cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Analysis of the SEKE Co-Author Network

We extract the co-author network over the entire history of the SEKE conference from 1988 through 2014. In this network, authors represent nodes and a pair of authors is connected by an edge if they have co-authored at least one article over the entire duration. We analyze this network using socio-centric and ego-centric network methods to study the extent to which the authors are involved in the SEKE community, and the patterns of collaboration between them. Socio-centric analysis reveals that most authors publish a very small number of articles, and collaborate within tightly knit circles. In fact, only a tiny fraction of the authors consistently return to SEKE to disseminate their research. Ego-centric measures of centrality confirm these findings by revealing that only a small percentage of the authors are structurally dominant, and influence the flow of communication among others. Based on these findings, we believe that strategically SEKE could benefit from cultivating a wider base of influential authors, promoting broader collaborations, and encouraging one-time authors to return.
Responding to Regulatory Uncertainty: Evidence from Basel III

This paper examines how firms respond to proposed regulation. Specifically, we utilize the time period that banking authorities used to discuss, adopt, and implement Basel III to examine how quickly firms adjusted their financial reporting and/or business model decisions in response to the proposed regulatory framework. We find evidence that banks altered their business models and made strategic financial reporting changes before regulators even agreed on the final regulatory terms. We also provide evidence that banks were more likely to make these anticipatory changes when they: 1) benefitted more from signaling an early commitment, or 2) had less uncertainty about whether they would be subjected to the regulation. While prior research generally assumes that firms follow a sequential pecking order approach when faced with regulatory uncertainty, our findings suggest that firms’ incentives may lead them to lobby against a proposed regulation while simultaneously making costly operational and financial reporting changes to comply with it.
Cultural Studies of Polyporus Meliae and Two Similar Species

This paper is a continuation of a study of Polyporus palustris Berk. & Curt. and two similar species associated with brown rot of southern conifers and hardwoods. Monospore cultures from fruit bodies developed in cultures, which were isolated from rots and designated as Polyporus sp. (10) and as Polyporus A (6), failed to pair with P. palustris or Polyporus spraguei Berk. & Curt. but were interfertile among themselves, indicating the presence of a third species. The identification of this undetermined species was made possible after monospore cultures were obtained from isolate No. FP 105065-Sp, which fruited in culture. This culture was isolated from a well-developed basidiocarp growing on a pecan (Carya sp.) stump in Mississippi. The basidiocarp was determined as Polyporus meliae Underw. by Dr. J. L. Lowe. Single-spore cultures from this isolate and those of all cultures listed in TABLE I were interfertile when paired in all possible combinations using methods described in earlier publications (9, 10). This complete compatibility indicates that all isolates belong to a single species, P. meliae.
Perceptual interactions between primes, masks, and targets: Further evidence for object updating

The negative compatibility effect (NCE) is the finding that, under certain conditions, responses to targets are faster when preceded by incompatible primes than when preceded by compatible primes and this effect now appears to be caused, at least in part, by facilitation resulting from perceptual interactions between the prime, mask, and target when task-relevant masks are used (Lleras & Enns, 2004, 2005, 2006). The current experiment reports a new methodology that allows us to systematically explore the ways in which these perceptual effects influence reaction times and error rates. The data indicate that mask–target overlap, mask–prime overlap, and having a task-relevant prime all affect performance in experiments examining the NCE. In addition, our data provide additional support that object-based updating contributes to the NCE when perceptual interactions between stimuli are likely.
Large-scale Generation of Patterned Bubble Arrays on Printed Bi-functional Boiling Surfaces

Bubble nucleation control, growth and departure dynamics is important in understanding boiling phenomena and enhancing nucleate boiling heat transfer performance. We report a novel bi-functional heterogeneous surface structure that is capable of tuning bubble nucleation, growth and departure dynamics. For the fabrication of the surface, hydrophobic polymer dot arrays are first printed on a substrate, followed by hydrophilic ZnO nanostructure deposition via microreactor-assisted nanomaterial deposition (MAND) processing. Wettability contrast between the hydrophobic polymer dot arrays and aqueous ZnO solution allows for the fabrication of heterogeneous surfaces with distinct wettability regions. Heterogeneous surfaces with various configurations were fabricated and their bubble dynamics were examined at elevated heat flux, revealing various nucleate boiling phenomena. In particular, aligned and patterned bubbles with a tunable departure frequency and diameter were demonstrated in a boiling experiment for the first time. Taking advantage of our fabrication method, a 6 inch wafer size heterogeneous surface was prepared. Pool boiling experiments were also performed to demonstrate a heat flux enhancement up to 3X at the same surface superheat using bi-functional surfaces, compared to a bare stainless steel surface.
Effect of Intravenous Recombinant Alpha-2 Interferon on Monocyte Fc-Dependent Phagocytosis in Patients with Malignant Melanoma

Recombinant alpha interferons (IFN-α) have diverse effects on the immune response. Alpha IFNs have been shown to increase the number of monocyte Fc receptors and Fc dependent phagocytosis in vitro. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated Fc-dependent phagocytic activity in a group of 14 patients with Stage III melanoma receiving from 10 to 100 × 106 u of recombinant DNA-produced alpha-2 interferon (IFN-α2) five days a week for four weeks. Monocyte Fc-dependent phagocytosis (FcDP) was assayed by measuring the ingestion of 5lCr-labeled, IgG-coated sheep erythrocytes before, and on Days 2, 5, and 19 of IFN therapy. Each patient was simultaneously compared with the same unmatched normal controls during the assay period. Monocyte FcDP was unchanged in 8/14 patients on each of the three sampling days. Increases in FcDP occurred in 4/14 patients on Day 2 and only 1/14 on Day 19. Recombinant DNA-produced IFN-α2 did not persistently augment monocyte FcDP irrespective of the dose administered. Moreover, there may be ...
Multidimensional Prefactored Compact Schemes

In a previous work, explicit classical difference schemes were analyzed in terms of isotropy error and numerical stability, and multidimensional optimized schemes for wave propagation in multidimensions were derived. In this paper, the analysis is extended to compact schemes which are attractive when seeking higher order of accuracy and higher resolution with fewer stencil points. Prefactored compact schemes were developed with the aim of using fewer stencil points, providing higher order of accuracy, and more efficiently inverting the corresponding matrices. The findings included in this paper will address two questions: How large is the isotropy error when using prefactored compact schemes? and Would it be possible to decrease the isotropy error and improve the stability restrictions when using multidimensional prefactored compact schemes?
Music Theory Through the Lens of Film

The encounter of a musical repertoire with a theoretical system benefits the latter even as it serves the former. A robustly applied theoretic apparatus hones our appreciation of a given corpus, especially one such as film music, for which comparatively little analytical attention has been devoted. Just as true, if less frequently offered as an motivator for analysis, is the way in which the chosen music theoretical system stands to see its underlying assumptions clarified and its practical resources enhanced by such contact. The innate programmaticism and aesthetic immediacy of film music makes it especially suited to enrich a number of theoretical practices. A habit particularly ripe for this exposure is tonal hermeneutics: the process of interpreting music through its harmonic relationships. Interpreting cinema through harmony not only sharpens our understanding of various film music idioms, but considerably refines the critical machinery behind its analysis. The theoretical approach focused on here is transformation theory, a system devised for analysis of art music (particularly from the 19th Century) but nevertheless eminently suited for film music. By attending to the perceptually salient changes, rather than static objects, of musical discourse, transformation theory avoids some of the bugbears of conventional tonal hermeneutics for film (such as the tyranny of the “15 second rule”) while remaining exceptionally well-calibrated towards musical structure and detail. By examining a handful of passages from films with chromatically convoluted scores—Raiders of the Lost Ark, King Kong, and A Beautiful Mind—I reveal some of the conceptual assumptions of transformational theory while simultaneously interpreting the scenes and films that these cues occupy. Ultimately, it is the notion of “transformation” itself—as a theoretical keystone, an analytical stance, and an immanent quality of music—that is most elucidated through this approach.
Characterization of a Widespread Strain of Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Associated with Nosocomial Infections

Thirty Staphylococcus aureus isolates from five hospitals were determined to exhibit borderline susceptibility to the antistaphylococcal penicillins. Of the isolates submitted for phage typing, 96% belonged to phage group 94/96, and 96% possessed a common plasmid, pBW15. Also, four reference borderline-susceptible isolates from the Centers for Disease Control belonged to phage group 94/96 and possessed pBW15. Screening of 43 other phage group 94/96 isolates demonstrated that 36 (84%) contained pBW15 and exhibited the borderline phenotype. In contrast, pBW15 was not identified among 10 penicillin-susceptible, 10 methicillin-resistant, and 40 penicillin-resistant but non-borderline-susceptible S. aureus. These data show a close association between pBW15, phage group 94/96, and the borderline-susceptible phenotype. Furthermore, these isolates were associated with infections in multiple institutions, suggesting the widespread dissemination of a clinically important and pathogenic strain of S. aureus.
Rett Syndrome Female Phenotypes

The developmental data and spectrum of phenotypes in 120 females with Rett syndrome diagnosed with mutations in the MECP2 gene were evaluated at Gottingen University, Germany.
Future Orientation: A Construct with Implications for Adolescent Health and Wellbeing

Multidisciplinary research has supported a relationship between adolescent future orientation (the ability to set future goals and plans) and positive adolescent health and development outcomes. Many preventive strategies - for example, contracepting, exercising - are based on taking actions in the present to avoid unwanted or negative future consequences. However, research has been hampered by unclear and often divergent conceptualizations of the future orientation construct. The present paper aims to integrate previous conceptual and operational definitions into a conceptual framework that can inform programs and services for youth and efforts to evaluate future orientation as a target for intervention. Recommendations focus on furthering the study of the construct through measurement synthesis as well as studies of the normative development of future orientation. Also suggested is the need to pair environmental intervention strategies with individual level efforts to improve future orientation in order to maximize benefits.
Introduction to the Discourses on Death Special Issue

On a cot by an open window, I lie and remember While the birds in the trees sing of the circle of time. Let the dying go on, and let me, if I can, Inherit from disaster before I move. -Mary Oliver, from the poem “No Voyage” Death is an experience shared by all of humanity, and is one that may, across disciplines, be a part of the narratives and life histories of the people with whom we work. To face death from any angle is to face the limits of our conscious experience, which calls us both as individuals and as community members to create frameworks for incorporating that inevitability into our lives. In this special theme issue of Arizona Anthropologist, we hope to address questions surrounding death, using a conference focused on responses to this topic to serve as a focusing lens in the effort to comprehend aspects of the unknowable. The conference, “Discourses on Death: Conceptualizing Grief, Loss, and Transformative Interaction”, was inspired by the 25th annual All Soul’s Procession that took place in Tucson on Sunday, November 9, 2014, as well as the local events surrounding Dia de los Muertos. As co-organizers of this new graduate student conference, we—Amanda Bailey (UCLA) and Keri Miller (University of Arizona)—sought to understand how we as researchers may sensitively address death and trauma in a way that would honor our participants’ experiences with these topics and perhaps even facilitate healing and transformative interaction. We invited abstracts from graduate students pertaining to rituals, traditions, concerns, and creative expressions from diverse cultures and communities as a means of living with the inevitability of death and
The Ironies of Marbury v. Madison and John Marshall's Judicial Statesmanship

In the annals of constitutional law Marbury v. Madison is an iconic case. Through various twists and turns, Chief Justice John Marshall set forth the Supreme Court’s authority to review the constitutionality of Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 and declare it unconstitutional based on its purported conflict with Article III of the Constitution. Much discussed and analyzed, Marbury remains a staple of constitutional law, as noteworthy for its far reaching conclusion about the role of the Supreme Court in a constitutional democracy as for its unusual procedural and factual background. This article examines the many ironies of Marbury v. Madison and provides an essential perspective from which to understand how John Marshall averted political embarrassment and institutional paralysis to craft a compelling opinion that enhanced the prestige of the Court at a critical juncture in American history.
Distal femoral fractures.

Abstract Distal femoral fractures largely occur secondary to high-energy trauma in the younger population and as osteoporotic fractures in the elderly population, including periprosthetic fractures above a TKA. Attempts to gain satisfactory axial alignment, articular congruity, and knee range of motion with conservative treatment have been largely disappointing. Operative fixation options include open reduction and internal fixation, intramedullary nailing, and bridge plating or percutaneous submuscular plating techniques. As with any fracture, treatment choice must be individualized according to the nature of the injury, bone quality, and patient demand. Regardless of treatment method, goals include restoration of articular congruity, anatomical length, rotation, and axial alignment while establishing adequate fixation to initiate early and unrestricted range of motion.
Review: A Topology of Everyday Constellations by Georges Teyssot

Georges Teyssot A Topology of Everyday Constellations Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2013, 360 pp., 89 b/w illus. $26.95, ISBN 9780262518321 Georges Teyssot’s A Topology of Everyday Constellations is a genealogy of domestic space in its many guises, from the bourgeois sitting room of nineteenth-century Paris to the phenomenal Umwelten of today’s smartphone-carrying, networked subjects. The book situates itself firmly within the context of many other studies of (architectural, artistic, cultural) modernity that stress that historical period as a time of radical reversals—of object and subject, of center and periphery, of interior and exterior. Teyssot, however, does not see these binaries as being in strict opposition. Rather, he understands them as moving points along the twisting surfaces of discourses, design objects, and lived experience itself. Thus he adopts the role of what Peter Sloterdijk has described as an “intimo-topologist”—a sensitive observer of, in Teyssot’s own words, “the means of generating regimes of cultural and social practices, the hermeneutics of the intimacy of interior spaces, the topo-analyses of the secret and the hidden, the stylistic classifications of built form, and the cartography of the connections and linkages that the body must practice in this large family of spaces” (11).1 Teyssot does not embark on this ambitious project on his own, but does so accompanied, methodologically, by Walter Benjamin, Michel Foucault, and Gilles Deleuze. These figures and their authoritative discourses do not, however, simply preside over the “case studies” chosen by Teyssot. They do not emerge unscathed after being run through the architectural figures the author evokes. Nor are they alone; Teyssot marshals the work of an incredible number of theoreticians, poets, anthropologists, and critics of art and architecture in his study. As he states, “The sources of such a history are extraordinarily vast and necessarily hybrid. The material is heterogeneous, concerning as it does aspects of the histories of taste, mentality, culture, technology, and ‘lifestyle,’ as well as more specific aspects …
On Air Pollution Control Instruments

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Suicidal behaviors in children and adolescents with psychotic disorders

Suicide is the leading cause of premature death in individuals with psychotic disorders. Risk for onset of suicidal behaviors tends to begin in adolescence, remaining high into young adulthood. The present study aims to evaluate the interplay of early onset psychosis and suicide risk by examining suicidal behaviors (ideation, planning, and attempts) in children and adolescents with psychotic disorders (PD) compared to typically developing peers (TD). Twenty five youths were recruited and were diagnostically evaluated for psychosis. We found that the PD children exhibited significantly higher levels of suicidal behaviors than TD children, even when parsed into individual at-risk behaviors.
AFFECT: Altered-Fidelity Framework for Enhancing Cognition and Training

In this paper, we present a new framework for analyzing and designing virtual reality (VR) techniques. This framework is based on two concepts—system fidelity (i.e., the degree with which real-world experiences are reproduced by a system) and memory (i.e., the formation and activation of perceptual, cognitive, and motor networks of neurons). The premise of the framework is to manipulate an aspect of system fidelity in order to assist a stage of memory. We call it the Altered-Fidelity Framework for Enhancing Cognition and Training (AFFECT). AFFECT provides nine categories of approaches to altering system fidelity to positively affect learning or training. These categories are based on the intersections of three aspects of system fidelity (interaction fidelity, scenario fidelity, and display fidelity) and three stages of memory (encoding, implicit retrieval, and explicit retrieval). In addition to discussing the details of our new framework, we show how AFFECT can be used as a tool for analyzing and categorizing VR techniques designed to facilitate learning or training. We also demonstrate how AFFECT can be used as a design space for creating new VR techniques intended for educational and training systems.
Cooling achieved by rotating an anisotropic superconductor in a constant magnetic field: A new perspective

A new type of rotary coolers based on the temperature change (ΔTrot) of an anisotropic superconductor when rotated in a constant magnetic field is proposed. We show that at low temperature the Sommerfeld coefficient γ(B,Θ) of a single crystalline superconductor, such as MgB2 and NbS2, sensitively depends on the applied magnetic field (B) and the orientation of the crystal axis (Θ), which is related to the electronic entropy (SE) and temperature (T) via the expression: SE=γT. A simple rotation of the crystal from one axis to one another in a constant magnetic field results in a change in γ and hence SE: ΔSE=ΔγT. A temperature change −ΔTrot ∼ 0.94 K from a bath temperature of 2.5 K is achieved by simply rotating the single crystal MgB2 by 90° with respect to the c-axis direction in a fixed field of 2 T. ΔTrot can be tuned by adjusting the strength of B within a wide magnetic field range. Our study paves the way for development of new materials and cryogenic refrigerators that are potentially more energy-eff...
Gastrointestinal Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants: A Large Population-Based Study

Background & Aims Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) agents increase the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. We investigated which DOAC had the most favorable GI safety profile and compared differences among these drugs in age-related risk of GI bleeding. Methods We conducted a retrospective, propensity-matched study using administrative claims data from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse of privately insured individuals and Medicare Advantage enrollees. We created 3 propensity-matched cohorts of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation with incident exposure to dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban from October 1, 2010 through February 28, 2015. We compared data on rivaroxaban vs dabigatran for 31,574 patients, data on apixaban vs dabigatran for 13,084 patients, and data on apixaban vs rivaroxaban for 13,130 patients. Cox proportional hazards models, stratified by age, were used to estimate rates of total GI bleeding. Results Baseline characteristics were well balanced among sub-cohorts. GI bleeding occurred more frequently in patients given rivaroxaban than dabigatran (hazard ratio [HR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00−1.45). Apixaban was associated with a lower risk of GI bleeding than dabigatran (HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.27−0.58; P P Conclusions In a population-based study of patients receiving DOAC agents, we found apixaban had the most favorable GI safety profile and rivaroxaban the least favorable profile. GI bleeding events among patient aged 75 years or older taking DOACs increased with age; the risk was greatest among persons 75 years. Apixaban had the most favorable GI safety profile among all age groups.
A conduction band control AC-DC Buck converter for a high efficiency and high power density adapter

This paper proposes a new control method for an AC-DC Buck converter which is utilized as a front-end converter of a 2-stage high power density adapter. It presents a theoretical analysis, a design consideration, and experimental results. In the conventional adapter applications, 2-stage configuration shows higher power transfer efficiency and higher power density than those of the single stage flyback converter. In the 2-stage AC-DC converter, the boost converter is widely used as a front-end converter. It provides continuous input current and power factor correction. However, an efficiency variation between high AC line and low AC line is large. On the other hand, the proposed conduction band control method for a buck front-end converter has an advantage of small efficiency variation. In the proposed control method, switching operation is determined by a band control voltage which represents output load condition, and an AC line voltage. In half of line cycle, if the instantaneous line voltage is lower than the band control voltage, the buck converter operates and transfers power to the downstream converter. On the contrary, if the instantaneous line voltage is higher than the band control voltage, the buck converter stops switching operation. Thus, the proposed control method reduces switching loss under high AC line and light load condition. A 60W prototype which is configured the buck and LLC converter with the proposed control method is experimented on to verify the validity of the proposed system. The prototype shows 92.16% of AC-DC overall efficiency and 20.19 W/in3 of power density.
Self-Directed Rater Training for Pediatric History and Physical Exam Evaluation (P-HAPEE) Rubric, a Validated Written H&P Assessment Tool.

Introduction We developed, revised, and implemented self-directed rater training materials in the course of a validity study for a written Pediatric History and Physical Exam Evaluation (P-HAPEE) r...
Learning from cancer to promote weight loss

Growth differentiation factor 15 suppresses appetite and promotes weight loss by activating a receptor expressed in two brain regions.
In pursuit of quality and safety: an 8-year study of clinical peer review best practices in US hospitals.

Objectives Gather normative data on the goals of clinical peer review; refine a best-practice model and related self-assessment inventory; identify the interval progress towards best-practice adoption. Design Online survey (2015-16) of a cohort of 457 programs first studied by volunteer sampling in either 2007 or 2009 on 40 items assessing the degree of conformance to a validated quality improvement (QI) model and addressing program goals, structure, process, governance, and impact on quality and safety. Setting Acute care hospitals of all sizes in the USA. Study Participants Physicians and hospital leaders or hospital staff with intimate program knowledge. Intervention None. Main Outcome Measures Subjectively-rated program impact on quality and safety; QI model score. Results Two hundred and seventy responses (59% response rate) showed that clinical peer review most commonly aims to improve quality and safety. From 2007 to 2015, the median [inter-quartile range, IQR] annual rate of major program change was 20% [11-24%]. Mean [confidence interval, CI] QI model scores increased 5.6 [2.9-8.3] points from 46.2 at study entry. Only 35% scored at least 60 of 80 possible points-'C' level progress in adopting the QI model. The analysis supports expansion of the QI model and an associated self-assessment inventory to include 20 items on a 100-point scale for which a 10-point increase predicts a one level improvement in quality impact with an odds ratio [CI] of 2.5 [2.2-3.0]. Conclusions Hospital and physician leaders could potentially accelerate progress in quality and safety by revisiting their clinical peer review practices in light of the evidence-based QI model.
Influence of Oxalate on Ni Fate during Fe(II)-Catalyzed Recrystallization of Hematite and Goethite.

During biogeochemical iron cycling at redox interfaces, dissolved Fe(II) induces the recrystallization of Fe(III) oxides. Oxalate and other organic acids promote dissolution of these minerals and may also induce recrystallization. These processes may redistribute trace metals among the mineral bulk, mineral surface, and aqueous solution. However, the impact of interactions among organic acids, dissolved Fe(II), and iron oxide minerals on trace metal fate in such systems is unclear. The present study thus explores the effect of oxalate on Ni release from and incorporation into hematite and goethite in the absence and presence of Fe(II). When Ni is initially structurally incorporated into the iron oxides, both oxalate and dissolved Fe(II) promote the release of Ni to aqueous solution. When both species are present, their effects on Ni release are synergistic at pH 7 but inhibitory at pH 4, indicating that cooperative and competitive interactions vary with pH. In contrast, oxalate suppresses Ni incorporation...
A succinylated mannan in the membrane system of Micrococcus lysodeikticus.

Abstract A mannan has been isolated from membranes of Micrococcus lysodeikticus (NCTC 2665) grown in the presence of [1, 4 14 C] succinic acid. Hydrolysis of this polysaccharide with 0.1 N NaOH yielded a compound soluble in both diethyl ether and distilled water. This component was identified as [ 14 C] succinic acid by paper chromatography of both the free acid and of its corresponding hydroxamic acid derivative. Semiquantitative analysis indicated an ester-linked succinic acid content for mannan of approximately 2.5%.
The Modular Concept

The laboratory and hospital communication module which will be described and evaluated in detail was designed in 1973. It represents a collection of single systems and subsystems encompassing the operation of our pathology specialities (Chemistry, Microscopy, Hematology, Immunology, Microbiology, Blood Banking, and Anatomic Pathology), admissions, bed control, and remote hospital-terminal control and communication.
Influences of female body condition on recruitment success of walleye (Sander vitreus) in Wisconsin lakes

Stock reproductive potential informs population dynamics and response to harvest. Indices of body condition, like relative weight (Wr), may indicate individual energetic state and provide a mechani...
Applications of metabolomics in assessing ecological effects of emerging contaminants and pollutants on plants

Metabolomics, the global profiling of metabolite composition, is a powerful technique that can be applied to answer a diverse set of research questions concerning effects of toxicants on organisms. It has recently emerged as a tool to understand complex environmental perturbations in biological systems, especially at sub-lethal concentrations. Organisms can be affected by different stressors such as xenobiotics or increase in concentration of natural compounds such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur. Metabolomics has facilitated a better understanding of the effects of these perturbations on organisms such as plants, animals, and humans providing phenotypic and biological information in a high throughput manner. In this review, we will discuss recent applications of metabolomics to study the ecological effects of different environmental perturbations, including nanoparticles, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, pesticides, as well as the changes in natural compounds found in the environment with a focus on plant systems.
Impact of reproductive aging on the vaginal microbiome and soluble immune mediators in women living with and at-risk for HIV infection.

Background Reproductive aging may impact the vaginal microbiome and genital tract mucosal immune environment and contribute to genital tract health in women living with and at-risk for HIV infection. Methods A cross-sectional study of 102 HIV+ (51 premenopausal, 51 postmenopausal) and 39 HIV-uninfected (HIV-) (20 premenopausal, 19 postmenopausal) women was performed in Bronx and Brooklyn, NY. Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) was collected for quantification of innate antimicrobial activity against E. coli, HSV-2 and HIV and immune mediators by Luminex and ELISA. Microbiome studies by qPCR and 16S rRNA sequencing were performed on vaginal swabs. Results HIV+ postmenopausal compared to premenopausal participants had lower median E. coli bactericidal activity (41% vs. 62%, p = 0.001), lower median gene copies of Lactobacillus crispatus (p = 0.005) and Lactobacillus iners (p = 0.019), lower proportions of Lactobacillus iners, higher proportions of Gardnerella and Atopobium vaginae and lower levels of human beta defensins (HBD-2, HBD-3) and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), p<0.001. HSV-2 inhibitory activity was higher in HIV+ postmenopausal compared to premenopausal participants (37% vs. 17%, p = 0.001) and correlated with the proinflammatory molecules interleukin (IL) 6, IL-8, human neutrophil peptide (HNP) 1–3, lactoferrin and fibronectin. Similar trends were observed in HIV- postmenopausal compared to premenopausal participants. HIV inhibitory activity did not differ by reproductive status in the HIV+ participants but was significantly higher in HIV- postmenopausal compared to premenopausal participants and in participants with suppressed plasma viral load, and inversely correlated with gene copies of G. vaginalis and BVAB2. A significant proportion of HIV+ participants on ART exhibited HIV enhancing activity. Conclusions HIV+ postmenopausal compared to premenopausal participants have less CVL E. coli bactericidal activity, reflecting a reduction in Lactobacilli and a greater proportion of Gardnerella and A. vaginae, and more HSV-2 inhibitory activity, reflecting increased mucosal inflammation. The effect of menopause on mucosal immunity was greater in HIV+ participants, suggesting a synergistic impact. Promotion of a lactobacillus dominant vaginal microbiome and reduced mucosal inflammation may improve vaginal health and reduce risk for shedding of HIV and potential for HIV transmission in HIV+ menopausal women.
A Perspective on Treatment of EBV Infection States

The inception of antiviral therapy for Epstein-Barr virus infection, now upon us, is complicated by the different forms and states of EBV infection. EBV can cause at least four and probably five types of infection: 1) acute (both primary and reactivated), 2) persistent, 3) latent, 4) oncogenic and 5) abortive. Fortunately, all of these virologic states are mimicked in cell culture, and thus it is possible to study the effects of antiviral drugs in vitro in ways that may be predictive of the effects of the drugs in vivo. Moreover, as we work out the mechanisms of the virus-cell relations in these various states of EBV infection, we can begin to rationalize both effects and predictions. In this talk, I shall review the drugs now known to be effective against EBV in vitro and discuss aspects of the pharmacologic action of some of these drugs about which most is known. I shall then focus on what effect the drugs have on each of the virus-cell relations already cited, and conclude with predictions of whether these drugs are anticipated to be effective in the different human disease states with which EBV is associated.
North American Sagebrush Steppe and Shrubland

Abstract The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome extends throughout arid and semi-arid environments in the western U.S., stretching northward into southwestern Canada and eastward to the western Great Plains. The sagebrush biome primarily consists of sagebrush-steppe, with relatively abundant perennial bunchgrasses, and sagebrush shrublands that are generally more desert-like with sparser herbaceous cover. Big sagebrush (A. tridentata) is the most widely distributed species, but other sagebrush species are found throughout the biome, some in relatively distinct environments. Sagebrush communities range from almost pure sagebrush to a diverse mix of shrubs, grasses, and forbs, often with complex biological soil crust communities. Sagebrush ecosystems provide habitat for hundreds of species of conservation concern, including sagebrush-obligate wildlife such as the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a widely distributed species that is declining across most of its range, primarily due to deteriorating habitat quality. Roughly ~ 45% of the historical area of sagebrush steppe/shrublands has been lost due to human activities, including: over-grazing by livestock, clearing to enhance rangeland forage, energy development, roads, cropland conversion; altered fire regimes driven by invasive, fire-prone, annual plant species; and expansion of woodlands caused by land use and climate variability. Climate change will likely have significant future impacts on sagebrush ecosystems. Conservation of sagebrush ecosystems is critical for the myriad species supported, ecological services provided, and the iconic character of western U.S. landscapes, and will likely require enhanced efforts to restore and protect sagebrush habitat from detrimental land uses and wildfire. Scientific research can provide a better understanding of how interactions among various stressors affect sagebrush communities, and how to best manage and prioritize sagebrush habitats for conservation.
Human Stem Cell-derived Aggregates of Forebrain Astroglia Respond to Amyloid Beta Oligomers

Astrocytes are vital components in neuronal circuitry and there is increasing evidence linking the dysfunction of these cells to a number of central nervous system diseases. Studying the role of these cells in human brain function in the past has been difficult due to limited access to the human brain. In this study, human induced pluripotent stem cells were differentiated into astrospheres using a hybrid plating method, with or without dual SMAD inhibition. The derived cells were assessed for astrocytic markers, brain regional identity, phagocytosis, calcium-transient signaling, reactive oxygen species production, and immune response. Neural degeneration was modeled by stimulation with amyloid-β (Aβ) 42 oligomers. Finally, co-culture was performed for the derived astrospheres with isogenic neurospheres. Results indicate that the derived astroglial cells express astrocyte markers with forebrain dorsal cortical identity, secrete extracellular matrix, and are capable of phagocytosing iron oxide particles and responding to Aβ42 stimulation (higher oxidative stress, higher TNF-α, and IL-6 expression). RNA-sequencing results reveal the distinct transcriptome of the derived cells responding to Aβ42 stimulation for astrocyte markers, chemokines, and brain regional identity. Co-culture experiments show the synaptic activities of neurons and the enhanced neural protection ability of the astroglial cells. This study provides knowledge about the roles of brain astroglial cells, heterotypic cell-cell interactions, and the formation of engineered neuronal synapses in vitro. The implications lie in neurological disease modeling, drug screening, and studying progression of neural degeneration and the role of stem cell microenvironment. Impact Statement Human pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocytes are a powerful tool for disease modeling and drug screening. However, the properties regarding brain regional identity and the immune response to neural degeneration stimulus have not been well characterized. Results of this study indicate that the derived astroglial cells express astrocyte markers with forebrain dorsal cortical identity, secrete extracellular matrix (ECM), and are capable of phagocytosing iron oxide particles and responding to amyloid-β oligomers, showing the distinct transcriptome in astrocyte markers, chemokines, and brain regional identity. This study provides knowledge about the roles of brain astroglial cells, heterotypic cell-cell interactions, and engineering neural tissues in vitro.
Comparison of Financial Lucrativeness and Safety in the World of Online and Offline Prostitution: An Exploratory Study of Perceptions and Experiences of Law Enforcement

To date, there is a gap in the literature exploring the perceptions and experiences of law enforcement regarding enforcement of online and offline prostitution. As there are multiple fallacies regarding the benefits of online prostitution versus offline prostitution, the purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of law enforcement in the United States regarding the financial lucrativeness and lifestyle of those who prostitute online compared to those who sell sexual services offline. Findings indicated that law enforcement believed online prostitutes grossed more money for their services and also demonstrated a cleaner, more polished lifestyle. However, the majority of respondents still believed both types of prostitution to be dangerous.
United States older adults’ willingness to use emerging technologies

The United States (US) population is aging and an increasing number of older adults (aged 65 and older) will experience chronic health issues that can threaten quality of life. We investigated olde...
A Nationwide Analysis of Early and Late Readmissions following Free Tissue Transfer for Breast Reconstruction.

Background Traditionally, surgical quality outcomes are assessed using a 30-day postoperative window. For breast cancer patients undergoing free tissue transfer for breast reconstruction, we sought to describe the distribution of and specific risk factors for early and late readmissions within a 0- to 90-day postoperative period. Patients and Methods The Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to conduct a retrospective cohort study. Breast cancer patients undergoing free tissue transfer for breast reconstruction were identified using International Classification of Diseases -9 diagnosis and procedure codes. Ninety-day readmissions related to infection or wound complications were identified. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify patient risk factors for readmissions that occurred early (0–30 days) and late (31–90 days) after their index procedure. Results In the weighted sample, we identified approximately 7,305 free flap breast reconstructions and a surgical wound-related readmission rate of 4.3% (n = 312): 65.4% of the readmissions occurred early while 34.6% occurred late after surgery. The mean days to readmission was 26, and 75% of all readmissions occurred within the first 36 days after surgery. Variables independently associated with readmissions during the 0- to 90-day postoperative period included: history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.036), hypertension (p = 0.03), obesity (p ≤ 0.001), and history of smoking (p = 0.004). The variables independently associated with the early readmission period were the same as those identified for the 0- to 90-day postoperative period. The variables independently associated with late readmissions were different: history of depression (p = 0.001) and history of smoking (p = 0.001). Conclusion The conventional 30-day hospital readmission rate classically used as a quality metric is overlooking a significant portion of admissions after free flap-based breast reconstruction. Different variables were found to be associated with readmission in the early versus late cohorts. Interventions targeting these variables could decrease readmissions and their associated costs.
Global computational alignment of tumor and cell line transcriptional profiles

Abstract Cell lines are key tools for preclinical cancer research, but it remains unclear how well they represent patient tumor samples. Identifying cell line models that best represent the features of particular tumor samples, as well as tumor types that lack in vitro model representation, remain important challenges. Gene expression has been shown to provide rich information that can be used to identify tumor subtypes, as well as predict the genetic dependencies and chemical vulnerabilities of cell lines. However, direct comparisons of tumor and cell line transcriptional profiles are complicated by systematic differences, such as the presence of immune and stromal cells in tumor samples and differences in the cancer-type composition of cell line and tumor expression datasets. To address these challenges, we developed an unsupervised alignment method (Celligner) and applied it to integrate several large-scale cell line and tumor RNA-Seq datasets. While our method aligns the majority of cell lines with tumor samples of the same cancer type, it also reveals large differences in tumor/cell line similarity across disease types. Furthermore, Celligner identifies a distinct group of several hundred cell lines from diverse lineages that present a more mesenchymal and undifferentiated transcriptional state and which exhibit distinct chemical and genetic dependencies. This method could thus be used to guide the selection of cell lines that more closely resemble patient tumors and improve the clinical translation of insights gained from cell line models.
The Natural Numbers

Our fundamental intuitive understanding of the natural numbers is that there is a (least) number 0, that every number n has a successor Sn, and that if we start with 0 and construct in sequence the successor of every number $$0,\;S0 = 1,\;S1 = 2,\;S2 = 3,\;...$$ forever, then in time we will reach every natural number. In set theoretic terms we can capture this intuition by the following axiomatic characterization.
Determination of uranyl incorporation into biogenic manganese oxides using x-ray absorption spectroscopy and scattering

Uranium is a toxic and radioactive contaminant in many settings, such as groundwaters and sediments. In oxidizing environments, uranyl (U(VI)) is thermodynamically the most stable oxidation state. Sorption or incorporation of U(VI) into reactive mineral phases are processes of major importance because they retard its transport. Biogenic manganese oxides are an important source of reactive mineral surfaces in the environment and may be potentially enhanced in bioremediation cases to improve natural attenuation. Experiments were performed in which U(VI) at various concentrations was present during manganese oxide biogenesis. At all concentrations there was strong uptake of U onto the oxides. Synchrotron based x-ray studies were carried out to determine the manner in which uranyl is incorporated into the oxide and how this incorporation affects the resulting manganese oxide structure and mineralogy. The EXAFS experiments show that uranyl does not appear to substitute into the lattice of the oxides, and is rather present as a strong surface complex. However, the presence of U(VI) on the Mn-oxide layers modifies the lattice constants and coherence lengths of the oxides. These results suggest a complex mechanism in which U transport is retarded by sorption and the surface area of the sorbent is increased.
Family matters: The impact of family functioning on co-worker outcomes:

Does family really matter when it comes to work? To answer this question, we tested the relationships between a job incumbent’s family life and a co-worker’s work life and found that one person’s f...
Minimalist art from cellular automata

My interest in algorithmic, generative and evolutionary art stems from my exposure to artists featured in the SIGGRAPH art exhibitions of the early 1980s such as Roman Verostko, Hans Dehlinger, Yoi...