cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robust Exclusion Through Loyalty Discounts With Buyer Commitment

We show that loyalty discounts with buyer commitments create anticompetitive effects beyond those possible with pure exclusive dealing. The loyalty discount adds a seller commitment to maintain a distinction between the loyal and disloyal price. This seller commitment reduces the seller's incentives to compete for free buyers because the loyalty discount means that lowering prices to free buyers requires lowering prices to committed buyers. This softened seller competition reduces the rival's incentive to lower its own prices to free buyers. The result is inflated prices to free buyers, which in turn inflates prices to committed buyers because they are priced at a loyalty discount from those free buyer prices. Because each buyer who signs a loyalty discount contract thus softens competition and raises prices for all buyers, the result is to create an externality among buyers even without economies of scale or downstream competition. If enough buyers exist and the entrant's cost advantage is not too large, we prove that this externality means that: (1) in any equilibrium, enough buyers sign loyalty discount contracts to anticompetitively increase prices; and (2) there always exists a possible equilibrium in which all buyers sign, completely foreclosing a more efficient rival. As a result, the incumbent can use loyalty discounts to increase its profit and decrease both buyer and total welfare.
Relative hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in mice with heterozygous lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency. Islet LPL regulates insulin secretion.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) provides tissues with fatty acids, which have complex effects on glucose utilization and insulin secretion. To determine if LPL has direct effects on glucose metabolism, we studied mice with heterozygous LPL deficiency (LPL+/−). LPL+/− mice had mean fasting glucose values that were up to 39 mg/dl lower than LPL+/+ littermates. Despite having lower glucose levels, LPL+/− mice had fasting insulin levels that were twice those of +/+ mice. Hyperinsulinemic clamp experiments showed no effect of genotype on basal or insulin-stimulated glucose utilization. LPL message was detected in mouse islets, INS-1 cells (a rat insulinoma cell line), and human islets. LPL enzyme activity was detected in the media from both mouse and human islets incubated in vitro. In mice, +/− islets expressed half the enzyme activity of +/+ islets. Islets isolated from +/+ mice secreted less insulin in vitro than +/− and −/− islets, suggesting that LPL suppresses insulin secretion. To test this notion directly, LPL enzyme activity was manipulated in INS-1 cells. INS-1 cells treated with an adeno-associated virus expressing human LPL had more LPL enzyme activity and secreted less insulin than adeno-associated virus-β-galactosidase-treated cells. INS-1 cells transfected with an antisense LPL oligonucleotide had less LPL enzyme activity and secreted more insulin than cells transfected with a control oligonucleotide. These data suggest that islet LPL is a novel regulator of insulin secretion. They further suggest that genetically determined levels of LPL play a role in establishing glucose levels in mice.
Pulmonary Capillaritis and Hemorrhage: A Clue to the Diagnosis of Systemic Necrotizing Vasculitis

Patients with systemic necrotizing vasculitis frequently present as diagnostic dilemmas. In previous series of patients with polyarteritis nodosa, less than one third were diagnosed antemortem. Although current clinical awareness of systemic necrotizing vasculitis is greater than in the past and procedures for the diagnosis of these diseases have improved, patients commonly present with atypical features. The diagnosis of a systemic necrotizing vasculitis frequently remains unsuspected or unproven until an involved tissue is biopsied. We report an unusual case of systemic necrotizing vasculitis in which the diagnosis was confirmed by a transbronchial biopsy of the lung which demonstrated pulmonary capillaritis with hemorrhage.
Mining parameterized role-based policies

Role-based access control (RBAC) offers significant advantages over lower-level access control policy representations, such as access control lists (ACLs). However, the effort required for a large organization to migrate from ACLs to RBAC can be a significant obstacle to adoption of RBAC. Role mining algorithms partially automate the construction of an RBAC policy from an ACL policy and possibly other information. These algorithms can significantly reduce the cost of migration to RBAC.This paper defines a parameterized RBAC (PRBAC) framework in which users and permissions have attributes that are implicit parameters of roles and can be used in role definitions. Parameterization significantly enhances the scalability of RBAC, by allowing much more concise policies. This paper presents algorithms for mining such policies and reports the results of evaluating the algorithms on case studies. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first policy mining algorithms for a PRBAC framework. An evaluation on three small but non-trivial case studies demonstrates the effectiveness of our algorithms.
Synthetic, Structural, and Conformational Studies of Methylated Ring-Expanded Nucleosides Containing the Ihidazo[4, 5-e][1, 4]Diazepine Ring System

Abstract Syntheses of 4- and 7-methyl 4, 5, 7, 8-tetrahydro-6H-3-(β-ribofuranosyl)imidazo[4, 5-e] [1, 4]diazepine-5, 8-dione, 3 and 1, respectively, are reported. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the aglycon of 3 aided in confirming the site of methylation in 3, and that of 4 in elucidating the solid state conformation of 4. Solution conformations of 3 and 4, along with their parent nucleoside 1 and the latter's 1-glycosyl regioisomer 2, were investigated by NOE and CD measurements.
Adolescent suicide myths in the United States.

In the United States, teen suicide rates tripled over several decades, but have declined slightly since the mid-1990s. Suicide, by its nature, is a complex problem. Many myths have developed about individuals who complete suicide, suicide risk factors, current prevention programs, and the treatment of at-risk youth. The purpose of this article is to address these myths, to separate fact from fiction, and offer recommendations for future suicide prevention programs. Myth #1: Suicide attempters and completers are similar. Myth #2: Current prevention programs work. Myth #3: Teenagers have the highest suicide rate. Myth #4: Suicide is caused by family and social stress. Myth #5: Suicide is not inherited genetically. Myth #6: Teen suicide represents treatment failure. Psychiatric illnesses are often viewed differently from other medical problems. Research should precede any public health effort, so that suicide prevention programs can be designed, implemented, and evaluated appropriately. Too often suicide prevention programs do not use evidence-based research or practice methodologies. More funding is warranted to continue evidence-based studies. We propose that suicide be studied like any medical illness, and that future prevention efforts are evidence-based, with appropriate outcome measures.
Visible and near-ultraviolet absorption spectrum of liquid water: comment

Measurements of the absorption of pure water have been described [Appl. Opt. 38, 1216 (1999)]. This comment on that paper disputes the claims that (1) their list of references on pure water absorption is complete, (2) their result "...provides reliable data in the 320-420-nm region...," and (3) their data agree well with existing data in the literature. The clearest demonstration of these points is made by plotting their data and its associated error bars together with plots of other data in the literature that should be considered significantly more reliable. Finally, for practical applications that require absorption data, a suggestion is made for the best choice of absorption coefficients in the range of 196 nm <or= lambda <or= 700 nm.
Liberal use of tricuspid-valve annuloplasty during left-ventricular assist device implantation

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine whether liberal use of tricuspid-valve repair (TVr) is associated with adverse outcomes. METHODS: The study was a retrospective review of 51 implantable left-ventricular assist devices (LVADs) performed in a single center between January 2008 and December 2009. TVr using Edwards MC 3 annuloplasty ring was performed if there was either documented moderate or greater tricuspid regurgitation or severe annular dilatation. RESULTS: TVr was performed in 37 patients. One patient was converted to replacement intra-operatively. Compared with patients who did not have TVr, the age was similar (mean 52 vs 50 years, p = 0.62), as was frequency of the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) level 1 or 2 (43% vs 50%, p = 0.13). Day 1 hemodynamics were also similar: mean central venous pressure (13.5 vs 14 mmHg; p = 0.10) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (25 vs 25.6 mmHg; p = 0.76), as was Day 1 bilirubin (3.1 vs 3.9 mg dl �1 , p = 0.27). Median duration of mechanical ventilation (2 days) and inotropic support (5 days) and rates of bleeding were identical in both groups. Although there was a trend toward longer intensive care unit (ICU) stays in the TVr group (6 vs 5 days; p = 0.12), as a group these patients experienced less use of blood-product transfusion and less hospital length of stay. Hospital mortality was similar in both groups (TVr 18.9%, no TVr 21.4%, p = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: TVr can be applied during LVAD implantation without ‘obvious’ increase in perioperative risk. As there are theoretical benefits to eliminating tricuspid regurgitation, our data argue for a more liberal approach to TVr at the time of LVAD implantation.
Phytoplankton and episodic suspended sediment loading: Phosphate partitioning and mechanisms for survival

Enclosures within a turbid reservoir were used in combination with short-term laboratory experiments to examine some effects of suspended sediment loading on the community structure and phosphate uptake of the phytoplankton. Phytoplankton communities in duplicate field enclosures were treated at 7-d intervals for 8 weeks with a natural, fine-particulate clay in hydrated form, for comparison with species composition and abundances in communities from control enclosures without sediment additions. The phytoplankton community in field enclosures 7 d after final sediment addition was similar to that in controls (without sediment additions). The colonial blue-green Merismopedia punctata was dominant in cell number, and mixotrophic and heterotrophic dinoflagellates were dominant in biomass (based on cell surface area). The surprisingly diverse dinoflagellate assemblage consisted mostly of delicate athecate Gymnodinium spp. which were missed by conventional preservation techniques. Autoradiographs from short-term laboratory assays with trace concentrations of 33P0,3- revealed that clay particles adsorbed the radiolabel and also stimulated 33P043p uptake among all phytoplankton taxa examined. Algal uptake of radiolabeled P was highest immediately after sediment addition, indicating that one mechanism for survival under episodic sediment loading may be rapid uptake of POa3- for subsequent use after adverse conditions. Other apparent mechanisms involved in phytoplankton survival included rapid colony fragmentation (Merismopedia), partial or complete reliance on heterotrophy (dinoflagellates), and rapid formation of temporary cysts (dinoflagellates). Such mechanisms likely facilitate the characteristic resilience of abundant phytoplankton in turbid systems. Suspended sediments scoured by rivers and overland runoff pour into lakes, impoundments, and estuaries throughout the world. The influence of episodic sediment loading on phytoplankton communities varies with the composition, aging, chem
Unusual etiology of hyperkalemia in an immunocompromised patient

Hyperkalemia was found in an immunocompromised patient undergoing emergency cystoscopy. The cause of the hyperkalemia was an intraperitoneal rupture of the bladder. This case report discusses conditions that predispose patients to bladder rupture and anesthetic management of hyperkalemia.
ON THE LACK OF POWER OF OMNIBUS SPECIFICATION TESTS

Designed to have power against all alternatives, omnibus consistent tests are the primary econometric tools for testing the correct specification of parametric conditional means when there is no information about the possible alternative. The main purpose of this paper is to show that, contrary to what is generally believed, omnibus specification tests only have substantial local power against alternatives in a finite-dimensional space (usually unknown to the researcher). We call such a space the principal space. We characterize and estimate the principal space for Cramer–von Mises tests. These results are some of the by-products of a detailed theoretical power analysis carried out in the paper. This investigation focuses on the class of the so-called integrated consistent tests under possibly heteroskedastic time series. A Monte Carlo experiment examines the finite-sample properties of tests and estimators of preferred alternatives. Finally, an application of our theory to test the martingale difference hypothesis of some exchange rates provides new information on the rejection of omnibus tests and illustrates our findings.
The consistency of common neighbors for link prediction in stochastic blockmodels

Link prediction and clustering are key problems for network-structured data. While spectral clustering has strong theoretical guarantees under the popular stochastic blockmodel formulation of networks, it can be expensive for large graphs. On the other hand, the heuristic of predicting links to nodes that share the most common neighbors with the query node is much fast, and works very well in practice. We show theoretically that the common neighbors heuristic can extract clusters with high probability when the graph is dense enough, and can do so even in sparser graphs with the addition of a "cleaning" step. Empirical results on simulated and real-world data support our conclusions.
Hyponatremia due to Severe Primary Hypothyroidism in an Infant

Hyponatremia has been reported in the elderly with hypothyroidism and myxedema, but this has not been a universal finding in clinical studies and there have been only a few reports in children. We report a case of an infant who developed hyponatremia due to severe primary hypothyroidism. A 4-month-old ex-preterm male, who had been euthyroid on the newborn screen, developed unexplained hospital-acquired hyponatremia (serum Na 124 mEq/L) while on full oral feeds. He was euvolemic, appeared well and was without myxedema. An evaluation of hyponatremia was negative with the exception of severe primary hypothyroidism (TSH 315.4 IU/mL, repeat 540 IU/mL). The hyponatremia resolved with thyroxine supplementation. This case demonstrates that severe hypothyroidism can result in hyponatremia in infants. It is critical to consider hypothyroidism in the evaluation of an infant with unexplained hyponatremia as untreated hypothyroidism can lead to profound developmental delays.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance of Cr4+ in Yx2SiO5

Chromium-doped yttrium orthosilicate Cr:Y2SiO5 was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method at 9.5–9.7 GHz. EPR transitions were observed for Cr4+ substituting Si4+ in tetrahedral sites of Y2SiO5, and orientation dependence of the single crystal EPR spectrum was studied. The ground state of Cr4+ (electron configuration 3d2) in Y2SiO5 is a spin triplet (S = 1). Rhombic symmetry of the electron magnetic dipole-dipole interaction (zero field splitting) leads to three electron spin terms TX, TY and TZ in the absence of the external magnetic field. We have observed the magnetically induced anti-crossing of the terms Ty and TZ.We show that in the vicinity of energy level anti-crossing the linewidths and positions of the resonance lines depend on temperature.
Results of Four Methods of Sampling Individual Farms

Since January, 1937, the Central Statistical Board, Bureau of the Census, and Bureau of Agricultural Economics, have cooperated in studies designed to test various sampling procedures that might be used in making surveys of agriculture. Assistance in this research on Sample Farm Census methodology has also been had from the Departments of Economics of Iowa State College and Kansas State College, from the Works Progress Administrations of Iowa and New York City, and from various State offices of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. The plan for a sample census of agriculture originally advanced by Mr. J. B. Shepard contemplated the use of the Minor Civil Division as a sampling unit with certain restrictions and modifications.' The administrative advantages of the Minor Civil Division are undeniable. The Minor Civil Division is the smallest political unit for which U. S. Census data are tabulated. Since it is a definite geographical unit, its use as a sampling unit would facilitate the measurement of the movement of land into and out of agricultural production. Studies completed early in 1937 however indicate that, with the great amount of variability in agricultural data, the Minor Civil Division was too large a sampling unit to serve as a basis for county estimates. It could be used for estimates by areas, such as crop reporting districts or type of farming areas, on a few major items which are well distributed among farms. Even then, a 20 per cent sample was a minimum. The problem of determining the correct sampling procedure for a sample census of agriculture involves two fundamental considerations: first, the determination of the type of sampling unit which will, under a given set of conditions, give the greatest accuracy with the minimum of administrative difficulty and cost; and second, the determination of the size of sample necessary for a specified standard of accuracy. The expense of taking an annual sample census of agriculture would be difficult to justify unless such an enumerationsurvey would furnish the basic data necessary for making estimates on major agricultural items by counties, or type-of-farming areas. Accordingly, a project was outlined in September, 1937, for investigating the statistical possibilities of sampling units smaller than
A Particle Filter Approach to WiFi Target Localization

This paper presents a particle filter approach to solving radio source localization using only received signal strength indicator (RSSI) measurements. It uses a model that exploits the behavior of wireless signals in free space and obtains position estimates from the signal strength. These noisy position estimates are then used in a particle filter which estimates the posterior distribution of the radio source location. Simulation results demonstrate how the method works with one or more targets and show that the error quickly stabilizes to below 200 meters after 100 readings. Experiments conducted on two sets of flight data show that the error stabilizes to below 350 meters in a duration of a few minutes.
Effect of Heat Treatment on Properties of Alumina Green Sheet

Effect of heat treatment conditions on properties of aqueous alumina green sheets was investigated. A suspension was prepared by mixing alumina, water and binder using a ball mill. The binder was acrylic ester and acrylic acid copolymer stabilized at pH 8.5 with a dilute ammonium solution. Green sheets were fabricated with a doctor blade. The suspension was cast on a PET film and dried at 70°C 1h. The green sheets were heated at 80°, 100°, 120°, 150°, and 200°C for 1h. The properties of green sheets, such as strength, extension, solubility in a dilute ammonium solution and adsorption behavior of moisture changed remarkably at the temperature of treatment from 120° to 150°C. FTIR analysis revealed that changes in the properties of green sheets were caused by self-crosslinking of carboxylic groups of the binder. A small amount of water in a green sheet was found to be a kind of plasticizer.
On Evaluating the Role of Counterconditioning in Systematic Desensitization: A Methodological Note

It is pointed out that no experiment has properly evaluated the role of counterconditioning in systematic desensitization. It is argued that, despite claims to the contrary, the role of counterconditioning remains unclear. A previously unused but mandatory control “treatment” is described, and a particular approach to the problem of evaluating counterconditioning in systematic desensitization is briefly discussed.
Determination of trace Cr( VI) in drinking water using Cd Se fluorescence quantum dots

Cd Se quantum dots capped by GSH were synthesized in aqueous solution,which have a sensitive fluorescence quenching effect on trace Cr( VI). This paper reports a new,simple and rapid method to determine trace Cr( VI) in drinking water using Cd Se fluorescence quantum dots. The linear range of the proposed method was validated in the range 0. 05 ~ 2. 0 μg·L-1. The relative standard deviation was less than 5%; the recovery varied between 97 and 104% and the detection limit was 0. 01μg·L-1. The method is able to accurately determine trace Cr( VI) in drinking water with a lot of advantages,such as good reproducibility,accurate quantization et al.
Developmental Outcome of Very Preterm Infants at Adolescence Correlated with Grey and White Matter Abnormalities on MRI

MRI data of brains of 218 adolescents (ages 14-15 years) born very preterm, < 33 weeks gestation (VPT), and 128 controls bom at term were compared, using voxel-based morphometry, and the findings correlated with neurodevelopmental outcome in a study at King's College London Institute of Psychiatry and Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK.
The Superiority Requirement of Rule 23 Packs a Big Punch

Many class actions involving monetary damages are not certified because common issues of law or fact do not predominate. But the superiority requirement of Rule 23(b)(3), which requires a class action to be superior to other available methods for resolving the dispute, is also important. This short article answers three questions about the superiority requirement: (1) whether class certification can be denied based only on the superiority requirement; (2) whether courts may evaluate non-judicial alternatives to a class action, such as a defendant’s voluntary refund program; and (3) whether the other available methods must be superior to the proposed class. For a detailed discussion on why Rule 23(b)(3) requires courts to evaluate non-judicial alternatives, you should review the following article, A Company's Voluntary Refund Program for Consumers Can Be a Fair and Efficient Alternative to a Class Action, 31 Rev. Litig. 617 (2012).
Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is associated with worse outcomes in colon cancer patients.

Summary Background & aims The National Veterans' Affairs Surgical Risk Study identified preoperative hypoalbuminemia as an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. Since that time, few studies have investigated the use of preoperative markers as tools to risk stratify colon cancer patients. The purpose of our study is to determine if there is an association between preoperative hypoalbuminemia and 30-day patient morbidity and mortality in colon cancer patients using the Targeted-Colectomy American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP). Methods Stage I, II, and III elective colon resections with ileocolostomy or colocolostomy were identified within the ACS-NSQIP targeted colectomy database from 2012 through 2013. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as albumin Results A total of 5143 patients met inclusion criteria; 4397 (85.5%) patients had a normal albumin level while 746 (14.5%) had hypoalbuminemia. Preoperative hypoalbuminemia significantly increased the risk of 30-day mortality (p Conclusions Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is associated with an increased risk of early patient morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery for colon cancer. Preoperative optimization of this patient population warrants further investigation in order to prevent delay from surgical intervention to adjuvant therapy.
A class of scalable feedback algorithms for beam and null-forming from distributed arrays

We describe a class of scalable algorithms for shaping the transmission pattern of a distributed antenna array to steer beams and nulls to cooperating receivers. The key distinguishing feature of these algorithms is that no explicit channel state feedback from the receiver to individual transmitters, no channel reciprocity and minimal coordination between the transmitters is required. Instead, these algorithms are iterative, whereby the transmitters periodically make small adjustments to their transmit array weights, and the intended beam or null target responds by sending a common feedback message every period to all the transmitters. This message consists of a single complex number that represents the aggregate signal amplitude and phase of the array nodes combined transmission at the receiver. By repeatedly probing the receiver in this way and using the resulting feedback messages, we show that the transmitters can converge to the correct array weights necessary to steer beams and nulls at the receiver in a completely decentralized fashion. We describe the intuition behind this technique as well as numerical comparisons with previous work.
The Second Bill of Rights: A Reconsideration

This paper revisits the so-called "Second Bill of Rights," proposed in passing in Franklin Delano Roosevelt's State of the Union address for 1944. Contrary to a well-known earlier appraisal of the speech that elevated it to far more significance than it had in its time, the paper argues that the "second bill" for economic and social entitlements matters primarily because it marked the death-knell of hopes for the reform of American market capitalism. It was not just that it came at the end of a war that hardly reached American soil, and thus confirmed the country's divergence from the European path to the welfare state, nor that the American war economy had ratified the unique role of business interests in circumventing the otherwise transatlantically victorious planning state. Rather, with its late timing the speech simultaneously memorialized and truncated the egalitarian and institutionalist approaches to market relations that had made the earlier phases of the New Deal genuinely significant. The paper ends its reconsideration of the speech by examining the politics of its neoliberal reclamation by Cass Sunstein, who shared neither the egalitarian nor the institutionalist aspirations of the New Deal, but could rally to a "second bill" because it anticipated a politics of minimalist judicial enforcement he was then separately championing.
Casi la verdad: silencios y secretos en la posdictadura del general Augusto Pinochet en Chile

Nuestro trabajo, Casi la Verdad: Silencios y Secretos en la post-dictadura del General Augusto Pinochet en Chile, examina testimonios de militares y personal civil de inteligencia chilena procesado...
Mass diffusion cloaking and focusing with metamaterials

Recent advances in the design of metamaterials that control diffusive transport processes have enabled efficient devices to manipulate heat conduction. In contrast, control of mass diffusion with metamaterial devices has been largely unexplored. Mass diffusion is critically important in multiple research areas ranging from electronic and energy materials to chemical and biological systems. In this work, we introduce a physical approach to design mass diffusion metamaterial devices that take into account the fundamental physical mechanisms behind mass transport. We demonstrate that mass concentration discontinuities arising from different material solubilities are critical physical factors that need to be incorporated for the accurate design and characterization of mass diffusion metamaterial devices. We employ our approach to devise and analyze cloaking and focusing of molecules and show how the difference in solubilities is critically important for the efficiency of the metamaterials. This work provides ...
Unexpected Competition between Antiferromagnetic and Ferromagnetic States in Hf2MnRu5B2: Predicted and Realized.

Materials “design” is increasingly gaining importance in the solid-state materials community in general and in the field of magnetic materials in particular. Density functional theory (DFT) predicted the competition between ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground states in a ruthenium-rich Ti3Co5B2-type boride (Hf2MnRu5B2) for the first time. Vienna ab initio simulation package (VASP) total energy calculations indicated that the FM model was marginally more stable than one of the AFM models (AFM1), indicating very weak interactions between magnetic 1D Mn chains that can be easily perturbated by external means (magnetic field or composition). The predicted phase was then synthesized by arc-melting and characterized as Hf2Mn1–xRu5+xB2 (x = 0.27). Vibrating-scanning magnetometry shows an AFM ground state with TN ≈ 20 K under low magnetic field (0.005 T). At moderate-to-higher fields, AFM ordering vanishes while FM ordering emerges with a Curie temperature of 115 K. These experimental outcomes c...
TRAF6 and TAK1 control signals for a senescence response by an endosomal NK cell receptor (INC2P.414)

The endosomal innate receptor CD158d (KIR2DL4) induces cellular senescence in human NK cells in response to soluble ligand (HLA-G or agonist antibody). These senescent NK cells display a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and their secretome promotes vascular remodeling and angiogenesis. To understand how CD158d initiates signaling for a senescence response, we mapped the region in its cytoplasmic tail that controls signaling. We identified a conserved TRAF6 binding motif, which was required for CD158d-induced NF-κB activation and IL-8 secretion, for TRAF6 association with CD158d, and for TRAF6 recruitment to CD158d + endosomes in transfected cells. The adaptor TRAF6 is known to couple proximal signals from receptors such as endosomal TLRs and CD40 through the kinase TAK1 for NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory responses. siRNA-mediated silencing of TRAF6 and TAK1, and inhibition of TAK1 blocked CD158d-dependent IL-8 secretion. Stimulation of primary, resting NK cells with soluble Ab to CD158d, induced TRAF6 association with CD158d, induced TAK1 phosphorylation, and inhibition of TAK1 blocked the CD158d-dependent reprogramming of NK cells that produces the SASP signature. Our results reveal that a prototypic TLR and TNF-receptor signaling pathway is used by a killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor that promotes secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic mediators as part of a unique senescence phenotype in NK cells.
Substrate stiffness-dependent exacerbation of endothelial permeability and inflammation: mechanisms and potential implications in ALI and PH (2017 Grover Conference Series).

The maintenance of endothelial barrier integrity is absolutely essential to prevent the vascular leak associated with pneumonia, pulmonary edema resulting from inhalation of toxins, acute elevation...
Sexual Health Care Practitioners' Evaluation of Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Abstract Background The Institute of Medicine Report and Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2020 Initiative have called for steps to address health disparities facing sexual minorities. Aim We sought to characterize the practice patterns of sexual health specialists as they relate to men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods Surveys were electronically mailed to 696 members of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA). Responses were compared using descriptive statistics and χ2 analysis with Yates correction where appropriate. Outcomes Outcomes were SMSNA members' demographics, their assessment of their patients' sexual orientation, and adaptation of care to address the specific needs of their MSM patients. Results 92 (13.2%) Members responded. While 93.3% of respondents reported treating MSM patients, only 51.7% routinely asked about sexual orientation. Of those that do not ask, 41.9% responded that sexual orientation is irrelevant to their patients' care and 25.6% responded that patients will disclose this information if the patient thinks it is important. Practitioners inquiring about sexual orientation were more likely to practice in urban settings; more likely to inquire about a greater number of sexual behaviors; more likely to tailor their care to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender needs; and more likely to endorse the notion that homosexual/bisexual patients have unique sexual dysfunction concerns. Clinical Translation Limited and uneven inquiry about sexual orientation necessitates efforts aimed at tailoring care to the needs of sexual minority patients. Strengths & Limitations This survey addresses a gap in the literature by investigating predictors and practical consequences of practitioner inquiry about sexual orientation. Limitations include a low response rate, disparate study population, the potential influence of respondent social desirability biases, and spurious associations due to a multiplicity of statistical tests. Conclusion Only about half of surveyed SMSNA members ask their patients' sexual orientation; inquiry about sexual orientation was associated with practice setting and with provider practice patterns and attitudes. Saheb Kashaf M, Butler PR, Cordon-Galiano BH, et al. Sexual Health Care Practitioners' Evaluation of Men Who Have Sex With Men. J Sex Med 2018;15:942–946.
The Grammatical Rule of DNA Language

All DNA base sequences, regardless of their origins or functions (coding versus non-coding) are messages written in palindromic verses. The canonical grammatical rule of DNA language is CG/TA deficiency, TG/CT/CA excess and all other grammatical rules are corollaries of this canonical. A large number of palindromic oligomers occur in all sequences. Furthermore, given a long enough sequence two complementary base oligomers are always found in nearly equal numbers. Translated into English, DNA sequences might read something like the following palindrome: “Doom Sad named was dog DNA, devil’s deeds lived, and God saw demand as mood.” The above might be entitled “Dog as a messenger of Satan,” for aside from “deed” which is a palindrome, “God” is complementary to “dog,” “and” to “DNA” and “devil” to “lived.”
Emerging Aspects of Angiotensin Biology and Their Potential Role in the Vasculature

Angiotensin II, a major effector protein of the renin-angiotensin, system plays important roles in the regulation of arterial pressure and intravascular volume. In addition, operating at the systemic, tissue, and cellular levels it modifies vascular structure and inflammation, thereby participating in the pathogenesis of hypertension, atherosclerosis, and vascular stiffening. Here recent findings regarding angiotensin II biology and their potential relevance for vascular biology and disease are discussed
The Glivenko-Cantelli Theorem in a Banach Space Setting

Let (S, S, μ) be a complete probability space. Let (S∞, S∞, μ∞) be the product measure space and let πi: S∞ → S be the natural projection on the i-th coordinate, that is πi((S J)) = S i.} For a Banach space B set $$\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {LLN(\mu ,B) = f:S \to B|\exists a\epsilon B:{{{({{\mu }^{\infty }})}}_{*}}\left\{ {({{s}_{j}})\epsilon {{S}^{\infty }}|} \right.} \\ {\mathop{{\lim }}\limits_{{n \to \infty }} ||a - \frac{1}{n}\sum\limits_{{i = 1}}^{n} f o{{\pi }_{i}}(({{s}_{j}}))|| = 0 = 1} \\ \end{array}$$ where (μ ∞ )* is the inner measure of μ∞. Equivalently f ∈ LLN(μ,B) iff there exists a ∈ B so that $$\mathop{{\lim }}\limits_{{n \to \infty }} \mathop{1}\limits_{n} \sum\limits_{{i = 1}}^{n} f o{{\pi }_{i}}(({{s}_{j}})) = a\; {{\mu }^{\infty }} - a.s. $$ (1.2) .
Computer-Aided Elucidation of Reaction Mechanisms: Partial Oxidation of Methane

We have applied artificial intelligence principles to the problem of inferring simple reaction mechanisms that are consistent with available experimental evidence. The interactive computer program MECHEM is based on a combinatorial heuristic search, and has recently found an interesting new mechanism on a long-studied model reaction in heterogeneous catalysis. Here, we show that MECHEM is applicable to methane and alkane conversion chemistry. First, we give a cursory description of the program, and then describe the results of its application to illustrative cases of the partial oxidation of methane.
Evaluating Article Search and Selection Procedures in Special Education Literature Reviews.

Literature reviews allow education professionals to identify effective interventions and assess trends in research and practice. However, issues with transparency and the specific methods used in c...
Prp8 impacts cryptic but not alternative splicing frequency

Pre-mRNA splicing must occur with extremely high fidelity. Spliceosomes assemble onto pre-mRNA guided by specific sequences (5' splice site, 3' splice site, and branchpoint). When splice sites are mutated, as in many hereditary diseases, the spliceosome can aberrantly select nearby pseudo- or "cryptic" splice sites, often resulting in nonfunctional protein. How the spliceosome distinguishes authentic splice sites from cryptic splice sites is poorly understood. We performed a Caenorhabditis elegans genetic screen to find cellular factors that affect the frequency with which the spliceosome uses cryptic splice sites and identified two alleles in core spliceosome component Prp8 that alter cryptic splicing frequency. Subsequent complementary genetic and structural analyses in yeast implicate these alleles in the stability of the spliceosome's catalytic core. However, despite a clear effect on cryptic splicing, high-throughput mRNA sequencing of these prp-8 mutant C. elegans reveals that overall alternative splicing patterns are relatively unchanged. Our data suggest the spliceosome evolved intrinsic mechanisms to reduce the occurrence of cryptic splicing and that these mechanisms are distinct from those that impact alternative splicing.
Demography and destiny: The syngameon in hyperdiverse systems

In PNAS, Levi et al. (1) argue that near-neighbor exclusion zones of conspecifics suffice to maintain tropical biodiversity. Their argument, while supported by computer simulations, does not consider ( i ) the influence that demographic processes may have on species survival or ( ii ) the phylogenetic distribution of diversity found in tropical systems. We agree that the fine-scale spatial effects of enemies described by Levi et al. may play a role in hyperdiverse systems, but we do not believe that this effect is sufficient for the long-term maintenance of diversity. As first detailed experimentally by Allee and Bowen (2), populations … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed: Email: ccannon{at}mortonarb.org. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
GP59 A rare cause of ‘mitochondrial disorder’: cockayne syndrome

A 16 month old toddler presented with global developmental delay, truncal hypotonia and microcephaly. Her background history was significant for bilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip, recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, conductive hearing loss and a scalp haemangioma. Development had been apparently normal up until 6 months of age. Over the course of her follow-up she developed signs of cerebellar dysfunction including intention tremor and broad based ataxia, chronic feeding difficulties, pigmentary retinopathy and skin photosensitivity. MRI brain at age 2.5 years showed delayed myelination and cerebellar atrophy. A skeletal muscle biopsy revealed reduced activities for the respiratory chain complexes I, II and IV, in particular, in keeping with a mitochondrial condition. After extensive genetic investigations failed to identify the underlying aetiology, an exome sequencing study was carried out and revealed a mutation in the ERCC6 DNA repair gene, consistent with Cockayne syndrome (OMIM # 133540). This is a rare autosomal recessive genetic condition which causes microcephaly, developmental delay and failure to thrive, along with sun sensitivity, tooth decay, bone abnormalities, hearing and vision loss and other symptoms. The patient has been managed with multidisciplinary care and symptomatic treatment, including skin protection, as well as nutritional and multivitamin supplements. She is wheelchair bound and non-verbal but otherwise medically well at age 7 yrs. Many clinical signs seen in patients with Cockayne syndrome are also found in patients with a primary mitochondrial disease. Conversely, secondary dysfunctional mitochondria may also contribute to the phenotype of patients with Cockayne syndrome. Taken together, this case demonstrates the value of exome sequencing in diagnosing and differentiating rare disorders with diverse and overlapping phenotypes, including primary and secondary mitochondrial conditions, which are less likely to be diagnosed on clinical grounds and biochemical investigations alone.
Infusing hope into the treatment of suicidality: A review of ketamine's effects on suicidality.

Given recent increases in rates of suicide and lack of rapid treatments for suicidality, ketamine has been identified as a potential fast-acting anti-suicidal treatment. Our review seeks to describe the effects of ketamine on suicidality, given the growing literature on the use of ketamine in reducing suicidality. We examine open-label studies and randomized controlled trials evaluating the treatment of suicidality with ketamine. Furthermore, our manuscript identifies potential mechanisms of ketamine’s effects on suicidality. Based on existing RCTs, ketamine appears to have rapid anti-suicidal effects, with most literature studying such effects in timeframes less than 1 week. Although still in the early stages of research, mechanisms of ketamine include modulation of molecular, inflammatory, neural, cognitive, and behavioral processes. Thus, ketamine appears to be a promising treatment for suicidality but requires larger scale and more robust RCTs to confirm the potential use of this agent in clinical settings.
Incrementally Improving Graph WaveNet Performance on Traffic Prediction.

We present a series of modifications which improve upon Graph WaveNet's previously state-of-the-art performance on the METR-LA traffic prediction task. The goal of this task is to predict the future speed of traffic at each sensor in a network using the past hour of sensor readings. Graph WaveNet (GWN) is a spatio-temporal graph neural network which interleaves graph convolution to aggregate information from nearby sensors and dilated convolutions to aggregate information from the past. We improve GWN by (1) using better hyperparameters, (2) adding connections that allow larger gradients to flow back to the early convolutional layers, and (3) pretraining on an easier short-term traffic prediction task. These modifications reduce the mean absolute error by .06 on the METR-LA task, nearly equal to GWN's improvement over its predecessor. These improvements generalize to the PEMS-BAY dataset, with similar relative magnitude. We also show that ensembling separate models for short-and long-term predictions further improves performance. Code is available at this https URL .
Artificial food coloring affects EEG power and ADHD symptoms in college students with ADHD: a pilot study.

Objectives: Removing artificial food coloring (AFC) is a common dietary intervention for children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but has not been tested in young adults. This...
Long-Distance Dispersal by Eastern Gray Squirrels in Suburban Habitats

Natal dispersal by Sciurus carolinensis (Eastern Gray Squirrel) is poorly understood, given so rarely reported, yet dispersal patterns in small mammals can affect seed dispersal and predation, as well as population dynamics of predators. Herein, I document long-distance dispersal by 3 Eastern Gray Squirrels from the suburban coastal campus of the University of New England in Biddeford, ME. Mean dispersal distance was 10.1 km (min–max = 6.3–14.5 km), occurring in random directions (SW, S, NW). These results, combined with the previous studies, better describe the distribution of natal dispersal by Eastern Gray Squirrel—critical information in understanding population processes and potentially developing effective landscape-management strategies.
Automated in Vivo Assessment of Vascular Response to Radiation Using a Hybrid Theranostic X-Ray Irradiator/Fluorescence Molecular Imaging System

Hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy treatments (SBRT) have demonstrated impressive results for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. The role of tumor supporting vasculature damage in treatment outcome for SBRT has been intensely debated and studied. Fast, non-invasive, longitudinal assessments of tumor vasculature would allow for thorough investigations of vascular changes correlated with SBRT treatment response. In this paper, we present a novel theranostic system which incorporates a fluorescence molecular imager into a commercial, preclinical, microCT-guided, irradiator and was designed to quantify tumor vascular response (TVR) to targeted radiotherapy. This system overcomes the limitations of single-timepoint imaging modalities by longitudinally assessing spatiotemporal differences in intravenously-injected ICG kinetics in tumors before and after high-dose radiation. Changes in ICG kinetics were rapidly quantified by principle component (PC) analysis before and two days after 10 Gy targeted tumor irradiation. A classifier algorithm based on PC data clustering identified pixels with TVR. Results show that two days after treatment, a significant delay in ICG clearance as measured by exponential decay (40.5±16.1% P=0.0405 Paired t-test n=4) was observed. Changes in the mean normalized first and second PC feature pixel values (PC1 & PC2) were found (P=0.0559, 0.0432 paired t-test), suggesting PC based analysis accurately detects changes in ICG kinetics. The PC based classification algorithm yielded spatially-resolved TVR maps. Our first-of-its-kind theranostic system, allowing automated assessment of TVR to SBRT, will be used to better understand the role of tumor perfusion in metastasis and local control.