is now the main target of treatment for the prevention and treatment of coronary disease. Death from CAD has been reduced by 50% in the past 30 years, in large part due to the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Improved Solar Cell Efficiency Through the Use of an Additive Nanostructure-Based Optical Downshifter: Final Subcontract Report, January 28, 2010 -- February 28, 2011

This final report summarizes all SpectraWatt's progress in achieving a boost in solar cell efficiency using an optical downshifter. Spectrawatt's downshifting technology is based on a nanostructured material system which absorbs high energy (short wavelength) light and reemits it at a lower energy (long wavelength) with high efficiency. This system has shown unprecedented performance parameters including near unity quantum yield and high thermal stability.
Clustering Analysis on Locally Asymptotically Self-similar Processes with Known Number of Clusters

We conduct cluster analysis on a class of locally asymptotically self-similar stochastic processes, which includes multifractional Brownian motion as a representative. When the true number of clusters is supposed to be known, a new covariance-based dissimilarity measure is introduced, from which we obtain the approximately asymptotically consistent clustering algorithms. In simulation studies, clustering data sampled from multifractional Brownian motions with distinct functional Hurst parameters illustrates the approximated asymptotic consistency of the proposed algorithms. Clustering global financial markets' equity indexes returns and sovereign CDS spreads provides a successful real world application.
Therapy of acute myeloid leukemia: therapeutic targeting of tyrosine kinases.

Introduction: Tyrosine kinases (TKs) drive cell survival and proliferation in many normal and malignant cell types. TKs are frequently mutated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and hence are increasi...
On mean flow universality of turbulent wall flows. II. Asymptotic flow analysis

Understanding of the structure of turbulent flows at extreme Reynolds numbers (Re) is relevant because of several reasons: almost all turbulence theories are only valid in the high Re limit, and mo...
Non-perturbative Methods in Kaon Physics: Aside from the Lattice

I discuss the progress in the use of analytic techniques for low energy QCD, in particular as applied to kaon physics. These methods are becoming increasingly powerful and we have gained a good deal of control over the difficult hadronic interactions. There are continuing developments, and I speculate on the ways that these techniques may become yet more sophisticated in the future.
HFE in Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice: A Practical Primer:

The HFES Diversity Committee is entering its third year following many years existing as a task force. We have built a series of annual meeting content over the past years, with panels introducing ...
Intensity and structure of intra-industry trade in agri-food products observed in Polish and EU foreign trade with the US

The aim of this paper was to investigate the intensity and determine the type of intra-industry trade in agri-food products of Poland and the EU with the US. Analysis was based on data coming from the Comext-Eurostat database applying the 6-digit HS classification in 2007 and 2018. The intensity of intra-industry trade was established using the Grubel-Lloyd index, taking the diversification of intra- -industry trade into horizontal, high-quality vertical, and low-quality vertical trade into consideration. The individual types were determined applying the criteria of similarity in unit values in exports and imports, proposed by David Greenaway et al. [1994]. Analysis showed that trade in agri-food products of Poland and the EU with the US developed mainly following a model of inter-industry specialisation. Intra-industry trade was observed primarily in trade in highly processed products. Analyses of EU trade with the US indicate the greatest role of intra-industry trade in high quality differentiated products, which may hardly be supplemented by other goods, while in Polish trade with the US it was vertical trade in low quality goods, which may be relatively readily replaced by products coming from other countries, in turn potentially leading to the loss of Polandâs share in the target market.
Tuning spin-orbit coupling towards enhancing photocurrent in hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites by using mixed organic cations

Abstract The presence of the heavy elements leads to strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs), which plays an important role in the photovoltaic performance of HOIPs by changing the populations between bright and dark states. The organic cation is a critical composition and affects SOC via the interaction with the inorganic cage. In this work, we use magneto-photocurrent measurement to explore the SOC effect upon using mixed organic cations (methylammonium (MA) and formamidinium (FA)) with different dipole moments in Pb based perovskites. Magneto-photocurrent measurements showed that the internal magnetic parameter B0 is decreased from 402.41 mT to 180.18 mT and 104.58 mT with decreasing the MA/FA ratio. This provides evidence that changing the internal dipole moment by using mixed organic cations can essentially change the SOC in HOIPs. Simultaneously, the photocurrent is increased from 21.46 mA/cm2 to 22.60 mA/cm2 and 23.08 mA/cm2 when the MA/FA ratio is changed from 1:0 to 0.9:0.1 and 0.7:0.3. Above all, our results indicate that the change in SOC by different organic cations can also be a factor affecting the performance of perovskite solar cells.
Applying STRESS to Evaluate Variabilities in Consumer Responses in the Textile Industry

The standardized residual sum of squares (STRESS) index has been employed to determine the goodness of fit between sensory and measured datasets. It has also been applied to determine inter- and intra-individual variability in repeated sensory evaluations. The primary goal of this work is to demonstrate the application of STRESS in the perceptual evaluation of textile products. Using case studies, the suitability of STRESS for evaluation of observer preferences of clothing colors was demonstrated. It was shown that the metric is a useful analytical tool for quantifying observer variability in perceptual assessments within the textile and apparel domains.
Chapter 18 – Skin

Publisher Summary This chapter depicts how anatomical structures within the skin can contribute and influence barrier function by providing an overview of the structure and function of the skin, viewed from a multifaceted perspective. The primary function of the skin is to act as a barrier to the external environment. There has also been a surge of interest in the skin as a target organ due in part to the fact that it is experimentally accessible, directly interfaces with the environment, and is an important route of entry for a myriad of environmental toxins. Recent developments in percutaneous absorption and dermal toxicology have considered how anatomical factors may affect the barrier function, thereby altering the rate of absorption. It is the purpose of this chapter to provide an overview of the general principles of percutaneous penetration, metabolism, and cutaneous responses to specific chemicals. In addition, the mechanisms of direct irritation and sensitization are discussed to provide a basis for selecting appropriate biomarkers for evaluating dermal toxicity.
Use of the Alvarado Score in Elderly Patients With Complicated and Uncomplicated Appendicitis

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Alvarado score is beneficial in identifying complicated versus uncomplicated acute appendicitis in elderly patients. A retrospective review was conducted of patients aged 65 years and older who underwent an appendectomy for pathologically confirmed appendicitis. A review of 310 operative reports and patient charts from October 2012 to December 2016 yielded 216 patients. Patients were grouped based on complicated versus uncomplicated appendicitis. One hundred ten patients had complicated appendicitis, whereas 106 patients were uncomplicated. Among the complicated appendicitis patients, 76.4 per cent were perforated, 38.2 per cent were gangrenous, and 34.5 per cent had an abscess. The complicated appendicitis group had a higher mean duration of symptoms (2.70 ± 3.41 days vs 2.09 ± 3.08 days, P = 0.011). Appendectomies that were open or converted to open were more likely to be associated with complicated appendicitis (75% vs 48%, P = 0.012). Mean hospital length of stay was greater in those with complicated appendicitis (5.34 ± 5.56 days vs 3.12 ± 2.86 days, P < 0.001). The two groups did not differ on mean Alvarado score (complicated = 6.96 ± 1.99 vs uncomplicated = 6.72 ± 1.85, P = 0.36). Only 62.5 per cent of patients had an Alvarado score that met the cutoff for acute appendicitis. The Alvarado score was not able to differentiate complicated from uncomplicated appendicitis in elderly patients.
Capacitor Voltage Ripple Reduction of Hybrid Balanced Two-Leg Five-Level Neutral Point Clamped Inverter

This paper proposes customization for a hybrid balancing scheme to reduce capacitor voltage ripple in a two-leg five-level neutral point clamped inverter. This customization introduces modulation changes in two regions of the hybrid balancing scheme. Following these changes, the active balancing control target options are re-evaluated to better suit the voltage ripple reduction objective. The paper outlines the backgrounds of changes and alternatives regarding the improvisation being adapted. Lastly, the applicability of the improvisations is demonstrated using a comparative Matlab-Simulink simulation of a two-leg five-level transistor clamped inverter under transient and steady-state conditions.
Soft tissue pathology for the radiologist: a tumor board primer with 2020 WHO classification update

Radiologists serve an important role in the diagnosis and staging of soft tissue tumors, often through participation in multidisciplinary tumor board teams. While an important function of the radiologist is to review pertinent imaging and assist in the differential diagnosis, a critical role is to ensure that there is concordance between the imaging and the pathologic diagnosis. This requires a basic understanding of the pathology of soft tissue tumors, particularly in the case of diagnostic dilemmas or incongruent imaging and histologic features. This work is intended to provide an overview of soft tissue pathology for the radiologist to optimize participation in multidisciplinary orthopedic oncology tumor boards, allowing for contribution to management decisions with expertise beyond image interpretation.
Evaluation of a no-touch pesticide use system

There are increasing problems (real and perceived) associated with the handling of pesticides in agriculture. All known data reveal that the greatest levels of exposure encountered with the use of a pesticide occurs at the mixer-loader stage. LPCAT and Merck initiated a collaborative, designed laboratory and field study to evaluate the potential of a series of dissolvable bags for use in boom and airblast sprayers. In laboratory studies, the effect of temperature on bag dissolution was a non-linear inverse relationship. Water hardness had no effect on bag dissolution. The field tests included mechanical and by-pass agitation sprayers with numerous concentration spray volumes. The protocols included: variation in tank levels prior to the addition of bags, check points at suction strainers, and in-line filter and nozzle strainer observations at 10 min, 1 h, and 4 h, including 1 h down time. The QSA 2004 bag reduced foaming of the wettable powder formulation. The QSA 2000, 2004, and Monosol 8000 were successful in low volume tank mixes in hydraulic and mechanized agitation sprayers.
Staurosporine Analogs Via C-H Borylation.

Staurosporine is among the most potent naturally occurring kinase inhibitors isolated to date and has served as a lead compound for numerous drug development efforts in several therapeutic areas. Herein we report that C-H borylation chemistry provides access to analogs of staurosporine that were previously inaccessible to medicinal chemists who, in the past four decades, have prepared over 1000 semisynthetic staurosporine analogs.
Managing Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace: Identification and Disclosure Dilemmas for Workers with Hidden Impairments

Many disabilities are invisible. Yet, research and lay conceptualizations of disability are largely focused on visible disabilities (e.g., wheelchair user). In this chapter, we outline features of invisible disabilities that might create unique challenges for workers with those disabilities. These challenges are summarized by two key dilemmas: whether to self-label as a person with disability and whether to disclose the disability at work. We discuss individual and social factors that influence how workers with invisible disabilities respond to those dilemmas. We then discuss the important implications of the identification and disclosure dilemmas for how practices might evolve to improve the integration and productivity of workers with invisible disabilities.
Advancing Science while Training Undergraduates: Recommendations from a Collaborative Biology Research Network.

This essay investigates the interplay of scientific and pedagogical objectives within an undergraduate-focused network research project. The multiple priorities faculty face in mentoring emerging s...
Characterization of Clonal Evolution in Microsatellite Unstable Metastatic Cancers through Multiregional Tumor Sequencing

Microsatellites are short, repetitive segments of DNA, which are dysregulated in mismatch repair-deficient (MMRd) tumors resulting in microsatellite instability (MSI). MSI has been identified in many human cancer types with varying incidence, and microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors often exhibit increased sensitivity to immune-enhancing therapies such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has permitted advancements in MSI detection, and recent computational advances have enabled characterization of tumor heterogeneity via NGS. However, the evolution and heterogeneity of microsatellite changes in MSI-positive tumors remains poorly described. We determined MSI status in 6 patients using our previously published algorithm, MANTIS, and inferred subclonal composition and phylogeny with Canopy and SuperFreq. We developed a simulated annealing-based method to characterize microsatellite length distributions in specific subclones and assessed the evolution of MSI in the context of tumor heterogeneity. We identified three to eight tumor subclones per patient, and each subclone exhibited MMRd-associated base substitution signatures. We noted that microsatellites tend to shorten over time, and that MMRd fosters heterogeneity by introducing novel mutations throughout the disease course. Some microsatellites are altered among all subclones in a patient, whereas other loci are only altered in particular subclones corresponding to subclonal phylogenetic relationships. Overall, our results indicate that MMRd is a substantial driver of heterogeneity, leading to both MSI and subclonal divergence. IMPLICATIONS: We leveraged subclonal inference to assess clonal evolution based on somatic mutations and microsatellites, which provides insight into MMRd as a dynamic mutagenic process in MSI-H malignancies.
Differences in Diet Quality between School Lunch Participants and Nonparticipants in the United States by Income and Race

Prior research has shown that participation in the United States' National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is associated with consuming higher-quality lunches and diets overall, but little is known about differences by income and race/ethnicity. This analysis used 24 h dietary recall data from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study to examine how NSLP participation affects the diet quality of students in different income and racial/ethnic subgroups. Diet quality at lunch and over 24 h was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010, where higher scores indicate higher-quality intakes. HEI-2010 scores for NSLP participants and nonparticipants in each subgroup were estimated, and two-tailed t-tests were conducted to determine whether participant-nonparticipant differences in scores within each subgroup were statistically significant. NSLP participants' lunches received significantly higher total HEI-2010 scores than those of nonparticipants for lower-income, higher-income, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black students, suggesting that participating in the NSLP helps most students consume healthier lunches. These significantly higher total scores for participants' lunch intakes persisted over 24 h for higher-income students and non-Hispanic White students but not for lower-income students or students of other races/ethnicities. For NSLP participants in all subgroups, the nutritional quality of their 24 h intakes was much lower than at lunch, suggesting that the positive influence of the NSLP on their overall diet quality was negatively influenced by foods consumed the rest of the day (outside of lunch).
EdgeInfer: Robust Truth Inference under Data Poisoning Attack

As crowdsourcing is becoming more widely used for annotating data from a large group of users, attackers have strong incentives to manipulate the system. Deriving the true answer of tasks in crowdsourcing systems based on user-provided data is susceptible to data poisoning attacks, whereby malicious users may intentionally or strategically report incorrect information to mislead the system into inferring the wrong truth for a set of tasks. Recent work has proposed several attacks on the crowdsourcing systems and showed that existing truth inference methods may be vulnerable to such attacks. In this paper, we propose solutions to enhance the robustness of existing truth inference methods. Our solutions base on 1) detecting and augmenting the answers for the boundary tasks in which users could not reach a strong consensus and hence are subjective to potential manipulation, and 2) enhancing inference method with a stronger prior. We empirically evaluate these defense mechanisms by designing attack scenarios that aim to decrease the accuracy of the system. Experiments show that our method is effective and significantly improves the robustness of the system under attack.
Symptoms of Adenomyosis and Overlapping Diseases.

To summarize and update our current knowledge regarding adenomyosis diagnosis, prevalence, and symptoms. Systematic review of PubMed between January 1972 and April 2020. Search strategy included: "adenomyosis [MeSH Terms] AND (endometriosis[MeSH Term OR prevalence study [MeSH Terms] OR dysmenorrhea[Text Word] OR prevalence[Text Word] OR young adults [Text Word] OR adolesce* [Text Word] OR symptoms[Text Word] OR imaging diagnosis [Text Word] OR pathology[Text Word]. Articles published in English that addressed adenomyosis and discussed prevalence, diagnosis, and symptoms were included. Included articles described: pathology diagnosis, imaging, biopsy diagnosis, prevalence and age of onset, symptoms, and concomitant endometriosis. Sixteen articles were included in the qualitative analysis. The studies are heterogeneous when diagnosing adenomyosis with differing criteria, protocols, and patient populations. Prevalence estimates range from 20% to 88.8% in symptomatic women (average 30-35%) with most diagnosed between 32-38 years old. The correlation between imaging and pathology continues to evolve. As imaging advances, newer studies report younger symptomatic women are being diagnosed with adenomyosis based on both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS). High rates of concomitant endometriosis create challenges when discerning the etiology of pelvic pain. Symptoms that are historically attributed to endometriosis may actually be caused by adenomyosis. Adenomyosis remains a challenge to identify, assess and research because of the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria, especially in women who wish to retain their uterus. As noninvasive diagnostics such as imaging and myometrial biopsies continue to improve, younger women with variable symptoms will likely create criteria for diagnosis with adenomyosis. The priority should be to create standardized histopathological and imaging diagnoses to gain deeper understandings of adenomyosis.
Route of Hysterectomy: Vaginal

Vaginal hysterectomy is considered the preferred approach for benign hysterectomy due to its cost-effectiveness, safety, and low morbidity. Efforts to increase vaginal hysterectomy utilization, inc...
Identification of a Pyrrole Intermediate Which Undergoes C-Glycosidation and Autoxidation to Yield the Final Product in Showdomycin Biosynthesis

Showdomycin is a C-nucleoside bearing an electrophilic maleimide base. Herein, the biosynthetic pathway of showdomycin is presented. The initial stages of the pathway involve non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) mediated assembly of a 2-amino-1H-pyrrole-5-carboxylic acid intermediate. This intermediate is prone to air oxidation whereupon it undergoes oxidative decarboxylation to yield an imine of maleimide, which in turn yields the maleimide upon acidification. It is also shown that this pyrrole intermediate serves as the substrate for the C-glycosidase SdmA in the pathway. After coupling with ribose 5-phosphate, the resulting C-nucleoside undergoes a similar sequence of oxidation, decarboxylation and deamination to afford showdomcyin after exposure to air. These results suggest that showdomycin could be an artifact due to aerobic isolation; however, the autoxidation may also serve to convert an otherwise inert product of the biosynthetic pathway to an electrophilic C-nucleotide thereby endowing showdomycin with its observed bioactivities.
Examining gender and the longitudinal effect of weight conscious drinking dimensions on body mass index among a college freshman cohort.

OBJECTIVE This study aims to: (1) examine gender differences for weight conscious drinking among college students accounting for the broader phenomenon (e.g. including the Alcohol Effects dimension); and (2) longitudinally examine the effect of weight conscious drinking behaviors on body mass index (BMI). Participants: United States freshmen students from eight participating universities (N= 1,149). Methods: Structural equation modeling was used to model the effect of gender on weight conscious drinking dimensions at 7-month follow-up. Results: Findings suggest a significant effect of gender on Alcohol Effects (β = -.15, SE = .05, p = .005) at 7-month follow-up among college freshmen. Weight conscious drinking dimensions predicted no significant change in BMI at 7-month follow-up among college freshmen. Conclusion: Findings contribute to weight conscious drinking theory and provide campus weight conscious drinking prevention initiatives with evidence to tailor their programming to address female tendencies to engage in compensatory strategies to enhance the psychoactive effects of alcohol.
Optimization Based Characterizations of Cost Sharing Methods

We provide several new characterizations of well known cost sharing methods (CSMs) as maxima of linear (or convex) functionals. For the Shapley-Shubik method the characterization has an interpretation in terms of randomly ordered agents choosing their most preferred CSM, while the characterizations of the Aumann-Shapley and Serial methods have a very general character: any symmetric convex functional which uniquely characterizes a scale invariant CSM must characterize the Aumann-Shapley method, while the identical statement is true for the Serial method when scale invariance is replaced by demand monotonicity.
The effect of obstetric management and factors beyond clinical control on maternal mortality rates at the Chicago Maternity Center from 1959 to 1963

Abstract This 5 year survey of maternal mortality rates covers 16,087 consecutive births, 89 per cent at home and 11 per cent in a hospital. Nonsurvival is related to medical indigency, race, exogenous obesity, lack of prenatal care, grandmultiparity, and absence of medical attendants at delivery. The total number of deaths was 9.5 per 10,000 live births. Four of 7 direct deaths were catastrophic emergencies, unregistered or medically unattended, and left no choice for management. A review of management revealed that among 412 cesarean sections, there were 2 deaths, each direct (0.5 per cent). Of 1,316 operative vaginal deliveries, there were 441 major manipulative procedures with no related death. High risk is inherent in a medically indigent population; the related high loss at cesarean section, in contrast to the patients' excellent tolerance for delivery from below, makes it mandatory that trainees acquire the judgment and skill necessary in the use of major manipulative vaginal procedures.
A Flawed Genius. Field-Marshal Walter Model. A Critical Biography, by Marcel Stein

Stein, born in Berlin, emigrated to France and served in the French army during World War II, then made a distinguished career as a businessman and banker. Retiring to Israel, he has made a second—...
An email worm vaccine architecture

We present an architecture for detecting “zero-day” worms and viruses in incoming email. Our main idea is to intercept every incoming message, pre-scan it for potentially dangerous attachments, and only deliver messages that are deemed safe. Unlike traditional scanning techniques that rely on some form of pattern matching (signatures), we use behavior-based anomaly detection. Under our approach, we “open” all suspicious attachments inside an instrumented virtual machine looking for dangerous actions, such as writing to the Windows registry, and flag suspicious messages. The attachment processing can be offloaded to a cluster of ancillary machines (as many as are needed to keep up with a site's email load), thus not imposing any computational load on the mail server. Messages flagged are put in a “quarantine” area for further, more labor-intensive processing. Our implementation shows that we can use a large number of malware-checking VMs operating in parallel to cope with high loads. Finally, we show that we are able to detect the actions of all malicious software we tested, while keeping the false positive rate to under 5%.
Sexual agreements and intimate-partner violence among male couples

ABSTRACTObjectives: In the United States, HIV continues to disproportionately affect men who have sex with men. One promising area of research that may inform the development of behavioral interventions among male–male couples is within the realm of sexual agreements. Methods: The purpose of our analysis was to determine whether respondents who report having an open agreement or an agreement breakage also report a higher incidence of recent (within the previous 12 months) intimate-partner violence (IPV) compared to respondents who report having a monogamous agreement or no agreement breakage after controlling for demographic variables. Results: Results showed that men who have an open agreement are less likely to report recent physical IPV. Conclusions: The results highlight the need to develop dyadic behavior interventions that address sexual agreements and stress management.
Hepatic glucagon sensitivity and fasting glucose concentration in normal dogs

We assessed hepatic glucagon sensitivity in overnight-fasted, conscious dogs. Six pancreatic replacement protocols were performed in each of five animals. Somatostatin was infused to inhibit endoge...
Testing a Model of Special Educators' Intent to Stay in Teaching

This study used path analysis to examine the effects of work-relatedfactors—including principal support, stress, role problems, job satisfaction, and commitment—on 542 Virginia special educators' expressions of intent to stay in teaching. Demographic variables—including teachers of students with emotional disabilities and race and gender of teachers—were treated as exogenous variables. Job satisfaction had a positive direct effect on intention to stay in teaching. Factors with small effects included professional commitment and perceived employability outside teaching. Principal support, stress, and role problems had direct effects on job satisfaction and commitment. Work-related variables should be included in strategies for retaining special educators.
Network Model for Rural Roadway Tolling with Pavement Deterioration and Repair

A rural pricing model which calculates diversion endogenously with a network assignment model is described in the article. Roadway tolling is often tied to revenue generation for roadway maintenance in rural areas and rural pricing models should directly incorporate a pavement deterioration and maintenance model. However, the interactions between these models are not simple, because tolls cause traffic diversion, which in turn affects deterioration rates and forecasted revenue. The pricing model presented in this article captures deterioration rates and pavement condition in the toll-setter's objective function, which maximizes long-run net present value of the highway infrastructure. A demonstration is made using a network that represents the state of Wyoming (28 zones, 60 nodes, and 188 links). A novel deterioration model is used which is particularly suitable for computational efficiency and the resulting model is discontinuous and nondifferentiable and involves solving a knapsack problem as a subproblem. Therefore, a simulated annealing-based algorithm is presented to solve it, in the framework of a new solution method built upon partitioning the feasible region. Sensitivity analyses reveal that although the locations for optimal tolling are relatively stable as demand changes, the revenue collected can substantially vary. Future research should investigate strategies for incorporating more advanced pavement network models. This paper used simple models for computational reasons.
ML with extended pattern matching and subtypes

We extend a fragment of the programming language Standard ML by incorporating a more general form of record pattern matching and providing for user-declared subtypes. Together, these two enhancements may be used to support a restricted object-oriented programming style. In keeping with the framework of Standard ML, we present typing rules for the language, and develop an efficient type inference algorithm. We prove that the algorithm is sound with respect to the typing rules, and that it infers a most general typing for every typable expression.
An extreme-point-ranking algorithm for the extreme-point mathematical programming problem

Abstract This paper is primarily concerned with an extreme-point-ranking algorithm for solving the extreme-point mathematical programming problem (EPMP). The algorithm discussed is an efficient modification of the many extreme-point-ranking variants that exist for solving EPMP. However, none of these existing algorithms provide any computational experience, and hence no comparison is available with other cutting-plane and branch and bound algorithms that have been proposed for this class of problems. This paper therefore presents, for the first time, results on applying an algorithm of this type for solving the EPMP problem, and demonstrates the competitiveness of the proposed procedure. In providing implementation details for the proposed algorithm, two useful by-products evolve. First, an efficient way of finding all alternative optimal extreme-point solutions for a linear programming problem is discussed. Second, a method is proposed for ranking all extreme points of a linear program in a manner which controls storage requirements and provides a degree of flexibility in usage. In particular, this flexibility is exploited in deriving an effective heuristic for solving EPMP, for which computational results are also provided.