cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CCND1 mutations increase protein stability and promote ibrutinib resistance in mantle cell lymphoma

// Atish Mohanty 1 , Natalie Sandoval 1 , Manasi Das 1 , Raju Pillai 3 , Lu Chen 4 , Robert W. Chen 5 , Hesham M. Amin 6 , Michael Wang 7 , Guido Marcucci 1 , Dennis D. Weisenburger 3 , Steven T. Rosen 5 , Lan V. Pham 6 , Vu N. Ngo 1, 2 1 Division of Hematopoietic Stem Cell and Leukemia Research, Gehr Leukemia Center, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA 2 Toni Stephenson Lymphoma Center, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA 3 Department of Pathology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA 4 Department of Information Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA 5 Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA 6 Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA 7 Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA Correspondence to: Vu N. Ngo, email: vngo@coh.org Keywords: cyclin D1, somatic mutations, ibrutinib resistance, mantle cell lymphoma Received: April 29, 2016 Accepted: September 24, 2016 Published: October 04, 2016 ABSTRACT Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is characterized by the t(11;14) translocation, which leads to deregulated expression of the cell cycle regulatory protein cyclin D1 (CCND1). Genomic studies of MCL have also identified recurrent mutations in the coding region of CCND1 . However, the functional consequence of these mutations is not known. Here, we showed that, compared to wild type (WT), single E36K, Y44D or C47S CCND1 mutations increased CCND1 protein levels in MCL cell lines. Mechanistically, these mutations stabilized CCND1 protein through attenuation of threonine-286 phosphorylation, which is important for proteolysis through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In addition, the mutant proteins preferentially localized to the nucleus. Interestingly, forced expression of WT or mutant CCND1 increased resistance of MCL cell lines to ibrutinib, an FDA-approved Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor for MCL treatment. The Y44D mutant sustained the resistance to ibrutinib even at supraphysiologic concentrations (5–10 μM). Furthermore, primary MCL tumors with CCND1 mutations also expressed stable CCND1 protein and were resistant to ibrutinib. These findings uncover a new mechanism that is critical for the regulation of CCND1 protein levels, and is directly relevant to primary ibrutinib resistance in MCL.
STUDIES ON THE BACTERIOPHAGE OF D'HERELLE : XI. AN INQUIRY INTO THE MODE OF ACTION OF ANTIBACTERIOPHAGE SERUM.

1. Each bacteriophage is a specific antigen. 2. The antibodies against the bacteriophage are independent of those against the bacterial substrate used in preparing the phage. 3. The reaction of neutralization is closely analogous to that of the neutralization of toxin by antitoxin. 4. The serum of mice experimentally infected with mouse typhoid (M.T.) did not become capable of neutralizing phages acting on the infecting organism. 5. The use of the reaction of neutralization of bacteriophage in the diagnosis of disease as proposed by Sonnenschein seems impractical.
Living coccolithophores community from Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean — Summer 2009)

Abstract We present data on distribution patterns of living coccolithophores at 18 selected hydrographic stations, and oceanographic measurements collected at 68 stations during the TIR09 cruise carried out on board of R/V Urania in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea (central part of the Mediterranean Sea) during summer 2009. The survey enabled us to provide indications on the structure of calcareous phytoplankton associations in relation to oceanographic parameters and vertical water column stratification. The total number of coccospheres ranged from − 1 to ~ 6.8 ∗ 10 4 cells l − 1 (mean 8.28 ∗ 10 3 cells l − 1 ). Emiliania huxleyi dominated the assemblages, followed by Gephyrocapsa spp., small placoliths, Calciosolenia spp., Florisphaera profunda , Holococcolithophores spp., Syracosphaera pulchra and Umbellosphaera tenuis . The coccolithophore community showed a typical vertical zonation, with K-strategist taxa in the upper 75 m and the deep community down to 200 m. The local water circulation and summer stratification significantly affected the spatial and vertical distribution of coccolithophores.
Religiosity Versus Homosexuality in America (& Elsewhere)

This paper examines how adherence to religion impacts attitudes toward homosexuality, in particular same-sex marriage in the United States. The study considers previous, current and future legislation in the United States in the context of these attitudinal belief patterns.
Timed activity performance in persons with upper limb amputation: A preliminary study.

Abstract Study Design 55 subjects with upper limb amputation were administered the T-MAP twice within one week. Purpose To develop a timed measure of activity performance for persons with upper limb amputation (T-MAP); examine the measure's internal consistency, test-retest reliability and validity; and compare scores by prosthesis use. Introduction Measures of activity performance for persons with upper limb amputation are needed The time required to perform daily activities is a meaningful metric that implication for participation in life roles. Methods Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Construct validity was examined by comparing scores by amputation level. Exploratory analyses compared sub-group scores, and examined correlations with other measures. Results Scale alpha was 0.77, ICC was 0.93. Timed scores differed by amputation level. Subjects using a prosthesis took longer to perform all tasks. T-MAP was not correlated with other measures of dexterity or activity, but was correlated with pain for non-prosthesis users. Discussion The timed scale had adequate internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability. Conclusions Analyses support reliability and construct validity of the T-MAP. Level of Evidence 2c “outcomes” research.
Professional Skill Builder: Mastering Cardiac Auscultation in Under 4 Hours.

Introduction Cardiac auscultation is an important clinical skill used by health care professionals during bedside patient evaluation and management. To support development of this skill in health s...
Crítica a la Razón Binaria: poder empresarial y agenda global en el marco de políticas de protección del mercado local. El caso de Precios Cuidados en Argentina

It tends to be a temptation of the intellect, either guided by a search for argument economy or the result of a vestige of Structuralism, to reduce the complexity of the social phenomena to binary options. The process of globalization, its consequences and implications, did not escape this temptation. In fact, under the pair of liberalization / protectionism, the density involved in the processes of transnationalization was made invisible. And so were its variants and resistances. In this sense, the present research seeks to account for and depict the complexity of this relationship, based on the analysis of Precios Cuidados policy in Argentina and its (voluntary) acceptance by local retailers. Our main argument is that it implied a window of opportunity -within a framework of more fluid negotiations with government officials- to manage interests related to global commerce flow. We will attempt to show that only on the condition of breaking with certain vestiges of "binary reasoning", it begins to become intelligible that in the very folds of certain market protection policy designs may lay the conditions that energizes global trade. Only then can the relationship between State and its otherness -the market structure- be understood in all its complexity.
Accounting for the Occlusion Effect with Insert Earphones

There are clinical implications associated with knowing when the occlusion effect (OE) must be accounted for during bone conduction (BC) testing because spurious results can occur when errors are made in this regard. The amount of OE produced when insert earphones (IEs) are used varies in the literature; thus, further investigation is warranted. The purpose of this project was to determine the OE during BC threshold measurements under the following occluding conditions used clinically: when using partial insertion (PI) versus full insertion (FI) depth and when occluding one versus both ears. A descriptive within-subjects design was used in this study. Twenty-two adults with mean four-frequency pure tone averages of 24 dB HL, aged 40–83 yr, participated. BC thresholds were obtained at 250, 500, and 1000 Hz under seven conditions: (1) both ears unoccluded, (2) left ear occluded with PI, (3) right ear occluded with PI, (4) both ears occluded with PI, (5) left ear occluded with FI, (6) right ear occluded with FI, (7) both ears occluded with FI. For PI, one half of the length of the IE was beyond the opening of the ear canal. For FI, the lateral edge of the foam insert was flush with the entrance to the ear canal. Mean OEs were compared with previously published data. In addition, variability in the data was examined using frequency distribution plots as well as cumulative frequency and percentile values. Mean OEs of 5–13 dB were present in all but the FI condition at 1000 Hz where the OE was Occluding the ear during initial BC measurements may artificially improve the thresholds and create or exaggerate an air-bone gap. Thus, initial BC testing should be performed unoccluded at 250, 500, and 1000 Hz. There is a need to account for the OE even when the IE is flush with the ear canal to avoid insufficient masking.
Polymorphic improvement of Stillinger-Weber potential for InGaN

A Stillinger-Weber potential is computationally very efficient for molecular dynamics simulations. Despite its simple mathematical form, the Stillinger-Weber potential can be easily parameterized to ensure that crystal structures with tetrahedral bond angles (e.g., diamond-cubic, zinc-blende, and wurtzite) are stable and have the lowest energy. As a result, the Stillinger-Weber potential has been widely used to study a variety of semiconductor elements and alloys. When studying an A-B binary system, however, the Stillinger-Weber potential is associated with two major drawbacks. First, it significantly overestimates the elastic constants of elements A and B, limiting its use for systems involving both compounds and elements (e.g., an A/AB multilayer). Second, it prescribes equal energy for zinc-blende and wurtzite crystals, limiting its use for compounds with large stacking fault energies. Here, we utilize the polymorphic potential style recently implemented in LAMMPS to develop a modified Stillinger-Weber...
Study of Antibiotic Use in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Tabuk City, Northern West, Saudi Arabia

Background: Inappropriate use of antibiotics is known as an important risk factor in the development of antibiotic resistance, which increases the morbidity and mortality. We aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of antibiotic use in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Tabuk city, Northern Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Tabuk city, during October 2017. Results: A total of 120 participants, 107 of them had antibiotics in their prescriptions with antibiotic use prevalence 89.2%. Most of patients were males (62.6%) and children and adolescents (0-19 years) constituted 4.8%. The most attended department was internal medicine (32.7%). 21 diseases were identified, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), followed by urinary tract infection (UTI) 8.4%. Among the antibiotics, ampicillin, cephalosporin and metronidazole were the most prescribed antibiotics as each of them was found in 16.8% of cases, followed by quinolones in 12.1% and macrolides in 11.2%. In addition, Augmentin (9.3%), aminoglycosides (7.5%) and chloramphenicol (1.9%). Regarding the combined therapy, 31.8% of patients received combination of two antibiotics, 4.7% received three antibiotics and only one antibiotic was prescribed in 68% of patients. The most common route of administration was the oral tablets in 48.6% and syrup in 14% of patients. Conclusion and recommendations: The prevalence of antibiotic use in Tabuk Tertiary Care hospitals was very high (89.2%) which could be a risk factor for the development of antibiotic resistance. We advocate public health measures targeting healthcare providers on the use and misuse of antibiotics.
The 2014 Integrated Field Exercise of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty revisited: The case for data fusion.

Abstract The International Monitoring System of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) uses a global network of radionuclide monitoring stations to detect evidence of a nuclear explosion. The two radionuclide technologies employed—particulate and noble gas (radioxenon) detection—have applications for data fusion to improve detection of a nuclear explosion. Using the hypothetical 0.5 kT nuclear explosive test scenario of the CTBTO 2014 Integrated Field Exercise, the intrinsic relationship between particulate and noble gas signatures has been examined. This study shows that, depending upon the time of the radioxenon release, the particulate progeny can produce the more detectable signature. Thus, as both particulate and noble gas signatures are inherently coupled, the authors recommend that the sample categorization schemes should be linked.
Enhancing Scientific Communication Through an Undergraduate Biology and Journalism Partnership

Scientific terminology presents an obstacle to effective communication with nonscientific audiences. To overcome this obstacle, biology majors in a general microbiology elective completed a project involving two different audiences: a scientific audience of their peers and a general, nonscientific audience. First, students presented an overview of a primary research paper and the significance of its findings to a general, nonscientific audience in an elevator-type talk. This was followed by a peer interview with a student in a journalism course, in which the biology students needed to comprehend the article to effectively communicate it to the journalism students, and the journalism students needed to ask questions about an unfamiliar, technical topic. Next, the biology students wrote a summary of their article for a scientific audience. Finally, the students presented a figure from the article to their peers in a scientific, Bio-Minute format. The biology-journalism partnership allowed biology students to develop their ability to communicate scientific information and journalism students their ability to ask appropriate questions and establish a base of knowledge from which to write.
Surface roughness effects on the fatigue strength of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V

Abstract Additive manufacturing has become an increasingly popular advanced manufacturing technique, however, many questions concerning the reliability of parts fabricated by methods such as laser powder bed fusion must be addressed. In this research, the effect of surface roughness and size is investigated by designing various additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V specimen geometries. These as-built specimens were designed to specifically determine the effect of surface area and part diameter on the fatigue behavior of specimens fabricated diagonally from the substrate. Results indicate that the fatigue behavior is more sensitive to part diameter than surface area. Parts with diameters of 4.90 mm or less showed higher surface roughness on the down-skin surface. This variation diminished, however, for specimens with diameters larger than 4.90 mm. Additionally, as part diameter decreased, the difference between the load-bearing and nominal stress amplitudes, caused by surface roughness, increased, resulting in significant scatter in the high cycle fatigue data.
Non-parametric Covariance Modeling Using Fast Fourier Transform

Geostatistics is used in the petroleum industry to model spatial distributions of reservoir properties from limited well samples. Covariance models provide the basic measure of spatial continuity used to weight the information available at different sample locations, as in kriging. Traditionally, a closed-form analytical model defined by a few parameters is fitted to allow for interpolation of sample covariance values while ensuring the positive-definite condition. For cokriging, the modeling task is made even more difficult because of the restrictions imposed by the linear coregionalization model. Some non-parametric modeling methods have been proposed to model covariance values to ensure the positive-definiteness constraints based on eigenvalue correction or Fourier series fitting. These methods are not widely used due to the associated intensive CPU time. Bochner’s theorem maps the positivedefinite constraints into much simpler constraints on the Fourier transform of the covariance, that is, the density spectrum. Accordingly, it is proposed to transform the experimental (cross) covariance tables into quasi-density spectrum tables using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). These quasi-density spectrum tables are then smoothed under some constraints. An inverse FFT yields permissible (jointly) positive-definite (cross) covariance tables. The extention of Bochner’s theorem allows several (cross) covariance tables to be modeled simultaneously with much less effort than the linear model of coregionalization. A case study using actual petroleum reservoir data (porosity and seismic reflection energy) illustrate the application of the proposed algorithm.
Mixed-Valent Cyanoplatinates Featuring Neptunyl-Neptunyl Cation-Cation Interactions.

The tetracyanoplatinate ligand was employed in synthesizing the first neptunyl cyanoplatinate complexes. Results indicate in situ oxidation of Pt(II) by Np(V/VI) to form mixed-valent Pt-Pt stacked columnar chains linked by cation-cation interaction induced chains of Np(V) polyhedra into a two-dimensional sheet structure. The Pt-Pt stacking distances of 3.04-3.05 A are the longest reported columnar platinophilic interactions among mixed-valent tetracyanoplatinate structures. These complexes further illustrate the marked chemical differences and structural diversity of solid-state Np(V) coordination complexes with regard to Np(VI) and U(VI).
Hands Off the Wheel in Autonomous Vehicles?: A Systems Perspective on over a Million Miles of Field Data

Autonomous vehicle (AV) technology is rapidly becoming a reality on U.S. roads, offering the promise of improvements in traffic management, safety, and the comfort and efficiency of vehicular travel. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reports that between 2014 and 2017, manufacturers tested 144 AVs, driving a cumulative 1,116,605 autonomous miles, and reported 5,328 disengagements and 42 accidents involving AVs on public roads. This paper investigates the causes, dynamics, and impacts of such AV failures by analyzing disengagement and accident reports obtained from public DMV databases. We draw several conclusions. For example, we find that autonomous vehicles are 15 - 4000A— worse than human drivers for accidents per cumulative mile driven; that drivers of AVs need to be as alert as drivers of non-AVs; and that the AVs' machine-learning-based systems for perception and decision-and-control are the primary cause of 64% of all disengagements.
Involving community members in preparedness and resiliency involves bi-directional and iterative communication and actions: a case study of vulnerable populations in New Jersey following superstorm Sandy

Recent increases in hurricanes and other weather events have brought to light the importance of understanding what people think should be done to improve recovery and resiliency in their communitie...
Utility of arginine stimulation testing in preoperative assessment of children undergoing total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation.

Metabolic outcomes after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) are influenced by the islet mass transplanted. Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that insulin and C-peptide levels measured after intravenous administration of the beta cell secretagogue arginine can be used to estimate the available islet mass. We sought to determine if preoperative arginine stimulation test (AST) results predicted transplanted islet mass and metabolic outcomes in pediatric patients undergoing TPIAT. We evaluated the association of preoperative C-peptide and insulin responses to AST with islet isolation metrics using linear regression, and with postoperative insulin independence using logistic regression. Twenty-six TPIAT patients underwent preoperative AST from 2015 to 2018. The acute C-peptide response to arginine (ACRarg) was correlated with isolated islet equivalents (IEQ; r = 0.59, P = 0.002) and islet number (IPN; r = 0.48, P = 0.013). The acute insulin response to arginine (AIRarg) was not significantly correlated with IEQ (r = 0.38, P = 0.095) or IPN (r = 0.41, P = 0.071). Neither ACRarg nor AIRarg was associated with insulin use at 6 months postoperatively. Preoperative C-peptide response to arginine correlates with islet mass available for transplant in pediatric TPIAT patients. AST represents an additional tool before autotransplant to provide counseling on likely islet mass and to inform quality improvements of islet isolation techniques.
Resource constraints highlight complex microbial interactions during lake biofilm development

This study evaluated how the availability of nutrients and organic carbon interact to influence the associations between autotrophic and heterotrophic micro‐organisms during lake biofilm development. Considering that decomposers are often better competitors for nutrients than producers in aquatic environments, we hypothesized that heterotrophs would outcompete autotrophs for available nutrients unless heterotrophs were limited by organic carbon provided by autotrophs. To test our hypothesis, we evaluated autotrophic (algae) and heterotrophic (fungi, bacteria) biomass in response to a factorial enrichment of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus in combination) and glucose using nutrient‐diffusing substrates with either inorganic or organic discs in a subalpine lake. In the field, nutrient‐diffusing substrates were exposed to either natural sunlight or placed under a darkened experimental canopy to evaluate the response of heterotrophs to nutrients and carbon subsidies in the presence or absence of algae. We expected that heterotrophs would be limited by organic carbon on inorganic substrates in the absence of autotrophic production (i.e., dark treatments), and that organic substrates would provide a carbon subsidy for heterotrophic metabolism. Fungi were stimulated by nutrient enrichment on inorganic substrates in the presence of algae (light treatment), but not in the dark (without algae). The response of fungi to algal presence on inorganic substrates was similar in magnitude to the response of fungi to nutrients and glucose substrates incubated in the dark. In contrast to our expectations, elevated algal biomass did not stimulate heterotrophic bacteria in the presence of elevated nutrient levels on inorganic substrates, possibly owing to antagonistic interactions between bacteria and fungi. The positive effect of nutrients on algal biomass was significantly reduced in favour of heterotrophs when nutrients were combined with glucose, suggesting that heterotrophs were able to outcompete algae for available nutrients in the absence of carbon limitation. Synthesis. These results expand our understanding of how the availability of limiting resources governs the outcomes of complex interactions among micro‐organisms in aquatic biofilms, and suggests that background levels of organic carbon regulate producer and decomposer responses to nutrient availability during biofilm development.
Robotic simple prostatectomy plus panniculectomy and Giant umbilical hernia repair.

Introduction Simple prostatectomy is the gold standard for prostates >80 grams, robotic system has proven to help into speed the recovery of the patient and in morbid obesity the advantages of the robotic system can help to perform a successful surgery. Case 80 years old male with morbid obesity (BMI 45) and several other comorbidities, with history of an umbilical hernia and obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms in acute urinary retention. PSA was 7 ng/dl, DRE demonstrates a >100gr prostate gland. A robotic simple prostatectomy, urethropexy, umbilical hernia repair and panniculectomy in Fleur-de-Lis was performed. Results Operative time (OT) and estimated blood loss (EBL) were 438 min and 160 ml respectively. A JP drain was placed in the pelvis and 2 additional were left in the abdominal cavity with several Penrose drains. No immediate or intraoperative complications were observed. The length of stay (LOS) was 6 days without complications. Pathology report showed prostate of 304gr and benign prostatic tissue. Discussion In patients with multiple comorbidities robot-assisted surgery provides advantages of shorter LOS, EBL, less transfusion and lower rate of complications. In patients with morbid obesity where the increased girth makes difficult the open approach, robotic surgery is an ideal way to provide definitive treatment; concomitant, Fleur-de-Lis panniculectomy can correct the abdominal contour in both vertical and horizontal orientation at the same time that provides a better plane for trocar insertion, an accurate location of the needle tip and a proper position of the remote center decreasing the possible complication of port placement.
Application of Ground-Based Lidar and Gap Intercept Measurements to Quantify a Shrub Configuration Metric within Greater Sage-Grouse Nesting Habitat

Vegetation composition (i.e., relative proportion of species) and configuration (i.e., horizontal and vertical arrangement of the plant components) in sagebrush-steppe ecosystems are fundamental determinants of the suitability of nesting habitat for Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). The spatial arrangement of shrub and herbaceous canopy cover conceals Greater Sage-Grouse from predators and protects the nest from natural hazards, and gaps in vegetative cover provide escape routes for hens. Most sage-grouse habitat studies quantify vegetation composition, but few quantify habitat configuration at fine scales. We used ground-based lidar (light detection and ranging) data from Greater Sage-Grouse nesting habitat to test the applicability of a metric calculated from the traditional canopy gap intercept measurements to quantify shrub canopy configuration (shrub patchiness). Vegetation surveys were conducted on 30 randomly selected nest and non-nest sites (15 of each); we acquired high-resolution ground-based lidar data for 12 plots at 3 nest locations. Variation in canopy gap size was used as a metric to represent shrub configuration characteristics. We measured the variability in gap size among shrubs within lidar point cloud data sets using a lacunarity index at multiple scales. We measured variability of gaps from line transects by calculating the variance to mean-square ratio of gap size. Correlations (r) between measures of gap size variation from the 2 techniques ranged from 0.76 to 0.83 (r2 = 0.58–0.69). Our results support the use of canopy gap intercept measures to quantify configuration (patchiness) of shrub cover and thus complement vegetative composition metrics. Gap sizes were more variable at nest sites than at non-nest sites, suggesting that gap size variability may be a useful vegetative configuration metric to characterize sage-grouse nesting habitat. The fine-scale habitat metrics we evaluated provide a more refined tool for land managers to characterize local variation in wildlife habitat within shrubland ecosystems and can be derived from the existing gap intercept data.
Obesity and malnutrition in critically ill patients with acute myeloid leukemia: Prevalence and impact on mortality.

Abstract Objectives Obese patients have an increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which in turn predisposes to malnutrition. Obesity has been associated with improved survival in critically ill patients (obesity paradox), but this effect seems to disappear when adjusting for malnutrition. How obesity and malnutrition interplay to affect mortality in critically ill patients with AML has not been addressed and was the objective of this study. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of adult patients with AML who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit and had a nutrition consultation between 2011 and 2018. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, severity scores, and laboratory parameters, as well as data on vital organ support, hospital mortality, and long-term survival were collected. Obesity was defined by a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2 and malnutrition per the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition criteria. Patients were compared based on nutrition and weight status, and hospital and long-term mortality were analyzed with logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier curves. Results We included 145 patients (57% obese, 30% malnourished) in the study. As time from AML diagnosis elapsed, obesity was less frequent and malnutrition more prevalent, with 25% of obese patients also presenting with malnutrition. Hospital mortality was 40% and associated with malnutrition in nonobese patients (odds ratio: 5.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–21.8; P = 0.02) and sequential organ failure assessment severity score (odds ratio: 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–1.7; P Conclusions Critically ill patients with AML have a high prevalence of malnutrition and obesity, which are sometimes associated. Malnutrition, but not obesity, was associated with hospital mortality.
Alternative Dispute Resolution and Employee Voice in Nonunion Employment: An Ethical Analysis of Organizational Due Process Procedures and Mechanisms -- The Case of the United States

The purpose of this paper is to integrate and analyze the research findings of previous studies dealing both directly and tangentially with the strategic ethical issues involved in alternative dispute resolution procedures and systems found in nonunion employment. Particular attention will be given to one of the most significant issues in this area at the operating and tactical level of individual companies: the procedural techniques with respect to the processing of the complaints and grievances of employees in nonunion companies and firms. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for managers and recommendations for future research.
Sticking out versus fitting in: A social context perspective of ingratiation and its effect on social exchange quality with supervisors and teammates.

Research indicates that whereas ingratiation directed toward one's supervisor enhances employee-supervisor social exchange quality, it diminishes social exchange quality with those who observe this behavior, such as team members. However, because researchers have largely overlooked the role of social context in shaping supervisors' and teammates' reactions to ingratiatory employees, current understanding of how ingratiation plays out in complex organizational settings may be incomplete, and perhaps misleading. In this study, we augment a social context perspective with social exchange theory to propose that comparative levels of ingratiation, determined by the focal employee's ingratiation in the context of other team members' ingratiation, shape social exchange quality with supervisors and teammates. The results from a multi-wave multi-source field study of 222 employees and their supervisors from 64 teams show that higher levels of ingratiation relative to other team members increases the employee's social exchange quality with the supervisor, whereas congruence between the employee's and other team members' ingratiation enhances social exchange quality with team members. We also find that relative ingratiation and ingratiation congruence increase citizenship received from supervisors and team members, respectively, via social exchange quality with the corresponding actor(s). Overall, our research contributes to a more complete understanding of ingratiation, especially in regard to how reactions to this behavior are largely a function of the social context in which it occurs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Cultural Hair-Related Dermatoses

Hair is biologically diverse with a range of textures and thicknesses. Hair also serves as expression of oneself; leading to hair care practices and styling that are influenced by culture, perception of beauty, and environment. The use of hair oils, styling and hair restructuring processes are utilized to help manage and style hair, along with offering options for self-expression. These hair care practices can lead to a range of complications, including contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and scarring alopecias.
Multivariable Parametric Cost Model for Ground and Space Telescope Assemblies

The NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has developed a 5-parameter cost model that explains 92% (Adjusted R2) of the cost variation in a database of 47 total ground and space telescope assemblies (OTA), where OTA is defined to include primary & secondary mirrors, and structure.
Dopaminergic Basis of Spatial Deficits in Early Parkinson's Disease.

Dopaminergic mechanisms regulating cognitive and motor control were evaluated comparing visuoperceptual and perceptuomotor functions in Parkinson's disease (PD). The performance of PD patients (n = 40) was contrasted with healthy controls (n = 42) across two separate visits (on and off dopaminergic medications) on computerized tasks of perception and aiming to a target at variable stimulus lengths (4, 8, 12 cm). Novel visuoperceptual tasks of length equivalence and width interval estimations without motor demands were compared with tasks estimating spatial deviation in movement termination. The findings support the presence of spatial deficits in early PD, more pronounced with increased discrimination difficulty, and with shorter stimulus lengths of 4 cm for both visuoperceptual and perceptumotor functions. Dopaminergic medication had an adverse impact on visuoperceptual accuracy in particular for length equivalence estimations, in contrast with dopaminergic modulation of perceptuomotor functions that reduced angular displacements toward the target. The differential outcomes for spatial accuracy in perception versus movement termination in PD are consistent with involvement of the direct pathway and models of progressive loss of dopamine through corticostriatal loops. Future research should develop validated and sensitive standardized tests of perception and explore dopaminergic selective deficits in PD to optimize medication titration for motor and cognitive symptoms of the disease.
Revising the Revising Process of Writing in Upper Level Political Science Research Methods

In my upper-division, undergraduate research course of Survey Research, I have revised my approach to the course, with each time focusing more on the different components of the writing process. As a course designated writing emphasis for our university curriculum, the class asks students to both master the science of survey research methods and the ability to use writing as a means of gaining and expressing an understanding of a subject. This narrative discusses how I have shifted my approach to the class to focus more on developing students’ writing skills, through breaking down the research process into smaller assignments such as an annotated bibliography.
Covid-19 Vaccine Confidence and Hesitancy in Nursing Students and Faculty at a Large Academic Medical Center

Background : Little is known about nursing faculty and nursing student's confidence or potential hesitancy to receive the Covid-19 vaccine once it was available. Methods : An anonymous electronic survey of nursing students and faculty was conducted at a large academic center in the eastern U.S. Findings : Both students and faculty reported they were fairly or completely confident that the vaccine was safe (n=235, 89.4%) and that it would effectively mitigate their risk (n=230, 87.5%). There was a 52.6% decrease in vaccine hesitancy from 6 months prior (p <.01);22% (n=58) of those currently willing to receive the vaccine reported moderate to high concern about its side-effects and/or long-term efficacy. Access to vaccine research, vaccine education, and watching others be inoculated, had mitigated their concerns from the previous six months. Conclusions : While both nursing students and faculty reported having high confidence in the efficacy and safety of the Covid-19 vaccine, concerns remained.
#RealBleachers: Black Women’s Knowledge of Skin Whitening Risks:

Skin whitening, or also referred to as bleaching or lightening, is a skin regiment that works to reduce pigmentation in the skin, to commonly treat skin issues like discoloration, acne scars, hyper...
Conclusions and policy recommendations

In the first three chapters of this study, the relationship between energy consumption and national income was described, the potential energy resources available to India were evaluated, and the past history of energy resource development in the five year plans was reviewed. In Chapters 4, 5, and 6, we analyzed current and potential future energy supply policies for oil and natural gas, power (including hydropower, coal, and nuclear based generation), and biogas and solar energy sources. In this chapter we bring together the results of this research to provide a comprehensive review of energy supply policy in India. Conclusions from the chapters on individual energy sectors are first summarized and then integrated to illuminate the relationships among energy sectors. Environmental effects of energy resource development in India are briefly reviewed. Finally, policy alternatives for energy resource development in India are examined.
Studies on a new cross-axis coil planet centrifuge for performing counter-current chromatography. I. Design of the apparatus, retention of the stationary phase, and efficiency in the separation of proteins with polymer phase systems.

Abstract An improved model of the cross-axis synchronous flow-through coil planet centrifuge has been designed in light of previous studies. The apparatus has a versatile feature in that both analytical and preparative columns can be accommodated in both off-center and central positions. Each has merit in separations. Retention of stationary phase was examined with various two-phase solvent systems used for the separation of biopolymers. Both analytical and preparative columns showed satisfactory retention of the stationary phase under optimum conditions. The apparatus was evaluated in separation of a set of protein samples using a polyethylene glycol—potassium phosphate biphasic system. In both types of columns all proteins were resolved with partition efficiencies of 260 to 670 theoretical plates. Further studies indicated that the relatively low partition efficiency of proteins is mainly attributed to their high molecular mass or molecular heterogeneity within each species rather than due to the high viscosity of the polymer phase system.
A tunable notch filter using high-k t 2 lithium niobate resonators toward integration in filter banks

This paper reports on using lithium niobate (LN) resonators for a reconfigurable filter bank. The resonators provide sharp rolloff and bandwidth coverage (from the high electromechanical coupling k t 2 of 12.5%) for collocated filters, all in a compact size. The example in this paper is an absorptive notch filter (ANF) that achieves over 35 dB notch rejection. The ANF also demonstrates fine-tuning ability. It can be integrated for a chip-scale reconfigurable filtering platform.
Policy Games and the Optimal Design of Central Banks

This article studies the impact of alternative institutional configurations on economic performance when there is strategic interaction between the government and the central bank. The interaction between the fiscal and monetary authorities is modeled as a non-cooperative two-stage game. The institutions within which monetary and fiscal policies are implemented are represented by the degree of central bank independence, the degree of central bank conservatism, and the relative timing of fiscal and monetary policies. The four representative regimes considered capture the distinguishing features of monetary institutions in the United States, Switzerland, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
Treatment of Scarring Alopecia in Discoid Variant of Chronic Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus With Tacrolimus Lotion, 0.3%

Importance Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the skin. Lesions are often localized to the scalp and can result in permanent scarring, disfiguration, and irreversible alopecia. Although DLE usually responds to topical or intralesional corticosteroids and/or oral antimalarials, some DLE is resistant to these treatments or adverse effects limit their effectiveness. Observations Three patients with treatment-refractory, biopsy-proved DLE were prescribed a novel, off-label preparation of tacrolimus lotion, 0.3%, in an alcohol base as an adjunct to oral antimalarial therapy. All 3 patients demonstrated improvement in lesion severity and hair regrowth with the use of this regimen after 3 months and continued improvement thereafter. We report a retrospective analysis of these 3 cases. Conclusions and Relevance This report is, to our knowledge, the first mention of tacrolimus being used in a lotion formulation to treat DLE lesions, resulting in hair regrowth. Topical tacrolimus lotion, 0.3%, in an alcohol base may be a potential therapeutic option for patients with DLE that is refractory to first-line therapies and who risk late-stage disease with permanent scarring alopecia.
Genetics of winter wheat response to two freezing treatments

With 1 figure and 3 tables Abstract The inheritance of the ability of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants to survive two kinds of freezing stress was investigated in a five-parent diallel cross. Cold-acclimated plants were frozen to damaging temperatures with or without a −3°C, 16-h prefreezing (PF) period. Test temperatures were adjusted such that the overall mean survivals were the same under the two PF treatment conditions (−10 to −12°C without PF; −14.5 to −16.5°C with PF). Lines that survived freezing tests with PF as well or better than without PF developed significantly more freezing tolerance during the PF treatment and tolerated the lower test temperatures of the PF tests. Diallel analysis indicated most variation under either kind of freezing stress was because of additive genetic effects, but non-additive effects were significant in two of the 20 crosses. It may be possible to combine additive and non-additive effects to develop cultivars that are exceptionally tolerant of freezing episodes with or without an extended PF period.
Marxian crisis theory and the rate of profit in the postwar U.S. economy

My objective in this paper is to analyse the behaviour of the rate of profit in the United States economy since World War II in order to evaluate the current relevance of various Marxian theories of capitalist economic crisis. I will begin by formulating and con trasting several different variants of Marxian crisis theory; I will then seek to determine the extent to which recent empirical evidence on the rate of profit and related variables is consistent with each variant. Beginning with Karl Marx himself in Capital, political economists working from a broadly-defined Marxian perspective have sought to analyse the sources of the economic crises that have periodically afflicted capitalist economies. Many different types of theories have been proposed, but all share a central concern with the rate of profit as a critical determinant of macro-economic vitality. Indeed, the defining characteristic of a Marxian theory of capitalist economic crisis may be identified as the focus on a falling rate of profit as the source of the crisis. Differences between alternative variants of Marxian crisis theory can be shown to hinge on different explanations of the fall in the rate of profit. The behaviour of the average rate of profit in a capitalist economy is seen as critical to the explanation of economic crises because it is a major determinant of capitalists' profit expectations. Production is organised and investment is undertaken by capitalists in order to make profits ; a fall in the average rate of profit—and consequently in the expected profitability of new investment—is bound sooner or later to discourage such investment. But the rate of investment is a major determinant of both the level and the rate of growth of aggregate output and employment. It affects the level of output (and employment) as a significant—and usually the most volatile—component of aggregate demand; and it affects the rate of growth of output (and employment) as an important source of increased productive capacity in the economy. Thus it is quite reasonable on theoretical grounds to argue that a falling rate of profit will ultimately lead—via profit expectations and the rate of investment—to an economic crisis in which the levels and rates of growth of output and employment are depressed. Each of the variants of Marxian crisis theory that I will consider can be developed either as a theory of short-run cyclical declines in the rate of profit (to explain the capital ist business cycle) or as a theory of longer-run declines in the rate of profit (to explain
Compression-Aware Algorithms for Massive Datasets

While massive datasets are often stored in compressed format, most algorithms are designed to operate on uncompressed data. We address this growing disconnect by developing a framework for compression-aware algorithms that operate directly on compressed datasets. Synergistically, we also propose new algorithmically-aware compression schemes that enable algorithms to efficiently process the compressed data. In particular, we apply this general methodology to geometric / CAD datasets that are ubiquitous in areas such as graphics, VLSI, and geographic information systems. We develop example algorithms and corresponding compression schemes that address different types of datasets, including point sets and graphs. Our methods are more efficient than their classical counterparts, and they extend to both lossless and lossy compression scenarios. This motivates further investigation of how this approach can enable algorithms to process ever-increasing big data volumes.
In Situ Planetary Mineralogy Using Simultaneous Time Resolved Fluorescence and Raman Spectroscopy

Micro-Raman spectroscopy is one of the primary methods of mineralogical analysis in the laboratory, and more recently in the field. Because of its versatility and ability to interrogate rocks in their natural form (Figure 1), it is one of the frontrunners for the next generation of in situ instruments designed to explore adiverse set of solar system bodies (e.g. Mars, Venus, the Moon, and other primitive bodies such as asteroids and the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos), as well as for pre-selection of rock and soil samples for cache and return missions.