cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial somatic mutations and the lack of viral genomic variation in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare disease of the aerodigestive tract caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that manifests as profoundly altered phonatory and upper respiratory anatomy. Current therapies are primarily symptomatic; enhanced insight regarding disease-specific biology of RRP is critical to improved therapeutics for this challenging population. Multiplex PCR was performed on oral rinses collected from twenty-three patients with adult-onset RRP every three months for one year. Twenty-two (95.6%) subjects had an initial HPV positive oral rinse. Of those subjects, 77.2% had an additional positive oral rinse over 12 months. A subset of rinses were then compared to tissue samples in the same patient employing HPViewer to determine HPV subtype concordance. Multiple HPV copies (60–787 per human cell) were detected in RRP tissue in each patient, but a single dominant HPV was found in individual samples. These data confirm persistent oral HPV infection in the majority of patients with RRP. In addition, three novel HPV6 isolates were found and identical HPV strains, at very low levels, were identified in oral rinses in two patients suggesting potential HPV subtype concordance. Finally, somatic heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations were observed in RRP tissue with 1.8 mutations per sample and two nonsynonymous variants. These data provide foundational insight into both the underlying pathophysiology of RRP, but also potential targets for intervention in this challenging patient cohort.
Valorization of Eggshell Waste into Supported Copper Catalysts for Partial Oxidation of Methane

Agricultural wastes are equipped with unique physicochemical traits that may be harnessed to obtain valuable end products. Therefore, the present research focused on using waste eggshells as precursors for the synthesis of catalysts for partial oxidation of methane. Catalysts were synthesized via impregnation of copper on calcined eggshell surfaces. The catalysts were tested for selective oxidation of methane at 650° C and atmospheric pressure. Eggshells loaded with 2% copper activated partial oxidation pathway to enhance yield for syngas, while 5% and 10% loading led to C2–C6 hydrocarbons as a result of oxidative coupling of methane. Oxygen concentration in the feed along with feed flow rate and temperature influenced both fractional conversion and product selectivities. Limited-oxygen supply and adequate flow rate of 0.8 L min−1 at 650° C provided better conversion with 10% Cu-loaded catalyst. While the fresh catalyst exhibited a uniform distribution of copper and a smooth catalyst surface, little surface deformation was observed in the spent catalyst. Prolonged catalytic activity was also investigated via catalyst reactivation. Our results suggest that waste eggshells may be used as catalyst supports for metals to be used in oxidation reactions.
A description of medical malpractice claims involving advanced practice providers

BACKGROUND The number of physician assistants (PAs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), together known as advanced practice providers (APPs), has risen dramatically. The goal is identifying characteristics of paid medical malpractice claims, in which APPs are defendants. METHODS Retrospective cohort study using Harvard's malpractice insurer's national database. Closed claims (2007-2016) with PAs, APRNs, or physicians as defendants. The primary analysis compared claims by role group by patient-, provider-, and claim-level characteristics. Supplemental analyses compared claims naming APPs with and without physicians. Multivariable logistic regression identified variables associated with claim payment. RESULTS Of 54,772 claims, PAs were defendants without APRNs or physicians in 26 claims; APRNs were defendants without PAs or physicians in 63; physicians were defendants without PAs or APRNs in 37,354. Approximately 75% of claims naming APPs co-named physicians. More claims naming PAs and APRNs were paid on behalf of the hospital/practice (38% and 32%, respectively) compared with physicians (8%, P < 0.001). Payment was less likely for inpatient care (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85-0.93, P < 0.001) but higher when APRNs were defendants (1.82, 1.09-3.03), when procedure-related (1.31, 1.25-1.38, P < 0.001) or patients died (1.09, 1.03-1.16, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS These results can inform patient safety initiatives to prevent future harms. The target is outpatient airway procedures performed by APRNs.
US State Polarization, Policymaking Power, and Population Health

Policy Points Explanations for the troubling trend in US life expectancy since the 1980s should be grounded in the dynamic changes in policies and political landscapes. Efforts to reverse this trend and put US life expectancy on par with other high-income countries must address those factors. Of prime importance are the shifts in the balance of policymaking power in the United States, the polarization of state policy contexts, and the forces behind those changes.
Twice weekly prophylaxis with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in pediatric oncology patients.

Current recommendations for prophylaxis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in oncology patients include administration of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) three times weekly or the same tot...
Machine-learning-based EDFA gain estimation [Invited]

Optical transmission systems with high spectral efficiency require accurate quality of transmission estimation for optical channel provisioning. However, the wavelength-dependent gain effects of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) complicate precise optical channel power prediction and low-margin operation. In this work, we examine supervised machine learning methods using multiple artificial neural networks (ANNs) to build models for gain spectra prediction of optical transmission line EDFAs under different operating conditions. Channel-loading configurations and channel input power spectra are used as an a posteriori knowledge data feature for model training. In a hybrid learning approach, estimated gain spectra calculated by an analytical model are added as an a priori input data feature to further improve the EDFA ANN model performance in terms of prediction accuracy, training time, and quantity of training data. Using these methods, the root mean square error and maximum absolute error of the predicted channel output power can be as low as 0.144 dB and 1.6 dB, respectively.
Relative Wages of Immigrant Men and the Great Recession

Using CPS data from 2007 to 2012, we examine the contemporaneous effect of the Great Recession on the relative wages of immigrant men. Compared to pre-recession period, immigrants see a modest decline in their relative wages during the recession regardless of model specification. After the recession, immigrants’ relative wages largely recover from the recession-induced decline, but the wage disadvantage does not completely revert back to its pre-recession level. Selective in- and out-migration by immigrants or selection of natives into employment do not seem to drive the results. It appears that, during the recession, immigrants may have traded higher employment with lower wages and employers might have been willing to hire them as a cost-saving measure. The results could have implications for how relative wages of immigrants respond to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic Recession.
“Let the Sunshine In”: The Impact of Industry Payment Disclosure on Physician Prescription Behavior

Disclosing marketing payments to physicians resulted in a robust decline in both branded and generic prescriptions in three best-seller classes, likely because of physician self-monitoring.
Development and validation of the infant crying and parent well-being screening tool

This article describes the development and validation of the infant crying and parent well-being (ICPW) screening tool, developed to provide an effective and efficient way of identifying families struggling with infant crying and soothing. Construct validity for the ICPW was assessed using survey data from 290 parents of infants. Scores on the ICPW were associated with parental depression, parenting stress, and low co-parent confidence. Parents with positive ICPW screens-indicating additional support is needed-were more likely to have high or clinical levels of parenting stress than parents with negative screens. Inconsolable and excessive infant crying negatively impacts the well-being of parents, and most importantly, is the primary trigger for infant abuse. The ICPW is a unique, efficient tool that allows providers to screen for families who may need additional support around infant crying and soothing.
A Note on Solvable Time-Homogeneous Stochastic Volatility Models (Working Paper)

We revisit well-known stochastic volatility models with constant coefficients for single asset driven by one factor stochastic volatility as homogeneous diffusion and demonstrate an alternative to the classifications provided in Albanese and Lawi, and Henry-Labord`ere, to deduce asset price distribution function, at a fixed time, in an analytic form.
How Do You Do Talk Therapy With Someone Who Can't Talk? Perspectives From Mental Health Providers on Delivering Services to Individuals With Aphasia.

Purpose Aphasia is correlated with depression and anxiety, and it has a negative impact on quality of life. Aphasia is also frequently misunderstood among mental health care providers. The aim of t...
Assessment and Management of Misophonia in a Female Adolescent: A Case Study

Purpose Misophonia is a condition in which individuals experience negative reactions, including anger and disgust, to specific sounds in their environment. Individuals with misophonia often report ...
Art Crime and the Myth of Violence

Why did site protection and conservation become the natural purview of uniformed police or military? What forms of art policing are warranted today? What are the effects of this authority structure on our perception of the value and purpose of artworks and archaeological materials? These questions are central to contemporary debates about the place of state violence in the governance of cultural objects. To answer them, I begin with an analysis of the deep cultural codes that shape collective interpretations of art crime. Next, I trace the manifestation of these codes in the Italian Art Squad. Founded in 1969, Italy’s Art Squad (Comando Carabinieri per la Tutela del Patrimonio Culturale) is the most influential and visible armed unit dedicated to enforcing cultural heritage laws. In the third section, I use art crime data from the FBI and Interpol to show that the majority of art crime is non-violent, and that the myth of violence has broader effects that should concern us. I will argue that the spread of heritage policing is symptomatic of a longer-term trend toward increased state reliance on violence to solve social problems.
Finite Element Model of 2-D Stratified Flow

A finite element model for the study of hydrodynamics and salt transport in partially-mixed estuaries is presented. The model is based on the laterally integrated time varying equations of motion, continuity and conservation of salt. The Boussinesq approximation is applied to the resulting two-dimensional equations and a simple equation of state is used to relate salinity to density. Although a rigorous mathematical proof cannot be given it is heuristically postulated that the correct boundary conditions, defining a well-posed problem, must consist of applied stresses or strain rates in cases with internal (Reynolds) stresses included. Without the internal stresses the pressure or the normal strain rate only can be prescribed. A simple application demonstrates the ability of this model to accurately represent the moving surface. Another example illustrates the significance of ocean boundary conditions on the internal solution.
Blackbrush, Coleogyne ramosissima Propagation and Revegetation of Disturbed Sites

Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima Torr.) is a small to medium sized shrub of the Rosaceae family. It is considered to be a paleoendemic species which once disturbed on a site does not reestablish. Its distribution is a narrow band ranging from eastern California to extreme western Colontdo occupying a niche between the major species of the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts (Bjugstad 1983; Landis and Simonich 1983; and Wallace et al. 1970). The populations at Arches and Canyonlands National Parks occupy the northern most region of its range. Guidelines exist for the propagation of blackbrush by seed (Vories 1981). Problems exist, however, with the acquisition of seed due to infrequent and inconsistent seed set and establishment of seedlings due to feeding by herbivores (Bowns and West 1976). Therefore, asexual propagation by cuttings or mound layering offer potential. Asexual propagation techniques may present the answer to the revegetation problem in that a relatively large number of plants may be produced with a minimal amount of effort once a successful methodology is established. Additionally, rooted cuttings result in a mature plant more rapidly than do seedlings, reducing the mortality problem due to herbivore feeding. Finally, mother plants which are well adapted to a specific site may be reproduced, increasing the probability of success once the plantlets are reintroduced into the field. There were three primary objectives of this research. The first was to evaluate the effects of rooting hormones, season, and maturity of the wood on the rooting of cuttings of blackbrush. The second, was to evaluate response of blackbrush to mount layering with mother plants receiving normal or supplemental water. Finally, we evaluated the reintroduction of all plantlets to the field using proper planting times, soil preparation, and water harvesting techniques. The ultimate goal was to establish procedures for propagating blackbrush and reestablishing it onto disturbed sites within the National Parks.
Paleobotanical and Geological Interpretations of Paleoenvironments of the Eastern Interior Basin

Several paleoenvironments are recognized on the basis of both floral differences and lithologic variations. It is important that paleoenvironments determined on paleobotanical grounds be correlated with those based upon geological considerations. A variety of paleoenvironments are preserved in and around the Eastern Interior Basin, providing opportunities for gathering both geologic and paleobotanical data.
Component-Based Electronic Commerce

In this chapter we focus on system architectures for electronic commerce applications. The chapter surveys the impact of new software engineering concepts like object frameworks, distributed object computing and component-based programming on the development of electronic commerce applications. We outline limitations of current systems and show how these new techniques help in achieving increased interoperability and reusability of electronic commerce systems. As high-level interoperability between the systems of different participants is a critical enabler for many new applications in electronic commerce, the appendix gives an overview of upcoming approaches to document-centric electronic commerce standards.
Gesner, Conrad (Konrad) (1516–1565)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: Gesner, Conrad (Konrad) ; bibliotheca universalis
Isolation of a Specialized Lambda Transducing Bacteriophage Carrying the Beta Subunit Gene for Escherichia coli Ribonucleic Acid Polymerase

A heat-inducible lysis-defective lambda prophage has been integrated directly into the E. coli chromosome at a site (bfe) very closely linked to the ribonucleic acid polymerase mutation rif(d), a dominant rifampin resistance allele. This unusual lysogen has facilitated the isolation of specialized transducing phages conferring rifampin resistance to sensitive cells, and carrying at least the beta subunit gene of RNA polymerase in intact form.
Immunochemistry of pneumococcal types II, V, and VI. II. Inhibition tests in the type VI precipitating system.

Rebers, Paul A. (Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N. J.), Esther Hurwitz, and Michael Heidelberger. Immunochemistry of pneumococcal types II, V, and VI. II. Inhibition tests in the type VI precipitating system. J. Bacteriol. 82:920-926. 1961.-As in other immune systems involving polysaccharides, rabbit antibodies but not those engendered in the horse were found sensitive to degradation of type VI pneumococcal (Pn) polysaccharide (SVI), and were readily inhibited by fragments of SVI. Large amounts, 30 to 111 mumoles, of most sugars gave up to 15% inhibition, while sugar and polyol phosphates inhibited as much as 25%, with little relation to their presence or absence in SVI. The phosphate-free repeating unit of SVI was a good inhibitor, its phosphate monoester was better, and the "trimer" still better. The "trimer" precipitated most of the antibodies from horse anti-Pn VI.Although inhibition of precipitation of SVI anti-Pn horse sera could not be demonstrated with fragments of SVI, cross-reactions of antibodies in the horse sera could be inhibited. Precipitation of SII was inhibited by low concentrations of l-rhamnose, while even high concentrations of the other sugar components of SII and SVI were ineffective. Precipitation by guar gum was inhibited by galactose and alpha- and beta-methyl-galactopyranosides, also by rhamnose, although guar gum does not contain this sugar, while SVI, the antigenic determinant, does.
A zoo of strange attractors from the canonical Chua's circuits

By adding a linear resistor R/sub 0/ in Chua's circuit, an immensely richer bifurcation landscape can be obtained, including an endowment of more than 20 new distinct strange attractors which were suppressed when R/sub 0/ to 0. The author interprets this augmented circuit as a global unfolding of Chua's circuit because its basic mechanism is similar to the local unfolding theory in nonlinear mathematics. This augmented Chua's circuit, which has only seven parameters, is canonical in the sense that it is capable of duplicating all qualitative behaviors of a 21-parameter family C of ordinary differential equations in R/sup 3/. Explicit formulas are given for calculating the seven circuit parameters of the augmented Chua's circuit so that it is topologically conjugate to any member of this 21-parameter family of third-order piecewise-linear circuits; namely, the Chua's circuit family. A gallery of selected strange attractors from this canonical circuit is presented. >
Multi-dye theranostic nanoparticle platform for bioimaging and cancer therapy.

Background Theranostic nanomaterials composed of fluorescent and photothermal agents can both image and provide a method of disease treatment in clinical oncology. For in vivo use, the near-infrared (NIR) window has been the focus of the majority of studies, because of greater light penetration due to lower absorption and scatter of biological components. Therefore, having both fluorescent and photothermal agents with optical properties in the NIR provides the best chance of improved theranostic capabilities utilizing nanotechnology.
Orbital-invariant formulation and second-order gradient evaluation in MOller-Plesset perturbation theory

Based on the Hylleraas functional form, the second and third orders of Moller-Plesset perturbation theory are reformulated in terms of arbitrary (e.g., localized) internal orbitals, and atomic orbitals in the virtual space. The results are strictly equivalent to the canonical formulation if no further approximations are introduced. The new formalism permits the extension of the local correlation method to Moller-Plesset theory. It also facilitates the treatment of weak pairs at a lower (e.g., second order) level of theory in CI and coupled cluster methods. Based on our formalism, an MP2 gradient algorithm is outlined which does not require the storage of derivative integrals, integrals with three external MO indices, and, using the method of Handy and Schaefer, the repeated solution of the coupled-perturbed SCF equations.
Anatomy of a real E-commerce system

Today's E-Commerce systems are a complex assembly of databases, web servers, home grown glue code, and networking services for security and scalability. The trend is towards larger pieces of these coming together in bundled offerings from leading software vendors, and the networking/hardware being offered through service delivery companies. In this paper we examine the bundle by looking in detail at IBM's WebSphere, Commerce Edition, and its deployment at a major customer site.
Fluctuation in option pricing using cellular automata based market models

A new agent-based Cellular Automaton (CA) computational algorithm for option pricing is proposed. CAs have been extensively used in modeling complex dynamical systems but not in modeling option prices. Compared with traditional tools, which rely on guessing volatilities to calculate option prices, the CA model is directly addressing market mechanisms and simulates price fluctuation from aggregation of actions made by interacting individual market makers in a large population. This paper explores whether CA models can provide reasonable good answers to pricing European options. The Black-Scholes model and the Binomial Tree model are used for comparison. Comparison reveals that CA models perform reasonably well in pricing options, reproducing overall characteristics of random walk based model, while at the same time providing plausible results for the 'fat-tail' phenomenon observed in many markets. We also show that the binomial tree model can be obtained from a CA rule. Thus, CA models are suitable tools to generalize the standard theories of option pricing.
Evaporation and the hydrologic budget of Crater Lake, Oregon

The hydrologic budget of Crater Lake, Oregon is investigated by taking advantage of its relatively simple geometry, climatic circumstances, and the concurrent availability of many years of traditional data. Buoy data are here utilized for the first time for this purpose. The lake gains water through precipitation and delayed runoff from the caldera sides and Wizard Island. The lake loses water through evaporation and seepage. Seepage can be estimated quite well from ice-covered precipitation-free intervals in 1985, and is 127 cm/year. Evaporation has previously been determined as a residual, but is here estimated directly from the floating buoy, with an approximate value of 76 cm/year, a downward revision from previous estimates. These losses are balanced by precipitation input, nearly all in the form of snow or snowmelt runoff. Factors contributing to the uncertainty in each of the water budget components are discussed in some detail. The buoy data corroborate previous findings based on studies of stage that evaporation is greatest on the coldest days. Seasonally, the greatest evaporation occurs in the autumn and the least in spring. Proxy records are used to extend the effective length of the buoy record. Monthly estimates of evaporation are calculated for 1950–1996 and used to deduce temporal characteristics. The standard deviation of water year precipitation is 4.6 times larger than that of evaporation. Thus the water budget is controlled more by variability of precipitation than evaporation. An additional 15 years of data since earlier studies confirm that the annual lake level variations from one September 30 to the next are highly correlated (r = 0.96) with Park Headquarters water year precipitation for the 42 years from 1961–2003. The lake rises 1.4 cm for every cm of measured precipitation over equilibrium value (168.6 cm) at Park Headquarters. Sources of this “magnification” are discussed.
Inhibition of drug metabolism by chronically administered naltrexone.

Abstract Naltrexone, a long-acting narcotic antagonist, was administered to mice via aong-term delivery system of 1.5 mm beads containing 2 mg of naltrexone in a 90/10 polylactic/glycolic acid copolymer (Dynatech R/D Comp.). A single bead implanted subcutaneously antagonized the analgesic action of interimittently administered morphine sulfate (20 mg/kg, i.p.) for 25–35 days. During this 4–5 week period during which the naltrexone was pharmacologically active, the activities of the hepatic, microsomal mixed function oxidases aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase were depressed to 30–50% of the levels seen in sham-implanted controls. Hexobarbital sleeping time and zoxazolamine paralysis time were significantly prolonged, and the blood half-lives of 14C-pentobarbital and 14H-amphetamine were lengthened when the monoxygenase activities were inhibited. Sleeping time following administration of ethanol was unaffected. In vitro , both naltrexone and its major metabolite, s-naltrexol, were found to be inhibitory of the activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase, although the parent compound was the more potent inhibitor of both activities by a factor of 2–3.
Reflection subgroups of Coxeter systems

Let ( W, R) be a Coxetcr system, and T= IJ,,,. W wRw ’ denote the corresponding set of reflections. For u’ E W, define N(W) = {TV Tlf(tw)<l(w)} h w ere I denotes the length function of ( W, R). The principal result (3.3) of this paper is that if W’ is a reflection subgroup of W (i.e.. W’= ( W’n T)) then {[E TI N(z)n W’= { 1)) is a set of Coxeter generators for W’. In particular, W’ is a Coxeter group. In [6], V. Deodhar gives a geometric proof of this last fact using properties of the root system of W. It is easily seen that the Coxeter gcncrators for W’ defined by Deodhar coincide with those described above. The idea of the proof here is that N may be regarded as a cocycle with N(r)= {r} (reR), and Coxeter systems are characterized (among groups generated by involutions R) by the existence of such a cocycle. One then checks that w H N(W) n w’ (W E W’) gives a suitable cocycle for W’. The same argument applies to a wider class of “reflection systems” (G, X) characterized by the cxistcncc of a certain cocycle and so we give the proof for these. The Coxeter systems are precisely the reflection systems (G, X) in which X consists of involutions. The arrangement of this paper is as follows. In Section 2, we describe the main facts about reflection systems, closely paralleling [ 1, Chap. IV, Sect. 11. In Section 3: we prove that reflection subgroups of a reflection system are themselves reflection systems in a canonical way (3.3) and obtain some additional facts about their canonical generators (3.4) (3.11). In Section 4, we specialize to the case of a Coxeter system, and give a geometric criterion (4.4) for a set of reflections to be the set of canonical generators of a reflection subgroup, in terms of the inner products of the
Closed 2-cell Embeddings of 5-crosscap Embeddable Graphs

The strong embedding conjecture states that every 2-connected graph has a closed 2-cell embedding in some surface, i.e. an embedding that each face is bounded by a circuit in the graph. A graph is calledk-crosscap embeddable if it can be embedded in the surface of non-orientable genusk.We confirm the strong embedding conjecture for 5-crosscap embeddable graphs. As a corollary, every such graph has a cycle double cover, i.e. a set of circuits containing every edge exactly twice. We classify simple closed curves in the surface of 3-crosscap graphs and study some topological properties of simple closed curves in the torus and the punctured torus.
Class, ideology, and the rights of nobles during the French revolution

(1985). Class, ideology, and the rights of nobles during the French revolution. History of European Ideas: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 94-94.
Measurement of stopping powers using ion-induced X-ray emission☆

Abstract Stopping powers of 100 keV protons in thin films of Sc, Ni, Cu, and Ge which have been vacuum evaporated on thick substrates are measured by observing the characteristic X-rays generated in the substrate. The condition of the stopping film is monitored simultaneously with the collection of stopping power data by the detection of characteristic X-ray emission from the stopping film.
Mapping local photocurrents in polymer/fullerene solar cells with photoconductive atomic force microscopy.

The performance of organic solar cells is highly dependent on film morphology. However, directly correlating local film structures with device performance remains challenging. We demonstrate that p...
Magnetohydrodynamic theories of magnetic field reconnection

Abstract This article is concerned with a review of the prominent magnetohydrodynamic theories proposed to date to explain magnetic field reconnection. These theories fall into three categories: (i) resistive tearing-mode instability, (ii) steady externally driven processes, (iii) nonsteady externally driven processes. The purpose of this article is to give on the analytical side - (i) a detailed discussion including a critical appraisal of the existing pr ominent theories of magnetic reconnection, (ii) a further elaboration and more correct versions and extensions of some of the existing theories of magnetic reconnection, and a review of the laboratory and computational work on the problem. The controversies that surround the application of these theories to problems involving explosive releases of magnetic energy are discussed.
Bacterial transfer RNAs

Transfer RNA is an essential adapter molecule that is found across all three domains of life. The primary role of transfer RNA resides in its critical involvement in the accurate translation of messenger RNA codons during protein synthesis and, therefore, ultimately in the determination of cellular gene expression. This review aims to bring together the results of intensive investigations into the synthesis, maturation, modification, aminoacylation, editing and recycling of bacterial transfer RNAs. Codon recognition at the ribosome as well as the ever-increasing number of alternative roles for transfer RNA outside of translation will be discussed in the specific context of bacterial cells.
Ventricular tachycardia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with apical aneurysm

Midventricular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rare form of cardiomyopathy that may be associated with an apical aneurysm. The mechanism of aneurysm formation is uncertain, but it may be related to subendocardial ischemia. In this report, we describe a 57-year-old man with recurrent ventricular arrhythmias that were refractory to medical treatment because of midventricular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and apical aneurysm. He was treated successfully with apical aneurysmectomy, myectomy, and subendocardial resection. Six months postoperatively, the patient was free of symptoms and was taken off all anti-arrhythmic medications with one inappropriate discharge from the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator at 4 months.
Comparative viewing modalities for CT cystography

Background: To define the speed and accuracy of two different reconstructive techniques using computed tomography (CT) cystography for the detection and measurement of urinary bladder masses and determine the overall ease of use. Methods: Ten patients scheduled for cystoscopy for the evaluation of hematuria or bladder masses were studied by means of thin-section CT of the air-distended bladder. Two techniques were employed by two radiologists to blindly interpret the data: conventional two-dimensional data with interactive three-dimensional problem solving (2D3DPS) and surface-shaded display (SSD) three-dimensional images. The results were compared with the data from cystoscopy. Results: Twenty-two (100%) of 22 masses detected on cystoscopy were visualized using the reconstructive techniques. Both modalities were shown to have high accuracy, but only the 2D3DPS had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for both observers at the patient-level diagnosis. The sensitivities for detecting individual masses for the two observers were 100% and 64% for 2D3DPS and 64% and 70% for SSD. Conclusion: Both methods used to display the CT data had a high sensitivity and specificity for masses, but only the 2D3DPS had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% at the patient-level diagnosis, thus making it a feasible imaging modality for cystography. It was also preferred overall for ease of use, high accuracy, and relative low cost.
Frequency Selectivity and Thresholds of Brief Stimuli Suitable for Electric Response Audiometry

Auditory evoked potentials are nearly all on-effects and the ‘effective stimuli’ for them are necessarily brief. Their frequency specificity is therefore limited, especially for the brainstem responses, because of the well-known trade-off between duration and frequency specificity. Brainstem responses are of special interest because they are unchanged in the sleeplike sedation that is required for difficult-to-test children. The middle-latency responses do not meet this requirement. Two patterns of tone burst that are appropriate and promising for the slow cortical potentials and for brainstem potentials, respectively, have rise and fall times of 2 periods of the modulated tone and plateaus of 10 (or 7) periods and 1 period, respectively. Their behavioral thresholds are nearly insensitive to difference in repetition rate between 4 and 40 stimuli/s. Their peak equivalent SPL threshold values at 500, 1 000, 2 000 and 4 000 Hz have been determined for 16 otologically normal ears. Using these reference levels...
Type of stimulus mediates the relationship between working-memory performance and type of precocity

Abstract The relationship between type of stimulus (numeric and verbal) and type of precocity (mathematical and verbal) was examined in tasks designed to tap three aspects of working memory: encoding, capacity, and manipulation of information. The tasks included semantic categorization, odd-even categorization, recall of five-item lists after semantic categorization, and recall of items in a continuous paired-associates task. Correlations between task performance and the mathematical and verbal portions of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT-M and SAT-V) were computed for gifted youth. There were no sex differences in the performance measures or in the pattern of correlations between performance and SAT scores. The analysis revealed positive relationships between SAT-M scores and numeric categorization latency, recall in the continuous paired-associate task with words and digits, and recall of digit lists. SAT-V scores were related only to word recall in the continuous paired-associate task and recall of word lists. In the working-memory tasks used, mathematical precocity is more strongly related to performance than is verbal precocity. The relationship is especially strong with numeric stimuli, even when the numeric stimuli are simply items to be remembered. The relationship between type of stimulus and type of precocity suggests underlying differences between verbally and mathematically precocious youth in how different types of stimuli are represented in memory.
Effect of Die Dimensions on Extrusion Processing Parameters and Properties of DDGS-Based Aquaculture Feeds

ABSTRACT The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of die nozzle dimensions, barrel temperature profile, and moisture content on DDGS-based extrudate properties and extruder processing parameters. An ingredient blend containing 40% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), along with soy flour, corn flour, fish meal, whey, mineral and vitamin mix, with a net protein content adjusted to 28% was extruded in a single-screw laboratory extruder using seven different die nozzles. Increasing moisture content of the ingredient mix from 15 to 25% resulted in a 2.0, 16.0, 16.3, 22.9, 18.5, 32.5, and 63.7% decrease, respectively, in bulk density, water-solubility index, sinking velocity, L*, b*, mass flow rate, and absolute pressure, as well as 11.6, 16.2, and 7% increases, respectively, in pellet durability, water-absorption index, and a*. Increasing the temperature from 100 to 140°C resulted in 17.0, 5.9, 35.4, 50.6, 28.8, 33.9, and 33.9% decreases, respectively, in unit density, pellet durability, ...
Special Issue on Technical Advances in Deep-Space Communications and Tracking

The seventeen papers in this special issue are devoted to technical advances in deep-space communications and tracking.
Analysis of turbulent underexpanded jets. II - Shock noise features using SCIPVIS

SCIPVIS, the computational model discussed by Dash et al. (1985), is assessed in predicting the complicated flow structure associated with shock-containing plumes. In addition, the analysis in this study examines this code's applicability as a basic part of a program for estimating broadband shock noise radiation. The results of this study show that excellent agreement exists between predicted and measured static pressure distributions for both underexpanded and overexpanded flow cases considered. Of the three turbulence closure models incorporated in the SCIPVIS code, the kW model of Spalding produces the most uniform agreement with measurement. The k-epsilon-2 model of Launder consistently overestimates plume spreading for supersonic jets with exit Mach numbers in the 1-2 range. Dash's (1983) k-epsilon-2-cc, compressibility-corrected version of Launder's model underestimates plume spreading. Good qualitative agreement was also obtained between the measured longitudinal turbulence intensity and that predicted by the code for the same trial case. Comparison of measured and predicted broadband shock noise spectrum peak values were found to be in excellent agreement. This utilized a variant of the Harper-Bourne and Fisher (1973) phase-array model: the effective shock spacing was reinterpreted as the value of the end of the plume potential core, determined herein by the SCIPVIS code.
Synthesis, Processing, and Properties of TaC-TaB2-C Ceramics

Abstract Multi-phase ceramics in the TaC–TaB 2 –C system were prepared from TaC and B 4 C mixtures by reactive pressureless sintering at 1700–1900 °C. The pressureless densification was promoted by the use of nano-TaC and by the presence of active carbon in the reaction products. The presence of TaB 2 inhibited grain growth of TaC and increased the hardness compared to pure TaC. If a coarse TaC powder was used, the compositions did not densify. In contrast, pure nano-TaC was pressureless sintered at 1800 °C by the addition of 2 wt.% carbon introduced as carbon black or graphite. The introduction of carbon black resulted in fully dense TaC ceramics at temperatures as low as 1500 °C. The grain size of nominally pure TaC ceramics was a strong function of carbon stoichiometry. Enhanced grain size in sub-stoichiometric TaC, compared to stoichiometric TaC, was observed. Additional work is necessary to optimize processing parameters and evaluate the properties of ceramics in the TaC–TaB 2 –C system.
Abstract 466: LMO1 is a novel oncogene in neuroendocrine lung cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Introduction. The aim of the study is to characterize the role of LMO1 in tumorigenesis of neuroendocrine lung cancer. LMO1 is a transcription factor that belongs to the LMO protein family containing the cysteine-rich LIM domains. LMO1 has been demonstrated to function as an important oncogene in the development of T-lineage leukemia and lymphoma. A recent study in neuroblastoma suggests that aberrant overexpression of LMO1 may play a critical role in the development of neuroendocrine cancers. The role of LMO1 in neuroendocrine lung cancer, however, was not investigated. Experimental Approaches. By analyzing a large panel of cell lines including lung cancer cell lines and normal lung epithelial cells, we compared the relative expression of LMO1 in different subtypes of lung cancers, and examined the correlation of LMO1 expression levels with neuroendocrine differentiation markers. Using in vitro approaches, we investigated the function of LMO1 in regulating lung cancer cell growth. To investigate the clinical significance of LMO1 dysregulation in lung cancer patients, we analyzed the correlation of LMO1 tumor levels with lung cancer patient survival. Results. We show that LMO1 is significantly overexpressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), an aggressive and major subtype of neuroendocrine lung cancers, relative to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and normal lung cells. In addition, in NSCLC cells, LMO1 mRNA levels are significantly correlated with expression of neuroendocrine differentiation markers. Functional in vitro investigations indicate that LMO1 overexpression significantly promotes growth of cultured lung cancer cells, suggesting its oncogenic function in lung cancer. More strikingly, our investigations of two independent lung cancer patient populations indicate that high tumor LMO1 mRNA level is an independent predictor of poor patient survival. Conclusions. Altogether, our findings strongly suggest that LMO1 is a neuroendocrine-specific oncogene in lung cancer that plays an important role in determining the cancer aggressiveness. Further studies are certainly warranted to define the mechanisms underlying the oncogenic function of LMO1 in neuroendocrine lung cancer and to further evaluate the clinical significance of LMO1 as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for neuroendocrine lung cancers in prospective studies. Citation Format: Zhenze Zhao, Xiuye Ma, Xiaojie Yu, Tzu-Hung Hsiao, Yidong Chen, Milind Suraokar, Ignacio Wistuba, John D. Minna, Alexander Pertsemlidis, Liqin Du. LMO1 is a novel oncogene in neuroendocrine lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 466. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-466
Isomerization Dynamics and Control of the η2/N Equilibrium for Pyridine Complexes

A series of pyridine complexes are prepared of the general form TpW(NO)(PMe3)(pyr) where pyr is either pyridine or a substituted pyridine. Depending on substitution pattern, the pyridine can be either N- or η2-coordinated, and the role of the pyridine substituents and metal oxidation state in determining this equilibrium is explored. For η2-pyridine complexes, the substituent pattern and solubility characteristics also determine the ratio of coordination diastereomers. Rates of both intra- and interfacial linkage isomerizations are explored along with the pyridine rotational barrier. This study is supported by DFT calculations and X-ray data and includes characterization of both η2-pyridine and η2-pyridinium complexes.
Microthoracoscopy: at the cutting edge of thoracic surgery.

Two 2-mm microthoracoscopies were performed using two ports (Minisite 2-mm disposable introducer and Minisite 2-mm 0 degrees laparoscope; U.S. Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, CT). A 47-year-old man with multiple bilateral pleural lesions had a right diagnostic 2-mm microthoracoscopy and multiple microthoracoscopic biopsies. He was discharged the next day with minimal discomfort and returned to work the following day. The second patient was a 74-year-old woman, 10 years after left radical mastectomy for carcinoma, with a multitude of medical problems and a right recurrent pleural effusion. She underwent a right diagnostic 2-mm microthoracoscopy, multiple microthoracoscopic biopsies, and electrocoagulation pleurodesis. She was not discharged because of concurrent conditions. She had no disability and no pain whatsoever from the procedure.
Relationship between membrane permeability and specificity of human secretory phospholipase A2 isoforms during cell death

Abstract During apoptosis, a number of physical changes occur in the cell membrane including a gradual increase in permeability to vital stains such as propidium iodide. This study explored the possibility that one consequence of membrane changes concurrent with early modest permeability is vulnerability to degradation by secretory phospholipase A 2 . The activity of this hydrolytic enzyme toward mammalian cells depends on the health of the cell; healthy cells are resistant, but they become susceptible early during programmed death. Populations of S49 lymphoma cells during programmed death were classified by flow cytometry based on permeability to propidium iodide and susceptibility to secretory phospholipase A 2 . The apoptotic inducers thapsigargin and dexamethasone caused modest permeability to propidium iodide and increased staining by merocyanine 540, a dye sensitive to membrane perturbations. Various secretory phospholipase A 2 isozymes (human groups IIa, V, X, and snake venom) preferentially hydrolyzed the membranes of cells that displayed enhanced permeability. In contrast, cells exposed briefly to a calcium ionophore showed the increase in cell staining intensity by merocyanine 540 without accompanying uptake of propidium iodide. Under that condition, only the snake venom and human group X enzymes hydrolyzed cells that were dying. These results suggested that cells showing modest permeability to propidium iodide during the early phase of apoptosis are substrates for secretory phospholipase A 2 and that specificity among isoforms of the enzyme depends on the degree to which the membrane has been perturbed during the death process. This susceptibility to hydrolysis may be important as part of the signal to attract macrophages toward apoptotic cells.
Protective Roles of α-Calcitonin and β-Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in Spontaneous and Experimentally Induced Colitis

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is thought to be involved in the regulation of gastric and mesenteric blood flow, in the control of gastric acid secretion and in the modulation of intestinal motility, yet the precise physiological roles of CGRP remain to be elucidated. To further examine the role(s) of CGRP in gastrointestinal function, we examined mutant mice lacking alphaCGRP or betaCGRP expression. Mutant mice did not demonstrate any overt phenotypic changes, yet exhibited a spontaneous, adult-onset colitis and increased colonic damage using a dextran sulfate sodium model of experimental colitis. Surprisingly, mice lacking betaCGRP show no obvious alterations in CGRP immunoreactivity in the gut, accompanied by an increase in alphaCGRP messenger RNA expression, suggesting an adaptive mechanism to compensate for the lack of betaCGRP. These data demonstrate that both alphaCGRP and betaCGRP play a protective role in the generation of spontaneous colitis, supporting a role for both extrinsic and intrinsic CGRP-containing neurons.
Salmonella typhimurium LT2 metF operator mutations

Using an Escherichia coli lac deletion strain lysogenized with lambda phage carrying a metF-lacZ gene fusion (λFlac), in which β-galactosidase levels are dependent on metF gene expression, cis-acting mutations were isolated that affect regulation of the Salmonella typhimurium metF gene. The mutations were located in a region previously defined as the metF operator by its similarity to the E. coli metF operator sequence. Regulation of the metF gene was examined by measuring β-galactosidase levels in E. coli strains lysogenized with the wild-type λFlac phage and mutant λFlac phage. The results suggest that the mutations disrupt the methionine control system mediated by the metJ gene product, but not the vitamin B12 control system mediated by the metH gene product. The results also demonstrate that negative control of the metF gene by the metH gene product and vitamin B12 is dependent on a functional metJ gene product.