cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A two‐step semiparametric method to accommodate sampling weights in multiple imputation

Multiple imputation (MI) is a well-established method to handle item-nonresponse in sample surveys. Survey data obtained from complex sampling designs often involve features that include unequal probability of selection. MI requires imputation to be congenial, that is, for the imputations to come from a Bayesian predictive distribution and for the observed and complete data estimator to equal the posterior mean given the observed or complete data, and similarly for the observed and complete variance estimator to equal the posterior variance given the observed or complete data; more colloquially, the analyst and imputer make similar modeling assumptions. Yet multiply imputed data sets from complex sample designs with unequal sampling weights are typically imputed under simple random sampling assumptions and then analyzed using methods that account for the sampling weights. This is a setting in which the analyst assumes more than the imputer, which can led to biased estimates and anti-conservative inference. Less commonly used alternatives such as including case weights as predictors in the imputation model typically require interaction terms for more complex estimators such as regression coefficients, and can be vulnerable to model misspecification and difficult to implement. We develop a simple two-step MI framework that accounts for sampling weights using a weighted finite population Bayesian bootstrap method to validly impute the whole population (including item nonresponse) from the observed data. In the second step, having generated posterior predictive distributions of the entire population, we use standard IID imputation to handle the item nonresponse. Simulation results show that the proposed method has good frequentist properties and is robust to model misspecification compared to alternative approaches. We apply the proposed method to accommodate missing data in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System when estimating means and parameters of regression models.
Measures of General Cognitive Functioning

This chapter presents the data related to intellectual and executive functioning (EF) for the VL2 Psychometric Toolkit Project. The data were generated using a brief estimate of cognitive functioning using a nonverbal measure, the Matrices subtest of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, 2nd Edition (K-BIT), and three measures of EF, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-64 Card Version, Towers of Hanoi, and Tower of London, for a sample of deaf college students evaluated as part of the VL2 Psychometric Toolkit. In addition to providing descriptive statistics, correlations with measures of visuospatial, memory, and linguistic functioning and academic achievement administered concurrently as part of the VL2 Toolkit are presented. The relationships observed are discussed in the context of both research in the general population and, when available, previous research with deaf individuals.
A perspective on antiarrhythmic drug therapy to treat atrial fibrillation: there remains an unmet need.

Because presently available antiarrhythmic drugs are neither as highly efficacious nor as safe as desirable for the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF), rate control–versus–rhythm control trials for the treatment of AF were evaluated. They demonstrated that rate control is not simply a therapeutic fallback option if rhythm control should fail, but rather, it is a legitimate primary therapeutic option. Nevertheless, there remain many reasons to consider maintenance of sinus rhythm (rhythm control) over AF (rate control) if only there were antiarrhythmic agents that could provide this treatment more effectively and safely. In fact, an important analysis of the AFFIRM trial data indicated that rhythm control offers a significant survival advantage over rate control if it could be safely achieved. Therein lie an important clinical dilemma and an unmet need. Sinus rhythm is good, but we need better ways to maintain it effectively and safely.
Role of multiple gene copies in particulate methane monooxygenase activity in the methane-oxidizing bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus Bath.

Genes for the subunits of particulate methane monooxygenase, PmoABC, have been sequenced from the γ-proteobacterial methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus Bath. M. capsulatus Bath contains two complete copies of pmoCAB, as well as a third copy of pmoC. The two pmoCAB regions were almost identical at the nucleotide sequence level, differing in only 13 positions in 3183 bp. At the amino acid level, each translated gene product contained only one differing residue in each copy. However, the pmoC3 sequence was more divergent from the two other pmoC copies at both the far N-terminus and far C-terminus. Chromosomal insertion mutations were generated in all seven genes. Null mutants could not be obtained for pmoC3, suggesting that it may play an essential role in growth on methane. Null mutants were obtained for pmoC1, pmoC2, pmoA1, pmoA2, pmoB1 and pmoB2. All of these mutants grew on methane, demonstrating that both gene copies were functional. Copy 1 mutants showed about two-thirds of the wild-type whole-cell methane oxidation rate, while copy 2 mutants showed only about one-third of the wild-type rate, indicating that both gene copies were necessary for wild-type particulate methane monooxygenase activity. It was not possible to obtain double null mutants that were defective in both pmo copies, which may indicate that some expression of pMMO is important for growth.
Specification, synthesis, and verification of hazard-free asynchronous circuits

This article describes three aspects of asynchronous design from a Petri-net specification called asignal transition graph (STG). First, we show that the STG defined by Chu [1] is too restrictive for specifying general asynchronous behavior and propose extensions to the STG which allow for more general and compact representation. Second, we show that syntactic constraints on STGs are not sufficient to guarantee hazard-free implementations under the unbounded gate delay model, and present techniques to synthesize two-level implementations which are hazard-free under the multiple signal change condition. To remove all hazards under the multiple signal change condition, the initial specification may need to be modified. Finally, we show that behavior containment test using the event coordination model [2] is a powerful tool for the formal verification of asynchronous circuits. This verification method can provide sanity checks for all synthesis methods that use the unbounded gate delay model, and provides a mechanism for designers to validate some manual gate-level changes to the final design.
Cyclic strain dominates over microtopography in regulating cytoskeletal and focal adhesion remodeling of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hMSCs) function depends on chemical factors and also on the physical cues of the microenvironmental niche. Here, this physical microenvironment is recapitulated with controlled modes of mechanical strain applied to substrata containing three-dimensional features in order to analyze the effects on cell morphology, focal adhesion distribution, and gene expression. Ten percentage of strain at 1 Hz is delivered for 48 h to hMSCs cultured on flat surfaces, or on substrata with 15 lm-high microtopographic posts spaced 75 lm apart. Adding strain to microtopography produced stable semicircular focal adhesions, and actin spanning from post to post. Strain dominated over microtopography for expression of genes for the cytoskeleton (caldesmon-1 and calponin 3), cell adhesion (integrin-a2, vinculin, and paxillin), and extracellular matrix remodeling (MMP13) (p < 0.05). Overall, attention to external mechanical stimuli is necessary for optimizing the stem cell niche for regenerative medicine.
Analysis of finite elements and finite differences for shallow water equations: a review

Abstract In this review article we discuss analyses of finite-element and finite-difference approximations of the shallow water equations. An extensive bibliography is given.
Does female ejaculation serve an antimicrobial purpose

Women have glandular tissue below the bladder and surrounding the urethra that appears to be homologous to the male prostate. This tissue (also called "female prostate" or Skene's glands) appears to the source of a viscous, white secretion, which exits from the urethra upon sexual stimulation in some women. Analysis of this secretion (also known as "female ejaculate"), and comparison with pre-coital urine from the same women, revealed that its composition was unlike urine and often contained components also found in male seminal fluid (minus the sperm). The female ejaculate had lower levels of creatinine, but had elevated levels of prostate specific antigen, prostatic acidic phosphatase, prostate specific acid phosphatase, and glucose. The functional importance of female ejaculate has yet to be fully elucidated. It is possible that retention of a prostatic tissue homolog and its glandular secretion in women is merely a vestige of development and differentiation from an embryonic, gender-neutral body plan. We hypothesize that female ejaculation has a unique function in producing a secretion into the urethra that provides protection from urinary tract infections (UTIs). We further predict that female ejaculate contains antimicrobial compounds including elements such as zinc. We also hypothesize that retention of prostatic tissue and an ability to ejaculate its glandular secretion were maintained in women because these traits provided an evolutionary advantage. Specifically: (1) women who could ejaculate antimicrobial secretions into the urethra were less likely to suffer UTIs (particularly coitus-induced UTIs), (2) women without UTIs were more likely to be receptive to coitus at a greater frequency, (3) women engaging in frequent coitus were more likely to become pregnant, and (4) women who became pregnant often were more likely to successfully reproduce the species.
Source Parameters of the Shallow 2012 Brawley Earthquake, Imperial Valley

Resolving earthquake parameters, especially depth, is difficult for events occurring within basins because of issues involved with separating source properties from propagational path effects. Here, we demonstrate some advantages of using a combination of teleseismic and regional waveform data to improve resolution following a bootstrapping approach. Local SS‐S differential arrivals from a foreshock are used to determine a local layered model which can then be used to model teleseismic depth phases: pP, sP, and sS. Using the cut‐and‐paste (CAP) method for which all strike (θ), dip (δ), rake (λ), and depth variations are sampled for several crustal models. We find that regional data prove the most reliable at fixing the strike, whereas the depth is better constrained by teleseismic data. Weighted solutions indicate a nearly pure strike‐slip mechanism (θ=59°±1°) with a centroid depth of about 4.0 km and an M_w of 5.4 for the mainshock of the 2012 Brawley earthquake.
Robustness of Simulink/Stateflow Model Against Implementation Imperfections*

Abstract Model-based software development frameworks such as Simulink/Stateflow support auto code generation. Due to the limitations of the implementation platform on which the generated code is deployed on, imprecision is introduced to the implementation and may lead to unpredictable behaviors in the implementation. In this paper, an implementation model is defined to model the imprecisions introduced by the platform. We present a notion of Path-Robustness (P-Robustness) and Path/Output-Robustness (P/O-Robustness) between the software model and its implementation model to determine if the implementation preserves the control and data flow of the software. An approach is proposed to check the P-Robustness and P/O-Robustness properties of the software model by constructing an error propagation model from the implementation model. P/O-Robustness is proved stronger than approximate bisimulation introduced by Girard et al.
Market Integrity, Market Efficiency, Market Accuracy

Market integrity, market efficiency, and market accuracy are related, but distinctly different concepts which are often misunderstood or misused in public policy debates, especially with regard to corporate takeovers and corporate governance issues. This paper discusses the differences in these terms. It also attempts to clarify and differentiate them and thereby help inform the often heated debate over what these terms mean. Examples are discussed which demonstrate how misuse or misunderstanding of these terms can affect corporate decision making and public policy related to corporate governance issues and hostile takeovers.
EBV Humoral Immunology: 1966–1990

EBV humoral immunology has played a major role in studies directed at establishing a relationship between this virus and certain human cancers. These investigations, which were initiated in 1966 when the first test for detecting EBV antigens was reported (1), utilized a variety of EBV-induced antigens as targets and immunofluorescence as the primary methodology. These tests also established the importance of antibodies directed against some or all of the serologically defined EBV antigens in the diagnosis of EBV-associated diseases and for the clinical management of those patients with EBV-associated malignancies (2,3). Some of the more clinically relevant antibodies that have been identified by a number of investigators over the years are listed in Table 1. These include IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies to the different EBV antigen complexes as defined by immunofluorescence as well as antibodies to a variety of EBV-induced enzymes.
Confirmation and Quantification of Clenbuterol in Horse Urine Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry Triple Quadrupole

Clenbuterol (CLE) is used in horses as a bronchodilator and for its anabolic steroid-like effects. CLE is a Class 3 drug according to current Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) Uniform Classification Guidelines. The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium recommended a urine CLE threshold of 140 pg/mL after careful scientific review of the results of studies describing the disposition of CLE in the horse and this threshold was adopted by the ARCI. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was previously used to screen samples for CLE in Illinois, but could not detect such low concentrations in urine. Thus, a liquid-liquid extraction of CLE from urine followed by quantification by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated. Method validation included testing stability, ion suppression and enhancement, precision, accuracy and uncertainty. Intra-, interday and total precision and accuracy were calculated for each control and found to be within the ±15% acceptance range. The Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement approach was used to calculate uncertainty, which was 11% at the 95% confidence level. In the past 5 years, only 15 samples were reported as positive for CLE in Illinois. This new method was used in a pilot program to screen and confirm samples received from thoroughbred and harness horses.
Strategic Time-Based Metering that Assures Separation for Integrated Operations in a Terminal Airspace

This paper reports an algorithm for strategic time-based metering of air traffic arriving and departing from a large ( tens of nautical miles) area (called here, the commitment region) around an airport or metroplex. The algorithm assures separation continuously in time and avoids a dictation of intent to an aircraft crew. This is accomplished by allowing an aircraft (specifically, its Flight Management System) to specify, and commit to, an intended route and ground speed profile along that route within the commitment region, and by supplying the time at which to enter the region to the aircraft crew. The airspace that comprises the commitment region need not be confined to the terminal airspace and can include some of the enroute space: the size and shape of the commitment region are parameters in the algorithm. An exact formula for including speed profile uncertainty in the algorithm is provided. The algorithm is applied to a number of data sets recorded during actual air traffic operations in the Southern California TRACON in July of 2014 and the Atlanta TRACON in November and December of 2013. The results of the numerical simulations indicate that the algorithm succeeds at keeping the aircraft separated, but introduces, in its current implementation, more separation than that observed in actual operations. This excess separation can be reduced by modeling more accurately the Visual Flight Rules separation practices, a direction for future research.
Design of Standards and Regulations

Contrary to popular perception most legal activities take place outside the courtroom, and it ought to remain that way. Otherwise the system will be clogged up by the resolution of trivial and repetitive problems. Ambiguity in the specification of laws, however, is a frequent but often preventable cause for the involvement of the court system. A central issue therefore is the development of more accurate and concise legal specifications. In this paper we address the issue from a statistical point of view. It is common in introductory statistics books to introduce hypothesis testing and related concepts by referring to their similarity to legal decisions. It is not so often recognized that the analogy can be beneficial in the opposite direction. The concise concepts and language of statistical decision theory and hypothesis testing can be of great help in writing laws, standards and regulations as well as in understanding their underlying structure. Moreover, statistical tools such as the power function and prior and posterior distributions can help in evaluating the performance of proposed and existing laws or standards that involve quantitative evidence. Stretching the analogy between hypothesis testing and legal decisions further, it can be seen that writing a law or standard in situations that require quantitative evidence is conceptually equivalent to specifying (designing) an experiment that will provide admissible evidence (data) so that the subsequent test has 'good' power in discriminating between what we believe ought to, and what ought not to, be legal. It is because of this conceptual equivalence that we like to introduce the term design for the activities associated with drafting legal specifications.
The Dilemma of Breast Cancer Treatment and Existing Collagen Vascular Disease: A Case of Scleroderma and Review of the Literature

Collagen vascular diseases present a treatment dilemma for patients with breast cancer. Due to the potential for severe, acute, and late complications of radiation therapy, a history of collagen vascular disease (CVD) is a relative contraindication to breast-conserving treatment. We present a case of early stage breast cancer in a patient with severe scleroderma treated with breast-conserving surgery without radiation and a brief review of the published literature regarding the therapeutic approach to the patient with CVD and breast cancer.
Establish checkpoint to improve the administration and optimize the flow of discharge of children patients

In May 2005,the hospital in which the author works established the Checking Room for Inpatients to Leave Hospital with a totally new concept.Through the examination,the Room could accomplish such tasks as col- lecting information,implementing supervision,analyzing data,making timely coordination,feeding back swiftly,e- valuating curative effect,and conducting guidance to outpatients.Practice has proven that the room is a way to real- ize system innovation,with the structure quality as the foundation,the sector quality as the foundation,the sector quality as the terminal quality as an effective means,hence optimizing the quality of treatment guided by data and based on quantity.
The L-amino acid oxidase of Neurospora.

In 1944 one of us described a D-amino acid oxidase in extracts of Neurospora crassa (1). Except for slight activity against L-glutamate, no oxidation of L-amino acids was observed. Recently a means for inducing the formation of a soluble L-amino acid oxidase by the mold was reported by Bender, Krebs, and Horowitz (2). This is accomplished by reducing the biotin content of the basal medium (3) from the 5 γ per liter usually employed to 0.25 γ per liter. When cultured in such a medium, Neurospora produces an active L-amino acid oxidase which can be demonstrated both in extracts and in the medium. Reduction of the biotin level produces no effect on the D-amino acid oxidase, which is still found in extracts but not in the culture medium. The activity of the L-oxidase toward thirty-eight amino acids has been investigated by Bender and Krebs (4). The initial purpose of the present investigation was to explore certain possibilities for a genetic study of the enzyme. Of special interest was the fact, cited by Bender et al. (a), that the oxidase could not be detected in all of the wild type strains tested. The question arose as to whether this is due to the genetic inability of certain strains to form the enzyme. In connection with the investigation of this problem a general survey of the properties of the enzyme was carried out, together with a preliminary study of the mechanism of the biotin effect and of the adaptive formation of the enzyme. The results of these studies are reported below. Simultaneously with our investigation and independently of it, Dr. K. Burton (5), working in Professor Krebs’ laboratory, has carried out a study of the Neurospora L-amino acid oxidase. Where our respective studies overlap mutual confirmation was obtained in most essential points. We wish to thank Dr. Burton for permission to read his manuscript before publication.
Hypersensitivity to clinically useful alkylating agents and radiation in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-deficient cell lines.

Mutant V79 Chinese hamster cell lines, deficient in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity, were previously shown to be significantly resistant to etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, and hypersensitive to camptothecin, a topoisomerase I inhibitor (Chatterjee, S.; Trivedi, D.; Petzold, S.J.; Berler, N.A. Mechanism of epipophyllotoxin-induced cell death in poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) synthesis-deficient V79 Chinese hamster cell lines. Cancer Res. 50:2713-2718, 1990 and Chatterjee, S.; Cheng, M.F.; Trivedi, D.; Petzold, S.J.; Berger, N.A. Camptothecin hypersensitivity in poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase-deficient cell lines. Cancer Commun. 1:389-394; 1990). We have now demonstrated hypersensitivity of these mutant cell lines, designated ADPRT 54 and ADPRT 351, to a variety of antitumor agents including melphalan, BCNU, mitomycin, and bleomycin. They are also hypersensitive to UV- and x-irradiation. These mutants, however, are significantly resistant to the topoisomerase II-targeted DNA intercalators, Adriamycin and m-AMSA. Our results strongly suggest that inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase could be useful to potentiate the cytotoxicity of a variety of currently available antitumor drugs.
The Application of Mass Spectrometry to the Study of Nitroaniline-Derived Herbicides

Substituted dinitroaniline herbicides are increasing in economic importance. For example, trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6- dinitro-N-N-dipropyl-p-toluidine)is used extensively on soybeans and cotton in the southeastern, midwestern, and southern areas of the United States. Estimated production volume in 1971was 25 million pounds compared with 90 million pounds of atrazine [4-chloro-2-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine and 45 million pounds of 2,4-0 (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). These two were the only herbicides to exceed the production volume of trifluralin. Related dinitroaniline herbicides are in commercial production and several members of this class are being developed. The structural formulae of a nmnber of dinitroaniline herbicides are shown in Figure 1.
Determining impairment following spinal cord injury.

Determining the level of impairment of an individual with spinal cord injury (SCI) is reasonably straightforward. An impairment rating may be determined by analyzing the impact of the SCI on various bodily systems or by considering the injury as a more global diagnostic category. Additionally, specific functional abilities based on the level of neurologic preservation are well established. Thus disability can also be approximated from impairment, or measured directly by functional assessment. Although secondary medical difficulties that may impact impairment and disability can arise at any time after SCI, neurologic and functional abilities are overwhelmingly stabilized by 12 months post injury. A comprehensive history and physical and functional examinations should allow even the inexperienced examiner to obtain a valid determination of impairment after SCI; however, assessing disability and handicap is a more challenging undertaking.
Implementing High Quality Assessment for Learning: Mapping as a Professional Development Tool for Understanding the What to Learn,Why to Learn It, and How to Learn It

Effective implementation of assessment for learning requires that teachers fully grasp the ‘big picture’ for the unit and lessons/modules that they will be teaching their students over a period of time, including all the related activities. This means understanding how various blocks of knowledge fit together, especially at the higher levels, which students will use to build conceptual frameworks focused on principled understandings—the big ideas. This chapter recognizes the importance of understanding the what, the why, and the how of what teachers need to teach and student to learn. It offers a proven strategy designed to help teachers develop the big picture through an interactive process called mapping. Different empirical studies have demonstrated that the mapping process can lead teachers to discover new and complex insights about what they are to teach and why this content is important. Further, the mapping process helps them become familiar with the kinds of events and phenomena necessary to understanding how to ensure that their students achieve the expected learning outcomes.
A contingency management method for 30-days abstinence in non-treatment seeking young adult cannabis users.

Abstract Background Rates of young adult cannabis use are rising, perceived harm is at its historical nadir, and most users do not want to quit. Most studies evaluating effects of cannabis use in young adults are cross-sectional, limiting causal inference. A method to reliably induce abstinence periods in cannabis users would allow assessment of the effects of abstinence and resumption of use on a variety of outcomes in a within-subjects, repeated measures design. Methods We examined the efficacy and feasibility of a voucher-based contingency management procedure for incentivizing one month of continuous cannabis abstinence among young adults who reported at least weekly cannabis use, volunteered to participate in a laboratory study, and did not express a desire to discontinue cannabis use long-term. Continuous cannabis abstinence was reinforced with an escalating incentive schedule, and self-report of abstinence was confirmed by frequent quantitative assays of urine cannabis metabolite (THCCOOH) concentration. New cannabis use during the abstinence period was determined using an established algorithm of change in creatinine-adjusted cannabis metabolite concentrations between study visits. Results Thirty-eight young adults, aged 18–25 years, enrolled and 34 (89.5%) attained biochemically confirmed 30-day abstinence. Among those who attained abstinence, 93.9% resumed regular use within two-weeks of incentive discontinuation. Conclusion Findings support the feasibility and efficacy of contingency management to elicit short-term, continuous cannabis abstinence among young adult, non-treatment seeking, regular cannabis users. Further work should test the effectiveness of this contingency management procedure for cannabis abstinence in periods longer than one month, which may be required to evaluate some effects of abstinence.
Initial Experience with a Cone-beam Breast Computed Tomography-guided Biopsy System.

Objective: To evaluate our initial experience with a cone-beam breast computed tomography (BCT)-guided breast biopsy system for lesion retrieval in phantom studies for use with a cone-beam BCT imaging system. Materials and Methods: Under the Institutional Review Board approval, a phantom biopsy study was performed using a dedicated BCT-guided biopsy system. Fifteen biopsies were performed on each of the small, medium, and large anthropomorphic breast phantoms with both BCT and stereotactic guidance for comparison. Each set of the 45 phantoms contained masses and calcification clusters of varying sizes. Data included mass/calcium retrieval rate and dose and length of procedure time for phantom studies. Results: Phantom mass and calcium retrieval rate were 100% for BCT and stereotactic biopsy. BCT dose for small and medium breast phantoms was found to be equivalent to or less than the corresponding stereotactic approach. Stereotactic-guided biopsy dose was 34.2 and 62.5 mGy for small and medium breast phantoms, respectively. BCT-guided biopsy dose was 15.4 and 30.0 mGy for small and medium breast phantoms, respectively. Both computed tomography biopsy and stereotactic biopsy study time ranged from 10 to 20 min. Conclusion: Initial experience with a BCT-guided biopsy system has shown to be comparable to stereotactic biopsy in phantom studies with equivalent or decreased dose.
Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL Overexpression Stimulates Lactic Fermentation without Affecting Whole Cell Respiration

It is now well established that shifts in energy metabolism are associated with cancer development and progression. The most studied of these phenomena is the Warburg effect, which corresponds to an increase of anaerobic glycolysis vs mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to produce energy for cellular processes. However, the mechanisms related to these metabolic switches are still a matter of debate. Bcl-2 family proteins contain both pro- (e.g. Bax), and anti-apoptotic (e.g. Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) members which are respectively encoded by tumor suppressors and proto-oncogenes. Up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL have been associated with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; and certain studies indicate that Bcl-2 family proteins play a role in the regulation of energy metabolism. However, the molecular players involved in this regulation are still to be defined. We recently observed that Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL (Bcl-2/xL) overexpression led to a significant increase of lactate production rates in a mouse pro-lymphocyte B cell line. However, both lactate production and glucose consumption fluxes are stimulated by Bcl-2/xL overexpression. Also, basal, uncoupled and non-coupled whole cell respiration remain similar in the 3 cell lines. Taken together, these results suggest that the fermentative component, but not the oxidative component, of carbohydrate metabolism is stimulated in these genetic contexts. This phenomenon is associated with an increase of glycolytic/fermentative (LDH and GAPDH enzyme activity) and mitochondrial (Citrate synthase activity) markers; but only when Bcl-xL (and not Bcl-2) is overexpressed. These data suggest that Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression levels may play an active role in the stimulation of lactic fermentation commonly observed in blood cancer cells; and that Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL-mediated stimulation of lactate production are the results of different molecular mechanisms.
A New Paradigm for Uterine Fibroid Treatment: Transcervical, Intrauterine Sonography-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Uterine Fibroids with the Sonata System

Purpose of Review This article provides the current evidence related to transcervical radiofrequency ablation of uterine fibroids under integrated intrauterine sonography guidance (the Sonata System).
Efficacy of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation for Control of Prunus Replant Disease

Prunus replant disease (PRD) is an important soilborne complex that suppresses growth and productivity of replanted stone fruit and nut orchards. It is effectively managed with preplant soil fumigation but, due to regulatory challenges, nonfumigant-based control strategies for PRD and other soilborne disease problems may become increasingly important, especially in California. We examined the potential of preplant anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) for control of PRD in four repeated orchard replant trials on sandy loam soil near Parlier, CA. After removal of the old orchard trees, alternative ASD treatments, all using rice bran as the main carbon source, were implemented, starting in late September. The alternative treatments incorporated rice bran at (i) 20 t ha-1, alone, in 3.0-m-wide row strips; (ii) 20 t ha-1, preceded by incorporation of a sudangrass cover crop and followed by drip application of molasses (10 t ha-1), in 3.0-m-wide row strips; (iii) 20 t ha-1, alone, in 1.8-m-wide strips; or (iv) 12 t ha-1, alone, in 1.8-m-wide strips. All ASD-treated areas were covered with clear tarp and drip irrigated with 25 cm of water. Tarps remained for 6 weeks, during which the soil moisture level was kept at or above field capacity by drip irrigation. All trials included nontreated control and fumigated standard treatments. ASD raised temperature and reduced redox potential in soil at 15- and 46-cm depths for 6 weeks. Fumigation and ASD treatments both nearly eradicated bioassay inoculum of Pythium ultimum in the soil before almond trees were replanted and significantly affected almond tree root communities of fungi and oomycetes after planting. Fumigation treatments and ASD treatments with rice bran at 20 t ha-1 in 3.0-m strips increased tree growth significantly and by similar magnitudes. Among repeated experiments, mean increases in trunk cross-sectional area growth due to fumigation ranged from 137 to 264%, while the increases due to ASD at 20 t ha-1 in 3.0-m strips ranged from 148 to 214%, compared with controls. ASD offers effective control of PRD and is worthy of further optimization and testing for management of PRD and additional orchard replant problems.
Relationships among prior learning, anxiety, self-efficacy, and science vocabulary learning of middle school students with varied English language proficiency

Abstract Vocabulary is essential for comprehension and achievement across disciplines. Understanding factors that contribute to vocabulary learning is important, especially for English learners (ELs) studying science, a linguistically and cognitively demanding topic. Our study examined structural relationships among background characteristics, science anxiety and self-efficacy, and science vocabulary learning of 252 Grade 8 students (31% current ELs; 69% former/non-ELs). Path analysis results indicated strong model fit and accounted for 47% of the variance in science vocabulary learning. Results identified academic vocabulary knowledge, initial science vocabulary knowledge, and science anxiety—variables under control of educational systems—as strong contributors to or mediators of learning and highlighted the importance of initial vocabulary knowledge in mitigating the negative relationships between anxiety and both learning and self-efficacy. Lower percentages of the variance explained in science anxiety (14%) and science and genetics self-efficacy (12% and 9%, respectively) suggest a need to include other predictors in future.
Abstract 16756: Analysis of Cardiomyopathy Using Whole Genome Sequencing

Background: One of the leading causes of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is cardiomyopathy, a disorder with a high heritable component. There are few clinical clues to guide genetic diagnosis, so genetic testing for familial cardiomyopathy relies on panel-based screening which may survey as many as 46 responsible genes. Recently the large gene TTN , comprising 350 exons, was identified as the cause of nearly 25% of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Even with the inclusion of the gene TTN in gene panels for cardiomyopathy, the sensitivity of testing for DCM is only ∼45%. Motivated both by the large number of genes required to diagnose genetic cardiomyopathy and improvements in high-throughput sequencing technology, we piloted whole genome sequencing (WGS) for 11 subjects with DCM. Methods: WGS was performed to achieve an average of 35 fold coverage using paired end 100bp reads. We focused our analysis on 212 genes linked to both syndromic and nonsyndromic cardiomyopathy as well as genes identified from animal modeling. Variants within these genes were analyzed using a pipeline that combined multiple prediction algorithms along with frequency data from the 1000Genomes project and the NHLBI Exome Sequencing Project. This pipeline yielded 3-15 potentially pathogenic variants per individual. Variants were further analyzed using clinical criteria and confirmed using traditional Sanger sequencing. When available, segregation in family members was analyzed. Results: Three of 11 subjects within the DCM cohort had known primary mutations, and these three mutations were detected by the analysis pipeline. In five of eight subjects for whom the primary mutation was unknown, we identified mutations that either segregated with disease, had clinical correlates, and/or had additional pathological correlation to provide evidence for causality. For at least two subjects, we identified additional variants that may be acting as modifiers of disease severity. In total, we identified the likely pathological mutation in 8 of 11 (73%) subjects. Conclusion: Cardiomyopathy is a genetically heterogeneous disease that lends itself to analysis by WGS. WGS can be used to identify clinically relevant variants of both therapeutic and prognostic importance.
Homeownership and voter turnout in u.s. local elections

Abstract This paper provides evidence that economic self-interest associated with homeownership affects voter turnout in local elections in the United States. Compared to renters, homeowners are financially invested in their communities and are less mobile. Therefore, homeowners should care more about local policies and have incentives to engage actively in local politics. The disparity in political participation between homeowners and renters, however, should diminish in presidential elections for which policy discussions are more targeted at the national-level. These hypotheses are tested using census block group-level election panel data. Fixed effects models and a control function approach are used to identify the effect of homeownership on voter turnout in off-year mayoral elections relative to presidential elections. Results show that mayoral election voter turnout increases with the local homeownership rate. This suggests that local policies may tend to cater to the tastes of homeowners over renters.
Head versus Heart: The Effect of Objective versus Feelings-Based Mental Imagery on New Product Creativity

Imagination visual mental imagery, a mental simulation process that involves imagining an end user interacting with an end product, has been proposed as an efficient strategy to incorporate end-user experiences during new product ideation. Consumer research finds that this strategy enhances overall product usefulness, but does not resolve whether and how this process may impact outcome originality. The present work delineates the imagination visual mental imagery construct and argues that such mental imagery can take two different routes—one that is more feelings-based (i.e., feelings-imagination), and one that is more objective (i.e., objective-imagination). Further, we propose that although these two approaches will equally benefit outcome usefulness, they will have differential impact on outcome originality. Across five studies, we demonstrate that adopting a feelings-imagination versus an objective-imagination approach induces higher empathic concern, enhancing cognitive flexibility, which leads to higher outcome originality. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
A bimolecular fluorescent complementation screen reveals complex roles of endosomes in Ras-mediated signaling.

Abstract While Ras GTPases are best known for mediating growth factor signaling on the plasma membrane, these proteins also have surprisingly complex activities in the endosome. Assisted by a method called bimolecular fluorescent complementation (BiFC), which can detect weak and transient protein–protein interactions and reveal where the binding takes place in live cells, we have identified three effectors, Cdc42, CHMP6, and VPS4A that interact with Ras proteins in endosomes. These effectors are all necessary for Ras-induced transformation, suggesting that for Ras proteins to efficiently induce tumor formation, they must also activate effectors in cytoplasm, such as those in endosomes. Here, we describe how BiFC can be used to detect and screen for Ras effectors and for readily revealing where in the cell the binding occurs.
Design and Implementation of a Smart Meter

This paper presents the design and the implementation of a smart meter for prepaid electricity using an Arduino microcontroller, a global system for mobile communication (GSM) module, and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The smart meter allows users to remotely recharge their meter after purchasing prepaid electricity using a mobile phone. It also allows the meter owner to receive notifications about the level of prepaid credit available in the meter, the meter status, and a threshold for recharge notifications. This paper also discusses the advantages of the proposed system to customers, and the utility company, as well as some of the challenges encountered, and provides recommendations to various stakeholders.
Association Between Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Outcomes of Open Airway Reconstruction Surgery in Adults

Importance Airway reconstruction for adults with laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is directed toward improving airway caliber to mitigate the patient’s dyspnea and achieve prosthesis-free breathing (ie, without tracheostomy, intraluminal stent, or T-tube). Despite the importance of preoperative risk stratification to minimize postoperative complications, consensus on an objective predictive algorithm for open airway reconstruction is lacking. Objective To determine whether the ability to achieve a prosthesis-free airway in adults after open airway reconstruction is associated with red blood cell distribution width (RDW) at the time of surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants Case series study investigating 92 consecutive patients 18 years and older with laryngotracheal stenosis who underwent open airway reconstruction at a US tertiary care hospital from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was a prosthesis-free airway (absence of tracheostomy, intraluminal stent, or T-tubes) at last follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to identify independent factors associated with this outcome. Results Of the 92 patients who met inclusion criteria, the median (interquartile range) age was 44 (33.0-60.3) years; 50 (53%) were female, and 82 (89%) were white. In all, 74 patients (80%) were prosthesis free at the last follow-up (mean, 833 days; 95% CI, 10-4229 days). In multivariate analyses, airway decannulation was significantly correlated with reduced RDW (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19-0.84) and the absence of posterior glottic stenosis (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.04-0.37). Conclusions and Relevance These data suggest that surgical success in open airway reconstruction is significantly associated with RDW and whether the patient had posterior glottic stenosis. The RDW is a routine laboratory parameter that may provide some insight to the preoperative probability of prosthesis removal, facilitate risk stratification, promote informed patient decision making, and optimize health care resource management.
Management of Mucosal Barrier Injury Laboratory-Confirmed Bloodstream Infections (MBI-LCBIs) in Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: A National Survey of Cancer Centers Practices

Background Patients with hematologic malignancies receiving chemotherapy and those undergoing stem cell transplantation (SCT) are at risk for mucosal barrier injury laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infections (MBI-LCBIs). Our comprehensive cancer center, which performs over 300 SCTs per year, has historically removed central venous catheters (CVCs) for the majority of transient MBI- LCBI cases in SCT recipients. However, given the lack of evidence-based guidelines for removal or salvage, we created a national survey to gauge current clinical practice of MBI-LCBI and CVC management among U.S. cancer centers. Methods We created a 22-item online anonymous survey via Qualtrics software. The survey was performed in August and September of 2018 and open for a total of 30 days. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: respondents' characteristics, MBI-LCBI and CVC clinical practice questions, and two clinical vignettes. In parallel, a quality improvement project is ongoing to evaluate outcomes following catheter salvage versus removal in MBI-LCBI cases of SCT recipients. Results The survey was distributed to seventy Infectious Diseases consultants at cancer centers in the United States. The response rate was 44%. 70% of respondents had > 5 years of clinical experience. The majority (75%) responded that MBI-LCBI does not implicate the CVC as the source of bacteremia. 61% of respondents salvage CVCs in SCT patients unless contraindicated. In patients with salvaged CVCs, 37.5% of responders do not use adjunct lock therapy and 46% deem repeat end of therapy surveillance blood culture as unnecessary. 62.5% of responders do not routinely recommend other procedures such as venous duplex ultrasound and transthoracic echocardiogram for MBI-LCBI cases unless clinically indicated. Among 90% of respondents deemed fluoroquinolone step down oral therapy for susceptible Enterobacteriaceae MBI-LCBI as acceptable. Conclusion Management of MBI-LCBIs in hematologic malignancies and SCT patients is variable but CVC salvage is considered by a majority of survey respondents as a safe approach. Data comparing outcomes of catheter salvage strategies are lacking. Results of our ongoing quality improvement project will provide further guidance.
Energy Aware LEACH Protocol for WSNs

LEACH is a clustering routing protocol in wireless sensor networks. This protocol frequently forms clusters of nodes and selects one of the cluster members as the cluster head. The two-tier structure of LEACH divides the network into two layers: (1) cluster members, which collect raw data from the environment and (2) cluster heads, which receive the collected data from cluster-members, fuse the received data and transmit that to the base station. LEACH reduces the energy consumption of nodes since the most energy-consuming task, which is the long-distance transmission to the base station takes place only in cluster heads. LEACH selects the cluster heads uniformly using a probabilistic calculation. However, there are other parameters that affect the energy consumption of nodes. As a result, the selected nodes may not be that strong to handle the high workload of a cluster head; their energy will be depleted very soon; the network lifetime and throughput decline. To overcome this tradeoff, in this paper, we propose EA-LEACH (Energy Aware LEACH), a new clustering routing protocol, which selects cluster heads using their residual energies. This method provides an appropriate selection of cluster heads that are strong enough to handle the expected workload of cluster heads to reach high throughput. We validated the effectiveness and efficiency of our protocol through simulations. The analysis of our results shows that the cluster heads selected by our proposed protocol prolong the network lifetime by 60% in comparison to those selected by LEACH. As a result, the nodes transmit significantly more amount of data during their lifetime.