cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A single capsule formulation of RHB-104 demonstrates higher anti-microbial growth potency for effective treatment of Crohn’s disease associated with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis

Most recently we reported that RHB‑104 triple antibiotics combination in culture is bactericidal and should be effective for treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD)-associated with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) (Alcedo et al. in Gut Pathog 14:32, 2016). The combination exhibited unique synergistic antimicrobial growth activity. The proprietary RHB-104 capsule formulation contains active ingredients (63.3 % Clarithromycin (CLA), 6.7 % Clofazimine (CLO) and 30 % Rifabutin (RIF)). In our earlier study, we could not dissolve the proprietary RHB-104 capsule formulation in one compatible solvent. Consequently, we re-created RHB-104 analog by adding appropriate concentrations of each of the three antibiotics into the cultures. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for RHB-104 analog, CLA, CLO, RIF, CLA-CLO, CLA-RIF, CLO-RIF and their individual solvents were reported earlier (Alcedo et al. in Gut Pathog 14:32, 2016). In this study, we succeeded in dissolving the proprietary RHB-104 capsule formulation in a single proprietary solvent. This study is designed to compare of the MIC the proprietary RHB-104 capsule formulation to RHB-104 analog against MAP and other microorganisms. BD Bactec™ MGIT™ Para-TB medium (Sparks, MD) system was used to determine the MIC of the proprietary RHB-104 capsule formulation and RHB-104 analog and their solvents against MAP and several other microorganisms. The final concentration of solvents used to dissolve all the drugs were ≤0.5 % (v/v). The MIC for the RHB-104 proprietary solvent against MAP was consistent against all microorganisms tested in the study at 12.5 % (v/v). The MIC for the proprietary RHB-104 capsule formulation was similar to RHB-104 analog against several MAP clinical strains with MIC ≤ 0.2 μg/mL. The MIC for the proprietary RHB-104 capsule formulation was at 2.0 μg/mL against MAP strain MS 137 and M. avium strain JF7 compared to 4.0 ug/mL for RHB-104 analog. Similarly, the MIC of RHB-104 formulation capsule was significantly lower than RHB-104 analog against M. tuberculosis HR237, M. fortuitism subspecies fortuitum, M. smegmatis ATCC 27199, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19112. The data demonstrated that the proprietary RHB-104 capsule formulation is more potent in culture against Mycobacteria and other microorganisms especially those with MIC >0.2. Formulation of multi-drugs in a single capsule results in potent synergistic anti-microbial activity far exceeds treatment the culture with multi-individually dissolved drugs. RHB-104 capsule formulation should be more effective to eradicate MAP infection in patients with CD. The study provides evidence that combining weak antibiotics in one formulation might be the new silver bullet to combat bacteria.
Revisiting intersectionality for EU anti-discrimination law in an economic crisis - A critical legal studies perspective

L’articolo esamina come la legislazione dell’Unione europea contro la discriminazione metta alla prova le misure anti-crisi dell’UE dal una prospettiva di critical legal studies. Tali studi si caratterizzano per la loro sfida alla ‘lex’ attraverso il riferimento allo ‘ius’ e i loro collegamenti critici con i movimenti sociali. La legislazione della UE contro la discriminazione attrae critiche in quanto costituisce un campo socio-giuridico compartimentato che impedisce di rendere giustizia a coloro che si trovano all’intersezione tra diseguaglianze. Definendo, come scopo della legislazione comunitaria contro la discriminazione, la lotta contro gli svantaggi derivanti dall’alterita ascritta attorno ai nodi ‘sesso/genere’, ‘razza/etnia’ e ‘disabilita’, l’articolo propone una convincente visione normativa, idonea a de-compartimentare il campo e ad indirizzare in modo adeguato l’intersezionalita. Questa prospettiva critico-giuridica sull’intersezionalita differisce dalla prospettiva sociologica in quanto omette la classe come categoria. L’articolo dimostra che questa distinzione e necessaria affinche la legislazione EU contro la discriminazione mantenga il suo taglio critico.
Microbial Modulation of a Uremic Toxin.

In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Devlin et al. (2016) identify a family of tryptophanases encoded by members of the human gut microbiome and demonstrate that levels of the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate can be modulated in vivo by altering the abundance of bacteria harboring tryptophanase activity.
Association of Hospital Volume With Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Treatment.

Objective To evaluate racial-ethnic disparities in guideline-based care in locally advanced cervical cancer and their relationship to hospital case volume. Methods Using the National Cancer Database, we performed a retrospective cohort study of women diagnosed between 2004 and 2012 with locally advanced squamous or adenocarcinoma of the cervix undergoing definitive primary radiation therapy. The primary outcome was the race-ethnicity-based rates of adherence to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline-based care. The secondary outcome was the effect of guideline-based care on overall survival. Multivariable models and propensity matching were used to compare the hospital risk-adjusted rates of guideline-based adherence and overall survival based on hospital case volume. Results The final cohort consisted of 16,195 patients. The rate of guideline-based care was 58.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 57.4-59.4%) for non-Hispanic white, 53% (95% CI 51.4-54.9%) for non-Hispanic black, and 51.5% (95% CI 49.4-53.7%) for Hispanic women (P Conclusion Racial and ethnic disparities in the delivery of guideline-based care are the highest in high-volume hospitals. Guideline-based care in locally advanced cervical cancer is associated with improved survival.
The Colorado Benefit Corporation Act’s Missed Opportunities

There is a global movement to encourage business entities to pursue social and environmental goals in addition to the traditional financial goals of for-profit entities. Current legal structures, however, make this difficult. To address this issue, the Colorado legislature will consider the Colorado Benefit Corporation Act (the “CBCA”). This article discusses how the CBCA addresses the two primary concerns of socially-responsible entrepreneurs – branding and the ability to pursue non-financial goals – and suggests changes that would greatly improve the CBCA’s effectiveness. This article begins by discussing the characteristics of traditional legal entities chosen by socially-responsible entrepreneurs, and details reasons that these entities are not sufficient to address the arguments. This article then discusses the CBCA, and suggests eliminating a weak provision that makes the CBCA unnecessarily burdensome and proffers some changes that would render the CBCA more responsive to the needs of socially-responsible organizations and entrepreneurs.
Infections and inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders in children

Infection and inflammatory disease in children varies from that seen in adults. The disease processes are different and manifest differently due to the growing skeleton and immature tissues. The sequelae of infection and inflammation in children may affect growth and development of structures. As such, proper diagnosis is imperative for prompt and appropriate treatment. In this essay, the commoner infectious and inflammatory processes in the pediatric musculoskeletal system are emphasized.
Abstract TP188: Black-White Differences in Susceptibility to Stroke Secondary to Abnormal Sleep Duration

Introduction: A strong predictor of stroke is abnormal sleep duration with both short and long sleep associated with increased stroke risk. Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that the stroke-sleep association differs based on race and age. Methods: Using a hypertensive subset from the NHIS dataset (2004-2013), we assessed the association between stroke prevalence and self-reported sleep duration, stratifying for race and age. Diagnosis of hypertension and stroke was based on self-report. Sleep duration was also self-reported and categorized as short (6 or fewer hours), normal/referent (7-8 h) or long (9 or more hours per day). Race was self-reported and categorized as White or Black. Age at screening was grouped into categories of 18-34, 45-64, and those 65 years and older. Results: Of the 403, 621 patients in the NHIS dataset (2004-2013), 50.5 % (n=203794) had a diagnosis of hypertension. The average age of the cohort was 58.1 years (95% CI=57.8-58.4), 50.2% female; 15.4 % of the cohort was Black. The prevalence of abnormally short and long sleep duration was 31.3 % and 11%, respectively. The age-standardized prevalence of stroke amongst the hypertensive population for normal, short and long sleep duration was 3.5%, 4.9%, and 7.6%, respectively. Both short and long sleep duration were significant predictors of stroke (1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06 - 1.31 and 2.51; 95% CI 2.44-2.58, respectively). An interaction term added to the model suggested that race and age modified the relationship between sleep duration and stroke (p=0.01). Long sleep was a significant predictor of stroke in all age groups, regardless of race. Short sleep was not a significant predictor of stroke in Whites. Short sleep predicted stroke in the youngest age group of Blacks (1.95; 95% CI 1.01 - 3.74). Conversely, short sleep duration was associated with a lower risk of stroke in the oldest age group of Blacks (0.78; 95% CI 0.58- 1.05). Conclusions: Risk of stroke is predicted by abnormal sleep duration. The novel finding is that in this hypertensive cohort, the association between stroke and abnormal sleep duration differs by race and age.
Semiparametric dynamic max‐copula model for multivariate time series

Summary The paper presents a novel non-linear framework for the construction of flexible multivariate dependence structure (i.e. copulas) from existing copulas based on a straightforward ‘pairwise max-’rule. The newly constructed max-copula has a closed form and has strong interpretability. Compared with the classical ‘linear symmetric’ mixture copula, the max-copula can be viewed as a ‘non-linear asymmetric’ framework. It is capable of modelling asymmetric dependence and joint tail behaviour while also offering good performance in non-extremal behaviour modelling. Max-copulas that are based on single-factor and block factor models are developed to offer parsimonious modelling for structured dependence, especially in high dimensional applications. Combined with semiparametric time series models, the max-copula can be used to develop flexible and accurate models for multivariate time series. A new semiparametric composite maximum likelihood method is proposed for parameter estimation, where the consistency and asymptotic normality of estimators are established. The flexibility of the max-copula and the accuracy of the proposed estimation procedure are illustrated through extensive numerical experiments. Real data applications in value-at-risk estimation and portfolio optimization for financial risk management demonstrate the max-copula's promising ability to capture accurately joint movements of high dimensional multivariate stock returns under both normal and crisis regimes of the financial market.
“This Rough Magic I Here Abjure” Performativity, Practice and Purpose of the Bizarre

This paper argues that through the theatrical application of defamiliarization (ostranenie) the performer of 'bizarre' magic seeks to achieve an 'illusion of reality' which transcends the traditional performance-magic desire to deceive and rather create a long-lasting impression in the minds of the spectator that artistically confabulates, instilling a realistic memory spawned of a pretended reality. The article distinguishes 'presentational' from 'representational' theatrical approaches to argue that the 'bizarre' magician performs within a hyper-representational mode that the author terms 'paratheatre', meaning theatre and performance that the audience fails to recognize as such. Tracing the history of magic from its application among, inter alia, the priestly classes through stage magicians, this article discusses the 'bizarrist' aim to remove magic from the expectation of deception and any willing suspension of disbelief, and, via convincing storytelling, re-situate the magic moment into an atmosphere of genuine acceptance and even belief.
Questionnaires: Assessing Subjective Expectations

Questionnaires are used to elicit from individuals subjective information about their thoughts and perceptions. The social and behavioral sciences have yet to form a common view on how subjective phenomena should be conceptualized and measured. Perspectives on the collection of subjective data through questionnaires differ widely. This article examines how different disciplines have used questionnaires to study subjective expectations about potential future events. It examines the prevailing practice in economics of inferring expectations from realizations data, and recalls early efforts to collect data on economic expectations through questionnaires. It describes qualitative attitudinal research as practiced by sociologists and social psychologists and calls attention to the growing body of research in economics and cognitive psychology eliciting subjective probabilities of future events. The relative merits of qualitative and probabilistic modes of questioning are assessed and directions for future research on subjective expectations are posed.
Real-Time Visualization of in Vitro Transcription of a Fluorescent RNA Aptamer: An Experiment for the Upper-Division Undergraduate or First-Year Graduate Laboratory

A teaching laboratory experiment is described where students prepare in vitro transcription reactions of a fluorescent RNA aptamer, named Broccoli, and observe the production of the aptamer in real...
Modeling of Electric Distribution Feeder Using Smart Meter Data

The electric distribution system is becoming more complex with increasing visibility, and a variety of control devices for voltage and power factor control. These advancements provide improved observability of system status and let the operator control the system in more efficient ways. Smart meters are measurement devices that allow the operator to acquire accurate information about the end consumers, and state of the system. Smart meters provide the opportunity to revisit traditional distribution system models in an effort to improve them with more accurate information. Smart meter data enables the creation of time-varying load based distribution system models, enabling testing of various control algorithms. This paper purposes a method for developing a time-series distribution power-flow model using text-based AMI load data which may contain calculation failures. As a test case, a real distribution feeder is modeled in the open source distribution software GridLAB-D, with seasonal loading scenarios. The results are verified by DMS data obtained from the utility. The proposed method does not require GIS data for creating distribution system model. and also provides ways to deal with had data.
Healthcare-Associated Infections in the NICU: A Brief Review

The neonatal intensive care unit is a unique setting, with aspects of intensive care, long-term care facility, and ward care mixed together. Immaturity of innate defenses combined with a high requirement for supportive devices puts sick neonates at high risk for healthcare-associated infections. Increased awareness of nosocomial risk factors and close attention to care bundles have resulted in reduced incidence of late-onset infections, but increases in premature delivery and increased survival of the most preterm infants have led to increases in the number of at-risk infants. Therefore, prevention of healthcare-associated infections must remain a priority for NICUs. In this chapter, NICU-associated infections are presented, and prevention strategies, including features unique to the NICU setting, are discussed.
The Mental Health Effects of Asset Depletion in Retirement

Numerous studies have examined the health effect of retirement, retirement behavior, and not having assets saved for retirement, however, few have analyzed the mental health effects of running out of money during retirement. This study examines the likelihood of having mental health issues in retirement when an individual runs out of money. This research article utilizes five waves of the Health and Retirement Study, spanning from 2006 through 2014. The result suggests that individuals who are going to run out of money two years from now have an increase in the probability of having mental health issues. However, there is an even further increase in the likelihood of mental health issues when the individual actually has actually run out of money. The larger the drop in asset level (ex. $25,000 down to below $1,000 vs $5,000 down to below $1,000) the large probability of having mental health issues. With the United States currently living longer and choosing to retire earlier there increased the risk of running out of money in retirement. Which leads to an increased risk of having mental health issues throughout retirement.
Design and validation of a simple automated optical step counting method for treadmill walking

Background: Reliable step counting is a critical part of locomotion research. Current counting methods can be inaccurate, time consuming, expensive or encumbering to the subject. Here, we present a...
The tripartite nature of causalities in ecosystem dynamics

Abstract Recent opinions on ecosystem dynamics point away from the conventional notion that changes in ecosystems result only from the action of mechanisms interacting with blind chance. More recently, ecological outcomes have come to appear rather as the work of semiautonomous agencies that arise from extended mutualisms that build on themselves by endogenous selection from complex contingencies. Most contingencies, however, still serve in agonistic fashion to degrade system operation. This dualistic agonism between order-building agencies and entropic degradation unfortunately obscures the supporting but insufficient role of underlying universal physical laws. A new and more complete picture of causation in ecosystems appears to be tripartite, with physical constraints (laws) serving as constraining mediators between semiautonomous agencies and interfering contingencies. One is first inclined to represent the three–way relationship in linear fashion with agencies and entropy at the ends and lawful constraints in the middle. Further reflection, however, suggests that a better metaphor for the triumvirate of causalities is a Borromean unity, which is most commonly depicted by three rings securely interlocked in such a way that the removal of any one of them results in complete dissociation of the ensemble.
Influence of Race, Income, Insurance, and Education on the Rate of Breast Reconstruction.

Background/aim The aim of this study was to analyze how race, income, insurance, and education, affect breast reconstruction rates. Materials and methods We reviewed the National Cancer Database. χ2 test and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the association between demographic characteristics and reconstruction rate. Results White race and private insurance were associated with a higher risk of getting reconstruction when compared to black race (odd ratio [OR]=0.939; 95%CI=0.909-0.970) and government insurance (OR=0.459; 95%CI=0.447-0.471). Patients with an estimated income >$63,000 were found to have higher odds of receiving breast reconstruction than patients with income less than $38,000 (OR=1.868; 95%CI=1.792-1.948). Patients who live in a zip code area with a higher education average have higher odds of receiving postmastectomy breast reconstruction than patients living in a zip code with a lower education average (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.104-1.203). Conclusion Differences in reconstruction rates exist based on race, income, insurance, and education level.
Geometric Search-Based Inverse Kinematics of 7-DoF Redundant Manipulator with Multiple Joint Offsets

We propose a geometric method to solve inverse kinematics (IK) problems of 7-DoF manipulators with joint offsets at shoulder, elbow, and wrist. Traditionally, inverse position kinematics for redundant manipulators are solved by using an iterative method based on the pseudo-inverse of the manipulator Jacobian. This provides a single solution among the infinitely many possible solutions for the IK problem of redundant manipulators. There are no closed-form IK solutions for redundant manipulators with multiple joint offsets. Using our method we can compute multiple IK solutions using two-parameter search by exploiting geometry of the structure of a redundant manipulator. Our proposed IK algorithm can handle multiple joint offsets and is mathematically simple to implement in a few lines of code. We apply our algorithm to compute IK solutions for 7-DoF redundant Baxter robot (that has joint offsets at shoulder, wrist, and elbow joints) for end-effector configurations where existing geometry-based IK solvers fail to find solutions. We also demonstrate the use of our algorithm in an application where we want to compute an IK solution (among the infinitely many possible solutions) that has minimum error bound in end-effector position, in the presence of random joint actuation and sensing uncertainties.
Concepts and Compositionality: In Search of the Brain's Language of Thought

Imagine Genghis Khan, Aretha Franklin, and the Cleveland Cavaliers performing an opera on Maui. This silly sentence makes a serious point: As humans, we can flexibly generate and comprehend an unbo...
Correction to: 4D-cubic lattice of chemical elements

In the original publication of the article under the Acknowledgements section, a contributor name was missed out. The corrected statement should read as follows.
Enhancing the Nrf2 Antioxidant Signaling Provides Protection Against Trichloroethene-mediated Inflammation and Autoimmune Response

Trichloroethene (trichloroethylene, TCE) and one of its reactive metabolites dichloroacetyl chloride (DCAC) are associated with the induction of autoimmunity in MRL+/+ mice. Although oxidative stress plays a major role in TCE-/DCAC-mediated autoimmunity, the underlying molecular mechanisms still need to be delineated. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like2 (Nrf2) is an oxidative stress-responsive transcription factor that binds to antioxidant responsive element (ARE) and provides protection by regulating cytoprotective and antioxidant gene expression. However, the potential of Nrf2 in the regulation of TCE-/DCAC-mediated autoimmunity is not known. This study thus focused on establishing the role of Nrf2 and consequent inflammatory responses in TCE-/DCAC-mediated autoimmunity. To achieve this, we pretreated Kupffer cells (KCs) or T cells with/without tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) followed by treatment with DCAC. In both KCs and T cells, DCAC treatment significantly downregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 expression along with induction of Keap-1 and caspase-3, NF-κB (p65), TNF-α, and iNOS, whereas pretreatment of these cells with tBHQ attenuated these responses. The in vitro findings were further verified in vivo by treating female MRL+/+ mice with TCE along with/without sulforaphane. TCE exposure in mice also led to reduction in Nrf2 and HO-1 but increased phospho-NF-κB (p-p65) and iNOS along with increased anti-dsDNA antibodies. Interestingly, sulforaphane treatment led to amelioration of TCE-mediated effects, resulting in Nrf2 activation and reduction in inflammatory and autoimmune responses. Our results show that TCE/DCAC mediates an impairment in Nrf2 regulation. Attenuation of TCE-mediated autoimmunity via activation of Nrf2 supports that antioxidants sulforaphane/tBHQ could be potential therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases.
Patient with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Pain is a prevalent and debilitating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) often requiring inpatient management. This chapter demonstrates medical management of pain in multiple sclerosis patients. Beginning with epidemiology of pain requiring inpatient management, the prevalence and pathophysiology of pain will be discussed. Origin specific pain management will be presented with discussions on potential adverse effects. The chapter concludes with a summary and outpatient follow-up care.
Epidermal Neurite Density in Skin Biopsies From Patients With Juvenile Fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE Fibromyalgia (FM) is defined by idiopathic, chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain. In adults with FM, a metaanalysis of lower-leg skin biopsy demonstrated 45% pooled prevalence of abnormally low epidermal neurite density (END). END < 5th centile of the normal distribution is the consensus diagnostic threshold for small-fiber neuropathy. However, the clinical significance of END findings in FM is unknown. Here, we examine the prevalence of small-fiber pathology in juvenile FM, which has not been studied previously. METHODS We screened 21 patients aged 13-20 years with FM diagnosed by pediatric rheumatologists. Fifteen meeting the American College of Rheumatology criteria (modified for juvenile FM) underwent lower-leg measurements of END and completed validated questionnaires assessing pain, functional disability, and dysautonomia symptoms. The primary outcome was proportion of FM patients with END < 5th centile of age/sex/race-based laboratory norms. Cases were systematically matched by ethnicity, race, sex, and age to a group of previously biopsied healthy adolescents with selection blinded to biopsy results. All 23 controls matching demographic criteria were included. RESULTS Among biopsied juvenile FM patients, 53% (8/15) had END < 5th centile vs 4% (1/23) of healthy controls (P < 0.001). Mean patient END was 273/mm2 skin surface (95% CI 198-389) vs 413/mm2 (95% CI 359-467, P < 0.001). As expected, patients with FM reported more functional disability, dysautonomia, and pain than healthy controls. CONCLUSION Abnormal END reduction is common in adolescents with FM, with similar prevalence in adults with FM. More studies are needed to fully characterize the significance of low END in FM and to elucidate the clinical implications of these findings.
The Many Pasts of Detective Fiction

Building on Tzvetan Todorov's observation that the detective novel ‘contains not one but two stories: the story of the crime and the story of the investigation’, this essay argues that detective no...
Action to Improve Social Determinants of Health: Outcomes of Leadership and Advocacy Training for Community Residents:

Racial and ethnic disparities remain a public health problem and are largely due to social determinants of health (SDOH). Using an adapted 36-hour community health worker (CHW) curriculum, we train...
Teaching surgery novices and trainees advanced laparoscopic suturing: a trial and tribulations.

The benefits of minimally invasive surgery are numerous; however, considerable variability exists in its application and there is a lack of standardized training for important advanced skills. Our goal was to determine whether participation in an advanced laparoscopic curriculum (ALC) results in improved laparoscopic suturing skills. Study design was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Surgery novices and trainees underwent baseline FLS training and were pre-tested on bench models. Participants were stratified by pre-test score and randomized to undergo either further FLS training (control group) or ALC training (intervention group). All were post-tested on the same bench model. Tests for differences between post-test scores of cohorts were performed using least squared means. Multivariable regression identified predictors of post-test score, and Wilcoxon rank sum test assessed for differences in confidence improvement in laparoscopic suturing ability between groups. Between November 2018 and May 2019, 25 participants completed the study (16 females; 9 males). After adjustment for relevant variables, participants randomized to the ALC group had significantly higher post-test scores than those undergoing FLS training alone (mean score 90.50 versus 82.99, p = 0.001). The only demographic or other variables found to predict post-test score include level of training (p = 0.049) and reported years of video gaming (p = 0.034). There was no difference in confidence improvement between groups. Training using the ALC as opposed to basic laparoscopic skills training only is associated with superior advanced laparoscopic suturing performance without affecting improvement in reported confidence levels. Performance on advanced laparoscopic suturing tasks may be predicted by lifetime cumulative video gaming history and year of training but does not appear to be associated with other factors previously studied in relation to basic laparoscopic skills, such as surgical career aspiration or musical ability.
Analyst Forecast Revision Consistency and Bias in Earnings Forecast Revisions

We address whether analysts bias earnings forecast revisions and convey the bias using forecast revision consistency, i.e., the extent to which analyst reports with earnings forecast revisions include stock recommendation and target price revisions consistent in sign with the earnings forecast revisions, the sign of which is the sign of earnings forecast revision. Incentives to curry favor with management can constrain analysts to issue biased earnings forecast revisions. As predicted, we find that forecast revision consistency is (i) positively associated with the market reaction to the analyst report; (ii) positively associated with consensus analyst forecast error (AFE), i.e., actual earnings minus the consensus of the analysts’ forecasts; and (iii) negatively associated with earnings announcement returns, incremental to AFE. Absolute forecast revision consistency is smaller (larger) when firms eliminate (initiate) guidance. These findings are consistent with analysts using forecast revision consistency to convey information about bias in their earnings forecast revisions.
Landscape of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) abnormalities in advanced prostate cancer (aPCa): Distinctions in African American (AA) versus Caucasian (Ca) patients.

156Background: AA have substantially higher prostate cancer incidence rates, are diagnosed at a younger age and with a more advanced stage as compared to Ca. However, after adjusting for known prog...
Dry megafloods on Mars: formation of the outflow channels by voluminous effusions of low viscosity lava

Abstract The outflow channels of Mars are enormous channel systems that show evidence for having developed as a result of voluminous effusions of fluids from the subsurface. These systems remain widely interpreted as products of sudden discharges of groundwater from enormous aquifers, and such interpretations have led to inferences that otherwise unexpectedly large subsurface reservoirs of water exist on Mars, and that relatively warm and wet conditions have intermittently prevailed at the surface. However, the basic properties of the outflow channels are not suggestive of aqueous origins. Obvious sedimentary deposits of fluvial or diluvial origin, and the extensive swaths of hydrated minerals expected of channel reaches incised into geological units that hosted groundwater over geological timescales, are yet to be identified at the outflow channels. The pervasive hydrous alteration and thick evaporite units expected of terminal basins are also yet to be found. Plausible mechanisms by which aquifers might have catastrophically released groundwater to the surface remain elusive. Instead, the outflow channels have properties aligned with those of ancient volcanic systems that formed by voluminous eruptions of low-viscosity lavas on bodies including the Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Earth. In contrast with hypothesized aqueous origins, dry volcanic origins are consistent with the lithological and geochemical properties of materials preserved along the Martian outflow systems. The high-rate effusion of low-viscosity lavas on Mars would have been a natural consequence of the pressures generated within ancient igneous plumbing systems that extended into mantle source regions. Dry volcanic origins for the Martian outflow channels have considerable potential to reverse many of the inferences previously made on the basis of aqueous channel interpretations, transforming our view of the history and basic properties of Mars.
And Who Will Revere the Black Girl

While the mainstream media continues to narrowly define justice and reduce the site of its presence or absence to murder scenes and court cases, justice is often foreclosed long before someone is m...
Molecular structure and conformation of stereocilia tip-links elucidated by cryo-electron tomography

Mechanosensory transduction (MT), the conversion of mechanical stimuli into electrical signals, underpins hearing and balance and is carried out within hair cells in the inner ear. Hair cells harbor actin-filled stereocilia, arranged in rows of descending heights, where the tips of stereocilia are connected to their taller neighbors by a filament composed of protocadherin 15 (PCDH15) and cadherin 23 (CDH23), deemed the "tip-link". Tension exerted on the tip-link opens an ion channel at the tip of the shorter stereocilia, thus converting mechanical force into an electrical signal. While biochemical and structural studies have provided insights into the molecular composition and structure of isolated portions of the tip-link, the architecture, location and conformational states of intact tip-links, on stereocilia, remains unknown. Here we report in situ cryo-electron microscopy imaging of the tip-link in mouse stereocilia. We observe individual PCDH15 molecules at the tip and shaft of stereocilia and determine their stoichiometry, conformational heterogeneity, and their complexes with CDH23. The PCDH15/CDH23 complexes occur in clusters, frequently with more than one copy of PCDH15 at the tip of stereocilia, suggesting that tip-links might consist of more than one copy of the PCDH15/CDH23 heterotetramer and by extension, might include multiple MT complexes.
Plasticity in Cervical Motor Circuits following Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation

Neuroplasticity is a robust mechanism by which the central nervous system attempts to adapt to a structural or chemical disruption of functional connections between neurons. Mechanical damage from spinal cord injury potentiates via neuroinflammation and can cause aberrant changes in neural circuitry known as maladaptive plasticity. Together, these alterations greatly diminish function and quality of life. This review discusses contemporary efforts to harness neuroplasticity through rehabilitation and neuromodulation to restore function with a focus on motor recovery following cervical spinal cord injury. Background information on the general mechanisms of plasticity and long-term potentiation of the nervous system, most well studied in the learning and memory fields, will be reviewed. Spontaneous plasticity of the nervous system, both maladaptive and during natural recovery following spinal cord injury is outlined to provide a baseline from which rehabilitation builds. Previous research has focused on the impact of descending motor commands in driving spinal plasticity. However, this review focuses on the influence of physical therapy and primary afferent input and interneuron modulation in driving plasticity within the spinal cord. Finally, future directions into previously untargeted primary afferent populations are presented.
BRCA1 16 years later: DNA damage-induced BRCA1 shuttling

The tumor suppressor, breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1), plays an integral role in the maintenance of genome stability and, in particular, the cellular response to DNA damage. Here, the emerging role of BRCA1 in nonhomologous end-joining-mediated DNA repair following DNA damage will be reviewed, as well as the activation of apoptotic pathways. The control of these functions via DNA damage-induced BRCA1 shuttling will also be discussed, in particular BRCA1 shuttling induced by erlotinib and irradiation. Finally, the potential targeting of BRCA1 shuttling as a novel strategy to sensitize cells to DNA damage will be entertained.
Examining the anatomy of a screencast: Uncovering common elements and instructional strategies

The researchers engaged in cooperative inquiry in order to explore screencasts as online instructional tools. In total, each researcher analyzed 37 screencasts, which provided over two hours of instruction. The content area of these screencasts concentrated on teaching specific computing procedures (e.g., how to install web server software or how to add a table in a word processor). The researchers analyzed their own self-produced screencasts as well as those that were professionally produced. Analyses of the screencasts led the researchers to discover common structural components (i.e., bumpers, screen movement, and narration) and common instructional strategies (i.e., provide overview, describe procedure, present concept, focus attention, and elaborate content). By synthesizing the common structure and common instructional strategies, the researchers offer a framework for considering the role of screencasts as online instructional tools. To introduce a practical application of the framework, the researchers created a screencasting checklist, which may be used by online instructors and instructional designers to develop and assess their own screencasts. This initial work invites additional research and development in order to refine the screencasting framework and checklist.
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 binds to fibrin and inhibits tissue-type plasminogen activator-mediated fibrin dissolution.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) accumulates within thrombi and forming whole blood clots. To explore this phenomenon at the molecular level, PAI-1 binding to fibrin was examined. The experiments were performed by adding 125I-PAI-1, which retains its complete tissue-type plasminogen (t-PA) inhibitory activity, to fibrin matrices formed in 2-cm2 tissue culture wells. Guanidine HCl-activated PAI-1 binding was reversible and was inhibited in the presence of excess, unlabeled PAI-1. Activated 125I-PAI-1 recognized 2 sites on fibrin: a very small number of high affinity sites (Kd less than 1 nM) and principally a large number of low affinity sites with an approximate Kd of 3.8 microM. Latent PAI-1 bound to fibrin at a site indistinguishable from the lower affinity site recognized by activated PAI-1. Fibrin, pretreated with activated PAI-1, was protected from t-PA-mediated plasmin degradation in a PAI-1 dose-responsive manner (IC50 = 12.3 nM). Clot protection correlated with partial occupancy of the low affinity PAI-1 binding site on fibrin and was due to the formation of sodium dodecyl sulfate-stable, PAI-1.t-PA complexes. Latent PAI-1 (27 nM) did not protect the fibrin from dissolution. The localization of PAI-1 to a thrombus by virtue of its fibrin binding potential could result in significant protection of the thrombus from the degradative effects of the fibrinolytic system.
Effects of in vitro hemodilution with crystalloids, colloids, and plasma on canine whole blood coagulation as determined by kaolin-activated thromboelastography

Objective To investigate the effects of in vitro hemodilution with lactated Ringers solution (LRS), hetastarch (HES), and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) on whole blood coagulation in dogs as assessed by kaolin-activated thromboelastography. Design In vitro experimental study. Setting University teaching hospital. Animals Six healthy client-owned dogs. Interventions Whole blood was collected and diluted in vitro at a 33% and 67% dilution with either LRS, HES, or FFP. Measurements and Main Results Kaolin-activated thromboelastography was performed on each sample as well as a control. Thromboelastographic parameters R (min), alpha (deg), K (min), and MA (mm) were measured and compared to the sample control for each dilution using mixed model methodology. Prolongation in coagulation times were seen at both dilutions with LRS and HES. There was no significant difference in R times at the 33% dilution, but R time was significantly prolonged at the 67% dilution with HES (P = 0.004). MA was significantly decreased for LRS at both dilutions (P = 0.013, P < 0.001) and more profoundly decreased for HES (P < 0.001, P = 0.006). No significant difference in any parameter was found for FFP. Conclusions In vitro hemodilution of whole blood with both LRS and HES but not FFP resulted in significant effects on coagulation with HES having a more profound effect. In vivo evaluation of changes in coagulation with various resuscitation fluids is warranted and may be clinically relevant.
Operational and algebraic semantics for Facile: a symmetric integration of concurrent and functional programming

We study the semantic foundations of a class of languages that combine the typed λ-calculus with process constructs for synchronised communication over typed channels. Examples include PFL, Amber, PML and Facile, a language under development at Stony Brook that supports a symmetric integration of functional and concurrent programming. Expressions in Facile are very general and may dynamically create processes and cause communication.
Sensory properties of dairy proteins

Publisher Summary This chapter addresses the current status and ongoing research on the sensory properties of dairy proteins. Milk proteins play a crucial role in the flavor of all dairy foods. As part of the sensory experience, proteins provide mouthfeel, viscosity, and structure to dairy foods. Amino acids and peptides can elicit basic tastes but can also serve as the starting substrates for numerous volatile aroma-active compounds. Proteolysis and the subsequently released amino acids and peptides are the sources as well as the substrates for many desirable and undesirable flavors in cheeses and other fermented dairy products. A wide array of sensory tests is available to objectively or subjectively measure the sensory properties of foods. Two basic categories exist: analytical tests (such as descriptive analysis, discrimination tests, and threshold tests) and affective tests. Source of flavor and flavor variability of whey proteins is the flavor of the liquid whey source that varies with the type of cheese from which whey has been produced. Recent work has addressed the sensory properties of milk proteins across increasing protein concentration. A host of relatively intense and unpleasant flavors, including sulfur, animal, tortilla, musty, cardboard, burnt feathers, glue, and bitter taste, have been associated with caseins. Flavor is a significant challenge to increased usage of whey protein hydrolysates, particularly in beverages.
Anatomy of herpes simplex virus DNA. XII. Accumulation of head-to-tail concatemers in nuclei of infected cells and their role in the generation of the four isomeric arrangements of viral DNA.

Previous reports (H. Delius and J. B. Clements, J. Gen. Virol. 33 :125-134, 1976; G. S. Hayward, R. J. Jacob, S. C. Wadsworth, and B. Roizman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 72 :4243-4247, 1975; B. Roizman, G. S. Hayward, R. Jacob, S. W. Wadsworth, and R. W. Honess, Excerpta Med. Int. Congr. Ser. 2 :188-198, 1974) have shown that herpes simplex virus DNA extracted from virions accumulating in the cytoplasm of infected cells consists of four populations of linear molecules differing in the orientation of the covalently linked large (L) and small (S) components relative to each other. Together, these four isomeric arrangements of viral DNA display four different termini and four different L-S component junctions. In the studies reported in this paper, we analyzed with restriction endonucleases the newly replicated viral DNA shortly after the onset of viral DNA synthesis, the progeny DNA accumulating in the nuclei late in infection, and rapidly sedimenting DNA present in nuclei of infected cells at 8 h after infection. In each instance the nuclear viral DNA contained a decreased concentration of all four terminal fragments and an increase in the concentration of fragments spanning the junction of L and S components relative to the concentration of other DNA fragments. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the viral DNA accumulating in the nuclei consists of head-to-tail concatemers arising from the replication of DNA by a rolling-circle mechanism. A model is presented for generation of all four isomeric arrangements of herpes simplex virus DNA from one arrangement based on excision and repair of unit length DNA from head-to-tail concatemers and known features of the sequence arrangement of viral DNA. Images
2,2,2‐Trichloroethyl Chloroformate

[17341-93-4] C3H2Cl4O2 (MW 211.85) InChI = 1S/C3H2Cl4O2/c4-2(8)9-1-3(5,6)7/h1H2 InChIKey = LJCZNYWLQZZIOS-UHFFFAOYSA-N (protecting agent for many functional groups;1-5 agent for the net carboxylation of organometallic reagents;18 achieves the N-demethylation and N-debenzylation of tertiary amines;19, 20 activates N-heteroaromatic rings toward reaction with organostannanes25-28) Alternate Names: troc-Cl; Troc-Cl; TrOC-Cl; Teoc-Cl; TCEC-Cl. Physical Data: colorless liquid, bp 171–172 °C/760 mmHg, 75–76 °C/60 mmHg; d25 1.539 g cm−3; n 20:D 1.4700. Preparative Methods: widely available commercially. It can be readily prepared by passing Phosgene into a solution of 2,2,2-Trichloroethanol in benzene/diethylaniline1a or benzene/ether/pyridine.1b An alternate two-step approach (93% yield) has been described that employs S-Ethyl Chlorothioformate instead of phosgene.2 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: highly toxic, lachrymatory, and corrosive; it should be handled with caution in a fume hood.
Ecclesiastical Sanctuary: Worshippers' Legitimate Expectations of Privacy

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has repeatedly sent spies into Arizona churches to collect information about worshippers' efforts to aid Central American political refugees, efforts commonly termed "the sanctuary movement." In both civil and criminal cases, churches and sanctuary workers have argued that the government's sending of informers into religious meetings without prior judicial approval violates worshippers' legitimate expectations of privacy in their places of worship as guaranteed by the fourth amendment. In rejecting this argument, courts have refused to suppress evidence gathered through government-sponsored church infiltration,1 and have instead held that "as far as the * fourth amendment claims are concerned . . . there was no legitimate expectation of privacy."2 This Current Topic examines the tension between the government's right to enforce laws and an individual's right to practice religion freely, in the context of the sanctuary trials. It argues that due to the sacred nature of religious places and the special protections they are granted under the first amendment, worshippers do indeed have a reasonable expectation of privacy from government spying. Thus, there is a strong presumption that government infiltration of churches violates the fourth amendment.
On the theory of the liquid He-4 phase transformation

Abstract The previously obtained mean kinetic energy and kinetic heat capacity of saturated liquid He4 around its phase transformation temperature will be used here in deriving some qualitative properties of the momentum space distribution function of the liquid atoms. The method will be first illustrated through a description of the local momentum space anomalies of ideal Bose-Einstein fluids which are responsible for their macroscopic first-order phase change. The derived liquid He4 momentum space distribution functions will then be applied to predict, within the approximate formalism of the gas kinetic momentum transport mechanism, the qualitative temperature dependence of the viscosity coefficient around the transition temperature. Finally, modifications of various thermal properties of liquid He4 around its transition temperature will be considered on the basis of a third-order type of phase change of liquid He4, suggested by its recently observed very large, possibly infinite, heat capacity peak.