cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Routine Clopidogrel Use on Bleeding Complications After Transbronchial Biopsy in Humans

Study objectives: Clopidogrel is often prescribed for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and has been associated with unwanted bleeding events. After having shown that transbronchial biopsy can safely be performed in pigs receiving clopidogrel, we sought to determine whether routine clopidogrel use increases the risk of bleeding after transbronchial lung biopsy in humans. Design: Prospective cohort study. Patients and interventions: Data were collected on 604 patients without underlying coagulation problems who underwent transbronchial lung biopsy over 13 months. Clopidogrel was not discontinued before biopsy in patients who were using it. Transbronchial biopsies were performed, and the incidence of bleeding and other complications among patients receiving clopidogrel was compared with that of other patients. Results: The study was stopped early because the bleeding rate in the clopidogrel-only group (n = 18) was excessive (89% [16 of 18 patients] vs 3.4% [20 of 574 control subjects; p > 0.001] and also in the group receiving clopidogrel and aspirin (100% [12 of 12 patients] vs 3.4% among control subjects [p > 0.001]. Bleeding rates were significantly higher in the clopidogrel group for each degree of bleeding severity: mild (27% vs 1.5%), moderate (34% vs 1.5%), and severe (27% vs 0.3%; p > 0.001 for all comparisons). All 12 patients receiving both aspirin and clopidogrel had bleeding: moderate in 6 patients and severe in 6 patients. All bleeding was controlled by endoscopic means. There were no fatalities or need for blood transfusions in the patients enrolled in the trial. Conclusions: Clopidogrel use greatly increases the risk of bleeding after transbronchial lung biopsy in humans and therefore should be discontinued before bronchoscopy with biopsies. Aspirin exacerbates the effect of clopidogrel on bleeding.
Salicaceae detoxification abilities in Florida tiger swallowtail butterflies (Papilio glaucus maynardi Gauthier): Novel ability or Pleistocene holdover?

Florida populations of the eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, Papilio glaucus L., have unique morphological features and ecological adaptations that have contributed to their subspecies status (P. g. maynardi Gauthier). We describe geographically unique abilities for detoxification of Carolina willow, Salix caroliniana Michx. (Salicaceae), for several Florida populations of P. g. maynardi. Of all the approximately 570 worldwide species of the Papilionidae, such Salicaceae detoxification abilities exist only in the allopatric North American western and northernmost species (P. rutulus Lucas, P. eurymedon Lucas and P. canadensis Rothschild & Jordan). Females of P. glaucus collected from populations in southeastern USA were examined for oviposition preference in 5-choice assays, and displayed a low preference for Salicaceae ( 60%) on these plants. Detoxification abilities have previously shown to be autosomally inherited, and can be transferred via natural or hand-paired interspecific hybrid introgression. However, these Florida populations are at least 700–1 500 km from the nearest hybrids or the hybrid species, P. appalachiensis Pavulaan & Wright, which possess these detoxification abilities. In any case, the Z ( = X)-linked oviposition preferences for Salicaceae are lacking in these Florida populations, illustrating genetic independence of oviposition preference determination and larval survival/performance abilities. The origins of detoxification abilities are unlikely to be due to recent climate-driven introgression, and may represent ancestral trait carry-overs from interglacial refugium populations of the Pleistocene epoch.
Intrusion detection testing and benchmarking methodologies

The ad-hoc methodology that is prevalent in today's testing and evaluation of network intrusion detection algorithms and systems makes it difficult to compare different algorithms and approaches. After conducting a survey of the literature on the methods and techniques being used, it can be seen that a new approach that incorporates an open source testing methodology and environment would benefit the information assurance community. After summarizing the literature and presenting several example test and evaluation environments that have been used in the past, we propose a new open source evaluation environment and methodology for use by researchers and developers of new intrusion detection and denial of service detection and prevention algorithms and methodologies.
An Exploration into Framing Effects and Information Preferences: Implications for the Design of Energy Feedback Interfaces

A recent topic in the energy industry is promoting behavioral change in the individual energy consumer. Interfaces provide people with more useful energy feedback. The goal is to prompt the motivation and ability to adopt less wasteful energy consumption behaviors. Skillful HCI design will include attention to informational preferences, and framing effects due to presentation choices. A questionnaire study explored this domain, and the results were used to guide the design of test interfaces. An online survey yielded results from 36 male and 49 female United States residents. Cost ($) was perceived as the most useful metric and kW as the least useful. Further, a test of framings effects showed a higher likelihood to change behavior to save 100 dollars per year than 2 per week (U=1248.5, p=0.001). Respondent preference was expressed for lower levels of automation, which was not attributable to distrust of automation to effectively control energy consumption. A 2x2x2 factorial design was used to compare goa...
Sum-rate optimal multi-antenna downlink beamforming strategy based on clique search

We consider a multi-user MIMO downlink system employing zero-forcing beamforming (ZFBF) as a spatial multiplexing strategy, and propose low-complexity user subset selection methods based on a clique (fully connected subgraph) search. The proposed algorithms, maximum weighted clique (MWC)-ZFBF and greedy weighted clique (GWC)-ZFBF, are shown to achieve the asymptotic sum-capacity of MIMO downlink channels as the number of users goes to infinity. Thus, clique search based ZFBF is an appealing strategy in MIMO downlink systems with a large number of users.
Comparison of crystalloids and colloids for hemodilution in a model of focal cerebral ischemia.

✓ Forty dogs were subjected to 6 hours of occlusion of the left internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries. They were divided into two “hemodilution groups” of 13 dogs each and a control “nonhemodiluted group” of 14 dogs. Thirty minutes after arterial occlusion, isovolemic hemodilution was performed by phlebotomy and infusions of low-molecular weight (MW) dextran in one group and of lactated Ringer's solution in the other group. The animals were sacrificed 1 week after temporary arterial occlusion. Hemodilution reduced the hematocrit to a level of 33% to 34%, which lasted throughout the week in both groups. After hemodilution there was a very significant reduction in blood viscosity, plasma total protein content, and fibrinogen levels in both groups in the acute stage; these levels gradually returned to baseline by the end of the week. In the group with lactated Ringer's solution hemodilution, both osmotic and oncotic pressures were decreased by hemodilution in the acute stage. In the control and low-M...
Nanostructured plasmonics silicon solar cells

We report a plasmonics silicon solar cell design, with the possibility of lower cost and higher efficiency. The proposed solar cell consists of a radial p-n junction silicon nanopillar arrays in combination with metallic nanoparticles resolved at the top of the nanopillars. Relatively simple processing methods such as metal assisted electroless chemical etching and spin-on doping techniques are used for the fabrication of the described devices. Prior to the metallic nanoparticle incorporation, the power conversion efficiency of the solar cell with nanopillar arrays with a height of 800nm was measured to be 10.7%. Subsequently, the optical and electrical performance of the aforementioned topography was studied as a function of nanopillar height. The observations indicate that the electrical performance of the produced devices degrades with increases in nanopillar height beyond 800nm, however, the optical performance measurements did exhibit the opposite trend. Upon the incorporation of metallic nanoparticles to the previously fabricated nanopillar arrays, the power conversation efficiency of the combined structure was observed to decrease to 7.31%. This can be attributed due to a reduced open circuit voltage in spite of having a higher fill factor.
SIP network discovery by using SIP message probing

Currently more and more SIP based networks have been deployed in enterprises and communication carrierspsila domain to provide NGN services. With the widely adoption of SIP, information discovery in SIP network, which is the first step of SIP management, becomes a key challenge to operators and service providers. To address the problem, this paper presents an automated SIP network discovery approach based on SIP message probing. With our approach, minimal number of SIP request messages will be sent out to probe SIP entities and then targeted information could be obtained by wrapping and parsing the received responses. Experiment results show that the approach can effectively obtain SIP information for management while it costs limited probing messages.
Expression of dominant negative rab5 in HeLa cells regulates endocytic trafficking distal from the plasma membrane

Ligand-mediated endocytosis is an important regulatory mechanism of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) signal transduction. Coordinated EGFR internalization and degradation function to regulate the spatial and temporal components of EGFR-effector interactions. In an effort to better understand the molecular mechanisms that control these events, we examined the role of rab5 in the endocytic trafficking of the EGFR. Rab5 is a 25-kDa guanine nucleotide binding protein that has previously been shown to be involved in the early stages of endocytic trafficking. Using adenovirally expressed dominant negative and constitutively active rab5 [rab5(S34N) and rab5(Q79L)] in cells with endogenous EGFRs, we have found that the guanine nucleotide binding state of rab5 has no bearing on the rate of EGFR endocytosis. However, expression of dominant negative rab5 affects downstream endocytic trafficking by slowing the ligand-induced disappearance of total cellular EGFR. Using confocal microscopy to examine EGF/EGFR and rab5 localization indicates that the activity of rab5 governs whether internalized EGF/EGFR and rab5 co-localize. Transferrin, which internalizes via a constitutively internalized cell surface receptor, co-sediments with rab5(WT), but not rab5(S34N) on sucrose gradients. Taken together, these data are consistent with rab5 functioning to regulate intracellular endocytic trafficking distal from the plasma membrane.
Profiling risk factors for chronic uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a new model for EHR-based research

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common rheumatic disease in children. Chronic uveitis is a common and serious comorbid condition of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, with insidious presentation and potential to cause blindness. Knowledge of clinical associations will improve risk stratification. Based on clinical observation, we hypothesized that allergic conditions are associated with chronic uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients. This study is a retrospective cohort study using Stanford’s clinical data warehouse containing data from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital from 2000–2011 to analyze patient characteristics associated with chronic uveitis in a large juvenile idiopathic arthritis cohort. Clinical notes in patients under 16 years of age were processed via a validated text analytics pipeline. Bivariate-associated variables were used in a multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, and race. Previously reported associations were evaluated to validate our methods. The main outcome measure was presence of terms indicating allergy or allergy medications use overrepresented in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients with chronic uveitis. Residual text features were then used in unsupervised hierarchical clustering to compare clinical text similarity between patients with and without uveitis. Previously reported associations with uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients (earlier age at arthritis diagnosis, oligoarticular-onset disease, antinuclear antibody status, history of psoriasis) were reproduced in our study. Use of allergy medications and terms describing allergic conditions were independently associated with chronic uveitis. The association with allergy drugs when adjusted for known associations remained significant (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.22–5.4). This study shows the potential of using a validated text analytics pipeline on clinical data warehouses to examine practice-based evidence for evaluating hypotheses formed during patient care. Our study reproduces four known associations with uveitis development in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients, and reports a new association between allergic conditions and chronic uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients.
Effects of dietary magnesium excess in White Leghorn hens

Abstract The effects of excess dietary magnesium on White Leghorn laying hens were investigated in two experiments and a third experiment looked at the effect of dietary phosphorus on excess magnesium in the diet. In Experiment 1, magnesium levels of 0.15, 0.8, and 1.2% were fed in a diet containing 2.5% calcium to hens 30 wk of age for 5 wk. A control diet with 3.5% calcium and 0.15% magnesium was also fed. In Experiment 2, hens 65 wk of age fed 3.5% calcium were fed dietary magnesium levels of 0.15, 0.36, 0.53, 0.76, and 0.91% for 4 wk. In these two experiments, excess magnesium reduced egg production, decreased feed consumption, decreased body weight, decreased percentage eggshell, reduced plasma calcium, and increased plasma magnesium and tibia magnesium but changes seen in tibia weight, percentage ash, and tibia calcium and phosphorus were variable. More changes from feeding excess magnesium were seen in the young, high producing hens in Experiment 1. In Experiment 3, hens 50 wk of age were fed a marginal calcium level (2.5%) with an excess of magnesium (0.8%) and a control level of available phosphorus (0.45%) and this was compared to a low (0.25%) and a high level (0.9%) of available phosphorus for a 4-wk experimental period. At the end of the experimental period, hens fed low phosphorus had lower egg production and lower feed consumption than the hens fed higher levels of phosphorus. Body weight was lower in the hens fed the two lower levels of phosphorus. Percentage eggshell was lower than the controls when fed low phosphorus and higher when fed high phosphorus. These results suggest that high phosphorus diets are better than low phosphorus diets when excess magnesium is fed to laying hens. Further study is needed to investigate the role of phosphorus when excess magnesium is fed.
INHIBITION OF THROMBIN BY ARGININE CONTAINING PEPTIDE CHLOROMETHYL KETONES AND BIS CHLOROMETHYL KETONE-ALBUMIN CONJUGATES

AbstractArg-containing peptide chloromethyl ketones including D-Phe-Pro-Arg-CH2CI derivatives have been synthesized and tested as inhibitors for thrombin and several blood coagulation enzymes. The parent compound, D-Phe-Pro-Arg-CH2CI is still the best thrombin inhibitor in the series with kobs/[I] value of 107 M−1s−1 Extension by one amino acid (Phe or Gly), or a peptide moiety (ClCH2-Arg<-Pro<-D-Phe<-CO-CO-, CICH2-Arg<-Pro<-D-Phe<-CO-(CH2)3-CO-, where <-indicates a reversed amino acid residue,-CO-CHR-NH-) on the N-terminus of D-Phe-Pro-Arg-CH2CI reduces the inhibition constant by 1–2 orders of magnitude, which indicates the importance of a free amino group at the N-terminus. The tnpeptide D-Phe-Pro-Arg-CH2CI and related tetrapeptide inhibitors inhibit thrombin more potently than factor IXa and plasma kallikrein by 2–5 orders of magnitude. Z-Arg-CH2CI and Phe-Phe-Arg-CH2CI which contain a large hydrophobic group at the P, site inhibit thrombin poorly. All the peptide chloromethyl ketones inhibit plasma ka...
Structural relationships among involvement, destination brand equity, satisfaction and destination visit intentions: The case of Japanese outbound travelers

The concept of involvement and destination brand equity and its relationship to satisfaction, intention to revisit, and willingness to spend money was explored in a sample of 369 international tour...
Asperity Models for Earthquakes

A quasi-static numerical method was used to simulate the failure of a strong stuck asperity on an otherwise creeping fault plane. The numerical model produced the same slip distribution as analytical asperity models, which, for constant loading rate, produced repeating events having a period T that scales with moment M 0 as \(T{\propto}M_{0}^{1{/}6}\) , the scaling relation observed by Nadeau and Johnson (1998) at Parkfield. When the asperity is a composite of smaller hard unit asperities, we still find \(T{\propto}M_{0}^{1{/}6}\) but the constant of proportionality depends on the density of unit asperities within the cluster. Since only clusters with a fixed asperity density follow the observed \(T{\propto}M_{0}^{1{/}6}\) scaling, this result rules out the fractal spatial distribution (Cantor dust) of unit asperities at Parkfield suggested by Sammis et al. (1999). For solid asperities, the average stress drop on the asperity is on the order of 100 MPa, but the average stress drop over the entire rupture area is significantly lower, equivalent to that estimated from spectral analysis. However, the stress drop for asperity models is not independent of seismic moment but decreases with earthquake size. The energy release rate for asperity events is estimated to be \(\mathcal{G}{\gtrsim}10^{7}\) J/m 2 , near the upper limit of estimates by Li (1987) using parameters from large events on the San Andreas Fault.
Reconfigurable Antenna Assisted Intrusion Detection in Wireless Networks

Intrusion detection is a challenging problem in wireless networks due to the broadcast nature of the wireless medium. Physical layer information is increasingly used to protect these vulnerable networks. Meanwhile, reconfigurable antennas are gradually finding their way into wireless devices due to their ability to improve data throughput. In this paper, the capabilities of reconfigurable antennas are used to devise an intrusion detection scheme that operates at the physical layer. The detection problem is posed as a GLRT problem that operates on the channels corresponding to the different modes of a reconfigurable antenna. The performance of the scheme is quantified through field measurements taken in an indoor environment at the 802.11 frequency band. Based on the measured data, we study the achievable performance and the effect of the different control parameters on the performance of the intrusion detection scheme. The effect of pattern correlation between the different modes on the scheme&#x2019;s performance is also analyzed, based on which general guidelines on how to design the different antenna modes are provided. The results show that the proposed scheme can add an additional layer of security that can significantly alleviate many vulnerabilities and threats in current fixed wireless networks.
Experimental Study of the Acceleration Region in a 2 kW Hall Thruster

Measurements with a movable emissive probe in a 2 kW Hall thruster revealed several interesting phenomena. The length of the acceleration region almost does not change when the discharge voltage increases from 200V to 400 V and a growth of maximum electron temperature with the discharge voltage in this range is fairly linear. However, at the discharge voltages above 400 V, the maximum electron temperature saturates at 50 eV, accompanied by a wider acceleration region. These results suggest that the dominant mechanism of the electron mobility is sensitive to the discharge voltage. The role of the secondary electron emission appears to be less important at moderate discharge voltages (less than 400 V in our thruster).
Hybrid value iteration for POMDPs

The Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) provides a rich mathematical model for designing agents that have to formulate plans under uncertainty. The curses of dimensionality and history associated with solving POMDPs have lead to numerous refinements of the value iteration algorithm. Several exact methods with different pruning strategies have been devised, yet, limited scalability has lead research to focus on ways to approximate the optimal value function. One set of approximations relies on point-based value iteration, which maintains a fixed-size value function, and is typically executed offline. Another set of approximations relies on tree search, which explores the implicit tree defined by the value iteration equation, and is typically executed online. In this paper we present a hybrid value iteration algorithm that combines the benefits of point-based value iteration and tree search. Using our approach, a hybrid agent executes tree search online, and occasionally updates its offline-computed lower bound on the optimal value function, resulting in improved lookahead and higher obtained reward, while meeting real-time constraints. Thus, unlike other hybrid algorithms that use an invariant value function computed offline, our proposed scheme uses information from the real-time tree search process to reason whether to perform a point-based backup online. Keeping track of partial results obtained during online planning makes the computation of point-based backups less prohibitive. We report preliminary results that support our approach.
Cobalt toxicity after revision to a metal-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasty for fracture of ceramic acetabular component

Cobalt metallosis after revision metal-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasty for catastrophic failure of ceramic components is uncommon but a potentially devastating complication. Common findings associated with heavy metal toxicity include cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism, skin rashes, visual disturbances, hearing changes, polycythemia, weakness, fatigue, cognitive deterioration, and neuropathy. We report a case of a 57-year-old woman who presented with complaints of progressively worsening hip pain, fatigue, memory loss, lower extremity sensory loss, persistent tachycardia, and ocular changes 5 years after synovectomy and revision of a failed ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasty to metal-on-polyethylene components. A cobalt level of 788.1 ppb and chromium level of 140 ppb were found on presentation and subsequently decreased to 468.8 ppb and 105.9 ppb, respectively, 2 weeks after revision to a ceramic-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasty. Improvement of symptoms accompanied this decrease in cobalt and chromium levels. Revision of failed ceramic arthroplasties with later-generation ceramics to avoid this potential complication is recommended.
Ratios Tell a Story: 1999

This case provides an opportunity for students to: (1) learn about the calculation of various financial ratios, (2) hypothesize how some of their basic understandings of an industry would be reflected in certain financial metrics, and (3) discuss an organizing framework for financial ratios.
Measuring the Perceived Functional Affordances of Collaborative Innovation Networks in Social Product Development

The social model of open innovation allows all members of a community to participate in new product development. Social-media co-innovation platforms are the main enablers of this model of open innovation. One aspect of this business transformation model, co-innovation platform affordances, has captured the attention of researchers and practitioners. Although the importance of co-innovation platform affordances has been established, the development of a valid and reliable instrument to measure this construct in research studies has not been reported in the literature. This paper conceptualizes co-innovation platform affordances and develops a valid and reliable measurement instrument capturing critical facets of co-innovation, namely ideation, collaboration, and communication.
Cryogenic Vertical-Cavity Laser for Low Power Free-Space Optical Interconnects

Optical interconnections in combination with low-temperature system operation provide an opportunity for enhanced performance of advanced high-speed, high-density electronic computing, imaging, and communication systems [1]. Furthermore, optical interconnects provide low thermal loading on the cryostat. Vertical-Cavity Lasers (VCLs) represent a promising approach for low temperature optical interconnect applications, because of their potential for low cost manufacture in arrays, their desirable optical properties, and superior performance achievable at cryogenic temperatures [2,3]. The potential of VCLs in cryogenic high-speed optical links has been demonstrated [3,4], but the required drive powers at low optical output power (0.1-0.2 mW) have still been higher than desired.
Discovering architectural patterning at a complex site

To enable systematic interpretive studies of community organization and population, two techniques are advocated: (1) a probability sampling technique for the selection of at least a portion of a site's excavation units and (2) the systematic recording of architectural space. A substantive example is drawn from the investigations of a historic period town in northern Morocco, Qsar es-Seghir. Analyses of architectural remains produced information on the overall nature of land use, general layout of the community, and two alternative methods of estimating population.
H(+)-ATPases of renal cortical and medullary endosomes are differentially sensitive to Sch-28080 and omeprazole

Adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity stimulated by K+ and inhibited by Sch-28080 (SCH), omeprazole (OME), and vanadate has been measured in microsomes from mammalian renal medulla and attributed to a kidney isoform of the H(+)-K(+)-ATPase. To determine whether the H(+)-K(+)-ATPase inhibitors could also inhibit the vacuolar (V)-type H(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (H(+)-ATPase, i.e., H+ pump) in mammalian intracellular vesicles, we examined their effects on bafilomycin-sensitive acidification in renal cortical vesicles (CEV) and medullary endocytic vesicles (MEV). Rats were injected with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran, and labeled endosomes were enriched from kidney tissue homogenates by differential and Percoll density gradient centrifugation. In the CEV, the V-type H+ pump was inhibited 25% by SCH and 30% by OME (100 microM each). Whereas the inhibition by OME was concentration and time dependent, the inhibition by SCH was only concentration dependent. Inhibition by these compounds was similar in the presence of 50 mM K+ (in = out) and in the complete absence of K+, thus ruling out a significant involvement of H(+)-K(+)-ATPase-mediated acidification. Inhibition, however, was not observed with 10 microM SCH and OME. The sensitivity of the V-type H+ pump to 100 microM SCH and OME in CEV was confirmed by the comparable inhibitions of intravesicular acidification observed in acridine orange fluorescence quench studies and by inhibition of Pi liberation in an ATPase assay. We also found that the V-type H+ pump in isolated rat liver endosomes is sensitive to 100 microM SCH and OME to a similar degree. In the MEV, acidification was only weakly affected by 100 microM SCH and OME, thus suggesting that H(+)-ATPases in endosomes from cortical and medullary tubules are different, possibly due to a previously described selective expression of subunit isoforms. Our finding indicates the importance of using low concentrations (< 10 microM) of OME and SCH in studies of H(+)-K(+)-ATPase in nongastric tissues to avoid misinterpretation of the data due to nonspecific inhibition of V-type H(+)-ATPases.
The Free Market and Morality

Economic systems in general, and capitalism in particular, carry certain values and action patterns within them that encourage people to act in certain moral directions. These social pressures emanating from the economic system may have a positive or a negative effect on the overall ethical system of a culture, depending upon the interaction of these economic pressures with the other sources of ideology and action patterns in the society at large.
Wolinella Asparaginase as an Immunologically Distinct, Efficacious, and Potentially Less Toxic Asparaginase for Use in Lymphoid Malignancies.

L-asparaginase targets the protein translational mechanism and is an essential component in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoid malignancies. The current available preparations, E. coli and Erwinia have significant toxicities, often limiting their clinical use. In order to provide patients with a novel form of asparaginase, a recombinant form of Wolinella (rWS) asparaginase was developed. C3H mice were transplanted with 2 × 106 6C3HED lymphoma cells. Mice treated with native or rWS asparaginase demonstrated a significant decrease in tumor volume, and they remained tumor free for greater than 30 days after treatment. Human ALL cell lines were tested for sensitivity to rWS asparaginase and the molecular basis for rWS asparaginase sensitivity was examined in these cells. We hypothesized that rWS asparaginase would be immunologically distinct to that of E. coli . The sera of 6 patients previously identified to have high titer inhibitors to E. coli asparaginase were tested for antibodies to rWS asparaginase. The antibodies to E. coli did not bind to the rWS asparaginase, therefore demonstrating that there is no cross-reactivity to rWS asparaginase. Thus, antibodies or hypersensitivity reactions to previous forms of asparaginase will not prohibit therapy with rWS asparaginase. Therefore rWS asparaginase represents the first recombinant form of asparaginase and shows promise as a novel form of asparaginase which is immunologically distinct from E. coli and Erwinia asparaginase. In addition, it appears to be equally efficacious, and in previously published data, may have less toxicity. Asparaginase is an important component of treatment regimens for lymphoid malignancies, and therefore future studies will include a Phase I/II trial utilizing rWS asparaginase in relapsed lymphoid malignancies.
Reinventing Clinical Legal Education: Taiwanese Adaptation of an American Model

The clinical legal education movement began in earnest in the United States in the 1960s in response to student demands that their legal education serve marginalized communities. As clinical legal education became a mainstream element of American legal education, the focus moved from its service-based roots to an emphasis on education, particularly practical lawyering skills and professional values for lawyers. Law clinics in the United States have developed a standard model that works to achieve these objectives within the framework of the American legal system. The global spread of clinical legal education originated in the United States and has led to clinical programs around the world. The most successful exports are tailored to the local context. It is the concept of clinical legal education that travels best, not any particular model. Taiwan’s legal educators have resisted clinical education for a very long time, and there are several practical obstacles to implementing an American-style clinic. However, some existing models that have been created within the existing system would require only slight modification to be viable options for clinical education in Taiwan. The inchoate clinical movement in Taiwan will continue moving forward by developing models that, while reflecting the core objectives and concepts of the global clinical legal education movement, are absolutely Taiwanese.
Mathematical Modeling of Learning from an Inconsistent Source: A Nonlinear Approach

Continuing the discussion of how children can modify and regularize linguistic inputs from adults, we present a new interpretation of existing algorithms to model and investigate the process of a learner learning from an inconsistent source. On the basis of this approach is a (possibly nonlinear) function (the update function) that relates the current state of the learner with an increment that it receives upon processing the source's input, in a sequence of updates. The model can be considered a nonlinear generalization of the classic Bush-Mosteller algorithm. Our model allows us to analyze and present a theoretical explanation of a frequency boosting property, whereby the learner surpasses the fluency of the source by increasing the frequency of the most common input. We derive analytical expressions for the frequency of the learner, and also identify a class of update functions that exhibit frequency boosting. Applications to the Feature-Label-Order effect in learning are presented.
Spatial Heterogeneity, Variable Rewards, Tag Loss, and Tagging Mortality Affect the Performance of Mark–Recapture Designs to Estimate Exploitation: an Example using Red Snapper in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

AbstractAccurate estimates of exploitation rate are essential to the management of exploited fisheries. Tagging studies are often used to estimate exploitation rates, but the performance of these approaches depends strongly on study design characteristics and the magnitude of assumption violations. We simulated a suite of candidate study designs for 1-year high-reward and variable-reward tagging studies, exploring a range of sample sizes (number of tagged fish), exploitation rates, tagging mortality rates, tag loss rates, proportions of double-tagged fish, and spatial variation in fish density, tag releases, and fishing effort. We calculated the uncertainty, biases, and reward costs of these candidate study designs to determine the most cost-effective approach to accurately estimate exploitation rate for Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus in Alabama waters of the Gulf of Mexico. We also investigated how incorrectly assuming a 100% reporting rate would affect these study results. Our simulations demonstrated...
Left Atrial Volumes and Strain in Healthy Children Measured by Three-Dimensional Echocardiography: Normal Values and Maturational Changes.

Background Assessment of left atrial (LA) size and function is important in a number of pediatric cardiac conditions including those affecting the diastolic performance of the left ventricle. Measurements of LA volume and strain by two-dimensional echocardiography rely upon inaccurate geometric assumptions and are hampered by out-of-plane motion. The objective of this study was to characterize LA volumes and strain by three-dimensional echocardiography in healthy children. Methods LA volumes and strain were retrospectively measured by three-dimensional echocardiography in healthy children with no known structural or functional heart disease using a commercial speckle-tracking package applied to the LA to compute maximum volume ( V max ), minimum volume ( V min ), ejection volume (LAEV), ejection fraction (LAEF), and the following components of global strain: 3D principal (3DS), longitudinal (GLS), and circumferential (GCS). Results The study population included 196 normal subjects (median age, 12 years; range, 4 days to 20.9 years). V max , V min , and LAEV increased with age and body surface area. Significant age-related declines were present in all measured functional indices including LAEF, 3DS, GLS, and GCS. Analysis of a subset of 50 subjects showed excellent agreement between V max derived by three-dimensional and two-dimensional biplane area-length method. Regression equations with standard deviations were generated to enable calculation of Z scores. Conclusions LA volume and functional indices can be reliably calculated using a commercial three-dimensional analysis software. All components of LA strain decline modestly with age. Normative data generated in this study have the potential to greatly enhance the utility of three-dimensional echocardiography-derived measurements in a wide range of cardiac pathologies.
Representation of positive alpha-stable network traffic through levy mixtures

Aspects of network traffic, among other impulsive time series, can be more accurately represented using the family of stable distributions. Simple, closed form solutions for stable distributions do not exist, other than special cases. Mixtures of one of these special cases, the Levy (or Pearson V) distribution, can be used to provide a closed-form approximation of positive a-stable (PaS) distributions. We show that for a specific network traffic trace, accurate closed-form approximations of a PaS time series can be obtained with only four mixture components. Additionally, we provide an algorithm for creating Levy Mixture Approximations (LMAs) and demonstrate that non-linear methods can improve model accuracy while constraining the number of components and computational cost. This approach provides a computationally-tractable, accurate model for non-Gaussian, positive (or negative) time series such as network traffic. This model is in a form that is less costly for follow-on processing and detection, potentially facilitating real-time applications.
Complications of Treatment

The complications of correct treatment of intravascular infections are those that one would expect with long-term high-dose antibiotic therapy. The physician must be particularly alert to the development of vestibular disturbances (20–30% of patients treated with recommended regimen for enterococcal endocarditis) due to streptomycin therapy and to discontinue streptomycin after 4 weeks when this is detected.
Renal Function in the Elderly

Understanding age-related changes in renal function is essential for intensivists as renal parenchymal diminution limits the elderly’s ability to clear water and solute. Standard functional estimates may be inappropriate due to critical illness, malnutrition, age, and hypovolemia due to age-related thirst attenuation. These factors should be considered during resuscitation to titrate therapy and affect the results and interpretation of ordinary laboratory assays used to evaluate renal function dose medications and manage elderly patients.
The Search for Reconciliation: Volatility and Downward Spiral: Sino-Japanese Relations from the 1990s to the Present

Sino-Japanese relations enjoyed temporary serenity in the early 1990s only to deteriorate again from the mid-1990s, marked by renewed sovereignty disputes over Taiwan, offshore islands, and maritime rights, and the politicization of Japanese aid policy to China as well as a downward spiral in popular image. So the relationship stagnated at the shallow reconciliation–friction stage. Structural conditions correctly predict the increased bilateral tension resulting from the end of the Cold War. What remains unexplained is the four- to five-year time lag between the dissipation of the common Soviet threat at the end of the 1980s and the sharp increase of Sino-Japanese tension in the mid-1990s. Also, realist theory only partially explains the intensity of the bilateral friction and alienation during this period because a major shift in the Sino-Japanese balance of power was lacking, and none of their political and economic disputes involved vital national interests. Historical memory provides a strong explanation for the temporary harmony in the early 1990s as well as for the escalation of bilateral tension four to five years later. From the 1990s, Japan's conservative ruling elites perpetuated old national myths not only to justify an assertive diplomatic agenda but also to use the memory tool to mobilize public support for their electoral strategy and domestic reform programs. In the meantime, the goals of enhancing internal cohesion and boosting regime legitimacy motivated the Chinese government to employ a twofold strategy of launching a patriotic history education campaign at home and attacking Japan's attitude toward history in the diplomatic arena.
OR5 Donor specific antibody (DSA) assessments using HLA P groups: The devil is in the details

Aim Use of HLA P groups for reporting purposes and DSA assessments for potential donors has been steadily increasing. P groups for HLA class II encompass exon2 sequences and capture the polymorphic rich peptide binding domain that serves as the primary target for alloantibody. Nevertheless, we have observed multiple sera exhibiting HLA-DQA1 or HLA-DPB1 reactivity to polymorphic sites outside of exon 2 and confirmed this reactivity using cell adsorptions. Methods HLA antibodies were assessed using Lifecodes single antigen; Immucor and LabScreen Single Antigen; One Lambda. Sera were pretreated to remove interference using Melon Columns™ (ThermoFisher). HLA typing was performed using rSSO LabType, One Lambda and confirmed using NGS TruSight HLA, Illumina. 10th international workshop B cell lines were used for adsorptions. Results We present a representative example in Fig. 1. Patient #1 typed as a DQA1∗05:05/DQB1∗03:19 yet her sera reacted with the DQA1∗05:03/DQB1∗03:01 bead with a median fluorescence intensity of 11,000. Sequence alignments illustrate an amino acid difference between DQA1∗05:03 and DQA1∗05:05 at position 159. There is also one amino acid difference between DQB1∗03:01 and DQB1∗03:19 but the DQA1∗05:05/DQB∗03:01 bead reactivity was negative, negating the possibility that the antibody was directed at HLA-DQB1. Serum adsorptions using a DQA1∗05:03/DQB1∗03:01 cell line showed an 84% reduction in the DQA1∗05:03/DQB1∗03:01 bead reactivity and a concomitant 3% reduction in reactivity with the DQA1∗03:01/DQB1∗03:01 bead. These data show that the serum reactivity with the DQA1∗05:03/DQB1∗03:01 bead was directed toward the HLA-DQA1 protein, which differed from the recipient by a single polymorphic difference outside of exon 2. Conclusions We show evidence of sensitization to a polymorphism outside of exon 2 implying the potential danger of using P group designations when performing virtual crossmatch assessments or unrelated stem cell donor searches for patients with complex HLA sensitization. A.M. Jackson: 3. Speaker’s Bureau; Company/Organization; Thermo Fisher. M. Bettinotti: 3. Speaker’s Bureau; Company/Organization; ThermoFisher.
Expectancy-Value-Cost Model of Motivation

Abstract Expectancy-Value models recognize the important role of two components in promoting overall motivation: having an expectancy of being successful in a task and having a value for engaging in the task. In this article, we highlight the additional role that the cost of engaging in an activity plays in influencing motivation and propose a revised Expectancy-Value-Cost model of motivation. Because cost has been less researched and written about, we pay particular attention to its past, present, and future role in an overall model of motivation.
Microvolt T-Wave Alternans: Pathophysiology and Clinical Aspects

Decreasing the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a forefront challenge in cardiology, as it is the main cause of adult death in the industrially advanced world, claiming 1.5 million lives annually worldwide. The main contemporary noninvasive marker of cardiovascular risk, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), has not proved sufficiently reliable, as the majority of individuals who die suddenly have relatively preserved cardiac mechanical function. Tracking T-wave alternans (TWA), a beat-to-beat fluctuation in ST-segment or T-wave morphology, is a promising approach to SCD risk stratification that is supported by both scientific and clinical evidence. This ECG parameter has been shown using the FDA-cleared Spectral and Modified Moving Average analytical techniques to assess risk for cardiovascular mortality including SCD in investigations enrolling >13,000 individuals with depressed or preserved LVEF. The utility of TWA testing for SCD risk assessment has been demonstrated in patients with primary electrical and genetic ion channel abnormalities including long QT and Brugada syndromes, cardiomyopathies, and following myocardial infarction.
Targeted healthy compounds in small and large-scale brewed beers

The determination of targeted healthy compounds in the most popular small and large-scale brewed beer sold in Italy was carried out. Nitrogen compounds, fermentable sugars, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, β-glucans, pyridoxine, folates and silicon were quantified. Further, amine content was determined since raw materials and brewing technology can affect their level. Significantly higher values for total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, nitrogen, folate and putrescine content were found for small scale beers. However, the statistical results were affected by the different beer styles in the small scale and large scale brewed beer groups, since the content of these components can vary between beer styles. Positive Pearson correlation was found between total phenolic content and EBC colour. Wide variations in pyridoxine, β-glucans and fermentable sugars levels were observed both for small and large scale beers, while average silicon content of two groups was similar.
Dual Neutral Sphingomyelinase-2/Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

We report the discovery of a novel class of compounds that function as dual inhibitors of the enzymes neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Inhibition of these enzym...
Acute Liver Injury in COVID-19: Prevalence and Association with Clinical Outcomes in a Large U.S. Cohort.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with acute liver injury manifested by increased liver enzymes in reports worldwide. Prevalence of liver injury and associated clinical characteristics are not well-defined. We aim to identify the prevalence of and risk factors for development of COVID-19 associated acute liver injury in a large cohort in the United States. APPROACH & RESULTS: In this retrospective cohort study, all patients who underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing at three hospitals in the NewYork-Presbyterian network were assessed. Of 3381 patients, 2273 tested positive and had higher initial and peak ALT than those who tested negative. Acute liver injury was categorized as mild if alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was > upper limit of normal (ULN) but five times ULN. Among patients who tested positive, 45% had mild, 21% moderate, and 6.4% severe liver injury. In multivariable analysis, severe acute liver injury was significantly associated with elevated inflammatory markers including ferritin (OR 2.40, p<0.001) and IL-6 (OR 1.45, p=0.009). Patients with severe liver injury had a more severe clinical course, including higher rates of ICU admission (69%), intubation (65%), renal replacement therapy (33%), and mortality (42%). In multivariable analysis, peak ALT was significantly associated with death or discharge to hospice (OR 1.14, p=0.044), controlling for age, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, intubation, and renal replacement therapy. CONCLUSION: Acute liver injury is common in patients who test positive for SARS-CoV-2, but is most often mild. However, among the 6.4% of patients with severe liver injury, a severe disease course should be anticipated.