cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein Kinase C Does Not Mediate the Inhibitory Action of Lead on Vitamin D3-Dependent Production of Osteocalcin in Osteoblastic Bone Cells

The level of osteocalcin in serum is lower in lead-intoxicated children than in their normal counterparts. To explain this clinical observation, we investigated the mechanism of action of lead on vitamin D3-dependent osteocalcin production. Lead (5-20 microM) blocked the stimulating effects of vitamin D3 on osteocalcin production in cultured rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2.8). It is often suggested that activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is a critical mediator of the toxic actions of lead. Treatment of ROS cells with Go6976, an inhibitor of PKC alpha and beta isozymes, produced similar effects as lead on vitamin D3-dependent osteocalcin production, while activation of PKC by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (TPA) did not reverse or mimic this effect of lead. Thus activation of PKC is not consistent with the actions of lead on vitamin D3-dependent osteocalcin production. Measurement of PKC enzyme activity showed that 10 microM lead treatment does not activate or inhibit the activity of PKC in ROS cells. Western blot analysis indicated that lead treatment does not translocate PKC alpha, beta, or zeta from cytosol to membrane. Therefore, we concluded that PKC does not mediate the cellular toxicity of lead on vitamin D3-dependent osteocalcin production.
Responding to fiscal constraints: Management of small towns in the farmbelt

Abstract Small cities in the farmbelt are threatened by declining economies and reductions in intergovernmental assistance. City clerks of these jurisdictions were surveyed in order to assess their perceptions of fiscal stress. Clerks maintained that environments of scarcity were a cause of concern, yet the quality of services had not significantly deteriorated. Two explanations for this phenomenon were investigated: productivity improvements and surplus depletion. Surplus depletion was more apparent than productivity improvement as a plausible explanation of the paradox. Cities with higher perceptions of fiscal scarcity utilized surpluses to a greater extent. In the absence of a change in the economic environment these cities are likely to deplete their surpluses. Only then will they be forced to confront the hard economic realities that they face.
Efficacy of botulinum toxin A, serial casting, and combined treatment for spastic equinus: a retrospective analysis

Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A), serial casting, and combined treatment for spastic equinus were compared by chart review. Fifty-five patients with diplegia (n=21), hemiplegia (n=17), quadriplegia (n=6), and other diagnoses (n=11) were reviewed. Thirty-one patients had Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) scores of I or II, 10 had a GMFCS score of III, and eight had GMFCS scores of IV or V (for six there were no available data). Mean age was 7 years 1 month (SD 4 y 8mo). The combined group showed a significantly greater increase in passive range of motion (ROM) of the ankle joint in comparison with BTX-A alone (p=0.0002), with a mean of 17° (SD 11.2) versus 5° (SD 6.7), and casting alone showed a significantly greater increase in comparison with BTX-A alone (p=0.0001), with a mean of 15° (SD 4.5) versus 5° (SD 6.7). With cast number controlled, change in ROM after casting with and without BTX-A was not significantly different (p=0.37). There was no significant difference between casting with or without BTX-A, and both improved ROM to a greater degree than BTX-A alone. Casting demonstrated a significantly more robust impact on range of motion than BTX-A alone.
Pattern of changes over time in myocardial blood flow and microvascular dilator capacity in patients with normally functioning cardiac allografts

This study tests the hypothesis that myocardial blood flow and coronary microvascular dilator capacity vary as a function of time after orthotopic heart transplantation in humans. Positron emission tomography measurements of myocardial blood flow were obtained at rest and during adenosine in 24 patients between 1 and 86 months after heart transplantation. At the time of the study all patients were clinically well and had angiographically normal epicardial coronary artery vessels. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on time from transplant to positron emission tomography measurement of myocardial blood flow: group 1 to 12 months (n = 9); group 13 to 34 months (n = 8); and group > or = 37 months (n = 7). Basal myocardial blood flow in group 1 to 12 months (1.86+/-1.01 ml/min/g) exceeded (p or = 37 months (0.98+/-0.34). In group 13 to 34 months, basal myocardial blood flow and maximal dilator capacity (minimal coronary vascular resistance with adenosine 36+/-12 mm Hg/ml/min/g) were comparable to that of normal volunteers (1.01+/-0.20 and 37+/-, respectively). In group > or = 37 months, maximal flow response to adenosine was reduced (2.54+/-1.25 vs 3.16+/-0.52, respectively, p = 0.06). Maximal dilator capacity in group > or = 37 months (60+/-34) was impaired versus group 1 to 12 months (36+/-10) and group 13 to 34 months (36+/-12; both p <0.05) as well as normals (37+/-9, p <0.05). During the first year after cardiac transplantation basal myocardial blood flow is elevated out of proportion to external determinants of myocardial oxygen demand, but maximal dilator capacity of the coronary microcirculation is normal. Between 1 and 3 years both basal myocardial blood flow and microvascular function tend to normalize. After 3 years, although basal myocardial blood flow is normal, microvascular dilator capacity is impaired.
Highstand versus lowstand deposition on carbonate platform margins: insight from Quaternary foreslopes in the Bahamas

Abstract Examples of both highstand and lowstand deposition have been identified on the upper platform slopes of the Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas. Highstand deposits consist of a thick wedge of fine-grained, skeletal and non-skeletal sands and carbonate muds derived predominantly from the platform and deposited on slopes of 25–28°. These sediments were deposited subsequent to platform flooding and may be more than 30 m thick along open leeward margins. In contrast, lowstand deposits consists of coarse skeletal sands, gravels, and boulders deposited on primary depositional slopes of 35–45°. These sediments were derived from fringing reefs along the marginal escarpment and deposited during the initial rise of sea level following the last lowstand. These variations in depositional character result in a distinctive signature of highstand versus lowstand deposition for steep-sided platforms and further elucidate the response of carbonate platforms to high magnitude, 5th order scale (20,000 yrs) fluctuations in sea level.
Teaching with the problem solving power of simulation

A strategic curriculum revision concerning simulation methods, production operations, and facility layout and material handling courses in a product design and manufacturing engineering curriculum is described. The revision is based on two ideas. Simulation is best taught in the context of its applications. Simulation is both a vital analysis tool and a vital teaching approach for examining the time dynamics of production systems such as work cells, kanban systems, and flexible manufacturing systems as well as material movement systems within facilities and logistics systems for material movement over long distances. The simulation methods classes are removed from the curriculum. Simulation methods are integrated into revised production operations courses. A traditional material handling and facilities layout course is revised into a material movement course that includes supply chain logistics. Simulation based laboratories, case studies and case problems are used extensively in both of the revised courses.
Increased Meiotic Crossovers and Reduced Genome Stability in Absence of Schizosaccharomyces Pombe Rad16 (XPF)

Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rad16 is the ortholog of the XPF structure-specific endonuclease, which is required for nucleotide excision repair and implicated in the single strand annealing mechanism of recombination. We show that Rad16 is important for proper completion of meiosis. In its absence, cells suffer reduced spore viability and abnormal chromosome segregation with evidence for fragmentation. Recombination between homologous chromosomes is increased, while recombination within sister chromatids is reduced, suggesting that Rad16 is not required for typical homolog crossovers but influences the balance of recombination between the homolog and the sister. In vegetative cells, rad16 mutants show evidence for genome instability. Similar phenotypes are associated with mutants affecting Rhp14XPA but are independent of other nucleotide excision repair proteins such as Rad13XPG. Thus, the XPF/XPA module of the nucleotide excision repair pathway is incorporated into multiple aspects of genome maintenance even in the absence of external DNA damage.
Hydrocarbon-Based Discrimination of Three North American Blattella Cockroach Species (Orthoptera: Blattellidae) Using Gas Chromatography

The identification of various life stages of three species of cockroaches was accomplished by using gas chromatography for the quantitative determination of cuticular hydrocarbon components. Dried and frozen specimens of wild and laboratory samples of the closely related species, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo and B. germanica (L.), were identified by inspection of chromatographic data. The cuticular hydrocarbons of each species were identified by mass spectrometry and found to be quite unlike those of the distantly related B. vaga Hebard. A statistical technique is described that provides a quantitative approach to numerical pattern recognition of chromatograms for identifying Asian and German cockroaches. In an experiment conducted to evaluate the operational efficiency of this technique for species identification, 63 blind samples of whole cockroaches (37), oothecae (6), and legs, wings, or cast skins (20) from German-like cockroaches including hybrids, were successfully identified.
Treatment of tracheal mucoepidermoid carcinoma by argon plasma coagulation during pregnancy.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree is a rare airway tumor (<1% of all lung tumors). In adults, the majority of primary tracheal tumors are malignant. Management during pregnancy is complex and requires weighing maternal and fetal prognosis. Reported cases describe surgical resection following cesarean section. We report the first case to be treated by Argon-Plasma Coagulation (APC) in pregnancy. A 35-year-old Caucasian woman G1P0, at 27 weeks of gestation was admitted to the emergency department because of hemoptysis and severe dyspnea. Bronchoscopy and biopsies diagnosed primary tracheal mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Following an episode of tracheal bleeding, she was intubated. After thorough explanations to the family and obtaining informed consent, therapeutic bronchoscopy, under general anesthesia using a rigid bronchoscope, was performed. The tumor was cored out with the tip of the bronchoscope and removed with an alligator forceps. The tumor bed was coagulated with APC. The obstetrica...
Optical anisotropy of a thermotropic liquid‐crystalline polymer in transient shear

A rheo-optical apparatus, based on a linear shear rheometer, has been constructed to study the deformation of liquid–crystalline polymers. This apparatus uses optical techniques such as flow birefringence, small-angle light scattering, and optical microscopic image analysis. The rheological responses were simultaneously measured under varying temperatures and deformation conditions. The modified Debye-Bueche equation for scattering, in the nonspherically symmetrical form, was adapted to analyze small-angle light-scattering data. The orientation correlation lengths, determined by this method, reveal the deformation mechanism in nematic melts. Flow birefringence results are in agreement with the proposed mechanism.
Virus-host symbiosis mediated by persistence.

In the last several years, numerous reports have suggested that viruses of various types might have contributed to the evolution of important and basic host characteristics. This would represent a symbiotic viral involvement in host evolution. Here, I outline many of these suggestions. However, in order for viruses to succeed as symbionts, they must attain a stable or persisting relationship with their host. This review focuses on the relationship between persisting viruses and their host. In particular, mechanisms of persistence that involve addiction (toxin/antitoxin) strategies are presented with respect to viral defense. The potential role of persisting viruses in cyanobacterial and prokaryotic evolution is also presented. Popular models of symbiosis are then evaluated from the perspective of potential viral involvement. Human evolution in relationship to endogenous retroviruses is also mentioned, but this topic presented more thoroughly in a companion manuscript (F. Ryan). Finally, an example is presented using symbiotic dinoflagellates in which evaluating the possible role of persisting viruses is suggested.
Approximate Best Linear Prediction of a Certain Class of Stationary and Nonstationary Noise-Distorted Signals

Abstract A technique for approximating the best linear predictor of a noise-distorted signal is presented. The technique is applicable when the signal is stationary with a spectrum which is highly concentrated around known or estimated frequencies, or when the signal is an accumulating sequence whose “spectrum” has poles at these frequencies. The noise must be stationary, but its spectrum need only be known or estimated at the above-mentioned frequencies. The time parameter is assumed to be discrete. Computer-generated data are then used to obtain an idea of the “robustness” of the technique.
Ovarian cancer surgery in Maryland: volume-based access to care

Abstract Purpose . To characterize the patterns of primary surgical care for ovarian cancer in a statewide population according to annual surgeon and hospital case volume. Methods . The Maryland hospital discharge database was accessed for annual surgeon and hospital ovarian cancer case volume for the time intervals: 1990–1992, 1993–1995, 1996–98, and 1999–2000. Annual surgeon case volume was categorized as low (≤4), intermediate (5–9), or high (≥10). Annual hospital case volume was categorized as low (≤9), intermediate (10–19), or high (≥20). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate for significant trends in case volume distribution over time and factors associated with access to high-volume care. Results . Overall, 2417 cases were performed by 531 surgeons at 49 hospitals. The distribution according to annual surgeon case volume was low (56.3%), intermediate (9.2%), and high (34.5%). Between 1993 and 2000, there was no significant increase in the proportion of cases performed by high-volume surgeons (OR = 1.03, 95% CI=0.81–1.33, P = 0.79). Access to high-volume surgeons was positively associated with care at high-volume hospitals and negatively associated with residence ≥50 miles from a high-volume hospital. The overall hospital volume case distribution was low (49.6%), intermediate (27.6%), and high (22.8%). There was a statistically significant decrease in access to high-volume hospitals between 1990 and 1998 (OR = 0.39, 95% CI=0.30–0.50, P Conclusion . A large proportion of primary ovarian cancer surgeries are performed by low-volume surgeons at low-volume hospitals. In light of positive volume-outcomes data for malignancies treated with technically complex operative procedures, increased efforts to concentrate the surgical care of women with ovarian cancer are warranted. Condensed abstract . A large proportion of primary ovarian cancer surgeries are performed by low-volume surgeons at low-volume hospitals. In light of positive volume-outcomes data for malignancies treated with technically complex operative procedures, increased efforts to concentrate the surgical care of women with ovarian cancer are warranted.
Methodology in Biological Game Theory

Gametheoryhasaprominentroleinevolutionarybiology,inparticularintheecological study of various phenomena ranging from conflict behaviour to altruism to signalling and beyond. The two central methodological tools in biological game theory are the concepts of Nash equilibrium and evolutionarily stable strategy. While both were inspired by a dynamic conception of evolution, these concepts are essentially static— they only show that a population is uninvadable, but not that a population is likely to evolve. In this article, we argue that a static methodology can lead to misleading views about dynamic evolutionary processes. We advocate, instead, a more pluralistic methodology,whichincludesbothstaticanddynamicgametheoretictools.Suchanapproach provides a more complete picture of the evolution of strategic behaviour.
Conversion of Progesterone to 5α-Pregnane-3,20-dione and 3α-Hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one by Rat Medial Basal Hypothalami and the Effects of Estradiol and Stage of Estrous Cycle on the Conversion

Tissue slices of rat medial basal hypothalami (MBH’s) from various stages of estrous cycle were incubated with 3H-progesterone. Regardless of the stage of the estrous cycle, most of the recovered tissue radioactivity was present in the 1000 × g pellet after subcellular fractionation. The radioactivity associated with the 1000 × g pelletafter subcellular fractionation. The radioactivity associated with the 1000 X g pellet was isolated and identified on the basis of reverse isotopic dilution techhniques by purification to a constant specific activity. With all incubations the 2 major metabolites identified were 5α-pregnane-3,20-dione and 3αhydroxy- 5α-pregnan-20-one. Other metabolites of progesterone, if any, appear to be present in very small amounts (2–3%). Although no qualitative changes in metabolism of progesterone were observed with respect to the stage of the estrous cycle, quantitative variations were evident. Higher accumulations of 3H-5αpregnane- 3,20-dione as compared to 3H-3α-hydroxy- 5α-pregnan...
An improved relaxed complex scheme for receptor flexibility in computer-aided drug design

The interactions among associating (macro)molecules are dynamic, which adds to the complexity of molecular recognition. While ligand flexibility is well accounted for in computational drug design, the effective inclusion of receptor flexibility remains an important challenge. The relaxed complex scheme (RCS) is a promising computational methodology that combines the advantages of docking algorithms with dynamic structural information provided by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, therefore explicitly accounting for the flexibility of both the receptor and the docked ligands. Here, we briefly review the RCS and discuss new extensions and improvements of this methodology in the context of ligand binding to two example targets: kinetoplastid RNA editing ligase 1 and the W191G cavity mutant of cytochrome c peroxidase. The RCS improvements include its extension to virtual screening, more rigorous characterization of local and global binding effects, and methods to improve its computational efficiency by reducing the receptor ensemble to a representative set of configurations. The choice of receptor ensemble, its influence on the predictive power of RCS, and the current limitations for an accurate treatment of the solvent contributions are also briefly discussed. Finally, we outline potential methodological improvements that we anticipate will assist future development.
System Design and Algorithmic Development for Computational Steering in Distributed Environments

Supporting visualization pipelines over wide-area networks is critical to enabling large-scale scientific applications that require visual feedback to interactively steer online computations. We propose a remote computational steering system that employs analytical models to estimate the cost of computing and communication components and optimizes the overall system performance in distributed environments with heterogeneous resources. We formulate and categorize the visualization pipeline configuration problems for maximum frame rate into three classes according to the constraints on node reuse or resource sharing, namely no, contiguous, and arbitrary reuse. We prove all three problems to be NP-complete and present heuristic approaches based on a dynamic programming strategy. The superior performance of the proposed solution is demonstrated with extensive simulation results in comparison with existing algorithms and is further evidenced by experimental results collected on a prototype implementation deployed over the Internet.
Speech analysis/Synthesis based on a sinusoidal representation

A sinusoidal model for the speech waveform is used to develop a new analysis/synthesis technique that is characterized by the amplitudes, frequencies, and phases of the component sine waves. These parameters are estimated from the short-time Fourier transform using a simple peak-picking algorithm. Rapid changes in the highly resolved spectral components are tracked using the concept of "birth" and "death" of the underlying sine waves. For a given frequency track a cubic function is used to unwrap and interpolate the phase such that the phase track is maximally smooth. This phase function is applied to a sine-wave generator, which is amplitude modulated and added to the other sine waves to give the final speech output. The resulting synthetic waveform preserves the general waveform shape and is essentially perceptually indistinguishable from the original speech. Furthermore, in the presence of noise the perceptual characteristics of the speech as well as the noise are maintained. In addition, it was found that the representation was sufficiently general that high-quality reproduction was obtained for a larger class of inputs including: two overlapping, superposed speech waveforms; music waveforms; speech in musical backgrounds; and certain marine biologic sounds. Finally, the analysis/synthesis system forms the basis for new approaches to the problems of speech transformations including time-scale and pitch-scale modification, and midrate speech coding [8], [9].
Implementing logic: Custom versus micro versus macro

Present day designers have a staggering array of alternatives for implementing logic functions. Such approaches as microprocessors, PLA, ROM, PROM, standard parts, and varying degrees of custom design will be appraised, with comparisons offered on the basis of power/delay, chip area, design ease and turn-around time, testability and packaging.
Adsorption rate constants from chromatography

A new method for determining adsorption equilibrium constants, rate constants, and intraparticle diffusivities is described and applied for the adsorption of ethane, propane, and n-butane on silica gel. The method rests upon recently developed theory for relating the moments of the effluent concentration wave from a bed of adsorbent particles to the rate constants associated with the various steps in the overall adsorption process. It is necessary to operate at concentrations of adsorbable gas such that the adsorption isotherm is linear. However, it is possible to take into account effects of longitudinal dispersion and diffusion to the particle surface as well as the intraparticle processes of diffusion and adsorption on the pore surface. The method gave reasonable values for intraparticle diffusivities and adsorption rate constants. Intraparticle diffusion was a major resistance for all particle sizes studied and for the largest size (R = 0.50 mm.) this step controlled the overall rate. From the constants determined chromatographically it is possible to predict breakthrough curves for the adsorption of these hydrocarbons on silica gel. The predicted curves agree well with experimentally established breakthrough curves.
Interactive skeletonization of intensity volumes

We present an interactive approach for identifying skeletons (i.e. centerlines) in intensity volumes, such as those produced by biomedical imaging. While skeletons are very useful for a range of image analysis tasks, it is extremely difficult to obtain skeletons with correct connectivity and shape from noisy inputs using automatic skeletonization methods. In this paper we explore how easy-to-supply user inputs, such as simple mouse clicking and scribbling, can guide the creation of satisfactory skeletons. Our contributions include formulating the task of drawing 3D centerlines given 2D user inputs as a constrained optimization problem, solving this problem on a discrete graph using a shortest-path algorithm, building a graphical interface for interactive skeletonization and testing it on a range of biomedical data.
Effect of In Situ Thermal Annealing on Structural, Optical, and Electrical Properties of CdS/CdTe Thin Film Solar Cells Fabricated by Pulsed Laser Deposition

An in situ thermal annealing process (iTAP) has been introduced before the common ex situ cadmium chloride (CdCl2) annealing to improve crystal quality and morphology of the CdTe thin films after pulsed laser deposition of CdS/CdTe heterostructures. A strong correlation between the two annealing processes was observed, leading to a profound effect on the performance of CdS/CdTe thin film solar cells. Atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy show that the iTAP in the optimal processing window produces considerable CdTe grain growth and improves the CdTe crystallinity, which results in significantly improved optoelectronic properties and quantum efficiency of the CdS/CdTe solar cells. A power conversion efficiency of up to 7.0% has been obtained on thin film CdS/CdTe solar cells of absorber thickness as small as 0.75 μm processed with the optimal iTAP at 450°C for 10–20 min. This result illustrates the importance of controlling microstructures of CdTe thin films and iTAP provides a viable approach to achieve such a control.
Abuse of Discretion, Reversible Error, Harmless Error, Plain Error, Structural Error; A New Paradigm for Criminal Cases

Defining and distinguishing reversible error, harmless error, plain error, and structural error both theoretically and practically is currently an almost hopeless task. The purpose of this article is to delineate the reasons for such complexity and confusion and to suggest proposed amendments to Fed.R.Evid. 103 and Fed.R. Crim.Proc. 52, the result of which hopefully would be a comprehensive, theoretically sound and workable scheme for determining whether evidentiary errors committed at trial below require the granting on appeal of a new trial in a criminal case.
A Note on the Asymptotic Variance of Sample Roots

We derive the asymptotic distribution of the eigenvalues of a sample covari- ance matrix with distinct roots. Our theorem can accommodate the situation in which the population covariance matrix is estimated via its sample analogue as well as the more general case in which it is estimated via a pN-consistent extremum estimator. The sample roots will have a Normal distribution in a large sample with a covariance matrix that is easy to compute. We con- duct Monte Carlo experiments that show that standard errors based on our derived asymptotic distribution accurately approximate standard errors in the empirical distribution.
Salutary effects of ATP-MgCl2 on altered hepatocyte signal transduction after hemorrhagic shock

Although previous studies indicate that hepatocyte P2 purinoceptors, macrophage adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), and beta-adrenergic receptors decrease after hemorrhage and that adminis...
Creatine concentration and weight loss in denervated skeletal muscle.

ConclusionsAverage dry weight ratios of denervated and intact muscles are not significantly different from average wet weight ratios on the 14th day after denervation. Creatine concentration parallels weight loss following denervation during the experimental period used. Although one determination appears to be as valid as the other in estimating the extent of atrophy it is evident that there is a greater net loss of creatine than can be explained simply on the basis of weight loss. Both weight loss and creatine loss are progressive with time up to 14 days after denervation.
Firing behavior of brain stem neurons during voluntary cancellation of the horizontal vestibuloocular reflex. II. Eye movement related neurons

1. The single-unit activity of neurons in the vestibular nucleus, the prepositus nucleus, and the abducens nucleus, whose activity was primarily related to horizontal eye movements, was recorded in alert squirrel monkeys that were trained to track a small visual target by generating smooth pursuit eye movements and to cancel their horizontal vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) by fixating a head stationary target. 2. The spiking behavior of each cell was recorded during 1) spontaneous eye movements, 2) horizontal smooth pursuit of a target that was moved sinusoidally +/- 20 degrees/s at 0.5 Hz, 3) horizontal VOR evoked by 0.5-Hz sinusoidal turntable rotations +/- 40 degrees/s (VORs), and 4) voluntary cancellation of the VOR by fixation of a head-stationary target during 0.5-Hz sinusoidal turntable rotation at +/- 40 degrees/s (VORCs). The responses of most (28/42) of the units were recorded during unpredictable 100-ms steps in head acceleration (400 degrees/s2) that were generated while the monkey was fixating a target light. The acceleration steps were generated either when the monkey was stationary or when the turntable was already rotating (VORt trials), and the monkey was canceling its VOR (VORCt trials). 3. The firing behavior of all 12 of the abducens neurons recorded was closely related to horizontal eye position and eye velocity during all of the behavioral paradigms used, although there was a small but significant increase in the eye position sensitivity of many of these units when the eye was moving (smooth pursuit) versus when the eye was stationary (fixation). 4. Many neurons in the prepositus nucleus and the medial vestibular nucleus (n = 15) were similar to abducens neurons, in that their firing rate was related primarily to horizontal eye position and eye velocity, regardless of the behavioral paradigm used. These cells were, on average, more sensitive to eye position and smooth pursuit eye velocity than were abducens neurons. 5. The firing rate of 15 other neurons in the prepositus and medial vestibular nucleus was related primarily to horizontal smooth pursuit eye movements. The tonic firing rate of all of these smooth pursuit (SP) cells was related to horizontal eye position, and the majority generated bursts of spikes during saccades in all directions but their off direction. Six of the SP neurons fired in phase with ipsilateral eye movements, whereas the remaining nine were sensitive to eye movements in the opposite direction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Order and Disorder in the Urban Forest: A Foucauldian-Latourian Perspective

We pass by street trees everyday. Their existence as well as their particular location in the city seems obvious, innocuous, natural. But, as is the case with most taken-for-granted "things" (Brown, 2011), some excavation is bound to reveal a more complicated and even ideological story. This study focuses on such a story: the story of the clandestine governance of nature and of humans by way of nature - all through the construction and regulation of city street trees. This story problematizes the mundane display of urban space in general, and of urban street trees in particular, as technical and apolitical, and instead promotes an understanding of nonhumans and humans as constantly negotiating spatial order and disorder through law.
Changes in Pathological Complete Response Rates after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Carcinoma over Five Years

Historically, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) was extrapolated from adjuvant regimens. Dual HER2 blockade and the introduction of carboplatin for triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) emerged by December 2013 and have improved pathological complete response (pCR) rates. The objective of this study was to assess the pCR rates before and after the introduction of these new neoadjuvant regimens. Materials and Methods. Stage I–III breast cancer patients who received NACT were analyzed for rates of pCR by clinical characteristics (i.e., age, BMI, axillary lymphadenopathy, and histologic subtype), by time period (1 = 3/2010–11/2013, 2 = 12/2013–3/2015), and by type of chemotherapy (e.g., anthracycline/taxane only, carboplatin-containing, and HER2 blockade). Results. 113 patients received NACT. Overall pCR rate was 26.5 percent (). The pCR rate increased from 14% to 43.1% () from time period 1 to time period 2 and were associated with HER2 positivity (), receiving treatment during time period 2 () and using an anthracycline/taxane plus additional agent type of regimen (). Conclusions. Our study revealed a significant difference in rates of pCR over five years. Window of opportunity trials and other trials that utilize pCR analysis should be encouraged.
Vancomycin and the Risk of AKI: Now Clearer than Mississippi Mud.

Drug selection and dosing should be carried out with a firm understanding of the risk–benefit profile in individual patients in order to ensure a maximal likelihood of safety during treatment. Unfortunately, all drugs possess inherent risks. Unintended adverse effects not only tip the risk–
A priori patient-specific collision avoidance in radiotherapy using consumer grade depth cameras

Purpose In this study, we demonstrate and evaluate a low cost, fast and accurate avoidance framework for radiotherapy treatments. Furthermore, we provide an implementation which is patient specific and can be implemented during the normal simulation process. Methods Four patients and a treatment unit were scanned with a set of consumer depth cameras to create a polygon mesh of each object. Using a fast polygon interference algorithm, the models were virtually collided to map out feasible treatment positions of the couch and gantry. The actual physical collision space was then mapped in the treatment room by moving the gantry and couch until a collision occurred with either the patient or hardware. The physical and virtual collision spaces were then compared to determine the accuracy of the system. To improve the collision predictions, a buffer geometry was added to the scanned gantry mesh and performance was assessed as a function of buffer thickness. Results Each patient was optically scanned during simulation in less than 1 minute. The average time to virtually map the collision space for 64, 800 gantry/couch states was 5.40 ± 2.88 seconds. The system had an average raw accuracy and negative prediction rate (NPR) across all patients of 97.3% ± 2.4% and 96.9% ± 2.2% respectively. Using a polygon buffer of 6 cm over the gantry geometry, the NPR was raised to unity for all patients, signifying the detection of all collision events. However, the average accuracy fell from 95.3% ± 3.1% to 91.5% ± 3.6% between the 3 cm and 6 cm buffer as more false positives were detected. Conclusions We successfully demonstrated a fast and low cost framework which can map an entire collision space a priori for a given patient during the time of simulation. All collisions can be avoided using polygon interference, but a polygon buffer may be required to account for geometric uncertainties of scanned objects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Structural insights into the substrate binding adaptability and specificity of human O-GlcNAcase

The O-linked β-N-acetyl glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification dynamically regulates the functions of numerous proteins. A single human enzyme O-linked β-N-acetyl glucosaminase (O-GlcNAcase or OGA) hydrolyzes this modification. To date, it remains largely unknown how OGA recognizes various substrates. Here we report the structures of OGA in complex with each of four distinct glycopeptide substrates that contain a single O-GlcNAc modification on a serine or threonine residue. Intriguingly, these glycopeptides bind in a bidirectional yet conserved conformation within the substrate-binding cleft of OGA. This study provides fundamental insights into a general principle that confers the substrate binding adaptability and specificity to OGA in O-GlcNAc regulation. O-linked β-N-acetyl glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is an important protein modification that is hydrolyzed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Here the authors give insights into OGA substrate recognition by presenting four human OGA structures complexed with glycopeptide substrates containing a single O-GlcNAc modification on either a serine or threonine.
Knowledge, Hope, and Fallibilism

Hope, in its propositional construction “I hope that p” is compatible with a stated chance for the speaker that $$\lnot \textit{p}$$ . On fallibilist construals of knowledge, knowledge is compatible with a chance of being wrong, such that one can know that p even though there is an epistemic chance for one that $$\lnot \textit{p}$$ . But self-ascriptions of propositional hope that p seem to be incompatible, in some sense, with self-ascriptions of knowing whether p. Data from conjoining hope self-ascription with outright assertions, with first- and third-person knowledge ascriptions, and with factive predicates suggest a problem: when combined with a plausible principle on the rationality of hope, they suggest that fallibilism is false. By contrast, the infallibilist about knowledge can straightforwardly explain why knowledge would be incompatible with hope, and can offer a simple and unified explanation of all the linguistic data introduced here. This suggests that fallibilists bear an explanatory burden which has been hitherto overlooked.
Elections and selection: The role of political ideology in selection decisions

Abstract Political ideology is a central belief that drives individuals' behavior not just in the voting booth but also in other aspects of life. As political divisiveness in society has increased, the ramifications of this shift may permeate organizations ultimately affecting how individuals interact with one another. Through the lens of social cognition and person-organization fit, this paper considers the effect of political ideology of job applicants in selection decisions by discussing 1) the definition of political ideology and subsequent stereotyping, 2) the increasing divisiveness rooted in political ideology, 3) the implication in selection decisions influenced by political ideology, and 4) the consequences for firm level diversity. Further, a model is provided to illustrate the relationship of political ideology to various phases of the selection process. Propositions to foster further study of these phenomena are provided within.
Terrestrial Nanoparticles and Their Controls on Soil-/Geo-Processes and Reactions

Abstract This review provides insights on some unique properties of nanoparticles (NPs) that are present in soils. In addition, this review discusses the role of NPs in controlling or influencing single and/or coupled chemical, biological, and hydrological soil- and/or geo-processes, which directly or indirectly affect the mobility or may determine the ultimate fate of aqueous and sorbed (adsorbed or precipitated) chemical species of nutrients and contaminants in terrestrial ecosystems. The chapter is composed of five review sections, followed by another section on future research directions, the acknowledgments, and the list of the references. A brief introduction to nanotechnology, nanoscience and environmental soil nanoscience, and definitions of relevant terms and chapter objectives are provided in the first section. A discussion on size-dependent properties and controls, focusing initially on the differences in nanoscale versus bulk scale properties, and later on the properties that change within the nanoscale, is presented in the second section. The important topic of NP origin (natural or manufactured) and occurrence in soils is presented in the third section. The behavior of NPs in soils is discussed in the fourth section. Two subsections are included. In the first one, processes that may affect NPs behavior in soils, such as growth, stability, solid phase transformation, aggregation, and aging are discussed. In the second one, processes that may be affected by the presence of NPs in soils, such as contaminant and/or nutrient sorption, redox reactions, and their advective or diffusive mobility, are discussed. A brief discussion on NPs toxicity is presented in the fifth and last review section of this chapter.
Capacity Planning for Modular and Transportable Infrastructure for Shale Gas Production and Processing

Shale gas wells typically have steep production decline curves in the first few years of operation. Therefore, if such reduction in production is not accounted for, much of the supporting infrastructure within the shale gas field owned by the exploration and production (E&P) company will be grossly oversized after only a few years of production. Instead of the conventional approach of utilizing spatially fixed processing facilities, this work proposes the use of modular and transportable processing plants. This in turn allows the processing facilities to be composed of multiple modular plants operating in parallel. These modular plants can be reallocated within the field to other processing facilities by the E&P company to combat the uncertainty in production that comes with developing a shale gas field. A superstructure is developed to aid in formulating the capacity planning and allocation problem as a multi-stage stochastic program with uncertain production forecasts. We incorporate a novel recourse fu...
Persistent self-reported ear and hearing problems among World Trade Center-exposed firefighters and emergency medical service workers, 2001-2017—A longitudinal cohort analysis

Background The goal of this study was to estimate the impact of exposure to the World Trade Center (WTC) site on annual and persistent rates of otalgia and hearing impairment among Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers (EMS). Methods Responders completed routine physical health questionnaires at monitoring visits. We used logistic and marginal logistic regression models to explore the association between otalgia and hearing impairment and WTC arrival time. Results The highest-exposed group had greater odds of persistent ear symptoms (OR 1.33, 95%CI 1.11-1.59) compared with the least-exposed; the odds of persistent hearing problems between the groups were not significantly different. We found consistent WTC-exposure gradients when the average population odds of these outcomes were assessed each year. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that the odds of long-term ear symptoms were significantly associated with the intensity of WTC exposure.
Understanding the Cord-Cutters: An Adoption/Self-Efficacy Approach

In recent years, there has been a trend toward “cord-cutting” by media consumers. Cord-cutting is the abandonment of paid subscription television in favor of video-streaming services. This research...
The effect of predator kairomones on caudal regeneration by Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanders ( Desmognathus ochrophaeus )

Many prey utilize autotomy as an antipredator mechanism. Rapid regeneration of autotomized appendages is beneficial because forfeited tissues may serve as organs for energy storage, accessories for locomotion, or indicators of social status. We monitored levels of caudal regeneration by Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanders, Desmognathus ochrophaeus (Cope, 1859) exposed to kairomones from predatory eastern garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis (L., 1758). After the induction of autotomy, salamanders were exposed to one of three treatment regimens: blank (water), or an acute (30 min per week) or chronic (constant) exposure to predator kairomones during a 12-week study period. Overall, the average volume of regenerated tissue, as a percentage of original tail volume, was highest for individuals exposed to the blank versus predator kairomones. When the combined effects of time elapsed since the induction of caudal autotomy and the different treatment regimens were considered, we found that the aver...
Energetics of Au Adsorption and Film Growth on Pt(111) by Single-Crystal Adsorption Calorimetry

Bimetallic catalysts are an important class of heterogeneous catalysts with catalytic properties distinct from either of their bulk metal constituents. The structural, electronic, chemisorptive, an...
Use of cyanoacrylate adhesive in the surgical management of feline corneal sequestrum: 16 cases (2011-2018).

Objective To evaluate the use of cyanoacrylate adhesive as an adjunct to lamellar keratectomy in cats with corneal sequestrum. Methods Medical records were reviewed to identify cats with naturally occurring midstromal corneal sequestra treated with lamellar keratectomy and cyanoacrylate adhesive. All cats also had a bandage contact lens placed for postoperative comfort. Data collected included breed, age, sex, and reproductive status of the cat, eye involved, presence or absence of neovascularization at the time of surgery, history of prior sequestra, additional ocular procedures performed, use of neuromuscular blocking agents, procedure time, time to cessation of topical medications, time to recurrence or last follow-up, and complications aside from recurrence. Results Sixteen cats met study criteria, with a median follow-up time of 17.5 months in those without recurrence. Median time to cessation of topical medications was 4 weeks. Fourteen cats (87%) have not experienced recurrence. Other than recurrence in two cats, no significant complications were noted. Aside from purebred status, no commonalities were found between the two cats with recurrence. Neuromuscular blocking agents were not used during surgery in most cases. Median procedure time was 10 minutes. Conclusions Cyanoacrylate adhesive is an effective and safe alternative to grafting procedures in cats undergoing lamellar keratectomy for treatment of corneal sequestrum. Recurrence rates are comparable to those seen with grafting techniques. Benefits of this approach include decreased anesthesia time, lower procedure costs, and short duration of postoperative treatment.
The role of take-home naloxone in the epidemic of opioid overdose involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl and its analogs

Introduction: There has been an exponential increase in overdose fatalities as illicitly manufactured fentanyl and its analogs (IMF) are becoming more prevalent in the illicit drug supply. In respo...
Assessing the Department of Education’s Proposed 2018 Revisions to its Regulations under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act

On November 16, 2018, the U.S. Department of Education (“DOE”), under President Donald Trump, released a proposal to change the rules that schools must follow when addressing sexual misconduct allegations under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. These proposed rule changes are exemplary to the extent they create safeguards to ensure that students accused of sexual misconduct receive the “basic rudiments of due process.” However, they fall short of their intended mark by reducing the obligations placed on school personnel to affirmatively act to prevent sexual wrongdoing. This article argues that the Department of Education should implement its proposed rule changes that afford students accused of Title IX violations with the basic rudiments of due process, while modifying its proposed rule changes that would limit public and private school liability.
Swahili Learning in the United States: What Does It Mean?

The study reported in this chapter was carried out in a Midwestern University in the United States. The study investigated Swahili learning in a third year classroom. In particular, it sought to find out what it means to study Swahili in the twenty-first century. The study found out that the students participated in dynamic social interactions in the classroom, interacted with supportive teachers and peers, and interacted with supportive Swahili native speakers when they visited East Africa. Also, it found out that students studied Swahili because they were both intrinsically and extrinsically motivated to study the language. All these factors in the Swahili classroom and outside the classroom promoted language learning.