cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Phase I and Pharmacologic Evaluation of the DNA Intercalator CI-958 in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

5-[(2-Aminoethyl)amino]-2-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-2H-[ 1]benzothiopyrano[4,3,2-cd]-indazol-8-ol trihydrochloride (CI-958) is the most active member of a new class of DNA intercalating compounds, the benzothiopyranoindazoles. Because of its broad spectrum and high degree of activity as well as a favorable toxicity profile in preclinical models, CI-958 was chosen for further development. The Phase I study described here was undertaken to determine the toxicity profile, maximum tolerated dose, and pharmacokinetics of CI-958 given as an i.v. infusion every 21 days. Adult patients with advanced refractory solid tumors who had adequate renal, hepatic, and hematological function, life expectancy, and performance status were eligible for this study. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Patients received a 1- or 2-h infusion of CI-958 at 21-day intervals. The starting dose was 5.2 mg/m2, and at least three patients were evaluated at each dose level before proceeding to a new dose level. A pharmacokinetically guided dose escalation design was used until reaching a predetermined target area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC), after which a modified Fibonacci scheme was used. Forty-four patients (21 men and 23 women; median age, 59 years) received 162 courses of CI-958. Neutropenia and hepatorenal toxicity were the dose-limiting toxicities, which defined the maximum tolerated dose of CI-958 to be 875 mg/m2 when given as a 2-h infusion every 21 days. There were no tumor responses. Two patients had stable disease for >250 days. The recommended Phase II dose is 560 mg/m2 for patients with significant prior chemotherapy and 700 mg/m2 for patients with minimal prior chemotherapy. Pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma and urine concentration-time data from each patient was performed. At the recommended Phase II dose of 700 mg/m2, mean CI-958 clearance was 370 ml/min/m2, mean AUC was 33800 ng·h/ml, and mean terminal half-life (t1/2) was 15.5 days. The clearance was similar at all doses, and plasma CI-958 AUC increased proportionally with dose, consistent with linear pharmacokinetics. The percentage reduction in absolute neutrophil count from baseline was well predicted by AUC using a simple Emax model. The pharmacokinetically guided dose escalation saved five to six dose levels in reaching the maximum tolerated dose compared with a standard dose escalation scheme. This may represent the most successful application to date of this dose escalation technique.
Obesity and the role of adipose tissue in inflammation and metabolism

Recent discoveries, notably of the hormones leptin and adiponectin, have revised the notion that adipocytes are simply a storage depot for body energy. Instead, adipocytes are also endocrine organs, with multiple metabolic roles in regulating whole-body physiology. Small adipocytes in lean individuals promote metabolic homeostasis; the enlarged adipocytes of obese individuals recruit macrophages and promote inflammation and the release of a range of factors that predispose toward insulin resistance. Exercise activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in muscle and other tissues, a pathway that increases fat oxidation and glucose transport. Importantly, the adipocyte hormones leptin and adiponectin also activate AMPK; remarkably, the same pathway is activated by certain antidiabetic agents such as thiazolidinediones. Increasingly, our understanding of the adipocyte as an endocrine organ is leading to new insights into obesity and health.
Human enteric viruses in groundwater indicate offshore transport of human sewage to coral reefs of the Upper Florida Keys

Summary To address the issue of human sewage reaching corals along the main reef of the Florida Keys, samples were collected from surface water, ground- water and coral (surface mucopolysaccharide layers (SML)) along a 10 km transect near Key Largo, FL. Samples were collected semi-annually between July 2003 and September 2005 and processed for faecal indicator bacteria (faecal coliform bacteria, entero- cocci and Clostridium perfringens) and human- specific enteric viruses (enterovirus RNA and adenovirus DNA) by (RT)-nested polymerase chain reaction. Faecal indicator bacteria concentrations were generally higher nearshore and in the coral SML. Enteric viruses were evenly distributed across the transect stations. Adenoviruses were detected in 37 of 75 samples collected (49.3%) whereas enterovi- ruses were only found in 8 of 75 samples (10.7%). Both viruses were detected twice as frequently in coral compared with surface water or groundwater. Offshore, viruses were most likely to be found in groundwater, especially during the wet summer season. These data suggest that polluted groundwa- ter may be moving to the outer reef environment in the Florida Keys.
Frontal arachnoid cyst associated with depression: Case report and literature review

A 49-year-old woman presented with a long history of depressive symptoms and frequent exacerbations despite adequate trials of pharmacotherapy. On evaluation, she was found to have recurrent major depression as well as severe verbal memory deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large left frontal cyst with bony erosion and some mass effect on the cortex. Intracranial (arachnoid) cysts are rare and their psychiatric significance has often been minimized. However recent reports have associated temporal lobe cysts to psychotic symptoms. This case is discussed in view of these studies as well as findings linking left frontal lobe pathology to depression. Depression 1:275–277 (1993). © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Distributed/heterogeneous query processing in Microsoft SQL server

This paper presents an architecture overview of the distributed, heterogeneous query processor (DHQP) in the Microsoft SQL server database system to enable queries over a large collection of diverse data sources. The paper highlights three salient aspects of the architecture. First, the system introduces well-defined abstractions such as connections, commands, and rowsets that enable sources to plug into the system. These abstractions are formalized by the OLE DB data access interfaces. The generality of OLE DB and its broad industry adoption enables our system to reach a very large collection of diverse data sources ranging from personal productivity tools, to database management systems, to file system data. Second, the DHQP is built-in to the relational optimizer and execution engine of the system. This enables DH queries and updates to benefit from the cost-based algebraic transformations and execution strategies available in the system. Finally, the architecture is inherently extensible to support new data sources as they emerge as well as serves as a key extensibility point for the relational engine to add new features such as full-text search and distributed partitioned views.
C60 dihydrides and fullerene aromaticity. Insights from calculations on model compounds

Abstract Semiempirical MO calculations on model fullerene compounds reveal a connection with less and more curved aromatics, and allow, via comparisons of various dihydride energies, a quantitation of the aromatic character imbedded in the fullerene structure. Additionally, cage-opened dihydrides are found to be energetically reasonable species, and may provide an avenue for improved production of endohedrally encapsulated fullerenes.
Convergence of a ML parameter-estimation algorithm for DS/SS systems in time-varying channels with strong interference

An unbiased, maximum-likelihood (ML), channel parameter-estimation algorithm for direct-sequence spread-spectrum systems with strong interference is discussed in this paper. The algorithm includes correcting terms to the extended Kalman filter (EKF) based on the gradient of the negative log-likelihood function of the output of a conventional matched filter. By an asymptotic analysis, the algorithm is shown to determine the actual parameters. A complete implementation of the algorithm is given, and its transient behavior is examined by computer simulations. Results show the ML algorithm, albeit optimal in the sense of unbiased parameter estimation, is less robust than the modified EKF described in the first reference.
AIDS Drug Assistance Programs: highlighting inequities in human immunodeficiency virus-infection health care in the United States

The AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) were founded in 1987 to pay for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related medications in the United States and to help provide prescriptions for HIV-infected patients ineligible for Medicaid who have no private health insurance. As HIV care has shifted from the inpatient to the outpatient arena and as patients live longer because of more-effective antiretroviral therapy, medication costs have increased, and ADAPs have increasingly been operating under emergency measures, with coverage limitations and eligibility restrictions. Because these programs operate at the state level, inequalities in resource distribution to those in need are manifest and appear to contribute to differences in disease outcomes that are based solely on patients' place of residence. Cost-effectiveness analysis would offer a more informed basis for distribution of ADAP resources in an efficient and equitable manner, leading to a standardized national structure.
Jet-Suspended, Calcite-Ballasted Cyanobacterial Waterwarts in a Desert Spring

We describe a population of colonial cyanobacteria (waterwarts) that develops as the dominant primary producer in a bottom-fed, warm spring in the Cuatro Cienegas karstic region of the Mexican Chihuahuan Desert. The centimeter-sized waterwarts were suspended within a central, conically shaped, 6-m deep well by upwelling waters. Waterwarts were built by an unicellular cyanobacterium and supported a community of epiphytic filamentous cyanobacteria and diatoms but were free of heterotrophic bacteria inside. Sequence analysis of genes revealed that this cyanobacterium is only distantly related to several strains of other unicellular teria Cyanothece, Waterwarts contained orderly arrangements of mineral made up of microcrystalline low-magnesium calcite with high levels of strontium and sulfur. Waterwarts were 95.9% (v/v) glycan, 2.8% cells, and 1.3% mineral grains and had a buoyant density of 1.034 kg/L. An analysis of the hydrological properties of the spring well and the waterwarts demonstrated that both large colony size and the presence of controlled amounts of mineral ballast are required to prevent the population from being washed out of the well. The unique hydrological characteristics of the spring have likely selected for both traits. The mechanisms by which controlled nucleation of extracellular calcite is achieved remain to be explored.
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

BOWLING ALONE warns Americans that their stock of "social capital", the very fabric of their connections with each other, has been accelerating down. Putnam describes the resulting impoverishment of their lives and communities. Drawing on evidence that includes nearly half a million interviews conducted over a quarter of a century in America, Putnam shows how changes in work, family structure, age, suburban life, television, computers, women's roles and other factors are isolating Americans from each other in a trend whose reflection can clearly be seen in British society. We sign 30 percent fewer petitions than we did ten years ago. Membership in organisations- from the Boy Scouts to political parties and the Church is falling. Ties with friends and relatives are fraying: we're 35 percent less likely to visit our neighbours or have dinner with our families than we were thirty years ago. We watch sport alone instead of with our friends. A century ago, American citizens' means of connecting were at a low point after decades of urbanisation, industrialisation and immigration uprooted them from families and friends. That generation demonstrated a capacity for renewal by creating the organisations that pulled Americans together. Putnam shows how we can learn from them and reinvent common enterprises that will make us secure, productive, happy and hopeful.
Effect of nitroglycerin-soluble additives on the stability of molded nitroglycerin tablets

Nitroglycerin vapor pressures at 25°C were determined for additive-nitroglycerin systems over the additive-nitroglycerin weight ratio range of 0.5 to 3.0 for 16 additives exhibiting solubility in nitroglycerin. The effects of the additives on nitroglycerin chemical stability at 25°C and 50°C were also studied. Tablet stability characteristics, i.e., content uniformity, open-dish stability, and chemical decomposition were evaluated for selected tablet formulations. Most additives lowered the vapor pressure of nitroglycerin sufficiently to stabilize content uniformity when used at additive-nitroglycerin weight ratios near 1. Higher additive levels are needed for significant potency stabilization in open-dish stability tests, but these levels normally decrease the chemical stability of nitroglycerin. However, stabilization of content uniformity, a twofold reduction of potency loss in an open-dish stability test, and chemical stability are possible with at least three of the additives studied.
Immunizing online reputation reporting systems against unfair ratings and discriminatory behavior

reporting systems have emerged as an important risk management mechanism in online trading communities. However, the predictive value of these systems can be compromised in situations where conspiring buyers intentionally give unfair ratings to sellers or, where sellers discriminate on the quality of service they provide to different buyers. This paper proposes and evaluates a set of mechanisms, which eliminate, or significantly reduce the negative effects of such fraudulent behavior. The proposed mechanisms can be easily integrated into existing online reputation systems in order to safeguard their reliability in the presence of potentially deceitful buyers and sellers.
Search for patterns in sequences of single-photon polarization measurements

Sequences of random binary numbers created from polarization measurements of single photons were subjected to a comprehensive runs analysis. Photon pairs from a spontaneous parametric downconversion source were detected in coincidence, with one photon acting as a trigger while the other was analyzed for horizontal or vertical polarization. The resulting sequences of polarization measurements were tested for runs of consecutive vertical or horizontal outcomes against a theory of nonoverlapping runs, without numerical unbiasing. The sequences produced no statistically significant discrepancies with the predicted numbers of runs, even with multiphoton events retained. © 2011 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 270.0270, 270.5568, 270.5290, 030.5260.
Gaussian interference channel with state information

In this paper, we study the two-user state-dependent Gaussian interference channel, where the Gaussian distributed state information is non-causally known at both transmitters, but unknown to either of the receivers. We focus on the simultaneous encoding scheme and propose an active interference cancelation mechanism, which is a generalized dirty-paper coding technique, to partially eliminate the state effect at the receivers. The corresponding achievable rate region is derived and the strong interference case is studied, where we propose several heuristic schemes and provide numerical results to show that active interference cancelation significantly enlarges the achievable rate region.
Sliding mode control in arc welding

This paper considers the use of sliding mode control to perform robotic welding. The arc welding model is considered as a distributed parameter system described by partial differential equations with unknown boundary conditions. Simulations with temperature distribution surface plots are also included.
An Introduction to Reconfigurable Systems

Reconfigurability can be thought of as software-defined functionality, where flexibility is controlled predominately through the specification of bit patterns. Reconfigurable systems can be as simple as a single switch, or as abstract and powerful as programmable matter. This paper considers the generalization of reconfigurable systems as an important evolving discipline, bolstered by real-world archetypes such as field programmable gate arrays and software-definable radio (platform and application, respectively). It considers what reconfigurable systems actually are, their motivation, their taxonomy, the fundamental mechanisms and architectural considerations underlying them, designing them and using them in applications. With well-known real-world instances, such as the field programmable gate array, the paper attempts to motivate an understanding of the many possible directions and implications of a new class of system which is fundamentally based on the ability to change.
Intramolecular cyclization reactions of unsaturated amino Fischer chromium carbenes forming indoles and quinolines

A thermally induced intramolecular annulation reaction of N-(2-alkenylphenyl)amino substituted Fischer chromium carbenes has been extensively examined. The carbene complexes were prepared in moderate to good yields by reaction of 2-aminostyrenes with intermediately formed acyloxy substituted carbenes. Upon heating, the thermally labile carbenes decomposed producing indoles and quinolines as the major products. The product distribution was found to be highly dependent on the substitution pattern and electronic properties of the starting material, and on the solvent used.
Concentrated solar drying of tomatoes

Abstract Fruits and vegetables are an integral part of the human diet. Many developing countries such as Tanzania experience post-harvest losses of 40%, and there is little ability to preserve and store foods for off-season consumption due to expensive or unreliable energy and a lack of access to refrigeration. Alternatively, fruits and vegetables can be dehydrated using solar crop dryers. Because many developing countries are in tropical regions, properly dehydrating fruits and vegetables to moisture levels appropriate for storage and off-season consumption can be difficult. In an attempt to overcome the challenges of the high humidity, intermittent clouds, and haze often present in tropical climates, this paper investigates the effectiveness of adding a concave solar concentrator built from low-cost, locally available materials to a typical Tanzanian solar crop dryer. Two identical solar crop dryers were constructed, with one serving as the control and the other for testing the solar concentrator. Drying trials using Roma tomatoes with initial moisture content of approximately 90% were conducted in Davis, California (38° 32′ 42″ N/121° 44′ 21″ W) in various climatic conditions throughout the summer and fall. Tomatoes were considered dried at 10% moisture content. Temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation were measured outside as well as within each of the dryers to determine how the addition of a solar concentrator can affect the drying rate of tomatoes in solar crop dryers. The concentrator proved to be effective, reducing drying time by 21% in addition to increasing internal dryer temperature and reducing relative humidity. An additional study on the quality of the fresh and dried tomatoes found that the pH, titratable acidity, color, Brix, lycopene, and vitamin C determined there was no significant difference in quality between tomatoes dried with and without the concentrator.
When a little bit means a lot: The effects of a short‐term reading program on economically disadvantaged elementary schoolers

Abstract The effect of two short‐term summer school intervention programs on the reading achievement of elementary school children at‐risk for academic failure was investigated. Children entering second through fourth grades in the fall were given short (three week) reading intervention programs in either a school‐ based program or one designed and implemented by a for‐profit company specializing in enhancing student academic achievement. Children entering grade one in the fall did not receive the for‐profit condition. For children entering grade one, significant reading improvement was found for the summer based program over a control group which received no intervention. For children in grades two through four, children in both the school based and the for‐profit groups made significant reading improvement over the control group. The findings are discussed in terms of the relative costs and contact hours of the two intervention programs and the implications of the power of a short‐term relatively inexpe...
The performance of parallel matrix algorithms on a broadcast-based architecture: Research Articles

Due to advances in fiber-optics and very large scale integration (VLSI) technology, interconnection networks which allow multiple simultaneous broadcasts are becoming feasible. This paper summarizes one such multiprocessor architecture called the Simultaneous Optical Multiprocessor Exchange Bus (SOME-Bus). It also presents enhancements to the network interface and the cache and directory controllers which support cache block combining, capture and prefetch, and allow complete overlap of processing time with the communication time due to compulsory misses. The paper uses two fundamental matrix algorithms to characterize the impact of each enhancement on performance. Cache miss analysis and results from the execution of these programs on a SOME-Bus simulator show that block capture and prefetch combined with an effective block replacement policy succeed in significantly reducing the miss rate due to compulsory misses as the cache size increases, while a similar increase of cache size in traditional architectures leaves the miss rate due to compulsory misses unaffected. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonlinear Vibration Reduction in Smart Structures Using Nonlinear Integral Resonant Controller

This paper discusses a new nonlinear controller for vibration reduction in nonlinear vibrating smart structures. Nonlinear Integral Resonant Controller (NIRC) applies additional damping to the closed-loop system of a nonlinear vibrating system, and reduces the vibration amplitude in a wide range of frequency domain. An approximate solution is obtained using a multi-layer implementation of the Method of Multiple Scales, steady-state amplitude-frequency response is obtained and closed-loop stability is examined. Effects of different controller parameters on system response are investigated, in addition to numerical simulation results. In contrast to the Positive Position Feedback approach, the closed-loop response of the controlled system via NIRC does not show any high-amplitude peak in the neighborhood of the suppressed resonant frequency. This makes the closed-loop system robust to variations in excitation frequency.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Constructing Meaning: The Albany Exhibition of David Smith’s Medals for Dishonor

shadow cast by capitalist profit motives in Munition Makers (Fig. 3). At the same time, the series attacked those who were supportive of and benefitted from any war through the ironic device of providing medals for services renConstructing Meaning 13 Figure 2 Quark 15.2draft FINISHED.qxd 11/21/11 2:48 PM Page 13
High temperature mechanical and material properties of burnt masonry bricks

Recently, there have been an increased research in fire performance of both normal strength concrete (NSC) and high strength concrete (HSC) for structural members in buildings and built infrastructure. On the contrary, burnt masonry bricks (BBs) are used in structures due to advantages these provide, however, the studies on fire performance of BBs as a structural material are scarce. Further, limited studies are available on comparative fire performance studies of BBs to that of NSC or HSC. A test program was designed to undertake high temperature tests on BBs commonly used in buildings and domestic constructions. Mechanical properties namely compressive strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus were investigated at elevated temperatures (hot state) from 20 to 800 °C following ASTM and RILEM test procedures. Results show that BBs lose compressive strength similarly to that of NSC and HSC. The measured tensile strength of BBs is quite low as compared to compressive strength, with a slight gain around 200 °C. High temperature properties also exhibit significant change in stress–strain response with increasing temperatures. Scanning electron microscope and X-ray fluorescence analysis revealed that microstructural and mineral transformations occur in BBs at elevated temperatures. To provide high temperature material properties of BBs for analytical studies, data generated from mechanical property tests were applied to develop simplified mathematical expressions as a function of temperature.
Enabling point pattern analysis on spatial big data using cloud computing: optimizing and accelerating Ripley’s K function

ABSTRACTPerforming point pattern analysis using Ripley’s K function on point events of large size is computationally intensive as it involves massive point-wise comparisons, time-consuming edge effect correction weights calculation, and a large number of simulations. This article presented two strategies to optimize the algorithm for point pattern analysis using Ripley’s K function and utilized cloud computing to further accelerate the optimized algorithm. The first optimization sorted the points on their x and y coordinates and thus narrowed the scope of searching for neighboring points down to a rectangular area around each point in estimating K function. Using the actual study area in computing edge effect correction weights is essential to estimate an unbiased K function, but is very computationally intensive if the study area is of complex shape. The second optimization reused the previously computed weights to avoid repeating expensive weights calculation. The optimized algorithm was then paralleliz...
Evaluation of the Accuracy of the Hematrak 590 With a Cell-by-Cell Comparison

A reference technologist and the Hematrak® 590 Automated Differential Leukocyte Counter each performed a differential count on exactly the same 100 leukocytes of 38 normal and 61 abnormal blood smears. Scatter graphs and regression statistics for each cell type were generated and indicated the agreement between the instrument and the reference technologist. With the exception of basophils, the ability of the instrument to recognize normal cells is good. Recognition of abnormal cell categories is also good, although improvement is desirable in the identification of immature granulocytes and atypical lymphocytes. With review of all slides flagged by the instrument, very few normal smears will be classified as abnormal, and few, if any, abnormal smears will be missed. Image recognition analyzers such as the Hematrak may find a future role in the evaluation of new generations of flow differential analyzers.
Composite Hydrogels Laden with Crystalline Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients of Controlled Size and Loading

Efficient control of crystallization and crystal properties still represents a bottleneck in the manufacturing of crystalline materials ranging from pigments to semiconductor particles. In the case of pharmaceutical drug manufacture, current methods for controlling critical crystal properties such as size and morphology that dictates the product’s efficacy are inefficient and often lead to the generation of undesirable solid states such as metastable polymorphs or amorphous forms. In this work, we propose an approach for producing crystals of a poorly water-soluble pharmaceutical compound embedded in a polymer matrix. Taking advantage of the composite hydrogel structure, we control the crystallization of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), within the composite hydrogel, generating crystalline API of controlled crystal size and loading. The composite hydrogels initially consist of organic phase droplets, acting as crystallization reactors, embedded in an elastic hydrogel matrix. By controlled evapo...
Eosinopenia and degenerating eosinophilic leukocytes in blood.

SummarySmall numbers of degenerating eosinophilic leukocyte fragments are encountered normally in peripheral blood as well as in other body fluids of the rat. Following epinephrine or cortisone, there is a marked increase in the numbers of eosinophilic leukocyte fragments in peripheral blood, and this increase is maintained throughout the duration of the developing eosinopenia.
Low Band Gap Coplanar Conjugated Molecules Featuring Dynamic Intramolecular Lewis Acid–Base Coordination

Ladder-type conjugated molecules with a low band gap and low LUMO level were synthesized through an N-directed borylation reaction of pyrazine-derived donor-acceptor-donor precursors. The intramolecular boron-nitrogen coordination bonds played a key role in rendering the rigid and coplanar conformation of these molecules and their corresponding electronic structures. Experimental investigation and theoretical simulation revealed the dynamic nature of such coordination, which allowed for active manipulation of the optical properties of these molecules by using competing Lewis basic solvents.
The Reversible Inhibition of Myoblast Proliferation by γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane

The effects of treating non-fusing myoblast variants, fu-1 and M3A, with two levels (1 X 10(-4) M and 2 X 10(-4) M) of gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol synthesis, on myoblast proliferation were evaluated by measuring myoblast proliferation (counting cells) and visual inspection via phase microscopy. In the presence of gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, these cells were arrested, presumably in G1. The inability of these cells to replicate did not appear to be due to a toxic effect of gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, because these cells were capable of resuming proliferation once they were transferred to media lacking gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane. Cells were grown in media containing myo-[2-3H]inositol and the radioactive content of water-soluble metabolites, the end product of phosphatidylinositides hydrolysis, was quantitated. Cells were grown in the presence of gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, in addition to the loss of proliferative ability, also contained significantly less water-soluble metabolites. Therefore, it appears that there is a direct relationship between phosphatidylinositol metabolism and cell proliferation in the cell lines studied.
The complex signal C/ATLAS structure: a signal description construct for the future

Radio frequency (RF), millimeter wave, electrooptical (EO), and video testing have become very sophisticated in the last few years and the common abbreviated test language for all systems (C/ATLAS) does not provide the user with the required programming capabilities for these technologies. The complex signal C/ATLAS structure provides the mechanism for modeling complex signals and signal characteristics, thus providing the support of complex modulated RF signals as well as a variety of sophisticated signals currently not available. The structure will eliminate the need for new signal constructs and extensions, retain all present capabilities and introduce new capabilities. The six preamble statements and the noun complex signal make up the building blocks for a software erector set, which is not limited to the presently existing ATLAS nouns and modifiers. It can access a full range of RF, EO, and video testing requirements, and lends itself to expansion as testing requirements expand. It also makes ATLAS procedural sections shorter and more readable, as well as the fact that the definitions can more easily be placed in libraries for use by others. >
Sequential Inappropriate Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Shocks: Pro-Arrhythmia Followed by Failure to Rescue.

A 41-year-old woman with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy due to a plakophilin-2 mutation received a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) for primary prevention at an outside hospital in 2013. The patient had adequately passed all the screening vectors during
Phylogenetic uncertainty and transmission network inference: Lessons from phylogenetic reconciliation

The inference of transmission networks from genetic sequence data is an important problem in epidemiology. One approach for building transmission networks is to first reconstruct a phylogenetic tree on the sampled sequences and to then infer transmissions based on this tree. This approach depends crucially on the accuracy of the reconstructed phylogeny and of the transmission inference procedure. However, there is often considerable uncertainty and error in reconstructed phylogenies and significant ambiguity in transmission inference. In this talk, we will introduce a new phylogenetic approach to inferring transmission networks, discuss some of the challenges to the successful implementation of such an approach, and consider some ideas for overcoming these challenges inspired by the literature on phylogenetic reconciliation.
Mental health pharmacists as interim prescribers

Abstract Introduction: Turnover leading to fluctuations in prescriber availability presents many challenges, most notably in access to and continuity of care. In 2015, the Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Healthcare System (VA ECHCS) experienced a period of significant mental health prescriber turnover leading to patient utilization of psychiatric emergency services (PES) for nonemergent medication management. The resulting increase in volume placed excessive stress on PES prescribers. Mental health pharmacists have opportunities to provide interim medication management while patients are between prescribers. Methods: This study was a retrospective, cohort study of patients unassigned to an outpatient mental health prescriber due to prescriber turnover, receiving care at VA ECHCS between October 1, 2015, and February 28, 2016. The primary outcome was the number of pharmacist interventions performed. Secondary outcomes characterize the interventions performed and describe the change in the mean monthly vo...
Education and Professionalism

This chapter contains reprinted works from Dr. Mark Siegler focusing on education, training, and professionalism within the field of clinical medical ethics. Based heavily on Dr. Siegler’s extensive first-hand knowledge of training medical students in clinical medical ethics, these works present recommendations regarding how, where, and when the topic should be taught and how this type of training can improve both the physician’s understanding of professionalism and patient care overall. Several of the works presented within this chapter move beyond education and training to discuss the health and care of medical students who may become patients during their training or residency. The works in this chapter are reprinted with permission.
Environmental effects of reservoirs

Dams and reservoirs contribute greatly to human prosperity and well-being but they have other effects which are deleterious to the environment and to human welfare. The initial flooding may bring about physical and chemical changes which influence the aquatic biota in various ways. The complex hydrodynamic characteristics of many reservoirs complicate matters further.
Ten-Year Trends in Preventive Service Use Before and After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: A Comparison with Noncancer Controls.

Author(s): Wallner, Lauren P; Slezak, Jeffrey M; Loo, Ronald K; Bastani, Roshan; Jacobsen, Steven J | Abstract: CONTEXT:Few studies have assessed the longer-term quality of preventive care in prostate cancer (PCa) survivors. OBJECTIVE:To compare the rates of preventive services among PCa survivors five years before and after diagnosis, to men without PCa. DESIGN:Men enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Southern California with newly diagnosed PCa (2002-2008) were matched 1:1 to men without a PCa diagnosis on age, race, and timing of prostate-specific antigen test (N = 31,180). The use of preventive services, including colorectal cancer screening, diabetes tests, lipid panels, and influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations was assessed 5 years before and after diagnosis (or index date for controls). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Relative rates (RRs) of use were calculated for cases and controls separately and compared using Poisson regression, adjusting for comorbidities and outpatient utilization in 2014. RESULTS:Overall, the rates of preventive services were lower among men with PCa vs men without PCa. However, in the 5 years after diagnosis, rates of preventive service use for all services were greater among PCa survivors vs men without PCa (colorectal cancer: RR = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-1.10; lipids: RR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.08-1.11; hemoglobin A1C: RR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.14-1.19; glucose: RR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.23-1.26; influenza vaccine: RR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03-1.07; pneumococcal vaccine: RR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.97-1.09). CONCLUSION:Delivery of preventive care improved after PCa diagnosis, with survivors receiving comparable preventive care to men without PCa during the five years following diagnosis.
Quotient Categories and Localizing Functors

Let A be an abelian category. A Serre class or subcategory of A is a nonempty full subcategory S such that for every exact sequence $$0 \to A \to B \to C \to 0 $$ in A it is true that $$B \in \mathcal{S} \Leftrightarrow A \in \mathcal{S}\& C \in \mathcal{S}.$$
When Data Use Devolves into Deficit Talk: Creating the Conditions for Productive Teacher Collaboration Using Data.

Drawing on ethnographic research from a small urban high school serving predominantly low-income students in a large northeastern city, this case explores how a school leader seeks to improve the s...
The Impact of Creativity on Information Literacy Instruction

The author has been researching and reflecting on the importance of creativity in enhancing the information literacy classroom, particularly in the context of an academic library. The author approaches research with an increasing interest in exploring creativity as part of the ACRL Framework and the way the creative information literacy component fits into the holistic approach of a changing, more engaging curriculum on college campuses. Recently, the author conducted a research study that explored the role of creativity in information literacy. By examining the impact of library instruction on various formats of student learning, this paper will reflect on the definition of creativity, how it is implemented in the library classroom, and the results of a recent research study that outline next steps and opportunities.
Risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in adults using phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors: Population-based cohort study.

Purpose The objective of the study was to determine the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) associated with use of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study in the MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database including adult men who initiated a PDE5 inhibitor (n = 377,722) and 1,957,233 nonusers between 1998 and 2007. Periods of drug exposure were assessed on a weekly basis based on pharmacy billing records, assuming use of 1 dose per week (current use). Incident sudden SNHL was defined based on inpatient or outpatient visits with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 389.1x, 389.2x, or 388.2 plus ≥2 procedure codes for audiometric hearing testing within ±30 days of sudden SNHL diagnosis. We used age- and propensity score-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model to evaluate the risk of sudden SNHL during periods of current or recent use compared with that of nonuse. We conducted sensitivity analyses by varying the assumed drug utilization frequency and sudden SNHL case definition. Results We evaluated 1233 sudden SNHL cases, resulting in an incidence of 4.35, 5.58, and 2.38 per 10,000 person-years for current, recent, and nonuse of PDE5 inhibitors, respectively. Compared with nonuse, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.25 (1.01-1.55) for current use with a risk difference of 1.97 (1.12-2.82) per 10,000 person-years. For recent use, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.60 (1.33-1.94) and risk difference was 3.19 (2.24-4.14). Estimates were consistent across the sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Use of PDE5 inhibitors is associated with a small but significantly increased risk of sudden SNHL.
Mechanisms of estrogenic effects on neurobiological functions.

For this workshop, coverage of the field of estrogenic effects on neurobiological and neuroendocrine functions will be broken into three parts. Section 6.2 will concentrate on what we already know about the cellular mechanisms of these functions. Section 6.3 will open up discussions of ongoing work in our lab, both behavioral and molecular. Section 6.4 will summarize succinctly some of the main principles emerging from experiments with gene knockouts for estrogen receptor a (ER-α) and ER-β. One set of lessons emphasizes the specificity of different elements of the phenotypes for these two genes. The second set of lessons forces a revision of the classical ‘one gene, one enzyme’ concept from work on Neurospora by Beadle and Tatum. For the mammalian CNS, we must discover patterns of gene expression governing patterns of behavior.
Changes in brain glucose metabolism in cocaine dependence and withdrawal.

Objective The authors investigated changes in brain function associated with cocaine dependence and withdrawal to provide clues regarding the processes that lead to the uncontrollable self-administration of cocaine. Method They measured regional brain metabolism with [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and positron emission tomography in 15 outpatients with the diagnosis of cocaine abuse and 17 normal comparison subjects. Ten of the patients were studied less than 1 week after they had last had cocaine, and five were studied 2-4 weeks after withdrawal. Results Patients studied within 1 week of cocaine withdrawal but not those studied within 2-4 weeks of cocaine withdrawal had higher levels of global brain metabolism as well as higher levels of regional brain metabolism in the basal ganglia and orbitofrontal cortex than did normal subjects, probably as a consequence of less brain dopamine activity. There was also a significant relationship between the number of days since cocaine withdrawal and regional brain glucose metabolism in the orbitofrontal cortex and in the basal ganglia, and the correlations between cocaine craving and metabolic activity were significant in the prefrontal cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex. Conclusions Although the time-dependent fall in metabolic activity suggests that the higher metabolic activity observed less than a week after cocaine withdrawal may represent a nonspecific expression of drug withdrawal, the selectivity of changes in glucose metabolism for the basal ganglia and for the orbitofrontal cortex suggests that the regional metabolic changes seen in cocaine abusers during detoxification are related to changes in brain dopamine activity.
POLAR WINTER: A BIOLOGICAL MODEL FOR IMPACT EVENTS AND RELATED DARK/COLD CLIMATIC CHANGES

Models of the climatic perturbation caused by a large scale extraterrestrial impact predict an injection of dust into the stratosphere. This would cause the onset of environmental conditions whose two principal characteristics are a prolonged period of darkness and reduced global temperatures. Similar scenarios follow large scale volcanic eruptions, wildfires and they are predicted for a nuclear winter following a protracted nuclear exchange. A significant drop in temperature and solar insolation are also characteristics of the polar winter. In this paper the onset and emergence from the polar winter is examined as a potential biological framework for studying immediate biological effects following transition into and out of a dark/cold catastrophe. Limitations of the conceptual model, particularly with respect to the fact that polar organisms are well adapted to a regular and severe dark/cold climatic change (which the rest of the Earth's biota is not) are discussed. The model has implications for the poles as an extinction refuge during such climatic changes.
The Importance of Salt-Enhanced Electrostatic Repulsion in Colloidal Crystal Engineering with DNA

Realizing functional colloidal single crystals requires precise control over nanoparticles in three dimensions across multiple size regimes. In this regard, colloidal crystallization with programmable atom equivalents (PAEs) composed of DNA-modified nanoparticles allows one to program in a sequence-specific manner crystal symmetry, lattice parameter, and, in certain cases, crystal habit. Here, we explore how salt and the electrostatic properties of DNA regulate the attachment kinetics between PAEs. Counterintuitively, simulations and theory show that at high salt concentrations (1 M NaCl), the energy barrier for crystal growth increases by over an order of magnitude compared to low concentration (0.3 M), resulting in a transition from interface-limited to diffusion-limited crystal growth at larger crystal sizes. Remarkably, at elevated salt concentrations, well-formed rhombic dodecahedron-shaped microcrystals up to 21 μm in size grow, whereas at low salt concentration, the crystal size typically does not exceed 2 μm. Simulations show an increased barrier to hybridization between complementary PAEs at elevated salt concentrations. Therefore, although one might intuitively conclude that higher salt concentration would lead to less electrostatic repulsion and faster PAE-to-PAE hybridization kinetics, the opposite is the case, especially at larger inter-PAE distances. These observations provide important insight into how solution ionic strength can be used to control the attachment kinetics of nanoparticles coated with charged polymeric materials in general and DNA in particular.
In vitro assembly and proteomic analysis of RNA polymerase II complexes.

Abstract The RNA polymerase II (RNApII) transcription cycle consists of multiple steps involving dozens of protein factors. Here we describe a useful approach to study the dynamics of initiation and early elongation, comprising an in vitro transcription system in which complexes are assembled on immobilized DNA templates and analyzed by quantitative mass spectrometry. This unbiased screening system allows quantitation of RNApII complex components on either naked DNA or chromatin templates. In addition to transcription, the system reproduces co-transcriptional mRNA capping and multiple transcription-related histone modifications. In combination with other biochemical and genetic methods, this approach can provide insights into the mechanistic details of gene expression by RNApII.