cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Significance of Chromosome Rearrangements in Leukemia and Lymphoma

Nonrandom chromosome changes have been identified in a number of malignant tumors, of which the leukemias are the best studied. In chronic myeloid leukemia, a reasonably consistent translocation [t(9;22) (q34;qll)] is observed in 93% of all Ph1-positive patients. In acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, two translocations are each specifically associated with leukemic cells arrested at two different stages of maturation. One of these, t(8;21) (q22;q22), is found almost exclusively in patients with acute myeloblasts leukemia with maturation (AML-M2). The other, t(15;17) (q22;q21), is seen only in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL-M3). An inversion of chromosome 16(pl3q22) has recently been described in patients with AMMoL and abnormal marrow eosinophils; other patients with marrow eosinophilia have had a deletion of 16 at q22. Translocations or deletions involving 11q23 have recently been described in patients with AMoL, particularly of the monoblastic type. Various translocations have been observed in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or in Burkitt lymphoma. The most common is t(8;14) (q24;q32), but varients of this, namely, t(2;8) (pl3?;q24) and t(8;22) (q24;qll), have also been observed; in all of these, the consistent change involved 8q24. The various immunoglobulin loci are located on chromosomes 2, 14, and 22 in the same chromosome band affected by the translocations in B cell leukemia. More recently it has been shown that the myc gene is located at 8q24 and that the translocation results in the movement of the myc gene adjacent to the Ig locus on No. 14. These translocations may occur randomly. If a specific translocation provides a particular cell type with a growth advantage, then selection could act to cause the proliferation of this aneuploid cell line vis-a-vis cells with a normal karyotype. The chromosome change could then be the initial event leading to the leukemic transformation of an otherwise normal cell. The challenge for the future is to define the genes located at the sites of consistent translocations in myeloid leukemias and to determine the alterations in gene function that are associated with the translocation.
Cross-sectional Age Differences in Body Composition in Persons 60 + Years of Age

BACKGROUND There is little information for age differences in body composition in elderly people > 65 years of age, especially for those > 80 years. As the proportion of people older than 65 years is expected to nearly double during the next few decades, this information is needed. METHODS Age differences in body composition and anthropometry were examined in 316 men and women aged 60 to 95 years. Multiple components of body composition were quantified using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and isotope dilution methods, and expressed in molecular and cellular models. Analysis of variance was used to test for differences between age groups 60 to 70, 71 to 80, and > 80 years in each sex. Body composition components were regressed on age, controlling for knee height, fat-free mass, or total body fat. Age-adjusted correlations were calculated with anthropometric variables. RESULTS Fat-free mass (FFM), body cell mass (BCM), and appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) decreased with age in both sexes. ASM decreased relative to FFM in both the men and the women, while BCM decreased relative to FFM in the women only. Total fat mass and percent body fat decreased with age in the women, but not in the men. Body fat distribution did not appear to change with age. Anthropometric indices, muscle area and waist/hip ratio, had low correlations with muscle mass and fat distribution. CONCLUSIONS "Sarcopenia," or muscle loss, continues to occur into old age, and may have significant impacts on physical function and health status. New anthropometric techniques are needed for assessing muscle loss with age.
A programming language for implementing computational models

The Scientific Computation Language (SCL) was designed mainly for developing computational models in education and research. This paper presents the justification for such a language, its relevant features, and a case study of a computational model implemented with the SCL.Development of the SCL language is part of the OOPsim project, which has had partial NSF support (CPATH). One of the goals of this project is to develop tools and approaches for designing and implementing computational models, emphasizing multi-disciplinary teams in the development process.A computational model is a computer implementation of the solution to a (scientific) problem for which a mathematical representation has been formulated. Developing a computational model consists of applying Computer Science concepts, principles and methods.The language syntax is defined at a higher level of abstraction than C, and includes language statements for improving program readability, debugging, maintenance, and correctness. The language design was influenced by Ada, Pascal, Eiffel, Java, C, and C++.The keywords have been added to maintain full compatibility with C. The SCL language translator is an executable program that is implemented as a one-pass language processor that generates C source code. The generated code can be integrated conveniently with any C and/or C++ library, on Linux and Windows (and MacOS). The semantics of SCL is informally defined to be the same C semantics.
Performance evaluation for cellular CDMA

The authors consider the performance of a cellular radio, direct-sequence code-division multiple access, (CDMA) system. The base-to-mobile link is modeled as a flat Rayleigh fading channel, with all signals transmitted from a given base station fading in unison. For the mobile-to-base link, the authors use a similar model, except that the waveforms from all users are assumed to experience independent fading. The effects of imperfect power control are shown. >
hERG Trafficking and Pharmacological Rescue of LQTS-2 Mutant Channels

The human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) encodes an ion channel subunit underlying I Kr, a potassium current required for the normal repolarization of ventricular cells in the human heart.Mutations in hERG cause long QT syndrome (LQTS) by disrupting I Kr, increasing cardiac excitability and, in some cases, triggering catastrophic torsades de pointes arrhythmias and sudden death. More than 200 putative disease-causing mutations in hERG have been identified in affected families to date, but the mechanisms by which these mutations cause disease are not well understood. Of the mutations studied, most disrupt protein maturation and reduce the numbers of hERG channels at the membrane. Some trafficking-defective mutants can be rescued by pharmacological agents or temperature. Here we review evidence for rescue of mutant hERG subunits expressed in heterologous systems and discuss the potential for therapeutic approaches to correcting I Kr defects associated with LQTS.
Simplicial Homology Groups

Having defined polyhedron, complex, and orientation for complexes in the preceding chapter, we are now ready for the precise definition of the homology groups. Intuitively speaking, the homology groups of a complex describe the arrangement of the simplexes in the complex thereby telling us about the “holes” in the associated polyhedron.
A Sunscreen–Tanning Compromise: 3D Visualization of the Actions of Titanium Dioxide Particles and Dihydroxyacetone on Human Epiderm

The self-tanning agent dihydroxyacetone (DHA) was applied to human skin samples, and its effect on light absorption was followed in time to study the DHA influence inside the different layers of skin. Application of DHA shows increased light absorption in the visible light region, as evidenced by skin tanning. The tanning effect is enhanced by UV irradiation and appears localized in the near-stratum corneum layer as revealed by depth analysis of the time signal. As a reference, application of an emulsion containing titanium dioxide particles shows clear surface stability and a screening of light penetration beyond the stratum corneum.
Free to Do Good?: Humanitarian Justifications and Perceptions of Norm Abuse in Iraq, 2003-2008

The 2003 U.S. war in Iraq is notable for its duration and foreign policy consequences, as well as the multiple and changing justifications the Bush administration used to explain U.S. involvement. In particular, Bush’s use of humanitarian justifications in the Iraq case has drawn the attention and criticism of scholars who argue that this is a case of norm abuse with negative consequences for the future of humanitarian intervention norms. However, the pattern of humanitarian justifications does not match accounts of abuse, raising the questions: What drove the use of humanitarian justifications in Iraq? What drives perceptions of norm abuse? Using regression models and an original dataset based on content analysis of presidential speeches and media reports, the paper tests hypotheses that humanitarian justifications replaced the WMD rationale and that justifications are responsive to changes in public opinion. The paper argues that perceptions of norm abuse are more closely driven by media accounts of the conflict than by the pattern of presidential justifications. These findings have important implications for understanding public perceptions of conflict, the development of humanitarian norms, and future responses to mass atrocities.
Systematizing Secure Computation for Research and Decision Support

We propose a framework for organizing and classifying research results in the active field of secure multiparty computation (MPC). Our systematization of secure computation consists of (1) a set of definitions circumscribing the MPC protocols to be considered; (2) a set of quantitative axes for classifying and comparing MPC protocols; and (3) a knowledge base of propositions specifying the known relations between axis values. We have classified a large number of MPC protocols on these axes and developed an interactive tool for exploring the problem space of secure computation. We also give examples of how this systematization can be put to use to foster new research and the adoption of MPC for real-world problems.
Targeting Apoptosis Pathways in Cancer—Letter

The review article entitled “Targeting Apoptosis Pathways in Cancer and Perspectives with Natural Compounds from Mother Nature” ([1][1]) provides a comprehensive listing of the effects of natural products on genes/pathways that result in induction of apoptosis in cancer cells and tumors. Despite
Reply to Sellars

Sellars discusses a wide variety of philosophical problems in his Carus Lectures, and everything he has to say about those problems deserves very careful attention. But it seems appropriate for me to confine my remarks to his first lecture, which he calls "The Lever of Archimedes." He pays me the compliment of taking as a starting point for this lecture a paper of mine, "Coherence, Certainty, and Epistemic Priority," published by The Journal of Philosophy in 1964. Although the paper deals with very general conceptual and epistemological issues, its orientation is influenced by the fact that it was written for a memorial symposium on the philosophy of C. I. Lewis. Lewis construed coherence theories as denying the existence of something he called 'the given'; and Sellars therefore says that I was concerned in my paper to explore the contrast between epistemological theories that stress the given and those that stress coherence. It should be noted, however, that I avoided the term 'given' in my own discussion of issues that distinguish the coherence theory from its alternatives. This term, along with terms like 'sense datum', sometimes has causal implications. To maintain that there is something given in perceptual experience might be to maintain that there is a constituent of perceptual experience that is not in fluenced by the perceiver's beliefs, attitudes, and other psy chological states. This causal doctrine has of course been challenged?and in my opinion convincingly?by the gestalt psy chologists and others.1 The basic epistemological issue, however, still remains. We can still ask whether some of our beliefs about
Abstract 1378: Concurrent inhibition of c-Met and VEGF signaling suppresses tumor invasion in orthotopic Panc-1 pancreatic carcinomas in mice

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Multiple factors can contribute to evasive resistance that develops during treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors that target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Evidence from studies of neuroendocrine tumors in RIP-Tag2 transgenic mice indicates that hypoxia-induced activation of pro-invasive pathways involving the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor, c-Met, can participate. The present study sought to determine whether this mechanism also applies to other types of tumors. Our approach was to ask whether growth and invasiveness of Panc-1 pancreatic adenocarcinomas implanted orthotopically in nude mice were reduced by inhibition of c-Met during concurrent treatment with an angiogenesis inhibitor for 3 weeks. Panc-1 tumors in mice treated with the angiogenesis inhibitor sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks VEGFR and related receptors, had a 75% reduction in vascularity and grew more slowly than controls but had twice as much of intratumoral hypoxia, assessed by pimonidazole staining. Unlike the faint c-Met immunoreactivity in most tumor cells of vehicle-treated Panc-1 tumors, c-Met staining was stronger in tumor cells after treatment with sunitinib. Tumors in mice treated with the selective c-Met inhibitor PF-04217903 alone had little change in tumor vascularity or intratumoral hypoxia and grew faster than those treated with sunitinib. However, tumors treated with sunitinib plus PF-04217903 together grew more slowly than after sunitinib alone but had similar amounts of vascular pruning and hypoxia. Tumor invasiveness, reflected by amylase-positive acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas located within tumors, was exaggerated after sunitinib treatment but, importantly, was significantly less in tumors treated with sunitinib plus PF-04217903. These findings indicate that sunitinib used alone reduced the growth of Panc-1 tumors but increased intratumoral hypoxia, c-Met expression, and local invasion into the surrounding normal pancreas. By comparison, sunitinib administered concurrently with the c-Met inhibitor PF-04217903 resulted in further slowing of tumor growth and less tumor invasiveness. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1378. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1378
PEGylation Enhances the Oral Bioavailability of &#x03B3;-Tocotrienol Isomer of Vitamin E

Objective: To Synthesize and characterize PEGylated &#x03B3;-T3 with m-PEG molecular weights of 350 (&#x03B3;-T3PGS 350) and 1000 (&#x03B3;-T3PGS 1000) and to Determine the oral bioavailability of the PEGylated &#x03B3;-T3 in rats. Methods: &#x03B3;-T3 was extracted from a 500 g batch of Tocotrol L50P. &#x03B3;-T3PGS 350 and &#x03B3;-T3PGS 1000 were synthesized by a simple single ring-opening of half acid ester precursor, followed by controlled coupling to the terminally methylated PEG. Succination and subsequent PEGylation of &#x03B3;-T3 were confirmed by HPLC, MS, and 1H-NMR studies. The effect of PEGylation on the oral bioavailability was tested in rats. Results: The succination of &#x03B3;-T3 was confirmed by the appearance of the ethyl protons of the succinate at 2.75 -- 2.86 ppm and the disappearance of the proton chemical shift from the hydroxyl group of &#x03B3;-T3 at 4.7 ppm. Subsequent PEGylation was confirmed by the chemical shift at 4.23 ppm, which corresponds to the protons of the ethylene group of PEG that is directly linked to &#x03B3;-T3S, and confirmed by MS and HPLC. Thee most interesting is that PEGylation significantly enhanced the oral bioavailability of &#x03B3;-T3 as compared with regular formula and no significant difference was observed between the two molecular variants of mPEG 350 or mPEG 1000. Conclusion: Results from this study suggest that PEGylation of &#x03B3;-T3 represents a viable platform for the oral and parenteral delivery of &#x03B3;-T3 for potential use in the prevention of breast cancer.
A prospective, randomized trial comparing two different intrauterine insemination regimens in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles.

Objective To compare a single periovulatory intrauterine insemination (IUI) with a regimen employing two IUIs, one before ovulation and one after ovulation, in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) combined with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Design A randomized, prospective trial. Participants Thirty-one consecutive patients undergoing 49cycles of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation/IUI were studied in a tertiary care setting. Main Outcome Measures Ovulation was determined sonographically. The establishment of a clinical pregnancy was defined by either ultrasonographic verification of cardiac activity within an intrauterine fetus, or histologic confirmation of trophoblast in a surgical specimen. Results Clinical pregnancies developed in 2 of 23cycles in the single insemination group, compared with 12 of the 23cycles in the double insemination group. Cycle fecundity was significantly higher for group II (0.522) than for group I (0.087) patients (P=0.003). Conclusion In hMG/hCG cycles, two IUIs timed as described above are superior to one periovulatory insemination.
Prosthetic replacement of esophageal segments

Summary Cylinders fabricated from a new hydrophilic polymer, Hydron, were used for segmental esophageal replacement in 24 animals. Most of the 11 early deaths were related to disruption of the upper anastomosis caused by longitudinal distraction of the esophagus. Thirteen animals survived from 1½ to 9 months. With the exception of 3 bilaterally vagectomized dogs, long-term survivors maintained or gained weight. Esophagrams demonstrated widely patent conduits and, in most animals, some degree of extravasation at the upper anastomosis. This was correlated with necropsy evidence of absent fibrous ingrowth into the Dacron velour sheath in this region of the implant. Complete stricture occurred in 1 dog that regurgitated a prosthesis at 3½ months. Teflon felt provided inadequate biologic fixation of the prosthesis in which it was used. Hydron possesses distinctive properties that readily permit its modification toward the development of an improved esophageal substitute. We wish to express our sincere appreciation to Fred Selsey and Curtis Lee for their able assistance.
L'HOSPITAL-TYPE RULES FOR MONOTONICITY, AND THE LAMBERT AND SACCHERI QUADRILATERALS IN HYPERBOLIC GEOMETRY

Elsewhere we developed rules for the monotonicity pattern of the ratio f/g of two functions on an interval of the real line based on the monotonicity pattern of the ratio f 0 /g 0 of the derivatives. These rules are applicable even more broadly than the l'Hospital rules for limits, since we do not require that both f and g, or either of them, tend to 0 or 1 at an endpoint of the interval. Here these rules are used to obtain monotonicity patterns of the ratios of the pairwise dis- tances between the vertices of the Lambert and Saccheri quadrilaterals in the Poincare model of hyperbolic geometry. Some of the results may seem surprising. Apparently, the methods will work for other ratios of distances in hyperbolic geometry and other Riemann geometries. The presentation is mainly self-contained.
GEOGRAPHIC MEDICAL HISTORY: ADVANCES IN GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY PRESENT NEW POTENTIALS IN MEDICAL PRACTICE

Genes, behaviour, and the environment are known to be the major risk factors for common diseases. When the patient visits a physician, typical questions include family history (genes) and lifestyle of the patient (behaviour), but questions concerning environmental risk factors often remain unasked. It is ironic that 25 centuries ago Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine, noted the importance of environmental exposure in medical investigation as documented in his classic work, “Airs, Waters, Places”, yet the practice of routinely incorporating environmental risk factors is still not in place. Modern epigenetic studies have found that unhealthy lifestyle and environmental factors can cause changes to our genes that can increase disease risk factors. Therefore, attempting to solve the puzzle of diseases using heredity and lifestyle alone will be incomplete without accounting for the environmental exposures. The primary reason why environmental exposure has not yet been a routine part of the patient’s medical history is mostly due to our inability to provide clinicians useful measures of environmental exposures suitable for their clinical practices. This presentation will discuss advances in geospatial technology that show the potential to catalyse a paradigm shift in medical practice and health research by allowing environmental risk factors to be documented as the patient’s “Geographic Medical History”. In order to accomplish this we need information on: a) relevant spatiotemporal environmental variables, and b) location of the individual in that person’s dynamic environment. Common environmental agents that are known to interact with genetic make-up include air pollutants, mold spores, pesticides, etc. Until recently, the other component, location of an individual was limited to a static representation such as residential or workplace location. Now, with the development of mobile technology, changes in an individual’s location can be tracked in real time if necessary. Technological advancements in the areas of estimating environmental agents and identifying locations of individuals at flexible spatio-temporal scales now present the potential of a paradigm shift in clinical practices by incorporating “Geographic Medical History” into determining disease risk factors.
Serum and urinary amylase levels following pulsatile and continuous cardiopulmonary bypass.

The incidence of elevated serum and urine amylase values was examined in a prospective clinical study of patients subjected to either continuous or pulsatile extracorporeal perfusion. Mean postoperative values for urine and serum amylase were higher in the continuous group, and the incidence of abnormal values was also greater in the continuous group (70 percent versus 32 percent, p
Predictable interprocess communication for hard real-time systems

Abstract This paper describes the design and ongoing implementation of real-time interprocess communication (IPC) in the Spring Kernel. Spring IPC is designed to offer predictable communication. Thus, the communication primitives have bounded execution time and synchronous communication does not introduce unpredictable blocking. We achieve this by tight integration of IPC with Spring scheduling and through compile-time support that maps processes to schedulable tasks.
The era of discovery: 1894 to 1919

The development of medical mycology in the United States began during the late 1800s with the discovery of two new etiologic agents of disease: Blastomyces dermatitidis in 1894 and Sporothrix schenckii in 1899. Thomas Caspar Gilchrist and Benjamin R. Schenck conducted a thorough investigation of these mycoses at the newly established (1889) medical center of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Research at Johns Hopkins was initiated in its new bacteriology laboratory with the support of federal grants. These major breakthroughs were soon followed by the discovery of the first two American cases caused by the dimorphic fungus Coccidioides immitis that were reported in 1896 from California. The prevalence of dermatophyte infections (as ringworm) in the Boston area and the first report of eumycotic mycetoma were published in 1898 and 1899, respectively. These early contributors were either dermatologists, pathologists or bacteriologists studying fungal infections, who followed the bacteriologic standards set by Louis Pasteur’s research on rabies in France and Robert Koch’s discoveries regarding tuberculosis in Germany. The publications describing fungal diseases originating from Europe and Latin America gave the early American investigators comparative reference points that became another contributory factor in the origin of the discipline. By the late 1800s, most American publications were illustrated with numerous drawings and photographs, and consisted of lengthy and detailed descriptions of lesions, tissue reactions, culture results, and experimental infections dealing with the etiologic agents.
Therapeutic anti-IgE monoclonal antibody single chain variable fragment (scFv) safety and immunomodulatory effects after one time injection in four dogs.

BACKGROUND The therapeutic monoclonal antibody omalizumab that is specific for IgE has proven to be an effective addition to the treatment of allergic disease in humans. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to demonstrate the safety and immunomodulating effects of a single injection of a monoclonal antibody single chain variable fragments (scFv) specific for canine IgE in normal dogs. ANIMALS Three normal dogs were bled for EDTA whole blood samples for 112 days post-injection (dpi). A fourth dog was monitored for 28 days. METHODS Anti-IgE scFv was pegylated to minimize scFv dimerization. Four normal dogs were injected once subcutaneously with anti-IgE scFv at 1 mg/kg. Flow cytometry was performed on whole blood. Plasma levels of IgE were measured by ELISA. RESULTS None of the four dogs showed signs of anaphylaxis. All dogs demonstrated decreases in IgE(+) cells in lymphocyte-gated events by 14 dpi. Dogs C and D returned to pre-injection levels by 21 days, whereas dogs A and B remained below pre-injection levels until Day 112. Similar differences were seen in IgE-bearing granulocyte-gated cells. Free plasma IgE decreased below pre-injection levels by 47% in Dog A and by 52% in Dog B at 112 days. Dogs C and D did not change by more than 32% from preinjection levels. CONCLUSION A single injection of monomeric, pegylated scFv with high affinity for dog IgE was demonstrated to be safe. Marked reduction in IgE-bearing lymphocytes and granulocytes accompanied by reduced "free" plasma IgE level in two of four dogs is analogous to omalizumab in humans.
New Longer Acting Erythropoiesis Stimulating Proteins (ESPs) Correct Anemia with a Less Frequent Dosing Schedule in a Mouse Model.

Introduction : Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has become a standard treatment for the alleviation of anemia resulting from chronic renal failure and chemotherapy induced anemia. Treatment with rHuEPO corrects anemia, resulting in a broad range of clinical benefits including improved quality of life. Darbepoetin alfa (DA), a super-sialylated erythropoietic stimulating protein (ESP) with a 3-fold longer serum half-life than rHuEPO, is approved for use in the treatment of anemia. Another ESP investigated was a hyperglycosylated analog of DA having a greater number of carbohydrate chains and sialic acids (AMG205). Objective: Our intention was to develop and characterize new ESPs and examine their relative activity and ability to maintain normal hemoglobin levels in a mouse model with stable anemia (hemoglobin 2g/dL below initial levels, > 98 days). Methods and Results: Clearance of ESPs was reduced and in vivo potency was increased in proportion to number of carbohydrate chains; AMG205 was cleared the slowest and was the most potent of the 3 test molecules. A regimen of repeated low dose exposure to cisplatin (CDDP) was established that resulted in a stable reduction of hemoglobin levels by 2–3 g/dL (12.23±0.75g/dL). The hemoglobin range in control animals not treated with CDDP in this experiment was (14.53±0.57g/dL). Animals made anemic by repeated administration of CDDP were treated with rHuEPO (20μg/kg), DA (10μg/kg) or AMG205 (10μg/kg). Each group consisted of 15 mice. Following the initial injection, hemoglobin was measured every 2–3 days, and subsequent injections were administered when hemoglobin values were < 13 g/dL. Animals were so treated for 98 days. In this manner the number of injections of each ESP required to maintain normal hemoglobin was determined. Mice treated for 98 days required more injections of rHuEPO to maintain normal Hb levels than DA (13 vs.7 injections), while mice treated with AMG205 required 5 injections. Conclusion: Normal hemoglobin levels were maintained over a 3 month period with repeated administration of the ESPs investigated. The ESPs with increased carbohydrate content had reduced clearance, increased in vivo potency and could maintain hemoglobin within a normal range with fewer injections than rHuEPO.
The Information Theoretic Bound for Problems on Ordered Sets and Graphs

One of the most basic problems arising in computer science is to sort a set X with unknown total order. The objective is to minimize the number of steps needed in worst case, where a step consists of a comparison of two elements x and y (this comparison is denoted x:y). The result of each comparison reduces the set of possible orderings of X to one of two sets: those in which x < y and those in which y < x. Since it is possible that the larger of these two sets remains, the number of possible orders on X is reduced by no more than half. In worst case we need at least log n! = n log n + 0(n) comparisons to sort the n-element set X. (We write log for log2 throughout this paper.)
Heat exposure and productivity in orchards: Implications for climate change research

Recent studies suggest that heat exposure degrades work productivity, but such studies have not considered individual- and workplace-level factors. Forty-six tree-fruit harvesters (98% Latino/a) from 6 orchards participated in a cross-sectional study in central/eastern Washington in 2015. The association between maximum measured work-shift wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGTmax) and productivity (total weight of fruit bins collected per time worked) was estimated using linear mixed-effects models, adjusting for relevant confounders. The mean (standard deviation) WBGTmax was 27.9°C (3.6°C) in August and 21.2°C (2.0°C) in September. There was a trend of decreasing productivity with increasing WBGTmax, but this association was not statistically significant. When individual- and workplace-level factors were included in the model, the association approached the null. Not considering individual, work, and economic factors that affect rest and recovery in projections of the effects of climate change could result in overestimates of reductions in future productivity and underestimate risk of heat illness.
Panobinostat in combination with bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma and anaplastic glioma.

2020 Background: Bevacizumab is frequently used to treat recurrent high-grade gliomas, but responses are generally not durable. Panobinostat is a histone deacetylase inhibitor with anti-neoplastic ...
Design Space Exploration for MAHA Framework

Similar to the design space exploration for MBC based generic reconfigurable framework, critical decisions are required to select the design parameters for the MAHA framework. The choice is complicated by the fact, that the design choice should have minimal impact on the normal operation for the memory array which has been instrumented to form the MAHA framework. Moreover, the programmable interconnect resources are more restricted in case of MAHA and choice of interconnect hierarchy affects the success of mapping different applications to this framework. In addition, the size of the custom datapath component present in each MLB in a MAHA architecture needs to be ascertained. Similar to the case of a generic reconfigurable framework, the MBC software flow explores both logic and interconnect components and arrives at a design choice with minimum overhead but with a performance that satisfies the requirement.
Using time compression approximation to determine actual infiltration rate from variable rainfall events

Understanding infiltration into soils from rainfall events is important for many practical applications. The idea of time compression approximation (TCA) was proposed to simulate infiltration rate, which only requires the relationship between the potential infiltration rate (PIR) and potential cumulative infiltration (PCI). The TCA-based method can be used in any rainfall–runoff models since the PIR vs. PCI relationship can be developed independent of actual rainfall patterns. The main objective of this study is to establish guidelines on when this method can be adequately applied. The results based on the TCA are compared with those from the field observations and the Richards equation numerical solver for observed rainfall events and randomly generated rainfall patterns with prescribed temporal variabilities and hiatuses. For continuous rainfall with potential ponding, the maximum error of infiltration amount using the TCA-based method is less than 5%. The TCA-based method, in general, underestimates the total infiltration amount from variable rainfall events. Variance in rainfall time series does not significantly affect the errors of using the TCA-based method to determine the actual infiltration rate. The TCA-based method can produce reasonable results in simulating the actual infiltration rate for rainfall events with a short hiatus.
The Determination of Clutch Size in Precocial Birds

The evolution and regulation of clutch size has long been a central issue in ornithology. Early ornithologists realized that females of each species of bird lay a characteristic number of eggs, and we have been trying to determine ever since why this is so. In pursuit of the answer to this seemingly simple question, ornithologists have not only accumulated a wealth of egg data, but also have made important contributions to such diverse topics as life-history strategies, population regulation and group selection. Yet how clutch size is determined remains a controversial issue. The consensus that was once sought in the form of a central theory (Lack, 1968; Cody, 1966; Klomp, 1970; von Haartman, 1971) has disappeared in a sea of specific hypotheses. In this review we attempt to organize and summarize clutch size theories as they emerge in modified form from recent research and evaluate their ability to explain observed patterns in clutch size variation. We concentrate on the literature and concepts published since the review of Klomp (1970), but we incorporate earlier work when necessary.
Implications of the Neutron Star Merger GW170817 for Cosmological Scalar-Tensor Theories

Theorists have tightly constrained alternative theories of gravity using the recent joint detection of gravitational waves and light from a neutron star merger.
Weaving New Insights for the Genetic Regulation of Human Cognitive Phenotypes.

Psychiatric genetic studies have drawn associations between human cognitive traits and noncoding genomic variants. However, the mechanistic effects of these variants are unclear. By weaving in strands of genomic data from developing human brains, de la Torre-Ubieta et al. tie disease-associated loci to functional enhancers, target genes, and putatively affected cell types.
Matrix Solution to Multi-Branch Networks

For simple circuits we should be able to derive a direct relation between input and output as a function of frequency; this is we call the transfer function. For more complicated circuits, with multi-branch it becomes exceedingly difficult to find this direct relation. Instead we have to resort to matrix solution methods, where the network is assigned node voltages and branch currents, and KVL/KCL solved concurrently. This leads to a system of equations with a number of unknowns. The system, still in the frequency domain, can now be solved most often using matrix techniques, such as direct inversion or numerical techniques. The end result is each node voltage and each branch current figured in the frequency domain. From there we can go back to the time domain by simple inversion. We illustrate this flow on a few examples, ending with a system of size 3 × 3 which still can be inverted analytically. For larger systems it is most efficient to write a program or pass the matrix to a mathematical package to solve for it. Lastly the Problems section also sheds light on self and mutual impedance.
The Turn of Fortune: Realignment in Taiwan’s Domestic Politics and Diplomacy

The chapter surveys and summarizes key findings of various chapters and highlights several distinctive features of Taiwanese politics in the 2016 regime change. There is a recurring pattern with candidates and parties making bloated campaign promises and then failing to fulfill them. Identity politics has been a constant theme in policy deliberation and partisan competition. In any analysis of Taiwan’s national security and foreign policy, cross-Strait relations with China remain an inescapable variable for consideration. Finally, the Tsai government has decided to realign with the US, Japan, and the Southeast Asia region to mitigate China’s pressure and threats.
SHOCK AND SHEAR EFFECTS IN EXPLOSIVES DUE TO IMPACT

The responses of both bare and covered explosive charges of PBX-9404 subjected to fragment impacts are simulated with a finite-element code DEFEL. The pressure in the explosive charge is affected primarily by the compressibility of the explosive, or the equation of state. The temperature is affected by both the equation of state and, more importantly, by the solid constitutive equation and the viscosity of the explosive. In the present investigation, the pressure and temperature fields a few micro-seconds after the impact are plotted. In a bare charge, when the impact velocity is higher than 600 m/sec, the pressure directly under the impactor is high enough to support the shock initiation theory. In a charge covered with a thick plate, the highest temperature occurs in a region near the corner of the plug, indicating the possibility of a shear initiation. These results are consistent with existing experimental data.
Digital Fingerprints: A New Method for Measuring Political Advertising

We leverage individual level media exposure data, providing second-by-second records of viewers television and advertising exposure, to better understand how candidates send political messages to the public and how the public receives those messages. Panelists were provided smartphones equipped with audio recognition software that digitally logged all of their television exposure over the course of the 2006 midterm campaign. These data enable an analysis of not only who watches political advertisements, but also what types of people “turn-off” ads and what types of ads are avoided. Contrary to conventional wisdom, results indicate that politically engaged citizens are the least likely to encounter political advertisements, while those who pay little attention to politics are the most likely to encounter political advertisements. We find little evidence to suggest that viewers are “turning off” (fast forwarding, muting or changing the channel) political ads representing a partisan view conflicting with their own.
Immunochemical studies on myosin. II. Cardiac myosin.

Abstract 1. 1. Heterogeneous antisera have been obtained consistently from rabbits that were injected with skeletal-muscle myosin purified by several different procedures. Cardiac muscle has been investigated, consequently, as a possible source of immunochemically pure myosin which could be used to obtain the homogeneous antisera required for unambiguous localizations of myosin and the meromyosins by fluorescent antibody techniques. 2. 2. The similarity of chicken cardiac myosin and actomyosin to their skeletal-muscle counterparts was established on the bases of their differential solubilities in sal solutions, changes in ultraviolet absorption spectra resulting from ammonium sulfate fractionation, and enzyme activities. These characteristics were correlated with results of gel-diffusion analyses of the purified proteins and their antisera. 3. 3. The results showed that antisera to cardiac myosin are also immunochemically heterogeneous, and that the heterogeneity is caused by a contaminant of myosin that is, or is associated with, actomyosin.
Model Studies for Molybdenum Enzymes: Structures, Spectra, Electrochemistry and Reactions of Oxo Mo(VI), (V), and (IV) Complexes

Molybdenum is now well established as a necessary cofactor for a variety of enzymes which catalyze a number of important biological reactions,1,2 including the oxidation of purines, aldehydes and sulfite, and the reduction of dinitrogen, nitrate and carbon dioxide. With the possible exception of nitrogenase, the presence of Mo(VI) is assumed in the oxidized form of the molybdoenzymes.1 All the enzymes except nitrogenase give esr signals attributed to monomeric Mo(V) during catalysis.1,2 While direct evidence is difficult to come by, it appears Mo(IV) occurs in the reduced state of these enzymes, again with the possible exception of nitrogenase.1,2 Recent EXAFS results from xanthine oxidase indicate the presence of oxo groups as well as thiol ligands at the Mo(VI) site;3 a terminal Mo(VI)=S group has also been suggested, on the basis of esr evidence, for this enzyme.4 In view of these results and the well known fact that oxo species dominate the coordination chemistry of the +6, +5, and +4 oxidation states of molybdenum,2 oxo complexes of these oxidation states are promising models for the molybdenum sites of the enzymes, particularly those with sulfur ligands.
The Effects of Ion-Implanted Ga, As, and P on the Subsequent Diffusion of Ion-Implanted Zn in GaAs0.6P0.4

Interesting results have been obtained in experiments in which samples of GaAs0.6P0.4 implanted with Zn were also implanted with other ions such as Ga, As, and P prior to annealing. In particular, the diffusion rate of the implanted Zn during the anneal can be strongly inhibited by the co-implantation of As or P, whereas Ga implantation has only a minor effect.
Computer-Assisted Navigation for Real Time Planning of Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy in Cervico-Thoracic Deformity Correction

Background Pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) at the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) is a powerful technique to correct severe kyphosis and sagittal malalignment. Reported techniques have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the PSO, however limited visualization of surrounding tissues increases the potential for complications with this advanced technique. Objective To describe the application of computed tomographic (CT)-based image guidance to the planning and execution of PSO at the CTJ. Methods Intraoperative registration and verification of anatomic landmarks are performed with the intraoperative O-arm CT across the CTJ. With the navigation probe, the targeted pedicle is identified and the intended trajectories are rehearsed and saved on the navigational computer. As the PSO is performed, the navigation probe is used to check the depth, accuracy, and trajectory through each side. The extent of soft tissue dissection around the lateral aspect of the vertebral body through which the PSO is performed is also verified in real time. This technique was performed in 12 consecutive patients from 2013-2016. An IRB approved, retrospective analysis was performed from a prospective spinal deformity outcomes database. Patient consent is not required for publication as this report does not describe a specific case but rather a surgical technique used in practice. Results There were no vascular, esophageal, or soft tissue injuries in 12 consecutive patients. There were no cases of paralysis. Two patients developed hand weakness days after surgery. Intraoperative O-arm CT performed after closure of the osteotomy confirmed the accuracy of the osteotomy planning with no breach of the anterior cortical wall of the osteotomized vertebral body. Conclusion CT-guided navigation allows for 3-dimensional visualization of the CTJ and minimizes complications associated with inadequate surgical visualization of vascular and deep organ structures.
VRKitchen: an Interactive 3D Virtual Environment for Task-oriented Learning.

One of the main challenges of advancing task-oriented learning such as visual task planning and reinforcement learning is the lack of realistic and standardized environments for training and testing AI agents. Previously, researchers often relied on ad-hoc lab environments. There have been recent advances in virtual systems built with 3D physics engines and photo-realistic rendering for indoor and outdoor environments, but the embodied agents in those systems can only conduct simple interactions with the world (e.g., walking around, moving objects, etc.). Most of the existing systems also do not allow human participation in their simulated environments. In this work, we design and implement a virtual reality (VR) system, VRKitchen, with integrated functions which i) enable embodied agents powered by modern AI methods (e.g., planning, reinforcement learning, etc.) to perform complex tasks involving a wide range of fine-grained object manipulations in a realistic environment, and ii) allow human teachers to perform demonstrations to train agents (i.e., learning from demonstration). We also provide standardized evaluation benchmarks and data collection tools to facilitate a broad use in research on task-oriented learning and beyond.
A pharmacogenetic analysis of peripheral sensory neuropathy related to administration of taxanes in breast cancer patients.

e13133Background: Commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer, the taxane class includes paclitaxel and docetaxel. Both medications are primarily metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes and tran...
Soundscape and narrative dynamics in Chinelo Okparanta’s Under the Udala Trees

Chinelo Okparanta’s novel, Under the Udala Trees, offers possibilities for a multi-sensory engagement that goes beyond an ordinary textual reading. This essay focuses on the concept of the soundsca...
[Malaria awareness among residents and students during malaria elimination phase in Jinshan District, Shanghai City].

OBJECTIVE To understand the awareness status of knowledge on malaria control among residents and students, so as to evaluate the effectiveness of health education during the elimination phase of malaria in Jinshan District, Shanghai City. METHODS In 2010 and 2014, the stratified sampling and cluster sampling methods were taken to selected the investigation sites, including 3 villages, 1 middle schools, 1 primary school, then the residents above 15 years old and the students in the above selected sites were investigated by questionnaires to understand their awareness status on malaria control. RESULTS In 2010, the general awareness rates of malaria control knowledge of the study objects were 74.22%, and those of the residents, middle school student, and primary school students were 75.68%, 61.86% and 72.20%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the awareness rates of objects with different gender (χ2 = 1.755, P > 0.05). The rate of the residents was higher than that of the students (χ2 = 59.838, P < 0.01). From 2010 to 2014, a serious of health education on malaria control was carried out. In 2014, the general awareness rate of knowledge on malaria control was 96.03%, and those of the residents, middle school student, and primary school students were 92.28%, 98.59% and 99.49%, respectively. The awareness rate of the students was higher than that of the residents (χ2 = 275.794, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Through the health education and community advocacy, the awareness rates of knowledge on malaria control among residents and students have improved and met the qualification of malaria elimination in Jinshan District.
Covid-19 - A Reminder to Reason.

Covid-19 — A Reminder to Reason Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, clinicians feel compelled to do something for their patients. But we need to retain a healthy skepticism and remember the principle...