cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FlashStore: high throughput persistent key-value store

We present FlashStore, a high throughput persistent key-value store, that uses flash memory as a non-volatile cache between RAM and hard disk. FlashStore is designed to store the working set of key-value pairs on flash and use one flash read per key lookup. As the working set changes over time, space is made for the current working set by destaging recently unused key-value pairs to hard disk and recycling pages in the flash store. FlashStore organizes key-value pairs in a log-structure on flash to exploit faster sequential write performance. It uses an in-memory hash table to index them, with hash collisions resolved by a variant of cuckoo hashing. The in-memory hash table stores compact key signatures instead of full keys so as to strike tradeoffs between RAM usage and false flash read operations.FlashStore can be used as a high throughput persistent key-value storage layer for a broad range of server class applications. We compare FlashStore with BerkeleyDB, an embedded key-value store application, running on hard disk and flash separately, so as to bring out the performance gain of FlashStore in not only using flash as a cache above hard disk but also in its use of flash aware algorithms. We use real-world data traces from two data center applications, namely, Xbox LIVE Primetime online multi-player game and inline storage deduplication, to drive and evaluate the design of FlashStore on traditional and low power server platforms. FlashStore outperforms BerkeleyDB by up to 60x on throughput (ops/sec), up to 50x on energy efficiency (ops/Joule), and up to 85x on cost efficiency (ops/sec/dollar) on the evaluated datasets.
Reduced parietal and visual cortical activation during global processing in Williams syndrome

Several lines of investigation suggest that individuals with Williams syndrome (WS), a neurodevelopmental disorder of well-characterized genetic etiology, have selective impairments in integrating local image elements into global configurations. We compared global processing abilities in 10 clinically and genetically diagnosed participants with WS (eight females, two males; mean age 31y 10mo [SD 9y 7mo], range 15y 5mo-48y 4mo) with a typically developed (TD) age- and sex-matched comparison group (seven females, one male; mean age 35y 2mo [SD 10y 10mo], range 24y-54y 7mo) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Behavioral data showed participants with WS to be significantly less accurate (p<0.042) together with a non-significant trend to be slower than the TD comparison group while performing the global processing task. fMRI data showed participants with WS to possess reduced activation in the visual and parietal cortices. Participants with WS also showed relatively normal activation in the ventral occipitotemporal cortex, but elevated activation in several posterior thalamic nuclei. These preliminary results largely confirm previous research findings and neural models implicating neurodevelopmental abnormalities in extended subcortical and cortical visual systems in WS, most notably dorsal-stream pathways.
Humidity Effects on Thermal Atmospheric Transmissions: Study of Potential Effects of Small Hygroscopic Aerosol Particles in the Longwave Infrared Region

This study investigates small aerosol particles as a source of an imaging phenomenon observed in thermal remote sensing data. The phenomenon is characterized by degraded atmospheric transmissions in the thermal infrared while high transmissions (clear conditions) are observed in the visible wave-length region. This atmospheric anomaly has been linked to conditions of high environmental humidity. A hypothesis attributes the cause of this phenomenon to small hygroscopic particles (under the 200 nm diameter) which weakly scatter in the visible region, but may have (for high particle concentrations) sufficient absorption effects in the Longwave Infrared (LWIR). We describe an experiment to test this hypothesis. The method takes a simple, but novel approach of using a suite of cameras to image an aerosol stream from a Harvard Ultrafine Concentrated Ambient Particle System (HUCAPS). Used primarily for toxicology studies of environmental aerosols, the HUCAPS has the ability to control and vary properties of humidity, temperature, particle size distribution, and number density of aerosol particle stream concentrated by this system. This gives a unique opportunity to image a controlled and well characterized plume of very fine aerosol particles and determine if any significant optical effects can be observed in the LWIR region.
Solvation of cellulose nitrate in acetone‐water mixtures

The sorption of acetone and water by cellulose nitrate from mixtures of the two solvents was studied by allowing the solid cellulose nitrate to come to equilibrium with aqueous solutions of acetone and measuring the change in concentration of the liquid phase. Changes in concentration were determined by measuring the index of refraction using a dipping refractometer. The values calculated for acetone sorbed per (C6) mole of cellulose nitrate are a function of the acetone concentration of the equilibrium solvent. Moles of water sorbed by one (C6) mole of cellulose nitrate depend inversely on the equilibrium acetone concentration of solvent.
Phantom Limb Pain Treatment with Mirtazapine: A Case Series

Objectives: To pilot the efficacy of mirtazapine for relief of phantom limb pain (PLP); to correlate the putative drug mechanism with theoretical PLP mechanisms; and to develop a rationale for further study of mirtazapine in this population. Design: Open-label case series. Subjects/Patients: Four individuals with PLP for at least 3 months after amputation. Methods: All subjects received oral mirtazapine between 7.5 and 30 mg/day. An 11-point numeric rating scale (0 to 10) measured pain intensity and relief during monitored outpatient follow-up visits. Results/Discussion: Mirtazapine use improved the PLP experienced by these subjects by at least 50%. Subjects with PLP-related sleeping difficulties reported the greatest pain relief concomitant with improved sleep quality. One subject was able to eliminate the use of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant while using mirtazapine for PLP and depression without change in mood or affect. Mirtazapine enhances noradrenergic and serotonergic activity and may modulate PLP by central mechanisms. Current concepts of the proposed pathophysiology of PLP and the hypothetical impact of mirtazapine are discussed. Conclusion: Mirtazapine may be an effective treatment for PLP that can also potentially enhance sleep and mood. This information provides preliminary reinforcement for more formal, controlled studies concerning mirtazapine use in PLP.
THE JOINT EFFECTS OF GRAZING, COMPETITION, AND TOPOGRAPHIC POSITION ON SIX SAVANNA GRASSES

I investigated the separate and joint effects of herbivory (grazing) and com- petition on six grass species and on their distributions across the landscape. In a factorial field experiment, cattle were excluded from half the subplots, and neighboring plants were removed from half the subplots. Transplants of each of the species were planted in plots on hillsides and in flat areas, and the entire experiment was replicated in two pastures. The effects of grazing were negative and were proportional to the ungrazed height of each species. In the absence of grazing and competition, the flat plots were more favorable than the hillside plots. Grazing reversed the relative favorableness of flat and hillside plots, most likely because grazing was more intense in the flat plots due to cattle preference for flatter ground. The removal of neighboring plants always had a positive effect, indicating competition from neighboring plants. The relative impact of competition from pre-existing plants was generally greater in the flat plots than in the hillside plots. The relative impacts of grazing were generally greater in the absence of competing plants, and the relative impacts of competition were generally greater in the absence of grazing. The most likely explanation for this antagonistic interaction between the effects of herbivory and competition is an indirect positive effect of grazing that arose from a reduction in competition experienced by a target plant due to the defoliation of its neighbors. The results of this study, when combined with the known distributions of the six grass species in this region, indicate that herbivory, rather than competition or the physical environment, controls the distribution of at least five of the six species across the landscape. For example, Schizachyrium scoparium grew well in ungrazed flat subplots but very poorly in grazed flat subplots; grazing, not the physical environment or competition, accounts for the absence of S. scoparium from most flat sites in this region. Competition modulates the effects of 'herbivory and edaphic factors on landscape distributions but does not control the distribution of any of the six species.
mBet3p is required for homotypic COPII vesicle tethering in mammalian cells

TRAPPI is a large complex that mediates the tethering of COPII vesicles to the Golgi (heterotypic tethering) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In mammalian cells, COPII vesicles derived from the transitional endoplasmic reticulum (tER) do not tether directly to the Golgi, instead, they appear to tether to each other (homotypic tethering) to form vesicular tubular clusters (VTCs). We show that mammalian Bet3p (mBet3p), which is the most highly conserved TRAPP subunit, resides on the tER and adjacent VTCs. The inactivation of mBet3p results in the accumulation of cargo in membranes that colocalize with the COPII coat. Furthermore, using an assay that reconstitutes VTC biogenesis in vitro, we demonstrate that mBet3p is required for the tethering and fusion of COPII vesicles to each other. Consistent with the proposal that mBet3p is required for VTC biogenesis, we find that ERGIC-53 (VTC marker) and Golgi architecture are disrupted in siRNA-treated mBet3p-depleted cells. These findings imply that the TRAPPI complex is essential for VTC biogenesis.
The optimal wavelet transform and translation invariance

Orthonormal wavelet representations are known to be time-variant. With shifting of the input signal, the energy distribution in time-scale plane also changes. We define the "separability" of a wavelet function both in the scale and translation domains as a measure of its localization with respect to translation. We derive a criterion for the optimal initial phase and then develop an algorithm for its choice in the case of stationary and nonstationary signals. >
Insect abundance in field beans altered by intercropping

Densities of four herbivorous insect species were compared on field beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) grown in monoculture and those grown in relay intercropping with winter wheat. In three years of study in New York State, population densities of Empoasca fabae (Harris) and Aphis fabae Scopoli were significantly less in plots intercropped with winter wheat than in those grown in monoculture. In contrast, intercropping was associated with greater densities of Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) and Systena frontalis (F.). An increased density of L. lineolaris may be an economic risk factor in beans intercropped with wheat because only this species of the four studied feeds exclusively on the flowers and developing seed pods.
Preparing for the Clinic

Transitioning from preclinical to clinical development can be both an exhilarating and a sobering experience. Presumably, our drug has passed through a rigorous battery of preclinical testing and appears to have the desired safety profile and pharmacologic characteristics for advancement to human study. But embarking upon human experimentation is a serious undertaking. We must ensure that our clinical trial is designed and conducted in as safe a manner as possible. We have an ethical responsibility to ensure that our clinical trial has been designed to optimize the probability of obtaining meaningful results since we are exposing human subjects to a potentially toxic new molecular entity. Furthermore, the drug must be manufactured and quality-tested using exacting standards, typically by a reputable contract manufacturing organization (CMO). Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Institutional Review Boards (or Ethics Committees outside of the USA) seek to ensure that patients are protected and that the risk-to-benefit ratio is acceptable for any clinical study. Early in the planning process, the development team should engage experts in drug manufacturing and quality control, clinical trial design, and regulatory science. Before the clinical trial can commence, the sponsor (company or physician) must file an Investigational New Drug application (IND) with the FDA. The IND provides detailed information on the nonclinical pharmacology and safety studies, the drug manufacturing and quality assurance (QA) process, and the clinical trial protocol. This chapter provides an overview of clinical trial design, acquisition of clinical grade drug product, and regulatory considerations during the transition into the clinic. Because clinical trials are so expensive, failure to appropriately design the clinical trial can obscure efficacy and force a program to close. Even seasoned clinicians would be wise to talk with other experts before embarking on a clinical trial.
Mutation of W215 Compromises Thrombin Cleavage of Fibrinogen, but Not of PAR1 or Protein C

W215 is a highly conserved residue that shapes the S3 and S4 specificity sites of thrombin and participates in an edge-to-face interaction with residue F8 of the fibrinogen Aα chain. Protein C and ...
An Evaluation of Classification Rules Based on Date of Symptom Onset to Identify Health-Care–associated Infections

The date of symptom onset is often used to distinguish health-care-associated from community-acquired infections. Those patients developing symptoms early in an inpatient stay are considered to have community-acquired infection, while those developing symptoms later are considered nosocomially infected. The authors evaluate the performance of this approach, showing how misclassification rates depend on the disease incubation period and the incidence rate ratio of infection among inpatients versus community members. The authors provide quantitative results for selecting classification rules that designate infections as health care associated or community acquired. These techniques allow the selection of disease-specific cutoffs to distinguish community- from nosocomially acquired infections that perform well for important illnesses. For example, a rule classifying those who develop flu symptoms in the first 1.5 days of their hospital stay as having community-acquired influenza and those developing symptoms later as having nosocomial infection has a positive predictive value and a negative predictive value of at least 87%. A cutoff of 6 days will identify community-acquired Legionnaires' disease with a positive predictive value and a negative predictive value of at least 77%. These results increase the utility of classifying infections by use of the date of onset by providing theoretically sound measures of performance, and they are applicable beyond the hospital setting.
Taking nature mysticism seriously: Marshall and the metaphysics of the self

Paul Marshall takes extrovertive mystical experience seriously by providing a metaphysical framework inspired by Plotinus and Leibniz that aims to interpret it non-reductively and to explain it persuasively. However praiseworthy Marshall's intentions, his account fails for a variety of reasons, among them an inability to establish convincingly why natural objects appear as transfigured and alive, characteristics frequently encountered in the reports of nature mystics. An alternative approach, rooted in contemporary pan-experientialist philosophy of mind, is able to take extrovertive mysticism equally seriously while accounting more successfully for its pre-eminent features at a less extravagant metaphysical cost.
eXframe: reusable framework for storage, analysis and visualization of genomics experiments

Genome-wide experiments are routinely conducted to measure gene expression, DNA-protein interactions and epigenetic status. Structured metadata for these experiments is imperative for a complete understanding of experimental conditions, to enable consistent data processing and to allow retrieval, comparison, and integration of experimental results. Even though several repositories have been developed for genomics data, only a few provide annotation of samples and assays using controlled vocabularies. Moreover, many of them are tailored for a single type of technology or measurement and do not support the integration of multiple data types. We have developed eXframe - a reusable web-based framework for genomics experiments that provides 1) the ability to publish structured data compliant with accepted standards 2) support for multiple data types including microarrays and next generation sequencing 3) query, analysis and visualization integration tools (enabled by consistent processing of the raw data and annotation of samples) and is available as open-source software. We present two case studies where this software is currently being used to build repositories of genomics experiments - one contains data from hematopoietic stem cells and another from Parkinson's disease patients. The web-based framework eXframe offers structured annotation of experiments as well as uniform processing and storage of molecular data from microarray and next generation sequencing platforms. The framework allows users to query and integrate information across species, technologies, measurement types and experimental conditions. Our framework is reusable and freely modifiable - other groups or institutions can deploy their own custom web-based repositories based on this software. It is interoperable with the most important data formats in this domain. We hope that other groups will not only use eXframe, but also contribute their own useful modifications.
Relations among oral reading, silent reading and listening comprehension of students at differing competency levels

Abstract Are there differences in comprehension when children listen, read orally and read silently? Do such differences exist for all readers? Eighty‐three students, grades 3–5, read orally and silently and listened to grade appropriate passages, then answered literal and inferential questions (Woods & Moe, 1977). A repeated measures ANOVA yielded several differences. For poor readers, listening comprehension was equal to oral reading comprehension and both were superior to silent reading comprehension. For average readers, listening comprehension was equal to silent and both were superior to oral. For good readers, oral comprehension was equal to silent and both were superior to listening. Discussion focuses on how this study's findings are similar to conclusions drawn from cross‐modality and self‐regulated learning research and are consistent with a stage model of the learning‐to‐read process in which comprehension increments in each modality occur at different stages.
New Developments in the Field of Tidal Hydraulics

The paper describes the recent advances in tidal hydraulics and the methods of solving tidal hydraulics problems. The problems of inlets, canals, and estuaries (including salt water intrusion) are considered and the bibliography gives a selection of the more recent literature on these subjects. The role of the hydraulic model and the computer is described. The question of the stability of inlets as related to tidal range and inlet cross section is handled. The paper does not attempt to develop the procedures for solving tidal hydraulics problems; rather it points out the recent, meaningful advances in this area of engineering and refers to the literature where more detailed descriptions can be found.
Hyperacusis as a Symptom of Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence

This article provides a brief overview of how symptoms of hyperacusis and autophony can occur as a result of a dehiscence in the superior semicircular canal. Hyperacusis is a word typically used to describe hypersensitivity to external acoustic stimuli. In the case of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD), the patient is sensitive not only to loud sounds in their environment but also to the abnormally amplified internal sounds of their body. Superior semicircular canal dehiscence is diagnosed through a combination of case history, audiometric findings, vestibular evoked myogenic potential thresholds, and high-resolution computer-assisted tomography scans. Patients may initially present with auditory or vestibular symptoms or in some cases, both. The anatomy and physiology associated with SSCD will be briefly discussed along with symptoms and treatment options. The presentation of symptoms differs between individuals. Case studies will be utilized to bring all of these elements together.
[W4(O)2)(O-i-Pr)8]2 an unusual octanuclear oxo-alkoxide cluster of tungsten

From the reaction between W4(p-tolyl)2(O-i-Pr)10 and H2, in hydrocarbon solvents, the compound [W4(O)2(O-i-Pr)8]2, 1, has been isolated in ca. 25% yield. Formation of 1 is traced to the decomposition of a compound of formula [W4O-i-Pr)10] n , which has been characterized only by1H NMR spectroscopy. The latter is formed by the stepwise hydrogenolysis of W4(p-tolyl)2(O-i-Pr)10 + H2 → W4(H)(p-tolyl)(O-i-Pr)10 + toluene; W4(H)(p-tolyl)(O-i-Pr)10 → [W4(O-i-Pr)10] n + toluene. In the presence of a small amount of H2O2 the previously characterized compound W4(O)(O-i-Pr)10, 2, is formed. The structure of 1 consists of two pseudo W4 tetrahedra linked through the agency of a pair of alkoxide bridges that bind two tungsten atoms that in turn cap triangles, W3(O)2(O-i-Pr)7, of tungsten atoms. At −176°C the cell dimensions werea=12.600(3),b=14.722(3),c=12.585(2),β=119.77(1),Z=1, andd calcd = 2.240 g cm−3 in the space group P1¯. The W-W distances within these triangles are ca. 2.9 A whereas the capping W-W atom distances are ca. 2.5 A. The1H NMR spectrum of 1 in benzene-d6 is consistent with the maintenance of the solid-state structure in solution.
Techniques of Limb-Sparing Resection and Extensor Mechanism Reconstruction for High-Grade Malignant Tumors of the Proximal Tibia

Limb sparing surgery for high-grade malignant tumors of the proximal tibia is challenging due to anatomical constraints, the surgical approach, the need to reconstruct the patellar tendon/extensor mechanism, and inadequate soft tissue coverage. We report a surgical technique that permits safe resection of a large segment of the tibia and knee joint in continuity with the proximal tibiofibular joint. It includes a new and reliable method of reconstructing the patellar/extensor mechanism and of providing soft tissue coverage. We have successfully treated 11 patients with this technique and report here seven of these patients. The minimum follow-up was two years; the average follow-up was 49.5 months (range 24.6–84.4 months). There were five men and two women: the average age was 28.7 years. The histological diagnoses were osteosarcoma (four cases), malignant fibrous histiocytoma (one), chondrosarcoma (one), and radiation-induced sarcoma (one). There were two high-grade intracompartmental (stage IIA) and five high-grade extra-compartmental (stage IIB) tumors. Six intra-articular resections and one extra-articular resection were performed. Four reconstructions entailed customized tibial and knee implants and three involved arthrodesis. Pathological specimens showed meniscal and patellar tendon involvement in two patients and pericapsular tibiofibular joint involvement in six. Local complications were transient peroneal nerve palsy (four patients) and superficial skin sloughs (one patient). All resections obtained negative margins with no local recurrences or metastatic disease. All patients are ambulatory; one requires a cane. Active extension with 0°–15° extension lag was obtained in patients treated by arthroplasty. The medial gastrocnemius flap is essential to provide adequate soft tissue coverage and a reliable method of reconstructing the extensor mechanism. We recommend limb sparing surgery for high-grade tumors of the proximal tibia in carefully selected patients. Routine amputations in these individuals is not justified.
Exploring Targeted Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound to Detect Neural Inflammation An Example of Standard Nomenclature

Targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound (TCEUS) is an innovative method of molecular imaging used for detection of inflammatory biomarkers in vivo. By targeting ultrasound contrast to cell adhesion m...
Venturing into the Civil War, Virtually: A Review

Few scholarly Web sites have received the popular acclaim accorded The Valley of the Shadow. Yahoo! Internet Life has awarded it four stars, and Lycos, a portal Web site, has named it a "Top 5% Website." The Encyclopedia Britannica, Education World, and EDSITEment have included it in their lists of best Web sites, and last summer the New York Times devoted a lengthy article to the Valley of the Shadow Project in its weekly "Circuits" section. Professional historians have also singled out The Valley of the Shadow for praise. Writing in the June 1997 issue of this journal, Michael O'Malley and Roy Rosenzweig judged it "probably the most sophisticated historical site on the Web." The competition has grown in the intervening period, but the Valley's reputation remains secure. In 2001 the Lincoln and Soldiers Institute of Gettysburg College awarded its creators the first electronic Lincoln Prize. Indeed, although the Valley site is less than ten years old and still under construction, by Internet standards it qualifies for the encomium "venerable."' Conceived as an experiment in digital history before "www" became a common mode of address in American culture, The Valley of the Shadow now stands as proof that the World Wide Web offers remarkable opportunities and important challenges to practitioners of the historian's craft in the postmodern era. Whether the result
The Composition of Output

This chapter develops a set of functions that describe in a stylized way the components of output: consumption, investment, government expenditure, gross exports, and imports.
The Autocrat’s Advisors: Opening the Black Box of Ruling Coalitions in Tunisia’s Authoritarian Regime:

Why do autocrats retain some elites as core, long-term members of their ruling coalitions for years, while others are dismissed in months? How and why might the type of elites retained within coali...
Who, what, where, when, and how? Advance care planning documentation practices and accessibility in the electronic health record.

2Background: Documenting patients’ advance care planning (ACP) wishes is essential to providing value aligned care, as is having this documentation readily accessible. Early ACP is increasingly being recognized as integral to oncologic care, however, little is known about current documentation practices. In this cross-sectional study, we describe ACP documentation practices and accessibility of documented ACP discussions in the electronic health record (EHR). Methods: Participants were recruited from outpatient clinics at the San Francisco VA, were ≥60 years old, with ≥2 chronic/serious conditions and ≥2 primary care visits in the past year. ACP documentation was abstracted from the EHR in 2013-2015 and included any prior legal forms/orders and ACP discussions documented within the prior five years. Frequency and type of ACP documentation was calculated using percentages and means. For discussions, author discipline and location of documentation was determined. Discussions were deemed “accessible” if docu...
Biologic basis and outcome of arthroscopic lysis and lavage of the temporomandibular joint

In clinical and imaging studies, an increase in range of motion, improvement of joint function, and reduction of pain was observed after lysis of adhesions and lavage of the superior temporomandibular joint compartment. The successful surgical outcome can be explained by the effects of washing out mediators of pain and inflammation, improved mobility, and adaptive mechanisms rather than restoration of disc position.
Finding hidden sources of new work from BCMA implementation: the value of an organizational routines perspective

It is acknowledged that there is a difference between abstract representations of clinical work and work as it is performed in context. In this qualitative study of the implementation of barcode medication administration (BCMA), hidden work resulting from the implementation of BCMA is described. Organizational routines theory provides the framework for examining the dynamics of key organizational practices. The study documents new cognitive and physical tasks that were required of nurses when BCMA was implemented. Because many of these tasks were not part of the commonly understood workflow of the BCMA system and because they were obscured in problematic interactions between organizational routines, they are characterized as "hidden work". Categories of hidden work are described and the implications for implementation research and practice are discussed.
The Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility on Employees: Expanding the Research Agenda

We apply sense-making theory to explain how the substantive objectives and implementation characteristics of corporate social actions (CSA) might affect employee outcomes through multiple mechanism...
Studies In Enterprise, 1959: A Selected Bibliography

The scope of our annual bibliography has been enlarged this year to provide more comprehensive coverage than was attempted in the original “Studies in Enterprise” and its 1958 Supplement. Although still limited geographically to America and Canada, this list now covers histories of industries, histories of specific corporate functions, episodes in the history of companies, and histories of trade associations and trade unions, as well as over-all histories of companies and biographies of businessmen.
Retrotransposon elements among initial sites of hepatitis B virus integration into human genome in the HepG2-NTCP cell infection model.

Abstract Integration of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA into host's genome is evident in all stages and models of HBV infection. Investigations of the initial virus-host junctions have been just recently initiated since their nature may promote liver oncogenesis immediately following infection. We examined the time-frame and host sites at which HBV integrates in HepG2 cells overexpressing sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) receptor mediating HBV entry. HepG2-NTCP cells were analyzed from 15 min to 13 days post-infection (p.i.). The results showed that except for 15 min p.i., HBV-host integrations were detected at all time points thereafter. At 30 min p.i., virus junctions with retrotransposon SINE and with neuroblastoma breakpoint family member 1 gene were detected. At one-hour p.i., HBV integration with retrotransposon THE-1B-LTR was identified, while virus insertions into proline-rich protein and protein kinase cGMP-dependent type 1 encoding genes were found at 3 h p.i. Fusion with runt-related transcription factor 1 was detected at 24 h p.i. and merges with 9 different genes at 13 day p.i. The data showed that retrotransposon elements are frequent among first-hit sites of HBV insertion. This may suggest a mechanism by which HBV DNA may spread across host's genome from earliest stages of infection.
Oscillating Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism: A Rare Autoimmune Syndrome

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune thyroid disorder with overproduction of thyroid hormones secondary to the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R) stimulating antibodies (TSAbs). It is very common for Graves’ disease patients to convert to a hypothyroid state especially in end-stage Graves’ disease or after iodine ablation. These patients require lifelong thyroxin replacement therapy. In this case report, we describe a rare phenomenon known as “oscillating hypo- and hyperthyroidism”. In this rare entity of autoimmune endocrine disorder patients with hypothyroidism spontaneously convert to Graves’ disease. J Endocrinol Metab. 2019;9(3):77-78 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jem583
DaT Scan "Abnormality" in Hyperglycemic-Hemichorea.

Background: Hyperglycemic-hemichorea is a well-established clinical entity which leads to signal changes on brain MRI. We are reporting a case of hyperglycemic-hemichorea where the DaT scan showed reduced uptake bilaterally. Case Report: A 57-year-old female was seen in the clinic for hemichorea due to hyperglycemia. Her brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed increased T1 signal intensity in bilateral lenticular nuclei and the DaT scan showed reduced uptake on both sides. Discussion: This case highlights the importance of performing a DaT scan in the correct clinical context, as an abnormality on brain MRI can lead to false-positive DaT scan results.
Quantifying the Opportunity Cost of Resident Involvement in Academic Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Matched-Pair Analysis.

Purpose To quantify the cost of resident involvement in academic sports medicine by examining differences in operative time, relative value units (RVUs) per case, and RVUs per hour between attending-only cases and cases with resident involvement. Methods A retrospective analysis of common sports medicine procedures identified by Current Procedural Terminology code was performed using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2006 to 2015. Matched cohorts were generated based on demographic variables, comorbidities, preoperative laboratory values, and surgical procedures. Bivariate analysis examined mean differences in operative time, RVUs per case, and RVUs per hour between attending-only cases and cases with resident involvement. A cost analysis was performed to quantify differences in RVUs generated per hour in terms of dollars per case. Results A total of 14,840 attending-only cases and 2,230 resident-involved cases were used to generate 2 matched cohorts (N = 4,460). Resident cases had greater mean operative times than attending-only cases, with operative time increasing as residents became more senior (P Conclusions In academic sports medicine, the involvement of resident physicians increases operative time. The associated decrease in attending physician efficiency in RVUs per hour equates to an average cost per case of $159.18, with costs increasing as residents become more senior. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative trial.
Race in the Microbiome

Microbiome science asserts humans are made up of more microbial cells and genes than human ones, and that each person harbors their own unique microbial population. Human microbiome studies gesture...
Clustering and Constructing User Coresets to Accelerate Large-scale Top-K Recommender Systems

Top-K recommender systems aim to generate few but satisfactory personalized recommendations for various practical applications, such as item recommendation for e-commerce and link prediction for social networks. However, the numbers of users and items can be enormous, thereby leading to myriad potential recommendations as well as the bottleneck in evaluating and ranking all possibilities. Existing Maximum Inner Product Search (MIPS) based methods treat the item ranking problem for each user independently and the relationship between users has not been explored. In this paper, we propose a novel model for clustering and navigating for top-K recommenders (CANTOR) to expedite the computation of top-K recommendations based on latent factor models. A clustering-based framework is first presented to leverage user relationships to partition users into affinity groups, each of which contains users with similar preferences. CANTOR then derives a coreset of representative vectors for each affinity group by constructing a set cover with a theoretically guaranteed difference to user latent vectors. Using these representative vectors in the coreset, approximate nearest neighbor search is then applied to obtain a small set of candidate items for each affinity group to be used when computing recommendations for each user in the affinity group. This approach can significantly reduce the computation without compromising the quality of the recommendations. Extensive experiments are conducted on six publicly available large-scale real-world datasets for item recommendation and personalized link prediction. The experimental results demonstrate that CANTOR significantly speeds up matrix factorization models with high precision. For instance, CANTOR can achieve 355.1x speedup for inferring recommendations in a million-user network with 99.5% precision@1 to the original system while the state-of-the-art method can only obtain 93.7x speedup with 99.0% precision@1.
Emergency General Surgery in the Elderly

An increasing life expectancy has led to demographic changes in developed countries, which has led to the dilemma of performing emergency general surgery (EGS) in the elderly (Soreide et al. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg MedScand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 23:10, 2015; Desserud et al. Br J SurgBr J Surg. 103:e52, 2016. Elderly emergency general surgery patients have higher rates of mortality and morbidity. They also tend to be female and on Medicaid and Medicare. The most frequent procedure performed was bowel resection. Advanced age, higher American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score, sarcopenia, and a delay in obtaining surgical care were predictors for poor outcome. Another predictor of surgical outcomes is the frailty syndrome, which seems to be better than chronological age. Although many frailty scoring tools have been studied, not all have been used or designed for EGS. Certain frailty instruments have been modified to be shorter and seem to maintain its predictive ability specifically for EGS in the elderly. Finally, some studies have shown that not all outcomes are worse for the elderly undergoing EGS; certain adjusted metrics on other outcomes other than mortality suggest that favorable outcomes are possible. A better understanding of the factors that lead to favorable outcomes and future refinements in predictive models could lead to improved care for elderly EGS patients in the future.
Pyogenic Extensor Tenosynovitis of the Wrist-A Cause of Spontaneous Extensor Tendon Rupture: A Report of 2 Cases.

Cases We present 2 cases of spontaneous extensor tendon rupture in the setting of pyogenic extensor tenosynovitis of the wrist caused by penetrating wounds-a cat bite and injection drug use in patients 1 and 2, respectively. Patient 1 underwent reconstruction of the extensor digitorum communis tendons with palmaris longus autograft. Patient 2 declined surgical reconstruction. Conclusions These cases highlight a rare but severe complication of dorsal hand/wrist infection. Early surgical intervention should be considered to prevent this complication, which may have permanent functional consequences and requires complex reconstructive and rehabilitative efforts.
No Place in the City: The Segregation of Affordable Formal Private Rentals in Beijing

Residential segregation by income has become an emerging concern in Chinese cities. Existing literature on residential segregation has mostly focused on the informal rental market, and little is kn...
Setting the Beta-Lactam Therapeutic Range for Critically Ill Patients: Is There a Floor or Even a Ceiling?

Beta-lactam antibiotics exhibit high interindividual variability in drug concentrations in patients with critical illness which led to an interest in the use of therapeutic drug monitoring to improve effectiveness and safety. To implement therapeutic drug monitoring, it is necessary to define the beta-lactam therapeutic range-in essence, what drug concentration would prompt a clinician to make dose adjustments up or down. This objective of this narrative review was to summarize evidence for the "floor" (for effectiveness) and "ceiling" (for toxicity) for the beta-lactam therapeutic range to be used with individualized therapeutic drug monitoring. Data sources Research articles were sourced from PubMed using search term combinations of "pharmacokinetics," "pharmacodynamics," "toxicity," "neurotoxicity," "therapeutic drug monitoring," "beta-lactam," "cefepime," "meropenem," "piperacillin/tazobactam," "ICU," and "critical illness." Study selection Articles were selected if they included preclinical, translational, or clinical data on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic thresholds for effectiveness and safety for beta-lactams in critical illness. Data synthesis Experimental data indicate a beta-lactam concentration above the minimum inhibitory concentration of the organism for greater than or equal to 40-60% of the dosing interval is needed, but clinical data indicate that higher concentrations may be preferrable. In the first 48 hours of critical illness, a free beta-lactam concentration at or above the susceptibility breakpoint of the most likely pathogen for 100% of the dosing interval would be reasonable (typically based on Pseudomonas aeruginosa). After 48 hours, the lowest acceptable concentration could be tailored to 1-2× the observed minimum inhibitory concentration of the organism for 100% of the dosing interval (often a more susceptible organism). Neurotoxicity is the primary dose-dependent adverse effect of beta-lactams, but the evidence remains insufficient to link a specific drug concentration to greater risk. Conclusions As studies advance the understanding of beta-lactam exposure and response in critically ill patients, it is essential to clearly define the acceptable therapeutic range to guide regimen selection and adjustment.
Esophageal carcinosarcoma

Carcinosarcoma is an uncommon malignancy of the esophagus that presents as a bulky intraluminal polypoid lesion of the esophagus. Histologically, both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components are seen. Because of accelerated intraluminal growth, esophageal carcinosarcoma often presents relatively early. This report describes a 64-year-old man with carcinosarcoma who was successfully treated with an esophagectomy. As in typical squamous cell carcinoma, early detection and treatment by surgical resection are needed to produce significant long-term survival.
Defense Against Adversarial Swarms with Parameter Uncertainty

This paper addresses the problem of optimal defense of a High Value Unit against a large-scale swarm attack. We show that the problem can be cast in the framework of uncertain parameter optimal control and derive a consistency result for the dual problem of this framework. We show that the dual can be computed numerically and apply these numerical results to derive optimal defender strategies against a 100 agent swarm attack.
Nerve Cysts and Joint Relationship

Abstract We review the spectrum of mononeuropathies caused by extraneural (EG) and intraneural (IG) ganglia and their pathogenesis according to the unifying articular (synovial) theory. Peroneal neuropathy at the knee is highlighted as the most common mononeuropathy due to IG. These cysts are an underrecognized cause of common peroneal neuropathy and a prototype for understanding the diagnosis and treatment of neuropathy due to ganglia in all locations. The clinical, electrophysiologic, and imaging presentations are discussed to facilitate the diagnosis of peroneal IG as well as other mononeuropathies due to ganglia at other sites for physicians in clinical practice.
Multifactoral measures of fall risk in the visually impaired population: A pilot study

Summary Objective To determine the feasibility of taking multiple measures of visual and physical function in adults with visual impairment. A second objective was to obtain preliminary data on risk for falls in this population. Design Cohort feasibility study. Setting University ambulatory patient care center and research center. Participants Convenience sample of community-dwelling men and women over age 18 with visual impairment (n = 12). Thirteen subjects were enrolled in the study; one was subsequently excluded due to self-reported cognitive decline at time of testing. Subjects were grouped by prospective fall incidence. Interventions Verbal education. Main outcome measures Subjective measures of function; objective measures of visual and physical function. Results Visually impaired adults can safely complete a battery of physical functions to predict fall risk. Recent onset of visual impairment was correlated with higher fall risk [−0.53 ± 0.22, p = 0.04]. Conclusions It is feasible for an interdisciplinary team to measure risk for falls in adults with a visual impairment. Further investigation is needed to identify predictors of falls in adults of all ages with visual impairment.
The Finnish telecommunications market

Abstract The introduction of long distance and local competition in the sophisticated Finnish market in 1994 has resulted in unparalleled growth of the Finnet group of companies, which is the incumbent in local markets and the entrant in the long distance market. The former long distance monopolist, Telecom Finland, has gained little market share in local markets. Finnet’s success was due to its hold on the local access bottleneck, the initial lack of number portability when switching carriers and its right to refuse resale of its access lines to Telecom Finland (both until June 1997). The Finnish case illustrates the importance of ownership of the local loop, even in the face of numerous independent local-only operators.
IL-2, But Not IL-4 and Other Cytokines, Induces Phosphorylation of a 98-kDa Protein Associated with SHP-2, Phosphatidylinositol 3′-Kinase, and Grb2

Binding of IL-2 to its receptor activates several biochemical pathways, including JAK-STAT, Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI 3'-kinase) pathways. Recently, it has been shown that the SH2-containing phosphatase, SHP-2, becomes phosphorylated in response to IL-2 stimulation, associates with PI3'-kinase and Grb2, and can exert a positive regulatory role in IL-2 signaling. We now report the identification of a prominent 98-kDa protein (p98) found to be phosphorylated in response to IL-2 stimulation and coprecipitated with SHP-2, the p85 subunit of PI 3'-kinase and Grb2. Interestingly, whereas IL-4 is known to activate PI 3'-kinase, we did not observe any p98 phosphorylation in response to IL-4 stimulation. p98 can form a multipartite complex with all these proteins as immunodepleting with anti-p85 antiserum substantially reduced the amount of p98 immunoprecipitated by SHP-2 and Grb2; the converse was also true. Furthermore, phosphorylation of p98 did not occur in cells lacking JAK3, suggesting that it may be a JAK substrate. Finally, deglycosylation of p98 did not alter its migration, suggesting p98 is not a member of the recently described SHP substrate/signal-regulatory proteins family of transmembrane glycoproteins. Thus p98 is a prominent IL-2-dependent substrate that associates with multiple proteins involved in IL-2 signaling and may play an important role in coupling the different signal transduction pathways activated by IL-2.