cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ensemble forecasting of irregular leadership change

Using updated Archigos Data, as well as structural and event data, we construct a split-population duration model of irregular leadership changes. These are leadership changes that occur outside of the normal, legal framework for leadership transitions. Our model was estimated in March 2014 and produced probability estimates of leadership changes in many countries in the world. We used a wisdom-of-the-crowds approach to combining estimates from various different models. Ukraine and Thailand are among those in which we had the highest predictions for irregular change of leaders.
Radiation myelopathy of the cervical spinal cord: MR findings.

Radiation myelopathy is one of the most serious complications of radiation therapy. We describe the MR findings in a case of radiation myelithis in which the diagnosis was suggested preoperatively by the combination of MR and clinical findings even though myelographic and T1-weighted MR imaging results were normal
Principles of Melanoma Staging

Although now commonplace in contemporary cancer care, the systematic approach to classification of disease-specific cancers into a formalized staging system is a relatively modern concept. Overall, the goals of cancer staging are to characterize the status of cancer at a specific moment in time, risk stratify, facilitate prognostication, and inform clinical decision making. The revisions to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) melanoma staging system over time reflect changes in our understanding of the biology of the disease. Since the 1st edition, where tumor thickness was defined anatomically by its relationship to the reticular or papillary dermis (Clark level) as well as tumor thickness (Breslow thickness), there have been significant strides in our use of clinicopathological variables to stratify low- versus high-risk patients. Management of the regional nodal basin has also changed dramatically over time, impacted by techniques such as lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and changes in pathological evaluation of the regional lymph nodes. Additionally, stratification of distant metastases has evolved as survival outcomes have been shown to vary based upon anatomic site of metastases and serum lactate dehydrogenase levels. The variables in use in the current (7th edition) AJCC staging system are surrogate markers of biology with validated impact of survival outcomes. Going forward, it is likely that these and additional clinicopathological factors will be integrated with molecular and other correlates of melanoma tumor biology to further refine and personalize melanoma staging.
Algebraical Logic: Leibniz and Boole

An association of algebraic symbols and their properties with those of logic would hardly have been conceivable before the 16th century. Systematic use of letters for numbers in general, and symbols for operations on them, were a development of the 16th and 17th centuries. Although Aristotle’s theory of the syllogism used letters of the alphabet for arbitrary general terms, i.e., used variables, there was no formal notion of the composition of terms nor of a negative term, hence no notion of an operation on terms. An early, perhaps the earliest, mention of such an algebraic-like operation occurs in Jacques Bernoulli’s Parallelismus ratiocinii logici et algebraici... 1
Real-time PCR assay to detect brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), in environmental DNA.

Background Early detection before establishment and identification of key predators are time-honored strategies towards effective eradication or control of invasive species. The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is a recent exotic pest of several important crops in North America and Europe. Resulting widespread applications of insecticides have countered years of careful integrated pest management and are leading to the resurgence of other agricultural pests. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been used effectively to detect aquatic invasives. Results We developed a real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for BMSB in a conserved region of the ribosomal DNA interspacer 1 (ITS1). We validated this assay on worldwide populations of BMSB and tested its specificity and sensitivity against other US Pentatomidae species and on guano of big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, which we confirmed is a BMSB predator in New Jersey. We also detected BMSB DNA after rapid (and inexpensive) HotSHOT DNA extractions of soiled paper from cages briefly holding BMSB, as well as from discarded exuviae. Conclusion Given the high sensitivity of our assay to BMSB environmental DNA (eDNA) in terrestrial samples, this tool should become a cost-effective approach for using eDNA to detect terrestrial invasive species and their key predators. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Deference and Dialogue in Administrative Law

An unevaluated phenomenon in administrative law is serial litigation – that is, constant rounds of court challenges and remands that may span decades. Aside from the obvious – these case families are expensive and time-consuming – they also raise serious questions about the respective roles of courts and agencies. When agencies adopt the same rules on successive remands, for example, we might be concerned whether judicial review makes a difference. But when courts review too heavy-handedly, we worry that they are usurping the role of a presidentially controlled, expert institution. This Article is the first to examine serial litigation and ask what insights such litigation offers for administrative law. The analysis shows that the case families are deeply dialogic; courts and agencies in effect engage in a revealing colloquy over the course of successive reviews and remands. In turn, this dialogic view of serial litigation helps to illuminate the differing roles of courts and agencies while highlighting a number of problematic features of the interplay between standards of review, remedies, and agency behavior. Foremost among these features is the tendency of the dialogic cases to mimic minimum-rationality review, which threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of power between courts and agencies. Taking account of this deficiency and others, the Article offers both theoretical insights and concrete proposals designed to enhance the court-agency dialogue.
A multiband low noise amplifier with a switchable Gm active shunt feedback for SDRs

This paper presents a reconfigurable low noise amplifier (LNA) with simultaneous tunable input matching and output response. Switching of the input matching is achieved by using an active shunt feedback circuit including a source follower whose transconductance is switched by a bank of switchable current sources. The LNA makes use of dual LC tanks to switch four frequency bands including 1.8GHz, 2.4GHz, 3.5GHz and 5.2GHz. One LC tank switches between 5.2GHz and 3.5GHz while the other tank switches between 2.4GHz and 1.8GHz. The LNA achieves a NF as low as 2.8dB and an IIP3 as high as −3.45dBm while consuming a maximum power of 7.2mW at a 1.8V supply. The LNA occupies an active area of 0.63mm2.
Effect of Cortisone on Serum Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphate Levels in Nephrectomized Dogs

SummaryThe injection of cortisone in the nephrectomized dog increases the serum calcium to toxic levels despite the concomitant rise in serum inorganic phosphate and magnesium. On cessation of therapy the serum calcium level declines again to normal levels.
Distributed averaging with linear objective maps

A distributed averaging system is a linear multi-agent system in which agents communicate to reach an agreement (or a consensus) state, defined as the average of the initial states of the agents. Consider a more generalized situation in which each agent is given a nonnegative weight and the agreement state is defined as the weighted average of the initial conditions. We characterize in this paper the weighted averages that can be evaluated in a decentralized way by agents communicating over a directed graph. Specifically, we introduce a linear function, called the objective map, that defines the desired final state as a function of the initial states of the agents. We then provide a complete answer to the question of whether there is a decentralized consensus dynamics over a given digraph which converges to the final state specified by an objective map. In particular, we characterize not only the set of objective maps that are feasible for a given digraph, but also the consensus dynamics that implements the objective map. In addition, we present a decentralized algorithm to design the consensus dynamics.
DrugMoaMiner: A computational tool for mechanism of action discovery and personalized drug sensitivity prediction

Heterogeneity of genomic instabilities among individual patients is believed to be a major cause of drug response heterogeneity. Cancer patients who are sensitive to anti-cancer drugs are often re-examined to understand the unknown mechanism of action (MoA) of given drugs. For example, a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient was reported to be responsive to Dasatinib treatment and remained cancer-free four years later. Though follow-up genomic analysis showed the patient bears an inactivating BRAF [1]mutation in the tumor, the MoA remains unclear. There are two challenges in uncovering the MoA. First, Dasatinib is a kinase inhibitor, which often has many protein targets. Second, the downstream MoA signaling pathways regulated by these targets are too complicated to delineate. Currently, there is no computational tool that can effectively address both challenges. To fill this gap, we developed a computational tool DrugMoaMiner (Drug MoA Miner) that can be used to identify the comprehensive set of kinase inhibitor targets; delineate the underlying drug MoA; and predict personalized sensitivity to a given drug based on an individual's gene expression profiles. We applied the DrugMoaMiner to lung cancer cell lines to uncover the potential MoA signaling network of Dasatinib sensitivity; our result is in agreement with previous protein data analysis. Moreover, we can predict Dasatinib response of an independent set of NSCLC cell lines using the MoA signaling network uncovered.
Learning Transformation Rules for Semantic Role Labeling

This paper presents our work on Semantic Role Labeling using a Transformation-Based ErrorDriven approach in the style of Eric Brill (Brill, 1995). Our approach achieved an overall F1 score of 43.48 on non-verb annotations. We believe our approach is noteworthy because of its novelty in this area and because it produces short lists of human-understandable transformation rules as its output.
Formulation Strategy for the Delivery of Cyclosporine A: Comparison of Two Polymeric Nanospheres

A wide range of nanoparticles has been explored for the delivery of highly hydrophobic drugs, but very few publications provide comparative data of the performance of different nanoparticles. To address this need, this publication compares poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles and nanospheres made from tyrosine-derived tri-block copolymers (termed TyroSpheres) for their respective performance as carriers for cyclosporine A (CSA). Using previously reported data on PLGA, we followed similar experimental protocols to evaluate the in vitro characteristics of TyroSpheres. Although there are some similarities between the two particle systems for the delivery of CSA, such as effective encapsulation and epidermal skin penetration, several differences were notable. First, the methods of preparation were different, i.e., self-assembly and emulsion-diffusion-evaporation process for TyroSpheres and PLGA, respectively. Second, TyroSpheres provided 7-day diffusion-controlled release, whereas PLGA nanoparticles provided >21-day erosion-controlled release. Third, the size of TyroSpheres was measured to be ~60–70 nm irrespective of drug loading, whereas the size of PLGA nanoparticles (~100–250 nm) was dependent on drug loading and the method of preparation. Overall, this publication provides a direct comparison between two different types of nanoparticles and illuminates the respective advantages and disadvantages, using CSA as a model for the release of highly hydrophobic drugs.
Channeling Health: Explaining Bilateral and Multilateral Development Assistance for Health

President Obama’s 2014 budget requests proposed a continued drop in funding in a prominent bilateral global health initiative (PEPFAR) and a continued increase in US funding for the multilateral Global Fund. But, why do states fund multilateral aid institutions? Aid, even humanitarian-driven aid, is not entirely altruistic: states use foreign assistance to achieve their political, commercial, and policy goals. Realists argue that health aid allocation is a means of influence — to create stability, shore up national interests, and invest in geostrategic allies; thus, multilateralism would tend to be a preference of last resort, as bilateralism ensures more policy-wielding power. Neoliberal institutionalists, though, argue that using established international institutions can reduce uncertainty, reduce transaction costs, and promote gains from cooperation. Liberal theorists believe that state behavior with regard to multilateral aid allocation will depend on the structure of domestic preferences. This project uses data from the 23 member states of the OECD-DAC to test these three theoretical explanations, with the objective to better understand the choice for aid allocation in development assistance for health.
Brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of alcohol use disorders.

This chapter critically reviews brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) studies performed since 1994 in individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUD). We describe the neurochemicals that can be measured in vivo at the most common magnetic field strengths, summarize our knowledge about their general brain functions, and briefly explain some basic human (1)H MRS methods. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal research of individuals in treatment and of treatment-naive individuals with AUD are discussed and interpreted on the basis of reported neuropathology. As AUDs are highly comorbid with chronic cigarette smoking and illicit substance abuse, we also summarize reports on their respective influences on regional proton metabolite levels. After reviewing research on neurobiologic correlates of relapse and genetic influences on brain metabolite levels, we finish with suggestions on future directions for (1)H MRS studies in AUDs. The review demonstrates that brain metabolic alterations associated with AUDs as well as their cognitive correlates are not simply a consequence of chronic alcohol consumption. Future MR research of AUDs in general has to be better prepared - and supported - to study clinically complex relationships between personality characteristics, comorbidities, neurogenetics, lifestyle, and living environment, as all these factors critically affect an individual's neurometabolic profile. (1)H MRS is uniquely positioned to tackle these complexities by contributing to a comprehensive biopsychosocial profile of individuals with AUD: it can provide non-invasive biochemical information on select regions of the brain at comparatively low overall cost for the ultimate purpose of informing more efficient treatments of AUDs.
The H-1B Visa Controversy

The H-1B visa and other foreign-worker programs, as currently structured, aren't in the US national interest. Fortunately, there are simple, easily implementable solutions, should the government find the political will to take action.
Memantine Reduced Cell Death, Astrogliosis, and Functional Deficits in an in vitro Model of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Abstract Clinical studies suggest that athletes with a history of concussion may be at risk for additional mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and repetitive exposure to mTBI acutely increases risk for more significant and persistent symptoms and increases future risk for developing neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, symptoms of mTBI are managed with rest and pain medication; there are no drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that target the biochemical pathology underlying mTBI to treat or prevent acute and long-term effects of repetitive mTBI. Memantine is an FDA-approved drug for treating Alzheimer's disease, and also was shown to be neuroprotective in rodents following a single, moderate to severe TBI. Therefore, we investigated the potential for memantine to mitigate negative outcomes from repetitive mild stretch injury in organotypical hippocampal slice cultures. Samples received two injuries 24 h apart; injury resulted in significant cell death, loss of long-term potentiation...
Abstract 655: Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (dpp-4) Inhibition Decreases Cardiac And Vascular Stiffness And Improves Cardiac And Vascular Relaxation In Western Diet Fed Mice

A western diet (WD), high in sucrose and fat, is often accompanied by insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease characterized early by endothelial dysfunction and increased vascular and cardiac stiffness. Recently, Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibition has been shown to improve diastolic dysfunction in WD fed mice, but its effects on endothelial cell and cardiac stiffness have not been reported. We fed 4-week old C57BL/6 male mice with a WD with or without a DPP-4 inhibitor (MK0626) for 16 weeks and measured blood pressure by telemetry, insulin resistance via (HOMA), in vivo cardiac diastolic function (echocardiography), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and ex vivo aortic endothelial stiffness by atomic force microscopy. Systolic blood pressure and insulin resistance were increased by the WD. DPP-4 inhibition improved systemic insulin sensitivity and substantially reduced DPP-4 activity, but had no effect on 24-hour blood pressures. Heart weight was increased by WD in conjunction with S6 kinase translational signaling and DPP-4 inhibition reduced S6 kinase phosphorylation/activation in conjunction with a reduction in cardiac mass. Aortic stiffness, as assessed by PWV, was significantly increased in WD fed mice (16% increase) and was markedly decreased by DPP-4 inhibition. Endothelial cell stiffness was increased 5-fold in WD fed mice and DPP-4 inhibition significantly decreased endothelial stiffness (80% decrease). Acetylcholine but not sodium nitroprusside mediated vascular relaxation was impaired in WD fed mice and DPP-4 inhibition significantly improved this nitric oxide mediated relaxation. Increased vascular smooth muscle and endothelial stiffness was associated with impaired cardiac diastolic relaxation, which was also significantly improved by DPP-4 inhibition. Taken together, these results show that DPP-4 inhibition improves cardiac and vascular endothelial stiffness and cardiac diastolic dysfunction in a clinically translational mouse model (WD) of over nutrition and insulin resistance.
Compulsory Licensing and Patent Protection: A North‐South Perspective

In a stylized model involving a developing country (called South) and a foreign patent-holder, we analyze whether and how the incidence and social value of compulsory licensing (CL) depends upon the South's patent protection policy. If South is free to deny patent protection, CL fails to arise in equilibrium and the option to use it makes both parties worse off. If South is obligated to offer patent protection, CL can occur and even yield a Pareto improvement. The ability to control price increases the South's incentive for patent protection as well as the likelihood of CL. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
High-pressure balloon dilation in a dog with supravalvular aortic stenosis.

A 6-month-old female intact Goldendoodle was presented for diagnostic work up of a grade IV/VI left basilar systolic heart murmur. An echocardiogram was performed and revealed a ridge of tissue distal to the aortic valve leaflets at the sinotubular junction causing an instantaneous pressure gradient of 62 mmHg across the supravalvular aortic stenosis and moderate concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle. Intervention with a high-pressure balloon dilation catheter was pursued and significantly decreased the pressure gradient to 34 mmHg. No complications were encountered. The patient returned in 5 months for re-evaluation and static long-term reduction in the pressure gradient was noted.
Autoimmune Hepatitis Overlap Syndromes and Liver Pathology

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) may have an atypical serum alkaline phosphatase elevation, antimitochondrial antibodies, histologic features of bile duct injury/loss, or cholangiographic findings of focal biliary strictures and dilations. These manifestations characterize the overlap syndromes. Patients can be classified as having AIH with features of primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, or a cholestatic syndrome. The gold standard of diagnosis is clinical judgment. Histologic evaluation is a major diagnostic component. Treatment is based on algorithms; outcomes vary depending on the predominant disease component. Combination therapy has been the principal recommendation.
What’s the use of fieldwork with an ethnographic sensibility for security studies?

Not all fieldwork starts from the same place or moves along the same line. Fieldwork can be seated with a statistical methodology and survey methods and guided by a sense that ‘the truth is out the...
Short and Long Noncoding RNAs Regulate the Epigenetic Status of Cells

Abstract Significance: The concepts of junk DNA and transcriptional noise are long gone as the existence of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) has been tested extensively in recent years. Given that the epigenetic status of cells affects many biological processes, how ncRNAs mechanistically contribute to these processes is of great interest. Recent Advances: Recent studies show that various ncRNAs interact with epigenetic and/or transcription factors to modulate the epigenetic status of cells directly and/or indirectly. There exists growing interest in the field of cardiovascular research to understand the roles of ncRNAs. Due to the large number of ncRNAs in the mammalian genome, only a handful of ncRNAs have been functionally elucidated, which makes it difficult to understand how ncRNAs interact with protein-coding genes and their encoded proteins. Critical Issues: Although the canonical function of microRNAs (miRNAs) to inhibit the translation of protein-coding genes is well established, the number of functionall...
Little manila: a digital recreation

Little Manila was once a vibrant Filipino community in Stockton, California, decimated by a freeway construction project that began in the 1960s and took nearly three decades to complete. This paper describes our initial efforts to digitally recreate Little Manila as it appeared during the mid-twentieth century. Our game-like environment was developed primarily by an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate students who worked on the project during a five week summer fellowship. The team included two history majors, two graphic design majors, a computer science major, and a geological science major. The team managed itself using the Scrum methodology for software development, which included daily stand-up meetings that served to enhance communication and facilitate collaboration among team members. The current version of the software allows users to interact with non-player characters (NPCs) and explore many of the buildings near the intersection of El Dorado and Lafayette Streets, the center of Little Manila, to learn more about life for Filipino immigrants during the time period of the recreation. At the conclusion of the fellowship a "Big Reveal" event was held to demonstrate the software to members of the community. Nearly 120 people attended the event, with reactions from audience members ranging from tears to cries of recognition.
Innovation in Spite of: A Lamp Factory for Maya Peasants

Few commercial manufacturers or market research organizations could long survive the rate of failures and "partial" successes of the non-commercial community change projects now being sponsored by the world's governments, technical aid missions and applied anthropologists. There are two major reasons for these project problems. First, "the unlikelihood of [a non-commercial project's] mobilizing sufficient funds and personnel to do a research and development job well." Secondly, the lack of communication between innovative organizations and the social sciences. "The history of anthropological participation in developmental programs," states Foster "is pretty much one of frustration, misunderstanding and lack of good communication between administrators and scientists." These factors result in what is at present an almost irresolvable dilemma. Adequate methodological and theoretical materials are available; often they are not consulted. However lack of adequate funds, personnel and time make their full util...
A Call for, and Beginner’s Guide to, Measurement Invariance Testing in Evolutionary Psychology

Measurement invariance is a statistical property of an instrument (e.g., a test or questionnaire) indicating that it measures the same construct(s) in the same way across subgroups of respondents. Given the extensive research in evolutionary psychology devoted to sex differences and cross-cultural comparisons, measurement invariance testing is crucial not only because it protects against erroneous inference, but also because it provides nuanced information about group similarities and differences. In this article, we draw attention to the importance of, and present a beginner’s guide to, measurement invariance testing. We define measurement invariance formally, summarize sources of non-invariance and the rationale for measurement invariance testing, and describe the two frameworks typically used to test for invariance. We then review evidence of a relative lack of measurement invariance testing in evolutionary psychology and conclude with a case example with MPlus syntax. By testing for measurement invariance, researchers studying evolutionary psychology can strengthen their field and enhance the popularity of their constructs in other disciplines.
Thematic stages of recovery in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.

Borderline personality disorder is characterized by stereotypical, repetitive, and maladaptive interpersonal interactions. Considerable controversy exists regarding preferred treatment and prognosis. Patient-therapist interactions often result in traumatic reenactments and therapist burnout. Employing a case illustration and object relations theory, the author postulates that borderline patients have specific thematic questions that they are trying to resolve at sequential stages of their recovery. Each of the four thematic stages entails characteristic patient-therapist interactions, underlying conflicts, associated behaviors, and unique challenges and pitfalls that must be overcome in order to avoid traumatic reenactment and move forward in recovery.
Management of thrombotic microangiopathies in pregnancy

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) may occur with pregnancy in the setting of several conditions including severe preeclampsia with HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) syndrome, TTP (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura), and HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome), predominantly in the form of atypical HUS (aHUS). Formation of microthrombi in the microcirculation is a pathological finding common to these disorders, resulting in overlapping clinical presentations. However, certain clinical and laboratory features may facilitate differential diagnosis among these conditions, and provision of appropriate therapy may be dependent upon establishing the underlying cause of TMA.
The forester's dilemma : paradoxes in the criteria and indicators for sustainable forestry

L'amenagement forestier a long terme etant une entreprise complexe, il existe par nature des paradoxes dans les criteres et indicateurs de certification. Differents moyens permettent de fixer un horizon de planification et des profils d'exploitation possibles qui, bien qu'assurant un rendement soutenu et la stabilite a long terme de la foret, peuvent ne pas satisfaire a certains criteres. L'amplitude de la variation dans le temps des donnees et des criteres se heurte a des problemes d'echelle temporelle et spatiale ainsi qu'a l'estimation de la perturbation anthropique acceptable lorsqu'on definit ce qui est naturel. La definition du caractere « local » dans le contexte bioregional est importante pour traiter les criteres socio-economiques. L'aptitude du forestier a traiter les contradictions internes dans les criteres et indicateurs de la gestion durable s'ameliorera avec l'experience dans le processus de certification.
Oil Price and Biofuels

Does the increasing oil price have an impact on demand for biofuels? Does an expansion of biofuels put pressure on oil price to fall down? These are the questions frequently asked by policy makers and other stakeholders. However, the answer is ambiguous. Serra and Zilberman (2013) surveyed 45 studies published during 2007–2012 period, which mostly used time series data, to analyze biofuel related price transmission. Only two out of the 45 studies found an impact of biofuels on fossil fuel prices in the long-run. Twenty of those studies found that energy prices influence agricultural commodities’ prices. One can argue that since feedstock costs represent more than half of the total production costs of crop-based biofuels, energy prices would impact prices of biofuels. However, existing literature have mixed findings on the relationship between oil price rise and increased prices for agriculture commodity. While some studies, such as Ciaian and Kancs (2011), Mallory et al. (2012) show the transmission of increased energy prices to agricultural commodity prices, others studies, such as Cha and Bae (2011), Hassouneh et al. (2012) find no such relationship in the long-run. This implies that increased oil price would cause substitution of petroleum products with biofuels in the long-run thereby increasing their penetration in the global energy mix. Timilsina et al. (2011) find, in the United States for example, that around a 50 % rise in oil price in 2020 from 2009 level would increase biofuel use to the level that the country has targeted through its blending mandate.
The acetohydroxy acid synthase III isoenzyme of Escherichia coli K-12: regulation of synthesis by leucine.

Abstract Acetohydroxy acid synthase III (AHAS III) is one of the three isoenzymes which catalyze the condensation reaction for the biosynthesis of the branched chain amino acids in Escherichia coli K-12. The synthesis of this enzyme is repressed by leucine. As a consequence of this regulatory feature, strain PS1035, in which AHAS III is the only AHAS isoenzyme expressed, does not grow in minimal medium containing leucine. The other two branched chain amino acids, isoleucine and valine, do not have regulatory effects on AHAS III synthesis.
The estrogen-regulated transcriptome: rapid, robust, extensive, and transient

The steroid hormone estrogen has potent effects in a variety of tissues across the body in both females and males. In the nuclear signaling pathway for estrogens, the hormone acts by stimulating the DNA binding and transcriptional activity of estrogen receptors (ERs), transcription factors which robustly and transiently regulate the expression of target genes. More broadly, estrogen signaling controls the ER cistrome, as well as the epigenome and the estrogen-regulated transcriptome. A host of deep sequencing-based genomic assays have provided novel insights into the mechanisms by which ERs regulate transcriptional responses. Estrogen-dependent transcriptional responses have been studied widely in breast cancer cells, primarily in the context of the ER alpha (ERα) isoform. These studies have revealed an intricate cross talk between the estrogen-ERα signaling pathway and other signaling pathways, impacting transcriptional programs and clinical outcomes in breast cancer. This chapter reviews the key features of ERα-regulated transcription and the current technological advances that have allowed for the careful dissection of these mechanisms.
Case 4: Weight Loss and Cough in a 12-year-old Boy

1. Peter J. Holmberg, MD* 2. Eugene Owusu-Achaw, MB, BM BCh† 3. Adoma Dwomo-Fokuo, MB, BM BCh† 1. *General Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, Rochester, MN 2. †Department of Pediatric Medicine, Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital, Dormaa-Ahenkro, Brong Ahafo, Ghana A 12-year-old boy presents with 2 to 3 months of worsening cough and increasing fatigue. He is known to be retroviral positive and had been started on antiretroviral therapy 10 months earlier. At that time, he presented with fatigue and substantial weight loss of unclear amount, and it was discovered that his mother had recently died of AIDS. A rapid diagnostic test using an oral fluid sample was obtained and was positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). He was started on antiretroviral therapy with zidovudine, lamivudine, and efavirenz, along with cotrimoxazole. He had weight gain and a decrease in symptoms after initiation of therapy, and, given his progress, his grandmother stopped his medications after 2 months of treatment. On physical examination, he appears wasted and has a heart rate of 120 beats/min, a respiratory rate of 40 breaths/min, and a temperature of 98.4°F (36.9°C). He has thrush of the oropharynx and cervical lymphadenopathy. Auscultation of the lungs reveals diffuse crackles and coarse sounds. He has mild intercostal retractions, frequent cough, and the presence of digital clubbing. A chest radiograph was obtained and revealed bilateral perihilar adenopathy and innumerable widespread micronodular infiltrates throughout both lungs (Fig). A rapid test of a body fluid reveals the diagnosis. Figure. Chest radiograph revealing innumerable diffuse micronodules throughout both lungs along with bilateral perihilar adenopathy, left greater than right. Using morning gastric …
Drawing on the Board

Students and teachers alike tend to think of drawing on the board as an old-fashioned teaching technology, and to prefer electronically mediated pedagogies even in the face-to-face classroom. In this article, I celebrate the chalkboard and whiteboard as potential sites of collaborative and open-ended teaching and learning. Arguing that technological choices are always also political choices, I suggest that the problematizing, slow-paced, and inconclusive teaching style encouraged by board-work is a style worth fighting for - especially in the Religious Studies classroom.
Preparing Students for the Twenty-First Century Through Family Engagement in Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness

The diversity of the family structure that now permeates modern-day society can be used as a true partnership that embraces inclusivity and as a credible component to the postsecondary pursuits of students. Through the lens of the existing literature and a new theoretical framework, the model of family engagement in postsecondary and workforce readiness (FEPWR), this chapter identifies the intersections between family engagement and preparing all students to meet the demands of the twenty-first century. The new framework constructs an approach that is more inclusive in language, that addresses educators at all levels, and that bridges the gap between all levels of schooling and into the workforce. The chapter outlines the implications for schools and school districts if stakeholders do not begin to understand and value the multiple representations of family engagement. The chapter concludes with recommendations for educational leaders and practitioners to employ targeted policies and practices that recognize the myriad forms of family engagement as integral to supporting students’ preparation for postsecondary pursuits in the twenty-first century and beyond.
The use of non-invasive mapping in persistent AF to predict acute procedural outcome.

Abstract Background ECG imaging (ECGI) with phase mapping has been used to identify rotational activity non-invasively that can be targeted during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Acute termination of AF using this method has shown improved clinical outcomes. In this study we sought to evaluate whether patterns of rotational density are associated with acute procedural outcomes when using a step-wise ablation strategy. Methods 50 patients with persistent or long-standing persistent AF underwent non-invasive 3D mapping with CardioInsight™ prior to AF ablation. Composite maps of rotational activity were created and prioritized based on the density of rotations on a biatrial model. Stepwise ablation of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ± rotations ± linear lesions was done with AF termination as the procedural endpoint. Results Acute termination of AF was achieved in 34 patients (68%). Median number of rotations in the left atrium (LA), interatrial septum and right atrium (RA) were 22.2 (9.4 to 29.3), 12.0 (4.3 to 13.4), 25.0 (14.5 to 31.3), respectively. In patients with acute AF termination, a higher number of rotations in the LA was observed, 20.3 (10.0 to 37.1) compared to 10.6 (7.7 to 17.2) in the RA (p = 0.02). Additionally, high density of rotations in the posterior inferior right atrium (segment 2B on the biatrial model) was observed in patients without acute AF termination (p = 0.02). Conclusion Acute termination of persistent and long-standing persistent AF using rotational ablation guided by ECGI phase mapping can be achieved in a high percentage of both index and re-do cases. The distribution and pattern of these rotations may be associated with procedural outcomes and could potentially be used to stratify patients.
Histological findings in wild rodents of the Great Basin

In the western United States, significant environmental change is expected through the combined effects of climate change, tree mortality, drought, and invasive species. Wild animals can be used as indicators of threats to populations and even entire communities by looking for histopathological changes in their tissues. This method may identify threats to wild populations quickly and more accurately than waiting to observe population declines; however, baseline data are needed for comparisons. Here, rodents are surveyed at 5 sites in the Great Basin to record histopathological changes. Additionally, one site is next to a copper mine that was in operation for nearly 100 years. This site is compared to the other more pristine sites. Liver, lung, heart, and kidney tissues of 143 rodents from 10 species were processed and examined using standard histological methods. Thirty percent of rodents had histopathological changes. The most common histopathological changes were extramedullary hematopoiesis (11.9%), hyperplastic BALT (6.3%), and pyelitis (4.9%). Two pathogens were found: the nematode Capillaria hepatica (0.7%) and the fungus Emmonsia crescens (2.8%). The most common rodent captured, Peromyscus maniculatus (n = 116), was used to determine whether sex and mass predict histopathological changes. Body mass, not sex, was the best predictor, suggesting that heavier, older individuals should be selectively sampled if the goal is to assess potential threats to rodent populations. Data such as these can be compared to future data to assess populations and communities for effects of environmental change.
Operative Reports in Orthopaedic Surgery: The Need for Assessment and Education.

BACKGROUND The ability to complete an operative report is a vital skill for an orthopaedic surgeon. We hypothesized that most programs do not have formal operative report teaching, that resident operative reports at our institution are incomplete, and that a formal teaching program would improve operative reports. METHODS A survey of residencies in the United States was conducted assessing the state of operative report education. In addition, resident operative reports were collected at our institution both pre and post a formal educational session. Scores were given for each report out of a possible 35 points. RESULTS Total 54 institutions responded to the survey, of which 83% indicated that they had no formal resident operative report teaching. Within our institution, 100 resident operative dictations were assessed prior to instituting a formal education session, with a mean score of 24.5. The most commonly missed items in the report were preoperative antibiotics, deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, and tourniquet time. The mean score of 100 resident operative dictations following the educational session improved to 31.8. CONCLUSION Most residency programs do not conduct formal resident operative report teaching. Formal instruction on how to complete a comprehensive operative report resulted in a significant improvement in their quality.
Expected Number of Dice Rolls for the Sum to Reach n

A classic probability result is that the expected number of random summands chosen uniformly from the interval [0, 1] that are needed to sum to at least 1 is e. This result is mainstream enough tha...
Protect and harm: Effects of stress on the amygdala

Abstract The amygdala plays a key role in a range of adaptive social and emotional behaviors. As might be expected for a region that facilitates rapid changes, the amygdala is highly sensitive to the environment, in particular, challenges and stressors that are faced by the organism. Over short time periods, the amygdala can be primed to facilitate protective behavioral responses to stressors. However, prolonged stress experiences can lead to long-lasting changes that may be adaptive in only limited environmental settings. This chapter focuses on how acute and prolonged stress recruits and modifies the amygdala. We present evidence that stressors can produce a shift in the balance of activity and excitability of amygdala nuclei, leading to a shift in the stream of information processing through the amygdala and heightened sensitivity of the amygdala to the environment. We propose a specific set of changes in the balance between amygdala nuclei after acute stress that focuses amygdala activity towards specific stimuli, but different changes after prolonged stress that make amygdala circuits more responsive to many stimuli. This, in turn, promotes some of the behavioral changes observed after prolonged stress, such as increased sensitivity to surroundings, and loss of specificity for the environmental stimuli that are judged to be relevant. These shifts evoke emotional changes, and enhanced emotional responding, that often presents as increased anxiety.
Barriers to gauging built environment climate vulnerability

Climate change will increase the intensity and frequency of a range of natural hazards, from floods to wildfires, which impact the built environment. More research is needed on buildings and infrastructure performance under different climate-driven events to support recovery predictions and effective mitigation policies.
Inhibition of interleukin-2-induced tumor necrosis factor release by dexamethasone: prevention of an acquired neutrophil chemotaxis defect and differential suppression of interleukin-2-associated side effects.

High concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha have been detected in the plasma of patients undergoing immunotherapy with interleukin 2 (IL-2), suggesting that this cytokine may play a role in the fever and shocklike state induced by the administration of high- dose IL-2. Dexamethasone has been shown to inhibit the synthesis of TNF by monocytes activated in vitro by endotoxin. To determine if dexamethasone can exert a similar suppressive effect on IL-2-induced TNF synthesis in vivo, the concentration of TNF alpha was measured in plasma samples serially obtained (a) from cancer patients participating in a phase I dose escalation clinical trial with high-dose IL-2 administered in conjunction with dexamethasone (IL-2/Dex) and (b) from patients participating in concurrent studies with IL-2 alone. In contrast to the high plasma levels of TNF alpha detected in patients receiving IL-2 alone, TNF levels in most of the IL-2/Dex patients remained below the threshold of detectability of our TNF radioimmunoassay. The concurrent administration of dexamethasone also prevented the IL-2-induced increase in serum levels of C-reactive protein, a hepatic acute phase reactant whose synthesis is regulated by proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF. The steroid-treated patients also failed to develop the neutrophil chemotactic defect characteristic of IL-2 recipients. The concomitant administration of dexamethasone increased the maximum tolerated dose of IL-2 approximately threefold and markedly reduced the hypotension and organ dysfunction ordinarily observed in these patients. These results demonstrate that dexamethasone inhibits the release of TNF into the circulation of patients undergoing immunotherapy with IL-2. They further suggest that the altered spectrum and reduced severity of IL-2 side effects observed in patients receiving dexamethasone may be attributable in part to the suppressive effect of steroids on IL-2-induced TNF synthesis.
A Comparison of Sepsis-2 (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Based) to Sepsis-3 (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Based) Definitions-A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES Recently, the definition of sepsis has changed from a physiologic derangement (Sepsis-1 and -2) to organ dysfunction (Sepsis-3) based. We sought to determine the concordance between the different sepsis phenotypes and how that affected mortality. DESIGN Retrospective, multicenter study. SETTING Three academic medical centers. PATIENTS 29,459 patients who had suspected infection, defined as obtaining blood cultures and receiving antibiotics: 18,183 (62%) had either Sepsis-2 or Sepsis-3. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Kappa was used to show agreement between phenotypes. Conditional logistic regression was used to create models of associations between factors and phenotypes and between factors and mortality. About 12,981 patients had Sepsis-2; 12,043 had Sepsis-3; and 6,841 patients had both Sepsis-2 and Sepsis-3. Fifty-three percent of Sepsis-2 patients also had Sepsis-3, whereas 57% of Sepsis-3 patients also had Sepsis-2. Agreement between the two phenotypes was poor: kappa = 0.213 ± 0.006. Mortality was 6% in patients with only Sepsis-2, 10% with only Sepsis-3, and 18% in patients who had both phenotypes. Combining the variables in Sepsis-2 and Sepsis-3 improved the discrimination (C-statistic = 0.742 ± 0.005, p < 0.001) of mortality. CONCLUSIONS We found that Sepsis-2 and Sepsis-3-based sepsis diagnoses represent separate phenotypes with poor agreement. Patients who have both phenotypes are at increased risk of mortality compared with having either phenotype alone. Inclusion of both systemic inflammatory response syndrome and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment criteria in the same model improves the discrimination of mortality.