cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relations Among Some Classes of Subsets of R

Mathematicians have studied many classes of subsets of the real line R. These subsets are defined using various mathematical criteria. Most broadly, these criteria include cardinality, topological properties, and properties such as Lebesgue measure which depend rather heavily on the metric structure of R. In this paper, we study the interrelationships among several of these classes of sets. Included in the analysis are two new classes of sets which we call M-shrets and C-shrets; examples of these sets have appeared in the literature but their class-defining properties have not been previously distinguished. Finally, a Venn diagram is provided showing the inclusions, disjointness, and nonempty intersections existing among the classes of sets.
Plateau's Problems and their Modern Ramifications

Today's special session within the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society is held in honor of Joseph-Antoine-Ferdinand Plateau whose magnum opus, Statique experimentale et theorique des liquides soumis aux seules forces moleculaires, was published a century ago, in 1873. This book, in the main unifying the contents of a series of eleven long scientific papers which appeared during the period 1843-1869, may be described as the condensation of Plateau's experimental observations and measurements regarding the phenomena caused by capillary forces. It contains a complete historical account and a summary of theoretical insights as well. The book's impact on its contemporaries and on subsequent generations cannot be exaggerated. His reports were studied in many quarters. His experiments were repeated by many scientists, among them Faraday, Brewster and Boys. In present days Plateau's work has become rather lost in obscurity. Surface chemists who, with a few notable exceptions, now often shun the use of mathematical approaches, are generally content with a brief reference to Plateau in their text books, and it is really in mathematics where his name lives on.
Apical barriers to airway epithelial cell gene transfer with amphotropic retroviral vectors.

Gene transfer to airway epithelia with amphotropic pseudotyped retroviral vectors is inefficient following apical vector application. To better understand this inefficiency, we localized the expression of Pit2, the amphotropic receptor, in polarized human airway epithelia. Pit2 was expressed on both the apical and basolateral surfaces of the cells, suggesting that factors other than receptor abundance may limit apical gene transfer efficiency. Binding studies performed with radiolabeled amphotropic MuLV suggested that the apically applied virus binds to Pit2. Hypothetical barriers to retroviral gene transfer include the apical glycocalyx and other secreted products of epithelia. In this study, we demonstrated that sialic acid, keratan sulfate and collagen type V are present on the apical surface of well-differentiated human airway epithelia. While enzyme treatment reduced the abundance of these components, the treatment also decreased the transepithelial resistance to ~35% of the controls, suggesting that the epithelial integrity was impaired. To attain an airway epithelial culture with a modified apical surface and intact epithelial integrity, we utilized 100 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose, a glycosylation inhibitor, to prevent the glycocalyx from reforming following enzyme treatment. This approach allowed the resistance, but not the apical glycocalyx to recover. Despite this physical modification of the cell surface, the amphotropic retroviral vector failed to transduce airway epithelia following apical application. These results suggest that factors other than apical receptor abundance and the glycocalyx inhibit amphotropic retroviral gene transfer in human airway epithelia.
NLTE magneto-hydrodynamic model for an inductively coupled plasma facility

This paper discusses the modeling of non-equilibrium effects in inductively coupled plasma (ICP) facilities. The model relies on the solution of the Navier-Stokes and Maxwell equations in a one-dimensional geometry. Steady-state solutions are obtained by means of an implicit Finite Volume method. The description of non-equilibrium effects is obtained by means of a hybrid State-to-State formulation. Thermal non-equilibrium between the translational energy mode of the gas and the vibrational energy mode of molecules are accounted for by means of a multi-temperature formulation. The electronic states of atoms are treated as separate species, allowing for non-Boltzmann distributions of their populations. The results show that non-equilibrium effects become important close to the walls, due to the combined effects of Ohming heating, and chemical composition and temperature gradients.
Patients and families as teachers: a mixed methods assessment of a collaborative learning model for medical error disclosure and prevention

Background Despite growing interest in engaging patients and families (P/F) in patient safety education, little is known about how P/F can best contribute. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a patient–teacher medical error disclosure and prevention training model. Methods We developed an educational intervention bringing together interprofessional clinicians with P/F from hospital advisory councils to discuss error disclosure and prevention. Patient focus groups and orientation sessions informed curriculum and assessment design. A pre-post survey with qualitative and quantitative questions was used to assess P/F and clinician experiences and attitudes about collaborative safety education including participant hopes, fears, perceived value of learning experience and challenges. Responses to open-ended questions were coded according to principles of content analysis. Results P/F and clinicians hoped to learn about each other's perspectives, communication skills and patient empowerment strategies. Before the intervention, both groups worried about power dynamics dampening effective interaction. Clinicians worried that P/F would learn about their fallibility, while P/F were concerned about clinicians’ jargon and defensive posturing. Following workshops, clinicians valued patients’ direct feedback, communication strategies for error disclosure and a ‘real’ learning experience. P/F appreciated clinicians’ accountability, and insights into how medical errors affect clinicians. Half of participants found nothing challenging, the remainder clinicians cited emotions and enormity of ‘culture change’, while P/F commented on medical jargon and desire for more time. Patients and clinicians found the experience valuable. Recommendations about how to develop a patient–teacher programme in patient safety are provided. Conclusions An educational paradigm that includes patients as teachers and collaborative learners with clinicians in patient safety is feasible, valued by clinicians and P/F and promising for P/F-centred medical error disclosure and prevention training.
A Microscopic Study of the Matrix of Some Calcium Oxalate Renal Stones

Generally over 95% of the weight of urinary stones is crystalline material making it impossible to study the matrix, i.e. the non-mineralized component of stones, by conventional microscopic means without losing information concerning the crystal-matrix interface. We have developed a procedure1 whereby decalcified crystals are represented as crystal ghosts, and stones retain their architectural integrity.
Chacoan Roads: Function

ABSTRACTThe function of Chacoan roads has considerable relevance for improved understanding of Chacoan sociopolitical organization and the implications of organizational structure for the operation of a regional system. Three functional explanations of Chacoan roads—economic, military and unification, proposed by one or more scholars—are summarized and evaluated on the basis of road configuration, morphology, and associated features and artifacts. Evidence tends to support roads serving a unifying or integrative function, but multi-functional use may be a more defensible argument. Road data also tend to support a concept of a Chacoan confederacy centered in Chaco Canyon. Though successful extension of this confederacy to a regional (San Juan Basin) level ultimately failed, roads probably were critical for its regional implementation.
A Product Review of Alternative Oil‐Based Intravenous Fat Emulsions

Soybean oil-based intravenous fat emulsions have long been used as the primary product for delivery of lipid-based calories in parenteral nutrition formulations in the United States. Proinflammatory properties of these products may be related with poor clinical outcomes and have led investigators to develop newer generations of intravenous fat emulsions. These alternative formulations are derivatives of medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil in hopes to reduce the inflammatory response and potentially produce a clinically beneficial anti-inflammatory response. Although surrogate markers support this reduction in inflammatory response, clinical data and outcomes are still limited but potentially promising in the literature. This product review provides a general overview of the alternative-generation intravenous fat emulsion products and the literature supporting the potential transition to such products.
Reconstruction Of Paleo-Fire Through Climate And Eco-System Models

This chapter addresses two aspects of paleo-fire and carbon deposits. The first is that the biophysical system in climate determines the ecotype - biomass structure and function, and as a result, the carbon available for release in the atmosphere. The second part defines the relationship between ecosystem structure, weather, and fire behavior - the emission of carbon particulates. Modeling paleo - emissions of carbon from fire requires an understanding of emissions from current fire behavior in current ecosystems. Modeling fire from past ecosystems requires, first, that we can reconstruct the ecosystem, and second, requires that we assume that current models of fire behavior will apply. These key assumptions can be restated as hypotheses: can current modeling capability reproduce paleo-fire? and, can climate models, coupled with ecosystem models and fire models, replicate the spatial patterns of fire emissions?
Factors Affecting Survival of Campylobacter jejuni on Experimentally Inoculated Pork Skin Stored under Various Conditions

Pork skin inoculated with a nalidixic acid-resistant strain of Campylobacter jejuni was subjected to three treatments to determine the effect of storage temperature, oxygen concentration, and drying on survival of the organism. Survival rate was determined for each treatment by enumeration over a 48-h period on Brucella agar containing nalidixic acid. Of the treatments studied, chilling with forced ventilation and storage at 20°C caused significant reductions in numbers of survivors. The results of this study confirm reports by other investigators that conventional forced ventilation chilling of pork carcasses has the beneficial effect of reducing skin surface Campylobacter contaminants.
Theory and Phenomenology of hybrid mesons

This talk discusses some of latest theoretical, phenomenological and experimental results on hybrid mesons
Tetralogy of Fallot with Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) is one of the most severe forms of TOF, creating significant challenges for surgeons and interventionalists due to complex, patient-specific morphology. Furthermore, MAPCAs are highly variable, with morphology differing in number, tortuosity, stenosis, and branching locations. Echocardiography and catheter-based evaluation are typically performed preoperatively. These imaging modalities have limitations, however, in representing volumetric data. Three-dimensional (3D) visualization and 3D printing from computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) angiography can provide a unique and powerful mechanism to aid in the evaluation and planning of surgical or interventional repair of TOF with MAPCAs. The various current 3D printing technologies all have strengths and limitations in regard to representing patient-specific morphology, especially as it relates to the TOF/MAPCA congenital lesion subset. 3D reconstruction and 3D printing technologies and techniques are discussed to benefit evaluation and planning for the repair of TOF/MAPCA.
Context‐dependent defences in turtle ants: Resource defensibility and threat level induce dynamic shifts in soldier deployment

Induced defences involve the dynamic deployment of limited and specialized defensive resources across multiple locations, to maximize organismal defensive function and fitness. They have been studied intensively in plants and solitary animals, but the induced defences of complex animal societies are poorly understood by comparison, despite the coordinated defensive actions of these taxa. Here, we ask whether the level of environmental danger induces shifts in the deployment of limited and morphologically specialized soldiers across multiple nests in colonies of the turtle ant Cephalotes rohweri. Specifically, we test whether less defensible nests induce greater soldier deployment, and whether elevated enemy threat induced further increases in deployment, or reduced deployment consistent with a risk-limiting strategy. We used colony-collection data to provide natural ecological context to our experiments, a field experiment to address how nest-entrance defensibility and soldier number impact defensive performance, and laboratory experiments to test whether differences in nest defensibility and threat level induce dynamic shifts in soldier deployment to new nests. Less defensible nests were lost rapidly in our field experiment, irrespective of soldier number, but soldier deployment significantly increased survivorship of more defensible nests. Concordantly, less defensible nests induced the deployment of more soldiers per nest under low threat in laboratory experiments. Nevertheless, high-threat conditions revealed a risk-limiting soldier deployment strategy: with more danger, the number of soldiers per nest was significantly reduced in less defensible nests, as was the overall number of new soldier-defended nests. Total deployment to new nests was also consistently lower under high threat, dropping from 40% to 30% of all available soldiers across colonies. Induced soldier-based defences in turtle ants are therefore context-dependent, and dynamically scaled back at multiple levels when the environment is more dangerous. This dynamic, risk-limiting strategy is in strong contrast to stable patterns of soldier production in ants, and to typical task-allocation dynamics in members of the worker caste. Moreover, these findings establish that the evolution of specialized defensive agents can be coupled with sophisticated and inducible deployment strategies in complex social taxa, as we see for organisms at other levels of biological complexity. plain language summary is available for this article.
Templated Self-Assembly of Dynamic Peptide Nucleic Acids

Template-directed macromolecule synthesis is a hallmark of living systems. Inspired by this natural process, several fundamentally novel mechanisms for template-directed assembly of nucleic acid analogues have been developed. Although these approaches have broad significance, including potential applications in biotechnology and implications for the origins of life, there are unresolved challenges in how to characterize in detail the complex assembly equilibria associated with dynamic templated reactions. Here we describe mechanistic studies of template-directed dynamic assembly for thioester peptide nucleic acid (tPNA), an informational polymer that responds to selection pressures under enzyme-free conditions. To overcome some of the inherent challenges of mechanistic studies of dynamic oligomers, we designed, synthesized, and implemented tPNA–DNA conjugates. The DNA primer region affords a high level of control over the location and register of the tPNA backbone in relation to the template strand. We ch...
Treatment of varicoceles: techniques and outcomes

Varicoceles, a dilation of veins within the pampiniform plexus, are present in ∼15% of the general male population. This paper reviews the indications for treatment of varicoceles, post-intervention outcomes following treatment, and the various techniques for treatment of varicoceles. The aim of this review is to describe and compare complications associated with each approach to varicocele treatment.
A novel use of photovoice methodology in a leadership APPE and pharmacy leadership elective

Abstract Background and purpose The purpose of this article is to describe and assess the effectiveness of an innovative teaching approach in an advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) and leadership elective. Educational activity and setting Three cohorts of students [(2014: n = 14), (2015: n = 17), (2016: n = 19)] were introduced to the photovoice (PV) method in their leadership APPE. PV required students to take, present, and discuss photographs within their cohorts. PV was used as a teaching method with the intention that the process would compel students to be involved in leadership development throughout experiential rotations, participate in discussions related to leadership development, and engage in creative activity. Group discussions from the class of 2014 were recorded and transcribed. Students from all cohorts were asked to participate in an electronic survey containing items based on PV learning objectives. All students were asked to participate in semi-structured interviews about PV. Findings and discussion The inductive coding method was used to identify themes from discussion transcripts. Analysis of themes revealed 51.5% of the PV photographs related to emotional intelligence. Development of others and strong teams were themes represented in 44.3% of photographs. Survey data indicated all respondents agreed PV was a valuable method to describe learning in leadership. Interview coding revealed themes related to emotional intelligence and development of teams. Summary The PV method was an effective teaching tool in a leadership APPE and elective course. PV is a teaching method to be utilized in a variety of experiential learning environments to better enhance the professional development of pharmacy students.
Elimination of Amyloid β Neurotoxicity

Aggregation of the Alzheimer amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) Abeta1-42 forms neurotoxic fibrils. In contact with human neurons the fibrils cause rapid influx of external calcium through AMPA/kainate-channels. If this molecular mechanism reflects in vivo events, it could explain the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease; activation of AMPA/kainate channels is therefore a likely target for therapeutic intervention. Here we show that short antagonistic "decoy peptides", made of D-amino acids, eliminate this "calcium effect" of Ab1-42. Since chronically elevated calcium levels in the disease trigger activation of pathways that lead to neuron dysfunction and cell death, our decoy peptides are obvious candidates for drug development.
The p38 MAPK Pathway in Prostate Cancer

The conventional signal transduction pathway for p38 MAPK is complex and diverse. A plethora of signals such as growth factors interact with death receptors to initiate a biochemical cascade by recruitment of activator molecules that in combination activate MAP3Ks. Many drugs intercede at the level of signal, activator, or MAP3Ks to mimic initiation of the signal transduction cascade. In the prostate, these signaling moieties, which include NSAIDs, converge at the level of MAP2Ks, ostensibly MKK6, which phosphorylates up to 4 isoforms of p38 MAPK. Phosphatases such as MKP1 or compounds such as biochanin A are able to antagonize activation of p38 MAPK. Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK allows phosphorylation of MK2 and MK3 that in turn promote stability of the p75NTR transcript. Concurrently, translocation of HuR from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and increased levels of HuR and eIF4E also promote p75NTR mRNA stability and increased levels of the p75NTR protein. In the prostate, the p75NTR functions as both a tumor and metastasis suppressor. In this context, increased expression of p75NTR modulates cell cycle effectors producing cytostasis in G0/G1, as well as mitochondrial effectors that modulate a caspase cascade leading to apoptosis. In addition, increased expression of p75NTR modulates motility effectors, ostensibly NAG-1, that retards cell migration. Hence, activation of the p38 MAPK pathway through a plethora of signal initiating events, leads to tumor and metastasis suppressor activity in prostate cancer cells.
Geothermal Resource Exploration

Exploration for geothermal resources in the Basin and Range geomorphic province of the western United States is much akin to mineral resource exploration. In this region, potential geothermal resources are located at or near zones of intersection of normal faults, where fracture permeability permits deep circulation of meteoric water into high-temperature areas afforded by high regional heat flow. Exploration encompasses regional surveys, covering several thousand square kilometres, followed by more detailed studies of several hundred square kilometres to identify sites for deep drillholes. The most effective methods for regional exploration are geologic studies based on areal multispectral surveys, heat-flow drilling, chemical geothermometry of warm- and cold-water sources, and age-dating of rock. Detailed heat-flow-hydrologic surveys, gravity and active-seismic surveys, and geologic mapping are most effective in locating targets for deep confirmatory drilling. Geochemical-halo surveys may also be very effective in both regional and areal exploration. Results of geochemical, radiochemical, and geophysical surveys combine to furnish a comparison of long-term flow rates of geothermal systems, thereby permitting preliminary evaluation of the relative viability of the systems.
Conservative Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This article discusses the relevant pathophysiology that justifies various conservative treatment strategies. The author includes an overview that focuses on the wrist, symptoms of an individual patient, and his or her vocational and avocational pursuits. Conservative treatment is compared with surgical treatment.
Erratum to “A critical compilation of experimental data on spectral lines and energy levels of hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium” [At. Data Nucl. Data Tables 96 (2010) 586–644]

Abstract In the critical compilation of experimental and theoretical data on the H, D, and T spectra (Kramida, 2010), there were errors in some of the hyperfine structure parameters for deuterium. These errors are corrected here.
Power series spaces Λ(α) and associated Λ(α)-nuclearity

The class of strongly nuclear spaces was introduced by Martineau [8] and also rediscovered by Brudovskii [1, 2]. The definition of strongly nuclear maps is related to the space s of rapidly decreasing sequences (see [9]). In this paper we introduce the class of A(e)-nuclear maps, where A(e) is a ~enerat power series space, known to include as special cases the familiar spaces s and F, the space of entire functions (see [3]). We define then the notion of A(c0nuclear spaces and obtain a criterion for the A (e)-nuclearity of sequence spaces 2(P). K6the [7] has proved such a criterion for the s-nuclearity of 2(P). Some applications of this criterion are given and finally we obtain a product of several copies of [A(e)]; as a universal A(e)-nuclear space.
Unconventional myosins muscle into myofibrils

"Myosin" is famous as a component of muscle fibrils, but the majority of myosin family members act elsewhere with roles unrelated to muscle contraction. The biological functions of a relatively new family of these unconventional myosins, myosins 18A and 18B, are poorly understood. New research from Horsthemke et al. describes a new isoform (Myo18Aγ) that is essential for heart function and viability in mice. Their findings both support and contradict other work in the field and raise new questions about the roles of myosin 18 proteins in vivo.
Robust nonparametric tests of general linear model coefficients: A comparison of permutation methods and test statistics.

Statistical inference in neuroimaging research often involves testing the significance of regression coefficients in a general linear model. In many applications, the researcher assumes a model of the form Y=α+Xβ+Zγ+e, where Y is the observed brain signal, and X and Z contain explanatory variables that are thought to be related to the brain signal. The goal is to test the null hypothesis H0:β=0 with the nuisance parameters γ included in the model. Several nonparametric (permutation) methods have been proposed for this problem, and each method uses some variant of the F ratio as the test statistic. However, recent research suggests that the F ratio can produce invalid permutation tests of H0:β=0 when the e terms are heteroscedastic (i.e., have non-constant variance), which can occur for a variety of reasons. This study compares the classic F test statistic to the robust W (Wald) test statistic using eight different permutation methods. The results reveal that permutation tests using the F ratio can produce accurate results when the errors are homoscedastic, but high false positive rates when the errors are heteroscedastic. In contrast, permutation tests using the W test statistic produced valid results when the errors were homoscedastic, and asymptotically valid results when the errors were heteroscedastic. In the situation with homoscedastic errors, permutation tests using the W statistic showed slightly reduced power compared to the F statistic, but the difference disappeared as the sample size n increased. Consequently, the W test statistic is recommended for robust nonparametric hypothesis tests of regression coefficients in neuroimaging research.
The Revolution Will Be Teletyped: Cuba's Prensa Latina News Agency and the Cold War Contest over Information

This article is the first in-depth study of Cuba's revolutionary news agency, Prensa Latina. Drawing on a wide variety of archival and published sources, including Cuban media and memoirs, declassi...
Flow disturbances and the development of endocardial fibroelastosis.

Abstract Objectives Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has been identified as the underlying mechanism of endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) formation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether hemodynamic alterations due to valvar defects promote EndMT and whether age-specific structural changes affect ventricular diastolic compliance despite extensive surgical resection of EFE tissue. Material and Methods We analyzed EFE tissue from 24 patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) who underwent left ventricular (LV) rehabilitation surgery at Boston Children's Hospital between December 2011 and March 2018. Six patients with flow disturbances across the aortic valve and/or mitral valve but no HLHS diagnosis and macroscopic appearance of “EFE-like tissue” in the LV were included for comparison. All samples were examined for amount of collagen/elastin production and degradation, and presence of active EndMT by histologic analysis. Results EFE tissue from patients with and without HLHS consisted predominantly of elastin and collagen fibers. There was no alteration in degradation activity for collagen or elastin as shown by in situ zymography. Active EndMT was found in all patients with and without HLHS with flow disturbances (“EFE-like”). In patients with HLHS, EFE infiltrated into the underlying myocardium with increasing age. Conclusions Patients with and without HLHS with flow disturbances due to stenotic or incompetent valves develop EndMT-derived fibrotic tissue covering the LV. When EFE recurs, it is directly associated with flow disturbances and switches to an infiltrative growth pattern with increasing age, leading to increased diastolic stiffness of the LV.
Assessing spatial and temporal patterns of canopy decline across a diverse montane landscape in the Klamath Mountains, CA, USA using a 30-year Landsat time series

Tree mortality is of considerable concern, but the magnitude and extent of forest canopy decline are relatively unknown in landscapes with high levels of topographic complexity, spatial heterogeneity, and species diversity. We assessed 30 years of canopy decline, including a 5-year period characterized by extreme drought, in one of North America’s most diverse landscapes in the Klamath Mountains of northern California, USA. (1) Characterize tree mortality by species, (2) Quantify temporal and spatial patterns of remotely-sensed canopy decline in relation to climate, (3) Compare canopy decline among vegetation types, topographic settings, and stand structural classes during drought. We characterized tree mortality by species with field data and quantified the role of climate on canopy decline with a 30-year Landsat time series. We assessed and compared the role of topography and stand structure on canopy decline during drought. Most tree mortality and canopy decline occurred at higher elevations in Shasta red fir (Abies magnifica var. shastensis) and subalpine forests. Annual area of canopy decline was positively correlated with summer temperature and minimum vapor pressure deficit but not precipitation. The area of canopy decline was three times greater during the drought. The magnitude of decline was greatest at higher elevations, on more exposed, southwestern slopes, and in stands with old-growth structure. Stands in valleys and low slopes experienced relatively little decline. Our study demonstrates the vulnerability of high elevation, old-growth forests to increasing temperature and suggests the potential for refugia from drought in diverse, heterogeneous landscapes.
A Phase 1b Study of Cetuximab and BYL719 (Alpelisib) Concurrent with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy in Stage III-IVB Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose Activation of the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway is common in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). BYL719 is an α-specific PI3K inhibitor that is synergistic and efficacious when combined with cetuximab, a Food and Drug Administration–approved radiosensitizing agent in the treatment of HNSCC. The agent independently has been shown to enhance radiosensitivity. This study evaluates the addition of BYL719 to cetuximab and radiation in the treatment of locally advanced HNSCC. Methods and Materials This is a single-institution, phase 1 study. Patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer seventh edition stage III to IVB HNSCC received standard cetuximab (400 mg/m2 intravenous loading dose) before intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) followed by 250 mg/m2 weekly infusions during IMRT. BYL719 was given orally during IMRT in 3 dose levels: (1) 200 mg/d, (2) 250 mg/d, or (3) 300 mg/d in a standard 3 + 3 dose-escalation design. Results Eleven patients were evaluable. Dose level 2 was the maximum tolerated dose for BYL719. Two patients on dose level 3 had dose-limiting toxicities of oral mucositis that required a dose reduction of BYL719. One patient on dose level 2 had a dose-limiting toxicity of nausea that led to withdrawal of on-study treatment. Related grade 3 or higher adverse events consisted of decreased lymphocyte count, oral mucositis, dysphagia, hyperglycemia, maculopapular rash, and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome. All 11 patients had a complete response on posttreatment imaging, and 10 remain disease free. Of the 8 patients with mutational analysis, 1 had an activating PIK3CA mutation associated with a rapid response on serial intratreatment magnetic resonance imaging scans. Conclusions The recommended phase 2 dose of BYL719 is 250 mg/d in combination with cetuximab and IMRT in patients with locally advanced HNSCC. Further evaluation of the addition of BYL719 to the platinum-sparing regimen of cetuximab and IMRT in the treatment of locally advanced HNSCC is warranted.
Quantification of intracellular N-terminal β-actin arginylation

Actin is a ubiquitous, essential, and highly abundant protein in all eukaryotic cells that performs key roles in contractility, adhesion, migration, and leading edge dynamics. The two non-muscle actins, β- and γ-, are ubiquitously present in every cell type and are nearly identical to each other at the amino acid level, but play distinct intracellular roles. The mechanisms regulating this distinction have been the focus of recent interest in the field. Work from our lab has previously shown that β-, but not γ-, actin undergoes N-terminal arginylation on Asp3. While functional evidence suggest that this arginylation may be important to actin’s function, progress in these studies so far has been hindered by difficulties in arginylated actin detection, precluding estimations of the abundance of arginylated actin in cells, and its occurrence in different tissues and cell types. The present study represents the first antibody-based quantification of the percentage of arginylated actin in migratory non-muscle cells under different physiological conditions, as well as in different cells and tissues. We find that while the steady-state level of arginylated actin is relatively low, it is consistently present in vivo, and is somewhat more prominent in migratory cells. Inhibition of N-terminal actin acetylation dramatically increases the intracellular actin arginylation level, suggesting that these two modifications may directly compete in vivo. These findings constitute an essential step in our understanding of actin regulation by arginylation, and in uncovering the dynamic interplay of actin’s N-terminal modifications in vivo.
Evaporation of squeezed water droplets between two parallel hydrophobic/superhydrophobic surfaces.

Abstract Hypothesis A liquid droplet is apt to be deformed within a compact space in various applications. The morphological change of a droplet and vapor accumulation in the confined space between two parallel surfaces with different gaps and surface wettability are expected to significantly affect the evaporation dynamics of the squeezed droplet therein. Experiments Here the evaporation dynamics of a squeezed droplet between two parallel hydrophobic/superhydrophobic surfaces are experimentally explored. By reducing the surface gap from 1000 μm to 400 μm, the evolution of contact angle, contact radius and volume of the evaporating droplet are measured. A diffusion-driven model based on a two-parameter ellipsoidal segment geometry is developed to predict the morphology and volume evolution of a squeezed droplet during evaporation. Findings Evaporation dynamics of a squeezed water droplet via the constant contact radius (CCR) mode, the constant contact angle (CCA) mode, or the mixed mode are experimentally observed. Confirmed by our ellipsoidal segment model, the evaporation of the squeezed droplet is significantly depressed with the decreasing surface gap, which is primarily attributed to vapor enrichment in a more confined geometry. A linear scaling law between droplet volume and evaporation time is unveiled, which is verified by a simplified cylindrical model.
Supramolecular Porous Assemblies of Atomically Precise Catalytically Active Cerium-Based Clusters

Atomically precise metallic clusters offer total structural information lacking in metal oxide and nanoparticle catalysts. However, their use as heterogeneous catalysts requires accessible and robu...
Spontaneous Regression of High-Grade B-Cell Lymphoma With MYC and BCL2 Rearrangements: Case Report and Literature Review.

Abstract Background High-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements is an aggressive lymphoma, mostly occurring in elderly patients, that frequently has poor response to therapy. We report a unique case of MYC/BCL2 double-hit lymphoma (DHL) in a 35-year-old male that spontaneously regressed without therapy. Methods Biopsy specimen was evaluated morphologically, by immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and next generation sequencing (NGS). Spontaneous regression was assessed with sequential positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans. Results Morphologically, lymphoma cells showed a diffuse, “starry-sky” pattern and were intermediate-sized with finely dispersed chromatin and several nucleoli. By immunohistochemistry, they were positive for CD20, CD10, BCL6, BCL2, C-MYC (60-70%), and Ki67 (80%). FISH study showed MYC and IGH/BCL2 rearrangements. NGS showed mutations of MYC, BCL2, and KMT2D, among others, in keeping with mutational profile of MYC/BCL2 DHL. PET/CT scans, performed at diagnosis, as well as 1 month and 7 months after diagnosis, demonstrated complete spontaneous regression of this lymphoma. Patient remains in remission 28 months after diagnosis. Conclusions Spontaneous regression of a higher grade B-cell lymphoma is a rare occurrence, and the reasons for it are unclear. Our case is a first documented MYC/BCL2 DHL that spontaneously regressed without therapy.
Free-Radical Membrane Protein Footprinting by Photolysis of Perfluoroisopropyl Iodide Partitioned to Detergent Micelle by Sonication

A free-radical footprinting approach is described for integral membrane protein (IMP) that extends, significantly, the "fast photochemical oxidation of proteins" (FPOP) platform. This new approach exploits highly hydrophobic perfluoroisopropyl iodide (PFIPI) together with tip sonication to ensure efficient transport into the micelle interior, allowing laser dissociation and footprinting of the transmembrane domains. In contrast to water soluble footprinters, PFIPI footprints both the hydrophobic intramembrane and the hydrophilic extramembrane domains of the IMP vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR). The footprinting is fast, giving high coverage for Tyr (100 %) and Trp. The incorporation of the reagent with sonication does not significantly affect VKOR's enzymatic function, and tyrosine iodination does not compromise protease digestion and the subsequent analysis. The locations for the modifications are largely consistent with the corresponding solvent accessibilities, recommending this approach for future membrane protein footprinting.
Geir Vestheim: a tribute

Our colleague and friend, Professor Geir Vestheim, died suddenly and unexpectedly on January 4th, 2021, due to a massive heart attack that he suffered when he was out skiing. With his death, we hav...
Effects of patient education to reduce antibiotic prescribing rates for upper respiratory infections in primary care.

BACKGROUND Antibiotic stewardship programs in primary care are necessary to reduce the estimated 30% of inappropriately written antibiotic prescriptions and reduce the spread of microbial resistance. Most programs focus on educating prescribers, but this intervention focused on educating patients. OBJECTIVES To develop and implement an antibiotic stewardship program in a primary care clinic to educate patients with upper respiratory infections (URIs) about antibiotic use and to assess the effectiveness of the program through antibiotic prescribing rates. METHODS Using materials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Be Antibiotics Aware program, posters on antibiotic use were placed in the exam rooms, graphic interchange formats (GIFs) and memes were displayed on exam room monitors, patient-provider discussions on antibiotic use were held, and written information for symptom management of URIs was provided. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to assess antibiotic prescribing rates by four prescribers in a primary care clinic for September and October 2020 and compared to the same time period for 2019. RESULTS The rate of total antibiotic prescriptions decreased by 12.6% (P = 0.044) and the rate of repeat consultation antibiotic prescriptions decreased by 12.2% (P = 0.007), whereas the rate of antibiotics prescribed at the time of the visit remained unchanged (P = 0.937). All providers had decreased rates of antibiotic prescribing after the intervention. CONCLUSION Results of this study indicate that providing education about antibiotics to patients in need of treatment for URIs may reduce the rate of antibiotics prescribed in primary care; however, further research is warranted.
The contingency of neighbourhood diversity: Variation of social context using mobile phone application data:

This research uses high-density anonymised mobile phone application (MPA) global-positioning system (GPS) data to describe exposure to racial diversity in different social contexts with an aim to c...
Use of non-lethal endpoints to establish water quality requirements and optima of the endangered Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka)

Water quality standards based on sub-lethal effects and performance optima for aquatic organisms, rather than onset of mortality, are more ecologically relevant for management of species of conservation concern. We investigated the effects of hypoxia, temperature (with acclimation), nitrogenous chemical compounds, and chloride on Topeka shiners (Notropis topeka) by monitoring behavioral responses to a reduction in oxygen and, using swimming speed, determining thermal optima and onset of effect for concentrations of nitrogenous compounds and chloride. We found ASR50 (i.e., dissolved oxygen concentrations where 50% of fish use aquatic surface respiration) to be 1.65 mg/L and ASR90 to be 1.08 mg/L of dissolved oxygen. Optimum temperatures for the species ranged from 17.7 to 28.0 °C, while predicted 100% mortality ranged from 33.7 to 40.3 °C, depending on the temperature at which fish were acclimated prior to experiments. Ammonia and sodium chloride reduced swimming speed at concentrations below known LC50 values, while nitrite concentrations did not correspond with swimming speed, but rather, post-experiment mortality. This provides insight into where Topeka shiners can not only persist, but also thrive. Although swimming speed may not be a suitable metric for determining the effects of all contaminants, our focus on optima and sub-lethal effects over tolerance allows selections of the most suitable reintroduction site matching the species’ physiological profile.
Hyperthyroidism in Juvenile Diabetes Mellitus

Three cases of hyperthyroidism occurring in juvenile patients with diabetes mellitus are presented. The presence of hyperthyroidism should be suspected in patients with diabetes mellitus when goiters develop and when there is unexplained weight loss, tachycardia, tremors, unexplained increases in insulin requirement, or instability of the diabetes with a tendency toward development of ketosis and/or ketoacidosis.
Chemical reaction dynamics using the Advanced Light Source

The recently commissioned Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Berkeley provides a high brightness, tunable VUV light source for chemical dynamics studies. A dedicated chemical dynamics beamline has been built at the ALS for studies of fundamental chemical processes. High flux (10{sup 16} photon/s with 2% bandwidth) VUV synchrotron radiation from 5 to 30 eV can be obtained from the beamline, whose source is the U8/10 undulator. Three endstations will be in operation for studies ranging from crossed beam reaction dynamics and photodissociation to high resolution photoionization dynamics and spectroscopy. A rotatable source crossed molecular beam apparatus (endstation one) has been established for unimolecular and bimolecular reactive scattering studies. Photodissociation of methylamine and ozone were carried out using VUV synchrotron radiation as the ionization detection technique at this endstation. Results show the advantages of the new endstation using VUV ionization as the detection scheme over similar machines using electron bombardment as the ionization source.
Using Opioid Receptors to Expand the Chemogenetic and Optogenetic Toolbox

In this issue of Neuron, innovative new modifications to opioid receptors are used to expand the tools available to modulate neuronal activity. Vardy et al. (2015) describe a new "DREADD" chemogenetic tool based on the inhibitory κ opioid receptor (KORD) that can be used in conjunction with already-available DREADDs. Siuda et al. (2015) report the development of "opto-MOR," a light-activatable μ opioid receptor (MOR) chimera that can be used to better understand the complexities of MOR signaling.
Peasant federations and rural development policies in the andes

This chapter focuses on a special type of structural social capital embedded in second-tier indigenous peasant federations in the Andean countries. It first examines the manifestations of this social capital and then goes on to analyze the strategies of the various social actors for its use, mainly to further the interests of poor and oppressed members, but often in the service of broader societal or narrower partisan purposes. Cases are presented to illustrate how such a social capital resource, once created, can be used or transformed for other than the original purposes. Sometimes these spillovers are socially beneficial, confirming the mutability thesis of Hirschman (1984); but in other cases the diversions can be harmful and disempowering. The authors conclude that even considering these varied uses, meso-level peasant federations, when incorporated into rural development policies, can help to achieve equity and sustainability.
Ultrasonic Equivalent Flaw Sizing - A Time-of-Flight Approach

Ultrasonic equivalent flaw sizing is a method in which the size, shape, and orientation of a flaw is determined in terms of a best-fit simple shape, such as an ellipsoid (for volumetric flaws) or an ellipse (for cracks). Previous equivalent flaw sizing methods have used the Born [1] or Kirchhoff [2] approximations in conjunction with non-linear optimization procedures. More recently, Chiou and Schmerr [3] have shown how the non-linear optimization problem in equivalent sizing can be reduced to a simpler linear least squares/eigenvalue problem.
Role of Differential Air Pressure Zones in the Control of Aerosols in a Large Animal Isolation Facility

Abstract The uncontrolled transmission of hog cholera in a large animal isolation facility, designed to control the movement of aerosols within and between individual wings of a multiunit building, indicated the need for a critical study of aerosol behavior under existing conditions of operation. Studies with aerosols of Escherichia coli B T3 bacteriophage (T3 coliphage) conclusively demonstrated the impossibility of obtaining the desired control by means of a “static” air balance relationship between adjacent areas within the facility. Modifications needed to provide the desired control of the air-handling system are outlined and discussed.
The Failure of Recent State Vocational Training Policies in Korea from a Comparative Perspective

On the basis of fieldwork conducted during June 1992 and 1993, this study examines outcomes of two recent vocational training policies in Korea, cooperative training, and ChangWon Industrial Masters' College. It was found that these two policies, seeking to imitate the German dual vocational training model, failed to produce the industrial skills sought. These outcomes can be explained by examining two social contexts surrounding the policies in comparison with those in Germany: the exclusive role of the government in industrial relations, and a minimal interest in skill formation by manufactur-ingfirms