cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Total cost estimation for implementing genome-enabled selection in a multi-level swine production system.

Background Determining an animal’s genetic merit using genomic information can improve estimated breeding value (EBV) accuracy; however, the magnitude of the accuracy improvement must be large enough to recover the costs associated with implementing genome-enabled selection. One way to reduce costs is to genotype nucleus herd selection candidates using a low-density chip and to use high-density chip genotyping for animals that are used as parents in the nucleus breeding herd. The objective of this study was to develop a tool to estimate the cost structure associated with incorporating genome-enabled selection into multi-level commercial breeding programs.
Stable and responsive six-degree-of-freedom haptic manipulation using implicit integration

In this paper we present a novel approach for simulating the rigid body dynamics of a haptically manipulated object using implicit integration. Our formulation requires the linearization of contact and manipulation forces, and it provides higher stability and responsiveness than previous methods. The linearization of contact forces, coupled with fast, perceptually based collision detection algorithms, enables us to perform highly stable and responsive 6-degree-of-freedom haptic rendering of complex polygonal models.
Reconfigurable custom floating-point instructions (abstract only)

Multimedia and communication algorithms from the embedded system domain often make extensive use of floating-point arithmetic. Due to the complexity and expense of the floating-point hardware, these algorithms are usually converted to fixed point operations, or implemented using floating-point emulation in software. This study presents the design and implementation of custom floating-point units, leveraging the partial reconfiguration feature of state-of-the-art FPGAs. The custom floating-point units can be dynamically configured, loaded, and executed when needed by software applications. The system is binary compliant with the conventional MIPS architecture and the IEEE-754 standard, and supports most of the floating-point operations and relevant functionalities. Furthermore, we investigate various customization strategies and construct a set of optimized functional modules to meet different application demands or requirements. Using LINPACK as a floating-point intensive example, we replace a sequence of 25 instructions with a custom unit, and demonstrate an overall 80x application speedup.
Eight polymorphic microsatellite loci for bottlenose dolphin and other cetacean species

We developed eight polymorphic microsatellite loci that can be used to elucidate population structure and aid management of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in the northwest Atlantic. These loci averaged nine alleles, with no evidence for null alleles. Their cross-species utility was examined in Cephalorhynchus commersonii, Delphinus delphis, Delphinapterus leucas, Eschrictius robustus, Globicephala macrorhynchus, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens, Orcinus orca, Steno bredanensis and Stenella clymene. On average, 75% of the loci were polymorphic in these species (range = 50–88%). Our results indicate that these loci will be useful for elucidating population structure of bottlenose dolphin as well as of other cetacean species.
Effects of intranasal oxytocin on neural processing within a socially relevant neural circuit

Dysregulation of the Mirror Neuron System (MNS) in schizophrenia (SCZ) may underlie the cognitive and behavioral manifestations of social dysfunction associated with that disorder. In healthy subjects intranasal (IN) oxytocin (OT) improves neural processing in the MNS and is associated with improved social cognition. OT's brain effects can be measured through its modulation of the MNS by suppressing EEG mu-band electrical activity (8-13Hz) in response to motion perception. Although IN OT's effects on social cognition have been tested in SCZ, OT's impact on the MNS has not been evaluated to date. Therefore, we designed a study to investigate the effects of two different OT doses on biological motion-induced mu suppression in SCZ and healthy subjects. EEG recordings were taken after each subject received a single IN administration of placebo, OT-24IU and OT-48IU in randomized order in a double-blind crossover design. The results provide support for OT's regulation of the MNS in both healthy and SCZ subjects, with the optimal dose dependent on diagnostic group and sex of subject. A statistically significant response was seen in SCZ males only, indicating a heightened sensitivity to those effects, although sex hormone related effects cannot be ruled out. In general, OT appears to have positive effects on neural circuitry that supports social cognition and socially adaptive behaviors.
Resistant Hypertension and Renal Nerve Denervation

Patients with resistant hypertension are a subgroup of the hypertensive population that are at even greater risk of cardiovascular outcomes. Therapeutic options for these patients are limited to antihypertensive medications. However, renal denervation (RDN) is a novel nonpharmacologic intervention that involves a catheter-based ablation of the sympathetic nerves within the renal artery wall. The procedure initially showed promise with remarkable blood pressure reductions until the pivotal SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial failed to demonstrate superiority of RDN over control. This trial was notable for a substantial placebo effect and an attenuated response to RDN. These findings, which contradicted those of prior studies, have raised numerous questions, including whether adequate RDN occurred in those patients. Further research is planned to resolve some of these questions and to clarify the role of RDN in treating patients with resistant hypertension.
A micromechanics-inspired constitutive model for shape-memory alloys that accounts for initiation and saturation of phase transformation

A constitutive model to describe macroscopic elastic and transformation behaviors of polycrystalline shape-memory alloys is formulated using an internal variable thermodynamic framework. In a departure from prior phenomenological models, the proposed model treats initiation, growth kinetics, and saturation of transformation distinctly, consistent with physics revealed by recent multi-scale experiments and theoretical studies. Specifically, the proposed approach captures the macroscopic manifestations of three micromechanial facts, even though microstructures are not explicitly modeled: (1) Individual grains with favorable orientations and stresses for transformation are the first to nucleate martensite, and the local nucleation strain is relatively large. (2) Then, transformation interfaces propagate according to growth kinetics to traverse networks of grains, while previously formed martensite may reorient. (3) Ultimately, transformation saturates prior to 100% completion as some unfavorably-oriented grains do not transform; thus the total transformation strain of a polycrystal is modest relative to the initial, local nucleation strain. The proposed formulation also accounts for tension–compression asymmetry, processing anisotropy, and the distinction between stress-induced and temperature-induced transformations. Consequently, the model describes thermoelastic responses of shape-memory alloys subject to complex, multi-axial thermo-mechanical loadings. These abilities are demonstrated through detailed comparisons of simulations with experiments.
Rapid Quenching and Dielectric Properties of Pb(Mg1/2W1/2)O3

The results of this investigation were: (1) Amorphous PMW was obtained by a rapid quenching method using a twin-roller apparatus. (2) The dielectric constants of quenched PMW showed a peak at 650K. This could be explained by ionic conductivity change due to its glass transition and crystallization process. (3) Three crystalline phases (Pb(Mg1/2W1/2)O3, PbWO4, Pb2WO5) were found when the quenched PMW was heated above the crystallization temperature. (4) The dielectric constants of annealed PMW showed a peak at 283K. This was attributed to a phase transition in the precipitated perovskite phase, though the transition temperature was 30K below that of sintered PMW.
Development of multiplex real time PCR methodology for better identification and discrimination of Vibrio cholerae and O139 serotype

Objective To develop a rapid, sensitive and specific assay method, based on multiplex real time PCR for identifying Vibrio cholerae and distinguishing Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype from Vibrio cholerae. Methods Cholera toxin A subunit gene (ctxA) and glycosyltransferase gene (LPSgt) were chosen as targets according to Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype,and then the primers and TaqMan-MGB probe were designed. The 5'end of probes was labeled with FAM and VIC fluoresceins respectively while the 3' end of probes was labeled with MGB. The PCR reaction was optimized systematically. Then the specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of multiplex real time PCR were estimated. Finally, multiplex real time PCR was applied to detect the clinical specimens. Results Vibrio cholerae was identified by multiplex real time PCR accurately and quickly,which could distinguish Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype from Vibrio cholerae. Vibrio cholerae was identified positive for primer pairs and probes from ctxA gene, and Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype tested was positive for LPSgt gene. Meanwhile, none of other bacteria was identified. Sensitivity of the test was 2 × 102 cfu/ml. When this assay was applied directly to identify 45 clinical specimens, results showed that 10 were positive to Vibrio cholerae, in which 4 clinical specimens were positive to Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype. All the results were the same to the one that had been obtained from the conventional assays. Conclusion Our rsults showed that the multiplex real time PCR was a reliable,accurate and feasible method for identifying Vibrio cholerae that carrying toxin gene and distinguishing Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype from Vibrio cholerae. This method could be applied to the cholera surveillance, prevention and control system for identifying and distinguishing Vibrio cholerae in the labs. Key words: Vibrio cholerae; Multiplex real time PCR
Large Deflections of Viscoelastic Rings

A method for the determination of finite deflections and associated moments in a circular ring of a linearly viscoelastic material is presented. The analysis is restricted to small strains. The problem consists of the successive solution of a nonlinear integro-differential equation and a linear integral equation. The numerical solution is carried out with none of the convergence difficulties encountered previously for large loads in the solution for the finite deflections of a viscoelastic cantilever by iteration. In addition to the exact formulation, an approximate method is adapted for use on a statically indeterminate ease, and is shown, for the problem treated here, to be a generalization of the elastic-viscoelastic analogy for the case of small deflections. Examples are given illustrating the range where the approximation is useful.
Size-Dependent Electrophoretic Deposition of Catalytic Gold Nanoparticles.

Here we describe size-dependent electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of citrate-stabilized Au nanoparticles (NPs) onto indium-tin-oxide-coated glass (glass/ITO) electrodes as studied by linear sweep stripping voltammetry (LSSV) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). LSSV allows both the determination of the Au NP coverage and NP size from the peak area and the peak potential, respectively. Two-electrode EPD in aqueous solutions of Au NPs plus H2O2 reveal that a minimum potential of 1.5 V is needed for significant deposition of 4 nm diameter Au NPs as opposed to 2.0 V for 33 nm diameter Au NPs. EPD at 0.4 V in a solution of Au NPs prepared with a short 5 min reaction time led to the successful capture of 1–2 nm diameter Au NPs with appreciable coverage. In all cases, deposition did not occur in the absence of H2O2. Three-electrode experiments with a real reference electrode revealed the same size selective deposition with potential and that the amount of Au deposited depends on the deposition time and H2O2 co...
Siderophores in Iron Metabolism: From Mechanism to Therapy Potential

Iron is an essential nutrient for life. During infection, a fierce battle of iron acquisition occurs between the host and bacterial pathogens. Bacteria acquire iron by secreting siderophores, small ferric iron-binding molecules. In response, host immune cells secrete lipocalin 2 (also known as siderocalin), a siderophore-binding protein, to prevent bacterial reuptake of iron-loaded siderophores. To counter this threat, some bacteria can produce lipocalin 2-resistant siderophores. This review discusses the recently described molecular mechanisms of siderophore iron trafficking between host and bacteria, highlighting the therapeutic potential of exploiting pathogen siderophore machinery for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Because the latter reflect a persistent problem in hospital settings, siderophore-targeting or siderophore-based compounds represent a promising avenue to combat such infections.
The need for new ontologies in psychiatry

Although researchers in psychiatry have been trying for decades to elucidate the pathophysiology underlying mental disorders, relatively little progress has been made. One explanation for this failure is that diagnostic categories in psychiatry are unlikely to track underlying neurological mechanisms. Because of this, the US National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) has recently developed a novel ontology to guide research in biological psychiatry: the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). In this paper, I argue that while RDoC may lead to better neuroscientific explanations for mental disorders, it is unlikely that this new knowledge will then lead to an improved diagnostic system. I therefore suggest that researchers in psychiatry should work toward the development of two new ontologies: one for research and one for clinical practice.
Wounds getting the royal treatment

Insect defensin-1 improves wound healing by inducing production of matrix metalloproteinase-9.
Investigation of the phosphatidylserine binding properties of the lipid biosensor, Lactadherin C2 (LactC2), in different membrane environments

Lipid biosensors are robust tools used in both in vitro and in vivo applications of lipid imaging and lipid detection. Lactadherin C2 (LactC2) was described in 2000 as being a potent and specific sensor for phosphatidylserine (PS) (Andersen et al. Biochemistry 39:6200-6206, 2000). PS is an anionic phospholipid enriched in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane and has paramount roles in apoptosis, cells signaling, and autophagy. The myriad roles PS plays in membrane dynamics make monitoring PS levels and function an important endeavor. LactC2 has functioned as a tantamount PS biosensor namely in the field of cellular imaging. While PS specificity and high affinity of LactC2 for PS containing membranes has been well established, much less is known regarding LactC2 selectivity for subcellular pools of PS or PS within different membrane environments (e.g., in the presence of cholesterol). Thus, there has been a lack of studies that have compared LactC2 PS sensitivity based upon the acyl chain length and saturation or the presence of other host lipids such as cholesterol. Here, we use surface plasmon resonance as a label-free method to quantitatively assess the apparent binding affinity of LactC2 for membranes containing PS with different acyl chains, different fluidity, as well as representative lipid vesicle mimetics of cellular membranes. Results demonstrate that LactC2 is an unbiased sensor for PS, and can sensitively interact with membranes containing PS with different acyl chain saturation and interact with PS species in a cholesterol-independent manner.
Ab initio investigation of the ground and excited states of MoO+,2+,- and their catalytic strength on water activation.

The charged molybdenum monoxides, MoO+,2+,− were studied by multireference configuration interaction and coupled cluster calculations in conjunction with large basis sets. Full potential energy curves were constructed and bonding patterns were proposed for several low-lying electronic states of the three species. Our numerical results involve accurate equilibrium bond lengths, harmonic vibrational frequencies, anharmonicities, excitation energies, and binding energies. This is the first high-level theoretical investigation and our results compare favorably with the limited existing experimental data. Nine states of MoO2+ are bound with respect to the lowest energy fragments Mo+ + O+, while MoO− has five bound electronic states with respect to MoO + e−. Energetics, including activation energies, are given for the reaction between the lowest lying electronic states of the titled species and water. It is shown that MoO− is clearly more efficient at activating an OH bond.
The Significance of Written Responses as a Nonverbal Cue that Contributes to Online Young Adult Relationship Initiation

This research study investigates the influence typed statements has on the decision-making process for adolescents when choosing to initiate communicating with an online dating match. Undergraduate students (n=247) were administered a 42-item survey, where participants replied to questions that asked if typed responses to prewritten questions influences their decision to initiate communicating with an online dating match. Results indicate typed responses did not adversely impact whether a person will initiate communicating with a match, but additional data does suggest other nonverbal cues are significant.
Total hip arthroplasty using the minimally invasive two-incision approach.

A new approach to total hip replacement, a minimally invasive two-incision technique, was developed; one incision is used for the acetabular component and the other incision is used for the femoral component. The first 100 minimally invasive two-incision THAs done at my hospital are reported. The complication rate in the first 100 cases was 1%: one proximal femoral fracture. There have been no dislocations, no failure of ingrowth, no reoperations, and no other complications. After the first 12 cases, an outpatient protocol was initiated. In the subsequent 88 patients, 75 patients (85%) chose to go home the day of surgery and 13 patients (15%) chose to go home the day after surgery. All patients were discharged to home, not to other care facilities. There were no readmissions and no complications after discharge. Radiographic analysis of the first 30 patients showed 91% of the femoral stems in neutral alignment (range, neutral -3° valgus). The abduction angle for acetabular components averaged 45° (range, 36°-54°). No component migrated or failed to show ingrowth. This two-incision minimally invasive THA technique was shown to be safe and facilitated a rapid patient recovery; however, this technique is technically challenging and only should be attempted after proper hands-on training.
The Treatment of Papillary and Follicular Carcinoma of the Thyroid

The treatment of patients with differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid is a controversial subject. This article discusses the authors’ approach in the clinical practice. A description of the various types of papillary and follicular carcinoma is presented. Diagnostic tests, biologic behavior, and management are reviewed.
The Economics and Politics of Unit Banking: Evidence from the McFadden Banking Bill of 1927

This chapter recounts the debate over branch banking in the 1920s. It demonstrates that there was intense and overwhelming opposition to branching in any form. This hostility was both materially and ideologically motivated. Tracing the debate of the McFadden Banking bill, this chapter demonstrates that its passage was due to special interests—in particular the American Bankers’ Association—who ultimately realized that while the bill would allow limited branching of national banks, it would also end branching among the state banks and therefore ensure the continuation of a unit-banking system. While most economists agree that branch banking would have prevented the type of widespread bank failures the United States experienced during the Great Depression, this chapter shows that it was politically impossible to enact such a system in the 1920s.
Judge Advocates in Combat: Army Lawyers in Military Operations from Vietnam to Haiti

In "Judge Advocates in Combat: Army Lawyers in Military Operations from Vietnam to Haiti," Colonel (COL) Frederic Borch uses first hand accounts from JAG officers to tell the story of how the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps transformed from a garrison-type legal services in a deployed environment to a fully integrated part of the Army operational Team. The historical narratives track the metamorphosis, from Vietnam to operations in Haiti, of the Army Jag and the creation of operational law as it is implemented today."Judge Advocates in Combat" is a valuable resource for Army lawyers, commanders, and anyone interested in the role of the JAG in modern operations. This book review discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Borch’s book analyzing the historical perspectives, first hand accounts, and ways in which Borch’s theme is ijavascript:void(0);nterwoven into the book.
Prospective Validation of a Demographically Based Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Size Calculator.

Abstract Background Preoperative planning for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is essential for streamlining operating room efficiency and reducing costs. Digital templating and patient-specific instrumentation have shown some value in TKA but require additional costs and resources. The purpose of this study was to validate a previously published algorithm that uses only demographic variables to accurately predict TKA tibial and femoral component sizes. Methods Four hundred seventy-four consecutive patients undergoing elective primary TKA were prospectively enrolled. Four surgeons were included, three of which were unaffiliated with the retrospective cohort study. Patient sex, height, and weight were entered into our published Arthroplasty Size Prediction mobile application. Accuracy of the algorithm was compared with the actual sizes of the implanted femoral and tibial components from 5 different implant systems. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for inaccurate outliers for our model. Results When assessing accuracy to within ±1 size, the accuracies of tibial and femoral components were 87% (412/474) and 76% (360/474). When assessing accuracy to within ±2 sizes of predicted, the tibial accuracy was 97% (461/474), and the femoral accuracy was 95% (450/474). Risk factors for the actual components falling outside of 2 predicted sizes include weight less than 70 kg (odds ratio = 2.47, 95% confidence interval [1.21-5.06], P = .01) and use of an implant system with Conclusions This prospective series of patients validates a simple algorithm to predict component sizing for TKA with high accuracy based on demographic variables alone. Surgeons can use this algorithm to simplify the preoperative planning process by reducing unnecessary trays, trials, and implant storage, particularly in the community or outpatient setting where resources are limited. Further assessment of components with less than 2.5-mm differences between femoral sizes is required in the future to make this algorithm more applicable worldwide.
Getting Everyone Onboard: Framing Collective Goal Progress Broadens Participation in Collective Marketing Campaigns.

Collective marketing campaigns may feature goals that are not shared equally by all customers, such as a fundraiser for an environmental cause. For such campaigns, how can marketers encourage broad participation? The present research demonstrates that the framing of collective progress in such campaigns can broaden participation by highlighting the “large area” of progress towards the goal, emphasizing progress achieved for campaigns in their late stages and progress remaining in their early stages. We tested this large area hypothesis in the context of a waste reduction drive, examining the reactions of Republicans and Democrats who might be more or less inclined to support the drive respectively. Study 1 examined these processes when the drive was nearing completion, finding that an accumulating frame (focusing on progress achieved) increased motivation to participate for Republicans to levels comparable with Democrats. Study 2 evaluated these processes at earlier stages in the drive’s progress. In these circumstances, a remaining frame (focusing on contributions still needed) increased motivation to participate among Republicans to a similar level as Democrats. These findings indicate framings that highlight the large area in collective progress broaden participation in collective marketing campaigns, suggesting that marketers should highlight remaining contributions needed early on and accumulated contributions received later in collective marketing campaigns.
Sensor networks for hydrometric monitoring of urban watercourses

Water quantity and quality monitoring of urban watercourses have begun to evolve from traditional approaches based on manual observations to more examples of smart sensing based on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). However, there is an urgent need to leverage the low-cost sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to improve the spatial and temporal density of hydrometric observations. Small urban streams are challenging to monitor because of their rapid change and highstream flows during storm conditions. Here, we propose a low-cost outdoor IoT system with real-time hydrometric reporting. The proposed sensor network consists of power-efficient embedded nodes linked to a non-SQL database. The study is a part of the Intelligent River research program at Clemson University (Clemson, SC, USA). The designed network consists of either LoRaWAN or LTE CAT M1 communication protocol. We evaluate Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) of these sensing nodes to ensure our designed network is resilient and has fewer packet drops. The LoRaWAN nodes have an average PDR of 94.14% while the LTE CAT M1 nodes have an average PDR of 99.7%. The proposed system demonstrates a resilient wireless network for urban storm water monitoring.
SOC Design Methodologies

SoC design incorporates the complete panoply of complex IC and embedded software design issues, including their relationships to other design tasks such as chip packaging and printed circuit board design. How one sets up one’s design methodology becomes one of the most critical factors for success. This chapter presents an overview of the breadth and scope of the design steps required for the design of an SoC. It begins with a discussion of platform based design as one of the overarching approaches to “winning” with SoCs. It then describes the basic steps- system design, embedded software design, functional verification, hardware IC design, and analog/mixed-signal in SoCs. This is followed by a discussion of some of the often forgotten other components- the infrastructure required, the interfaces between the design teams, and the “meta methods” or design management related tasks. This chapter also sets the stage for the remainder of the book often referring to later chapters for “real” design experiences and more detailed discussions.
AC conductivity analysis as a measure of low k dielectric capacitor reliability degradation due to moisture ingress

Abstract In this paper, we will show that AC conductivity analysis can be used as an extremely sensitive, non-destructive indicator to determine the level of degradation in low k dielectric capacitors caused by moisture ingress. We found that an increase in AC conductivity (AC loss) correlates with a decreasing capacitor failure voltage, as determined by Ramp Voltage Stress (RVS) measurements. Exposure of the low-k dielectric layers to a relative humidity (RH) as low as 9.2% for a day, was enough to cause substantial degradation in failure voltage (about 45% decrease). Comb-comb capacitor structures used as the test vehicles were fabricated in 14 nm Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology using low k dielectrics in the Back-End-of-the-Line (BEOL). An ultraviolet (UV) laser was used to ablate trenches through the BEOL all the way down to the silicon level in the substrate, thus creating controlled breaches in the chip moisture barrier. In this manner, moisture could diffuse in along interfaces and through the porous dielectric. The capacitors were held at constant relative humidity levels from 0 to 90% RH, over various time intervals. The AC loss percent change correlated well with measured failure voltage. It was also shown that high-temperature forming gas (FG) anneals could reverse most, if not all the effects of the moisture, demonstrating subsequent failure voltages comparable to as manufactured, unablated low k dielectric capacitor structures.
Are transient changes in capillary surface area required to explain peritoneal transport in renal failure patients

Background:Waniewski postulated a transient increase in peritoneal capillary surface area to fit their model predictions to experimental data of Heimburger measured in renal failure (RF) patients u...
Conditional antagonism in co-cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans: an intersection of ethanol and phosphate signaling distilled from dual-seq transcriptomics

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans are opportunistic pathogens whose interactions involve the secreted products ethanol and phenazines. Here we describe the focal role of ethanol, a common microbial metabolite, in mixed-species co-cultures by dual RNA-seq transcriptomic analyses. P. aeruginosa and C. albicans transcriptomes were assessed after growth in mono-culture or co-culture with either ethanol-producing C. albicans or a C. albicans mutant lacking the primary ethanol dehydrogenase, Adh1. Analyses using KEGG-pathways and the previously published eADAGE method revealed several P. aeruginosa responses to C. albicans -produced ethanol including the induction of a non-canonical low phosphate response mediated by PhoB. C. albicans wild-type, but not C. albicans adh1 ?/?, induces P. aeruginosa production of 5-methyl-phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (5-MPCA), which forms a red derivative within fungal cells. We first demonstrate that PhoB is required for this interaction and that PhoB hyperactivity, via deletion of pstB, leads to increased production of 5-MPCA even when phosphate concentrations are high, but only in the presence of ethanol. Second, we show that ethanol is only sufficient to promote 5-MPCA production at permissive phosphate concentrations. The intersection of ethanol and phosphate in co-culture is mirrored in C. albicans ; transcriptome analysis of the C. albicans WT and the ethanol-deficient adh1 ?/? revealed that the adh1 ?/? mutant had increased expression of genes regulated by Pho4, the C. albicans transcription factor that responds to low phosphate which we confirmed by showing the adh1 ?/? strain had elevated Pho4-dependent phosphatase activity. The dual-dependence on ethanol and phosphate concentrations for anti-fungal production highlights how environmental factors modulate microbial interactions and dictate antagonisms such as those between P. aeruginosa and C. albicans .
Exposed Femoral Graft Following Multiple Arterial Reconstruction

Following a failed iliac stenting, patient underwent aortobifemoral grafting. Subsequently patient had multiple revisions of the left limb of the graft. He developed anastomotic disruption in the left femoral anastomosis of the graft. He had left axillopopliteal graft which stayed patent for less than a year. He then underwent crossover right femoral to left popliteal PTFE graft which has stayed patent for the past 30 months. However, PTFE became exposed in the groin, and adequate tissue coverage of the exposed PTFE graft was provided with gracilis muscle flap and slit thickness skin graft. Cross over right common femoral to left popliteal artery bypass graft thrombosed 3 years and 6 months later (March 2020) with resultant left above knee amputation.
Autologous Transplantation Using Donor Leukocytes Loaded Ex Vivo with Oncolytic Myxoma Virus Can Eliminate Residual Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy of monoclonal plasma cells that remains incurable. Standard treatments for MM include myeloablative regimens and autologous cell transplantation for eligible patients. A major challenge of these treatments is the relapse of the disease due to residual MM in niches that become refractory to treatments. Therefore, novel therapies are needed in order to eliminate minimal residual disease (MRD). Recently, our laboratory reported that virotherapy with oncolytic myxoma virus (MYXV) improved MM-free survival in an allogeneic transplant mouse model. In this study, we demonstrate the capacity of donor autologous murine leukocytes, pre-armed with MYXV, to eliminate MRD in a BALB/c MM model. We report that MYXV-armed bone marrow (BM) carrier leukocytes are therapeutically superior to MYXV-armed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or free virus. Importantly, when cured survivor mice were re-challenged with fresh myeloma cells, they developed immunity to the same MM that had comprised MRD. In vivo imaging demonstrated that autologous carrier cells armed with MYXV were very efficient at delivery of MYXV into the recipient tumor microenvironment. Finally, we demonstrate that treatment with MYXV activates the secretion of pro-immune molecules from the tumor bed. These results highlight the utility of exploiting autologous leukocytes to enhance tumor delivery of MYXV to treat MRD in vivo.
Serum Klotho levels in primary hyperparathyroidism patients before and after parathyroidectomy

To investigate Klotho level and its association with biochemical indices of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Fifty PHPT patients and fifty-two age- and body mass index-(BMI) matched healthy control subjects were recruited. In addition, twenty-five PHPT patients underwent parathyroidectomy (PTX) and had 4-month follow-up visits. Intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], calcium, albumin, corrected calcium, and Klotho levels were determined. There was no significant difference in age and BMI between PHPT subjects and controls (p > 0.05). PHPT patients had Klotho levels (15.4 ± 1.2 ng/mL) about 23% higher compared with those of the controls (11.9 ± 0.8 ng/mL), but this difference was not significant (p = 0.063). However, postmenopausal PHPT patients had 45% higher Klotho levels (17.6 ± 1.5 ng/ml) compared with postmenopausal controls (12.1 ± 0.9 ng/mL, p = 0.008). For postmenopausal subjects, Klotho levels had positive correlation with levels of iPTH (r = 0.25, p = 0.026) and corrected calcium (r = 0.34, p = 0.003), but negative correlation with 25(OH)D (r = −0.23, p = 0.042). After PTX, levels of iPTH and corrected calcium decreased and 25(OH)D levels increased to normal range (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant change in Klotho levels after a 4-month follow-up. Serum Klotho levels are higher in postmenopausal PHPT patients than in healthy postmenopausal control subjects. The etiology of elevated Klotho level and its clinical significance requires further investigation.
Patient-provider communication patterns among Asian American immigrant subgroups in New York City.

Abstract Objectives Patient-provider communication is essential for patient-centered care, yet Asian American immigrant populations face barriers. We aim to describe: 1) patient-reported communication-related characteristics for 16 disaggregated Asian American subgroups; and 2) the association of patient comprehension of provider communication with socio-demographics, language proficiency and concordance, and perceived cultural sensitivity in this population. Methods Descriptive statistics are presented for 1269 Asian American immigrants responding to cross-sectional, venue-sampled surveys conducted in New York City. Logistic regression models examine predictors of low comprehension of provider communication. Results Approximately 11% of respondents reported low comprehension of provider communication: lowest among South Asians and highest among Southeast Asians. Eighty-four percent were language-concordant with their provider, 90.1% agreed that their provider understood their background and values, and 16.5% felt their provider looked down on them. Low comprehension of provider communication was significantly associated with Southeast Asian subgroup, less education, limited English proficiency, public health insurance, patient-provider language discordance, and perceived low cultural understanding. Conclusion Among our sample, language and cultural sensitivity are associated with comprehension of provider communication. Practice implications Strategies improving language access and cultural sensitivity may be important for Asian immigrant patients. These could include interpretation services, bilingual community-based providers, and cultural sensitivity training.
CEO Turnover and Retention Light: Retaining Former CEOs on the Board: ceo turnover and retention light

Prior CEO turnover literature characterizes the board's decision as a choice between retaining versus replacing the CEO. We focus instead on the CEO's decision rights and introduce a third option in which the incumbent CEO is removed but retained on the board for an extended period, which we call Retention Light. Firms may benefit from Retention Light because former CEOs possess unique monitoring and advising abilities, but the former CEO could also exploit available decision rights for personal benefit. A Retention Light CEO's decision rights generally exceed those of CEOs who exit the firm entirely but fall short of the rights of a retained CEO. We find that when prior firm performance is better, the former CEO is more likely to be retained on the board (Retention Light) than to exit the firm. However, this relation is weaker when the CEO reaches normal retirement age at which time CEO power becomes more important. We also provide evidence on how the nature of the CEO's bargaining power varies with his personal attributes and board characteristics in its influence on the Retention Light decision. Retention Light firms are more likely than CEO-exit firms to select a successor CEO with relatively weaker bargaining power. Finally, Retention Light involving a nonfounder CEO is negatively associated with the firm's postturnover financial performance. Overall, Retention Light is a distinct CEO turnover option that has important consequences for board decisions and firm performance.
Cosmological Mass of the Photon and Dark Energy as its Bose-Einstein Condensate in de Sitter Space

I develop a physical picture of dark energy (DE) based on fundamental principles and constants of quantum mechanics (QM) and general relativity (GR) theories. It derives from a conjecture of non-zero masses for nearly standard-model photons or gluons, based on QM localization at a cosmological scale. Dark energy is associated with de Sitter space and that has a fundamentally invariant event horizon, which provides the basis for my DE model. I conceive of DE as a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of cosmologically massive photons and I estimate fundamentally the binding energy per particle originating from the effectively attractive statistical inter-particle potential in that BEC. Since massive photons may stand at rest in a de Sitter universe with flat spatial geometry, I solve the time-independent Schrodinger equation for a non-relativistic attractive spherical-well potential self-confining at the de Sitter horizon. The minimal critical potential depth that binds a particle state at the top of that well, combined with the prototypical condition of dark energy-pressure relation in the standard flat $\Lambda$-CDM model, provides an estimate of the photon mass, $m_g$. That is supported by an independent calculation of the zero-point energy of the BEC in a de Sitter static metric with coordinate-time slicing. I further investigate statistical properties of the $g$-BEC. Corrections introduced by the $m_g$ photon mass to the Planck spectrum of the CMB may be currently undetectable. Most notably, I consider a system of cosmological units, or `$g$-units,' that complements the fundamental system of Planck units in various ways. The geometric mean of Planck and $g$-mass turns out to be remarkably close to current estimates of neutrino masses, suggesting that even masses of the lightest known fermions may be deeply related to both GR and QM fundamental constants $\Lambda$, $G$, $c$ and $h$.
Pan cancer analysis of the intra-tumoral microbiome’s correlation with racial disparities.

2519Background: Microbiome composition can influence cancer development and is moderated by diet, hygiene, sanitation, and other environmental variables. For example, a Mediterranean diet could inc...
Genital and Intertriginous Rashes Refractory to Antimicrobial Treatments: Have You Thought about Crohn's Disease?

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can have multiple extraintestinal manifestations and can develop prior to, following, or simultaneously with gastrointestinal tract involvement (Aberumand et al. (2017), Georgious et al. (2006), Larsen et al. (2010), Levine and Burakoff (2011), Louis et al. (2018)). This report examines the case of a 16-year-old male with a rash of the genital, intergluteal, and inguinal regions refractory to antimicrobial treatments suspicious for an extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn’s disease. The patient was diagnosed with inflammatory, nonfistulizing colonic Crohn’s disease following presentation with gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain and bloody stools 6 months after the onset of the rash. The genital lesions resolved after starting treatment for Crohn’s disease with adalimumab.
A new cyanogenic metabolite in Arabidopsis required for inducible pathogen defence

Thousands of putative biosynthetic genes in Arabidopsis thaliana have no known function, which suggests that there are numerous molecules contributing to plant fitness that have not yet been discovered. Prime among these uncharacterized genes are cytochromes P450 upregulated in response to pathogens. Here we start with a single pathogen-induced P450 (ref. 5), CYP82C2, and use a combination of untargeted metabolomics and coexpression analysis to uncover the complete biosynthetic pathway to 4-hydroxyindole-3-carbonyl nitrile (4-OH-ICN), a previously unknown Arabidopsis metabolite. This metabolite harbours cyanogenic functionality that is unprecedented in plants and exceedingly rare in nature; furthermore, the aryl cyanohydrin intermediate in the 4-OH-ICN pathway reveals a latent capacity for cyanogenic glucoside biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. By expressing 4-OH-ICN biosynthetic enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Nicotiana benthamiana, we reconstitute the complete pathway in vitro and in vivo and validate the functions of its enzymes. Arabidopsis 4-OH-ICN pathway mutants show increased susceptibility to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, consistent with a role in inducible pathogen defence. Arabidopsis has been the pre-eminent model system for studying the role of small molecules in plant innate immunity; our results uncover a new branch of indole metabolism distinct from the canonical camalexin pathway, and support a role for this pathway in the Arabidopsis defence response. These results establish a more complete framework for understanding how the model plant Arabidopsis uses small molecules in pathogen defence.
Adaptation Models for Network-Aware Distributed Computations

Network-aware applications actively adapt to the level of service they receive from the network. This allows the application to execute well over a diverse set of networks and under a wide range of network conditions. However, network diversity and dynamic network conditions make the development of network-aware applications a difficult task, since the developer has to be an expert in both the application domain and networking. In this paper we look at a number of network-aware applications and identify three adaptation strategies that have proven to be effective. These strategies can be viewed as adapation models that capture the essential structure of the adaptation process. Similar to the use of programming models in parallel and distributed computing, adaptation models can be used to guide the development of other network-aware applications and they can also form the basis for programming support, e.g. middleware, that supports the development of network-aware applications. In this paper we describe the three adaptation models, compare their features and applicability, and briefly discuss how these models impact the design of middleware that supports network-aware applications.
Essays in international economics

This dissertation contains three essays that model private entities' cross border activities in the presence of contractual imperfections, and apply techniques in applied macroeconomics to verify the theoretical results derived. The first essay sets up a decentralized international borrowing arrangement to study the channel through which the absence of formal enforcement on a debt contract between citizens can slacken private sector's credit constraint in the international asset market. The second empirical paper completes the first essay via investigating, in a sample consisting of 73 developing and emerging market countries over the period 2004-2009, whether weaker domestic debt enforcement is associated with a larger amount of external debts owed by private sectors to outside creditors. The last essay turns to the field of vertical intrafirm trade, where I build an incomplete contract framework to show that the number of foreign affiliates (extensive margin) accounts for a greater share of the changes in aggregate intrafirm trade than the variation in the average exports per affiliate (intensive margin). This prediction is estimated using a 2007 cross-industry dataset on the number of affiliates as well as their shipments to parent multinational companies headquartered in the United States.
Religion and Society in Contemporary Latin America

Emelio Betances, The Catholic Church and Power Politics in Latin America: The Dominican Case in Comparative Perspective. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield, 2007. Bibliography, index, 275 pp.; hardcover $84, paperback $34.95. Paul Freston, ed., Evangelical Christianity and Democracy in Latin America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Bibliography, index, 280 pp.; hardcover $99, paperback $24.95. Adrian Hearn, Cuba: Religion, Social Capital, and Development. Durham: Duke University Press, 2008. Photographs, bibliography, index, 220 pp.; hardcover $79.95, paperback $22.95. David Smilde, Reason to Believe: Cultural Agency in Latin American Evangelicalism. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007. Photographs, bibliography, index, 262 pp.; hardcover $60, paperback $22.95. Timothy J. Steigenga and Edward L. Cleary, eds., Conversion of a Continent: Contemporary Religious Change in Latin America. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2007. Illustrations, index, 304 pp.; hardcover $70, paperback $25.95.