cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fc Receptor-Mediated Activities of Env-Specific Human Monoclonal Antibodies Generated from Volunteers Receiving the DNA Prime-Protein Boost HIV Vaccine DP6-001

ABSTRACT HIV-1 is able to elicit broadly potent neutralizing antibodies in a very small subset of individuals only after several years of infection, and therefore, vaccines that elicit these types of antibodies have been difficult to design. The RV144 trial showed that moderate protection is possible and that this protection may correlate with antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity. Our previous studies demonstrated that in an HIV vaccine phase I trial, the DP6-001 trial, a polyvalent Env DNA prime-protein boost formulation could elicit potent and broadly reactive, gp120-specific antibodies with positive neutralization activities. Here we report on the production and analysis of HIV-1 Env-specific human monoclonal antibodies (hMAbs) isolated from vaccinees in the DP6-001 trial. For this initial report, 13 hMAbs from four vaccinees in the DP6-001 trial showed broad binding to gp120 proteins of diverse subtypes both autologous and heterologous to vaccine immunogens. Equally cross-reactive Fc receptor-mediated functional activities, including ADCC and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) activities, were present with both immune sera and isolated MAbs, confirming the induction of nonneutralizing functional hMAbs by the DNA prime-protein boost vaccination. Elicitation of broadly reactive hMAbs by vaccination in healthy human volunteers confirms the value of the polyvalent formulation in this HIV vaccine design. IMPORTANCE The roles of Fc receptor-mediated protective antibody responses are gaining more attention due to their potential contribution to the low-level protection against HIV-1 infection that they provided in the RV144 trial. At the same time, information about hMabs from other human HIV vaccine studies is very limited. In the current study, both immune sera and monoclonal antibodies from vaccinated humans showed not only high-level ADCC and ADCP activities but also cross-subtype ADCC and ADCP activities when a polyvalent DNA prime-protein boost vaccine formulation was used.
A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Pilot Study of Riluzole Monotherapy for Acute Bipolar Depression.

AbstractBackgroundGlutamatergic system abnormalities are implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of both major depressive disorder and bipolar depression (BDep). Subsequent to studies demonstrating the rapid and robust antidepressant effects of ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor anta
Teaching culture as a relational process through a multiliteracies-based global simulation

ABSTRACTRecent scholarship in second and foreign language (FL) pedagogy has advocated for approaches to teaching culture that move beyond static notions of culture-as-fact, construed in terms of national traditions, towards relational approaches that foster strategies for interaction within discourse communities, where members embody and express a range of values and social and linguistic practices based on diverse identities and histories. However, such variations are often obscured in FL educational contexts by static or narrow conceptions of culture that pervade FL curricular materials, teacher-training programmes, and popular media discourses. This paper reports on outcomes from an innovative curriculum for fourth semester French in which culture was treated as a relational process through combination of a global simulation (GS) and a Pedagogy of Multiliteracies. Students adopted the persona of a fictitious character for an entire semester and were socialised into second language/culture (LC2) discour...
Voting Behavior in the 114th Congress

Running in a competitive, toss-up state or district, like the ones featured in this book, caused those members of Congress to vote differently than others in the 114th Congress. Members in competitive races cross party lines more often than those who represent safe states or districts. Members from competitive constituencies played the key roles in votes to build the Keystone XL Pipeline, provided President Obama with Trade Promotion Authority, and passed the October 2015 budget bill that avoided a government shutdown. Congressional Republicans in competitive races were also much more likely than other Republicans to oppose Donald Trump’s campaign for president.
Processability of DDS isomers‐cured epoxy resin: Effects of amine/epoxy ratio, humidity, and out‐time

Three aerospace grade resins were formulated to investigate the effects of variation in DDS isomers, amine-to-epoxy (a/e) stoichiometric ratio, out-time, and moisture absorption on processing characteristics and cured resin properties. Such resins are typically used in prepreg or preimpregnated composite fibers, which require engineered processing methods to fully impregnate the fiber bed during cure. Precure phenomena, specifically out-time and moisture absorption, are generally unavoidable in practice, and these phenomena were investigated to determine the relationship between DDS isomers, a/e stoichiometric ratio, out-time, and moisture absorption on processing characteristics and cured resin properties. Furthermore, predictive models were developed to provide insights into defect formation mechanisms and mitigation strategies for prepreg processing. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2017. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
The Employment At-Will Doctrine: Second Level Ethical Issues and Analysis

There is an ongoing debate over the ethical status of policies that give an employer the right to discharge an employee without a good reason or notice (i.e., employment at-will policies). This article moves beyond the question of whether the adoption of such a policy is unethical per se under all circumstances, focusing instead on the following question: Assuming that an at-will policy is not unethical per se in all circumstances, what are the ethical issues associated with an employer's implementation and maintenance of an employment at-will policy, and how can these issues be addressed? Three primary ethical concerns are identified and discussed, and specific propositions regarding employers' obligations are presented. The article concludes by offering practical guidance intended to assist at-will employers in meeting the identified ethical obligations.
Mondrian stereo

Untextured scenes with complex occlusions still present challenges to modern stereo algorithms. We consider the pathological case of Mondrian Stereo — scenes consisting solely of solid-colored planar regions, inspired by paintings by Piet Mondrian. We analyze assumptions that allow disambiguating such scenes and present a novel stereo algorithm employing symbolic reasoning about matched edge segments. We demonstrate compelling stereo matching results on synthetic scenes and discuss how our insights could be utilized in robust real-world stereo algorithms for untextured environments.
Newest and Robust Entrant to the Functional Food Sector: Chia Seeds

Chia seed (Salvia hispanica) is an emerging plant-derived nutraceutical. With a balanced composition of dietary fiber, proteins, ω-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and essential minerals, this seed has attracted the attention of nutritionists. Rich in α-linolenic acid, it is credited to be instrumental in cardiac and hepatic protection. Also, the abundance of dietary fibres is recognized to confer digestive benefits, whereas the proteins augment physical endurance. Further, antidiabetic and anticancer properties are being disclosed. Improvement of meat quality by feeding chia diet to the animals is another potential implication. Though a relatively newbie in the functional food sector, this seed is expected to boom in popularity within no time. In this regard, an updated account on the health potentials of this emerging ‘superfood’ has been furnished. This chapter is expected to play role in revival of this erstwhile source of sustenance into a sustainable food.
Start With the "C-Word," Follow the Roadmap for Causal Inference.

A response is offered to an article by author Miguel A. Hernan on the causation of diseases, including casual inference. An overview of statistical approaches in public health research, including the use of statistical parameters and statistical association in health research, is provided.
Performance of Nonrecursive Latent Variable Models under Misspecification

A problem central to structural equation modeling is measurement model specification error and its propagation into the structural part of nonrecursive latent variable models. Full-information esti...
Cloning and Developmental Expression of a Nodule-Enhanced Sucrose Synthase cDNA from Alfalfa

The carbon (C) cost for symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation is quite high. The ultimate source of C for N2 fixation is sucrose derived from leaves. For use in root nodules, sucrose must be cleaved to glucose and other smaller carbon compounds. Here we report the isolation and characterization of a full length cDNA encoding the enzyme sucrose synthase (SS; EC 2.4.1.13). This SS cDNA shows greatest expression in effective nitrogen-fixing nodules. It is also expressed in stems and roots with little expression in leaves and cotyledons. While maximum expression of SS in nodules appears to require active nitrogenase, the gene is also expressed in ineffective nodules, albeit at reduced levels. Measurement of starch concentrations in nodules shows that SS expression is not coupled to starch biosynthesis. In situ hybridization studies show that expression of SS occurs in both infected and uninfected cells and in the nodule meristem.
Pharmacological Therapy of COPD: Reasons for Optimism

The number of pharmacological medications available to treat patients with COPD has increased over the past few decades. Most of the improvement has come from the modification of older compounds that are now more potent, of longer duration, and delivered in improved devices. They are now available as single, double, and even triple combinations that, although attempting to simplify administration, have also resulted in a large number of preparations. These medications are clearly effective and should be used as a central component of the multidimensional approach to the patient affected with COPD. The preferred route remains the inhaled direct delivery to the airways, but the favorable results obtained with systemic agents such as macrolides and roflumilast and the preliminary results of some biologicals are opening the door for the development of new drugs or reformulation of medications that have been used for other indications. Perhaps the most pressing need is to study the effect of these agents at early points in the course of the disease, because until now most, if not all, studies have been conducted in patients usually older than age 60 years, when most of the natural course of the disease has already been run. This monograph reviews the available pharmacological therapy based on current evidence and provides practical recommendations to health providers caring for patients with COPD.
Influence of TP53 Mutation on Survival in Patients With Advanced EGFR-Mutant Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

PurposeTP53 mutation (MT) in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) -MT non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with poor response to targeted therapy; however, its impact on survival is not clearly established.Patients and MethodsWe performed an analysis of patients with stage IV EGFR MT NSCLC with available gene sequencing data. Associations between baseline characteristics; molecular profile, including TP53 MT; and survival outcomes were assessed.ResultsWe identified 131 consecutive patients with EGFR MT; 81 (62%) had a TP53 MT, and 55 (42%) had other coexisting oncogenic MTs. Emergent EGFR T790M MT was observed in 42 patients (32%). Overall survival (OS) was longer for younger patients (P = .003), never smokers (P = .002), those with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 1 (P = .004), and emergent T790M MT (P = .018). TP53 MT (P = .021) and other coexisting oncogenic MTs (P = 0.011) were associated with inferior OS. In a multivariable regression analysis adjusted for age...
Scaling Optical Communication for On-Chip Interconnect

In the high-density integrated circuits of the future, electrical wires may reach their performance limits for intrachip device connections. One possible solution to this problem is a transition to on-chip optic communication. Optic technologies present many benefits for on-chip interconnection systems, but they also bring challenges in their implementation. In this paper, research of on-chip optical communication is reviewed as a means of meeting the growing demands of IC interconnects. Optical systems and devices are evaluated as they scale down to global and intermediate level chip interconnections.
Youth Access to Tobacco Products in the United States: Findings From Wave 1 (2013-2014) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study.

Objectives Tobacco products in the US market are growing in diversity. Little is known about how youth access tobacco products given this current landscape. Methods Data were drawn from 15- to 17-year-olds from the Wave 1 youth sample of the US nationally representative Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. Past 30-day tobacco users were asked about usual sources of access to 12 different tobacco products, and if they had been refused sale because of their age. Results Among 15- to 17-year-olds, social sources ("someone offered" or "asked someone") were the predominant usual source of access for each tobacco product. "Bought by self" was the usual source of access for users of smokeless (excluding snus, 23.2%), cigarillos (21.0%), cigarettes (13.8%), hookah (12.0%), and electronic cigarettes (10.5%). Convenience stores and/or gas stations were the most often selected retail source for all products except hookah. Among youth who attempted purchase, 24.3% were refused sale of cigarettes, 23.9% cigarillos, and 13.8% smokeless tobacco. Conclusions Most 15- to 17-year-old tobacco users obtain tobacco products through social sources; however, among those who purchased tobacco, the majority report not being refused sale because of age. At the time of survey, cigarette and cigar sales to under 18 years were prohibited in all 50 states, and electronic cigarettes sales in 47 states and two territories. 2014 Annual Synar Reports signaled increasing trends in retail violations of state and/or district laws prohibiting tobacco product sales to under 18 years. Monitoring illicit youth sales, conducting compliance check inspections, and penalizing violations remain important to reduce youth tobacco access at retail venues. Implications Access to the spectrum of tobacco products by youth in the United States remains predominantly through social sources. However, of the minority of youth tobacco users in 2014 who purchased tobacco themselves, a few reported being refused sale: Convenience stores and/or gas stations were the most common retail source for tobacco products. The strategies of monitoring illicit youth sales, conducting compliance checks, and penalizing violations remain important to reduce youth tobacco access at retail venues. Limiting sources of youth tobacco access remains an important focus to reduce the burden of tobacco on the public health.
PACAP increases Arc/Arg 3.1 expression within the extended amygdala after fear conditioning in rats.

Abstract The stress-related neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is implicated in neuromodulation of learning and memory. PACAP can alter synaptic plasticity and has direct actions on neurons in the amygdala and hippocampus that could contribute to its acute and persistent effects on the consolidation and expression of conditioned fear. We recently demonstrated that intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of PACAP prior to fear conditioning (FC) results in initial amnestic-like effects followed by hyper-expression of conditioned freezing with repeated testing, and analyses of immediate-early gene c-Fos expression suggested that the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), but not the lateral/basolateral amygdala (LA/BLA) or hippocampus, are involved in these PACAP effects. Here, we extend that work by examining the expression of the synaptic plasticity marker activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc/Arg 3.1) after PACAP administration and FC. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with cannula for ICV infusion of PACAP-38 (1.5 µg) or vehicle followed by FC and tests for conditioned freezing. One hour after FC, Arc protein expression was significantly elevated in the CeA and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), interconnected structures that are key elements of the extended amygdala, in rats that received the combination of PACAP + FC. In contrast, Arc expression within the subdivisions of the hippocampus, or the LA/BLA, were unchanged. A subpopulation of Arc-positive cells in both the CeA and BNST also express PKCdelta, an intracellular marker that has been used to identify microcircuits that gate conditioned fear in the CeA. Consistent with our previous findings, on the following day conditioned freezing behavior was reduced in rats that had been given the combination of PACAP + FC—an amnestic-like effect—and Arc expression levels had returned to baseline. Given the established role of Arc in modifying synaptic plasticity and memory formation, our findings suggest that PACAP-induced overexpression of Arc following fear conditioning may disrupt neuroplastic changes within populations of CeA and BNST neurons normally responsible for encoding fear-related cues that, in this case, results in altered fear memory consolidation. Hence, PACAP systems may represent an axis on which stress and experience-driven neurotransmission converge to alter emotional memory, and mediate pathologies that are characteristic of psychiatric illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
ASSOCIATION OF MULTIMORBIDITY WITH INCIDENT SHINGLES AMONG OLDER AMERICANS

AbstractOlder adults with multimorbidity are susceptible to shingles due to deterioration of immune function related to coexisting chronic disorders and immunological change. Although the association between individual chronic diseases and incident shingles has been documented, little is known about the effect of having multiple conditions on the risk for developing a new case of the disease. Multimorbidity is a normal condition with advanced aging. This paper examines risk of shingles onset associated with multimorbidity defined as having one or more chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, arthritis, and stroke among older American. Data for this study come from the 1992 -2016 Health and Retirement Study. The study finds that risk for onset of shingles linearly increases with number of chronic disorders when age, gender, and race/ethnicity were adjusted (adjusted OR: 1.58, 95% CI; 1.37, 1.80 for those with 1 chronic condition vs adjusted OR: 3.43, 95% CI: 2.21, 5.53 for those with 6 conditions). The risks for multimorbidity were little changed after additional adjustments for socioeconomic status and health behaviors. The effect of multimorbidity on developing shingles is greater among young-old adults in their 50s than among the older-old adults aged 80 and higher. Our finding challenges the single-disease framework that is often used in previous studies examining risk factors for shingles. Our finding highlights the need for primary prevention and treatment of multimorbidity for reduction of shingles cases among older adults, especially young old adults in 50s.
Iron toxicity, lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis after intracerebral haemorrhage

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating type of stroke with high mortality and morbidity. However, we have few options for ICH therapy and limited knowledge about post-ICH neuronal death and related mechanisms. In the aftermath of ICH, iron overload within the perihaematomal region can induce lethal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lipid peroxidation, which contribute to secondary brain injury. Indeed, iron chelation therapy has shown efficacy in preclinical ICH studies. Recently, an iron-dependent form of non-apoptotic cell death known as ferroptosis was identified. It is characterised by an accumulation of iron-induced lipid ROS, which leads to intracellular oxidative stress. The ROS cause damage to nucleic acids, proteins and lipid membranes, and eventually cell death. Recently, we and others discovered that ferroptosis does occur after haemorrhagic stroke in vitro and in vivo and contributes to neuronal death. Inhibition of ferroptosis is beneficial in several in vivo and in vitro ICH conditions. This minireview summarises current research on iron toxicity, lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in the pathomechanisms of ICH, the underlying molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and the potential for combined therapeutic strategies. Understanding the role of ferroptosis after ICH will provide a vital foundation for cell death-based ICH treatment and prevention.
Let Your Life Speak: The Art of Connecting across Difference: Keynote Address

The Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA) is an organization founded and built with bricks of high-level expertise, and it is held in place by the mortar of love. Thanks to each of you for ...
Discrimination in the United States: Experiences of black Americans.

Objective To examine experiences of racial discrimination among black adults in the United States, which broadly contribute to their poor health outcomes. Data source and study design Data come from a nationally representative, probability-based telephone survey including 802 non-Hispanic black and a comparison group of 902 non-Hispanic white US adults, conducted January-April 2017. Methods We calculated the percent of blacks reporting discrimination in several domains, including health care. We used logistic regression to compare the black-white difference in odds of discrimination, and among blacks only to examine variation by socioeconomic status, gender, and neighborhood racial composition. Principal findings About one-third of blacks (32 percent) reported experiencing discrimination in clinical encounters, while 22 percent avoided seeking health care for themselves or family members due to anticipated discrimination. A majority of black adults reported experiencing discrimination in employment (57 percent in obtaining equal pay/promotions; 56 percent in applying for jobs), police interactions (60 percent reported being stopped/unfairly treated by police), and hearing microaggressions (52 percent) and racial slurs (51 percent). In adjusted models, blacks had significantly higher odds than whites of reporting discrimination in every domain. Among blacks, having a college degree was associated with higher odds of experiencing overall institutional discrimination. Conclusions The extent of reported discrimination across several areas of life suggests a broad pattern of discrimination against blacks in America, beyond isolated experiences. Black-white disparities exist on nearly all dimensions of experiences with public and private institutions, including health care and the police. Evidence of systemic discrimination suggests a need for more active institutional interventions to address racism in policy and practice.
Understanding Coding Behaviors in Intermediate CS Students

Gaining proficiency in code design, implementation, testing, and debugging in the context of large projects are essential parts of progressing beyond introductory programming. In intermediate (post CS2) programming courses, many students fail to complete one or more projects on time. The problem starts with poor time-management when developing projects with a 3-5 week lifecycle. These projects become even more difficult to manage if not developed incrementally. Many students neglect to write sufficient test cases and so miss that bugs exist. Then, they have trouble with locating a bug once it is identified. Our goal is to identify bad coding behaviors so that we can provide feedback to students long before the project is due. Therefore, we plan to analyze the time-management, incremental development, testing, and debugging behavior of students to distinguish better coding practice from worse. We have used mixed-method research techniques. First, we collected students' IDE-based clickstream data. From the clickstream data, we deduced the students' personal development process, such as to what extent they use a debugger vs print statements for debugging. We found 90% and 75% of students use print statements and debugger, respectively. We interviewed 12 students to understand their process for time-management, incremental development, testing, and debugging. We also plan to survey 300+ students to see if the interview findings represent the larger population. Our research will be extended to recognize bad coding behaviors in real-time and provide necessary feedback about best coding practices with the help of an intelligent developer assistant.
The Large Hadron Collider and the ATLAS Detector

This chapter provides a brief introduction to the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator, the LHC. I will describe the LHC in the context of this thesis and how the ATLAS detector fits into the picture.
Kir6.1-dependent KATP channels in lymphatic smooth muscle and vessel dysfunction in mice with Kir6.1 gain-of-function.

Key points Spontaneous contractions are essential for normal lymph transport and these contractions are exquisitely sensitive to the KATP channel activator pinacidil. KATP channel Kir6.1 and SUR2B subunits are expressed in mouse lymphatic smooth muscle (LSM) and form functional KATP channels as verified by electrophysiological techniques. Global deletion of Kir6.1 or SUR2 subunits results in severely impaired lymphatic contractile responses to pinacidil. Smooth muscle-specific expression of Kir6.1 gain-of-function mutant (GoF) subunits results in profound lymphatic contractile dysfunction and LSM hyperpolarization that is partially rescued by the KATP inhibitor glibenclamide. In contrast, lymphatic endothelial-specific expression of Kir6.1 GoF has essentially no effect on lymphatic contractile function. The high sensitivity of LSM to KATP channel GoF offers an explanation for the lymphoedema observed in patients with Cantu syndrome, a disorder caused by gain-of-function mutations in genes encoding Kir6.1 or SUR2, and suggests that glibenclamide may be an appropriate therapeutic agent. Abstract This study aimed to understand the functional expression of KATP channel subunits in distinct lymphatic cell types, and assess the consequences of altered KATP channel activity on lymphatic pump function. KATP channel subunits Kir6.1 and SUR2B were expressed in mouse lymphatic muscle by PCR, but only Kir6.1 was expressed in lymphatic endothelium. Spontaneous contractions of popliteal lymphatics from wild-type (WT) (C57BL/6J) mice, assessed by pressure myography, were very sensitive to inhibition by the SUR2-specific KATP channel activator pinacidil, which hyperpolarized both mouse and human lymphatic smooth muscle (LSM). In vessels from mice with deletion of Kir6.1 (Kir6.1-/- ) or SUR2 (SUR2[STOP]) subunits, contractile parameters were not significantly different from those of WT vessels, suggesting that basal KATP channel activity in LSM is not an essential component of the lymphatic pacemaker, and does not exert a strong influence over contractile strength. However, these vessels were >100-fold less sensitive than WT vessels to pinacidil. Smooth muscle-specific expression of a Kir6.1 gain-of-function (GoF) subunit resulted in severely impaired lymphatic contractions and hyperpolarized LSM. Membrane potential and contractile activity was partially restored by the KATP channel inhibitor glibenclamide. In contrast, lymphatic endothelium-specific expression of Kir6.1 GoF subunits had negligible effects on lymphatic contraction frequency or amplitude. Our results demonstrate a high sensitivity of lymphatic contractility to KATP channel activators through activation of Kir6.1/SUR2-dependent channels in LSM. In addition, they offer an explanation for the lymphoedema observed in patients with Cantu syndrome, a disorder caused by gain-of-function mutations in genes encoding Kir6.1/SUR2.
Abstract 1540: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Evidence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer, frequently arising from sun-induced mutations. Most clinical cases of cSCC are non-invasive and achieve complete cure through tumor excision. However, advanced cSCC is associated with high mortality, thus research aimed at understanding factors influencing metastasis of invasive cSCC is needed. Cancer metastasis is a multistep process, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). During EMT, epithelial cells undergo a dedifferentiation process whereby they transition to a highly mobile and invasive mesenchymal cell type with metastatic capacities. Changes in expression of several proteins, including TGF-β, vimentin, and E-cadherin have been identified as a hallmark of EMT, which may be promoting cancer progression. We hypothesize that during development of cSCC, cells within the lesions are undergoing EMT that facilitates invasion into the tissues. In situ and invasive cSCC tissues were obtained from excised tumors being prepped for histological sections from Mohs surgery; once clean margins were identified, adjacent normal tissues (ANT) were obtained during suturing. For all tissues, total protein was isolated; western blots were performed to determine expression of TGF-β1,2,3, Bcl-2, E-cadherin, phosphorylated E-cadherin, and vimentin. Analysis of MMP activity for each tissue type was performed using a FRET assay. For all proteins analyzed, cSCC tissues had higher levels of expression compared to ANT, with invasive cSCC tissues demonstrating increased protein expression over in situ samples (p Citation Format: Christopher S. Pulford, Chandana K. Uppalapati, Elizabeth E. Hull, Kathryn J. Leyva. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Evidence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1540.
Outsized nutrient contributions from small tributaries to a Great Lake

Excessive nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading is one of the greatest threats to aquatic ecosystems in the Anthropocene, causing eutrophication of rivers, lakes, and marine coastlines worldwide. For lakes across the United States, eutrophication is driven largely by nonpoint nutrient sources from tributaries that drain surrounding watersheds. Decades of monitoring and regulatory efforts have paid little attention to small tributaries of large water bodies, despite their ubiquity and potential local importance. We used a snapshot of nutrient inputs from nearly all tributaries of Lake Michigan-the world's fifth largest freshwater lake by volume-to determine how land cover and dams alter nutrient inputs across watershed sizes. Loads, concentrations, stoichiometry (N:P), and bioavailability (percentage dissolved inorganic nutrients) varied by orders of magnitude among tributaries, creating a mosaic of coastal nutrient inputs. The 6 largest of 235 tributaries accounted for ∼70% of the daily N and P delivered to Lake Michigan. However, small tributaries exhibited nutrient loads that were high for their size and biased toward dissolved inorganic forms. Higher bioavailability of nutrients from small watersheds suggests greater potential to fuel algal blooms in coastal areas, especially given the likelihood that their plumes become trapped and then overlap in the nearshore zone. Our findings reveal an underappreciated role that small streams may play in driving coastal eutrophication in large water bodies. Although they represent only a modest proportion of lake-wide loads, expanding nutrient management efforts to address smaller watersheds could reduce the ecological impacts of nutrient loading on valuable nearshore ecosystems.
EXOTIC FERMIONS AND BOSONS IN THE QUARTIFICATION MODEL

Exotic fermions of half-integral charges at the TeV energy scale are predicted by the quartification model of Babu, Ma and Willenbrock. We add to these one copy of their scalar analogs and discuss the ensuing phenomenological implications, i.e. radiative contributions to lepton masses and flavor-changing leptonic decays.
Echocardiographic changes in the shape and size of the aortic cusps in dogs with confirmed systemic hypertension.

Systemic hypertension (SH) in dogs typically occurs secondary to renal disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, malignant adrenal tumors, or various medications. Echocardiography performed on people with SH has shown asymmetric dilation of the sinuses at the level of the aortic valves, previously undescribed in canine patients. The objective of this retrospective case-control study was to determine if there was a difference in size and shape of the aortic cusps at the level of the sinus of Valsalva in dogs with SH compared to dogs with normal blood pressure. We reviewed echocardiographic findings in 74 dogs with SH and 37 dogs with normal blood pressure (NBP), defined as less than 150 mmHg. Systemic hypertension was classified as mild (150-159 mm Hg), moderate (160-179 mm Hg), or severe (greater than 180 mm Hg). There was a significant difference (P < .001) in the mean size of the aorta cusps at the level of the sinuses in 67 of 74 dogs with SH and none of 37 dogs with NBP. Of the 74 dogs with SH, 70 had left ventricular hypertrophy (18 asymmetric, 15 concentric, and 37 eccentric). Additionally, there was aortic root dilatation in 15 dogs, aortic insufficiency in 21, mitral regurgitation in 50, and left atrial enlargement in 71. The standard deviation of the three cusp measurements between the dogs with SH and dogs with NBP had a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 97% for diagnosis of SH. Asymmetric size of the aortic cusps on echocardiography is therefore a reliable indicator of SH in dogs.
Fish response to successive clearcuts in a second-growth forest from the central Coast range of Oregon

Abstract Research dating back to the 1950 s has documented negative effects from harvesting of primeval forests on stream ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest. By the early 1990 s, state and federal forest practice rules governing timber harvest were modified throughout North America to better protect aquatic habitats and biotic resources, principally salmonids. These rules inspired a generation of studies using a before-after-control-impact (BACI) design to document the capacity of contemporary timber harvest rules to protect salmonids in headwater streams of second-growth forests. One important unanswered question concerns the potential effects of successive clearcuts in second growth forests. Consequently, we used a paired watershed approach to evaluate the effects of two successive clearcut harvests in the Alsea Watershed, site of the seminal Alsea Watershed Study that was conducted from 1958 to 1973, on relative biomass, movement, survival, and distribution of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) and three physical habitat characteristics (pool area and depth, and water temperature). Although the total clearcut harvest encompassed 87% of the treatment catchment in six years, no negative effects of logging were detected for either age-1 + coastal cutthroat trout or habitat variables. Comparisons between the harvested and reference catchments suggested the survival of coastal cutthroat trout (>94 mm fork length) and total catchment relative biomass of age-1+ (i.e., > 80 mm) exhibited similar patterns, increasing from the pre-logging period (2006–2009) through the Phase I post-logging period (2009–2014), and decreasing to levels observed in the pre-logging period during the Phase II post-logging period (2014–2017). Additionally, there was no evidence for differences in movement of coastal cutthroat trout related to the harvesting treatment. In terms of habitat variables, there was a relative increase in annual total pool area in the harvested catchment during the Phase II post-logging period, but there was no evidence the 7-day moving mean maximum stream temperature changed after the Phase I and Phase II harvests. Moreover, stream water temperatures never exceeded the criterion designed to protect core coldwater habitat for salmonids (16 °C). As such, it is unlikely that cutthroat trout experienced thermal stress following either harvest. More generally, results from this and other recent studies suggest that forest practice rules developed in conjunction with current best management practices for logging in headwater catchments have substantially improved outcomes for stream biota relative to unregulated forest harvest, at least for short periods of time after logging (i.e., ≤ 8 years).
Pilot Ecological Momentary Assessment Study of Subjective and Contextual Factors Surrounding E-Cigarette and Combustible Tobacco Product Use among Young Adults

Background: Dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco products is common in young adults. We aimed to explore how ratings of subjective and contextual factors differed between discrete episodes of e-cigarette use vs. combustible tobacco product smoking among a sample of young adults. Methods: Young adults (N = 29, ages 18–30) who used e-cigarettes and ≥1 combustible tobacco product at least once weekly completed a 1-week smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Twice daily random prompts assessed past-15-min use of tobacco products, ratings of subjective factors (e.g., negative affect, craving), and contextual factors related to activity, location, and companionship. A multivariable GEE model assessed whether subjective or contextual factors were associated with e-cigarette vs. combustible tobacco product episodes. Results: 184 tobacco use episodes were reported (39.7% e-cigarette, 60.3% combustible tobacco product). High baseline cigarette dependence, as measured by the Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence, was associated with lower odds of e-cigarette vs. combustible tobacco product episodes (aOR 0.01, 95% CI (0.002–0.08); p < 0.001). Neither between- or within-subjects negative affect or craving scores were associated with e-cigarette use. Activities of eating/drinking (aOR 0.20, 95% CI (0.08–0.49); p = 0.001) and being in the companionship of a person who smoked cigarettes (aOR 0.13, 95% CI (0.04–0.43); p = 0.001) were associated with lower odds of e-cigarette vs. combustible tobacco product use episodes. However, traveling (aOR 12.02, 95% CI (3.77–38.26); p ≤ 0.001) and being in a public space (aOR 2.76, 95% CI (1.10–6.96); p = 0.03) were associated with higher odds of e-cigarette than combustible tobacco product use episodes. Conclusions: This pilot data suggests that unique contextual factors may be associated with e-cigarette use, compared to combustible tobacco smoking in a sample of young adults who use both e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco products. Future research with larger samples is needed to better characterize varying contexts and cues for tobacco use among young adults who are dual users.
Transitional Shock Boundary Layer Interactions on a Compression Ramp at Mach 4

Strong laminar/transitional shock boundary layer interactions (SBLIs) have been investigated in a Mach 4 vacuum-driven wind tunnel with supporting computational fluid dynamics analysis. Such flows ...
Robust partially observable Markov decision process

We seek to find the robust policy that maximizes the expected cumulative reward for the worst case when a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) has uncertain parameters whose values are only known to be in a given region. We prove that the robust value function, which represents the expected cumulative reward that can be obtained with the robust policy, is convex with respect to the belief state. Based on the convexity, we design a value-iteration algorithm for finding the robust policy. We prove that our value iteration converges for an infinite horizon. We also design point-based value iteration for fining the robust policy more efficiency possibly with approximation. Numerical experiments show that our point-based value iteration can adequately find robust policies.
Tritium in the Environment

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the possibility of tritium being concentrated in the food chain or an organism of interest. While it cannot be ruled out in unusual circumstances, as most chemical reactions discriminate against the incorporation of either tritium or deuterium in favor of hydrogen, it seems highly unlikely that a concentration effect would take place. For most animal experiments involving chronic exposure under controlled conditions, the concentration of tritium in body tissues is clearly much lower than in the source of water. Therefore, a concentration phenomenon might be hazardous to man. While the importance of transmutation effects are not clearly defined, the position of incorporation of the tritium atom has been shown to cause marked differences in the measured effect in lower organisms. The importance of the tritium atom should not be overlooked in higher animal systems.
Analog Probabilistic Precipitation Forecasts Using GEFS Reforecasts and Climatology-Calibrated Precipitation Analyses*

AbstractAnalog postprocessing methods have previously been applied using precipitation reforecasts and analyses to improve probabilistic forecast skill and reliability. A modification to a previously documented analog procedure is described here that produces highly skillful, statistically reliable precipitation forecast guidance at ° grid spacing. These experimental probabilistic forecast products are available via the web in near–real time.The main changes to the previously documented analog algorithm were as follows: (i) use of a shorter duration (2002–13), but smaller grid spacing, higher-quality time series of precipitation analyses for training and forecast verification (i.e., the Climatology-Calibrated Precipitation Analysis); (ii) increased training sample size using data from 19 supplemental locations, chosen for their similar precipitation analysis climatologies and terrain characteristics; (iii) selection of analog dates for a particular grid point based on the similarity of forecast characteri...
Money in a theory of finance: Some observations on the Lucas paper

Abstract The Lucas paper, “Money in a Theory of Finance”, is notable for both its generality as well as its unusual degree of specialization. What I mean by this apparent contradiction, I hope, will become clear in the course of my comments. It is, however, by understanding these aspects of Lucas' paper that I have come to a more optimistic outlook regarding the integration of financial economics and monetary theory than Lucas suggests when he says “Ultimately, however, financial and monetary theory have quite different objectives, and however desirable theoretical ‘unity’ may be, one can identify strong forces that will continue to pull apart these two bodies of theory apart.” (Lucas (1984, p. 39)).
Restoration of Functional Glycosylation of α-Dystroglycan in FKRP Mutant Mice Is Associated with Muscle Regeneration.

Mutations in fukutin-related protein ( FKRP ) gene are characterized with lack of functionally glycosylated α-dystroglycan (F-α-DG). Surprisingly, a few muscle fibers express strong F-α-DG. Herein, we investigated the restoration of F-α-DG in the FKRP mutant muscles and showed that the restoration of glycosylation is associated with muscle regeneration and dependent on the expression of both like-glycosyltransferase ( LARGE ) and partially functional FKRP . F-α-DG in the regenerating fibers reaches up to normal levels and lasts for >4 weeks, but no up-regulation of the LARGE and FKRP is detected during the regeneration process. The FKRP protein with P448L mutation is sufficient for functional glycosylation of α-DG in regenerating fibers, but not in mature fibers. Thus, factors other than FKRP enable regenerating fibers to produce functional α-DG, compensating for the defect in FKRP function. Identification of factors other than LARGE and FKRP could generate new approaches for restoration of F-α-DG in mature muscle fibers with defects in FKRP functions.
Did New York State Just Anoint Virtual Currencies by Proposing to Regulate Them, or Will Regulation Spoil Them for Some?

This Essay previews issues raised by the general subject of regulating virtual currencies and the specific efforts of New York State’s Department of Financial Services’ proposed Virtual Currency Regulatory Framework (the BitLicense) in particular. It focuses on five topics in the proposal and their interplay with the current regulation of “money services” and “money transmission” in other states, using the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Washington approaches on a few common topics for comparison purposes. It also asks whether regulation of virtual currencies is likely to cause more widespread adoption of virtual currencies or to frustrate the proponents and current users and so reduce the use of virtual currencies.  Sarah Jane Hughes is the University Scholar and Fellow in Commercial Law at the Maurer School of Law, Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She is a graduate of the University of Washington’s School of Law and of Mount Holyoke College. For more than 15 years, Professor Hughes has published articles on developments related to electronic payments and financial services in law journals, including the Business Lawyer, the Boston University Annual Review of Banking Law, and others. She thanks the editors of the Washington and Lee Law Review for the invitation to contribute this Essay and for their superb suggestions on the initial draft. She also wishes to acknowledge her long-time co-author Stephen T. Middlebrook for his initial analysis of the New York State Department of Financial Services’ proposed Virtual Currency Regulatory Framework, some of which is discussed in this Essay, prepared for a separate, co-authored article. For other portions of the analysis of the BitLicense proposal and for other observations about regulating virtual currencies generally—and for all errors, she accepts all responsibility. The research for this Essay was concluded on September 4, 2014 after some comments on the BitLicense proposal had already been filed with the New York State’s Department of Financial Services. 52 71 WASH. & LEE L. REV. ONLINE 51 (2014)
Isolation of Subcellular Fractions from the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This unit presents detailed protocols for a range of centrifugation-based subcellular fractionation procedures for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Techniques include spheroplast preparation, glass-bead lysis, differential centrifugation, and several density gradient procedures using a variety of gradient media. There are analytical procedures that are primarily designed to evaluate the association of proteins with organelles in the exocytic and endocytic pathways. Additionally, there are preparative protocols for isolation of yeast nuclei, vacuoles, mitochondria, peroxisomes, endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, and cytosol. The unit also contains a table, with references, for alternative approaches to isolation of these organelles and fractions.