cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tolerability, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics studies of depsipeptide (romidepsin) in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia or advanced myelodysplastic syndromes.

Purpose: Epigenetic modulation of gene expression plays an important role in cancer, including leukemia. Furthermore, histone deacetylase inhibitors may induce the reexpression or repression of genes critical for normal hematopoiesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxicity, pharmacokinetic profile, and selected pharmacodynamic properties of the histone deacetylase inhibitor depsipeptide in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Experimental Design: Depsipeptide was administered to MDS or AML patients at a (solid tumor) phase I dose of 18 mg/m 2 i.v. on days 1 and 5 every 3 weeks. Toxicities and clinical activity were monitored and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies were done. Results: Twelve patients (nine with AML, three with MDS) received one to five cycles of depsipeptide. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were febrile neutropenia/infection (five patients), neutropenia/thrombocytopenia (nine patients), nausea (nine patients), and asymptomatic hypophosphatemia (three patients). No clinically significant cardiac toxicity was observed. The best response of 11 assessed patients was one complete remission in a patient with AML, stable disease in six patients, and progression of disease in four patients. Exploratory laboratory studies showed modest but rapid increases in apoptosis and changes in myeloid maturation marker expression. Histone H3 and H4 acetylation levels were evaluated in five patients; no consistent changes were observed. Conclusion: Depsipeptide therapy can be administered with acceptable short-term toxicity. However, gastrointestinal symptoms and fatigue seem to be treatment-limiting after multiple cycles. Depsipeptide monotherapy has limited clinical activity in unselected AML/MDS patients.
Gyrotrons: Using Relativistic Electronics to Produce High Power, High Efficiency, Millimeter-Wave Sources

Recent research on gyrotrons is reviewed. It is seen that the gyrotron oscillator is already highly developed. It has produced power at record levels, and seems destined to become a widely used device. 50 refs.
Colonic perforation resulting from ingested chicken bone revealing previously undiagnosed colonic adenocarcinoma: report of a case and review of literature

An 86 year old male with a four-day history of nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms was found on colonoscopy to have evidence of sigmoid colon obstruction and possible perforation. Emergent operative exploration revealed diffuse peritonitis, sigmoid perforation, adjacent dense adhesions, and a foreign body protruding through the perforated area. Pathologic examination showed the foreign body to be a sliver of bone consistent with chicken bone and the sigmoid subacute perforation to be associated distally with a circumferential ulcerated obstructing mass, microscopically seen to be transmurally infiltrating adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell type. There was extensive acute and organizing peritonitis, 100% Escherichia coli was cultured from peritoneal fluid, and the patient died two days postoperatively with sepsis and hypotension. This appears to be the fifth reported case of colonic perforation resulting from foreign body perforation due to previously undiagnosed adenocarcinoma. The four previously reported cases were all deeply invasive adenocarcinoma of sigmoid colon, and the foreign bodies included three chicken/poultry bones and a metallic staple. These five cases are highly unusual examples of a potentially lethal malignant neoplasm being clinically revealed by a usually (but not always) innocuous event, the ingestion of a small foreign body.
Robust optimization in support vector machine training with bounded errors

In this paper, we investigate the stability of the linear programming Support Vector Machine (LP-SVM) solution under bounded perturbations of the input data using a robust optimization model. Preliminary experimental results are presented for toy and real world data.
Researching citizenship education in Africa: Considerations from Ghana and Liberia

Within the last 30 years, the African continent has experienced significant changes related to democracy, governance, and education; however, large-scale international studies of citizenship educat...
The boundary-layer flow due to a vortex approaching a cylinder

The three-dimensional unsteady boundary layer induced by a vortex filament moving outside a circular cylinder is considered. In the present paper, we focus attention on the situation where the inviscid flow is fully three-dimensional but is symmetric with respect to the top centreline of the cylinder. The motion of the vortex toward the cylinder leads to separation of the boundary layer; in the present work a large unsteady adverse pressure gradient develops as well. Results for the three-dimensional streamlines, the vorticity distribution, and the velocity component normal to the cylinder indicate the presence of a region of unsteady three-dimensional secondary flow structure of rather complex shape located deep within the boundary layer. Within this three-dimensional secondary flow the fluid is progressively squeezed into a narrow region under the main vortex and it is expected that a local three-dimensional jet will develop sending boundary-layer fluid out into the main stream. It is pointed out that such three-dimensional eruptive behaviour has been observed in experiments. The results indicate the development of a three-dimensional singularity in the boundary-layer equations.
Rewarding and aversive effects of amygdaloid self-stimulation as a function of current intensity

Thirsty rats chose between two bars, one producing water alone and the other, water plus electrical brain stimulation. With electrode emplacements in the amygdala, low current intensities were aversive while, paradoxically, higher intensities were rewarding.
Interspecific allometry of population density in mammals and other animals: the independence of body mass and population energy‐use

Global regressions of ecological population densities on body mass for mammals and for terrestrial animals as a whole show that local population energy-use is approximately independent of adult body mass—over a body mass range spanning more than 11 orders of magnitude. This independence is represented by the slope of the regressions approximating –0.75, the reciprocal of the way that individual metabolic requirements scale with body mass. The pattern still holds for mammalian primary consumers when the data are broken down by geographic area, by broad habitat-type and by individual community. Slopes for mammalian secondary consumers are also not statistically distinguishable from –0.75. For any given body mass temperate herbivores maintain on average population densities of 1.5 to 2.0 times those of tropical ones, though slopes do not differ. Terrestrial animals of all sizes exhibit approximately the same range of population energy-use values. These results agree with those reported for population energy-budgets. It is suggested that rough independence of body mass and the energy-use of local populations is a widespread rule of animal ecology and community structure.
Transient Response Of Kerr-Like Phase Conjugators: A Review

The transient response of Kerr-like phase conjugators is treated and reviewed. The cases of cw and transient pump waves are considered. A general formalism is derived, with application to specific cases such as pulse reshaping, chirp reversal, and temporal reversal of optical waveforms.
Toxicities and description of some toxaphene fractions: Isolation and identification of a highly toxic component

Toxaphene was separated into 13 fractions and the toxicity of each fraction was determined. The acute toxicities (LD50) to houseflies (topical in acetone) ranged from 21 to greater than 246 mg/kg (toxaphene LD50 = 33 mg/kg) and the relative toxicities ranged from 0.6 to greater than 7.5. A similar pattern was found in mice when the toxicities of several fractions were determined. The acute toxicities (LD50, ip injection in dimethyl sulfoxide) in mice ranged from 20 to 67 mg/kg (toxaphene LD50 = 33 mg/kg) for the fractions tested. The most toxic fraction was further separated into six subfractions and their toxicities (housefly LD50) were found to range from 10 to 74 mg/kg. The most toxic subfraction appeared to be an almost pure compound and was purified for further identification. It was found to be identical to a previously reported highly toxic C10H10Cl8 mixture of predominantly two components. The components were reported to be 2,2,5-endo,6-exo, 8,8,9,10-octachlorobornane and 2,2,5-endo,6-exo,8,9,9,10-octachlorobornane. This highly toxic mixture has now been isolated independently by three research teams using different separation schemes.
Mirror Symmetry and Polar Duality of Polytopes

This expository article explores the connection between the polar duality from polyhedral geometry and mirror symmetry from mathematical physics and algebraic geometry. Topics discussed include duality of polytopes and cones as well as the famous quintic threefold and the toric variety of a reflexive polytope.
A low-power 17-GHz 256/257 dual-modulus prescaler fabricated in a 130-nm CMOS process

A divide-by 256/257 dual-modulus prescaler has been fabricated in a 130-nm CMOS process. The synchronous divide-by-4/5 divider uses source coupled logic (SCL) D flip-flops with a resistive load to achieve the 17.2-GHz maximum operating frequency at an input power of 0 dBm, The prescaler requires 4.3 mA current from a 1.5-V supply. This circuit has the highest operating frequency and the lowest power consumption reported to date among CMOS dual-modulus prescalers that can operate at 10 GHz or higher. The prescaler also works up to 15.8 GHz with a 1.2-V supply and draws 3-mA current.
Needs Assessment of Emergency Medical Care in Zimbabwe: Preliminary Results from a Survey of Primary Care Physicians

Introduction Zimbabwe is a country with a strong foundation of medical care and education, a history of economic distress, and recent steps towards recovery. Emergency medicine is not a specialty within this country. The purpose of the study is to establish the current needs of Zimbabwean physicians in emergency medical care training. Methods An anonymous online survey was distributed to physicians through the College of Primary Care Physicians of Zimbabwe (CPCPZ) listserv. This instrument was designed and hosted on the surveymonkey.com website. Thirteen questions included multiple choice/selection, rank order using a Likert scale and free text. Physicians were asked to complete the survey on three different occasions, but did not receive any remuneration. Results Fifteen respondents completed at least a part of the survey out of approximately 50 on the primary care physician listserv. Six of 15 respondents (40%) currently consider themselves as working in an acute care setting; 12 (86%) of the respondents report having Basic Life Support training and 8 (57%) report Advanced Cardiac Life Support training. Two of respondents (14%) have had Paediatric Advanced Life Support level training, and two (14%) have had Advanced Trauma Life Support training. Skills that greater than 85% of respondents felt emergency care physicians should receive include: bedside ultrasound, central venous access, cardioversion/defibrillation, chest tube insertion, intubation and lumbar puncture. Greater than 50% of the respondents saw current emergency medicine technician provider’s skills to be insufficient in cardioversion/defibrillation. Challenges to the development of emergency medical care identified include: balancing acute care needs with the burden of chronic disease including HIV and tuberculosis, funding emergency medical systems, and convincing the medical establishment that emergency medical care providers can be more than “casualty officers”. Suggestions offered for development include: involvement of the undergraduate training programs in medicine and nursing, and development of certification programs within the country to recognize specialized training in emergency care. Conclusion Providers in Zimbabwe have identified some key areas of focus for emergency medicine development within Zimbabwe. Respondents have suggested a path forward: the provision of increased undergraduate medical training; official certifications of emergency medical care skills; and government recognition. The low number of respondents significantly limits this study and its conclusions.
Studies On The Effects Of Pharmacologic Doses Of Cortisone Acetate And Several Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Compounds On Ovoimplantation, Early Pregnancy, And The Deciduomal Response In The Rat

Cortisone acetate (10 mg/day), alone or in combination with progesterone (4 mg/day); progesterone (4 mg/day); progesterone (4 mg/day) plus estrone (1 μg/day); indomethacin (0.75 mg/day); phenylbutazone (20 mg/day); flufenamic acid (10 mg/day); and Compound 83161 (tetrazolo- -s-triazolo quinoxoline) (8 mg/day and 12 mg/day) were each given to intact rats during early pregnancy (days 1 and/or 2 through day 8). Only cortisone acetate treatment caused a true delay in ovo-implantation. Both progesterone treatment beginning on day 1 and cortisone acetate treatment beginning on day 1 or 2 caused an increased postimplantation fetal death rate. Compound 83161, at doses causing signs of general toxicity (12 mg/day), caused a marginal inhibition of implantation. Treatment with indomethacin, phenylbutazone, or flufenamic acid caused some inhibition of the traumatic deciduomal response in spayed rats treated with progesterone, while treatment with cortisone acetate and Compound 83161 did not.
Pure Autonomic Failure

Publisher Summary Pure autonomic failure has most frequently been referred to as “idiopathic orthostatic hypotension (OH).” It affects men slightly more often than women, usually during middle age. Its onset is slow and insidious. Unsteadiness, lightheadedness, or faintness on standing, worse in the morning, after meals, during exercise, or in hot weather, usually demand the patient to seek medical advice. Lying down relieves all symptoms. A decreased ability to sweat may be apparent, particularly in hot climates. Men found to have pure autonomic failure may have sought advice about urinary-tract symptoms, including hesitancy, urgency, dribbling, and occasional incontinence. Other signs of autonomic disturbance, including impotence, erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction, an inability to achieve orgasm, and retrograde ejaculation may also be apparent. Women may experience urinary retention or incontinence as early symptoms. Definitive diagnosis of OH as the cause of symptoms is made when symptoms are reproduced while documenting a decline in systolic blood pressure of at least 20 mmHg and diastolic pressure of at least 10 mmHg, within three minutes of standing. The diagnosis cannot be excluded with a single measurement of upright blood pressure that does not fulfill these criteria.
Infoliteracy@adistance: Creating Opportunities to Reach (Instruct) Distance Students

This article offers a theoretical model of online, graduate student information seeking behavior. The qualitative methodology used to gather data for the development of the model included an electronic survey and semi-structured interviews conducted online using Adobe Connect Pro™. Participating in the study were 238 graduate students enrolled in at least one online course at a mid-western university. Data analysis included use of Zoomerang™reports to interpret survey data, and content analysis of interview transcriptions. The resulting evolution of the Bates’ (2002) theoretical model includes new two modes of information seeking: scrutinizing (directed, dynamic), and being alert (undirected, dynamic). The researchers conclude that the essence of online, graduate student information seeking is the gathering and processing of information by humans using computer technologies and the resulting impact on the human brain. This study shows the necessity of linking online, graduate student information-seeking r...
Certain inverse solutions of the plane creeping flow of a second-order fluid

Inverse solutions for the plane steady creeping flow of a second-order fluid are obtained by assuming certain forms of vorticity and its Laplacian. Expressions for streamlines are given explicitly in each case.
Non-linear Breakdown in Hypersonic Boundary Layer Transition Induced by Freestream Disturbances

disturbances into account and highly relies on the experimental correlation. Due to the rapidly growing large scale computation capability, direct numerical simulation (DNS) has become a promising tool in assisting us to unveil the mystery of hypersonic boundary layer transition. In this paper, a new approach is presented to simulate the hypersonic boundary layer flow over a cone from laminar to the nonlinear breakdown using disturbance induced from the freestream waves. The goal is to develop a robust numerical tool that using a built linear receptivity library as inflow forcing to simulate the hypersonic boundary later flow to the non-linear breakdown stage and study the effects of freestream disturbance levels to the location of transition.
Effect of highly processed calcined kaolin residues on apple water use efficiency

Abstract Processed calcined kaolin particle films (PKPF) have been shown to repel some insects and reduce various environmental stresses often resulting in improved yield and quality of horticultural crops. PKPF studies in the literature have various water use efficiency (WUE) responses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate 2 application rates of PKPF (3% and 12%) on the whole tree water use efficiency and compare gas exchange values with carbon isotopic discrimination and seasonal water use efficiency in order to determine if there are consistent effects on WUE in apple and infer the mechanisms of action. Fruit yield and total biomass influence WUE whether WUE is measured directly in whole plant chambers, estimated by biomass/unit evapotranspiration, or Δ13C. Δ13C analysis of WUE generally found that the untreated control had lower values and therefore higher WUE than PKPF treatments. Whole plant gas exchange analysis of WUE generally lacked the sensitivity to identify the treatment differences observed using Δ13C analysis and those treatment differences identified were contrary to Δ13C analysis. A lysimeter study supported the reduced WUE of PKPF treated plants by demonstrating increased E with a range of PKPF residue amounts. The lysimeter results suggest that for well-watered and presumably non-stressed conditions, gas exchange is limited by leaf temperature and the concomitant leaf-air vapor pressure deficit that influence stomatal conductance. When leaf temperature is reduced by PKPF, the response results in increased stomatal conductance and gas exchange, as measured by increased E. The reduction in WUE by PKPF treatment is balanced by an increase in overall gas exchange and increased yield and quality.
A Novel 3D Extracellular Matrix Model Enriching Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells

Background and objective: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) develops from leukemia stem cells (LSCs), a small subset of leukemia cells possessing both self-renewal and multilineage differentiation potential similar to normal hematopoietic stem cells. The stem cell niche of the bone marrow microenvironment protects LSCs from chemotherapy, resulting in subsequent leukemia relapse. The study of AML LSCs in vitro is limited because of the lack of an ideal culture system mimicking the protective bone marrow microenvironment. The bone marrow stem cell niche is mainly composed of stromal cells, soluble cytokines and growth factors, as well as extracellular matrix (ECM). We therefore developed a 3-dimensional ECM model using decellularized Wharton9s jelly from human umbilical cords to better characterize AML LSCs in vitro. Previously we have shown that leukemia cells grown in DWJM changed morphology to become spindle shaped and maintained viability but had decreased proliferation as measured by Alamar blue assay. Herein, we further characterize leukemia cells cultured in DWJM. Methods: Wharton9s jelly decellularization process included multiple osmotic shock cycles using hypertonic and hypotonic solutions, a non-ionic detergent Triton-x, an anionic detergent sodium lauroyl succinate, and an enzyme digestion with recombinant endonuclease Benzonase™. We examined three human leukemia cell lines: HL60, Kasumi I and MV411. We characterized leukemia cell proliferation by CellTrace proliferation assay and phenotype by flow cytometry for stem cell markers. Serial colony forming unit (CFU) assays were used to test the self-renewal of leukemia cells. Results: CellTrace proliferation assay showed that, compared to cells in suspension, cells cultured in DWJM divided less frequently. To assess for LSCs properties, we measured the ALDH+ population by Aldefluor assay and found that the ALDH+ cells from Kasumi I and HL60 increased significantly in DWJM compared to suspension ( p P P =0.08). Taken together, our findings suggest that leukemia cells cultured in DWJM demonstrated an increased self-renewal ability due to the enrichment of LSCs rather than progenitors. Conclusion: Decellularized Wharton9s jelly matrix may serve as a practical in vitro ECM model to enrich for LSCs and study the ECM-LSC interactions. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Genomics Education: Knowledge of Nurses Across the Profession and Integration Into Practice.

BACKGROUND Since the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, the implications of genetics and genomics for health and illness have become clearer. All nurses, at all levels and across all specialties, must have a basic understanding of genetics and genomics to provide appropriate care. . OBJECTIVES This article provides an overview of the integration of genetics and genomics into nursing education, as well as continued barriers to nursing knowledge of genetics and genomics. . METHODS A literature review was conducted using CINAHL®, PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. Databases were reviewed for literature published from January 1962 to November 2017. . FINDINGS Although genetic and genomic education has been integrated into undergraduate and graduate nursing curricula, a gap exists in this knowledge among student nurses, practicing nurses, and nursing faculty.
Effect of ginger, Paullinia cupana, muira puama and l- citrulline, singly or in combination, on modulation of the inducible nitric oxide- NO-cGMP pathway in rat penile smooth muscle cells.

Abstract Introduction COMP-4 is a natural compound-based dietary supplement consisting of the combination of ginger, Paullinia cupana, muira puama and l -citrulline, which when given long-term has been shown in the aged rat to a) upregulate iNOS in the penile smooth muscle cells (SMC), b) reverse the corporal SMC apoptosis and fibrosis associated with corporal veno-occlusive dysfunction (CVOD), and c) improve resulting erectile function. To elucidate the mechanism of how COMP-4 and its individual components modulate the iNOS-cGMP pathway, an in vitro study was conducted using a rat corporal primary SMC culture to determine its effect on NOS, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), cGMP and the phosphodiesterase 5 enzyme (PDE5). Materials and methods Primary SMC cultures using the explant technique were initiated by cutting small pieces of corporal tissue from 8 week old Sprague-Dawley rats. The SMC were grown in Dulbecco media with 20% fetal calf serum. The SMC were then incubated with or without COMP-4 (0.69 mg/ml) or its ingredients alone (ginger: 0.225 mg/ml; muira puama, Paullinia cupana and l -citrulline each at 0.9 mg/ml) for up to 24 h mRNA and protein were extracted and used for the determination of NOS, sGC and PDE5 content. cGMP content was determined by ELISA. L-NIL (4 μM) was used as an inhibitor of iNOS activity. Results Compared to the control values, COMP-4 upregulated expression of cGMP by 85%, induced a 42 fold increase in sGC as well as a 15 fold increase in both iNOS protein and mRNA content while it decreased both PDE5 mRNA and protein content each by about 50%. L-NIL completely inhibited the effect of COMP-4 on cGMP production. When compared with each of the individual four components of COMP-4, it appears that COMP-4 itself had the most profound effect in modulating each one the specific steps within the iNOS-cGMP pathway. Conclusions This in vitro study demonstrates that COMP-4 is capable of activating the endogenous cellular iNOS-cGMP pathway within the CSM cells, which is theorized to be responsible for reducing the fibrosis and apoptosis as well as the CVOD observed in the aging rat penis. Further studies will be necessary in order to determine whether supplementation of COMP-4 on a daily basis may be beneficial in halting or reversing this aging related erectile dysfunction in the clinical setting.
Development, Implementation, and Assessment of a Competency Model for a Graduate Public Affairs Program in Health Administration

Competency-based education has become the norm for professional graduate degree programs. This paper describes the development, implementation, and ongoing validation of a competency model designed...
Protein Phosphorylation at Tyrosine in Normal and Transformed Cells

Retroviruses incorporating each of the oncogenes v-src, v-fps (a chicken gene whose mammalian homologue is v-fes), v-abl, v-yes or v-fgr (apparently the yes gene with added actin sequences) share the ability to increase the content of phosphotyrosine in the proteins of cells they transform (reviewed [1,2]). The transforming proteins encoded by these five genes are active tyrosine protein kinases in vitro, so it is assumed that much of the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation observed in the transformed cells is catalyzed directly by the retroviral transforming proteins, although it is possible that additional, cellular, tyrosine protein kinases are activated. However, tyrosine protein kinase activation is not a universal correlate of transformation. Cells transformed by chemicals, some tumor oncogenes, DNA tumor viruses, and many retroviruses have “normal” low levels of phosphotyrosine in their proteins (3). Even some retroviruses whose oncogenes have considerable sequence homology to the v-src-family of oncogenes do not increase cellular protein phosphotyrosine content detectably. Notable among these are the viruses that contain v-mil (a chicken gene whose mammalian homologue is v-raf), v-ros, v-fms, and v-mos (4–9). Paradoxically, the v-ros product is an active tyrosine protein kinase when isolated by immunoprecipitation yet cells transformed by UR2 virus, which encodes a gag-ros fusion protein, have only slightly enhanced levels of phosphotyrosine (9; Sefton BM, personal communication).
Macromolecular events following refeeding of starved Tetrahymena.

Abstract Tetrahymena were starved in inorganic buffer for 24 h and then refed with enriched nutrient medium. An early increase of protein synthesis which is correlated with the rapid reformation of polysomes occurs prior to the onset of increased RNA synthesis. Inhibition of RNA synthesis with actinomycin D during refeeding did not stop the initiation of increased protein synthesis nor did it stop the reformation of polysomes. The occurrence of increased protein synthesis prior to increased RNA synthesis is a different sequence than has occurred in other studies on this cell and indicates that unlike in bacteria the macromolecular response of this cell to a new environment is not fixed but is dependent upon the cell's previous environmental history.
Association of Diethylstilbestrol Exposure in Utero With Cryptorchidism, Testicular Hypoplasia and Semen Abnormalities

AbstractEpididymal cysts and/or hypoplastic testes have been found in 31.5 per cent of 308 men exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero, compared to 7.8 per cent of 307 placebo-exposed controls. Analyses of the spermatozoa have revealed severe pathological changes (Eliasson score >10) in 134 diethylstilbestrol-exposed men (18 per cent) and 87 placebo-exposed men (8 per cent). Further investigation of the 26 diethylstilbestrol-exposed men with testicular hypoplasia has revealed that 65 per cent had a history of cryptorchidism. Only 1 of the 6 placebo-exposed controls with testicular hypoplasia had a history of testicular maldescent.Although none of our Dieckmann’s lying-in study group has had carcinoma to date one must keep in mind the reported increased risk of testicular carcinoma in testes that are or were cryptorchid. A 25-year-old man who was not part of the study group was treated recently by us for a testicular carcinoma (a mixed anaplastic seminoma plus embryonal cell carcinoma) and he had a history ...
An institutional perspective on assessing real options values in telecommunications cost models

Under section 251(c) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress imposed a duty on incumbent local exchange companies (ILECs) to provide unbundled network elements (UNEs) on a nondiscriminatory basis at just and reasonable rates. This statutory obligation can be viewed as granting an option to competitive local exchange companies to “wait to invest” in their own facilities, but its quantification for inclusion in UNE prices would be controversial. This paper shows that, from an institutional perspective, there is a sound analytical basis for guiding public policy decisions on this issue. More specifically, given the U.S. constitutional framework, which constrains government regulation, the consequences of overestimation as opposed to underestimation of ILECs’ costs are dramatically different. As shown, given the uncertainty of the “true” option value, a regulatory policy based on a cost methodology that tends to overestimate rather than underestimate the option value is more consistent with Congressional policy favoring regulatory intervention that encourages the deployment of an advanced telecommunications infrastructure. Therefore, for purposes of determining prices for UNEs, policymakers should err on the side of overestimating the option value.
Laser Induced Photoluminescence Spectroscopy of Cometary Radicals

Flash photolysis together with laser excitation of the product fragments was used in laboratory studies of cometary radicals. The LIPS method has been applied to the CN radical to determine: (1) Radiative lifetimes of individual rotational levels in the zeroth vibrational level of the B state; (2) energy partitioning during photodissociation of C2N2; and (3) vibrational and rotational excitation during formation of CN radicals in the photodissociation of dicyanoacetylene.
The case for rejecting the memristor as a fundamental circuit element

The memory resistor with the moniker memristor was a harmless postulate in 1971. Since 2008 a device that claims to be the memristor is on the prowl, seeking recognition as a fundamental circuit element, sometimes wanting electronics textbooks to be rewritten, always promising remarkable digital, analog and neuromorphic computing possibilities. A systematic discussion about the fundamental nature of the device is almost absent within the memristor community. Advocates use incomplete constitutive relationships, ignore concepts of activity/passivity and aver that nonlinearity is central to their case. Few researchers have examined these claims. Our report investigates the assertion that the memristor is a fundamental passive circuit element, from the fresh perspective that electrical engineering is the science of charge management. We demonstrate with a periodic table of fundamental elements that the 2008 memristor is not the 1971 postulate and neither of them is fundamental. The ideal memristor is an unphysical active device and any physically realizable memristor is a nonlinear composition of resistors with active hysteresis. We also show that there exists only three fundamental passive circuit elements.
Acute Viral Encephalitis.

Viral Encephalitis Encephalitis is characterized by fever, neurologic deficits, seizures, pleocytosis, and neuroimaging and EEG abnormalities. The main viral causes segregate into characteristic cl...
Periodontal therapy favorably modulates the oral-gut-hepatic axis in cirrhosis.

Systematic periodontal therapy in cirrhotic outpatients improved endotoxemia, as well as systemic and local inflammation, and modulated salivary and stool microbial dysbiosis over 30 days. This was...
Global dynamic scenarios for competitive maps in the plane

In this paper we present some global dynamic scenarios for general competitive maps in the plane. We apply these results to the class of second-order autonomous difference equations whose transition functions are decreasing in the variable $x_{n}$ and increasing in the variable $x_{n-1}$ . We illustrate our results with the application to the difference equation $$ x_{n+1}=\frac{Cx_{n-1}^{2}+Ex_{n-1}}{a x_{n}^{2}+d x_{n}+f},\quad n=0,1,\ldots, $$ where the initial conditions $x_{-1}$ and $x_{0}$ are arbitrary nonnegative numbers such that the solution is defined and the parameters satisfy $C,E,a,d,f\geq0$ , $C+E>0$ , $a+C>0$ , and $a+d>0$ . We characterize the global dynamics of this equation with the basins of attraction of its equilibria and periodic solutions.
Constraining neutrino mass with tomographic weak lensing peak counts

Massive cosmic neutrinos change the structure formation history by suppressing perturbations on small scales. Weak lensing data from galaxy surveys probe the structure evolution and thereby can be used to constrain the total mass of the three active neutrinos. However, much of the information is at small scales where the dynamics are nonlinear. Traditional approaches with second-order statistics thus fail to fully extract the information in the lensing field. In this paper, we study constraints on the neutrino mass sum using lensing peak counts, a statistic which captures non-Gaussian information beyond the second order. We use the ray-traced weak lensing mocks from the Cosmological Massive Neutrino Simulations (MassiveNuS) and apply Large Synoptic Survey Telescope-like noise. We discuss the effects of redshift tomography, the multipole cutoff ${\ensuremath{\ell}}_{\mathrm{max}}$ for the power spectrum, the smoothing scale for the peak counts, and constraints from peaks of different heights. We find that combining peak counts with the traditional lensing power spectrum can improve the constraint on the neutrino mass sum, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{m}$, and ${A}_{s}$ by 39%, 32%, and 60%, respectively, over that from the power spectrum alone. We note that observational systematics such as baryonic effects, intrinsic alignments, and photometric redshift errors are not studied in this work, but will be an important next step.
Recovering the Lowest Layer of Deep Networks with High Threshold Activations

Giving provable guarantees for learning neural networks is a core challenge of machine learning theory. Most prior work gives parameter recovery guarantees for one hidden layer networks, however, the networks used in practice have multiple non-linear layers. In this work, we show how we can strengthen such results to deeper networks -- we address the problem of uncovering the lowest layer in a deep neural network under the assumption that the lowest layer uses a high threshold before applying the activation, the upper network can be modeled as a well-behaved polynomial and the input distribution is Gaussian.
Random Walks in Stock Market Prices

OR MANY YEARS cconomists, Statisticians, and teachers of finance have been interested in developing and testing models of stock price behavior. One important model that has evolved from this research is the theory of random walks. This theory casts serious doubt on many other methods for describing and predicting stock price behavior — methods that have considerable popularity outside the academic world. For example, we shall see later that if the random walk theory is an accurate description of reality, then the various "technical" or "chartist" procedures for predicting stock prices are completely without value. In general the theory of random walks raises challenging questions for anyone who has more than a passing interest in understanding the behavior of stock prices. Unfortunately, however, most discussions of the theory have appeared in technical academic journals and in a form which the non-mathematician would usually find incomprehensible. This article describes, briefly and simply, the theory of random walks and some of the important issues it raises concerning the work of market analysts. To preserve brevity some aspects of the theory and its implications are omitted. More complete (and also more technical) discussions of the theory of random walks are available elsewhere; hopefully the introduction provided here will encourage the reader to examine one of the more rigorous and lengthy works listed at the end of this article.
A quality improvement approach to reducing hospital readmissions in patients with cancer and heart failure.

The management of patients with cancer and concurrent heart failure (HF) is challenging. The increased complexity of treatment and the occurrence of multiple overlapping symptoms may lead to frequent hospital admissions, which may result in cancer treatment delays, a diminished quality of life, and an increased financial burden for the patient’s family. To provide holistic care to oncology patients with HF, we implemented the Heart Success Program (HSP), a patient-centered, interprofessional collaborative practice, which decreased the 30-day hospital readmission rate for HF diagnosis from 40 to 27%. However, this rate remains higher than that reported for Medicare beneficiaries. To identify the factors contributing to frequent readmissions, the HSP committee participated in the institution’s Clinical Safety and Effectiveness and utilize quality improvement methodologies and tools to decrease hospital readmission for HF. The DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) method was used to guide this quality improvement. Areas considered as having high impact and requiring low effort to address were patient education barriers, lack of documentation clarity, and care provider knowledge gaps about the HSP. We implemented workflow changes, improved clarity with documentation of HF diagnosis, and increase provider knowledge about the HSP. After 6 months of implementing quality improvement techniques, the 30-day hospital readmission rate for HF patients fell by 23.43% (from 31.7% for the baseline period to 8.27%), exceeding the target project goal of 10%. Our quality improvement method may also be effective in improving the management of patients with cancer and other comorbid conditions.
Negative piezoelectric response of van der Waals layered bismuth tellurohalides

While not physically forbidden, a negative piezoelectric response -- defined as an enhancement of polarization under compression -- is rare in nature. However, this effect has recently been found in several van der Waals bonded materials, among them the polar BiTe$X$ ($X$=I, Cl, Br) compounds studied here. First-principles calculations reveal that their negative piezoelectric response is mainly induced by a charge-center shift of the Wannier functions (shown in the figure) under compression, especially on the halide, increasing the layer dipole moment and thus the polarization.
Spondweni virus causes fetal harm in Ifnar1 -/- mice and is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Spondweni virus (SPONV) is the most closely related known flavivirus to Zika virus (ZIKV). Its pathogenic potential and vector specificity have not been well defined. SPONV has been found predominantly in Africa, but was recently detected in a pool of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes in Haiti. Here we show that SPONV can cause significant fetal harm, including demise, comparable to ZIKV, in a mouse model of vertical transmission. Following maternal inoculation, we detected infectious SPONV in placentas and fetuses, along with significant fetal and placental histopathology, together suggesting vertical transmission. To test vector competence, we exposed Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to SPONV-infected bloodmeals. Aedes aegypti could efficiently transmit SPONV, whereas Culex quinquefasciatus could not. Our results suggest that SPONV has the same features that made ZIKV a public health risk.
Experimental determination of stiffness and strength for metal building system rod bracing

Abstract The primary objective of this research is to experimentally establish the stiffness, strength and applicable limit states for rod assemblages used as braces in metal building primary frames. Twelve rod brace assemblages with differing details related to the geometry of the primary frame members, anchorage of the rod into the frame member, and angle of the rod relative to the framing member were tested in tension until failure. Observed stiffness of the rod assemblage is nonlinear; however, the tangent stiffness at 20% of the observed peak load is recorded and recommended for use in bracing design. Observed limit states include fracture of the rod, local buckling of the flange of the framing member, bearing failure in the framing member at the rod anchorage, and fracture/shear of a portion of the rod anchorage. Included herein is a detailed description of the experimental program employed to determine the reported stiffness and strength. The experimental information is intended to be used to validate future improvements to: bracing provisions for primary frame members, diaphragm stiffness predictions when rod bracing is employed, and strength prediction equations for rod brace assemblages.
Left Atrial Structure and Function Predictors of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Chagas Disease

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) carries ominous consequences in patients with Chagas disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether left atrial (LA) volume and function assessed using three-dimensional echocardiographic (3DE) imaging and two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic deformation analysis of strain (e) could predict new-onset AF in patients with Chagas disease. Methods A total of 392 adult patients with chronic Chagas disease (59% women; mean age, 53 ± 11 years) who underwent echocardiography were consecutively enrolled in this prospective longitudinal study. Echocardiographic evaluation included two-dimensional (2D) Doppler echocardiography, with evaluation of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, LA size, and LA and left ventricular function on 3DE and e analyses. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis models adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, presence of a pacemaker, and 2D Doppler echocardiographic parameters were used to test if the variables of interest had independent prognostic value for AF prediction. Results Patients with Chagas disease were followed for 5.6 ± 2.7 years. Among these, 139 (35.5%) had the indeterminate form, 224 (57.1%) had the cardiac form, five (1.3%) had the digestive form, and 24 (6.1%) had the cardiodigestive form. The study end point of AF occurred in 45 patients. Total LA emptying fraction (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89–0.98; P = .002), passive LA emptying fraction (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91–0.99; P = .02), and peak negative global LA e (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.05–1.41; P = .01) were predictors of new-onset AF independent of clinical and 2D Doppler echocardiographic parameters. Conclusions LA function assessed on 3DE and e analyses predicts new-onset AF in patients with Chagas disease independent of clinical and 2D Doppler echocardiographic indexes.
Foreword for international conference on phosphorus, boron and silicon 2019

I am pleased to offer a collection of papers submitted to the PBSi 2019 conference held in Rome, Italy in December 2019 (https://premc.org/conferences/pbsi-phosphorus-boron-silicon/).The papers rep...
Intertidal canopy‐forming seaweeds modulate understory seaweed photoprotective compounds

Foundation species provide physical structure that enhances the diversity and abundance of associated organisms. Canopy-forming seaweeds are known to act as foundation species on rocky shores by lowering temperature and desiccation stress. Direct solar radiation, including ultraviolet (UV) light, can also reduce photosynthetic rates in algae, cause oxidative stress and DNA damage. The reduction in UV exposure provided by an algal canopy could therefore be important for understory organisms, including the red alga Chondrus crispus on New England's (USA) rocky shores, and this relationship may be more important at higher tidal elevations with increased low-tide exposure time. In field experiments, we investigated the relationship between tidal elevation and an index of C. crispus UV exposure, the concentration of UV-absorbing pigments. Low on the shore, C. crispus grew without a canopy. Higher on the shore, in the mid-intertidal zone, C. crispus was found under the canopy-forming rockweed, Fucus distichus subsp. evanescens. At this elevation, C. crispus was shaded (>50%; >1 m above MLLW). We performed a canopy removal experiment that spanned the mid-zone where C. crispus and F. distichus subsp. evanescens co-occur and the low-zone (no canopy). Following canopy removal in the mid-zone, UV pigment concentrations increased with tidal elevation. After accounting for the effect of elevation, removal of the algal canopy resulted in UV-protective pigment concentrations 2-fold higher than in un-manipulated control plots. These results suggest that amelioration of solar UV exposure might be another mechanism by which canopy seaweeds, acting as foundation species, facilitate understory seaweeds on rocky shores.