cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) verification using the frame averaging feature of Varian Mark II electronic portal imaging device (EPID)

The authors have previously developed a dose-based IMRT verification system, but its usefulness is limited by the image acquisition and storage time of the Varian PoralVision EPID. In this study, the authors investigate the applicability of the EPID's frame-averaging feature to acquire /spl sim/1 sec images and averages over them before storage. However, the frame-averaged image cannot be converted to a dose map due to the nonlinearity of the EPID response. To circumvent this, the authors convert the dose rate from intensity-modulated (IM) beams to EPID readings and then sum over the simulated /spl sim/1 sec images to produce the intended frame-averaged image (IFAI). Frame-averaged images (EFAI) are measured with an EPID for the same IM fields. The authors also simulated frame-averaged image (SFAI) by acquiring a series of individual images under the normal mode and summing them offline. The IFAI, EFAI and SFAI are then compared using a linear regression method, whose standard deviation of errors, /spl sigma/, is a measure of the goodness of match. Artificial malfunctions were also introduced into IM beam delivery to test the sensitivity of this approach. The results indicate that SFAI agrees with IFAI with a mean /spl sigma/=3% and a standard deviation (SD)<0.6%. EFAI, however, shows less agreement with IFAI with a mean /spl sigma/=4.1% and a SD of 1.5%. Most, but not all, simulated malfunctions were detectable using EFAIs. It is concluded that the frame-averaging feature of Varian Mark II EPID shows promise for treatment verifcation, but that more investigation is required to validate this approach for clinical application.
Stromal cell-derived factor 1α mediates resistance to mTOR-directed therapy in pancreatic cancer.

Abstract PURPOSE: The factors preventing the translation of preclinical findings supporting the clinical development mTOR-targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer therapy remain undetermined. Stromal cell.derived factor 1α (SDF-1α)-CXCR4 signaling was examined as a representative microenvironmental factor able to promote mTOR-targeted therapy resistance in pancreatic cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Primary pancreas explant xenografts and in vitro experiments were used to perform pharmacodynamic analyses of SDF-1α-CXCR4 regulation of the mTOR pathway. Combinatorial effects of CXCR4, EGFR, and mTOR pharmacologic inhibition were evaluated in temsirolimus-resistant and -sensitive xenografts. Intratumoral gene and protein expressions of mTOR pathway effectors cyclin D1, c-Myc, and VEGF were evaluated. RESULTS: Baseline intratumoral SDF-1α gene expression correlated with temsirolimus resistance in explant models. SDF-1α stimulation of pancreatic cells resulted in CXCR4-mediated PI3-kinase-dependent S6-RP phosphorylation (pS6-RP) on exposure to temsirolimus. Combinatorial therapy with AMD3465 (CXCR4 small-molecule inhibitor) and temsirolimus resulted in effective tumor growth inhibition to overcome temsirolimus resistance. In contrast, SDF-1α exposure induced a temsirolimus-resistant phenotype in temsirolimus-sensitive explants. AMD3465 inhibited CXCR4-mediated intratumoral S6-RP phosphorylation and cyclin D and c-myc gene expression. Next, CXCR4 promoted intratumoral EGFR expression in association with temsirolimus resistance. Treatment with AMD3465, temsirolimus- and erlotinib-mediated tumor growth inhibition to overcome temsirolimus resistance in the explant model. Lastly, SDF-1α-CXCR4 signaling increased intratumoral VEGF gene and protein expression. CONCLUSIONS: SDF-1α-CXCR4 signaling represents a microenvironmental factor that can maintain mTOR pathway fidelity to promote resistance to mTOR-targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer by a variety of mechanisms such as recruitment of EGFR signaling and angiogenesis.
Optimization of antenna beam transmission efficiency

Antenna pattern optimization problems have usually been concerned with maximizing the gain of pattern at bore-sight direction subject to certain constraints on side-lobe levels. Here we consider a different problem which concerns maximizing the integral of power over a given region of antenna main beam with respect to the total radiated power, with or without additional constraints on the side-lobe levels. We have used Evolutionary Programming with a Levy mutation operator to solve the constraint optimization problem. This problem is of interest in earth observation radiometry as well as microwave high-power transmission systems for ground and space applications.
Nuclear Abundance Rules and the Composition of Meteorites

Many years ago the author was able to show that the abundances of nuclear species, as estimated from the chemical composition of meteorites, followed certain regularities which indicated that chemical fractionation processes have not completely obscured the primeval abundance ratios of the elements. The regularities can be expressed as rules. They are manifested to a different degree in the different types of meteorites and they give some indication as to which type of meteoritic material can be considered the most primeval.
Some effects of mill practice on the stress strain behavior of ACSR

Operating temperatures of overhead lines have risen. Tests have indicated that conventional sag tension calculations may underestimate sags that occur at the higher temperatures in ACSR (aluminum conductor steel reinforced) spans. Search for the source of the disparities has identified two effects associated with the manner in which conductors are manufactured. One effect involves residual stresses, resulting from stranding practice, in the finished conductor. The other is caused by the ability of the aluminum part of ACSR to bear axial compression. Analysis of these effects appears to explain the disparity in at least one of the test programs that revealed it.
EEG and evoked potential recording from the subthalamic nucleus for deep brain stimulation of intractable epilepsy

Abstract Objectives : The substantia nigra in the animal model has been implicated in the control of epilepsy. The substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr) receives afferents from the subthalamic nucleus (STN), which thus may have an effect on the control of epilepsy. There is evidence in the animal model of a direct connection from the cortex to the STN. High-frequency STN stimulation is being used in experimental trial for the management of intractable epilepsy. Our primary objective in this study was to determine if there was epileptiform activity recorded from the STN in association with scalp recorded epileptiform activity to support the presence of a pathway from the cortex to the STN in humans as described in animals that may be important for the management of epilepsy. This article describes the interictal and ictal electroencephalographic (EEG) findings as well as evoked potential recordings from the STN in these patients with intractable epilepsy. Methods : Four patients (3 males) ranging from 19 to 45 years with intractable focal epilepsy refractory to anti-epileptic drugs were studied. Two patients failed vagal nerve stimulation and one patient had previous epilepsy surgery. Depth electrodes were implanted stereotactically in the STN bilaterally. A comparative analysis of the interictal and ictal activities recorded from the scalp and STN electrodes was performed. Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were also recorded. Results : Interictal sharp waves recorded in the scalp EEG were always negative in polarity. These sharp waves were always associated with sharp waves recorded at the ipsilateral STN electrode contacts that were always positive in polarity. In addition repetitive spikes were recorded independently at the left or right STN electrode contacts, with no reflection at the scalp. These spikes were extremely stereotyped, of high amplitude and short duration, and were positive or negative in polarity. Focal scalp EEG seizures were also recorded at the ipsilateral STN electrodes. In 3 patients SEPs were recorded from the contralateral STN electrodes corresponding to the P14/N18 far-field complex. In two patients AEPs were recorded, and wave V (near-field) and wave VII (far-field) from the contralateral STN electrodes. Conclusions : This study demonstrates that scalp recorded epileptiform activity is reflected at the ipsilateral STN either following or preceding the scalp sharp waves. The STN sharp waves are most probably an expression of the direct cortico-STN glutamatergic pathways that have been demonstrated previously in animals. This pathway in man may be important with regard to a possible mechanism for the treatment of epilepsy with STN stimulation.
Relation of silent myocardial ischemia to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death

Silent myocardial ischemia is common in the clinical spectrum of coronary disease. Ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring has provided the most objective evidence of silent ischemia, but the phenomenon has also been detected in patients with coronary artery disease through analysis of exercise-induced ischemic ST-segment alterations, scintigraphic myocardial perfusion defects and left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. Silent myocardial ischemia frequently occurs in patients with stable angina, unstable angina, myocardial infarction and completely asymptomatic coronary artery disease. In each of these groups, silent ischemia has been associated with an increased risk of subsequent cardiac events. However, it remains unclear whether silent ischemia is directly involved in the occurrence of these events, possibly by provoking ventricular arrhythmias. Only limited data are available on the relation between silent ischemia and arrhythmias in myocardial infarction, vasospastic angina, coronary angioplasty, exercise testing and ambulatory electrocardiography. However, fortuitous ambulatory monitoring coincident with sudden death has detected ischemia associated with lethal arrhythmias in some individual cases. This suggests that an ischemia-arrhythmia association may be important in certain patients at certain times, possibly in combination with other factors.
Reevaluating Hubbert's prediction of U.S. peak oil

In 1956, M. King Hubbert, chief consultant for the Shell Development Company's exploration and production research division, forecasted that U.S. oil production would peak in the early 1970s. He subsequently updated this prediction using newer data, but the predicted timing of peaking did not change significantly (see Hubbert [1982] for a review and references to earlier papers). In 1971, U.S. annual production of crude oil peaked at slightly more than three billion barrels (bbl). Yet, Hubbert's model continues to be challenged by some. For instance, according to economist Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy and Economic Research, Inc., Winchester, Mass., it was only after Hubbert published his predictions “that the Hubbert curve came to be seen as explanatory in and of itself, that is, geology requires that production should follow such a curve” [Lynch,2003].
A Rapid and Simple Phospholipase A Assay

Abstract A simple and rapid method for the assay of phospholipase A was developed. As a substrate fresh egg yolk is used which is hydrolyzed by snake venom phospholipase A at a 10–20 × faster rate than pure lecithin. The released fatty acids, after extraction with appropriate solvents are titrated automatically. The performance of the electrodes in non-aqueous titrations is discussed. The method will permit a number of fast assays of phospholipase A, and the titration of fatty acids is free from subjective errors since it is carried out automatically.
Microscopic and Macroscopic Theories of Termolecular Recombination between Atomic Ions

A microscopic theory of termolecular recombination, $${A^ + } + {B^ - } + M \to AB + M$$ (1.1) involving atomic ions recombining in an atomic or molecular gas M of variable density has recently been developed’. The theory prior to this has been the subject of several reviews2–4. In this latest development, the resulting Master Equations for the microscopic distributions are a set of coupled partial integro-differential equations, a class of Volterra-type equations which are notoriously difficult to solve. An exact analytical result - the generalization of the Thomson density-dependent probability to curved trajectories - will be given.
Dendritic cell-based approaches to cancer immunotherapy

Immunologic approaches to the treatment of malignancies are currently enjoying a resurgence of enthusiasm due to the discovery of tumour-associated antigens and the requirements for stimulating a tumour antigen-specific immune response. The goal of the newer strategies is to stimulate immunity against specific tumour-associated antigens, rather than to broadly, but non-specifically, stimulate the immune system. Since dendritic cells, professional antigen-presenting cells, play a central role in stimulating immune responses in vivo, there is considerable interest in immunising patients with autologous dendritic cells loaded with tumour antigens of interest. Methods for generating large numbers of dendritic cells under clinically-applicable conditions have been developed and it has been shown that they may be loaded with antigen in many different forms including proteins or peptides, RNA or DNA and cellular extracts. Ongoing research is seeking to optimise the purity, antigen loading and maturation of the dendritic cells. Phase I clinical trials have been initiated in order to study the safety and feasibility of immunisations with dendritic cells in humans with various malignancies. Phase II studies will be performed to establish which tumours and clinical scenarios will be most relevant for dendritic cell immunotherapy. Although the commercial applicability of dendritic cell-based immunotherapy has been recognised by the biotechnology industry, commercial availability of dendritic cell vaccines await phase III studies.
Computer-Aided Design of Machine Learning Algorithm: Training Fixed-Point Classifier for On-Chip Low-Power Implementation

In this paper, we propose a novel linear discriminant analysis algorithm, referred to as LDA-FP, to train on-chip classifiers that can be implemented with low-power fixed-point arithmetic with extremely small word length. LDA-FP incorporates the non-idealities (i.e., rounding and overflow) associated with fixed-point arithmetic into the training process so that the resulting classifiers are robust to these non-idealities. Mathematically, LDA-FP is formulated as a mixed integer programming problem that can be efficiently solved by a novel branch-and-bound method proposed in this paper. Our numerical experiments demonstrate that LDA-FP substantially outperforms the conventional approach for the emerging biomedical application of brain computer interface.
Competition and fecundity of giant ragweed in corn

Abstract A field study was conducted to determine the effects of giant ragweed emergence time and population density on corn grain yield, giant ragweed seed production, and giant ragweed predispersal seed losses. When weeds and crop emerged concurrently, hyperbolic regression of percent corn yield loss on giant ragweed population densities of 1.7, 6.9, and 13.8 weeds per 10 m2 gave a predicted loss rate of 13.6% for the first weed per 10 m2 in the linear response range at low densities and a maximum yield loss of 90% at high weed densities. Crop yield loss response to weed density was linear when giant ragweed emerged 4 wk after corn, and the regression coefficient indicated a yield loss rate of 1% per unit increase in weed density. A larger proportion of the variation in corn yield loss was explained by weed density (r2 = 0.99) than by weed biomass (r2 = 0.81). There was a positive linear relationship between giant ragweed seed production and weed density at each weed emergence time. When giant ragweed e...
Cancers of the Urinary Tract

In this chapter, we will review the most common malignancies encountered in the urinary tract. Carcinomas of the kidney, bladder, and prostate account for 41% of cancers diagnosed annually in men and 4% in women and for 18% and 3% of cancer deaths, respectively. Dramatic improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment have taken place in the last decade. A tumor suppressor gene implicated in familial and sporadic renal cell carcinoma has been cloned, and immunotherapy with biologic response modifiers now offers hope to patients with metastatic cancer. Outpatient systemic chemotherapy may help patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney and bladder to live longer. Continent urinary diversion provides significant improvement in quality of life for patients undergoing radical cystectomy. Molecular staging of bladder cancer is now possible with the application of immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections to detect mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Prostate cancer is now the leading cause of cancer in men over the age of 50 and the second leading cause of cancer death. Prostate-specific antigen and transrectal ultrasound have revolutionized diagnosis and management of localized prostate cancer. As new technology proliferates and our understanding of neoplastic transformation evolves, we are poised to accept the challenge of not only cure of urinary tract cancer but prevention as well.
Fusiform gyrus laterality in writing systems with different mapping principles: An artificial orthography training study

Writing systems vary in many ways, making it difficult to account for cross-linguistic neural differences. For example, orthographic processing of Chinese characters activates the mid-fusiform gyri mFG bilaterally, whereas the processing of English words predominantly activates the left mFG. Because Chinese and English vary in visual processing holistic vs. analytical and linguistic mapping principle morphosyllabic vs. alphabetic, either factor could account for mFG laterality differences. We used artificial orthographies representing English to investigate the effect of mapping principle on mFG lateralization. The fMRI data were compared for two groups that acquired foundational proficiency: one for an alphabetic and one for an alphasyllabic artificial orthography. Greater bilateral mFG activation was observed in the alphasyllabic versus alphabetic group. The degree of bilaterality correlated with reading fluency for the learned orthography in the alphasyllabic but not alphabetic group. The results suggest that writing systems with a syllable-based mapping principle recruit bilateral mFG to support orthographic processing. Implications for individuals with left mFG dysfunction will be discussed.
Drp1 and Mitochondrial Autophagy Lend a Helping Hand in Adaptation to Pressure Overload

The heart undergoes hypertrophy in response to pressure overload, a response generally considered to be an adaptive mechanism to reduce increased wall stress. When the stress is too great, or other molecular changes are elicited, hypertrophy can decompensate, leading to the development of heart failure. Macroautophagy (hereafter referred to as autophagy) has been implicated in this process. Autophagy is an intracellular system whereby cytoplasmic components and damaged organelles are sequestered in double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes and delivered to lysosomes for degradation. Nutrient starvation or cellular stress rapidly induce autophagy, providing amino acids and fatty acids to synthesize proteins and to generate ATP, while also eliminating damaged mitochondria.1–4 Damaged mitochondria are the major source of reactive oxygen species contributing to apoptotic and necrotic cell death; thus, preservation of mitochondrial integrity is critical for cell survival. Mitochondrial quality control can be achieved through autophagy, mitochondria-selective autophagy (mitophagy), fission/fusion and mitochondrial biogenesis, processes that are in many ways interrelated.5 There are, however, contradictory published observations regarding the timing or direction of changes in general autophagy, and its functional significance in the cardiac response to pressure overload remains controversial.2–4,6,7 Moreover, whether the regulation of mitochondrial quality control by autophagy is beneficial or deleterious in the development of pressure overload–induced hypertrophy or its transition to heart failure has not been extensively studied. Article, see p 1249 In this issue of Circulation , Shirakabe et al8 provide greater clarity into the role of mitochondrial autophagy in pressure overload–induced cardiac hypertrophy and failure. By analyzing multiple time points from 1 hour to 30 days after transverse aortic constriction (TAC), the authors delineated sequential and ordered changes in autophagy and mitochondrial autophagy that occurred at different phases of development of TAC-induced hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction (Figure …
Localized in situ cladding annealing for post-fabrication trimming of silicon photonic integrated circuits

We report the use of localized annealing via in situ heaters to induce a semi-permanent change in the refractive index of the cladding in ring resonator filters. When compared to other methods for post-fabrication trimming, this method has the advantage that no additional equipment, other than a supply of electrical power, is necessary to cause the index change. Two cladding materials were used: hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) for samples that were externally annealed, and PECVD oxide for samples that were annealed with in situ heaters. The resonant wavelengths could be adjusted by as much as 3.0 nm and 1.7 nm for the HSQ and PECVD cladded filters, respectively. The trimming of a 5 channel, single ring filter bank, and a single, double ring filter is demonstrated.
Calibration and Unwrapping of the Normalized Scattering Cross Section for the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System

This paper develops and characterizes the algorithms used to generate the Level 1 (L1) science data products of the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission. The L1 calibration consists of two parts: the Level 1a (L1a) calibration converts the raw Level 0 delay-Doppler maps (DDMs) of processed counts into received power in units of watts. The L1a DDMs are then converted to Level 1b DDMs of bistatic radar cross section values by unwrapping the forward scattering model and generating two additional DDMs: one of unnormalized bistatic radar cross section values (in units of square meters) and a second of bin-by-bin effective scattering areas. The L1 data products are generated in such a way as to allow for flexible processing of variable areas of the DDM (which correspond to different regions on the surface). The application of the L1 data products to the generation of input observables for the CYGNSS Level 2 (L2) wind retrievals is also presented. This includes a demonstration of using only near-specular DDM bins to calculate a normalized bistatic radar cross section (unitless, i.e., m2/m2) over a subset of DDM pixels, or DDM area. Additionally, an extensive term-by-term error analysis has been performed using this example extent of the DDM to help quantify the sensitivity of the L1 calibration as a function of key internal instrument and external parameters in the near-specular region.
Moth Borer Damage to Different Varieties Of Sugar Cane

To combat diseases and other troubles in the sugar cane fields of Louisiana varieties of cane from Java were recommended, and these were said to be resistant to the sugar cane moth borer. Field examinations indicate that they are not resistant. Nevertheless, their habit of long stubbling may reduce borer damage by reducing the number of hibernating larvae in planted seed cane. The situation is, however, complicated by other factors, as the extensive planting of com, which is the favorite food plant.
Storytelling in World Cinemas: Volume 2 – Contexts

Volume 2 (Contexts) of Lina Khatib’s book on world cinemas is about what stories are told and why, throughout the world, taking into consideration political, religious, historical, and social conte...
Trichogramma nubilale (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae): Progeny Distribution and Superparasitism in European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Individual females of Trichogramma nubilale Ertle and Davis were exposed to various densities (1 to 12) of European corn borer (ECB), ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), egg masses for different exposure periods (l to 120 h). This parasitoid avoided excessive superparasitism under every host density and exposure period tested. It appears that the ovipositional behavior and manner of progeny distribution of T. nubilale females are uniquely adapted to the mode of egg laying by its natural host, the ECB.
Oviposition and feeding on red pine by jack pine budworm at a previously unrecorded scale

The jack pine budworm Choristoneura pinus pinus is a defoliator distributed throughout the range of jack pine Pinus banksiana in North America. Jack pine budworm feeds primarily on jack pine. More than 2400 hectares of defoliation of red pine Pinus resinosa were noted during an outbreak of C. pinus pinus from 2004–2008 in Minnesota and Wisconsin, U.S.A. Defoliation of red pine across thousands of hectares, detectable during aerial surveys, is a significant deviation from historical records. Fifty-six study plots were established across 15 counties of Minnesota and Wisconsin to quantify densities and impacts of jack pine budworm in locations showing defoliation of both red pine and jack pine. Populations of jack pine budworm on red pine behaved similarly to those on jack pine, consuming pollen cones and vegetative shoots. The mean number of egg masses per branch and per site was greater on red pine than on jack pine at study sites in Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively. It is not known what led to the outbreak of jack pine budworm on red pine, nor is it clear whether landscape-scale defoliation of this magnitude represents an isolated incident or a shift in relative host use. Hypotheses regarding the mechanisms behind this alternative host use by jack pine budworm are discussed.
Adding Value to the Health Care System: Identifying Value-Added Systems Roles for Medical Students:

To catalyze learning in Health Systems Science and add value to health systems, education programs are seeking to incorporate students into systems roles, which are not well described. The authors sought to identify authentic roles for students within a range of clinical sites and explore site leaders' perceptions of the value of students performing these roles. From 2013 to 2015, site visits and interviews with leadership from an array of clinical sites (n = 30) were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to identify tasks and benefits of integrating students into interprofessional care teams. Types of systems roles included direct patient benefit activities, including monitoring patient progress with care plans and facilitating access to resources, and clinic benefit activities, including facilitating coordination and improving clinical processes. Perceived benefits included improved value of the clinical mission and enhanced student education. These results elucidate a framework for student roles that enhance learning and add value to health systems.
CLL/SLL with initial presentation as a longstanding cutaneous plaque: a rare case

While chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) is the most common leukemia in the western world, it uncommonly initially presents as a cutaneous lesion. When it does, it is often found incidentally in the context of another distinct lesion. We present a case of CLL/SLL that initially presented as a solitary nodular erythematous plaque on the left flank of a healthy 60-year-old man without lymphadenopathy or constitutional symptoms. The lesion had been present for many years, but had recently begun to grow and become pruritic and painful. Excisional biopsy revealed a large nodular aggregate of variably sized CD20(dim), CD5(+), CD23(+), BCL-2(+) atypical lymphocytes in the dermis without epidermotropism. The lymphocytes were negative for BCL-1/cyclinD1, BCL-6, and CD10, and no other background lesion was identified. This constellation of biopsy findings was consistent with CLL/SLL. This case emphasizes the potential for involvement by CLL/SLL in the cutaneous biopsies of otherwise asymptomatic patients.
Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas

Alex Haynes is a faculty member of the Division of Surgical Oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital (USA) and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School (MA, USA). He received his medical degree from the Wayne State University School of Medicine (MI, USA) and his Master’s degree in public health from the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University (NY, USA). He completed his residency in surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital and fellowship in complex general surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (USA). His research interests are in surgical safety and outcomes, as well as the multidisciplinary care of patients with cancer. About the Author
Performance monitoring and fault diagnosis based on kernel principle analysis and pattern matching

In this paper,a novel performance monitoring and fault diagnosis method based on kernel component analysis(KPCA) and pattern matching was proposed.The method of PCA similarity analysis was improved by using KPCA similarity factor.In order to perform process monitoring and fault diagnosis,nonlinear components were first extracted using KPCA and similarity factors were further calculated.Then,linear component similarity,nonlinear component similarity and factors based on distance were combined to construct one synthesized index for pattern matching.Application results to the TE process prove that the method is effective.
Air Sterilization of Emergency Operating Room by Air Purification Equipment

As the "patient-centered" model of emergency takes shape, some emergency operations compound injury and multiple injuries have to be carried out in the emergency room. We sterilized the air in the emergency operating room by air purification equipment and compared with the effect of traditional air sterilization. The results demonstrated that the former was superior to the latter. Although the runing time of air purification equipment was only 30 minutes, bacteria in the air of the operating room was lower than 200cfu/m3. Our sterilization method provides enough time to carry out operation and rescue the patient.
Arguing with peers: examining two kinds of discourse and their cognitive benefits

This study examines the extent to which meta-level regulation of argumentive discourse goals and strategies relates to improvement in argumentive discourse skill. A 7-month intervention was designed to provide dense experience in argumentive discourse and to promote meta-level regulation of discourse. Pairs of academically disadvantaged eighth graders conducted electronic dialogs with opposing pairs on a series of social topics. Analysis of intra-dyad discussion over the course of the intervention showed that participants producing a high proportion of meta-level utterances were more likely to show improvement in argumentive skill. This finding suggests that enhanced meta-level awareness of the strategies and goals of argument, along with rich engagement in argumentation, promote skill development.
Targeted therapy for breast cancer and molecular mechanisms of resistance to treatment

In recent years, clinical trials investigating new drugs and therapeutic combinations have led to promising advances in breast cancer therapy. Subtyping breast cancers into hormone receptor (HR) positive, epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) positive, and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is currently the basis of diagnosing and treating this disease. In addition to endocrine and HER2-targeted therapies in their respective subtypes, evidence from recent preclinical studies have shown several targetable pathways that overcome resistance in the clinical setting. The mTOR inhibitor everolimus and the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib have been approved in HR-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) due to improved disease-free survival (DFS). Adding pertuzumab to trastuzumab in combination with taxanes further improves DFS in HER2-positive breast cancer. Targeted therapy to the heterogeneous group of TNBC is needed in combination with chemotherapy. However, patient selection and predictive biomarker development remains a big challenge for targeted therapy development in TNBC.
A Dynamical Threshold for Cardiac Delayed Afterdepolarization-Mediated Triggered Activity

Ventricular myocytes are excitable cells whose voltage threshold for action potential (AP) excitation is ∼-60 mV at which INa is activated to give rise to a fast upstroke. Therefore, for a short stimulus pulse to elicit an AP, a stronger stimulus is needed if the resting potential lies further away from the INa threshold, such as in hypokalemia. However, for an AP elicited by a long duration stimulus or a diastolic spontaneous calcium release, we observed that the stimulus needed was lower in hypokalemia than in normokalemia in both computer simulations and experiments of rabbit ventricular myocytes. This observation provides insight into why hypokalemia promotes calcium-mediated triggered activity, despite the resting potential lying further away from the INa threshold. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we performed bifurcation analyses and demonstrated that there is a dynamical threshold, resulting from a saddle-node bifurcation mainly determined by IK1 and INCX. This threshold is close to the voltage at which IK1 is maximum, and lower than the INa threshold. After exceeding this dynamical threshold, the membrane voltage will automatically depolarize above the INa threshold due to the large negative slope of the IK1-V curve. This dynamical threshold becomes much lower in hypokalemia, especially with respect to calcium, as predicted by our theory. Because of the saddle-node bifurcation, the system can automatically depolarize even in the absence of INa to voltages higher than the ICa,L threshold, allowing for triggered APs in single myocytes with complete INa block. However, because INa is important for AP propagation in tissue, blocking INa can still suppress premature ventricular excitations in cardiac tissue caused by calcium-mediated triggered activity. This suppression is more effective in normokalemia than in hypokalemia due to the difference in dynamical thresholds.
The Cognitive Benefits of Social Media Use in Later Life: Results of a Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study

Research on the effects of social media use at older ages has largely been focused on social benefits. Yet, participation in these new media forms may result in other favorable outcomes, such as improved cognitive functioning. Using a wait list control design, this study examines the effects of social media engagement among adult social media non-users, aged 65 and older, in four cognitive domains: attention, processing speed, working memory, and inhibitory control. Baseline and multiple post-tests indicate improvement of intervention participants in processing speed and inhibitory control. These findings demonstrate that the benefits of social media use at older ages extend beyond mere social engagement, and into other domains of everyday well-being.
Teaching Video Neuro Images: The underrecognized diphasic dyskinesia of Parkinson disease

Dyskinesia is a common motor complication in levodopa-treated Parkinson disease (PD), associated with higher doses, greater disease severity, and longer disease duration.1 Often assumed to be a peak-dose phenomenon, the diphasic (beginning-of-dose or end-of-dose) variant may be ignored, as exemplified by a patient with PD whose dyskinesia was initially interpreted as peak-dose (video at [Neurology.org][1]). Rapid improvement with apomorphine, a short-acting levodopa-equipotent dopamine agonist, confirmed its diphasic nature.2 Recognition of dyskinesia subtype based on the relationship with levodopa dose cycles (figure) facilitates their differing management in PD: while dopaminergic stimulation needs reduction in peak-dose dyskinesia, it should be increased in diphasic. [1]: http://neurology.org/lookup/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000004238
Should Ultrasound Guidance Be Routinely Used for Femoral Artery Access

ABSTRACTUltrasound-guided femoral artery access should always be utilized as it has been shown to significantly reduce vascular complications, number of arterial access attempts, accidental venipunctures, and time to access. Despite the increased adoption of transradial access, the conventional femoral artery cannulation remains the primary route for performing peripheral angiography and cardiac catheterization in the setting of high-risk interventional procedures requiring mechanical hemodynamic support. Similarly, with the expansion of structural heart interventions such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement and mitral valve interventions, femoral access has been increased especially for large-bore sheaths.
ARMA-System Identification and Rational Approximation

The problem of identifying a linear time-invariant (LTI) system from measurements of its output response to a known input excitation, such as a white noise source, is of fundamental importance in many areas in engineering. Such an identification naturally allows one to predict the system outputs, and as a result this problem has considerable impact in areas where forecasting is of extreme importance. Such applications exist in diverse fields such as ocean modeling, economics system theory, seismology, pattern recognition and signal processing, to name a few.
Product Approximation: Error Estimates

A number of recent papers [3,4,5,7,8] (also see the references of [5]) have considered various computational and theoretical aspects of uniform product approximation. In the present paper an error estimate for uniform product approximation is reviewed, and error estimates are established for certain kinds of discrete uniform product approximations. These error estimates are compared with their counterparts for linear product approximation methods, (Powell, [6]).
A multi-encoding approach for LTL symbolic satisfiability checking

Formal behavioral specifications written early in the system-design process and communicated across all design phases have been shown to increase the efficiency, consistency, and quality of the system under development. To prevent introducing design or verification errors, it is crucial to test specifications for satisfiability. Our focus here is on specifications expressed in linear temporal logic (LTL). We introduce a novel encoding of symbolic transition-based Buchi automata and a novel, "sloppy," transition encoding, both of which result in improved scalability. We also define novel BDD variable orders based on tree decomposition of formula parse trees. We describe and extensively test a new multi-encoding approach utilizing these novel encoding techniques to create 30 encoding variations. We show that our novel encodings translate to significant, sometimes exponential, improvement over the current standard encoding for symbolic LTL satisfiability checking.
Cointegration and VECMs

The VARs that we looked at in the last chapter were very well suited for describing the short-run relationship between variables, especially if they are stationary. Most economic variables are not stationary, however. This required us to transform the variables, taking first differences, so that they are stationary. In this chapter, we show how to model the long-run relationship between variables in their levels, even if they are integrated. This is possible if two or more variables are “cointegrated.” If two variables are cointegrated, then, rather than taking the first difference of each variable, we can essentially model the difference between the two variables. Loosely speaking.
A Tissue-Specific and Temporally-Regulated Autophagic Switch Controls a Drosophila Nutritional Checkpoint

Properly timed production of steroid hormones by endocrine tissues regulates juvenile-to-adult transitions in both mammals (puberty) and holometabolous insects (metamorphosis). Nutritional conditions influence the temporal control of the transition, but the mechanisms responsible are ill-defined. Here we demonstrate that autophagy acts as an endocrine organ-specific, nutritionally-regulated, gating mechanism to help ensure productive metamorphosis in Drosophila. Autophagy in the endocrine organ is specifically stimulated by nutrient restriction (NR) at the early, but not the late L3 stage, which suppresses precocious metamorphosis in undersized larvae. Induction of autophagy disrupts production of the steroid hormone ecdysone not by destruction of biosynthetic capacity, but rather by limiting the availability of the steroid hormone precursor cholesterol. Interestingly, autophagy functions by interacting with endo/lysosome system, yet shows multiple features not fully consistent with a canonical autophagy process. Taken together, our findings demonstrate an autophagy mechanism in endocrine cells that helps guarantee a successful juvenile-to-adult transition in animals confronting nutritional stress.
Antecedents of epilepsy and seizures among children born at extremely low gestational age.

Objective To identify specific risk factors for epilepsy for individuals born extremely preterm. Study design In a prospective cohort study, at 10-year follow-up, children were classified as having epilepsy or seizures not associated with epilepsy. We evaluated for association of perinatal factors using time-oriented, multinomial logistic regression models. Results Of the 888 children included in the study, 66 had epilepsy and 39 had seizures not associated with epilepsy. Epilepsy was associated with an indicator of low socioeconomic status, maternal gestational fever, early physiologic instability, postnatal exposure to hydrocortisone, cerebral white matter disease and severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Seizure without epilepsy was associated with indicators of placental infection and inflammation, and hypoxemia during the first 24 postnatal hours. Conclusions In children born extremely preterm, epilepsy and seizures not associated with epilepsy have different risk profiles. Though both profiles included indicators of infection and inflammation, the profile of risk factors for epilepsy included multiple indicators of endogenous vulnerability.
Abstract 105: Increased Dynamic Mechanical Energy Dissipation in Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Objectives: Individualized patient rupture risk for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) remains elusive due to a limited understanding of the biomechanical events that trigger aneurysm growth and aort...
Mother knows best: maternal egg-clutch size predicts larval group size in pine sawflies (genus Neodiprion)

Abstract Evolutionary conflicts are pervasive in nature and have the potential to drive antagonistic coevolution of conflict-related traits. However, when such conflicts are weak or idiosyncratic, phenotypic signatures of coevolutionary arms races may be absent. Here, we ask whether variation in group-living traits among pine-sawfly species in the genus Neodiprion is consistent with a history of parent-offspring conflict. To address this question, we compile data on adult female clutch size, larval aggregation behavior, and larval group size for a monophyletic group of 19 eastern North American Neodiprion species from field observations, laboratory assays, and published descriptions. We then evaluate the extent to which each trait exhibits phylogenetic signal and, based on these results, examine correlations between group-size traits both with and without phylogenetic correction. Although female oviposition behavior and larval grouping behavior varies among species and variation in these traits is decoupled from phylogeny, we find no evidence of antagonistic coevolution between these traits. Furthermore, while larvae are physically capable of dispersal, female clutch size is a strong predictor of larval colony size, indicating that larvae do not substantially alter initial group size after hatching. Thus, although theoretical work demonstrates the potential for parent-offspring conflict over group size in animals that lack parental care, our data suggest that this type of conflict is not likely to be a long-term driver of phenotypic evolution.
Bacteriophage Qβ virus-like particles displaying Chikungunya virus B-cell epitopes elicit high-titer E2 protein antibodies but fail to neutralize a Thailand strain of Chikungunya virus

Abstract Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus associated with arthritis and musculoskeletal pains. More than 2.9 million people worldwide have been infected with the virus within the last 1.5 decades; currently, there are no approved vaccines to protect against CHIKV infection. To assess the potential of using CHIKV peptides as vaccine antigens, we multivalently displayed CHIKV peptides representing B-cell epitopes (amino acids 2800–2818, 3025–3058, 3073–3081, 3121–3146, and 3177–3210), from E2 glycoprotein (Singapore strain), on the surface of a highly immunogenic bacteriophage Qβ virus-like particle (VLP). We assessed the immunogenicity of CHIKV E2 amino acid 3025–3058 (including the other epitopes) displayed on Qβ VLPs in comparison to the same peptide not displayed on VLPs. Mice immunized with the E2 peptides displayed on Qβ VLPs elicited high-titer antibodies compared with the group immunized just with the peptide. However, sera from immunized mice did not neutralize CHIKV AF15561 (isolated from Thailand). The data suggest that Qβ VLPs is an excellent approach to elicit high-titer CHIKV E2-protein antibodies at a lower dose of antigen and future studies should assess whether Qβ-CHIKV E2 aa 2800–2818 VLPs and Qβ-CHIKV E2 aa 3025–3058 VLPs can neutralize a Singapore Strain of CHIKV.