cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcome of Elderly Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Post Hypomethylating Agent (HMA) Failure.

Abstract 2627 Background and Aims: HMA such as 5-azacitadine or decitabine have been increasingly used as induction therapy in elderly patients with AML. The prognosis of such patients who failed initial HMA and the impact of subsequent chemotherapy on outcome are unknown. Therefore the aims of the current analysis are 1) to evaluate the prognosis of elderly patients with AML post HMA failure and 2) to evaluate the efficacy of using intensive cytarabine-based salvage therapy vs. low intensity investigational therapy. Methods: We analyzed 54 patients older than 60 years old with AML who received induction treatment with HMA using either 5-azacitadine (n=17; 31%) or decitabine (n=37; 69%) under various clinical trials. Result: Median age of the group was 68 years (range; 60–84); 39% patients were female. Forty three patients (77%) had performance status (PS) ≤1 and 11 patients had PS of 2 (23%). Mean initial white blood cell count was 10.9 ± 3.2 (x10 3 /μl), hemoglobin 9.9 ± 0.2 (g/dl), platelet count 77 ± 9 (x10 3 /μl), and bone marrow blast count 44 ± 2.9 (%). Cytogenetic category was classified as intermediate in 30 (55%) patients and poor in 24 (45%) based on the MRC criteria. Six patients (11%) carried FLT3-ITD mutation and 1 carried FLT3 D835 mutation. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 24 patients (44%) with median numbers of cycles required to achieve CR being 3 (range; 1–6). All patients received further salvage therapies, at the time of failure, with a median of 2.5 (range, 2–5) salvage regimens. As part of the salvage regimen, high-dose cytarabine-based regimen (HDAC) was given to 32 patients (59%). Objective response rate to HDAC was 53%, with 18 pts achieving CR. Median number of courses given was 2 (range, 1–7) with a median duration of response of 3 months. No induction death was reported. Stem cell transplant was performed in total of 9 patients (17%) as a consolidation post HDAC (n=4) or as salvage therapy (n=5). With a median follow-up of 5 months post HMA failure, 5 (9%) patients remained alive receiving therapy. The median overall survival (OS) was 5.4 months (range, 2.3–8.5). The 1-year overall survival rate was 26%. There was no difference in OS between patients who received HDAC versus those who received investigational agents (p=0.25). Conclusion: The outcome of untreated elderly patients with AML who failed HMA is poor with a median survival of 5 months. HDAC based regimen, although active with low treatment related morbidity, yielded no survival improvement compared to investigational agents. Such patients should benefit from more innovative approaches. Disclosures: Ravandi: Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Eisai: Honoraria, Research Funding.
Saul Bellow: There is Simply Too Much to Think About: Collected Non-Fiction, Edited by Benjamin Taylor

Readers may be interested to know that I also reviewed the first collection of Bellow’s essays (It All Adds Up: From the Dim Past to the Uncertain Future, New York 1994) in these pages in 1995 and some of his novels were required readings in a course on the sociology of literature I used to teach. I also knew Bellow and met him several times. Last but not least, twenty years ago he provided a Bblurb,^ an endorsement for the paperback edition of one my books. It remains to be determined if these circumstances make me more, or less qualified to review his writings, including the present volume. The volume here discussed contains 57 items, and spans half a century; the first piece dating from 1948, the most recent from 2000. Bellow died in 2005 at the age of 86. The writings here collected appeared in a variety of publications: the Atlantic , Boston Globe , Commentary, Encounter, Nation, New York Times, New York Review of Books, New Yorker, Partisan Review, Salmagundi and others, as well in various edited volumes. Writings which also appeared in the first collection are listed by the editor in his acknowledgments. As is often the case is it is difficult to classify, or summarize the topics, and their major thrust of a large collection of writings especially since the editor chose to organize this volume chronologically, by decades rather than by the themes of the writings. By contrast, the earlier collection (noted above) that did not have an editor was organized topically (presumably by the author) consisting of substantive parts, such as BWriters, Intellectuals, Politics,^ BThoughts in Transition,^ BA Few Farewells,^ and others. Bellow occupied an unusual position in American society and literary life. While widely published, recognized and showered with tokens of recognition National Book Awards, Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize he was at times denounced as a diehard conservative, a sexist and politically incorrect elitist. His views did not endear him to the intellectuals who were still enthralled with what they considered the youthful revolutionary idealism of the 1960s and it residues in more recent times. One of the pieces in this volume BPapuans and Zulus^ is Bellow’s response to such attacks, in particular to the accusation that he failed to appreciate properly nonWestern cultures and was excessively enamored with Western classics. It is unfortunate as well as puzzling, that the editor chose to delete the concluding paragraphs of his original article (published in the New York Times, on March 10, 1994) in which Bellow made the following memorable points, among others:
Editorial Board Thoughts: Reinvesting in Our Traditional Personnel Through Knowledge Sharing and Training

Editorial Board Thoughts: Reinvesting in Our Traditional Personnel Through Knowledge Sharing and Training
Critical Realism as Relational Sociology

This chapter situates critical realism (CR) vis-a-vis relational sociology. CR is not exactly a form of relational sociology if only because it is more an underlying philosophy than sociology specifically. The chapter goes on to talk about what is common to and different about CR in relation to relational sociology. Born of progressive and even Marxian sources, CR definitely takes a relational approach to social phenomena, but as its name implies it also tends to be more realist than much relational sociology and more affirmative of substances, structures, and humanism than many forms of relational sociology. The chapter also presents a rather sharp defense of these positions against the counterpositions more associated with relational sociology.
Nettersexuality: The Impact of Internet Pornography on Gay Male Sexual Expression and Identity

The Internet, as an integral part of global culture, has become a location offering a smorgasbord of pornographic images and films depicting multiple and fluid ways of being sexual. For males who identify as gay and/or queer, the Internet offers opportunities to explore same-sex sexualities in ways that have heretofore been challenging; thus, constructions of sexual identity can be interrogated, (re)examined, and (re)imagined. New explorations of sexualities may be the result of interface with Internet pornography, which opens spaces for not yet experienced ways of being sexual. Using qualitative methodology, this project engages the voices of three males who identify as gay and/or queer and focuses on how the Internet, particularly pornography on the Internet, impacts their sexual experiences and their sexual identities. Indeed, we argue here that the Internet does impact sexuality, and these men help to raise questions about what is possible with regard to sexuality and sexual identity.
Band Approach to the Transition Metal Oxides

In these lectures we shall consider the conduction processes in the oxides of the transition metals. Rather than try to catalog the properties of this wide range of compounds which is the subject of several recent reviews, 1, 2 we will try to look at the physical processes that make these materials, which appear very similar in structure, to exhibit an extremely rich range of physical properties: metals with 10-5 Ω-cm resistivity, and insulators with 1015 Ω-cm resistivity, ferromagnets, antiferromagnets and diamagnets. I have selected a few materials which exemplify the different properties and will discuss them in the light of the theories that are currently Applied, and which have been discussed by Frank Herman, Hans Frederikse and others during this Summer Institute.
Turbulent Diffusion from Discrete Sources

The forms that smoke plumes exhibit are a result of the action of atmospheric turbulence, and much can be learned about the nature of turbulence by observing them. Conversely, knowledge about turbulence, acquired over a long period of measurement and consideration, is now being used successfully to help predict the features of smoke plume movements. The practical result of such applications is a growing ability to predict in advance how the byproducts of existing or projected industrial enterprises affect the air quality of surrounding areas.
Covering Behavior of Two Co-occurring Jamaican Sea Urchins: Differences in the Amount of Covering and Selection of Covering Material

In Discovery Bay, Jamaica, Tripneustes ventricosus (Lamarck, 1816) and Lytechinus variegatus (Lamarck, 1816) co-occur on shallow substrata with varying proportions of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum Banks and Soland. ex Koenig) and coral rubble. Both cover their aboral surface with grass fragments and small pieces of rubble or shell. We tested the hypothesis that these species differ in covering behavior and actively select different covering material. Field observations in three habitats with different proportions of grass cover ( 70% grass) showed that L. variegatus covered significantly more of its surface than T. ventricosus in all habitats. The proportion of covering material due to grass increased significantly with the availability of grass in the habitat, and was significantly greater for T. ventricosus. In the mostly rubble habitat (< 30% grass), T. ventricosus still selected 78% grass while L. variegatus selected 92% rubble. A laboratory experiment was conducted in which single sea urchins, collected from each of the three habitats, were presented with equal amounts of grass and pieces of rubble or shell. Consistent with the field observations, L. variegatus covered significantly more of its surface than T. ventricosus, and was significantly more likely than T. ventricosus to select rubble or shell over grass. Clearly, the amount and type of covering material used by these sea urchin species differs and reflects both the availability of material and active choice.
Thermal bonding of light water reactor fuel using nonalkaline liquid-metal alloy

Light water reactor (LWR) fuel performance is limited by thermal and mechanical constraints associated with the design, fabrication, and operation of fuel in a nuclear reactor. These limits define ...
Effect of retained austenite on spalling behavior of carburized AISI 8620 steel under boundary lubrication

Abstract The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of retained austenite (RA) on the macropitting or spalling behavior of carburized AISI 8620 steel under boundary lubrication condition. Samples with RA ranging from approximately 0 to 70% were prepared using specific carburizing schemes. Macropitting tests were carried out at maximum contact pressure 1.9 GPa using a benchtop test rig. Samples were subsequently analyzed using noncontact white light profilometry and micro X-Ray Diffraction to observe the evolution of contact surface and RA respectively. Results indicated that increasing RA and minimizing pre-existing sub-surface cracks in the material help to enhance macropitting life. The failure mechanism for all samples was from spall formation due to sub-surface crack initiation and propagation with clear evidence of RA transforming to martensite. Pre- and post-experiment residual stress showed the impact of phase transformation on enhancement of residual stress during RCF experiments, however residual stress was not a significant factor in impacting the life.
Design and Testing of Dual-Targeted Gd3N@C80-Containing Glioblastoma Theranostics

The majority of the malignant brain tumors are gliomas with glioblastoma being the most common and aggressive type. Due to its extreme infiltrative nature and higher occurrence frequency, finding new glioblastoma therapeutics and diagnostics is a high priority. In line with this, we previously synthesized a glioblastoma-targeting theranostic that images and delivers a therapeutic payload of doxorubicin (DXR) to human xenograft tumors. Herein, a dual-targeted theranostic is synthesized on the hypothesis that targeting multiple receptors would enhance delivery precision. Doxorubicin and endo-fullerene (Gd3N@C80) were encapsulated within liposomes and conjugated with transferrin (Tf) and lactoferrin (Lf). The hydrodynamic size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and tagging with proteins of the Gd3N@C80- and DXR-loaded liposomes were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry analysis. As verification of efficacy, the Tf and Lf dual-tagged theranostic liposomes were able to significantly induce cell death compared to Lf monotagged theranostics.
Simulated mechanical control of flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) under mesocosm conditions

Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus L.) is an invasive aquatic and wetland plant capable of developing monotypic stands in emergent and submersed sites. This plant can rapidly outcompete native vegetation and impede human practices by reducing recreation (boating, fishing, and skiing) and disrupting agricultural use of water resources (irrigation canals). Mechanical removal practices occurring biweekly, monthly, bimonthly, and once per growing season were compared with chemical control with diquat applied sequentially at 0.19 ppmv ai for two consecutive months over 2 yr (2016 and 2017). Biweekly removal gave the most consistent control of B. umbellatus biomass and propagules. Diquat application along with monthly and bimonthly clippings gave varying degrees of B. umbellatus control. Clipping once per growing season did not control B. umbellatus when compared with reference plants, while clipping B. umbellatus every 2 wk (biweekly) controlled rush propagules most effectively. However, it is unlikely this method will be sufficient as a stand-alone control option due to the slow speed of harvester boats, the potential these boats have to spread B. umbellatus propagules to more sites, and the expense of mechanical operations. However, clipping could be used as part of an integrated strategy for B. umbellatus control.
Optimizing Generalized PageRank Methods for Seed-Expansion Community Detection.

Landing probabilities (LP) of random walks (RW) over graphs encode rich information regarding graph topology. Generalized PageRanks (GPR), which represent weighted sums of LPs of RWs, utilize the discriminative power of LP features to enable many graph-based learning studies. Previous work in the area has mostly focused on evaluating suitable weights for GPRs, and only a few studies so far have attempted to derive the optimal weights of GRPs for a given application. We take a fundamental step forward in this direction by using random graph models to better our understanding of the behavior of GPRs. In this context, we provide a rigorous non-asymptotic analysis for the convergence of LPs and GPRs to their mean-field values on edge-independent random graphs. Although our theoretical results apply to many problem settings, we focus on the task of seed-expansion community detection over stochastic block models. There, we find that the predictive power of LPs decreases significantly slower than previously reported based on asymptotic findings. Given this result, we propose a new GPR, termed Inverse PR (IPR), with LP weights that increase for the initial few steps of the walks. Extensive experiments on both synthetic and real, large-scale networks illustrate the superiority of IPR compared to other GPRs for seeded community detection.
The Roles of Invertebrates in the Urban Soil Microbiome

Urban soils differ from those in other managed ecosystems in many ways, including their heterogeneity, unique organic matter inputs and exposure to past and present anthropogenic activities. Soil processes in urban systems are influenced by the microbiome, specifically bacterial and fungal communities that are currently recognized as the primary drivers of soil organic matter dynamics. However, our understanding of biotic controls on microbial communities is incomplete, particularly in regard to the roles of invertebrates. We aim to highlight how invertebrates and their interactions with microbial communities may shape ecosystem processes in urban systems. We discuss three primary pathways through which invertebrates are known to influence the soil microbiome: dispersal of microorganisms throughout soils, grazing on microbial biomass and mixing of organic inputs within soils and subsequently altering microbial resource accessibility. These invertebrate-mediated pathways may be particularly important because of their influence on soil microbiomes of urban systems. We also propose future research directions aimed at quantifying the influence of invertebrates on soil microbial processes to gain a more comprehensive understanding of urban microbiome function. Understanding the impact of invertebrates on the microbiome of urban systems can potentially lead to better management of microbiomes and enhance microbe-driven ecosystem services.
Downscaling and Validation of SMAP Radiometer Soil Moisture in CONUS

The SMAP (Soil Moisture Active/Passive) satellite provides global soil moisture (SM) estimates that can be used for scientific research and applications (such as the hydrological cycle, agriculture, ecology, and land atmosphere interactions). Currently, SMAP provides the enhanced radiometer-only SM product (L2SMP) at 9 km grid resolution. However, this spatial resolution is still not enough to satisfy the needs of some studies that require a finer spatial resolution SM product, particularly in agricultural and watershed applications. This study applied a downscaling algorithm to the SMAP 9 km SM product to produce a 1 km resolution over the CONUS (Contiguous United States). The downscaling algorithm is based on the relationship between temperature change and SM modulated by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of a given time period. This relationship was modeled using variables derived from NLDAS (North America Land Data Assimilation System) and NASA’s LTDR (Land Long Term Data Record) between 1981 - 2018. The algorithm was implemented uses the 1 km MODIS Aqua LST (Land Surface Temperature) product. The downscaled SMAP 1 km SM was validated using in situ SM measurements from the ISMN (International Soil Moisture Network). The validation metrics show an improved overall accuracy of the downscaled SM.
Introduction to the Forum on Cluttering: Rays of Hope Shine Around the World

Purpose In the 10 years since the International Cluttering Association (ICA) was created, this organization has been growing in the scope of its initiatives, and in the variety of resources it make...
Who belongs in school? Examining the link between Black and White racial disparities in sense of school belonging and suspension

Relative to White students, Black students experience higher rates of exclusionary discipline and less welcoming school environments. However, little empirical research has examined the extent to which these two parallel racial disparities are linked. This study examines the relationship between student race and suspension and whether this relationship depends on school-level racial disparities in students' sense of school belonging. Using data from 73,755 students (56.4% White, 43.6% Black or African-American) nested within 131 schools, this study uses a series of multilevel models with cross-level interactions. This study finds that Black students are consistently more likely to be suspended than White students, but this difference is nonsignificant in schools where Black students' sense of school belonging is much higher than that of White students'. As such, schools' efforts toward reducing the discipline gap may benefit from making schools more welcoming to Black students.
A Numerical Approach for Computing Euler Characteristics of Affine Varieties

We develop a numerical nonlinear algebra approach for computing the Euler characteristic of an affine variety. Our approach is to relate Euler characteristics of a smooth affine variety with the number of critical points using Morse theory. In general, we stratify a variety into the union of smooth affine varieties to obtain results on singular varieties.
Future Directions for Firearm Injury Intervention, Policy, and Research

Pediatric firearm injury is a national clinical and public health concern in the United States. Addressing this crisis requires a comprehensive approach, integrating efforts from clinicians, public health professionals, policy makers, educators, researchers, community leaders, law enforcement, and others. In this chapter, we discuss the response to pediatric firearm injury from three perspectives: interventions, public policy, and research. In each domain, we briefly review the current state of knowledge and provide specific recommendations and directions to guide future efforts. It is important to recognize, however, that intervention programs, public policy, and academic research are inter-related efforts, each informing and influencing the others, such that progress in one area can and often will be a springboard to meaningful progress in another. While the problem of pediatric firearm violence is daunting, it need not be intractable. There have been substantial, culture-shifting public health successes in other areas. Policy, research, and intervention, informing, supporting, and reinforcing each other, can advance reciprocally and exert a meaningful reduction on the burden of pediatric firearm injury and mortality.
Abstract A009: Validation of an instrument to measure health professionals' health literacy competence

Introduction: Health literacy (HL) has been identified as a significant predictor of outcomes across the health continuum, including cancer care. As a result it is recommended that all health professionals receive health literacy training. Some institutions have begun integrating health literacy into training programs, but there is a dearth of reliable assessment tools to measure learners9 knowledge. Only one validated instrument (Health Literacy Knowledge and Experience Scale (HL-KES)) exists that specifically assess health professionals9 health literacy competence, but it was validated for use among nurses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the HL-KES as a suitable measure for assessing the HL knowledge and experience of health promotion professionals. Methods: Advanced (junior and senior) students (n=250) enrolled in bachelor-level health promotion programs in three large public universities in Texas completed the 29-item HL-KES. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test the factor structure. Reliability estimates of the overall scale and subscales were assessed using the item covariance method with coefficient alpha (α). Results: The analyses identified three factors that accounted for 62% of the total variance. Twelve items loaded on factor 1 (Knowledge of HL challenges), four items loaded on factor 2 (knowledge of HL assessment strategies), and three items loaded on factor 3 (knowledge of HL principles for written healthcare materials). Results from the test of internal consistency indicated the HL-KES had acceptable reliability for the overall knowledge scale (Cronbach9s alpha = 0.77). The sub-scales had Cronbach9s alphas ranging from .31 to .52. Conclusion: The results suggest the HLKES is a reliable instrument for assessing health promotion professionals9 health literacy knowledge. As a whole, the Cronbach9s alpha for the instrument falls within the acceptable range (.65 - .90). The subscales, however, have low reliability coefficients. Cronbach9s alpha is a function of test length and inter-item correlation and a couple of subscales had just a few items. Reduction in the number of items no doubt attenuated the internal consistency. Citation Format: Lenna Dawkins-Moultin, Lisako McKyer. Validation of an instrument to measure health professionals9 health literacy competence [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A009.
Magnetism and topological Hall effect in antiferromagnetic Ru2MnSn-based Heusler compounds

Abstract Heusler compounds and alloys based on them are of great recent interest because they exhibit a wide variety of spin structures, magnetic properties, and electron-transport phenomena. Their properties are tunable by alloying and we have investigated L21-orderd compound Ru2MnSn and its alloys by varying the atomic Mn:Sn composition. While antiferromagnetic ordering with a Neel temperature of 361 K was observed in Ru2MnSn, the Mn-poor Ru2Mn0.8Sn1.2 alloy exhibits properties of a diluted antiferromagnet in which there are localized regions of uncompensated Mn spins. Furthermore, a noncoplanar spin structure, evident from a topological Hall-effect contribution to the room-temperature Hall resistivity, is realized in Ru2Mn0.8Sn1.2. Our combined experimental and theoretical analysis shows that in the Ru2Mn0.8Sn1.2 alloy, the magnetic properties can be explained in terms of a noncoplanar antiferromagnetic scissor mode, which creates a small net magnetization in a magnetic field and subsequently yields a Berry curvature with a strong topological Hall effect.
Transportation efficiency in eighteenth-century merchant vessels

A key ingredient in New England’s shipping successes was the speed with which its vessels completed their voyages. The principle research on this subject was completed by Gary Walton and published in its first form in 1967. Walton was ahead of his time in identifying the importance of a detailed study of colonial shipping and linking it to a broader Atlantic World. He draws several conclusions. First, that technological change between 1675 and 1775 was minimal in the industry. Second, costs and crew sizes declined due to increases in security after the Royal Navy eliminated piracy. Third, idle time in port decreased, leading to more efficiencies in acquiring cargo. Fourth, and finally, vessel speeds were stagnant throughout the period and were 1.6 to 1.97 knots for the voyage south between New England and the West Indies and 1.31 to 2.09 knots for the return trip. Averages calculated by Walton indicate speeds of between 1.6 and 1.8 knots, with the southbound legs slightly faster. I agree with Walton on all of his conclusions except for the last. Careful study of 145 logbooks chronicling the voyages of Massachusetts’s vessels in the West Indies trade indicates that the median vessel speed over the approximately 1,500 nautical miles from Boston to the islands was 2.71 knots and the mean speed approached 2.84 knots. In fact, the median southbound speed was five per cent slower than the trip home. In practical terms, this meant that according to Walton the time it took to travel 1,500 nautical miles averaged a minimum of almost 35 days. According to the logbooks, however, merchant mariners completed voyages between New England and the West Indies in slightly more than 25 days on average, 28 per cent faster than Walton figured.
Prognostic Value of Electrocardiographic QRS Diminution in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 or Influenza.

During the clinical care of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, diminished QRS amplitude on the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) was observed to precede clinical decompensation, culminating in death. This prompted investigation into the prognostic utility and specificity of low QRS complex amplitude (LoQRS) in COVID-19. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive adults admitted to a telemetry service with SARS-CoV-2 (nâ¯=â¯140) or influenza (nâ¯=â¯281) infection with a final disposition-death or discharge. LoQRS was defined as a composite of QRS amplitude <5 mm or <10 mm in the limb or precordial leads, respectively, or a ≥50% decrease in QRS amplitude on follow-up ECG during hospitalization. LoQRS was more prevalent in patients with COVID-19 than influenza (24.3% vs 11.7%, pâ¯=â¯0.001), and in patients who died than survived with either COVID-19 (48.1% vs 10.2%, p <0.001) or influenza (38.9% vs 9.9%, p <0.001). LoQRS was independently associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 when adjusted for baseline clinical variables (odds ratio [OR] 11.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.9 to 33.8, p <0.001), presenting and peak troponin, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, albumin, intubation, and vasopressor requirement (OR 13.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 145.5, pâ¯=â¯0.029). The median time to death in COVID-19 from the first ECG with LoQRS was 52 hours (interquartile range 18 to 130). Dynamic QRS amplitude diminution is a strong independent predictor of death over not only the course of COVID-19 infection, but also influenza infection. In conclusion, this finding may serve as a pragmatic prognostication tool reflecting evolving clinical changes during hospitalization, over a potentially actionable time interval for clinical reassessment.
The resistome of the bovine gastrointestinal tract.

The gastrointestinal tracts of beef and dairy cattle are reservoirs of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, and our knowledge of the ecology of resistance in these animals has changed with the advent of novel molecular technologies. Application of metagenomics and qPCR to the study of bovine gut ecology has demonstrated that there is overlap, with some differences, between beef and dairy cattle fecal resistomes, that treatment with antimicrobials often transiently influences the resistome, and young calves carry a high abundance of ARGs. Future work should harness emerging metagenome sequencing technologies to better describe the taxa harboring ARGs and collocated non-resistance genes and use these data along with identifying the multiplicity of factors driving resistance to develop strategies to reduce AMR carriage in cattle.
An Introduction to Continuum Mechanics

Many of the mathematical models of natural phenomena are based on fundamental scientific laws of physics or otherwise are extracted from centuries of research on the behavior of physical systems under the action of natural forces. Today this subject is referred to simply as mechanics – a phrase that encompasses broad fields of science concerned with the behavior of fluids, solids, and complex materials. Mechanics is vitally important to virtually every area of technology and remains an intellectually rich subject taught in all major universities. It is also the focus of research in departments of aerospace, chemical, civil, and mechanical engineering, in engineering science and mechanics, and in applied mathematics and physics. The past several decades have witnessed a great deal of research in continuum mechanics and its application to a variety of problems. As most modern technologies are no longer discipline-specific but involve multidisciplinary approaches, scientists and engineers should be trained to think and work in such environments. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce the subject of mechanics to senior undergraduate and beginning graduate students so that they have a strong background in the basic principles common to all major engineering fields. A first course on continuum mechanics or elasticity is the one that provides the basic principles of mechanics and prepares engineers and scientists for advanced courses in traditional as well as emerging fields such as biomechanics and nanomechanics. There are many books on mechanics of continua. These books fall into two major categories: those that present the subject as highly mathematical and abstract and those that are too elementary to be of use for those who will pursue further work in fluid dynamics, elasticity, plates and shells, viscoelasticity, plasticity, and interdisciplinary areas such as geomechanics, biomechanics, mechanobiology, and nanoscience. As is the case with all other books written (solely) by the author, the objective is to facilitate an easy understanding of the topics covered. While the author is fully aware that he is not an authority on the subject of this book, he feels that he understands the concepts well and feels confident that he can explain them to others. It is hoped that the book, which is simple in presenting the main concepts, will be mathematically rigorous enough in providing the invariant form as well as component form of the governing equations for analysis of practical problems of engineering. In particular, the book contains formulations and applications to specific problems from heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and solid mechanics.
Adolescent Pregnancy in Ireland (Eire): Medical, Psychosocial, and Public Health Responses

In this chapter, we begin to put into context the role of women’s reproductive rights, the Irish Catholic Church and its influence on politics in Ireland; and, how it has impacted female reproductive health in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Context is essential because contrary to the experience of other countries where the Roman Catholic Church dominates sexual reproductive and sexual health policy (i.e., countries in South America). To put Irish adolescent pregnancy in perspective, keeping in mind that abortion continued to be illegal in both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, in 1970s the adolescent birth rate dropped to 16.3 births per 1,000. Although fluctuating slightly over the years, the adolescent birth rate was again 16.3 births per 1,000 in 2009. This is a rate that is slightly higher than the average for European countries. Yet, it is lower than that of Northern Ireland and the UK at 25 births per 1,000. In contrast, in the USA in 2009, the adolescent birth rate was over 40 births per 1,000. This relatively low rate of Irish adolescent pregnancy is diametrically opposed to what would be expected in a traditional Catholic country like Ireland. Why the adolescent pregnancy rates fail, and how the history of Irish Catholic ideology affect Irish adolescents in the twenty-first century is examined in this chapter? Instead of church doctrine continuing to influence high rates of fertility and resistance to the use of contraception, especially among the youth of Ireland, the rate of pregnancy and birth dropped significantly. Moreover, with the economic change in the 1990s, in less than one generation, adolescent life was transformed from the traditional Irish Catholic existence to a more modern lifestyle common to adolescents in most Western European countries.
Numerical simulation and analysis of the April 2013 Chicago Floods

Summary The weather event associated to record Chicago floods on April 2013 is investigated by using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Observations at Argonne National Laboratory and multi-sensor (weather radar and rain gauge) precipitation data from the National Weather Service were employed to evaluate the model’s performance. The WRF model captured the synoptic-scale atmospheric features well, but the simulated 24-h accumulated precipitation and short-period temporal evolution of precipitation over the heavy-rain region were less successful. To investigate the potential reasons for the model bias, four supplementary sensitivity experiments using various microphysics schemes and cumulus parameterizations were designed. Of the five tested parameterizations, the WRF Single-Moment 6-class (WSM6) graupel scheme and Kain–Fritsch (KF) cumulus parameterization outperformed the others, such as Grell–Devenyi (GD) cumulus parameterization, which underestimated the precipitation by 30–50% on a regional-average scale. Morrison microphysics and KF outperformed the others for the spatial patterns of 24-h accumulated precipitation. The spatial correlation between observation and Morrison-KF was 0.45, higher than those for other simulations. All of the simulations underestimated the precipitation over northeastern Illinois (especially at Argonne) during 0400–0800 UTC 18 April because of weak ascending motion or small moisture. All of the simulations except WSM6-GD also underestimated the precipitation during 1200–1600 UTC 18 April because of weak southerly flow.
Nonlinear Adaptive Control of Fermentation Processes Utilizing a Priori Knowledge

This paper describes both SISO and MIMO adaptive versions of nonliner Generic Model Control (GMC) applied to a baker's yeast fermentation. An a priori nonlinear representation of process knowledge is combined with a simple and effective adaptation scheme to yield optimal flexibility of the model. Only a few parameters which appear linearly in the model need to be estimated on-line, resulting in very fast and potentially offset-free tracking of the process by the model-based controller. Simulations demonstrate that an adaptive MIMO version of GMC is superior to the corresponding nonadaptive version when faced with modeling errors. Experiments with a bench-scale yeast fermentation system demonstrate for the SISO case the applicability of adaptive nonlinear control methods to an actual process and compare adaptive GMC performance with that of a conventional PI controller.
M-competition — A closer look at NAIVE2 and median APE: A note

Abstract Two observations regarding the M-Competition are presented. First, the seasonal indices that were used in the NAIVE2 method were not calculated using the exact procedures that were defined in the M-Competition paper. Second the median absolute percentage error comparative measure was not computed as one might expect it to have been and was not documented as such. The resolution of these matters might enhance the usefulness of the M-Competition study.
On the Interaction of the Electron Acceptor 2,6-Dichlorophenolindophenol with Bovine Milk Xanthine Oxidase

Abstract The electron acceptor 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCI) forms a spectrophotometrically and kinetically detectable complex with bovine milk xanthine oxidase. The visible absorption spectrum of complexed DCI exhibits an absorption maximum at 660 nm at pH 7.8 (e = 34.2 x 103 m-1 cm-1), a marked bathochromic shift from the visible absorption maximum at 608 nm characteristic of the free dye (e = 21.0 x 103 m-1 cm-1. The bound dye can be partially removed from the enzyme by prolonged dialysis (24 hours), and totally removed by gel filtration, indicating a reversible rather than a covalent interaction. From the DCI concentration dependence of the spectral change, the stoichiometry of the interaction is 2.08 DCI-binding sites per molecule of xanthine oxidase (assuming a molar extinction coefficient for the enzyme of 66 x 103 m-1 cm-1 at 450 nm); and the dissociation constant of the DCI-enzyme complex is 1.3 x 10-6 m. The spectral shift characteristic of DCI-xanthine oxidase interaction is blocked by 2 mm arsenite, by 2 mm p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, by the competitive inhibitor 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxy-s-triazine, 1.5 mm, and by the "stoichiometric" xanthine oxidase inhibitor, 4,6-dihydroxypyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (4,6-diHPP), at levels equimolar with those of the enzyme. With the latter inhibitor, the DCI spectral shift, although not present initially, develops concomitantly with reoxidation of the reduced enzyme molybdenum of the 4,6-diHPP-xanthine oxidase complex. In contrast to the results seen with the other xanthine oxidase inhibitors, the DCI-xanthine oxidase interaction is not blocked by 16 mm sodium cyanide. In kinetic studies, DCI, in addition to acting as an electron acceptor, is also a noncompetitive inhibitor of the enzyme, with a Ki of 2.8 x 10-6 m. Prior incubation with DCI protects the enzyme from inhibition by arsenite, but not from inhibition by cyanide. On the basis of the spectrophotometric and kinetic data, it is proposed that the DCI-binding site is the molybdenum or molybdenum-sulfur component of the internal electron transport chain of the enzyme.
Learning by Experimentation

Abstract Autonomous systems require the ability to plan effective courses of action under potentially uncertain or unpredictable contingencies. Effective planning requires knowledge of the environment, and if the environment is too complex or changes dynamically, goal-driven learning with reactive feedback becomes a necessity. This paper addresses the issue of learning by experimentation as an integral component of PRODIGY, a flexible planning system augmented with capabilities for execution monitoring and dynamic replanning upon receiving adverse feedback. In particular, experiment formulation seeks to acquire precisely the domain knowledge needed to complete a partial plan, or to correct an errant one. Thus, experimentation is demand-driven and exploits both the internal state of the planner and any external feedback received. A detailed example of integrated experiment formulation in presented as the basis for a systematic approach to extending an incomplete domain theory or correcting a potentially inaccurate one. 1
Hemorrhagic Thrombocythemia; Control of Postsplenectomy Thrombocytosis with Melphalan

Hemorrhagic thrombocythemia is a relatively well-defined myeloproliferative disease in which the major abnormality is the excessive production of megakaryocytes and platelets. In its natural evolution acute and chronic bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, thromboembolic phenomena, gastric and esophageal varices, and infarction atrophy of the spleen are the important clinical features. Disastrous complications may follow splenectomy. Removal of the spleen by surgery, or infarction and atrophy allows masses of platelets to circulate which produce thrombi or emboli in small vessels and ultimately hemorrhage. Effective treatment requires the suppression of megakaryocyte growth and thrombopoiesis. In four patients who developed severe postsplenectomy hemorrhagic thrombocythemia, melphalan (L-phenylalanine mustard) therapy effectively controlled the abnormal thrombocytosis and clinical evidence of disease.
Occupation Choice, Information, and Migration

We examine the relationship between occupational and geographical mobility using National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data. We develop a theoretical model that is a variation on the Jovanovic experience good model, which allows us to formalize the occupation choice decision. As individuals gain information on their own productivity, they may change occupations and locations. Occupation choice is introduced as an endogenous determinant of migration in recursive bivariate probit models for individuals who make good and bad matches in an occupation. We extend our analysis to feature an additional discussion of the migration-occupation choice relationship by race for both match types.
CEO Succession: Insiders versus Outsiders

Using a data set containing more than 1,000 observations on CEO succession in large U.S. firms over the period 1974-1995, we examine empirically the choice between insiders and outsiders as CEO. We employ a theoretical framework in which firms value both the incentive that the contest to become CEO provides to insiders and the choice of a more able (whether insider or outsider) CEO. This framework predicts that a firm will be more likely to choose an insider to succeed to the CEO position where commonality among inside candidates is greater, where there are more inside candidates, and where the firm's industry is less homogeneous. Employing a novel measure of insider commonality based upon firm organizational structure and Parrino's (1997) measure of industry homogeneity, logistic regressions provide evidence consistent with each of these predictions and offer useful insight into firms' choice between insiders and outsiders as CEO.
Lack of Significant Oncogenicity of Biological Products in Hamsters

A variety of biological products which included live and inactivated viral vaccines, inactivated rickettsial and bacterial vaccines, toxoids, and a multiple bacterial antigen product did not appear to be oncogenic for newborn hamsters following a single subcutaneous inoculation. The incidence of spontaneous tumors was approximately 4.7%, and this figure was not significantly altered by the inoculation of any of the test materials.
COMPARING SORPTION BEHAVIOR OF PYRETHROIDS BETWEEN FORMULATED AND NATURAL SEDIMENTS

Formulated sediments are recommended for use in toxicity tests to achieve standardized evaluations. However, the organic matter used in formulated sediments may differ qualitatively from that in natural sediments, which may lead to different chemical partition patterns and, hence, different toxicity effects. By deriving partition coefficients for organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon (K(OC) and K(DOC) , respectively) for eight pyrethroid insecticides from three formulated and five natural sediments, the authors characterized the differences between formulated and natural sediments in pesticide sorption. For all pyrethroids, the mean values of K(OC) and K(DOC) of formulated sediments were two to three, and three to 10 times smaller than those of natural sediments, respectively. The two formulated sediments containing α-cellulose or Manitoba peat showed significantly (p<0.0001) smaller K(OC) and K(DOC) values than natural sediments based on statistical analyses, while the difference was not significant for the formulated sediment containing New Brunswick peat. The K(OC) values were closely correlated (p<0.001) with soot carbon content, while the amount of carboxylic or phenolic functional groups may have affected K(DOC) . Therefore, the source and quality of organic matter are likely the most important factors in formulated sediments and must be standardized to provide consistency in sediment toxicity tests.
The p120 catenin family: complex roles in adhesion, signaling and cancer

p120 catenin (p120) is the prototypic member of a growing subfamily of Armadillo-domain proteins found at cell-cell junctions and in nuclei. In contrast to the functions of the classical catenins (alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and gamma-catenin/plakoglobin), which have been studied extensively, the first clues to p120's biological function have only recently emerged, and its role remains controversial. Nonetheless, it is now clear that p120 affects cell-cell adhesion through its interaction with the highly conserved juxtamembrane domain of classical cadherins, and is likely to have additional roles in the nucleus. Here, we summarize the data on the potential involvement of p120 both in promotion of and in prevension of adhesion, and propose models that attempt to reconcile some of the disparities in the literature. We also discuss the structural relationships and functions of several known p120 family members, as well as the potential roles of p120 in signaling and cancer.