cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Initial experience with low-dose methotrexate as an adjuvant treatment for rapidly recurrent nonvasculitic laryngotracheal stenosis

Importance Adult laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is typically managed surgically, but some patients fail treatment because of rapid restenosis or granulation tissue formation. The need for frequent surgery or tracheostomy reduces the quality of life in these patients and poses a significant challenge for the treating physician. New adjuvant treatments are required to reduce the surgical burden of this condition. Objective To examine whether patients with rapidly recurrent nonvasculitic LTS who fail surgical management of their stenosis (ie, requiring dilation more frequently than every 6 months) experience longer intervals between surgical procedures when receiving adjuvant treatment with low-dose methotrexate. Design, Setting, and Participants This study was a retrospective case series study of patients treated with methotrexate from January 2014 to January 2016 at a tertiary academic medical center. Participants were 10 patients with LTS without any diagnosis of vasculitis or granulomatous disease who underwent low-dose methotrexate therapy. Interventions Once-weekly treatment with oral methotrexate, 15 or 20 mg. Main Outcomes and Measures The mean number of days between operations before and after starting methotrexate therapy was compared. Clinical courses and adverse effects of each patient were also reviewed. Results Among 10 patients, the mean (SD) age at the outset of study inclusion was 52 (19) years; 8 were female and 2 were male. All 10 patients experienced some clinical improvement. Three patients who were previously tracheostomy dependent were able to be decannulated. Two other patients who were tracheostomy dependent and had failed endoscopic management of their granulation tissue had complete resolution. In 6 patients who underwent at least 1 surgical procedure before and after the initiation of methotrexate treatment, the mean (SD) interval between operations increased from 61 (35) days (95% CI, 26-96 days) before starting methotrexate therapy to 312 (137) days (95% CI, 175-449 days) after starting methotrexate therapy, for an absolute difference of 251 (58) days (95% CI, 193-309 days). The median number of days between surgical procedures was 44 days before starting methotrexate therapy and 289 days after starting methotrexate therapy. Adverse effects observed included mild hair thinning and onychomycosis in 2 patients and herpes zoster infection in 1 patient. Conclusions and Relevance Low-dose methotrexate appears to be an effective adjunct to surgery in select patients with LTS that is resistant to surgical management and leads to a substantial increase in the number of days between surgical procedures. The patient and clinician must be aware of the adverse effects of methotrexate therapy and balance these factors against the risk of poorly controlled airway stenosis. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials are needed to examine whether the clinical efficacy in this series of patients translates to a larger population.
Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older, United States, 2018*

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) presents the Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older for 2017. This schedule has been approved by the ACIP,...
Tierra arrasada en la nación del brandin

RESUMEN El siguiente articulo se enfoca en la construccion de una imagen de nacion mansa, basada en una cultura popular domesticada por las fuerzas desarrollistas del mercado global. El branding de pais y su espejo bizarro se hacen presentes en el trabajo de Juan Obando (1980). La escritura y critica de arte local debe tener la capacidad de dar cuenta de estos contextos y multiples movimientos en el que los constructos de politica cultural, el fetiche de lo expedicionario moderno, lo taxonomico, la era pre-republicana y post-nacional, y el branding acercan la practica artistica a ambitos de politica publica, teoria economica y el diseno social. Los espacios de critica y escritura de la historia deben establecer unas arqueologias del presente, que en proximidad y cuidadoso estudio hablen de la complejidad de los fenomenos que enfrenta la nacion a cumplirse la segunda decada del siglo XXI. Palabras Clave Arte; anarquismo; branding; diseno; narcoestetica; mercado
Marriage and State-level Economic Outcomes

Past research has examined various state-level measures that predict state economic growth and other economic and social indicators. This research has largely ignored the potential role of family structure in contributing to state-level outcomes, despite the extensive literature on links between family structure and economic outcomes at the individual level. We estimated a state-level panel model and found that both the proportion of adults and the proportion of parents who are married are strongly related to important state-level economic outcomes, including economic growth, median household income, median personal income, and poverty.
Sphingolipids facilitate age asymmetry of membrane proteins in dividing yeast cells

One proposed mechanism of cellular aging is the gradual loss of certain cellular components that are insufficiently renewed. In an earlier study, multidrug resistance transporters (MDRs) were postulated to be such aging determinants during the yeast replicative life span (RLS). Aged MDR proteins were asymmetrically retained by the aging mother cell and did not diffuse freely into the bud, whereas newly synthesized MDR proteins were thought to be deposited mostly in the bud before cytokinesis. In this study, we further demonstrate the proposed age asymmetry of MDR proteins in dividing yeast cells and investigate the mechanism that controls diffusive properties of MDR proteins to maintain this asymmetry. We found that long-chain sphingolipids, but not the septin/endoplasmic reticulum-based membrane diffusion barrier, are important for restricting MDR diffusion. Depletion of sphingolipids or shortening of their long acyl chains resulted in an increase in the lateral mobility of MDR proteins, causing aged MDR protein in the mother cell to enter the bud. We used a mathematical model to understand the effect of diminished MDR age asymmetry on yeast cell aging, the result of which was qualitatively consistent with the observed RLS shortening in sphingolipid mutants.
Posterior osteotomies for kyphosis correction

Abstract Kyphotic deformity of the spine is a significant source of pain and disability. Sagittal and/or coronal malalignment of the spine can be secondary to numerous factors including trauma, infection, surgery (iatrogenic), congenital deformity, and degenerative changes. Surgical correction is often the definitive treatment for patients with severe or late stage deformity. There are several options for choice of osteotomy including the Smith-Peterson osteotomy, pedicle subtraction osteotomy, and vertebral resection osteotomy. This manuscript discusses the various types of osteotomies, indications, evaluation, and complications for the treatment of kyphosis.
National heroes or coming anarchy? Vigilant youth and the “war on terror” in Nigeria

In this article, I explore analytically how local youth vigilante groups in terror-stricken northeastern Nigeria – locally known as the Civilian Joint Task Force or yan gora (“youth with sticks”) –...
Predictors of mortality for juvenile trees in a residential urban-to-rural cohort in Worcester, MA

Abstract This paper explores predictors of juvenile tree mortality in a newly planted cohort in Worcester, MA, following an episode of large-scale tree removal necessitated by an Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis, ALB) eradication program. Trees are increasingly seen as important providers of ecosystem services for urban areas, including: climate moderation and thus reduction in heating/cooling costs; air and water filtration; carbon uptake and storage; storm water runoff control; and cultural and aesthetic values. Many cities have initiated tree planting programs to receive these benefits, typically seeking to complement existing urban forest. Conversely, Worcester’s reforestation program was necessary to offset the loss of approximately 30,000 trees removed to eradicate the invasive pest ALB. Since then, more than 30,000 juvenile trees have been planted to offset the loss, creating the opportunity to study a highly dynamic urban forest. Tree planting effectiveness is contingent on high survivorship rates, particularly during the establishment phase during the first five years after planting. Using a large data set including biophysical and sociodemographic variables, this research uses Conditional Inference Trees (CIT), a machine learning technique, to explore predictors of mortality. The most important variables as determined by CIT were used to create a logistic regression to predict mortality. This analysis was run for all trees, and for several subsets of the sample based on tree type and season and year of planting, yielding twenty individual models. Results indicated that the following variables are important predictors of mortality during establishment, in descending order: adjacent home/building age, proportion renter occupancy, days since tree planted, tax parcel size, number of trees planted on property, and tax parcel value. Of these variables, proportion renter occupancy and days since tree planted were most frequently found to be significant in the logistic regression modeling.
Craniomaxillofacial Free Flap Reconstruction Using Virtual Surgical Planning

Through the evolution of microsurgery, imaging techniques, and CAD-CAM technology, virtual surgical planning (VSP) has become a routine tool for reconstructive microsurgeons. Its application can aid in improved operative efficiency as well as more accurate and consistent results. To realize the full potential of VSP, well-structured and detailed planning must occur. Data is gathered via thinly sliced CT scans of both the donor site and the site of reconstruction. A team-oriented planning session then ensues, mapping out the area of extirpation and outlining the goals of reconstruction. Finally, the surgery is executed in a consistently efficient manner using prefabricated surgical models, cutting guides, and, at times, pre-bent plates. The result is a more efficient surgery with predictably more accurate results. This chapter will fully outline the key components to integrating VSP into head and neck reconstruction.
Changes in Milk Protein and Amino Acid Composition of Dairy Cows in Response to Fatty Liver and Intravenous Glucagon

Intravenous glucagon cures fatty liver by improving glucose bioavailability in early lactation. Amino acids, which would be otherwise used for milk protein synthesis, are metabolized to glucose. The objective of this study was to examine whether intravenous glucagon and fatty liver change milk protein and amino acid composition in dairy cows. Multiparous Holstein cows (n=25) were designated as either normal or susceptible to fatty liver and ketosis as based on the ratio of liver triacylglycerol to glycogen being smaller or greater than 2.0 at d 6 postpartum. Cows susceptible to fatty liver were subjected for 3 weeks to a protocol consisting of feed restriction and dietary 1,3- butanediol beginning at d 14 postpartum, which induced fatty liver and ketosis. Normal cows and cows with fatty liver were infused with glucagon for 14 d at 0 or 10 mg/d beginning at d 21 postpartum. Composite milk samples were obtained at d 20, 22, 34, and 36 postpartum and analyzed for milk protein and amino acid composition. Fatty liver decreased milk yield but had little effect on milk protein and amino acid composition except for increasing the proportion of glycosylated κ-casein. Intravenous glucagon decreased total milk protein concentrations and the proportion of α–lactalbumin and increased the proportion of glycosylated κ-casein, total κ-casein, and αS2-casein. Intravenous glucagon had little effect on milk amino acid composition. Our results suggest that milk protein and amino acid composition are under tight concomitant hormonal control and are affected little by changes in amino acid availability and/or insulin to glucagon ratio.
The influence of site of care on the content of prenatal care for low-income women.

Objective: To assess whether site of prenatal care influences the content of prenatal care for low-income women. Design: Bivariate and logistic analyses of prenatal care content for low-income women provided at five different types of care sites (private offices, HMOs, publicly funded clinics, hospital clinics, and other sites of care), controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and maternal health characteristics. Participants: A sample of 3405 low-income women selected from a nationally representative sample of 9953 women surveyed by the National Maternal and Infant Health Survey, who had singleton live births in 1988, had some prenatal care (PNC), Medicaid participation, or a family income less than $12,000/year. Outcome Measures: Maternal report of seven initial PNC procedures (individually and combined), six areas of PNC advice (individually and combined), and participation in the Women Infant Children (WIC) nutrition program. Results: The content of PNC provided for low-income women does not meet the recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service, and varies by site of delivery. Low-income women in publicly funded clinics (health departments and community health centers) report receiving more total initial PNC procedures and total PNC advice and have greater participation in the WIC program than similar women receiving PNC in private offices. Conclusions: Publicly funded sites of care appear to provide more comprehensive prenatal care services than private office settings. Health care systems reforms which assume equality of care across all sites, or which limit services to restricted sites, may foster unequal access to comprehensive PNC.
Divalent Cation Content of Normal and ATP-Depleted Erythrocytes and Erythrocyte Membranes

Recent studies have suggested a central role for alterations in cellular divalent cations in the pathogenesis of red cell damage during in vitro storage [27, 43, 45]. Copper and calcium are known to exchange between plasma and red cells. Passive exchange occurs between plasma free copper and non-erythrocuprein red cell copper, allowing copper to come to equilibrium between plasma and two cellular compartments [4]. Calcium, which enters the red cell by diffusion, is extruded by a process which requires energy [36]. Calcium exodus is mediated by a « pump » which is linked to a calcium-activated ATPase [20, 26, 37, 42, 44, 45, 46]. This phosphohydrolytic enzyme tranduces energy from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for the work required for calcium extrusion against a steep gradient. Hence, the system in several respects is analogous to the red cell sodium pump [14]. Weed, La Celle and Merrill provided evidence for the physiological importance of the red cell calcium pump by demonstrating that calcium accumulation was accompanied by detrimental changes in biophysical properties of the cell [43]. Studies by Wins and Schoffeniels [45], and Palek, Curby and Lionetti [27, 28] also indicated that calcium ion has an effect on the red cell membrane in vitro, since it induced volume reduction (shrinkage), in part explained as being due to a conformational change in membrane protein.
The planarian Schmidtea mediterranea is a new model to study host-pathogen interactions during fungal infections

Candida albicans is one of the most common fungal pathogens of humans. Currently, there are limitations in the evaluation of C. albicans infection in existing animal models, especially in terms of understanding the influence of specific infectious stages of the fungal pathogen on the host. We show that C. albicans infects, grows and invades tissues in the planarian flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea, and that the planarian responds to infection by activating components of the host innate immune system to clear and repair host tissues. We study different stages of C. albicans infection and demonstrate that planarian stem cells increase division in response to fungal infection, a process that is likely evolutionarily conserved in metazoans. Our results implicate MORN2 and TAK1/p38 signaling pathways as possible mediators of the host innate immune response to fungal infection. We propose the use of planarians as a model system to investigate host-pathogen interactions during fungal infections.
miR-24 Is Elevated in Ulcerative Colitis Patients and Regulates Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Function.

Inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by high levels of inflammation and loss of barrier integrity in the colon. The intestinal barrier is a dynamic network of proteins that encircle intestinal epithelial cells. miRNAs regulate protein-coding genes. In this study, miR-24 was found to be elevated in colonic biopsies and blood samples from ulcerative colitis (UC) patients compared with healthy controls. In the colon of UC patients, miR-24 is localized to intestinal epithelial cells, which prompted an investigation of intestinal epithelial barrier function. Two intestinal epithelial cell lines were used to study the effect of miR-24 overexpression on barrier integrity. Overexpression of miR-24 in both cell lines led to diminished transepithelial electrical resistance and increased dextran flux, suggesting an effect on barrier integrity. Overexpression of miR-24 did not induce apoptosis or affect cell proliferation, suggesting that the effect of miR-24 on barrier function was due to an effect on cell–cell junctions. Although the tight junctions in cells overexpressing miR-24 appeared normal, miR-24 overexpression led to a decrease in the tight junction–associated protein cingulin. Loss of cingulin compromised barrier formation; cingulin levels negatively correlated with disease severity in UC patients. Together, these data suggest that miR-24 is a significant regulator of intestinal barrier that may be important in the pathogenesis of UC.
Connectivity‐based selection of optimal deep brain stimulation contacts: A feasibility study

Background The selection of optimal deep brain stimulation (DBS) parameters is time-consuming, experience-dependent, and best suited when acute effects of stimulation can be observed (e.g., tremor reduction). Objectives To test the hypothesis that optimal stimulation location can be estimated based on the cortical connections of DBS contacts. Methods We analyzed a cohort of 38 patients with Parkinson's disease (24 training, and 14 test cohort). Using whole-brain probabilistic tractography, we first mapped the cortical regions associated with stimulation-induced efficacy (rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremor improvement) and side effects (paresthesia, motor contractions, and visual disturbances). We then trained a support vector machine classifier to categorize DBS contacts into efficacious, defined by a therapeutic window ≥2 V (threshold for side effect minus threshold for efficacy), based on their connections with cortical regions associated with efficacy versus side effects. The connectivity-based classifications were then compared with actual stimulation contacts using receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves. Results Unique cortical clusters were associated with stimulation-induced efficacy and side effects. In the training dataset, 42 of the 47 stimulation contacts were accurately classified as efficacious, with a therapeutic window of ≥3 V in 31 (66%) and between 2 and 2.9 V in 11 (24%) electrodes. This connectivity-based estimation was successfully replicated in the test cohort with similar accuracy (area under ROC = 0.83). Conclusions Cortical connections can predict the efficacy of DBS contacts and potentially facilitate DBS programming. The clinical utility of this paradigm in optimizing DBS outcomes should be prospectively tested, especially for directional electrodes.
Fire, climate and changing forests.

Vegetation-type conversions driven by fire and climate change in the western United States forests are altering landscapes.
Use of GapmeRs for gene expression knockdowns in human primary resting CD4+ T cells.

Human primary resting CD4+ T cells are difficult to transfect while preserving viability. The present study evaluated gymnotic delivery and RNase H1-dependent gene expression knockdown mediated by antisense oligonucleotides, called GapmeRs. Exposure of primary resting CD4+ T cells to GapmeRs did not cause cell activation or affect cell viability. Gene expression knockdowns were stable at least up to 48 h after removal of GapmeRs from culture. Exposure to GapmeRs resulted in comparable levels of degradation along the entire transcript, which could be important when studying function of regulatory long non-coding RNAs. Efficiency of transcript degradation was not solely dependent on the dose of GapmeR, RNA target and its localization. When using GapmeRs, some optimization is required, and all targets have to be individually tested; however, using GapmeRs is advantageous in experiments where preservation of the resting state of the human primary CD4+ T cells and targeting nuclear RNAs are desired. In certain cases, combining GapmeR with siRNA for the same target may improve knockdown efficiency.
Representations and Conceptions of Variables in Students' Early Understandings of Functions.

This study explored how students develop meaning of functions by building on their understanding of expressions and equations. A teaching experiment using design research was conducted in a sixth-grade classroom. The data was analyzed using a grounded theory approach to provide explanations about why events occurred within this teaching episode and what these events mean in terms of student learning of functions (Corbin & Strauss, 2014; Gravemeijer & Cobb, 2006). The findings revealed that understanding functions involved integrating their understanding of different meanings of variables such as letters representing changing values and letters representing known values to model the situation using an expression, and seeing linear relationships between the independent and dependent variable through graphing. This paper provides a learning progression for supporting early understandings of functions. We discuss implications for research on students’ conceptions of variables and implications for fostering functional thinking.
Dehydration during storage affects carbohydrate metabolism and the accumulation of non-sucrose carbohydrates in postharvest sugarbeet roots

Abstract Sugarbeet roots produced in cold climates are stored in large piles prior to processing and are cooled by ambient winter air. These storage conditions dehydrate roots, causing root respiration rate and sucrose loss in storage to increase. Dehydration likely alters carbohydrate metabolism due to a greater demand for respiratory substrates and may affect the accumulation of non-sucrose carbohydrates that impede processing. However, effects of dehydration on carbohydrate metabolism of postharvest sugarbeet roots have not been studied. Research, therefore, was conducted to determine the effect of mild and severe dehydration on concentrations of the non-sucrose carbohydrates, glucose, fructose, and raffinose, their biosynthetic precursors, and the concentrations of metabolites that are intermediates in respiratory sucrose catabolism through glycolysis and the TCA cycle. Roots were stored at 85 and 40% relative humidity for up to 28 d to generate mildly and severely dehydrated roots typical of roots in the interior and exterior of storage piles. Severe dehydration was associated with reductions in raffinose, galactinol, glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and pyruvate concentrations, and increases in inositol and malate concentrations, while mild dehydration was associated with increased raffinose concentration. Concentrations of other glycolytic and TCA cycle intermediates, as well as the invert sugars, glucose and fructose, were largely unaffected by dehydration. From these results, it is concluded that raffinose accumulation and biosynthesis is highly sensitive to root dehydration and that carbohydrate metabolism through glycolysis is altered by dehydration, presumably to provide increased substrates for respiration. Overall, this research provides new insight into the impact of environmental conditions within storage piles on raffinose accumulation and the mechanisms by which dehydration accelerates sucrose loss in stored sugarbeet roots.
Deaf Community Cultural Wealth in Community College Students

Deaf students are members of a linguistic and cultural minority whose background and experiences provide a unique backdrop for the navigation of higher education. Using the framework of Deaf community cultural wealth, this study examines the experiences of Deaf students in community college and their utilization of various forms of capital. Findings showed that they exhibited instances of resistant, navigational, social, and familial capital in accessing and persisting in higher education.
Compression of Gait IMU signals Using Sensor Fusion and Compressive Sensing

Sensors are the front end and the primary source of information for any internet of things (IoT) network. The amount of data from these sensors are increasing by the day which makes managing them a priority. The concept of IoT has recently been introduced to biomedical engineering to create networks between health monitoring devices. One of such devices is inertial measurement unit (IMU) which has a wide range of applications from navigation systems to biomedical health monitoring devices.The purpose of this study is to manage the gait data of 9-axis IMU devices collected from human subjects. The compression of these data can be of great importance, especially for their applications in IoT networks. Therefore, we attempted to compress and reconstruct the raw and fused signal by using sensor fusion and compressive sensing and compared the results. By making use of the combination of sensor fusion and compressive sensing, we were able to create accurate and compact data that can significantly reduce the load of a biomedical health monitoring IoT network.
Impact of wet-dry cycling on the phase behavior and compartmentalization properties of complex coacervates.

Wet-dry cycling on the early Earth is thought to have facilitated production of molecular building blocks of life, but its impact on self-assembly and compartmentalization remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigate dehydration/rehydration of complex coacervates, which are membraneless compartments formed by phase separation of polyelectrolyte solutions. Solution compositions are identified for which tenfold water loss results in maintenance, disappearance, or appearance of coacervate droplets. Systems maintaining coacervates throughout the dehydration process are further evaluated to understand how their compartmentalization properties change with drying. Although added total RNA concentrations increase tenfold, RNA concentration within coacervates remains steady. Exterior RNA concentrations rise, and exchange rates for encapsulated versus free RNAs increase with dehydration. We explain these results in light of the phase diagram, with dehydration-driven ionic strength increase being particularly important in determining coacervate properties. This work shows that wet-dry cycling can alter the phase behavior and protocell-relevant functions of complex coacervates. Wet-dry cycling is thought to have enabled the production of molecular building blocks of life. Here, the authors investigate the impact of dehydration/rehydration on RNA-containing complex coacervates, which are membraneless compartments formed by phase separation of polyelectrolyte solutions.
A Formal Verification of Configuration-Based Mutation Techniques for Moving Target Defense

Static system configuration provides a significant advantage for the adversaries to discover the assets and vulnerabilities in the system and launch attacks. Configuration-based moving target defense (MTD) reverses the cyber warfare asymmetry for the defenders’ advantage by mutating certain configuration parameters proactively in order to disrupt attacks planning or increase the attack cost significantly.
18-Year Operative Incidence and Cost Analysis of the Treatment of Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity:

Background:Adult acquired flatfoot (AAFD) is commonly treated by foot and ankle surgeons. Despite how commonly this disease presents, its incidence and economic impact have yet to be defined. We hy...
Ground reaction force patterns in knees with and without radiographic osteoarthritis and pain: descriptive analyses of a large cohort (the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study).

Summary Objective To compare ground reaction force patterns (GRF) during walking among legs defined by presence or absence of knee pain and/or radiographic knee osteoarthritis (ROA). Method Principal component analysis extracted major modes of variation (PCs) in GRF data from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study during self-paced walking. Legs were categorized as pain + ROA (n = 168), ROA only (n = 303), pain only (n = 476), or control (n = 1877). Relationships between group and GRF PCs were examined using Generalized Estimating Equations, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, race, and clinic site with and without additional adjustment for gait speed. Results With or without speed adjustment, pain + ROA had flatter vertical GRF waveforms than control (speed adjusted PC2 difference [95%CI]: −66 [-113,-20]), pain + ROA and ROA only had higher lateral GRF at impact and greater mid-stance medial GRF than control (speed adjusted PC3 difference: 9 [3,16] and 6 [2,10], respectively), and ROA only had higher early vs late medial GRF than control (speed adjusted PC2 difference: 7 [2,13]). Pain only had flatter vertical GRF waveforms and a smaller difference between anterior and posterior GRF than control only without speed adjustment. Conclusion In this large sample, sustained mid-stance loading and higher impact loads were identified in legs with ROA or ROA and pain, even when adjusting for differences in gait speed and other confounders. While it remains to be seen whether these features precede or result from ROA and pain, the presence of these patterns in the speed-adjusted models could have implications on gait interventions aimed to change joint loading.
Do Banks Lend Where They Borrow? Local Small-Business Lending in the U.S.

The percentage of out-of-market loan originations to small businesses, as measured by both amounts and number, have been trending upward over the past two decades. The percentage of out-of-market loan originations to small businesses, as measured by both amounts and number, declined when economic conditions are poor. During the crisis years of 2008-2011, the percentage of such originations fell significantly below the trend line, declining by about one-fourth from the pre-crisis period. Banks that were subject to regulatory stress tests responded by significantly reducing their out-of-market lending. Credit-card specialty banks originate close to 100 percent of their loans out-of-market, and account for about ten percent of the amount of out-of-market originations, but about 40 percent of the number of out-of-market originations. While this may not be surprising to knowledgeable observers of the U.S. banking industry, given that they typically have only one branch in one county, it highlights the importance of accounting for these banks when analyzing small-business loan originations.
Entrepreneurship in Economic Crises: A Look at Four Recession Periods between 1978 and 2018 in the United States

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are being closely watched, and what happens to employer businesses during and after this downturn is an important part of the recovery. A look at four recession periods in the United States between 1978 and 2018 may offer some insight into the trajectory of entrepreneurship during and after economic crises. This paper highlights important patterns between employer startups (less than 1 year old) and employer firms 1 year or older, as well as between younger employer firms (0-5 years) and older employer firms (6 years and older) between 1978 and 2018.
Measuring variations in party unity voting An assessment of agenda effects

Measures of party divisiveness have been widely used in scholarly literature for a variety of different purposes. However, conventional measures of party divisiveness, such as the percentage of party votes in a particular Congress, fail to consider important changes in the agenda from one Congress to the next. We introduce a measure that controls for such changes, drawing attention to the effect that agenda change has on observed party divisiveness and providing a more accurate account of party divisiveness across time. We analyse party voting in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1953 and 2004, and find that a sizeable amount of the fluctuation in party divisiveness identified by conventional measures is mitigated using this method. While we examine party voting in the U.S. House, our theory and method is applicable to similar measures used in the study of other legislatures (e.g. Rice and Attina indices).
Seed Classification using Synthetic Image Datasets Generated from Low-Altitude UAV Imagery.

Plant breeding programs extensively monitor the evolution of seed kernels for seed certification, wherein lies the need to appropriately label the seed kernels by type and quality. However, the breeding environments are large where the monitoring of seed kernels can be challenging due to the minuscule size of seed kernels. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles aids in seed monitoring and labeling since they can capture images at low altitudes whilst being able to access even the remotest areas in the environment. A key bottleneck in the labeling of seeds using UAV imagery is drone altitude i.e. the classification accuracy decreases as the altitude increases due to lower image detail. Convolutional neural networks are a great tool for multi-class image classification when there is a training dataset that closely represents the different scenarios that the network might encounter during evaluation. The article addresses the challenge of training data creation using Domain Randomization wherein synthetic image datasets are generated from a meager sample of seeds captured by the bottom camera of an autonomously driven Parrot AR Drone 2.0. Besides, the article proposes a seed classification framework as a proof-of-concept using the convolutional neural networks of Microsoft's ResNet-100, Oxford's VGG-16, and VGG-19. To enhance the classification accuracy of the framework, an ensemble model is developed resulting in an overall accuracy of 94.6%.
Pevonedistat targets malignant cells in myeloproliferative neoplasms in vitro and in vivo via NFkB pathway inhibition.

Targeted inhibitors of JAK2 (e.g. ruxolitinib) often provide symptomatic relief for myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients, but the malignant clone persists and remains susceptible to disease transformation. These observations suggest that targeting alternative dysregulated signaling pathways may provide therapeutic benefit. Previous studies identified NFϰB pathway hyperactivation in myelofibrosis (MF) and secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) that was insensitive to JAK2 inhibition. Here, we provide evidence that NFϰB pathway inhibition via pevonedistat targets malignant cells in MPN patient samples as well as in MPN and patient-derived xenograft mouse models that is non-redundant with ruxolitinib. Colony forming assays revealed preferential inhibition of MF colony growth compared to normal colony formation. In mass cytometry studies, pevonedistat blunted canonical TNFα responses in MF and sAML patient CD34+ cells. Pevonedistat also inhibited hyperproduction of inflammatory cytokines more effectively than ruxolitinib. Upon pevonedistat treatment alone or in combination with ruxolitinib, MPN mouse models exhibited reduced disease burden and improved survival. These studies demonstrating efficacy of pevonedistat in MPN cells in vitro as well as in vivo provide a rationale for therapeutic inhibition of NFϰB signaling for MF treatment. Based on these findings, a Phase I clinical trial combining pevonedistat with ruxolitinib has been initiated.
Effect of prophylactic supplementation with grape polyphenolics on endotoxin-induced serum secretory phospholipase A2 activity in rats.

This study investigated whether dietary supplementation of polyphenolics-rich grape extract (GE) could attenuate endotoxin-induced serum secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity, a modulator of inflammation. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a control diet or the diet supplemented with polyphenolic-rich GE (100 or 300 mg/kg daily) for 3 wk prior to intraperitoneal injection of 3 or 15 mg/kg LPS. A fluorometric assay was used to measure serum sPLA2 activity during a 5-d period before and after LPS injection. Body weight, hematocrit, and serum C-reactive protein level were also measured. Administration of LPS induced a rapid increase in sPLA2 activity, which peaked 1 to 2 d after LPS injection and resolved to near-baseline values on days 4 to 5. Marked declines in body weight and hematocrit, increases in C-reactive protein levels, and effects on health status also occurred. GE supplementation significantly attenuated the LPS-induced increase in sPLA2 activity and decline in hematocrit, but its effects on the loss of body weight and C-reactive protein levels were not significant. Among the measurements, serum sPLA2 was the only marker that showed a dose-dependent response to both LPS and GE supplementation. The current findings show that oral consumption of polyphenolic-rich GE suppresses endotoxin-induced sPLA2 activity.
Short-term studies of taurocholate uptake by ileal brush border membrane vesicles: Anion effects

Experiments allowing Na+-dependent short-term uptake measurements by ileal brush border vesicles were described. Glucose uptake was compared with taurocholate uptake in the presence of NaCl, NaSCN and Na2SO4. In contrast to the observation made with glucose, taurocholate transport was the same for the three electrolytes, indicating electroneutral taurocholate transport.
Secure obfuscation for encrypted signatures

Obfuscation is one of the most intriguing open problems in cryptography and only a few positive results are known. In TCC’07, Hohenberger et al. proposed an obfuscator for a re-encryption functionality, which takes a ciphertext for a message encrypted under Alice’s public key and transforms it into a ciphertext for the same message under Bob’s public key [24]. It is the first complicated cryptographic functionality that can be securely obfuscated, but obfuscators for such cryptographic functionalities are still elusive. In this paper, we consider obfuscation for encrypted signature (ES) functionalities, which generate a signature on a given message under Alice’s secret signing key and encrypt the signature under Bob’s public encryption key. We propose a special ES functionality, which is the sequential composition of Waters’s signature scheme [33] and the linear encryption scheme proposed by Boneh, Boyen, and Shacham [5], and construct a secure obfuscator for it. We follow the security argument by Hohenberger et al. to prove that our proposed obfuscator satisfies a virtual black-box property (VBP), which guarantees that the security of the signature scheme is preserved even when adversaries are given an obfuscated program. Our security argument is in the standard model.
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Cancer Imaging and Therapy

The sections in this article are Introduction Synthesis and Surface Modifications of MNPs for Biological Applications Fabrication of the Magnetic Nanoparticle Core Surface Coatings and Chemistry Physico-Chemical Characterization of MNPs Plasma Stability and Pharmacokinetic Profile of the MNPs Development of MNPs as Cancer Diagnosis and Imaging Agents MNPs Used in MR Imaging for Cancer Diagnosis MNPs Used in Optical Imaging for Cancer Diagnosis Ligand-Directed MNPs for Cancer Imaging Antibody-Directed MNPs Antibody Fragment-Directed MNPs Radioimmunonanoparticles Annexin 5-Directed MNPs Chemotherapeutic Drugs Loaded with MNPs for Cancer Therapy Lymph Node-Targeting MNPs Other Novel MNPs for Cancer Targeting MNPs Applied to Cancer Therapy MNPs Utilized in Targeted Therapy for Cancer Brain Tumor Therapy Breast Cancer Therapy MNPs in Hyperthermia and Thermal Ablation MNPs-Directed Toxicity Summary Keywords: magnetic nanoparticles; cancer imaging; cancer therapy; small magnetic nanoparticles; ultra-small magnetic nanoparticles; drug delivery; hyperthermia
Complex Intersections: Reproductive Justice and Native American Women

This article presents an overview of reproductive justice as a theoretical and activist paradigm developed in response to reproductive oppression in the United States, and focuses on the reproductive justice needs of Native American women, as well as the responses developed by Native American women and their allies to these needs. I make explicit the links between reproductive justice, environmental justice and human rights for Native American communities, and articulate the ways in which reproductive healthcare for Native American women as it is provided by the Indian Health Service (IHS) acts as a fulcrum for these links. Ultimately, the failure of the IHS to meet the reproductive healthcare needs of Native American women reflects the failure of the federal government to meet its obligations to Tribal nations; further, these failures produce structures of reproductive oppression in Native communities which scholars and activists seek to redress utilizing the rubric of women’s reproductive health.
Remote agent based automated framework for threat modelling, vulnerability testing of SOA solutions and web services

Web services are a widely touted technology that aims to provide tangible benefits to both business and IT. Their increasing use in the enterprise sector, for the integration of distributed systems and business critical functions, dictates the need for diverse security assurances. Existing security frameworks do provide comprehensive security testing, but are not flexible enough to handle complex, user defined threat scenarios. This paper identifies and details an approach for providing an automated mechanism, which has the capability to allow users to create their own complex threat scenarios and test them against highly distributed web services. This mechanism provides the user with the tools and information necessary to generate and implement user defined security tests. This mechanism should however be considered only as a user driven extension to existing web service security testing frameworks.
Emergency Problems: A Quick Overview

If you have come to this section of the book after having read (or at least skimmed) Chapters 1 through 13, you should be ready to use this chapter as a review. If you are here because you feel that an overview of emergency problems is the most important task for you, I bid you welcome and hope that you will have a chance to go back and review the other topics in greater depth. This single chapter cannot review each topic in depth, and it is hoped, for instance, that you will not approach the toxic reaction or overdose patient without also looking at the material in the relevant subsections of the chapters on central nervous system (CNS) depressants, opiates, and so on (e.g., see Sections 2.2.3 and 6.2.3).
Physiological Aspects of the Production of Dimeyhtlsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) by Marine Phytoplankton

Marine phytoplankters are the primary source of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). Only certain groups of phytoplankton, notably the prymnesiophytes and the dinoflagellates, produce significant amounts of these compounds on a per cell basis. However, even within these groups, there is considerable variability in concentration, and the function of DMSP within the cells is not fully resolved. In macroalgae, there is a clear relationship between DMSP and osmotic adaptation. Most planktonic species, however, do not experience significant salinity variation; other factors must be responsible for any observed shifts in intracellular DMSP content. We have examined the effects of light intensity and nitrogen availability on the production of DMSP by several isolates of marine phytoplankton. An inverse relationship appears to exist between intracellular DMSP levels and nitrogen availability. The algae examined in this study produced more DMSP per cell under nitrogen-deplete conditions. There was no common response to light variations. It is important to understand the factors that control the production of DMSP in the oceans, as DMSP is the major precursor of the atmospherically important gas, dimethyl sulfide (DMS).
Lack of Spatiotemporal Localization of Foreshocks before the 1999 Mw 7.1 Düzce, Turkey, Earthquake

We use a matched‐filter technique to detect small seismic events before the M w 7.1 Duzce earthquake that are not included in the regular catalog. The study employs extensive waveform dataset recorded by a 10‐station fault zone array near the epicenter of the Duzce earthquake, deployed about three months before the event. We use 3134 earthquakes within 20 km of the Duzce epicenter listed in the local catalog as templates to scan through waveforms recorded within ∼65 hours before the Duzce earthquake. The analysis reveals 262 newly detected events in this time interval, which is ∼5 times more than the 55 events listed in the original catalog. Most of the events occur to the west of the Duzce epicenter, which was initiated between a more active western and relatively quite eastern fault segments. The results do not indicate a localizing foreshock process that accelerates in time and/or involves progressive concentration of activity around the mainshock hypocenter during the preceding 65 hour period. Instead, we find that the Duzce source region becomes less active during the ∼20 hours immediately before the mainshock. Our results, together with other recent studies, suggest that progressive acceleration and localization of foreshocks around the mainshock epicenter is not a general phenomenon. Online Material: Figures of timing of recorded waveforms, peak ground velocities, foreshock activity, seismicity rate, and temporal evolution of earthquake activity, vertical waveforms, and distribution of template events.
Dietary glycotoxins promote diabetic atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Abstract Hyperglycemia derived advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) have been implicated in diabetic atherosclerosis (AS) but the role of exogenous (dietary) AGE in the development of this serious complication is not known. This study evaluates the influence of diet-related AGE on AS in genetically hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE −/− ), streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Diabetic and non-diabetic apoE −/− mice (6–8 weeks old) were randomized into either a standard AIN-93G chow (AGE 12 500±700 U/mg, termed high-AGE diet, H-AGE), or the same chow having four to fivefold lower AGE level (L-AGE: 2700±830 U/mg) based on ELISA. After 2 months of diabetes, compared to the diabetic mice fed standard (H-AGE) diet, the AS lesions at the aortic root of the L-AGE group were >50% smaller (0.17±0.03 vs. 0.31±0.05 mm 2 , P P P