cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Cys214-->Ser mutation in peripherin/rds causes a loss-of-function phenotype in transgenic mice.

P/rds (peripherin/retinal degeneration slow) is a photoreceptor-specific membrane glycoprotein necessary for outer segment disc morphogenesis. Mutations in P/rds are associated with different blinding diseases. A C214S (Cys214→Ser) missense mutation has been shown to be the cause for a late-onset form of ADRP (autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa) in humans. In the present study, we generated transgenic mice expressing P/rds with the C214S mutation and crossed them into rds mutant mice to elucidate the mechanism underlying the pathology of ADRP. Although an ample amount of transgene message was formed in C214S retinas from all transgenic lines, only a trace amount of the mutant protein was detected by Western blotting and immunoprecipitation. C214S mice on the wild-type or rds+/− backgrounds exhibited no signs of negative effects of the mutation on retinal structure or function, suggesting a loss-of-function phenotype. This phenotype is further supported by the absence of outer segment formation in the C214S mice on the rds−/− background. In contrast, expression of C214S protein in the inner retinal cells of transgenic mice or in COS cells resulted in the formation of a substantial amount of mutant protein, signifying a possible photoreceptor-specific regulation of P/rds. These results provide evidence that the loss-of-function phenotype seen in C214S transgenic mice shows a disease progression that correlates with ADRP patients carrying the same mutation, indicating that the C214S mutation on one allele of P/rds results in haploinsufficiency.
Affect, Reason, Risk and Rationality

Our understanding of the psychology of human judgment, preference and choice is continually evolving. Behavioral researchers are coming to recognize that there is an aspect of information-processing that has been rather neglected. This is the, experiential, affect-based side of our mental life, which appears every bit as important as the analytic/deliberative side that has been the focus of much prior research and the foundation for multi criteria decision analysis. This essay will briefly describe new research demonstrating the powerful influence of affect on decision-making. Reliance on affect is essential to rational behavior yet it sometimes misleads us. In such circumstances we need to ensure that reason also is employed.
An adenovirus-derived protein: A novel candidate for anti-diabetic drug development.

Abstract Aims Exposure to human adenovirus Ad36 is causatively and correlatively linked with better glycemic control in animals and humans, respectively. Although the anti-hyperglycemic property of Ad36 may offer some therapeutic potential, it is impractical to use an infectious agent for therapeutic benefit. Cell-based studies identified that Ad36 enhances cellular glucose disposal via its E4orf1 protein. Ability to improve glycemic control in vivo is a critical prerequisite for further investigating the therapeutic potential of E4orf1. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the ability of E4orf1 to improve glycemic control independent of insulin despite high fat diet. Materials & Methods 8–9wk old male C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (60% kcal) were injected with a retrovirus plasmid expressing E4orf1, or a null vector (Control). Glycemic control was determined by glucose and insulin tolerance test. Islet cell size, amount of insulin and glucagon were determined in formalin-fixed pancreas. Rat insulinoma cell line (832/13) was infected with E4orf1 or control to determine changes in glucose stimulated insulin secretion. Protein from flash frozen adipose tissue depots, liver and muscle was used to determine molecular signaling by western blotting. Results In multiple experiments, retrovirus-mediated E4orf1 expression in C57BL/6J mice significantly and reproducibly improved glucose excursion following a glucose load despite a high fat diet (60% energy). Importantly, E4orf1 improved glucose clearance without increasing insulin sensitivity, production or secretion, underscoring its insulin-independent effect. E4orf1 modulated molecular signaling in mice tissue, which included greater protein abundance of adiponectin, p-AKT and Glucose transporter Glu4. Conclusions This study provides the proof of concept for translational development of E4orf1 as a potential anti-diabetic agent. High fat intake and impaired insulin signaling are often associated with obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance. Hence, the ability of E4orf1 to improve glycemic control despite high fat diet and independent of insulin, is particularly attractive.
THE INFLUENCE OF MARKET CONDITIONS ON POISON PUT USE IN CONVERTIBLE BONDS

The objective of this study is to increase understanding of why poison put covenants are included in convertible bond contracts. We compare characteristics of convertible bond issuers who used poison puts with those who did not for the period from 1986 to 2002. We focus our analysis on two sub periods, 1988-1990 and 1991-1998, which were characterized by dramatically different financial market conditions. Our results show that almost all convertible bond issuers used poison put covenants during the late 1980s, a period of extremely high event risk. In contrast, poison put users differed from nonusers during the sub period of 1991-1998, with users having lower operating profit margins and higher capital expenditure ratios than nonusers. Given recent growing interest in bond covenants that address event risk, the findings of this study provide useful insights to practitioners. JEL: G24; G32
Chronic Therapy With Elamipretide (MTP-131), a Novel Mitochondria-Targeting Peptide, Improves Left Ventricular and Mitochondrial Function in Dogs With Advanced Heart Failure

Background— Elamipretide (MTP-131), a novel mitochondria-targeting peptide, was shown to reduce infarct size in animals with myocardial infarction and improve renal function in pigs with acute and chronic kidney injury. This study examined the effects of chronic therapy with elamipretide on left ventricular (LV) and mitochondrial function in dogs with heart failure (HF). Methods and Results— Fourteen dogs with microembolization-induced HF were randomized to 3 months monotherapy with subcutaneous injections of elamipretide (0.5 mg/kg once daily, HF+ELA, n=7) or saline (control, HF-CON, n=7). LV ejection fraction, plasma n-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and C-reactive protein were measured before (pretreatment) and 3 months after initiating therapy (post-treatment). Mitochondrial respiration, membrane potential (Δψm), maximum rate of ATP synthesis, and ATP/ADP ratio were measured in isolated LV cardiomyocytes obtained at post-treatment. In HF-CON dogs, ejection fraction decreased at post-treatment compared with pretreatment (29±1% versus 31±2%), whereas in HF+ELA dogs, ejection fraction significantly increased at post-treatment compared with pretreatment (36±2% versus 30±2%; P P P Conclusions— Long-term therapy with elamipretide improves LV systolic function, normalizes plasma biomarkers, and reverses mitochondrial abnormalities in LV myocardium of dogs with advanced HF. The results support the development of elamipretide for the treatment of HF.
Bulging of Rubber through Apertures

Abstract 1. When rubber bulges through an aperture, the bulge height varies linearly with applied pressure. It also varies linearly with radius or width of the aperture when the dimensions of the rubber block are much larger than the aperture, in good agreement with linear elasticity theory. When the block is not much larger than the radius or width of the aperture, a simple empirical factor provides a satisfactory correction. 2. FEM results were in good agreement with experiment in all cases and confirmed the empirical correction for relatively large apertures. 3. Bulge profiles were calculated to be elliptical in all cases. 4. Results for an elastic solid are wholly consistent with Roscoe's results for a viscous liquid. 5. Changing slip conditions at the interface had a surprisingly small effect. The exact theory, Equations (5) and (7), is based upon a nonslip condition. When a fully lubricated condition was employed instead, so that free sliding was allowed at the interface, the maximum bulge heights p...
Queering Post-War Childhood: Pa negre (Agustí Villaronga, Spain 2010)

The ideologically opposed camps of the ‘two Spains’ have given rise to two corresponding ‘cines con nino’. From the final years of Franco’s dictatorship, and in greater numbers since the 1990s, films forming a nuevo cine con nino have appeared. Agusti Villaronga’s Pa negre (2010) shares commonalities with earlier features, but is unique in its queering of the childhood represented in the cines con nino. The figure of the ghostly gay child, per Kathryn Bond Stockton’s concept, is key to understanding how the first Catalan-language feature to win a Best Film Goya is the exception that proves the representational rules of the nuevo cine con nino’s retrospection on post-war childhood. The current study explores Villaronga’s queering of the main character in relation to a wider spectrum of difference during Franco’s dictatorship and in distinction from its nuevo cine con nino peers present in the film as Derridean ‘phantom’ intertexts. Villaronga’s adaptation of Emili Teixidor’s works, Pa negre (2003) and Retr...
How to Communicate with Executives and Governing Bodies

This chapter stresses that communicating with executives and governing bodies is perhaps the most important skill set one should possess or strive to acquire. The chapter's focus is on knowing what executives expect from a security professional: the ability to translate his or her body of knowledge in clear terms that have meaning and value and in a language that matters to the chief executive officer. Presentation, control of time, organization, and useful graphics are emphasized. Actual case histories highlight poor attempts to communicate with executives and board members.
A Protocol for Recording Visual and Motor Behaviour for Scientific Support in the Teaching and Training of Sailing in a Simulator

This research aims to test the suitability of a protocol for automated measurement to describe visual and motor behaviour in the process of learning to sail. The objective is to provide coaches with the necessary scientific and technological support to analyse the variables of success in race starting. The study was performed with a highly ranked sailor in the Optimist class ranking. The instruments used to carry out the investigation were the sailing simulator VSail-Trainer ® and the eye tracking system ASL ® . Two simulated race starts were performed with a protocol of five minutes. The results show the automated protocol is suitable for measuring the ability of boat handling and visual performance in simulated conditions. Visual behaviour shows that the sailor visually fixates on locations that provide relevant information for the race start such as clock, other competitors, wind direction and the start buoys.
Comparative Study of Spider Communities in Alfalfa and Soybean Ecosystems: Ground-Surface Spiders

Ground-surface spider communities were examined using pitfall traps during three consecutive growing seasons to determine whether a perennial crop (alfalfa) supported a more persistent community than an annual crop (soybean). Similarities were found between crops in species composition, seasonal patterns of evenness, and the relative abundances of guilds. However, differences were found in the seasonal trends of the number of individuals present, as well as species richness. Overall, the ground-surface spider community in alfalfa appeared to be better established than that in soybean. This was probably due to the more constant environment resulting from the relatively dense vegetation cover and the formation of a thatch layer in the perennial habitat.
Thermal spraying wear-resistance layer onto material surface of sucker rod

In order to improve wear-resistance of the sucker rod,20CrMo was used as material of experiment samples,alloy and graphite powders were used as material of the layer,an acetylene blowtorch of thermal spray apparatus was used to apply a wear-resistance layer to 20CrMo surface.A pin-on-disc wear tester was used to test the dry sliding friction behavior of 20CrMo and layer.Microstructure of layer and morphology of worn surface was examined using a scanning electron microscope.The results of experiments indicate that the friction coefficient of the layer is a half of that of 20CrMo.Wear loss of the layer is 1/5 of that of 20CrMo.It means that the layer can greatly improve wear-resistance of 20CrMo.The lubricant graphite in the layer plays an important role in wear-resistance improvement.
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT WITH PULMONARY INFECTION

SUMMARY Pneumonia is a common and potentially fatal complication of transplantation. The clinical approach to this problem requires a multipronged attack. Thorough evaluation of the donor and recipient reduces the risk of infection while pointing to likely infectious complications to be anticipated posttransplant. Careful attention to infection control measures with emphasis on handwashing, high efficiency particulate air filtration, and aggressive outbreak investigation minimizes nosocomial pneumonias. Appropriate use of vaccines and prophylactic antimicrobial therapies decreases posttransplant morbidity and mortality. Once pneumonia occurs, a rapid, thorough diagnostic evaluation increases the likelihood of survival for the individual patient and focuses attention on environmental risks that may pose a hazard to the other transplant recipients in the clinician's institution.
The dilemma of required curriculum for emerging technologies in primary care

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES A core curriculum for procedural training in family practice is desirable. However, opinions differ as to which of many emerging technologies should be taught. This lack of agreement is due in part to the political and financial burdens of securing hospital privileges, the scheduling burdens of expanding an overcrowded curriculum, and a generational barrier between physicians who feel that technology enhances the biopsychosocial model versus those who feel otherwise. Nevertheless, as emerging technologies are shown to have established value in primary care, the core procedural curriculum will continue to evolve.
Purposeful Entanglements: A New Materialist Analysis of Transformative Interviews:

In this article, we explore transformative interviewing through the lens of new materialism. Rather than viewing transformation through a humanist perspective that centralizes a transcendent self, we draw upon Barad’s agential realism to reconsider transformation following the ontological turn. Thinking with agential realism, we engaged two interview studies, one on biracialism and one on masculinity, to demonstrate how the materiality of our interviews (e.g., research bodies, computer programs, questionnaires) intra-acted with our participants to both facilitate and hinder our attempts at transformation. We conclude by theorizing transformation as a type of purposeful entanglement that proceeds from the material-discursive intra-actions of our inquiries.
NRGC: a novel referential genome compression algorithm.

Motivation: Next-generation sequencing techniques produce millions to billions of short reads. The procedure is not only very cost effective but also can be done in laboratory environment. The state-of-the-art sequence assemblers then construct the whole genomic sequence from these reads. Current cutting edge computing technology makes it possible to build genomic sequences from the billions of reads within a minimal cost and time. As a consequence, we see an explosion of biological sequences in recent times. In turn, the cost of storing the sequences in physical memory or transmitting them over the internet is becoming a major bottleneck for research and future medical applications. Data compression techniques are one of the most important remedies in this context. We are in need of suitable data compression algorithms that can exploit the inherent structure of biological sequences. Although standard data compression algorithms are prevalent, they are not suitable to compress biological sequencing data effectively. In this article, we propose a novel referential genome compression algorithm (NRGC) to effectively and efficiently compress the genomic sequences. Results: We have done rigorous experiments to evaluate NRGC by taking a set of real human genomes. The simulation results show that our algorithm is indeed an effective genome compression algorithm that performs better than the best-known algorithms in most of the cases. Compression and decompression times are also very impressive. Availability and Implementation: The implementations are freely available for non-commercial purposes. They can be downloaded from: http://www.engr.uconn.edu/~rajasek/NRGC.zip Contact: rajasek@engr.uconn.edu
CHAPTER 3.3 – Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections by liposome-encapsulated drugs *

This chapter describes the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus. Streptomycin sulfate encapsulated in phosphatidylcholine liposomes prepared by detergent dialysis and administered intravenously at a dose of 50 mg/kg on days 4, 7, and 10 after infection, significantly reduced the colony forming units (CFU) in the spleen, while free streptomycin did not cause a statistically significant change in the CFU. A slight reduction of CFU in the lungs was also noted. The survival of the infected animals increased from about 12 days in untreated controls to almost 20 days in those treated with liposomal streptomycin; free streptomycin at the same dose increased survival to about 16 days. The first study on the effect of liposome-encapsulated antibiotics for the treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex utilized negatively charged multilamellar liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid, and encapsulating the aminoglycoside amikacin. The efficacy of the liposomes was tested in human macrophages infected with the microorganism. The concluding remarks of the studies show the potential as well as the limitations of liposome-encapsulated drugs for the therapy of HIV-1 and Mycobacterial infections. In the case of Mycobacterial infections, the therapeutic advantage of certain liposomal antibiotics is clearly established. The delivery of certain anti-HIV-1 drugs in liposomes may be advantageous, particularly for potent compounds with low oral bioavailability.
The Influence of Institutional Investors on Analyst Earnings Forecast Properties

Analysts are motivated to fulfill client demand for information, and institutional investors are sell-side analysts’ most important clients. Following time allocation theory, analysts likely prioritize tasks and the firms they follow to maximize their overall utility. I posit analysts issue more accurate and informative earnings forecasts for firms that provide greater expected utility to the analyst. Using the firm’s exposure to institutional investors, as a measure of expected utility, I find that analysts report more accurate forecasts for firms with greater exposure to institutional investors. In addition, I find evidence that analysts issue more informative earnings forecasts for firms with greater exposure to institutions that rely on private information, specifically institutions with transient investment strategies. These findings suggest that analysts allocate greater forecasting resources to firms with more exposure to priority clients and issue more informative and accurate forecasts for these firms.
Abendvortrag: Vergessene Briefe. Erkundungen am Rand des literarischen Kanons

In einer Geschichte von Danilo Kis, in der der Autor mit einer weiblichen Stimme spricht, begleiten wir die Ich-Erzahlerin auf einem nachtlichen Gang durch eine Stadt im Norden, der in einer Bibliothek endet. In den dunklen Salen, in denen sich niemand auser ihr aufhalt, zieht es die Erzahlerin zu den endlosen Reihen von Folianten an den Wanden. Sie entdeckt, das in jedem Raum die Bande mit einem Buchstaben der »beruhmten Enzyklopadie der Toten« stehen. Beim Blattern stellt sie fest, das hier nicht etwa die Grosen und Beruhmten der Geschichte versammelt sind, sondern umgekehrt die, die nichts hinterlassen haben, von denen man nichts weis: »Die einzige Bedingung — das hatte ich aber sofort begriffen, denn dieser Gedanke war mir anscheinend wie von selbst zugeflogen, noch bevor ich ihn uberprufen konnte —, um in die Enzyklopadie der Toten aufgenommen zu werden, war, das derjenige, dessen Name hier vertreten sein sollte, in keiner anderen Enzyklopadie vorkommen durfte.«1 Akribisch genau sind hier die Details des Lebens all derer aufgeschrieben, die sonst nicht das Privileg der Tradierung erfahren. Erinnerungen an Farben, Geruche, Fetzen von Musik. All das Alltagliche, Unwichtige und Zufallige, das ein Leben ausmacht. Ein schones Paradox. Jemand liest in dicken Buchern die Geschichte derer, die nicht uberliefert werden und von deren Leben genau das aufgeschrieben wurde, was nicht wichtig, nicht reprasentativ ist. Jemand liest, was niemand geschrieben haben kann.
Abstract B08: Invariant NKT cells as a platform for cancer immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptors

Advances in the design of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have improved the anti-tumor efficacy of redirected T cells. However, functional heterogeneity of CAR T cells and their restriction by polymorphic HLA molecules limit their therapeutic potential and are associated with toxicity, especially in allogeneic settings. We proposed that CAR expression in Vα24-invariant NKT cells (NKTs) can build upon the natural antitumor properties of these cells while their restriction by monomorphic CD1d limits toxicity. Primary human NKTs were engineered to express a CAR against the GD2 ganglioside, which is highly expressed by neuroblastoma. We compared CAR constructs that encoded the CD3ζ chain alone, with CD28, 4-1BB, or CD28 and 4-1BB co-stimulatory endodomains. CAR expression rendered NKTs highly cytotoxic against neuroblastoma cells without affecting their TCR-induced proliferation and CD1d-dependent killing of M2-polarized macrophages. We observed a striking Th1-like polarization of NKTs by 4-1BB-containing CARs in vitro and in mice. Expression of both CD28 and 4-1BB endodomains in the CAR maximized persistence of NKTs in NSG mice with neuroblastoma xenografts. These NKTs, expressing CAR with two co-stimulatory endodomains localized to the tumor site more effectively than T cells with the same CAR (p Citation Format: Andras Heczey, Daofeng Liu, Gengwen Tian, Ekaterina Marinova, Xiuhua Gao, Linjie Guo, John Hicks, Gianpietro Dotti, Leonid Metelitsa. Invariant NKT cells as a platform for cancer immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy: A New Chapter; December 1-4, 2014; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2015;3(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B08.
Targeting the PIM protein kinases for the treatment of a T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia subset.

// Sathish K.R. Padi 1 , Libia A. Luevano 1 , Ningfei An 2 , Ritu Pandey 1, 3 , Neha Singh 1 , Jin H. Song 1, 3 , Jon C. Aster 4 , Xue-Zhong Yu 5 , Shikhar Mehrotra 6 , Andrew S. Kraft 1 1 University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 2 Department of Pathology, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA 3 Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 4 Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA 5 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA 6 Department of Surgery, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA Correspondence to: Andrew S. Kraft, email: akraft@uacc.arizona.edu Keywords: PIM kinase, T-ALL, ETP-ALL, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, ponatinib Received: October 15, 2016 Accepted: March 08, 2017 Published: March 17, 2017 ABSTRACT New approaches are needed for the treatment of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) who fail to achieve remission with chemotherapy. Analysis of the effects of pan-PIM protein kinase inhibitors on human T-ALL cell lines demonstrated that the sensitive cell lines expressed higher PIM1 protein kinase levels, whereas T-ALL cell lines with NOTCH mutations tended to have lower levels of PIM1 kinase and were insensitive to these inhibitors. NOTCH-mutant cells selected for resistance to gamma secretase inhibitors developed elevated PIM1 kinase levels and increased sensitivity to PIM inhibitors. Gene profiling using a publically available T-ALL dataset demonstrated overexpression of PIM1 in the majority of early T-cell precursor (ETP)-ALLs and a small subset of non-ETP ALL. While the PIM inhibitors blocked growth, they also stimulated ERK and STAT5 phosphorylation, demonstrating that activation of additional signaling pathways occurs with PIM inhibitor treatment. To block these pathways, Ponatinib, a broadly active tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia, was added to this PIM-inhibitor regimen. The combination of Ponatinib with a PIM inhibitor resulted in synergistic T-ALL growth inhibition and marked apoptotic cell death. Treatment of mice engrafted with human T-ALL with these two agents significantly decreased the tumor burden and improved the survival of treated mice. This dual therapy has the potential to be developed as a novel approach to treat T-ALL with high PIM expression.
Defining the index lesion for salvage partial gland ablation after radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer.

105Background: Our objective was to evaluate the impact of MRI and systematic biopsy characteristics to identify the index lesion for salvage partial gland ablation using tumor maps from whole mount slides of salvage radical prostatectomy (sRP) specimen. Methods: We identified 225 patients who underwent sRP between 2000 and 2014 and a tumor map was created from whole-mount slides in 77 patients. Among these patients, we selected men with a priori pre-treatment criteria considered eligible for PGA, including, biopsy proven unilateral disease concordant with a region of interest (ROI) on MRI, and excluding men with imaging suspicious for extra-capsular extension (ECE), seminal vesicle Invasion (SVI) or lymph node involvement (LNI). We describe the correlation between pre-treatment clinical characteristics and final radical prostatectomy whole mount specimen to select men eligible for PGA defined as hemi-gland ablation. Results: Among 77 patients with a tumor map of entirely-submitted and whole-mounted speci...
Shattering the Screen: Embodied Narrative in Digital Media

This illustrated phenomenological inquiry into storytelling in screen media identifies important media transformations of experience. Viewers embody, or situate their experienced selves, according to screen requirements. A viewer’s compelled perspective on the screen causes fundamental spatio-temporal transformations of narrative experience, including horizontal stretching of screen space and time compression or leakage. Virtual media have the potential, as yet unrealized, to break out of the screen and to restore narrative to its primordial, experiential roots.
Corporate Takeovers: Modern Empirical Developments

This survey introduces a two-volume, 1,900-page reprint collection of articles recently published by Elsevier/North-Holland journals. Volume 1 begins with a comprehensive overview of the empirical evidence, followed by introductions to the econometrics of event studies and various techniques for dealing with corporate self-selection issues. It then delves into classic issues such as the nature of aggregate merger activity (merger waves), market valuation effects of merger announcements (the stock price performance of bidder and target firms), and the nature of the sources of merger gains in the context of industrial rganization (much of it involving estimating the effects of mergers on industry competitors). The volume ends with a review of restructuring transactions other than takeovers, such as divestitures, spinoffs, leveraged buyouts and other highly leveraged transactions.Volume 2 presents a series of specific deal-related topics - and provides reviews of both theory and associated empirical evidence. It begins with surveys of principles for optimal bidding in specific auction settings, followed by a review of actual takeover premiums and their determinants. It then showcases recent empirical contributions on topics such as toehold bidding and winner's curse (does overbidding exist?), bidding for distressed targets (do bankruptcy auctions cause fire-sales?), effects of deal protection devices (do termination agreements and poison pills affect takeover premiums?), large shareholder voting on takeover outcomes (does institutional activism matter?), deal financing issues (does it matter how the bidder finances any cash payment for the target), managerial compensation effects of takeovers (what's in it for the CEO), governance spillovers from cross-border mergers (are there any?) and, finally, the returns to merger arbitrage activity (market efficiency and limits to arbitrage).
Vessel Regeneration and Bioengineering

Over the last decade, advancements in the field of vascular tissue engineering have generated a variety of novel treatment strategies for patients with cardiac defects and vascular disease. Notably, the technique of seeding cells onto biodegradable polymeric scaffolds to create tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) allows for the formation of organized neovascular tissue and enables the implanted construct to grow with the patient. Studies in animal models have resulted in a greater understanding of the complex and dynamic processes behind neovessel development and enabled the creation of a TEVG seeded with bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells for use in a pilot clinical trial. Current research indicates that this tissue engineering approach is safe and effective, and the ongoing translation of this technology holds great promise. In this text, we review the scaffold materials, cell types, and seeding methods for TEVG creation, and we introduce our clinical application of TEVGs.
Attenuation of West Nile Virus NS2B/NS3 Protease by Amino Terminal Copper and Nickel Binding (ATCUN) Peptides

West Nile virus NS2B/NS3 protease (WNVP) is a viable target for the development of antiviral compounds. To that end, catalytic metallopeptides that incorporate the copper-binding ATCUN motif into either the N- or C-terminus of known WNVP targeting peptides have been developed as new families of peptide-based inhibitors. Each metallopeptide was evaluated based on its inhibitory constant (KI), time-dependent inactivation of the protein, Michaelis–Menten parameters, and the ability to oxidatively modify WNVP. Following catalytic inactivation of WNVP, sequencing by LC-MS/MS demonstrated active site residues Ser135, Thr134, and Thr132, as well as residues in the S2 binding pocket, to be modified by oxidative chemistry. Results from a DNPH-based assay to detect oxidative damage showed the formation of carbonyls in WNVP treated with metallopeptides. These results suggest that the metallopeptides are attenuating WNVP activity by irreversible oxidation of amino acids essential to substrate binding and catalysis.
Correlates of Patterns of Health Values of African Americans Living With HIV/AIDS: Implications for Advance Care Planning and HIV Palliative Care.

Abstract Context Advance care planning rates remain low, especially among people who are HIV positive, disadvantaged, and African American. Although advance care planning can be a sensitive topic for clinicians and patients to discuss, health values clarification can be an important initial step. Objectives The purpose of the study was to explore health values of African Americans living with HIV/AIDS and to examine correlates of these values. Methods Data were from the first 325 participants in the AFFIRM Care study, which enrolled adults living with HIV/AIDS in Baltimore, Maryland, who had histories of illicit drug use. Respondents were asked whether (yes/no) they thought any of six health states would be worse than death: severe unremitting pain, total dependency on others, irreversible coma, being on mechanical ventilation, nursing home residence, and severe dementia. Latent class analysis was used to group individuals by their pattern of responses, interpretable as preference for aggressive (life-sustaining) or nonaggressive (palliative) end-of-life care. Latent class regression analysis was used to examine associations between class membership and background, health status, and social variables. Results We found statistical support for a three-class latent class analysis model: 1) the nonaggressive treatment class, comprising 43% of cases, in which members perceived that every state was worse than death; 2) the aggressive treatment class, comprising 33% of cases, in which members perceived that none of the states was worse than death; and 3) the mixed class (24% of cases), in which members perceived that only four of the six states were worse than death. Conclusion Three-quarters of participant response patterns had clear preferences for treatment decisions. Further research is needed to ensure inclusion of end-of-life scenarios relevant to this population.
Does occupational licensing increase income inequality

Using unconditional quantile regression methods, I investigated how occupational licensing impact the wage distribution of Canadian workers between 1998 and 2014, using effects of unionization as a...
Analysis of the Flexure Test for Laminated Composite Materials

Equations applicable to a general class of symmetrically laminated beams are derived by considering a beam as a special case of a laminated plate. The beam bending stiffness thus becomes a function of all the bending stiffness coefficients of a laminated plate. The validity of this approach is verified by comparing theoretical results to flexure data on graphite/epoxy angle-ply and quasi-isotropic laminates. In addition, it is shown that flex strength on general composite laminates is extremely difficult to interpret, even though the stresses can be calculated from the modified beam theory. Discontinuities in the in-plane stresses at layer interfaces lead to a state of stress which is difficult to compare to standard laminate tensile coupons.
Symmetry and its discontents

The following paper consists of two parts. In the first it is argued that Bruno de Finetti’s theory of subjective probability provides a partial resolution of Hume’s problem of induction, if that problem is cast in a certain way. De Finetti’s solution depends in a crucial way, however, on a symmetry assumption — exchangeability — and in the second half of the paper the broader question of the use of symmetry arguments in probability is analyzed. The problems and difficulties that can arise are explicated through historical examples which illustrate how symmetry arguments have played a important role in probability theory throughout its development. In a concluding section the proper role of such arguments is discussed.
Self-Theory and Intimacy

When the editors of this volume first invited me to contribute an article on intimacy and the psychology of the self, I quickly and avidly consented because it seemed to me that the essence of any intimate relationship between people was to be found in the structure of the relation of a self and its selfobjects. Indeed, I have found no better way to elaborate a set of conceptualizations on the nature of intimacy than to attempt such explications within the framework of a psychology of the self. But I discovered, almost immediately, that the concept of intimacy is a rather illusive one. On the one hand some people use the word “intimacy” as a nice way of talking about sexual intercourse. On the other hand, the word “intimacy” has come to mean some vaguely desirable category of sincere friendship.
Phagocytosis by nonprofessional phagocytes

VI. Summary This chapter begins to touch on the important phagocytic roles played by many of the working class phagocytes present in the multicellular organism. It seems the original distinctions drawn between professional and nonprofessional phagocytes have become blurred, but the roles are more distinct. The more we understand the phagocytic roles these nonprofessionals play, the more we will gain insight into disease processes such as infectious illness, atherosclerosis, autoimmunity, progressive blindness, and malignancy; the more we will understand processes such as inflammation, aging, nerve growth and regeneration; and the better we might become at the targeting and delivery of intracellular agents.
Programme d’infirmière-coordonnatrice des soins du cancer du sein : effet sur le niveau de détresse des patientes

La presente etude visait a determiner si les niveaux d’anxiete et de depression des patientes beneficiant du soutien et de la navigation d’une coordonnatrice des soins du cancer du sein (CSCS) avant leur premiere consultation en oncologie au centre Abbotsford de la British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) differaient de ceux des patientes du centre n’ayant pas recu ce meme soutien. Une etude retrospective a compare les scores de depistage psychologique pour le cancer (Psychological Screen for Cancer – PSSCAN) d’un groupe temoin constitue de patientes qui avaient recu un diagnostic de cancer du sein recemment et qui recevaient les soins oncologiques habituels aux scores de patientes accompagnees par une CSCS avant leur consultation en oncologie (groupe a l’etude). Au total, 91 scores ont ete analyses : 54 dans le groupe a l’etude et 37 dans le groupe temoin. Aucune difference significative n’a ete decelee entre les scores PSSCAN d’anxiete et de depression des deux groupes.
Reproduction, Growth, and Development

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of reproductive physiology, pre- and postnatal development, and growth in common marmosets. Marmosets display a unique set of reproductive and developmental traits, including production of litters, typically twice a year, making them the most fertile anthropoid primates. Associated with this high fertility is a relatively high rate of pregnancy loss, perhaps reflecting a marked sensitivity to stressors. Litter mates develop in an unusual uterine environment that includes shared placentation resulting in hematopoietic chimerism. Associated with their small size, marmosets have a fast maturation rate, initiating puberty at 9–10 months of age and completing physical growth prior to 2 years of age. Growth patterns in captive marmosets are affected by factors that may impair growth, such as failure to thrive associated with poor birth condition or parental abuse and early life occurrence of inflammatory bowel diseases. In the last decade, there has been an increase in altered growth patterns in the opposite direction as well, with early life obesity being relatively common in many colonies. The etiology of this pediatric obesity is still poorly understood, but its sequelae are those commonly associated with obesity, including metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular problems.
Body mass trajectories and cortical thickness in middle-aged men: a 42-year longitudinal study starting in young adulthood.

Abstract Evidence strongly suggests that being overweight or obese at midlife confers significantly higher risk for Alzheimer's disease and greater brain atrophy later in life. Few studies, however, examine associations between longitudinal changes in adiposity during early adulthood and later brain morphometry. Measures of body mass index (BMI) were collected in 373 men from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging at average ages 20, 40, 56, and 62 years, yielding 2 BMI trajectories. We then examined associations between BMI phenotypes (trajectories, continuous BMI, obese/nonobese), cortical thickness, and white matter measures from structural magnetic resonance imaging at mean age 62 (time 4, range 56–66 years). Those on the obesity trajectory (N = 171) had a thinner cortex compared with the normal/lean trajectory (N = 202) in multiple frontal and temporal lobe bilateral regions of interest: superior, inferior, middle temporal gyri, temporal pole, fusiform gyrus, banks of the superior temporal sulcus, frontal pole, pars triangularis, caudal and rostral middle frontal gyri (all p
Ketamine: A Paradigm Shift for Depression Research and Treatment

Ketamine is the first exemplar of a rapid-acting antidepressant with efficacy for treatment-resistant symptoms of mood disorders. Its discovery emerged from a reconceptualization of the biology of depression. Neurobiological insights into ketamine efficacy shed new light on the mechanisms underlying antidepressant efficacy.
Food Deserts in US Cities

Food insecurity is a worldwide problem experienced by millions of people. A specific manifestation of food insecurity has been documented in cities of the United States. It is related to the so-called food deserts, urban areas where individuals make up for the lack of supermarkets located in their vicinity by eating at nearby fast food restaurants and shopping at local convenience stores where they buy generally unhealthy food. The number of individuals living in food deserts in the United States, or in other countries, is unknown because there is no standard definition for the term ‘food desert.’ Food deserts are viewed as a form of constructed inequality because their distribution is not an accidental, naturally occurring phenomenon. For local officials to address the issue of food deserts is of the utmost importance, as there is a need for alternative ways to supply urban residents with nutritious, affordable foods.
HCI and Menopause: Designing With and Around the Aging Body

With growing concern for the intimate dimensions of technology development, HCI scholars have begun to grapple with who wields power in design around the body. However, beyond menstruation, few studies have sought to examine the role of technology design in the later stages of life for menstruating people. This paper considers menopause as a central, but overlooked life phase informing the design of future intimate technologies. We review empirical analysis of menopausal experiences and design provocations that emerged from our work. We end with a reflection on the opportunities and pitfalls around menopause design.
A Comparative Review of Team Emotional Intelligence Measures for IT Teams

In today's complex information technology (IT) systems, team task work is highly interdependent, dynamic, and multifaceted. Firms seek ways to make their IT teams work better. Team emotional intell...
Time and spatial distribution characters on multiple infections of hand, foot and mouth disease in Liaocheng City

Objective Using spatial autocorrelation analysis to explore the hot spot areas in the spatial distribution of hand,foot and mouth disease multiple infection,explore the characteristics of geographic epidemics and reveal the epidemic law of multiple infection of hand,foot and mouth disease in L:iaopcheng city,so as to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of hand,foot and mouth disease.Methods Excel 2003 and Access 2003 software management database were used to screen multiple infection cases of hand,foot and mouth disease in the China management system of disease surveillance reports from 2008 to 2011.ArcGIS9.3 software was used as data management and analysis platform to study the spatial distribution rules and characteristics of foot and mouth disease multiple infection cases,and spatial statistics module was used for overall spatial autocorrelation analysis and local hot spot analysis,and comprehensively respond to the spatial distribution of disease characteristics.Results The incidence rate of hand,foot and mouth disease multiple infection was 17.8 ‰ in Liaocheng city,2008 - 2011,and the spatial distribution was mostly concentrated in the areas with higher average incidence and larger population migration; different types of enteroviruses and the same enterovirus could cause multiple infections,and 97％ were different types of virus infection; the incidence of multiple infection in the temporal distribution was consistent with the total incidence,more in males than in females,those under 3 years of age accounted for 89.6％,mainly scattered-living children,those above 3 years old were mainly children in childcare institutions; overall spatial autocorrelation Moran's I =0.28,u =4.91,P ＜0.01 generalized G statistic G =0.005,u (G) =5.45,P ＜0.01,the use of local statistics derived the distribution of diseases aggregation,the hot areas were mainly concentrated in Chiping county and Dongchangfu district.Conclusion s The spatial distribution of HFMD in Liaocheng city was not random but cluster.strengthening the control measures in hot spots is very importance. Key words: hand,foot and mouth disease; multiple infection; geographical epidemiology; geographic information system
Rapid Implementation of Video Visits in Neurology During COVID-19: Mixed Methods Evaluation

Background: Telemedicine has been used for decades. Despite its many advantages, its uptake and rigorous evaluation of feasibility across neurology’s ambulatory subspecialties has been sparse. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted health care systems worldwide to reconsider traditional health care delivery. To safeguard health care workers and patients, many health care systems quickly transitioned to telemedicine, including across neurology subspecialties, providing a new opportunity to evaluate this modality of care. Objective: To evaluate the accelerated implementation of video visits in ambulatory neurology during the COVID-19 pandemic, we used mixed methods to assess adoption, acceptability, appropriateness, and perceptions of potential sustainability. Methods: Video visits were launched rapidly in ambulatory neurology clinics of a large academic medical center. To assess adoption, we analyzed clinician-level scheduling data collected between March 22 and May 16, 2020. We assessed acceptability, appropriateness, and sustainability via a clinician survey (n=48) and semistructured interviews with providers (n=30) completed between March and May 2020. Results: Video visits were adopted rapidly; overall, 65 (98%) clinicians integrated video visits into their workflow within the first 6 implementation weeks and 92% of all visits were conducted via video. Video visits were largely considered acceptable by clinicians, although various technological issues impacted their satisfaction. Video visits were reported to be more convenient for patients, families, and caregivers than in-person visits; however, access to technology, the patient’s technological capacity, and language difficulties were considered barriers. Many clinicians expressed optimism about future utilization of video visits in neurology. They believed that video visits promote continuity of care and can be incorporated into their practice long-term, although several insisted that they can never replace the in-person examination. Conclusions: Video visits are an important addition to clinical care in ambulatory neurology and are anticipated to remain a permanent supplement to in-person visits, promoting patient care continuity, and flexibility for patients and clinicians alike.