cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hyperbolic Geometry and the Moduli Space of Real Binary Sextics

The moduli space of real 6-tuples in ℂP 1 is modeled on a quotient of hyperbolic 3-space by a nonarithmetic lattice in IsomH 3. This is partly an expository note; the first part of it is an introduction to orbifolds and hyperbolic reflection groups.
Engineering Design Exploration Using Locally Optimized Covariance Kriging

Surrogate models are used in many engineering applications where actual function evaluations are computationally expensive. Kriging is a flexible surrogate model best suited for interpolating nonlinear system responses with a limited number of training points. It is commonly used to alleviate the high computational cost associated with design exploration techniques: for example, uncertainty quantification and multidisciplinary design optimization. However, when the underlying function shows varying degrees of nonlinear behavior within a design domain of interest, kriging, with a stationary covariance structure, can result in low-quality predictions and an overly conservative expected mean squared error. This effect is often amplified by data collected adaptively and unevenly during iterative design explorations. In this paper, the locally optimized covariance kriging method is proposed to capture the nonstationarity of the underlying function behavior. In locally optimized covariance kriging, the nonstati...
Urchins Plaguing Saints

From the dawn of the Christian era, the motif of a holy man taunted, physically tormented, or even killed by a pack of boys proved adaptable for literary and artistic use, especially in the Christian hagiographical traditions and their accompanying iconographies. The saints were distinguished from the rest of humanity by their perceived holiness, and many of them, in their aura of difference, were deemed not only eccentric but condemnable by pagan society. Thus the martyrologies from the early persecutions in the Roman Empire tell of St Cassian of Imola (dates uncertain), who fell prey to murderous schoolboys. The earliest extant account is a hymn by the Christian Latin poet Prudentius (348–after 404), who says he once, bowing before Cassian’s tomb, saw a picture of the martyr’s body covered with a thousand wounds, all his parts torn, and his flesh punctured with tiny pricks as countless boys (innumeri pueri) around him were piercing him with little styluses.1
Genetics of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidneys and Urinary Tract

Congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) cause almost half of chronic kidney disease that manifests in the first three decades of life. Recently it has been discovered that over 12 % of CAKUT cases are due to mutations in ~30 different monogenic disease genes. The fraction of recognized causative genes will be likely increased with the help of next-generation sequencing techniques. Identification of causative mutations will provide diagnostics for individuals and families, allow for adequate stratification of clinical outcome studies, help generate pathogenic insights, and may lead to preventative measures.
The role of deubiquitinases in breast cancer

Although growing numbers of oncoproteins and pro-metastatic proteins have been extensively characterized, many of these tumor-promoting proteins are not good drug targets, which represent a major barrier to curing breast cancer and other cancers. There is a need, therefore, for alternative therapeutic approaches to destroying cancer-promoting proteins. The human genome encodes approximately 100 deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs, also called deubiquitinases), which are amenable to pharmacologic inhibition by small molecules. By removing monoubiquitin or polyubiquitin chains from the target protein, DUBs can modulate the degradation, localization, activity, trafficking, and recycling of the substrate, thereby contributing substantially to the regulation of cancer proteins and pathways. Targeting certain DUBs may lead to destabilization or functional inactivation of some key oncoproteins or pro-metastatic proteins, including non-druggable ones, which will provide therapeutic benefits to cancer patients. In breast cancer, growing numbers of DUBs are found to be aberrantly expressed. Depending on their substrates, specific DUBs can either promote or suppress mammary tumors. In this article, we review the role and mechanisms of action of DUBs in breast cancer and discuss the potential of targeting DUBs for cancer treatment.
Refining the Tastes of Broadway Audiences: The Theatre Guild and American Musical Theatre

Founded in 1919, the Theatre Guild promoted challenging theatre, including musical theatre. Their first musical production, The Garrick Gaieties (1925), introduced the music of Rodgers and Hart to Broadway. The Guild produced Porgy and Bess (1935), several Rodgers and Hammerstein shows in the 1940s (Oklahoma!, Carousel, and Allegro), and a handful of successful musicals in the 1950s and 1960s, including Bells are Ringing and The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Abstract 3291: Development of a novel prognostic scoring system for patient selection in immune checkpoint inhibitor phase 1 clinical trials

Purpose: To develop a prognostic scoring system for selecting patients for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) phase 1 clinical trials. Background: The Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH) and MD Anderson (MDA) prognostic scoring systems have been validated for patients in phase 1 clinical trials treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy and targeted therapy, but no such scoring system has been validated to help select patients entering ICI clinical trials. Methods: We analyzed clinical data from patients treated in phase 1 ICI clinical trials (with anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 antibody therapy) at the MD Anderson Center for Targeted Therapy. Sixteen clinical factors were studied. Recursive partitioning analysis identified cut-points for each clinical factor and a Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify factors independently affecting overall survival. Results: Among 172 patients treated with ICI therapy (105 CTLA4-based and 67 PD1-based) between January 2013 and November 2015, the median age was 60 years (range: 19-86 years) and 87 (51%) were male. The most common tumor types treated included renal cell carcinoma (n = 25; 15%), non-small cell lung cancer (n = 21; 12%), melanoma (n = 17; 10%), sarcoma (n = 14; 8%), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (n = 10; 6%), prostate cancer (n = 6; 3%), and colorectal cancer (n = 6; 3%). Seven factors were independently associated with significantly worse overall survival: age >52 years (hazard ratio [HR] 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-2.4), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status >1 (HR 2.81, 95% CI 1.3-6.3), lactate dehydrogenase >466 U/L (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.2), platelet count >300 × 109/L (HR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.8), absolute neutrophil count >4.9 × 109/L (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5-3.5), absolute lymphocyte count Conclusion: We have developed a novel “MDA ICI” prognostic scoring system incorporating seven clinical parameters with prognostic significance for patients in phase 1 clinical trials treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Unlike in the RMH and MDA prognostic scoring systems, albumin level and number of metastatic sites did not independently correlate with overall survival. Prospective evaluation and external validation of our novel prognostic scoring system is warranted and may help better select patients for future clinical trials of checkpoint inhibitors. Citation Format: Shiraj Sen, Kenneth Hess, David Hong, Aung Naing, Sarina Piha-Paul, Filip Janku, Siqing Fu, Holly Liu, Yunfang Jiang, Rahil Khanji, Daniel Karp, Apostolia Tsimberidou, Nizar Tannir, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Vivek Subbiah. Development of a novel prognostic scoring system for patient selection in immune checkpoint inhibitor phase 1 clinical trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3291. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3291
Methane emissions as affected by crop rotation and rice cultivar in the Lower Mississippi River Valley, USA

Abstract The objective of this field study was to evaluate the effects of crop rotation (rice-rice and soybean-rice) and rice cultivar selection (one hybrid and two pure-line cultivars) across two consecutive growing seasons (2012 and 2013) on methane (CH 4 ) fluxes and emissions from rice grown in the drill-seeded, delayed-flood production system on a silt-loam soil. Weekly CH 4 fluxes were measured from flooding to harvest from 30-cm-diameter, enclosed-headspace chambers at the Rice Research and Extension Center near Stuttgart, Arkansas. Averaged over years, area-scaled season-long CH 4 emissions were greater ( P 4 -C ha − 1 from Taggart and Cheniere, respectively), which did not differ, than from the hybrid CLXL745 following soybean (72.2 kg CH 4 -C ha − 1 ). Averaged across years and cultivars, yield-scaled season-long CH 4 emissions were greater ( P 4 -C [Mg grain] − 1 , respectively). Averaged across years and crop rotation, yield-scaled season-long CH 4 emissions were 77% greater ( P 4 emissions provide valuable data for future estimates of CH 4 emissions from the drill-seeded, delayed-flood production system on a silt-loam soil among crop rotation-cultivar combinations to refine greenhouse gas emissions estimates and evaluate anticipated climate change.
Did the Frequency of Early Elementary Classroom Arts Instruction Decrease during the No Child Left behind Era? If so, for Whom?

Abstract Analyzing teacher reports from two cohorts of data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, this study looked at changes in the frequency of early elementary classroom arts instruction from the 1999–2000 to the 2011–12 school year. The majority of classroom teachers surveyed in our study reported on first-grade students (94%–96%). We found that the percentage of children spending no classroom time on arts activities significantly increased for music, visual art, dance, and theater. This decreased participation in classroom arts activities was generally largest for students in the bottom one-third of the social class distribution. Overall, participation in at least some music or visual arts activities continued above 95%. However, participation in at least some dance fell to about 46% and participation in at least some theater to about 40% (compared to 58% and 56% reported in the 1999–2000 school year). In contrast, for music, dance, and theater, among students receiving at least some exposure during regular class time, the amount of time spent on these activities each week significantly increased. This finding was most robust for music; those students who already had at least some participation experienced a 20-min increase in the amount of classroom time spent on music activities. During the No Child Left Behind era many early elementary educators completely eliminated dance and theater activities from their classrooms. However, those teachers who did not completely eliminate music, dance, or theater activities actually increased the time devoted to them. This heterogeneity in teachers’ responses to policy changes must be accounted for in future attempts to project the likely consequences of alternative educational policies.
It Is Not What You Think: Associations Between Perceived Cognitive and Physical Status and Prognostic Understanding in Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Abstract Context Patients with advanced cancer often overestimate their time left to live. Those who have heightened awareness of their cognitive and physical deficits at the end of life may have a better prognostic understanding. Objectives We sought to investigate the extent to which patients' self-reports of physical well-being and cognitive function were associated with prognostic understanding. Methods Logistic regression analyzed data from Coping with Cancer II, a National Cancer Institute-funded study of patients with advanced cancer from nine U.S. cancer clinics. Patients with metastatic cancers who had an oncologist-estimated life expectancy of less than six months and did not have significant cognitive impairment were eligible (N = 300). Trained interviewers administered subsets of the McGill Quality of Life and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Cognition, Version 2, to measure physical well-being and cognitive complaints. There were four dichotomous outcomes: acknowledgment of their terminal illness; understanding that their diagnosis was late or end stage; belief that life expectancy was months, not years; and prognostic understanding, which was defined as accurate responses to all three questions. Covariates included age and gender. Results Worse patient-reported physical well-being and cognitive function were independently associated with the patient's acknowledgment of his and/or her terminal illness (adjusted odds ratio 0.91; 95% CI = 0.82, 1.00; P = 0.047 and adjusted odds ratio 1.73; 95% CI = 1.17, 2.55; P = 0.006, respectively). Conclusion Patients who reported worse cognitive function and physical well-being were more aware of their terminal illness than those with better cognitive function.
High burden and complex renal calculi: aggressive percutaneous nephrolithotomy versus multi-modal approaches.

Introduction Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) remains the treatment of choice for managing patients with large or complex renal calculi, especially staghorn stones composed of struvite. Recent advances in the PNL technique appear to improve post-operative outcomes and reduce patient morbidity. Materials and methods A thorough review of the recent urologic literature was performed to identify results and, benefits of percutaneous nephrolithotomy versus either combination PNL and shock wave lithotripsy or SWL alone. A brief description of these three modalities is presented. Results Published series from several different centers, as well as the 2004 report from the AUA Nephrolithiasis Guidelines Panel have demonstrated superior stone-free rates, improved complication rates and a reduced need for secondary procedure in those patients treated with PNL monotherapy. Combination techniques or SWL treatment may be beneficial in patients with low-volume renal stone disease. Conclusions Further advances in the PNL technique will not only increase stone-free outcomes and reduce post-operative complications, but also significantly reduce peri-operative patient morbidity. PNL monotherapy should be considered first line therapy for those patients with large or complex renal calculi.
Plant-microbe Symbioses Reveal Underestimation of Modeled Climate Impacts

Abstract. The extent to which terrestrial ecosystems slow climate change by sequestering carbon hinges in part on nutrient limitation. We used a coupled carbon–climate model that accounts for the carbon cost to plants of supporting nitrogen-acquiring microbial symbionts to explore how nitrogen limitation affects global climate. The carbon costs of supporting symbiotic nitrogen uptake reduced net primary production, with the largest absolute effects occurring at low-latitudes and the largest relative changes occurring at high-latitudes. The largest impact occurred in high-latitude ecosystems, where such costs were estimated to increase temperature by 1.0 °C and precipitation by 9 mm yr −1 . Globally, our model predicted that nitrogen limitation enhances temperature and decreases precipitation; as such, our results suggest that carbon expenditures to support nitrogen-acquiring microbial symbionts have critical consequences for Earth’s climate, and that carbon–climate models that omit these processes will over-predict the land carbon sink and under-predict climate change.
A Practical Method for Detecting Commingled Remains Using Epiphyseal Union

The utility of epiphyseal union as a means of estimating the chronological age of juvenile remains is well known and documented. Less thoroughly investigated, however equally valuable, is the application of epiphyseal union in the recognition and sorting of commingled remains. Detection of commingled remains is most easily accomplished through the recognition of duplicate elements within an assemblage, e.g., two left femora. In the absence of repeated elements, however, commingling episodes are more difficult to recognize and rely on the anthropologist to detect discrepancies between skeletal elements within the assemblage. The aim of this chapter is to present a user-friendly epiphyseal recording form that quickly highlights areas of possible incongruent fusing patterns. Once suspect areas are recognized, then the sequence trees and antenna diagram can be referenced to add support to or reject suspicions. This process of quick recognition followed by more detailed investigation is demonstrated using two sample cases.
USE OF QUATERNARY PROXIES IN FORENSIC SCIENCE | Soils and Sediment

Soils and sediment are excellent trace evidence in both criminal and civil cases because there are an almost unlimited number of identifiable soil types based on the content of rocks, minerals, glasses, man-made particles, and chemicals. Forensic examination commonly identifies the original geographic location of soils and sediment associated with a crime, which thus assists an investigation. Studies of soil and related material samples associated with a suspect and crime scene can produce evidence that the samples had or did not have a common source, thus indicating whether or not the suspect was ever at a particular place. Gathering intelligence and mine, gems, and art fraud studies often use the methods of forensic geology.
Prevalence of Chronic Pain and High-Impact Chronic Pain in Cancer Survivors in the United States

This survey study uses data from the National Health Interview Survey to investigate the prevalence of, and socioeconomic risk factors for, chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain among cancer survivors in the United States.
Conjoint Behavioral Consultation for Students Exhibiting Symptoms of ADHD: Effects at Post-treatment and One-Year Follow-Up

Both behavioral and pharmacological interventions have short-term efficacy for reducing symptomology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, intervention effects typically dissipate once interventions are removed. Scholars have advocated for a life-course model of intervention to sustain outcomes for students with ADHD. This model of service delivery is collaborative, individually tailored, and responsive to the culture and context of the student. Conjoint behavioral consultation (CBC) is a family–school partnership intervention that is consistent with a life-course model and has demonstrated efficacy in the short- and long-term reductions of problem behaviors; however, little is known about the efficacy of CBC for students with ADHD specifically. The present study sought to evaluate the efficacy of CBC for students exhibiting symptoms of ADHD immediately following treatment and 12 month later using data from a larger randomized controlled trial. Results indicated that students in the CBC condition (n = 29) had significantly lower parent ratings of hyperactivity and behavioral symptoms at post-treatment relative to students in the “business as usual” control condition (n = 16). However, at follow-up, differences were no longer statistically significant. Additionally, although both groups demonstrated significant improvements in teacher-reported attention problems at post-treatment, students in the control group had significantly lower scores at follow-up. Implications for the use of CBC for students with ADHD symptomology and future research directions are discussed.
Performance Evaluation of an Angle Droop-Based Power Sharing for a Power System Dominated by Inverter-Based Generation

The power system, dominated by synchronous generation, is moving toward a higher share of renewable generation. A voltage-source converter (VSC) known as an inverter is usually utilized as an interface between renewable generation units and the power system. Different methods are developed to control the voltage and power of VSCs. This paper evaluates the performance of a voltage controller and an angle droop-based power sharing method for a power system, which is a combination of inverter-based generation units and a synchronous generator. The studied controllers enable 1) accurate power sharing between all inverter-based generation units, 2) terminal voltage regulation by considering the maximum current of renewable generation units, and 3) maintaining frequency of the system at 60 Hz in the steady state independent from communication links. Different simulation case studies are performed in PSCAD/EMTDC software to study the performance of the angle droop-based power sharing algorithm.
The Spaces Between: Mapping gaps in the Assemblages of Digital City Renderings

Abstract This article argues that using assemblage theory within the context of learning design technologies can help to not only reveal the constraints that inform students' work but also the human and nonhuman actors that are absent. Through a months-long study of 3 urban design students learning to master the design rendering software, SketchUp, we can see that although students rely on personal, spatial, technological, social, theoretical, and supervisory constraints, that their attention to community based discourses is lacking. This signals an opportunity for Communicating and Designing Across the Curriculum faculty to help create more fully contextualized design assignments that are rhetorically aware.
CRISPR recognizes as many phage types as possible without overwhelming the Cas machinery.

In 2007, researchers at Danisco interested in fortifying the lactic acid bacteria used to produce dairy products such as milk and cheese against attack by phage showed that CRISPR provided resistance (1). These phage infections were common in industrial dairy fermentation, and it was hugely significant that insertion of multiple spacers in the bacterial CRISPR system was shown to protect against them. Intriguingly, rare mutations in the phage regions from which these spacers were derived were also shown to give rise to lineages that could again reinfect the bacteria. Thus was born the study of the phage–bacteria immune system arms race. In PNAS, Bradde et al. (2) present a theory of the tradeoff between broad coverage of phage types and efficient use of a limited number of enzymes in each bacterium that leads to an optimal size of the CRISPR immune system. Earlier bioinformatics studies had shown that the majority of spacers in bacterial CRISPR arrays matched phage or conjugative plasmids that naturally infect the bacteria containing the CRISPR array (3). These CRISPR spacers were found to be the most polymorphic sites in plague Yersinia pestis strains, and thus potentially useful for forensically tracing the origins of prokaryotic pathogens (4). In the same year, bioinformatic analysis showed that spacers from multiple strains and species of Streptococcus were homologous to phage and plasmid sequences (5). The sensitivity of Streptococcus thermophilus to phage was shown to correlate with the number of spacers in the CRISPR locus. A significant number of studies followed up on these observations that bacterial resistance to phage correlated with spacer diversity in the CRISPR array (6⇓–8). Later studies confirmed the ability of S. thermophilus to insert phage sequences into its CRISPR array and analyzed thousands of spacers from over a hundred strains (9). The … [↵][1]1Email: mwdeem{at}rice.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Is Chivalry Dead?: An Examination of Charge Reductions in One Ohio Jurisdiction

Scholars continue to recognize the important role prosecutorial discretion plays in the criminal court system. Using a sample of felony cases referred to one Prosecutor’s Office in Ohio, the curren...
806-P: Weight Loss vs. Postprandial Glucose Reduction in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Weight loss (WL) is the initial treatment of choice for adults with t2d, but it is inappropriate for lean patients, unwanted/unsuccessful for some obese individuals, and unsustainable for others. An alternative is needed. Aim: Because post-prandial glucose (PPG) contributes strongly to A1c, we tested if a treatment focused on reducing PPG by reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing physical activity (Glycemic Excursion Minimization - GEM) would be equal or superior to WL for improving A1c and secondary benefits. We also hypothesized GEM would be enhanced by the quality and quantity of blood glucose (BG) feedback. Methods: Generally healthy adults (t2d ≤ 10 years, not on insulin, A1c ≥ 6.8) were randomized to WL (n = 36) or one of 3 GEM subgroups: 1) Didactic (GEMD, n = 35) taught participants how to choose low glycemic load foods, reduce sedentary time and increase moderate routine physical activity, 2) Didactic + systematic BG monitoring (GEMS, n =48) before and after meals and physical activity to educate, activate and motivate food and activity choices, or 3) Didactic + continuous glucose monitoring (GEMC, n = 43). WL treatment was led by diabetes nutritionists and followed the CDC Prevent T2 weight loss manual. GEM treatment was led by a diabetes nurse educator. All subjects received 6 hours of training, BG meters and wore activity monitors. A1c, weight, UKPDS, DDS, DES and PHQ-9 were assessed pre and 3 months post treatment. Results: The GEM subgroups did not differ, so they were combined. Both WL and GEM significantly reduced weight and diabetes distress (regimen). Only GEM significantly improved A1c (8.3 to 7.3, p Discussion: Lifestyle interventions focused on minimizing PPG by reducing carbohydrates and increasing routine physical activity are effective alternatives to WL. Adding BG monitoring did not significantly enhance GEM’s effectiveness. Disclosure D. Cox: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc. T. Banton: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc. M.A. Moncrief: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc. A. Diamond: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc. V. Holmes: None. A. Wolf: None. K. Fang: None. A.L. McCall: None. Funding Dexcom, Inc. (IIS-2017-047); National Institutes of Health (R01DK108957)
Platelet MAPKs a 20+year history: what do we really know?

The existence of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in platelets has been known for more than 20 years. Since that time hundreds of reports have been published describing the conditions that cause MAPK activation in platelets and their role in regulating diverse platelet functions from the molecular to physiological level. However, this cacophony of reports, with inconsistent and sometimes contradictory findings, has muddied the waters leading to great confusion. Since the last review of platelet MAPKs was published more than a decade ago, there have been more than 50 reports, including the description of novel knockout mouse models, that have furthered our knowledge. Therefore, we undertook an extensive literature review to delineate what is known about platelet MAPKs. We specifically discuss what is currently known about how MAPKs are activated and what signaling cascades they regulate in platelets incorporating recent findings from knockout mouse models. In addition, we will discuss the role each MAPK plays in regulating distinct platelet functions. In doing so, we hope to clarify the role for MAPKs and identify knowledge gaps in this field that await future researchers. In addition, we discuss the limitations of current studies with a particular focus on the off-target effects of commonly used MAPK inhibitors. We conclude with a look at the clinical utility of MAPK inhibitors as potential antithrombotic therapies with an analysis of current clinical trial data.
On Language and Thought: Bilingual Experience Influences Semantic Associations.

Abstract Language can influence cognition in domains as varied as temporal processing, spatial categorization, and color perception (Casasanto & Boroditsky, 2008; Levinson & Wilkins, 2006; Winawer et al., 2007). Here, we provide converging behavioral and neural evidence that bilingual experience can change semantic associations. In Experiment 1, Spanish- and English-speaking bilinguals rated semantically unrelated picture pairs (e.g., cloud-present) as significantly more related in meaning than English monolinguals. Experiment 2 demonstrated that bilinguals who were highly proficient in Spanish and English rated both semantically related (e.g., door-window) and unrelated picture pairs (e.g., dress-snail) as more related than monolinguals and low-proficiency bilinguals. Experiment 3 added ERP measures to provide a more sensitive test of the bilingual effect on semantic ratings, which was assessed through the use of linguistic stimuli (related and unrelated words instead of pictures) and a different bilingual population (Korean-English bilinguals). Bilingualism was associated with a significantly smaller N400 effect (i.e., N400 for unrelated - related), suggesting that bilinguals processed related and unrelated pairs more similarly than monolinguals; this result was coupled with a non-significant behavioral trend of bilinguals judging unrelated words as more related than monolinguals did. Across the three experiments, results show that bilingual experience can influence perceived semantic associations. We propose that bilinguals’ denser and more interconnected phonological, orthographic and lexical systems may change the links between semantic concepts. Such an account is consistent with connectionist models of language that allow for phonological and lexical influences on conceptual representations, with implications for models of bilingual language processing.
Virulence phenotypes result from interactions between pathogen ploidy and genetic background

Studying fungal virulence is often challenging and frequently depends on many contexts, including host immune status and pathogen genetic background. However, the role of ploidy has often been overlooked when studying virulence in eukaryotic pathogens. Since fungal pathogens, including the human opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans, can display extensive ploidy variation, assessing how ploidy impacts virulence has important clinical relevance. As an opportunistic pathogen, C. albicans causes nonlethal, superficial infections in healthy individuals, but life-threatening bloodstream infections in individuals with compromised immune function. Here, we determined how both ploidy and genetic background of C. albicans impacts virulence phenotypes in healthy and immunocompromised nematode hosts by characterizing virulence phenotypes in four near-isogenic diploid and tetraploid pairs of strains, which included both laboratory and clinical genetic backgrounds. We found that C. albicans infections decreased host survival and negatively impacted host reproduction, and we leveraged these two measures to survey both lethal and nonlethal virulence phenotypes across the multiple C. albicans strains. In this study, we found that regardless of pathogen ploidy or genetic background, immunocompromised hosts were susceptible to fungal infection compared to healthy hosts. Furthermore, for each host context, we found a significant interaction between C. albicans genetic background and ploidy on virulence phenotypes, but no global differences between diploid and tetraploid pathogens were observed.
Caregiver perceptions of the benefits of hippotherapy for children with various disorders, disabilities, and medical conditions

This article describes the findings of a qualitative investigation that provide some of the first detailed information from the caregiver’s perspective about utilizing hippotherapy for children wit...
Work-Related Interview Skills Training for Persons with Substance Use Disorders

Persons with substance use disorders (SUDs) experience high unemployment rates that can increase relapse risk. Research on employment counseling for this population is lacking. This study examined ...
Preventive Unit Commitment for Transmission Line De-icing in Changing Weather Conditions

This paper is centered on augmenting the power transmission system resiliency in changing ice storm weather conditions. This is facilitated by preventing glaze formation on transmission lines by keeping the surface temperature of lines above a pre-calculated level. The Joule effect is used to control the line surface temperature through power dispatch manipulation. The power flow in the transmission lines in the affected geographical area should be maintained above an hourly minimum limit to generate sufficient heat. The varying weather conditions necessitate the change in target transmission lines' lower flow limit. The proposed approach has been implemented on the IEEE 73 bus RTS-96 system, and the results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Magnetic resonance imaging findings of synovial sarcoma in children: location-dependent differences.

While overall survival for children is greater than that for adults, synovial sarcoma remains an aggressive neoplasm with a potentially poor prognosis, and its magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in children are not well described. We aimed to characterize the spectrum of MRI findings of synovial sarcoma in children with respect to anatomical location and outcome. Children with histologically confirmed synovial sarcoma and preoperative MRI performed within the past 11 years (2009–2020) were included. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed each MRI to categorize location, signal characteristics and associated findings. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to assess associations with locations and outcomes. This study included 23 children (13 girls, 10 boys; mean age: 12.7±4.2 years) with 7 axial, 8 proximal and 8 distal appendicular lesions. Kappa ranged from 0.53 to 1. MRI findings differed significantly between locations with axial lesions measuring larger (P=0.01) and more likely to contain fluid levels (P=0.02), triple sign (P=0.02), inhomogeneous signal (T1-weighted images, P=0.003; T2-weighted images, P=0.02, contrast-enhanced images, P=0.03) with all lesions containing partially solid composition (P=0.03). At a median follow-up of 14 months (interquartile range: 7–33 months), 39% relapsed. Predictors of relapse (P<0.05) included metastasis at presentation, larger lesions, axial lesions and MRI findings of fluid level, T1-weighted hyperintensity, inhomogeneous signal (T1- and T2-weighted images) and poorly circumscribed margins. A significant association was found between location and MRI findings in our cohort of children with synovial sarcoma. Axial lesions were more likely to be larger, appear heterogeneous and be associated with a worse outcome.
SU-E-J-271: Correlation of CT Number Change with Radiation Treatment Response for Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose: It has been reported recently that radiation can induce CT number (CTN) change during radiation therapy (RT) delivery. In the effort to explore whether CTN can be used to assess RT response, we analyze the relationship between the pathological treatment response (PTR) and the changes of CTN, MRI, and PET before and after the neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCR) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: The preand post-nCR CT, MRI, and PET data for a total of 8 patients with resectable, or borderline resectable pancreatic head adenocarcinoma treated with nCR were retrospectively analyzed. Radiographic characteristics were correlated to PTR data. The histograms, means and standard derivations (SD) of the CTNs in pancreatic head (CTNPH), the GTV defined by ADC (CTNGTV), and the rest of pancreatic head (CTNPH-CTNGTV) were compared. Changes before and after nCR were correlated with the corresponding changes of ADC, lean body mass normalized SUV (SUVlb), and PTR using Pearson’ s correlation coefficient test. Results: The average mean and SD in CTPH for all the patients analyzed were higher in post-nCR (53.17 ± 31.05 HU) compared to those at pre-nCR (28.09 ± 4.253 HU). The CTNGTV were generally higher than CTNPH and CTNPH-CTNGTV, though the differences were not significant. The post-nCRmore » changes of mean CTN, ADC, and SUVlb values in pancreatic head were correlated with PTR (R=0.3273/P=0.5357, R=−0.5455/P<0.0001, and R=0.7638/P=0.0357, respectively). The mean difference in the maximum tumor dimension measured from CTN, ADC, and SUVlb as compared with pathological measurements was −2.1, −0.5, and 0.22 cm, respectively. Conclusion: The radiation-induced change of CTN in pancreas head after chemoradiation therapy of pancreatic cancer was observed, which may be related to treatment responses as assessed by biological imaging and pathology. More data are needed to determine whether the CTN can be used as a quantitative biomarker for response to neoadjuvant therapy.« less
Catch My Fall: The Importance of Developing a Leadership Philosophy Statement in Sustaining Original Values and Leadership Direction

This article draws attention to the need and importance for chief executives to formulate a Leadership Philosophy Statement (LPS) as an aid to guiding them as they execute their duties of leadership. As companies adhere to mission statements (MS) which are developed to light the pathway to success, so too does the leader need a leadership philosophy to pursue that mission. The interconnectedness of organizational mission statements and individual leadership statements is highlighted to emphasize the importance of having related goals between leader and organization. The structure of the LPS as well as its content is discussed to better inform leaders of the best approach to writing a LPS.
ATOMISTIC MODELING OF PROTEIN ADSORPTION TO CERAMIC BIOMATERIALS IN WATER: A FIRST STEP TOWARD REALISTIC SIMULATION OF THE BIOMATERIALS SURFACE IN VIVO

Development of modeling systems with atomic-scale resolution is universally recognized as essential to the successful fabrication of surfaces that control, modify, or measure cell function. Molecular and atomistic modeling can elucidate the mechanism of interaction between biological macromolecules and materials surfaces, which, in turn, has global applications ranging from implanted biomedical devices to DNA and protein arrays. Interfacial phenomena, especially protein adsorption, control essential biomaterials properties such as biocompatibillty, and also control the efficiency of engineered structures such as biomimetic tissue scaffolds designed to promote the growth and development of specific cells. Bioengineers require unified software solutions capable of modeling realistic systems composed of biomolecules, materials, and the aqueous medium in which they interact. Significant progress was made toward creating such a system by implementing a molecular dynamics and local minimization (MD-LM) strategy to simulate a system in which a protein (bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor; BPTI) encounters a materials surface (MgO) in water. MD-LM simulations out to 1040 ps show reorientation of the BPTI protein toward the MgO surface, even at distances previously considered to be too far away for force field–mediated interactions. These data support the hypothesis that, at least in an aqueous environment, the solvent plays a paramount role in the initial adsorption event. This chapter describes our most recent output from the model and suggests future directions for research.
Some Approaches to Ergodic and Adaptive Control of Stochastic Semilinear Systems

Some ergodic and adaptive control problems for stochastic semilinear systems are described. The stochastic systems have cylindrical noise processes and the control is either distributed or boundary/point. The development of adaptive control for stochastic distributed parameter systems is described commencing with adaptive control problems for linear stochastic systems with quadratic cost functionals.
Is the Policy Window Open for High-Speed Rail in the United States: A Perspective from the Multiple Streams Model of Policymaking

With the election of a new government, intercity passenger rail, which had faded for years, is now back on President Obama’s agenda. Technological innovation has brought focus to high speed intercity passenger rail transportation. This new focus has revealed too many people who are tired of modern transportation problems, such as airline delay and highway congestion, a new hope for future travel. This paper will begin with a chronological introduction of the intercity passenger rail policy in the United States. John Kingdon’s Multiple Streams model (MS) is adopted to explore the roles of political streams in the processes of shaping the national strategic plan for high speed rail development. Three main questions will be answered through the analysis: (1) Why is High Speed Rail (“HSR”) on President Obama’s agenda now?; (2) What role does HSR play in the US?; and, (3) what can be done in order to have such big infrastructure project implemented both efficiently and effectively over the long term and without facing the hurdles of a shift in the political tide.
Wireless Monitoring of a Multispan Bridge Superstructure for Diagnostic Load Testing and System Identification

This article focuses on the deployment of a wireless sensor system (WSS) developed at Clarkson University for structural monitoring purposes. The WSS is designed specifically for diagnostic bridge monitoring, providing independent conditioning for accelerometers, strain transducers, and temperature sensors in addition to high-rate wireless data transmission and is capable of supporting large-scale sensor arrays. A three-span simply supported structure was subjected to diagnostic load testing as well as ambient vibration monitoring. A total of 90 wireless and several wired sensors, including accelerometers and strain transducers were used in the deployment. Strain measurements provided capacity and demand characteristics of the structure in the form of neutral axis locations, load distributions, and dynamic allowances which ultimately produced an inventory and operating load rating for the structure. Additionally, modal characteristics of the structure, including natural frequencies and mode shapes, were derived from measured accelerations and discussed briefly.
Anticonvulsant and proconvulsant actions of 2-deoxy-D-glucose

SUMMARY Purpose: 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a glucose analog that accumulates in cells and interferes with carbohydrate metabolism by inhibiting glycolytic enzymes, has anticonvulsant actions. Recognizing that severe glucose deprivation can induce seizures, we sought to determine whether acute treatment with 2-DG can promote seizure susceptibility by assessing its effects on seizure threshold. For comparison, we studied 3-methyl-glucose (3-MG), which like 2-DG accumulates in cells and reduces glucose uptake, but does not inhibit glycolysis. Methods: Mice were treated with 2-DG or 3-MG and the seizure threshold determined in the 6-Hz test, the mouse electroshock seizure threshold (MEST) test, and the intravenous pentylenetetrazol (i.v. PTZ) or kainic acid (i.v. KA) seizure threshold tests. 2-DG was also tested in fully amygdala-kindled rats. Results: 2-DG (125–500 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min before testing) significantly elevated the seizure threshold in the 6-Hz seizure test. 2-DG (250–500 mg/kg) decreased the threshold in the MEST and i.v. PTZ and i.v. KA tests. 3-MG had no effect on seizure threshold in the 6-Hz test but, like 2-DG, decreased seizure threshold in the i.v. PTZ test. 2-DG (250 and 500 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min before testing) had no effect on amygdala-kindled seizures. Conclusions: Although 2-DG protects against seizures in the 6-Hz seizure test, it promotes seizures in some other models. The proconvulsant action may relate to reduced glucose uptake, whereas the anticonvulsant action may require inhibition of glycolysis and shunting of glucose metabolism through the pentose phosphate pathway.
Testing of the MFTF magnets

This paper describes the cooldown and testing of the first yin-yang magnet for the Mirror Fusion Test Facility. The introduction describes the superconducting magnet; the rest of the paper explains the tests prior to and including magnet cooldown and final acceptance testing. The MFTF (originally MX) was proposed in 1976 and the project was funded for construction start in October, 1977. Construction of the first large superconducting magnet set was completed in May 1981 and testing started shortly thereafter. The acceptance test procedures were reviewed in May 1981 and the cooldown and final acceptancetest were done by the end of February 1982. During this acceptance testing the magnet achieved its full design current and field.
OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION IN MITOCHONDRIA FROM HUMAN PLACENTAS.

Abstract The oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria from normal placental tissue at different stages of gestation were studied. A high ATPase activity was found in fresh isolated mitochondria. The progesterone content of these mitochondria was found to be 15 to 20 per cent of the total amount of progesterone in placental tissue. It is suggested that progesterone may act as an activator of ATPase in the placenta as in the liver.
Psychological measures of eating behavior and the accuracy of 3 common dietary assessment methods in healthy postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND Factors affecting the accuracy of reported energy intake (rEI) need to be identified. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to investigate the association of psychological measures of eating behavior with the accuracy of rEI assessed by 7-d weighed intakes, a 24-h recall, and a food-frequency questionnaire. DESIGN Subjects were 26 restrained eaters aged 60.3 +/- 0.6 y (mean +/- SEM) and weighing 63.8 +/- 1.7 kg and 34 unrestrained eaters aged 59.4 +/- 0.6 y and weighing 64.0 kg. rEI was assessed by using 3 dietary assessment methods and total energy expenditure (TEE) was determined by using doubly labeled water. Calculated EI (cEI) was determined as TEE corrected for the estimated change in body energy. Subjects completed the Eating Inventory. RESULTS rEI values were significantly lower than TEE values for all 3 dietary assessment methods (P < 0.05); there was no significant relation between rEI and TEE by any method. There was no significant difference in 100 x rEI:TEE between restrained and unrestrained eaters by any of the dietary assessment methods. When combined data from the 3 methods were used, 100 x rEI:cEI was not significantly different from 100% in unrestrained eaters (99 +/- 6.8%) but was lower in restrained eaters (89.1 +/- 5.3%; P < 0.05). There was a positive relation between hunger and 100 x rEI:TEE (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Low hunger is associated with undereating relative to normal eating during measurement of dietary intake; high dietary restraint may be associated with a reduction in reporting of consumed foods. Dietary hunger and restraint assessed with use of the Eating Inventory may help to identify subjects likely to underreport dietary intake.