cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pathobiology of A/chicken/Hong Kong/220/97 (H5N1) avian influenza virus in seven gallinaceous species.

Direct bird-to-human transmission, with the production of severe respiratory disease and human mortality, is unique to the Hong Kong-origin H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, which was originally isolated from a disease outbreak in chickens. The pathobiology of the A/chicken/Hong Kong/ 220/97 (H5N1) (HK/220) HPAI virus was investigated in chickens, turkeys, Japanese and Bobwhite quail, guinea fowl, pheasants, and partridges, where it produced 75-100% mortality within 10 days. Depression, mucoid diarrhea, and neurologic dysfunction were common clinical manifestations of disease. Grossly, the most severe and consistent lesions included splenomegaly, pulmonary edema and congestion, and hemorrhages in enteric lymphoid areas, on serosal surfaces, and in skeletal muscle. Histologic lesions were observed in multiple organs and were characterized by exudation, hemorrhage, necrosis, inflammation, or a combination of these features. The lung, heart, brain, spleen, and adrenal glands were the most consistently affected, and viral antigen was most often detected by immunohistochemistry in the parenchyma of these organs. The pathogenesis of infection with the HK/220 HPAI virus in these species was twofold. Early mortality occurring at 1-2 days postinoculation (DPI) corresponded to severe pulmonary edema and congestion and virus localization within the vascular endothelium. Mortality occurring after 2 DPI was related to systemic biochemical imbalance, multiorgan failure, or a combination of these factors. The pathobiologic features were analogous to those experimentally induced with other HPAI viruses in domestic poultry.
Preliminary experience in developing a parallel thin-layer Navier Stokes code and implications for parallel language design

Describes preliminary experience in developing a parallel version of a reasonably large, multi-grid based computational fluid dynamics code, and implementing this version on a distributed memory multiprocessor. Creating an efficient parallel code has involved interesting decisions and tradeoffs in the mapping of the key data structures to the processors. It also has involved significant reordering of computations in computational kernels, including the use of pipelining, to achieve good efficiency. The authors discuss these issues and their computational experiences with different alternatives, and briefly discuss the implications of these experiences upon the design of effective languages for distributed parallel computation. >
Characterization of RNA sequence determinants and antideterminants of processing reactivity for a minimal substrate of Escherichia coli ribonuclease III

Members of the ribonuclease III family are the primary agents of double-stranded (ds) RNA processing in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Bacterial RNase III orthologs cleave their substrates in a highly site-specific manner, which is necessary for optimal RNA function or proper decay rates. The processing reactivities of Escherichia coli RNase III substrates are determined in part by the sequence content of two discrete double-helical elements, termed the distal box (db) and proximal box (pb). A minimal substrate of E.coli RNase III, mR1.1 RNA, was characterized and used to define the db and pb sequence requirements for reactivity and their involvement in cleavage site selection. The reactivities of mR1.1 RNA sequence variants were examined in assays of cleavage and binding in vitro. The ability of all examined substitutions in the db to inhibit cleavage by weakening RNase III binding indicates that the db is a positive determinant of RNase III recognition, with the canonical UA/UG sequence conferring optimal recognition. A similar analysis showed that the pb also functions as a positive recognition determinant. It also was shown that the ability of the GC or CG bp substitution at a specific position in the pb to inhibit RNase III binding is due to the purine 2-amino group, which acts as a minor groove recognition antideterminant. In contrast, a GC or CG bp at the pb position adjacent to the scissile bond can suppress cleavage without inhibiting binding, and thus act as a catalytic antideterminant. It is shown that a single pb1db ‘set’ is sufficient to specify a cleavage site, supporting the primary function of the two boxes as positive recognition determinants. The base pair sequence control of reactivity is discussed within the context of new structural information on a post-catalytic complex of a bacterial RNase III bound to the cleaved minimal substrate.
Daughter centriole elongation is controlled by proteolysis.

This report shows that inhibition of proteolysis can cause abnormal centriole elongation and identifies several centrosome proteins involved in this process by using a small interfering RNA screen.
Macular haemorrhage after repetitive roller coaster riding

Roller coaster riding subjects patrons to various gravitational forces (g‐forces) and can cause serious systemic complications not related to direct traumatic injury. Neurological sequelae include ...
Red cell exchange does not appear to increase the rate of allo- and auto-immunization in chronically transfused children with sickle cell disease.

Background Allo- and auto-antibody development is a well recognized complication of chronic red cell transfusion (RCT) in sickle cell disease (SCD). Limited matching of Rh (C, c, D, E, e) and K red cell antigens reduces the incidence of immunization. Procedure We reviewed our experience with red cell allo- and auto-immunization in pediatric SCD patients receiving chronic and/or exchange transfusions, to evaluate the rate of immunization after limited red cell antigen matching and specifically during red cell exchange (RCE) transfusion. A retrospective chart review of the patients with SCD followed at our center between 2002 and 2006, who were started on chronic RCT before or during that time period, was conducted. Results Of the 93 patients who met study criteria, 23 (24%) developed antibodies during chronic red cell transfusions. Thirty-four antibodies (15 auto-antibodies, 18 allo-antibodies) developed after the institution of limited red cell antigen matching. The rate of allo- and auto-immunization per unit of red cell exposure after limited phenotyping was 1.5%, comparable to other published data. Fifteen patients underwent RCE, utilizing a total of 2,289 packed red cell units. None developed antibodies during RCE. Conclusion We conclude that limited red cell antigen matching is an effective strategy for reducing the incidence of allo- and auto-immunization in chronically transfused children with SCD. RCE does not appear to increase the risk of allo- or auto-immunization, despite exposure to more red cell units. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 294–296. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Interference and noise reduction by beamforming in cognitive networks

We consider beamforming in a cognitive network with multiple primary users and a secondary user sharing the same spectrum. Each primary and secondary user consists of a transmitter and a receiver. In particular, we assume that the secondary transmitter has Nt antennas and transmits data to its single-antenna receiver using beamforming. The beamformer is designed to maximize the cognitive signal-to-interference ratio (CSIR). Using mathematical tools from random matrix theory, we derive both lower and upper bounds on the average interference created by the cognitive transmitter at the primary receivers and the average CSIR of the cognitive user. We further analyze and prove the convergence of these two performance measures asymptotically as the number of antennas Nt or primary users Np increases. Specifically, we show that the average interference per primary receiver converges to E[d-alpha], the expected value of the path loss in the network, whereas the average CSIR decays as 1/c when c = Np/Nt rarrinfin. In the special case of Nt / Np, the lower bound of the average total interference approaches 0 and the upper bound of the average CSIR approaches NtE[d-alpha]/alpha2c where alpha2c is the noise variance at the cognitive receiver.
Performance Trend in Three-Dimensional Integrated Circuits

3DICs are motivated by the expectation of better performance over their 2D counterparts; however, non-idealities threaten to diminish the benefit of multiple tiers. Previous work has predicted the benefit of 3DICs, but have not taken into account the increased temperature and leakage power. This work develops an automated design flow with 2D CAD tools to design 3DICs with the MIT Lincoln Lab 0.18mum three-tier fully depleted silicon on insulator (FDSOI) process (Suntharalingam et al., 2005). This flow uses carefully designed scripts to fill the gap between 2D methodologies and 3D designs. We examine wire-length, timing, clock skew, and total power dissipation, along with temperature, of two benchmark circuits implemented in both 2D and 3D integration. We then extend our observations to the 90nm and 45nm technology nodes with predictive technology model (PTM) and the BSIMSOI model. Experimental results show that the performance of 3DIC, even with the non-idealities, shows up to two-generation advantage over its 2D counterpart with only three tiers
Regression Models for Company Expenditures on and Returns from Research and Development

Data were gathered on the research expenditures, sales, and profits of a sample of large firms which had been conducting organized research for 25 years or more. A linear relationship is hypothesized for explaining the size of the research budget. Several factors influencing the size of the research budget are examined. A regression model is developed for expressing the returns on R and D expenditures, with lags up to six years. Suggestions are made for the application and possible uses of the method by an individual firm.
Alan Edmond Lewis

The last number of this Journal was already in print when news came of the death on 19th February of Dr Alan Lewis, who served for many years as one of our editors. The following tribute by President Stotts of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary speaks for all who knew and valued Alan Lewis as a colleague and friend.
Simulation-based costing for early phase life cycle cost analysis: Example application to an environmental remediation project

Simulation-based costing (SBC) has been slow to be adopted by the traditional cost estimating community. This can be attributed to many factors, including complexity, how to gather data and develop probabilistic inputs, cost of SBC software, and a lack of understanding of the benefits of developing cost versus risk profiles. This article presents an overview of how SBC can be effectively utilized for early phase life cycle cost (LCC) estimation. A formal process for conducting LCC incorporating SBC is presented not only to provide a structured approach but to also convey to stakeholders how such a study is conducted. This article also presents a case study where total ownership cost versus risk profiles were developed using this proposed process in order to support budgetary and planning considerations for a large environmental remediation project. This research argues that SBC is needed during the concept exploration phase because this is when budgets are often fixed and expectations set.
The Exposure Theory of Access: Why Some Firms Seek More Access to Incumbents Than Others

Access-oriented interest groups are responsible for a large part of incumbents’ nancial advantage in U.S. legislative campaigns, but there is considerable variation among access-oriented groups in their contribution behavior. Why do some interest groups seek more access to incumbents than others? In this paper we demonstrate that rms with higher levels of exposure to regulation
A Bacteriophage for Mycobacterium smegmatis.

SummaryA bacteriophage speciric for M. smegmatis was isolated from sarnples of compost and soil by specific enrichment with a heavy washed suspension of M. smegmatis. The method of enrichment employed may be useful in the isolation of other phages.
The Limits of World Order

The level of energy use determines the technological level, which in turn determines what can be used as resources. Technology also determines the scope of political organization. Attempts to form a world-government fail because high-energy technology today can provide only limited goods for the world's people. The nation-state is appropriate for competing at this stage; for it provides to some the means to obtain more than their share in a world where equitable distribution would mean poverty for all. World peace would result from reduction to a low-energy technology supporting a city-state world in which people would not have the means to cause worldwide disruption, or through advancement to an unlimited-energy technology supporting a world-state in which abundance could be had for all.
Evaluating Space-Based Protocols through the Protocol Research Evaluation Environment (PREE)

As NASA continues to develop and expand the vision for space exploration, software and hardware based tools will be essential for successful missions. The new missions, to explore the Moon and pave the way for the return of a manned flight, will require a new extensive and flexible communications network that has not been available on previous missions. When man returns to the lunar surface and, eventually, establishes habitats, communications requirements will require 24/7 coverage for the entire surface. This will necessitate a two-fold approach: first the development and adoption of new technology and, second, the adaptation of technology that is currently available.
Development of resting spores of Erynia aquatica (Zygomycetes: Entomophthoraceae) in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Erynia aquatica (Anderson and Ringo) (Zygomycetes: Entomophthoraceae) was discovered infecting wild Aedes fitchii (Felt and Young) (Diptera: Culicidae) pupae in snowpools in Upstate New York. Conidia from infected A. fitchii pupae were used to inoculate laboratory-reared, healthy A. aegypti (L.) pupae. A total of 10.7% of the adult A. aegypti that emerged from these pupae died from the mycosis and were filled with the resting spore stage of E. aquatica . Mature resting spores were round, thick walled, and 31.3 ± 3.7 μm in diameter. Resting spores contained an average of 13 ± 2.8 nuclei per resting spore. Numerous rhizoids grew out of the cadavers of infected adult A. aegypti . Rhizoids varied in width from 8.4 to 21 μm and were up to 2,000 μm long. Adult A. aegypti died from the mycosis between 8 and 17 d after inoculation. The only reproductive stage E. aquatica produced in infected adult A. aegypti was the resting spore stage. The life cycle of E. aquatica is unusual for the Entomophthoraceae, because the pathogen produces conidia in immature hosts and resting spores in adult hosts. A. fitchii and A. aegypti are new host records for E. aquatica .
Bounding the Roots of Polynomials

(1997). Bounding the Roots of Polynomials. The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 292-295.
The Salary Differential between Male and Female Administrators: Equal Pay for Equal Work?1

This article presents information on a study which examined the salary differential between male and female administrators in higher education institutions in the United States. The focus of resear...
Potassium: weighing the evidence for supplementation.

Studies done to date do not permit firm recommendations about modification of dietary potassium content for hypertensive patients. In some cases, potassium repletion even for mildly depressed serum levels is vitally important, but at other times excess potassium clearly is dangerous. There are indications that potassium may be valuable in preventing renal damage and stroke.
Should we offer routine breast cancer screening with mammography

While there is good evidence that mammography starting at age 50 reduces breast cancer mortality, this meta-analysis does not provide evidence of a mortality benefit for mammography screening in women aged 40 to 49. Controversy exists over whether to include in the analysis trials with methodologic flaws that would strengthen the evidence of a benefit. Nevertheless, there is a growing consensus that physicians should encourage the use of screening mammography in women aged 40 and older. The review did not address screening intervals or clinical breast examination.
Depth-based nonparametric description of functional data, with emphasis on use of spatial depth

Statistical depth and related quantile functions, originally introduced for nonparametric description and analysis of multivariate data in a way sensitive to inherent geometry, are in active development for functional data and in this setting offer special options since the data may be visualized regardless of dimension. This paper provides depth-based methods for revealing the structure of a functional data set in terms of relevant sample quantile curves displayed at selected levels, and for constructing and displaying confidence bands for corresponding population versions. Also, the usual functional boxplot is enhanced, by adding inner fences to flag possible shape outliers, along with the outer fences that flag location outliers. This enables the boxplot to serve as a stand-alone tool for functional data, as with univariate and multivariate data. Further, the spatial depth approach, well-established for multivariate data, is investigated for nonparametric description of functional data along these lines. In comparison with four other commonly used depth approaches for functional data, over a range of actual and simulated data sets, the spatial depth approach is seen to offer a very competitive combination of robustness, efficiency, computational ease, simplicity, and versatility. Methods for displaying sample quantile curves for a functional data set.Methods for computing and displaying confidence bands for population quantile curves for a functional data model.Formulation of double-fence functional boxplot to better identify shape outliers.Validation of the spatial depth approach for nonparametric description of functional data.
At Least It Is a Start

(1993). At Least It Is a Start. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 16, Communication Yearbook 16, pp. 144-154.
Cell Adhesion and Movement

Cell migration is a multistep process that is intimately regulated by cell adhesion to govern a number of biological responses. Different mechanisms have been identified that regulate cell adhesions and cell migration, which has allowed categorization of cell adhesion into two broad groups. Furthermore, different modes of migration have been observed in experimental settings. This chapter provides an introduction to the different types of adhesions found in mammals and their influence on various modes of migration.
Abstract # 1854 Cohort differences in learning and memory in response to fiber feeding in genetically identical C57Bl/6J mice: A relationship to the gut microbiota?

Introduction Recent data indicates that environmental conditions early in life can alter behavioral outcomes and responses to dietary interventions in model experiments. The gut microbiota may mediate such differences. Methods Two cohorts, C1 ( n = 20) and C2 ( n = 20), of C57Bl/6J mice were randomized to a 5% pectin ( n = 20) or cellulose diet ( n = 20) for 16 weeks. Thereafter, learning and memory tests were conducted and distal colon contents were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing to measure compositional changes in the microbiota. Results In C1, pectin-fed mice displayed a higher percentage of time in target quadrant at the 24-h probe trial of the Morris Water Maze (MWM) versus cellulose-fed mice (p = 0.01). In C2, however, no effect of pectin was observed at the 24-h probe of MWM (p = 0.88). In both cohorts, UniFrac distance revealed a significant shift in the community structure of the microbiota by pectin feeding ( p p p Conclusions Cohort differences in the microbiome may play a pivotal role in host behavior after a dietary intervention.
MEASUREMENT OF HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION

In many areas of solution chemical investigation, an accurate method for the determination of hydrogen ion concentrations by experimental means would be most useful. Some of these media, for example blood serum, sea water, and the constant ionic media often chosen for complexation studies, have a substantially fixed ionic strength due to the salt content. Under these conditions, it may be possible to determine useful values of p m H or p c H with the same electrometric assembly commonly used for pH measurement. For this purpose, buffer standards of known p m H are needed. The effectiveness of constant ionic media in stabilizing the activity coefficients of solutes and the liquid-junction potential of the pH cell is considered. Possible methods for the determination of standard reference values of hydrogen ion concentration in buffered salt media are outlined.
Communication Protocols to Support Collaboration in Distributed Teams Under Asynchronous Conditions

The safety and success of future space missions will depend on the ability of crewmembers and Mission Control to collaborate effectively, even when communication between them is delayed. Communicat...
Power limiting characteristics of a plasma-loaded evanescent-mode cavity resonator

Power limiting behavior of a cold plasma jet when introduced in an evanescent-mode (EVA) resonator is experimentally investigated in this paper. The plasma jet generates a pre-ionized region over the post of the cavity where most of the electric field is concentrated on. Due to pre-ionization, microwave breakdown occurs at a lower power level compared with the no-plasma case. During microwave breakdown the high electron density in the cavity causes high RF loss and consequently results in a power limiting behavior. The proposed technique has been examined in a 7.36-GHz EVA cavity resonator tested with incident power up to 56 W. Arc discharge occurs beyond 56 W causing high reflection levels of the RF signal. The proposed plasma-based approach can be employed in the future as a power limiting technology particularly in challenging applications where conventional techniques cannot be used due to temperature, power, or linearity constraints.
Nucleation and growth of single layer graphene on electrodeposited Cu by cold wall chemical vapor deposition

The nucleation density and average size of graphene crystallites grown using cold wall chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on 4 μm thick Cu films electrodeposited on W substrates can be tuned by varying growth parameters. Growth at a fixed substrate temperature of 1000 °C and total pressure of 700 Torr using Ar, H2 and CH4 mixtures enabled the contribution of total flow rate, CH4:H2 ratio and dilution of the CH4/H2 mixture by Ar to be identified. The largest variation in nucleation density was obtained by varying the CH4:H2 ratio. The observed morphological changes are analogous to those that would be expected if the deposition rate were varied at fixed substrate temperature for physical deposition using thermal evaporation. The graphene crystallite boundary morphology progresses from irregular/jagged through convex hexagonal to regular hexagonal as the effective C deposition rate decreases. This observation suggests that edge diffusion of C atoms along the crystallite boundaries, in addition to H2 etching, may contribute to shape evolution of the graphene crystallites. These results demonstrate that graphene grown using cold wall CVD follows a nucleation and growth mechanism similar to hot wall CVD. As a consequence, the vast knowledge base relevant to hot wall CVD may be exploited for graphene synthesis by the industrially preferable cold wall method.
ADHD and Genetic Syndromes

Researchers at the University of Rome, Italy, review the genetic and neurobiological links between ADHD symptoms and genetic syndromes, and discuss the possible common pathways underlying these associations.
Implementation of Evidence-Based Care in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Practice

Evidence-based care is ideally determined by controlled clinical trials that demonstrate superiority of one approach. Once an intervention has demonstrated efficacy, the next challenge is delivering it reliably to its defined population. In the sections that follow, we discuss five topics, handoff communication, identification and early treatment of sepsis and three approaches to disease prevention or mitigation-influenza vaccination, time to antibiotics in immune compromised patients, and iron chelation therapy for patients receiving erythrocyte transfusion. Each of these is relevant to pediatric hematology/oncology patients and providers and demonstrates how quality improvement methods lead to a higher delivery rate for evidence-based care.
SketchTivity: Improving Creativity by Learning Sketching with an Intelligent Tutoring System

Sketching is a skill closely tied to creativity and a powerful tool for exploring and expressing ideas and becoming a more well-rounded communicator. Conventional sketching instruction employs traditional mediums such as pen and paper in studio environments to convey these fundamentals to students. However, this approach limits the bandwidth and capability of instructors to give timely and individualized feedback, and students often struggle with low self-efficacy and motivation. An intelligent tutoring system can leverage sketching pedagogy to give students personalized feedback outside of classroom hours, which can potentially improve self-efficacy, motivation, and creativity in the students. Additionally, the inclusion of games and gamified lessons can offer a more engaging and motivating experience for them. This research is aimed at developing intelligent interactive lessons, challenges, and games that teach sketching fundamentals while evaluating their effectiveness in terms of improved sketching ability in the students, increased self-efficacy with respect to sketching ability and creativity, motivation to practice sketching, and idea generation capability. Ongoing work will be focused on developing creative challenges and measuring effects of the system on creative self-efficacy and idea generation in its users.
Acyl Sulfonamides NaV1.7 Blockers Useful for the Treatment of Pain.

Voltage gated sodium channels (NaV) are key proteins that control the flow of sodium ions across membranes in the majority of excitable cells. Their structural features can be divided into two distinct subunits. The alpha subunit is a single large protein that contains four functional domains that controls gating and conduction. Each of these domains contains six transmembrane segment (S1–S6), four of which comprise the voltage sensing domain (S1–S4) and two that comprise the pore forming region (S5–S6). The beta subunit, however, has a single transmembrane segment and a large extracellular immunoglobin-like region. This portion of the NaV channel plays a role in controlling expression, gating, localization of the alpha subunit, and interacts with the extracellular matrix and intracellular cytoskeleton. To date, nine mammalian NaV genes have been identified, and they are referred to as NaV1.1 through NaV1.9. NaV1.7 is primarily expressed in peripheral sensory neurons and has been linked to pain sensation. Specifically, it has been demonstrated that loss of function mutations in the NaV1.7 gene (SCN9A) leads to congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP) in humans. Patients with this condition do not sense pain, even with significant injuries. Similarly, NaV 1.7 knockout mice do not respond to mechanical, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain stimuli. Gain of function of the NaV1.7 gene, however, has been linked to the inherited pain syndromes inherited erythromelalgia (IEM), paroxysmal extreme pain disorder (PEPD), and small fiber neuropathy (SFN). These finding suggest that blockade of NaV1.7 may have therapeutic value in the treatment of pain. The current disclosure describes a series of acyl sulfonamides capable of blocking NaV1.7 and their method of use for the treatment of pain.
Tumors of the Pleura

The gamut of neoplastic and pseudoneoplastic conditions that may seed the pleural surface is extensive and can be divided into primary and metastatic neoplasm. In addition, the pleura may be the site for tumors of different lineage including epithelial, mesenchymal, neural, and neuroectodermal, as well as lymphoid neoplasms. However, in order to properly assess the origin of lesions seeding the pleural surface, it is important to properly correlate findings with imaging studies, which can be of important aid in addressing issues such as extent of disease and possible origin. In this chapter, the emphasis will be in primary pleural lesions leaving the issue of metastatic disease in the context of differential diagnosis.
Intellectual property scope

Intellectual property plays an increasingly important role in the international economic arrangements.1 Intellectual property rights are part of the fabric of commercial law. They create monopolies, which constitute exceptions to generally preferred norms of free access to ideas and freedom to engage in trade. Industrially developed nations and corporations engaged in international trade favor international rules concerning intellectual property. Indeed, these nations and entities have recently preferred rules that strongly protect intellectual property owner rights, without regard to whether these rules contribute directly to social progress, for example innovation.
The effect of social context on measures of boldness: Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) are bolder when housed individually

Boldness can be quantified as latency to access resources in novel contexts. Although social interactions influence boldness, especially in species such as zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) that are sociable and live in groups, the boldness of individuals is generally characterized in isolation. The objective of this study was to examine how proximity of and familiarity with flock members influenced boldness, which is often assumed to be stable across contexts. We measured boldness as the latency of adult zebra finches to forage when a novel object was within a food dish in five social contexts: (1) social isolation, (2) adjacent to novel flock, (3) adjacent to familiar flock, (4) within novel flock, (5) within familiar flock. Our measure of boldness showed individual consistency across social contexts. However, when mean response values across different social contexts were compared, individuals were bolder (i.e. had lower latencies) when housed and tested individually, regardless of the presence or absence of a flock nearby. We found no evidence of sex, dominance rank, or flock members' boldness on the boldness of a focal bird. Our study deepens understanding of the influence of the social environment on boldness in zebra finches by demonstrating an influence of physical proximity. We encourage continued work examining boldness in different social contexts in zebra finches, as rigorous work in one system may help us understand the factors that influence the relative stability or flexibility of this trait.
Abrogation of Triazole Resistance upon Deletion of CDR1 in a Clinical Isolate of Candida auris.

Candida auris has rapidly emerged as a health care-associated and multidrug-resistant pathogen of global concern. In this work, we examined the relative expression of the four C. auris genes with the highest degree of homology to Candida albicans CDR1 and MDR1 among three triazole-resistant clinical isolates as compared to the triazole-susceptible genome reference clinical isolate. We subsequently utilized a novel Cas9-mediated system for genetic manipulations to delete C. auris CDR1 and MDR1 in both a triazole-resistant clinical isolate and a susceptible reference strain and observed that MICs for all clinically available triazoles decreased as much as 128-fold in the CDR1 deletion strains. The findings of this work reveal for the first time that C. auris CDR1 and MDR1 are more highly expressed among triazole-resistant clinical isolates of C. auris and that the overexpression of CDR1 is a significant contributor to clinical triazole resistance.
Does the built environment influence the effectiveness of behavioral weight management interventions

Abstract Outcomes of behavioral lifestyle interventions for promoting weight loss vary widely across participants. The effectiveness of a weight management intervention may depend on a person's environmental context. This study compared short- and longer-term effects of a structured nationwide weight management program for people living in neighborhoods with different levels of walkability and different access to recreational places (parks, fitness facilities). Drawing on the health production model, we tested competing hypotheses for whether treatment effects of the program complement environmental supports or substitute for environmental constraints. We studied the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) MOVE! weight management program using VA electronic heath record data (2009–2014) and a difference-in-differences design with an inverse propensity score matched comparison group. A total of 114,256 program participants and 498,494 non-participants comprised the sample. Built environment features were measured within one-mile of each person's home. We estimated program effects on body mass index (BMI) for subgroups with different built environments at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow-up using linear regressions with person and year fixed effects. At 6 months, the program reduced BMI by 0.4–0.6 kg/m2 among men and 0.3–0.5 kg/m2 among women. The effect diminished at 12, 18, and 24 months. The program effect did not vary significantly across subgroups with different walkability, park access, or fitness facility access. The MOVE! program was not sensitive to environmental context. Results did not lend support to either hypothesis that the MOVE! program complements or substitutes for a person's built environment to affect weight management outcomes.
Advances in Infection Prevention Strategies for Penile Prosthesis Surgery

To describe recent advances in infection prevention strategies for penile prosthesis surgery. Improvements in surgical technique, antibiotic prophylaxis, prosthetic device design, and patient selection have globally reduced penile prosthesis infection rates. However, current societal antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines may fail to cover all organisms implicated in penile prosthesis infections, particularly fungal and anaerobic pathogens. Although significant strides have been made in reducing penile prosthesis infections, further education and research efforts are needed to continue to prevent this infrequent, but devastating complication. This review discusses recent advances in penile infection understanding and prevention.
A Review of Perceptual Expertise in Radiology-How it develops, How we can test it, and Why humans still matter in the era of Artificial Intelligence

As the first step in image interpretation is detection, an error in perception can prematurely end the diagnostic process leading to missed diagnoses. Because perceptual errors of this sort-"failure to detect"-are the most common interpretive error (and cause of litigation) in radiology, understanding the nature of perceptual expertise is essential in decreasing radiology's long-standing error rates. In this article, we review what constitutes a perceptual error, the existing models of radiologic image perception, the development of perceptual expertise and how it can be tested, perceptual learning methods in training radiologists, and why understanding perceptual expertise is still relevant in the era of artificial intelligence. Adding targeted interventions, such as perceptual learning, to existing teaching practices, has the potential to enhance expertise and reduce medical error.
Suicide in psychiatric disorders: rates, risk factors, and therapeutics

Abstract Suicidal behavior is strongly associated with depression, especially with dysphoric agitation, a bipolar diagnosis, and recent hospital discharge. That medicinal treatments might aid in suicide prevention is a relatively new concept, but ethical and scientifically sound trials to test for effects of treatments on suicidal behavior are very limited and highly challenging. Lithium is underutilized clinically but has substantial evidence of long-term preventive effects on attempts and suicide in bipolar disorder (BD), and possibly also in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This effect may be specific or secondary to the improvement of depression, mood stability, aggression, and impulsivity. Antisuicidal effects probably are greater with lithium than with anticonvulsant mood stabilizers. Some second-generation antipsychotics have evidence of efficacy in depression, particularly acute bipolar depression, with low risk of inducing agitation, mania, or mood instability, but they remain to be tested for antisuicidal effects. Short- and long-term value of antidepressants is secure for MDD, and they may reduce suicidal risk in older adults with MDD, but remain controversial and poorly tested for BD. Ketamine has growing evidence for rapid effectiveness in treatment-resistant depression and can reduce suicidal ideation. Electroconvulsive therapy (short-term) and some forms of psychotherapy may limit suicidal risk; sedative anxiolytics are virtually untested. Adequate management of suicidal risks in mood disorder and other psychiatric and substance abuse disorders requires comprehensive, clinically skillful monitoring and timely interventions.
Overnight Risk Model: A Unique Capability

We present a novel risk measurement model capable of capturing overnight risk i.e. the risk encountered between the closing time of the previous day and the opening time of the next day. The risk model captures both the overnight risk and also the intraday risk. Statistical models of intraday asset returns must separate the market opening period from the remainder of the day as these follow statistical laws with different properties. Here we present results showing our two models for these two distinct periods.
Correction to: Regrettable beliefs

I thank Justin Coates, Jacob MacDavid, Paulina Mendoza Valdez, Tyler Porter, Mark Schroeder, Tim Schroeder, Martin Wallace, Jonathan Weid, and two anonymous referees.
An Error Analysis Toolkit for Binned Counting Experiments

We introduce the MINERvA Analysis Toolkit (MAT), a utility for centralizing the handling of systematic uncertainties in HEP analyses. The fundamental utilities of the toolkit are the MnvHnD, a powerful histogram container class, and the systematic Universe classes, which provide a modular implementation of the many universe error analysis approach. These products can be used stand-alone or as part of a complete error analysis prescription. They support the propagation of systematic uncertainty through all stages of analysis, and provide flexibility for an arbitrary level of user customization. This extensible solution to error analysis enables the standardization of systematic uncertainty definitions across an experiment and a transparent user interface to lower the barrier to entry for new analyzers.
The role of Na+ ions in the transport of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid and other amino acids into the lens.

The transport systems for a-AIB and neutral, acid, and basic amino acids into lens were found to comprise a ~N a*-dependent and a Na + -independent component. Na + ions, required for 60 to 70 per cent of Ji C-a-AlB transported into rabbit lens, were combined with a-AIB molecules in a 1:1 ratio while transported by a common "carrier" system. However, Na + ions did not affect the diffusion constant nor the JJ> C-a-AIB efflux rates from the lens. The in vitro lens incubations showed accumulation by the lens and against the concentration gradient of 1J >C-aAIB and other 1J >C-amino acids. Throughout the incubation periods, Na + ions transported with the aynino acid continued to be actively extruded from the lens. The Na+ deprivation effects closely resembled ouabain inhibitory effects on a-AIB transport, and were both exerted in the lens epithelium. These remits, and the independence of the lens a-AIB and K + or Rb + carriers, established the presence of a Na + ions link between the IS!a*-dependent fraction of a-AIB and other amino acid transport systems and the ouabain-sensitive Na+-K + "pump."
Common Neuromotor Disorders

Parents generally lack detailed knowledge of adaptive, linguistic, and cognitive development. Motor milestones are more widely appreciated, however, and parents often recognize when their child appears to have delays. It is therefore not uncommon for motor delays to be recognized relatively early and for delays in other areas to be overlooked for some time. A baby who appears weak and “floppy” or who is not sitting and pulling to stand within the first year of life is readily identified by parents and professionals as abnormal. These abnormalities are categorized as neuromotor disorders.
Spectrophotometric titration of ferredoxins and Chromatium high potential iron protein with sodium dithionite.

Ferredoxins from Clostridium pasteurianum, Clostridium acidi urici, Peptostreptococcus elsdenii, spinach, and parsley, and high potential iron protein from Chromatium were titrated to full reduction with sodium dithionite. The changes in the spectra showed that the bacterial ferredoxins accepted two reducing equivalents; the plant ferredoxins and high potential iron protein accepted only one reducing equivalent. The titration curves for the bacterial ferredoxins and parsley ferredoxin showed a variable lag phase during which there was no net loss in absorption. When C. acidi urici and C. pasteurianum ferredoxins were titrated with dithionite in the presence of 2,2′-bipyridyl, the iron complex tris-(2,2′-bipyridyl)-Fe(II) was formed during the lag phase, suggesting that in this part of a titration contaminating ferric iron was reduced to ferrous iron.
Combining Statistical and Relational Methods for Learning in Hypertext Domains

We present a new approach to learning hypertext classifiers that combines a statistical text-learning method with a relational rule learner. This approach is well suited to learning in hypertext domains because its statistical component allows it to characterize text in terms of word frequencies, whereas its relational component is able to describe how neighboring documents are related to each other by hyperlinks that connect them. We evaluate our approach by applying it to tasks that involve learning definitions for (i) classes of pages; (ii) particular relations that exist between pairs of pages, and (iii) locating a particular class of information in the internal structure of pages. Our experiments demonstrate that this new approach is able to learn more accurate classifiers than either of its constituent methods alone.
Induction of Allograft Tolerance in the Absence of Fas-Mediated Apoptosis

Using certain immunosuppressive regimens, IL-2 knockout (KO) mice, in contrast to wild-type (wt) controls, are resistant to the induction of allograft tolerance. The mechanism by which IL-2 regulates allograft tolerance is uncertain. As IL-2 KO mice have a profound defect in Fas-mediated apoptosis, we hypothesized that Fas-mediated apoptosis of alloreactive T cells may be critical in the acquisition of allograft tolerance. To definitively study the role of Fas in the induction of transplantation tolerance, we used Fas mutant B6.MRL-lpr mice as allograft recipients of islet and vascularized cardiac transplants. Alloantigen-stimulated proliferation and apoptosis of Fas-deficient cells were also studied in vivo. Fas mutant B6.MRL-lpr (H-2b) mice rapidly rejected fully MHC-mismatched DBA/2 (H-2d) islet allografts and vascularized cardiac allografts with a tempo that is comparable to wt control mice. Both wt and B6.MRL-lpr mice transplanted with fully MHC-mismatched islet allografts or cardiac allografts can be readily tolerized by either rapamycin or combined costimulation blockade (CTLA-4Ig plus anti-CD40L mAb). Despite the profound defect of Fas-mediated apoptosis, Fas-deficient T cells can still undergo apoptotic cell death in vivo in response to alloantigen stimulation. Our study suggests that: 1) Fas is not necessarily essential for allograft tolerance, and 2) Fas-mediated apoptosis is not central to the IL-2-dependent mechanism governing the acquisition of allograft tolerance.
Parallel Mesh Algorithms for Grid Graph Shortest Paths with Application to Separation of Touching Chromosomes

The grid graph shortest path problem has many applications. In this paper, we present practical mesh algorithms using a local cost-reducing operation for various forms of the grid graph shortest path problem. The algorithms are very simple and can easily mark the vertices on shortest paths between any two vertices. The time complexity of the algorithm is proportional to the maximum length of the shortest paths with a very small multiplicative constant. Also in this paper, we discuss the application of the parallel algorithms in automatic chromosome analysis to intelligently split touching chromosomes. We identify local features useful for finding a potential path to separate touching chromosomes. We then define a distance measure based on the local features and find the best splitting path to cut touching chromosomes. The splitting algorithm only uses local information and is highly parallel.
Creating a New System for Principal Preparation: Reflections on Efforts to Transcend Tradition and Create New Cultures.

When selected as a pilot redesign site, we decided to both refocus the underlying assumptions guiding our program and to engage in processes allowing us to model best practices while creating a new...
IMPROVED CCD DETECTORS FOR HIGH SPEED, CHARGE EXCHANGE SPECTROSCOPY STUDIES ON THE DIII-D TOKAMAK

Charge exchange spectroscopy allows the determination of ion temperature, poloidal and toroidal velocity, impurity density and radial electric field, Er, in high temperature tokamak plasmas. Charge exchange spectroscopy has been one of the workhouse diagnostics of the Doublet III and DIII-D tokamaks since 1983. The ability to determine the Er, for example, has been essential in testing the model of E×B shear expression of turbulence. For the 2000 experimental campaign, we have replaced the intensified photodiode array detectors on the edge portion of the system with advanced CCD detectors mounted on faster (f/4.7) spectrometers. This combination has improved the photoelectron signal level by approximately a factor of 20 and the signal to noise by a factor of 2 to 8, depending on the absolute signal level. A major portion of the signal level improvement comes from the improved quantum efficiency of the back-illuminated, thinned CCD detectors (70–85% for the CCD versus 10–20% for the image intensifier) with the remainder resulting from faster spectrometers. The CCD camera also allows shorter minimum integration times: 320 μs while archiving to PC memory and 150 μs using temporary storage on the CCD chip. The PC memory option allows up to 4096 spectra per tokamak shot, which is only limited by available memory. The faster on-chip storage is limited to 254 spectra. Results from tokamak plasma shots will also be discussed.
Minimum savings requirements in shared savings provider payment.

Payer (insurer) sharing of savings is a way of motivating providers of medical services to reduce cost growth. A Medicare shared savings program is established for accountable care organizations in the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. However, savings created by providers cannot be distinguished from the normal (random) variation in medical claims costs, setting up a classic principal–agent problem. To lessen the likelihood of paying undeserved bonuses, payers may pay bonuses only if observed savings exceed minimum levels. We study the trade-off between two types of errors in setting minimum savings requirements: paying bonuses when providers do not create savings and not paying bonuses when providers create savings. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cutting Edge Theory and Research in Assessing Historical Thinking

Assessing historical thinking is extremely difficult. To illustrate its complexity, consider the following: As I write this review, current events in Baltimore, MD, in the eastern United States are...