cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advances in Shock Compression of Mantle Minerals and Implications

Hugoniots of lower mantle mineral compositions are sensitive to the conditions where they cross phase boundaries including both polymorphic phase transitions and partial to complete melting. For SiO_2, the Hugoniot of fused silica passes from stishovite to partial melt (73 GPa, 4600 K) whereas the Hugoniot of crystal quartz passes from CaCi_2 structure to partial melt (116 GPa, 4900 K). For Mg_2SiO_4, the forsterite Hugoniot passes from the periclase +MgSiO_3 (perovskite) assemblage to melt before 152 GPa and 4300 K, whereas the wadsleyite Hugoniot transforms first to periclase +MgSiO_3 (post-perovskite) and then melts at 151 GPa and 4160 K. Shock states achieved from crystal enstatite are molten above 160 GPa. High-pressure Gruneisen parameters for molten states of MgSiO_3 and Mg_2SiO_4 increase markedly with compression, going from 0.5 to 1.6 over the 0 to 135 GPa range. This gives rise to a very large (>2000 K) isentropic rise in temperature with depth in thermal models of a primordial deep magma ocean within the Earth. These magma ocean isentropes lead to models that have crystallization initiating at mid-lower mantle depths. Such models are consistent with the suggestion that the present ultra-low velocity zones, at the base of the lowermost mantle, represent a dynamically stable, partially molten remnant of the primordial magma ocean. The new shock melting data for silicates support a model of the primordial magma ocean that is concordant with the Berkeley-Caltech iron core model [1] for the temperature at the center of the Earth.
Head and Neck Carcinomas Across the Age Spectrum: Epidemiology, Therapy, and Late Effects

Carcinomas of the head and neck occur in both children and adults, but notable differences exist in their relative frequency, pathologic subtypes, etiologies, presenting symptoms, and late effects. In contrast, treatment strategies are similar depending on the disease type and distribution at the time of diagnosis. Thus, in adult patients, squamous cell carcinomas or one of its variants are the most common malignancies in the head and neck. However, in children, cancers of the head/neck are most commonly rhabdomyosarcomas, lymphomas, including Hodgkin's lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphomas, and Burkitt's lymphoma or neuroblastoma. Epithelial cancers are unusual in the pediatric population, with the exception of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Although nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare disease in children, representing less than 1% of childhood cancers, it does constitute 20%-50% of pediatric malignancies of the nasopharynx. This is one of the few malignant tumors in children that arise from the epithelium. Despite the differences between the diseases in children from that in adults, the management strategy has been based largely on the experience in adults. This review will describe the epidemiology, etiology, management, and late effects in children and adults, and offer explanations for both the similarities and differences.
A study of radiologic imaging techniques and airway grading to predict a difficult endotracheal intubation

Abstract Study Objectives: To study whether a detailed radiographic examination of neck and upper airway can help identify normal looking patients in whom endotracheal intubation may be difficult; determine whether such parameters as identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also be identified in a soft tissue radiograph; and to study the correlation between oropharyngeal appearance, based on Mallampati's classification, and laryngoscopic findings in a large number of patients requiring endotracheal intubation. Design: Prospective. Setting: University medical center. Patients: 20 adult patients in whom an unanticipated difficult endotracheal intubation was encountered, and a control group of 20 patients in whom endotracheal intubation was easily accomplished. Interventions: Difficult-to-intubate patients were identified according to prospectively established criteria. Control subjects, in whom the trachea was easily intubated, were matched for age, gender, height, weight, and oropharyngeal appearance. Measurements and Main Results: In all 40 study patients, a soft tissue radiograph and an MRI scan of the neck were obtained. We measured 21 parameters from both radiographic studies. There were no significant differences between the two groups in 20 of 21 measured parameters on MRI scans and soft tissue radiographs. Only one measurement—the distance between the uppermost visible part of the airway and the posterior pharyngeal wall (measured from MRI scans only)—between the two groups achieved statistical significance. The values recorded from MRI and soft tissue radiographs were not significantly different. Airway grading system first suggested by Mallampati had a fair correlation with laryngoscopy findings associated with a difficult endotracheal intubation. Conclusions: No significant difference between the two groups could be identified on soft tissue radiography or MRI scans.
Stochastic analysis of shear-wave splitting length scales

Abstract The coherence of azimuthal seismic anisotropy, as inferred from shear-wave splitting measurements, decreases with the relative distance between stations. Stochastic models of a two-dimensional vector field defined by a von Karma'n [T. von Karma'n, Progress in the statistical theory of turbulence, J. Mar. Res., 7 (1948) 252–264.] autocorrelation function with horizontal correlation length L provide a useful means to evaluate this heterogeneity and coherence lengths. We use the compilation of SKS splitting measurements by Fouch [M. Fouch, Upper mantle anisotropy database, accessed in 06/2006, http://geophysics.asu.edu/anisotropy/upper/ ] and supplement it with additional studies, including automated measurements by Evans et al. [Evans, M.S., Kendall, J.-M., Willemann, R.J., 2006. Automated SKS splitting and upper-mantle anisotropy beneath Canadian seismic stations, Geophys. J. Int. 165, 931–942, Evans, M.S., Kendall, J.-M., Willemann, R.J. Automated splitting project database, Online at http://www.isc.ac.uk/SKS/ , accessed 02/2006]. The correlation lengths of this dataset depend on the geologic setting in the continental regions: in young Phanerozoic orogens and magmatic zones L ∼ 600 km, smaller than the smooth L ∼ 1600 km patterns in tectonically more stable regions such as Phanerozoic platforms. Our interpretation is that the relatively large coherence underneath older crust reflects large-scale tectonic processes (e.g. continent–continent collisions) that are frozen into the tectosphere. In younger continental regions, smaller scale flow (e.g. slab anomaly induced) may predominantly affect anisotropy. In this view, remnant anisotropy is dominant in the old continents and deformation-induced anisotropy caused by recent asthenospheric flow is dominant in active continental regions and underneath oceanic plates. Auxiliary analysis of surface-wave anisotropy and combined mantle flow and anisotropic texture modeling is consistent with this suggestion. In continental regions, the further exploration of a stochastic description of seismic anisotropy may form a useful counterpart to deterministic forward modeling, particularly if we wish to understand the origin of discrepancies in heterogeneity estimates based on different seismological data sets.
High‐sensitivity measurement of diverse vascular plant‐derived biomarkers in high‐altitude ice cores

[1] Semi-volatile organic compounds derived from burned and fresh vascular plant sources and preserved in high-altitude ice fields were detected and identified through use of recently developed analytical tools. Specifically, stir bar sorptive extraction and thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry allowed measurement of multiple biomarkers in small sample volumes (≤30 ml). Among other compounds of interest, several diterpenoids, which suggest inputs from conifers and conifer burning, were identified in post-industrial era and older Holocene ice from the Sajama site in the Bolivian Andes, but not in a glacial period sample, consistent with aridity changes. Differences in biomarker assemblages between sites support the use of these compounds as regionally constrained recorders of vegetation and climate change. This study represents the first application of these analytical techniques to ice core research and the first indication that records of vegetation fires may be reconstructed from diterpenoids in ice.
353 Prevalence of Chronic Atrial Fibrillation in Dialysis Patients

PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS James Wetmore, Edward Ellerbeck, Sally Rigler, Jonathan Mahnken, Purna Mukhopadhyay, Qingjiang Hou, John Spertus, Theresa Shireman: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA A rigorous claims-based approach for identification of chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) in dually-eligible (Medicare-Medicaid) chronic dialysis patients has never been undertaken. We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of 96,584 dually-eligible patients undergoing chronic dialysis between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2002. We examined the 2-year period prevalence of CAF using 4 approaches in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Two of the approaches required 2 AF claims (at least 1 of which was an outpatient claim) at least 30 days apart, while two required 3 AF claims (at least 1 of which was outpatient) 30 days apart. Superimposed on one 2-claim approach and on one 3-claim approach was an “episode of care” paradigm in which any outpatient claim within 7 days before or 30 days after an inpatient AF claim was dismissed. Patients with secondary AF were eliminated. The CMS-2728 form was used to determine comorbidities. The 2-year period prevalence of CAF was 3.5% (using the most conservative approach of 3 claims and an episode-of-care restriction), 7.9% (using the most liberal approach of 2 claims without an episodeof-care restriction). The 2-claim approach with the episode-of-care restriction yielded 6.4%, and there were 51.1 (49.8-52.6) cases of CAF per 1000 patient-years. Using this approach as the primary model, the mean age of patients with CAF was 69.3 ± 12.0 years. Patients with CAF tended to be significantly older (adjusted rate ratio [ARR]=1.05 per year, p<0.0001), more likely to be male (ARR=1.2, p<0.0001), to be white (ARR≈2.0, p<0.0001), and to have heart failure (ARR=1.4 p<0.0001) than patients without CAF. There were no associations of CAF with functional status, cause of ESRD, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, or mode of dialysis. In conclusion, the 2-year period prevalence rate of CAF in duallyeligible dialysis patients is likely to be in the range of 4.8–6.4%.
New York City Storm Surges: Climatology and an Analysis of the Wind and Cyclone Evolution

A climatological description (‘‘climatology’’) of storm surges and actual flooding (storm tide) events from 1959 to 2007 is presented for the New York City (NYC) harbor. The prevailing meteorological conditions associated with these surges are also highlighted. Two surge thresholds of 0.6‐1.0 m and .1.0 m were used at the Battery, New York (south side of Manhattan in NYC), to identify minor and moderate events, respectively. The minor-surge threshold combined with a tide at or above mean high water (MHW) favors a coastal flood advisory for NYC, and the moderate surge above MHW leads to a coastal flood warning. The number of minor surges has decreased gradually during the last several decades at NYC while the number of minor (storm tide) flooding events has increased slightly given the gradual rise in sea level. There were no moderate flooding events at the Battery from 1997 to 2007, which is the quietest period during the last 50 yr. However, if sea level rises 12‐50 cm during the next century, the number of moderate flooding events is likely to increase exponentially. Using cyclone tracking and compositing of the NCEP global reanalysis (before 1979) and regional reanalysis (after 1978) data, the mean synoptic evolution was obtained for the NYC surge events. There are a variety of storm tracks associated with minor surges, whereas moderate surges favor a cyclone tracking northward along the East Coast. The average surface winds at NYC veer from northwesterly at 48 h before the time of maximum surge to a persistent period of east-northeasterlies beginning about 24 h before the surge. There is a relatively large variance in wind directions and speeds around the time of maximum surge, thus suggesting the importance of other factors (fetch, storm duration and track, etc.).
Selectively clocked skewed logic (SCSL): a robust low-power logic style for high-performance applications

In very high performance designs, dynamic circuits, such as domino logic, are used because of their high speed. Skewed logic circuits can be used to achieve designs having performance comparable to that of domino but with better scalability. Moreover, a selective clocking scheme may be applied to enhance the power savings for skewed logic circuits. This paper proposes Selectively Clocked Skewed Logic (SCSL), a new circuit style based on skewed logic aiming for low clock power consumption. The results on ISCAS benchmark circuits implemented with this circuit design style show that the total power consumption can be reduced by 52.05% when compared to that of domino circuit with comparable performance.
SOME FISSION PROBLEMS CIRCA 1950 AND 2008

In the first part of the talk I will recall conversations with Niels Bohr and John Wheeler concerning the puzzle of the asymmetric mass division in nuclear fission. In 1950 this was the outstanding problem in fission theory, and for a brief period I foolishly believed to have found the solution by relaxing the incompressibility assumption in the liquid drop model of fission. In the second part I will describe recent progress in the formulation and streamlining of the transition-state formulae for the competition between the disintegration of an excited compound nucleus by particle emission and fission.
Determination of Uncertainty in Transition Velocity Estimates for Ceramic Materials

The uncertainty of transition velocity estimates made for five armor ceramic materials was quantified by applying Bayesian hypothesis testing to the McCauley Wilantewicz method. Likelihood functions of the ceramic plasticity parameter and estimated transition velocity for each material were determined through analysis of load–hardness probability spaces. Parameters of these functions were analyzed to quantify variability in expected material performance. The applied statistical methodology enabled formation of probability of penetration curves that indicated how the certainty of interface defeat varied as a function of impact velocity. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of results increases the utility of the McCauley Wilantewicz method as a screening tool for ceramic materials by providing additional information regarding the variability of expected material performance. Information revealed by this statistical approach could potentially be harnessed to drive future material development by indicating microstructural states more likely to result in desirable material behavior.
Hemiarthroplasty versus reverse shoulder arthroplasty for treatment of proximal humeral fractures: a meta-analysis

Background We performed a meta-analysis of studies with at least Level IV evidence to compare outcomes between hemiarthroplasty and reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of proximal humeral fractures. Methods Three electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and EMBASE) were searched. The quality of each study was investigated, and data on radiographic and functional outcomes were extracted and analyzed. Results The analysis included 1 Level I study, 1 Level II study, 3 Level III studies, and 2 Level IV studies. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty was more favorable than hemiarthroplasty in forward elevation ( P P P = .002), Constant score ( P P P = .001). Only external rotation ( P = .85) was not in favor of reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Conclusions The available literature suggests that reverse shoulder arthroplasty performed to address complex proximal humeral fractures might result in more favorable clinical outcomes than hemiarthroplasty performed for the same indication.
Advances in Superalloys and High Temperature Intermetallics

High temperature structural materials have been a major determining factor for economic and military strength as a result of their critical nature in aircraft and aerospace systems. In order to meet the demands imposed by both military and commercial end users, the development and commercialization of advanced high temperature structural materials must anticipate the future requirements of advanced propulsion technology. To date, nickel and iron-base superalloys have been the materials of choice in critical high temperature structural applications. The evolution of these materials, as measured in terms of increased effective use temperature, has largely kept pace with the demands of the jet turbine industry. However, as a consequence of the conservative nature of the jet turbine industry, no truly new class of high temperature structural materials have found acceptance within the jet turbine engine since its appearance.
Abstract 253: NOTCH1 Protects Against Atherosclerosis by Repressing Endothelial Activation and Recruitment of Inflammatory Cells

Maintenance of endothelial homeostasis is critical in the prevention of vascular disorders including atherosclerosis. While we have a good understanding of the mechanisms that promote endothelial activation, less understood are the mechanisms that counterbalance this state. We found that inducible deletion of Notch1 in the endothelium of adult mice led to the accumulation of CD45+ cells in the subendothelial space of large arteries. NOTCH1 is constitutively expressed in adult arteries of mouse and human in vivo but it is excluded from veins. Together these observations led us to speculate that NOTCH1 might actively suppress the acquisition of a pro-inflammatory state in adult endothelium of large arteries. In fact, knockdown of NOTCH1 in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) in vitro triggered the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the absence of any other stimuli. Furthermore exposure of HAECs to oxidized phospholipids (OxPAPC) resulted in a rapid reduction of the expression levels of NOTCH1 and several NOTCH1-target genes. Using gene expression microarrays, we found that approximately 25% of the genes differentially expressed after exposure to OxPAPC (by 20%) were similarly regulated (ie either proportionally down or upregulated) when NOTCH1 was knockdown in HAECs, suggesting that these two events might be linked. Among these genes, CXCL1, a molecule previously shown to facilitate monocyte recruitment and binding to the endothelium, was increased in both conditions. Upregulation of CXCL1 upon exposure to OxPAPC was also consistently observed in a cohort of cells isolated from 147 individual donors and suppression of NOTCH1 also led to increase of the chemokine at the mRNA and protein levels. These data indicated that constant NOTCH1 expression was required for a homeostatic anti-inflammatory phenotype in the endothelium. We conclude that NOTCH1 may provide inherent protection to the endothelium during the initial stages of atherosclerosis by repressing the recruitment of inflammatory cells. Thus, decline of endogenous endothelial NOTCH1 levels is likely to constitute a predisposing factor for atherosclerosis.
Cytoskeletal Prestress as a Determinant of Deformability and Rheology of Adherent Cells

Mechanotransduction – cellular response to mechanical stress – is governed by the cytoskeleton (CSK), an intracellular network of various biopolymers (actin microfilaments, microtubules, intermediate filaments, myosin, and crosslinking polymers) (cf. 1). The CSK mechanically stabilizes the cell and actively generates contractile forces.
Increasing diagnostic accuracy to grade dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus using an immunohistochemical panel for CDX2, p120ctn, c-Myc and Jagged1

Patients with non-dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus (ND-BE) and low-grade dysplasia (LGD) are typically monitored by periodic endoscopic surveillance, while those with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) are usually treated by more aggressive interventions like endoscopic mucosal resection, ablation or surgery. Therefore, the accurate grading of dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is essential for proper patient care. However, there is significant interobserver and intraobserver variability in the histologic grading of BE dysplasia. The objective of this study was to create an immunohistochemical (IHC) panel that facilitates the grading of BE dysplasia and can be used as an adjunct to histology in challenging cases. 100 BE biopsies were re-graded for dysplasia independently by 3 subspecialized gastrointestinal pathologists. IHC staining for CDX2, p120ctn, c-Myc and Jagged1 proteins was then performed and assessed by two separate methods of semi-quantitative scoring. Scores were integrated using a principal component analysis (PCA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Principal component analysis demonstrated the ability of this panel of proteins to segregate ND-BE/LGD and HGD/EAC, as the expression of the four proteins is significantly altered between the two subsets. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that this panel has the potential to aid in the grading of dysplasia in these two subcategories with both high sensitivity and specificity. While not able to discriminate between ND-BE and LGD, this panel of four proteins may be used as an adjunct to help discriminate subsets of ND-BE/LGD from HGD/EAC. We propose that the maximum utility of this IHC panel of CDX2, p120ctn, c-Myc, and Jagged1 proteins would be to distinguish between LGD and HGD in histologically challenging cases, given the aggressive interventions still used for HGD in many institutions, and hence may aid in the optimal patient management. The results of this initial study are promising, though further validation is needed before this panel can be used clinically, including future randomized prospective studies with larger patient cohorts from diverse locations.
Covariance sketching

Learning covariance matrices from high-dimensional data is an important problem that has received a lot of attention recently. We are particularly interested in the high-dimensional setting, where the number of samples one has access to is fewer than the number of variates. Fortunately, in many applications of interest, the underlying covariance matrix is sparse and hence has limited degrees of freedom. In most existing work however, it is assumed that one can obtain samples of all the variates simultaneously. This could be very expensive or physically infeasible in some applications. As a means of overcoming this limitation, we propose a new procedure that “pools” the covariates into a small number of groups and then samples each pooled group. We show that in certain cases it is possible to recover the covariance matrix from the pooled samples using an efficient convex optimization program, and so we call the procedure “covariance sketching”.
Was Kenneth Boulding an Evolutionary Economist, a Systems Theorist, or Both?

Some contemporary systems theorists have chosen to ignore or at least downplay the early work of Kenneth Boulding. This group has advanced the level and scope of systems thinking by building more analytically sophisticated models and extending the range of issues that the interdisciplinary approach has addressed. Other contemporary researchers have made the Boulding Skeleton the centerpiece of their pursuits. Some have adopted the skeleton largely as is and extended systems thinking above level 4 in the original hierarchy. Others have kept Boulding’s first four levels intact while redefining the higher levels in ways that more suitably fit their particular research agendas.Boulding constantly stressed communication across traditional academic disciplines as well as communication among systems thinkers. The former is still occurring with some regularity (even among groups that are not part of formal systems thinking) while the latter is often lacking as the movement has fragmented. Some systems theorists no longer feel comfortable even using the term GST and prefer monikers or nomenclature more in line with branches of the field in which they have done their own work.Writing more than 20 years after outlining the rudiments of the skeleton, Boulding in his Ecodynamics presented a series of arguments for synthesis. Commenting on the book at the time of Boulding’s death, one reviewer (Henderson 1995: 274) described this work “as the search for the all-by-all matrix”. To make certain that General Systems thinking does not move further from a full synthesis of disciplinary approaches today than it was in Boulding’s day, the movement would do well to not lose sight of what originally motivated that “search”.
Emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and dibenzofurans from incineration of nanomaterials.

Disposal of some nanomaterial-laden waste through incineration is inevitable, and nanomaterials’ influence on combustion byproduct formation under high-temperature, oxidative conditions is not well...
Attempts to Produce Poliomyelitis in Eastern Cotton Rats with Flexner's M. V. Strain.∗

Forty-five cotton rats were injected with 9 strains of poliomyelitis virus (Flexner M. V., Flexner W. E., Toomey, Philadelphia, Kramer, Harmon, Howitt, Trask, W. E., Australian). The doses injected were the same as those used by Armstrong1 to produce poliomyelitis, i. e., 0.06 cc intranasally, 0.06 cc intracerebrally and 0.5 cc subcutaneously of a 10% cord brain suspension. After 6 weeks of observation, 11 animals had died—2 after the injection of Harmon's and one each after the injection of the other strains, except Toomey's and Trask's. The cords and brains of those animals that died were made up into 10% suspensions in saline and injected into other animals. None of the latter either died or developed paralysis even after 4 months of observation.Flexner's M.V. virus strain, which was also our most potent monkey poliomyelitis virus strain and the one most recently passaged by us, was injected into 25 other cotton rats in the same manner as described before. The results were negative.Previously, it was f...
Holocaust images and picturing catastrophe: the cultural politics of seeing

Holocaust Images and Picturing Catastrophe is interested in the political and cultural processes by which the Holocaust has become a metaphor for unrelated phenomena. Its author, Angi Buettner, hol...
[3H]bumetanide binding to mouse kidney membranes: identification of corresponding membrane proteins.

Crude plasma membranes from whole mouse kidneys have two classes of [3H]bumetanide binding sites. High-affinity sites (K1/2 approximately equal to 0.04 microM; Bmax = 1-2 pmol/mg protein) are similar to those identified on dog kidney membranes (B. Forbush and H.C. Palfrey. J. Biol. Chem. 258: 11787-11792, 1983) both with respect to affinity and in that Na, K, and Cl are required for [3H]bumetanide binding. Low-affinity sites (K1/2 approximately equal to 1 microM; Bmax = 7-14 pmol/mg) are unaffected by removal of these ions; such sites are not seen with dog kidney. When mouse kidney membranes are photolabeled with 4-[3H]benzoyl-5-sulfamoyl-3-(3-thenyloxy)benzoic acid [( 3H]BSTBA), a photoreactive bumetanide analogue, specific incorporation of the label is seen in two regions. As with dog kidney [M. Haas and B. Forbush. Am. J. Physiol. 253 (Cell Physiol. 22): C243-C252, 1987], an approximately 150-kDa protein is labeled with high affinity (K1/2 approximately equal to 0.05 microM). This labeling also requires Na, K, and Cl and appears to correspond to the high-affinity [3H]bumetanide binding sites and to the Na-K-Cl cotransport system. A second peak of [3H]BSTBA photolabeling, centered at approximately 75 kDa, incorporates the label with lower affinity (K1/2 = 2-3 microM). The photolabeling at approximately 75 kDa is unaffected by Na, K, and Cl concentrations and thus may correspond, at least in part, to the low-affinity [3H]bumetanide binding sites. Western blot analysis of [3H]BSTBA-labeled mouse kidney membranes was performed using an antiserum raised to proteins of approximately 82 and approximately 39 kDa isolated from mouse Ehrlich ascites tumor cells using a bumetanide affinity gel (P. B. Dunham, F. Jessen, and E. K. Hoffmann. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87: 6828-6832, 1990). This antiserum cross-reacts with a approximately 150-kDa mouse kidney protein, the staining profile of which on Western blot corresponds very closely to the peak of specific [3H]BSTBA incorporation in this region. The antiserum also reacts with proteins in the range of 65-85 kDa, overlapping the low-affinity peak of [3H]BSTBA incorporation.
Targeting Repair Proteins to the Mitochondria of Mammalian Cells Through Stable Transfection, Transient Transfection, Viral Transduction, and TAT-Mediated Protein Transduction

The mitochondrial genome represents a target for exogenous and endogenous damage. Its necessity for successful electron transport makes its repair valuable to the cell. Previous work from our lab has shown that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can be repaired in mammalian cells, and the use of mitochondrial-targeted repair proteins can augment repair to enhance viability following genotoxic stress. In addition, it has also been shown that other repair enzymes that are targeted to the mitochondria can sensitize the cell to DNA damaging agents, thereby aiding the effectiveness of certain chemotherapeutic agents. The methods herein describe the development of mitochondrial-targeted proteins using plasmids or protein transduction domains. It includes the utilization of these constructs to create stably transfected cell lines, transiently transfected cell lines, viral-mediated transduction, and protein transduction domain-mediated mitochondrial protein localization. The end result will be a mammalian cell that expresses the mitochondrial-targeted protein of interest.
Early isolation in the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus): Behavioral and physiological effects

Gerbils were reared from Day 15 to Day 170, either in social and perceptual isolation or with nonlactating foster parents and foster siblings. Territorial marking, aggression, and open-field activity were markedly depressed by the isolation conditions. Spontaneous seizures were observed in every isolated animal during testing, but only occasionally in control animals. Adrenal glands of isolates were heavier. Body, ventral gland, and testes weights were not affected by the experimental conditions.
Fatal Fentanyl: One Pill Can Kill.

OBJECTIVE The current national opioid epidemic is a public health emergency. We have identified an outbreak of exaggerated opioid toxicity caused by fentanyl adulterated tablets purchased on the street as hydrocodone/acetaminophen. METHODS Over an 8-day period in late March 2016, a total of 18 patients presented to our institution with exaggerated opioid toxicity. The patients provided a similar history: ingesting their "normal dose" of hydrocodone/acetaminophen tablets but with more pronounced symptoms. Toxicology testing and analysis was performed on serum, urine, and surrendered pills. RESULTS One of the 18 patients died in hospital. Five patients underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation, one required extracorporeal life support, three required intubation, and two received bag-valve-mask ventilation. One patient had recurrence of toxicity after 8 hours after naloxone discontinuation. Seventeen of 18 patients required boluses of naloxone, and four required prolonged naloxone infusions (26-39 hours). All 18 patients tested positive for fentanyl in the serum. Quantitative assays conducted in 13 of the sera revealed fentanyl concentrations of 7.9 to 162 ng/mL (mean = 52.9 ng/mL). Pill analysis revealed fentanyl amounts of 600-6,900 μg/pill. The pills are virtually indistinguishable from authentic hydrocodone/acetaminophen tablets and are similar in weight. To date, our county has reported 56 cases of fentanyl opioid toxicity, with 15 fatalities. In our institution, the outbreak has stressed the capabilities and resources of the emergency department and intensive care units. CONCLUSIONS A serious outbreak of exaggerated opioid toxicity caused by fentanyl-adulterated tablets purchased on the street as hydrocodone/acetaminophen is under way in California. These patients required higher dosing and prolonged infusions of naloxone. Additionally, observation periods off naloxone were extended due to delayed, recurrent toxicity. The outbreak has serious ramifications for public health and safety, law enforcement, and healthcare facilities and resources.
Optically induced currents in dielectrics and semiconductors as a nonlinear optical effect

We demonstrate theoretically that when well-below-the-bandgap femtosecond optical pulses propagate through a dielectric or semiconductor, DC current and charges are produced even though no real carriers are excited in the bands. The photoinduced current is a new ultrafast nonlinear optical effect based on multiphoton quantum interference and the creation of an asymmetric distribution of virtual carriers in the conduction and valence bands. We establish an unambiguous connection between the nonlinear optical conductivity responsible for the photoinduced DC currents and charges and the odd-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities of the material. We then apply our results to the recent experiments [Nature493, 70 (2013)10.1038/nature11567NATUAS0028-0836] in which photoinduced charges were observed in SiO2 irradiated by below-the-gap ultrashort optical pulses. Using a single well-known measured value of the third-order susceptibility (nonlinear index) of SiO2, we obtain excellent agreement with all the experimental data of [Nature493, 70 (2013)10.1038/nature11567NATUAS0028-0836]. A clear physical picture of the origin of the photoinduced currents and charges shows that the versatility of ultrafast (virtual) nonlinear optical phenomena extends even further than had been previously thought.
Quality-of-Life Evaluation After Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Background Cytoreductive surgery (CS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal metastases can alleviate symptoms and prolong survival at the expense of morbidity and quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to monitor QoL and outcomes before and after HIPEC.
Sticking It to Cancer with Molecular Glue for SHP2

Much effort has been expended to develop inhibitors against protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), nearly all of it unsuccessful. A recent report, describing a highly specific, orally bioavailable inhibitor of the PTP oncoprotein SHP2 with in vivo activity, suggests that allostery might provide a way forward for PTP inhibitor development.
Predictable Mediation Confidentiality in the U.S. Federal System

Confidentiality is generally regarded as important to the success of mediation and is the subject of a new Uniform State Law. Professor Ellen Deason analyses the difficulties in predicting the extent of the protection mediation communications will receive in any future dispute at the time of a mediation, when the parties' expectations for confidentiality most affect their behavior. Uncertainty regarding the forum for a future dispute, variability in state law, and the undeveloped status of federal law all contribute to unpredictability. Predictability is especially complex in federal court, where multiple choice-of-law rules may apply and the appropriate analysis depends on which evidentiary mechanism protects the mediation's confidentiality. Under current law, parties who engage in mediation in a federal court program cannot assume that the mediation's confidentiality will necessarily be determined by the court rules that govern the program. Deason explores means for increasing predictability through best practices and legal rules and examines the limitations of these approaches.
Institutions on the Edge: The Origins and Consequences of Inter-Branch Crises in Latin America

Why does institutional instability pervade the developing world? Examining contemporary Latin America, Institutions on the Edge develops and tests a novel argument to explain why institutional crises emerge, spread, and repeat in some countries, but not in others. The book draws on formal bargaining theories developed in the conflict literature to offer the first unified micro-level account of inter-branch crises. In so doing, Helmke shows that concentrating power in the executive branch not only fuels presidential crises under divided government, but also triggers broader constitutional crises that cascade on to the legislature and the judiciary. Along the way, Helmke highlights the importance of public opinion and mass protests, and elucidates the conditions under which divided government matters for institutional instability.
Statistics of Density, Temperature and Air Gaps on the TATB Cylinder Test

Duplicate cylinder tests (CYLEX) have been run on PBX 9502 and LX-17. The 95 % error in the absolute value of the derived detonation energy density is about ±1 % whereas the 95 % error of the difference error is ±0.5 % or better. The analytic model has been upgraded with a better strain description. The effect of the air gap between a pressed solid explosive and the inner copper wall has been measured and modeled. An off-center effect has also been seen. Density effects on the energy density from 1.82 to 1.92 g cm−3 are described for LX-17. Data has also been taken at −55, 75 and 125 °C. The last temperature gives a large enough difference to show that the mechanism appears to be only density change.
Determination of Ciprofloxacin and Nalidixic Acid Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni with a Fluorogenic Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay

A fluorogenic polymerase chain reaction assay for the gyrA gene was used to determine the frequency of a Thr-86 mutation in Campylobacter jejuni isolates from food animals and humans in northern Thailand and to investigate the correlation between this mutation and bacterial resistance to fluoroquinolones. Eighty-four isolates of C. jejuni were used: 65 from healthy chickens on farms, 16 from chickens at the slaughterhouse, 1 from chicken meat at the market, and 1 from a healthy farm worker. The microbroth dilution technique was used for in vitro susceptibility testing. MIC breakpoints established by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System were used to categorize the resistance of C. jejuni to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid. Sixty of the 84 C. jejuni isolates tested carried the Thr-86 mutation in the gyrA gene. All isolates with ciprofloxacin MICs of > or = 2 mg/liter carried the mutation, and no isolates with nalidixic acid MICs of < or = 16 mg/liter carried the Thr-86-to-Ile mutation. There was a very strong association between ciprofloxacin resistance and the presence of the mutation (kappa = 0.971, P < 0.01). The association between the presence of the Thr-86-to-Ile mutation and nalidixic acid resistance was weaker (kappa 0.859: P < or = 0.01).
Predicting Faculty Integration of Faith and Learning.

ABSTRACTConcern regarding the secularization of Christian higher education has prompted researchers to investigate the extent that faith and learning is integrated at a faculty level and what factors might predict faculty integration (Lyon, Beaty, Parker, & Mencken, 2005). This research attempted to replicate Lyon et al.’s (2005) logistic regression model predicting faculty integration of faith using survey responses gathered as part of Phase II of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) Denominational Study (Rine, Glanzer, & Davignon, 2013). Respondents included 2,074 faculty from 55 institutions. The first model used in this study suggested that the most powerful predictors of faculty integration are full-time employment status, earning a degree from an institution that shares the same denominational affiliation, and a match between the faculty member's religious denominational affiliation and the institutional affiliation. A second logistic regression model added faculty academic speci...
Regulation of the sperm calcium channel CatSper by endogenous steroids and plant triterpenoids

The calcium channel of sperm (CatSper) is essential for sperm hyperactivated motility and fertility. The steroid hormone progesterone activates CatSper of human sperm via binding to the serine hydrolase ABHD2. However, steroid specificity of ABHD2 has not been evaluated. Here, we explored whether steroid hormones to which human spermatozoa are exposed in the male and female genital tract influence CatSper activation via modulation of ABHD2. The results show that testosterone, estrogen, and hydrocortisone did not alter basal CatSper currents, whereas the neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate exerted similar effects as progesterone, likely binding to the same site. However, physiological concentrations of testosterone and hydrocortisone inhibited CatSper activation by progesterone. Additionally, testosterone antagonized the effect of pregnenolone sulfate. We have also explored whether steroid-like molecules, such as the plant triterpenoids pristimerin and lupeol, affect sperm fertility. Interestingly, both compounds competed with progesterone and pregnenolone sulfate and significantly reduced CatSper activation by either steroid. Furthermore, pristimerin and lupeol considerably diminished hyperactivation of capacitated spermatozoa. These results indicate that (i) pregnenolone sulfate together with progesterone are the main steroids that activate CatSper and (ii) pristimerin and lupeol can act as contraceptive compounds by averting sperm hyperactivation, thus preventing fertilization.
Morphometric Predictors of Morbidity after Pancreatectomy

Pancreatic surgery has historically been associated with high morbidity and mortality. One model that could predict outcomes is the assessment of preoperative morphometrics. The objective of this study was to compare different clinical and morphometric features of patients undergoing pancreatectomy to predict morbidity. This is a retrospective chart review of patients undergoing pancreatectomy from December 2004 to October 2013. Morphometric parameters on preoperative CT scans were measured and patients were grouped to examine their association with postoperative morbidity. A total of 180 patients were included in this study (90 males and 90 females). At the time of diagnosis, patients had an average age of 66.7 years (range = 24-90), and median body mass index of 27.4 kg/m2 (range = 16-58 kg/m2). Sixty-one patients (33.9%) experienced surgical complications. Of the individual morphometric variables examined, sarcopenia was the best predictor of length of stay and surgical complications. On multivariate analysis, there was a strong statistically significant correlation of sarcopenia with surgical complications (odds ratio = 3.524, P = 0.0049). No other morphometric variables predicted morbidity. Sarcopenia is a useful predictor for postoperative morbidity after pancreatectomy. The results of this study suggest that noninvasive preoperative testing can be used to quantify postoperative complications after pancreatic surgery.
Acute Appendicitis: An Extracolonic Manifestation of Clostridium difficile Colitis

The current report is the case of a 30-year-old male patient who presented with symptomatology suggestive of appendicitis. However, careful history-taking and laboratory tests led to the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile colitis, resulting in successful nonsurgical management of this patient. Although both appendicitis and C. difficile colitis are common conditions, they are rarely diagnosed concurrently. This is reflected by paucity of literature describing this manifestation. Given this current presentation, the authors contend that the manifestation of extracolonic colitis within the appendix is possibly underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as an acute appendicitis and thus potentially results in unnecessary surgical intervention. This report reminds physicians to consider the medical approach to managing acute appendicitis given the possibility of underlying C. difficile colitis as the causative factor.
EI Approaches to Treating Depression in Adolescents

This chapter explores the use of existential-integrative (EI) techniques in the treatment of adolescents experiencing depression. It begins with an overview of the clinical description, incidence, and prevalence of depressive disorders in adolescents, followed by a description of the etiology of these disorders. The author then reviews established treatment approaches as well as specific EI techniques that one could apply to the treatment of depression. Also included is a conceptualization of depression from an EI framework. The chapter closes with a composite case example from the author’s own practice.
An energy-efficient method for multi-robot reconnaissance in an unknown environment

Autonomous robots have significant potential for reconnaissance and environmental monitoring applications. Ground robots, in particular, are performing reconnaissance missions in places that are too hazardous for humans. However, these robots are constrained by energy limitations that are impacted by uncertain environments and harsh terrains. The purpose of this work is to develop methods for improving the efficiency of reconnaissance missions through energy awareness. To address such limitations, robot energy usage is spatially modeled with a Gaussian Process (GP) through measurements collected during the mission. The resulting energy predictions are incorporated into a centralized waypoint-based optimization with the goal of minimizing the uncertainty of a spatio-temporal field, subject to ensuring the robots' return to their respective starting locations for refueling. Simulation results for a 3-robot system demonstrate the effectiveness of incorporating energy predictions into reconnaissance missions.
Detection of Fleeting Amine Radical Cations and Elucidation of Chain Processes in Visible-Light-Mediated [3 + 2] Annulation by Online Mass Spectrometric Techniques.

Visible-light-mediated photoredox reactions have recently emerged as a powerful means for organic synthesis and thus have generated significant interest from the organic chemistry community. Although the mechanisms of these reactions have been probed by a number of techniques such as NMR, fluorescence quenching, and laser flash photolysis and various degrees of success has been achieved, mechanistic ambiguity still exists (for instance, the involvement of the chain mechanism is still under debate) because of the lack of structural information about the proposed and short-lived intermediates. Herein, we present the detection of transient amine radical cations involved in the intermolecular [3 + 2] annulation reaction of N-cyclopropylaniline (CPA, 1) and styrene 2 by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in combination with online laser irradiation of the reaction mixture. In particular, the reactive CPA radical cation 1+•, the reduced photocatalyst Ru(I)(bpz)3+, and the [3 + 2] annulation prod...