cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The GAAA tetraloop-receptor interaction contributes differentially to folding thermodynamics and kinetics for the P4-P6 RNA domain.

Tetraloops with the generic sequence GNRA are commonly found in RNA secondary structure, and interactions of such tetraloops with "receptors" elsewhere in RNA play important roles in RNA structure and folding. However, the contributions of tetraloop-receptor interactions specifically to the kinetics of RNA tertiary folding, rather than the thermodynamics of maintaining tertiary structure once folded, have not been reported. Here we investigate the role of the key GAAA tetraloop-receptor motif in folding of the P4-P6 domain of the Tetrahymena group I intron RNA. Insertions of one or more nucleotides into the tetraloop significantly disrupt the thermodynamics of tertiary folding; single-nucleotide insertions shift the folding free energy by 2-4 kcal/mol (¢¢G°'). The folding kinetics of several modified P4-P6 domains were determined by stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy, using an internally incorporated pyrene residue as the chromophore. In contrast to the thermodynamic results, the kinetics of Mg 2+ -induced folding were barely affected by the tetraloop modifications, with a ¢¢G q of 0.2-0.4 kcal/mol and a … value (ratio of the kinetic and thermodynamic contributions) of <0.1. These data indicate an early transition state for folding of P4-P6 with respect to forming the tetraloop-receptor contact, consistent with previous results for modifications elsewhere in P4-P6. We conclude that the GAAA tetraloop-receptor motif contributes little to the stabilization of the transition state for Mg 2+ -induced P4-P6 folding. Rather, the tetraloop- receptor motif acts to clamp the RNA once folding has occurred. This is the first report to correlate the kinetic and thermodynamic contributions of an important RNA tertiary motif, the GNRA tetraloop- receptor. The results are related to possible models for the Mg 2+ -induced folding of the P4-P6 RNA,
Micromachining of Piezoelectric Microsensors and Microactuators for Robotics Applications

The use of ferroelectric thin films for microsensor and microactuator applications is discussed. Particular emphasis is directed toward the micromachining and compatible integration of ferroelectric films with mechanical structures and MOS integrated circuits for robotics applications. The chemical compositions of the ferroelectric thin films have been selected for both piezoelectric and pyroelectric applications. The thin films most extensively studied are lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and lead titanate (PT). These films are combined with micromechanical structures which implement either an easily deformable membrane (for force sensing) or low thermal mass (for heat sensing) through fabrication techniques commonly referred to as micromachining. Active ferroelectric films are deposited on these membranes form ultrasensitive pressure and force sensors, precision positioning devices, stepper motors, and infrared imagers. Because all processing techniques are silicon IC-compatible, smart systems incorporating MOS signal processing circuitry have been successfully fabricated.
The Effect of Dietary Corn Oil and Cholesterol Level on the Neutral Steroid Composition in the Large Intestinal Contents of the Rat

The influence of dietary cholesterol and fat on the com position of neutral steroids within the large intestinal contents of rats was investigated. Concentrations and total amounts of cholesterol and its me tabolites, coprostanol and coprostanone, were determined in the cecum and colon, initially and after being fed experimental diets for 3, 6 and 9 months. Eight week old rats were fed one of four semipurified diets: 5% corn oil, no cholesterol; 5% corn oil, 1% cholesterol; 20% corn oil, no cholesterol; 20% corn oil, \% cholesterol. Rats were killed at 2, 5, 8 and 11 months of age corresponding to feeding experimental diets 0, 3, 6 and 9 months. The large intestinal total neutral steroid content slightly decreased with time or rat age, but fraction of cholesterol degradation did not change. A greater concentration of all three neutral steroids was found in the colon contents but a greater total amount in the cecal contents. Fraction of cholesterol degradation was the same in both locations. When cholesterol was fed, more neutral steroids were found in the large intestine. Fraction of cholesterol degradation decreased but a greater absolute amount of cholesterol metab olites was present. The effect of dietary fat levels was complicated by inter action with cholesterol feeding. Without cholesterol feeding a greater con centration of neutral steroids was present in the large intestine of rats fed the higher level of fat. With cholesterol feeding a greater amount of neutral steroid was found in the large intestine of rats fed the 5% fat diet. Fraction of cholesterol degradation was greatest when the 5% fat diet without sup plemental cholesterol was fed. Increasing dietary fat to 20% decreased fraction of cholesterol degradation and feeding cholesterol decreased it more. The fraction of cholesterol degradation value was the same regardless of dietary fat level when cholesterol was fed. J. Nutr. 209: 1730-1738, 1979.
Elevated serum melatonin is associated with the nocturnal worsening of asthma

Abstract Background Increased airway inflammation at night contributes to the nocturnal worsening of asthma. In vitro studies have shown exogenous melatonin to be pro-inflammatory in asthma, but it is unknown whether endogenous melatonin levels are a controller of airway inflammation in nocturnal asthma. Objective Our aim was to determine 24-hour patterns of serum melatonin and their relationship to overnight decline in physiology in subjects with nocturnal asthma, non-nocturnal asthma, and in healthy controls. Methods Observational study of pulmonary physiology and melatonin levels in patients with nocturnal asthma (n = 7), non-nocturnal asthma (n = 13), and healthy controls (n = 11). Subjects maintained a constant sleep–wake regimen for 7 days. On day 8, serum melatonin was measured every 2 hours by radioimmunoassay and analyzed by cosinor modeling. The correlation between serum melatonin levels and overnight change in spirometry was evaluated by Spearman's rank correlation analysis. Results In subjects with nocturnal asthma, peak melatonin levels were significantly elevated compared with healthy controls (67.6 ± 5.0 pg/mL versus 53.5 ± 4.0 pg/mL, P = .03). Melatonin acrophase was delayed in nocturnal asthma (02:54 versus 01:58 in healthy controls, P = .003, and 02:15 in non-nocturnal asthma, P = .01). In subjects with nocturnal asthma, increasing melatonin levels were significantly and inversely correlated with overnight change in FEV 1 ( r = −.79, P = .04), a relationship that was not observed in non-nocturnal asthma or healthy controls. Conclusions Nocturnal asthma is associated with elevation and phase delay of peak serum melatonin levels. Elevated melatonin levels might contribute to the pathogenesis of nocturnal asthma.
Pension Contributions and Earnings Quality

We investigate whether defined benefit (DB) pension contributions convey information about earnings quality proxied by different measurements of discretionary accruals (DA). We find that greater DA are negatively is associated with discretionary pension contributions. Since greater DA is associated with lower earnings quality, the result implies a positive relationship between earnings quality and voluntary pension contributions. In contrast, our evidence does not suggest a similar relationship holds for earnings quality and mandatory pension contributions. In addition, while our analysis identifies a negative relation between DA and total pension contributions, the relation is statistically weaker than that between DA and voluntary pension contribution. Robustness tests are conducted and results are found to continue to hold. Our results are consistent with the theoretical argument that voluntary pension contributions are indicative of firms' earnings quality since both the voluntary pension contributions and earnings quality result from the same set of incentives behind managerial discretions. Our study sheds light on the management's motivation for making voluntary pension contributions and improves our understanding of firms' consideration in funding strategies for DB pension plans.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME INDIANA ARGILLACEOUS CARBONATES REGARDING THEIR FREEZE-THAW RESISTANCE IN CONCRETE

Argillaceous carbonate aggregates are particularly prone to freeze-thaw failures, yet standard acceptance tests commonly do not prevent their use. Recently several Indiana highways have experienced such extensive pitting and popouts of highly argillaceous dolomites and dolomitic limestone that resurfacing was required within one year. Coarse aggregate from three quarries and from pavement cores were studied to determine petrography, insoluble residue and clay contents, and pore size distributions. Results indicate the poorly performing ledges are highly argillaceous, fine grained, limestones and dolomites with insoluble residues of from 20-45 percent consisting of low plasticity silts to medium plasticity silty clays. Illite is the predominant clay mineral. Aggregates with poorest performance are not necessarily those with the greatest insoluble residue percentage; the nature and mode of insolubles control extremes of deterioration. Rocks with more clay as insolubles, evenly distributed throughout the rock, are less durable than those with greater insolubles consisting of silty concentrations of streaks and laminations. Insoluble residue content of silt and clay size and pore characteristics, as measured by either the mercury intrusion method or the pore index test, are the most reliable indicators of freeze-thaw durability. Nondurable aggregates are characterized by a residue content in excess of 20 percent, a large pore volume with small pore diameters, most being less than 0.1 microns, and a pore index value more than 50 ml. Additional tests including sulphate soundness, unconfined freeze-thaw, and absorption-adsorption tests were conducted and their results correlated with percent insoluble residue. The purpose is to develop a simpler, reliable, and more economical test to exclude nondurable argillaceous carbonate aggregates. (Author)
Modeling and analysis of manufacturing systems with parallel lines

This note is devoted to the study of manufacturing systems with parallel production lines. By using overlapping decomposition method, a convergent recursive procedure is presented to estimate system production rate with high accuracy. The results obtained are illustrated by a case study at an automotive assembly plant.
Solidification behavior of lead free and tin lead solder bumps

An optical observation method was used to characterize the solidification behavior of WLCSP and Flip Chip solder bumps on actual product devices. The WLCSP solder ball diameter was 350um, and Flip Chip diameters were 110um and 80um. Sn3.5Ag, Sn2.3Ag, SAC305, Sn0.7Cu, and 63Sn37Pb alloys were investigated. Cooling rates were varied between 0.10C/sec and 3.9C/sec. In addition, Vickers Hardness testing was employed to look for any correlation between undercooling and mechanical response of the alloy. Solidification was found to occur 4C to 60C below the solidus temperature (undercooling = 4C to 60C). The range of undercooling for the bumps on a given sample was between 8C and 40C. The sequence of solidification was quite random. Cooling rate had a minor effect on undercooling behavior for rates between 0.5C/sec and 3.9C/sec. For the very slowest rate of 0.1C/sec, the amount of undercooling decreased. 63Sn37Pb and 96.5Sn3.5Ag had the least amount of undercooling and the tightest range of undercooling. 96.5Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu and 99.3Sn0.7Cu had the most undercooling and the widest range of undercooling. Flip chip bumps had 5C to 10C more undercooling than WLCSP balls. There was no correlation between undercooling and Vickers hardness, within the range of conditions studied here. There was a slight increase in hardness for SAC305 samples with a faster cooling rate during solidification. Finally, understanding of the solidification behavior in Flip Chip joints was used to interpret a specific reliability test result.
Battered Women’s Process of Leaving A 2-Year Follow-Up

This study is a follow-up investigation of the career and life experiences of battered women two years after shelter exit. Using consensual qualitative research, we interviewed 6 women from our original sample of 13 regarding their career and life adjustments and future aspirations. Results indicated that participants generally reported both internal and external barriers to their career goals and were dissatisfied with their current housing. In addition, women typically desired education and career advancement with preferred careers in the helping and service fields. Findings imply that long after women leave the shelter and their abusive relationships they will need the continued support of vocational psychologists to provide career assessment and counseling with focus on long-term career and educational opportunities that are commensurate with their chosen fields of interest. Longitudinal research that exceeds a two-year follow-up is needed to comprehensively assess the career needs and life adjustment...
Characteristics of Schools in Which Fatal Shootings Occur

School-based violence, and fatal school shootings in particular, have gained increased attention in the media and psychological literature. Most reports have focused on the characteristics of perpetrators, but there is a growing awareness that school-related factors may also influence the occurrence of fatal school shootings. The current study examined several key characteristics of all schools where random (38) and targeted (96) fatal shootings occurred in the United States between 1966 and 2009. These were compared with a group (138) of schools randomly selected to represent the population of all schools in the United States. The size of a school's enrollment, urban or suburban locale, public funding, and predominantly non-white enrollment were positively associated with fatal shootings. Universities and colleges were disproportionately associated with random shootings and high schools with targeted ones. It was proposed that characteristics of schools that allow feelings of anonymity or alienation among students may help create environmental conditions associated with fatal school shootings. Implications for future research and interventions are considered.
Plant-Soil Relationships of Bromus tectorum L.: Interactions among Labile Carbon Additions, Soil Invasion Status, and Fertilizer

Invasion of western North America by the annual exotic grass Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass) has been an ecological disaster. High soil bioavailability of nitrogen is a contributing factor in the invasive potential of B. tectorum. Application of labile carbon sources to the soil can immobilize soil nitrogen and favor native species. We studied the interaction of labile carbon addition (sucrose), with soil invasion status and fertilizer addition on the growth of B. tectorum. Soils were noninvaded (BNI) and B. tectorum invaded (BI). Treatments were control, sucrose, combined fertilizer, and sucrose
The Synergy Site of Fibronectin Is Required for Strong Interaction with the Platelet Integrin αIIbβ3

Integrins are a class of cell adhesion molecules that bind to ligands containing the RGD peptide sequence. There is increasing evidence that peptide sites other than the RGD site are required for optimal binding of integrins with their ligands. We have examined the sites on the protein fibronectin that are needed for optimal binding to the platelet integrin αIIbβ3 using a strategy of site directed mutagenesis. Single amino acids near the RGD site or near the synergy site of fibronectin were mutated and the resultant proteins were expressed in a bacterial expression system. The purified protein was coated onto glass cover slips. Platelets, expressing αIIbβ3 were perfused over the surface at physiologically relevant shear rates and the extent of adhesion was quantified. We found that the single amino acid substitution of the aspartic acid in the RGD sequence, D1495A, completely abolished adhesion. Surprisingly, the mutants R1445A and R1448Q that are near the RGD site also abolished adhesion of platelets under flow. Additionally, the synergy site mutants R1371A, R1374Q, or R1379A displayed only minimal adhesion of platelets. These results show that the binding site for αIIbβ3 on fibronectin extends over a considerable distance from the RGD site and that these distant sites are required for optimal attachment of cells in the presence of physiologically relevant shear stress.
Helping Relationships: Relationships of Clients with Physicians, Social Workers, Priests, and Others

Appeals for help were frequently made to specialists in institutional settings by women living in low-income areas who were raising children by themselves. These appeals often were productive of distress for the women. Appeals for service were responded to by examinations regarding eligibility, bargaining regarding the character of the service, and incidental derogation of the women's worth. Appeals for support and guidance customarily were rejected.
On the Gaussian Approximation and Margin Measurements for Optical DPSK Systems With Balanced Detection

Based on the computed exact probability density functions (PDFs), we analyze the conventional Gaussian approximation (GA) method and the thresholding-based bit error rate (BER) measurement method in back-to-back optical differential phase shift keying (DPSK) systems with balanced detection for the purpose of margin measurement in noise-loading experiments. We show that the GA method fails when used with DPSK systems in contrast to its success in the case of on-off keyed (OOK) systems, and as a result, the thresholding method is not as robust for DPSK systems as it is for OOK systems. Still, our results show that the thresholding method, when using reasonably small threshold bias, can measure large performance margins for DPSK systems with a wide range of Eb/N0 (the energy bit to noise power spectral density ratio) and optical bandpass filter (BPF) bandwidth, and receiver imperfections such as the PIN responsivity imbalance and frequency detuning. We further discuss briefly on BER estimation for nonlinear fiber transmission.
An Analysis of Why Highly Similar Enzymes Evolve Differently

The TEM-1 and SHV-1 β-lactamases are important contributors to resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in gram-negative bacteria. These enzymes share 68% amino acid sequence identity and their atomic structures are nearly superimposable. Extended-spectrum cephalosporins were introduced to avoid the action of these β-lactamases. The widespread use of antibiotics has led to the evolution of variant TEM and SHV enzymes that can hydrolyze extended-spectrum antibiotics. Despite being highly similar in structure, the TEM and SHV enzymes have evolved differently in response to the selective pressure of antibiotic therapy. Examples of this are at residues Arg164 and Asp179. Among TEM variants, substitutions are found only at position 164, while among SHV variants, substitutions are found only at position 179. To explain this observation, the effects of substitutions at position 164 in both TEM-1 and SHV-1 on antibiotic resistance and on enzyme catalytic efficiency were examined. Competition experiments were performed between mutants to understand why certain substitutions preferentially evolve in response to the selective pressure of antibiotic therapy. The data presented here indicate that substitutions at position Asp179 in SHV-1 and Arg164 in TEM-1 are more beneficial to bacteria because they provide increased fitness relative to either wild type or other mutants.
Subdivision based isogeometric analysis technique for electric field integral equations for simply connected structures

The analysis of electromagnetic scattering has long been performed on a discrete representation of the geometry. This representation is typically continuous but not differentiable. The need to define physical quantities on this geometric representation has led to development of sets of basis functions that need to satisfy constraints at the boundaries of the elements/tessellations (viz., continuity of normal or tangential components across element boundaries). For electromagnetics, these result in either curl/div-conforming basis sets. The geometric representation used for analysis is in stark contrast with that used for design, wherein the surface representation is higher order differentiable. Using this representation for both geometry and physics on geometry has several advantages, and is elucidated in Hughes et al. (2005) 7. Until now, a bulk of the literature on isogeometric methods have been limited to solid mechanics, with some effort to create NURBS based basis functions for electromagnetic analysis. In this paper, we present the first complete isogeometry solution methodology for the electric field integral equation as applied to simply connected structures. This paper systematically proceeds through surface representation using subdivision, definition of vector basis functions on this surface, to fidelity in the solution of integral equations. We also present techniques to stabilize the solution at low frequencies, and impose a Calderon preconditioner. Several results presented serve to validate the proposed approach as well as demonstrate some of its capabilities.
Reduction of trapped-ion anomalous heating by in situ surface plasma cleaning

Anomalous motional heating is a major obstacle to scalable quantum information processing with trapped ions. Although the source of this heating is not yet understood, several previous studies suggest that noise due to surface contaminants is the limiting heating mechanism in some instances. We demonstrate an improvement by a factor of 4 in the room-temperature heating rate of a niobium surface electrode trap by in situ plasma cleaning of the trap surface. This surface treatment was performed with a simple homebuilt coil assembly and commercially available matching network and is considerably gentler than other treatments, such as ion milling or laser cleaning, that have previously been shown to improve ion heating rates. We do not see an improvement in the heating rate when the trap is operated at cryogenic temperatures, pointing to a role of thermally activated surface contaminants in motional heating whose activity may freeze out at low temperatures.
The Failure of Direct Monetary Constraints

Monetary authorities around the world have promised a safer money and that they would use this new authority to prevent future economic calamities. This claim has been met with abject failure throughout the history of central banks. Two questions emerge from: why do central bankers almost universally fail to accomplish their stated goals and what can be done about it? This paper identifies two main reasons for their failure: what has come to be known as the knowledge problem from Hayek (1945) and the very incentives of the central bankers to engage in expansionary monetary policy. Various policy proposals have emerged as a means of directly mitigating these failures. However, none have successfully managed to quell the problem of cheap and easy credit. A different solution is therefore necessary; this paper suggests doing so indirectly by eliminating their exclusive power over money. This solution no doubt has its own challenges (including legal challenges which must be overcome), but is nonetheless a viable solution. This paper provides is a clarification of the problem of central banks and encourages the defense of a process that may eventually yield a solution -- specifically, the market process.
Single-fibre polymer composites

Raman spectroscopy of high-modulus polyethylene (PE) fibres embedded in epoxy resin shows that the axial compressive residual stress is constant at 0.3 GPa for curing conditions where the matrix shrinkage is larger than 0.2%. Optical microscopy shows that the fibre fails by forming kink bands at this strain. The local stress concentration around the kink bands then causes interfacial debonding. The axial strain in a fibre varied widely at the kink bands but no significant difference was found between the axial strain at a kink band and at a nearby position on the undamaged fibre. The PE fibres have a very small thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) in the axial direction and an unusually large TCE in the radial direction, larger than that of the epoxy matrix. On cooling the composite after curing, a normal tensile stress develops at the interface between the fibre and epoxy, and in PE fibres without surface treatment this causes debonding of the interface. PE fibres with ammonia plasma surface treatment do not debond on cooling, but the interface is still weaker than that of other reinforcing fibre composites. One reason for this is the large radial TCE of these fibres. When the fibre is pulled through the matrix after interfacial debonding, the axial stress distribution shows that interfacial friction is established. The interfacial normal stress must change to a compressive stress during pull-out; the cross-section of the fibre is irregular. The normal stress and frictional coefficient can be obtained from the axial stress distribution. It is found that plasma-treated fibres have a much higher normal stress and frictional coefficient than untreated fibres. The load-displacement curves in single-fibre pull-out tests also show the differences in friction.
ROC curves for recognition of visual patterns

The confidence rating technique was used to generate z-deviate ROC curves for the recognition of one of two possible visual patterns. The patterns were O’s and Landolt rings. The mean linear slopes for each pattern pair were about 45°, but there was some evidence of downward curvilinearity.
Antisnake Behavior of Columbian Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus)

Wild-caught Columbian ground squirrels ( Spermophilus columbianus ) were video taped during interactions with a rattlesnake ( Crotalus viridis ), gopher snake ( Pituophis melanoleucus ), and Norway rat ( Rattus norvegicus ) in a seminatural laboratory setting. Columbian ground squirrels differentiated the rattlesnake from the gopher snake, initially exhibiting more cautious behavior in the presence of the rattlesnake. As the encounters escalated, the rattlesnake became the target of significantly more investigative and harassment behavior than the gopher snake. In contrast, the squirrels did not exhibit cautious behavior toward the rat; they typically chased and boxed it. Columbian ground squirrels exhibited most of the antisnake motor patterns previously reported for other ground squirrel species, but the antisnake tactics of these squirrels were less confrontational than tactics employed by California ground squirrels ( Spermophilus beecheyi ) and black-tailed prairie dogs ( Cynomys ludovicianus ).
True Metabolizable Energy of Feather Meal

Abstract Feather meal has a higher energy content than indicated by U. S. tables of nutrient composition. Fifteen samples of hydrolyzed poultry feathers obtained from commercial channels were evaluated for proximate composition and true metabolizable energy (TMEN) content. The TMEN of feather meal samples ranged from 3092 to 3996 kcal/kg (1406 to 1816kcal/lb). These values were found to closely reflect the fat content of the individual samples, which ranged from 1.8% to 12%. The TMEN of feather meal from turkeys was similar to that of chickens with comparable fat levels. Metabolizable energy can be estimated from the fat content of well processed feather meals by the following equations (R2 = . 81): TMEN (Kcal/Lb) = 1301 + 35(%Fat) TMEN(Kcal/Kg) = 2862 + 77(% Fat)
Induction of a TH1 type cellular immune response to the human immunodeficiency type 1 virus by in vivo DNA inoculation

DNA inoculation is capable of producing antigens intracellularly for ultimate presentation to the cellular and humoral components of the immune system and has potential for vaccine strategies against a number of infectious pathogens including HIV-1. It is well documented that the antigenic diversity of HIV-1 and its high level of nucleotide mutations during reverse transcription can lead to escape from immune surveillance. However, data suggest that a CD8-mediated cytotoxic T lymphocyte response may be less susceptible to escape mutants. We have shown previously that in vivo inoculation of rodents and non-human primates with plasmid expression vectors encoding HIV-1 gene products leads to production of HIV-1 antigens and results in the production of both cellular and humoral immune responses. In addition we have also demonstrated previously that these responses lead to protection in several in vivo models. We further demonstrate here that the cellular response induced is a type TH1 response and specific lysis of HIV-infected targets is CD8-mediated.
Ubiquitous presence of cat allergen in cat-free buildings: probable dispersal from human clothing

Fel d I has been found in almost all houses investigated, including those in which cats have never been present. These observations have not been explained. We measured Fel dI in samples of carpet dust from ten newly built model homes, 14 occupied homes, six allergists' offices, five hospital corridors, and three shopping mall stores. We also measured Fel d I on T-shirts of persons with and without cats. Measurable amounts of Fel d I were found in all the dust samples. Fel d I found in older model homes exceeded that found in newer model homes (P < .05). The amounts of Fel d I found in allergists' offices, hospital corridors, and retail stores were similar to the amounts found in occupied homes without cats. Fel d I was found in all T-shirts sampled and increased with increasing exposure to cats. Our findings confirm and extend previous reports of the ubiquitous presence of cat allergen and are consistent with the hypothesis that Fel d I is carried into cat-free buildings on the clothing of people exposed to cats.
Step-Growth Polymerization, Process Modeling, and Product Design, edited by Kevin C. Seavey and Y. A.: Liu, a John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2008, 350 pp., ISBN: 978-0-470-23823-3

The authors of this novel and unique bound volume initiates compilation of their bound volume based on the prevailing scenario on the presence of major types of industrial polymers. In essence, the...
Jewish emancipation and schism: Economic development and religious change

Abstract This paper studies the impact of Jewish Emancipation and economic development on Jewish religious culture in 19th century Europe. In Germany, a liberal Reform movement developed in response to emancipation, while Ultra-Orthodox Judaism emerged in eastern Europe. We develop a historical narrative and model of religious organization that accounts for the polarized responses by Jewish communities. Our explanation is based on a tradeoff between time and money contributions. A religious organization chooses between a relatively affluent community that expends little effort on religious participation and a poorer community that devotes a large amount of time and effort to religious activity. Political and economic development shape this tradeoff in unexpected ways, leading to complex forms of behavior such as religious schisms and cycles. When preferences are transmitted intergenerationally, organizations tend to be more conservative. Our historical narrative points to further extensions of extant models of religion, as well as providing broader insights into cultural integration and religious change.
A proportion of primary squamous cell carcinomas of the parotid gland harbour high-risk human papillomavirus.

Aims In the current study, we aimed to examine primary parotid squamous cell carcinoma (ParSCC) for the presence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) and associated molecular alterations. Methods and results Eight cases of ParSCC were retrieved after a detailed clinicopathological review to exclude the possibility of metastasis and/or extension from another primary site. HR-HPV status was determined on the basis of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p16 expression and chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH) for HR-HPV. All cases were genotyped with a multiplexed mass spectrometry assay interrogating 91 hotspot mutations in eight cancer-related genes (EGFR, KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, AKT1, MEK1 and ERBB2), and studied by fluorescence in-situ hybridization for PTEN copy number alteration. Three of eight cases (37.5%) were positive for the presence of HR-HPV by CISH and p16 IHC. One of three (33%) HR-HPV-positive cases harboured a PTEN hemizygous deletion, and one (33%) HR-HPV-positive case harboured a PIK3CA E545K somatic mutation. No alteration of the PTEN-PI3K pathway was detected in HR-HPV-negative tumours. Over a median follow-up period of 66.2 months, only the patient with the HR-HPV-positive PIK3CA-mutated tumour died of his disease, the remaining seven patients being disease-free. Conclusions Given the established aetiological role of HR-HPV in other head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, it is likely that HR-HPV represents an oncogenic driver in the pathogenesis of more than one-third of ParSCCs. The presence of HR-HPV in ParSCC may be coupled with alterations in the PTEN-PI3K pathway. Further studies on HR-HPV and the molecular characterization of a larger number of ParSCCs are needed to determine the clinical significance of these findings.
Bacterial Survival on Cornstarch-Containing Polyethylene Film Held Under Food Storage Conditions.

Plastics in which cornstarch is incorporated into the polymer network have been developed. The effect of cornstarch in plastic film on the survival of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria was evaluated. Cornstarch-containing polyethylene film (CSPE) and control polyethylene film (PE) were inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium, Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus cereus, and Pseudomonas fragi and held under various combinations of temperature and relative humidity to mimic food storage conditions. Bacterial recovery from film samples indicated that, in general, survival was not enhanced by the presence of cornstarch. Enhanced growth of S. typhimurium, A. hydrophila, and P. fragi was observed under saturated relative humidity at some storage temperatures when a CSPE-supplemented minimal salts medium was used as compared to PE-supplemented medium. Enhanced growth was not apparent when a nutritionally complex growth medium supplemented with CSPE or PE was used. These results indicated that, from a microbiological vie...
Dynamic Scheduling of Cybersecurity Analysts for Minimizing Risk Using Reinforcement Learning

An important component of the cyber-defense mechanism is the adequate staffing levels of its cybersecurity analyst workforce and their optimal assignment to sensors for investigating the dynamic alert traffic. The ever-increasing cybersecurity threats faced by today’s digital systems require a strong cyber-defense mechanism that is both reactive in its response to mitigate the known risk and proactive in being prepared for handling the unknown risks. In order to be proactive for handling the unknown risks, the above workforce must be scheduled dynamically so the system is adaptive to meet the day-to-day stochastic demands on its workforce (both size and expertise mix). The stochastic demands on the workforce stem from the varying alert generation and their significance rate, which causes an uncertainty for the cybersecurity analyst scheduler that is attempting to schedule analysts for work and allocate sensors to analysts. Sensor data are analyzed by automatic processing systems, and alerts are generated. A portion of these alerts is categorized to be significant, which requires thorough examination by a cybersecurity analyst. Risk, in this article, is defined as the percentage of significant alerts that are not thoroughly analyzed by analysts. In order to minimize risk, it is imperative that the cyber-defense system accurately estimates the future significant alert generation rate and dynamically schedules its workforce to meet the stochastic workload demand to analyze them. The article presents a reinforcement learning-based stochastic dynamic programming optimization model that incorporates the above estimates of future alert rates and responds by dynamically scheduling cybersecurity analysts to minimize risk (i.e., maximize significant alert coverage by analysts) and maintain the risk under a pre-determined upper bound. The article tests the dynamic optimization model and compares the results to an integer programming model that optimizes the static staffing needs based on a daily-average alert generation rate with no estimation of future alert rates (static workforce model). Results indicate that over a finite planning horizon, the learning-based optimization model, through a dynamic (on-call) workforce in addition to the static workforce, (a) is capable of balancing risk between days and reducing overall risk better than the static model, (b) is scalable and capable of identifying the quantity and the right mix of analyst expertise in an organization, and (c) is able to determine their dynamic (on-call) schedule and their sensor-to-analyst allocation in order to maintain risk below a given upper bound. Several meta-principles are presented, which are derived from the optimization model, and they further serve as guiding principles for hiring and scheduling cybersecurity analysts. Days-off scheduling was performed to determine analyst weekly work schedules that met the cybersecurity system’s workforce constraints and requirements.
Commentary on: Incidence and Risk Factors for Major Surgical Site Infections in Aesthetic Surgery: Analysis of 129,007 Patients.

The authors of this paper,1 who so enviably sit upon a veritable Sierra Madre treasure of complication data, have delivered yet another rare and unusual practice “biopsy” of our aesthetic surgery corpus. With an exhaustive analysis of almost 130,000 patient encounters, their subject of interest this time was surgical site infections (SSI). And as the authors rightfully caution, this biopsy per force, only included patients who had had infections severe enough to invoke the insurance coverage of a medical and/or surgical intervention. This explains the paper's calculation of the otherwise deceivingly low overall infection incidence of 0.46% with a range of from 0.2% to 1.9%. Whereas, as is also pointed out, the veritable incidence of SSIs as reported in our literature for these same aesthetic procedures, ranges from 0.001% to 32.6%. More importantly, and with few …
Abstract A146: Increase antitumor activity of immunotherapy by blocking colony stimulating factor 1 receptor and tropomyosin receptor kinase

The tumor microenvironment can provide a strong limitation to the antitumor activity of immunotherapy. Established tumors can escape immune responses by creating an inflammatory milieu that supports and recruits tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells (TIMs) with immune suppressive functions. Colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) is a cytokine that is secreted by various cancer types including melanoma. It binds to colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) on the myeloid cells. It stimulates the proliferation and recruitment of immunosuppressive M2-macrophages and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) into the tumor microenvironement. In addition, neurotrophins are a family of growth factors that includes nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is the ligand for a family of tyrosine kinase receptors (Trks) that includes Trk-A, -B, and -C. Signal transduction through the Trk receptors regulates tumor growth. Trk receptors have been shown to be overexpressed in different cancer types. For example, Trk-C is overexpressed in 60% of patients with melanoma at various stages. PLX7486 is a novel orally bioavailable small molecule Trk and CSF-1R dual-inhibitor that is now being studied in Phase I clinical trials. PLX7486 can target Trks directly on cancer cells and block myeloid cell recruitment to the tumor microenvironement through CSF-1R. We hypothesize that PLX7486 would synergize with immunotherapies to result in a greater antitumor effect by inhibiting the recruitment of immunosuppressive macrophages. In order to block the Trk receptors on cancer cells with PLX7486, we first confirmed the expression of Trk receptors in murine cancer cell lines, such as MC38, SA1N, MB49, 4T1, B16F10, and 3LL. These cancer cell lines have also been exposed to PLX7486 with a broad range of concentrations (0.1 to 10 μM). We have shown that PLX7486 has a direct cytotoxic effect with IC50 of 5-8μM on most of the cancer cell lines at a 72 hour time point. Futher, the exposure of MC38 to PLX7486 resulted in the expected effects of inhibiting downstream AKT pathway signaling. In addition, PLX7486 has also been shown to have cytotoxic direct effect on bone marrow-derived macrophages and murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 with IC50 Citation Format: Stephen Mok, Colm Duffy, Reginald Du, James P. Allison. Increase antitumor activity of immunotherapy by blocking colony stimulating factor 1 receptor and tropomyosin receptor kinase [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A146.
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in the Digital Age by Sherry Turkle

For those of us who study human communication, direct face-to-face conversation is usually the fundamental model for understanding all other forms. When two or more people are in the same space add...
Telomere length in patients with pulmonary fibrosis associated with chronic lung allograft dysfunction and post-lung transplantation survival.

Background Prior studies have shown that patients with pulmonary fibrosis with mutations in the telomerase genes have a high rate of certain complications after lung transplantation. However, few studies have investigated clinical outcomes based on leukocyte telomere length. Methods We conducted an observational cohort study of all patients with pulmonary fibrosis who underwent lung transplantation at a single center between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2014. Leukocyte telomere length was measured from a blood sample collected before lung transplantation, and subjects were stratified into 2 groups (telomere length Results Approximately 32% of subjects had a telomere length p = 0.001). Telomere length p = 0.002). Grade 3 primary graft dysfunction occurred more frequently in the p = 0.034). There was no difference between the 2 groups in incidence of acute cellular rejection, cytopenias, infection, or renal dysfunction. Conclusions Telomere length
Neurosurgical Emergency Transfers: An Analysis of Deterioration and Mortality

BACKGROUND Neurological deterioration and mortality are frequent in neurosurgical patients transferred to tertiary centers, but the precise predictors leading to them are unclear. OBJECTIVE To analyze and quantify risk factors predicting deterioration and death in neurosurgery transfers. METHODS A consecutive review of all transfers with cranial pathology to a tertiary academic neurosurgery service was performed over a 2-year period. Risk factors including demographics, medical comorbidities, hydrocephalus, anticoagulant use, transfer diagnosis, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and transfer time were reviewed. RESULTS A total of 1429 transfers were studied, including 154 (10.8%) instances of neurological decline in transit and 99 mortalities (6.9%). On multivariate analysis, significant predictors of decline were hydrocephalus ( P = .005, odds ratio [OR] 2) and use of clopidogrel ( P = .003, OR 4.3), warfarin ( P = .004, OR 2.6), or other systemic anticoagulants ( P < .001, OR 10.1). Age ( P = .004), hydrocephalus ( P = .006, OR 2.1), renal failure ( P = .05, OR 2.3), and use of clopidogrel ( P = .003, OR 4.6) or warfarin ( P = .03, OR 2.3) were found to be predictive of death. Analysis by transfer diagnosis found patients with intracerebral hemorrhage had the highest incidence of mortality (12.7%, P = .003, OR 2). Patients who ultimately died were transferred faster than survivors, but this did not achieve significance. CONCLUSION Neurosurgery patients are vulnerable to deterioration in transit and exhibit several patterns predictive of mortality. Hydrocephalus, use of clopidogrel and warfarin, and intracerebral hemorrhage are each independently associated with elevated risk of deterioration and death.
A Better Solution to the General Problem of Creation

It is often suggested that, since the state of affairs in which God creates a good universe is better than the state of affairs in which He creates nothing, a perfectly good God would have to create that good universe. Making use of recent work by Christine Korgaard on the relational nature of the good, I argue that the state of affairs in which God creates is actually not better, due to the fact that it is not better for anyone or anything in particular. Hence, even a perfectly good God would not be compelled to create a good universe.
Consensus structures of the Mo(V) sites of sulfite-oxidizing enzymes derived from variable frequency pulsed EPR spectroscopy, isotopic labelling and DFT calculations

Sulfite-oxidizing enzymes from eukaryotes and prokaryotes have five-coordinate distorted square-pyramidal coordination about the molybdenum atom. The paramagnetic Mo(v) state is easily generated, and over the years four distinct CW EPR spectra have been identified, depending upon enzyme source and the reaction conditions, namely high and low pH (hpH and lpH), phosphate inhibited (Pi) and sulfite (or blocked). Extensive studies of these paramagnetic forms of sulfite-oxidizing enzymes using variable frequency pulsed electron spin echo (ESE) spectroscopy, isotopic labeling and density functional theory (DFT) calculations have led to the consensus structures that are described here. Errors in some of the previously proposed structures are corrected.
Current advances in endocrine therapy options for premenopausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer

•Consider exemestane plus ovarian function suppression for premenopausal HR+ women•Premenopausal HR+ breast cancer patients should be treated with tamoxifen (10yrs).•Premenopausal HR+ breast cancer pts may benefit from endocrine therapy and ovarian function suppression.
Practical UC-Secure Delegatable Credentials with Attributes and Their Application to Blockchain

Certification of keys and attributes is in practice typically realized by a hierarchy of issuers. Revealing the full chain of issuers for certificate verification, however, can be a privacy issue since it can leak sensitive information about the issuer's organizational structure or about the certificate owner. Delegatable anonymous credentials solve this problem and allow one to hide the full delegation (issuance) chain, providing privacy during both delegation and presentation of certificates. However, the existing delegatable credentials schemes are not efficient enough for practical use. In this paper, we present the first hierarchical (or delegatable) anonymous credential system that is practical. To this end, we provide a surprisingly simple ideal functionality for delegatable credentials and present a generic construction that we prove secure in the UC model. We then give a concrete instantiation using a recent pairing-based signature scheme by Groth and describe a number of optimizations and efficiency improvements that can be made when implementing our concrete scheme. The latter might be of independent interest for other pairing-based schemes as well. Finally, we report on an implementation of our scheme in the context of transaction authentication for blockchain, and provide concrete performance figures.