cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FcγRIII (CD16) on human macrophages is a functional product of the FcγRIII-2 gene

The low-affinity Fc receptor for immune-complexed IgG (FcγRIII; CD16) present on in vitro cultured human monocytes are encoded by an FcγRIII-2 gene that, by cDNA sequence analysis, is identical to that expressed on tissue macrophages and on natural killer cells. In macrophages, FcγRIII-2 encodes a glycoprotein of 52-62 kDa, with a peptide backbone of 33 kDa identical to that of the homologous receptor on natural killer cells. Like this and unlike in polymorphonuclear neutrophils, FcγRIII (CD16) on cultured monocytes is insensitive to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, is not allelic for the neutrophil NA alloantigens NA-1/NA-2, is not recognized by a monoclonal antibody (1D3) detecting an epitope present only on neutrophil FcγRIII (CD16) and functions to trigger cytotoxicity upon ligand binding.
Special Nuclear material and critical infrastructure security modeling and simulation of physical protection systems

Over the last decade, the world has faced a rapidly expanding and dynamic threat environment. As demonstrated by the 9/11 and 26/11 terrorist attacks, adversary capabilities have evolved to include advanced tactics and increased militancy. For the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA), and other organizations responsible for protecting facilities housing special nuclear materials, this fragile mix of global uncertainty makes nuclear weapon security an important challenge. Sandia, using scientific and mathematic methodologies, is considered one of the world leaders in the design and implementation of physical protection systems (PPS) and VA methodology, in order to reduce the risk to both domestic and international high consequence facilities. Using the Presagis commercial software suite — primarily Scenario Toolkit and Generation Environment (STAGE), a complex simulation engine — the authors have developed a single analyst, Monte Carlo derived, agent decision-based, and event-driven interactive tool to help meet this need. Evaluating risk reduction for critical infrastructure against increasingly complex adversaries requires high fidelity VA modeling tools. Advanced adversary capabilities require modeling complex scenario variables, including multiple attack vectors and dynamically selected targets of opportunity. Large threat profiles with complex character behavior are needed for increasing adversary militancy. Coupled with Sandia methodology, the strength of the tool stems from the decision logic structure and built-in artificial intelligence components. STAGE allows for an inclusive command and control VA model that uses all traditional elements of a PPS (detection, communication, assessment, delay, command and control, response, interdiction, attrition, and neutralization). This paper will briefly describe the effect that the current threat environment has had on the VA process and then outline the role of STAGE in VA modeling and new threat reduction methodology. This paper also provides an update to the development of the STAGE tool, as well as a description of future plans to advance VA methodology and integrate STAGE simulation analysis with an existing physical site (the Integrated Security Facility at Sandia — a former Category I facility).
Mechanism of gel electrophoresis of DNA: unexpected findings

This review discusses some unresolved problems in understanding the molecular mechanism of the electrophoresis of DNA through gels, problems that have come to light only recently. These include: the wide variety of dependences of the electrophoretic mobility on DNA length, the effect of chirality of supercoiling on the mobility, and the formation of large aggregates of DNA in free-solution electrophoresis in capillaries.
Firm Size and Industrial Structure in the United States During the Nineteenth Century

This paper investigates the impact of the emergence of large-scale enterprises on industrial structure in America in the mid-nineteenth century and concludes that their impact was ambiguous. In cottons and irons, average scale increased dramatically, but inequality in the size distribution of plants declined and economic concentration showed no clear trend. In other industries, changes in average scale were much smaller and inequality increased, but again there was no clear trend in concentration. These results are explained by the remarkable persistence of small plants in most industries and I argue that explaining this phenomenon is crucial to understanding industrialization. THE traditional historiography of nineteenth-century American industrialization emphasizes the small scale of antebellum manufacturing establishments and the subsequent emergence of big business.1 The usual explanation for this is that before the Civil War high transport costs were not offset by large-scale production economies so that plants remained small and served local markets. After the war, however, Alfred Chandler has argued that "new methods of transportation and communication, by permitting a large and steady flow of raw materials into and finished products out of a factory, made possible unprecedented levels of production. The realization of this potential required, however, the invention of new machinery and processes."2 Marx also reached similar conclusions.3 These forces led in turn to sharp increases in optimal plant size because they gave large plants substantial cost advantages over smaller ones.
ATP Utilization by Yeast Replication Factor C I. ATP-MEDIATED INTERACTION WITH DNA AND WITH PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN

Eukaryotic replication factor C is the heteropentameric complex that loads the replication clamp proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) onto primed DNA. In this study we used a derivative, designated RFC, with a N-terminal truncation of the Rfc1 subunit removing a DNA-binding domain not required for clamp loading. Interactions of yeast RFC with PCNA and DNA were studied by surface plasmon resonance. Binding of RFC to PCNA was stimulated by either adenosine (3-thiotriphosphate) (ATPγS) or ATP. RFC bound only to primer-template DNA coated with the single-stranded DNA-binding protein RPA if ATPγS was also present. Binding occurred without dissociation of RPA. ATP did not stimulate binding of RFC to DNA, suggesting that hydrolysis of ATP dissociated DNA-bound RFC. However, when RFC and PCNA together were flowed across the DNA chip in the presence of ATP, a signal was observed suggesting loading of PCNA by RFC. With ATPγS present instead of ATP, long-lived response signals were observed indicative of loading complexes arrested on the DNA. A primer with a 3′ single-stranded extension also allowed loading of PCNA; yet turnover of the reaction intermediates was dramatically slowed down. Filter binding experiments and analysis of proteins bound to DNA-magnetic beads confirmed the conclusions drawn from the surface plasmon resonance studies.
Phosphorylation and affinity constants for the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by dimethoxon analogs

Abstract Seventeen oxon-analogs of dimethoate were prepared and the in vitro cholinesterase inhibition constants ( K a , k 2 , and k i ) and in vivo toxicities to mice and houseflies determined. The in vitro cholinesterase inhibition studies indictated that monosubstitution on the carbamoyl nitrogen primarily affected reactivity ( k 2 ), whereas di-substitution affected affinity ( K a ). Modification of the O,O -dialkyl moiety had little effect on affinity although reactivity increased proportionately with chain length. Conformational change in the enzyme surface was suggested as a possible explanation of these results. A distance of 2.7 to 4.7 A between the carbonyl carbon and phosphorus atoms of these inhibitors appeared to best satisfy the spatial requirements of acetylcholinesterase. While most of the compounds investigated were highly toxic to mice, only compounds which were N -mono-substituted showed insecticidal activity. There was no definite correlation between in vivo and in vitro studies.
Relation of lactate production to postischaemic reduction in function and myocardial oxygen consumption after partial coronary occlusion in swine

Postischaemic myocardial dysfunction (stunning) induced by partial occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and its relation to lactate production during reperfusion were studied in nine swine. A 40% reduction in regional left ventricular wall thickening, as measured by ultrasonic crystals, was prospectively defined as stunning. A perfusion pressure of 20 mmHg was maintained with a hydraulic occluder for each ischaemic period and was monitored by a distal arterial catheter. To achieve a 40% reduction in function, four animals required three ischaemic periods (mean ischaemic flow reduction 73%), four two (86% flow reduction), and one one (93% flow reduction). At 25 min of reperfusion transmural flow was slightly reduced from 0.67 ml.g-1.min-1 at control to 0.58 ml.g-1.min-1 (p less than 0.05), whereas regional flow endocardial to epicardial flow ratio was unchanged. At 60 min reperfusion, percentage systolic wall thickening was reduced to 25% from a control of 39% (p less than 0.01) and parallel reductions in regional myocardial oxygen consumption from 4.3 ml.min-1 to 2.7 ml.min-1 occurred (p less than 0.01). Lactate extraction was depressed at 15 min reperfusion (-4.0% compared with control +18.0% (p less than 0.05)) but returned to control values by 30 min. It is concluded that postischaemic myocardial dysfunction (stunning) can be induced by partial coronary occlusions and that the extent of dysfunction depends on the degree of flow reduction. The reductions in myocardial oxygen consumption parallel those of wall thickening during reperfusion after stunning. Finally, lactate production occurs during early reperfusion but does not persist with the postischaemic reductions in function and myocardial oxygen consumption.
Small Satellite Rendezvous Using Differential Lift and Drag

The potential benefits of using small satellites are expected to increase if they are operated in groups to form “virtual” satellites, which have the same functionality of a much larger satellite but at a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately, due to third body gravitational forces, solar radiation pressure, and other perturbing forces, the satellites will drift apart if no control mechanism is employed to maintain the formation. This work describes a passive technique that uses the differential aerodynamic forces experienced by two spacecraft to exert a modest amount of control over their relative motion. Each spacecraft is assumed to possess a simple flat plate, which can be oriented to produce aerodynamic lift and drag. A control law is developed that allows the relative positions of the satellites to be controlled by adjusting the orientations of the plates. A simulation of a group of two small satellites will be performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
A note on the information content of graphs

The role played by the group of a graph in determining sets of equivalent points is exposed and illustrated by a few simple examples.
Adaptive optics system for solid state laser systems used in inertial confinement fusion

Using adaptive optics the authors have obtained nearly diffraction-limited 5 kJ, 3 nsec output pulses at 1.053 {micro}m from the Beamlet demonstration system for the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The peak Strehl ratio was improved from 0.009 to 0.50, as estimated from measured wavefront errors. They have also measured the relaxation of the thermally induced aberrations in the main beam line over a period of 4.5 hours. Peak-to-valley aberrations range from 6.8 waves at 1.053 {micro}m within 30 minutes after a full system shot to 3.9 waves after 4.5 hours. The adaptive optics system must have enough range to correct accumulated thermal aberrations from several shots in addition to the immediate shot-induced error. Accumulated wavefront errors in the beam line will affect both the design of the adaptive optics system for NIF and the performance of that system.
Genetic analysis of hypertension in the Dahl salt-sensitive rat

Summary Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for blood pressure were sought using crosses of Dahl salt sensitive (S) rats and various normotensive strains. Multiple QTL were detected by linkage analysis and these were confirmed by construction of congenic strains for the QTL on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 13.
Discipline and diversity in the suburban US South

This study focuses on the perceptions and professional practice of Black and White teachers in a high poverty, predominately Latino elementary school in the suburban US South. The investigation explored how successful practitioners negotiated student disciplinary concerns within their classrooms. Race and gender gaps were documented in three of the four participants' classrooms as Black males were over-represented on behavioral sanctions in two classes while Asian and Hispanic males were disciplined at a disproportionately high rate in the third. When discipline gaps were documented, the disparities were associated with students' language status and grade level. The role of contextual factors in facilitating the study's findings is highlighted and implications for theory and educational practice are discussed.
Continuous-time Markov processes as a stochastic model for sedimentation

Markov processes with a continuous-time parameter are more satisfactory for describing sedimentation than discrete-time Markov chains because they treat sedimentation as a natural process that happens continuously (i.e., which is unbroken in time). They also avoid certain technicalities that arise in discrete time—namely, the choice of a time unit. Finally, they yield not only the same information as a discrete-time analysis, but also give information about the distribution of the thicknesses of the lithologies.
Taxane vs. taxane: is the duel at an end? A commentary on a phase-III trial of doxorubicin and docetaxel versus doxorubicin and paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer: results of the ERASME 3 study

Taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) comprise a class of mitotic inhibitors which considered highly active chemotherapeutic agents against cancer cells, and have become a cornerstone in the treatment of patients with early and advanced breast cancer. Following the initial generation of trials conducted to prove their efficacy, investigators turned to explore which taxane is superior in terms of efficacy, side effects, and quality of life based on head-to-head comparisons of paclitaxel versus docetaxel containing regimens. Moreover, many trials conducted to evaluate the optimal taxane dosing and schedule. This commentary discusses the ERASME 3 trial which compared the quality of life after four courses of doxorubicin combination with either paclitaxel or docetaxel, and also, it reviews all trials compared paclitaxel to docetaxel in both early and metastatic disease settings, in terms of efficacy, dosing, schedule, and toxicity profile.
Experimental searches for the neutron electric dipole moment

The possible existence of a neutron electric dipole (EDM) was put forward as an experimental question in 1949, 60 years ago, and still remains an outstanding question in modern physics. A review of the technical innovations that allowed for improving the experimental limit by nearly eight orders of magnitude (approximately a decade per decade) will be presented, along with a discussion of the prospects for further improvement.
A study on intrusion detection model based on hybrid classifier

In order to improve the accuracy of classification problem in intrusion detection, a hybrid classifier which was composed by KPCA, BPNN and QGA, has been proposed in this paper. In the hybrid classifier, KPCA was used to reduce dimensions, and then QGA was used to search the best parameters for BPNN. BPNN which has been got the best weights matrix and thresholds by QGA, was used to train classification model. The main core factors of original dataset can be preserved by KPCA, and greatly reduced the computations. The weakness of BPNN, which was usually easy to get stuck in local minimum, can be solved by QGA. Finally, the effectiveness of hybrid classifier was proved by experiments. Compared with traditional methods, the hybrid classifier has better performance in reducing the classify errors.
Government regulation and hospitality management

Abstract The last two decades have seen a massive increase in the United States of laws affecting business activity. These may constrain managerial decision-making and force up economic costs. Increasing conflict between managers and legal regulators of business activity may result in an era of non-compliance with the law.
Effect of ovariectomy on bone response to in vivo external loading

This study was undertaken to find whether the bone response to increased external loading (EL) of the tibia in rats is affected by estrogen depletion. Female Sprague-Dawley rats 6 months were randomly assigned to four groups of 10 each: sham ovariectomy without loading (Shm-XL), ovariectomy without loading (OVX-XL), sham ovariectomy with external loading (Shm-EL), and ovariectomy with external loading (OVX-EL). In vivo external loading by a four-point bending device was initiated 4 weeks after surgery. The right lower leg of each EL rat was loaded at 31.4 ± 0.2 N for 36 cycles at 2 Hz every other day for 21 days (11 loading days). Mean in vivo induced strain was 1305 microstrain (μϵ) for Shm-EL rats and 1280μϵ for OVX-EL rats. With external loading of the tibia, periosteal bone formation rose equally in Shm and OVX rats. Woven bone was present around the tibia or fibula in 60% of the loaded rats and none of the control rats. No loading response occurred either at the endocortical surface or in the cancellous bone of the proximal tibial metaphysis. After OVX, cancellous bone area in the proximal metaphysis declined and formation surface rose compared to Shm rats. Although periosteal and endocortical bone formation rose after OVX, no cortical bone loss occurred. We conclude that ovariectomy and attendant loss of endogenous estrogen do not change the cortical bone response to an external load of about 1300μϵ in rats. However, these results may not predict the cortical bone response to loading in animals with Haversian remodeling that display estrogen-related loss of cortical bone.
Impact of cutbacks: alternative futures in public health nursing.

UTBACKS and alternative futures? What a dismal prospect. Cutbacks are generally mentioned in dramatic headlines, and are usually associated with predictions of a bad outcome for some client group. Many groups discussing alternative futures are already wearing surccA vival gear, and asking, "What can I do to pay the rent if I cannot go on doing what I am doing?" This discussion is intended to present the situation in a somewhat more positive light. Public health and public health nursing are, in fact, in a transition period, with much potential for moving forward to a future which can be very exciting.
Duodenal Ulcer Producing Obstructive Jaundice

Summary A case of duodenal ulcer (with gastrointestinal obstruction) which produced common duct obstruction and jaundice is presented.
Portable execution traces for parallel program debugging and performance visualization

There is much interest in defining a standard for event traces collected from parallel architectures. A standard would support free data and tool sharing among researchers working on varied architectures. But defining that standard has proved to be difficult. Any standard must allow user-defined events and avoid or hide event semantics as much as possible. The authors propose a standard based on a declaration language, which describes how the raw event trace is to be translated into a normal form. Analysis tools then share a common interface to a compiler and interpreter which use the declarations to fetch, transform, and augment trace data. This concept is evaluated through construction of a prototype declaration compiler and interpreter. >
Colon Cancer Chemoprevention With Ginseng and Other Botanicals

Colorectal cancer is becoming increasingly common in Asian countries and still remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Efforts to prevent colon cancer have targeted early detection through screening and chemoprevention. For the last ten years our laboratory has utilized an in vivo screening assay for the testing of potential cancer preventives for colon cancer. We have conducted investigations on over 150 compounds including many with botanical or herbal origins. As part of our program on natural products we have examined a number of herbal and botanical products in the aberrant crypt foci (ACF) assay including Korean red ginseng powder, green tea catechins, curcumin from the Indian culinary spice, tumeric, compounds from garlic and onion, resveratrol from red grapes, among others. In the ginseng experiments groups of 10 F344 rats were fed ginseng powder at a dose of 0.5 g/kg or 2 mg/kg for 5 weeks. During weeks 2 and 3 rats were injected with 10 mg/kg azoxymethane to induce ACF. Controls (n=10) did not receive azoxymethane (AOM). Rats were killed by CO2 overdose and ACF counted in the rat colon. In 8 week post-initiation experiments ginseng powder inhibited the progression of established ACF, indicating a cytostatic effect. This may be due to an anti-inflammatory effect. There is a body of literature that suggests that compounds in wine, tumeric, and tea inhibit cyclooxygenases, thus reducing prostaglandin-mediated effects on the colon. As colon tumors have been shown to highly express COX-2 protein, and given, that many NSAID drugs also suppress COX-1, it is tempting to speculate that herbal products that inhibit one or both forms of the COX enzyme will be effective agents for the prevention of cancer in man.
Decentralized estimators for interconnected systems using the interface information

A method for designing decentralized linear state estimators for large-scale systems is proposed. The system under consideration, called the global system, consists of a set of interconnected subsystems called local models. The coupling among the subsystems is described by an algebraic equation. The information about the system consists of noisy measurements taken at the subsystem level, called local measurements. Each local measurement comprises measurement on the local state vector and on the interaction variables. Decentralized estimators that minimize the performance index are sought. Decentralization is obtained from the fact that only local models and information are used in the design. The optimality conditions are derived through the connection structure, and the constraints that these conditions impose on either the connection variable measurements or the interaction equations are developed. The global state estimate of the overall state vector is obtained by stacking local state estimators. >
XV—Going Beyond the Fundamental: Feminism in Contemporary Metaphysics

Much recent literature in metaphysics attempts to answer the question, ‘What is metaphysics?’ In this paper I argue that many of the most influential contemporary answers to this question yield the result that feminist metaphysics is not metaphysics. I further argue this result is problematic.
Male donor into female recipient increases the risk of pediatric heart allograft rejection.

Abstract Sixty-one infants and children, 12 years old or younger, who received an orthotopic cardiac allograft between November 1985 and December 1989 were analyzed for the incidence of rejection. Rejection was diagnosed non-invasively within the first 3 months and during the first year. Rejection episodes were diagnosed by signs and symptoms according to previously reported criteria. Multiple regression analysis with recipient age, donor age, donor-recipient weight ratio, number of HLA mismatches, sex of the recipient, sex-encoded minor tissue antigen incompatibility (H-Y: female recipients receiving male donor organ), graft ischemic time, lowest cyclosporine level during the first 2 postoperative weeks, and prophylactic use of OKT3 showed that H-Y was the only significant contributing factor for rejection at 3 months and 1 year ( r = 0.308, p r = 0.308, p p p 6 / 15 , 37.5%) and 7 grafts lost ( 7 / 45 , 15.5%) in Group 1 (not significant). Heart transplantation with H-Y incompatibility resulted in a significantly greater incidence of rejection episodes.
Piecewise Riccati equations and the bounded real lemma

This article concerns piecewise linear systems and determining if they meet given H/sup /spl infin// performance specifications. Such problems occur in control of linear systems with saturation nonlinearities. While one could imagine many mathematically natural piecewise linear systems problems we took care to extract one which does correspond to control of saturated plants. We think many such problems will fall into the category treated here. After a serious compromise (which makes our test for meeting specifications conservative), we arrive at a type of piecewise Riccati equation. Even these look formidable, however we begin a study of them. >
Copper Deficiency During Parenteral Nutrition: A Report of Four Pediatric Cases:

The standard of care for patients with cholestasis (direct bilirubin >or=2 mg/dL) while receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions is to reduce or discontinue the copper and manganese. The repercussions of this action have not been studied. Two adult case reports document low serum copper levels associated with clinical symptoms of copper deficiency after the removal of copper from their PN solutions. We now describe the first known series of pediatric patients to develop copper deficiency after copper was removed from their PN solutions.
LIM kinase 1 - dependent cofilin 1 pathway and actin dynamics mediate nuclear retinoid receptor function in T lymphocytes

Background It is known that retinoid receptor function is attenuated during T cell activation, a phenomenon that involves actin remodeling, suggesting that actin modification may play a role in such inhibition. Here we have investigated the role of actin dynamics and the effect of actin cytoskeleton modifying agents on retinoid receptor-mediated transactivation.
The effect of air velocity on broiler performance and feed and water consumption

Two trials were conducted to determine the effect of air velocity on feed and water consumption at a constant temperature of 27 C and a daily cyclic temperature of 22-32-22 C. Air velocity over the broilers was <15 or 120 m/min. These temperature and air velocity treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial design in eight environmental chambers, with two replications of each treatment. The air velocity treatments were applied, and total feed and water consumption and daily patterns of consumption were determined for broilers from 21 to 49 d of age. Broilers exposed to the high air velocity consumed less water and more feed, gained more weight, and had an improved feed:gain ratio. The high air velocity had little effect on daily patterns of feed and water consumption. Both feed and water consumption were depressed during the peak of the daily cyclic temperature.
Clinical applications for topical 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of dermatological disorders

Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been used for the treatment of dermatological conditions for nearly half a century. Although the indications for 5-FU approved by the US Food and Drug Administration include actinic keratosis and superficial basal cell carcinoma, studies also have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy for 5-FU in the treatment of many other dermatological conditions, including squamous cell carcinoma in situ, warts, psoriasis of the nail, keratoacanthoma, and vitiligo. This review discusses clinical data which support the use of 5-FU for these disease states.
Direct and adjoint sensitivity analysis of chemical kinetic systems with KPP: II—numerical validation and applications

Abstract The Kinetic PreProcessor KPP was extended to generate the building blocks needed for the direct and adjoint sensitivity analysis of chemical kinetic systems. An overview of the theoretical aspects of sensitivity calculations and a discussion of the KPP software tools is presented in the companion paper. In this work the correctness and efficiency of the KPP generated code for direct and adjoint sensitivity studies are analyzed through an extensive set of numerical experiments. Direct-decoupled Rosenbrock methods are shown to be cost-effective for providing sensitivities at low and medium accuracies. A validation of the discrete–adjoint evaluated gradients is performed against the finite difference estimates. The accuracy of the adjoint gradients is measured using a reference gradient value obtained with a standard direct-decoupled method. The accuracy is studied for both constant step size and variable step size integration of the forward/adjoint model and the consistency between the discrete and continuous adjoint models is analyzed. Applications of the KPP-1.2 software package to direct and adjoint sensitivity studies, variational data assimilation, and parameter identification are considered for the comprehensive chemical mechanism SAPRC-99.
FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION FOR NEUROMUSCULAR APPLICATIONS

▪ Abstract Paralyzed or paretic muscles can be made to contract by applying electrical currents to the intact peripheral motor nerves innervating them. When electrically elicited muscle contractions are coordinated in a manner that provides function, the technique is termed functional electrical stimulation (FES). In more than 40 years of FES research, principles for safe stimulation of neuromuscular tissue have been established, and methods for modulating the strength of electrically induced muscle contractions have been discovered. FES systems have been developed for restoring function in the upper extremity, lower extremity, bladder and bowel, and respiratory system. Some of these neuroprostheses have become commercialized products, and others are available in clinical research settings. Technological developments are expected to produce new systems that have no external components, are expandable to multiple applications, are upgradable to new advances, and are controlled by a combination of signals, ...
Chasing cancer with chimeric antigen receptor therapy.

Evaluation of: Porter DL, Levine BL, Kalos M et al. Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells in chronic lymphoid leukemia. N. Engl. J. Med. 365, 725–733 (2011). Many attempts to use genetically modified T cells to halt tumor progression have been met with disappointment and significant challenges in the successful application within human patients. Porter et al., however, describe the use of genetically modified lymphocytes bearing a chimeric antigen receptor that bypasses many of the common limitations of adoptive lymphocyte therapy. Through incorporation of a costimulatory domain within the chimeric antigen receptor, the investigators engineered lymphocytes with significantly higher tumor rejection activity and demonstrated significant expansion and prolonged survival after in vivo transfer to a single patient who showed a complete regression of refractory chronic lymphoid leukemia. This recent success in using genetically modified T cells to kill chronic lymphoid leukemia tumor cells is an encouragin...
Men Who Experienced Violence or Trauma as Children or Adolescents and Who Used Violence in Their Intimate Relationships

Understanding the lived experience of men who have committed violent acts against their intimate partners may provide insight into nursing interventions that may prevent or cease violence against women. Nurses have opportunities to intervene with men who use violence in their intimate relationships who present with a history of maltreatment or trauma as a child or young adult or who have a history of having been exposed to cultures that promoted violence. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the lived, everyday experiences of men who have used violence in their intimate relationships, including the men's values, purposes, and choices they had in life. To answer the research question, “What is the lived experience of men who have used violence in their intimate relationships and who have used alcohol or other drugs?” a descriptive, phenomenological research design was undertaken. Unstructured individual interviews with seven men resulted in the emergence of 16 themes, three of which are descr...
Nanometer-scale photonic passive and active components for future communications

The advancement of enabling photonic components developed for fiber-optic communication systems began nearly forty years ago while advantages of using light-wave communication in computing systems have been discussed for several decades. Following the history of microelectronics, the size of required photonic components for future communication systems will certainly need to be scaled down dramatically along a route of exploring higher system performance. The concept of photonic bandgap crystals has been around more than two decades. A line-defect within a two-dimensional photonic bandgap crystal provides efficient spatial confinement of light, which is a building block of a variety of routing and processing schemes of light. In contrast, silicon in the form of complementary metal semiconductor oxide (CMOS) platform has been a core in microelectronics. Silicon nanophotonics that allow CMOS platforms to handle light, thus, would offer a wide range of photonic functions that are required for CMOS platforms to further progress. While the photonic bandgap crystal and silicon nanophotonics are still subject to the diffraction limit of light, photonic devices that use surface plasmon polaritons and / or energy transfer mechanisms relying upon optical near-field interactions would pave the road toward ultimate photonic integration beyond the diffraction limit of light.
Health Literacy: Collaborating to Educate Professionals

Limited health literacy is a pervasive problem in the United States that affects both the health of the individual and the economics of the health care system. Being able to easily recognize a person's health literacy can be a challenge. Certain factors, including formal education, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, have a tendency to correlate with limited health literacy. Librarians can facilitate and improve communication in raising awareness through collaboration with clinicians. Statistics related to health literacy are provided, and red flag behaviors are noted.
Prenatal diagnosis of intra-atrial cardiac echogenic foci

Intra-atrial echogenic foci were detected in 3 out of 15,706 fetuses (prevalence 0.019 per cent). In all cases, they were located in the right atrium. Normal chromosomes and negative TORCH titres were observed in all affected cases. Fetuses with intra-atrial echogenic foci demonstrated adequate intra-uterine growth and had normal neonatal outcome. Intra-atrial echogenic foci seem to represent a normal variant of fetal cardiac development.
Presence of pores and hydrogel composition influence tensile properties of scaffolds fabricated from well‐defined sphere templates

Sphere templating is an attractive method to produce porous polymeric scaffolds with well-defined and uniform pore structures for applications in tissue engineering. While high porosity is desired to facilitate cell seeding and enhance nutrient transport, the incorporation of pores will impact gross mechanical properties of tissue scaffolds and will likely be dependent on pore size. The goals of this study were to evaluate the effect of pores, pore diameter, and polymer composition on gross mechanical properties of hydrogels prepared from crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA). Sphere templates were fabricated from uncrosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) spheres sieved between 53-63 and 150-180 μm. Incorporating pores into hydrogels significantly decreased the quasi-static modulus and ultimate tensile stress, but increased the ultimate tensile strain. For pHEMA, decreases in gel crosslinking density and increases in pore diameters followed similar trends. Interestingly, the mechanical properties of porous PEG hydrogels were less sensitive to changes in pore diameter for a given polymer composition. Additionally, pore diameter was shown to affect skeletal myoblast adhesion whereby many cells cultured in porous hydrogels with smaller pores were seen spanning across multiple pores, but lined the inside of larger pores. In summary, incorporation of pores and changes in pore diameter significantly affect the gross mechanical properties, but in a manner that is dependent on gel chemistry, structure, and composition. Together, these findings will help to design better hydrogel scaffolds for applications where gross mechanical properties and porosity are critical.
Super-stretchable metallic interconnects on polymer with a linear strain of up to 100%

Metal interconnects in flexible and wearable devices are heterogeneous metal-polymer systems that are expected to sustain large deformation without failure. The principal strategy to make strain tolerant interconnect lines on flexible substrates has comprised of creating serpentine structures of metal films with either in-plane or out-of-plane waves, using porous substrates, or using highly ductile materials such as gold. The wavy and helical serpentine patterns preclude high-density packing of interconnect lines on devices, while ductile materials such as Au are cost prohibitive for real world applications. Ductile copper films can be stretched if bonded to the substrate, but show high level of cracking beyond few tens of % strain. In this paper, we demonstrate a material system consisting of Indium metal film over an elastomer (PDMS) with a discontinuous Cr layer such that the metal interconnect can be stretched to extremely high linear strain (up to 100%) without any visible cracks. Such linear strain ...
The Potential Evolutionary Significance of Retroviral-Like Transposable Elements in Peripheral Populations

Evolutionists have long speculated that peripheral populations (i.e., genetically isolated populations, founded by a few individuals and located on the margin of a species’ range) may be especially conducive to the emergence of new species and other evolutionary novelties (e.g., Mayr 1954; Carson 1959). This speculation is based in part on observation and in part on theory. Peripheral populations are frequently observed to be associated with morphological and behavioral phenotypes which significantly differ from those characteristic of populations making up the continuous body of a species’ range (e.g., Mayr 1942; Soule 1966). The theoretical explanations which have been offered to account for the putatively unique properties of peripheral populations differ in detail but generally consist of ecological and genetic components (Mayr 1960; Carson and Templeton 1984, Carson 1985). Populations located at the periphery of a species range are often ecologically marginal. This means that phenotypes which are adaptive throughout the main or central range of the species may not be optimally or even adequately suited to ecological conditions on the periphery. Thus, there may be significant selective pressure exerted on peripheral populations to evolve new adaptive phenotypes.
Endolymphatic Sac Carcinoma In Situ in a Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko)

Abstract An 11-year-old female tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) was presented for bilateral asymmetric swellings of the cervical region. Baseline hematologic and plasma biochemical analyses demonstrated anemia, hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypoalbuminemia. Whole-body radiographs revealed a mass effect and irregular mineralization in the region of the left endolymphatic sac. Fine needle aspiration of this region revealed many elongated calcium-based crystals with pointed ends, histiocytic inflammation, and clusters of epithelial cells, consistent with hyperplasia or neoplasia of the epithelium of the endolymphatic sac. The crystals were shown to be calcium carbonate by infrared crystallography. Given the advanced state of disease and inability to completely excise the mass due to the intimate association between the meninges and endolymphatic sac, the gecko was euthanized. Gross necropsy and histopathologic evaluation revealed carcinoma in situ of the left endolymphatic sac. To our knowledge, this is the...
To Be Imported or to Be Endemic? That is the Question.

Melioidosis is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the environmental anaerobic Gram-negative bacillus Burkholderia pseudomallei. Melioidosis is endemic to areas of northern Australia and Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam [1]. B. pseudomallei dwells in soil and water, and is transmitted via percutaneous inoculation, inhalation, or the ingestion of infected food or water. Consequently, individuals in regular contact with soil and water are frequently affected [2]. Melioidosis shows a wide range of clinical manifestations with varying severity. Pneumonia is the most frequent presenting feature, followed by genitourinary infection, skin infection, septic arthritis, and osteomyelitis [3]. Disseminated abscess formation in the internal organs is the hallmark of melioidosis. With increasing international travel and migration, cases of melioidosis imported from endemic regions are being reported regularly, and it is important that physicians be more aware of melioidosis. In South Korea, there were 11 known cases of melioidosis from 2003 to 2014, and the first six of these cases have been reported previously 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Here, we summarize the epidemiological and clinical manifestations of imported melioidosis in South Korea. The authors summarize 11 cases of melioidosis reported in South Korea from 2003 to 2014. They traced epidemiological investigations on every patient reported to the national surveillance system since 2011. A systematic literature search was followed to identify melioidosis cases that occurred before 2011. The overall fatality rate was 36.4%. All of the patients had visited Southeast Asia where melioidosis is endemic. They had stayed in the endemic region ranged from 4 days to 20 years. Of the seven patients who developed initial symptoms after returning to South Korea, the time interval from returning to symptom onset ranged from 1 day to 3 years. The remaining four patients developed symptoms during their stay in the endemic region and were diagnosed with melioidosis in South Korea. Seven (63.6%) patients possessed at least one risk factor, all of whom were diabetic. Pneumonia was the most frequent clinical manifestation, but the patients showed a wide spectrum of clinical features, including internal organ abscesses, a mycotic aneurysm of the aorta, and coinfection with tuberculosis. The authors concluded early diagnosis and the initiation of the appropriate antibiotics could reduce the mortality of melioidosis, and suggested that increased awareness of the risk factors and clinical features of melioidosis be required in Korea.
Computer Vision Systems: Past, Present, and Future

Human beings are equipped with marvelous biological resources to enable interpretation of visual stimuli. Since the early sixties researchers in computer vision have been trying to teach computers to perform the same kind of tasks that humans do so well. Early systems worked exclusively in the “blocks world” domain, trying to separate out and identify each polyhedron in a scene. The use of constraint analysis was introduced and physical constraints on edges and vertices were developed for polyhedral objects and later extended to include objects having curved surfaces. Blocks world objects were essentially modeled by surface-edgevertex representations which did not easily extend to more complex objects. The emphasis switched to relational models employing three-dimensional primitives. The generalized cylinder was introduced and successfully used as the building block of models in a number of systems. At the same time, advanced control mechanisms such as pyramid structures and discrete and continuous relaxation processes were being used. We are now at a stage where full-blown vision systems employing many levels of cooperating processes are being built. In this paper we will review the important earlier systems and give detailed reports of the more recent ones. We will then predict the direction of future systems.
Effects of temperature on slow and fast inactivation of rat skeletal muscle Na+channels

Patch-clamp studies of mammalian skeletal muscle Na+ channels are commonly done at subphysiological temperatures, usually room temperature. However, at subphysiological temperatures, most Na+ chann...
Abstract C31: Racial/ethnic differences in cancer survivorship: The example of breast cancer-related lymphedema severity

Introduction: Breast-cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is a persistent adverse outcome of cancer treatment that affects the physical health and quality of life of up to 1 in 3 of the 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the US. For those with BCRL, known predictors of progression include BMI, type of surgery and radiation treatment, each of which is independently associated with race/ethnicity. Observational studies have found that Black/African-American women are more likely than Whites to develop BCRL, but no studies have explored the association of race/ethnicity with BCRL severity. Method: The WISER Survivor Trial has collected baseline data from 149 overweight (BMI≥25) women with upper body BCRL (61% White; 39% African-American). Ordinal logistic regression modeling was used to explore the associations of known predictors of lymphedema progression and race/ethnicity with lymphedema grade (0-3). Results: In univariate analysis, higher age at breast cancer surgery, being African-American, and having had chemotherapy or radiation therapy were significantly associated with higher lymphedema grade. Multivariate analysis revealed that race mediates the relationship between BMI and lymphedema grade such that being African-American AND having an elevated BMI is associated with higher lymphedema grade while elevated BMI is not associated with higher lymphedema grade among White women, such that at equivalent BMI, African-American women were 20% more likely to have a higher lymphedema severity (OR=1.20 [1.00, 1.44]; p=0.043). Discussion: These findings point to a need for clinicians to be aware of increased risk of lymphedema for overweight African-American female breast cancer survivors. The cause of the observed interaction of African-American race/ethnicity and BMI on lymphedema severity remains to be elucidated. Previous studies have observed a relationship of higher lymphedema grade with higher costs to care for the condition, as well as worse functional ability of the upper body. Therefore, increased odds of higher lymphedema grade among African-American women with elevated BMI could contribute to a meaningful difference in the burden of breast cancer survivorship for this underserved minority population. To further elucidate this relationship, prospective collection on health-care costs for breast cancer survivors with lymphedema is warranted. This work has implications to affect care for and quality of life of up to 1 in 3 of the 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the US who have BCRL. Citation Format: Lorraine T. Dean, Taehoon Kim, Matthew Herling, Justin Brown, J Sanford Schwartz, Kathryn Schmitz. Racial/ethnic differences in cancer survivorship: The example of breast cancer-related lymphedema severity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C31. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-C31