cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Novel Bromodomain Inhibitor Reverses HIV-1 Latency through Specific Binding with BRD4 to Promote Tat and P-TEFb Association.

Although combinatory antiretroviral therapy (cART) is effective to reduce HIV-1 viremia, it does not eliminate HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 remains latent with the presence of cART, impeding the cure of HIV-1/AIDS. Recently, latency-reversing agents (LRAs) have been developed to purge latent HIV-1, providing an intriguing strategy for eradication of residual, latent viral reservoirs. Our earlier studies show that the first-generation, methyl-triazolo bromodomain and extra-terminal domain inhibitor (BETi), JQ1, facilitates the reversal of HIV-1 latency. BETis have recently emerged as a new class of compounds that are promising for HIV-1 “shock and kill” eradication approach. However, due to the stochastic effcts of HIV-1 reactivation (Ho et al, Cell, 2013), JQ1 only modestly reverses HIV-1 latency as a single drug, which complicates the study of the underlining mechanisms. Thus, BETis, which are more potent, easier for synthesis, and with more structural diversity, are currently under active development. One such compound is UMB-32, a novel second-generation, 3,5-dimethylisoxazole BETi based on an imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine scaffold. We screened 37 UMB-32 derivatives and identified that UMB-136 consistently reactivates HIV-1 in multiple cell models of HIV-1 latency with better efficiency than JQ1 and UMB-32. UMB-136 enhances HIV-1 Tat-LTR mediated transcription and increases HIV-1 viral production. Furthermore, UMB-136 enhances the latency-reversing effect of PKC agonists (prostratin, bryostatin-1) in CD8-depleted PBMCs containing HIV-1 latent reservoirs. Thus, our results illustrate that structurally improved BETis, such as UMB-136, would be useful as promising LRAs for HIV-1 eradication.
Pressure Casting of Ni3Al/Al2O3 Composites

A series of Du Pont PRD-166 and FP fiber reinforced Ni and nickel aluminide matrix composites, containing Ti or Y as a wetting agent, were produced by pressure casting. Modulus values determined under compression varied from 273 to 287 GPa in a direction parallel to the fibers and ranged from 148 to 159 in a direction normal to the fibers. Modulus values parallel to the fiber direction were approximately 5% lower than that predicted by the rule-of-mixtures. The much lower values of modulus normal to the fibers has been attributed to a number of sources which include fiber/matrix and fiber/fiber debonding and stress concentration resulting from voids existing at fiber/fiber bonds. It was observed, qualitatively, that good bonding between matrix and fiber occurred when Ti diffused from the matrix into fibers. The presence of Al in the matrix tended to inhibit Ti diffusion, increasingly as Al content increased. Thus fiber/matrix bond strength was poorer in the aluminides than in an alloy containing no Al. Y was not found to improve bonding, and an interface reaction zone was obserced in some areas where liquid metal initially entered the fiber preform.
Systems with Sensor or Actuator Constraints

It is well known that switching control laws arise in time-optimal control of systems with controls taking values in bounded sets. For such systems, time-optimal control laws switch between boundary points of the admissible control set (hence the name “bang-bang controls”).
Ethanol from Cellulose

Waste cellulose avoids the competition between food and fuel for cornstarch. It is ubiquitous and constitutes 50% of the woody structure of most plants. The compact structure of cellulose caused by its tight bonding and crystallinity inhibits access by enzymes and therefore makes it difficult to use directly by enzymes. To overcome this, process developers have attempted to introduce pretreatment processes or the development of modified enzyme systems or have resorted to cellulose conversion to synthesis gas. These techniques are superior to acid hydrolysis of cellulose and the processing problems that result from it. Notable active developers are Raizen, DuPont/Betamax, Beta Renewables, Dong Energy, and Iogen among others. The process description and economics of each of these firms is described.
Patterned textured fascia for 77 GHz radar propagation variation reduction

A staggered textured cone pattern has been developed, optimized and integrated into the inside of fascia to reduce the variation in propagation loss for 77 GHz radar with respect to changes in fascia thickness and changes in incident angle. The same cone geometry yields similar improvements for various combination of fascia, paint type and layers of paint. Simulation results show a significantly more constant propagation loss when compared to a standard non-textured fascia.
Practical and Theoretical Issues in the Uses of Fetal Brain Tissue Transplants to Promote Recovery from Brain Injury

In this chapter I discuss some of the practical and theoretical problems associated with the use of fetal brain tissue transplants to promote functional recovery from brain injuries. Readers familiar with the research on neuroplasticity and recovery from brain damage know that within the last few years, there has been a veritable explosion of literature demonstrating that embryonic brain tissue is capable of being transplanted directly into the host brain of an adult animal. In the correct environment, there is now no longer any doubt that the fetal tissue grows substantially, becomes integrated with the host brain, and, under the right conditions, is capable of mediating significant recovery from central nervous system (CNS) injury (Sladek and Gash, 1984; Bjorklund and Stenevi, 1985; Gash et al., 1985).
Quantifiers in Pair-List Readings

In this paper the term pair-list reading will be applied to both types (1) and (2) (1) Who did every dog bite? ‘For every dog, who did it bite?’ (2) Who did six dogs bite? ‘For six dogs of your choice, who did each bite?’
Brains Don’t Lie: They Don’t Even Make Many Mistakes

The major task of epistemology, according to many, is to show how knowledge is possible at all, or, in other words, to solve the riddle of skepticism. Several years ago, in his book Reason, Truth and History, Hilary Putnam purported to solve that problem by proving that we are not brains in a vat. I am now inclined to believe that Putnam’s argument is, in all essential respects, correct.1
Cooptation or Convergence in Field Level Dynamics: Social Movement Structure, Identity and Image

This paper adds to the growing area of research linking institutional analysis and social movement theory. Conceiving the environmental movement as a field-level structure in pursuit of change within a broader organizational field, this paper uses social network analysis to deconstruct the movement, like the field of which it is a part, not as a unitary and monolithic actor but as an intertwined constellation of actors and clusters of actors whose membership holds differing frames regarding their individual and collective purpose. This constellation is not bounded by organizational form, such as the traditional notion of the non-governmental organization (NGO), but rather includes non-traditional forms (such as corporations) that are ideological linked to the goals of some segments of the movement. This is the outcome of protracted institutional engagement which yields a gradual merge of interests among once competing movements. This paper assesses how this merge in constituencies is related to the core identity and image of the movement and closes with a discussion of the implications of this alteration for the movement's ongoing ability to play the role of institutional entrepreneur within field level debates.
Continuous Bores on a Viscous Fluid Down an Incline

Many papers have been devoted to nonlinear waves on a thin layer of viscous fluid flowing down an incline at low to moderate Reynolds numbers (see Chang 1994 for a survey). Motivated by interests in chemical engineering, surface tension is emphasized in past studies where the Weber number W e is ususally assumed to be large W e = O(∈—2) where ∈ = is a small parameter denoting the depth-to-wavelength ratio. Among the few papers on high Reynolds numbers, the boundary layer approximation to O(∈2) accuracy and the momentum integral method are used for analytical convenience. Due to the complexity of these nonlinear evolution equations, most reported studies concentrate on permanent (or stationary) waves which propagate at a constant speed without changing form. However in these papers there exist inconsistencies since pressure is taken to be only hydrostatic which implies omission of 0(e 2) terms in the transverse momentum equation. A consistent second order theory has been worked out for large Reynolds numbers and small-to-moderate surface tension (Lee, 1995, Lee & Mei, 1995).
Putting the ‘empiricism’ in ‘logical empiricism’: the director’s cut

In 1992, Thomas Uebel set the standard for scholarship on both Neurath and the protocol-sentence debate in Overcoming Logical Positivism from Within: The Emergence of Neurath’s Naturalism in the Vienna Circle’s Protocol-Sentence Debate. That book was an in-depth study of the logical empiricists’ protocol-sentence debate, which ‘‘concerned the form, content, and status of scientific evidence statements’’ (1). Put otherwise, this debate addressed how best to understand those scientific activities (including linguistic activities) that make the empirical sciences empirical. The book reviewed here, Empiricism at the Crossroads: The Vienna Circle’s Protocol-Sentence Debate, is a heavily revised and expanded version of that earlier work. Before delving into the content of the book, let us ask: how does the new version differ from the old? First, there are light revisions throughout, including small expository additions or deletions, and additional citations of primary and secondary sources. Second, there are many entirely new subsections, several of which address developments in the secondary literature since 1992. For example, Uebel engages with Chris Pincock’s ‘reserved reading’ of Carnap’s Aufbau, and when discussing Popper’s interactions with the Vienna Circle, Uebel draws upon Malachi Hacohen’s recent biography. Third, at the macro-level, one old chapter has been deleted (‘‘Beyond Logical Empiricism’’), and (roughly) two new chapters have been added. The first covers archival precursors to major articles of the early 1930s (discussed further below), and the second primarily interprets and evaluates Schlick’s puzzling notion of Konstatierungen (‘affirmations’), the supposed evidentiary bedrock of empirical science, including a summary and extension of Uebel’s own recent debate with Thomas Oberdan on this topic. Despite these many changes great and small, both the general historical narrative and argumentative thrust of Empiricism at the Crossroads are similar to that of the
The Mysterious Case of the Kingianins

Abstract The complex structures of the kingianins strongly suggest a biosynthesis terminated by a sequence of nonenzymatic pericyclic reactions. We postulated that the last of these is a radical cation Diels–Alder (RCDA) reaction. Pursuit of a biomimetic approach to the total synthesis of the kingianins has been informative in that our results are consistent with the belief that a radical cation is involved in the biosynthesis and that stereochemical factors limit the number of isomers formed. Also, consideration of the structures in the kingianin family has also been puzzling; the distribution of allowed stereoisomers derived from the intermolecular RCDA reaction of four stereoisomeric cyclooctadiene intermediates is, apparently, not statistical in nature. The NCI60 test data for kingianins A and H suggest that kingianin A is the more active compound with detectable activity at 10 μM in this cell-based assay.
The Multiple Risk Factors Hypothesis: An Integrating Concept of the Etiology of Drug Abuse

Recently, researchers have been studying the etiology of drug abuse by sampling large numbers of adolescents, assessing a wide range of psychosocial characteristics, and applying multivariate statistical methods to determine which combination of the characteristics best explains initiation or extent of drug use (Jessor & Jessor, 1978; Kandel, Treiman, Faust, & Single, 1976; Segal, Huba, & Singer, 1980b; Smith & Fogg, 1978; Pandina & Schuele, 1983). While some intriguing convergences have occurred among the findings of these studies, some puzzling discrepancies have also been noted. In the past, such discrepancies could be explained by problems in research design, but current studies are well designed and executed. Consequently, the field is now faced with the challenge of integrating disparate findings.
Place Attachment Style as a Predictor of Responses to the Environmental Threat of Water Contamination

People are increasingly exposed to environmental threat in the form of “slow-scale” disaster, such as the water contamination at Flint, Michigan. Little is known about the role of place attachment ...
Rent seeking at 52: an introduction to a special issue of public choice

A half century after he developed it, Gordon Tullock’s idea of rent seeking is more relevant than ever. Though the concept has gained widespread acceptance among academics, it has yet to make an impression on public discourse. But with favoritism, corruption, and the power of special interests in the headlines, the idea deserves broader attention. In this special issue of Public Choice we commemorate Tullock’s insight. Contributors examine the making of this classic piece and its effect on economic theory, empirical analysis, and economic teaching. Original papers also develop new insights into questions of development, the control of violence, corruption, culture, equity, regulation, rent extraction, the Political Coase Theorem, and more.
Overlapping epidemics of alcohol and illicit drug use among HCV-infected persons who inject drugs

Abstract Background Alcohol use in people who inject drugs (PWID) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection accelerates liver disease progression. This paper describes the prevalence and associated correlates of alcohol use among HCV antibody positive PWID. Methods In a large cohort of HCV antibody positive PWID (N = 1623) followed from 2005 to 2013, we characterized alcohol use using the AUDIT-C. We used multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimated equations to examine socio-demographic, clinical, and substance use correlates of alcohol use. Results At their initial visit, 41% reported no, 21% reported moderate, and 38% reported heavy alcohol use. The odds of moderate and heavy alcohol use increased with greater intensity of substance use represented by a composite summary variable which ranged from 0 to 3 substances (street-acquired prescription drugs, non-injection cocaine/heroin, and injection drugs) used. Compared to those who used no drugs, those who used 3 substances had 3.71 odds (95% CI: 3.07–4.48) of moderate alcohol use and 3.65 odds (95% CI: 3.20–4.16) of heavy alcohol use. Conclusions The prevalence of moderate/heavy alcohol use is high among HCV antibody positive PWID and occurs frequently in combination with other drug use. This may contribute to progressive liver fibrosis thus limiting the gains achieved from HCV cure. Public health interventions need to address the overlapping epidemics of HCV, alcohol use, and other substance use in this population.
Análisis de la experiencia de las organizaciones, obligadas a reportar a la Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros, en la implementación y uso del Xbrl

Con la globalizacion de los mercados, las empresas han expandido su ambito de actuacion, lo cual hace que el interes por sus actividades traspase las fronteras nacionales. El actual escenario de las organizaciones, obliga a estas a adaptar sus sistemas de informacion y comunicacion con nuevas tecnologias, ya que se entiende que ellas, puestas al servicio de la informacion, favorecen las decisiones obteniendo ventajas competitivas. Por esto, es que nace la necesidad de crear un lenguaje comun para la transmision de informacion financiera y empresarial. En Chile con la adopcion de las Normas Internacionales de Contabilidad, la Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros opta por utilizar el XBRL como base tecnologica para la estandarizacion de la informacion. A cinco anos de su implementacion, es importante analizar la experiencia de las empresas que han tenido que adoptar esta medida. En la investigacion se aprecia que el uso del XBRL aun se encuentra en su etapa inicial. A pesar de que las empresas cumplen con la exigencia impuesta por el ente regulador, los usuarios no aprovechan los beneficios que genera la estandarizacion de la informacion, optando por otros reportes generados internamente
Lasmiditan for acute treatment of migraine in patients with cardiovascular risk factors: post-hoc analysis of pooled results from 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials

In addition to the increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease and CV events associated with migraine, patients with migraine can also present with a number of CV risk factors (CVRFs). Existing treatment options can be limited due to contraindications, increased burden associated with monitoring, or patient avoidance of side effects. Safe and effective migraine treatment options are needed for patients with migraine and a history of CV or cerebrovascular disease or with increased risk for CV events. This analysis was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral lasmiditan, a selective serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 1F receptor agonist, in acute treatment of migraine attacks in patients with CVRFs. SAMURAI and SPARTAN were similarly designed, Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in adults treating a single migraine attack with lasmiditan 50, 100, or 200 mg. Both studies included patients with CVRFs, and SPARTAN allowed patients with coronary artery disease, clinically significant arrhythmia, or uncontrolled hypertension. Efficacy and safety of lasmiditan in subgroups of patients with differing levels of CVRFs are reported. For efficacy analyses, logistic regression was used to assess treatment-by-subgroup interactions. For safety analyses, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test of general association evaluated treatment comparisons; Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio assessed significant treatment effects. In this pooled analysis, a total of 4439 patients received ≥1 dose of study drug. A total of 3500 patients (78.8%) had ≥1 CVRF, and 1833 patients (41.3%) had ≥2 CVRFs at baseline. Both trials met the primary endpoints of headache pain freedom and most bothersome symptom freedom at 2 h. The presence of CVRFs did not affect efficacy results. There was a low frequency of likely CV treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) overall (lasmiditan, 30 [0.9%]; placebo, 5 [0.4%]). There was no statistical difference in the frequency of likely CV TEAEs in either the absence or presence of any CVRFs. The only likely CV TEAE seen across patients with ≥1, ≥ 2, ≥ 3, or ≥ 4 CVRFs was palpitations. When analyzed by the presence of CVRFs, there was no statistical difference in lasmiditan efficacy or the frequency of likely CV TEAEs. Despite the analysis being limited by a single-migraine-attack design, the lack of differences in efficacy and safety with increasing numbers of CVRFs indicates that lasmiditan might be considered in the treatment algorithm for patients with CVRFs. Future studies are needed to assess long-term efficacy and safety. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02439320 (SAMURAI), registered 18 March 2015 and ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02605174 (SPARTAN), registered 11 November 2015.
Telomere Elongation in Dyskeratosis Congenita Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Abstract Abstract 497 Patients with dyskeratosis congenita (DC), a disorder of telomere maintenance, suffer premature degeneration of multiple tissues. Bone marrow failure is the principal cause of mortality, and allogeneic stem cell transplantation is limited by increased treatment-related mortality. Somatic cells can be reprogrammed using defined genetic and chemical factors, yielding “induced pluripotent stem” (iPS) cell lines which have the capacity to differentiate into any tissue. Patient-specific iPS cells therefore hold promise as therapeutic agents and disease models for human degenerative disorders like DC. A cardinal feature of iPS cells is acquisition of indefinite self-renewal capacity, and we have found that telomere length is increased in human iPS cells relative to the normal primary somatic cells from which they are derived. Here we investigated whether defects in telomerase function would limit derivation or self-renewal of iPS cells from patients with DC. We reprogrammed primary fibroblasts from patients with X-linked and autosomal dominant DC, caused by mutations in the genes encoding dyskerin and telomerase RNA component (TERC), respectively. We were able to establish multiple DC-specific iPS lines showing all hallmarks of pluripotency, including the formation of hematopoietic progenitors in vitro. Unexpectedly, DC-specific iPS cells were able to sustain continual proliferation in vitro, in contrast to the premature senescence displayed by the DC fibroblasts. Although early passage DC iPS cells had shorter telomeres than donor fibroblasts, we found that telomere length in DC iPS cells increased with continued passage in culture. To explain this finding, we discovered that steady state levels of TERC, which are critically limiting in several forms of DC, are upregulated in normal and DC iPS cells. We found that TERC upregulation is a feature of the pluripotent state, that the TERC locus is a target of pluripotency-associated transcription factors, and that transcriptional silencing accompanies a 3' deletion at the TERC locus in autosomal dominant DC. Our results demonstrate that reprogramming restores self-renewal capacity in DC cells despite genetic lesions affecting telomerase, and suggest that strategies to enhance endogenous TERC expression may be feasible and therapeutically beneficial in DC patients. The studies demonstrate the value of patient-specific iPS cells for basic and translational discovery, and further the rationale for autologous iPS based cellular therapy of genetic hematologic disorders. Disclosures: Daley: MPM Capital: Consultancy; Solasia: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy; iPierian: Consultancy, Equity Ownership.
When calculators lie: A demonstration of uncritical calculator usage among college students and factors that improve performance

Calculators are often unnecessary to solve routine problems, though they are convenient for offloading cognitively effortful processes. However, errors can arise if incorrect procedures are used or when users fail to monitor the output for keystroke mistakes. To investigate the conditions under which people’s attention are captured by errant calculator outputs (i.e., from incorrectly chosen procedures or keystroke errors), we programmed an onscreen calculator to “lie” by changing the answers displayed on certain problems. We measured suspicion by tracking whether users explicitly reported suspicion, overrode calculator “lies”, or re-checked their calculations after a “lie” was presented. In Study 1, we manipulated the concreteness of problem presentation and calculator delay between subjects to test how these affect suspicion towards “lies” (15% added to answers). We found that numeracy had no effect on whether people opted-in or out of using the calculator but did predict whether they would become suspicious. Very few people showed suspicion overall, however. For study 2, we increased the “lies” to 120% on certain answers and included questions with “conceptual lies” shown (e.g., a negative sign that should have been positive). We again found that numeracy had no effect on calculator usage, but, along with concrete formatting, did predict suspicion behavior. This was found regardless of “lie” type. For study 3, we reproduced these effects after offering students an incentive for good performance, which did raise their accuracy across the math problems overall but did not increase suspicion behavior. We conclude that framing problems within a concrete domain and being higher in numeracy increases the likelihood of spotting errant calculator outputs, regardless of incentive.
Combat anthropologist: Charles T. R. Bohannan, counter-insurgency pioneer, 1936-1966

ABSTRACTCharles T. R. Bohannan was an instrumental figure in US successes in counter-insurgency in the immediate post-war era. These successes were not just vested in his wartime combat experience,...
Object-Oriented Design

Object design is primarily adding details to the requirements analysis and making implementation decisions. Object design serves as the basis for implementation in an object-oriented paradigm. During object design, developers define solution domain objects to bridge the gap between the analysis model and the hardware/software platform defined during system design. This includes precisely describing object and subsystem interfaces, selecting off-the-shelf components, restructuring the object model to attain design goals such as extensibility and understandability, and optimizing the object model for performance. An object model describes how a component or system works, down to programming language classes or some other level that can be coded.
Ethical surgical triage of patients with head and neck cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background Coronavirus has serially overtaken our metropolitan hospitals. At peak, patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome may outnumber mechanical ventilators. In our Miami Hospital System, COVID-19 cases have multiplied for 4 weeks and elective surgery has been suspended. Methods An Otolaryngologic Triage Committee was created to appropriately allocate resources to patients. Hospital ethicists provided support. Our tumor conference screened patients for nonsurgical options. Patients were tested twice for coronavirus before performing urgent contaminated operations. N95 masks and protective equipment were conserved when possible. Patients with low-grade cancers were advised to delay surgery, and other difficult decisions were made. Results Hundreds of surgeries were canceled. Sixty-five cases screened over 3 weeks are tabulated. Physicians and patients expressed discomfort regarding perceived deviations from standards, but risk of COVID-19 exposure tempered these discussions. Conclusions We describe the use of actively managed surgical triage to fairly balance our patient's health with public health concerns.
Initial clinical experience treating patients with palliative radiotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma on the HalcyonTM linear accelerator

Background Radiation therapy (RT) can provide effective symptomatic palliation in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Advances in RT technology, including intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), have improved treatment conformality, potentially improving the therapeutic ratio of RT. A novel 6-MV flattening-filter-free O-ring linear accelerator, HalcyonTM (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA, USA), was built to provide such advanced therapies, while possibly reducing treatment time. Here, we report the initial clinical experience using HalcyonTM to deliver palliative RT for patients with MPM. Methods We retrospectively assessed consecutive patients with MPM who received thoracic RT on HalcyonTM. Their electronic medical records were reviewed for clinical, RT planning, treatment timing, and image-guidance RT (IGRT) data. Results Four patients with metastatic MPM received palliative RT on HalcyonTM between 1/2017-1/2020 for severe pain (50%), dysphagia (25%), or dyspnea (25%). Targets included a combination of pleura, chest wall, lung, hilum, and mediastinum, with patient-specific dose and fractionation regimens ranging from 20-45 Gy in 5-15 fractions, and 75% of patients receiving concurrent systemic therapy. Pre-specified target and organ-at-risk constraints were met for nearly all plans. At a median follow-up of 2.2 months (range, 1.6-7.1 months), all patients experienced either improved (75%) or stable (25%) tumor-related symptoms following palliative RT. The mean 3D vector couch correction was 0.67±0.15 cm. The mean beam-on, treatment (beam-on plus cone-beam computed tomography times), and approximated total room usage times were 1.6±0.2, 1.8±0.2, and 9.8±0.2 min, respectively. Grade 2 fatigue and cough occurred in 25% and 25% of patients, and no patients experienced Grade ≥3 toxicity. Conclusions In this initial clinical experience treating patients with palliative RT for MPM on HalcyonTM, treatment provided symptom palliation and local control across multiple palliative scenarios, with minimal toxicity, acceptable dosimetry, and setup corrections and treatment times that compared favorably with other published experiences of MPM RT. Palliative RT on HalcyonTM can provide patients with MPM quick and safe tumor-related symptom relief, even in a frail, elderly population.
A constructed wetland system with aquatic macrophytes for cleaning contaminated runoff/storm water from urban area in Florida.

A community of aquatic macrophytes has an important role in reducing nutrient load and organic and inorganic contaminants in storm/runoff water. However, minimal information is available regarding the efficiency of constructed wetlands for cleaning runoff water from urban areas, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions. This study investigated the effectiveness of constructed wetland integrated with aquatic macrophytes for removal of chemical and microbial contaminants in the storm/runoff water from the urban areas. Water samples were monthly collected in the constructed wetland from the inlet of storm/runoff water, middle and outlet of discharge, and analyzed for physical and chemical properties, concentrations of nutrients, metals, and fecal coliform (FC) during the period of November, 2016 to April, 2018 in St. Lucie county, Florida, USA. The dominant plant species in the constructed wetland included cattail (Typha latifolia), waterthyme (Hydrilla verticillata) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), and periphyton filamentous algae (Spirogyra). The improvement of pH and electrical conductivity (EC) was not obvious, but the concentration of total suspended solids was significantly reduced. This system was effective in the removal of fecal coliform (by 68%) and particulate phosphorus (P, 72%), followed by total P (42%) and N (35%). Concentrations of metallic pollutants including cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) were mostly below the detection limit (<1 ppb) except for zinc (Zn), of which concentration was reduced by 23%. The removal of FC was consistently effective all the year round, whereas the removal of total N, P and particulate-P was effective in spring and summer, and less in autumn and winter. These results indicate that constructed wetland with a natural aquatic plant community can effectively reduce the loads of nutrients, metals, and fecal coliforms in water column. Regular harvest of aquatic macrophytes communities and collecting litters may further improve the system efficiency for cleaning storm water from urban areas.
Image-Based Approaches to Interstitial Brachytherapy

For patients with tumors where the dose distribution of standard gynecologic brachytherapy applicators does not adequately cover the area at risk, interstitial brachytherapy represents an excellent alternative. After completion of external beam radiation, interstitial brachytherapy escalates the radiation dose to the regions of remaining gross residual disease for patients with all gynecologic malignancies. Interstitial catheters, placed either through a perineal template or free-hand, provide high-dose regions of radiation directly in the target. The use of 3D imaging before, during and after insertion, with ultrasound, CT, MRI, or PET scanning, results in an increase in accuracy that may change the total number of inserted catheters, may results in a higher degree of dose conformality and avoidance of normal tissues and may improve patient outcomes.
The relationship of cervical dysplasia to in situ and invasive carcinoma of the cervix.

Abstract A prospective study of 78 patients in whom the initial cervical punch biopsy revealed dysplasia is presented. Subsequent evaluation established a diagnosis of in situ carcinoma in 39 cases and invasive carcinoma in an additional 11 cases. The association of severe dysplasia to malignant disease in 64 per cent of these cases indicates the importance of this diagnosis and emphasizes the necessity for its thorough investigation. If childbearing function is no longer desirable, and the cervical cone biopsy contains severe dysplasia, particularly if the lesions approximates the edge of the cone, removal of the uterus as a means of definitive therapy should be considered.
Regulation through Collaboration: Final Authority and Information Symmetry in Environmental Coasean Bargaining

Many people see collaborative decision-making as the next wave in environmental regulation. This paper examines how two elements within collaborative processes—final authority over stakeholder negotiations and information symmetry through mandated information sharing of relative payoffs—affect the efficiency and the distribution of wealth. Using a Coasean bargaining experiment, we find final authority for stakeholders is critical for efficient negotiations. Efficiency drops by two-thirds given a 10% risk to the final authority given symmetric information. Efficiency declines further once asymmetric information is considered. Final authority appears to be a necessary but not sufficient condition for efficient agreements.
Differences in Student Evaluations of Limited-Term Lecturers and Full-Time Faculty

This study compared student evaluations of teaching (SET) for limited-term lecturers (LTLs) and full-time faculty (FTF) using a Likert-scaled survey administered to students (N = 1,410) at the end of university courses. Data were analyzed using a general linear regression model to investigate the influence of multi-dimensional evaluation items on the overall rating item (Overall, I would rate the instructor of this course as outstanding) on the SET. Results showed that students provided higher ratings for LTLs than FTF, but they value different items when rating the overall evaluation of LTLs and FTF. Some survey items (for instance, those about instructor planning and enthusiasm) influence more on the rating of the overall item for LTLs than for FTF, whereas other, multi-dimensional items (for instance, those about assessment strategies and instructor’s availability) influence more on the overall rating for FTF than for LTLs. Data and discussions of results identify the differences and suggest strategies for improving teaching effectiveness based on the ratings provided by students.
B Cells Moderate Inflammatory Progression and Enhance Bacterial Containment upon Pulmonary Challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Though much is known about the function of T lymphocytes in the adaptive immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, comparably little is understood regarding the corresponding role of B lymphocytes. Indicating B cells as components of lymphoid neogenesis during pulmonary tuberculosis, we have identified ectopic germinal centers (GCs) in the lungs of infected mice. B cells in these pulmonary lymphoid aggregates express peanut agglutinin and GL7, two markers of GC B cells, as well as CXCR5, and migrate in response to the lymphoid-associated chemokine CXCL13 ex vivo. CXCL13 is negatively regulated by the presence of B cells, as its production is elevated in lungs of B cell-deficient (B cell(-/-)) mice. Upon aerosol with 100 CFU of M. tuberculosis Erdman, B cell(-/-) mice have exacerbated immunopathology corresponding with elevated pulmonary recruitment of neutrophils. Infected B cell(-/-) mice show increased production of IL-10 in the lungs, whereas IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-10R remain unchanged from wild type. B cell(-/-) mice have enhanced susceptibility to infection when aerogenically challenged with 300 CFU of M. tuberculosis corresponding with elevated bacterial burden in the lungs but not in the spleen or liver. Adoptive transfer of B cells complements the phenotypes of B cell(-/-) mice, confirming a role for B cells in both modulation of the host response and optimal containment of the tubercle bacillus. As components of ectopic GCs, moderators of inflammatory progression, and enhancers of local immunity against bacterial challenge, B cells may have a greater role in the host defense against M. tuberculosis than previously thought.
Nicholas V’s Tribuna for Old St. Peter’s in Rome as a Model for the New Apsidal Choir at Padua Cathedral

In 1486 the Padua Cathedral canons requested permission to build a new apsidal choir in “the way and structure of the church of St. Peter in Rome.” The canons were evidently referring to the unfinished Vatican tribuna: a deep vaulted apse at the west end of St. Peter’s. Newly published documents reveal that both Nicholas V and Paul II spent large sums on its construction. The Paduan case shows that the Vatican tribuna was influential in terms of architectural type and function. Although the physical extent of the fifteenth-century work is hard to determine, Bramante’s continuation of the extension in the sixteenth century shows it was considered substantial enough not to abandon completely. In Nicholas V’s Tribuna for Old St. Peter’s in Rome as a Model for the New Apsidal Choir at Padua Cathedral, Joanne Allen suggests that the St. Peter’s project could represent an important episode in the development of extended high altar chapels and retrochoirs, a phenomenon that gained momentum in the decades after work began on the Vatican tribuna.
Humoral Immune Response in Acquired Immunity to Chlamydial Genital Infection of Female Guinea Pigs

Immunity to reinfection in the genital tract of female guinea pigs with the agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis was found to be dependent upon an intact humoral immune response. Cell-mediated immunity in the absence of humoral immunity had no apparent role in resistance to challenge infection.
A New Synthesis of Ylidenemalononitriles

Abstract Ylidenemalononitriles are useful reagents, reactive as Michael acceptors2, and in the synthesis of indenones and indanones3, aminonaphthalenes4, and lactones5. Syntheses of these reagents usually involves a typical Knoevenagel reaction between a carbonyl compound and malononitrile, catalyzed by base6. Yields in this condensation vary widely, and are especially poor with hindered ketones and diaryl ketones. For example, Schenck and Finken7 allowed equivalent amounts of benzophenone and malononitrile to react in alcohol for four days, with ammonia as catalyst, and obtained a 13% yield of the corresponding ylidenemalononitrile. Later this was increased by removing water from a refluxing benzene solution of the reactants for 48 hrs3. Although a 68% yield was reported, it was based on unrecovered ketone, and the actual yield was less than 40%. Charles8 has reported the synthesis of the same substance by condensing the
Nested Logit Models Which Are You Using

The adoption of disaggregate analysis in transportation and other fields has led to widespread use of choice models to describe the influence of the characteristics of decision makers and the attributes of alternatives and choices. The multinomial logit model (MNL) is the most used because of its relative simplicity, the potential to add new alternatives, its ease of estimation, and the wide availability of estimation software. However, concerns about the restrictive assumptions of the MNL (independent and identical distribution of error terms) and its properties have led to a search for more robust model structures. The nested logit model has become widely used in a variety of contexts because of its ability to represent similarities (covariance of error terms) among groups of alternatives. It is not widely recognized that there are two forms of the nested logit model. These different models, the utility maximization nested logit (UMNL) and the nonnormalized nested logit (NNNL), have very different properties, which produce different estimation results, behavioral interpretations, and forecasts. The use of nested logit estimation requires a thoughtful choice from these model structures. Model structure and properties of the UMNL and NNNL models are described and compared, and the differences between them are illustrated analytically and empirically. Although the selection of a structure is a matter of judgment, the UMNL model is preferred because it is based on utility maximization and it has intuitively reasonable elasticity relationships and interpretation of utility parameters across alternatives.
Reliable object storage to support atomic actions

To preserve the consistency of on-line, long-lived, distributed data in the presence of concurrency and in the event of hardware failures, it is necessary to ensure atomicity and data resiliency in applications. The programming language Argus is designed to support such applications. This thesis investigates the mechanism needed to support the notion of data resiliency present in Argus. Data resiliency means that the probability is very high that the crash of a node or storage device in a distributed system does not cause the loss of vital data. Data resiliency requires the use of stable storage devices, memory devices that survive failure to a high probability. This thesis is not concerned with how to implement stable storage devices, but rather with how to organize the use of stable storage. The thesis presents a new organization of stable storage called the hybrid log that provides fast writing of information to stable storage and reasonably fast recovery of information from stable storage. In the context of this scheme, various algorithms are developed for writing objects to the log, recovering objects from the log, and housekeeping the log. {AD#A136484}
Studies on the enzyme inducing effect of polychlorinated biphenyls.

Aroclor 1260 was fed to weanling male and female rats in the diet at levels of 1, 5, 25 and 50 ppm to determine its enzyme inducing capacity over various feeding periods. Dose-dependent increases in the activity of 3 hepatic microsomal enzymes were observed; maximal induction occurred in the first 3 weeks of the feeding period. Among the 3 enzyme systems studied, N-demethylase was the most sensitive to the inducing effect of Aroclor 1260. The enzyme induction was more pronounced in male rats than in females. An age difference in susceptibility of male rats to the enzyme inducing effect was also noted, young rats being more susceptible than adults. Data obtained by simultaneously feeding PCB and DDT to rats showed that these compounds have additive inducing effects on N-demethylase activity. However, PCB and DDT were not, when combined, additive on the O-demethylase and EPN-detoxification systems under the test conditions employed. Comparison of enzyme inducing effects of three Aroclor compounds, Aroclor 1221, 1254 and 1260, clearly indicates that both microsomal N-demethylase and EPN detoxification activity were increased in proportion to the chlorine content of the Aroclor compounds. Maximal induction of O-demethylase occurred at 54% chlorination.
Linkage Relationships Between Organophosphate Resistance and a Highly Active Esterase-B in Culex quinquefasciatus from California

A highly active esterase associated with resistance to temephos, chlorpyrifos, parathion, methyl parathion, malathion, and fenthion in the southern house mosquito from California is coded by a single gene with 2 alleles: Est-BA , coding a strongly staining esterase; and Est-BO , coding a weakly staining esterase. Est-BA was found to be dominant over Est-BO . Est-B gene is localized on the same chromosome as the gene coding resistance and there is a strong possibility that these 2 genes are identical since no recombinants were observed.
Bifunctional pathways mediated by Pt clusters and Al2O3 in the catalytic combustion of dimethyl ether

Mixtures of Pt clusters dispersed on gamma-Al(2)O(3) and additional gamma-Al(2)O(3) led to much higher DME combustion turnover rates than on the individual components or on Pt clusters supported on non-acidic oxides.
Multiple forms of methemoglobin reductase.

Abstract Three pyridine nucleotide-dependent methemoglobin reductases (I, II, and III) have been purified from human erythrocytes by a procedure that involves batchwise treatment of the hemolyzate with DEAE-cellulose to remove most of the hemoglobin, fractionation with ammonium sulfate and acetone, and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Under optimal assay conditions, each enzyme exhibits both DPNH- and TPNH-methemoglobin reductase activities in a ratio of about 4:1. I is colorless, II contains a small amount of heme (λmax at 405 mμ) and a nucleotide-like material (λmax at 268 mμ), and III contains a relatively large amount of heme. In the presence of methylene blue as a carrier, each enzyme can utilize methemoglobin, cytochrome c or oxygen as the terminal acceptor. 2,6-Dichlorophenolindophenol can be used as a terminal acceptor in the absence of methylene blue. The enzymes have also been characterized with respect to: Km values for DPNH, TPNH, methylene blue, and methemoglobin; sensitivity toward p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate; and heat stability. The pyridine nucleotide-linked reduction of methemoglobin is discussed in terms of possible electron transport sequences.
PILOT STUDY OF DIETARY FAT RESTRICTION AND FLAXSEED SUPPLEMENTATION IN MEN WITH PROSTATE CANCER BEFORE SURGERY: EXPLORING THE EFFECTS ON HORMONAL LEVELS, PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN, AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC FEATURES

Abstract Objectives. Dietary fat and fiber affect hormonal levels and may influence cancer progression. Flaxseed is a rich source of lignan and omega-3 fatty acids and may thwart prostate cancer. The potential effects of flaxseed may be enhanced with concomitant fat restriction. We undertook a pilot study to explore whether a flaxseed-supplemented, fat-restricted diet could affect the biomarkers of prostatic neoplasia. Methods. Twenty-five patients with prostate cancer who were awaiting prostatectomy were instructed on a low-fat (20% of kilocalories or less), flaxseed-supplemented (30 g/day) diet. The baseline and follow-up levels of prostate-specific antigen, testosterone, free androgen index, and total serum cholesterol were determined. The tumors of diet-treated patients were compared with those of historic cases (matched by age, race, prostate-specific antigen level at diagnosis, and biopsy Gleason sum) with respect to apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase [TdT]-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling [TUNEL]) and proliferation (MIB-1). Results. The average duration on the diet was 34 days (range 21 to 77), during which time significant decreases were observed in total serum cholesterol (201 ± 39 mg/dL to 174 ± 42 mg/dL), total testosterone (422 ± 122 ng/dL to 360 ± 128 ng/dL), and free androgen index (36.3% ± 18.9% to 29.3% ± 16.8%) (all P P = 0.58); however, among men with Gleason sums of 6 or less (n = 19), the PSA values were 7.1 ± 3.9 ng/mL and 6.4 ± 4.1 ng/mL ( P = 0.10). The mean proliferation index was 7.4 ± 7.8 for the historic controls versus 5.0 ± 4.9 for the diet-treated patients ( P = 0.05). The distribution of the apoptotic indexes differed significantly ( P = 0.01) between groups, with most historic controls exhibiting TUNEL categorical scores of 0; diet-treated patients largely exhibited scores of 1. Both the proliferation rate and apoptosis were significantly associated with the number of days on the diet ( P = 0.049 and P = 0.017, respectively). Conclusions. These pilot data suggest that a flaxseed-supplemented, fat-restricted diet may affect prostate cancer biology and associated biomarkers. Further study is needed to determine the benefit of this dietary regimen as either a complementary or preventive therapy.