cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parametric Study of the Effect of Hinged Connectors on the Behavior of Origami-Inspired Structures Comprised of Sandwich Panels

Origami can be a source of inspiration for rapidly deployable, rigid wall shelters. Folding panels comprised of sandwich panels will result in a lightweight, transportable design. The design of connections between panels is critical to the overall structural performance, but can pose a major design challenge. This paper investigates the implementation of hinges for connections between panels. A single panel, comprised of fiber-reinforced polymer faces and a foam core, is restrained by aluminum hinged connectors and subjected to a uniform load. An exhaustive parametric study is performed using a numerical model previously validated by experimental data. The numerical study will facilitate better understanding of the impact of the 1) number, 2) size, and 3) relative placement of connectors on panel behavior, with data comparisons focusing on the longitudinal surface strains and displacements of the panel. This investigation culminates in a set of guidelines for hinged connectors in origami-inspired structures.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Diffuse Axonal Injury After Traumatic Brain Injury

Forty children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury and suspected diffuse axonal injury were studied for hemorrhagic lesions, using a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging susceptibility-weighted technique, at Loma Linda University Medical Center, CA.
Make it or break it: Manipulating robustness in large networks

The function and performance of networks rely on their robustness, defined as their ability to continue functioning in the face of damage (targeted attacks or random failures) to parts of the network. Prior research has proposed a variety of measures to quantify robustness and various manipulation strategies to alter it. In this paper, our contributions are twofold. First, we critically analyze various robustness measures and identify their strengths and weaknesses. Our analysis suggests natural connectivity, based on the weighted count of loops in a network, to be a reliable measure. Second, we propose the first principled manipulation algorithms that directly optimize this robustness measure, which lead to significant performance improvement over existing, ad-hoc heuristic solutions. Extensive experiments on real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and scalability of our methods against a long list of competitor strategies.
Effect of Neonatal Exposure to AED on Synaptic Maturation

Pharmacologists at Georgetown University, Washington, DC examined functional synaptic maturation in striatal medium spiny neurons from neonatal rats exposed to antiepileptic drugs (AED) with proapoptotic action (phenobarbital, phenytoin, lamotrigine) and without proapoptotic action (levetiracetam).
Comics, comics studies, and political science:

Many readers look to comics and cartoons for entertainment, but they can also inform, as well as inspire, controversy and even acts of political violence, as the Jyllands-Posten and Charlie Hebdo cases demonstrate. Indeed, politics and comics connect and overlap in all sorts of ways. This review essay explores the nexus of politics and comics at a time when a growing number of cartoonists are creating extended works of graphic nonfiction that address serious political and historical themes.
A Performance Model of Composite Synchronization

Experience and intuition indicate that both synchronization and the mapping of workload to processors has significant impact on overall performance. However, the behavior of parallel simulations is quite complex, and the inter-relationships between workload mapping and the synchronization overheads need mathematical explanation. This paper develops a performance model of a parallel simulation that is synchronized using composite synchronization. We use this model to help explain how mapping decisions and a synchronization tuning parameter impacts synchronization overhead, and hence performance. The observations we make should inform designers of algorithms to map conservatively synchronized parallel simulations to the available computing platform.
Detection of HPV related oropharyngeal cancer in oral rinse specimens

// Matthew Rosenthal 1 , Bin Huang 2, 7 , Nora Katabi 3 , Jocelyn Migliacci 1 , Robert Bryant 1 , Samuel Kaplan 2 , Timothy Blackwell 1 , Snehal Patel 1 , Liying Yang 4 , Zhiheng Pei 4, 5, 6 , Yi-Wei Tang 2, 8 and Ian Ganly 1 1 Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 2 Clinical Microbiology Service, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 3 Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 4 Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 5 Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 6 Department of Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, NY, USA 7 Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China 8 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA Correspondence to: Ian Ganly, email: ganlyi@mskcc.org Keywords: human papillomavirus; oral rinse; oropharynx cancer; oral cavity cancer; screening test Received: July 03, 2017 Accepted: November 13, 2017 Published: November 25, 2017 ABSTRACT Background: The majority of patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC) are due to HPV infection. At present, there are no reliable tests for screening HPV in patients with OPSCC. The objective of this study was to assess the Cobas® HPV Test on oral rinse specimens as an early, non-invasive tool for HPV-related OPSCC. Methods: Oral rinse specimens were collected from 187 patients (45 with OPSCC, 61 with oral cavity SCC (OCSCC) and 81 control patients who had benign or malignant thyroid nodules) treated at MSKCC. The Cobas® HPV Test was used to detect 14 high-risk HPV types in these samples. Performance of the HPV Test was correlated with p16 tumor immunohistochemistry as gold standard. Results: 91.1% of the oropharynx cancer patients had p16 positive tumors compared to 3.3% of oral cavity cancer. Of the 81 control patients, 79 (97.5%) had no HPV in their oral rinse giving a specificity of the HPV test of 98%. For the combined oral cavity oropharynx cancer cohort, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the HPV Test were 79.1%, 90.5%, 85.0% and 86.4% respectively when p16 immunohistochemistry was used as the reference. Conclusion: The Cobas® HPV Test on oral rinse is a highly specific and potentially sensitive test for oropharyngeal cancer and may be a potentially useful screening test for early oropharyngeal cancer. Impact: We describe an oral rinse test for the detection of HPV related oropharyngeal cancer.
Spreadable media: Creating value and meaning in a networked culture

Online Roundtable on Spreadable Media, by Henry Jenkins, Sam Ford, and Joshua Green, with participants Paul Booth, Kristina Busse, Melissa Click, Sam Ford, Henry Jenkins, Xiaochang Li, and Sharon Ross. Section 1 first published as "Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture," by Louisa Stein, Cinema Journal 53 (3): 152–77. Copyright 2014 by The University of Texas Press. All rights reserved.
Heat radiation measurement method for high pressure oxy-fuel combustion

Abstract This paper describes a novel cost effective narrow-beam radiometer what was designed to measure incident heat flux at a specific location in high temperature and high pressure combustor. Beyond the radiometer the whole measurement assembly contains a water cooled plate for cold background, a high pressure window transparent for visible and IR radiation and a radiometer position/angle adjustment tool. The thermopile based radiometer measures the total heat radiation in a wavelength range of 0.6–8 µm. A special view tube was developed for decreasing the view angle to 0.35°, what angle was dictated by the dimensions of the combustor and the associated port sizes. Calibration curves were measured using a high temperature black body calibrator and the uncertainty of the measurement was evaluated. Although the presented radiant heat flux measurement method was developed for a specific combustor, it can be easily implemented for various combustion applications as well.
Green epoxy synthesized from Perilla frutescens: A study on epoxidation and oxirane cleavage kinetics of high-linolenic oil

Abstract Despite the growing interest in epoxidized vegetable oils (EVOs) as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based epoxies, their high epoxy equivalent weight (EEW) (>250 g/eq) hinders use in high-strength applications. This study reports the synthesis of a sustainable EVO that possesses EEW of ∼164 g/eq – comparable to that of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA). Non-edible perilla oil, extracted from the non-edible seeds of Perilla frutescens, was used to synthesize sustainable green epoxy via Prilezhaev epoxidation reaction at 40, 50 and 60 °C for 8 h. Perilla oil was chosen due to its higher number of chemically modifiable groups (>90%), i.e. ∼62–65 wt. % linolenic acid (C18:3), ∼13–15 wt. % linoleic acid (C18:2) and ∼12–15 wt. % oleic acid (C18:1) moieties. Rates of epoxidation and side reactions were estimated by experimentally determining iodine, epoxy and α-glycol value of epoxidized perilla oil (EPeO) extracted at regular time intervals during synthesis. Kinetics of post-oxirane cleavage was studied at aforementioned reaction temperatures and times by reacting EPeO with formic acid in weight ratio of 1:3. Reaction kinetics studies for both epoxidation and ring opening reactions (pseudo) showed reaction rate constants in the order of 10−6 L mol−1 s−1 (for both reactions) and activation energies of 20.10 kJ/mol (epoxidation) and 43.11 kJ/mol (ring opening) respectively. Thermodynamic parameters – such as activation enthalpy, activation entropy, and Gibbs’ free energy of activation – were calculated for both epoxidation and oxirane ring cleavage reactions. All the thermodynamic parameters were observed to be lower for epoxidation reaction compared to post-oxirane cleavage reaction. Enthalpy of activation was found to be ∼18 kJ/mol for epoxidation reaction while it was ∼56 kJ/mol for post-oxirane cleavage reaction.
A Generalization of N-Widths

This paper is a study of the n-widths defined by Kolmogorov. In section I we give definitions of n-widths of a set in a Banach space and n-widths of an operator acting between Banach spaces. Several important well known results about this concepts are also included in section I. In section II, we introduce a refined concept of an approximation scheme with respect to which a refined concept of n-widths can be defined. Theorems about generalized n-widths illustrate the fact that this is a genuine generalization. We finish by the question of finding concept of n-widths in the context of Orlicz modular spaces.
Pain Patterns in Adult Scoliosis

Adult patients with scoliosis often have back pain, but that pain may or may not be due to the curvature. A careful history, physical examination, routine radiographic examination, and, on some occasions, specialized radiographs, CT, myelography, discography, and facet joint injection will help the physician or surgeon separate out those pain syndromes owing to the curvature versus those not owing to the curvature. Only after these critical evaluations have been done can a decent decision be made as to the area of the spine to be treated, either surgically or nonsurgically.
Lipophilic Antifolates as Candidates against Opportunistic Infections

The problems in treating immunocompromised patients infected by Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii have prompted intense efforts to develop improved therapy against these pathogens.1,2 Lipophilic antifolates trimethoprim and pyrimethamine (structures shown under Table 1) are used in combination with sulfa drugs in current treatment regimens which inhibit the ability of the microorganism to synthesize reduced folates. In such treatment, the antifolate inhibits dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and the sulfa drug inhibits utilization by the microorganism of 4-aminobenzoic acid in its vital biosynthesis of dihydropteroic acid.2–4 Adverse reactions that frequently occur with these regimens often necessitate discontinuation of the therapy. New agents or combinations of agents of greater therapeutic effectiveness in terms of lower toxicity and shorter treatment periods are needed.
Validating Entry-Level Survival Skills for Service Occupations: Implications for Curriculum Development

Past research has suggested skills critical for entry into sheltered employment. To date, no research suggests the skills one might include in a prevocational curriculum for severely handicapped persons wishing employment in nonsheltered settings. Thus, the present study sought to determine potential employers' expectations for entry into competitive employment by utilizing social validation methodology. Questionnaires were sent to 120 potential employers representing food service and janitorial/maid service occupations. They were asked to answer 47 questions derived for the Mithaug and Hagmeier (1978) study. The respondents (66% of the sample) suggested 70 survival skills necessary for entry into competitive employment. Five skills were unanimously agreed upon: verbally reciting one's full name upon request, demonstrating basic addition skills, keeping one's hair combed, following one instruction at a time, and completing repetitive tasks previously learned to proficiency within 0 to 25% of the average r...
Students' perceptions of biostatistics following integration into an evidence-based medicine course series.

Abstract Background and purpose Student pharmacists are expected to demonstrate an understanding of commonly employed statistical tests. This study describes the integration of biostatistics in an evidence-based medicine course series using a learner-centered model tailored to students' needs and interests. Educational activity and setting This course series included thirteen two-hour biostatistics sessions focused on interpreting results and critiquing statistical methods. Three lab sessions were also included, which focused on producing summary reports from clinical data. Journal club presentations were the key method of assessing knowledge. A survey to evaluate students' perceptions of the course and their level of confidence in applying biostatistical concepts was administered twice to measure change over time within two student cohorts. Findings Results of the survey showed that a significantly higher proportion of students agreed they understood the analyses covered in class (97% vs. 44%, p Summary The results indicate an improvement in the students' perceptions over time with regards to knowledge and usefulness of the course content. Although, integrating biostatistics in a literature-evaluation course is common, this is the first study that evaluated teaching it in more than one semester beyond inclusion in assessment rubrics.
Helping Students Balance Work, Borrowing, and College:

What are the effects of working and borrowing on student performance? When does working become a burden that interferes with studying?The author examines these and other questions, revealing that s...
The blowfish effect: children and adults use atypical exemplars to infer more narrow categories during word learning

Learners preferentially interpret novel nouns at the basic level (‘dog’) rather than at a more narrow level (‘Labrador’). This ‘basic-level bias’ is mitigated by statistics: children and adults are more likely to interpret a novel noun at a more narrow label if they witness ‘a suspicious coincidence’ – the word applied to three exemplars of the same narrow category. Independent work has found that exemplar typicality influences learners’ inferences and category learning. We bring these lines of work together to investigate whether the content (typicality) of a single exemplar affects the level of interpretation of words and whether an atypicality effect interacts with input statistics. Results demonstrate that both four- to five-year-olds and adults tend to assign a narrower interpretation to a word if it is exemplified by an atypical category member. This atypicality effect is roughly as strong as, and independent of, the suspicious coincidence effect, which is replicated.
Ajuba Functions as An HDAC-Dependent Co-Repressor for Autoregulation of the Growth Factor Independent-1 Transcription Factor

Abstract Growth factor independent-1 (Gfi1) is mutated in patients with Severe Congenital Neutropenia. Gfi1 is a zinc finger protein with a SNAG-transcriptional repressor domain. The SCN-associated Gfi1 mutant proteins function as dominant negatives to sequester limiting SNAG-dependent corepressor proteins from the remaining wild type Gfi1 protein, and deregulate a subset of Gfi1 target genes such as CSF1. The identity of the critical Gfi1 SNAG-domain-associated co-repressor proteins is unknown. Ajuba is a LIM-domain protein that shuttles between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Ajuba functions as a co-repressor for synthetic Gfi1 SNAG-repressor-domain containing constructs, but a role for Ajuba co-repression of the cognate DNA bound Gfi1 protein has not been defined. Coimmunoprecipitation of synthetic and endogenous proteins, and co-elution with gel filtration identified an endogenous Ajuba-Gfi1-HDAC multiprotein complex. Active histone deacetylase activity co-immunoprecipitates with Ajuba or Gfi1, and both proteins depend upon histone deacetylases for full transcriptional repression activity. Ajuba LIM domains directly bind to Gfi1, but the association is not SNAG domain dependent. ChIP analysis and reciprocal knock-down experiments suggest that Ajuba selectively functions as a co-repressor for Gfi1 autoregulation. The data suggest that Ajuba is utilized as a corepressor selectively on a subset of Gfi1 target genes, but is not the critical SNAG-dependent cofactor sequestered by SCN-associated Gfi1 mutant proteins.
Digital Media Design Theories and Principles

The selection and integration of digital media is intentional and therefore considered in every stage of the design and development in instruction. The selection and placement of digital media should adhere to theory, principles, and guidelines on the ways people process information and learn. It is essential to keep in mind the human learning processes and how digital media learning can support or disrupt it. Multimedia learning principles, design and type principles, graphic design principles, and universal design principles al provide guidance in the selection and integration of digital media.
Lyme disease and hemi-diaphragmatic paralysis: A case report and review of literature

Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete that can cause Lyme disease from an infected tick bite causing a myriad of syndromes ranging from erythema migrans to oligoarticular arthritis and/or atrioventricular conduction block in the heart. It can also infect the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) causing cranial neuropathy, radiculoneuropathy as well as myelopathy. It has rarely been reported to involve the phrenic nerve presenting as dyspnea from diaphragmatic paralysis. Here, we present a case of a patient presenting with orthopnea and dyspnea on exertion who was diagnosed with Lyme disease causing unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis with resolution after treatment.
Distinct follicular and luteal transcriptional profiles in engineered human ectocervical tissue dependent on menstrual cycle phase.

To investigate genomic pathways that may influence physiology and infectivity during the menstrual cycle, RNA sequence analysis was performed on patient-matched engineered ectocervical tissue after follicular and luteal phase (LP) hormone treatments. We developed distinct cellular, molecular, and biological profiles in ectocervical epithelium dependent on the menstrual cycle phase. Follicular phase hormones were associated with proliferation, transcription, and cell adhesion, while LP samples expressed genes involved in immune cell recruitment, inflammation, and protein modifications. Additionally, our analysis revealed mucins not previously reported in ectocervical tissue, which could play an important role in fertility and disease prevention. This study provides insight into the phenomenon of increased LP vulnerability to infection and identifies potential targets for future research.Summary sentenceNext-generation sequencing of patient-derived ectocervical tissue models reveals distinct biological, cellular and molecular profiles based on menstrual cycle phase.
Social Determinants of Health and Health Care Delivery: African American Women’s T2DM Self-Management:

African American (AA) women have high prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and complications. No studies have been conducted about how social determinants of health and health care deliver...
Reformulation of oxycodone 80 mg to prevent misuse: A cohort study assessing the impact of a supply-side intervention.

Abstract Background In August 2010, extended-release OxyContin® products, including oxycodone 80 mg, were reformulated and released as abuse-deterrent medications. This paper describes changes in individual prescription filling patterns that followed the reformulation of oxycodone 80 mg. Methods Using New York State prescription monitoring program data, we conducted a retrospective analysis of a cohort of New York City residents who had filled at least three consecutive prescriptions for oxycodone 80 mg immediately prior to the reformulation. We classified cohort members into one of three groups (continuers, switchers, and discontinuers) based on prescription filling patterns post-reformulation. Descriptive analyses were conducted to identify prevalence of filling patterns. Differences in median morphine milligram equivalents (MME) pre- and post-reformulation were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test. Analyses were completed in 2018. Results A cohort of 4,098 New York City residents filled continuous prescriptions for oxycodone 80 mg immediately prior to reformulation. Post-reformulation, 14% of the cohort discontinued filling opioid analgesic prescriptions; 46% continued to fill prescriptions for oxycodone 80 mg; and 40% switched to a different opioid analgesic, most commonly oxycodone 30 mg. Post-reformulation, the median MME dose decreased significantly among all three groups: 45 mg among continuers, 150 mg among switchers, and 360 mg among discontinuers. Conclusion Post-reformulation, more than half the cohort changed their filling patterns. Following reformulation, median MME dose decreased significantly among the cohort. We hypothesize that the dramatic decrease in MME dose prompted many to transition to heroin in order to avoid severe withdrawal.
Increased Prevalence in Alzheimer Disease in the Northeast Tennessee Region of the United States.

Objectives This study describes the changes in prevalence odds ratios (PORs) for Alzheimer disease (AD) in the northeast Tennessee region (NTR) during a 3-year period, describes the statistical assessment process, and critically assesses the database from which the statistical association was derived. The article also examines several beliefs pertinent to the clinical management of AD in the NTR from the perspective of professionals delivering services. Methods We extracted prevalence data for NTR counties for 2013, 2014, and 2015 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Geographic Variation Public Use File. We used the crude prevalence and the 2010 US Census Data fixed population for each county to compute the POR. The 2013 Economic Research Service Rural-Urban Continuum Codes were used to identify rural and urban counties in the NTR. We collected primary data on the perceived observation of the increasing prevalence in the NTR during the last 3 years and barriers to early diagnosis through an online survey from 44 experts and professionals working in AD-related fields within the NTR. Results The PORs of AD in rural counties in NTR increased by 18.3%, 4.7%, and 19% compared with urban counties for 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. The POR of AD for the entire NTR region increased by 22.7%, 22.5%, and 21.2% compared with other regions in Tennessee for 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. Compared with 2012, 68.4% of respondents currently work with more individuals with AD; 71.8% reported that the NTR has a higher number of late-stage diagnoses of AD. A total of 92.3% strongly agreed that early detection of AD is important, and 95% agreed that early diagnosis could prolong the lives of patients with AD; 51.2% were unaware of existing AD screening services. Reported barriers were denial, lack of patient awareness, inefficient screening methods, communication, and lack of community resources. Conclusions Increased prevalence of AD among inhabitants in the NTR and identified barriers to early screening or diagnosis in the management of AD were identified. Access to early screening techniques must be prioritized in deprived areas within the NTR. Healthcare providers and medical professionals in the NTR must be well equipped with the required training and resources to respond adequately to the increasing prevalence of AD.
Perforator Mapping of the Profunda Artery Perforator Flap: Anatomy and Clinical Experience.

Background Discovering alternatives to workhorse flaps that have more consistent anatomy and lower donor-site morbidity has become a focus of reconstructive surgery research. This study provides a simplified approach to profunda artery perforator flap design and harvest based on reliable anatomical landmarks. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of 70 patients who underwent 83 profunda artery perforator flap reconstructions for postoncologic defects from 2016 to 2018. The authors recorded and analyzed the profunda artery perforator flap sizes and clinical applications, the numbers and locations of the perforators, and the patient outcomes. Results Most of the profunda artery perforator flaps were for head and neck [46 patients (65.7 percent)] and breast [21 patients (30 percent)] reconstructions. Flaps were most commonly based on perforator A (33.7 percent) and perforator B (33.7 percent), followed by perforators B and C combined (18.1 percent). Perforators were located a mean of 7.5 cm (perforator A), 12.7 cm (B), and 17.6 cm (C) distal to the pubic tubercle parallel to the axis between the pubic tubercle and the medial femoral condyle and 7.9 cm (A), 7.3 cm (B), and 6.1 cm (C) posterior from the axis. There was no flap loss. One patient underwent successful salvage surgery after arterial flap thrombosis. Eight patients (9.6 percent) developed superficial wound dehiscence that was managed conservatively. Conclusions Perforator mapping demonstrated consistent anatomical locations of sizeable profunda artery perforators in the inner thigh. Along with its consistent and robust vascular anatomy and minimal donor-site morbidity, the profunda artery perforator flap's volume and pliability make it a reliable option for soft-tissue reconstruction. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, IV.
Choosing Illustrations of Spider (Faces) for Best First Impressions in Natural History Interpretive Programs A Program Component Analysis

This study demonstrates that faces of spiders that are neotenic are perceived as less scary than others, if not cute. A convenience sample of adults (n=69) at a university distributed 15 photograph...
Waldenström macroglobulinemia: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management

Disease overview Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal protein. Clinical features include anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and rarely hyperviscosity. Diagnosis Presence of IgM monoclonal protein associated with ≥10% clonal lymphoplasmacytic cells in bone marrow confirms the diagnosis. The L265P mutation in MYD88 is detectable in more than 90% of patients and is found in the majority of IgM MGUS patients. Risk stratification Age, hemoglobin level, platelet count, β2 microglobulin, LDH and monoclonal IgM concentrations are characteristics that are predictive of outcomes. Risk-adapted therapy Not all patients who fulfill WM criteria require therapy; these patients can be observed until symptoms develop. Rituximab-monotherapy is inferior to regimens that combine it with bendamustine, an alkylating agent, a proteosome inhibitor, or ibrutinib. Purine nucleoside analogues are active but usage is declining in favor of less toxic alternatives. The preferred Mayo Clinic induction is rituximab and bendamustine. Management of refractory disease Bortezomib, fludarabine, thalidomide, everolimus, Bruton Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and bendamustine have all been shown to have activity in relapsed WM. Given WM's natural history, reduction of therapy toxicity is an important part of treatment selection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The many faces of fluorine: Some noncovalent interactions of fluorine compounds

Abstract Following a brief survey of some anomalous properties of fluorine, both as an atom and as a constituent of molecules, we computed electrostatic potentials on molecular surfaces to examine some noncovalent interactions of fluorinated compounds. We demonstrate that the relative rarity and weakness of organic fluorine acting as a hydrogen bond acceptor can be attributed to the low charge capacity of atomic fluorine, which is associated with its low polarizability. This prevents covalently-bonded fluorine from acquiring as much negative character as would be anticipated from its high intrinsic electronegativity. Then we show that the differing interactive behaviors of hydrocarbons and perfluorocarbons can also be interpreted on the basis of their molecular surface electrostatic potentials. The aqueous solubilities of linear alkanes and linear perfluoroalkanes can be expressed quite well as functions of their intrinsic polarities, defined in terms of their electrostatic potentials, and their molecular volumes. The molecular electrostatic potentials of the linear perfluoroalkanes explain their inertness, and their ability to repel water, i.e. the “Teflon effect”.
PANDAA intentionally violates conventional qPCR design to enable durable, mismatch-agnostic detection of highly polymorphic pathogens.

Sensitive and reproducible diagnostics are fundamental to containing the spread of existing and emerging pathogens. Despite the reliance of clinical virology on qPCR, technical challenges persist that compromise their reliability for sustainable epidemic containment as sequence instability in probe-binding regions produces false-negative results. We systematically violated canonical qPCR design principles to develop a Pan-Degenerate Amplification and Adaptation (PANDAA), a point mutation assay that mitigates the impact of sequence variation on probe-based qPCR performance. Using HIV-1 as a model system, we optimized and validated PANDAA to detect HIV drug resistance mutations (DRMs). Ultra-degenerate primers with 3’ termini overlapping the probe-binding site adapt the target through site-directed mutagenesis during qPCR to replace DRM-proximal sequence variation. PANDAA-quantified DRMs present at frequency ≥5% (2 h from nucleic acid to result) with a sensitivity and specificity of 96.9% and 97.5%, respectively. PANDAA is an innovative advancement with applicability to any pathogen where target-proximal genetic variability hinders diagnostic development. Iain MacLeod et al. develop the Pan-Degenerate Amplification and Adaptation (PANDAA) point mutation assay to detect HIV drug resistance mutations. This method can be applied to any pathogen where target-proximal genetic variability hinders diagnostic development.
Surface functionalization of bio-inspired nanostructures in organic photovoltaics and electronics based on feathers of avian species for inherent UV and IR reflection

Abstract The discovery of organic polymers has led to advent of organic chemistry in electronics. This has led to a new age – organic electronics with devices such as organic solar cells, organic light emitting diodes, organic liquid crystal displays competing with their conventional inorganic counterparts. However, the efficiency and lifetime of organic electronic devices is low (or) decreases with time on continual exposure to ultraviolet and infrared region in the electromagnetic spectrum, due to the degradation of core organic polymers. Technologies such as layering reflective substrates in tandem with organic polymers, introducing resonant cavities, altering orientation, etc. have been successful in mitigating to a certain extent. However, recent studies indicate that each of these methodologies has its own demerits thereby affecting certain performance metrics. This calls for the introduction of UV and IR reflectivity properties into the system from some other means which would not compensate for the metrics of the devices. Various systems in nature such as feathers of tanager, arctic redpoll, snowy owl are capable of reflecting UV and IR rays. This property in nature owes to the patterning of the nanostructural units of the respective entities in a long-range order. Such structures could be replicated by lithography or self-assembly and have been proven to be effective in UV and IR reflectivity as their natural analogues. The present manufacturing innovation hypothesizes and aims to ideate the templating of bio-inspired reflective structures onto the organic substrates towards surface functionalization of the desired degree of intrinsic reflectivity.
Preliminary Tests of an Infrared Process Monitor for Polyethylene Encapsulation of Radioactive Waste

Polyethylene encapsulation is a process that is being investigated for the solidification of radioactive nitrate salts at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Rocky Flats Plant. In the encapsulation process, radioactive-salt waste is mixed with polyethylene pellets, heated, and extruded as a molten stream. Upon cooling, the mixture solidifies to a monolithic waste form with excellent properties for long-term waste storage. This paper describes a novel method to monitor the composition of the salt/polymer stream as it exits the extruder. The monitor is based on a technique known as transient infrared spectroscopy (TIRS). The TIRS monitor is able to capture the real-time mid-infrared spectrum of the processed waste stream as it exits the extruder. The wealth of chemical information contained in a mid-infrared spectrum makes this technique very appealing for on-line monitoring and process control. Data from the monitor can be used to guide processing, minimize waste volume, and certify the composition of the final waste form.
Riemann surfaces have Hall rays at each cusp

The main result of this paper is that every Riemann surface has a Hall ray at each cusp. By this we mean that the spectrum of maximal penetration heights of geodesics into a horocycle about the cusp fills out a real half-line. For the modular surface, this result is well known and derives from Hall's Theorem for continued fractions. We also show that a Hall ray can exist without the presence of cusps in two settings: First, on a surface derived as a limit of cusped surfaces, whose fundamental region contains two entire horocycles. And second, with respect to a hyperbolic continued fraction for which the former role of a cusp is played by a simple closed geodesic. The limiting process mentioned above also produces an infinite class of closed geodesics on the theta surface, the quotient of the upper half-plane by the usual theta group, that are pair-wise equal in length, but whose precursors in the limit process are never equalm—this equality is then accidental. That is, there is a change in length spectrum multiplicity at the limit surface.
Far Southern Animals and Plants

IN recent years the southern limits of known natural occurrence of animals have been pushed farther south, and during the 1964–65 Antarctic season several new southernmost records were established. Records of the most southern plant collections made this season are also included here.
Spinoza on Physical Science

In this paper, I discuss Spinoza on the proper methods and content of physical science. I start by showing how Spinoza's epistemology leads him to a kind of pessimism about the prospects of empirical and mathematical methods in natural philosophy. While they are useful for life, they do not tell us about nature, as Spinoza puts it, “as it is in itself.” At the same time, Spinoza seems to allow that we have some knowledge of physical things and their behavior. So I go on to outline and critique a few of the accounts of how Spinoza thinks we can do this, focusing on the role of the common notions in physics. In the third section, I discuss the possible contents of physics, for Spinoza, and argue that they are not, as is usually thought, fundamentally Cartesian. I conclude by pointing to some promising directions for future research and suggesting a few heuristics for such research.
A fast integral equation solution technique for printed circuits in layered media

A fast solution for the full electromagnetic simulation of printed circuits in layered media is presented. The method is based on a Galerkin solution of the mixed potential integral equation (MPIE) with high-order vector basis functions and arbitrary discretization. A fast iterative solution is performed via the quadrature sampled precorrected FFT (QSPCFFT) (Gedney, S.D. et al., 2003). The QSPCFFT is in the same class of techniques as the adaptive integral method (AIM) (Bleszynski, E. et al., 1996), the precorrected FFT (Phillips, J.R. and White, J.K., 1997), or the sparse matrix/canonical grid algorithm (Li, S.Q. et al., 2001). Near interactions are computed using the traditional integral equation formulation, and far interactions are computed via the FFT. The proposed technique has distinct advantages over previous methods in that it does not explicitly require the computation of moments or an expansion of the Green's function. It also has the advantage over fast solution methods such as the FMM (fast multipole method) (Ling, F. et al., 1999) in that the size of the near field block is a function of discretization rather than electrical dimensions. It is shown that the QSPCFFT method is highly accurate and efficient. The solution scales with a computational complexity of O(N log N) and memory as O(N).
Mutations in the Arginine-rich Protein Gene, in Lung, Breast, and Prostate Cancers, and in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Arginine-rich protein (ARP) is a highly conserved gene that maps to human chromosomal band 3p21.1. This gene contains an imperfect trinucleotide repeat which encodes a string of arginines. We previously detected a specific mutation (ATG50-->AGG) within this region of the gene in 10 of 21 sporadic renal cell carcinomas. Here, we report the detection of the same mutation in 5 of 21 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, 1 of 2 small cell lung cancer cell lines, 6 of 18 non-small cell lung carcinomas, 9 of 22 breast tumors, and 5 of 13 prostate tumors. This mutation was seen in several early stage tumors and may thus be an early event in tumorigenesis. We also detected a mutation at codon 53 of this gene in both primary and metastatic tumors from one patient. Other nucleotide changes were observed in a few PCR subclones, but their frequency was the same in both tumor and control samples, suggesting that many of these changes were PCR or subcloning artifacts rather than mutations in the tumor cells themselves.
An assessment of the feasibility of fueling a tokamak reactor with lithium tritide pellets

The use of {sup 6}LiT pellet injection for the Burning Plasma Experiment (BPX), the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), or reactor fueling using the low ion temperature catalyzed reaction {sup 6}LiT + D {minus} D proposed by Krasnopol'skij et al. is investigated. Solid LiT has significant advantages as a pellet material over cryogenic deuterium-tritium because of its higher heat of sublimation, mechanical strength, attainable pellet velocity, and plasma penetration. In this paper, the implications of this for ignition scenarios are discussed. Injection of LiT has the additional advantage of inherent lithium wall conditioning, which has been shown in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) and the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT) to have effects similar to boronization. The injection of LiH pellets has been demonstrated in TEXT, and observed pellet penetration is compared with an ablation model, which is then used to predict LiT penetration in ITER and BPX.
Drop the Knife! Instituting policies of Nonsurgical Intervention for Intersex Infants

When a child is born intersex, meaning that they possess genitalia medically categorized as both male and female, it is common for doctors to recommend surgical alteration of the child as early as possible to identify the child as either only male or only female on their birth certificate. These surgeries are largely cosmetic in nature and may still be performed based on now-debunked theories about the relationship between a child's genitalia, sexual identity, and gender socialization. Further, these surgeries often have negative consequences, including the loss of sexual function and feeling in ones' genitalia. Currently, in the United States there are virtually no barriers to parental consent to these surgeries. In other countries, however, these surgeries have been contested and sometimes banned. As such, this Note recommends that, as was done in Colombia, legislation be enacted that severely restricts parents' ability to consent to these cosmetic surgeries. It also recommends allowing a child to be identified as intersex on their birth certificate, as was recently enacted in Germany, to help relieve the pressure to surgically alter a child as soon as possible after birth. Key Points for the Family Court Community Intersex children born in the United States are being subjected to cosmetic genitalia surgeries with little to no benefit. U.S. law does nothing to regulate this. Other countries are addressing this issue through legislative and court actions. States should consider restricting parents' rights to consent to these surgeries to shift the question of surgical alteration to the intersex individual themselves.
Control of viremia and maintenance of intestinal CD4+ memory T cells in SHIV162P3 infected macaques after pathogenic SIVMAC251 challenge

Abstract Recent HIV vaccine failures have prompted calls for more preclinical vaccine testing in non-human primates. However, similar to HIV infection of humans, developing a vaccine that protects macaques from infection following pathogenic SIV MAC251 challenge has proven difficult, and current vaccine candidates at best, only reduce viral loads after infection. Here we demonstrate that prior infection with a chimeric simian–human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) containing an HIV envelope gene confers protection against intravenous infection with the heterologous, highly pathogenic SIV MAC251 in rhesus macaques. Although definitive immune correlates of protection were not identified, preservation and/or restoration of intestinal CD4 + memory T cells were associated with protection from challenge and control of viremia. These results suggest that protection against pathogenic lentiviral infection or disease progression is indeed possible, and may correlate with preservation of mucosal CD4 + T cells.
Part XVI: Normal coronary flow velocity patterns: Considerations of artifacts, arrhythmias, and anomalies

During normal flow velocity recording, various physiologic or technical problems may appear which can produce confusing flow signals. This section of Interventional Physiology reviews the patterns of normal coronary flow velocity and examines several artifacts and other features encountered in clinical practice. Recognition of these variations will help the interventional cardiologist to differentiate between physiologic and pathologic events.
The biosynthesis of mannose-containing glycoproteins: a possible lipid intermediate.

Abstract Particulate fractions from liver, oviduct, and myeloma tumor incorporated mannose-14C from GDP-mannose-14C into glycoprotein and lipid. Smooth membranes from rabbit liver were purified 8-fold with respect to incorporation of mannose-14C into endogenous lipid acceptor; the mannolipid appeared similar in many respects to the mannosyl-1-phosphoryl-polyisoprenol compound found in bacteria. Incorporation into lipid was 7 times greater than into protein when incubated in the presence of 6 × 10−3 M MnCl2, 2.5 × 10−3 M EDTA, and 0.15% Zonyl A. The role of lipid as a possible intermediate in the biosynthesis of secreted, soluble glycoproteins is discussed; a minimum of two mannosyl transferases are required.
Photofission production of technetium and synthetic asymptotic giant branch evolution

Un modele d'evolution de la branche geante asymptotique est developpe pour etudier la production de technetium et des isotopes de Zirconium. Les mechanismes de photofusion sont analyses. Une comparaison des resultats numeriques aux observations d'etoiles R Coronae Borealis est realisee
Acoustic radiation-induced static strains in solids

The controversy surrounding the magnitude of the radiation-induced static strain accompanying acoustic wave propagation in solids is resolved by a consideration of the associated Boussinesq radiation stress. Experimental verification of the results is presented for waves propagating along the pure mode directions of crystalline silicon.
Using common off-the-shelf tools to implement dynamic aspects

An emerging software engineering paradigm, Aspect-Oriented Programming, can be used to facilitate moving common interests or requirements from individual software functions into a separate module. Aspect code is woven into the software on either a static (compilation) basis or dynamic (runtime) basis. Existing systems necessitate the use of syntactic sugar. which is added to programs to indicate the join points in the software where aspects could potentially be applied. Static weaving inserts code, at compilation time, into these join points, while dynamic weaving might compile in code which can be activated at runtime.This paper describes a new approach to the implementation of dynamic aspects in C/C++. Our method uses a tool which operates using the GCC compiler suite on Linux; it is a runtime event monitoring system we call "dynamicHook". The tool tests each potential join point at run time for the required activation of advice. If advice code is necessary at the join point it is loaded on the fly from shared libraries, retained for future use, and called dynamically.No additions or modifications to the source code need to be made other than recompiling and linking in our library. The tool is thus targeted at adding aspect oriented methodologies to existing C/C++ code. We have demonstrated the tool by obtaining open-source web servers and adding dynamic aspects dealing with security and intrusion detection.