cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stratigraphy, structure, absolute age, and paleontology of the upper Pleistocene deposits at Sankaty Head, Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

The Sankaty Head cliff of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, exposes drift of at least two glaciations and interglacial marine deposits. Radiocarbon, amino-acid-racemization, and uranium-thorium analyses were used to determine the absolute ages of the beds. The results indicate that (1) the Sankaty Sand correlates with oxygen-isotope stage 5 (Sangamonian), (2) the underlying drift is older than stage 5 (Illinoian or older), and (3) the overlying drift is Wisconsinan in age. Ostracodes and molluscs within the Sankaty Sand indicate that the marine climate during deposition of the lower part was somewhat warmer than the present climate off Sankaty Head and that the marine climate during the deposition of the upper part was as cold as or somewhat colder than the present climate. The paleoenvironmental data support a stage 5 (Sangamonian) age for the marine deposits.
EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE FLOTATION OF MARINE DIATOMS. I. THALASSIOSIRA CF. NANA, THALASSIOSIRA ROTULA AND NITZSCHIA SERIATA

The influence of cell age, size, and shape and mode of colony formation on diatom sinking rates was investigated in 25 experiments with Thalassiosira cf. nana Lohmann, Thalassiosira rotu.&~ Meunier and Nitzschia seriata Cleve. The settling experiments were conducted in 45 ml of 32% seawater at 15C using a glass settling tube in which the water column height varied from 74 to 79 mm. The mean sinking rates of T. cf. nanu and T. rotula increased with age of the culture: from 0.10 to 0.28, and from 0.41 to 2.10 m/day, respectively. The absolute minimum and maximum rates were 0.05 and 5.40 m/day for T. cf. nma and 0.18 and 44.93 m/day for T. rotz there was a general tendency for the mean sinking rate to increase with colony size. At the absolute maximum sinking rates observed, from 2 to 34 days would be required by the species to descend 100 m, while from 556 to 2,000 days would be required at the absolute minimum rates. The data suggest that during vigorous growth an increased buoyancy adequate to ensure prolonged retention within the euphotic zone occurs and is independent of species morphological characteristics. Morphological changes in cell size and colony size appear to influence the increased sinking rate accompanying senescence, however. Changes in ratios of pigment absorbance at various wavelengths (352 : 474 m,u, 382 : 474 rnk, 404 : 474 rnp, 434 : 474 rnp, 414 : 352 mp) were found to accompany changes in the rate of sinking, suggesting that the latter might also be influenced by changes in adaptive physiological mechanisms of flotation.
Physio-Sociology or Psychology of Conscience? Reply to Smith

Smith (1995) argues that low nervous reactivity predicts sensation-seeking and psychopathy. Recent evidence strongly suggests that low reactivity, usually designated as low trait anxiety, does not predict primary psychopathy or anti-social behavior. This evidence also indicates that there is more than one type of sensation-seeking. The type which involves physical risk-taking was completely unrelated to psychopathy or anti-social behavior. Smith takes exception to the introduction of moral universals into the controversy over the sources of psychopathy. A very strong case can be made for the existence and relevance of such universals. The psychological theory of psychopathy is reprised and a suggestion is made for further research.
Optimal graph-theoretic approach to 3D anatomical tree matching

High resolution three-dimensional (3D) images are readily produced by many imaging scanners. This paper describes a novel optimal method for matching the anatomical trees contained in such 3D images. Our method explicitly describes a set of valid candidate matches between two input trees by considering topological deformations known to occur during the tree definition process, evaluates these candidate matches using a cost function that compares corresponding branch and branchpoint attributes measured from the 3D image data, and locates a globally optimal match with respect to the cost function using an efficient dynamic programming algorithm. We present matching results for human airway trees. The method is a part of a complete computer-based system for 3D tree analysis.
Failure and replacement of abdominal aortic grafts

Abstract 1. 1. Residual disease is an important cause of failure of abdominal aortic grafts when either homografts or synthetic grafts are used. Obviously, all of an aneurysm should be resected. Residual arteriosclerosis is more easily overlooked but must be removed or by-passed because it fosters occlusion of the graft. Residual disease was the cause of failure in three of the five cases reported herein. 2. 2. Imperfect fashioning of grafts is another cause of failure. A poorly fashioned cloth synthetic graft was instrumental in the failure in one of the cases in this series. Imperfect anastomoses also contribute to thrombosis within grafts. 3. 3. Freeze-dried homografts appear to be unreliable. They must be prepared and selected carefully. In two cases in this series the homograft ruptured, one at operation and one on the fourth postoperative day. Two other ruptures have been seen in freeze-dried human aortic grafts and two have been seen in freeze-dried dog homografts. 4. 4. When abdominal aortic grafts fail, the entire graft should be replaced. Although this series is small, success in four of five cases of replacement indicates that an attempt should be made to replace abdominal aortic grafts which fail.
True anomalous osmosis in multi-solute model membrane systems.

The transport of liquid across charged porous membranes separating two electrolytic solutions of different composition consists of both a normal and an anomalous osmotic component. Anomalous osmosis does not occur with electroneutral membranes. Thus, with membranes which can be charged and discharged reversibly, normal osmosis can be measured with the membrane in the electroneutral state, and normal together with anomalous osmosis with the membrane in a charged state, the difference between these two effects being the true anomalous osmosis. Data are presented on the osmotic effects across an oxyhemoglobin membrane in the uncharged state at pH 6.75 and in two charged states, positive at pH 4.0 and negative at pH 10.0, in multi-solute systems with 0.2 and 0.4 osmolar solutions of a variety of electrolytes and of glucose against solutions of other solutes of the same, one-half, and twice these osmolarities. In the simpler systems the magnitude of the true anomalous osmosis can be predicted semiquantitatively by reference to appropriate single-solute systems. In isoosmolar systems with two electrolytic solutions the anomalous osmotic flow rates may reach 300 µl./cm.2 hr. and more; systems with electrolytic solutions against solutions of glucose can produce twice this rate. These fluxes are of the same order of magnitude as the liquid transport rates across such living structures as the mucosa of dog gall bladder, ileum, and urinary bladder.
Episomal segregation of the adenovirus enhancer sequence by conditional genome rearrangement abrogates late viral gene expression.

We have constructed a recombinant adenovirus gene delivery system that is capable of undergoing growth phase-dependent site-specific recombination. When propagated in 293 producer cells, the vector retains its linear double-stranded form and can be propagated to high titer and purified by conventional procedures. Upon introduction into target cells, the viral chromosome undergoes cyclization to generate an autonomously replicating circular episome and a detached linear fragment. The viral enhancer and reporter gene segregate with the circular episome, which contains no adenovirus open reading frames. The effect of rearrangement of adenovirus gene expression was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR measurement of the abundance of transcripts encoding the tripartite leader sequence (TPL) of the major late promoter. Whereas nonrearranging viruses produced approximately 104 TPL transcripts per 106 infecting genomes in the HepG2 liver cell line, no transcripts were detectable in the same cells infected with comparable levels of circularizing vector. Because no helper virus is required to propagate these vectors, the problems of recombination with and contamination by helper virus are eliminated. We also present an efficient and reliable method for generating recombinant adenoviruses.
Screening for Male Osteoporosis at an Academic Medical Center: Retrospective Analysis of DXA Usage Patterns Over 5 Years

Recent findings suggest that men have higher mortality rates than women after a hip fracture. Although the risk of osteoporotic fractures in men is increasing, male osteoporosis still remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. In general, male osteoporosis is given low priority by policy makers in public health initiatives. The purpose of this study is to examine the patterns of use and gender distribution of DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan usage at a university medical center in the United States. The total number of DXA scans increased during the study period while the percentage of men studied actually declined. The results of this study may lead to heightened awareness among providers who are caring for male patients at risk for osteoporosis.
The power of mental retardation: Reflections on the value of people with disabilities.

The writer reflects on the value of people with disabilities and discusses how Floyd Cochran, former chief recruiter for the Aryan Nations, and Eldridge Cleaver, former spokesperson for the Black Power movement, were affected by their experiences of disability.
The design of a self-propelled jack-up drilling rig for the Chukchi Sea

ConocoPhillips asked the team to design a self propelled jack up drilling rig for exploratory work in the Chukchi Sea, during the warm water season, at a location that is approximately 131 feet (40 meters) in water depth. This was accomplished using computer programs including StabCAD, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and Visual Analysis. The legs of the jack up were designed to withstand ice collisions with the aid of patrolling ice breakers. The jack up rig had to be capable of traveling at speeds up to 11 knots (5.65 m/s). The stability during transit was analyzed for an intact condition as well as a damaged condition (assuming two ballast tanks are damaged). The centers of gravity and buoyancy were calculated, as well as metacentric height. A geotechnical analysis was performed on the spud cans of the rig. The rig was designed to comply with all safety regulations specified by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) Rules, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules, and the T&R 5–5A Design Criteria set by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and Marine Pollution Act (Marpol 73/78).
Cue fascination: A new vulnerability in drug addiction

Redish et al. propose a constellation of vulnerabilities inherent in the brain's decision-making system. They allow over-attention to cues a minor role in drug addiction. We think this is inadequate. Using the established links among drug cues, dopamine, and novelty, we propose a fuller account of this key feature of addiction, which we call the phenomenon of cue fascination.
Longitudinal relations between parental drinking problems, family functioning, and child adjustment

Relations between maternal and paternal problem drinking symptoms and destructive marital conflict, parenting problems, and children's internalizing and externalizing problems were investigated. Participants were community families with a child in kindergarten who completed questionnaire measures at baseline (N = 235), 1 year later (N = 227), and 2 years later (N = 215). Structural equation modeling revealed that paternal problem drinking at Time 1 was associated with greater destructive marital conflict 1 year later. In turn, destructive marital conflict was related to decreased parental warmth and increased parental psychological control; these parenting problems were associated with greater child internalizing and externalizing problems at the third time point. Further analyses revealed that the indirect effects of paternal drinking on children's adjustment were significant, and that relations remained even after including autoregressive effects. Findings are discussed in terms of family process models for relations between parental drinking and child adjustment problems.
Experimental Myocardial Infarction : 14. Accelerated Myocardial Stiffening Related to Coronary Reperfusion following Ischemia

In six dogs with surgically opened chests, segmental mechanical fonction was determined by measuring segment length using mercury-in-Silastic gauges attached to the epicardial surface of the left ventricular wall. Following coronary arterial occlusion the amplitude of the resulting paradoxical systolic bulge was quantitated in terms of ”muscle lengths,” defined as the ratio of the amplitude of the segment length over the end-diastolic segment length (EDSL). From an excursion of 0.176 ± 0.029 muscle lengths at six hours of ischemia, the amplitude of the bulge decreased abruptly to 0.125 ± 0.024 muscle lengths after 15 minutes of coronary reperfusion (P δedsl (P
Energy Metabolism of the Completely Isolated Mammalian Heart in Failure

Experimental cardiac failure was reinvestigated in the completely isolated mammalian heart using a simplified system in which only the left ventricle performs work and exhibits volume changes. An effort was made to assess the importance of such experimental artefacts as acapnia, altered or depleted substrate, and controlled (constant) diastolic volume. None of these factors appeared to play a determining role in the mechanism of experimental failure, which was characterized by a decline in mechanical efficiency, with little or no impairment of total energy liberation.
THE DETERMINISTIC BEHAVIOR OF SELF-INCOMPATIBILITY ALLELES

For a system of n self-incompatibility alleles, neglecting mutation and random drift, it is shown that the completely symmetric equilibrium is locally stable, and any allelic frequency less than q equals 1 + a minus the square root of 1 + a-2, where a equals [2(n minus 1)]- minus 1, will increase. For all n, q greater than (2n)- minus 1, but if n greater than 1, q is approximately equal to (2n)- minus 1.
Extracellular FGF-1 inhibits cytoskeletal organization and promotes fibroblast motility.

AbstractPrevious efforts from this laboratory have established that acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1), either added exogenously or secreted as a biologically active protein, induces a transformed phenotype in primary murine fibroblasts. Experimental studies described here demonstrate that constitutive exposure to extracellular FGF-1 results in reduced cell attachment to multiple ligands, inhibition of cytoskeletal organization, and reduced collagen contraction, despite no detectable change in integrin cell surface expression. In addition, FGF-1-transduced fibroblasts demonstrated a < 10-fold increase in migration, an observation correlated with increased tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK and p130CAS. Collectively, these results suggest that FGF-1-induced fibroblast transformation includes the involvement of specific FGF receptor-mediated signal transduction cascades targeted to cytoskeletal and focal adhesion structures.
HaploBlockFinder: haplotype block analyses

UNLABELLED Recent studies have unveiled discrete block-like structures of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the human genome. We have developed a set of computer programs to analyze the block-like LD structures (haplotype blocks) based on haplotype data. Three definitions of haplotype block are supported, including minimal LD range, no historic recombination, and chromosome coverage. Tagged SNPs that uniquely distinguish common haplotypes are identified. A greedy algorithm was used to improve the efficiency. Two separate utilities were also provided to assist visual inspection of haplotype block structure and pattern of linkage disequilibrium. AVAILABILITY A web interface for the HaploBlockFinder is available at http://cgi.uc.edu/cgi-bin/kzhang/haploBlockFinder.cgi the source codes are also freely available on the web site.
Investment and Defense Strategies, Heuristics, and Games: From the Editor...

In our first article, Joseph B. Kadane discusses “Partial-Kelly Strategies and Expected Utility: Small-Edge Asymptotics.” The next article is by Konstantinos V. Katsikopoulos, on “Psychological Heuristics for Making Inferences: Definition, Performance, and the Emerging Theory and Practice.” We then move to papers analyzing strategic national defense. In our third article, David J. Caswell, Ronald A. Howard, and M. Elisabeth Pate-Cornell present “Analysis of National Strategies to Counter a Country's Nuclear Weapons Program.” Next, Kjell Hausken and Jun Zhuang examine “Governments' and Terrorists' Defense and Attack in a T-Period Game.” Finally, Jeryl L. Mumpower analyzes strategy in the sport of squash in “Playing Squash Against Ralph Keeney: Should Weaker Players Always Prefer Shorter Games?” In conclusion, we announce our upcoming special issue on “Games and Decisions in Reliability and Risk.”
Massive Hepatic Hemorrhage: Initial Steps in Hemostasis

Despite the continued advances in the areas of Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, the mortality of complex hepatic injuries remains extremely high. Similarly, their surgical management poses a formidable challenge to even the most experienced trauma surgeons. Uncontrolled hemorrhage leading to exsanguination is the leading cause of hepatic mortality, accounting for over 50 % of hepatic injury induced mortality.
A comparison of three-dimensional and two-dimensional analyses of facial motion

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the amplitude of facial motion obtained using three-dimensional (3-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) methods. The amplitude of motion of fifteen facial landmarks during five maximal animations (smile, lippurse, grimace, eye closure, and cheek-puff) was quantified in 3-D and 2-D using a video-based system. Results showed that the 3-D amplitudes were significantly larger than the 2-D amplitudes, especially for landmarks on the lower face during the smile animation. In the latter instance, the 2-D amplitudes underestimated the 3-D amplitudes by as much as 43%. The difference between 3-D and 2-D amplitudes was greater for 2-D amplitudes obtained from one camera rather than from multiple cameras. The results suggest that a 2-D analysis may not be adequate to assess facial motion during maximal animations, and that a 3-D analysis may be more appropriate for detecting clinical differences in facial function.
The Dynamics of Federalism in Canada

When I was asked to present a paper on federal-provincial relations, I welcomed the opportunity of addressing myself to one or two aspects of this difficult subject, hoping that I could add something to what has become our national debate, indeed, our national preoccupation. But the task is more difficult than it might seem: there is so much to be said and so many people saying it! Moreover, as a civil servant, I must somehow refrain from pronouncing upon public issues and certainly I must avoid being controversial. I must at the outset, therefore, emphasize that I express my own views only; I am in no way endeavouring to speak for, nor does the approach taken in this article in any way enjoy, the endorsement of federal ministers.
Analysis of AIDS Related Knowledge Awareness among Different Populations in Miyun District of Beijing City

[Objective] To understand the AIDS related knowledge awareness of villagers, peasant-workers, unlicensed prostitutes in Miyun District, and provide evidence for development of targeted intervention strategies for public education.[Methods]A total of 909 people of the above 3 kinds of population were surveyed by questionnaire, the AIDS related knowledge awareness was compared among them.[Results]The total awareness of AIDS related knowledge was 76.02%, the differences of awareness between 3 kinds of populations were significant(χ2=22.18,P0.05). The awareness was lowest among peasant-workers (68.50%), but highest among unlicensed prostitutes (82.56%). Their awareness of effective transmission route was obviously higher than that of non-transmission route.[Conclusion]The awareness of AIDS knowledge presents the phenomenon of separation of knowledge and awareness. It is necessary to pay attention to the combination of knowledge depth and breadth, to strengthen the propaganda of non-transmission route of HIV. The propaganda and education on peasant-workers is still the focus of implementation of AIDS publicity and education in the future.
Abstract PL05-02: Synthetic Lethal Interaction between Homologous Recombination Repair and POLQ-mediated Alternative End-Joining

Large-scale genomic studies have shown that half of epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) have alterations in genes regulating homologous recombination (HR) repair. Loss of HR accounts for the genomic instability and replicative stress of EOCs and for their cellular hyperdependence on alternative poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP)-mediated DNA repair mechanisms. Previous studies have implicated the DNA polymerase POLQ in an error-prone pathway required for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks, referred to as alternative endjoining (alt-EJ). In Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, POLQ functions in alt-EJ and in the maintenance of genome stability at sites of G-quadruplex structures. Whether POLQ interacts with canonical DNA repair pathways to prevent genomic instability at stalled replication forks remains unknown. We have recently demonstrated an inverse correlation between HR activity and POLQ expression in EOCs (Ceccaldi R. et al, Nature, 518: 258-262, 2015). While knockdown of POLQ in HR-proficient cells upregulates HR activity and RAD51 nucleofilament assembly, knockdown of POLQ in HR-deficient EOCs results in enhanced cell death. Consistent with these results, genetic inactivation of an HR gene (Fancd2) and Polq in mice results in embryonic lethality. Moreover, POLQ contains a repeat of RAD51 binding motifs, and it blocks D-loop formation and recombination. Taken together, these results reveal a synthetic lethal relationship between the HR pathway and POLQ-mediated alternative end-joining in EOCs, and identify POLQ as a novel druggable target for ovarian cancer therapy. Citation Format: Alan D. D9Andrea. Synthetic Lethal Interaction between Homologous Recombination Repair and POLQ-mediated Alternative End-Joining. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr PL05-02.
Employer discrimination and market structure: Does more concentration mean more discrimination?

Abstract We formalize Gary Becker’s dynamic conjecture that competitive forces drive discriminating employers from the market in the long run, using a dynamic model of a monopolistically competitive industry characterized by sunk costs and sequential entry. An advantage of this formalization is that it demonstrates the importance of the structure of production costs, as well as market power, in explaining the long-run survival of discriminatory firms. In addition, we show that, despite decades of empirical research on this connection, there is no consistent theoretical relationship between the degree of market concentration within an industry and the degree of discrimination. However, we do find an indirect link in which market liberalization has a more pronounced effect in reducing discrimination in more concentrated markets.
Evaluation and management of urinary incontinence after surgery for posterior urethral valves.

SUMMARY Posterior urethral valves lead to an overlapping constellation of urodynamic abnormalities, often many years after the initial diagnosis and valve ablation. Voiding dysfunction and urinary incontinence in boys with a history of valves are seldom the result of sphincteric incompetence. Three major categories of bladder dysfunction may cause voiding symptoms: myogenic failure, detrusor hyperreflexia, and bladder hypertonia. The interaction of the severity and duration of valve obstruction may be important factors, but the determinants of ultimate bladder function in the setting of urethral valves remain unclear. A careful urodynamic assessment is needed to define the abnormal bladder and to select and evaluate therapy. Therapy should be designed to provide low-pressure urinary storage for a socially acceptable period of time as well as complete emptying of the bladder. Success may require several lines of treatment and demands patience, not only of the patient and his family, but of the physician.
Minimally invasive rib-sparing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resections with high- dose-rate intraoperative brachytherapy for selected chest wall tumors

Abstract Background By avoiding chest wall resection, iridium-192 (Ir-192) high-dose-rate (HDR) intraoperative brachytherapy (IOBT) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) might improve outcomes for high-risk patients requiring surgical resection for pulmonary malignancy with limited pleura and/or chest wall involvement. Methods and materials Seven patients with non-small cell lung cancer involving the pleura or chest wall underwent VATS pulmonary resections combined with HDR IOBT. After tumor extraction, an Ir-192 source was delivered via a Freiburg applicator to intrathoracic sites with potential for R1-positive surgical margins. The number of catheters, dwell position along each catheter, prescription depth, and dose were customized based on clinical needs. Results Six patients had pT3N0M0 non-small cell lung cancers. A seventh case was a recurrent sarcomatoid carcinoma. One case required conversion to open thoracotomy for pneumonectomy with en bloc chest wall resection. There were no intraoperative complications and average operative time was 5.8 hours. Five of seven patients without transmural chest wall involvement underwent rib-sparing resection. Four of the 6 patients treated with VATS and IORT remain alive in follow-up without evidence of local recurrence (median follow-up, 25 months). Noted toxicities were recurrent postoperative pneumothorax, pleural effusion with persistent chest wall pain, avid fibrosis at 2 years of follow-up, and a late traumatic rib fracture. Conclusions HDR IOBT with Ir-192 via VATS is technically feasible and safe for intrathoracic disease with pleural and/or limited chest wall involvement. Short-term morbidity associated with chest wall resection may be reduced. Additional study is required to define long-term benefits.
QUANTUM TRANSPORT THEORY OF RESONANT TUNNELING DEVICES

The ability to fabricate semiconductor heterostructures on the scale of a few atomic layers has led to the development of devices which exploit the quantum-mechanical wave properties of electrons in their operation. The quantum device which has recieved the most attention recently is the quantum-well resonant-tunneling diode (RTD).1,2 This device shows a negative-resistance characteristic which is quantum-mechanical in origin, and is potentially a very fast device. Most of the theoretical work on this device has employed the formal theory of scattering, focusing on the behavior of pure quantum states which are asymptotically plane waves. While this approach should adequately describe the device under stationary conditions, it is poorly equipped to treat any sort of time-varying behavior. The reason for this is that the behavior of the RTD, and indeed any electronic device, is manifestly time-irreversible, and a proper notion of irreversibility cannot be introduced into pure-state quantum mechanics. A pure quantum state cannot evolve time-irreversibly. Models which attempt to introduce such behavior inevitably violate some fundamental physical law, usually the continuity equation. However, transitions between quantum states may proceed irreversibly if the system of interest interacts with an external system having a continuum of states. Such processes may be consistently described in terms of statistically mixed states, which are represented most simply by the single-particle density matrix.3 A description of a many-particle system in terms of such a single-particle distribution is generally termed a kinetic theory.4 The present paper describes such a theory of electron devices which incorporates quantum coherence effects (including tunneling).
Abstract 75: Bleeding and Ischemic Stroke Risk in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Standard or Low Dose Dabigatran and Concomitant P-gp Inhibitors

Background: Guidelines for dabigatran in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) recommend dose reduction in patients with impaired renal function and concomitant use of strong P-gp inhibitors. Howe...
Toxoplasma gondii: Entry, association, and physiological influence on the central nervous system.

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the world’s most successful parasites, in part because of its ability to infect and persist in most warm-blooded animals. A unique characteristic of T. gondii is its ability to persist in the central nervous system (CNS) of a variety of hosts, including humans and rodents. How, what, and why T. gondii encysts in the CNS has been the topic of study for decades. In this review, we will discuss recent work on how T. gondii is able to traverse the unique barrier surrounding the CNS, what cells of the CNS play host to T. gondii, and finally, how T. gondii infection may influence global and cellular physiology of the CNS.
Clickable Substrate Mimics Enable Imaging of Phospholipase D Activity.

Chemical imaging techniques have played instrumental roles in dissecting the spatiotemporal regulation of signal transduction pathways. Phospholipase D (PLD) enzymes affect cell signaling by producing the pleiotropic lipid second messenger phosphatidic acid via hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine. It remains a mystery how this one lipid signal can cause such diverse physiological and pathological signaling outcomes, due in large part to a lack of suitable tools for visualizing the spatial and temporal dynamics of its production within cells. Here, we report a chemical method for imaging phosphatidic acid synthesis by PLD enzymes in live cells. Our approach capitalizes upon the enzymatic promiscuity of PLDs, which we show can accept azidoalcohols as reporters in a transphosphatidylation reaction. The resultant azidolipids are then fluorescently tagged using the strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition, enabling visualization of cellular membranes bearing active PLD enzymes. Our method, termed IMPACT (Imagi...
An Electronic Model of the Limulus Eye

The electronic model is based on the concept of mutual inhibition. This concept is developed and the model described. A computer program to simulate the Limulus eye and the results of several experiments are discussed. Some possible applications are outlined.
Activities of newer glycosides of Adonis Vernalis L.

Abstract The digitalis-like action of 5 substances, naturally occuring or partially synthetized from the aglycones of Adonis vernalis L. has been verified. Their activity as measured by LD in etherized cats has been determined.
COURSEWARE DEVELOPMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

Abstract A visiting professor at the University of Bern during the 1986-87 academic year, I have been authorized by developers of CAI at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am a Professor of English) to demonstrate their programs here at the Eardhe congress and elsewhere in Europe. Realizing the potential of the interactive, personal nature of microcomputers to contribute to the educational process, University of North Carolina faculty members are developing leading edge educational software through the Courseware Development Project, a joint study undertaken by UNC Chapel Hill and IBM. With encouragement from the university administration and help in software development provided by a central microcomputing support group and student programmers, a cadre of 30 faculty members are assembling high quality courseware that soon will be marketed through a major educational publisher. While demonstrating these programs I would also talk about procedures and processes of the Courseware Development Project.
Witness monitoring program with portable Raman spectroscopy for detecting molecular contamination

Contamination control engineers provide critical plans to monitor, mitigate, and reduce the impact of molecular and particulate contamination on spacecraft systems. Witness monitoring programs are dependable methods that utilize strategically placed witness samples on space flight hardware to monitor particulate and molecular contaminants during the assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) phases. Traditionally, optical characterization of these witness plates is the tool to determine the presence of molecular films on space flight hardware in the AI&T environment. Once a visual inspection or optical measurement identifies the presence of a contaminant, analysts collect tape lifts and wipe samples from the witness plate for analysis in an analytical lab with a potential contaminant identified within 24 hours. To speed up this process and reduce the impact to project schedule and cost the use of a non-invasive and in situ method for optical witness plate program with portable Raman spectroscopy to detect molecular contamination on spacecraft was explored.
SERS-Based Quantification of PSMA in Tissue Microarrays Allows Effective Stratification of Patients with Prostate Cancer

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a type II membrane protein, is an attractive biomarker that has been validated clinically for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. In this study, we develope...
Improving Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Impact of the Anemia Care Pathway.

Anemia is a common complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Despite existing guidelines for anemia in IBD, it is frequently under-treated and the prevalence of anemia has remained high. To address this gap, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation developed the Anemia Care Pathway (ACP). To implement the ACP in a managed care setting and identify where it improves practice habits and where barriers remain. The ACP was implemented from July 2016 through June 2017 and retrospectively studied. Run charts were used to identify shifts in iron deficiency screening and treatment as well as anemia prevalence. Results were compared to those of other providers in the same center not using the ACP. 640 IBD encounters were studied. In the ACP clinic (n = 213), anemics received iron therapy in only 30% of encounters at baseline but improved to 80%. Concurrently, anemia prevalence decreased from 48 to 25%. Screening for iron deficiency, however, did not improve. No shifts were seen in the non-ACP clinics (n = 427) across the same period despite awareness of the ACP and other guidelines. Across 1 year, we observed gaps in the screening and treatment of anemia in IBD. Although screening rates did not improve, the ACP appeared to reduce missed opportunities for iron therapy by about half. Most importantly, this was associated with an overall decrease in anemia prevalence. Future refinements to the ACP should be focused on enhanced screening and follow-up.
Diffuse Macular Damage in Mild to Moderate Glaucoma Is Associated With Decreased Visual Function Scores Under Low Luminance Conditions.

Purpose Glaucoma patients commonly report increasing visual problems under low luminance or glare conditions, yet there is limited understanding of the structural basis of visual functional losses. This report examines the relationship between glaucomatous macular damage, assessed using structure-function correlation, and visual difficulty under low luminance conditions, as measured by Low Luminance Questionnaire (LLQ). Design Observational cohort study. Methods Setting : Tertiary care referral center. Participants : A total of 252 eyes of 126 participants with mild or moderate open-angle glaucoma (24-2 mean deviation [MD] better than -12 dB) selected from a consecutive sample. Predictor : Focal and diffuse macular defects were identified based on corresponding abnormal regions on probability maps from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) optic disc and macular cube scans, and 10-2 and 24-2 visual fields (VF). Main Outcome Measure : LLQ scores. Results Eighty-two of the 126 (65%) better eyes (defined by 24-2 VF MD) had evidence of macular damage, while the remaining 44 did not have macular damage. Of the 82 with damage, 33 (40%) had diffuse damage and 49 (60%) had focal damage. After adjusting for 24-2 MD and age in the multivariable regression, diffuse macular damage remained a significant predictor of the LLQ subscales “difficulty with extreme lighting” (P = .0024), ‘‘difficulty with low lighting” (P = .037), and “diminished mobility”; (P = .042). In contrast, there was no significant difference in LLQ scores in any subscale between participants with focal macular damage and those without macular damage. Conclusion Mild diffuse glaucomatous macular damage, as detected by abnormal topographic regions on measures of structure and function, is associated with decreased LLQ scores.
Personalized fall detection and classification through walls and in heavy indoor clutter

Recent research and developments for in home radar monitoring have shown real promise of the technology in detecting normal and abnormal gross-motor activities of humans inside their residences and at private homes. Attention is now paid to challenges in system integration, operations, and installations. One important question touches on the required number of radar units for a given residence and whether eventually one radar unit per room would become the nominal approach. Towards addressing this question and assessing the effectiveness of radar unit to sense adjacent rooms and hallways of the same residence, this paper examines through-wall radar monitoring where the radar signal faces both wall attenuation and dispersion. We show that typical interior walls do not significantly alter the radar time-frequency (TF) signature of a fall, and the radar signal return is slightly weakened by wall penetration. Additionally, we show that there is a wide variation of the TF feature values associated with fall motions which confuse a classifier, trained with generic subjects, and cause it to falsely declare a different motion.
Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging-Guided Versus Coronary Angiography-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) offers tomographic images of the coronary vessels, allowing optimization of stent implantation at...
Nocturnal Cough and Snore Detection Using Smartphones in Presence of Multiple Background-Noises

Non-speech human sounds, such as coughs and snores, and their patterns are associated with different respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as other health difficulties such as sleep disorders. Thereby, researchers and physicians have been using coughs and snores as symptoms while reporting and assessing respiratory diseases, their stages, and sleep quality. However, so far, the assessments frequently depend on different types of patient-reported surveys, which inherently suffer from various limitations, such as recall biases, human errors. Therefore, automated detection and reporting of coughs and snores can improve the disease assessment and monitoring. In this paper, we present an automated approach to detect coughs and snores from smartphone-microphones using generalized, semi-personalized and personalized modeling schemes. We analyze three separate datasets and different combinations of three types of nocturnal noises (i.e., sounds from air conditioners (AC), dog barks, and sirens) using the Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) features and different classification techniques. We find that a generalized model with the support vector machine (SVM) classifier can achieve an average accuracy of 0.86 ± 0.14, F1 score of 0.86± 0.13, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) of 0.94 ± 0.08. These performances can further be improved to an average accuracy of 0.96± 0.08, F1 score of 0.96± 0.08, and AUC-ROC of 0.98 ± 0.04 using the personalized random forest (RF) model. The results show the potential for smartphones to automatically report symptoms of respiratory diseases as well as sleep disorders. Furthermore, we find that our models perform consistently well while testing on separate datasets in the presence of multiple background-noises.
The Chicago Loop

This chapter investigates the Chicago Loop, the city’s Central Business District (CBD). A large concentration of tall buildings in a relatively small area (about a square mile) reinforces a powerful downtown image. The chapter first explains briefly the history of development of the Loop. Next, based on the preliminary research findings, it examines in-depth several outstanding clusters of tall buildings, including “Graceful Sky Touch,” “City’s Heart and Soul,” “Loop Oasis,” “City’s Political Pulse,” “Millennium Gateway,” and “Eclectic Edge.” Further, the chapter reports on delightful public plazas in the Loop that promote vibrant social life and support placemaking. On the skyline, key skyscrapers form major focal points and create a dynamic silhouette. Overall, the Loop evokes a powerful skyscraper CBD image.
Reverse transformation of multidrug-resistant human neuroblastoma stem cells is associated with up-regulation of CD133 and ABCG2, markers of a less differentiated, less malignant cell phenotype

1370 Reverse transformation –reduction or loss of malignant potential and resumption of contact inhibition –is one recurring concomitant of acquired high-level multidrug resistance in cultured tumor cell lines. Studies of multidrug-resistant rodent sublines linked reverse transformation with overexpression of P-glycoprotein, encoded in humans by the MDR1 (ABCB1) gene, but left open the possibility that differentiation state could also play a role. Using a series of well characterized multidrug-resistant sublines selected from the malignant human neuroblastoma BE(2)-C stem cell clone, we have analyzed expression of markers of differentiation as well as of other ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. The seven resulting sublines could be divided into two groups based on tumorigenicity in nude mice. Group A sublines, selected with colchicine, form tumors in 100% of animals [as does BE(2)-C]. By contrast, Group B sublines, selected with actinomycin D or vincristine, exhibit a 23 to 80% reduction in tumor formation. Western analyses of two representative sublines from each group for levels of neuroblastic [chromogranin A (CGA), neurofilament 68 (NF68)] and non-neuronal [vimentin (VIM)] marker proteins revealed that Group B sublines contain 3- to 4-fold less CGA and NF68 and 20-fold less VIM than Group A sublines –expression patterns suggestive of a less differentiated, earlier stem cell type. Cell morphology also appears less differentiated and the Group B sublines no longer respond to common morphogens. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses for mRNAs encoding proteins expressed in normal stem cells revealed expression patterns likewise consistent with an earlier differentiation stage: 4-fold higher levels of CD133 mRNA and activation of transcription of BCRP1 (ABCG2) in Group B cells compared to Group A. Expression levels of the developmentally earlier stem cell markers, the intermediate filaments cytokeratin 8 and 18, were similar between the groups. Of interest in neuroblastoma, MRP1 (ABCC1) increased in the tumorigenic, more neuroblastic Group A cells whereas MRP4 (ABCC4) decreased. Thus, reverse transformation related to high-level drug resistance correlates with –and may be the consequence of –expression of a less differentiated, intrinsically less malignant, stem cell phenotype.
A SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC STUDY OF THE EQUILIBRIUM FORMATION OF THE GASEOUS SPECIES BISMUTH (I) TETRACHLOROALUMINATE AND TELLURIUM (II) CHLORIDE.

A spectrophotometirc study of the vapor species present at equilibrium in high temperature, metal-metal salt systems was performed in an effort to characterize the nature of the species present and evaluate the thermodynamic functions which describe their interaction. A Cary 14 recording spectrophotometer was modified to permit the investigation of the high temperature systems. In addition to the characteristic BICL$sub 3$ and BiCl bands, the absorption spectra of Bi-BiCl$sub 3$-AlCl$sub 3$ systems exhibited a band at 723 m /lower mu/ which corresponded to BiAlCl$sub 4$. A quantitive study of the system over the temperature range 650 to 900 degrees yielded a value of -28.1 +- 0.5 Kcal for /cap delta/H$sup o$$sub 1050$ for the reaction BiCl(g) + AlCl $sub 3$ (g) = BiAlCL$sub 4$(g). Using this enthalpy and an estimated entropy, a value of 16.8 Kcal was computed for /cap delta/F$sup o$$sub 1050%. Systematic deviations in the data at low temperature (<650 degrees) were ascribed to the formation of compounds in the melt and the resultant decrease in the activities of the components in the system. A series of previously unreported bands in the near infra-red spectrum (~ 1500 m/lower mu/) was assigned to BCl(g) although the exact nature of the transitions was unknown. Two broad bands (510 and 670 m/lower mu/) observed in the spectra of the Te-TeCl4 system were found to correspond to TeCl2(g). Quantitative studies of the data in the temperature range 275 to 350 $sup o$ yielded a value of 23.5 +- 2 Kcal for /cap delta/H $sup degree$$sub585$ for the reaction Te(s) + TeCl $sub 4$ (g) = 2 TeCl$sub 2$ (g). The value 38.7 +- 4 eu computed for /cap delta/S$sup o$ using this entalpy and K$sub p585$ (0.49 atm) corresponds quite well with a value of 44.7 eu estimated from data available in the literature. This equilibrium accounts for the low temperature transport of tellurium which has been observed in the Te-TeCl$sub 4$ systems. As a result of the extensive compound formation in Te-TeCl$sub 4$-AlCl$sub 3$ melts, quantitative studies of the vapor species above such systems are not possible. (author)
Abstract 15526: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Reduce Adverse Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Events in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: An Assessment of Heterogeneity Among CVD Outcomes and a Meta-regression Analysis

Introduction: Recent evidence suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) reduce adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. The objective of this study is to analyze randomized ...
Ultrasound-Guided Phrenic Nerve Block for Lung Nodule Biopsy: Single-Center Initial Experience

Rationale and Objectives: Biopsy of lung nodules in the lower lung fields can be difficult because of breathing motion. Ipsilateral phrenic nerve block (PNB) before biopsy should make the biopsy safer, easier, and more precisely targeted. We describe the use of ultrasound-guided PNB before lung nodule biopsy, including relevant anatomy and variations, complications, and technique, along with our first 40 cases. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent PNB before computed tomography (CT)- or ultrasound-guided lung nodule biopsy from April 2015 through March 2020. Patient demographics, CT fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, complications, diagnostic yield, and effectiveness of PNB were recorded. Effectiveness of PNB was based on direct observation of diaphragmatic motion. Control group data for biopsies during the same time frame were collected and matched with nodules ≤1 cm from the PNB group. Results: Among 40 patients identified, no complications occurred related to the PNB. Mean (SD) nodule size was 12.4 (6.2) mm. True-positive results were obtained in 39 patients (98%), with 1 false-negative after an ineffective PNB. PNB was effective in 70%. When CT fluoroscopy was used for the biopsy, radiation dose was significantly lower after an effective PNB than an ineffective PNB (p Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided PNB is safe and effective and can improve outcomes when used before lung nodule biopsy.