cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Multiple Biological Roles of the 3′→5′ Exonuclease of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA Polymerase δ Require Switching between the Polymerase and Exonuclease Domains

Until recently, the only biological function attributed to the 3′→5′ exonuclease activity of DNA polymerases was proofreading of replication errors. Based on genetic and biochemical analysis of the 3′→5′ exonuclease of yeast DNA polymerase δ (Pol δ) we have discerned additional biological roles for this exonuclease in Okazaki fragment maturation and mismatch repair. We asked whether Pol δ exonuclease performs all these biological functions in association with the replicative complex or as an exonuclease separate from the replicating holoenzyme. We have identified yeast Pol δ mutants at Leu523 that are defective in processive DNA synthesis when the rate of misincorporation is high because of a deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) imbalance. Yet the mutants retain robust 3′→5′ exonuclease activity. Based on biochemical studies, the mutant enzymes appear to be impaired in switching of the nascent 3′ end between the polymerase and the exonuclease sites, resulting in severely impaired biological functions. Mutation rates and spectra and synergistic interactions of the pol3-L523X mutations with msh2, exo1, and rad27/fen1 defects were indistinguishable from those observed with previously studied exonuclease-defective mutants of the Pol δ. We conclude that the three biological functions of the 3′→5′ exonuclease addressed in this study are performed intramolecularly within the replicating holoenzyme.
Multimember Districts and the Substantive Representation of Women: An Analysis of Legislative Cosponsorship Networks

Women's representation in elected and appointed positions is often seen as a matter of justice and equity (Burrell 1997). Beyond symbolic representation, many believe that a greater presence of women in institutions that have traditionally been controlled by men can facilitate the attention to issues that disproportionately affect women (Dahlerup 1988; Dodson and Carroll 1991; Kanter 1977). As the election of women has grown in the past decade, researchers have shown a renewed interest in understanding under what conditions women's descriptive representation can produce more effective substantive representation of women's interests. A number of feminist scholars argue that increasing the descriptive representation of women in legislatures is essential to remedy existing inequalities suffered by women (Mansbridge 1999). But electoral practices aimed at increasing women and minorities in office, such as majority-minority districts or gender quotas throughout European and Latin American countries, have produced varied results concerning the substantive representation of women and minority interests. Understanding the electoral and institutional features that strengthen or attenuate women's representation, therefore, merits further study.
A Two-Step Filtering approach for detecting maize and soybean phenology with time-series MODIS data

Abstract The crop developmental stage represents essential information for irrigation scheduling/fertilizer management, understanding seasonal ecosystem carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) exchange, and evaluating crop productivity. In this study, we devised an approach called the Two-Step Filtering (TSF) for detecting the phenological stages of maize and soybean from time-series Wide Dynamic Range Vegetation Index (WDRVI) data derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 250-m observations. The TSF method consists of a Two-Step Filtering scheme that includes: (i) smoothing the temporal WDRVI data with a wavelet-based filter and (ii) deriving the optimum scaling parameters from shape-model fitting procedure. The date of key crop development stages are then estimated by using the optimum scaling parameters and an initial value of the specific phenological date on the shape model, which are preliminary defined in reference to ground-based crop growth stage observations. The shape model is a crop-specific WDRVI curve with typical seasonal features, which were defined by averaging smoothed, multi-year WDRVI profiles from MODIS 250-m data collected over irrigated maize and soybean study sites. In this study, the TSF method was applied to MODIS-derived WDRVI data over a 6-year period (2003 to 2008) for two irrigated sites and one rainfed site planted to either maize or soybean as part of the Carbon Sequestration Program (CSP) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A comparison of satellite-based retrievals with ground-based crop growth stage observations collected by the CSP over the six growing seasons for these three sites showed that the TSF method can accurately estimate the date of four key phenological stages of maize (V2.5: early vegetative stage, R1: silking stage, R5: dent stage and R6: maturity) and soybean (V1: early vegetative stage, R5: beginning seed, R6: full seed and R7: beginning maturity). The root mean square error (RMSE) of phenological-stage estimation for maize ranged from 2.9 [R1] to 7.0 [R5] days and from 3.2 [R6] to 6.9 [R7] days for soybean, respectively. In addition, the TSF method was also applied for two years (2001 and 2002) over eastern Nebraska to test its ability to characterize the spatio-temporal patterns of these key phenological stages over a larger geographic area. The MODIS-derived crop phenological stage dates agreed well with the statistical crop progress data reported by the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) for eastern Nebraska's three crop agricultural statistic districts (ASDs). At the ASD-level, the RMSE of phenological-stage estimation ranged from 1.6 [R1] to 5.6 [R5] days for maize and from 2.5 [R7] to 5.3 [R5] days for soybean.
The use of single family of languages for program development

Program development involves many steps and activities. Among these one can mention specifications, design, coding, debugging, testing, modifications, display and experiments. All these activities are supported, at least partially, by computer languages. Today, the different activities are supported by different languages. This is a problematic situation. There were several attempts to devise a single language approach to program development. However, these attempts were either too limited or too abstract to form a concrete and immediate answer.This report shows how to extend algebraic programming languages to cover most of the development activities. It therefore offers the ability to support all development done with a programming language with a single extended language based on that programming language. The extensions are presented through Ada. We make use of existing extensions supporting specifications and design, and add extensions supporting activities taking place after coding. The extensions do not change the language they are based on, and they are used only to support development activities.
Fishbein's Model of Behavioral Intentions: A Framework for Health Education Research and Curriculum Development

A review of Fishbein's model of Behavioral Intentions is used as a framework for health education research and curriculum development. Particular emphasis is given to Jaccard's analysis of the model's practical application in health education programs: as a guide to assessing the relative importance of attitudinal and normative components in determining intentions for intended audiences.
Interference cancellation enhancement through generalized widely linear equalization in QAM systems

In this paper, we introduce a generalized widely linear (WL) equalizer for quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) systems with single/multiple antennas. In our proposed implementation, the WL receiver first separates the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) parts of the complex-valued baseband received signal and jointly filters the two branches for signal detection. Infinite length WL minimum mean-square error (WL-MMSE) linear, and WL decision-feedback-equalizer (WL-DFE) settings are derived and performance is analyzed in co-channel interference limited channels. It is shown that, in frequency selective Rayleigh fading channels, the interference cancellation (IC) gain depends mainly on the rank (r) of the interference correlation matrix (ICM) which is defined as the covariance of the vector-valued signal which consists of the real and imaginary parts of the noise-plus-interference signal collected at multiple antenna branches. Assuming that the DFE feedback path is error free, we show that a WL QAM receiver with N antennas exhibits full IC capability (that is complete interference removal) when the ICM is rank deficient i.e., when: r < 2N. This condition implies that a WL-DFE receiver can reject any combination of M1 pulse-amplitude-modulation (PAM) and M2 QAM interferers satisfying the constraint: M1 + 2M2 < 2N. Simulation results show that, in the presence of PAM-type interference, the gain of WL-DFE is reduced by decision feedback errors while the IC benefit of WL-MMSE is limited by the noise enhancement problem. Nevertheless, the proposed receivers are shown to be useful in cellular systems that employ a combination of PAM and QAM schemes.
Resource Control and Visionary Leadership: Two Exercises

This article describes two experiential exercises in which participants engage in Tinkertoy assembly tasks as a means of generating a discussion of complex management issues. "Tinkertoy Power" explores issues of resource interdependence and ethics, and "Blind Leadership" focuses on the importance of leaders' communicating a vision to subordinates. Instructions and procedures for conducting the exercises are included.
S1.4 Pharmacological assessment of medication adherence—oral PrEP and microbicides

HIV chemoprevention trials (oral PrEP and topical microbicides) will benefit greatly from an accurate assessment of medication adherence during the trial to assist in the interpretation of prevention success or failure in the trial. HIV infection during the trial may be a result of failure to achieve preventive drug concentrations, which itself may result from either (1) a prescribed regimen, to which the subject fully adhered, that is still insufficient to prevent infection or (2) a result of poor adherence to the prescribed regimen also resulting in insufficient drug concentrations. In addition, an accurate adherence assessment in the midst of a trial could trigger adherence interventions. Objective evidence of adherence in several HIV chemoprevention trials suggests that subjective measures greatly overestimate adherence. Drug concentration has been proposed as a more objective adherence measure. Blood, hair, or other samples are sampled at specified times and the resultant “observed” drug concentration is compared to the “expected” drug concentration. The proportional difference between the expected and observed drug concentrations may be used as an estimate of the proportion of doses for which the subject was adherent to the prescribed regimen. This method attempts to provide more accurate and quantitative measures than those currently employed, but obstacles to their application and feasibility in estimating adherence remain to be demonstrated. Problems of white-coat effect, inter- and intra-individual variability, dose-proportionality, and backward looking temporal frame of reference all need to be addressed as part of the validation and interpretation of drug concentration as an adherence measure.
Outpatient Evaluation of Obesity in Adults and Children a Review of the Performance of Internal Medicine Pediatrics Residents

A chart audit of 115 adults and 113 children seen consecutively in an internal medicine/pediatrics residency was conducted to assess recognition of obesity and appropriateness of suggested therapy. Patients were categorized as obese, overweight, or normal based on body mass index. Forty-four percent of the children and 50% of the adults were classified as overweight or obese. Residents were more likely to document obesity in adults (53%) than in children (18%, p<0.0001). Higher degree of obesity in adults increased resident documentation of the condition (p=0.022), but presence of additional cardiovascular risk factors did not. When overweight or obesity was recognized, residents chose appropriate therapy. Enhanced education to improve recognition of obesity appears warranted.
Microspatial Distribution of Pupal Green Cloverworms, Plathypena scabra (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in Iowa Soybean Fields

The microspatial distribution of pupal green cloverworms, Plathypena scabra (F.), was studied intensively in six soybean fields during 1979 and 1980. Pupae occurred within the plant canopy and on the soil surface but not below the surface. About 90% of the pupae were collected in the litter on the soil surface. Pupal densities were biased with respect to directional aspect during 1979, with significantly ( P < 0.05) more pupae located in southern exposures than northern exposures, but biases were not observed during 1980. No obvious preferences were observed with respect to eastern or western exposures. Pupal densities also varied inversely with distance from the soybean row. The quantity of litter cover seemed to influence pupal distribution. Implications for pupal sampling are discussed.
War Cues and Foreign Policy Acts

Cognitive psychological theory and research suggest that specific actions are primed or potentiated by prior related cues. Thus violent cues should influence subsequent conflictual action choices. Laboratory subjects were given one of two written vignettes recalling either the slaughter of World War I or Allied weakness before World War II. A control group received no vignette. Subjects were then asked to specify foreign-policy choices from an inventory of possible cooperative-conflictual acts, relevant to a dispute between two fictional countries, in five sequential rounds. Both war vignettes produced more subsequent conflictual choices for subjects with dominant (i.e., aggressive) personality traits, and less conflictual choices for subjects with submissive personality traits. The findings suggest that priming activates underlying personality predispositions that enhance cooperative or conflictual action choices. The results also point to the potential importance of prior cues in shaping foreign-policy decision makers' and mass-public responses to international events.
Extensible visual constraint language

The paper presents a visual, imperative language for the specification of constraints corresponding to domain-specific modeling languages (DSML) in the new WebGME modeling environment. The language is based on the visual notation introduced by Scratch. The novel feature of the approach is that the constraint language is just another DSML defined through UML class diagram-based metamodels. As such, it is easily extensible via metamodel inheritance. The visual constraint programs are automatically translated into asynchronous JavaScript code that utilizes the native WebGME APIs for evaluation.
Test and analysis of power regulation and power quality for wind farm

In order to analyze and test the influence of the large-scale wind power connection on the safe and stable operation of local electric power network,this paper,taking a wind farm for an example,introduces the test process and steps of power regulation and power quality for wind farm,tests on the change of active power,reactive power regulation and power quality,the result of which is also analyzed.In the test,the harmonic current is found exceeding the standard.Therefore,the control strategy is proposed to guarantee the safe and stable operation of power network,the strategy which advices putting filtering capacitor into operation as soon as the overhaul is done or changing SVG.
Using Logistic Regression to Trace Multiple Sub-skills in a Dynamic Bayes Net.

A challenge in estimating students’ changing knowledge from sequential observations of their performance arises when each observed step involves multiple subskills. To overcome this mismatch in grain size between modelled skills and observed actions, we use logistic regression over each step’s subskills in a dynamic Bayes net (LR-DBN) to model transition probabilities for the overall knowledge required by the step. Unlike previous methods, LR-DBN can trace knowledge of the individual subskills without assuming they are independent. We evaluate how well it fits children’s oral reading fluency data logged by Project LISTEN’s Reading Tutor, compared to other methods.
Cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic pyelitis and ureteritis associated with cystitis in marrow transplantation.

Abstract A 29-year-old woman suffered fatal hemorrhagic pyelitis, ureteritis and cystitis after receiving 4,800 mg./m. 2 cyclophosphamide in preparation for marrow transplantation despite intravenous hydration and a Foley catheter. Cyclophosphamide-induced urothelial damage is not limited to the bladder and upper tract monitoring also is necessary. ( J. Urol., 144: 1231–1232, 1990 )
Osteoarthritis: How to Diagnose and Treat the Painful Joint

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in older patients, causing pain that can significantly reduce function and quality of life. OA is classified as either primary or secondary disease, depending on the underlying etiology. Causes of secondary OA include trauma, other joint disease, and metabolic conditions. Diagnosis is based on patient history, physical examination, and radiographic findings. The mainstay of treatment is the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents; NSAIDs that can be given once or twice daily increase patient compliance. Other therapeutic measures include exercise programs and--in patients with severe pain and limited function--surgical intervention.
Vagal Nerve Stimulation Versus Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment-resistant Depression: Show Me the Data

rom its earliest days, neurosurgery for psychiatric disor-ders has been surrounded by controversy. Walter Freeman(a neuropsychiatrist) and James Watts (a neurosurgeon) wereamong the ﬁrst to report on the results of a new procedure forintractable psychiatric disease: frontal leucotomy. Despitetheir claimed success, presentation of their results provokedan immediate and hostile reaction from the psychiatric com-munity. However, the dismal state of psychiatric care in thelate 1930s set the stage for widespread adoption of thiscontroversial procedure. The frequent side effects of dullingof intellect and change in personality were overshadowed bytheabilitytodischargepatientsfromovercrowdedpsychiatrichospitals. In fact, the procedure was described as “nothingless than miraculous”.
Distributed Communication and Localization Algorithms for Homogeneous Robotic Swarm

Swarm robotics aims to achieve physical flexibility, overall system robustness, and enhanced reliability and efficiency by employing a group of autonomous robots for collective task performance. Achieving collective performance by individual robots with limited sensing, processing, and communication capabilities, however, faces several technical challenges, such as difficulties in establishing reliable communication and decentralized control among the robots. This paper presents the following wireless communication algorithms that can be applied to homogeneous swarm robots: (1) infrared-based short-distance communication between the adjacent robots using a self-synchronization technique; and (2) long-distance communication and localization based on distance measurement using radio signals. In addition, two decentralized global shape formation algorithms for homogeneous swarm robots are presented for simulating dispersion and line formation collectively achieved by homogeneous swarm robots.
Tectonic Setting of Aleutian Volcanism

The tectonic setting of the Aleutian volcanic arc is relatively straightforward in the context of global plate tectonics theory and, because subaerial exposures are limited to small islands along the central and western parts of the arc, local complexities can be difficult to ferret out. Recently, however, considerable progress has been made through modern geophysical and geological investigations of the arc at all scales. These studies provide a detailed view of the lithosphere’s responses to subduction at varying rates and convergence angles along the arc—responses that include variable plate coupling, differences in dip of the subducting slab, block tectonics, and widely differing styles and rates of volcanism.
Experiments and diagnostics for investigation of shock formation in colliding hypersonic magnetized plasma flows

The problem of producing collisional and collisionless shocks in the laboratory is of great interest for numerous space plasma applications1. One approach is based on the idea of combining strong magnetic field created during a Z-pinch discharge with a plasma flow produced in the process of two wire implosion experiment2. In support of laboratory experiment we propose to use pulse power generator with the following parameters: 2.5kA, 80kV, rise time of 5ns. Magnetic fields of 104 Gauss, very near the wires, are created due to the currents produced by the pulse power generator. This will allow us to investigate interaction of two colliding plasma flows with frozen magnetic fields in opposite directions. Parameters of the flow will correspond to that produced in the process of wire implosion experiments in the Antenna and Electromagnetic Technology Branch's Plasma Physics Sensors Laboratory (PPSL). Currently with the existing power in the pulse power generator collisional radiative shocks can be created in the vicinity of a reconnection region in such a system.
Overview of semiconducting silicon nanowires for biomedical applications

Abstract: This chapter highlights the broad fundamental and technological significance of semiconductor nanowires in general, and silicon nanowires in particular. After a brief discussion of the historical development of silicon in nanowire form, the scope of topics covered in this book and its organization are presented, along with brief comments regarding the significance of each and its relevance to biomedical applications.
Donor-Specific Tolerance Is Induced after Nonmyeloablative Conditioning and Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and May Persist after Graft Rejection.

The association between stable hematopoietic chimerism and donor specific tolerance (DST) for solid organ grafts was demonstrated clinically and in different experimental models. However, the existing data also demonstrate that the establishment of hematopoietic chimerism does not always correlate with the development of DST, especially for skin grafts. As these issues could have major implications for organ transplantation in general, the present study was undertaken to assess DST in recipients with transient or stable hematopoietic cell (HC) chimerism established after nonmyeloablative conditioning regimens. In a canine model of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) after nonmyeloablative conditioning, DST to skin grafts was evaluated in DLA-identical recipients with stable mixed hematopoietic chimerism (MC) (n=11), or following transient HC engraftment (n=22). There was a significant improvement in the survival of DLA-identical HC donor-derived skin grafts in recipients with stable MC compared to normal recipients (n=7; P P =0.002). However, a chronic inflammatory process without graft loss developed in all of the HC donor-derived skin grafts from this group. An increased time to rejection of the hematopoietic graft was significantly associated with an improved survival of the subsequent skin graft ( P =0.02). The time to rejection of third-party (DLA-nonidentical) skin grafts (n=40) was the same in recipients with stable MC and previous HC graft as well as normals (median- 8 days). Autologous skin grafts (n=40) survived for the duration of follow-up without developing chronic inflammation. Extended HC donor-specific skin graft survival (>15 days) was predictive of subsequent stable engraftment at second HCT in recipients with previous graft rejection after first HCT. Five of 6 dogs with extended survival of the skin graft beyond day 15 became stable MC after second HCT compared to 0/9 dogs with skin grafts surviving less than 11 days ( P =0.0008). In this model, DST to skin grafts in recipients with stable MC after nonmyeloablative HCT may not be complete, and chronic inflammation may develop without loss of that graft. Partial DST may persist after rejection of HC grafts established with nonmyeloablative conditioning. Further investigations are required to understand the mechanisms responsible for DST after allogeneic HCT.
Bortezomib in Combination with Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin and Thalidomide (VDT) for the Treatment of Previously Untreated Multiple Myeloma.

Introduction: Orlowski et al were the first to report that addition of PLD resulted in enhanced efficacy of bortezomib. To further optimize the clinical efficacy of these agents we included thalidomide to the regimen. In a previous report we described the clinical efficacy of this novel, non-steroidal regimen that incorporated bortezomib (V), pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (D) and thalidomide (T) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). High clinical responses in heavily pretreated patients, even in the absence of steroids encouraged us to investigate this regimen in previously untreated MM patients. Here we report for the first time the efficacy and toxicity profile of the VDT regimen in treatment naive MM patients enrolled on a phase II clinical study at our center. METHOD: All previously untreated MM patients were eligible for this study. Bortezomib (1.3mg/m 2 ) was given on days 1, 4, 15, and 18, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin was given (20mg/m 2 ) on days 1 and 15 and thalidomide (200mg) was given everyday continuously throughout the treatment. Patients received treatment on a 4-week cycle. Acyclovir 400mg PO BID and low-dose warfarin was given for prophylaxis of herpes zoster and venous thromboembolism respectively. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients (median age-- 60 range 40–82 years), 16 M and 10 F have so far been enrolled. Advance stage III disease was noted in ---of the patients. The median beta 2 microglobulin was 4 (range1.6–9.7), albumin of 4 (range 3.1–4.8) and LDH was 333 (range 152–1057). Patients received a median of 5 treatment cycles (range 1–8). Toxicity: The most common grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities included lymphopenia (27%) and neutropenia (15%), while the non-hematologic toxicity included infections 15% (n=4 patients). The incidence of grade 3 or 4 plantar palmar erythrodysthesia was 4% (n=1). Venous thromboembolism was not observed in any patient to date. Response: To date 17 patients are available for response assessment (EBMT criteria?), 7 patients are too early for response assessment. The ORR of this regimen is 65% with IFE negative CR observed in 3 patients (17.6%). Another 5 patients achieved a stable disease with only 1 progressive disease observed on the regimen so far. Conclusion: VDT is a novel non-steroidal regimen with clinical efficacy in previously untreated myeloma patients. Overall toxicity is manageable. Several patients remain on treatment and currently not evaluable for response. Detailed and updated results of this study will be presented at the meeting.
EGFR-mediated apoptosis via STAT3

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is a cell surface receptor with primary implications in cell growth in both normal and malignant tissue. Paradoxically, cell lines that hyperexpress the EGFR have been documented to undergo receptor-mediated apoptosis. The underlying mechanism by which EGF-induced apoptosis occurs however remains inexplicit. In an attempt to identify this mechanism, we assessed downstream effectors of EGFR in MDA-MB-468 cells during conditions of EGF-induced apoptosis. The effector assessment revealed STAT3 as a potential mediator of EGF-induced apoptosis. Alternative strategies for activating STAT3, independent of EGFR stimulation, resulted in the induction of the apoptotic pathways. A reduction in STAT3 expression via RNAi resulted in a significant attenuation of EGF-induced PARP cleavage. Our findings support STAT3 as a positive mediator of EGF-induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-468 cells.
Management of finfish and shellfish larval health in aquaculture hatcheries

: This chapter looks at the issues surrounding health of finfish and shellfish larvae in the aquaculture environment. The chapter will examine issues such as biosecurity to see how it forms the cornerstone of effective hatchery management and how problems can arise when biosecurity fails. Then the chapter looks at how the health of the larvae can be manipulated and how the larvae can be protected from potential pathogens by good management.
Surgical approaches to adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction: the Siewert II conundrum

The Siewert classification system for gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma has provided morphological and topographical information to help guide surgical decision-making. Evidence has shown that Siewert I and III tumors are distinct entities with differing epidemiologic and histologic characteristics and distinct patterns of disease progression, requiring different treatment. Siewert II tumors share some of the characteristics of type I and III lesions, and the surgical approach is not universally agreed upon. Appropriate surgical options include transthoracic esophagogastrectomy, transhiatal esophagectomy, and transabdominal extended total gastrectomy. A review of the available evidence of the surgical management of Siewert II tumors is presented. Careful review of the data appear to support the fact that a satisfactory oncologic resection can be achieved via a transabdominal extended total gastrectomy with a slight advantage in terms of perioperative complications, and overall postoperative quality of life. Overall and disease-free survival compares favorably to the transthoracic approach. These results can be achieved with careful selection of patients balancing more than just the Siewert type in the decision-making but considering also preoperative T and N stages, histological type (diffuse type requiring longer margins that are not always achievable via gastrectomy), and the presence of Barrett’s esophagus.
Strong and uniform convergence in the teleportation simulation of bosonic Gaussian channels

In the literature on the continuous-variable bosonic teleportation protocol due to Braunstein and Kimble [Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 869 (1998)], it is often loosely stated that this protocol converges to a perfect teleportation of an input state in the limit of ideal squeezing and ideal detection, but the exact form of this convergence is typically not clarified. In this paper, I explicitly clarify that the convergence is in the strong sense, and not the uniform sense, and furthermore that the convergence occurs for any input state to the protocol, including the infinite-energy Basel states defined and discussed here. I also prove, in contrast to the above result, that the teleportation simulations of pure-loss, thermal, pure-amplifier, amplifier, and additive-noise channels converge both strongly and uniformly to the original channels, in the limit of ideal squeezing and detection for the simulations. For these channels, I give explicit uniform bounds on the accuracy of their teleportation simulations. I then extend these uniform convergence results to particular multimode bosonic Gaussian channels. These convergence statements have important implications for mathematical proofs that make use of the teleportation simulation of bosonic Gaussian channels, some of which have to do with bounding their nonasymptotic secret-key-agreement capacities. As a by-product of the discussion given here, I confirm the correctness of the proof of such bounds from my joint work with Berta and Tomamichel from [Wilde, Tomamichel, and Berta, IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory 63, 1792 (2017)]. Furthermore, I show that it is not necessary to invoke the energy-constrained diamond distance in order to confirm the correctness of this proof.
Cellular pH and PI3K signaling as determinants of Protoporphyrin IX conversion and ALA PDT response

ALA PDT is a FDA approved cancer treatment. The general model is that excess exogenous ALA is eventually converted to the active photosensitizer, PpIX, and accumulates PpIX to concentrations well above baseline. This accumulation, however, varies considerable from person to person and even intra-tumorally due to a high number of factors that are involved. Due to this there is an increasing desire to pair ALA PDT with other treatments to enhance the efficacy of PDT. This idea itself isn’t new as the labs of Bin Chen and Edward Maytin have a long history of using biology to enhance PpIX accumulation. The PI3K pathway is a long-studied cancer treatment target due to it being one of the most ubiquitous over expressed pathways in cancer and that many treatments have demonstrated enhanced efficacy upon PI3K inhibition. In this paper we show that the PI3K pathway inhibitor, LY294002, alters PpIX accumulation in cells (decreased for A431 and increases for Panc-1 and Panc-1 OR) and significantly increases the efficacy of ALA PDT in every case for both monolayer and spheroid cultures. Additionally, we show that PDT treatments using the nonendogenous photosensitizer, verteporfin, also have enhanced efficacy upon PI3K inhibition. Beyond the treatment synergy of PI3K inhibition and PDT, this work presents a cell pairing model that is perfect to study the previously, to our knowledge, undocumented connection between the PI3K pathway and PpIX accumulation.
Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Health during Childhood: A Longitudinal Examination of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Parental Socioeconomic Timing and Child Obesity Risk

Prior research suggests that socioeconomic standing during the early years of life, particularly in utero, is associated with child health. However, it is unclear whether socioeconomic benefits are only maximized at very young ages. Moreover, given the link between socioeconomic status (SES) and race, research is inconclusive whether any SES benefits during those younger ages would uniformly benefit all racial and ethnic groups. Using 1986–2014 data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY79), this study examines the impact of socioeconomic timing on child weight outcomes by race. Specifically, this research investigates whether specific points exist where socioeconomic investment would have higher returns on child health. Findings suggest that both the timing and the type of socioeconomic exposure is important to understanding child weight status. SES, particularly mother’s employment and father’s education, is important in determining child health, and each measure is linked to weight gain differently for White, Black, and Hispanic children at specific ages. Policies such as granting more educational access for men and work-family balance for women are discussed.
An empirical study of the relative phase center variation of a ceramic patch antenna for automotive applications

High-accuracy, Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning is a prospective technology that will be used in future automotive navigation systems, such as the United States' Global Positioning System (GPS), the Russian Federation's Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) and the European Union's Galileo. The main feature of this technology is the utilization of the carrier phase observables. Due to the size and high-cost of today's antenna solutions, this kind of technology is difficult to use widely in the automotive sector. In this paper, a real mass production low-cost small size ceramic patch antenna is presented from the CST simulation design to real-world production. A further study of this patch antenna illustrates the relative phase center variation measured in an indoor range to achieve a received signal phase correction. In addition, this low-cost antenna solution is investigated in a standard multi-band antenna as well as on a typical vehicle roof at an outdoor range.
Antiviral effects of herpes simplex virus specific anti-sense nucleic acids.

We have targeted mRNA sequences encompassing the translation initiation codon of the essential herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) IE3 gene with three kinds of anti-sense molecule. Addition of a 15mer oligodeoxyribonucleoside methylphosphonate to tissue culture cells resulted in suppression of viral replication. HSV-1 replication was also inhibited in cultured cells containing anti-sense vectors expressing transcripts complementary to the IE3 mRNA. We have also constructed a ribozyme which upon base pairing with the target 1E3 mRNA induces cleavage at the predicted GUC site. A major obstacle to anti-sense studies in animals is drug delivery of preformed anti-sense molecules to ganglionic neurons, the site of HSV latency and reactivation. We speculate as to how this may be accomplished through carrier compounds which are taken up by nerve terminals and transported by retrograde axoplasmic flow. By the same route, HSV itself may be used as an anti-sense vector.
Semi-Analytic Axisymmetric Pressure Distribution in a Consolidating Porous Medium

A semi-analytic solution of the consolidation problem in a finite hollow axisymmetric elastic porous medium is given. According to Biot's theory, we have rigorously derived the consolidation equations and demonstrated that in the axisymmetric problems, the pore pressure diffusion equation can be uncoupled. In the problem of infinite domain, the uncoupled pressure diffusion equation is homogeneous and only the diffusion coefficient is changed. In the problem of finite domain, the uncoupled pressure diffusion equation is nonhomogeneous. In fact, it is a linear differential-integral equation. We solve it by the variables separation method in the time domain.
Chapter 66 – Organophosphorus Insecticide Pharmacokinetics

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of the pharmacokinetic principles that are of major importance in understanding the toxicology of organophosphorus (OP) insecticides in animals and humans. Organophosphates constitute a large family of insecticides that are structurally related pentavalent phos-phorus acid esters. Their insecticidal as well as toxicological mode of action is primarily associated with their ability to target and inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The three major classes of organophosphorus insecticides are the phosphorothionates, phosphorodithioates, and phosphoroamidothiolates. Organophosphorus insecticides, like most chemical contaminants, are absorbed into the body, and, based on the detection of low levels of metabolites in urine within humans, there is good evidence for widespread although low-level exposures. This chapter also illustrates a number of current and future applications of pharmacokinetics to assess organophosphorus insecticide dosimetry, biological response, and risk in humans exposed to these insecticides. Pharmacokinetics is concerned with the quantitative integration of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion and can be used to provide useful insight into the toxicological responses associated with these insecticides. Since organophosphorus insecticides share a common mode of action through their capability to inhibit AChE activity, it is feasible to develop pharmacokinetic strategies that link quantitative dosimetry with biologically based pharmacodynamic (PD) response modeling. Pharmacokinetics has been successfully utilized to better understand the toxicological implications of human exposure to organophosphorus insecticides. Nonetheless, there is still a significant need to further develop and refine pharmacokinetic models that can be used to accurately assess the risk associated with insecticide exposures.
In vitro hepatic cholesterogenesis in rats fed corn oil and fat-free diets.

Male Holtzman strain rats were fed, ad libitum, either a 20% corn oil diet or a fat-free diet for 6 months. The animals were killed and the nuclei and mitochondria-free enzyme system (S40) prepared from the perfused livers was used to study the effect of antecedent diet on the time course of [2-14C] mevalonate and [1-14C] linoleate conversion to 14CO2 and incorporation into cholesterol and its major precursors. Irrespective of the antecedent dietary status of the animals, mevalonate was found to be by far a better substrate than linoleate. Cholesterogenesis from [2-14C] mevalonate was more efficient with the liver S40 preparation from the corn oil fed rats than with that from the fat-free animals. It is suggested that the observed enhancement of cholesterogenesis in linoleate-rich livers may be basically related to possible fatty acid compositional changes in the phospholipid moieties of the lipoprotein components of the key enzymes, and of the Sterol Carrier Protein (SCP), involved in cholesterol synthesis.
Coverage Path Planning Under the Energy Constraint

In the coverage path planning problem, a common assumption is that the robot can fully cover the environment without recharging. However, in reality most mobile robot systems operate under battery limitations. To incorporate this constraint, we consider the problem when the working environment is large and the robot needs to recharge multiple times to fully cover the environment. We focus on a geometric version where the environment is represented as a polygonal grid with a single charging station. Energy consumption throughout the environment is assumed to be uniform and proportional to the distance traveled. We first present a constant-factor approximation algorithm for contour-connected environments. We then extend the algorithm for general environments. We also validate the results in experiments performed with an aerial robot.
Persistent Hyponatremia after LVAD Implantation and Associated Outcomes

Background Hyponatremia is a known predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with chronic systolic heart failure (HF). It is unclear if persistent hyponatremia after LVAD implantation has an adverse influence on outcomes including mortality and recurrent hospitalizations. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who received a continuous-flow LVAD from 2008-2017. Sodium levels were assessed prior to surgery and at discharge. Hyponatremia was defined as sodium Results Our population consisted of 143 patients, mean age 57.4 (range 25-79), 75.5% of male gender and 55% had an ischemic etiology of HF. Mean sodium level in patients with persistent hyponatremia at discharge was 132±2.7 mEq/L compared to 138.3±2.7 mEq/L in patients with normonatremia, p-value table 1 ). Discussion Hyponatremia is thought to be the pathophysiological sequela of progressive heart failure. LVAD implantation often restores normal hemodynamics and leads to correction of pre-existing hyponatremia in HF patients. However, persistent hyponatremia at the time of discharge is not uncommon and is associated with higher 1-year mortality. Further studies are needed to elucidate the etiology of hyponatremia in this population.
Intraspecific trait variation, functional turnover and trait differences among native and exotic grasses along a precipitation gradient.

QUESTIONS: California's grasslands are heavily invaded by exotic species. Counteracting these invasions depends on understanding the functional differences between native and exotic species and how these shift along environmental gradients. Focusing on grasses, we ask: (a) how native and exotic trait means and intraspecific trait variation (ITV) differ; (b) how the functional composition of grass assemblages shifts with precipitation; and (c) how species shift their functional strategies as precipitation changes. LOCATION: Marin County, California (USA). METHODS: In spring 2017, we censused grassland vegetation plots across eight reserves in Marin County that are arrayed along a precipitation gradient. At each plot, we measured traits of grasses, including height, leaf area and specific leaf area (SLA). RESULTS: We found modest differences in functional traits between native and exotic species. Exotic species had larger seeds and higher SLAs, indicating higher reproductive investments and a leaf strategy focused on obtaining rapid returns on investments with relatively short leaf life spans. Native and exotic species did not differ in the ITV for any of the measured traits. Variation in precipitation among sites drove strong turnover in the functional trait composition of grasses, as well as shifts within species. Wetter sites had shorter species with smaller leaf areas, smaller seeds and higher leaf N concentrations. There was also strong intraspecific SLA variation along the precipitation gradient; all species displayed lower SLA values as precipitation increased. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous results, native species had more conservative leaf strategies. Grasses that display these conservative strategies tend to be more abundant in dry climates, leading to increasing exotic abundance in wetter climates. However, each species shifted towards more conservative strategies as precipitation increased, suggesting that the factors that drive species turnover and ITV differ.
Current Trends in Clinical Practice for the Direct Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Despite increased popularity of the direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA), current practice trends and specific driving factors leading to adoption are not well established. Methods We conducted an electronic e-mail survey of members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons inquiring into the choice of THA surgical approach, perceptions of clinical outcomes, and economic implications associated with the DAA. Results Of 996 total respondents (44.3% American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons member response rate), 56.2% currently perform the DAA. DAA performers have been in practice for statistically less time than non-performers (17.0 years vs 20.9 years, P Conclusion This is the first study of its kind to highlight current trends and clinical practices from a surgeon perspective regarding the DAA. Specifically, it provides comprehensive data regarding perceptions of clinical outcomes, practice economics, and driving factors for choice of surgical approach for surgeons who do and do not perform the DAA.
Resynthesis for Avoiding Undetectable Faults Based on Design-for-Manufacturability Guidelines

As integrated circuit manufacturing advances, the occurrence of systematic defects is expected to be prominent. A methodology for predicting potential systematic defects based on design-for-manufacturability (DFM) guidelines was described earlier. In this paper we first report that, among the faults obtained based on DFM guidelines, there are undetectable faults, and these faults cluster in certain areas of the circuit. Because faults may not perfectly represent potential defect behaviors, defects may be detectable even though the faults that model them are undetectable. Clusters of undetectable faults thus leave areas in the circuit uncovered for potential systematic defects. As the potential defects are systematic, the test escapes can impact the DPPM significantly, and thus lead to circuit malfunction and/or reliability problems after deployment. To address this issue in the context of cell-based design, we propose a logic resynthesis procedure followed by physical design to eliminate large clusters of undetectable faults related to DFM guidelines. The resynthesized circuit maintains design constraints of critical path delay, power consumption and die area. The resynthesis procedure is applied to benchmark circuits and logic blocks of the OpenSPARC T1 microprocessor. Experimental results indicate that both the reduction in the numbers of undetectable faults and the reduction in the sizes of undetectable fault clusters are significant.
Decomposition into 3-Balls

In this chapter, we start with a connected link diagram and explain how to construct state graphs and state surfaces. We cut the link complement in S 3 along the state surface, and then describe how to decompose the result into a collection of topological balls whose boundaries have a checkerboard coloring.