cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retrospective Review of the Use of High-Dose Cyclophosphamide, Bortezomib, Doxorubicin, and Dexamethasone for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Leukemia.

Abstract Background Multiple myeloma (MM) usually follows a clinical course leading to refractoriness and limited treatment options in advanced stages, which might need bridge therapies to either autologous stem cell transplantation or novel therapies. We report our experience with the high-dose chemotherapy mCBAD (modified cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone) regimen in newly diagnosed MM (NDMM), relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM), and plasma cell leukemia (PCL) patients. Patients and Methods We searched our electronic records database for MM patients who received mCBAD from 2010 to 2016 for 28-day cycles of cyclophosphamide 350 mg/m2 intravenously (I.V.) twice daily with mesna 400 mg/m2 I.V. daily (days 1-4), bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 subcutaneously/I.V. (days 1, 4, 8, 11), doxorubicin 9 mg/m2 daily continuous infusion (days 1-4), dexamethasone 40 mg orally daily (on days 1-4, 9-12, 17-20). International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria were used for response assessment and diagnosis. Descriptive statistics, Fisher exact test, χ2, Wilcoxon rank sum, and Kaplan–Meier were used for statistical purposes. Results One hundred forty patients met the inclusion criteria. A median of 2 cycles of therapy was administered. The overall response rate was 85% in patients with RRMM (n = 116) and 100% in NDMM (n = 13) and PCL (n = 11) patients. Respective median progression-free survival (mPFS) for NDMM, PCL, and RRMM were 19.61 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.26 to not applicable [NA]), 7.56 months (95% CI, 4.7 to NA), and 4.64 months (95% CI, 3.75-6.73). Patients with RRMM who used mCBAD as a bridge to autologous transplant (36.2%) had mPFS (11.48 months; 95% CI, 7.52-15.9 months) compared with those who did not (mPFS: 3.19 months; 95% CI, 2.4-3.75 months). Cytopenias occurred in more than 90% of patients, and febrile neutropenia was noted in 26%. All cases of treatment-related mortality (8%) occurred in patients with RRMM, except for 1 patient with PCL. Conclusion mCBAD results in high response rates in myeloma and PCL, however, with high treatment-related mortality. Its use in RRMM should be limited to patients who have immediate need for therapy without other treatment options and who have good performance status (score of 0-1) or NDMM if novel agents are not available depending on practice setting. mCBAD can be a treatment option for patients with PCL.
Teichmüller space of negatively curved metrics on Gromov–Thurston manifolds is not contractible

In this paper we prove that for all n = 4k - 2, k ≥ 2 there exists closed n-dimensional Riemannian manifolds M with negative sectional curvature that do not have the homotopy type of a locally symmetric space, such that is nontrivial. denotes the Teichmuller space of all negatively curved Riemannian metrics on M, which is the topological quotient of the space of all negatively curved metrics modulo the space of self-diffeomorphisms of M that are homotopic to the identity. Gromov–Thurston branched cover manifolds provide examples of negatively curved manifolds that do not have the homotopy type of a locally symmetric space. These manifolds will be used in this paper to prove the above stated result.
Prefrontal Cortical Activation With Open and Closed-Loop Tactile Cueing When Walking and Turning in Parkinson Disease: A Pilot Study.

Background and purpose Gait and turning impairments are common in people with Parkinson disease (PwPD). Tactile cues delivered in open- or closed-loop modalities may improve gait and turning in PwPD, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. Attention stemming from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) may play a role in cue response, but PFC contributions to specific cue modalities are unclear. Examining how open- and closed-loop cueing influences PFC activity during walking and turning in PwPD may elucidate mechanisms involved in cue response, which could advance development of effective therapeutics. We examined PFC activity during walking and turning in response to open- and closed-loop cueing in PwPD, and explored relationships between PFC activity and behavioral measures. Methods A mobile functional near-infrared spectroscopy device measured PFC activity during walking and turning in 25 PwPD (n = 13 freezers, n = 12 nonfreezers). Participants performed 180° and 360° turns while walking, and a 2-minute walk under single- and dual-task (AX-CPT) conditions with and without an open- (metronome-like vibration) or closed-loop (biofeedback vibration) tactile cue. Results PFC activity did not change when walking or turning in PwPD; freezing status or task demands did not influence PFC activity. With both open- and closed-loop cueing dual-task cost of gait significantly improved, whereas turning slowed. Discussion and conclusions Our preliminary results indicate that both open- and closed-loop cueing can improve gait without additional burden to the PFC beyond usual walking. However, turning while walking slowed with cueing with no PFC activity change. Further investigations are necessary to establish these findings in a larger cohort.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see Supplemental Digital Content 1, the Video, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A280).
Export of nitrogen and phosphorus from golf courses: A review

Abstract Mitigating the environmental impact of nonpoint source pollution from intensively managed urban and agricultural landscapes is of paramount concern to watershed managers. Golf course turfgrass systems, which receive significant fertilizer inputs, have been cited as significant sources of nutrient loading to groundwater and surface water, but a contemporary synthesis of golf course nutrient export rates is lacking. This review of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loss from golf courses and the factors affecting it aims to support watershed management efforts and decision making. We discuss previous literature reviews, examine seven golf course studies that quantify nutrient export from delineated drainage areas, and analyze the results of 40 turfgrass plot experiments. Studies were collected systematically and selected based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Combining evidence from both watershed- and plot-scale studies, typical inorganic N and P losses from golf courses via leaching and runoff are on the order of 2–12 kg ha−1 yr−1 and 0.1–1.0 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Typical total N and P losses are around 2–20 kg ha−1 yr−1 and 1.5–5 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. However, the potential for large variation in export rates across 2–3 orders of magnitude must be emphasized. The body of turfgrass literature stresses the importance of best management practices (BMPs) related to applying fertilizer to match plant needs and reducing opportunities for its transport. Accounting for all sources of nutrients, especially soil P, in determining fertilizer application rates and avoiding excessive irrigation to prevent leaching of nutrients from the rootzone is particularly important. BMPs can also reduce nutrient leaching and runoff by controlling the movement of water across the landscape and promoting natural nutrient attenuation, such as with vegetative stream buffers.
Psychedelic Microdosing: Prevalence and Subjective Effects.

Anecdotal reports suggest that the administration of sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelic compounds on a chronic, intermittent schedule – a practice known as psychedelic microdosing – is becomin...
A prospective randomized, double-blinded clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of bupivacaine versus morphine-bupivacaine in caudal epidurals in cats with urethral obstruction.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the caudal epidural technique in cats with urethral obstruction (UO). Design Prospective, double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled study. Animals Eighty-eight male cats with UO. Interventions Thirty cats randomized to bupivacaine epidural (BUP), 28 cats to bupivacaine-morphine epidural (BUP/MOR), and 30 cats to sham epidural (SHAM). Measurements and main results Time to perform the epidural and efficacy of the epidural was assessed by evaluation of tail and perineal responses. The amount of propofol for urinary catheterization and time to administration of rescue analgesia (buprenorphine) was recorded. Cats were monitored for epidural complications. The median time to perform the epidural was 2 min (range, 0.2-13 min and range, 0.5-13 min), with an epidural success rate of 70%. The median amount of propofol administered for urinary catheterization was significantly less in the BUP (2.1 mg/kg; range, 0-7.5 mg/kg) and MOR/BUP cats (1.85 mg/kg; range, 0-8.6 mg/kg) as compared to SHAM cats (4 mg/kg; range, 0-12.7 mg/kg) (P = 0.006, P = 0.0008, respectively). The median time to administration of rescue analgesia was also significantly longer in the BUP (10 h; range, 2-32 h) and MOR/BUP cats (10 h; range, 4-45 h) as compared to SHAM cats (4 h; range, 2-36 h) (P = 0.0026, P = 0.0004, respectively). There were no recognized complications related to the epidural. Conclusion Caudal epidural appears to be safe, may reduce the amount of IV anesthesia needed to facilitate urinary catheterization, and can be used to provide long-term analgesia in the hospital.
Development of a quantitative PCR assay for detecting Egeria densa in environmental DNA samples

Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa) is an invasive freshwater plant that demonstrates widespread ecological impacts in freshwater ecosystems and causes substantial economic damage. Here, we developed an environmental DNA assay for detection of E. densa to provide resource managers with a tool for early detection, identification, and monitoring of invasive populations.
Causality as a Characteristic of Criminal Law (Karl Engisch's Die Kausalität als Merkmal der strafrechtlichen Tatbestände)

This work by Karl Engisch was, as far as I am aware, the first to reject the traditional but-for / sine-qua-non test as the exclusive test of factual causation, or even as a proper test when employed, as usually assumed, through hypothetical analysis of what might otherwise have occurred rather than real world analysis of what actually occurred. Engisch demonstrated the defects of the but-for / sine-qua-non test in duplicative and preemptive over-determined causation situations and the proper employment, instead, of a "covering law" analysis, according to which actual facts are tested for their causal status in singular instances through subsumption under the laws of nature to reach the correct answers. This work is a landmark in the German legal literature and likely had a significant impact on Hart and Honore's later landmark book, Causation in the Law. Honore, at least, likely read all of it. This is a translation only of Part II, The Condition Theory. The translation was initially done using Google Translate, which works quite well as an initial translation if one eliminates the carriage returns at the end of each few words in the box containing the text to be translated, but the resulting text sometimes needed to be revised based on personal knowledge. I welcome advice regarding any significant errors in translation.,
Second-Generation Antipsychotics and Pneumonia-Related Hospitalizations.

Objective To compare the rate of hospitalizations for pneumonia in patients with a psychotic or bipolar disorder who were prescribed 1 of 4 second-generation antipsychotics prior to admission. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients who were medically admitted for pneumonia to a 2,059-bed academic medical center or its associated health system hospital. Medical records of 872 admissions from November 1, 2016 to December 15, 2018, were included for all adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder prescribed clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone prior to admission. Results There was no significantly increased risk of pneumonia for patients taking olanzapine (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08, 95% CI, 0.48-2.41) or quetiapine (OR = 0.97, 95% CI, 0.42-2.25) prior to admission compared to risperidone. When controlling for various factors, treatment with a combination of antipsychotics including clozapine (OR = 2.28, 95% CI, 1.13-4.62, P = .022) and clozapine alone (OR = 2.37, 95% CI, 1.30-4.32, P = .005) was associated with an increased risk of pneumonia-related hospitalization compared to treatment with risperidone, olanzapine, or quetiapine alone. Conclusions The findings of this study in combination with other published literature support an association of an increased risk of pneumonia with the use of clozapine, although this cannot be interpreted as causal. These data show that use of clozapine alone or in combination with other antipsychotics significantly increases risk of pneumonia, although this finding cannot be deemed causal due to study design.
Fracking and Air Quality

The environmental impacts of fracking on the atmosphere are complex. Air pollution is caused by smoke, dust, and vapors from the hydraulic fracturing process itself, and also by the later combustion of the produced fossil fuel, which releases greenhouse gas (GHG) such as carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere that contributes to global warming and climate change. Coal combustion is a far larger GHG contributor than natural gas and petroleum produced by fracking, but coal is mined. The issues of greenhouse gas and climate change are presented and discussed in later chapters.
Exploring adaptability and proactivity across cultural contexts

Behavioral performance indicators linked to traits of adaptability and proactivity have been increasingly promoted in workplace management initiatives as predictors of high performance and employee...
Institutions of African literature: introduction

“Institutions of African Literature” was the theme of the 45th annual conference and meeting of the African Literature Association, held May 15–19, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. Articles in this cluster...
Using self-collimated wave-guiding in invisibility cloaks

We employ the known in photonic crystals phenomenon of self-collimation (SC) for modifying the performance of invisibility cloaks composed of dielectric rod arrays. Incorporation in the cloak design two circular sections, supporting SC, allows for refusing from Transformation Optics (TO) based prescriptions for the cloak medium, which request too challenging material parameters. In addition to SC sections, unidirectional cloak contains two TO-based transition sections with easily realizable parameters of rod arrays. These sections control wave paths between cloak input and output and SC sections. At plane wave incidence, the designed cloak was found to provide as restoration of initial flat wavefront behind the hidden object, so significant reduction of wave scattering by the object.
A continuous cough after covid-19

Organizing pneumonia is a process of lung parenchymal injury of multiple etiologies. Although organizing pneumonia may be an idiopathic process, it usually occurs secondary to infection, aspiration, autoimmune disease, and post organ transplant or radiation. Here we present a case of a chronic cough after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection, with CT imaging consistent with organizing pneumonia. As the current COVID-19 pandemic progresses, more will be learned about long term lung sequela of this novel coronavirus. A 62-yearold man with past medical history of obstructive sleep apnea on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy, sinusitis, and hypothyroidism was referred to Pulmonary clinic for a persistent cough of one month's duration. Recent history was notable for a viral illness with cough, fever, and dyspnea, leading to a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. He required one week of hospitalization and brief mechanical ventilation support. After clinical improvement, he was discharged home at the end of March 2020. His shortness of breath and fatigue improved, but his cough continued. He was seen at the end of April 2020, after a repeat SARS-CoV-2 test was positive. He was treated for a post-viral cough symptomatically with inhaled fluticasone and benzonatate. COVID antibody testing showed SARS-CoV-2 IgG present. After 3 weeks of symptomatic treatment (May 2020), there was no clinical improvement. The chest radiograph was normal. He was treated for gastroesophageal reflux with a proton pump inhibitor and a course of prednisone. At follow-up in June 2020, pulmonary function testing results were within normal limits without obstructive or restrictive airflow limitation. His cough decreased with prednisone course (40 mg for five days), only to recur when the prednisone course was complete-a total of three prednisone courses prescribed over a month and a half. At the end of July, after two months of chronic cough, CT imaging of the chest was performed. CT imaging showed a pattern of lung disease consistent with organizing pneumonia.
Comparing Website Identification for Crisis Pregnancy Centers and Abortion Clinics.

Abstract Background Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) seeking to dissuade women from abortion often appear in Internet searches for abortion clinics. We aimed to assess whether women can use screenshots from real websites to differentiate between CPCs and abortion clinics. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, nationally representative online study of English- and Spanish-speaking women aged 18–49 years in the United States. We presented participants with screenshots from five CPCs and five abortion clinic websites and asked if they thought an abortion could be obtained at that center. We scored correct answers based on clinic type. Outcomes included ability to correctly identify CPCs and abortion clinics as well as risk factors for misidentification. The survey also included five questions about common abortion myths and a validated health literacy assessment. Results We contacted 2,223 women, of whom 1,057 (48%) completed the survey and 1,044 (47%) were included in the analysis. The median score for correctly identifying CPCs as facilities not performing abortion was 2 out of 5 (Q1: 0, Q3: 4). The median score for correctly identifying abortion clinics as facilities performing abortion was 5 out of 5 (Q1: 3, Q3: 5). Those less likely to endorse abortion myths had higher odds of correctly identifying CPCs (adjusted odds ratio, 2.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.78–3.32). A low health literacy score was associated with decreased odds of correct identification of CPCs (adjusted odds ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.25–0.59). Conclusions Websites of CPCs were more difficult for women to correctly identify than those of abortion clinics. Women with limited knowledge about abortion and low health literacy may be particularly susceptible to misidentification of CPC websites.
Why Not Allow FASB and IASB Standards to Compete in the U.S.

This paper discusses arguments for and against introducing competition into the accounting standard‐setting process in the U.S. by allowing individual corporations to issue financial reports prepared in accordance with either FASB or IASB rules. The paper examines several arguments supporting the status quo, including (1) the FASB's experience and world leadership in making accounting rules; (2) the increased risk of a “race to the bottom” under regulatory competition; (3) the inability of most users of financial reports to understand the complex technical issues underlying accounting standards; (4) the possibility that IASB's standards will be diluted to gain international acceptance, allowing additional opportunities for earnings management; (5) the risks of the IASB being deadlocked or captured by interests hostile to business; (6) the costs of experimentation in standard setting; and (7) economies from network externalities. Arguments examined on the other side include how competition will (1) help me...
A Defense of Truth as a Necessary Condition on Scientific Explanation

How can a reflective scientist put forward an explanation using a model when they are aware that many of the assumptions used to specify that model are false? This paper addresses this challenge by making two substantial assumptions about explanatory practice. First, many of the propositions deployed in the course of explaining have a non-representational function. In particular, a proposition that a scientist uses and also believes to be false, i.e. an “idealization”, typically has some non-representational function in the practice, such as the interpretation of some model or the specification of the target of the explanation. Second, when an agent puts forward an explanation using a model, they usually aim to remain agnostic about various features of the phenomenon being explained. In this sense, explanations are intended to be autonomous from many of the more fundamental features of such systems. I support these two assumptions by showing how they allow one to address a number of recent concerns raised by Bokulich, Potochnik and Rice. In addition, these assumptions lead to a defense of the view that explanations are wholly true that improves on the accounts developed by Craver, Maki and Strevens.
Application of Perovskite Quantum Dots as Absorber for Perovskite Solar Cell

Perovskite quantum dots (QDs) preserve the attractive properties of perovskite bulk materials and present additional advantages, owing to their quantum confinement effect, leading to their applicability as an absorber in perovskite solar cells. In this article, the issues and advantages of perovskite QDs are analyzed in terms of purification, device fabrication with perovskite QDs, light absorption, charge transport and stability. In addition, promising strategies to enhance perovskite QDs and QD-based solar cells are elucidated based on exchange chemistry (ion and ligand exchange), passivation engineering (ion and ligand passivation) and structure engineering (conventional/inverted, planar/mesoscopic and dimensionally graded structures). All these discussions will give a clue to the further development of perovskite QDs and thus the advancement of QD-based solar cells.
Olfaction in elderly and patients with Alzheimer's disease: Differing feedback conditions.

Objective: To determine the capability of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-matched controls to discriminate and recognize odorants equilibrated for strength and familiarity, and to determine if immediate corrective-feedback can improve performance in either task. Major results: No significant differences between elderly controls (EC) and AD patients were apparent for the discrimination task regardless of feedback condition. The EC group outperformed the AD group on the recognition task. Feedback enhanced EC group performance but failed to benefit the AD group. Conclusions: Early in the disease process, AD subjects have a deficit in processing olfactory cues at levels beyond that necessary for discrimination. This deficit is specifically related to the olfactory system and is in addition to any general cognitive deficits they may have. Feedback is ineffective for AD subjects but can greatly enhance the performance of the intact elderly on tasks requiring the verbal mediation of olfactory cues.
Solving the Equations of Uniform Flow

All realizable hydraulic profiles associated with the uniform flow of liquid in an open channel are expressible in terms of three simple integrals. The fifteen profiles fall naturally into five classes. Profiles in Classes I and II (M1, M2, M3, S1, S2, S3, C1, C3) are expressible as a combination of the backwater integrals of the first kind; Class III (H2, H3) involves backwater integrals of the second kind; Class IV (A2, A3) involves backwater integrals of the third kind; and Class V (C2, H1, A1) contains only unrealizable or unstable profiles. The profile equation for each of the significant classes is given explicitly in terms of these integrals. Finally, a practical method of computing the backwater integrals is presented. The integral of the second kind is reduced to a simple algebraic function and those of the first and third kinds are expressed in terms of polynomials of moderate order and polylogarithm functions of low order.
Learning By Doing; Synthesis and Refinement of Control Strategy

This work describes an application of machine learning to the synthesis and refinement of control strategy. Given a model of the target system's dynamic behavior, we describe a program that proposes possible control strategies and tests their behavior by exploring a curriculum of training problems. By generalizng from its successes and failures, the program learns to concentrate its efforts on control structures which are most likely to reward study.
Electron microscopical studies of frozen-dried yeast: V. Localization of protein-bound sulphydryl

Abstract Cytochemically selective detection of protein-bound sulphydryl groups has been achieved at the submicroscopic level with the monofunctional mercaptide-forming compounds, 1-(4-chloromercuriphenylazo)-naphthol-2 (“mercury orange”) and methyl mercury chloride. The use of p -chloromercuribenzoate as an alternate sulphydryl reagent is also explored and found to yield similar effects under certain conditions. These reagents were applied in numerous ways so as to determine, and ensure, favorable conditions of experimental procedure for submicroscopic cytological study. The reagents were used with due regard to securing optimal stoichiometric relations under non-oxidative conditions during reaction as well as during other stages of specimen preparation. The ultrastructural cytochemistry of sulphydryl groups is discussed in terms of protein denaturation, solubility, oxidation, enzyme digestion, and blocking reactions, including mercaptide blockage, which were employed to establish the specificity of localization. The morphological observations include the disclosure of an integral, -SH rich moiety of yeast ribosomes. These, and other observations are discussed in the light of independent data from the analytical chemistry and cytology of yeast.
CEO-Chair Duality Split: An Alternative to Firing

An interesting puzzle in corporate finance is the weak sensitivity of disciplinary action against CEO to poor firm performance. I show that this weak relation is in part driven by an overlooked alternative to firing, which in practice takes the form of splitting the CEO-Chairman role or demoting the incumbent CEO to the executive Chairman position. I first document that such demotions are a frequently used alternative disciplinary mechanism, accounting for nearly 40% of all involuntary CEO transitions. I further show that the use of this mechanism is concentrated among firms in which the CEO is most entrenched or the cost of firing its CEO is high, i.e. CEOs with firm or industry-specific managerial skills and those with strong long-term performance and weak governance. Market reactions to CEO demotions are positive, on average. Finally, I show that classifying CEO demotions as an alternative form of involuntary turnover magnifies the sensitivity of involuntary turnover to firm performance and eliminates the relation between performance and voluntary turnover.
Wrapping Interactions and the Konishi Operator

We present a calculation of the four-loop anomalous dimension of the SU(2) sector Konishi operator in N = 4 SYM, as an example of \wrapping" corrections to the known result for long operators. We use the known dilatation operator at four loops acting on long operator, and just calculate those diagrams which are aected by the change from operator length L > 4 to L = 4. We nd that the answer involves a [5], so it has trancendentality degree ve. Our result diers from previous proposals and calculations. We also discuss some ideas for extending this analysis to determine nite size corrections for operators of arbitrary length in the SU(2) sector.
Immunoreactants in rheumatoid synovial effusions.

Measurements were made of the IgG in synovial fluid which is synthesized by the intact rheumatoid synovium. In five rheumatoid subjects 12–24% of the IgG present in their synovial fluid was derived from local production. No evidence for local production was found in patients with degenerative arthritis or Reiter's syndrome. It was estimated that as much as 95 mg of IgG was produced by the synovium of a single knee joint daily. Rheumatoid inflammation is associated with the presence of large numbers of white blood cells, predominantly polymorphonuclear, in the articular cavity. Each day as many as one billion white cells enter the articular cavity to participate in this inflammatory response. Factors causing the directed migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes were found in the majority of rheumatoid effusions studied. The chemotactic activity is, in large part, related to the fifth (C5) and sixth (C6) components of human complement. Physical-chemical techniques indicate that the activity is attributable to C 567 and C5a, a cleavage product of C5. In addition to the presence of preformed chemotactic factors, more than half of the rheumatoid fluids contain an enzyme capable of generating chemotactic activity from the fifth component (C5) of human complement. This information supports the concept that rheumatoid joint inflammation is an example of immune complex disease in which a significant proportion of the immunoreactants are derived from local production.
Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to type 8 lipooligosaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis.

Abstract Eight monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to lipooligosaccharides (LOSs) of Neisseria meningitidis were produced by immunizing mice with purified LOS from group A meningococcal strain A1. The specificities of the MAbs were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunodot assay, and ELISA inhibition by using the homologous A1 LOS, 12 immunotype LOSs of N. meningitidis (L1 through L12), and LOSs or lipopolysaccharides from other gram-negative bacteria. Two of the MAbs, 4385G7 (immunoglobulin G2b [IgG2b]) and 4387A5 (IgG2a), had the strongest reactivities with the homologous A1 LOS, moderate reactivities with the M978 (L8) LOS, but no reactivity with other LOSs. The other six MAbs (4 IgM and 2 IgG3) reacted with the A1 LOS and with several or many of the 12 LOSs. ELISA inhibition at 50% showed that the inhibitory activities of the LOSs from strains A1 and BB431 (a group B strain) to the specific MAb 4387A5 were about 10 to 20 times greater than that of the M978 (L8) LOS. When compared with MAb 2-1-L8 (L8) by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis and ELISA inhibition, the two specific MAbs recognized a different epitope in the 3.6-kDa LOSs of strains A1 and BB431. We propose that the new epitope is L8a, since the MAbs also reacted with the M978 (L8) LOS. The expression of the L8a epitope in the A1 LOS requires a few monosaccharide residues in its oligosaccharide moiety, and the fatty acid residues in its lipid A moiety also play a role. In a whole-cell ELISA, the two specific MAbs bound specifically to the homologous strain A1 and the L8 prototype strain M978 but not to any other LOS prototype strains. These results suggest that the two specific MAbs can be used for LOS typing of N. meningitidis.
Rankin–Selberg L-functions and the reduction of CM elliptic curves

Let q be a prime and \(K={\mathbb Q}(\sqrt{-D})\) be an imaginary quadratic field such that q is inert in K. If \(\mathfrak {q}\) is a prime above q in the Hilbert class field of K, there is a reduction map $$\begin{aligned} r_{\mathfrak q}:\;{\mathcal {E\ell \ell }}({\mathcal {O}}_K) \longrightarrow {\mathcal {E\ell \ell }}^{ss}({\mathbb F}_{q^2}) \end{aligned}$$ from the set of elliptic curves over \(\overline{{\mathbb Q}}\) with complex multiplication by the ring of integers \({\mathcal {O}}_K\) to the set of supersingular elliptic curves over \({\mathbb {F}}_{q^2}.\) We prove a uniform asymptotic formula for the number of CM elliptic curves which reduce to a given supersingular elliptic curve and use this result to deduce that the reduction map is surjective for \(D \gg _{\varepsilon } q^{18+\varepsilon }.\) This can be viewed as an analog of Linnik’s theorem on the least prime in an arithmetic progression. We also use related ideas to prove a uniform asymptotic formula for the average $$\begin{aligned} \sum _{\chi }L(f \times \Theta _\chi ,1/2) \end{aligned}$$ of central values of the Rankin–Selberg L-functions \({L(f \times {\Theta _{\chi}},s)}\) where f is a fixed weight 2, level q arithmetically normalized Hecke cusp form and \(\Theta _\chi \) varies over the weight 1, level D theta series associated to an ideal class group character \(\chi \) of K. We apply this result to study the arithmetic of Abelian varieties, subconvexity, and \(L^4\) norms of autormorphic forms.
Probing the structural and molecular basis of nucleotide selectivity by human mitochondrial DNA polymerase γ

Nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are the essential components of highly active antiretroviral (HAART) therapy targeting HIV reverse transcriptase (RT). NRTI triphosphates (NRTI-TP), the biologically active forms, act as chain terminators of viral DNA synthesis. Unfortunately, NRTIs also inhibit human mitochondrial DNA polymerase (Pol γ), causing unwanted mitochondrial toxicity. Understanding the structural and mechanistic differences between Pol γ and RT in response to NRTIs will provide invaluable insight to aid in designing more effective drugs with lower toxicity. The NRTIs emtricitabine [(-)-2,3′-dideoxy-5-fluoro-3′-thiacytidine, (-)-FTC] and lamivudine, [(-)-2,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine, (-)-3TC] are both potent RT inhibitors, but Pol γ discriminates against (-)-FTC-TP by two orders of magnitude better than (-)-3TC-TP. Furthermore, although (-)-FTC-TP is only slightly more potent against HIV RT than its enantiomer (+)-FTC-TP, it is discriminated by human Pol γ four orders of magnitude more efficiently than (+)-FTC-TP. As a result, (-)-FTC is a much less toxic NRTI. Here, we present the structural and kinetic basis for this striking difference by identifying the discriminator residues of drug selectivity in both viral and human enzymes responsible for substrate selection and inhibitor specificity. For the first time, to our knowledge, this work illuminates the mechanism of (-)-FTC-TP differential selectivity and provides a structural scaffold for development of novel NRTIs with lower toxicity.
Pulse‐Shaping Circuits

Pulse shaping is used in the implementation of digital communication systems to minimize ISI caused by nonideal channel characteristics and nonideal component implementations. Pulseshaping is performed in the transmit and receive filters of a communication system. The most common class of filters used for pulseshaping are Nyquist filters [13]. This article gives an overview of the theoretical foundations of pulseshaping and describes some practical implementations of pulseshaping filters. Keywords: digital communication system; pulseshaping; Nyquist filter; intersymbol interference; discrete-time symbols
Cellular and extracellular siderophores of Aspergillus nidulans and Penicillium chrysogenum

Aspergillus nidulans and Penicillium chrysogenum produce specific cellular siderophores in addition to the well-known siderophores of the culture medium. Since this was found previously in Neurospora crassa, it is probably generally true for filamentous ascomycetes. The cellular siderophore of A. nidulans is ferricrocin; that of P. chrysogenum is ferrichrome. A. nidulans also contains triacetylfusigen, a siderophore without apparent biological activity. Conidia of both species lose siderophores at high salt concentrations and become siderophore dependent. This has also been found in N. crassa, where lowering of the water activity has been shown to be the causal factor. We used an assay procedure based on this dependency to reexamine the extracellular siderophores of these species. During rapid mycelial growth, both A. nidulans and P. chrysogenum produced two highly active, unidentified siderophores which were later replaced by a less active or inactive product--coprogen in the case of P. chrysogenum and triacetylfusigen in the case of A. nidulans. N. crassa secreted coprogen only. Fungal siderophore metabolism is varied and complex.
A search for interstellar scandium

The resonance line of Sc II at 3642.785 A has been sought in the interstellar spectrum of Zeta Oph, resulting in an upper limit N(Sc II) not greater than 8.6 billion/sq cm and a depletion of this element at least by a factor of 200, if Sc III contributes a negligible column density. The present upper limit may be somewhat below the level expected under the grain-formation model for interstellar depletions, and is consistent with the abundance expected if the depletions are due to gas-grain collisions. The new limit on this element helps to support the hypothesis that species within a specific range of ionization potential are preferentially depleted.
Interaction of BlaI, the repressor for the β‐lactamase gene of Bacillus licheniformis, with the blaP and blaI promoters

Abstract BlaI repressor for the β-lactamase gene (blaP) of Bacillus licheniformis 749, was shown to repress expression of blaP and of the repressor gene (blaI), using the purified protein in a DNA-directed in vitro translation assay. Binding of BlaI to the promoter regions of blaP and blaI was examined by equilibrium and competitive binding assays. BlaI binds to the blaP promoter with an equal or only slightly higher affinity than to the blaI promoter. DNase I footprinting shows that BlaI binds directly to the blaP and blaI promoters, such that RNA polymerase binding and/or transcript elongation would be blocked.
Defining the structural and functional roles of the carboxyl region of the bacteriophage lambda excisionase (Xis) protein.

The bacteriophage lambda excisionase (Xis) protein is required for excisive site-specific recombination. Xis is composed of 72 amino acids and binds cooperatively to two DNA sites (X1 and X2) that are arranged as direct repeats. Alternatively, Xis binds cooperatively with the host-encoded factor for inversion stimulation (FIS) protein at the X1 and F sites, respectively. Here we analyzed the effects of missense substitutions from codon 57 to the carboxyl end of the protein and nonsense mutations that truncate the protein at various positions from residues 60 to 69. We find that all of the mutant proteins promote excision to some extent and interact cooperatively with FIS. Some mutants have no detectible phenotype while others are altered in their abilities to promote excision or to interact cooperatively with integrase (Int). Computer modeling predicts that amino acids from residues 59 to 65 are in an alpha-helix conformation. Mutants with substitutions on one side of the helix at residues 57, 60, 63 and 64 as well as truncated mutants containing 60, 61 or 63 amino acids, fail to interact cooperatively with Int suggesting that this region of the protein forms the interface with Int. Mutants with substitutions at other positions in the putative helix have no detectible phenotype. Residues 66 to 68 may form a reverse turn and the last four amino acids (69 to 72) may not be crucial for the structure or function of the protein.
IMMUNIZATION OF RABBITS TO INFECTIOUS PAPILLOMATOSIS

Two intraperitoneal injections of either infectious or non-infectious rabbit papilloma suspensions actively immunize rabbits against papillomatosis. The capacity of the non-infectious suspensions to immunize is considered as evidence that they contain papilloma virus even though none can be demonstrated by the usual infection test.
Effect of arterial blood pressure and serum glucose on brain intracellular pH, cerebral and cortical blood flow during status epilepticus in the white New Zealand rabbit.

Abstract Generalized seizures can induce both hypertension and hyperglycemia which may aggravate preexisting cerebral or medical conditions in patients. In vivo fluorescent imaging of regional cortical blood flow and brain intracellular pH (pH i ) was performed in fasted New Zealand rabbits (n=35) in which either mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) or serum glucose was the covaried factor during pentylenetetrazole induced status epilepticus under 1.5% inspired halothane. Baseline brain pH i and regional cortical blood flow were 7.02±0.02 and 51.1±1.7 ml/100 g/min, respectively. Following seizure induction, MABP increased to 105 mm Hg and brain pH i fell to 6.79±0.03 within 15 min and remained at this level for 1 h ( P i despite a significant decrease in regional cortical blood flow. Hyperglycemia decreased pH i to 6.71±0.02 compared to 6.84±0.04 in normoglycemic animals ( P i as a cerebral metabolic index, these data suggest that normalization of MABP does not increase metabolic injury while hyperglycemia does significantly worsen brain acidosis. Therefore, administration of glucose to patients with status epilepticus should be avoided unless there is documented hypoglycemia.
A quantum oblivious transfer protocol

We propose a quantum protocol for 1-out-of-2, 1-out-of-n and k-out-of-n oblivious transfer. Oblivious transfer is a counter-intuitive cryptographic primitive in which the receiver receives only the information he is authorized for, while the sender does not know what information receiver received. In 1-out-of-2 oblivious transfer, Alice sends two bits to Bob who can choose only one of them to read, while Alice does not know which bit Bob read. k-out-of-n oblivious transfer is an extension of this idea. The proposed protocols do not require any classical communication, are practical, secure and can be implemented using current technology.
Surgical aspects of endocarditis

Endocarditis represents a difficult medical problem that must occasionally be treated surgically. Constitutional symptoms of infection are important and are usually the reason that the patient seeks medical attention. Fever is the most common sign of infective endocarditis and a heart murmur, which changes in character or is new, is a significant hallmark. The diagnosis for infective endocarditis is made by high index of suspicion in a patient with valvular heart disease or a prosthetic heart valve and in the presence of fever and a cardiac murmur. A positive blood culture is the hallmark of the diagnosis. The absolute indications for operative intervention are congestive heart failure, unstable prosthetic valve, uncontrolled infection, and relapse after optimal therapy (prosthetic valve). Relative indications for operative intervention are perivalvular extension of the infection, staphylococcal infection of a prosthesis, persistent fever (culture negative), large vegetation, or relapse after optimal therapy (native valve). The principles of surgical management are to remove all infected tissue by thorough debridement back to normal tissue. This is combined with replacement of damaged valves and repair of associated defects. The mortality after operation for infective endocarditis is 15-20%. Late survival after operation for infective endocarditis on a native heart valve is 70-80% at 5 years. Survival falls to 50-80% at 5 years for surgery on an infected prosthetic heart valve.
Do financial analysts decompose past earnings when making future earnings forecasts

Explains why financial analysts could find it useful to separate past earnings into discretionary accruals and earnings before discretionary accruals; referring to related research to develop hypotheses on the effects of both on the change in analysts’ earnings forecasts for the subsequent year. Tests these on a sample of 142 US manufacturing firms and presents the results which suggest that analysts do not decompose past earnings. Discusses three possible interpretations of the results and supports Sloan’s (1996) finding that the capital market does not seem to price accruals rationally.
Incorporating International Accounting into the MBA Curriculum: Exploring Implications of the Financial Reporting Crisis of 2001-2009.

Recent developments in the global business environment have led to important changes in accounting/auditing regulations, and have implications for the business school curriculum. While many of these issues are covered in advanced accounting courses, generally taken only by majors, the issues are sufficiently important that nonaccounting majors, at both the graduate and undergraduate level, should be aware of these issues as well. Recent developments favoring the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the United States provide an overall compelling context for incorporating these standards into the business curriculum. The purpose of this article is to provide a road map for such incorporation.
Requirement for transcription in the neighborhood of the phage attachment region for lysogenization of Escherichia coli by bacteriophage lambda.

Abstract The phage λ mutant, sex1 , defective in leftward transcription from the left operator through the attachment region PP′, does not integrate even when the Int product is provided by a co-infecting phage. Similarly, a phage λN which is defective in leftward transcription from the first left terminator (t l 1 ) through PP′ is not being helped to integrate by λ imm 21, a phage lacking a λN gene necessary for this leftward transcription but which does supply int product. Phage λ does not insert into a strain with λ immunity and a vacant att λ even if all necessary gene products are provided by a helper. In all three situations, transcription in the region PP′-t l 1 is absent. We conclude that transcription of this region is a prerequisite for insertion and suggest more specifically that the transcription must be very near or precisely at PP′.
Cyclical queueing systems

Abstract Research on cyclical queueing systems is broken down into two categories: (1) cycling server models, and (2) cycling customer models. Within each category, details of a basic model are presented and then specialized models are discussed. This review presents a diverse sample of cyclical queueing models, with emphasis on current work and research directed towards applications.
Analysis of the hypoplastic right ventricle utilizing electrocardiographic body surface potential mapping (BSPM).

Abstract The authors present electrocardiographic body surface potential maps (BSPMs) of 11 patients with hypoplastic right ventricle (HRV) of three types: type I, HRV with pulmonary atresia; type II, HRV with tricuspid atresia; and type III, HRV with tricuspid atresia and transposition of the great arteries. The BSPMs of all 11 patients demonstrated evidence for epicardial right ventricular breakthrough, indicating conduction through an intact right bundle branch and Purkinje system. Nonetheless, the BSPMs strongly suggested profound morphological, probably embryological, differences among the right ventricles of the three groups. The four patients with type I HRV had no evidence for conduction abnormality. The five patients with type II, HRV however, had very marked conduction abnormality. In four of these five, the standard ECG and VCG had initial forces suggesting left lateral wall myocardial infarction. The BSPMs showed no evidence for infarction but demonstrated very complicated slow initial activation, explaining why the initial QRS vector was to the right and posterior before extending leftward. In addition, in all five the initial positive potentials were unusually inferior and the initial negative potentials unusually superior. After the evidence for epicardial right ventricular breakthrough, the positive and negative potentials rapidly changed positions so that the positive potentials were unusually superior and the negative potentials unusually inverior, consistent with the BSPM of endocardial cushion defects. In four of these five there was marked delay of total ventricular activation time. Of the two patients with type III HRV, one had an initial QRS similar to that of type II. Neither had rapid change of inferior and superior positive and negative potentials after right ventricular breakthrough, and both had intraventricular slowing, one with partial left bundle branch block.