cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of the Financial Services Bailout Vote

Washington’s remedy to the financial problems that began in 2008 was the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) — the so called bailout of the banking system. Whatever its merits, it was, for the most part, unpopular with the American public. Lawmakers, fearful that the economy might actually collapse without some action, were likewise fearful that action — in the form of a payout to the Wall Street financiers — would prove to be harmful to them at the polls. Thus, politicians sought to assure the public that their vote on the measure would reflect Main Street virtues, not Wall Street greed. Members of Congress, addressing the public’s misgivings about the bailout, asserted that they were wrestling with difficult issues such as fairness and equity, banking regulation, executive pay, job losses, moral hazard, 401(k) values, and the proper role of the state. Furthermore, they argued, these complex issues were difficult for the public to understand, and legislators, vigilant in carrying out their duty, were weighing the pros and the cons in order to cast a vote that was in the best interest of the nation. But it turns out that when one moves beyond the speeches, the underlying motivation behind most votes cast was hardly complex and actually quite simple. In this article, we construct a model to analyze the bailout vote of each legislator. A simple reelection model of legislator behavior explains a majority of the votes taken either for or against the measure from politician to politician.
Medial thickenings of coronary artery and the aging risk factor for atherosclerosis.

The objective here is to inquire what kind of coronary artery is it that tends to acquire atheroma: When an atheroma is found somewhere in the specimen (YesA specimen), what do we see in the specimen far away from the atheroma? Previous studies found thicker intima in YesA specimens than in NoA specimens, but with equal numbers of smooth muscle cells (SMC's). Thickness per SMC strongly predicted atheroma, so much so that the risk factor age was fully explained statistically. This study now finds that the medial layer is also thicker in YesA specimens, and with medial SMC numbers equal to those in NoA specimens. Hence, the aging risk factor appears to induce excessive thickness per SMC as a generalized property throughout the whole specimen in the medial as well as intimal layers, with excessive production of collagenous matrix acting as an initial, rate limiting step in plaque formation. In the intima, atheroma tends to occur when average thickness per SMC exceeds the threshold value of 8.6 μm/SMC. The extreme high value found in the most severely affected medial sample was 4.2 μm/SMC, and this failure to approach the threshold could explain the medial resistance to fatty degenerations.
Transforming Tucker's linearization laser rate equations to a form that has a single solution regime

The simulation of the dc linearized laser rate equations, with the Newton-Raphson iterative technique, does not always converge to the desired solution of a positive optical facet power. We introduce modified rate equations that yield the desired solution without user-specified initial conditions. >
Exploiting parallelism through run-time analysis on a vector processor (abstract)

Several vendors such as Cray, Fujitsu, NEC supply vector processors that use pipelined functional units. A pipelined functional unit can extract parallelism by operating on a stream of operands simultaneously, with each stage in the pipeline working on a different set of operands. Users of these machines typically program in FORTRAN, and rely on an optimizing compiler (vectorizer) to extract parallelism. These compilers analyze loops in a program and generate a vector instruction for each type of operation that can be performed simultaneously on different elements of an array. When the independence of operations on different elements of an array is not compile-time determinable, as for example is the case with unstructured sparse matrix computations, these compilers generate scalar code.In this paper we propose a scheme based on run-time dependence analysis to vectorize loops with dependencies unknown at compile-time. Our approach analyses a loop at run-time by executing a skeleton of the loop and assigns a level to each operation. Operations that are independent of any other operations in the loop are given a level of one. Other operations are given a level one greater than the maximum of levels of all dependent operations. A vector instruction, using indirect operand access, is generated for all the operations of a given type at each level. The approach was evaluated by implementing a sparse triangular solver on one processor of a Cray X-MP. A number of sparse matrices derived from the application domain of circuit simulation were used. An improvement in performance ranging between 100-500.
Prediction of Asphalt Pavement Temperature Profile During FWD Testing: Simplified Analytical Solution with Model Validation Based on LTPP Data

A pavement temperature profile is indispensable for analyzing and interpreting falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing data. This paper presents a simple analytical approach to rapidly predicting the transient temperature profile within the asphalt layer of a flexible pavement on the basis of measured surface temperatures during FWD testing. The proposed analytical approach consists of the classical solution of a one-dimensional heat equation in a homogeneous half-space subjected to specified surface temperatures and a Gaussian-quadrature numerical scheme to approximate the classical solution. Model validation was conducted using a large temperature database. Comparisons between predicted and measured pavement subsurface temperatures suggest that the proposed simplified analytical method generated a reasonable asphalt temperature profile during the short period of FWD testing. The main advantage of the proposed method is that it can be easily applied to assist field engineers in rapidly estimating the temperature profile within the asphalt layer of a multilayered flexible pavement based on measured pavement surface temperatures during FWD testing.
Production of Hypertension with Desoxycorticosterone Acetate-Impregnated Silicone Rubber Implants

A simple method for the production of drug-impregnated silicone rubber implants for sustained-release drug administration is described. This method involves incorporating the drug in un-polymerized silicone rubber, adding catalyst, and casting the drug-silicone rubber mixture in a hemicylindrical shape in a methacrylate mold. The utility of this method was investigated with desoxycorticosterone acetate. Desoxycorticosterone acetate-impregnated silicone rubber implants were inserted subcutaneously in rats, unilateral nephrectomy was performed, and the rats were maintained on 1% sodium chloride solution in place of drinking water. Systolic blood pressure was determined by an indirect tail cuff method. Rats receiving doses of desoxycorticosterone acetate, ranging from 50 to 500 mg./kg., developed hypertension within 3 weeks. Desoxycorticosterone acetate in a dose of 100 mg./kg. appeared to be most suitable for inducing sustained hypertension. The advantages of this method for the production of experimental hypertension and the general applicability of this method for sustained-release drug administration are discussed.
Histone gene expression: hybrid cells and organisms establish complex controls.

Publisher Summary Complexes of histones with DNA dictate the fundamental structure of chromatin in eukaryotic cells. As visualized by electron microscopy, this structure is monilifom (such as, beads on a string) and consists of a self-associating histone complex around which DNA is wrapped. The histone complexes may package DNA in a manner that is protective yet permissive of both replication and transcription. Alternatively, the association of the histone complexes with DNA may be so precise as to control the transcription of specific genes. Whether one chooses to view the biological role of histones as nearer one or the other of these views, it appears that the DNA of eukaryotic cells is packaged and that histones are indispensible for the packaging process. The genome structure and function are related. There is an evolutionary conservation of a specific number of chromosomes with certain characteristic morphological features in a given species. The addition or deletion of chromosomes, or the unbalanced translocation of parts of chromosomes, often results in specific pathological states.
Differential Regulation of Methionine Adenosyltransferase in Superantigen and Mitogen Stimulated Human T Lymphocytes

Abstract Superantigens interact with the T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) and are, therefore, more physiological stimulators of T lymphocytes than nonspecific polyclonal T cell mitogens. The effects of these two classes of T cell stimulators on methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) andS-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) levels were investigated. Activation of resting human peripheral blood T lymphocytes by the mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) caused a 3- to 6-fold increase in MAT II specific activity. Although the proliferative response was higher in cultures stimulated with PHA compared with SEB, MAT II activity was comparable in both cultures. Both stimuli caused down-regulation of the MAT 68-kDa λ subunit expression and induced a comparable increase in the expression of the catalytic α2/α2′ subunit mRNA and protein. However, in superantigen-stimulated cells, the expression of the noncatalytic β subunit was down-regulated and virtually disappeared by 72 h post-stimulation; whereas, no change in the expression of this subunit was noted in PHA-stimulated cells. Thus, at 72 h following stimulation, PHA-stimulated cells expressed MAT II α2/α2′ and β subunits while SEB-stimulated cells expressed the α2/α2′ subunits only; the β subunit was no longer expressed in superantigen-stimulated cells. Kinetic analysis of MAT II in extracts of PHA- and SEB-stimulated cells using reciprocal kinetic plots revealed that in the absence of the β subunit theK m of the enzyme for l-methionine (l-Met) was 3-fold higher than in the presence of the β subunit. Furthermore, AdoMet levels were 5-fold higher in cell extracts lacking the β subunit (SEB-stimulated cell extracts) compared with extracts containing MAT II α2/α2′ and β subunits. We propose that the increased levels of AdoMet in superantigen-stimulated cells may be attributed to the absence of the β subunit, which seems to have rendered MAT II less sensitive to product feedback inhibition by (−)AdoMet. The data suggest that the β subunit of MAT II, which has no catalytic activity, may be a regulatory subunit that imparts a lowerK m for l-Met but increases the sensitivity to feedback inhibition by AdoMet. The down-regulation of the β subunit, which occurred when T cells were stimulated via the TCR, may be an important mechanism to regulate AdoMet levels at different stages of T cell differentiation under physiological conditions.
Coronary artery spasm: prevalence, clinical significance, and provocative testing

Recent clinical and laboratory observations indicate that coronary artery spasm may play a role in the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease. The majority of patients with ischemic heart disease have coronary atherosclerosis. The prevalence of coronary artery spasm in these patients is unknown. However, current evidence suggests that patients with rest angina have a higher incidence of coronary artery spasm than do patients with reproducible effort angina. Coronary artery spasm may initiate or contribute to acute myocardial infarction, but recent evidence obtained in patients undergoing thrombolytic therapy during the early phases of myocardial infarction suggests that it is not a common occurrence. Although numerous examples of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation occur during episodes of coronary artery spasm, the incidence of coronary artery spasm in association with sudden death is unknown. Provocative testing with ergonovine maleate reveals that the highest incidence of provocable coronary artery spasm is found in patients with rest angina. In patients with the syndrome of variant angina, coronary artery spasm is nearly always provocable.
Unique Subtypes in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The definition of “uniqueness” among leukemia subtypes has undergone dramatic changes over the last years. Depending upon which cellular parameters were considered as the gold standard for leukemia diagnosis in general, or acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in particular, features that deviated from the accepted norm gave rise to unique subtypes in the literature. In the beginning of leukemia classification, morphological and cytochemical characteristics provided too few structural details to allow for the recognition of aberrancies. In other words, lack of accuracy simplified and restricted leukemia diagnosis to allegedly lymphoid versus non-lymphoid cases. Therapeutic strategies were as limited as diagnostic skills, making it sufficient for clinicians to learn whether a patient belonged to the lymphoid or the myeloid cell lineage. Once monoclonal antibodies became available, the testing of each leukemia population for its affiliation with the lymphoid or myeloid lineage, and for antigen expression consistent with B- or T-lymphoid nature, became accurate but also more confusing. Myeloid antigen expressions on the surface of lymphoblasts and vice versa were the most popular observations that caused the introduction of novel, aberrant, or unique leukemia subtypes. It took many years to realize that the human desire to classify leukemias by developing strict guidelines (even scoring systems) for lineage association neither satisfied the need of clinical relevance nor scientific curiosity. More recently, unique antigen profiles have been found to reflect specific genetic lesions, the best example being CD25 in BCR/ABL positive ALL. Given the steadily growing availability of targeted therapies, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the case of BCR/ABL positive ALL, establishing surrogate marker profiles, has gained increased interest. Genetic and epigenetic profiling data already are and will be the major source of information regarding pathogenetic pathways and potentially therapeutic targets. The association of molecular risk patterns with specific phenotypic features has given a completely new meaning to uniqueness among leukemia subtypes.
Transmission of Eimeria, Viruses, and Bacteria to Chicks: Darkling Beetles (Alphitobius diaperinus) as Vectors of Pathogens.

Darkling beetle homogenates (DBH) were prepared from beetles collected from seven premises (farms). DBH were shown to contain myriad infectious organisms including bacteria (e.g., Salmonella), viruses (e.g., reovirus), and Eimeria (the causative agents of intestinal coccidiosis). The present study establishes the fact that darkling beetles serve as vectors for common avian pathogens. Darkling beetles must be considered on a list of other vectors known to transmit common poultry pathogens. The risk posed by beetles with respect to dissemination of diseases is of immense importance to the poultry industry. The possibility of severe adverse economic impact as a result of these diseases should not be overlooked or casually dismissed.
Microcapillary oxidation‐reduction polymers

“Replica gel” polymers, characterized by their extremely high specific surface area, have not previously been prepared in “redox” form. Some illustrative syntheses are described, and the capability of these materials to oxidize acetic acid and to epoxidize oleic acid and cyclohexene is demonstrated.
Genetic predictors of gene expression associated with risk of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder (BD) affects the quality of life of approximately 1% of the population and represents a major public health concern. It is known to be highly heritable but large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have discovered only a handful of markers associated with the disease. Furthermore, the biological mechanisms underlying these markers need to be elucidated. We recently published a gene-level association test, PrediXcan that integrates transcriptome regulation data to characterize the function of these markers in a tissue specific manner. In this study, we developed prediction models for mRNA levels in 10 brain regions using data from the GTEx project and performed PrediXcan analysis in WTCCC as well as in an independent cohort, GAIN. We replicate the association between predicted expression of PTPRE and BD risk in whole blood and recapitulate the association in brain tissues. PTPRE encodes the protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type E, that is known to be involved in RAS signaling and activation of voltage-gated K+ channels. We also found a new genome-wide significant association between lower predicted expression of BBX (bobby sox homolog) in the anterior cingulate cortex region of the brain and increased risk of BD (pWTCCC = 7.02 x 10e-6, pGAIN = 4.68 x 10e-3, pmeta = 1.11 x 10e-7). In sum, we used our mechanistically informed approach, PrediXcan, to identify and replicate two novel genome-wide significant genes using existing GWAS studies.
Increased Sporulation in Fungi

There are certain fungi, however, which cannot be freeze-dried successfully either due to lack of spore production or the presence of too few spores. These fungi must be maintained in test tubes on agar slants, kept at low temperatures, and subjected to repeated subculturing at periodic intervals. Of equal importance to the inconvenience which this procedure entails are the aspects of increased genetic instability and possibilities of contamination. A portion of our culture collection consists of fungi which fall in the above-mentioned category. Some of these fungi have become asporogenous through repeated subculturing. Some, however, were asporogenous when obtained from our soil screening program, and some were asporogenous when obtained from reputable culture collections. A preliminary investigation 2 of a variety of nutrients for growthpromoting effects in several fungi and streptomycetes led to the observation that certain media supplemented with coconut milk enhanced growth in some of these micro-organisms. In view of this finding and the desirability of increasing sporulation for identification, freeze-drying, and other processes requiring large numbers of spores it was decided to grow our collection of asporogenous or weakly sporogenous fungi on media supplemented with coconut milk. Fungi which still failed to sporulate were further tested on a medium containing tomato paste and oatmeal.
The Cilium-Dependent Hedgehog Signaling in Mammals

Copyright: © 2012 Liu A. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Understanding the molecular signaling network that translates the presence of extracellular signal proteins into the multitude of cellular responses, both transcriptional and non-transcriptional, is critical for our understanding of development and physiology of animals and pathogenesis of numerous human diseases.
Analysis of Optimal False Data Injection Attacks in Unmanned Aerial Systems

With the increasing power and convenience offered by the use of embedded systems in control applications, such systems will undoubtedly continue to be developed and deployed. Recently, however, a focus on data-centric systems and developing network-enabled control systems has emerged, allowing for greater performance, safety, and resource allocation in systems such as unmanned aerial systems (UASs). However, this increase in connectivity also introduces vulnerabilities into these systems, potentially providing access to malicious parties seeking to disrupt the operation of those systems or to cause damage. In this analysis, stealthy false data injection attacks against linear feedback systems of that are commonly used in UASs are considered. The identification of these attacks is formed as an optimization problem constrained by the ability of monitoring systems to detect the attack. The optimal attack input is then determined for an example application so that the worst case system performance can be identified and, if needed, improved.
The Terror Wars Drone On…Or Don’t They?

In the Chap. 8, Hayes solidifies a map of the ways that rhetorical studies expands in useful ways with the incorporation of rhetoricoviolence as a rhetorical category and rhetorical cartography as a method. Embracing a rhetorical circulation model, Hayes then moves on to examine technologies of governance functioning within the US drone program, as well as through other outlets. The chapter concludes with a lengthy set of examinations of resistive subjects within the terror wars, from Rand Paul to creator of drone tracking application Josh Begley to various artists speaking to the rhetoricoviolence within the terror wars and the US drone program. Hayes calls for an awakening in performing additional rhetorical cartographies to best understand transnational empire in the twenty-first century and beyond.
Pre-Straining Effect on Precipitation Behaviour of AZ31B

Thermomechanical processing techniques consisting of a deformation process followed by an annealing treatment is a common approach to manipulate mechanical properties. In this research a combination of pre-straining and non-isothermal aging process is combined to study precipitation-hardening behavior of an AZ31B magnesium alloy. Effect of heating rate during non-isothermal aging and pre-straining on the kinetics of precipitation and evolution of hardness is investigated.
Alonetime : A developmental need with prenatal origins

Biological and psychological evidence supports a primary alonetime need in infancy, emanating from womb experience. I define alonetime' as an individual's need to constitute and reconstitute functioning in order to maximize perceptual and cognitive organization and well being - by oneself. Research on intrauterine life and dyadic interaction in infancy offer evidence of this need. For example, newborns show the capacity to signal needs and choice. Disengagement and self-soothing patterns in babies support an aloneness need existing parallel to one for attachment. Specifically, this paper expands on theories of solitude, and recognizes the state as essential, positive and present throughout life, though partially masked by our profound dependency needs when young Attachment to the caretaker is essential. But theories on the mother-child relationship that gained predominance studied attachment under conditions of protracted separations from caregivers and observed the robot actions of children emotionally malnourished, thus skewing researchers perceptions. Instead of producing a balanced perspective of the powerful need to attach, it became a theory of stressful attachments. A summary of other psychoanalytic alone state theories contrasts this work with that of Winnicott and Storr. Alone experiences originate outside the parent-child milieu and are closely connected to abilities of prenates to self-regulate certain behaviors. The important requisite of self-regulation links to satisfactory alonetimes. A critical fact is that individuals, even infants, are resourceful in their abilities to find sole comfort. Clinical evidence rounds the picture and shows that parents as well as therapists need to stay attuned to alone signals throughout the life cycle.
Interannual abundance of nonnative fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas ) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon

Since its introduction about 20 yr ago, fathead minnow ( Pimephales promelas ) has become very abundant in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. In 1991 mean bench seine catch per unit effort (CPUE) was 214, compared to 25 for native blue chub ( Gila coerulea ), the next most abundant species. In 45 trap-net samples collected in 1992, fathead minnow constituted 59% of the fishes caught in Agency Lake subbasin, 27% in Upper Klamath Lake, and 17% in tributary inflow habitats. From 1991 to 1995 fathead minnow declined and the abundance of some native fishes increased. Introduction to Klamath Basin was coincident with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of fathead minnow as bioassay subjects. Upper Klamath Lake fathead minnow have incomplete lateral lines and males have mandibular tubercles, diagnostic of the northeastern subspecies. Although the origin, as bait bucket transfer, forage fish, or laboratory release, cannot be determined with certainty, the possibility of laboratory release suggest modification of bioassay protocols to require destruction of test or excess subjects.
Radiographic and clinical factors associated with improved outcomes in cancer patients with bowel obstruction

e20564 Background: The purpose of this study was to identify clinical and radiographic factors relevant to treatment outcomes in cancer patients presenting with bowel obstruction. Methods: Clinical and radiographic factors were retrospectively abstracted from records of inpatients referred for surgical consultation for suspected bowel obstruction (2000–2006). Patients were stratified by treatment: surgical treatment (ST), minimally invasive (percutaneous/endoscopic) procedures (MIP), or bowel rest (BR). Clinical outcomes such as status at discharge and median overall survival (OS) were examined. Results: Of 194 patients, 25% had a primary diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Computed tomography, plain radiographs, enteral contrast studies, and other modalities were used for diagnosis in 59%, 26%, 12%, and 3% of patients, respectively. 62% of obstructions were located in the small bowel, with the remaining 23% and 12% identified as gastric outlet and colon, respectively. Over 90% of patients treated with ST (n ...
Safety and immunologic correlates of allogeneic melanoma GVAX (MelGVAX), a genetically engineered whole-cell melanoma vaccine.

e20001 Background: Cytokine-transduced whole tumor cell vaccines have the potential to induce or enhance antitumor immunity. This first-in-human study investigated the safety, tolerability and immu...
Multi-mode humidity sensing with water-soluble copper phthalocyanine for increased sensitivity and dynamic range.

Aqueous solubility of copper phthalocyanine-3,4′,4″,4″′-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt (CuPcTs) enables fabrication of flexible electronic devices by low cost inkjet printing. We (1) investigate water adsorption kinetics on CuPcTs for better understanding the effects of relative humidity (RH) on hydrophilic phthalocyanines, and (2) assess CuPcTs as a humidity-sensing material. Reaction models show that H2O undergoes 2-site adsorption which can be represented by a pair of sequentially-occurring pseudo-first order reactions. Using high frequency (300–700 THz) and low frequency (1–8 MHz) dielectric spectroscopy combined with gravimetric measurements and principal component analysis, we observe that significant opto-electrical changes in CuPcTs occur at RH ≈ 60%. The results suggest that rapid H2O adsorption takes place at hydrophilic sulfonyl/salt groups on domain surfaces at low RH, while slow adsorption and diffusion of H2O into CuPcTs crystallites leads to a mixed CuPcTs-H2O phase at RH > 60%, resulting in high frequency dielectric screening of the film by water and dissociation of Na+ from CuPc(SO3 −)4 ions. The CuPcTs-H2O interaction can be tracked using a combination of gravimetric, optical, and electrical sensing modes, enabling accurate ( ± 2.5%) sensing in the ~0–95% RH range with a detection limit of less than 0.1% RH.
First-Principles Investigation of Lithium Polysulfide Structure and Behavior in Solution

The lithium–sulfur battery is a promising next generation energy storage technology that could meet the demands of modern society with a theoretical specific energy near 2500 W h kg–1. However, this battery chemistry faces unique problems such as the parasitic polysulfide shuttle reaction, which hinders battery performance severely. This shuttle phenomenon is caused by solubilities of intermediate reaction products in the electrolyte during the reduction chemistry of the battery. With molecular simulation and computational chemistry tools, we studied the thermodynamics, solvation structure, and dynamics of the long-chain lithium polysulfide species Li2S6 and Li2S8 in dimethoxyethane and 1,3-dioxolane to gain a deeper fundamental understanding of this process. We determined the structure of the first solvation shell for Li+ as well as those of Li2S6, Li2S8 closed, and Li2S8 linear in pure solvents and solvents with extra Li+ added. The lithium polysulfide species were found not to favor dissociation and wo...
Optically controlled on-coil amplifier with RF monitoring feedback.

PURPOSE To develop a new optically controlled on-coil amplifier that facilitates safe use of multi-channel radiofrequency (RF) transmission in MRI by real-time monitoring of signal phase and amplitude. METHODS Monitoring was carried out with a 4-channel prototype system by sensing, down sampling, digitizing, and optically transmitting the RF transmit signal to a remote PC to control the amplifiers. Performance was evaluated with benchtop and 7 T MRI experiments. RESULTS Monitored amplitude and phase were stable across repetitions and had standard deviations of 0.061 μT and 0.0073 rad, respectively. The feedback system allowed inter-channel phase and B1 amplitude to be adjusted within two iterations. MRI experiments demonstrated the feasibility of this approach to perform safe and accurate multi-channel RF transmission and monitoring at high field. CONCLUSION We demonstrated a 4-channel transceiver system based on optically controlled on-coil amplifiers with RF signal monitoring and feedback control. The approach allows the safe and precise control of RF transmission fields, required to achieve uniform excitation at high field. Magn Reson Med 79:2833-2841, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Analysis of mitochondrial DNA mutations in epithelial ovarian tumors

4500 Mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been implicated in a variety of pathological conditions including cancer. Mitochondria generate Reactive oxygen Species (ROS) that accumulate with age which damage mtDNA as well as nuclear DNA and eventually promoting carcinogenesis. To gain a better understanding of the critical role of mtDNA mutations in epithelial ovarian tumors progression, we have assessed the mtDNA mutations in clinical stages (I-IV and including borderline, and cystadenofibromas) of three histopathologically confirmed epithelial ovarian tumor subtype tissues; serous, mucinous and endometrioid. High-resolution restriction analyses and PCR-based sequencing were employed to identify mitochondrial mutations in this study. The entire mitochondrial genome of each sample was PCR amplified using 9 overlapping primer sets. The primer boundaries of these PCR products define haploblocks for subsequent analyses. Sixty-seven tissue samples were used in the study that included various stages of serous, mucinous, and endometrioid ovarian tumor subtypes. For comparison purposes, samples from the general population (n=119) for which mtDNA was amplified using lymphocytes as a surrogate tissue were used in sequences alignment with our study samples. Results from restriction analyses identified a number of band shifts indicating site gains or losses that predicted sequence changes in the ND2, COII, ND5 and D-loop of mitochondrial gene regions. Sequencing revealed 310 mtDNA mutations, of which 47 of 310 (15%) have previously been reported and 263 of 310 (85%) were identified as novel mutations. Most of these mutations were in D-loop, COI COII and ND1 regions and we observed a high frequency of these mutations in stages III and IV. A T8890A transition was detected in all our borderline and stage I samples of serous tumor subtype. The results suggest that mtDNA mutations play a potential role as modifying risk factors in the epithelial ovarian tumoriogenesis.
Moral Values Fit: Do Applicants Really Care?

This article tests whether applicant-company moralvalues-fit has a significant effect on applicantdecisions to apply for work with the company. Theauthor surveys a large sample of business schoolgraduate students regarding their moral values. Company values are measured using content analysis ofrecruitment materials. Application decisions areactual decisions by the students to interview duringthe school's recruitment period. The results suggestthat the values of the companies and the fit of thosevalues with those of the students are both importantto students’ decisions to apply.
Numerical Modeling of Multiphase Flow in Porous Media

The simultaneous flow of immiscible fluids in porous media occurs in a wide variety of applications. The equations governing these flows are inherently nonlinear, and the geometries and material properties characterizing many problems in petroleum and groundwater engineering can be quite irregular. As a result, numerical simulation offers the only viable approach to the mathematical modeling of multiphase flows. This chapter provides an overview of the types of models that are used in this field and highlights some of the numerical techniques that have appeared recently. The exposition includes discusssions of multiphase, multispecies flows in which chemical transport and interphase mass transfers play important roles. This chapter also examines some of the outstanding physical and mathematical problems in multiphase flow simulation. The scope of the chapter is limited to isothermal flows in natural porous media; however, many of the special techniques and difficulties discussed also arise in artificial porous media and multiphase flows with thermal effects.
The role of the transcription factor DP in apoptosis

DP1 and DP2 function as binding partners for E2F transcription factors. The association of DP with E2F directly enhances both the DNA binding affinity and the transactivation function of the heterodimer. Target genes include those involved in DNA synthesis, cell cycle and apoptosis. E2F/DP activity is carefully regulated since the heterodimer plays a central role in so many vital cellular functions. Indeed, the association of additional proteins, the phosphorylation state, the subcellular localization and the level of expression all contribute to modulating heterodimer activity and are all influenced by DP proteins. Active E2F1/DP1 promotes apoptosis in both a p53-dependent and independent manner. E2F1/DP1 induces the expression of ARF, which in turn blocks MDM2-mediated ubiquination of p53. E2F1/DP1, however, can mediate p53-dependent apoptosis in the absence of ARF through the upregulation of the p53 kinase ATM and by E2F1directly binding to p53, which enhances p53 transcriptional activity. E2F1/DP1 also promotes p53-independent apoptosis by inducing the expression of p73 in addition to upregulating central components of the apoptotic pathway such as casapases, Apaf1 and the pro-apoptotic Bcl2-family members. Lastly, E2F1 inhibits the NFκB survival signal. Although the DP proteins may not possess a biological function on their own, they are indispensable for regulating E2F activity and thus play a central role in important cellular functions such as apoptosis.
Derivation and Validation of a Major Toxicity Risk Score Among Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drug Users Based on Data From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective While nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used in rheumatology, they can cause major toxicity. Improving the risk/benefit ratio requires a more precise understanding of risk. This study was undertaken to derive and validate a risk score for major toxicity among NSAID users enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Methods Patients enrolled in a randomized controlled trial who had known cardiovascular disease or risk factors as well as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis were divided into derivation and validation cohorts. Patients were randomized to receive celecoxib, naproxen, or ibuprofen at typical dosages. The risk score was designed to predict the 1-year occurrence of major toxicity among NSAID users, including major adverse cardiovascular events, acute kidney injury, significant gastrointestinal events, and mortality. Variables significantly associated with major toxicity were candidates for inclusion in the final regression model. After derived models were found to have a similar model fit in the validation set, the cohorts were combined, allowing calculation of a risk score. Results In the derivation cohort, significant variables included age, male sex, history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, statin use, elevated serum creatinine level, hematocrit level, and type of arthritis. The C-index was 0.73 in the validation cohort and 0.71 in the total cohort; the model was well calibrated. Of the total population with complete data (n = 23,735), 1,080 participants (4.6%) had a predicted 1-year risk of major toxicity of 4%. Conclusion The risk score accurately categorizes the 1-year risk of major toxicity among NSAID users and may be useful in identifying patients who can safely use these agents.
Relational turbulence and psychological distress in romantic relationships in the military

To understand the process of relational turbulence and psychological distress in the context of the military, we used a grounded theory approach to analyze individuals’ experiences in online forums...
Carbon Offsetting with Eco-Conscious Consumers

In this paper, we model a firm that can reduce its carbon footprint in the presence of a segment of eco-conscious consumers, who consider the product's carbon footprint when making purchasing decisions. The firm can reduce its controllable emissions, at increased fixed and variable costs. The firm can also buy carbon offsets, at the price set by a non-governmental organization (NGO), for both its controllable and uncontrollable emissions in the supply chain. We find that the firm should not use these two emission reduction methods as simple substitutes. In particular, as the offset price decreases, the firm may spend more efforts reducing its controllable emissions. Also, a firm's decision to buy carbon offsets depends on the correlation between consumers' preferences for the product function and for its environmental attributes, and this has implications for NGOs selling offsets. Specifically, while NGOs should price offsets as low as possible in most cases, we find some instances where a premium pricing strategy may be more effective in promoting lower carbon footprint products, especially when eco-conscious consumers have a significantly higher valuation for the product than those who do not care about the environment, on average.
GENERALIZING THE TWIST-AND-FLIP PARADIGM: II

In this letter we introduce a new concept, the control manifold, which simultaneously points us toward a general algorithm relating the existence of horseshoes in a Poincare map to the parameters of an ODE, while also providing a mechanism for understanding how to control nonlinear phenomena and therefore utilize these phenomena in a disciplined and predictable manner in the design of nonlinear circuits, systems, and neural networks.
Patient Safety Indicators are an insufficient performance metric to track and grade outcomes of open aortic repair.

Abstract Objective National rankings of hospitals rely on outcomes-based evaluation to assess the performance of surgical programs, particularly those performing high-risk elective surgical procedures such as open aortic repair. Various classification systems exist for tracking outcomes, but increasingly the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision-based Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) are used as a publicly reported comparison measure of hospital quality performance. We sought to critically evaluate the accuracy of the existing vehicles to assess open aortic repair outcomes in an established program. Methods This is a case-control study of patients who underwent open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions from 2004 to 2018. Patients' characteristics and outcomes were collected as part of a prospectively maintained retrospective database. For each case, hemorrhagic, cardiac, respiratory, renal, wound, and thromboembolic complications were identified with the unique definitions used for open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database, the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality PSI initiative. Results Of the 154 patients included in the study, 79 (51.0%) were identified as having a complication as defined by the VQI, 46 (29.7%) according to the NSQIP, and 15 (9.7%) according to the PSI system (P 6.5 cm in diameter (P = .02). The NSQIP and VQI systems both identified more postoperative hemorrhagic, respiratory, renal, and wound complications than the PSI system did (P Conclusions The PSI system identified fewer important complications than either of the clinically focused databases, with the VQI capturing the most postoperative events, mostly because of its stringent definition of renal injury. We conclude that the PSI system should not form the basis of grading hospital performance in comparing clinically relevant complications of open aortic surgery programs.
The protein kinase Akt acts as a coat adaptor in endocytic recycling

Coat proteins have a central role in vesicular transport by binding to cargoes for their sorting into intracellular pathways. Cargo recognition is mediated by components of the coat complex known as adaptor proteins1–3. We previously showed that Arf-GAP with coil-coil, ANK repeat and PH domain-containing protein 1 (ACAP1) functions as an adaptor for a clathrin coat complex that has a function in endocytic recycling4–6. Here, we show that the protein kinase Akt acts as a co-adaptor in this complex, and is needed in conjunction with ACAP1 to bind to cargo proteins to promote their recycling. In addition to advancing the understanding of endocytic recycling, we uncover a fundamentally different function in which a kinase acts, as Akt in this case is an effector rather than a regulator in a cellular event. Hsu et al. find that the protein kinase Akt acts as a co-adaptor in the clathrin coat complex and is needed in conjunction with ACAP1 to bind to cargo proteins to promote their recycling.
The Climate and Economic Rationale for Investment in Life Extension of Spanish Nuclear Plants

Spain's seven operating nuclear plants currently provide more than 20% of its electricity. Each of these began operation in the 1980s and is approaching the end of its 40-year design life. Extending their lives will require additional investments. Should Spain make the investment and extend their lives, or should they be retired at the end of their design life? We show that investing in nuclear plant life extensions is the least- cost alternative for further reducing GHG emissions. We also show that in assessing the cost of renewable alternatives it is critical to take into account the time profile of the available renewable resource. Solar PV and especially wind capacity were expanded significantly since 2000, and significantly greater penetration, especially of solar PV, is promised out to 2030 in order to reduce GHG emissions still further. We show that at these expanded penetration levels, curtailment becomes a significant determinant of system cost. This significantly improves the relative value of nuclear life extensions as a contributor to reducing GHG emissions.
Potential for confliction in COVID-induced discourse in terms of training staff for law enforcement agencies

The purpose of this article is to construct a worldview model for a group of individuals prone to conflictive speech behaviour. This model can help law enforcement officers, including those still in training, to build an optimal communication strategy, even in unfavourable conditions. The material of the study is based on the comments in social media in respect of regional news items (TASS and Vesti-Kaliningrad press agencies). The relevant effective information engendered verbal reactions that proved to be most demonstrative for consideration and modelling. The article considers such aspects as various cognitive distortions inherent in individuals of a social medium at periods of maximum uncertainty; destructive speech strategies, manipulative strategies and manifestations of hostile rhetoric. A number of elements of the conspiratorial worldview, representing a constitutive role within the discourse in question, were considered and described.
Negative Beta Equity Securities as Insurance

Theoretically, an equity security with a negative CAPM beta should behave like portfolio insurance in the sense that the security provides a positive return during a market downturn. However, equity securities with negative betas are relatively rare and simply determining that an equity security exhibits a negative beta is not enough for determining if the negative beta equity security will perform in the desired manner. Negative betas can, at times, be attributed to causes that diminish those securities9 usefulness as insurance. Some of these causes are explored in this article.
Editorial: Growth & Change

2006 heralds the third year of The Montana Mathematics Enthusiast. The journal has undergone healthy mutations since its rebirth in April 2004. We now have in place since October 2005 an illustrious international editorial board and contributing editors with a very wide range of experience and expertise. The aims, scope and editorial information link on the journal website provides this information for the interested reader. The peer review process for papers submitted to the journal has also been smooth and timely, which has helped in attracting more submissions with quality control checks in place to maintain the scholarly status of the journal. TMME has also begun the process of acquiring indexing in well known research databases worldwide. The website statistics for Vol2no2 (August 2005) and TMME in general have been nothing short of staggering in terms of the places from which the journal was accessed. We have thus far been accessed from 91 different countries (!) and counting. A new statistical feature on the journal website allows readers to get a rolling glimpse of countries from which the journal is accessed based on the last 100 page loads. Sample statistics on journal access during the last five months is included at the end of this issue for the interested reader. The current issue: Volume 3, no1 is both wide in scope and dense with ideas, consisting of seven articles focused on topics within mathematics; mathematics and philosophy; mathematics education history; talent development and challenges for mathematically promising students. One underlying theme of many of the articles is ways in which mathematics can stimulate us, capture our imagination, and even excite us with its possibilities for teaching and learning from the elementary school level onto the professional levels. The geographic range of the authors attests to the benefits of open access for the wide dissemination of ideas without institutional and subscription restrictions.
Dynamic Model: Overview

This article has no abstract. Keywords: delay; nonlinear autoregression; riverflow; threshold
A study of CH4 reforming by CO2 and H2O on ceria-supported Pd

CH4 reforming by CO2 and H2O was studied on Pd/ceria catalysts using steady-state, rate measurements and pulse-reactor studies. Reaction rates for both reactions on Pd/ceria are several orders of magnitude higher than rates on either Pd/silica or ceria by itself, demonstrating that contact between the precious metal and ceria is crucial. Pulse reactor studies show that reduced ceria can be oxidized by either CO2 or H2O, which sugests that the reforming reactions involve a redox process. The implications of these results for oxygen storage in three-way, automotive catalysis are discussed.